A Warrior, a Healer, and an Accidental Adventure [Midnight] [Archive]

[DragonSong]

The sudden knock made her jump, then roll her eyes at her own skittishness. "I'm coming," she called, gathering up her things. Pack, bow, and a mostly full quiver were slung across her back, and she double checked the pouch at her hip. Cloak on, hood up- well, that was as ready as she was going to get.

With a deep breath, Dusk opened the door.

[Nightmare]

When the door opened, Avalon smiled at the girl. "Good morning. Ready for the day?"

[DragonSong]

Dusk gave a small smile in return, though inside she was panicking: ready to face a group of murderous bandits? No way in hell!

But what she said was, "S-sure," slipping out into the hall.

[Nightmare]

"Let's grab some food and be on our way, then." Avalon said before turning to walk towards the stairs. "I don't know how long it will take us to get to the next town, especially with all these bandit troubles. I would recommend eating a decent sized meal before we set off."

[DragonSong]

Dusk gulped. "O-ok," she mumbled, following him down the stairs. The serving girl who had been so kind to her the previous night caught her eye as they entered the tap room and threw her a smile. She smiled back shyly and sat at the table that was indicated with a slight tilt of her head.

"Do you have a p-plan?" she asked, looking up at Avalon.

[Nightmare]

"Yeah, kind of." Avalon responded as he took his seat. "Kill all of the bandits and don't get cut by their blades. I'm not sure how to draw them out, though."

[DragonSong]

She gaped at him. "Kind of" a plan was being generous. Still...he obviously knew how to handle himself, and he seemed confident. Maybe she could trust his judgement.

As for drawing them out... "Well," she mused quietly. "They're most likely to attack an easy target, r-right? I could..." She swallowed uncomfortably, blanching at the mere thought, but forced out, "I could be b-b-b-bait..."

[Nightmare]

That got Avalon's attention. "Are you sure you want to do that?"

What are you saying, Avalon? She could get hurt! You can't let her do that. It's dangerous! His sister told him, to which he replied, I know what I'm doing, Elara. We won't let anything happen to her.

"It could be dangerous, but you just have to be careful. Also, make sure you don't get too far away from me."

[DragonSong]

Dusk nodded, determined, and clasped her hands in her lap to hide their shaking. "Alright," she said, hoping the forced confidence in her voice would somehow infect the rest of her.

Before she could say anything else, the serving girl bustled over to them with a smile and a toss of her hair. "Morning," she said brightly, sliding bowls of steaming porridge in front of them. "Surprised you're up so early, thought you might be sleeping off last night's excitement." She winked- mostly at Avalon- and Dusk gave it her best effort to disappear into her cloak.

[Nightmare]

"I'm used to leaving early in the morning so that I have more time to travel in daylight." Avalon said after taking a brief moment to remember what the events of last night included and think about what events the day ahead of them held. "Besides, it wasn't too hard to take care of those drunks. If anything, it will be after today's trip that I need some rest."

Hey, don't make it seem like it's going to be difficult! You might make her nervous! Elara reminded him, and so with a smile he turned to Dusk and added, "It shouldn't be too bad, though."

[DragonSong]

Dusk forced a smile in return, telling herself she believed him. "R-right," she said softly, busying herself at playing with her porridge but not actually eating it.

The serving girl shrugged. "If you say so, mister." She touched Dusk's shoulder lightly- she tried not to jump too badly- and added, "Sorry you had to deal with that, honey. Good thing you've got such a capable bodyguard," before sashaying away to her next table.

"So..." Dusk started, thinking that conversation over a meal is what most people did, wasn't it? "Wh-what exactly is it you do? You've said you travel, apparently b-beating up drunks and bandits- why?"

[Nightmare]

"Normally I just travel from one town to the next until there is someone who needs my help." Avalon said with a shrug. "Sometimes towns are having bandit problems and I fight them off, other times someone needs an escort through dangerous areas, most often it's a simple problem like a thief causing trouble for a store owner."

He paused for a minute to eat some more porridge before adding, "Often they pay me what they can, if they can, and I use that to get by until I get more money."

[DragonSong]

"That's...brave of you," Dusk said slowly, digesting the information. Then she smiled. "And awfully kind." She glanced down at her barely touched breakfast, sighed, and pushed it away. She was too nervous to eat.

Instead, she clasped her hands in her lap again and sat ramrod straight in her chair, her nerves making her jittery, waiting for Avalon to give some signal that they were ready to leave.

[Nightmare]

After a few more minutes Avalon had finished his meal and pushed the empty bowl away. He then looked at the breakfast Dusk left on the table. "Are you sure you're not hungry?"

[DragonSong]

She gave a small smile. "I'm fine," she assured him, rising to her feet. Hefting the strap of her quiver higher onto her shoulder she asked, "Shall we go?"

[Nightmare]

"I suppose so." Avalon said, standing and stretching his arms above his head. "Do you have all of your things?"

[DragonSong]

Dusk nodded. "Yes, I travel light. You?" She was happy to wait in the taproom if he needed to return to his room.

[Nightmare]

"I have everything I brought with me, but we should stop in town to buy some dried meats and a sack for the trip." Avalon said. "It's best we are prepared in case it takes us longer than we would like to find a place to have a meal again."

[DragonSong]

"Alright," Dusk replied. She stepped back and nodded, indicating that he should lead. After two years of traveling on her own, she was more than happy to let someone else take the reins for a change.

[Nightmare]

"Let's be on our way, then." Avalon said as he walked towards the door, turning to make sure Dusk was following him. Make sure to keep her safe, Avalon.

I will. They're just bandits, Elara. He told his sister, reassuring himself in the process.