Islas de Abaroa seven days after the fall of Thalia

Down the dock, following a man with a thick grey beard, hearty laugh, and a pension for succeeding at gambling, came another man of a rather different sort. Young as a spring breeze and just as light with a shock of black hair, the man colored his speech to make laughing conversation with the old sea dog who seemed to have a liking for the man whose dress, despite having a black base, was colorful and festive. Most notably was the two swirling designs that nobody could seem to agree if they were clouds at dawn and dusk or open flame. The sun seemed to glint in his green eyes as his nostrils flared, taking in the sea breeze. Upon his back was sword and sack, both of which held all the young man's worldly possessions along with a series of simple brown spheres with twine sticking out of them on his waist. Up the gang plank they went still chatting up the day. The takeover had never touched their conversation.

"Ahoy, Captain!" the first mate called, "this the new crewman?"

"Aye, Rendan Hadomi is his name."

The ever suspicious first mate squinted at Rendan, "how'd ya meet?"

"Ha! You sound like me wife."

"I am your wife!"

"Then there won't be a worry! See here, Rendan has already earned his first pay!"

"What?"

"Met him in the pub."

"Course you did."

"And he caught a cheating scum from robbin' me at cards."

"And he didn't catch you?"

"Course he did. But he knew I was the better man."

"Ha! So what'd he do?"

"Well, I was playing me good game. The ones where I win by just enough," the Captain whispered, But the scum was cheatin to beat me just a bit better. An' the pub I was in was one of those where ya can't just call out a man without solid proof."

"So what yer saying is that you can't tell if ya being cheated."

"Shush woman! Anyway, Rendan here had figured out we were both cheatin. He came on over and, at almost random, tripped. Spilling something all over my opponent's cards. Two of which wilted! Fake cards they were and obvious proof a cheater! I got a nice handful of coin and, in return for this generosity, I've taken him on with a day's pay. He says he's a fighter and willin to share his skills in creating neat little tinctures."

The captain's wife glared Rendan up and down, before saying, "alright, boy, you git moving those barrels below deck while I talk to the captain."

"Mam!" Rendan saluted jovially before settling into work as the wife began to berate her husband.

Rendan Hadomi ambled across the deck, an easy grin having split across his face from since he had been taken on. It'd been too long for him to have been at sea, even if the ship hadn't even left port yet. Taking his time, he began to roll a barrel towards the central grates. He was pleased to see that nobody was moving quickly. Case in point was the lad with an absurdly thick coat for the weather simply staring off into the sky. Completely distracted.

After moving three barrels, he finally settled upon a plan. Quietly walking up behind the redhead, Rendand softly placed a small stick with a wick. A quick little flick of flint and steel caused a soft hissing, prepping the sparkler pop.
 
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Arell McCain
Islas de Abaroa
Quietly trying to determine the weather through sheer guesswork to pass the time, the mage was vaguely aware of the Captain coming on board and from his wife's tone, he gone and did something to earn a scolding. Likely went and gambled quite a few earnings away or something. That man was something else, but he did let Arell stay, and the redhead would forever be grateful. Amber eyes widened suddenly at a sudden hissing and popping noise that cut through his musings, with a small 'eep' he whirled around to face whoever was behind him, and almost by instinct the tome at his side was held up, in his hand to be flicked open in warning. "Rohan, I swear to-" he paused the moment he saw Rendan and a look of confusion crossed his face. That wasn't Rohan, the fighter he spoke to not too long ago. In fact, Rohan was actually some distance away still helping move crates and barrels.

"A swordsman?" Was his first inquiry upon noticing the sword at the man's back, before he shook his head for a moment. "Not important, don't startle me like that!" He spoke with slight embarrassment, letting the tome return to his side for now. "Who are you?" He asked almost immediately after, confused curiosity getting the better of him for the time being.
 
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Islas de Abaroa seven days after the fall of Thallia

Rendan held up his hands in mock surrender, grinning broadly at Arell's reaction. Really, it was so easy to get the rise out of people. Despite that, it never got old as he engraved the small 'eep' into his memory. Seeing the boy's face made Rendan realize just how young Arell was. A mage too...even better. Mages tended to have the more...explosive reactions. Certainly, they weren't safe to be around when they wanted to throw fire or anything else. But the chaos that caused made it all the more fun.

Without dropping a beat, the warrior gave a bow. "My name is Rendan Hadomi. Swordsman, alchemist extraordinaire! Who also works and lives as a seaman. And who might you be my new, casting friend?"

Still, he wondered why the kid wore such a coat. The sun was high, bright with a bracing sea breeze. Yet there he was, sitting contentedly in a large, thick coat without even a bead of sweet upon his brow. While Rendan knew that it was really boredom with the mundane task of moving barrels that drove his fascination with the coat and he openly stared at it.
 
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Eshil

Jebei was rendered silent by the woman’s revelation. As the horse pressed on the path, the rider took everything in what Reina just said. It all makes sense now. No wonder those bandits were after her, spirits above I really stepped into it this time. The young nomad silently told himself.

The horseman can hear his father’s voice, lecturing on how he is so nosy and constantly getting into trouble for that nature. Even so this not like pulling a prank on relatives for laughs. No this involved life or death. For others the price for the princess’ head would be too much of a temptation not to turn her in or simply abandon the girl to an unknown fate.

Fortunately for the fugitive, Jebei was someone who preferred to keep his word. This wasn’t any different though admittedly a greater challenge. Once in a storm one must endure or perish. That was a proverb the old tribal shaman would say in his lessens. Sure Thallia wasn’t his country, and he wasn’t exactly keen on taking on an entire army but Reina should at least have a chance to escape.

A minute later Jebei spoke up.

“Gratitude Reina, I know it wasn’t easy to confess your identity to a complete stranger. Though in the future it would be best to be very selective with whom you share this information if at all. We will get you to the village and figure what to do from there I swear.”

Saying so they spent of the journey in silence until hours later in the darkness of night they arrive to the settlement surrounded by palisades. After speaking with the watchman, the small party entered. “We’re here.” Jebei whispered to both Reina and Temüjin before stopping at front of a humble inn. Getting off the mount and helping the royal down he quietly commented.

“Alright keep your hood on and don’t say anything to others unless necessary. I’ll pretend to be a mercenary paid to escort you to your merchant father if anyone asks us. You can come up with a name, and I will go along with it. Now let feed me our tired friend here, and we’ve get something at the tavern.”
 
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Arell McCain
Islas de Abarosa
Arell listened to what Rendan said with a small bit of amusement, and once asked about himself he gave a small smile. "I am Arell McCain, nothing more than a mage aboard this here ship, though is something the matter?" He asked, so used to being around those on the ship who have long stopped questioning about his clothing some time ago that it didn't even register as a reason for why the swordsman before him seemed to be staring at it.

For a moment, he wondered if he had something on his clothes or face that intrigued Rendan so, but came to the conclusion that it couldn't of been that. Thinking on it a bit further, oit seemed to dawn on him what it might of actually been, and he felt like a fool realizing it.

"Oh, is it my style of dress? If so, then you see I get rather cold easily, and in fact catch cold rather easily, though I'm used to wearing this often." He explained, rather vaguely at best. There was no point going into too many details about something he found a bit trivial and something he believed to be unimportant about himself.

"You said that you work and live as a seaman, if you don't mind me asking, how did you come upon that profession?" The mage asked then, amber eyes alight with curiosity and almost childlike interest. It had been some time since he talked to anyone so close in age, and sometimes Rohan wasn't so fun to talk to all things considered.
 
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Islas de Abaroa seven days after the fall of Thallia

Rendan grinned. "Pleasure to meet ya, and good read on my look," he said, tucking the 'chilling' tidbit of information away and wondering whether it would be better served for pranking or as some forewarning to how much Ginger root he was going to need. Eh, I figure that out later. While the answer was likely both, the swordsman put the matter aside to figure out later. "And to hear how I came to the profession of seaman is both a simple tale that can be exceedingly complex for it is nothing short than the story of my life."

"But for the sake of brevity, I shall simply say that I was born and raised into it. My father was a fisherman in the Hotogi lagoon that is upon the bay to the sea. My mother loved the swamp and reeds and so lived there as well, gathering ingredients for poultices. One day, she got on his boat and, so it is said, never got off. Thus I was born the the lulling waves of the sea and the crickets of the lagoon and was forever spellbound by both. I'm certain that leads to answering your question, but if you want the rest of the first chapter of my tale, stay seated and give me a nod. Then I'll abandon brevity and, with levity, tell the rest of it, true as true."
 
Unable to spot any signs of a coming attack from his position, Cade furrowed his brow and squinted his eyes somewhat as he focused in hard on the horizon. Still nothing, though something wasn't sitting right in his gut. Without warning, he leapt off the wagon and landed off to the side of the caravan that was still moving along rapidly. The end of the train was approaching - an opportunity to join back up with the merchants, but Cade had already made up his mind. If the bandits wouldn't bring the fight to him, then he would take the fight to the bandits. Brash and foolhardy though it may be for a lone Fighter to face off against an unknown number of enemies, he would much rather take them on now than whenever was to their advantage. As the last wagon raced off past him, a short gust whipped past him, causing his clothes to rustle in the wind as he stepped forward brandishing his axe.

"Your quarry is long gone, bandits. I am all that remains - come and face me!" An obvious taunt, bellowed out over the plains, but Cade was never one for subtleties. All that remained was to wait and see who would be hooked by the bait. As the moments ticked on, Cade slowly entered a fighting stance, prepared to take on any foe that emerged.
 
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Paige Spiros
Interacting with: @Hieronymous Phantom, @Fyrra
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Rudolf’s merchant caravan had employed plenty of people other than their lone security guard. There were those that needed to set up for market, tend to customers, and keep track of inventory. To do this, a merchant would hire seasonal workers to help manage his wares. That was where Paige Spiros came in. An orphan raised in Atrea, the girl was making her first journey away from childhood. Her orphanage, run by the religious order from Thalia, would have let her stay. She knew her fate if she stayed: most girls would go straight to the convent. Paige wasn’t ready for such a fate. She had her own dreams to pursue. But dreams cost money, money she needed to make it out of Atrea.

Paige thanked her lucky stars she was dumped at an orphanage that gave her an education. Reading, writing, and basic arithmetic were still uncommon yet highly desirable skills to a merchant. She had no problem selling her skillset to Rudolf. And so began a week-long journey inside a wagon. The only thing that ever broke the monotony was the news of Thalia’s downfall and the security update from local mercenary Cade. She knew nothing else of the man other than his name.

