The trio arrived in Camp Dragonhead without incident. It was a difficult journey, trudging through the gathering snow, which wearied Edda more than the awkward length of silence that pervaded the group. She was quite tired as they arrived and could think of little more than a hot bath and a soft bed.
Roen seemed expected as they arrived, and she supposed that was hardly surprising. They were approached by a Hellsguard and Midlander, no doubt her companions, who seemed quite eager to engage her. Edda paid them little attention as they spoke. It was not her business, nor her place to interfere with the paladin’s duties. Besides, she had more pressing concerns at hand. She scanned the area as best she could, the battlements at the far side of the camp shrouded by the steady snowfall. The last and first time she had been in Camp Dragonhead, she had left no sooner than she had arrived, only there to visit a dear friend at a makeshift infirmary. Her knowledge of this place was negligible.
“Is that blood?â€
Edda snapped out of her reverie at the voice of a disgruntled sounding Midlander. He pointed at Khadai – a terribly rude thing to do – and glared at him. A natural reaction to be sure, yet she could not help narrowing her eyes at the man. Roen was looking at her with a beseeching expression, and so she said nothing, watching as the paladin addressed him.
“It is. They ran into some trouble on the road.†She turned away. “You can listen in as I make my report to Ser Tournes.â€
Yes, the report. Edda had forgotten it. Such a thing could prove troubling depending on any number of factors, and she felt her breath catch in her throat. She was nervous, though there was nothing she could do about it now.
The man appraised herself and Khadai quietly while picking at his teeth. The Midlander was failing to make any sort of decent impression on the woman, and she hoped he would take Roen up on her offer. “Alright,†he said after a time. “Stay with ‘em eh, Oak? Show ‘em yer hospitality of the grand ol’ Dragonhead while I go with Deneith here.†Edda felt some relief, but she frowned at the prospect of an escort. “Make sure he don’ run into any more trouble within the walls.†Roen and her rude companion took their leave, both looking at the pair over their shoulders with contrasting expressions.
The Hellsguard remained. He did not seem overjoyed to be saddled with the task of looking after them, but his expression was placid enough for Edda to find him infinitely more pleasing than his friend. She turned to look up at him expectantly. He smiled awkwardly and reached up to scratch the back of his head.
“Erm, right, grand ol’ Dragonhead,†he began. “If ye two would-“
Edda held up a hand to stop him. “Whatever it is you had in mind, it will not be necessary,†she said. “We seek lodging for the night – warm meals, baths, and soft beds – any place these can be found. You will take us there immediately.â€
The Hellsguard paused and looke dat her with an incredulous expression. “Aye, if that’s what ye need, but we should first check in with Ser-“
“That is not what I asked.â€
He blinked. Edda smiled sweetly at him. An innocent expression, but one that begot no argument. His orders were unclear, so it would not be too difficult to sway him in the right direction, or more accurately, the direction she wanted. “Right… This way, then.â€
He turned and began leading them into Dragonhead. It was not a densely populated area, but enough so that it stood to reason there would be basic amenities available. She did not expect anything grand, and when the man – who she gathered was named Oak – led them to a small building with a red door that desperately needed a new coat of paint, she was not let down in the slightest.
Edda retrieved her knapsack from the saddle and approached the door, before turning to the Roegadyn and thrusting Gullinbursti’s reigns into his hand, as she had done with Khadai back in Fallgourd. “Surely this town has acceptable stables,†she said, and paused. She lowered her voice, and spoke in a kind tone. “Would you not take my precious steed, Ser Oak, and see him properly stabled? He must be quite weary.â€
The woman did not wait for an answer. “If you must keep an eye on us, we shall remain here. You are welcome to return and keep guard outside, but we have little intention of doing anything other than rest. The choice is yours. Until next we meet, then.†As soon as the words left her mouth, Edda had ushered Khadai into the building and closed the door behind them, leaving behind the bewildered Hellsguard.
