Locating Quinara

While getting dressed I search my bag looking for something of Quinara's to better aid Royce in locating her and I find exactly what I'm looking for on one of my shirts a long strand of her hair. I give it a smell and well it doesn't seem like much but to a more keen sensed person like Royce this would probably be ideal for him. With hair in hand I head out to present the evidence to my new tracker, "here I got one of her hairs, you think you can track her from this?" I ask handing him the dark strand of hair, he takes one sniff "oh yeah, I got her scent" he sniffs around a little just picking up on where she went. "So what does she look like? Got her scent but if I know what I'm looking for it easier" he says as starts moving following her trial, I follow on behind. "Oh yeah sure um, she's tall, muscular... You know standard orc stuff" I say not really knowing how best to go about describing her. Royce stops dead in his tracks, "orc?" He turns to me, "actually you know, you can keep your gold I don't need this work." He reaches into his pocket to refund me, "woah, woah what's the issue", Royce eyes me up "the issue is you can't take an orc, now whatever grudge you have against her that's whatever but she's gonna tear you in half. Then she's gonna find who led you to her and tear him in half too, I don't feel like dying for five gold" he explains. "Oh no, don't worry she won't kill me or you, I promise she's fine you have nothing to worry about" I reassure him, though I couldn't help but think that if Quinara found out about what I was doing she might actually kill me, Royce would be fine however.

"So how'd you know this orc?" Royce asks as I follow him through the quiet alleyways as we head deeper into the city, "well we met in Bragar a few months back and well we kinda hit it off" I say. Royce begins to chuckle "get outta here, you're sleeping with an orc?" He asks, I consider just saying yes, as it's not technically a lie as we had shared a bed on multiple occasions but it's not what he means, "not yet, but she likes me and I'm working on it" I admit. Royce scoffs "if she likes you what do you mean you're working on it?" I freeze, I did not want to admit that the reason for us waiting was my short fuse and building stamina in the bedroom, "um well... er she can be intimidating" I say flustered causing him to laugh again "yeah I can imagine" he muses satisfied with my answer, to my relief.

We continue to a collection of stalls selling drinks and food, Royce scurries up the wooden walls of one of these to get a good look. He scampers down the side back to me his claws scraping on the wood, "hey I think she's here... But I don't think you're gonna like this" he warns me. I ignore his warning confused by what he means till I move through the crowd to find her sat at one of the stalls drinking with a handsome elf having a spirited conversation. "I told you man" Royce says as he catches up with me "I'm sorry Huck", my head snaps to him "shut up it's not like that he's probably just a friend" I explain to Royce. He shrugs "certainly doesn't look that way", I turn back and as much as I hated to admit it he was right Quinara looked like she hung on the elves every word.

I take a seat at a stall that gave me a good view of them, I was worried she would spot me but he attention was very clearly elsewhere right now. I order a drink, as Royce hops up onto the stool next to me, "what are you doing?" I ask him, I had paid him, he had done his job he was free to leave, "look you seem like you need a friend right now" I glare at him, "fine but no comments about this ok?" I say firmly I didn't need him furthering any doubts I had right now, as this was probably just a misunderstanding. He nods and a particularly loud laugh from Quinara draws my attention back to them, I wasn't close enough to make out what they said but a loud laugh like definitely reached us.

I sit for an hour nursing my beer and letting my worst thoughts fester, this couldn't be right surely this wasn't what I thought it was. However as I watch them have a great time in each others company I feel myself getting more unsure about that. "I'm overreacting right?" I say to Royce wanting someone to reassure me, to tell me that she loved me and I'm being stupid. I wasn't going to get that from Royce, he puts his hand on my back in a comforting gesture "I'm sorry Huck" I groan in anguish the realisation that this was really happening drove a dagger of heartbreak into my chest.

Eventually they get on the move, I think about heading back to the tavern but I notice she's heading the wrong way. I elect to follow her, Royce in tow and it only twists the knife in my gut as they head to a house together and enter. "Look man let's get out of here" Royce says pulling me away, "you're better off without her anyway" he says trying to comfort me. Tears sting my eyes as my vision blurs "I-I can't believe it", she had saved my life told me she felt the same as I did about her, was that all a lie? Was this a game for her? Toying with me, telling me she cares when she didn't, I felt sick.

The trip home is a blur my emotional turmoil taking president over everything, once in the room I collapse onto the bed and break down. In my head I flit from anger to sadness back and forth, I convince myself she hates me, then that she loved me, then that she deserved the guy over me. All my insecurities bubble up, "of course she wouldn't be happy with me, I'm just a runt. She deserves better than I can give her.." I wail into my pillow. I fully lose myself in my emotions until sleep finally takes me.