@DragonSong "We should make it to Selevea before nightfall as long as we keep up this pace," the well-groomed man in leather armor turned to check on his companions. The young woman atop his gray horse looked exhausted and her child was just waking up at the sound of Arden's voice.
The boy, who looked to be about 5 years old, sleepily looked over at the man escorting them and said, "I gotta go potty, please," in a very shy voice. Arden looked around and saw no immediate danger. He chuckled and pulled on the reins of the horse to bring her to a halt. Nodding to the woman he helped her son down from the saddle and added quietly, "If you have a similar need, I'd rather not stop again until we get to town. It is not uncommon for bandits to watch these roads." She did not reply but she did also take his hand so she could dismount.
The boy quickly ran off into the bushes, undoing his pants even as his exasperated mother followed after him chiding him to be careful. Arden stayed by the horse, keeping a watchful eye on the area. He hadn't been lying about the bandits. Selevea was a decent town but the large number of smuggling opportunities tended to draw in some less savory characters.
I'll be glad to spend a night in town, with a locked door to keep them safe, he thought to himself. It had been a long trip from southern Connlaoth over the mountains and into Serendipity. The woman and her child had hired him to escort them to Summervale and though the pay was not very good he had his own reasons for accepting the job.
As the woman and child were returning from the bushes the sound of a snapping twig caught Arden's attention. He peered into the trees surrounding the road and thought he saw a flash of movement up ahead.
No time to make a run for it and we only have the one horse. If its highwaymen with crossbows even sending the others on the horse won't work. With quick and decisive movements Arden pulled the young woman and her child behind him and stood in front of them with his hand on the hilt of his sword. "Let us pass. Don't waste your time or blood," he called out in a commanding voice. Even as he spoke he shifted slightly to make sure his charges were shielded by his body on one side and the horse on the other.
Four men emerged from the bushes in front of the stopped travelers with weapons gleaming in the sunlight. They didn't seem like they were going to just let them through. Worse still, two more exited the brush behind Arden and his charges.
One man in the front group with a scraggly beard and missing teeth called out, "You don't make the orders here. We'll take your money and that nice armor you have and then maybe if we are feeling charitable we won't take your wifey there. He laughed in a tone that made it clear he had no intention of being "charitable."
Arden drew his sword as the man who had spoken gave a signal to the rest. One man approached from the front group with a rusty looking axe while the other two leveled their crossbows at Arden. Meanwhile the two men in the rear approached with their swords drawn. Arden grimaced, knowing that he would have to use his magic against these men and even that might not be enough with so many of them. He blinked once and as he turned to cover the woman and child from the men behind them a light blue silhouette remained in his place and solidified into an exact copy of Arden. The copy then stepped forward to meet the man wielding the axe.
Catching the bandits' scent was easy. River followed the trail through the underbrush off the side of the main road, hoping to cut them off before they reached the road itself, but it seemed she'd had no such luck.
Their target seemed to be a small family, a father and mother and child, and...another man? When had he showed up? She could smell magic, but in her wolf form colors were lost and it was difficult to distinguish the magical copy for what it was.
No matter, she didn't have time to worry about this. With a low growl, the black wolf crouched, then sprang out onto the road, her paws hitting one bandit solidly in the center of the chest and knocking him to the ground with a startled, "Oof!"
She snarled in his face, snapping at him, and the reek of fear surrounded her. Before he could so much as blink, she lunged forward and sank her teeth into his throat, tearing.
The bounty did say "dead or alive".
((if you wanted River to take out a different one of the bandits, I can easily change it))
The copy of Arden stepped forward and slashed for the axe man's wrist, knocking his arm back and leaving the man vulnerable to a backhand strike across his right leg. He wasn't taken out but he was off balance and slowed down considerably.
The real Arden had slipped behind the woman and child with just enough time to parry the blow from one swordsman and kick him into his companion. Both men were unhurt but the distraction gave Arden the breathing room he needed to set his fighting stance. His feet were apart and he crouched a little lower. His sword was raised and ready to react to whichever man stepped forward first.
Meanwhile, and unseen by the copy of Arden, one of the bandits with a crossbow had been tackled by a huge black wolf. He never even got a chance to fire his weapon before his throat was no more. The second man with a crossbow fired but missed wildly at the distraction of his buddy being felled by the wolf.
The leader of the bandits was surprised by the sudden appearance of a second man protecting the travelers and even more surprised by the commotion behind him. He was struck trying to decide which of his men he should help and ended up just drawing his weapon and watching for a moment.
The woman crouched over her wailing child, trying to protect him from the violence.
((All good!))
River growled, then barked, a sound that was almost more of a roar. Blood painted her jaws as she stalked forward, closing in on the second man with the crossbow.
