[Everstone] Another one of those damn Kelvics...! (Renalee)

[Bob Barton]

85th day of Summer 512 AV

The man was riding on Bobo but his mind was on another thing entirely. Bob's uncle had told him something very disturbing that changed his perception on everything a lot. It was getting to interrupt his travel with the rest of the host. Fortunately there were people to help keep Bob in line if he got too distracted but he cannot rely on them for long. Eventually they would think of him as deadweight leave him behind in the Wildlands where he will have to continue on to Sunberth alone and possibly reach Sahova later than the rest if he did not go back to Zeltiva which was the worse choice. One of the last things he did there was slam the door on his uncle as he stormed out. A repeat of what happened many years ago.

And the reasons for it was the same as well. His uncle, the man that has taken care of Bob and taught him a lot of things was keeping important information away from him. Apparently he had family in Ravok, his aunt which he missed out on visiting while he was there because Marny did not tell him about her. He also had a cousin there who was a kelvic...yes Bob's family was really screwed up with the current generation being a midget and an animal. The fact that he had a relation which was one of those really changed everything he thought about them. He felt tainted, like he might have ended up as one of those stupid beasts if he got dealt the wrong hand by Lhex.

So why was it that he should be riding on Bobo? Besides the fact that he was smarter and he knew how. Bob only had to keep the horse going straight and keep himself seated properly as he followed the rest of the riders. Each time the pony started lagging behind he gave a flick of the reins and a kick at the side. It pained him a little. What if his cousin was a horse? What if one day he unknowingly found her in her animal form and he just...mounted her? That will be a great way to establish family ties. Fortunately he bought Bobo from Zeltiva, a place where he would probably find out if it was normal or not. That at least dulled his conscience a little to give it another flick and kick so that it will catch up with the rest.

Eventually the group decided to rest. For a bell if the announcement was to be believed. Bob was not in the mood for resting. He was not even in the mood to talk to anyone else. He just wanted to be alone. Without telling anyone else since he intended to be back after a short ride, Bob took off on Bobo into the trees. Just a straight ride through and then a straight ride back. There was no way to get lost unless Bobo somehow took a few detours but Bob will not be allowing that. He was the boss here, the dominant one, the human. Definitely not a kelvic or a beast. Bobo's hesitance in advancing only earned it another flick and kick so that it will rush through the pitiful looking bush that was blocking them. Bob felt so good feeling the wild giving way to him that he made Bobo do it again...and again...and again...

If everything went as easily as that, Bob would have been really glad and his spirits were actually getting better throughout the ride. That was until the horse got spooked. Bob never ever gets a break or gets to get his horse to brake. "Stop it Bobo!" he yelled while he frantically used the flick and kick method of his not knowing that since he has been using it so much to make the pony go, it just kept going. What could have made it this way? The only strange thing Bob could see was the shadow of a cat in the distance but it was only a rock if he identified it properly. This is why animals were stupid and there was no way that he could be related to one. Especially when they cannot do something as simple as "stoppppppppppppp!"

It was only the smart Bob Barton who could have remembered that he was supposed to pull the reins back. Shouting out "whoa Bobo!" while pulling with all his might and digging his feet into the pony's sides it finally stopped but it probably did not like what Bob did even if he was its master because immediately after that, it threw Bob off to the side and he landed near the water. Completely unexpected for the man since he expected all his animals to be loyal like Jinsen who was always with him, except now. Being unprepared for it his landing was all off and with a loud crash everything turned black for Bob. While he did not know what was going any longer, the pony did and ran off leaving Bob behind. Alone. This was why he hated animals unless they were a little smart. Like Jinsen. At least Jinsen never tried to get him killed yet.

[Renalee]

