<b>Pegawen wandered towards the fireplace while the others talked to the barkeep, seeking to warm her hands before they continued. Passing a pair of men, she nodded to them and continued on her way, not noticing them share sly grins before the larger of the two got up. <br/>
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Squeezing her way past a pair of chairs, she grinned. “Well, hello,” she whispered and reached down to stroke the orange cat laying there. It cracked an eye open and stared up at her before deciding she was no threat and resumed its nap, purring at the new attention. <br/>
</b><br/>“<b>His name is Slink.”</b><br/><br/>“<b>Who?” Pegawen turned toward the speaker, coming face to face with a large man.</b><br/><br/>“<b>That furbag you're petting. He's here to catch the rats. Never seen him do aught but sleep, but the barkeep swears he's awake all night.” He grinned at Pegawen and offered her a flourished bow. “He seems to taken a fancy to you. Smarter than he looks.”</b><br/><br/><b>Pegawen shook her head. “He would like anyone who showed him a kindness I imagine.” She turned back to the fire.</b><br/><br/>“<b>Now, that could be said about men in general. Couldn't it?” The man moved closer to Pegawen, forcing her to step even closer to the fire.</b><br/><br/>“<b>I wouldn't know, but I'll ask my husband as soon as he's done speaking with the barkeep.” <br/>
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There was a moment of silence and Pegawen thought she'd ridded herself of the man. “Which one is he?” she heard him ask and ignored him. <br/>
</b><br/>“<b>Which one is he?” the man asked again, pushing on Pegawen's shoulder. “Didn't you hear me?”</b><br/><br/><b>Pegawen reached up for her pendant but before she could do more she heard an sultry, amused ask, “Orwen. Are you disturbing this young woman?”</b><br/><br/><b>Pegawen turned, wondering who had spoken. The man who'd been bothering her turned as well to face a petite woman, her brunette curls cascading around her shoulders and down her back. <br/>
</b><br/>“<b>Emra, was just trying to be friendly like.”</b><br/><br/>“<b>Well, seems to me she'd not like you to be quite so friendly. And I imagine the man over there glaring at you would rather you not be so friendly too.” She shook her head, linking her arm through his. “Come on, let's get your brother and we'll go have a round at the tables. You owe me for last time.”</b><br/><br/>“<b>Always manage to owe you,” he mutters. “Swear I'm going to prove you cheat at bones one of these days.”</b><br/><br/>“<b>Maybe,” Emra shot back turning to nod at Pegawen before linking arms with Orwen's brother and head towards a table. “But then I'd have to tell everyone just how little bone you have.”</b><br/><br/>“<b>If he'd set another hand on you, he was going to lose it.” Allassiel said, coming up next to Pegawen. “If not by my sword, surely by Lotharn's.”</b><br/><br/><b>Pegawen still clutched her pendant and spoke a single word causing the fire behind her to flare up . “Wouldn't have been necessary,” she stated and dropped her hand.</b><br/><br/>“<b>Parlor trick.” Allassiel shook her head. “Come on, I want to hear what else we've found out about this dwarf. You can warm yourself elsewhere.”</b>