The bandit fumbled, trying to get a bolt up, but she was already on him, snapping her teeth over his neck with a sickening sharp crunch. He fell, head lolling at an unnatural angle, eyes blank.
The wolf skidded into a sharp turn, putting her body between the rest of the bandits and the woman and child. A shiver and a breath, and suddenly she was human, a ragged pair of breeches and just as ragged cotton shirt her only coverings.
"Get off the road, into the underbrush," she barked sharply at the two cowering humans.
As the wolf skidded over towards the woman and child the "man" who had been facing off with the axe-wielding bandit snapped his head towards her and started to move to intercept her, ignoring the axe. He raised his sword to strike at her but halted as she suddenly became a human.
The man with the axe capitalized on the distraction and slammed it into the back of the distracted swordsman's neck. There was no blood or scream in pain from next to River. Instead the "man" who had been fighting the bandits shattered and disappeared.
At the same moment there was a grunt of pain from the man behind them as he stabbed one bandit and used the body to shield himself while pulling it out. However he didn't seem to be injured.
The child was too petrified to move but at least the mother seemed to hear the order to move for the brush. She dragged the child with her but it was slow progress. The axe bandit and their leader closed in towards the unarmed woman.
"Oh no you don't." River launched herself forward, once again taking her wolf shape. She slammed into the bandit and they went trembling over each other across the ground, her jaws snapping solidly as she tried to get a hold on the man.
The bandit with the axe was blindsided by the wolf's tackle. He wasn't sure what was going on and he had lost the axe but he tried desperately to get into position to pull his dagger from his belt. The wolf ended up on top of him and his arm was pinned under the weight.
Behind the group Arden had freed his sword from the dying body of one bandit and engaged the other as he tried to come down with a slash form above. Arden twisted out of the way and dragged his sword across the belly of the bandit. The bandit wasn't dead yet but he was finished.
The bandit leader flinched as River changed into wolf form but when he realized she hadn't gone for him he grinned evilly. He strode forward and pointed his battered sword at the neck of the child. "Stop fighting or he dies." The blade drew a tiny bead of blood as its tip rubbed against the neck.
Arden turned to see the situation and froze immediately. He did not drop his sword but he did hold his position, glaring at the bandit leader with an icy coldness.
There was a faint *pop* sound and the smell of burning hair filled the air as the bandit leader's smile faded. The child had also grown silent, though the mother continued to whimper and plead.
Jaws already sunk in the ax-wielder's throat, River froze as she smelled new blood and raised her head, seeing the child's danger. Slowly, she backed away from the bandit's body, taking human form again.
"Easy." She flicked her eyes from the boy to his mother and back. "Look, back away from the kid and this doesn't have to end bloody for you."
As River looked at the child, she might have noticed that he was no longer crying. Instead his eyes were as wide as could be and frozen in what could only have been described as abject horror. The mother whimpered and tried to pull her son away but he stood there staring at, and through, the bandit leader.
The leader himself failed to reply to River in any way. He didn't move and he didn't make a sound. There was a brief pause as everyone was unsure what to do and then suddenly the bandit leader slumped forward over top of the child. The sword clattered uselessly to the ground in symphony with the collapse of his lifeless body. There was no blood, only a small singed hole through the leader's head and a wisp of smoke from where some of his hair had been burnt.
As if the fall of the man had broken a spell, the impact of his body jostled the child and he began wailing at the top of his lungs and struggling uselessly to get the body off of him. Arden sheathed his sword and ran over to help move the body off of the child and his mother. While doing so he addressed River, "I don't know who you are but thank you for assisting us Ma'am."
River darted forward the instant the man was down, kneeling beside the boy and brushing his hair away from a dirt-streaked face with a kind smile.
It may have been somewhat oddly contrasted with the blood painting the corners of her mouth.
"Easy, lad, you're alright," she soothed as she ushered the boy into his mother's arms. She glanced up at the swordsman. "No need to thank me. Couldn't very well let that lot kill such nice folks as yourselves, could I? Sides-" she jerked her head toward the leader- "that one's got a bounty on his head big enough to last me a couple months."
She stood gracefully, wiping blood and dirt from her palms before thrusting one hand toward him. "Name's River. What're you all doing out here by yourselves?"
The little boy flinched at the unfamiliar touch, but he seemed to calm a bit at seeing a friendly smile where before there had been a man trying to kill him. His sobs were muffled as he buried his face in his mother's arms. She in turn offered a tiny "thank you," towards River. Otherwise she was completely focused on comforting her child.
