Of Men and Minks Part 3

Finally, the job has been done and the wildcat is here to claim her reward. Russet steps into the inn to find its owner, and possibly an explanation. Her tail is twitching back and forth cautiously as she searches the inn's main room for the marten.

"Helo-o-o-o-o." Comes a voice from up above. There in the rafters of the inn a small fruit bat is hanging upside down over the front desk. She is wearing a green tunic and a tan pair of trousers tied tightly about her waist. "Welcome to the Fair-eve-al Eenn. Can'ye help ya?" The bat says before taking a large bite of the pear in her paw. The rest of the inn seems to be rather empty at the moment, or at least, the lobby is.

Russet stares at the bat, decides she is not a threat, and gives her a nod in greeting. "Is the pine marten around? Liam?" she asks her. "We have some...business to discuss. I'd prefer to talk to him privately."

Still holding her meal the bat twists where she hangs and says in a loud but cheerfull voice, "Oh LIiiiIiII-EEeeEeEeEEem! There is a nice scary cat lady here to see youUUUUuuUUuUu!" From the back offices the sound of rustling can be heard. Soon Liam Grey pokes his fluffy marten head out from behind the corner, "Whaaaaa-oh! Russet!" The marten squeezes himself past the door and adujsts his red cloth vest and dark brown tunic. "Renata, can you watch the front desk for a bit? I won't be long."

"Oh Ka-a-ay!" The bat offers a thumbs up, or down in this case, before turning back to her meal. Liam for his part gestures for the cat to follow him into his office."

What a bubbly creature, Russet thinks, and smirks to herself. But she gives the bat another polite nod as she saunters into Liam's office. She doesn't wait for him to invite her to sit down. Russet simply picks a seat and pulls the ring out of her bag. "As promised, here's your friend's ring," she says, holding it out to the marten. "And if you don't mind, I think I'd like to ask you a few more questions about this job."

The marten was about to offer the cat another seat when she sat down. 'Ok then' thinks the marten. Leaning against his rather cluttered desk the beast takes the ring in paw and smiles broadly, "Very nicely done. I was worried when you didn't come back right away...but my fears seem to be unfounded." The marten looks up to the cat and shrugs, "Sure, but I don't know what there is left to tell. I trust those mink brothers are either in jail or..." He seems a little disturbed at the other thought, "Well, I trust that justice was done. Here, let me get you your payment."

Liam strides over to the lockbox across the room. He takes a key from his chest pocket before opening it.

"They have definitely been taken care of," she says, still thinking of the deaths of all those minks... "But one of them said something odd. Something about them botching a job and you sent me to clean up the mess." She narrows her eyes at the marten. "Was he telling the truth? I'd like some assurance I don't have to worry about other mercenaries coming after me if there's something wrong with your ring."

THe marten chokes, turning his head so fast his lower body almost fails to catch up, "WHAT?" The marten passes the cat a disbelieving glare, "W-why would they tell you that?" He has yet to give the feline the velvet bag in his paw, presumably filled with her money.

"You should tell me!" the wildcat hisses, her fur puffing up. She glares at him for a second before calming down. "Look, I don't need the full story. But you have to admit, it's a rather suspicious thing for that mink to say." She is eyeing the velvet bag, hoping she still gets it. She wonders if this was perhaps a mistake.

The marten seems to shrink when the wildcat hisses at him. After all, she is a wild cat and he is a pudgy inn keeper. Not much a challenge there if she decides to go wild. The marten stands straighter however and tilt his head forward, staring at the feline like a school teacher scolding a young dibbun. "Really Miss Russet, do I look capable of hiring a pair of thugs to do my bidding?" Realizing that he is about to hand off money to a mercenary, hired to bring his enemies to justice the marten adds quickly, "Don't answer that."

He tosses her the money, "Listen...I am just as curious as to why these...these vandals told you I hired them. I only know them from the wanted posters. They were scum, both of them, probably willing to tell you anything to spare them from, what ever it was you did to them."

The wildcat leans back in the chair, considering his words and turning the velvet pouch over in her paws. "I don't know...that mink seemed pretty certain he knew you..." she murmurs. "I don't know what you're capable of, Liam, that's what worries me." She puts the pouch in her bag. "But, I suppose if you've paid me you're satisfied with the job I've done." Russet gives him a toothy smile. "So there's nothing to worry about, right?"

The marten gives the cat a light hearted chuckle, "Sure, I'll send Renata to talk you to death." Rolling his eyes he open the door and gestures for the wildcat to take her leave, "Thank you for your help miss Russet. I do hope we can meet again under...other circumstances..."

The wildcat nods at him, her mouth smiling but her eyes wary, and walks out the door.

The marten watches her leave with teh same wary smile. He lets it drop when she is out of sight. "Miss Renata, if that cat should inquire of me again here at the inn, tell her I am out." THe bat nods, finishing her pear she swollows and replies, "Oh? Need me to bury her in the garden next to the other ones?"

Rolling his eyes the marten turns back for his office. "I don't think that will be needed...not this time." Liam clutches at his stomach, suddenly feeling ill.