The City of Zephyr

The Sparrow



Rylan scoffed. “Planning something big? She’s called the Iron Rose, Captain, my guess is she doesn’t do anything small. I pulled our spies, semi publicly, now either she thinks I’m trying to lure her into dropping her guard or, she believes that I really want and end to this feud, to this bloodshed. We make a move, position a platoon, she guarantees the spying was a trap. She hasn’t made war for the same reason we haven’t, neither of us knows for sure who would win. I haven’t forgotten that and I assure you, she hasn’t either.”

It seemed magic wasn’t too rare in this city, although not quite as abundant as some of the cities Balthazar had visited. Flicking the reins, Ebony began moving towards the market district at a brisk trot, appearing to be satisfied now that they were on the move. Although he had come to Zephyr for artifacts and trinkets, Balthazar was also on the lookout for signs of work.

He had no interest in the mundane jobs one might typically find in a city given his abilities, but more lucrative opportunities that the wealthy might offer were something he hoped to find. Perhaps after he had looked around the market it might do him well to look into the less reputable parts of Zephyr. In his experience, those parts of the city often had the most opportunities in them. For someone of his skillset at least.

Finally reaching the market district, Balthazar turned his attention to the various stalls and traders that were about. His gaze lingered over the various stalls, searching for anything that appeared to be an artifact or old trinket. He also searched for faint signs of magic within the stalls. Many a time he had found what a vendor had considered a run of the mill trinket to be a truly valuable find because he had been able to detect an enchantment on the object.

The Sparrow.

Holst closed his mouth as that hand came up, set a hard line in his jaw that softened as the words went on. It was the same argument he’d heard in the council chambers, hard to dispute and hard to resent. The man banged his first against his mail and nodded. “As you command, Majesty.”

Balthazar the Alchemist

The marked district was bustling, suffocatingly so in the too large city that made her feel more on edge than home did. It was surprising to her to miss the water, the calmness of watching fish being caught and sold, the way that even on the disputed islands between the cities of Rondon and Zephyr. Go to one, her father had said, motioning towards Zephyr in his not so subtle way of showing his support. Find work, find yourself, he had commanded like it had been all his idea while her mother simpered in the background. It wasn’t as if the women weren’t supported at home, it wasn’t as if they couldn’t choose to fish themselves, sell, or even fight for the guard - but still, she simpered. Only female, off with everything she could carry to some place where conflict had been threatened. No more conflict than that of home, though there was no point in stating that thought.

So here she was, where every brush of something against her made her instinctive magic want to flare up, made her feel as if her skin were crawling under her dark blue tunic that was far too hot to be traveling in. Her green eyes jumped from person to person, most of whom were walking, conversing and purchasing, and she weaved her way around them, and right into the back haunch of a horse.

The smell was what hit her first, besides the furry nature of its meaty hip, natural and sweaty and…absolutely disgusting and that’s where the fear settled in, slicking a cold sweat down her spine even in the heat that had her jumping back, had her palms flare up with threatening light from the magic within and had her laying her eyes on the rider atop of the disgusting animal…and found he wasn’t too pleasant to look at either. Her dark brown hair practically stood on end, laced together down her back in a swinging braid that moved with her own jerky motions and then that glowing hand came up so she could point a finger up at the rider threateningly. “Is it not busy enough on these streets without some creature stomping around, dropping steaming piles just to carry you around?” She didn’t mean for her voice to be so shrill but damned if she didn’t absolutely hate horses.

Balthazar the Alchemist

The horse stopped, he turned and automatically she side stepped not once, but twice to edge even further away from the large animal. When the face of the creature atop of the nasty beast turned towards her, covered but somehow haughty she changed from the inner want to be sheepish to be petulant instead. Outbursts weren’t really her thing, and coming from a quiet place, with quiet people and being the middle child of too many siblings she had learned to be diplomatic - too bad it wasn’t going to apply here.

“You should use your Divine given legs, a less trained child would be more respectful of a common market.” There were few horses, and the riders atop of them looked well dressed, noses in the air and most were being led by not the rider, but by a servant holding the reigns and guiding it through the busy place. “I also suggest,” She trailed off, lowered her finger and gave a quick glance around to see if she were about to be arrested then rubbed her palm against her covered leg until the glowing subsided. “What, are you afraid of a little light?” The comeback was not that, but instead a change of direction and she hunched her shoulders at the tone she couldn’t quite grasp from the muffled voice. “It isn’t going to hurt you.” And now she felt defensive, could she control it properly? Well…no. There wasn’t much call for it back home, and it wasn’t as if it were anything spectacular.

“Don’t call the guards over.” Her tone changed once again and she muttered the words, more towards the ground now than the rider seated above her. Trouble wasn’t what she was looking for, a job was - some sellsword she was starting out to be, her first contract was going to be to take herself out at this rate. “Why are you wearing that…,” Another trailing statement as she was looking for the right word pointing up at him again. “On your face?” It was hotter than she liked out, with not enough breeze coming off of the water like home would have given and he was dressed, well…completely. Too completely - It was unsettling.

Sorne Rebane

Although it would be a bit hard to tell due to the mask, Balthazar seemed quite amused by Sorne’s reaction to him. She might just be able to make out muffled laughs from the alchemist in reaction to her response to him, which it seemed Balthazar considered to be rather comical.

“If I was too poor to own a horse or didn’t have the skill to ride one perhaps I would take your advice there, but it’s not very relevant for me I’m afraid. As for why I’m wearing this mask, that’s quite easy to answer. I’m an alchemist you see and this mask is quite helpful in that line of work.”

Balthazar loosened his grip on the reins, relaxing a bit in his saddle. He appeared to be studying the girl before him as if he wasn’t quite sure what to make of her. Judging by how nervous and on edge, the girl appeared to be, Balthazar thought it was a safe bet to assume the girl wasn’t very familiar with this city. She also seemed to be traveling lightly, the only thing of note that really garnered his attention on her being her glaive. At least she had a good taste in weapons he thought while simultaneously glancing at the glaive strapped to his own back.

“You have a rather panicked look about you, girl. Is this your first time ever visiting a city or something?”

The alchemist’s voice did sound genuinely interested, the tone remaining neutral.