Another season was coming to an end. It would soon be three season since Renalee left Sunberth and soon after that she could claim she had spent half of her life traveling. It sounded like an accomplishment and perhaps it was, but in the young Kelvic’s eyes it all read like failure. She had set out for Syliras initially, captivated by the stories of sailors and other Sunberth visitors. They had painted the most beautiful picture of knights, and peace, and people - so many people. In the end, while Ren did reach the city, she never made it past the gates, too scared of what she had encountered in Ravok. The Wildlands, which most humans and those from other races feared and avoided crossing, seemed safer to the puma than the bustling streets of cities where slave traders roamed. It was that, or the fear of discovering that Syliras wasn’t as she had always imagined it, that kept her moving and heading south. She knew she would go back one day, but for at time it had seemed better to keep moving. South was a good direction - she could hold on to the warmth of nature for longer there. And with that she had failed one of the goals she had set herself before leaving her childhood home. The other goal was finding the thing - or rather the one - who had been missing from her life. While the need to bond was as strong as it had ever been her father’s persistent lessons had insured that she pick carefully the one she chose to dedicate herself to. Yet, a part of her had hoped that she only needed to step out of Sunberth to find the one that would be right. Suffice it to say that hadn’t quite worked as planned, especially because the first people she saw after leaving the eastern city had collared and beaten her and dragged her off to Ravok. Yet, despite having failed to accomplish her goals as of yet, Ren felt happy. And why shouldn’t she be. The Wildlands were gorgeous and filled with critters one could hunt and eat and the Kelvic hadn’t gone hungry since that unfortunate time by the outskirts of Syliras. The further south she went the lighter her step became and the more silly her fear of the cities seemed. Ren didn't know where exactly she was. She suspected she was already nearing Zeltiva but she couldn't really be sure. She had no map, and even if she did, she wouldn't be able to read it. She didn't understand maps. They were human things. You couldn't put all the trees and rocks, and bushes, and animals on a single piece of paper and even if you somehow managed they didn't stay the same. Your 'map' would be useless after a season, if not sooner. So no matter how long her father spent teaching her how to read them the result was all the same. The only thing the man had managed to force Ren to remember was the location of the cities relative to each other and how long it might take her getting from one place to the next. So Ren was pretty sure she was close to Zeltiva, but wouldn't yet wonder down to the road to confirm her suspicions. A couple of days ago the Kelvic had entered a peculiar terrain where huge rocks rose from the ground and the air was thick with the smell of cold and age. Since then she had mostly stayed in her human form, finding it more convenient when passing through narrow crevices. Her shoes were deemed inappropriate for the terrain as well, as they didn't provide good footing at all on some of the slippery stones scattered on the ground, and made it into her backpack in less than a couple of bells of her entering the area. Ren was mostly wondering around, taking her time and making detours if she thought there was something to see or perhaps eat. That's how she found herself at the foot of a rather impressive in size boulder in the shape of a cat. Looking up at it the blonde laughed, delighted at the depiction of one of her kin in the middle of nowhere. She was about to circle the stone cat when her ears picked up the sound of crushing twigs and leaves as well as urgent shouts in Common not too far from where she stood. Curious about the commotion Ren made her way towards the noise, taking care to move slowly and use the stones and trees around her for cover. The smell of fear and horse rushed towards her together with their source - a pony which neighed, reared and rapidly ran in a different direction when it noticed the Kelvic. The animal was gone in the blink of an eye but not before Renalee made note of the empty saddle on its back. Suddenly the girl had a pretty good idea about what had happened. And indeed after the few moments it took her to retrace the pony's steps Ren found its rider sprawled on the ground seemingly unconscious. She hesitated only for a moment before making her way over to the body. It was that of a human male, but one much shorter than most men Ren had seen before. There was blood on his head where he had bashed it into the stone he had the misfortune of falling on. The young Kelvic kneeled cautiously next to the man, leaning close to his unconscious form so she could catch his scent better. He smelled of the leather of his clothes, his horse and blood as well as a mixture of other more subtle smells. Ren could hear the breaths leaving his chest evenly and his heart beating. He was alive, and most likely his injury wasn’t that severe. She could leave him here for whichever predator found him without a second thought. And she was about to do just that when she noticed a full-looking pouch not that different from the one she had in her own bag, hanging from his belt. Interesting! Ren lowered her backpack to the ground and using her dagger relieved the pouch from its owner… or the owner from his pouch – whichever. Pulling at the strings the blonde peaked inside and was rather happy to discover it was indeed full of lovely looking mizas. The girl’s own savings were mostly intact, but you never know when you might need more coins. Holding the pouch in one hand and her dagger in the other she was just considering checking the human’s body and clothes for something else of value when he stirred. Ren almost jumped in surprise at the sudden movement, dropping the pouch and spilling a couple of the coins, but grasping the handle of her dagger tighter. A soft moan tore from the man’s lips as his eyes fluttered and made to open. Noticing a lose stone near her legs Ren quickly seized it and lifted quickly, fully intending on delivering a blow to the human’s already injured head and knocking him out again. Of course he’d wake up before she was actually done robbing him. Petch.

