Zul shrugs. "Was just trying to see if he was all right. He started raving about knights. Who the hell knows".
She casually moves to leave -- without showing the goons her back. They keep a wary eye on her, but allow her to leave unmolested. Once she's clear, she makes her way back to keep her appointment with Gerryn at the Ford Inn.
On the way, she spots Xylle, one of the working girls she knows, and asks her about the fat, old knight of Kardak.
"Fat old knight?", says Xylle, "I know the one. Occasional customer, of all things, against all the things they believe in. Rough, violent, but pays well".
Zul and Gerryn both arrive at the Ford Inn at the same time. Standing at one end of Aldor Square, almost opposite The Dragon, The Ford is an inn frequented mainly by humans, such as craftsmen, shopkeepers and a few soldiers. One of the oldest inns in the city, it has been rebuilt so many times over the years that little or none of the original building remains. The ford itself has long been replaced by a solid stone bridge.
Rotemdol also spots Zul standing outside the Ford as he approaches The Dragon.
"What does this upstanding member of society call himself, X?" she asks.
"Sir Biggun", she says with a sneer, "And least that's what he wan't *us* to call 'im. 'course, it's not 'is real name. I think it's something like Dheykeldeth".
"Anyway, looks like business is approaching, gotta go", she says, spying what looks like a human customer
Rotemdol approaches Zul .
"How did it go in the Ant-Hill after I left? Is it all over? I went to the temple to make a show for the kids. Take their mind of the situation and all that. Anyway, I am going to test a really promising young girl to be my apprentice. Never seen one with so much talent. Should be interesting. Want to come and watch?"
"Hey, Stretch", Zul replies, "Sounds like a gas, but firefightin' always makes me a bit peckish. I'm grabbin' some lunch. Catch you later, huh?"
"OK", says Rotemdol, making his way onwards.
Zul turns her attention to Gerryn. "I see that my friend didn't smother you in your sleep. That's good I guess." She smirks. "Should we get a table?"
Gerryn shrugs, looking around the inn. It's reasonably busy at this time of day; most tables are occupied, but there's one over by the window that's free. The patrons are a real mix, a lot of humans but many kandar as well, even a couple of uleem merchants. Zul recognises one or two local merchants. One large group of mixed kandar and humans sound from their talk to be off-duty legionnaires.
By the smell, the dish of the day is something fishy.
She grabs a table and orders the fishy special. The barmaid takes the order, and Zul addresses Gerryn quietly while waiting for the meal to arrive.
Gerryn hopes that Zul orders for him as well, since he's completely out of money.
"Guess you saw the fire. What a mess! Good news is, I think I not only helped get the Mechanists in to put the thing out, but I might be getting in good with one of Rataxe's people. Might could work things out so's he's not trying to waste us."
"And this fire thing stinks. A crazy old guy tells me he saw those Kardak bums lighting it -- and saw an old pig named Dheykeldeth setting the match." She pauses. "Rataxe might like dope like that -- even though it came from an old coot."
"Anyway, I'm thinking of meeting up with this Aldrand, little guy, gimpy, seems OK. Maybe letting slip that I'd like the chance to make things right with the big man, if we can. You wanna come with?"
"Y'gotta be kiddin. I ain't sticking _my_ head where the rats can knaw it. If'n y'could lend some money I can pick up a few things and check out a few places 'round town."
"Fish won't be a moment", the barmaid says, after delivering some beers to an adjacent table. "Your friend ordering one too?", she asks, referring to Zul.
Zul shakes her head. "Look, Twitchy, if you don't wanna tell me who's chasin' you, then straight. But this Rataxe thing, I'm tellin' you we might could turn this to our advantage. And if we can get in with this guy, if only so's he thinks he can make a little scratch off us or whatever, then maybe he'll be inclined to keep us breathin' for a spell, up?"
"'Course, he's probably mostly pissed at me. If you just wanna go in the basement on this one, I get that. For me though, I think the only way out is through. I need to get square with this guy; I'm no good to the girls with that big a target on my back." She stares off, pensively.
"I got it." Gerryn says. "I'm just wantin' t'lie low a bit. Pick up some flash, and then see how things lie."
"You know anything interesting about that knife-throwing kandar dude?" she blurts after a long silence. "He was at the fire, made a big show about trying to help people, almost got himself and a bunch of other people killed. Think he's OK or what?"
Gerryn shrugs, "He's a performer. Gotta do things in a big way. Good sort t'hide behind; not good ifn y'want quiet."
After the delay, Zul's Fish Special finally arrives, fried fish in a rather lurid green sauce. The waitress asks Gerryn if he's ordering.
"That looks a fine meal, but nope, gotta go.", Gerryn says. He gets up and leaves.
Zul notices Rotemdol the knife thrower with two Kandar girls, the younger one but a child. The older girl seems familiar, but he can't quite place her.