Paige soon found out another fact about Cade: he was prone to foolhardy decisions. She watched from the rear wagon as the fighter stayed behind to face whatever brigand brigade was waiting to rob all of them. It seemed quite unfair to leave him behind while the rest of the caravan made for the mountain pass at record pace.

“We’re just going to leave him there?!” Paige exclaimed to the wagon driver.

“Better him than us!” came a curt reply from the driver seat.

Paige found that answer unsatisfactory. She wasn’t about to turn tail while a single man stood his ground on their behalf. The girl jumped out of the back of the wagon, nearly tripping her landing. She ignored the pleas to get back in the wagon and ran straight for Cade.

In response to his taunt, Paige followed up as she neared the tensed-up fighter.

“And me as well!” the girl shouted back to the woods, paying no heed as to whether she caught Cade by surprise. Though her size was dwarfed by the fighter, she saw them as equals in bravery. Indeed, she felt far braver with her wind magic at the ready. It didn’t even occur to her that she never used her gifts against another person.

There was a first for everything.

((Continued in collab))
 
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Continuing a hurried pursuit toward the caravan-train, the pair of brigands found themselves beset by a single warrior, taunting with an obvious bluff. Assuming they weren't delayed for too long, they could still catch the caravan by surprise once they made camp for the night. The axeman grumbled and paused when his adversary was within charging distance, while the archer glanced beyond the short blockade.

"Just these two, and an entire caravan's plunder awaits us," assessed the archer as he drew an arrow. "We shall feast like kings this winter. Come, I'm right beside you."

"Boss, that girl's 'ardly a woman." The brigand failed to hide his disgust at the thought of murdering someone he viewed as a child. "Le's jus' push through."

"Do you see that book she's carrying?" The archer patted his accomplice on the shoulder. "That is a mage, and you will underestimate her at your own peril. But if you prefer, just worry about the big guy for now. We have friends on the way, after all."

With that, the two charged for Cade, the archer stopping to take an opening shot before Bucktooth moved between them and leapt into the air, his axe gathering momentum for a powerful (if easily dodged/countered) opening strike.

@Hieronymous Phantom
 
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Gavril Daulfern
Mentions - @Falcon @Nomad-22



Since the fall of Thalia, Gavril had been cursing himself every single day. The council chamber had been attacked, and while he stood his ground to fend off as many as he could, the priestess had managed to escape from the massacre. He had received word that Reina had fled from Thalia completely and was off on her own in Gods know where doing Gods know what. Without another second to be wasted, he mounted the pristine white Ecru and took off to find her.

He'd been trusted by not just his commander, but Lord Elias and Lady Teresa to protect their daughter for as long as she breathed (or until he was officially reassigned). Gavril wasn't upset that she fled; he was more upset that he hadn't been told where she might have gone, or some sort of direction that wouldn't have left him lost.

He's been tracking her since the day Thalia had fallen, but on this day, he could finally have peace of mind.

Gavril's pegasus flew quickly through the skies, the knight searching atop the forest leaves in search for the girl who had been leaving tracks. He had searched for days and days, and eventually, he saw alone wanderer with a green cloak on. The green cloak was a lot like what he would have to wear if he was trying to hide his identity... The chances of this girl being Reina were low, but... At this point, all he could do now was risks.


He steered his mount down towards the path, landing behind the green archer and galloped Ecru to ride alongside him.

"A moment of your time, please."




Ludivine Daulfern
Mentions - @Falcon @Nomad-22



She stayed silent behind the bushes, watching as Reina and Jebei interacted. They were going on the move, and since the horse wasn't moving at too quick a pace, she stayed low and moved silently. Fosc was still around, she was certain. With one click of her tongue, she could command her good boy to go in and wreak havoc. Maybe startle the horse enough to lose its mind... Hmm, no. The archer man seemed very in tune with his horse. The animal may refuse to buck him off no matter how startled it was...

Ah, just how loyal an animal could be was amazing...

She heard hard gusts of wind coming from the sky.

Ludivine looked up, trying to find the source.

A flash of gold, silver, and pink landed gracefully a few steps behind the archer's horse. The Wyvern Knight's eyes widened in both shock and dread seeing who it was.

Gavril, her older brother whom defected from the Stanislav military and defied her father's wishes. He had fled during a combat exercise and never looked back... Her father wished Gavril had died a slow and painful death for abandoning an amazing future. But here he was, coming into step with the archer and asking him something.

Oh, Gods...

She felt like she was going to be ill; she slowed her breathing to calm herself down. If anyone knew her combat style, it was him. Father trained them both hard and mercilessly. Gavril would certainly be capable of taking her down, if not wearing her out long enough for that damned archer to take her down.

Ludivine would have to be extra careful. She couldn't be caught; not now.

 
Martha Fabre
Eshil
She had been stuck in Eshil for seven days. Seven. Days. She heard no word of her family since the news of the fall got to her, and this left her sleepless and angry. She wanted to march back to Thalia and see if her family was still alive, though one of her companions that came with her at the request of her father suggested not to. If her family was dead, that left her as the sole Fabre, meaning that her safety was currently the upmost important. If anyone were to ask her, she considered the Thalian Princess and Prince's life more important than her's.

So, she spent her time in deep thought, despite her companion, who had been by her side for the longest, to try and distract her and keep her spirits up. It worked for a while, mostly.

"Lady Martha, do you really need to wear your armor today as well?" The woman asked, causing the blonde to turn to fave her.

"Yes, I want to train for a bit. Then maybe get a drink by noon." She replied. By drink, she meant drinks. Sighing, the woman smiled and shook her head.

"Lady Martha, if I didnt know any better you're trying to become a drunkard." She muttered, earning a chuckle from the young noblewoman in response.

"Perhaps Gertrude, perhaps." Martha sighed, moving strands of hair behind her ear. Taking a moment, she prayed that the Prince and Princess were alright, before greeting the day with a couple of stretches at the very least. She still sometimes considered returning to Thalia, whether Gertrude advised it or not. For now however, she'd keep eye and ear out for anymore news on Thalia, and hopefully about any survivors. Unless Gertrude was withholding any information from her...

Gertrude felt eyes boring into the back of her head and sighed under her breath. She wasn't sure what Martha was thinking, but it likely wasn't anything too good.
 
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Reina, Daughter of Thalia's Mediator and the High-Priestess of the Church of Ages, travels south into Eshil with the nomad Jebei. Their Goal is the village of Abelsol. A prosperous town for merchants and a decent place to catch up on some rest. Neither knows of the trouble that waits for them there. Rather they are far more concerned with the presence of the Pegasus Knight Gavril who has just joined them.


Chapter Two: The Village of Abelsol


Hearing his promise to see her at least as far as the village, Reina let herself relax against Jebei's back. That meant she was safe, at least for the moment, well as safe as any two people sharing a horse could be.
"Thank you," she murmured, letting herself drift off, trusting the horse not to let her fall. she was so weary all she could think was to take this chance while she had it.

It was the second pare of hoofs that roused her. The familiar rhythm was that of a Pegasus and not a horse. She shifted slightly trying to make herself open her eyes when the voice spoke.

"A moment of your time, please."

Reina knew that voice, she had heard it nearly ever day for the past year. Cautioning her, comforting her, the way an older brother or an uncle might.

"Gavril?" She whispered sitting up a bit, and sincerely hoping Jebei didn't think worse of her for leaning on him. "Gavril!" her eyes wide and expression hopeful she let her hood slip just enough that he could confirm her identity in the dusk. "Jebai, it's okay, this man is an ally." It didn't even occur to her to doubt his loyalty, even knowing his origins and adding in the fact he was out here alone. "Gavril, this is Jebei. he promised to get me safely to the next town." And again her certainty in the belief that promise would be kept was clear in her words.

As she studied her guardian the moonlight gleamed off his armor and she winced. The traditional gold, white, and teal of Thalia was far too obvious. "Um - Gavril, do you have cloak or something you can cover your armor with?"

Her face fell when she learned the answer was no.
Fortunately, they still had a little time to work something out before they reached the village

***

“We’re here.” Jebei whispered to her as they arrived at the Inn after passing through the palisade. “Alright keep your hood on and don’t say anything to others unless necessary. I’ll pretend to be a mercenary paid to escort you to your merchant father if anyone asks us. You can come up with a name, and I will go along with it. Now let feed me our tired friend here, and we get something at the tavern.”

"I'll sit in the room while you get Gavril inside," she assured Jebei as she helped him get Temüjin settled. It may have been a while since she last tended a horse, but she did remember how, and the noble animal had definitely earned his comfort. "You know full well that was the only reason he agreed to be snuck in. Otherwise the watch would have know my identity in a heart beat the moment they saw his armor." Her voice shook a little.

She was more awake now and thus more opinionated, but she had learned her lesson at caution and she wanted to be sure he knew she wouldn't be reckless. "And uh - how about calling me Rachel? It was my teacher's name so Gavril should catch on easily enough. We can get food once we're all together and I'll - I'll try to answer any questions you have if you like." It was a risky offer but Jebai already knew enough as it were. No point in hiding anything from him.

Fifteen minutes later she sat alone in their room while Jebei set out to get their noble Pegasus rider past the palisade unseen. Fortunately, they had acquired a nondescript brown cloak that could hide that fancy armor.

It had been good luck she had plenty of coin on her. It had helped sell her identity as Rachel the daughter of a prosperous merchant trying to get safely back to her father in these trouble times. They had been able to get two small rooms attached to a shared small living space. The sort a lady and her escort might request. Not that the innkeeper or Jebai knew exactly how much she had on her. She might have to figure out how to make it last, but for now one night selling the story wouldn't hurt.

Now it was her job to wait. To wait and not draw any attention to herself. Reina gazed out the window at the lantern-lit street below, watching for the return of the men. A woman crossed through the light and Reina hastily jerked her face back from the glass. That woman had been wearing the garb of the brotherhood. Perhaps this town wasn't as safe as she had thought.
 