[Bob Barton]

At least even with the concussion Bob still knew what was going on when he moaned out "petch...Bobo..." as the pony which did this, or did he? As far as he was concerned, he was sleeping nice and comfortable in his bed probably even before his uncle broke to him the strange news. There was no reason to ride on the pony or to put himself in any immediate danger by going into the Wildlands alone. The jingling noise assured him that when the woman took his coins. The ones he worked so hard to swindle off so many bored and unruly people who chose to follow the knights. His uncle must be asking him to get up to help since Bob did not want to camp out with the stupid knights more than he needed to. However at least they helped to keep him safe.

Unlike the situation he found himself in now. It took him a few moments to register what the woman with the dagger and stone above him meant. The familiar sensation of the cold metal touching his skin where it dropped gave him the why. He was attacked for his gold, at the exact moment he decided to ditch the knights. A stupid mistake when he knew that he was on his way to Sunberth but Bob's luck never failed him to this extent before this. Looks like it was all over for him now. Ovek would get rid of the last known Barton, Kelwyn has forsaken poor old Bob. The other gods? Why would Ionu help him when all Bob gave was lipservice that was required of his position? Anyway Bob thought that all gods were pretty much useless since they hardly did anything for him. People seemed to do more for and...to him...

But he also did a lot for himself. Especially when he knew he could not expect a lot from people if he could not expect it from himself. Bob would not allow himself to die out somewhere alone, besides his assailant like this. He had nothing left to use. No weapons and strength to use to defend himself. He could not even talk properly when all he could do was utter "pet..." before he had to catch his breath. What else was left to him? What could he use to get this woman to not kill him at least?

There was only one thing and in desperation Bob fought to bring as much djed towards his mouth as he could. The last time he nearly died because of a woman, it was because he was drowning in water. Hopefully now when he was drowning in djed it will do the opposite. As soon as Bob felt he had enough djed accumulated at his mouth as he has tried to accumulate his last remaining strength in his body, he uttered the one word as his final gamble. "Please..." he asked as he weakly stretched his arm out to the woman to ask her to stop. Hopefully that would not set her off to use her weapons.

At the mention of that word, Bob released the other strength he had build up. The djed went from his mouth to reach into the woman, finding and building up whatever of that useless emotion called compassion that she might have. Not so useless now for Bob. At least not as useless as guilt. Guilt he hardly works for him but compassion was effective to get him into action. Hopefully that will work on this woman too. Whether it was because he was horribly weakened or because his head made it tough to utilize the finer control over his djed, Bob passed out immediately bleeding from the mouth as well due to the intensity and amount of what he used. Just another one of those fine days where he was not only brutalized by his pony but also from his own hypnotism.

[Renalee]