Arden finished moving the body of the bandit and let it lie with a very undignified slump. He had blood on him from the wounds of the other bandits but he seemed to be unhurt himself. "All the same, you helped us so you deserve a sincere thanks at the very least." He glanced over at the dead leader, "Well they're all yours as far as i'm concerned. Hunting people down is not really my business any more."
He accepted her outstretched hand, but instead of shaking it he clasped his own hand around her wrist. It wasn't exactly the proper way to greet a woman, but as far as Arden was concerned she was just as much a fellow fighter as she was a woman. "Arden Deschane is my name, and i'm escorting the lady and her child down south to somewhere a little safer for them. The mother's name is Rarra and that little one's name is Gin."
River grasped his wrist in turn, recognizing the gesture for what it was and nodding to him respectfully.
"Nice to meet. Though I'm sorry it was under such circumstances." She glanced at the bodies around them with distaste. Snapping her eyes up again, she nodded back over her shoulder down the road. "How much further you guys traveling? My employer gave me a drop point in Selevea, I could go that far with you."
Arden was glad that she seemed to understand the greeting and nodded back to River. "There are worse ways to meet someone than being rescued by them I think," he grinned. After their greeting was finished he knelt down to check for himself that both the woman and her child were unhurt. They were understandably shaken up but had no injuries. The child continued to hide his face in his mother's dress but she was now looking back at Arden and River.
Arden looked over at River, "We're headed to Selevea now. Plan to spend a day or maybe a couple there to let everyone," he glanced towards the woman and child, "recover a little. then I think the plan is to go somewhere near the Summervale coast."
The woman also spoke up after Arden finished. "I have a friend who moved down there after the unrest got to be too much in Connlaoth so we're going there to visit her for a while."
"Before we go anywhere though, do you mind if I ask what you are River?" he asked as he moved over to check on the horse. It had been spooked by the appearance of the wolf but it was calming down now.
The bounty hunter nodded along as she walked toward the body of the bandit leader, kneeling and pulling a strangely shaped crystal from the inside of her tunic. She pressed it against the corpse's brow and it glowed green for a moment, then she tucked it away again, straightening up and glancing around.
"Shifter," she replied to Arden's question, then quirked an eyebrow. "Bounty hunter, if you meant profession." She knelt to grabbed the body under the arms and grunted as she started dragging it off the road, then moved to the next dead bandit.
"Help me clear the road and y'all can get moving sooner," she noted blithely.
Arden watched as she used the strange crystal with curiosity. Although he traveled outside of Connlaoth a lot he still was fascinated and a little apprehensive when magic was used. Though it appeared that this was a magic item rather than the work of a mage.
Arden laughed, "I suppose I was asking about both without even realizing it. I've never dealt with a shifter before, but bounty hunters i've met plenty of. Is it just the wolf that you become?" He seemed more curious than anything else and he watched her drag the body for a bit.
"We could just leave without you and get going even sooner," he relied with a smirk, "but that would be rather impolite. And I don' think I want to be on the other side of those claws of yours." He then moved to pick up the bandit's legs so the body could be moved quicker. He wasn't sure if she needed to so something with the crystal on each body or not so he didn't want to move the others yet.
The mother walked over to the horse and led it a few feet away from the corpses so they could wait for Arden and River to clear the bodies. She was careful to keep her son's face pointed inward at her body so he would not stare at the blood.
"Aye, just the wolf," River chuckled. With a quirk of her eyebrow, she added almost playfully, "Why, that not enough for you?"
The bodies cleared, she stepped back into the road and shot Rarra an apologetic look. "Here, lad." She approached and knelt to be on the child's level, smiling gently. One hand hunted in the pouch at her hip, then reemerged with a small wooden carving that she held out to him.
"Gin, right? That's a good name, y'know. Strong. Ever heard the story of the great hunter Gin?" She pressed the little toy into his palm: a slightly roughly carved hawk. She's been working on it for her eldest nephew, but it seemed like Gin might need it more in the moment.
"Oh, i'm sure the wolf is plenty enough," Arden replied with a wink and continued, "but really I haven't had many dealings with 'shifters' so I was curious." He kept the tone of their conversation fairly light and clearly wasn't too bothered by dealing with the aftermath of the combat.
After the bodies were all removed from the road Arden started to head over to check on Rarra and Gin but noticed River approaching them first. Maybe better handled by a woman. They trust me well enough, but still. He instead checked on the the horse and its saddle and bags while River spoke to them. Arden was, however, carefully watching their interaction. And smiling.
She is gentle and caring despite having just torn out the throats of these bandits. Very interesting.
Rarra was concerned when River started approaching her and Gin but she let her try to comfort him. There wasn't much more Rarra could do and maybe the strange woman could help. When she saw River pull out the wooden carving she smiled.
