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+--- Thread: Frost and Shadow [Completed] (/showthread.php?tid=7457)
RE: Frost and Shadow [Closed] - Warren Castille - 07-03-2014
Warren continued to look her over as she spoke, but relented when she insisted she was sleeping well. His eyes grew concerned again when she began to speak of something she saw, but she stopped herself short and he wasn't going to press her.
He returned the smile and nodded along as she offered her take on the potential trip. "I don't trust him. But it's all I've got right now to go on. I've got about a week to get my supplies in order, make whatever arrangements I need to back home. I'm sorry if your superiors are upset with your impromptu trip away. I suggest we both return to Ul'dah."
His face clouded over again, his expression hardening. "This... This isn't giving up, right? Taking a few days to get everything straight. That's alright, isn't it?" Uncertainty was plain on his face.
RE: Frost and Shadow [Closed] - Coatleque - 07-03-2014
"Of course not!"
She leaned forward and let her hand rest palm-up on the table between them.
"This is playing it smart, being prepared. You would not fling yourself at a dragon without first checking your armor. Do not throw yourself to the cold of Coerthas in the same way."
She looked away but kept her hand outstretched.
"My superiors knew I would be away for a short few days. I do not know if I can return with you at the next time, however. Please understand, I do want to. I said I would see this through with you, but..."
RE: Frost and Shadow [Closed] - Warren Castille - 07-04-2014
Warren's gaze slipped away in thought as she spoke. Her words made sense to him; Running headlong into the freeze would just get him killed. There was a gnawing at him that he tried to sweep aside.
"I feel I've already kept you away from your duty for too long. Ul'dah will need its champions and freezing in the snow is no place for one of them." He regarded her with a small smile of gratitude. "You've been a greater help than I could have hoped for, Coatleque. I'll pay that back somehow. You didn't need to offer anything but you did, and I appreciate you being here for me."
He paused, looking about their rest stop and surveying the few folks sharing the space, all kept in this meals or drinks. "You don't need to come back with me. I doubt the Inspector's going to want more than one person going with him, anyway. If the trip even happens, I mean. I won't waste your time if this turns out to be me being mocked and led astray."
"We should make arrangements to be back in Dragonhead before dark. We could still make it if we get a move on now."
RE: Frost and Shadow [Closed] - Coatleque - 07-04-2014
She turned back to him and was about to say something, but then simply nodded.
"Yes, we should return before we are missed. I still have coin enough for the porter if you are in need, and I came with little else. I shall gather my things and be ready in no less than half a bell."
She rose and gave a slight bow before returning to her room. Once there she donned her armor once more with sword ready, and wrapped what little else she had into as small a parcel as possible. The Chocobo would probably not even feel its weight. Making sure the room was as close to how she originally found it, she left to meet him at the Porter.
RE: Frost and Shadow [Closed] - Warren Castille - 07-04-2014
Warren responded similarly and was largely without burden when it came time to leave. He had already paid the porter for the birds before the second paladin could arrive and felt no guilt in doing so; He owed her for the meals and companionship.
Don't lose sight. You know why you're here. You're just going to recuperate, you're going to gather what you need and you'll be back in Coerthas in a day or three.
He ran down the list of things to do when he returned to Ul'dah like a mantra, trying to convince himself that he wasn't leaving his friend to die in an endless winter by doing so.
RE: Frost and Shadow [Closed] - Coatleque - 07-04-2014
She found him as expected with two birds already paid for. Coming up beside him, she loaded her things on one of them, then stopped when she noticed him seemingly in deep concentration.
"Warren... are you alright?"
RE: Frost and Shadow [Closed] - Warren Castille - 07-04-2014
"Hm? Yeah. Yeah, I'm alright. I've got to be." Warren shook the cobwebs out of his head and offered the reins with a measured smile. "Just feeling the past..." He trails off, counting off mentally. "...bunch of days."
"It'll be good to feel the sun again as opposed to just seeing it, right?"
RE: Frost and Shadow [Closed] - Coatleque - 07-04-2014
Taking the reins she hoisted herself upon the mount and turned it towards the gate.
"On that we can agree, Ser."
Looking back to him she remarked, "The warmth should also clear your thoughts. I am ready to leave this place as you see fit."
