Edda took a step away from the man as he questioned her. The proximity at which she stood placed a great deal of strain on her neck to look up at him. He stood taller than most Elezen, or at least he seemed to, perhaps his imposing appearance making him seem larger than he was. In hindsight, telling him to ‘keep his head down’ seemed a silly thing to say – whether or not he pretended to be demure, he would still stick out like a sore thumb.
“The stern woman,†Edda began, a small smile flitting about her face at the epithet. “You mean Roen. Yes, she will be. She will guide us to Camp Dragonhead, for she knows the way far better than I.†Khadai did not seem too pleased, if his frown was anything to go by.
“Pray do not worry about our agreement,†she continued. “In fact, I would not prepare for any type of combat in the near future – I still have not discerned whether or not I will have need of your services. I imagine you will have need of a new guide once we arrive in Ishgard, or perhaps even Roen herself will show you the city. If I have need of you in the future, I have my own methods of seeking you out, and I will appear before you. Yet, if you depart Eorzea for good in order to return home, then you may consider our arrangement complete.â€
Edda looked up at with him with a reserved smile. His confusion was understandable; no doubt he wanted the trade over and done with so he could be rid of her and continue his quest unhindered. She could not blame him, but it was difficult to attempt to appease him when his culture was so vastly different from her own. “For now, it would be best if you considered yourself to owing me a debt in the future.†She paused. “No, not even a debt – a favor. That will have to do for now.â€
They had spent enough time talking, and the warrior seemed prepared to move on. Edda looked over her shoulder for Roen, who would doubtless be ready as well. The paladin stood some distance away, already at the road, waiting with her chocobo.
“We should be going,†she said softly, and turned to make towards the road.
The three continued on the road in silence for a ways, Roen walking slightly ahead of the two. Neither of the women rode their mounts. It was a considerably faster journey by chocobo, even at a mild trot, but it did not seem fair to make the Xaela match the speed of the birds, nor tire them out by riding them at a walking speed. To say it was an awkward walk would be an understatement. There was a palpable tension leaking off the two, and Edda silently lamented her position – trapped between one whose moral compass was as rigid as steel, and another who might as well not even have one.
“As for your earlier statement,†Edda began, in order to both address his concern and do away with the uncomfortable silence. “There is little advice I can give you to avoid confrontation, outside of being as peaceable as you can be.†She turned to face the Au Ra, who was doing his best to match her pace on her right side. Her tone was normal, and well within earshot of Roen.
“You – nor anyone else – can control the actions and perceptions of others. If, for whatever reason, someone brandishes their weapons at you, their intent is already made clear. It is up to you how you respond, however. You are already intimidating, and your weapon is as well. Threatening them with death or bodily harm may scare away the weaker ones. It would not always work, but you lose nothing in trying. Beyond that, could you not fight without killing? Perhaps you could disable them, strike with the flat of your blade, or disarm them...â€
She frowned and brought a loose fist up to her mouth, tapping her thumb against her lips in thought. This was hardly her area of expertise. Edda sighed and looked up at the man with a bashful smile. “Forgive me. I am no soldier, so it is difficult for me to proffer advice on such things.â€
“The stern woman,†Edda began, a small smile flitting about her face at the epithet. “You mean Roen. Yes, she will be. She will guide us to Camp Dragonhead, for she knows the way far better than I.†Khadai did not seem too pleased, if his frown was anything to go by.
“Pray do not worry about our agreement,†she continued. “In fact, I would not prepare for any type of combat in the near future – I still have not discerned whether or not I will have need of your services. I imagine you will have need of a new guide once we arrive in Ishgard, or perhaps even Roen herself will show you the city. If I have need of you in the future, I have my own methods of seeking you out, and I will appear before you. Yet, if you depart Eorzea for good in order to return home, then you may consider our arrangement complete.â€
Edda looked up at with him with a reserved smile. His confusion was understandable; no doubt he wanted the trade over and done with so he could be rid of her and continue his quest unhindered. She could not blame him, but it was difficult to attempt to appease him when his culture was so vastly different from her own. “For now, it would be best if you considered yourself to owing me a debt in the future.†She paused. “No, not even a debt – a favor. That will have to do for now.â€
They had spent enough time talking, and the warrior seemed prepared to move on. Edda looked over her shoulder for Roen, who would doubtless be ready as well. The paladin stood some distance away, already at the road, waiting with her chocobo.
“We should be going,†she said softly, and turned to make towards the road.
The three continued on the road in silence for a ways, Roen walking slightly ahead of the two. Neither of the women rode their mounts. It was a considerably faster journey by chocobo, even at a mild trot, but it did not seem fair to make the Xaela match the speed of the birds, nor tire them out by riding them at a walking speed. To say it was an awkward walk would be an understatement. There was a palpable tension leaking off the two, and Edda silently lamented her position – trapped between one whose moral compass was as rigid as steel, and another who might as well not even have one.
“As for your earlier statement,†Edda began, in order to both address his concern and do away with the uncomfortable silence. “There is little advice I can give you to avoid confrontation, outside of being as peaceable as you can be.†She turned to face the Au Ra, who was doing his best to match her pace on her right side. Her tone was normal, and well within earshot of Roen.
“You – nor anyone else – can control the actions and perceptions of others. If, for whatever reason, someone brandishes their weapons at you, their intent is already made clear. It is up to you how you respond, however. You are already intimidating, and your weapon is as well. Threatening them with death or bodily harm may scare away the weaker ones. It would not always work, but you lose nothing in trying. Beyond that, could you not fight without killing? Perhaps you could disable them, strike with the flat of your blade, or disarm them...â€
She frowned and brought a loose fist up to her mouth, tapping her thumb against her lips in thought. This was hardly her area of expertise. Edda sighed and looked up at the man with a bashful smile. “Forgive me. I am no soldier, so it is difficult for me to proffer advice on such things.â€
