23rd day of Zoi - 8 Days after the fall of Thalia
Eshil, Abelsol Marketplace
@Nomad-22 @Verran @Takumi @TheSly @Lady White @Conway @Jessica2477 @ElDorado @Azurian Dream
Reina Hesitate in jumping behind Jebei and his horse. Although she did glance behind a see that Martha was following. Galloway was more sheltered than other parts of the market, and she could see a clear path through, but they were still somewhat in the danger zone.
She barely spared a glance for Sadia's presence before Korwin showed up, and while she could see the anger in his eyes she was able to hold his gaze, shifting it only when Martha followed as well. Her eyes swivelled to the man bearing the sword that followed her soon after, but she spoke only to her old friend.
"Martha, it's good to see you. I wasn't sure if you'd been in the city or not when it fell… but there's no time to talk. Gather your people, we're going to leave. I saw a map in the Inn. There's a large stand of trees in the north East side, if we go out in small groups and meet there… Less noticeable than all at once I think, and then we can talk and make a plan before moving out, whatever that looks like."
Her mind was reeling, trying to think of the best way. Politics was her strong suit however, not strategy. Still small covert groups seemed to be less noticable. She knew how people talked whenever a large party of anyone had arrived in the Main city, before all this had begun.
Her eyes glance back out into the main square where people were still fighting. "Gavril's still out there… can you get word to him too? Grove of trees on the Northeast side… I'll heal all I can there."
Evening,
22nd day of Zoi - 7 Days after the fall of Thalia
Ufral, the Border Town of Tahir
@Conway,
@Fyrra,
@Jessica2477 @TheSly
"I am not a mercenary," Esmail stated a slow smile spreading across his face. "But I was hired to protect her. Yet your healer companion is correct." his eyes shifted to Naira. "we should move on, find a safe place to camp for the night. And then, I shall explain everything that I am able."
Emotions with his hand South, towards the He motions with his hand South, towards the Eshil border. "We can make it across the line at a walker's pace before night grows too dark, and I believe my companion Joris here can find us a decent spot for a camp?"
It would take a few hours, but the road was good, wide and well paved, and shortly before the moon rose above the horizon they passed the pillar that marked the boundary between the two countries. Not that Eshil could truly count as country as divided as it was between its own people, each town and city with its own system of government and symbol. It wasn't long after that that they found a place to set up camp.
"Now," Esmail stated after they had set up places for sleeping and a good fire for warmth, although he noted that here in the grasslands it already seemed warmer that he was used to at night. "I believe you wanted explanations. Lady Sayura is the daughter of one of the noble houses of Ufral. I was contracted my her mother to protect her until she returns home. There is no time limit on her return, and it was never stipulated that the return be permanent. Thus you are simply stuck with me as a guard and companion until that time should come." His grin was sly and made darker by the flickering firelight. "I did Joris a favor here and thus he is doing me one in return…. Although one might argue that with your recent rescue everything is now even."
He glance sidelong at the other man, waiting to see how he would call the matter.
"Any other questions? shall we call it a night? or plan for the morning? or plan at dawn?"
23rd day of Zoi - 8 Days after the fall of Thalia
Thalia, Capitol City
Caradoc could feel his shoulders relax. that last pigeon must have carried this good news. At last they had a direction. He took in his orders, nodding with each instruction, clearly committing it to memory. Not a word escaped his lips to interrupt.
But when she asked for questions he nodded the affirmative. "Only one, my lordess Commander. Shall I inform my chosen team of our goal, or it it better to keep them in the dark as well?"
He would if directed to do so, but they would be heading into yet another country and clearly looking for something. Caradoc always felt it was better to let his unit have at least the basics of what they would be doing.
Evening,
19th day of Zoi - 4 Days after the fall of Thalia
Atrea, Main Road south of Nahstrand and the Great River
((Collab with
@Verran and
@Azurian Dream))
"Run you fools its catching up," a rather panicked bandit screamed as he, and his four lackeys ran from some unseen force within the forest pushing them to the limits of hysteria. Originally the group had been much larger, and had just successfully robbed a rather wealthy sum of merchant supplies coming in from foreign commune near Atrea's borders. The load had been a massive resupply of weapons well steeled ones at that meant for Atrea's army. While at the time the bandits had considered it the break of a life time the now thinned remains were in belief that the very job had now cursed them to nightmares unimaginable. The first mistake albeit was them taking to an area they new little about. A massive forest not far at all from the capital rumored to be cursed since the death of the Lords first son quite a few years ago.