As the plea escaped the man’s lips something in Renalee’s mind shifted. The Kelvic didn’t really understand the concepts of good and bad, right and wrong. Her father had tried to explain them many times and while the definitions were clear in the girl’s head they were just words she had memorized, but not grasped the meaning of. She could only make educated guesses as to the nature of certain actions, but could never really be sure if she had gotten it right. It had seemed right to try and steal from this unknown human when he was laying there unconscious. It was the same as creeping up to a sleeping deer and sinking your teeth in its body to claim its meat. It was right because she could do it. She was the stronger one. And the gold had glistened under the light of Syna - within her reach and waiting to be claimed. But when the human had awoken with a pained moan and had met her eyes with his own, begging with them as much as he was with his lips... ‘Please’. That single word brought on a feeling that Ren recognized as human, but one that also spoke to the animal inside of her. It must have been the same emotion that convinced a lioness to accept the baby antelope and raise it as one of her cubs. It was strange, yet familiar and before the man’s outstretched hand had fallen to the ground as he lost consciousness again Ren managed to drop the stone she had been clutching and take a hold of it instead. Realizing what she had done she immediately pushed the hand away, almost as if the touch of his skin had burnt her. She kneeled there slightly frazzled, not quite sure what was happening, but knowing she could no longer take the pretty gold. Or even just stand up and leave the man to his fate. The blade of her dagger disappeared in its sheath as she stayed unmoving for a few chimes, eyes drawn to the trickle of blood that had made it past his lips and dawn his jaw.The surface wound just under his hairline above his left temple was still bleeding slightly as well. The man gave no sign of life even after Ren had retrieved a dried stick from the ground and used its tip to poke his shoulder and his side. Resigned, the girl decided it was about time she put away the coins that had spilled on the ground and go about fixing the human. He clearly wasn’t going to fix himself. With his pouch tied and secured to her own belt Ren circled the man and stopped by his head, her hands finding a secure hold under his arms and over his chest. It wasn’t too hard to pull him, feet dragging on the ground and collecting leaves as he went. The blonde didn’t go too far. The nearest rock formation was leaning slightly forward and together with the tree growing at its base provided an improvised shaded shelter. She positioned the man there, seating him on the ground legs outstretched in front of him and back to the stone wall. Noises of discomfort or pain were making it past his lips as she had moved him, but he was still unconscious and quieted down again once he was settled. Ren returned to where she had found the human to retrieve her backpack and managed to collect a few leaves of a plant she recognized from the wildlands around Sunberth. Now that she was closer to home she didn’t feel the need to rely only on her small stash of dried healing herbs. And this particular plant worked even better when just picked. It had elongated thin leaves with a wide, tear-shaped surface. Her father had called it ‘Maiden’s tears’ and said it was named after a girl who saved her loved one from bleeding out with its help, but was later rumored she had done it with the magic of the tears she had shed. The Kelvic didn’t really mind what it was called as long as it worked. She stuffed a handful of leaves in her mouth and chewed on them slowly as she made it back to the human. She kneeled next to him again and pulled out the roll of fabric she used as bandages, cutting a thin, long strip of it using her eating knife. She ran a little water from her waterskin over wound on his head, successfully wetting his hair, the side of his face and the color of his shirt, but hopefully also flushing out any dirt that could have stuck to the surface. Ren then spat the chewed up leaves which had formed something of a paste with her saliva onto the bandage and wrapped it quickly around his head a couple of times, tying it at the back and securing its hold. The green goo above his temple would serve to stop the bleeding, help with inflammation and could even suck out any minor infection that could have made it into the wound. Ren didn’t know what to do about the bleeding that seemed to be coming from his mouth. Her father had taught her that if that ever happened it was a sign of internal damage and nothing could be done. But the trickle didn’t look all that serious to her. It was just a few drops of blood. Her fingers carefully wiped his mouth and brought the red liquid to hers to lap thoughtfully with her tongue. It tasted of coper and life like it always did, but also of the man, carrying his scent embedded deep within it. The mizas in the pouch sung as she moved and Ren hummed to their song as she crouched down next to the human and prepared to wait for his awakening. She had found another stick, this one longer than the first she had used, and every now and then she would poke at the man’s unconscious body - just in case he was ready to wake up.

[Bob Barton]

It looks like Bob was off again in some far off place that can only be a dream. If it is true what they say about good and bad things coming together, maybe he will experience something good unlike the bad situation he was in. Hopefully one involving some woman...wait...it was a woman that was victimizing him now. Then a lovely situation involving a pretty amount of coin, or...something not involving the reasons that he was being mugged. How about something simple like sleeping in a nice, comfortable bed back in Zeltiva? It would be something really different from the hard and damp ground Bob was laying on right now, something that the injured man would really need as well while he recovered.

At the very least it will prove comfortable. Once Bob woke up he will be ready to complain about the uncomfortable bed that he was on to whoever will listen like his uncle, the knights, the non-knights and maybe Jinsen. It was something worth complaining about when his whole body ached, a pressing pain all over his body like he was tossing and turning the entire time on some cheap crap not even worth being called a bed. He could never be closer to the truth with that. It was one big turn from a horse that made him this way but as far as he was concerned, Bobo dropping him, getting lost in the wildlands and getting mugged by the woman was nothing but a nightmare. The real world was better with everything it had to offer like the beautiful melody reaching his ear. It made him feel like allowing it to sooth him so that he can continue his sleep but his curiosity to its source forced him to open his eyes.

He would wish that he did not. Seeing the woman to his side he cheerfully said "hi" with a smile on his face like he would to any of the fairer sex until he noticed who she really was. The smile changed into a look of panic immediately and Bob scrambled back away from her again asking her "please...don't hurt me..." It hurt his pride, and his mouth. He has not quite recovered from the hypnotism yet which meant he could not risk using any djed unless he really needed to but that might be pretty soon too. He felt none of his weapons on him. None of the ones that he really knew how to use which meant the akalak dagger he used to show off and a stupid child's toy. Bob would have more of a chance if he threw his dice and cards at her maybe.

