------------- The Raptors – A Rose by any other name

She was walking back to the burning coals in the hearth, starting to shove the next raw blade into the fires, when the loading gang went quiet again. She looked back to scold them this time and found they weren’t looking at her. She turned her gaze to find the prostitute from the Raptors standing at the front of the forge, wearing an entirely impractical set of shiny leather, barely more than straps to cover her private parts. But the intricate runes on her gold bracers told Roselyn she could probably get away with such a garish display of flesh. They were obviously magical.

“Mirielle,… good to see you. I see other Delsians so rarely. It’s good to know there are others around. What can I do for you? Need those swords sharpened or something?”

Miri looked absently towards the swords in her scabbards and wondered for a second what might be wrong with them. The thought confused her for a second.

“No,… uh, no,… they don’t need anything. We need something. That is we, the Night Raptors, need something. You.”

“I’m flattered, but you’re not really my type.”

Rose could tell the men were starting to gather round even more. Between her bulging muscles and Miri’s bulging brassiere, the guys were obviously hoping to get lucky. After all, Miri had a reputation for public displays, and the men had some of her pictures tacked up in the back room. Rose started to lose her patience. She spun and glowered at them.

“Don’t you men have work to do?”

Her raised voice brought the attention of Aesik. She now heard his footsteps on the floor above and heard him starting down the stairs. Miri ignored everything else.

“No, we have a job for you. We need your hammer, and it won’t be for banging on metal. Well, it probably won’t be for banging on metal. There might be some metal involved, but that’s not the real target here.”

Rose was lost, “I’m sorry. You’ve lost me. What are you talking about?”

Aesik stopped about half way down the stairs to listen to them.

“We’re heading off on a mission. We wanted you to come along and lend your arm in the fight. There’s a dragon involved, in case that wets your appetite.”

“Oh, why didn’t you say so? A real adventure? With a dragon? Of course, I’m in,…”

Then she noticed Aesik watching and listening from the stairs.

“If it’s OK with you, Boss?”

Aesik just smiled, “For Miri and her friends, any time. Just don’t get yourself killed.”

“Well, yeah,… great, I’ll,… of course I won’t,… uh,…“

Rose, the steely weaponmaster seemed suddenly nervous and flustered. Miri smiled and winked at one of the loading gang as he passed. She threw just enough magic into her smile to distract the poor sot. He walked straight into a brace beam carrying a coal scuttle. He couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her as he started to clean up the mess. Rose regained her composure and smirked at the man and at Miri.

“Well, I better collect my armor and get up the mountain before you cause ‘em to burn the place to the ground. Uh, Aesik,… I’ll be back,… ummm,… when will we be back?”

-------------