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Tiberius DeTymerand

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Tiberius was flying, literally soaring through the air; armor rattling as the wind struck it. He could feel his mount, a creature of quite some enormity between his metal covered legs. Its massive heart thudding hard against large ribs that wrapped around its internal organs. The wyvern was one of the largest, if not the largest of the stock; a total overall length of 85-feet, standing at 20-feet tall when erect and a wingspan than reached 80-feet she was a giant among wyverns which did not measure up to largest of dragons. Aarcherre had a short face, with jaws that were nonetheless a serious danger, but no beak to speak of; broad smooth browplates jutted over her eyes, and long, flat coppery-green horns extended back from the browplates in a series of segments. Aarcherre also had backswept cheek ridges and frills on the backs of her jaws that swept forwards slightly. Layers of triangular blades jutted down from her chin and as she got older more layers with larger spikes formed. She had a long tongue that extended to a single point.

As a hatchling, she had scales that had been a ruddy brown hue with a metallic tinge but as she grew older, the scales became finer and more a coppery-green, assuming a fine gloss by her young-adult stage. Her pupils had faded with age and they grew to resemble glowing turquoise orbs. Aarcherre had large manta-like wings that exposed the red and green mottling along the trailing edges. The upper alar limb was exceedingly short giving the leading edges a U-shaped profile when viewed from below. The wings ran the length of her body, almost to the tip of her tail. The main portions of the wings were supported by three phalanges. Spines sweeping backward at an angle from the backbone supported the remainder of her wings. Her tail had a large bulbous club-like protrusion at the tip of her tail and on it, a harpoon-shaped spike that was serrated on both sides; she could perforate a horse, its rider and a man on the other side all in one go. What's more, her fangs produced a deadly toxin, even the likes of a dragon couldn't resist for long without succumbing to it. While wyverns weren't dragons they were related, but dragons were typically stronger, were quadrupedal rather than bipedal and had some sort of breath weapon be it flame or ice.

Dragons were magic driven creatures; wyverns were just beasts.

No, they may not have been as majestic as dragons or as colorful and pretty to look at as a pegasus, but they had loyalty in them. and that meant something to him. It was something he bled. Aarcherre didn't let anyone but him ride her. He understood her better than any would-be rider could. He tamed the untamable. He never felt so free as when he rode Aarcherre. It's like the shackles and chains of being a marked one fell to his feet and he could move, he could breathe again. All those years of servitude, all the lashes scorching his skin, searing scars into it. Then the many brandings he'd endured that littered his body, his existence nothing more than one fealty sworn after the next. A slave to one man, bought and sold to another. It was why he always wore layers; no one wanted to see the unsightly and unsettling marred body of a man who'd seen and been through such brutality.

As he rode across the skies of Thalia, war was upon them. Brought to their doorstep by Stanislav and he pondered, seriously contemplating for the moment what the right thing to do was in a situation such as this. Smoke rose as high as Aarcherre was flapping her massive wings. He could smell the bloodshed that was being spilled in the streets; the fighting was still going on in the northern portion of the capital. He had to get to Ludivine, he had to get a progress report. But, upon seeing a woman and her child beset upon by the rank and file cavalry, a chain reaction occurred in him. A chord was struck in him, a line drawn in the sand that had been cross. He dove down between spires and the monuments; the air whirring around them like a tempest before the creature caught it an up draft and it stopped hovering several feet off the ground before dropping her powerful hind legs to the ground, cracking the cobble stone streets. Climbing from Aarcherre he marched calmly towards the captain threatening to behead the two pedestrians over gold.

The helmed Tiberius clanked loudly and with heavy footsteps as he proceeded towards the captain. Stepping up the horse, he grabbed the weapon brandishing man by the gambeson and hauberk without pause or hesitation, and catapulted the man straight from his stirrups into the wall. Tiberius then drew his bastard sword and went to work displaying discipline and honor. The rest looked on as Tiberius aimed the blade towards the captain whose name he didn't care to know. The man picked himself up quickly enough, wiping the blood from his mouth he ran towards Tiberius feeling humiliated. Gripping the ricasso of his sword with his gauntlet, Tiberius half-sworded impaling the man befor shoving him off the blade with his shoulder, flipping the the blade and smashing the cheekbone of the man inward as though the pommel were a mace or a hammer sinning the man's body completely around before it dropped, lifeless.

"Do we look like common fucking bandits?!" Tiberius shouted angrily.

"N-No sir!"

"Do we look like raiders or pillagers or thieves?"

"No sir!"

"Then why the hell are you all standing around acting like them!? Get your asses moving and get these people home--safely." He swiped the blood from his sword and sheathed it. He moved past the woman and her and her child before mounting Aarcherre who hissed and flapped her wings sending a powerful gust of wind sweeping through the streets as she shot up like a rocket, spiraling around a rounded tower until she was level and well above the city and it's walls. He proceeded onwards. Ever forward.

=====================================================================================================
 
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Arell McCain
Islas de Abaroa

Arell listened closely, not a sound leaving him. Rendan's words were rather poetic, and entranced Arell quickly like a good book. "The way you word it makes me want to know more, if you are really alright with sharing more than you have so far that is." Sitting on a crate, he gave a nod once Rendan finished speaking. A sign for him to continue, but also had to voice his thoughts to make sure the other was really fine sharing such things in great detail. He didn't want to be a bother after all.

The noise of the ship and the bustle along the streets below nothing but background noise, and almost like an odd sense of deja vu, Arell could remember a scene somewhat similar years ago when his mother would tell him tales of her past, how she had met his merchant father and so forth. He missed her so, but the cloak he wore was a reminder of her and would be something he held close for the rest of his days.

Rendan, Arell will admit, had a way with words. He wondered if the swordsman ever considered becoming a poet or writer? He had the talent for it it seemed. When it came to sharing about himself, he doubt it would be as captivating as Rendan's tales, but that was alright with him.
 
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The village of Abelsol 20 miles south of Thalia
In collab with @Falcon presenting "A Knife Night!" Part 1

She's not headed to the Brotherhood Hall, but why? Korwin thought as he watched from an alley. Far be it from him to simply stalk the cheery woman who had merrily tried to induct him into their mad cult. At least, simply stalk by darting with a mockery of stealth from shadow to shadow, alley to alley as she strode down the dirt boulevards. No, once again, his old cloak had served him well. That, along with some abandoned tarp, had served to make him into a wandering beggar with wrapped walking stick whose cloaked form only inspired the imagination of some decrepit and diseased man with a voiced that scratched a prayer for alms. Naturally, everyone avoided him.

He had left Gonz at the inn. Landed Lighthouse or some similar name. Wasn’t important as he knew where it was and could easily find it again in the dark. Korwin assumed that the trader believed that he was getting drunk early so that their conversation would be minimal on the next day. And while he agreed that liquor had its lure, the vagabond wouldn’t dare let it affect his senses. Especially not tonight. Initially, he’d watched the Hall directly, begging for alms. However, never to be satisfied without covering all his bases, Korwin had employed the most reliable and indifferent information network of any town. His disguise itself, the homeless. A few copper coins and he had eyes and ears at every entry to Abelsol. An investment worth it’s weight as, as the night began and no sign of the would-be recruiter showed itself, one of the beggar boys he’d hired came running up. She’d been seen by an exit, but not using it. Leading Korwin to his current location, squatting with the refuse of the town.

Now, there were only a few reasons why she’d not be home this late hour and Korwin, despite wondering why, had a good guess which one was accurate. The happy recruiter suddenly, after passing an inn and three more buildings, turned sharply into an alley. Korwin didn’t move. If his guess was right, he’d be seeing her in a few seconds. They ticked away and, on precise cue, the woman returned. No longer a recruiter for the Brotherhood, she now appeared as some barmaid. Dressed in brown skirts and a white blouse that bore the attempts of being clean, but time and labor had obviously stained them beyond salvation. She even had a stained kerchief to mat down her brown hair. Against his best efforts, Korwin couldn’t help but appreciate her speed. Always the efficient one, he thought as she came saucily up the street. Into the inn she went. Ten seconds later, the noise coming from the inn increased.

Her ploy was obvious. Least, to him it was. She had a target was moving in for the kill. Not that it particularly mattered that she was on the hunt tonight. In fact, it made the cover up all the more convenient. After waiting a bit, to give her time to leave the bar, Korwin rose. Then dropped a copper to the boy who had told Korwin about where the now maid was. “Stay,” he commanded, “and wait for my shout. You’ll be earning more copper if you do.”

“Yes sah!” the lad chirped, slipping the coin into a fold of his cloth. Korwin strode onto the street, no longer acting as if he wizened and decreped and untied the front of his travel stained cloak, revealing the armor underneath. The blade came off his back and, with a good twist and shove, returned to its proper place as the head of his Naginata. Lastly, he placed his draconically designed helm upon his head. Despite how obvious he looked, Korwin knew that taking any chance with her was just as likely to turn the table upon him. He entered the obnoxiously noisy inn.


****


Summoning Reina from her musings, she hears a soft tapping upon the door. Reina stood, and carefully set aside the book she had found. losing herself in its pages was not going to work this evening is seemed. "Jebei, that was faster than I thought you said you'd be--" she started as she opened the door. But it was not Jebei on the other side.

Instead, there stood a young maid, grinning brightly. With her, she carried a platter with a bottle of uncorked wine and a glass already poured. "Sorry to disturb you, madam, but the keeper insisted upon sending up some refreshment," she said, "he said it wouldn't be right for such a generous guest to not be properly pandered."

Reina glanced over the girl and the wine in a moment. Something didn't quite fit, but she couldn't put her finger on it. "Of course," she answered stepping aside, "you may put the tray on the table and return to the innkeeper with my thanks." Watching the tray in the girl's hand she suddenly knew what was bothering her. The bottle was uncorked, and the glass already poured. It was traditional to do the things in the presence of the guest so that they might know nothing had been tampered with. But that was all right she could wait for the girl to leave and then dispose of it. Reaching into her pocket she pulled out a copper penny, "for your trouble." It was the lowest denomination she carried, but still plenty generous for the scenario.

"Oh, why thank you madam!" she cheered, "I shall be certain to pass your compliments on. Although, if I may be so forward, m'lady..." The maid looked both ways down the deserted hallway, then leaned forward with all the air of letting Reina in on a secret with a slight beckon from her free hand.

"Yes?" Reina answered stepping forward and leaning in. Perhaps this was someone inexperienced with proper procedure come with a warning? She never saw the danger of being in range of the girl's hands.

Then, quick as a viper, that same hand snapped out and jabbed sharply into Reina's throat. Before the princess could even raise her hands reflexively to her throat. Before even the first choking gasp could be made, the maid's hand pistoned back and fired again, slamming her palm into Reina's head. Staggering backward, eyes watering, Reina scrambled to recover. She couldn't breath, could barely think, certainly couldn't call for help. Could she escape? But the maid was so fast.

