[WFRP2e] The Power of One - Part 2 - "Transire Benefaciendo"

[BananaPhone]

Taalia Giovanni

The Colosseum

Taalia's eyes widened and her grip around her friends hand drew tighter still as the pair of Verezza girls emerged into the vast cavern of the Reman Colesseum. Already the crowd, half full as they were, had a wave-like echo from their voices that rolled around the breadth of the arena that gave the scene a life and spirit of its own that had already drawn its mantle about Taalia's heart and threatened to whisk her away into the fantasy of its grandeur.

"Ohh Bella, look!" Taalia would gesture to one particular architectural spot of brilliance, before another caught her attention and drew a pointed, gloved finger with another "and there!" Next to her shorter and seemingly calmer friend, Taalia looked like an over-grown child with eyes wide and nerves alight with excitement as the two took their seats in the bleachers. With marinated lamb shank in one hand and a purchased flagon of lager in the other, the shepardess fit in as an enthusiastic spectator, having removed her steel helmet and placed it at her feet so that the sun would not glint off of its polish nor over-heat its precious, human contents within. As such, the girls braided and styled white hair was on display and her scars were visible as she excitedly gobbled up the delicious, tender and flavoured meat and guzzled down her honeyed ale.

"Look!" she gently nudged Bella when the first and apparently local team emerged onto the field, their handsome and smart uniforms speaking of their discipline their violent trade required. Following them came those from Verezza, their team!, and among their number was a familiar face that Taalia had to squint at for several seconds before recognition clicked in her brain and her eyes widened. For a brief second her mind was propelled back to that initial trip she had made to Verezza, the very first little adventure she had undertaken solo, and the fun time she had had at The Pigly in the dispensation of drinks and sharing of gossip. The very recollection of this event conjured recent memories of both their departure from Bella Collina as well as the stop-over after her release from prison. Very warm memories indeed, fond motes in her mindseye that transformed Taalia's expression from one of shock to a simple, sincerely happy smile.

"La vittoria dei Golden Gallant!" Taalia shouted happily with that infectious beam across her face, her spirit clearly seized in the grip of the nature of this arena and the endless competition within its heart. If she received a few dirty or surprised stares as a supporter of a foreign team and outing herself as a Verezzan, she didn't care. The guns on her hips and blunderbuss by her side would be deterrent enough for anyone but the most drunkenly thin-skinned idiot.

Such was Taalia's apparent surge of adrenaline and joy at her current station, when the cheery halfling wandered down the stairs with shouts to advertise his clans booking, the shepardess set her ale down and drew her gloved hand up to grab his attention. She didn't click or whistle at him. Even if she were in an advanced state of inebriation the girl would not be so rude to a people she had an affection for, but when she had seized his notice, Taalia reached into her purse and withdrew three duro, hiding the coins in her palm as to not advertise to anyone around her how much she had on her person, as she surreptitiously 'shook hands' with the halfling.

"On the Golden Gallants!" she beamed.