With his head so filled with working through his chances, Bob did not notice that his hands touching the water of the pond instead of the ground until he dropped waist deep into it. Still not the deep end since he was still on his ass but that would still make Bob look like the weakling his size did to any potential assailant as it... He was running out of ideas until he noticed that the woman no longer held that stone and dagger he found her with the first time. She only had a stick...the dagger in the sheath at her belt if it was the only one she had and Bob did not mistake the handle for something else. With it, his pouch that most probably had his coins. Should he take a chance to attack her first while she was still disarmed? No, she would undoubtedly be stronger than him so it would be foolish. Even Ovek would not reward a risk like that.

Hoping that his hypnotism from earlier set off something in her, Bob tried to appeal to the same thing. It already set the foundations for him so maybe mundane persuasion might work, or not. No telling what a person with a weapon thought especially one near Sunberth. Pleading, Bob asked her "don't hurt me. You already have the money. Just let me rest and go back..." but if that failed maybe the suggestion, or threat he is near "...to the knights" can work. "I have nothing left" except maybe his life. Why are people so cruel? They were worse than animals. Bob would rather take the chances with them when he tries to find his way back. "I just need some rest and I won't bother you anymore" he told the woman hoping that there would be no other reason for her to attack.

But was she really going to attack? Now that Bob had a chance to feel himself, he found that his head was bandaged, by...her? That cannot be right. Bob was too confused to make any assumptions and that was obvious with the way that he was looking at her. Not willing to take any chances he stayed in the pond away from the woman until she told him what was she up to.

[Renalee]

What followed after the man had finally opened his eyes happened so quickly Ren didn’t manage to do much else other than blink a couple of times in her surprise. As if struck by a charge from the stick with which the Kelvic had just nudged him, he scrambled away before even managing to stand up. A torrent of words fell from his lips as he successfully managed to land himself in the pond which was just a couple of steps from where he had been laying. His eyes were wide and terrified and he looked at her the way she was used to be regarded when in her human form. However, the last thing on her mind in this particular moment was eating the man. Renalee stared at him in silence for a few moments not quite comprehending why he seemed so scared of her. Then she remembered he had hit his head and was probably very confused and perhaps in no small amount of pain. It would be a shame if he lost consciousness again in the middle of the pond and dunked his head in the water, ruining all of her hard work in patching him up. She would have to prevent it. Very slowly, the blonde placed the stick down on the ground, raising her hands in the air so the human could see she wasn’t holding anything else. She rose to her feet just as carefully. “It’s ok, little man.” Ren tried making her voice as soothing as possible, speaking in the way she had heard people speak when talking to scared animals or little children. “You just hit your head and are confused. I’m not going to hurt you.” And she really wasn’t. After all, she hadn’t wasted perfectly good bandage on him for nothing. If there was anything she felt towards the man right now, it was the strange feeling that had stirred inside of her at his heartfelt pleas from earlier, as well as a good dose of curiosity. It wasn’t every day that one saw men of that size. And Ren who had been plagued by thoughts about what she had left back in Ravok craved some human company. “What happened to your knights? Did they abandon you?” The possibility of meeting actual knights this far away from Syliras excited the Kelvic, but she couldn’t quite believe that this particular human who seemed so terrified right now could be leading any. Perhaps they kept him around as a pet? Ren finally reached close enough to the man, while still leaving him some space in case he felt too threatened. She extended her hand towards him, planning on helping him up if he would allow her. “You shouldn’t stay in the water.” She advised wisely, keeping her eyes on the human’s face. “I’ve heard that poisonous fish can live in ponds like this one.” If that story was true or not she didn’t know, but, if she thought it wasn’t smart to risk it, the scaredy stranger probably would too. “Why don’t you come over there with me -” Ren gestured vaguely behind her where her backpack still lay. “- And I can figure out what to do with you.” Realizing how that must have sounded the girl quickly waved a dismissive hand, meant to reassure the man. “It’s ok. I said I was not going to hurt you. I just don‘t want you fainting again and opening up that wound in the water.” Ren offered him a bright smile and reached out for his hand again. The whole situation was starting to seem slightly amusing to the blonde and she was curious to find out what kind of creature the little man was exactly.

[Bob Barton]

She put the stick down...a good start at least to lead Bob into believing what she said about not wanting to hurt him. As she started walking towards him, Bob slowly righted his feet on the pond so that he would be squatting. Ready to jump and run wherever if this was only a ruse to get him to drop his guard. One of his hands was going to his side to feel at the weapon beneath his clothes. If she ended up moving up from the stick to her dagger, she would find that Bob had one of his own. Hopefully she would think he was alright at using the weapon and will get second thoughts. Already she was making assumptions about Bob obviously based on his height. The way she was talking to him was like when other people mistook him as a child. Bob never liked that.

