Roen’s eyes slowly narrowed as she listened to both of them. She had actually heard of these people--these Au Ra--but had never actually seen one of them in person. Heat rose to her cheeks in embarrassment that she had first thought the scaled man to be Dravanian, for apparently the same assumption was made by Blacke and Fenco as well. The thought that she shared anything in common with the two sellswords left a bitter taste in her mouth.
But did they deserve this? Her eyes flicked to the spattered array of gore, and then back to Khadai.
The paladin glanced past Edda to the collection of limbs and corpses, now having been gathered by the massive warrior. Both Khadai and Edda’s stories--at least when it came to the two mercenaries--were not hard to believe. Had the two sellswords been hunting an innocent race to collect their gil? She had never paid close attention to their offerings whenever they returned with their “proof†of dragon slaying, but if they were eager to attack a man without actually questioning him to ascertain his origins or motives…
There were still facts that did not make complete sense, especially from Edda’s recounting of the events. Why did Edda think the Xaela was a cold-blooded killer initially? Were there other episodes of violence before or since their encounter? Was this Khadai prone to cutting to pieces every opponent that posed a threat to the man?
Despite the fact that she was wrong about what he was and his intentions, Roen still held onto some measure of suspicion for the man. The brutality in his martial prowess was clear, and despite the fact that he answered her questions forthrightly--albeit not when she asked him but when she asked Edda--there was a severity to his gaze and words that made the paladin suspect that he had no reservations when it came to violence. Whether it was his intrinsic nature or the fact that he was surrounded on all sides by foreigners, Roen suspected that this Khadai would kill and dismember whoever they encountered next if he saw them as a threat.
At least Edda believes he is not a cold-blooded killer, she tried to reassure herself. And yet, the two mercenaries met their end quickly enough without any input or intervention from the Hyur. And now the two were planning to head further into Ishgardian lands, where distrust of outsiders lingered like a plague. If she and the mercenaries all mistook the scaled warrior for Dravanian, how many more would do so as the two neared Camp Dragonhead?
Roen’s expression darkened as she realized that she could not let them go on their own. She worried about Edda’s fate, traveling with someone who seemed to have penchant for violence. She also wondered how many bodies may be left in the two’s wake should they come across any other eager heretic hunters. Or even both Edda and Khadai ending up as one of the casualties themselves.
Where the paladin had no care as to whether this Au Ra lived or died, she wanted to see Edda safe to Camp Dragonhead. But moreover, she had to be certain that Khadai would not pose a danger to everyone he came across. Perhaps in accompanying them, she could determine his true nature. If the Au Ra turned out to be a wanton killer, then at least she would be there to deal with him before he caused any more deaths. But if the Xaela turned out to be as Edda believed him to be... then perhaps the paladin could arrange for a new guide for him. Roen could not imagine that Edda was the best choice for a guide when it came to leading a foreigner through harsh lands filled with unsuspecting dangers. That brought forth another question as to why this arrangement was made in the first place, but the paladin tucked it away for another time.
“What will you do?" Edda asked, her face set ever in that polite smile. "Will you come with us? Or will you not come with us?â€
“I will accompany you both to Camp Dragonhead.†Roen nodded to the woman, even though her words were slowed with a hint of reluctance. “That is where I need to make my report regarding those two.†She gestured vaguely to where the bodies were being buried. She did not elaborate on what the details the reports would entail.
“My… apologies,†the paladin called out to the Xaela, although her voice had not softened with the sentiment. She still eyed him warily and her suspicion of him had not abated. “I mistook you for something you were not. But it would behoove you to not answer every threat with immediate violence, especially where you are now headed. Not many have seen or heard of your kind.â€
Not expecting any similar courtesy to be returned, Roen turned back to Edda without waiting for an answer from the Au Ra. “The road through Coerthas is not safe. You can use another sword by your side if you intend to travel on foot.†There was another pause as the paladin hesitated. There were other reasons why she did not want to part from Edda just yet. There were still questions regarding the welfare of the people she had left behind that a small part of her wanted to inquire of the noblewoman.
