Bree and Daisy sat at a booth. Behind them, Orion was busy being fawned over by the locals. Giant cats were ordinary in certain parts of the world but were usually very hostile and dangerous, comparable to bears as far as she could tell. Hence, the opportunity to pet a tame one was a rare treat. Orion was enjoying the attention.
Next to Bree were Jaden and Belin. All four of them were waiting to be served the village specialty, Green Meat Surprise. Bree had expected something like a bowl of green soup with meat chunks; instead, she was given a basket with an assortment of Green Crustacean legs.
"Crab legs," she realized with a smile, "how fun." Daisy looked at it and picked it up as well.
"What odd-looking food!" she said, excited to have her first taste of meat. The two copied Jaden and Belin as they broke open the shell with their hands, showing they were stronger than typical humans as they ignored the tools most would use to open the shells.
Upon cracking the shells open, Bree and Daisy took a bite, and their eyes lit up.
"So good!" Bree cheered with glee, "Even better than normal crab legs!" Belin laughed as Daisy said nothing and began ravenous devouring her food, using her teeth to break the shell. "Orion, you must come try these,"
"Orion tries new things best of all," Orion declared as he bounded to his Mistress. "Orion loves seafood," He added when he saw what he had been called to try. While Bree enjoyed some quality time with her minions and two hospitable hosts, she overlooked Doren as he approached them, waiting for his hidden allies to get to their places before he allowed Bree to surrender her forces.
Not too far down the shopping district, Olu showed Boris the kind of meats they had readily available.
"Mistress Bree simply wanted me to look, not purchase; she gave me no coin either way," Boris informed his guide.
"I see," Olu replied, "Well, either way, I'm sure she wouldn't mind If I bought you some of our city's famous Green Crabs as a thank-you present for saving a few strangers; the lake is overpopulated with the little water spiders so I bet we can feed your entire little group,"
"Oh goodness no, we have several more mouths to feed back home, and they never want the same thing; your offer is generous, and I'll happily accept, but Orion and Silver are typically the only ones who eat seafood, Although Mistress Bree did have crab last night,"
"Sounds like quite the hassle for your cooks," Olu noted.
"Oh, no worries. My husband Manfred and I are more than capable of feeding everyone three meals a day," Olu looked at Boris oddly for a moment before pointing at him in confusion.
"You're the cook?" He asked, "A skilled fighter and a cook, your master must be proud,"
"Oh heavens no," Boris said with a laugh. I am one of my Mistress's weakest Subordinates," Olu stared blankly at the news that the creature who could effortlessly kill a Giant with his bare hands was considered weak by his peers.
"I don't suppose I could join you on your trip home?" He asked, "To see such power in person would be a dream come true; I might even get to meet my match in a duel for the first time in decades,"
"It is Mistress Bree's home; you will have to ask Mistress Bree if she will allow you to accompany us,"
"I think I'll do just that," Olu decided, neither he nor Boris aware that the people around them in the shop were waiting for Doren to confront Bree.
Doren walked towards Bree as she and Belin spoke of the two nations that bordered Green Water on either side. Doren was now wearing a cloak to hide his clothing.
"Bree," he called out loudly. I require your attention. I demand you come to me at once, you bug-eyed freak." Bree's smile dissipated for a moment before she shook her head.
"I'm starting to get a little self-conscious about my eye size" She decided as she got up and walked to him, Orion and Daisy glared at him in silence as Jaden and Belin got out of their seats and followed Bree, neither looking pleased with Doren's outcry.
"Doren," Belin said as he stroked the part of his mane that stretched out to his chin and made a fabulous grey beard, "we have talked about this. If this behavior doesn't stop, you will be cast out from your place in the protectors and assigned to work elsewhere," Doren simply smiled and ripped the cloak off, the symbol of Odren's kingdom on his chest as he wore a white uniform with blue shoulder pads, metal gauntlets, armored pant, and a belt with a sheathed sword.
"You dare?" Jaden demanded in outrage, "You dare walk around wearing that bastard Odren's symbol,"
"Odren?" Bree scratched at her cheek, lost in thought for a moment. I feel like I've heard that name before." Bree attempted to place the name when Doren drew a short sword from his hip and pointed it at her.
"Kneel before me and swear to serve me till your final breath," He demanded, "Or face a swift death," Doren's smug smile made Bree laugh.
"Oh my, that might be the most pathetic offer I've ever received," she said, laughing as Doren pointed his sword at her. She expected him to swing it, but instead, it began glowing as a red circle appeared around the blade, and a much larger one etched itself into the ground around her. Bree looked down and scratched her cheek again with a smile. "Hm," she noted before being engulfed in a torrent of blood-red flames. Jaden looked on in horror while Belin jumped away from the fire and took a hefty fall.
"Dammit," Jaden grit her teeth. "You son of a bitch," She made the draw the greatsword on her back, and Doren simply pointed his sword at her. But before he could activate his spell, his sword was nearly smacked out of his hand. He took several steps back as Daisy held her Dadao in a defensive stance while Orion chose to fight the fire with a wooden bar stool.