And there it was again! Another assumption that he was abandoned by the knights which would be impossible in his opinion. Whatever Bob thought about the knights, he was still important to them or he would not have been recruited to follow them to Syliras. He was about to answer her when he noticed she was coming in pretty close and backed away slightly again going into the pond a little bit deeper. That was close. She must be worried about Bob's suggestion with the knights earlier like he wanted, which meant he was not going to give up the advantage by telling her he rode off without telling anyone and no one would look for him until they noticed him. Instead he decided to answer her by admitting "I was bored and needed a ride. They are waiting for me to get back..." the truth being more like he abandoned them.

If she believed that then Bob could issue his ultimatum, which is what he wanted to be "...safe and sound you know?" applied to his knightly friends. However if there was poisonous fish in the pond, Bob will not really be safe and sound which meant he had to take her hand if he wanted out of it as soon as possible. Accepting her help still did not mean that Bob really trusted her because as soon as he was up, he let go and pretended to brush off whatever water was clinging on his clothes. As if it would work for anything else other than an excuse. Taking a quick glance at the spot with her backpack Bob abruptly stopped to take a step away from her after she talked about figuring out what to do with him. She was planning something now for sure, probably calculating her chances with the risk of knights chasing behind her against the probability of Bob actually knowing some.

Why did he have to use them even if it was true that they were really around? No one would believe Bob was important enough and if they did then it might make him look a viable target for ransom. However the knights were all that he got at the moment and he had to follow through giving a threat in case she could not understand earlier "they won't like it if anything happened to me" but it would seem Bob is not too confident with that threat since he knew it was untrue when he took another step back. The further away from her the better. She must be some experienced kidnapper, being able to wave away her suggestions like she has already succeeded with her plans.

But wait! If that was true, why was he showing her signs of his weakness and uncertainty?! It was like an immediate change from the way he was earlier when Bob took her hand, allowing her to lead him where she wanted. As long as she wanted to protect her precious merchandise, he was as safe as he could be if the knights were really looking for him. Once they were done Bob was going to have to make sure his suspicions were true asking "what is it that you're doing out here. You're quite far from Sunberth" which is where all the bad people are. "Are you some kind of doctor or...hunter?" for slaves he meant as he touched the bandage on his head. It was not really a bad job but it was not too good either. At least it will hold.

Hopefully his safety would hold as well. Bob needed more time to find out a way to escape if he could and the only way he could think of doing it now was to ask questions like "are you taking me to Sunberth?" At the very least he will be able to learn more about his new captor. Information was the best things that he could use here besides constant reminders like "I think that the knights are going there too" since he wanted her to be more wary until he recovered. At least he returned her bright smile with one of his own so that it will feel like they are in a normal conversation.

[Renalee]

When you had travelled for as long as Renalee had you were bound to meet all kinds of folk. Plenty of hunters traversed the wilderness alone or in groups, merchant and slavers caravans crawled along the roads between cities and adventurers sought out their luck (or death as the case might be). One could never know who they might end up encountering and for that reason they had to be careful. The strangest of people roamed the land and monsters weren’t the only dangers out in the wild. As Ren watched the man’s confusing actions she decided he was probably the most bizarre human she had seen yet. If it wasn’t for his scent which was heavy with his fear she would have thought the human really crazy. As it was however, Ren thought she could tolerate his odd behavior for a while and could try and ease his obvious discomfort. She slowly lead the man to where they had been before, helping him to the ground once more, after which she sat cross-legged across from him. He was mentioning the knights again and appeared genuinely troubled. Ren considered his words for a while. “You’re important to those knights, aren’t you? The way you talk about them makes it seem so. Are you a knight as well?” The man wasn’t wearing any armor, but for all the Kelvic knew these knights were on some sort of secret mission. Then again, would a knight really be as scared as this man was when faced with what appeared to be just a girl? “You could say I’m a hunter, yes,” Ren conceded after a pause for consideration. “But that is not really my... profession. A doctor I am not, as you can probably tell by the job I did on your head.” The blonde pulled her backpack closer and started going through it, in search of some food. As per usual, there was nothing. She didn’t even know why she bothered to check. “I think you need to eat, but I don’t have anything. I’ve been traveling for a while now and all the provisions I had are long gone. We might have to hunt, if you’d like food.” The girl looked at her unwilling companion, deciding that after falling off a horse and spending a couple of chimes in a pond he didn’t look all too good. The bandage around his head was making matters seem worse. When the human asked if she would be taking him to Sunberth Ren raised an eyebrow and studied him carefully again. Something led her to think there was some sort of horrible misunderstanding between them, but she couldn’t be sure what it was. At least he was smiling now. Not that that was enough to cover for the stink of fear that was coming from him in waves still, but it was a definite improvement to the scowl he had been wearing before. “I’m not going to Sunberth. And I’m not taking you with me... why would I?” He really wasn’t making any sense. “I could, perhaps, help you get back to your knights.” She offered hesitantly after a short pause for consideration. There was really no reason for her to do that, but if they could strike a deal...And he certainly did look in need of help. For some reason her mind was hesitating between offering him her aid for free and asking for something in return. As she moved to put away her backpack again the mizas on her belt jingled pleasantly. “What is going back to your knights worth to you?”

