"Whoa, steady Baroness, you don't want to break an ankle." The rider spoke to his recently acquired horse, "I'd hate to have to put you out of your misery." Little did he realize that he had already done so much for the mare. Her old master was a highwayman that had a tendency to lend out his horse to those more deviant individuals with deep pockets. But that monster of a man stood his last against a roaming sell sword and now lie in a shallow grave. The Mare had takes quite a liking to him in the two days since, and had yet to let him a moment alone.
Currently the rider was heading to fine another job, little did he realize one was about to drop into his lap.
Elizabeth rode on her pure white horse, Snow, clearly discontent. A glare was plastered on her face and the horse's expression seemed to match. Out of the five suitcases she had left with, she only had four. Four. She had lost an entire suitcase—and the dresses that were in it, too!
She should have known that body guard was too good to be true. Actually, he wasn't even good! She helped in every single fight they managed to get into, and she saved his life! And then he takes off, with her suitcase in his hand, and never returned to her meeting point. He left her all alone.
In the woods.
Elizabeth was taking a small path and her horse moved at quite a leisurely place. Snow was quite worn down, after all. Her high quality horse food was no longer available, so the horse had to deal with commoner food. Like hay.
Even as she saw a figure in the distance, her expression didn't soften. It was probably some kind of scum. No matter, not even a thief would rob her as she looked then. Dirt smudged across her face, her hundred dollar dress with small tears in it, her exquisitely braided hair that was slightly to the left... she looked like a peasant girl. In her own mind, that was.
Ashour spied the other rider across the distance, more like spied her horse. The poor beast was slowly degrading from hunger. Pushing Baroness up to a simple gait, he quickly caught up to the rider and her horse. Grabbing one the spare bags of Oats from his saddle bag, he held it out to the female rider, not really paying attention to her, but more to her horse. "You really should let her rest and feed her those, she looks like she is about to drop. Do you have any water? If not I always carry an extra canteen."
Random acts of kindness wasn't unlike Ashour, anything could lead to a job so it helped to be in people's good graces, "I'm Ashour and this is Baroness" he said, patting the side of the horse's neck, she shook her head in response to his touch.
Elizabeth stuck up her chin as the other rider approached, hoping he would just pass her by. But, of course, he didn't. And he even had the guts to offer poor Snow oats.
Like the horse would eat oats. Those things grew on the ground! As much as she would love to deny Ashour's offer, Elizabeth knew she would have to give in sooner or later. Her horse was hungry and it would save her embarrassment if she accepted the food now. Even if it wasn't high quality.
So she took the oats with a scoff and responded, "Of course I have water, I'm not an idiot." She was glad he didn't hold out his hand to shake. Travelers often did that, and she hated it. Their hands were covered with grease and slime and dirt and it all ruined her skin.
"I'm Elizabeth," she replied curtly. She was in a bad mood... and wasn't exactly the most forthcoming person in the first place. "And this is Snow."
Ashour merely shrugged, leaving the waterskin where it was on the saddle horn. He looked over to the young woman, she didn't seem much younger than he, perhaps ten years difference at the most. "I never once said that you were an idiot Ms. Elizabeth. I was merely offering you and your horse some water, How was I to know how long you had been traveling or how well stocked you were on water and other essentials for travel. After all we did just meet. I figured I was doing the nice thing by offering. Where are you headed to anyway?"
It was about that time a sudden southbound wind tore through, causing Baroness to shiver just enough for Ashour's various weapons to shake, causing the two swords to rattle in their saddle sheathes and the Crossbow to do the same. "Well I guess it would be hard to argue that autumn is not upon us."
Elizabeth sighed deeply while the man tried to excuse his words. That's all anyone had. Excuses.
And then the wind blew and the clattering of metals was unmistakable. Her own layered dress kept her body warm, but her arms were full of goosebumps. Elizabeth glared northwards, as if that would make the wind stop. It didn't.
