The crowd broke into a joined roar, some were elated and others were groaning their disappointment. They simmered down some, gold exchanged hands and they cleared away from what was a large pit. formerly used for storage no doubt. The victor climbed out, hands in the air above his head whilst the loser was helped out, nursing a bruised face and ego.
Venom looked back down at Tallia and whispered to her.
Be at the ready but do not unsheath your weapon until I do, ok?
He made his way towards the one that lost. }Trying to determine if the person seemed like he was a fighter or just an ordinary person forced to fight, he also waited to see what his captain's next move would be.
Well then. Venom established the man looked like a fighter, he was being massaged on his shoulders and another man was seeing to his injuries. People were excited and none were in chains which was a good start.
Meanwhile, Marg had caused a minor ruckus by barging through the crowd and making demands. A couple of people took the opportunity to slip out the door and the crowd murmured. Those who didn't know she was captain of the guard already knew now.
The victorious fighter looked at her with a grin. He wasn't impressed but swung his thumb at someone else.
"Ee is."
The man indicated looked like a merchant mostly but was of a foreign persuasion. His moustache was curled and he wore a turban on his head. He also had a parrot on the turban.
Margrett rolled her eyes and called Venom and Tallia over. She spoke quietly to them.
This is a legitimate business as long as they have their papers in order. I want you to look for anything suspicious. Don't get into any trouble, that'll just cause a scene. Talli, stay with Venom or I. Cathians are considered a slave race in some places. You probably know that, but let's be cautious. She turned away and walked up to the turban man.
Morning sir. Just saw one of your fighters outside and wanted to double check your papers. No harm done or intended I assure you.
While Kerag and Marg were busy asking what was going on and who owned the place, Venom felt he needed to do a little intel himself. He got closer to the fighter who just lost and spoke to the two people attending to him.
The boss requests both of your presence. We're here to releive you and look after this man.
Venom tried to bump the guy away that was massaging the fighter and began to massage him himself. He tried to seem confident so they would believe him.
The two men that Venom and Talia had just shoved out the way stood there, looks of complete disbelief on their faces. One of them piped up.
"Oi! I'm his bloody trainer mate and I don't work for no one. Boss my ass!"
The fighter on the other hand looked up and saw Venom, smiled... and then jumped out his seat. He tripped over Talia and fell on his ass, much to the shock and awe of everyone there.
"What the... Hey!! That guy just groped me!"
Meanwhile Margrett was talking to the odd looking man with the facial hair and turban. As she spoke he nodded and when she was done, he spoke... with a thick accent.
"Yes yes, very good I see. I know this and this is good too so you and me, we have some time do we not? Yes yes very good I see, how much you want? I pay extra for naughty girl you know, yes yes."
Margrett sighed and picked the man up by his lapels, slamming him into the wall. She spoke calmly even as she held him off his feet.
I always try to be civil. Once. Don't give me any shit, you know who I am. Now. I'm going to let you go. If you show me your business papers I'll forget you said that. If you don't I'll take you in for assaulting an officer. She raised an eyebrow.
Plan didn't work out as he had thought. He grinned and stepped away from the fighter and next to Tallia.
Sorry about that. I am here with Captain Mikael on patrol. We want to make sure there's nothing illegal going on in here. We have suspicion that the fighters are being forced to fight against their will. I have a few questions for you.
The sudden movements of the fighter's reaction causes him to step over Tallia's tail, drawing a yelp and a fierce growl. Already tempted to draw her sword, she instead heeds to Venom's words and positions herself silently beside him.
The fighter looks at Venom with a thoroughly baffled look.
"You're... you're a little special aintcha? Not right in the head?"
The crowd around them laughed at Venom then, finding it quite funny. However, this was distracting them from Marg manhandling the merchant and plotting her next reason to remove her armor against her own 'will'.
The man with the funny this and that looked at her quite shocked but smiling. His breath smelled like a camel and his parrot hopped onto Marg's head. It pecked her hair and found a gnat. A juicy one.
"Paper? Yes yes, I see this paper you see? Much paper! I give you paper! Lot's of paper! You strong like bull, you fight, I give much paper! You like paper pretty lady? Paper much good for you!"
Margrett, not even remotely considering removing her armor, dropped the man but kept a hand on his collar. She turned to the crowd. There was no way he was the leader of this charade. She yelled over the crowd.
Okay, who is the real boss here? This joker can't even speak. Or failing that, who does his paperwork?