The maid continued, as if nothing had happened. "I think the innkeeper bought too much of this stock," as if whispering a secret. Entering Reina’s chamber, the maid simultaneously set down the tray and closed the door with her foot. Grabbing up both glass and bottle, she said, “truth be told, I believe the keeper bought so much, that we all might choke upon it.”

Darting forward with sudden, light agility, the maid launched her assault. Reina, still trying to recover her voice, desperately blocked the first kick, the second, and then even the third. But blocking was one thing, surviving was going to be another. She had to get the door, had to get to the hall where people could see. She could hear the girl talking calmly even as she attacked, making it sound as though it was Reina herself who was throwing the fit. But just when she felt that there may be a chance to surviving the assassin’s barrage, the wine bottle came smashing in across Reina’s temple. “Madam!” the woman cried as wine and glass spilled across the floor, the picture of distress, “I’m sorry that the wine is not to your liking!”

Sweeping the stunned princess off her feet and sending her to the ground with a crashing thud, the woman continued speaking. Tears even forming in her eyes as she begged, “Please no! Forgive this humble servant! We didn’t mean to offend!” Mounting and pinning dazed princess to the ground, the assassin clenched Reina’s cheeks, forcing her jaws open. “I promise!” she cried, then dropped her shouting down to a soft, gentle whisper. Full of cherries and sunflowers. “It will all be over soon.”

Reina's eyes glued to the goblet, her head swimming, but something clicked with the girl’s words. This wasn't an attempt to capture her, this was an attempt to kill her, but the politics didn't make sense. She coughed an shook her head, her breathing started to come easier as the pain from that first blow to her neck began to slowly fade. She coughed again and managed one choking word. "Why"

Behind her, her hand scrambled over the floor, searching for something, anything she could use to defend herself with.

The assassin stalled for an instant, processing Reina’s question, before bearing down upon her. But in that instant, Reina’s hand found a book and, acting on instant, brought it flying around. She smashed the goblet from her assailant’s hand. Whose face, to the maid’s credit, didn’t even twitch from her teary-eyed smile as she whipped out her backup, a long knife. A sudden crash, not from down below, or above, but in the immediate room whipped both Reina’s and the assassin’s head around.

Barreling through the now smashed open door with his cloak streaming behind him came a man in dark armor with strips of riveted plate and a horrendous, sweeping helm with the snarling face of a dragon. He held a long spear with a long, curved blade at the end. The maid immediately rolled backwards and off Reina as the spear impacted into one of the wooden posts, right above Reina and just where the maid’s chest had been.


****


Expected dodge, he thought. She was already on her feet. He wasn’t about to let her have any more momentum than that. Although he did note that the woman she was about to execute had blue hair before fully committing himself to the fight. He threw the butt of his naginata at her, which she blocked with her arm, serving to also wrench free the blade. The maid tried to rush in, but a quick step back from Korwin allowed him to drive the but of the spear at her again, forcing her to skitter back.

A quick pinwheel of the staff brought the blade facing the girl and keeping her back. She deflected a quick thrust and took a step into his guard. Hook, he thought. A chop. Another deflection. Another step. Line. With a quick step back and twist, Korwin let the maid’s own thrust go skidding past him on his armor. Sinker, he finished as, with her fully into his guard, he used the closeness to sweep the assassin’s legs with the back of the blade. The follow through brought Korwin’s weapon high. As if the reaper’s scythe was just about to thresh off the girl’s head.

"Stop!" Reina managed to choke out laud enough to me heard and she got herself to her knees, stiff struggling for breath. "We need-- to know-- who--" she chocked on on her words but with another breath managed to finish the sentence, "--sent her"

Her head was still swimming but she had managed to focus on one question, the question she had asked earlier, "and - why--"

Korwin hesitated for less than an instant before twisting forward and stamping one foot upon the arm that still had the knife before whipping the blade to a centimeter above the maid's neck. Finally, he considered the blue-haired woman for the first time and held back a laugh. Grateful for the face guard that hid his features, it surely wasn't grim and straight, for it all made sense. Here, in front of him, was Princess Reina. Of course, she'd try to kill the Princess. Deciding to play along, in a roundabout manner, he said in his typical deadpan, "rope, bedsheets, or curtains. Get them."

Still coughing Reina managed to push herself to her feet and with a little effort pull the top sheet off the bed. She staggered a little handing it to him.

"You, aren't -- here for me." she stated between wheezing breaths. There was a moment of clear certainty in her voice. "Which means-- you aren't working-- for ..." She hesitated, Jebei's words of warning on saying too much ringing in her head.

Instead she crossed the room to the door intent on closing it against further intrusion. Fortunately, it had been unlocked when the armored stranger burst in and the damage wasn't too extreme.

Meanwhile, Korwin busied himself with flipping the assassin over and tying her hands while liberating her knife. Roughly, he stood her up. "Save the questions. We need to move," he stated. The stairs are a no, for obvious reasons, he thought, the roof's too high. Meaning... His gaze danced over to the window. A slow smile peeled across his face. "She'll have eyes on this place. They'll act if she doesn't come out soon. So, we move now."

Reina simply stared at him dumbfounded for a moment as she registered what he was saying. Her breathing was more stable now, but with that came an awareness of the pain his her head where the wine bottle had been smashed. Was he really suggesting they leave? Was he trying to save her? Or kidnap her himself? "My escort is supposed to return here," she started, trying to find his expression under the mask. But his eyes were shadowed and she could read nothing.

He rolled his eyes. She clearly didn't quite have a grasp on the situation. Korwin decided to enlighten her. "Put it this way," he said as he forced marched the maid over to the window, "either we leave with your would-be assassin, or I leave with her. Your choice. So, if you want the chance to question her, I guess you're tagging along. Also, don't think of calling for help now that your voice is back. If you do, I'll kill her with her knife and leave you the mess to clean up. Which, sure, you can pin on me, but I somehow doubt you want the attention less than me. Furthermore," he continued to forestall any counter argument, "I don't care if you believe me about her having hirelings. You can stay here and wait for your escort when they decide to burn the inn down to make sure everything becomes a muddled story to the guard. Lastly, regarding your escort. I have my own eye who can hang around and send your people on to where we will be." Having gotten close enough to the window, but not so close that Reina could push him out, he checked the street. Clear of any annoying bystanders, perfect.

She weighed her options carefully. If the inn was being watched she knew she wouldn't have the ability to fend of another attack. Besides Gavril was out there. If he could find her on the plains the first time, then he could find her in a single town the second. "Fine," She choked, "But I get to leave some sort of sign that I'm alive for them." She did her best to hold his gaze without looking away. It wasn't easy staring at that mask. "I promise to be fast. And if we can go through the stables I can leave something only someone who knows me well will recognize." As she spoke she made a point of picking up her staff and bag.

Korwin sighed. Some form of conscience finally getting the better of him, but he held her gaze equally. He forced the maid to sit and, using more of the sheet, gagged her. "Get whatever you need. But take only a minute," he said before ripping off a significant dangling length. "We'll get the chance to go to the stables once we leave the building. You'll need to be quick, but I'll call my boy in the meanwhile and tell him what to do." He opened the window.

Thinking quickly Reina grabbed a scrap of paper and wrote on it a single word, guessing at the spelling "Temüjin". She hoped it would be enough. Of everyone in town Jebei alone probably knew the name of his horse. Once in the stable she had a feeling she could leave something Gavril would recognize, at least, if Jebei's horse liked her enough to let her touch him. If not she'd find another way. a moment later the scrap had been tucked inside the book she'd been reading which was then placed standing upright on the room's little desk. all this took mere seconds to achieve, after which she looked at the stranger as if daring his to complain about her being slow.

"You can call me Rachel," she stated bluntly as a signal that she was done and ready to go.

"Sure," he said by way of disbelief, "and I'm Agato. Now hold still." With a surprisingly delicate touch, he wrapped the length of cloth around Reina's bleeding head, bandaging the wound. He then, without further ado, hoisted up the maid and, with a look of shock on her face at the sudden speed and notable direction, hurled her out the open window.

"She'll live," he said, before tossing out his naginata and jumping out after her. Rolling to his feet on the landing. He dashed and grabbed both girl and weapon, before looking back up at the window expectantly while shouting, "boy!" into the night. The girl had not fared as well on the landing, far more skidding than doing a successful roll, and now looked as if she were cradling a broken arm.

His answer was enough to tell Reina that he probably did know who she was. That was not the best news she'd heard all night, but then he bandaged her head and left her dumbfounded. Well at least if he was kidnapping her, she knew he wanted her alive. That was something. And then he was jumping out the window after tossing her assailant out first.

She offered up a curse a girl of her breeding was not supposed to know as she peered out after him. It was clear he expected her to jump too. Fortunately, Reina at least had been taught how to fall. and important thing to know in the event you ever ended up on a Pegasus. Reina had never really had that intent, but considering the people around her it had been a legitimate possibility.

Carefully she stepped up onto the window seal and turned to face the room. She left backwards, clutching he bag to her chest, and bending her knees slightly so that when she hit the ground she could tuck a foot and roll across the leg to land on her rear. It worked well enough, but even bandaged her head was left swimming and full of pain. She lay flat on her back a long moment trying to let the world right itself before she slowly rolled to her knees and tried to stand again.

"Stables," she murmured to indicate she understood they couldn't waste much more time.

“Surprised you didn’t ask me to catch you,” he muttered back, but it was clear he was grinning. And, for the first time tonight, Korwin found himself truly surprised. He was actually enjoying himself. Really enjoying himself. Maybe I should find murders to stop more often, he thought idly. Then dismissed the notion. Such fame would be more trouble than it was worth. Then again… his train of thought almost continued as the beggar boy ran up.

Tossing the boy a copper, he said, “keep an eye out for a couple of blokes who look after a horse in the stable that lass…”

“The one with the blue hair, sah?”

“The one with the blue hair,” he confirmed, “That that lass is going to. Tell them to go to the Landed Lighthouse. Then you and your two cousins come find me for more work and copper.” Pressing a few more coins into the lad’s hand, who shot off thereafter, he glowered at the assassin who, despite the change in events, seemed quite relaxed about the whole affair. Then again, Korwin didn’t know why he imagined that she would behave any differently, no matter the situation. With a sigh, wondering how he truly felt about the night so far, he followed Reina over.