"Twenty strong, and were all whats left WHAT HAVE WE DONE TO DESERVE THIS," one of the now exhausted bandits screamed foolishly causing the leader to cringe in despair. Whatever it was had started chasing them not more then three day ago, and in that time had robbed their group of horses, food, and what little comforts like tents they had. At first it was just two men that had disappeared nothing strange as sometimes after a big haul some would break off to enjoy what they had. Yet those two bodies would later turned up hanged from a tree not to far from their camp.
"You fool you've given us up," the leader gritted starving, dehydrated, and running off little sleep. The remaining men looked around hoping to hear anything that could allude to their attacker. On the second day their tents had been set afire killing one poor sleeping fool, and their horses cut loose trampling another. Six others succumbed to food poisoning, and pollution of their water tankers.On the third day hysteria had finally kicked in making the men believe someone among them was to blame, and that's when the nightmares truly began.
"Stay together if you want to live," the leader shuddered his teeth rattling as he began pulling out a hand ax ready to throw at the mere sight of someone, or thing he didn't recognize. The other men pulled out swords, and ax's alike trembling nearly unable to hold their weapons properly. The shiny weapons they now all believed had doomed them they still refused to let go. Avarice was to be their downfall even at the end. The last five were lost to an attempt to hunt what was hunting them. They had broken into two group hoping to find the bastard who had broken them down so easily, but yet again whatever it was had the upper hand. The other group had been found riddled with arrows of unnatural design.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM USE DON'T WE DESERVE TO FEND FOR OURSELVES WHATEVER MEANS POSSIBLE."
"Shut Your mouth, or I will end you myse....," the leader was seething about to impale the idiot himself until as he turned to find a arrow doing it for him. Falling backward the raving bandit's life was ended instantly upon impact with the ground with a unusual arrow sticking out out of his head. The leaders grip on the hand ax falter for a moment as sweat over took his face before gripping hard on his weapons handle. Unfortunately before he could keep what little of his men he had left in line the rest screamed in terror dropping their weapons, and running deeper into the woods. The leader stood still uncertain whether to do the same, or stand his ground. What he did know was the sudden emptiness of one of the screaming men... whatever it was had gone after his men... he had a chance. Running in the opposite direction the bandit leader with the remainder of his strength ran for his life with scenery that would feel like an endless loop. That was until at the end of his wit he found himself out of the dimmed forest into the bright outside hill top near a decaying bridge, and a flowing river below. He was out... his men were probably dead..and his spoils were all gone, but his life had been....
"Sparred is something i will not allot you," a voice smoothly chuckled from behind the bandit leader who had started to cross the bridge. Slowly the bandit could feel his heart beating out of control... what was he to discover behind? A monster, a grotesque haunted corpse, a fallen knight, one of the guards they had slain to get the weapons. What he was met with was none of those things... just a archer?
"The hell," the bandit mumble turning fully to size up the rather unnatural yellowed eyed man who was at the beginning of the roped bridge. It was just one man... an actual man. With features unnaturally normal though albeit strangely familiar as if resembling someone the bandit had once seen before. The archer had the usual design of a archer with black, and small amounts of pink underneath. Yet teh strangest thing was the archer seemed rather... noble like. As if one of those richer men you would see running land.
"Oh trust me you will be there soon enough to meet your fallen comrades," the somewhat noble looking man grinned walking towards the bandit.
"What have you to do this? Were you the owner of that caravan?"
"No."
"Did we kill some one close to you?"
"No."
"THEN WHAT DID WE DO TO DESERVE SUCH IRE," the archer halted his yellow hair slightly moving with the wind as this question seemed to give pause to the man. The bandit hoping to save his skin immediately threw his hand ax ending in a miserable miss as the archer simply side stepped with a quick reflexive response. The ax did however meet with one of the ropes holding the bridge causing a sudden jolt to violently shake the already decaying bridge.
"You stole from those that protect this land, those who deserve better tool to protect their fellow Atreains, and themselves... such treasures were not meant for honor-less Atreaian men like yourselves," the archer spoke with no remorse as he started to continue his path toward the bandit a unusual bow at the ready as he grasped onto one of his arrows.
