“Aye ser, that blizzard was somethin’ else. I couldn’t see Fenco standin’ within an ilm o’ my own knees.â€
“How is it that you and Fenco got lost together if you could not even see each other?â€
The conversation between Idristan Tournes and Hobard Blacke barely filtered through her senses. Roen sat at the table within Camp Dragonshead, her beef stew untouched and cold in front of her, a thick hunk of crumbling bread equally ignored beside it. She could feel Bellows studying her from the corner of his eyes, but the paladin did not care. She said nothing as Stray Oak’s hand hovered for a moment over her uneaten bread, before it was snatched up and away by the Roegadyn. She just stared absently at her once-steaming soup even as the knight-captain continued to inquire about the botched caravan escort in Coerthas Western Highlands many suns ago.
“He’s exaggerating a bit,†the Lalafell seated across from her piped up in his nasally voice. “We thought we saw some suspicious activity on the road and thought we should investigate. Deneith went ahead with the caravan and we stayed behind.â€
“And then you were unable to catch up with the caravan until back at Falcon’s Nest?†The Elezen sounded skeptical.
Fenco and Blacke exchanged a look and then both shrugged helplessly.
The knight let out an exasperated sigh and turned to the paladin. “And you encountered a bandit on the road while they were gone, Deneith?â€
Roen’s blinked, dragging her attention back to the conversation at hand. She knitted her brows as she tried to work through the murk that was her memories. It had been only a sun since she had returned back to duty, since Ser Tournes had ordered her out of her self sequestration after her receipt of Nero’s parcel. She had not given the caravan incident a second thought, since it had been many suns before, even before Delial and Kage found her. With all that had happened, some lone bandit in the middle of a blizzard was the last thing that was on her mind.
“I did, but our encounter was short,†she replied without meeting anyone’s eyes. “I wounded him in the chest and he knocked me out. I woke up shortly after and he was gone.â€
Idristan Tournes drummed his fingers against the wooden table, clearly not satisfied with the answers he was getting. But he pursued it no longer, instead rising to his feet and taking up his shield that had been set aside.
“We have border patrol until the next moon,†he said in a tone that would brook no argument. He ignored a distant groan from Stray Oak. “A thankless job, but it has to be done. We will rotate in shifts, starting with Blacke, Fenco, and Deneith for tonight.â€
When the rest of the sellswords shuffled out, the knight-captain remained behind, crossing his arms and looming over Roen who still sat unmoving at the table.
“I do not know what troubles you left behind, Deneith.†His voice was quiet, its usual severity absent. “Nor will I ask. But Halone’s icy glaciers cannot bury everything.â€
When the paladin did not answer nor even meet his eyes, the Elezen leaned over and placed something on the table next to her soup. It was two amethyst earrings set in filigrees of silver and gold. It snapped her attention back at him, eyes wide.
“Where did you get this?â€
Idristan shook his head with a surly tug of his lips. “Do not forget the Forgotten Knight shares its doors with the residents of The Brume and the lowborns. The starved and the poor do not care who they steal from. If they can, they will.†His word held no contempt, despite his frown. “The Innkeeper found a youngster trying to make out of your room with a box and all the contents within, these earrings included. I’ve asked him to keep your box in safekeeping considering its contents...†he trailed off.
Roen lifted the earrings gently as she brought it before her eyes. It jingled lightly hanging from her fingertips, before she closed her hand around it and rested it against her chest.
