30 Barking like a symphony of wild dogs

Julian waited until the Inquisitor was asleep. He reached over on the desk to where his glasses were placed.

His dark hair spilled over the bed, chest rising and falling slowly. He slept quietly, not a single wheezing breath could be heard. Asleep he looked both tired and childish. There was darkness under his eyes but the rough lines that came with his stiff face eased making him appear softer.

Julian snickered at such a cute defenseless face, and absently brushed a loose strand of hair out of the Inquisitor's face.

Drawing in a deep breath, he stood. It took a lot of effort to hobble toward the exit while trying to make as little noise as possible and slid out the door.

The boisterous noise heightened as he left and turning the corner he went down the narrow staircase. There was cheering that echoed from down the stairwell. And he saw the barkeep raise a brow at him.

"That young thing of yours didn't keep you busy for very long."

Julian kept an easy smile. He never quite understood some people's fascination with a youth that yet to reach full maturity. But he wasn't there to judge their crass tastes so he chose his words carefully, "The poor thing still has yet to fully understand her wifely duties. I will take my time teaching her and breaking her in."

They all laughed, barking like a symphony of wild dogs. Julian's smile almost twitched, he felt like he was rolling in shit and piss. But he'd lived through worse, much worse. Julian leaned against the bar like a sly cat, and smiled at the barkeep, ordering a pint of his best.

"Lively around these parts, so late in the night," He hummed.

A burly man sat to his right, easily bigger than even Leonel, with a mustache full of crumbs and an ugly scar on his receding hairline. He grinned at Julian and gave him a very disconcerting up down. "I wouldn't say that. Just Steve's joint's kept up because the witch hunters don't care about these parts they don't. Big drama in the inner city though, people are tense over a few little bitches." With a thumb he pointed at the wanted poster of Illysa clumsily drawn.

"Sounds chaotic," Julian lifted a brow and raised his glasses, clanging with the burly man's. He made sure to drink about as much as he did but not more.

"Nah, it's big fun, it is," the man grinned, "Lady Anderina's sentenced to death you know? Her execution's tomorrow and last I heard they couldn't even decide on beheading or burning at the stake. Gonna be one big surprise to see! You coming right? The guards don't usually let us scrubs wander as we please usually you know? Don't let us dirtying their precious high town. Theys think Fauster's like them big cities you know? Makes them all big headed."

Julian openly sneered, "Those fucks probably never even stepped foot in a real city before. Hah, that's how it is with people. Slap them in some uniform and give them power and they'll be happy to beat up whoever they please."

The man, whose name Julian still hadn't received, slapped all the air out of his lungs. "You got that right! I'm a merc around these parts most of the year but I've done my fair share of traveling you know? Know the world a bit."

"Hmm…" Julian smiled. While it was annoying to listen to a random nobody ramble on about his boring and ordinary life, Julian was silently pleased that this idiot was more interested in talking about himself than question Julian's origins.

So Julian used this to his advantage and prodded the guy for more information, gathering an array of gossip that flew in from the lands. His original plan was try to get a few words and opinions from different people but this guy was particularly chatty so Julian took advantage.

After a few refills of piss-water beer, Julian was rightfully ready to tap out. The man before him was laughing and slurring his words, leaning in close enough for Julian's nose to burn from the stale scent of old scent.

"You've had one too many, big guy," he tried to push the guy off him. The bartender's eyes brow raised with question. He was glaring hard at their interaction and Julian had a feeling that boundaries were being passed that shouldn't be.

He inwardly sighed. It wasn't his intention to stir up a scene like this but if commotion was inevitable he would have to pick the most favorable side.

The decision was made when the man, who's name started to P, Julian learned, slapped a hand down on the Doctor's thigh. He jolted backward and knocked over his chair but was secretly careful enough not to push his cane that was leaning against the bar counter.

"What is wrong with you? I thought we were having a normal talk between brothers. Don't touch me!" He made a face, twisted with disgusted and grabbed his cane to help maintain balance. There were eyes on them now, many of which came from faces flushed with alcohol.

Julian did not allow them time to think and ponder about who they should side with. He shouted loudly, "This fucker touched me like some lusty woman. Aren't you fools going to do something about that? I'm a damned cripple and this is how I'm treated? Are you really that eager to suck dick?" And spat on the ground after cursing up a storm.

The only problem was that the person he was trying to paint like a bitch was twice his size who could probably break Julian in half with his bare hands.

His face twisted into an angered scowled, "You little bitch…! Just who is going to suck who's cock? I'll break your ass open and turn you into a fucking slut."

He lunged. But he was much more addled with the effects of alcohol than Julian was. Julian simply kicked the fallen stool in front of the drunken man. Like the idiot that he was, he stumbled on it and fell. Julian laughed like a madman, "Whose the one showing his arse now?"

But despite his easy composure and barking laughter, Julian was keenly aware of the rising tension. The crowd was glaring hard between the two of them, seeming to either wait for a victor or decide which of the two was the bigger bitch.

Julian had to prove that it wasn't him.

…

Leonel hadn't meant to actually fall asleep. It wasn't like he was that tired, he'd had worse before, staying up for days on end. But it was strangely comfortable on that cramped little bed. The mattress was no better than the ground and he was still in his day clothes, without even a thin sheet over his body. Yet somehow, he had fallen sleep. And woken just as fast, eyes blinking open when the warmth left him. He caught sight of Julian just as he was leaving the room.

He cursed and rolled on his back, trying to convince himself that he didn't care where Julian did or where he went.

But matter what sleep refused to come. Not when he stayed still, nor when he rolled over on his side. He could only listen to the commotion going on downstairs.

His eyes flashed open in alarm when he realized what was about to go down.

Cursing Julian's awful personality, Leonel leaped out of bed and went next door, calling Illysa up from her bed.

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