Khadai’s sudden explanation came as quite a surprise. Edda looked up at him and blinked as he came to stand in front of her. Her lips parted in wonder, and she drew her hood up to cover her head in order to busy herself with something. His actions were both mortifying and gratifying at the same time. The Xaela had not spoken so many words in a single breath since she had met him, and she had to wonder if the ordeal tired him. She watched him step away and make back to the camp, before turning to Roen and giving her an exasperated and animated shrug.
“And there you have it,†she said. “In the simplest of terms. Pray do not think him dangerous –.“ She stopped herself. Of course he was dangerous. “At least, inasmuch as his race is concerned. The Au Ra dwell in the far reaches of Othard, though they have been trickling to these lands in great number recently. I do not imagine he will be the first you meet. Though his appearance belies it, he is no Dravanian – of that you have my word.â€
As she spoke of him, Edda looked over her shoulder to watch him wrestle with the sorry ruins of her tent. A smile creased its way onto her face, both from watching him and remembering Roen’s earlier words. ‘So your companion is a murderer.’ It was an obvious statement if anything else – yet it touched her somehow, giving rise to a blunt and far off pain that welled up and settled in her chest. Edda turned back to the paladin with a smile, gentle and slow. Yes, Khadai was a killer, but he was not so different, for so too was she.
“I found him wandering the North Shroud,†Edda began in a quieter voice. “That he did not kill me the moment he saw me surprises me even now. I tried to run, but, well…†She motioned to herself, as if that was all that needed to be said. She did not mention the three dead Wailers, as now was neither the time nor the place. It would not do to have Roen attempt to bring him in shackles to Ishgard or Gridania, nor think that she had taken up a new hobby of slaughtering innocents.
“He is callous and impulsive, but he is a stranger to these lands, and perhaps knows no other recourse. When I had awoken this morning, the deed had already been done.†She sighed and shook her head. “He had mentioned before that your two companions were hunting for dragon tails, and drew their weapons once seeing his, presumably to harvest it. A regrettable event, but I do believe him. I had fashioned him a cold-blooded killer in my mind, but if that were truly the case, I would be dead.â€
Edda paused and examined Roen carefully. That she appeared confused would be an understatement. It had been some time since she had seen the paladin, not since she had disappeared after that wedding. The threats that had plagued the woman so disappeared as well, and so Edda assumed that her departure was an intentional one. It seemed her suspicions were true, with the woman now standing in good health before her.
“I will be taking him to Camp Dragonhead – beyond that, I know not.†Edda looked at Roen with searching eyes, her distant smile ever present on her face. “What will you do? Will you come with us? Or will you not come with us?â€
“And there you have it,†she said. “In the simplest of terms. Pray do not think him dangerous –.“ She stopped herself. Of course he was dangerous. “At least, inasmuch as his race is concerned. The Au Ra dwell in the far reaches of Othard, though they have been trickling to these lands in great number recently. I do not imagine he will be the first you meet. Though his appearance belies it, he is no Dravanian – of that you have my word.â€
As she spoke of him, Edda looked over her shoulder to watch him wrestle with the sorry ruins of her tent. A smile creased its way onto her face, both from watching him and remembering Roen’s earlier words. ‘So your companion is a murderer.’ It was an obvious statement if anything else – yet it touched her somehow, giving rise to a blunt and far off pain that welled up and settled in her chest. Edda turned back to the paladin with a smile, gentle and slow. Yes, Khadai was a killer, but he was not so different, for so too was she.
“I found him wandering the North Shroud,†Edda began in a quieter voice. “That he did not kill me the moment he saw me surprises me even now. I tried to run, but, well…†She motioned to herself, as if that was all that needed to be said. She did not mention the three dead Wailers, as now was neither the time nor the place. It would not do to have Roen attempt to bring him in shackles to Ishgard or Gridania, nor think that she had taken up a new hobby of slaughtering innocents.
“He is callous and impulsive, but he is a stranger to these lands, and perhaps knows no other recourse. When I had awoken this morning, the deed had already been done.†She sighed and shook her head. “He had mentioned before that your two companions were hunting for dragon tails, and drew their weapons once seeing his, presumably to harvest it. A regrettable event, but I do believe him. I had fashioned him a cold-blooded killer in my mind, but if that were truly the case, I would be dead.â€
Edda paused and examined Roen carefully. That she appeared confused would be an understatement. It had been some time since she had seen the paladin, not since she had disappeared after that wedding. The threats that had plagued the woman so disappeared as well, and so Edda assumed that her departure was an intentional one. It seemed her suspicions were true, with the woman now standing in good health before her.
“I will be taking him to Camp Dragonhead – beyond that, I know not.†Edda looked at Roen with searching eyes, her distant smile ever present on her face. “What will you do? Will you come with us? Or will you not come with us?â€
