Den of Wolves
For an inn in a town populated almost entirely by werewolves, it's rather clean and warm. The stone floor, in fact seems to radiate heat. Perhaps warm water piping runs through it in the main entryway to make it feel more cozy. Off to the right is a large dining area complete with several sturdy-looking tables and a sideboard buffet. Just outside of the dining area is the main desk where a bored-looking half-fey/half-lupine girl sits. She looks bored; she's twirling a bit of her mane with one taloned finger.

The bored innkeeper yawns as Redmane and Thomas, whom are now half-wolf themselves, enter. "Welcome to the Den," she says in a very 'bored-teenager' sort of way. "Best place to date and mate, then eat and relate. How may I help you? And, ah, I must ask this who are you? I don't recognize you from town "

"We're your guests from last night," Thomas tells the girl, "Your town elders saw fit to, ah, gift us with the form during our stay"

"They did? I thought they were only planning to do that for the two hero " the girl says then trails off. Maybe she just figured it out? Her next statement confirms that as she says in a panic as she scrambles to sit upright and smooth out her messy mane, "Wait! You are Lord Thomas and Countess Redmane? You two? But, but, you were so young and ordinary! We had no idea, we thought you were just travelers. You should have told us sooner! We would have made a grand breakfast. All we have is toast, sausages, and something called a waffle. I think the recipe for them was imported recently"

"Those sound fine for practice," Redmane says, trying to smile in a wolfish way without baring teeth. "I've only had this form once before, and didn't get a chance to try eating with it. I don't want to make a fool of myself by misjudging where my mouth is, after all."

"Please seat yourself in the dining room. I'll go get the wait staff to come attend to you," the wolf-girl says. IF she were all fey, she would probably be flushed, what with the nervousness she exhibits as she darts out of the room.

"I really wish people didn't act like we were so important," Thomas mutters as he heads into the dining room, "There is no need for her to be so worried."

"It suggests to me that Abnehmenvolf is still a bit isolated, and worries about what the outside world might think of it," Redmane notes, as she lopes into the dining room. "I should have asked her to get Einsam, too. A squire needs to attend his knight at meals."

Thomas actually pulls out Redmane's chair for her. "You are taking this squire business seriously, then?" he asks.

"I had better!" the furry knight notes, and smiles to Thomas for his chivalry. "I don't want him ending up like I did, after all."

Thomas pushes the chair in. "A brutish thug with the land's most notorious troublemaker as her primary ally?" he teases, then heads to his own chair and settles down.

Speaking of Einsam, he walks out of a side door wearing, of all things, a butler's outfit somehow tailored for a half-wolf form. "Welcome to the Den, good sir and honored lady," he says, showing no signs of recognizing the pair at all. "I hope you do not mind, but I am assisting the owner this morning; he is feeling unwell. Are you familiar with the breakfast offerings or would you like me to list them?"

Thomas starts to say something, then stops and looks to Redmane. His brow arches questioningly.

"Please list them," Redmane asks, smirking at the huge wolf-man. "You should get a suit like that," she quietly asides to Thomas.

Einsam has to dig a list from one of his pockets. "Today the chef has prepared several sausages prepared from pork, lamb, and venison. I am lead to understand they are quite good. There is also some fresh bread that has been lightly toasted over a cedar fire ... and something called a waffle. I believe it is some sort of pastry-like dish and comes with a variety of toppings," he explains in a bit of a halting, almost frustrated, tone.

"I think sausage and waffles would be best," Redmane notes. "Will there be maple syrup as well?" she asks next.

Einsam has to check another list. "I believe so," he says, "But I will have to ask the chef. If there isn't, do you wish me to return so you can order differently?"

"Yes please," Redmane notes, wagging her tail a bit. "They just aren't the same without syrup."

"As you like," the wolf says as he bows. As he stands he asks, "Have you seen two fey about this morning? They are guests of our town and I fear they may get lost or into trouble. You know how fey are, always where they shouldn't be..."

"What sort of trouble do they cause?" Redmane asks next, leaning forward and trying to look 'cute' about it.

"Well, the male knights often try to seduce the women. I fear it is some silliness about walking on the wild side of life or other such nonsense," Einsam notes and shakes his head, "Except they always run off should their trysts produce children. At least I do not think the town need worry about that from the woman knight."

"Dear, we should leave him be so he can place our meal request," Thomas notes as he reaches over and pats Redmane's hand.

Redmane mmm-hmms. "What do we need to worry about from her then?" she asks. "And surely a big fellow like you can protect us from her, right?"