Gin looked at the carving River was holding and then he nodded that his name was Gin. He didn't say anything but as soon as she pressed the hawk into his hand he closed it tightly and held it very close to his chest. For a moment it seemed that would be it but then he let go of his mother and threw his arms around River. His words were unclear but it sounded like "Tank'ee."
After letting them embrace for a little bit Arden cleared his throat, "We should get moving soon. We want to make it to town before dusk and find you a nice inn to stay at." And I think I could use a drink. He gestured to the horse and put out a hand to help Rarra up into the saddle.
River nodded in agreement and helped Gin up to settle in front of his mother. Brisk and businesslike, she moved to stand in front of the horse and bent to breathe into the animal's nostrils, teaching her scent.
"Easy," she murmured when the horse snorted. "I'm gonna look different in a minute, but it'll still be me, okay?" She'd found horses and other domesticated creatures often reacted better to her wolf if she took the time to introduce herself as a human.
Stepping back, she fell forward onto four paws. The suddenly jet black wolf twisted to nod at Arden again, indicating she was ready when he was.
Once up on the horse Gin tucked the wooden figure into a pocket and held on as his mother wrapped one arm around him and used the other to hold the reins of the horse. She wasn't really going to be in control of it but it made her feel better.
Arden watching with curiosity as River breathed on and spoke softly to the horse. Either she knew what she was doing or she really loved animals, but regardless he wasn't about to interrupt. He knew too little about her and her abilities so letting her have some leeway was the smartest thing to do.
The transformation was still a little bit of a shock even though it was pretty much expected. Arden didn't jump or flinch but his heart did race for a second. Seeing a wolf on the road was not something you just got used to so quickly. The horse snorted and huffed, taking a couple steps back but it didn't seem to be panicking. Arden patted it gently on its side and whispered, "easy there Dori. Just a friend with a little more fur than we're used to."
With everyone ready to go Arden began leading the horse and its passengers along the road. It was a quiet journey towards Selevea. Gin and Rarra were still recovering from their fear and Arden doubted River would be able to talk as a wolf. Fortunately they made a good pace and made it to the outskirts of town just before sundown.
River easily kept pace with the horse, and after a few minor incidents of skittishness the animal seemed to accept her presence.
She was relatively through most of the walk, but as she caught sight of the town on the horizon she yipped excitedly and darted forward a bit, glancing back at her shoulder and barking in a Hurry up! kind of way.
Arden stayed very close to the horse as they walked during the first portion of their trip. He wanted to make sure the horse wouldn't get too spooked and toss Gin and Rarra. Fortunately the horse seemed to get acclimated to the scent of the wolf nearby and soon stopped needing such close attention.
Arden let his mind wander as they walked, though he was still keeping an eye out for trouble. He tried to imagine what it would be like to be able to become a wolf. To run free and experience the world by scent. Arden was the kind of person to try to think about how others lived their lives. Even as a soldier he had tried to get inside the heads of his enemies to understand what they would do. Not that he considered River an enemy, just a person with a very different way of experiencing the world.
River's excitement as they drew closer to the town brought a smile to Arden's face. He was happy to be getting to town too, but there was just something joyous about the wolf's excitement. Arden wasn't sure if River intended to stay as a wolf as they entered town but he was going to leave that up to her. She was probably more experienced with this area than he was. As they approached the guards outside of town he politely nodded and asked, "We're looking for a decent inn to stay at, do you have a couple recommendations?" He knew better than to just take the first inn they mentioned as they likely had some deal or other but it didn't hurt to get an idea.
The guards rattled off a few names and the group proceeded into town to choose where to stay. Once Rarra and Gin were settled Arden would have a date with some ale.
River managed to get her energy back under control as Arden spoke with the guards, sitting placidly at his side as though she was a tamed companion.
She probably could have changed back to human form, but she usually didn't like to do so with so many people about. Earlier had been a bit of an emergency.
She nudged her nose against the man's side as the group moved into town, jerking her head toward Gin and his mother with a questioning whine.
Arden had to admit, River made a pretty convincing pet wolf when she was trying. Not that it was common for wolves to be tamed. Maybe the guards really just didn't care unless people were causing trouble. It was also possible they didn't want to provoke any biting if they didn't have to.
As they left the guards behind them Arden noticed River nudging him and he looked down to see what she was doing. He could tell from her head jerks that she was trying to ask him something about his two charges but something was being lost in translation. "I don't know what you are trying to say River. Give me a moment," he said low enough for her to hear him. Shifters might or might not be common here but he didn't want to draw any more attention than was necessary.
As they passed an alley way Arden stopped the horse and ducked inside. Hopefully it would be shielded enough from public view for River to change back. Or at least he could take a moment to try to figure out what she was trying to say.