[Bob Barton]

Now that Bob has had the chance to have a proper conversation with the woman and maybe with a slightly less paranoid mindset, he felt that she was not what he initially thought of her to be. The talk of knights did not make her more wary of her treatment of her captive either. Was Bob even a captive now? It was as if she was asking her questions out of genuine curiosity unlike Bob who was trying to draw out something he can use in case things became bad, or worse than a woman armed with a dagger and a stone. He felt slightly relieved and more confident especially when she swallowed up the nonsense about the knights he was feeding her. Less stiff and more relaxed from his posture to his forced smile, Bob answered that "they need me to help them with something" which was true as far as importance was concerned this season.

Which also meant that "I'm not a knight." Something that he will happily admit. He was something better even. "I'm a Zeltivan but I live in Alvadas" and apparently he has the best job "as a Speaker." It was a job probably of equal to a knight to the people in their respective cities but what they actually do is a concept that those outside would not be able to understand like Bob at first. They had no armour, at least none like the knights but even this woman might have been impressed if Bob was wearing his uniform...if there was no possibility of her being creeped out first. Well it was no better than what people saw Bob's 'calling' as and "I'd rather make some easy money off dice and cards though" he remarked "but my knight friends don't like it too much." These friends were Bob's actual friends and not the ones he was hinting as the ones that will save him too, the boring bunch.

Bob was being quite honest here, but she was...not. He could tell. While she readily admitted that she was a hunter, she went against it as her profession the same way some of the people he questioned as a Speaker would when they tried to avoid answering. it made him suspicious again that she might have a shady job like a slaver. Not willing to give her a chance to back out again directly he asked "then what is your profession? Do you get Killroy's stock?" drawing from his knowledge of Sunberth. She must be a new person since Bob never saw her before. At least she was honest about not being a doctor. "I can tell" Bob said with a laugh as he tested its tightness. His uncle has shown and tried to teach him enough times to know this would not last too long.

"Is that from your experience as a doctor or a hunter?" Bob asked with a grin. He did not feel hungry but if he was going to find the knights again, on foot, in the Wildlands he agreed he was going to need energy. Bob looked at her thinking of his good fortune if her boast was true because "I must be lucky to have a hunter around. Did you already set the traps or..." are they going to be using weapons? The latter would be bad because besides daggers, sticks and stones Bob did not know if there are any other weapons available to her, let alone him. He could try using magic but he did not quite trust it while he was still weakened and he could not trust the Sunberth girl to not show the same hate towards him after like all the rest. Not until he got her help.

But he could trust her enough to help do normal things now that his assumption that "I thought that you were some slaver looking for new stock to sell" in Sunberth. It was embarrassing really now that he had a chance to rest and compose himself which was why he looked away for a while. She did a lot that she really did not need to. Making sure he did not drown in the water, patching up his head and pulling him into the shade where he could rest. Bob could think that it was because of the hypnotism but even he knew it could only go so far when all he did was draw out something that was already in her. The goodness of her heart, yuck! Well not exactly the goodness of her heart now that he heard her offer. He knew it was too good to be true this close to Sunberth.

