The mid-day sun was blazing down wicked and the air was stale with moist heat. Bly tugged on the least amount of clothing and haphazardly gathered her hair up and tied it back with a leather strip.
Pale green eyes winced and squinted as she stepped out into the street and her head immediately started pounding and her stomach turned from the excessive drinking she’d done the night before.
Almost blindly she walked the cobbles, she could find the tavern in any state, a hangover couldn’t stop her from going to her home away from home.
She cut corners here and there in the quickest possible route and finally she was in the back alley of the tavern. Normally nimble fingers fretted with finding the right key and the more she searched the farther she swayed forward, squinting until her balance gave way and she fell forward smashing her forehead against the wooden wall. Her hair unfastened and spilled wildly over her eyes and the keys tumbled from her grasp.
A long string of curses spew from her lips as she rubbed her head wincing with a sour look. One eye closed, she bent forward to retrieve the keys and it just so happened the key she’d been searching for landed atop the others. She grumbled a bit more and pushed her hair back and opened the rear entrance door rather annoyed.
Once inside her eyes slowly adjusted to the dim lighting and she plopped down on a chair looking quite defeated for a new day. “At least it’s quiet and cool in here.” She mumbled to herself.
Almost drifting off, a sudden noise in the common room of the tavern made one eye peek reluctantly and she gave a inquiry, “Who’s there?” She thought she’d yelled, it sure seemed like a yell but no one answered. A sigh slipped to freedom and she pushed herself up to slowly move to check out the noise. “Probably just a damn rat…” She muttered and grumbled as she made her way.
Once around the corner her eyes focused on Hudson and she threw her hands heavenward…”Bloody hell, man! Are you haunting me?” She winced in agony from her own voice and shook her head, turning to leave.
Hudson wore a smug smile and jingled what sounded like coin. She stopped dead in her tracks and turned slowly, slightly slumped over. A slender hand lifted and rubbed her face in frustration and then raked through the mass of tangled hair. “What do you want now?” She whispered this time, trying to relieve the heartbeat in her head.
Hudson stepped slowly towards her and offered his arm in assistance. She stared at his arm a moment and shrugged accepting it. He lead her to the closest table and pulled a chair out for her and helped her settle before her took one opposite of her.
He could see the state she was in and smiled shaking his head at her before offering to get her food or water. She nearly gagged at the mere mention of it and simply shook her head. “Just tell me what you want so I can get back to dying, hmm?” A silly grin spread her lips as she pointed at the purse.
Hudson took his time, not sure she’d even remember him being there but he pushed the purse to her and told her he and his group wanted to keep her on a “retainer” .
She stared at him a moment as the information sank in and she nodded at him.
“Deal.” She spoke in hushed tones. “Now, if you will excuse me…I need a drink.”
Bly pushed herself up and reached for the purse rather greedily and smiled at him.
She balanced the purse in her palm, testing for weight. A satisfied look graced her features as she turned to go back to the rear room. “I’ll be seeing you around, Hudson.” A slight wave without turning towards him and she disappeared around the corner of the bar.