TheCorsair
Pēdicãbo ego võs et irrumäbo
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2013
Ingrud was true to her word, and five trackers and scouts were assembled in the town square within the hour. They looked nothing alike, but there were certain resemblances - a wariness in the eyes, and an alertness in posture, and hard calluses on hands, and scars. All of them eyed Aurianna carefully as she returned to the square in Ingrud's company, and one of them bowed politely. "That's Teodor," she said, gesturing at the elderly man. "Don't let his age fool you. He's been hunting the Demonlands for nigh on thirty years, and he's not died."
"Not yet," Teodor said with a voice full of gravel. "Not for lack of trying."
"Did I mention he's a cheerful and optimistic cuss?" Ingrud laughed, then led Aurianna over to a slim redhead in grey-green leathers. "Alvida, the older sister of Thora - one of Clara's childhood friends."
Alvida smirked a little. "From what I heard, they spent some time renewing that friendship last night."
Shaking her head, Ingrud indicated a square-jawed, middle-aged man. "Xander. Captain of what passes for our city guard in Monsford. Spends a lot of time working the merchant trails along the Sarn." Her eyes turned to the last two. "Leoni and Sjovald. They've been partners for more than a decade, and finally made it official last spring."
Sjovald spat, and Leoni elbowed him in the ribs. "Behave," she hissed.
"Why?" Sjovald answered, sounding irritated. "We're heading towards the biggest demon army ever to threaten the Kingdoms, because she's got a cold bed?"
"You'd do it if it were me," she reminded him.
"If it were you," he answered, "I'd expect to find half the army dead by the time I found you. And you'd yell at me for being late."
"Give it a rest," Xander said. "A Paladin needs our help. Says it's important. That's good enough for me."
"Order's never helped us," Alvida muttered, lapsing into a sullen silence as Xander glared at her. He turned his attention back to Aurianna, and sighed.
"They're the best," he told her. "But they're... ah... independent." He glared at the other scouts one last time. "What do you need from us, my lady?"
"Not yet," Teodor said with a voice full of gravel. "Not for lack of trying."
"Did I mention he's a cheerful and optimistic cuss?" Ingrud laughed, then led Aurianna over to a slim redhead in grey-green leathers. "Alvida, the older sister of Thora - one of Clara's childhood friends."
Alvida smirked a little. "From what I heard, they spent some time renewing that friendship last night."
Shaking her head, Ingrud indicated a square-jawed, middle-aged man. "Xander. Captain of what passes for our city guard in Monsford. Spends a lot of time working the merchant trails along the Sarn." Her eyes turned to the last two. "Leoni and Sjovald. They've been partners for more than a decade, and finally made it official last spring."
Sjovald spat, and Leoni elbowed him in the ribs. "Behave," she hissed.
"Why?" Sjovald answered, sounding irritated. "We're heading towards the biggest demon army ever to threaten the Kingdoms, because she's got a cold bed?"
"You'd do it if it were me," she reminded him.
"If it were you," he answered, "I'd expect to find half the army dead by the time I found you. And you'd yell at me for being late."
"Give it a rest," Xander said. "A Paladin needs our help. Says it's important. That's good enough for me."
"Order's never helped us," Alvida muttered, lapsing into a sullen silence as Xander glared at her. He turned his attention back to Aurianna, and sighed.
"They're the best," he told her. "But they're... ah... independent." He glared at the other scouts one last time. "What do you need from us, my lady?"