River huffed, irritated-- not with him, but with the perpetual fact that she couldn't communicate the way she wanted to in this form, not without a beastspeaker-- and followed him into the alley.
Quickly, she melted back into the form of a woman, rolling her neck and popping a few joints. "Do you know where we're putting them up?" she asked with another nod toward the mother and child.
River changing back into a woman was fascinating. Even though Arden had seen her change a couple times it was still something he wasn't used to. It wasn't as grotesque or unnerving as he might have expected had someone told him about what a shifter was like. It was just... interesting.
"Unless you have a better idea I was planning to check the prices of a couple inns and see if they are appropriate for these two. Somewhere safe and reasonably comfortable with a few rooms next to each other available. The guards gave me some names but i'll bet they get money on the side for their recommendations. I'll need a stable for my horse too."
She nodded, rolling her shoulders back to adjust back into her human skin. "Makes sense. What can I do?"
She seemed to be moving her joints a lot after taking her human form. Arden wondered if it was painful for her to shift. He considered asking but thought better of it. It could be something to ask about later if the opportunity came up but the priority was getting Rarra and Gin settled for the night and Dori safely stabled.
"Do me a favor and watch my back. With me focused on finding a decent inn and stable I may need to show some coin and that tends to draw the wrong kind of attention. Whether that's in this form or the other is up to you. Though it may be difficult to explain a wolf without any collar or restraint. and I don't think you would like that," he chuckled.
Arden waited for River to make her decision and then proceeded to the first inn on his list. Naturally one of the more expensive ones in town. The guards probably sent all the clueless newcomers there so they could get a better kickback. Arden didn't plan on staying there but he was curious at their prices and it was a good place to start.
River nodded and shot him a quick smile. "Nah, I can be human for this, I think."
She gave Gin and Rarra an encouraging grin as they set out into the town, leading their horse rather than having Rarra keep a hold on the reins.
The small group made an interesting sight as they traveled through the streets. The presence of the horse was invaluable as it made some of the many people walking about move out of their way. They weren't being respectful- no one enjoys a horse's panicked kicks. Arden was glad not to be leading the horse as it allowed him to focus on watching the crowd for threats while they walked.
The inn standing before them was large and well maintained. There were flowers planted outside and a freshly painted sign declared it as "The Pegasus Arms." There was a nice stable in the rear that was almost completely hidden from view and there were guards posted around the building. Arden leaned over to whisper to the others, "Don't think we should waste your money on rooms here but I'd like to check the prices anyway if you don't mind." Rarra looked the building up and down and sighed. It would have been nice to stay there but they still had more travelling to do on the money she had with her. "Please don't take too long, we're pretty tired Mr. Deschane."
Before Arden could finish taking his third step towards the entrance of the inn he was stopped by a man in a fancy blue vest over a bright, clean white tunic. The golden chain around his neck jangled as he walked over. After examining the group for a moment he wrinkled up his nose a bit like he has smelled something awful. "You look like you've traveled for a long time. Are you sure you have the proper coin for this establishment?" Arden probably could have fit in ok if he had been alone but neither Rarra nor Gin looked like they were well off enough for this type of place.
Even so Arden was fairly annoyed at the treatment the man was giving them. He squared his body into an intimidating stance and looked down into the man's eyes. "Why you haven't even told us the price yet and you already think we cannot afford it?" His hands were crossed over his chest and not near his weapons. He might have sounded confrontational but nothing in his body language indicated he was actually going to get into a fight. "What if they were two visiting nobles with a bodyguard and guide who were unfortunately waylaid by bandits? Would you really risk offending a potentially lucrative customer? Just tell us what you charge for your meals and rooms."
The man seemed taken aback by the response but quickly composed himself again. He listed the costs with an only halfway hidden sneer and they were indeed quite steep. Much more than they intended to pay. Arden laughed, "Quoting an exorbitant price just to rub my nose in it? Fine, i'm sure we can find a more respectable place to take our money." With that he turned to began ushering the others away from the inn.
River hung back with the horse and his riders, scowling a bit to herself at the arrogance of the innkeeper.
She tilted her head back to smile reassuringly at Rarra though. "Where you two from, orgininally?" she asked quietly, politely, hoping to keep mother and child distracted from the altercation.
Rarra glanced nervously over at the innkeeper but River's question brought her attention back away from the disagreement. "We're coming from Connlaoth. We're just planning to stay with some friends of mine down south for a while," she sounded a little like she was repeating something she had rehearsed during the second part. Meanwhile Gin piped up, "We goin' on vacation!" Rarra smiled down at him and nodded.