With the dizziness fading Reina was able to walk a straight line. Unlike the man, who now seemed happy about something, she was not having a good time at all. She had much rather nothing eventful had happened so she could actually sleep in a bed for once. Still, "Agato" as he called himself seemed to be keeping his word about letting her leave a message.

She entered the stable quietly, trying not to scare the horses, and quickly found Temüjin right where he had been settled. "Okay, my friend," she whispered calmly, "I need you to do be a favor and let Jebei know I'm alive okay?" She approached carefully, letting the horse get used to her presence and remember who she was. Fortunately, he didn't seem to mind too much and she was quickly able to plait several braids in his mane. One of which she made a point to tie of with a strand of her own blue locks.

"There," Reina stated when she was done. Gavril should understand that well enough. “I'll follow you obediently now, as promised.” She knew it was a long-shot Gavril would remember, but then a year or so wasn't too far gone. The first time Ecru had ever let her get close enough to touch him without Gavril right there, the Pegasus had let her braid his mane. Light but she hoped this worked.

"Thank you, my new friend," she whispered to the horse before they left.

Korwin waited with as much patience as he could muster, looking around as he did. No obvious signs of any hired cronies, but he had no doubt that the assassin would be so foolish as to not have any eyes watching them right now. He had a method of dealing with them though. When she had finally finished braiding hair as some sort of sign, not one he’d ever think to make, Korwin took the lead. Striding out into the night at a blistering pace of a walk, he forced the assassin in front of him while yanking off her kerchief. Letting go for an instant, he tossed it to Reina, saying, “get your hair under that. And wipe some grime on yourself from the ground and walls as we pass. With that, a bit of luck and some time, we’ll get to a quiet spot tonight.”

Sharply, he turned down into the alley where a couple beggars squatted. Shifting his polearm into the crook of his arm, Korwin said, “mug whoever follows us,” and dropped a handful of copper. Reina did as she was told without argument, for once.
 
Eshil, Border Area
Flashback
Jebei felt Reina rest on his back. In his culture, for someone to hold onto to a rider like this usually meant some kind of bond either as tribal kinship, blood relations, or...The horse archer slightly blushed some more and shook his head at the very idea. She is just exhausted that’s all. Don’t get any notion it’s anything beyond that.

Jebei softy sighted. Reina had lost her home and needed rest from what he assumed will be an uncertain future. She couldn’t afford foolish distraction, least of all from him. The green clothed rider and his mount suddenly picked up noise coming from the sky. Alarmed, Jebei turned and saw an armored man on a winged horse landing behind them. The nomadic warrior was about reach for his bow when the stranger asked for a moment of his time.

Narrowing eyes in suspicion the son of the Batu tribe was about to reply when Reina now awaken spoke, revealing that she knew who this man was. Must be one of those knights I hear so much. However, the sight of an actual pegasus, overtook his attention. The stories barely describe the magnificence he now saw from the winged beast.

Temüjin immediately noticed and let out a whistle of sheer delight, making his rider realize the pegasus judging by how smitten his four legged friend just gotten. Embarrassed at Temüjin’s antics, Jebei shush the mount who grumbled back in annoyance before nodding at Gavril who certainly needed some sort of disguise. Bringing a bundle he subsequently said.

“I am Jebei of the Batu. Let me give you this extra cloak to conceal yourself from where we’re going. It’s not much I’ll admit but better than nothing.”

Village of Abelsol
Present
Things have gotten more complicated than they originally when the dawn first rose. Nothing in the visions could’ve prepared him for any of this. Fighting and fleeing bandits all to protect a total stranger who turns out to be the heir to an entire nation. If he hadn’t just experienced those events hours ago Jebei would’ve considered it all just another legend shared around campfires. He could only grinned at himself after Reina left for the inn and proceed to clean and feed Temüjin in the stables.

“This has been an eventful day hasn’t it old friend?” Jebei asked the steppe horse who snorted in a boastful matter. Suppressing a chuckle, the nomad added.

“Of course you were the gallant hero as always. Though I don’t think you’re going to have any luck with the winged beauty close by.”

Temüjin fired back a whine that sounded like a retort catching his human companion off guard. “No it’s nothing like that. Only we just met after all. We’re going to help her here and that’s it then we will be on our own way.”

The horse bobbed his head and grumble in an sarcastic tone. Groaning with frustration Jebei muttered at the stubbornness of his friend before he decided to go check on Reina. As he did so Jebei found walking alongside Gavril, heading for the same destination no doubt. “Try not give yourself away too much.” He remarked without looking at the Knight as they entered the inn.

The words contained a tone with more heat intended much to Jebei’s internal confusion. Deciding to put that out of mind the young man turned the next corner he saw Reina’s door wide open. Without hesitation he drew his bow and arrow and ran inside, finding the room a mess with signs of a struggle. Panic began to set in Jebei before he noticed a paper close by. Grabbing it he read the one word and recognized it as his faithful stead’s name despite some misspellings. Looking at Gavril he whispered so no one else can heard.

“Back to the stables.”
 
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Islas de Abaroa seven days after the fall of Thallia
With @Takumi


Rendan grinned at Arell’s nod, swept his own leg to sit down, and began. “So I said I was born to the lulling waves and chirps of crickets. Few births could hardly be so enchanted than mine. Least, enchanted to being what I am today for the salt of the sea and fume of spices were infused into my blood. My swaddling days saw me bathed in these mixtures. But when I was old enough, I was running up and down the deck and quagmires. Now, you may be wondering how I began my tour in alchemy. For, being the first son of a fisherman, my life upon the sea may be obvious enough. But, you’ll recall that I said my mother never left the ship again. And this is true, she never did. After all, my father’s first love was the ship. His second, my mother. And I, as the third, was delegated to my mother’s every whim.”

“As can be guessed, I took to the swamps as naturally as the sea. There is a magic to it’s filth, especially at night with lanternlight and fireflies dancing across a black sea full of reeds, snakes, and herbs hidden under the mire. Not that it’s safe at night. Nor in day, but more so at night. In the day, you might spot the snake or gator, even though the bog is the greater danger. Deep pulls hid in the reeds and muck that will, with ease, suck you down and to drown and suffocate you. You need to have a sharp eye on the water for, where there is slight, continuous swirl and isn’t fish or gator, there is a drowning pool. But at night, only sharp ears will tell you where these pools are, and even they play tricks.”

“And that isn’t even to speak of the magic that rests upon the land. But, ah, the first mate has turned her eye upon me and she is not looking pleased to see this merry leisure between new friends. Guess, I’ll lift the barrel before she lifts her voice and return to work. Look forward to my next chapter, where you’ll meet my sister, a swamp witch, and the gator Magado.” He gave a jaunty wave and began rolling his barrel across the deck, under the fierce glare of the first mate.
 
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Gavril Daulfern
Mentions - @Nomad-22


"Shocked" could not describe the surge of emotions he felt when he saw that the woman on the back of this man's horse had been Reina. His garbage luck had finally pulled through for him! He'd found his charge and could finally keep his promise to the commander, to her, and to her parents that he would ensure her safety. Though the hugs and reunions would have to be saved for later. Reina and this Jebei boy had a task at hand, and Gavril would be more than happy to assist if it meant keeping Reina safe.

He inwardly thanked the Gods and the stars that Reina had managed to find someone willing to accompany her, though he had to wonder what motives this man might have had... Reina was very trusting, but Gavril wasn't.

The whistle of the bowman's horse caught his attention and brought an amused smirk to his lips. His pegasus looked the other way, hiding behind her mane.

Ecru was a shy one around other horses, but her confidence and bravery shined on the battlefield. She, like Gavril, had been raised purely to fight in wars, which was what drew him to this horse in the first place.

The Pegasus Knight stroked his horse's neck a few times to assure her everything was fine until Reina's companion formally introduced himself.

"Pleasure. I am Gavril. Thank you for keeping Reina safe in my absence."

