Spymasters and Inquisition

"You'd better get used to it," Valdyr said with a smile. "I usually hide my feelings behind sarcasm."

Horknath smiled to Valdyr. "Ah, yeah? Well, be warned, 'cause I am a sentimental instead. C'mon, let me hear all that sarcasm!", he challenged him.

Valdyr snorted. "I don't have feelings to hide anymore. Just get the fire going, would you? I need to eat something too. Not everyone was lucky enough to eat apricot pie."

"Fire is on. In a while it will be good", Horknath answered him. "And hey, I have a recipe now! I'm a lucky man. Even if most certainly I'll never do it justice", he sighed. The fire needed some minutes, but it got nice soon.

"Well. You don't have a dwarven oven. How do you expect to cook a decent pie without it," Valdyr snorted.

"Hey. Did you look at me?", Hotknath said, gesturing to himself. "You're talking with the same half orc that eats raw meat as if it is the only way to eat it." He chuckled. "I am totally not an expert on cooking."

Valdyr looked at him blankly for a few seconds. "Alright, you know what? I'm going to teach you a few basics about cooking over the next few weeks."

"... are you sure", Horknath asked carefully. "If it is not a new technique to bash heads and spill blood, I may prove not to be a good student, you know", he added, worried.

Valdyr chuckled. "You wish to please the ladies, right? Well I'm sorry to break it to you, but the way to a lass' heart goes through her belly too."

"I wish to please literally anybody who will allow me to. And believe me, I do have my charms, but with this face? Nothing will ever matter", Horknath mumbled with a sigh. But he perked up. "Well, at least I will eat better stuff. And way less begrudgingly", he grinned.

Valdyr punched Horknath in the side. "Now you listen to me there, Horknath. I've seen humans and elves with a face way worse than yours. And dwarves too, for that matter. You'll find yourself a lady just like your ma, quite adventurous and for who you'll cook the finest meals. You got that?"

"Optimistic, aren't ya", Horknath grumbled. "I already passed my thirties, and I don't know by which miracle I am not a virgin", he sighed. "Oh, well. Let's just... talk about something else, before I get depressed. The fire is up and good, show me what you can cook."

"Well, see, someone was willing to sleep with you, you're not that bad," Valdyr snorted as he took out some cooking supplied to show him a little of cooking on his own.

"Well, gee, wow. Ain't I a lucky man, to find a prostitute willing to share my bed a couple of times", Horknath joked, a bit bitterly. Or did he joke. Well. He got caught by Valdyr's gestures, so he lost himself with following all he did, in hope to learn something.

Valdyr actually proved to be very patient with him. Actually, now that he had done what he wanted to do, he seemed more relaxed. He wasn't snapping anymore at any noise in the bushes, not being ready to jump by his bags to protect them with his own life. He was even having genuine fun that night.

Horknath wasn't a formidable student, but he most certainly did his best. He asked questions, and he had fun too, welcoming Valdyr's newfound humour and calmness. He warmed up exceptionally quick to him. It felt good, to have a friend!

Thankfully enough, the were eble to enjoy that evening quietly, and have a rested night, so they could go back early next morning to reach back the Inquisitor's place by sundown.

In their absence, Yvan had been sitting iddly in his room for most of the two days, reading whatever books where within his reach. So when he hears the two of them coming back, he all but jumps out of his room, throwing his arms in the air. "Oh my god guys I missed you so much!"

Horknath got definitely caught by surprise by that half-tackle. "Hey, hey, calm down!", he said, awkwardly patting Yvan's back. "You managed ok here?", he asked then. Actually a bit worried about what Ash could have done in their absence.

"I was bored to deaaath", Yvan sighed heavily. "The Inquisitor is nice enough but when I wanted to go to the tavern yesterday night she asked Serah to tag along with me. Y'know, I've been wondering why I couldn't get laid lately. Turns out everytime I failed to woo a lady she was there buying me drinks," he muttered out loud, feeling that some conspiracy was up against him.

Horknath snorted. "Are you sure you aren't just very unlucky?", he asked him with half a smile. "Or maybe Serah is secretly jealous and wants to be the one to be wooed. If you get what I mean", he added in a totally unconvincing way, elbowing Yvan's side.

Yvan made a face. "... But she's so mean to me, and she laughs when I can't sit straight anymore."
"Aaah. Women. Creatures of mysteries," Valdyr added with a snort, as he got his package back to his room.

Horknath laughed, patting Yvan's shoulder. "Next time I will come at the tavern with you, alright?", he told him. "But don't take your new girlfriend, I am not sure I like her", he added.

"Well she's kind of a cock-blocker so that'll be much appreciated," Yvan grunted. "Are we even going to be able to get to a tavern soon? I mean... are you two back for good, or are we going to leave again?"

"We are back for good", Horknath answered with no doubt in his voice. "We finished what we were supposed to. Well, what Valdyr was supppsed to", he sighed. "A visit to a tavern would only do good."

Yvan smiled to Horknath, and kindly bumped his arm. "Alright, let's go tonight! I'll hoard the ladies, you woo some of them, and we'll drink to our hearts' content!"