Bob looked at his coinpouch pointing out that "it looks like you already took your payment. Unless you were only keeping it safe for me from all those horrible thieves and muggers?" It was worth a shot to try and guilt her into giving them back to him. "Or..." he said standing up and dusting himself "...I can help you get your food" purposely saying your instead of our so that it will seem more like he was giving her something instead of helping themselves. "Besides that I don't think I have anything else except me, but you aren't a slaver aren't you?" Bob said with another laugh. "If you can think of something else I'm sure I can try my best to provide..." Bob suggested. As much as a tired person could.

[Renalee]

The longer they sat there and talked the more the human seemed to relax. His words weren’t coming out as cutting as they had initially and the tension from his muscles and face was slowly alleviating. The smell of fear wasn’t as sharp neither, and the unpleasant sensation in her nose that made her want to twitch was dissipating. Ren congratulated herself on a small victory and listened with interest as the stranger spoke more about himself. It turned out he lived in Alvadas a fact which she took rather enthusiastically. She didn’t know much about it, other than that it was known as the City of Illusion and was somewhere in Kalea. Perhaps, if she helped out the man, he would be willing to tell her stories about it. Ren loved stories. He also turned out to be someone whose help was needed by knights. She couldn’t hide she was impressed - eyes widening slightly and mouth forming a small ‘oh’ for a tick. What he did for a living however, she didn’t understand. “A Speaker? What is that?” In her head she was imagining someone who would stand in the middle of a city square and deliver messages to the whole of the population. Or perhaps the title meant something completely different and the stranger could speak various languages and acted as a translator when influential visitors came to Alvadas. Whatever the position entailed, he had certainly declared it with the level of pride which would signify something of importance. When the man said he also gambled Ren gave him a bright grin. Most people in Sunberth tried to double their mizas or even triple them playing cards or dice and when a new ship arrived the sailors were quick to set up improvised tournaments. The blonde had watched them play often and even tried joining a couple of times. It turned out she wasn’t very good and decided it would probably be smarter to waste her money on something else. But if the man gambled that meant he had met many interesting people and that in turn meant more stories. When he had thought he had shared enough information about himself the human turned to her, questioning her about what she did for a living again. Ren really didn’t know what else she could tell him. “I don’t really have a profession...?” She replied to his question hesitantly, something which didn’t seem to satisfy him as he followed it with a speculation. At first the girl didn’t understand him. Get Killroy’s stock? What? Killroy’s Kennel was one of the more successful private businesses in Sunberth. The owner sold animals of all kinds - horses, dogs, sometimes even exotic pets. He also often had a few Kelvics to trade to the slavers... Ren’s face paled and she looked at the man with horror at first and then anger. Could he really be insinuating... did he think she was someone who sold slaves? Or even worse - someone who captured innocents and threw them into the system? The Kelvic’s lip curled in distaste and her next words came through gritted teeth. “I’m not a slaver, if that is indeed what you’re implying.” She glared at the human, but then her eyes moved to the stick she had discarded earlier and she picked it up again, using it to stab at the ground as if to punctuate her words. “They are despicable. All of them! I can’t believe you’d think...” Well, ok, her really didn’t know her all that well - at all even - but to be equated to one of the people who caused her kind so much misery... She wouldn’t stand for that. Looking up again to meet the man’s eyes Ren firmly declared. “I’m not a slaver.” Hopefully that’d be enough to put him off that train of thought. He seemed to pick up on her mood because he moved on to hunting rather quickly. “I don’t actully need traps to hunt.” The Kelvic laughed softly as she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Don’t you worry yourself over it. I’ll get us some food. There’s plenty of game around here.” But there was more than food to worry about and they had to think about getting the man to his knights. Ren even knew what she would ask of him in exchange for her help. "It looks like you already took your payment," the human was saying, gesturing towards his purse full of his coins, currently located on the woman’s belts. "Unless you were only keeping it safe for me from all those horrible thieves and muggers?" Ren looked down to her waist as she laughed wholeheartedly at his quip. Quick fingers untied the strings of the purse and the blonde threw it towards its rightful owner. “I don’t want your money. Or your help with hunting.” She was grinning still, preferring to ignore his remark about slave traders. “I have something else in mind.” Ren would have continued and explained her curiosity towards his gambling as well as his life in Alvadas, even her interest in the knights and their mission when she thought she heard something. Her hand flew to the lips of the stranger before he could open his mouth and ask any questions or say anything else. She needed the quiet to listen. A moment passed. Another... There! The steady crunch of leaves and dried sticks under heavy paws. It was still very faint, but... “Shh, be quiet,” Ren finally whispered as an explanation of her odd behavior. “Something’s coming.”