The inn was well-kept despite its outward appearance. There was a small reception area before a set of stairs, with a dining area and kitchen in the next room. A bored looking Elezen was leaning on the counter, and offered little more than an arched eyebrow in greeting. His eyes stayed trained on the Xaela, and he straightened up and took a step back as the two approached. Edda reached into her bag to fetch her gil purse, and deposited a random handful of coins on the counter. Whether it was too little, or too much, she did not know, nor could she be bothered to ask.
“I will take two rooms for the night,†she said. If Roen had need of one as well, she would rent another, or share her own. “You will send hot water for a bath and a warm meal.†Edda looked at the Wildwood with a gravely serious expression. “Immediately,†she added. “For both rooms.â€
The inn-keep smirked nervously at her. He did not seem perturbed by the Au Ra’s presence – skeptical more than anything else. He reached into a drawer beside him before setting two keys carefully on the counter. “Second floor, end of the hall,†he said as he began collecting the gil.
Edda motioned for Khadai to follow and ascended the stairs without another word. The hallway lay at the very front of the building, the dim light from outside pouring in through the windows, illuminating the empty hall in a dusky glow. The two rooms lay at the end of the hall, the entrances perpendicular to each other. Edda opened the door to the room at the very end of the hall, and waved Khadai inside before handing him the key.
“You will stay in here. There will be water for a bath and food brought up to you.†She wrinkled her nose as her gaze settled on his bloodstained clothes. She would have to buy him new ones, and remove the blood from his. It was beginning to smell quite bad, appearance aside. “If you must leave for any reason, I will be in the room next door. Do not wander alone – it would be unsafe.â€
The woman turned and let herself into her own room. Their location was a good one – if Khadai had a mind to leave on his own, or anyone came knocking on his door, she would be able to hear them first. None of that was currently on her mind, however. She was ready, so very ready to strip out of her dirty clothes and soak for as long as she could, eat a real meal, and sleep in a real bed. The prospect of Roen’s report was but a shadow of a thought in her mind, the nervousness she had felt before all but melted in the warmth of her room. Edda sat on the edge of her bed and waited. She had made it this far, alive and in good health. There was no more room for anything unexpected or untoward to happen.
Roen seemed expected as they arrived, and she supposed that was hardly surprising. They were approached by a Hellsguard and Midlander, no doubt her companions, who seemed quite eager to engage her. Edda paid them little attention as they spoke. It was not her business, nor her place to interfere with the paladin’s duties. Besides, she had more pressing concerns at hand. She scanned the area as best she could, the battlements at the far side of the camp shrouded by the steady snowfall. The last and first time she had been in Camp Dragonhead, she had left no sooner than she had arrived, only there to visit a dear friend at a makeshift infirmary. Her knowledge of this place was negligible.
“Is that blood?â€
Edda snapped out of her reverie at the voice of a disgruntled sounding Midlander. He pointed at Khadai – a terribly rude thing to do – and glared at him. A natural reaction to be sure, yet she could not help narrowing her eyes at the man. Roen was looking at her with a beseeching expression, and so she said nothing, watching as the paladin addressed him.
“It is. They ran into some trouble on the road.†She turned away. “You can listen in as I make my report to Ser Tournes.â€
Yes, the report. Edda had forgotten it. Such a thing could prove troubling depending on any number of factors, and she felt her breath catch in her throat. She was nervous, though there was nothing she could do about it now.
The man appraised herself and Khadai quietly while picking at his teeth. The Midlander was failing to make any sort of decent impression on the woman, and she hoped he would take Roen up on her offer. “Alright,†he said after a time. “Stay with ‘em eh, Oak? Show ‘em yer hospitality of the grand ol’ Dragonhead while I go with Deneith here.†Edda felt some relief, but she frowned at the prospect of an escort. “Make sure he don’ run into any more trouble within the walls.†Roen and her rude companion took their leave, both looking at the pair over their shoulders with contrasting expressions.
