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"And then I took an arrow to the leg..." [NF & MT]

Kellen wasn't sure what to do, so offered the traditional empty-handed salute of his kind to her, a little unsettled by her sudden and obvious interest in him.

"I seek a Redguard by the name of Thanik. Shorter than me with..."

"Short black hair and prominent tattoos on his left hand?"

"Yes."

"Well, I'm sorry to say, handsome, that you've missed him by five days. He came, claiming to have lore and song to teach us. But left the following morning having stolen a number of books from us. Should you return them to us, there'll be coin in it for you. Should you return with his head, there'll be even more"

"I hadn't thought bards to be quite so... vicious."

"Our work, my dear man, is all about passion. It could be heroism or love, fear or lust. But the basic human emotions that drive us make for great art. And anger is one such emotion"

"I... see. Do you know which way he was headed?"

"Winterhold" she said the worlds like the tasted bad.

"Well. Did he say what business he had there."

"Of course. The thief spilled all of his darkest secrets to me. No, you lummox, he didn't say. The only reason I know he was even heading that way is because he took the carriage in that direction."

Kellen nodded at this, not showing any strong emotional response to the news that his goal still eluded him, or the insult.

"Now, would the two of you perhaps like to come and join me for... something to eat?" she licked her lips as she looked between the two.
 
Lorelle watched their exchange quietly, inwardly considering all of the clues that had been left behind for Kellen. When he asked where the mage was headed and the word 'Winterhold' left her lips, she tried not to present with any apparent emotions. Perhaps she would get to Winterhold sooner than she thought. Which begged the question; would they part ways at such point? She looked up at the man beside her... then back at the woman.

She seemed no more bothered by the insult than Kellen did. And when the woman invited them in for something to eat the corner of her lips raised in a small smile. "No thank you, you've been most helpful." She spoke before Kellen had the opportunity to speak, not sparing him a look or giving any indication she cared if he had an opinion on that.

Calm....

She had to remain calm...
 
Kellen had been about to say something, but simply nodded to her response. The Nord-bard shrugged her shoulders and simply said "Shame. If you reconsider..."

Kellen saluted again and turned to leave the college's elegant entry-hall. He knew - he just knew - she was watching them leave. Only when safely out into the street did he turn to look at Lorelle.

"I... think I might well be afraid of ... her kind." he said in a low voice, looking like he was admitting to something stupid. His shoulders were tensed, and he looked deeply uneasy. "There was something in the air. Predatory. Sharp. Like the scent of snow on the wind. Did you catch it too?"
 
She left with Kellen calmly and did not spare him even the slightest glance. She was not sure if he would have wanted to sit and talk to the woman and would therefore chastise her for taking away that chance, but she rather didn't give a shit.

Once they got out of ear shot and he felt safe enough to turn and speak to her she listened to his admittance calmly. She gave a nod of her head. "Well, yes. That's exactly what that was." She mused gently. She was not laughing at him by any means, but did sound like she was perhaps teaching a child. "She could sense what you were just as you her. You're rather new to this?" It was a question and a safe assumption rolled into one. "When a new wolf enters the pack he enters at the bottom. He is tested, used, until he earns his place." She leaned into him to speak a bit more quietly. "You are brethren now. Expect to earn your place." He should be used to that as it likely was no different back home.

She patted his arm softly. 'I imagine it is the same anyway."

The predator becoming the prey, how quaint.
 
"Mostly, I think they enter the pack through choice, not forced into it by chance. But we'll see what happens. I have no problem earning my place, but I would want it to be a place of my choosing. So. It seems that our paths are entwined again. Thalik came here for a reason. I assume to find books of lore and history. And he'll seek much the same with the wizards."

He stopped to pull out his map. "We're here, and we want to get... here? My instinct is horseback, but a Redguard's instinct for most things is either horseback or ship. How would you say we travel. Going by carriage may work but I'd rather not pay for such luxury. Or rather, I assume carriages here to be luxurious, but I have never actually seen one."

He was babbling - that much was obvious. It was taking him a moment or two to regain his composure.
 
She smiled as he spoke of a ‘pack’, she had been referring to wild wolves, not his kind. But his interpretation was to be expected. It was his very real reality after all. Kellen never struck her as a pack wolf anyway, he seemed more the lone wolf sort... but what did she know.

“Yes, that’s right.” She looked over his map. That was very far off. She perhaps did not realize quite how big Skyrim was. “I’m not certain..” she pondered his question. It would be equally as fast I would think... but if we were to get lost, that would set us back. We could always take a carriage to a near city, and finish the quest on horseback.” She offered another option.

“Do you no longer have a need to visit the Palace?”
 
"If you want me to look for books for you, I can do. But I don't think I have any special access or rights. If anything, you're more likely to be able to get passed the guard at the gate. I'm a foreigner, a stranger, clearly of a military persuasion, and I have a large sword. You, by contrast, are elegant, feminine, and charming. People tend to assume that women are less dangerous than men; a foolish mistake."

"But I would... rather not break into a palace just yet if it can't be avoided" he put his hands on his hips as he looked up the path to the palace, and then turned his attention back to her. "We can always try our luck, however. It seems that I no longer have a pressing need to be here, and my prey is ahead of me. A day will not make a difference"
 
Lorelle smiles and lifted up both hands with a shake of her head “No, I believe it can wait..” she did not want to go to the palace, nor did she want Kellen to fall any later than he already had because of her. They were on their way to Winterhold so with any luck she was set to find the answers she sought.

“So, horse or carriage then?” She asked, pressing his original question.
 
"Horse" he answered almost instantly. Back home, you only road in a carriage if you were too young or too old to stay in the saddle. Horses played almost as much of a role in the culture of certain sections of the Redguard. Granted, the horses they had here probably weren't as elegant and refined as those from the south, but a horse was still a horse.

"It would mean you could buy even more books" he said with a grin.
 
Lorelle nodded her head in acceptance of his answer, one strand of hair displacing into her face as she did so. "So, we need horses then." She reasoned aloud. She smiled at the thought of being able to buy more books, but that was not her mission for her travels. Books were a nice bonus, but would she ever make it back home to put them on her shelf? That was a question she was unable to answer.

"There was a stable outside of the city, perhaps they sell them." One of her small hands settled on Kellen's arm, gently squeezing the muscle underneath. "Also we will have to get our things from the tavern if we are going to leave at once." She would be relieved to leave this amazing, beautiful city... it was a conflicting group of emotions within her that was difficult even for her to explain.

"I quite thing I will miss this place." As much as she seemed hesitant to be there.
 
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