The girl nodded. "The Midnight Flame is a local mercenary guild, and a good one at that. They're based here. They specialize in warriors, but they only have a few sword mages. Cain's one of the best. I've tried cheering him up myself, but it's about time I give up on that cold ticket..." She sighed. "He showed up at the guild looking for money, or so I hear, but he never works. He just mooches off of them for a home, but he's stronger than a lot of their mercenaries, so they don't know what to do."

Jinn looked at the mercenary, and the man met his eyes with a heavy stare, and Jinn looked away. "Anything else?"

The girl thought for a moment. "He seems to avoid the temple to Sehanine in town, though I've seen him perform rites that only the most devoted would know by heart. I also heard a rumor that the clergy is after him. He doesn't seem to be on the run though. He's quite well known around here. He's frozen good parts of the town, and parts of this tavern often enough, and he's still walking free."

Jinn frowned. "That's... mysterious."

The girl nodded. "The best way would be to ask him yourself. He comes in and spends most of the day here. Just try not to sing certain songs. Some bard came in a few weeks ago and started playing some song to the moon goddess, and he almost burned the place down."

"I'll remember that," Rileyl said, blinking slightly. "Must be a sore spot...we all pick up one or two of those after long enough. Especially we wanderers. I have walked a lonely path for so long, that sometimes I forget that."

The drowess looked curiously at Cain. His story was interesting, and it raised many questions. Someday, if she had the time, she intended to inquire further. Or maybe they could convince the man to join them. Another hand was always helpful on the road.

"Rileyl, what are you thinking? He's dangerous." Jinn wasn't sure if she was sane half of the time, or not.

Cain was fed up though. He stood and walked over to the bar. Everything about him reeked of arcane magic at the ready. "You all keep staring at me. Tell me what you want or get the hell out of here."

"Umm, hello? We didn't exactly want anything, as far as I know," the bard said. She wasn't really gratified by knowing she was right--that arcane magic could mean a world of hurt on them. Or her, anyway. Jinn would probably have runes to protect himself.

Mages, even the ones carrying swords, were generally people you didn't want angry at you. Even in plate armor, a fireball still hurt.

Jinn looked at Rileyl. "I don't think I can stop this much magic, if he ---"

He was silenced by a look from Cain. "What do you want with me? You bought me a drink, and are asking questions. You're looking for something. What do you want?"

"I bought you a drink so you wouldn't kill us," Rileyl said, relaxing slightly. He still seemed hostile, but while Cain was demanding answers, he wasn't frying them. "No harm in trying to do something nice, right? And of course we asked questions. The first thing you did when we stepped in was the freezing wind thing. That inspires a good deal of curiosity along with the shivering."

Cain laughed. "That? That was nothing."

Jinn looked at Rileyl, nervously. "Don't encourage him."

Cain turned and as he went to draw his blade, the serving girl stopped him. "Cain, don't you dare! You'll be working off the debt for weeks."

Cain grumbled and let go of the blade.

Jinn let out a sigh of relief.

Cain looked back at the pair. "I'm a sword mage. I channel arcane magic through my sword, and entwine it with the elements."

"I'm familiar with the discipline, though there are very few where I'm from," Rileyl said, doing her best to smooth things over. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance...it's nice to meet others who like to combine the martial arts with the arcane."

Cain smirked and pulled up a stool. "What style? I trained under the White Lotus myself."

Jinn was surprised the man was being nice. Maybe he was just having a bad day.

"I had a bit of the training from an eladrin friend. It was a style that had been in her family for centuries," Rileyl said thoughtfully. "I'm not sure of the name. Though to be truthful, I'm not much with a sword."

Cain gave a smirk of superiority. "Whatever."

Jinn, however perked up at last. "White Lotus? Isn't that a style taught to magic users, to specifically blend martial fighting with their magic? I was almost sent there, but I took to defensive runes opposed to offense. That's why I have a staff and not a hammer."

Cain chuckled. "Crazy pair that you are... What did you need with me, anyway? Aside from a satiating of curiosity?"

"Mostly just that. I wish I could say we were disturbing you for a dire reason, but that would mean there was some kind of purpose to the 'meandering lost' part of the journey...funny, I think the journey was all lost meandering," Rileyl said pleasantly, if a bit absently. "I don't suppose you know what's going on around here, do you? There certainly seems to be a lot of fuss."

Cain shrugged. "Nobles are taking sides in some argument. I'd know the details if I took a job. They keep asking me to play bodyguard." This triggered something as he slammed his fist on the table. "I don't play bodyguard. They should know that by now."

Jinn raised his hands. "Woah. Chill out."

Cain grumbled and shook his head. "Sorry. I'm not a body guard. A terrible thing for a mercenary, isn't it?" He laughed. "Don't worry though. I'm still good at killing and retrieving."

"So do you travel then? Or fight in wars? It was my understanding that you were a soldier of fortune," Rileyl said. "Or blank shield, if you prefer. They both carry the same meaning."

Cain shrugged. "If I have to. I haven't been contracted to a battlefield in a while. Mostly I just clear monsters off of trade routes around the island or do salvage runs. The Flame won't fire me, but they've gotten rather fed up by my refusal of contracts. The next person asking me to play bodyguard is going to die."

Jinn sighed. "So then you don't make much money either?"

"Nope."