Arden walked away from the innkeeper with no hesitation or turning back. He had learned what he wanted to learn and had received pretty much the exact treatment he was expecting. It was a little surprising that he hadn't balked at Arden's accusation that he was overcharging, but Arden just assumed that meant he was exactly right about it. There was a faint smirk on his face as he returned to the others and said, "guess we won't be staying there tonight. I'm sure we can find somewhere more reasonable and more comfortable."
He led the group down one of the side streets until they came across a man cleaning the outside of his small shop. Arden stopped and greeted him before asking directions to one of the other inns that the guards had told him about. After the man laughed and asked why they would ever want to stay in such a dump, Arden smiled and asked the man about the final inn that the guards had mentioned. The man seemed to like that option better and gave directions to halfway across the city. Arden thanked him with a firm handshake, but the glint of metal in the man's hand as they released would have told a keen observer that Arden had tipped the man for his information. He hadn't asked for Rarra to pay for it. In actuality it was his own money that he was spending.
The group resumed walking towards the inn the man had recommended
River smiled at Gin and nodded. "Well you have fun, lad. There's lots of good land in Serendipity, I'm sure you'll find plenty of space to play outside and all."
She glanced at Arden as he returned and they continued walking, observing carefully. She noted that he seemed to pay from his own coin purse and tilted her head almost curiously.
"That was your coin?" she asked quietly as they started walking again.
It's fine. She's just trying to be nice to us. There's no reason to think she might return us to Connlaoth. But she is a bounty hunter. Best not to let her know everything. Rarra was being a little paranoid but she desperately wanted to keep her son out of the hands of the church. She wasn't going to let them take him away from her no matter what.
Gin seemed more or less happy to be on "vacation" and was eagerly looking around at all the sights of the city. Not that any of it was particularly interesting looking, he just hadn't been there before and it was exciting to the child. It seemed like he had been distracted enough or had forgotten the incident earlier with the bandits.
As they started walking Arden heard River speak up quietly. She had seen through his little sleight of hand trick back with the storekeeper. No matter, really he was just trying to hide it from Rarra. He put his finger to his lips and casually shifted his position so that he was closer to River while still keeping an eye on the other two on the horse as they all walked through the streets.
"Saw that, huh?" Arden questioned, just barely loud enough to be heard over the noise of traveling through the city, "An honest man deserves to be rewarded for his help. That was indeed my coin and I'd appreciate it if you kept it quiet. They aren't actually rich enough to make this journey comfortably- hell, I took the job at a huge discount myself."
The shifter smiled and shook her head. "Your secret's safe with me," she promised with a little chuckle. She glanced back over her shoulder at Rarra and her son.
"Do you know them?" she asked after a moment. "I mean, outside of business? Or are you really just doing this out of the goodness of your heart?"
Rarra and Gin continued along with their escorts, unaware or not bothered by the fact that Arden and River were talking quietly among themselves. Gin had taken out the little wood carved hawk and was holding it up in the air like he was pretending it was flying above them. Rarra was a little more focused on keeping the two of them from falling or colliding with anyone.
Arden was relieved that she was going to keep the money a secret. It wouldn't have been the end of the world for Rarra to find out that Arden had been paying for some things out of his own pocket, but it would be best if she thought the money she had desperately scraped together was enough. Arden wasn't about to go broke as long as he was careful, but this job had never been about getting rich.
He waited a moment before responding as if he was weighing his options. Finally he sighed, "I don't really know them, no. A friend of mine who knew I work as a mercenary and usually escort travelers contacted me about the job. Wouldn't say i'm necessarily a good person, but I am doing this for reasons other than money."
They were getting close to the inn they had been directed to. It was many times smaller than the previous one and it was decidedly more plain. Still it looked decent enough on the outside and their front door was propped open as if inviting people in.
The shifter tilted her head at him, but didn't seem to feel the need to comment much. She just nodded as they made their way through the city toward the inn.
Her head suddenly tilted the other way, and if she'd been in her canine form her ears may have perked up. "Should I check this out before you lot decide to stay or not?"
Arden was confused by the sudden head tilt but he figured it was a peculiarity that came with being a wolf shifter. Perhaps some of the instincts and mannerisms bled through to both forms. At any rate her offer was reasonable. If they all approached at once it would be clear that they were a group looking for rooms and the owner might be tempted to price things accordingly and try to hide things from them.
Also Arden had the suspicion that River's senses were more finely tuned than his own. In his experience having someone else check things out too couldn't hurt. "If you don't mind, that would probably be very helpful. I am a little curious though. You asked about my motivations for this job, but why are you being so helpful? Don't you have a bounty to collect or something?"