Einsam actually barks a laugh. "Her? There isn't a warrior in this town that could equal her. She is thankfully kept in check by the male she travels with, even if she is not aware of it herself. If you meet them, note her scent. It changes when he is around. She is ... conflicted about him, but I suspect cares for him considerably." The butler-clad wolf then bows before departing. "I will return should the kitchen lack syrup," he promises.

"Hmmphf, for all that, he doesn't seem to recognize my scent now," Redmane notes. "A squire should be more observant. And I'm sure he's just confused - must be your sweaty funk cloud reacting to my own, cleaner aroma.."

"Mmm-hmm, I'm sure that's what it is," Thomas muses, "And are you sure he didn't recognize you? He could have been playing with you..."

"Maybe he does, but I haven't yet seen him relax enough for it to show," Redmane notes. "Do you think he's relaxed now, even in that getup?"

"Family, probably," Redmane suggests, and asks, "Do you think he's told them about Bravil's remains yet?"

Thomas thinks about that. "Doubtful," he admits, "I imagine it is a touchy subject. I expect him to wait until he can speak with the elders."

"I've already spoken to Priestess Ilrine about it," Redmane says. "She said she'd take care of the funeral arrangements. I wanted to mention it at the official welcome ceremony."

"What else did you discuss with her?" Thomas asks. "I ... well ... the wolves were feeling playful, so I indulged them. They didn't believe I could always find a way out."

"Oh, this and that," Redmane notes. "She recognized my scent, since she had my original armor all set out on display, whopping-big tooth-marks and all. It was a really nostalgia trip."

"I hope I was left out of the 'this and that'," Thomas remarks. "It was a lot of work to keep myself out of the history..."

"Oh, she mentioned you'd requested that.. but there was a painting with you in it, of course," Redmane says with a grin.

Thomas grumbles. "Why won't anyone let me keep my activities in the background?" he complains.

"Well, that would make people suspicious," Redmane asserts. "You need to be bold and set an example to follow."

"Followers are trouble," Thomas grumbles, "And then I'll be expected to show up at formal affairs, dress well, and be all ... polite."

"Is that how I seem to you?" Redmane asks, looking serious suddenly. "Sure my attendants tend to over-dress me, but I'm not miserable or feigning politeness.."

"You hate the over-dressing," Thomas points out, "And just wait. Soon you will have other nobles sending their sons to court you. You've only seen the start of it..."

"Well, once you announce your intentions, I won't have to worry about that," Redmane teases.

"My intentions? I have no idea what you're talking about," Thomas claims. "Oh, right! Are you sure about that? I would expect it to get worse..."

"Besides, I'm still not fey, and would be gone for good lengths of time anyway," Redmane notes. "Plus, who among the fey wouldn't be intimidated by me or my horse, other than you?"

"Most of the knights, I wager. I don't think you intimidated Tristan, for example," Thomas points out. "I don't think Einsam is intimidated by you, either."

"He also isn't likely to want to court me, either," Redmane notes. "And he did say no warrior here is a match for me."

"That implies that you think you could beat me - in a fair fight," Redmane claims, giving Thomas a sidelong glance. "You do fight fair, don't you?"

"Not in the slightest," Thomas remarks. "I have no intention of being killed by you again."

"You killed me the first time," Thomas notes with a mysterious grin. And it's right then that the door opens and Einsam returns, carrying a tray piled with food. "The spirits are with you, syrup was available," he says.

Redmane's mouth is hanging open at Thomas' remark, but she closes it when Einsam arrives. "I hope it won't stick my mouth shut," she says instead. "I wonder if werewolves can eat peanut-butter sandwiches safely.. hmmm. Anyway, are you going to join us, Einsam?"

"It would not be proper to join guests at the table," the wolf says as he sets out the plates of sausages and waffled. He does pause, though, as he is setting down a carafe of syrup. "How did you know my name?" the wolf asks and then leans a bit to peer closely at Redmane. "No ... " he says in obvious, wide-eyed shock. " ... Redmane?"

"You mentioned the importance of memorizing my scent, Einsam," Redmane chides. "Did you forget to take your own advice?"

"You don't smell the same," Einsam remarks with a sudden return of that stand-offish edge he had when they first met. "You have wolf musk," he adds as he stands up and finishes setting out the food. "I hope my ... display of servitude amused you," he mutters.

"You don't have to be so ... gruff with us," Thomas notes as he takes a couple sausages from a plate. "We are not your enemy."

"Humility is important in both a squire and a knight," Redmane notes. "I'm glad to see that I don't need to teach it to you. I clearly need to teach you what knights are, however."

After recovering himself, Thomas says with an odd air of authority. "And yes, he will be joining us," the fey-wolf says. He even looks directly at Einsam, daring him to challenge him.