"I told you I wasn't an idiot," repeated Elizabeth, completely ignoring his speech. "Why would I tell you, a man full of weapons, where I was going? You're probably just waiting for me to reach my destination so that you can rob me and my family. Well, guess what, I'm not an idiot. I won't tell you where I'm going." As for autumn, she couldn't care less what season it was. All she wanted was to be in her father's house, by the fire, with a butler. She had a nice butler. He would bring her hot milk whenever she asked.
Ashour chuckled, she had a near constant edge to her words. He loved it, it was like a challenge, but she didn't seem like she could lead to a job, perhaps this was just wasted time in the long run. He didn't have time to waste. He needed to get a job, a man without proper training could only live off the land with a horse for so long. "Well, you have a good sense of foresight I will give you that. Here," He pulled a heavy blanket from his saddle pack and tossed it across her lap, "You're headed into bandit country, and the nights are getting colder, so instead of making a fire, use the blanket. It may be a bit scratchy but it will keep you plenty warm. That should help keep you safe, if you follow this path the nearest town is three days ride, I wish you the best of luck Ms. Elizabeth."
With that he began to turn Baroness away.
((OOC: Sorry to put the ball so heavily in her court like that, I don't know what else Ashour would do. You said that you were good at salvaging thing, right?))
"Wait!" Elizabeth screeched as her horse quickly turned to follow the other. Bandits?! Cold?! Scratchy blankets?! "Aren't you going to escort me?! You're a soldier, right? With those swords of yours, and that armor... you must be a soldier! And any soldier in his right mind wouldn't leave a girl alone." She hoped to god he was a soldier. No way she could, or would, fend for herself.
"You can be my bodyguard! I'll let you!" she added, as if it were an honor. "And I'll recommend you to others. Maybe even give you some kind of official recognition, if you get me to my family." She was pretty sure her aunt and uncle had the authority to do that. And just in case nothing else worked, Elizabeth desperately added, "I'll even pay you!"
Ashour turned his head back and half-smiled at the woman, "Well, since you asked so nicely, I guess I can, do you mind telling me where where are going? I'd be easier to escort that way." He redirected Baroness back onto the pre-made trail. His smile widened as he thought about how fast she changed her mind. "And to answer your question: No I am not a soldier, at least not anymore. Now I'm a Sell Sword. I do whatever jobs come my way."
Sticking her nose into the air, Elizabeth snottily replied, "Essyrn. Because that's where all the rich people go." And she was rich, of course. Until her dad got caught. He was so stupid, leaving her all alone. She hardly even knew her relatives! "So you'll take me, right?"
Of course, Elizabeth hardly cared that Essyrn was about halfway across the continent. She said she'd pay him, after all! Plus, it was his duty to protect those who needed protecting—even if he was a retired soldier. Maybe a retired soldier wouldn't abandon her like the new soldier had days beforehand.
Ashour was quite amused, literally not even two minutes prior, she was alluding to the fact that he was most definitely a high risk for being a bandit. and now she was telling him that she was going where only rich people go? What was with her? "Sure, why not? Not like I have any place I have to be. I'm guessing it will take us about a month to go by land. even then we will have to stop to get our horses refitted with proper horseshoes for sand dunes. I've never been outside of Serendipity before, so this will be quite the adventure."
Elizabeth stopped her horse and asked, "Horses refitted? Excuse me? Snow is perfect, just the way she is!" Well, that was a stretch. The horse would abandon her on occasion. But it wasn't like she was going to admit that! "And what do you mean, 'sand dunes'? Is that just... sand?"
She quieted for a second to think about it. In fact, it was really the first time she had thought about it since leaving her home town. Going to Essyrn meant going through sand. And going through sand meant getting dirty. Even her perfect white horse wouldn't look as magnificent! "I hate sand!" she finally added, her mood lower than it had been all day.