"Honor? You hunt us like animals, and say this is done in honor," the bandit screamed grasping at straws to find a way out of this madness as running away on the violently shaking bridge was clearly not an option. Any rash movement would probably send both plummeting to their death.
"True I did hunt you like the animals you were, I did kill those that killed others in the name of murderous profit. I have done simply the verdict you have brought upon yourselves, but lets play "fair" then to your opinion on justice," the archers grin twisted a bit as he readied a arrow pointing not at the bandit, yet at the lone viable rope holding the bridge barely together. "Lets see if your gamble on life favors you, or me," he maliciously whispered letting loose the arrow as the bandit screamed in horror before both archer, and bandit fell to the water depths below. The last thing the bandit would ever see was the archer diving straight for him with another arrow already notched with what could only be described as the devils delight plastered across his face. The bandit wouldn't hit the water alive, and the archer submerged would find himself trapped in the rapids as the waters took him wherever they deemed to be fated.
The river flowed south past the Atrean Capital of Nahstrand, turning east, and then hooking to angle south again towards the ocean. This perhaps, was one of the largest rivers in the country, churning through bubbling rapids and deep pools, small waterfalls lined its course, and in places the bank was so steep you couldn't get from one side to the other if you wanted to. There were fords, and bridges, and shallow places where horses could be led to drink.
It was by one of these pools that a small Merchant woman led a soft gray donkey to the water. She had unburden the animal of his packs and set them aside intending to make camp just a little ways from the road where she would be an easy distance from the river as well. Travelers might see her tent, but it was also a secure location for the night as a rocky outcropping stood nearby which could give added protection.
If one charted the location on a map, they would find it was about 80 miles from the ocean, and 40 miles from the country's capital. Walking, as this particular merchant did, that would make about two long days one direction or one very long day the other. Neither location was her destination. She was traveling south, towards Eshil. Her course was to proceed to the crossroads, and then take the rout southwest to lake Charmont, a journey of about 160 miles, From there it would be another 160 miles to any number of border towns depending on where she chose to go. That would be about 10 days total if she traveled nonstop. She expected a full two weeks if not longer. She hoped to find places to rest and sell her wares.
This woman didn't yet have a set route to take. She was not yet that well established. Perhaps someday she might be well enough known for that. Perhaps someday people would expect her coming at certain times of the year, she could have a cart or wagon to carry her goods and a second donkey to lighten the load and make the journey faster. Perhaps someday she might even have a business partner. But that would be far in the future if at all. For now, she wanted to earn enough to pay her way, plus a little extra. If she could bring back a decent profit then maybe the merchant guild might be pleased with her, but even if they were not at least her father would know he had taught her well.
She sat down at the bank while the donkey drank, and pulled off her thick hide boots and stockings, revealing toes that had almost a paw like quality to their underside, sharp nails, and a fine layer of dark fur over the top, before plunging them into the cool water.
"Ah, My Gus," She started, talking to the donkey, "Guster I think this is a fine place for the night. Plenty of fresh water, cool green grass for you, and I have a nice set of travel fare from that last town we were at. The rocks make it safe, the road makes it profitable…"
But as she spoke she trailed off, sharp brown eyes catching the telltale flash of something pink in the water. Small, softly pointed ears sprang forward, unfolding themselves from where they had been hidden beneath the hair of her messy ponytail.
"I think… is that a man?" The pink rose to the surface of the water again and this time she could clearly see that it was indeed the shape of someone's shirt.
With a splash The woman chucked her tan overcoat, revealing a ringed tail, and dove into the water. It took a moment to fight the current and reach the figure, and another two or three to roll him to his back and pull him out. Fortunately, he was limp and the lack of struggle made it easier. Unfortunately, he was also unconscious and dragging him up to shore took almost more strength then she had in her small frame. It was made even more difficult by the fact that he still held a bow in his left hand clutched in a vice-like grip.
Once she was sure she had him out of danger of being washed away again, the merchant woman tore open the pink shirt, which had been his saving grace, to bare his chest and press her ear against it. She was listening for a heartbeat, and watching for any rise and fall that gave sign there was still breath in the man's body.
"Brother... do you think i can change the world like you, and dad? Brother? BROTHER?."