Redmane lets out a low growl, and grabs some sausage and waffles. "Knights are not thugs or mercenaries," she claims. "Power demands respect. Disregard the rules, act recklessly, and you reveal yourself to be a fool or worse - a Golden Hawk. Knights represent the Law."

"If it weren't for us, there would have been a lot more bloodshed. Not to mention the lair of the Year's End would not have been found," Thomas points out. "I represent law as much as you do, Redmane. Just a different aspect."

"Knights don't get to sneak around and spy or scout," Redmane notes. "We fight on the front lines, and lead others into battle."

"And would die without the information we provide," Thomas points out. And just as Einsam is about to slink out, Thomas adds, "Sit."

Redmane uses a lot of syrup, despite the risk of getting it in her new fur. "Thugs.. just where did you get that idea? Thugs act out of anger. A knight must be able to gauge his opponent's strength and act accordingly. Losing one's temper and rushing into battle only benefits one's enemy."

"Border skirmishes," Einsam mutters as he selects a sausage for himself. He avoids the syrup, unlike Redmane. "There was a feud with November a few Months before your return."

"Razing of villages not involved in the feud is," Einsam notes. "And I saw armor-clad knights doing it."

"Not Knights of Mirari," Redmane argues. "A suit of armor doesn't make a knight. A knight never uses force aginst the defenseless, and only uses it at all when absolutely necessary. Your ancestor taught me that."

Einsam sighs. "I'm not Bravil," he remarks. His tone was unusually soft when he said that.

"I don't expect you to be," the she-wolf says, after gulping down a sausage. "It isn't your destiny to replace him, but to be an example to your people."

"Other will. Look at what is expected of you," Einsam notes. "And if I fail ... " HE shakes his head.

"You win some battles, you lose others. No one has all the answers or is perfect," Thomas offers between sausage bites. "Such is the way of the world. The only true failure is never trying."

"Hah, you think I had the training that you'll get?" Redmane barks in laughter. "Squires study letters, etiquette, horsemanship and combat. Everything a knight must know. I never got to be a squire, myself. Before becoming part of House May, I was a 'sparrow' knight - a knight with no master who travels to smaller villages solving disputes and routing bandits and monsters. I was taught how to fight, and learned the rest as I went. It took me a long time."

"I think Redmane is losing the battle with syrup," Einsam comments and motions towards Redmane. True enough, her muzzle is getting quite sticky.

"Before she won the tournament, she was wandering the land and working for money. I think she may have even offered favors to men, given how she introduced herself to me," Thomas notes ... right as Redmane looks ridiculous as she tries to remove (and ends up spreading), the syrup.

Stuck her face may be, but her hands are free! Redmane takes a swipe at Thomas for that remark!

Thomas valiantly defends himself with a sausage! It falls before Redmane's mighty claws!

"How you two were able to save the lands is beyond me," Einsam notes. "You are both ridiculous."

"We're comfortable here," Redmane argues. "We take our opponents seriously when.. when they're worth taking seriously! Now, how do I get this stuff out of my fur? You're my squire, you should know these things."

"You have someone else clean it," Einsam explains, "Who can see where it is and if it is spreading."

"Fine then," Redmane says. "One of a squire's duties is bathing his knight, when necessary. I'm sure not going to let Thomas do it. He'd stick more stuff on my face."

"What makes you think I'd hit you?" Redmane demands. "I'm not a violent person!"

Einsam demonstrates why he thought that ... by leaning over and licking Redmane's face.

The she-wolf just freezes for a moment. "You.. wash with your tongue I take it, regardless of form?" she asks.

"Wolf forms tend to, yes," Einsam explains, "Which is why I asked. We should retire to a private room to continue."

Thomas is currently finding his waffle very interesting. Probably to avoid laughing, really.

"I suppose I've eaten enough," Redmane mutters. "And you aren't too slobbery. You're coming too, right Thomas? I'm sure you'd want to see me get slurped, after all."

"Who, me? I shouldn't get involved with you and your, ah, wolf-friend," Thomas claims then begins wolfing down his waffle. "I wonder what Ilrine is doing..." he remarks, then burps.

Redmane growls, and then stands up. "Right, let's get this done. I don't want to be all sticky for the official welcoming ceremony later," she claims. "And you can tell me more about these skirmishes, such as which dukes or barons were involved.."

"Well, you two have fun! Hang a sock on the door so I'll know you're still busy when I get back," Thomas remarks as he pushes his plate away finally. "And don't do anything I wouldn't do!"

"Hm? You are not in heat; now is not the proper time for such things," Einsam explains as he rises. "Perhaps in a month or so. Then you would be receptive..." Well ... maybe he does have a bit of a sense of humor.