It was fun trying to make heads or tails of this woman. Although is was a bit frustrating when she was changing her mind more than a coin changes hands. "So what did you expect, you can't to Essyrn, the Jewel of the Desert, without crossing into the desert. And deserts are usually composed of sand. What business do you have in Essyrn anyway? Maybe there is someplace similar to it here in Serendipity?" Besides, Ashour preferred semi-temperate forests to sweltering deserts every day of the week. It was familiar to him, and to his blood linage. this was the land of his ancestors. both human and lycan alike.
With a pout, Elizabeth pouted for a full minute before getting bored. She wanted more attention!
"I know!" she finally shouted. "I've been there before. But normally I don't have to ride myself over. I ride in a cart. And don't have to deal with the sand." She paused before snottily adding, "And it's none of your business as to why I have to go there. But I do have to go." Unless her aunt and uncle came to her. Actually, that was a rather good thought.
"Why are you traveling?" she asked back, her mood not at all lightened. "Surely not to trap young girls too naive to see through your tricks?" Well, she certainly hoped not. Because that would be one trick she was walking straight into. Again.
Ashour looked at her for a moment in disbelief. "You want me to get you a cart?" This woman had better have some deep pockets then. Carts were expensive! Good ones extraordinarily so. Shaking his head in disbelief, he turned his head back to the road. "There could very well probably be one in the next town, or any of the towns on the way to the desert. but I know not of a dealership in such things. There is a guy in Arca that I know who makes carts on request, but we would have to send word to him ahead of us then make a detour to go get it. but it is nowhere near cheap."
He was silent for a moment after she asked her question. "I've been displaced from my own land. A feud between my family and encroaches on our land, those of us that survived are all displaced." He turned back to her and smiled, "So now I'm just wandering around and looking for work. It seems that money makes the world go round so I am constantly looking for a job. My particular talents are combat based, so I'm currently a sell sword. I'm also a bounty hunter but that is more long term than anything."
Ashour then pulled a twine bound stack of papers, "This is the bingo book, a book of bounties. All of these people are wanted dead or alive. These people are my targets."
Elizabeth sneered when the boy misunderstood what she had said. Just because she normally rode a cart didn't mean that she was planning on doing it this time! Not like she'd reject the offer, though... if he paid for it.
But as he continued to talk, her expression went flat. It seemed like she wasn't the only one that was dishonored in some way. Maybe he wasn't so bad, after all. Then again, it sounded like his displacement was partially his own fault, unlike hers.
Elizabeth glanced over at his papers while wondering if her dad ever had a bounty on his head. Probably not. He would've been caught long beforehand if he did.
"Isn't that dangerous?" she asked after some silence. "Why would you do that?"
"Sure, it's very dangerous. None of these people would want to be captured or killed. But even with the smallest bounty listed in this book, I can live comfortably for at least three months while traveling. Or I could buy a small home. Then for the highest one listed in here, I could live comfortably for the rest of my natural life, and still have money to pass on to my children and their children. It may not be safe, but it could very well pay off in the end." Baroness continued her slow gait as the sun began to dip below the horizon.
"We should probably set up camp, it's dangerous to travel at night in bandit country" Ashour dismounted and led her off the trail into a little alcove of trees, hoping that Snow followed suit.
Snow hesitantly followed Ashour into the trees, bringing her upset rider with her. Neither the horse nor Elizabeth liked trees. They meant scratches, more dirt, and, worst of all, bugs. Last time Elizabeth had encountered a bug, Snow had run off without her...
Elizabeth glared down at her horse in memories of that foul moment. The horse, having been raised by Elizabeth, could sense the look. But she ignored it wholeheartedly, walking forward with as much pride as a weak horse could put forward in such a situation.
"Fine, let's camp," Elizabeth replied with a sigh. "I hate the dark, anyway. But can't we find an inn? Not tonight, I suppose." Even she had realized that she couldn't sleep in an inn every night. "But tomorrow night, right?"
Ashour thought about it for moment. "There might be something along the way, but don't count on it. However, the village that we are headed to is a trade village, so expect a ton of commodities and money sinks. But for now, lets work on making camp. If you gather some firewood, I will set up the tents." With that he opened up the saddle bag and started pulling out a cloth for a floor to the tent.
