Yes, you need help finding Alexia

Deciding to help the two, you flick the knife into the floor boards by the pair. The spirited girl flashes a smile at you that takes your breath away, she really is very pretty even with the grime and blood on her face. Turning your attention back to the potentially dangerous situation you are in, you decide you don't have time for that kind of thinking.

"Alright you two." Your voice sounds harsher than you wanted it to. "I believe your names are Sandy and Dorothea, yes?" When they nod, you continue brusquely "My name is Bruce. I say we grab anything that looks useful like those weapons then hide their bodies, and maybe clean up the blood stains."

"Sandrine?" Dorothea asks as she rubs her wrists "Is he a bad man like Thad, can we trust him?"

"He's OK, Dory. I met him earlier. He could have hurt me and the boys but didn't." As the young women climb to their feet, Sandrine eyes you cautiously. "He could be useful, plus he's wounded."

"I'll help you get out of here, but could you two hurry up and help me gather what's useful." You glance at the door half expecting to see the mercenaries' friends heading back in. "We can talk later after we're out of this deserter's den. I bet there are more of them, and they'll be back."

While Dorothea starts gathering some of the traitor's supplies and Sandrine takes the equipment from the dead traitors, you hastily clean your wound. It's already starting to heal due to your divine heritage but you want to keep that a secret so you bind it while its still bleeding so the blood shows on the white padding. A few bottles of wine poured onto the blood on the ground dilutes the congealing puddle and lighting a small flame further masks the smell. As the two women finish going through the supplies in the tavern, you carry the bodies outside and cover them with debris from surrounding buildings.

Finished with the bodies, you return to help carry what the two women have gathered. As you were walking further into the city, Sandrine walks up alongside with a question.

"So why hide evidence of what happened back at the tavern?"

"Because if the rest of that rogue troop finds out someone was there, they might hunt them down but with what we're taking they're going to think the two missing men took what they could carry and deserted them." She is wearing her helmet again now that you are out on the streets, so it's hard to gage her expression, but you see what might be nod of her head. "Its ironic don't you think? Deserters deserted by deserters, it should weaken whatever bond they have and cause them to distrust each other even more."

"That's more intelligent than all of the city's strategists." Sandrine laughs. "You would have been more useful than those fat merchants on the council who hoped to stop the invaders from capturing this city by throwing money and beautiful slaves at anyone they dreamed could help them."

"My lady Sandrine," based on her speech and mannerisms, you have decided that she can be nothing else, "you must understand, as a person born in Kalion were slavery is outlawed and women are the equal of men, I have learned to think differently than most. Had I been born in Athenapolis, I would likely think the same as the merchants & nobility do, making it unlikely that I would have been of any use; but I'll take the a compliment."

"Perhaps, Sir Bruce." You sense the doubt in her voice. "You are of a different breed then the men of this city. I'm beginning to think I would like to talk more when we can without fear of attack." Nodding your agreement you continue the walk by Sandrine's side for another minute when she stops a what appears to be just another random alley.

"This is far enough, my Lord." She tells you without a hint of apology. "Leave those supplies over there, I'll send some of the boys to pick them up later."

"What?" You ask, wondering why it is that you simply can't seem to control.

"I like you, Swordsman, really I do," you grin when you hear her speak of affection, but then she continues. "But, I don't trust you enough to show you where my base is. So this is where we part."

You could of course just knock her and her buxom friend on their heads and carry them both out of the city, but that doesn't seem like a good way to develop a friendship.