Roen quickly dismissed those thoughts as well as she turned from the Hyur. “I will retrieve my mount,†was all she muttered as she began to exit the camp.
But did they deserve this? Her eyes flicked to the spattered array of gore, and then back to Khadai.
The paladin glanced past Edda to the collection of limbs and corpses, now having been gathered by the massive warrior. Both Khadai and Edda’s stories--at least when it came to the two mercenaries--were not hard to believe. Had the two sellswords been hunting an innocent race to collect their gil? She had never paid close attention to their offerings whenever they returned with their “proof†of dragon slaying, but if they were eager to attack a man without actually questioning him to ascertain his origins or motives…
There were still facts that did not make complete sense, especially from Edda’s recounting of the events. Why did Edda think the Xaela was a cold-blooded killer initially? Were there other episodes of violence before or since their encounter? Was this Khadai prone to cutting to pieces every opponent that posed a threat to the man?
Despite the fact that she was wrong about what he was and his intentions, Roen still held onto some measure of suspicion for the man. The brutality in his martial prowess was clear, and despite the fact that he answered her questions forthrightly--albeit not when she asked him but when she asked Edda--there was a severity to his gaze and words that made the paladin suspect that he had no reservations when it came to violence. Whether it was his intrinsic nature or the fact that he was surrounded on all sides by foreigners, Roen suspected that this Khadai would kill and dismember whoever they encountered next if he saw them as a threat.
At least Edda believes he is not a cold-blooded killer, she tried to reassure herself. And yet, the two mercenaries met their end quickly enough without any input or intervention from the Hyur. And now the two were planning to head further into Ishgardian lands, where distrust of outsiders lingered like a plague. If she and the mercenaries all mistook the scaled warrior for Dravanian, how many more would do so as the two neared Camp Dragonhead?
Roen’s expression darkened as she realized that she could not let them go on their own. She worried about Edda’s fate, traveling with someone who seemed to have penchant for violence. She also wondered how many bodies may be left in the two’s wake should they come across any other eager heretic hunters. Or even both Edda and Khadai ending up as one of the casualties themselves.
Where the paladin had no care as to whether this Au Ra lived or died, she wanted to see Edda safe to Camp Dragonhead. But moreover, she had to be certain that Khadai would not pose a danger to everyone he came across. Perhaps in accompanying them, she could determine his true nature. If the Au Ra turned out to be a wanton killer, then at least she would be there to deal with him before he caused any more deaths. But if the Xaela turned out to be as Edda believed him to be... then perhaps the paladin could arrange for a new guide for him. Roen could not imagine that Edda was the best choice for a guide when it came to leading a foreigner through harsh lands filled with unsuspecting dangers. That brought forth another question as to why this arrangement was made in the first place, but the paladin tucked it away for another time.
“What will you do?" Edda asked, her face set ever in that polite smile. "Will you come with us? Or will you not come with us?â€
“I will accompany you both to Camp Dragonhead.†Roen nodded to the woman, even though her words were slowed with a hint of reluctance. “That is where I need to make my report regarding those two.†She gestured vaguely to where the bodies were being buried. She did not elaborate on what the details the reports would entail.
“My… apologies,†the paladin called out to the Xaela, although her voice had not softened with the sentiment. She still eyed him warily and her suspicion of him had not abated. “I mistook you for something you were not. But it would behoove you to not answer every threat with immediate violence, especially where you are now headed. Not many have seen or heard of your kind.â€
Not expecting any similar courtesy to be returned, Roen turned back to Edda without waiting for an answer from the Au Ra. “The road through Coerthas is not safe. You can use another sword by your side if you intend to travel on foot.†There was another pause as the paladin hesitated. There were other reasons why she did not want to part from Edda just yet. There were still questions regarding the welfare of the people she had left behind that a small part of her wanted to inquire of the noblewoman.
Roen quickly dismissed those thoughts as well as she turned from the Hyur. “I will retrieve my mount,†was all she muttered as she began to exit the camp.