RE: Frost and Shadow [Closed] - Warren Castille - 07-04-2014
The trail to Dragonhead was far more forgiving than anything either of them had faced in their trip. The sky was clear and the weather as fair as Coerthas could offer, and their time was as good as a traveler could hope for. A brief stop to rest their mounts was all the animals required and as the sun crept behind the mountains off in the distance, the warm glow of Dragonhead's aetheryte welcomed them.
Warren made sure to secure their chocobos with the porter and insured their fares were caught up on before the duo found themselves in the center of the encampment. The Aetheryte, and beyond that Ul'dah, waited atop the small set of stairs.
"I should check in on Victory again before I go. If you wanted to head back, I can follow up later. If he's well I'll likely be riding him back to Ul'dah. He doesn't take well to being thrown through the aether."
RE: Frost and Shadow [Closed] - Coatleque - 07-04-2014
Coatleque regarded him with her head tilted. "Either way, I believe I shall ride back. The air through the Shroud should do us both some good. Shall I make arrangements for tonight then?"
RE: Frost and Shadow [Closed] - Warren Castille - 07-04-2014
Warren regarded her with a small measure of surprise, but didn't object. "If you insist. I don't want to have kept you away for too long." He turned in the direction of the stables proper and gave a small nod.
"I'll be back shortly. Don't wait for me if you're hungry."
RE: Frost and Shadow [Closed] - Coatleque - 07-04-2014
Leaving him to his task, she set about acquiring rooms for the night.
"What do you mean there are no rooms left?"
"I'm sorry, miss. They are mostly occupied what with our recent visitors."
The Knight grumbled. "Well, what do you have available then?"
"We have one room left, but it's not really for one person..."
"That will do, there are two of us staying."
"Very good, Ma'am. That will be four hundred gil please."
"Isn't that steep for a single night?"
"I did say it was not for one person..."
She dug through her gil purse and managed to scrape together enough coin. Unfortunately she now had nothing left for provisions. She turned then and went to stand at the door of the inn, feeling the need to look official once more. Speaking softly to her linkpearl, she said "Warren... apologies. There's a small problem with our lodging tonight."
![[Image: FKmXiN1.png]](http://i.imgur.com/FKmXiN1.png)
RE: Frost and Shadow [Closed] - Warren Castille - 07-04-2014
The warm glow of the stables did little to drive the chill out of Warren's fingers. He furrowed his brow and pressed a finger to his ear harder, the free hand pinching the bridge of his nose. Beside him, Victory's demeanor dipped.
"Only one." He sighed as his eyes rose to the ceiling.
Menphina, your jokes are no longer funny.
He patted a hand to Victory's head, rubbing the bird and fluffing his feathers.
"Alright. We don't have a choice. I'll set up post by the door or something. Used to roughing it anyway; it'll beat a saddle."
Victory was recovered, and while Warren wasn't one to spare an expense to keep his friends in good health, he had underestimated the cost of Ishgardian hospitality. His own purse was running dry.
"I'll be back shortly. Dinner might be light, my apologies." He cut off the link and looked at Victory. The bird looked back with the affection a pet has for a master and Warren patted him again. "Typical."
RE: Frost and Shadow [Closed] - Coatleque - 07-04-2014
"Roughing it indeed.", she said to herself as she surveyed the room. It was quite the opposite, and fitting for its price. There was only one bed however. Large as it was, there was no way the two of them...
"N-no...", she said once again speaking to herself after entertaining the idea.
There was a large desk at the far end of the room with a high-backed chair and thick cushions. At least it would be comfortable. It was either that or the floor.
She left her sword, empty purse, and cloak in the room then went to meet Warren downstairs again for dinner.
RE: Frost and Shadow [Closed] - Warren Castille - 07-04-2014
Warren looked disappointingly into his purse as he pulled most of the few remaining coins from it and paid for heaping helpings of warm soup and hot bread.
Next time you bring more. You're not spending it and if someone robs you, you can always make more.
Placing one dish in front of his counterpart and one before himself, he offered a small grin and a shrug. "It'll be hot, and stick to the ribs. It's, uh... Not exactly refined eating though. Sorry for that."
"We should be alright for breakfast tomorrow. And at least Victory'll be ready." He made small talk, ignoring the sixteen-tonze auroch in the inn.