Elizabeth stopped moving and stared at Ashour with an open mouth. Even Snow seemed to have the same look of astonishment on her face. "Gather firewood?!" Elizabeth exclaimed before wrinkling up her nose. "Do you know how many bugs are on wood? And it's heavy! Furthermore, it will ruin my dress!" She would even pick up wood chips if she got her way!
"How about I set up the tents, and you gather the wood." She didn't know how to set up a camp, of course. But he didn't know that. And she could just try until he got back. Then he could do it for her. "Deal?"
"I'm just assuming you've never pitched a tent in your life so I am going to ignore that. Really, I just want you to get some kindling and light burners, such as twigs and small branches. I will handle the big stuff. You can tell it is kindling if when gripping it in both hands you can twist it apart. Very soft wood, the more of that you can find the better." Ashour pulled the two tents free of the saddle bag, they were an interesting design. Most tents, especially those for travel, were just a drape of leather, some sticks and a length of cord. It was fairly effective but small and cramped and if you moved a lot at night it would come crashing down. His tent was a bit more complex than that.
He quickly set out the thick wool matting that would go under the tent, it was mainly for comfort, made the tent more comfortable. It, like the tent itself, was magicked by an old mage that Ashour had once worked for, it was entirely water resistant. The tent went up without a hitch, it was a dome of brown leather that seemed to almost blend in with the surroundings. The inside, however, was huge. It had a dining area, a kitchen, nine different beds, a sitting area with a fireplace. They wouldn't be under the starts, they would be in luxury inside the woods. He next took a stake out of the saddle bag and drove it into the ground. tying the reins of Snow and Baroness to each other and to the stake, even if snow got free, he trusted that Baroness would keep her there. Like wise if a horse thief were to show up then Baroness would make enough noise and be stubborn enough to warn Ashour and give him ample time to react.
"How is the firewood coming?" Ashour asked as he went to loosen the straps on Baroness and rub her down.
Elizabeth looked up at Ashour with a look of pure disgust. Her pointer finger and thumb were holding a singular stick out as far as possible as if it were a dead, rotting rat. Of course, if there really was a dead, rotting rat, Elizabeth would be long gone.
"It's wet!" she screeched. "All moist and squishy and so... so... so EW!" Elizabeth felt a small prickling feeling move across her finger and she screamed, not hesitating to throw the stick as far as possible. It made its way to Snow, who whinnied and attempted to run away. The post completely stopped her and, realizing she wouldn't be able to get away, she decided to get revenge. She turned around and stepped on the stick with her front right hoof, breaking it in two.
Elizabeth, on the other hand, was flinging her hand around wildly. There was no way she was letting a bug climb around on her. She stopped a few seconds later and hesitantly glanced at her hand. Happy to discover that there was no longer a bug, but still in a sour mood from the 'deadly' encounter, she snottily said, "And that's why I don't pick up wood!" She didn't know, of course, that the sensation of a bug she had felt was completely and utterly her imagination.
OOC: sorry, in my last post I meant one tent but posted two, I would change it but you have already replied.
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About stared in humor as Elizabeth overdramaticly held out a single, tiny twig. It wasn't even kindling, what it was, was embarrassing. And her reaction to it was comical. Baroness shook her head in appreciation to the loosening of her straps as well as the nice rubbing. "Just loosen the saddle straps on Snow the head inside the tent and start getting warmed up. I'll get the firewood", he returned in less then ten minutes with an harmful of sticks and kindling and an harmful of freshly split logs.
There was always that moment of queer disbelief whenever he stepped into the tent, the inside was at least twelve times as big on the inside than the outside. He dropped off some of the logs and sticks at the kitchen for the stove, then took the rest to the fireplace and began starting a fire to get the inside to heat up.