The Hellsguard remained. He did not seem overjoyed to be saddled with the task of looking after them, but his expression was placid enough for Edda to find him infinitely more pleasing than his friend. She turned to look up at him expectantly. He smiled awkwardly and reached up to scratch the back of his head.
“Erm, right, grand ol’ Dragonhead,†he began. “If ye two would-“
Edda held up a hand to stop him. “Whatever it is you had in mind, it will not be necessary,†she said. “We seek lodging for the night – warm meals, baths, and soft beds – any place these can be found. You will take us there immediately.â€
The Hellsguard paused and looke dat her with an incredulous expression. “Aye, if that’s what ye need, but we should first check in with Ser-“
“That is not what I asked.â€
He blinked. Edda smiled sweetly at him. An innocent expression, but one that begot no argument. His orders were unclear, so it would not be too difficult to sway him in the right direction, or more accurately, the direction she wanted. “Right… This way, then.â€
He turned and began leading them into Dragonhead. It was not a densely populated area, but enough so that it stood to reason there would be basic amenities available. She did not expect anything grand, and when the man – who she gathered was named Oak – led them to a small building with a red door that desperately needed a new coat of paint, she was not let down in the slightest.
Edda retrieved her knapsack from the saddle and approached the door, before turning to the Roegadyn and thrusting Gullinbursti’s reigns into his hand, as she had done with Khadai back in Fallgourd. “Surely this town has acceptable stables,†she said, and paused. She lowered her voice, and spoke in a kind tone. “Would you not take my precious steed, Ser Oak, and see him properly stabled? He must be quite weary.â€
The woman did not wait for an answer. “If you must keep an eye on us, we shall remain here. You are welcome to return and keep guard outside, but we have little intention of doing anything other than rest. The choice is yours. Until next we meet, then.†As soon as the words left her mouth, Edda had ushered Khadai into the building and closed the door behind them, leaving behind the bewildered Hellsguard.
The inn was well-kept despite its outward appearance. There was a small reception area before a set of stairs, with a dining area and kitchen in the next room. A bored looking Elezen was leaning on the counter, and offered little more than an arched eyebrow in greeting. His eyes stayed trained on the Xaela, and he straightened up and took a step back as the two approached. Edda reached into her bag to fetch her gil purse, and deposited a random handful of coins on the counter. Whether it was too little, or too much, she did not know, nor could she be bothered to ask.
“I will take two rooms for the night,†she said. If Roen had need of one as well, she would rent another, or share her own. “You will send hot water for a bath and a warm meal.†Edda looked at the Wildwood with a gravely serious expression. “Immediately,†she added. “For both rooms.â€
The inn-keep smirked nervously at her. He did not seem perturbed by the Au Ra’s presence – skeptical more than anything else. He reached into a drawer beside him before setting two keys carefully on the counter. “Second floor, end of the hall,†he said as he began collecting the gil.
Edda motioned for Khadai to follow and ascended the stairs without another word. The hallway lay at the very front of the building, the dim light from outside pouring in through the windows, illuminating the empty hall in a dusky glow. The two rooms lay at the end of the hall, the entrances perpendicular to each other. Edda opened the door to the room at the very end of the hall, and waved Khadai inside before handing him the key.
“You will stay in here. There will be water for a bath and food brought up to you.†She wrinkled her nose as her gaze settled on his bloodstained clothes. She would have to buy him new ones, and remove the blood from his. It was beginning to smell quite bad, appearance aside. “If you must leave for any reason, I will be in the room next door. Do not wander alone – it would be unsafe.â€
The woman turned and let herself into her own room. Their location was a good one – if Khadai had a mind to leave on his own, or anyone came knocking on his door, she would be able to hear them first. None of that was currently on her mind, however. She was ready, so very ready to strip out of her dirty clothes and soak for as long as she could, eat a real meal, and sleep in a real bed. The prospect of Roen’s report was but a shadow of a thought in her mind, the nervousness she had felt before all but melted in the warmth of her room. Edda sat on the edge of her bed and waited. She had made it this far, alive and in good health. There was no more room for anything unexpected or untoward to happen.