He took the brown cloak offered to him with a "thank you" and rode into town with the two of them, inwardly hoping that nothing would go wrong again...


~~~


With Reina at the inn, Gavril had to take a moment to take his pegasus into the stables and hitch her a stall away from Jebei's mount. Ecru liked her space and enjoyed her moments of peace when possible given that she was used to screams, blood, and commands. Since the male horse seemed to fancy her, Gavril wanted to make sure she would be able to hide or engage in horse conversation if she wanted to.

"You did great girl," Gavril reached into his pouch and pulled out a sugar cube. He let his mount eat it from his hand then gave her some petting. "Good girl..."

With his mount comfortable and content, he promptly left the stables to go check on his charge. Jebei walked alongside him, though Gavril didn't have much to talk about with the other man.

Upon arrival to the room, the knight was immediately on high alert.

"Kill me, with fire..." He murmured to himself, quickly looking around the room with his eyes for any clues of Reina's whereabouts.


Gavril had just found her, and now, the world had decided to take it all away again. Gods, he had just gone to the stables for a minute! And not a day later he was back to square one again!

Damn it all!

"Back to the stables," Jebei whispered to him, lips barely moving as the words were uttered.

Gavril gave a very subtle nod, confirming that he heard him. He quickly walked with Jebei back to the stables, doing his damnedest not to look like a panicked fool that would garner attention on them. He wondered how he was able to keep his cool while they returned to the stables.

"What did that paper say?" He asked the other man, wanting an idea of what had happened. Gavril's mind had jumped to the conclusion that Reina was in trouble (again) and wanted to know if the paper was some sort of note from Reina or a ransom.


Ludivine Daulfern
Mentions -



Ludivine knew she should have packed some civilian clothes, but Fosc wasn't a cargo wyvern... She couldn't remove her armor without running the risk of someone attacking her, but entering the city was a necessity if she wanted to stay on the princess's trail. Her jumpsuit would stand out a bit as well, more particularly the color of it. With her features and the colors of her clothing working against her, Ludivine may have to watch the city's exits. She would be watching for a pristine white pegasus, so it wouldn't be too difficult to keep an eye out for them. Ugh, things were never easy, were they?

She clicked her tongue, accompanying it with a whistle to call for her wyvern.

Fosc was a little ways away devouring a deer he had just killed. Hearing his rider's call, he began making his way towards her. While she waited, Ludivine began thinking of a plan.
 
The village of Abelsol 20 miles south of Thalia
In collab with @Falcon presenting "A Knife Night!" Part 2


Korwin led them at a sharp pace, pausing only at random and healthier looking beggars to drop them some money and command them to mug any who followed them. He did this a total of nine times. All through it all, he kept to the alleys, backstreets, and places where refuse piled up. His patterned seemed random, but Korwin's twists had a methodology if one cared to pick it up. The further they went, the worse the smell became. It was hard to say when it first penetrated their nostrils. What with Korwin's already dirty form from being a destitute for half a day, the would-be murderer's tumble from the window and frequent scrapes into muck, and Reina's occasional ointment of her own muck.

But it became clear as the night wore on as the lanterns became fewer and more sparse. And the stronger it grew, the faster Korwin moved. His long legs carrying his armored form ever onward as if he were some jackal stalking the night, or some hound with a purposed mission from its master. As if the stronger the smell grew, the more Korwin strengthened. Or maybe it was the excitement of the events. Or perhaps, just possibly, it was as the night waxed, so to did he. He didn’t dine to start the conversation. To him, it was far more interesting to see if Reina would say anything. Question any of it. In fact, he was already testing her mind and will. How far will she follow me, he wondered, how open are her eyes? Does she know what she walks by? Where she is heading towards? Or, in short, how naïve is she and does she know her naivety to question where she wanders? The plated jackal almost laughed. It had been a long time since he could play this game. Longer still since he had been the questioner. He’d forgotten how fun it was, to simply have fun.

Reina successfully got the kerchief over her bangs as they walked and pulled the hood of her cloak back up for good measure. She let herself stagger as she needed, so that the muck and grime of the alleys he led her through spread in a reasonable pattern over her garments. she would not be caught because it looked fake. She didn't worry about the dirt on her hands either as she wiped sweat from her face. That too could only add to her persona she was instructed to carry.

She said nothing as they walked and he gave instructions to those they passed to mug their followers. She said nothing the second time, or the third, or even the ninth. In fact Reina didn't speak a single word the entire time no matter who or what they passed. She had given her word not to call for help, and she would be seen to honor that promise.

Yet as they walked her face became more somber, a sadness crept into her eyes. This, she knew, was the real world, and a part of it she had been sheltered from her entire life. Part of her wanted to offer help, and yet she knew that that instinct was not the smartest course of action. Had not Gavril once warned her of the dangers of letting her heart lead instead of her head?

And so she swallowed her words, and followed as quickly behind him as she dared. Only when he paused for a second to check if she was still there did she speak, making sure she was close enough and quiet enough not to be overheard first. "I've trusted you with my life this far, but when we get to our destination, I do have questions--"

He could almost feel her form slump as sadness came upon her. Although it amused him, and told him that she was, indeed, paying attention, Korwin was grateful that it took as long as it did. Her demeanor had been useful in completing the façade. And when she finally spoke, he did laugh into her trailing words. Or rather, chuckle darkly at her words. “Questions? Good, I’d be disappointed if you didn’t. Still, I wonder if they’re pertinent to what you see and fail to envision, or to our friend here. And if you truly trusted me with your life, then you wouldn’t be so…” he cast around for the right word, “frightened. But not to worry. We’re almost there.”

They rounded a bend and, stretching across a knoll, was the source of the smell. It was the inevitable of such trading hubs that lacked the majesty and law of the cities that dotted Eshil. Slums comprised of abandoned or banished tribesmen and city dwellers who either didn’t want to give up their previous lives completely or sought some desperate form of change in the hope that some portion of their fortune would change. Shanty houses of ramshackle creation dotted their way across it. One, two, three story buildings held themselves together through seemingly prayer alone. Korwin hardly paused to get his bearings, before leading them straight in.

At this point, the begging had ceased. No one here had much, and some did share. Others horded. But none asked until truly desperate. People shrank back as Korwin passed with his entourage, not daring to lay a finger upon him or his charges. Fear seemed to grip them, despite that his and Reina’s relative fortune of wealth would mean nothing should they all swarm the three individuals. Stopping at seemingly random, Korwin entered a mildly nice hovel. It had a door at least. Three individuals were sleeping inside, but immediately roused upon his entry. “Out,” he commanded with a toss of a small bag of coins. Without question, they complied, taking the coins. “Sit,” he said as he pointed the still gagged maid to a corner. But his voice had softened somewhat. Finally, he stuck his head back out the door and called, “lass. Yes, you. Find your two cousins and bring back some clean food, bandages, and medicinal paste. Be back in five minutes and you’ll get thrice this,” tossing her three copper. Off like a shot she went, and Korwin turned back to business and Reina.

“Ask your questions. The ears here won’t listen without some proper backing and there isn’t like much who can pay that in this town.”

"If- if you want her healed before you torture her," Reina started hating herself for even considering what she was now offering. "I can do it faster." It was a horrible though to even consider, helping with this, but she needed answers. Her hands twitched on her staff. "Although I admit I'd rather there be no need for torture." Her eyes fell on the woman who had just tried to kill her and Reina had to admit she actually meant those words. "And - and if you think tonight is the worst of what I've face this past week you'd be wrong... I - I trust that with all the twisting and turning our trail is now hidden? But why here? How do you know these people won't turn us over for coin any faster than a court politician?"

“Heh,” Korwin scoffed, “No, it’s not for her. It’s for you. And don’t use your staff here, it’ll mess with their imagination.” He took his own seat, in the Midori style, back to a corner and facing both the entrance and fellows. “And any torture I could preform would be pointless anyway. Wouldn’t break a woman of her caliber.” Despite being bound, gagged, and with little chance of walking out alive, the assassin preened. “Hell, she might even enjoy it. No, I’d need access to some pretty powerful concoctions or potent magic to pry out her secrets. Anyway, torture’s unreliable, even on weak subjects. Tell you what they want to hear just to get out of the pain, true or not.”

His laughed barked out again at Reina’s next words. “Looking at you, I don’t doubt it. But don’t try to impress me with your suffering. Every man, woman, and child across the continents has their own story equal to the weight of lost kingdoms,” his last words were purposeful, sharp with intent. Leaning forward, his mask and eyes glowering, he continued, “each are no less valid or pitiable than any other, but I’d be alight with mockery if you tried to set your tale against any other out there,” jerking his head towards the door, “as if you deserved more comfort than them.”

“Now, to your last, and by far most intelligent, questions,” he leaned back and afforded Reina a nod of almost respect, “yes, our trail is hidden well enough for any of her more inspired eyes. Here is simple. It’s where people imagine we might go for easy, quiet, rest. Guards don’t come out here, unless ordered and with sufficient backing, and the powers that do have no interest in what they think we are. Which leads into why no one will turn us in. They imagine we’re the wrong value.” The grin was evident in his voice again. “Now note that I didn’t say too small. I said wrong. Why might that be? We all contributed to it.”

Korwin spread his arms, showing off his dark armor and wakizashi, obvious next to his naginata.

Reina couldn't help but feel relief at the fact that there would be no torture. It showed on her face. But stubbornness took over as he accused her of looking for pity. "I'm not looking for your sympathy," she snapped. "I only meant I could handle watching whatever you intended to do, or wherever we ended up. I know this isn't the Thalian court.”

A moment later the stubborn mask started to crumble, "but I also know I'm in over my head," she admitted with a sigh.

"I need answers. The people after me, I'm worth more to them alive. This woman wanted me dead." Her voice was quiet, as if she was still struggling to absorb the reality of everything.

Korwin sighed, letting his arms drop. She was missing the simple genius in the lesson in disguise that was he was trying to induce. No matter, he thought, I’ll take her seeking some answers than nothing. At least she’s begun to drop that useless stubbornness. Wait…why the hell do I care? What does it mean to me if she succeeds or fails? As these thoughts began to chase their way into his head, the murderous maid spoke up.

“Well, I don’t want you dead, per say. It’s who I work for who wants you to be a corpse,” she chirped, “I mean, yah, your neighbor wants you alive, but that doesn’t mean that everyone does.”

Reina didn't get it. she knew this man was trying to teach her something, or was it a test? Either way she couldn't figure out what he wanted her to know. And then the woman spoke. Reina's head snapped around to glare at her for a moment before confusion took back over her expression. "Thank you so much for telling me what we already know," she started her voice dripping with sarcasm before she could catch herself. It wasn't a tone she usually took with people but she was tired, she was hungry, her head still hurt, and this woman had been trying to kill her. "Now if you would be so kind as to fill in the rest of the blanks that would be appreciated. Who, and why?"

“Glad I could help you comprehend the obvious,” she chirped, “but I’m certainly confused as to why I should inform you of my employer. As far as I know, I’m still going to die and be left in an unmarked grave. That’s not too convincing of an argument.”

Korwin snorted. It wasn’t like she was wrong. However, from the sound of the feet outside, one of his little mice had returned. Letting their conversation run behind him while he opened the door, accepted food, bandages, and ointment. Paying the lass and her two cousins, he commanded her to stay, saying, “we likely might be staying the night. If so, we’ll need bedding.”

