No, Not Now|Haven, Ilyamen

[Skittlebug]

Winging his way to find the main watch house the guard had pointed him toward, Drystan keeps an eye on the streets below him. He beats his wings, slowing suddenly when he spots the two surrounded by rats. Cursing, he drops slowly and looks around, not much of a fighter himself he hopes there might be something in the area he can use to help.

[Kender Bard]

Vali was doing her best to keep her client in a position to be protected. The man was older and from his paunch was by no means a fighter. In fact, he was a retired merchant. He cowered in the corner Vali had him pushed into as the mercenary leader eyed the rats around her angrily. She'd already lost her boomerang somewhere and now had her fauchard in hand, using its superior reach to keep the rats back as much as she could and her Storm sign to strike them down but it was obvious she was beginning to tire.

[Skittlebug]

Having gotten a closer look at the situation, Drystan becomes furious. This was far too much like his first encounter with the beasts and he had done no good at all then. Not this time, he had to at least try.

Noting the direction of the closest building with a banner, he launches himself from the rooftop. He drops in between the rats and their targets, screeching angrily and sweeps his arm out in an arc in front of him, delivering a powerful backhand.

[Kender Bard]

Vali nearly shot a bolt off into Drystan's back but managed to barely resist. "That was stupid!" she admonished, even as she turned and grabbed her patron by the wrist. With the rats distracted by Drystan, she began to run off with him to the nearest shelter. One or two pursued, however.

[Skittlebug]

Drystan barely even hears her and lashes out again, landing a solid hit and knocking at least one rat flat. Adrenaline pumping, he takes his chance to run after the pair. Spreading his wings at full tilt he beats hard to get into the air before concentrating on catching up.

[Kender Bard]

Vali was now considerably nervous about this Beast but she didn't waste energy on the matter--she bustled her client into the nearest building with a white flag on it. Once he was safely inside, she turned and leaned against the doorframe, panting, and scanning the area for anymore rats that had grown brave.

[Skittlebug]

Following in the air Drystan sees the pair reach the shelter, as well as the rat following them. Angling his wings slightly he soars above the rat, watching. Tense, but starting to regain his senses, he waits to see what the woman in the doorway does. He doesn't want to get in her way if she starts flinging lightning again.

[Kender Bard]

Vali narrowed her eyes at the rat. "Go to hell!" she snapped and threw a couple more bolts at it, though the second one was obviously weakened from her exhaustion. It did the trick, however, and the rat scampered off.

[Skittlebug]

Seeing the rat run off Drystan lets himself drop to the ground near the door, nearly losing his balance in the process. Now that the adrenaline has worn off he begins to feel a little shaky and he pants as he turns toward the door.

"You both all right?" He hadn't seen either of them get bitten, but he couldn't be sure.

[Kender Bard]

Vali eyed Drystan warily but gave a small nod. "Aye," she agreed quietly. "My patron wasn't bit and I wasn't either. You're quite the fearsome sight, Bat. I didn't know if you were friend or foe."

[Skittlebug]

Drystan shakes his head, heaving his wings a little in an approximation of a shrug. "I've never done anything like that before, I honestly don't know what came over me."

He really didn't either, he never would have thought himself capable of a feat like that. Although he did feel a touch wobbly now that the adrenaline was wearing off.

[Kender Bard]

"I don't either," Vali answered warily. "Are you just a good citizen?" He wasn't one of her men and she didn't think he was a guard...

[Skittlebug]

"Well, not really. I was looking for a guard station when I saw you actually. I want to help if I can." He gives another shrug, feeling that was a bit of a lame explanation, before resting his two claws on the ground to keep from wobbling.

He gives her a once over, "You aren't a guard...mercenary?"

[Kender Bard]

Vali gave a curt nod at that. "Aye, I'm Captain Vali of the Mercenary Company." She decided to lead off the 'of Ilyamen' suffix. From what she gathered, Amaro had cut and run with his half of the guild so it's not like she really needed to bother differentiating anymore.

"I owe you," she added, perhaps a touch grudgingly. "Anything I can do to repay you?"

[Skittlebug]

Drystan grins a bit at that, "I'm Drystan, and you could let me in for starters." More seriously, he adds, "How is the situation here? I haven't actually been in the city for a couple months."