"BLAGHHHH," the archer sudden jolted to life spitting out a massive amount of water to his right side rather fortunately for the woman to his left side. As life decided he was to live at the moment the archer was finding life to be a freaking asshole. That height should have killed him, instead though it bruised his whole body, and made him experience drowning for a second time.
"At least... it wasn't... a waterfall," he breathed not exactly happily with his third found life in a watery grave situation... he really needed to stay away from water. As his senses came full swing his eyes winced in pain as his gauntlet hand screeched against the bow he held the string clearly destroyed with that last shot.
"Another failed product," he mumbled as his brain did its best to help him not get overtaken by the pain as he reverted his eyes from his weapon to the woman who had clearly saved him. About then is when he noticed the animal traits as his eyes stopped squinting in pain. She was a shapeshifter with racoon like appendages... that... was a rare sight even for Atrea.
"I give you my thanks miss. You shouldn't have chanced such dangers for a stranger," he spoke with his soothing voice rolling his shoulders as pain quickly set in again. Hilarious how twenty men could not touch him, but one bath wrecked his day.
"May I ask your name?"
"You may call me Aina, My lord" the woman responded as she folded her ears back again, adjusted her hair, and then reached for her coat to cover the tail. There was no hiding the shadowy rings around her eyes though.
"And may I ask if you know your own name? The cut and color of your clothing give away the fact that at one point you came from money or had money yourself. Pink is not a common color among the masses." A moment later she wished she hadn't spoken those words. He was in the river bow in hand meaning he had been fighting. Knowing who he was might put her in danger as well. "As for the water, I swim like a duck and what sort of woman would I be to let a man drown? Is anything broken? Can you move?"
"Guh... your mistaken miss Aina.. I am no lord... not by a long shot," he lied though not fully he was indeed a lord, but one not alive by societies eyes. With his senses now back in full tow he was able to give her a once over noticing the rather unique black circles around her eyes. In fact he noticed it so much it was rather hard not to look almost deeply into them.
"... Yes I am Lauvus Meristrom," twas another lie, but the truth was dangerous in the wrong hands. This girl did not deserve that trouble not after the unique genuine nature she had shown him.
"Its nice to see someone hearted like you once in a blue moon," he spoke looking over to his bow the string needed a better material for now he could harden the next design, but the issue would remain. He tried to stand up to get back to what he needed to do, but as soon as he was on his legs ready to distance himself from Aina his legs decided it wanted a emergency meeting with the ground as he fell flat hard.
"I recommend you make your way miss Aina, but before you go can you tell me how far the capital currently it?"
"Forty miles or a very long full days's journey if you're fleet of foot and walk with very little rest. But you're not going to the capitol right now in your condition." She both chided and answered his question as she took his arm and helped him back to a nice patch of grass near where the grey donkey was grazing.
"Even Gus knows to rest after a long day, and we are only a few hours from sunset. Rest, eat, sleep, and in the morning we will talk of destinations."
Even as she spoke Aina was in the midst of clearing the ground and preparing a fire ring, bringing out a small tender box once enough dry wood was collected. After this came the clearing of the ground and pitching of a large tan tent. All done faster than one might have thought possible until it was realized that much practice came from making such a camp on a daily bases.
As she finished the tent a number of small packages, rolled bundles, and sealed barrels were moved inside out of the danger of the weather. Each was marked in the calligraphic symbols of the Midori tongue. Only then did she bring out a bag that contained food.
"If you like I can try for some fish instead."
He had been carried rather far... more than he could have even fathomed it seemed. It seemed fate was still on his side for now, and thus he gave a soft growl before rubbing his bow ending with something of a sporadic chuckle.
"I must tickle your fancy my friendly tanuki," he smiled mischievously caving into the fact this woman was not going to leave him alone in his current state. But it was clear he knew what she was in earnest, and clearly was not bothered by it. He noticed the mount Gus a rather well kept equine of healthy notion rather friendly to with the way Aina spoke of him.
"I will take what you offer, but please understand anything you do I will consider a debt that I will pay back," he spoke strangely albeit a bit ominous, but all around seemingly genuine.
"So you hail from Midori my vixenous companion?"
"Aina, who is this?"
