Back to a Dangerous Land (DragonSong)

[Kingfisher]

"Fair enough," the armored man said, palming his sallet over his head.  He took on of the offered horses, guiding it to the two mages after a signal to take the spare away to one of his men, who hurried away.  The beasts were not exactly large, but they were visibly muscular - powerful.  Each could carry two fully armored men (though this was rarely advisable), and neither Tara or Joshua were knights.

Turning away from the guests, the officer addressed his men: "Alright, mount up.  We' got a rabbit to catch."  At his order, the rides stepped into their stirrups, easily kicking over their saddles as they waited for the mages and their commander...

[DragonSong]

The bard swung into the saddle with an ease that indicated long practice, if not necessarily overt comfort. She held a hand down to her companion, eyes flicking over his head to watch the other riders warily for a moment before she gave him a quick nod.

"C'mon then. Just hang onto me, and try not to bounce around too much," she told Joshua with a flicker of a smile, trying to keep her tone light and teasing.

[Kingfisher]

As best he could, Joshua hooked his foot into the stirup, letting Tara help him up as he took his place in the saddle behind her.  It was a tight squeeze and he was forced to grip the pommel around around the bard's waist; a position that elicitied a few suggestive glances between the mercenaries.

Wolfram had mounted his own horse in the meantime, and now gave a shrill whistle to bring his men to attention.  "You've got a job to do; no getting distracted by gutter fantasies."  Wheeling his horse alongside his Serenian client.  "I'm guessing we'll be heading south to look for our man?"  They could easily figure out where to go beyond that after they crossed the border...

(( @DragonSong - This or your next post might bring the topic to a close?  PM me to set up the next arc. ))

[DragonSong]

Much more used to such attention than her companion, Tara smirked at the mercenaries' glances and snickers and gave an artful toss of her hair. "No need to be bitter 'cause you're jealous, boys," she hummed, voice light but eyes a little flinty.

She subtly maneuvered their horse to keep Wolfram between the two of them and the rest of the party. It wasn't that she didn't trust these men, it was... Well, she didn't much trust anyone.

Except maybe the smith at her back. But that thought was too raw and complicated to linger on for long.

"Aye, south." She gave Wolfram a nod, then glanced back over her shoulder at Joshua, just for a second, and found she was suddenly and powerfully grateful that she wasn't doing this alone. "Right." She exhaled sharply and kicked their horse forward. "Let's catch a rabbit."