OOC: You posted two? Lol I only imagined one. xD Feel free to change it if you haven't already. :3
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Elizabeth, not seeing any reason to disagree, did exactly what Ashour asked. After loosening the straps and grabbing her bags off of Snow, she prepared to enter whatever shabby tent was set up. But when she did enter, she gasped. Even Elizabeth, queen of the snobs and the spoiled, was amazed by the tent. It was nothing compared to her place back home, of course, but she had spent enough time traveling recently to know that most tents did not look like this.
After taking a brief look around, she grew complacent for the place. Ashour came back and placed some wood by the stove. Breaking out of her character, Elizabeth decided that she'd actually do something. She grabbed three different vials from her bag alongside two slabs of meat and, being the prepared one she was, a large pan. She brought it all by the stove and then glanced over at Ashour. "Start this," she demanded, not willing to touch the wood nor try to learn how one was actually supposed to start a fire.
Ashour quickly set a fire going in the fireplace, which spread an immediate warmth throughout the tent. He then went about lighting the stove as he was asked, or rather commanded, before laying his weapons in a weapon rack and removing his armor onto a dummy. He only had two piece of the Blood Moon Lupine armor set of legend, the gauntlets and the chest plate. He still had yet to find the Pauldrons, the plate legs, or the greaves. But it was all a matter of time.
"To save you the time of wondering, the most comfortable bed is the third on down, top bunk." He turned a chair around and sat, as so the back of the chair was concealing view from the majority of his front, on the opposing side of the kitchen. It wasn't overly large, but it had plenty of space for as many as four people to be doing things at once, "tell me about yourself, what makes you trust some random stranger you just met? This world is a sick place, any number of things could happen to a trusting young woman such as yourself."
Elizabeth, content with the fire, started to cook the meat. She poured a small dose of all three of the liquids on the meat, giving it a rich and seasoned smell. Glancing over at the beds, she nodded and took note of what he said. Clearly that bed would be hers.
"You're a knight, first off. And what makes you think I'd be safer alone? A rich, pretty, young girl like me is more likely to get robbed or poisoned by ogres than for it to be smart to stay alone. So better take my chances with a knight, right?" she responded. Though, on a second thought, maybe following him wasn't the best choice of action...
Ashour's refined sense of smell only added to the mouthwatering effect, he quietly swallowed down his saliva. "Unfortunately, Freelance Knight often means part time brigand. But you lucked out. Besides, I don't care much for killing people that haven't done something to deserve it. So what is in the vials? It smells amazing, not going to poison me are you?" Ashour chuckled off that last part. Poisons in food had a tendency to smell sickeningly sweet, so this wasn't poison as far as he could tell. "Well, I've asked a question, feel free to ask one yourself."
Smiling pridefully, Elizabeth responded, "They're seasonings. My dad owns a potion shop, and he sells all kinds of things." Sold. "So I have plenty of potions to help me through all sorts of things. And yes, poison is included. But these aren't poisoned, I promise you."
Pausing, she flipped over the meat. The delicious smells grew stronger as they continued to waft into the air. "A question?" she repeated hesitantly. Did he think he was important enough that she'd want to know about him? That she cared? Well, maybe it would be good to know a thing or two... "Fine. Do you have any magic?"
"Do I. Have. Any magic." He slowly enunciated, as if comically pondering the absurd notion.
Very slowly, the meat raised from the pan and spun in the air, seemingly unaided by anything, before resting back into the pan. "I'd say so, simple telekenetics. Not to mention a sharpened sense of sight, smell, and hearing."
"Wretched thing," Elizabeth muttered under her breath. Well, even she had to admit that magic might be useful in a time like this. Telekinetic could help them get away if ambushed, and heightened senses might be able to stop them from getting ambushed at all...
... but heightened senses and magic were both connected to one thing Elizabeth disliked very much. "Tell me, are you part fae?" she asked with unmasked disgust.
Ashour smiled a very wolfish grin before stretching, several joints creaked and a few popped before he answered. "Not a drop of Fae Blood in me. And yourself? Serenians are known to share a certain heritable tie to the fair folk?"