As soft as the breeze, Iori strode up. Blade, while still sheathed, was in her hand. Naked distrust shone from her bright. She had been some distance away, out of immediate earshot and praying her farewell to the day and the greetings of the night. Hoping that the meal would be simple affair with light conversation. Then some training and to sleep before another day of travel, prayers and, if she was lucky, a bit of bounty hunting. If still mildly lucky, a town or village that would have need of a blacksmith. However, returning for dinner had lead her to the current scene. It was classic Aina. Not at all worried about how dangerous random strangers could be. All she could hope is that her friend had not fished the stranger out of the river. Judging by the state of his clothes, however, it looked like she had. Given all that, Iori wasn't about to be as welcoming. Especially considering how he was looking at Aina. An innocent enough look, but she knew what it could turn into. Or what could be hidden behind it. As such, there was no need to be concerned with the pleasantries.
Aina's eyebrow rose as he called her vixenous, but she focused instead on his earlier inquiry.
"Yes, I hail from Midori. As for my fancy, I don't typically respond to the flirtations of strange men, but given the fact that you just stated you owe me a debt... I don't see any harm in keeping you around. We shall have to see if--"
But before she could continue further another presence made itself known. A younger woman, of what Aina would call a peculiar disposition, approached and announced herself. She did not look happy at all.
"May I introduce you to Iori, my traveling companion for the moment. After all a merchant does not do well on these roads alone." She offered a smile to her white-haired companion, ignoring the glare.
"Iroi, you might say I went fishing, and caught our new friend here. Lauvus says he owes me a debt, although I wasn't aware that Atreans saw honor in such things. I always thought that life debts were a pure Midorian Tradition. Still, I suppose that makes us responsible for each other now, at least until everything's settled. And you do know how I am about making sure all accounts are settled."
There was as much warning in that as there was promise. Aina may believe Iori to be extreme in her beliefs, od course she could hardly ask for a better companion or guard. So long as Iori didn't choose to see enemies in those that may yet become allies. And a debt, in Aina's book, was a strong thing indeed.
"...AHAHAHAHA," surprisingly Lauvus broke into laughter upon this tense moment as he was clearly being cautioned by this new person with sword at the ready to cut him. He had to admit he was for her caution that clearly balanced out the merchants kinder disposition.
"That is unfortunately very true regardless where you go, or even if your well guarded," Lauvus lulled in response to Aina's comment about the dangers of traveling these roads. Hell he had just ended one such situation after all before being fished out. Yet As this Iori was introduced the first thing he immediately noticed was her hands... not that they were ready to slice him with a Midorian sword, but for something rather surprisingly they clearly shared.
"Well Midorian culture definitely holds the term closer to heart then most countries, but you can definitely find people here, and there from other countries who don't favor not repaying those that fish them out like a trout," Lauvus chuckled before grabbing his bow in a reverse grip to show Iori his weapon was unusable at the moment anyways. He even showed her his hunting knife as a sign of peaceful endeavor placing it on the ground along with his string-less bow.
"I promise I am a man of my word. Besides I only fight unjust people, or in self defense." The first part was clearly in means of a peaceful nature yet the second was in equal par as a warning to Iori. He had no desire to fight especially with Aina having saved him, the condition his body/weapon was in, and the fact well there was clearly nothing evil about these two. Yet if Iori wanted to push the envelop she would find he wouldn't budge, or go out that easily even in his current state.
"Also lets be honest how often do blacksmiths from two different cultures meet? We should be trading drink, and techniques rather then hostilities," he chuckled his tension, and seriousness completely gone with a more jovial smile as he showed Iori his hands to prove his words with the signature look of a blacksmiths most important tool. His hands were not messed up, or anything yet were clearly covered in the marks of the trade. While that would be a pleasant switch to this turnabout the way Lauvus nature seemed to change on command would probably bring some worry. However, he was use to it social interaction was a talent he barely had even before... his life changing incident.
"No."
Iori's deadpan forestalled any overture of friendship from the Atrean and bluntly brought her continued disposition to bear. Trusting the man less with every shift in personality and countenance, she sat herself down by the fire across from Lauvus and pulled out a parcel of dried seaweed. But didn't put her sword away. Iori had no idea how he was able to pick up on her primary means of sustenance while she was wearing a full kimono and only cared as so much that it meant he was incredibly observant. Which only deepened her distrust. A man who could change faces so quickly and notice subtle details meant that he knew many kinds of seduction, least of which was flattery, or was a clear-eyed fool. Coupled with trying to comfort her that he was, at the least, down a weapon but threatening to defend himself if necessary continued to hedge friendship away and confirmed to her that he must have more weapons on him.