Closing the door, Korwin tossed Reina some bread, which was better than he expected. “Let’s get that gash looked at.”

"What if I can convince him to spare you?" Reina started, working with the only card she had in her hand as her new "guardian" checked in with someone at the door. But before she could elaborate he was tossing a bit of bread at her. Without thinking she tore off a chunk of the heel and set it in the woman's lap. Reina had no clue if it was the right thing to do, or even the smart thing, but if the woman wanted to live then starving her wouldn't help.

"Agato, do you even know the first thing about healing?" She asked moving to an indicated seat and addressing him by the name he had given her earlier. As she sat, she attempted to tear the bread more or less in half again before offering him the larger portion. "If it weren't a head wound I'd tell you I could tend myself."

“You’re more than welcome to try,” she smiled, bending over to bite up the hunk of bread. “Fanks!” she said through the bread. Although, considering she had been gagged none too long ago, it was questionable how long Korwin’s binding would contain her. At the same time, she looked to be quite content with her situation, gnawing her way through the heel she’d been given.

Korwin had no comment about that, but he did sigh and say, “course I know the first thing about healing. You don’t live the life of a warrior on your own long without knowing the first thing about it. Now, I will say I don’t know much beyond that. Heh. Rather, I should say I don’t know how to do the second thing and on about healing.” Leaving her to figure out what that meant and marking where her wound lay, Korwin applied some of the ointment to the fresh bandage in increments, then folded it over, allowing it to seep into the cloth. He then removed her bandage and, wrapping it such that each increment of the lathered material pressed softly against the wound, which had stopped bleeding some time ago. All this he did with the care one would show a kitten whose paw had been pierced by a thorn.

His gentleness surprised her. But he did seem to know the basics, so she sat quietly. After a moment and a few nibbles of bread she spoke. "Thank you."

"Welcome," he dropped any form of tenderness and came back to business. "Now, are you going to try and pry answers out of your to-be murderer or give the matter up?"

"Weeel," Reina started slowly, "she might will willing to tell us something if you let her live. As it stands she's got nothing to lose by saying silent at the moment. As you made clear earlier."

"And why should I care?" He came to the point of the debate in his own mind. While the whole affair might have been fun, Korwin struggled to justify why he hadn't just killed the assassin and let her deal with the mop up. Certainly, once he had decided his course of action, the follow through was essential. Else her "escorts" might catch up and remove any leverage he had on the situation, but he had had the assassin at his mercy, so why did he spare her?

"I don't know, why do you care?" Reina shot back, "Why did you do any of this? you saved me spared her at my request to begin with, brought us both here. you didn't have to do any of that. But you did. To kill her now... wouldn't that make this whole evening and all that effort pointless?"

She lifted her chin a little, but this time it wasn't stubbornness showing through, but something else, something closer to belief in his ability to listen to her words.

His mind, so rare to trip, struggled to answer her questions. Indeed, much of the effort of this evening would be wasted. Making him again debate why he didn’t just kill the maid back in the inn. Almost at random, he decided to slip his way around the dilemma by taking the offensive in questioning again. “Regardless, what makes you imagine she won’t come and try and kill you again? What will keep you safe from her returning to her master and stabbing you in the back?”

"Nothing," Reina answered simply, and honestly. "But if I don't take the risk I'll never learn a d--" she cut off a curse unbefitting a lady, "-a thing and at the moment what I don't know could kill me faster. Why were you after her anyway? Surely there are things you want to know as well?"

Korwin’s eyes narrowed at Reina, then flicked to the ever-smiling maid. Disliking how quickly he was being put into a corner. He couldn’t fault her gambit for information, and she likely knew it. It left him with few options to push back with, none that wouldn’t involve agreeing to the maid’s proposition without breaking Reina’s wishes. Acutely aware of all the eyes upon their hovel, waiting for the chance to earn or take some coin, Korwin knew that to let the maid live long enough to fool Reina into thinking he would not kill the assassin, would be to let her go.

Which meant Korwin would do what he should have done as soon as he saw the cheery cherry in the streets. Looked at her. He got his answer. It either made him want to run her through right then and there or actually go along with the sheer insanity that the maid’s plan had become from its failure to kill Reina. He chose to try and play the latter. To a point, at least. “Ask your questions.”

Reina nodded, it seemed they had reached some sort of agreement. "All right, and I'll let you decide if the answers are legitimate or not." She wasn't quite ready to admit that she knew so little of the world around her as to wonder if she'd recognize an enemy name when she heard it, but she had a feeling that "Agato" at least would have some way to know if he was being lied to... "And for the record, I doubt even Anhi would show mercy on a second assassination attempt." So he knew she wouldn't interfere with him again if the woman broke their agreement.

"So," Reina started turning toward the maid, "He's not going to kill you. That's my end of the bargain fulfilled. Now, who wants me dead?" She was smart enough not to ask who the woman worked for. For all Reina knew she was the middleman for a middleman and that answer would do no good.

With Korwin’s eyes upon her, the assassin’s smile seemed, if possible, to grow. “I am delighted to hear it! Now, the individual who wants you dead is none other than Lady Commander Tersha! Ha! When your neighbor is a many headed serpent, it seems that not all heads agree upon the state of you’re being, m’lady. What else do you have for me?”

Reina bit her lip as she thought. Yes she knew that name, one of Captain Miron's strongest opponents. "Can you tell me why?”

“Nope! A good knife never asks why.”

Reina nodded closing her eyes a moment, thinking. "Was anyone else sent to kill me?"

"Of course! Although 'sent here' would be incorrect. More that there's a guess as to where you could be and ne'er do wells are scouring it to find you!"

"Like you," Korwin interjected.

"Like me!" she preened.

"Well," Reina started with a sigh, "At least I know for sure now....that's something I guess."

"So then," the assassin switched to sudden calm, "what are you going to do with me?"

"That's up to him," Reina stated calmly, nodding over her shoulder to "Agato" as she knew him. "I got him to agree not to kill you., but I'm sure he has some idea for what he plans to do otherwise."

Korwin imperceptibly relaxed. The assassin had, surprisingly, spoke the truth. Or rather, enough of it not to get herself stabbed. Korwin settled for a glare. To complete her game would be rather simple at this point. The question is, did he want to. The truth was, he didn’t. He really didn’t. It was almost worthwhile to come up with some lie and try to push his way out of the situation. Problem was, it didn’t solve his personal predicament. Not yet, anyway. Truth was, he needed more information. Problem, the princess was here. Problem, pulling out meant the assassin walked home. Solution, “that depends, what are you more loyal to. Money, or the Lady Commander?”

“Oh, money of course. And I’m rather attached to my life to boot.”

Reina looked at him a moment and then stepped back. Moving to one corner she settled down the eat the rest of her share of bread. She knew she had gotten lucky this night, more than lucky, and she was just hoping it would hold out long enough for Gavril and Jebei to find her.

“Good, then you’re looking at your new client,” he said, pointing to Reina. He sat back to watch the effect of his simple sentence.

The assassin’s face immediately mutated to open shock. Shock he knew to be genuine. The night had turned back to being exceedingly entertaining.

“Wait what!?" Reina looked up with shock of her own, "she tried to kill me only a few hours ago!"

"Exactly," he responded with utter deadpan, "there's no other way you can be sure she won't come after you again, while also having a method to counter any other assassins. After all, she's rather attached to her life, and last I checked, she owed it to you."

Reina only stared at him open mouthed for a moment, "If she has enough honor to claim she owns me my life, then she has enough honor to not come after me...." she hesitated a moment though, "Although if someone else does show up she might have a better shot of spotting them...."

“Oh aye, you’re quite right,” Korwin said, then thought, predictable objection. He then continued to say, “however, what if her former employer decides to match that debt. Whom then should she follow? Or, perhaps worse, they use her to find out where you are, and gain a better chance of tracking you in the future through the interrogation methods I don’t have access to. I can assure you, Lady Tersha certainly has access to such methods. And lastly, as you said yourself, what better way to find an assassin, than another assassin?”

Reina couldn't help but run her hands over her face smearing on more grime as she shook it trying to absorb everything. "You've made the assumption I have that kind of money on me..." it was the last objection she could think of in the face of his logic.

Although her stomach was turning somersaults and her head said it was a bad idea, her heart worried Agato would kill the woman if she refused.

Underneath the helmet, he smiled and shrugged, saying, “who said you needed the money now? Perhaps down the road. After all, she owes you her life. I’m certain that she can wait until you have enough to pay her for any service that you feel exceeds that debt.” There was one way the princess could try and twist this, but he wondered if she was clever enough to pick up on it.

"And you?" Reina asked forcing her voice to remain steady. She wasn't sure she trusted this woman yet, at least not without "Agato" around. "Would you consider taking such a deal? Service now exchanged for promised repayment at a later date?"

She tried to hold his gaze, "Because that's all I can offer assuming I live long enough to see it through." She wasn't going to sugar coat it.

"Besides giving you the chance to keep an eye on your friend there and finish what you started tonight by sparing her in the first place."

Well, she got it, he thought. Guess he’d just have to deal with the situation now that it had arisen. “So you mean kill her in case she turns on you. Don’t you have escorts for that? In any event, I do have a current client and you already owe me a debt for saving your life. Are you sure you want to increase that and then pay my asking price when the time comes?”

Reina's mouth pursed into a frown as she considered him. "Then perhaps it will give me a chance to save you in return, and my escort is... Well they're probably at that lighthouse place you mentioned by now. Besides I - " her hands twitched on her staff as she considered what to say. "I have a larger goal than just getting home and - well to be honest I need all the help I can get. So, Yes! If you can help me achieve that I'll pay whatever price that's in my power to give." Even as she said the words a number of things he could ask for jumped to her head that she would not particularly enjoy giving up, but she had said the words and she would stand by them. By Anhi's light, he probably thought she was a desperate fool now... and so she probably was.

"As for your current client... perhaps some arrangement can be made...."

"And no, you can't kill her. The original deal still stands," she added in for good measure.

Korwin’s bark of laughter was rich and deep, as if Reina’s words were incredibly amusing. “There’s many a man who would try to make you regret those words this very night. Although, those men would have done so far earlier. Indeed, my client can likely be handled. And I suppose I can live with her as a traveling companion. But, before I agree to this, I need to know where you are going. At least, for this leg of your journey.”

Her gaze flicked to the woman who sat still bound, but then the girl probably already knew this much, and if she traveled with them she soon would anyway. "I need to get to the Isles de Abaroa and--" she paused. It was unlikely the name would mean anything here but on the off chance it did she spoke it anyway, "That is where I hope I will be led to Miha's temple."

Korwin didn’t even blink. “Done!” It was where he guessed she was heading, but to have her confirm it was worthwhile. The temple, her greater mission, meant nothing to him. All that mattered was the destination.

She blinked at him a moment, "Just like that?"

"Just like that. Now, would you like to remain in this safe location, or move elsewhere," he grinned, knowing that the following word was hardly the truth, "boss."

"Now I know you're making fun of me," Reina couldn't help but grumble, "but I would like to find the others before they decide to tear the town apart looking for me... or at least Gavril tries. And I'm sure those people want their home back."

