Huck's luck

I keep my head down locked on my feet as I'm led through the bustling streets. Despite what she did to me I find small comfort in the fact that I would see Elyn again; I'd get to gaze on her beauty again, we had grown close which made her betrayal sting that much more but I still missed her. I remember hearing murmurs that Lord Baxter planned to wed her off to a further north lord's son in exchange for a more favourable trade path for Hearthwood, it was what sparked me to come to her with my plan. I wonder if those plans came to fruition, and what Elyn would think of my plan in hindsight when faced with an arranged marriage.

I was in my own world when Barcus suddenly halts causing me to walk into the back of him, Barcus shrugs off my collision "Can I help you?" He asks the person in front of him, I look up to see whom Barcus is talking to and my shock is palpable as I see a familiar green skinned woman towering over Barcus staring him down. "Yeah you have something I want" Quinara says, "and that is?" Barcus replies, he tries to hide it but I can hear the subtle undertones of fear in his voice, "the runt" she says pointing at me, I couldn't believe my luck.

Barcus goes to draw his sword but Quinara is too quick grabbing the sword by the hilt and pulling it along with the scabbard free from his belt, she tosses the sword to me which I catch. Quinara then coils her other hand around Barcus' neck and with one hand lifts him off his feet, **** him. "So here's the deal, you give me the runt and I'll let you live" Quinara says to Barcus before letting him go. Barcus drops to his knees as he takes **** breaths, no doubt needing some air in his lungs.

Once Barcus has got his breath back, he drops the rope that he had tied to me and makes a swift exit knowing that he couldn't take her on. The second Barcus is gone I drop the sword and rush to Quinara, "thank you" I say not even able to express how happy I was to see her. Quinaras gaze softens as she looks at me "gods.... Ok first rule of self defence don't drop your sword on the floor" she says frustratedly chastising me for leaving the weapon unattended, "my sword?" I stammer, "well your friend isn't coming back for it and I'm not babysitting a useless runt so you'll need something to defend yourself, so yeah it's your sword" she explains. "Oh ok, I've never actually swung a sword" I squeak as she unbinds me "really? That's so surprising" she says sarcastically.

Once free I pick up the sword and affix it with the scabbard to my belt, it felt weird but Quinara was right if I could get even slightly proficient with this sword my chances of survival would be considerably higher. I fall in behind Quinara as she heads back towards the shop, "um not that I'm complaining but why did you come back for me?" I ask, she said she didn't want to see me again less than an hour before saving me, "you have gold, and you'll pay well" she answers curtly. It was clear she was still mad at me somewhat but I couldn't help but think that there might be more to why she came for me than just financial gain.