Either the man knew exactly what he was doing, or was completely foolish in wrapping himself in contradictory behaviors. In any event, until the man did anything untoward to herself or Aina, she couldn't do anything. "Promises are like spirits of the wind. Sacred, yet full of tales that may or may not be true. If Aina says you owe her a life debt, I believe it. While I know her capable of handling herself, I'd be a negligent friend if I didn't help her collect it to the last letter," she said before turning to her fellow Midorian with a tone that was akin to kindness. Which, for Iori, it actually was. "Aina, beyond picking up flotsam of the river, how has your evening been?"
"Well I got camp set," Aina answered idly watching the sky before digging into a bag and parceling out the evening's ration of bread and dried fruit. From another parcel of oil skin she unveiled a bit of cured ham which she again divided into three. A small notebook was drawn from a sleeve and in it she made some marks clearly keeping track of their rations.
"Put away the inventory for the night. I got Gus rubbed down, watered and fed. And I fished our new companion out of the river and revived him." She paused a moment studying the page. "I think I will go fishing after we eat while there's still daylight left. If you would be so kind to prepare some tea while I do. Wouldn't hurt to supplement our rations since I'm going to take a loss on a bed roll... possibly some arrows too unless you have enough coin on you to buy them outright?"
This last was said to the man in question, and this time there was an appraising look to her eyes. Almost as if she was appraising everything she could see on him in hopes of finding some proof that he was, as she had originally guessed, a lord.
"Unfortunate," Lauvus smiled in a soft disdain, but respected the womans wishes as he chuckled at her flotsom comment rather the rude attitude the midorian expressed. Yet there was charm to it she was set to her ways, and he respected it. He watched the two converse until the tanuki girl brought the attention back to him in a way that heavily gave what she was trying to prove from earlier.
"No worries most of my nights are spent sleeping on the ground regardless you do not need to waste your extra bed roll besides we wouldn't want this one to walk up without her extra comfort now would we," he poked fun lightly at Iori trying to alais bring her down a peg for the sack of mending some sort of easy alliance between them, or at least see if she would fluster up for fun. It had been a long while since Lauvus had companions so it would be unjust to not enjoy it a little.
"And no worries i actually craft my own gear from the fruits of the land once the soreness eases over I'll be taking a moment to gather some material to restock. Thankfully this bag didn't get swept away," he smiled showing a small medium hand made pouch from wolf skin clearly from the more hostile breed in Atreians land. Once opened it reveal a multitude of rolled bow strings each different from the next.
"These would have been harder to replace," he chimed picking out a light blue string that he started to use to rearm his bow to function.
"Had to hunt some... unique things to make these... unfortunately they have been unsuccessful for the specs of this bow," he explained as he did the final notch touch testing the string to a satisfying strum of the string.
"So then where are we heading my merry band," Lauvus had already handled the issue with the stolen gear another lord would be combing that forest for the stolen loot, and they would find it that he knew... well along with the bodies... hopefully that wouldn't create some weird ghost story for the woods.
"Well, I guess that's most everything," she said to Aina, then turned to Lauvus and curtly replied, "if you prefer the ground, then I'll not deny it from you. After all, the spirits are plentiful and the bed they make is soft for weary limbs," completely missing the light subtle jab. She did, however, recognize the 'string' for the bow. Not from her work as a blacksmith. In fact, as a blacksmith, she had hardly ever dealt with them as they were far more for the work of bowers and fletchers with the only occasional request to make steel-headed arrows. And even those had been rare as the guards from the hometown often used stone heads to save on money and resources. Preferring to commission her and her master towards blades and armor.
It was her other line of work that pulled familiarity on the strings for she had battled similar creatures herself. For faith and profit she had tracked them to their layers and drew them out to face her and devoured their hearts. In cutting to their hearts, she had seen all sorts of guts and sinew and this was certainly some strand of tense yet supple muscle. If he's telling the truth, that is, she thought with her continued resolution to not trust him. However, that would mean his heart would be worth eating. Should he turn hostile. Then, deciding that if she wasn't going to trust him anyway, she may as well try to find out why he was in the river. Even if she didn't believe whatever answer he gave. "Why were you in the river anyway. Clearly not for the for the sake of a swim."
It was at that Point that Aina began pulling fishing gear together and headed back to the river.
