Chapter Text
The dirt roads were quiet at this time of night. Shadows grew under the moon’s light, providing hiding spots for those who needed them. Even in the late hour, a few windows still had lit lanterns.
Caleb and Talvo walked through the streets of the Mosaic Ward, keeping their wits about them. It was infamous for its high crime rates, and they really didn’t need any more trouble than they already had.
In front of a worn down shop stood the rest of The Mighty Nein. An older woman was with them as well, wearing a sleepgown and a threadbare robe. Her hair was mussed, and she wore no makeup.
“I should’ve charged you more for waking me up at such an hour,” she grumbled. She huffed and walked back into her shop, slamming the door behind her.
Caleb and Talvo approached the group. Nott looked visibly relieved. “You made it back safe.”
“Ja, of course we did,” he replied with a reassuring nod.
Beau looked less enthused. “And you brought company.”
Jester bounded forward, leaning into Talvo’s space. They leaned their body back in turn, looking at the tiefling slightly crosseyed.
“Ooh, who is this? Caleb, did you kidnap a child?”
“I—”
“Can I have one?”
Caleb sighed heavily. “Everyone, this is Talvo Cawler. They were not kidnapped. They just need some help.”
He omitted the other details. He would leave that up to Talvo if they wanted to disclose them or not.
Talvo waved shyly and got varying degrees of friendly greetings back.
“Did you get the information you needed?” Caleb asked Beau.
She nodded. “Yeah I got it. Let’s get out of here before we get jumped.”
The group agreed and started walking northward to exit the Mosaic Ward. It was late, and they all wanted some good sleep.
Beau walked next to Caleb and talked to him quietly about their new addition. Molly matched pace with Talvo, sticking his hands in his pockets.
“So another stray, huh?”
Talvo looked at him oddly. “Um, I guess. Who are you?”
“Mollymauk Tealeaf, at your service.” He bowed, moving his arms with a flourish.
“Nice to meet you.” Talvo’s eyes scanned him up and down. “You’ve got quite the ensemble on.”
He grinned. “Of course I do. I wouldn’t be a carnie without it, now would I?”
They raised an eyebrow. “Oh, you perform in a circus?”
“Used to.” The easygoing smile on his face faltered for a moment before he plastered it back on again. “And you have elegant clothes on as well.”
Talvo looked down at the sleepwear they were wearing, covered by a simple black cloak. They suddenly felt a bit embarrassed. They would need to get new clothes soon. “Yes, very elegant.”
“You go to Soltryce, then?” Molly glanced down at the Soltryce logo on Talvo’s cloak.
They shrugged. “Used to,” they said, mirroring Molly’s words from earlier. “I’m not really sure anymore.”
He hummed thoughtfully, then stuck his hand out. “Well, welcome to the party, Talvo. I have a feeling you’re going to fit right in.”
They arrived at the inn around 1 A.M., dragging their feet and looking bleary eyed. Everyone muttered their goodbyes before going to their respective rooms. Talvo looked around with uncertainty.
“You can sleep in our room if you’re comfortable with that,” Caleb said.
Talvo nodded. “That’s fine.”
He nodded and asked for extra blankets and pillows before leading Talvo and Nott to their room on the second story. It was a typical room for an inn. There was one bed, one bath, and a small dresser.
“Sit.” Caleb gestured to the bed. “Your arms need more than bandages.”
Talvo glanced around the room for a moment before sitting on the bed. Nott climbed onto it as well, making herself comfortable on the other end.
“It’s not that bad,” they protested mildly.
Caleb shot them an unimpressed look. “Don’t give me that. Have you forgotten I went through the very same thing? I know how much it hurts.”
He pulled out some basic medical supplies from his bag and set them down on the nightstand. Nott reached out to start unwrapping Talvo’s bandages, though they tugged their arm away on instinct.
“Hey, it’s alright. It’s okay,” she said softly. She reached for their arm again, slower this time. “I’m just unwrapping them.”
Talvo let out a soft sigh and relaxed their arm. “Thanks.”
Caleb took their arm and began cleaning up the blood. The bleeding had mostly stopped and the wounds were clotted. The three of them remained silent for a while, though Talvo was the first to break it.
“How long ago did you leave the Volstruckers?”
He shrugged. “Oh must be about… six years now.”
“It’s been a long time, then.”
Caleb let out a soft huff as he switched to their other arm. There was a brightly colored bracelet with various beads and charms on it, though he decided not to say anything about it.
“Not long enough.” He glanced at them. “And you? How long were you a Volstrucker?”
They snorted. “A week.” It paled in comparison to his.
Caleb raised an eyebrow. He figured they were new, but not that new. “It’s been quite a week for you then.”
“Tell me about it,” they groaned. “I didn’t think so then, but now, everything seemed so normal before.”
Caleb finished wrapping their arm and stood, putting the supplies away. “It gets…” He wanted to say better, but that wasn’t necessarily true. He didn’t want to give them false hope. “You get used to it.”
Though, that wasn’t entirely reassuring either.
“Get some rest,” he mumbled, grabbing the spare blankets and pillows and setting them on the ground. “We’ll discuss next steps in the morning.”
Talvo furrowed their brow. “You’re taking the floor?”
“I am not the one who is injured.” He laid on the floor and pulled the blanket over himself. “I have slept on worse.”
Nott began to settle down for the night as well. She curled up on the foot of the bed, giving Talvo a reassuring nod. After a moment of hesitation, Talvo climbed under the bedsheets. Their mind was racing from all the events, but they were eventually able to fall into a restless sleep.