They had slowed down a bit and Rarra and Gin were getting closer to the two quietly talking among themselves. "Is everything ok?" Rarra asked, a little concerned. Gin still seemed distracted enough by playing with the wood carving.
River nodded, moving forward toward the inn, then paused and glanced back at Arden over her shoulder. Her eyes flickered from him to Rarra and her son, and she smiled.
"Everything's fine, I'm just gonna check the prices here," she assured. Lowering her voice, she murmured to Arden, "I...like pups. The kid's an innocent. I'd like to see him and his mother settled, if I can."
She shrugged "Besides, my bounty can wait. Not many people can avoid a wolf on their tail."
Arden too looked back when Rarra had asked if everything was ok. He smiled and nodded to show that River was indeed just going to check the prices. Rarra wasn't a fool but she was a little unfamiliar with the dangers of traveling and Arden didn't want her to worry too much.
Turning back to River so the others wouldn't be able to tell what was said, he smiled. "Innocent he is. I think you have at least a decent idea why I took this job so you are welcome to assist as long as you want." He still couldn't fully trust her- that would be a bad idea for someone he had just met. However she seemed to be on the same page as far as protecting Rarra and Gin and nothing she had done so far was throwing up red flags.
As she continued further away he called out, slightly louder, "With what i've seen? I know I wouldn't want you coming after me." He then took up a better position to watch over his charges as they finished their walk to the inn. Their pace was carefully slowed to make sure River would have a chance to do her check without them having to wait too long outside in the street and attract too much attention.
River smirked and tossed a grin at him. "Hey, I'll take that as a compliment," she chuckled, before she strode forward to talk with the proprietor of the inn.
It was warm and noisy and crowded inside the inn's taproom, but at least it was cheap. And it seemed safe enough-- she was sure she and Arden could handle any problems that might arise at any rate.
Slipping back outside, she flashed Rarra and Gin a smile as she came up to Arden again, lowering her voice slightly. "I'm gonna let the wolf out again. You can pretend I'm a guard dog; it'll be intimidating enough that no one will bother to mess with them, but better than an extra mercenary hanging around."
Arden nodded and then as she walked off he quietly replied, essentially to just himself, "It was intended as a compliment."
Even though River was only inside the inn for a very short amount of time Arden had already gotten Rarra and Gin dismounted and ready to go inside. Rarra in particular looked like she was ready to stop riding the horse for the day as her legs were stiff and she seemed to be pretty tired and sore. Gin was a little bit within his own world, as most children his age tend to be, and was just following along with one hand held in his mother's and the other firmly clutching the wood carving.
Arden took a couple steps forward so they wouldn't be as much in earshot. "Fair enough, we could probably sell that act. Just don't be surprised if I have to pretend to give you some commands here and there for show. We'll try it without a leash first." Arden couldn't help but grin at River.
He waited for River to find a good spot to change form and then return before approaching the Inn. A younger man came ambling up to them to take the horse around back to the stables and Arden was very careful about making sure nothing too important was left on the horse. You never knew who might have a bad case of sticky fingers.
Then they all entered the Inn and Arden moved over to catch the attention of the proprietor. He was fairly busy juggling the patrons at the bar and directing his couple of employees. They looked like they were probably his family members. "We need two rooms next to each other," Arden explained as he glanced around, "quiet end of the place if you can."
The man behind the bar laughed at the request. "We got two rooms sure, but ain't much difference in how quiet they are. Rooms are reasonable, food is extra but cheap and i ain't gonna swindle ya. No other guarantees." He then leaned over to look down at River. "Your mutt better not cause a problem or make a mess or you'll be out on the street and I'll keep that horse my boy brought in for you as payment.
Arden agreed to the prices for the rooms. Not that he had much choice if he wanted Rarra and gin to sleep safely that night. It would have been cheaper to get only one room but he wanted to give the mother and son a little privacy. He could get them fed and then tell them to lock the door and not open for anyone but him. then he could finally enjoy a nice drink.
River trotted along dutifully between Arden and Rarra and her son, making herself a model example of good behavior. She did shoot the innkeeper a wolfish grin for his comment, though she didn't expect him to really notice.
Arden kept a close watch on everyone as he collected the keys and escorted Rarra and Gin up to one of the rooms and put some of his own things in the other room. River was playing her part quite well and even though she was without leash or collar it seemed the people in the Inn were taking her for a very well trained wolf.
The rooms were fairly plain with few decorations or amenities but they were clean, dry, warm and most of all had secure looking locks on the doors. Getting Rarra and Gin situated in their room didn't take too long, though at one point Rarra had to react very quickly to stop Gin from jumping on the bed in his muddy shoes. With that crisis averted she shooed Arden and River out so she and Gin could get changed into clean clothes.