"Well we did pay them for it and I could have my lad collect your friends. But I suppose if these accommodations aren't suited to your tastes, despite that we could order bedding, and despite the safety it provides, we could leave as we came," he was most certainly teasing her by now.

Reina bit her lip uncertain for a moment as she tried to read his tone, flushing a little as she realized he was making fun. "I'm good with whatever location you deem safe enough to house us, but I would like to meet up with the others sooner rather than later, and at some point we'll have to work something out with your current employer. Also, if we're hiring her... shouldn't we untie the girl over there? If at all possible I'd like to keep what happened tonight between the three of us."

It wasn't that she trusted the girl, or even trusted "Agato" not to kill her, but suspicious would eat a group like theirs alive and they couldn't afford that with what she guessed probably lay ahead. Better to start everyone else out on a clean slate.

Korwin’s eyes danced with unseen merriment as he replied, “then, given you want to keep up appearances, I suggest that we head to the Landed Lighthouse. It’ll help forestall questions and help craft a little story where our new friend helped in the whole affair.”

Turning towards seriousness, Korwin cut the bonds on the assassin and continued, “and in the interests of keeping appearances, ‘Rachel,’ might I suggest shaving your head. Despite the strange colors that randomly crop up in the hair across the world, blue still remains fairly rare. I imagine people may be able to even track you by it. Also, do work to try and figure out why it was perfectly safe for us to enter this place so directly and brazenly because we’ll be doing it, or similar things, quite a bit I imagine. And what the hell is your name anyway?”

That last sentence was directed towards the maid, who, bond free, was cradling her broken arm close to her chest. “Me? I’m Sadia Kerdon. It’s an utmost pleasure to make both your acquaintances!”

"A shaved head is an oddity as well," Reina reminded him curtly, "But I would not be opposed to dye. With a bit of weld root I can get a decent green tone, or rambutan fruit would give a good black... actually I can get a decent black from a combination of tea and ink but that might look more obvious and require more regular treatments." As she spoke she collected her cloak and bag from the floor, checking the contents to remind herself that her money and the orange healing focus of the blessed staff were still there. She offered only a short nod upon hearing Sadia’s name.

“Only an oddity if not properly explained as a daughter of a rich merchant who is on her way to a convent in the Isles whose father couldn’t bear to not see his daughter safely guarded. But a dye would serve purpose as well,” he assented. Seeing that she was ready and knowing, but not caring, that Sadia was ready as well, he continued, “shall we take another stroll in the moonlight?”

"I believe that was the plan..." Reina answered shouldering her bag, "You might also consider that I could change hair color multiple times if needed, but once hair is cut, it's cut. Dye can be made naturally, wigs are expensive." She had no idea why it seemed so important to her to press the point. Perhaps it was because she felt she had been poked fun at enough for one night. Or perhaps it was simply that she wanted to show that she did know something.

He laughed softly. Although in mockery or appreciation, it was impossible to tell. “So, worried about money, but not so worried about time as to be able to search for and craft the dyes. Minor time to be sure. Interesting. Well, so long as you have a sound enough plan, I suppose it makes little difference to me.

Stepping outside, Korwin whispered some words to the girl waiting there and dropped her a coin, who took it with a dejected pout and scampered off. Looking back, he gestured them to follow, saying, “keep that brain of yours thinking, little lady, and you might get out of the role I cast for you tonight.” It was the closest thing to a compliment he’d given her all night.

Reina couldn't help the irritated noise she made in response. "Sounds to me like you think you know who I am without troubling yourself enough to put in the effort to check it," she grumbled as they walked. but she followed him without further complaint. However it would be hard to miss the way she was on the opposite side of him from Sadia at all times.

"When we get to wherever we're going I'll take a look at that arm," was her only acknowledgment to the other woman.

“Oh ho, my mistake, princess, I didn’t realize you wished me to guess,” he said it in such a manner that would appear to be an affectionate nickname. He knew it wasn’t and that Reina would pick up the hint straight away. As they moved back through the slums, Korwin jerked a nod to a woman in chainmail with a horrendous maul. She hadn’t been there before, but returned the nod and walked in the direction they came from.

“If you wish for a better role next time, I expect you to learn quickly,” he continued as Sadia smiled her thanks around Korwin, who accepted being between the two without comment.

"Would be easier if the instructor didn't talk in riddles," Reina grumbled under her breath, "and the land of my birth has no royalty." As the passed the woman Reina shrank instinctively back and it suddenly clicked, how "Agato" could walk here with such confidence.

Why hadn't she seen it before? "Who is that woman?" she questioned quietly, willing to take the answer from whichever of her new companions offered it.

“If they instructor didn’t speak in riddles, the instructee wouldn’t find challenge in the learning and, therefore, would fail to fully grasp and appreciate the lesson. And for all that your country is, you may as well be. Although, you yourself fit that role well beyond station,” he left her to figure out what he meant and it was no compliment.

Responding to her question, Korwin said, “‘who’ is a nice word for it, isn’t it. Although, ‘what’ may be more appropriate. She is a hound of the underworld. Serving at the beck and call of some master. No doubt making sure that we made no true trouble during our stay in this neutral ground. Although this may be contested territory, but doubtful. Anyway, we were probably the most interesting thing that has happened for her in the past month. She probably kept an eye out of as much boredom as following orders.”

"I see," Reina answered slowly, although she frowned at his back at the insult she had nothing to counter with. Not without telling him and Sadia he had guessed right.

"Do you?" he questioned, "then perhaps you can tell me each of our roles.”

"I do," she said softly, "but I don't have the skill necessary to pull off your facade, if it even is one. You're as dangerous as she is if not more so, at least I think you could choose to be, and that is your pass here. As for me, I know I've been sheltered, but I am capable and I can learn." That was all the answer she chose to give. Reina was tired of being made to look like a fool for the night.

“Hmph,” he said. But it was a sound that, while dismissive, carried a bit of appreciation in it. Apparently, Reina had struck a partially correct answer. Confirming the hopeful thought, Korwin continued, “you have at least begun to find the answer. But those are merely parts that lent to the mask I became tonight. And that you can humble your pride and openly admit the willingness to learn speaks of wisdom you haven’t shown the entire night. For, make no mistake, it was blind chance that you survived Sadia’s attempt and it was the utmost of folly to imagine that you were safe enough to be without guard in a town you knew nothing about. So thank whatever being you dream watches over you for that chance.”

His sharp demeanor suddenly softened, surprising even himself and reminiscing the tenderness he showed when bandaging her wound as he continued, “but, you’re alive. And, more importantly, learning. Simply ask for the next lesson and we’ll see if you are able to break out of that role you and life have cast yourself into.” As he finished saying this, they reached they left the last alley and returned to the main road.

"My lucks always been good," Reina murmured in response but said no more. It was strange seeing someone switch from hard to soft so quickly, and for a moment she wondered if it was genuine. But as they reached the main road she determined it didn't matter. What mattered now was meeting up with the others, convincing "Agato's" current employer to loan him out for a bit, and maybe fixing her hair... for that matter she might need a bit of help with the last and of those in the current group none of the men were a good choice for helping with that task which left...

"Sadia," she asked quietly, "How much do you know about fixing hair?"

Despite knowing that she couldn’t see his face, Korwin shot her a quick glare. He got the distinct feeling that this was going to be par for the course going forward. In the same instant, he also decided not to think about it. Considering the matter would serve no purpose. What mattered now was keeping a story woven for the princess’s comrades while convincing Gonz to let him out of his contract early. Immediately, his stomach sank to his feet as his mind ran off a string of curses as to how easy it was going to be. In fact, he thought, if I’m right. Gonz is going to throw me into this.

“Why, most everything, m’lady!” Sadia beamed, “Half-Up Double Waterfall, Princess Updo, Rope Braid, Bow-Braid, Nun Weave, and everything far less tricky and beyond in complexity! Naturally as well, I can lace ribbon, twine, dye, beads, and anything else you require in between! For a grungier look, we can use mud or dung to properly dirty it, yet still be stylish. Keep showing your fine features. Oooh, my lady, speaking of features…well…I suppose we should discuss that in more pleasant company than this grim dark, steel frozen, cold-blooded, scale-set, of a brute here.”

"Dye and Cut, I think, for tonight. Our companion there does have a point," Reina sighed. She fisted her hands in her tunic hem as they walked trying to keep an eye out for this lighthouse Inn they were headed to. "And don't call me lady. It's just Rei- Rachel for now." She cursed herself mentally for the near slip. True these two probably knew her name, but there was still no reason to say it aloud.

"If it so pleases you," she replied with an exaggerated sigh and completely ignoring the slip, "then I suppose I will disavow you of the respect you deserve and abasedly call you Rachel."

She was, however, disappointed that Reina hadn't blushed even the slightest. Chalking up to tiredness, she resolved to try again later.

Korwin, on the other hand, merely pointed with his naginata. Correctly guessing her searching face, towards an overly lit sign heralding its name as "The Landed Lighthouse." Outside waited a lad in rags, the same one who Korwin had given his instructions to, who eagerly waved upon being noticed.
 
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Arell McCain
Islas de Abaroa

Arell continued to listen, and one would probably wonder if the redhead was even breathing still upon just looking at him. Almost as if entranced by a spell put on him by Rendan, he happily took in each word like a child being told a story before bed, and at the other's comment of the first mate, amber eyes broke their hold in the story teller, the spel broken then, and chuckled, amused. "Ah, it's best not to be under her heated gaze, her ire is one not to be messed with." He commented, returning Rendan's wave with one of his own.

The firsst mate of this ship was no different than a mother in the mage's eyes, though perhaps it was simply a for of substituting for the one he no longer had, he wouldn't dare address it aloud or in any other occasion. It was unfair to the first mate, and to Arell himself to think such a thing. His mother did not need to be replaced, and the first mate did not be put into such a role.

For now, Arell was not sure if he wanted to stand and try to help or continue to sit and save himself of any possible embarrassment of looking like a dimwitted fool. Although he wanted to help, most of the crew already had it covered anyway.

@Verran

---
Martha Fabre/Gertrude
Eshil's Abelsol
Martha had asked Gertrude to spar with her for their brief training that day and, in the end, the two came to a draw. It had been some time since they had done so last, and both decided to stop and continue another time for the time being. After a bit of rest, the two would get drinks. Moreso Martha, as her companion would rather stay alert in case Martha got into any type of trouble. Removing her helmet, Martha carried it underarm. The piece was the same dull silver as her armor, with dull gold trim, the draconic design along the front having a white accent agaisnt it's gray coloration while the plume atop the headgear was a dull faded blue, the only piece of her armor that currently held the colors of Thalia compared to most of what she currently wore. Going to put her helmet away while Gertrude went to put her lance away for the time being, both women had a small chat about trivial things mostly, to keep the young noblewoman distracted from whatever thoughts crept into her mind about her family's wellbeing and Thalia's possible state.

Gertrude quickly went to check on her steed momentarily, the male horse comfy where he currently stayed, and greeted her with a fond snort, nuzzling his rider with affection. "We will return soon, Toma." She muttered to the steed. Giving the horse a pat she would return to her charge's side soon enough.
 
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