The Elezen studied her a moment longer, before he reached into his breastplate, pulling out a thin silver chain. He unclasped it and laid it on the table in front of the paladin. “For things we want to keep close to our hearts,†he offered. “The pendant that used to hang from the chain is with a goldsmith to get it repaired. I had commissioned a better chain to go with it; it would be a shame to let this one go to waste.â€
The paladin stared at the offering and nodded absently. “Gratitude.â€
Idristan exhaled patiently and turned toward the door. “Perhaps the patrols will be good for you. There be naught but thoughts of how to stay warm and alive through the darkest of nights in Coerthas. When the Goddess rains Her wrath down upon thee, it is easy to forget thine own troubles.â€
“How is it that you and Fenco got lost together if you could not even see each other?â€
The conversation between Idristan Tournes and Hobard Blacke barely filtered through her senses. Roen sat at the table within Camp Dragonshead, her beef stew untouched and cold in front of her, a thick hunk of crumbling bread equally ignored beside it. She could feel Bellows studying her from the corner of his eyes, but the paladin did not care. She said nothing as Stray Oak’s hand hovered for a moment over her uneaten bread, before it was snatched up and away by the Roegadyn. She just stared absently at her once-steaming soup even as the knight-captain continued to inquire about the botched caravan escort in Coerthas Western Highlands many suns ago.
“He’s exaggerating a bit,†the Lalafell seated across from her piped up in his nasally voice. “We thought we saw some suspicious activity on the road and thought we should investigate. Deneith went ahead with the caravan and we stayed behind.â€
“And then you were unable to catch up with the caravan until back at Falcon’s Nest?†The Elezen sounded skeptical.
Fenco and Blacke exchanged a look and then both shrugged helplessly.
The knight let out an exasperated sigh and turned to the paladin. “And you encountered a bandit on the road while they were gone, Deneith?â€
Roen’s blinked, dragging her attention back to the conversation at hand. She knitted her brows as she tried to work through the murk that was her memories. It had been only a sun since she had returned back to duty, since Ser Tournes had ordered her out of her self sequestration after her receipt of Nero’s parcel. She had not given the caravan incident a second thought, since it had been many suns before, even before Delial and Kage found her. With all that had happened, some lone bandit in the middle of a blizzard was the last thing that was on her mind.
“I did, but our encounter was short,†she replied without meeting anyone’s eyes. “I wounded him in the chest and he knocked me out. I woke up shortly after and he was gone.â€
Idristan Tournes drummed his fingers against the wooden table, clearly not satisfied with the answers he was getting. But he pursued it no longer, instead rising to his feet and taking up his shield that had been set aside.
“We have border patrol until the next moon,†he said in a tone that would brook no argument. He ignored a distant groan from Stray Oak. “A thankless job, but it has to be done. We will rotate in shifts, starting with Blacke, Fenco, and Deneith for tonight.â€
When the rest of the sellswords shuffled out, the knight-captain remained behind, crossing his arms and looming over Roen who still sat unmoving at the table.
“I do not know what troubles you left behind, Deneith.†His voice was quiet, its usual severity absent. “Nor will I ask. But Halone’s icy glaciers cannot bury everything.â€
When the paladin did not answer nor even meet his eyes, the Elezen leaned over and placed something on the table next to her soup. It was two amethyst earrings set in filigrees of silver and gold. It snapped her attention back at him, eyes wide.
“Where did you get this?â€
Idristan shook his head with a surly tug of his lips. “Do not forget the Forgotten Knight shares its doors with the residents of The Brume and the lowborns. The starved and the poor do not care who they steal from. If they can, they will.†His word held no contempt, despite his frown. “The Innkeeper found a youngster trying to make out of your room with a box and all the contents within, these earrings included. I’ve asked him to keep your box in safekeeping considering its contents...†he trailed off.
Roen lifted the earrings gently as she brought it before her eyes. It jingled lightly hanging from her fingertips, before she closed her hand around it and rested it against her chest.
The Elezen studied her a moment longer, before he reached into his breastplate, pulling out a thin silver chain. He unclasped it and laid it on the table in front of the paladin. “For things we want to keep close to our hearts,†he offered. “The pendant that used to hang from the chain is with a goldsmith to get it repaired. I had commissioned a better chain to go with it; it would be a shame to let this one go to waste.â€
The paladin stared at the offering and nodded absently. “Gratitude.â€
Idristan exhaled patiently and turned toward the door. “Perhaps the patrols will be good for you. There be naught but thoughts of how to stay warm and alive through the darkest of nights in Coerthas. When the Goddess rains Her wrath down upon thee, it is easy to forget thine own troubles.â€