Arden went into the other room while they changed and began methodically checking over his supplies and gear for anything that needed to be replaced or repaired while they were in town.
River bid Rarra and her son goodbye with a cheerful yip as she followed Arden to the other room. Pacing a few circles around the space, getting a feel for it, she eventually settled herself by the door with a soft whuff, paws crossed and head resting on them.
From the other room there were faint giggles and squeals as Rarra no doubt had her hands full with getting Gin cleaned up and changed. It seemed like now that they were in a fairly safe place the two were letting their guards down quite a bit.
Arden listened to make sure there weren't any crashes or sounds of distress and then he just smiled and continued meticulously checking every inch of his gear. It was all of decent quality but it leaned towards the practical far more than the showy side of things. At one time Arden might have tried to play along with his family's nobility but he was pretty much separated from them in more than just physical distance. He was a mercenary and not a noble's son or even a soldier. He could still take pride in keeping what he had nice however.
When Arden took off his coat he noticed that it had suffered a few rips and tears from travel and the combat. Not enough to necessitate a new coat but if they weren't tended to they would fray and get worse. He set the coat down on the bed and pulled out a needle and some tough looking leather thread. He was no expert at sewing but he liked to think he was pretty good at little repairs like that. There had certainly been enough time to practice the art on the road.
"I wonder what the reaction is going to be when I order a full dinner for what the people downstairs believe is a guard dog," he chuckled. It was an amusing thought but he wasn't going to make River eat the scraps and leftovers that a normal dog would be content with. He would just make up some story and say the they were just extra hungry or something.
River huffed and sat back on her haunches, taking human form again so she could sit with her legs crossed loosely in front of her.
"Hey, don't worry about it. I'm sure people around here have seen weirder," she chuckled, tilting her head slightly.
Arden continued slowly working on stitching up the tears in his coat. It wouldn't be pretty but it would be serviceable. Plus it would just add a little character to the garment. As he worked on the coat he looked over to River, hearing more than seeing that she had changed forms again. "You know, they probably have seen some weird things. Maybe they'll just think i'm a big softy or I eat too much. Oh well, I can live with that," he smirked.
Honestly they'd probably just be glad to sell another meal and make a little bit more money. He was just going to have to be careful not to let it slip that River was a person if they wanted their low-profile plan to work. It probably would also make a little trouble for them and make the owner want to charge an extra fee.
"We'll wait just a few more minutes for the Rarra and Gin to get themselves settled and then I can head down to order us the food." He wasn't in a hurry but he had learned what Gin was like when the kid was hungry and he didn't want his poor mother to have to deal with all that if she didn't have to. It had already been a long day.
"Works for me." The shifted arched her back in a long stretch, then got to her feet and moved to perch on the bed, tilting her head as she watched Arden.
"You're really not...involved with them, beyond being an escort?" she asked after a moment.
Arden finished his maintenance project on his gear and held it up to make sure it was held together properly. Everything seemed to be in order so he began putting it back on again and stowing everything else he didn't need. As he worked he looked over towards River coming to sit on the edge of the bed.
"Involved with them? No, nothing like that. I am simply trying to help them get to a safe place. That is what they are paying me for after all," he grinned. "Yes, I'm just a simple sellsword doing a job." Of course it wasn't completely accurate since he was working for less money than he would normally do mainly because the child was a mage and would have had a very bleak future if he had been left in Connlaoth. Arden knew how lucky he was that he had only lost his position in the military and ability to hold a decent job. Many of the mages had been killed or sent away to camps.
Next door the mother and child were quiet and it was very likely they were just about ready for dinner to be brought up.
"Hm." She wasn't sure she completly bought that, but it really wasn't any of her business. "Hang on, let me."
With a shrug, she got to her feet again and stepped forward to help him with the armor straps on his shoulders, which always seemed to be the most difficult to reach oneself.
Arden knew that his explanation probably wasn't really enough to satisfy her question but he couldn't just come out and say he was indeed a known mage helping to escort mages across the border out of Connlaoth.
He was pretty surprised when she got up to help him strap his armor back on. It was something he was perfectly capable of doing for himself- he had been doing it for years. However it was nice to have someone else to help out. It definitely meant a lot less awkward twisting and stretching to reach those pesky hard-to-reach straps on his shoulders. "Thanks for helping with those, but you know this means you miss out on watching me struggle to get them myself," he said with a smirk though he didn't interfere with her helping him.
Her lips twitched up on one side and she glanced up at his face as she unbuckled the last straps. "As entertaining as I'm sure that would've been, nah. I've watched my brothers struggle with this stuff plenty-- sort of loses the appeal after a while, y'know?" she teased lightly, stepping back once she was done.