"Thank you for your... trust. And your friendship." Leaning in towards her, he kissed her softly on the cheek. "Be safe," he whispered in her ear.
His eyes opened slowly then fluttered. The room was not familiar at first. No, this was definitely not his room. Nor was it a tent at Scorpion's Crossing. Dheres sat up looking groggy as one who has overslept their mark by a few bells. "What," he began to stammer before holding his temples with both hands. "What happened?"
The sun was already making its descent across Thanalan when he had finally come to. Coatleque had not awoken much sooner than he, but had already adjusted her armor and checked their gear. She sat quietly on a stool by the foot of his bed staring down at her arm. Slowly she opened and closed her hand, flexing, feeling the stiffness of the muscle as it strained against the recently closed tear.
She wined but looked up from the blood-stained leather when he spoke. "My lord! You are awake!" She said breathlessly as if the news was fresh air to a weary soul. "How do you feel?" Her hands moved to her knees and the paladin straightened herself to hide any doubts she may have had.
His hands were shaky, voice low. One was run slowly through his hair. "Weak, to be honest." There was a pause while his mind replayed the events most recent to his memory. Coatleque's head dipped as she watched him with upturned eyes. "He tried to ASSASSINATE me!" Dheres exclaimed through the shock of his slow realization that he did not dream the past evening.
His outburst was met with a quieting motion from the paladin. "Shhhh. Yes, he did." She offered what little comfort she could. "Surprising, but not unexpected." As she spoke, she gestured to the chest of drawers by the bed. Atop it was laid a platter of bread, cheese, and grapes with a pitcher of water. Not the best of breakfasts, but affordable and easily available.
"How? How is that expected?" He ignored her gesturing and pressed with his justifiable questioning. In truth, Coatleque knew nothing more than what Jameson had told her. It was her experience in observing his business from the sidelines that had prepared her for whatever dangers were still lurking. She could not pretend to understand the games these nobles played - distrust, intrigue, murder. And she liked none of it. But she did not have to play at it, just be there to encourage the man when he was losing and congratulate when he was winning.
Coatleque stood finally and crossed her arms, turning away from the boy. "I told you that you were in danger. I was surprised it came so quickly, but I expected it nonetheless." She did not give him pause long enough to retort but did look back over her shoulder. "Please, you should eat something. Recover your strength. We can talk in the meantime if you are so inclined." Her head bowed respectfully. "Would that I had the answers you seek. We cannot even be certain the attacker was sent by your father. But we are lucky there was only one of them."
Dheres began to rise instinctively at that. "We must confront him! If we--" but he slumped back to the bed, lightheaded. Coalteque turned back to face him.
"Carefully, please. You were badly wounded."
"But you saved me." He said quietly. "That was you."
"I did what I was sworn to do. By the grace of the Twelve do you still draw breath. The Twelve, and the help of a friend."
"I am in your debt, Ser. I will do all I can to repay your stalwart presence."
Coatleque looked away again with a shake of her head. "I keep no debts, my lord. I gave my word to see you to safety, and I shall."
The boy was much more readily agreeable to hear her out as he ate what was provided. She let him eat in silence at first till she was sure he would not pass out again or fall ill otherwise. Then she began to detail the trip that lay ahead.
From the Flames' garrison at Drybone she was able to procure some equipment and supplies, as well as two birds. Such things they were accustomed to providing to the Sultansworn when required and they knew it would be repaid quickly. She intended to lead him north and east through the Black Shroud to reach Coerthas from the opposite side of where his father may expect.
Her goal was to reach the Druthers to rest for the night. Judging by the sun they would be lucky to reach Highbridge before twilight. While Dheres finished eating, Coatleque put the rest of their affairs in order. And then they were off. On the long road to Ishgard.
II
His eyes opened slowly then fluttered. The room was not familiar at first. No, this was definitely not his room. Nor was it a tent at Scorpion's Crossing. Dheres sat up looking groggy as one who has overslept their mark by a few bells. "What," he began to stammer before holding his temples with both hands. "What happened?"
The sun was already making its descent across Thanalan when he had finally come to. Coatleque had not awoken much sooner than he, but had already adjusted her armor and checked their gear. She sat quietly on a stool by the foot of his bed staring down at her arm. Slowly she opened and closed her hand, flexing, feeling the stiffness of the muscle as it strained against the recently closed tear.
She wined but looked up from the blood-stained leather when he spoke. "My lord! You are awake!" She said breathlessly as if the news was fresh air to a weary soul. "How do you feel?" Her hands moved to her knees and the paladin straightened herself to hide any doubts she may have had.
His hands were shaky, voice low. One was run slowly through his hair. "Weak, to be honest." There was a pause while his mind replayed the events most recent to his memory. Coatleque's head dipped as she watched him with upturned eyes. "He tried to ASSASSINATE me!" Dheres exclaimed through the shock of his slow realization that he did not dream the past evening.
His outburst was met with a quieting motion from the paladin. "Shhhh. Yes, he did." She offered what little comfort she could. "Surprising, but not unexpected." As she spoke, she gestured to the chest of drawers by the bed. Atop it was laid a platter of bread, cheese, and grapes with a pitcher of water. Not the best of breakfasts, but affordable and easily available.
"How? How is that expected?" He ignored her gesturing and pressed with his justifiable questioning. In truth, Coatleque knew nothing more than what Jameson had told her. It was her experience in observing his business from the sidelines that had prepared her for whatever dangers were still lurking. She could not pretend to understand the games these nobles played - distrust, intrigue, murder. And she liked none of it. But she did not have to play at it, just be there to encourage the man when he was losing and congratulate when he was winning.
Coatleque stood finally and crossed her arms, turning away from the boy. "I told you that you were in danger. I was surprised it came so quickly, but I expected it nonetheless." She did not give him pause long enough to retort but did look back over her shoulder. "Please, you should eat something. Recover your strength. We can talk in the meantime if you are so inclined." Her head bowed respectfully. "Would that I had the answers you seek. We cannot even be certain the attacker was sent by your father. But we are lucky there was only one of them."
Dheres began to rise instinctively at that. "We must confront him! If we--" but he slumped back to the bed, lightheaded. Coalteque turned back to face him.
"Carefully, please. You were badly wounded."
"But you saved me." He said quietly. "That was you."
"I did what I was sworn to do. By the grace of the Twelve do you still draw breath. The Twelve, and the help of a friend."
"I am in your debt, Ser. I will do all I can to repay your stalwart presence."
Coatleque looked away again with a shake of her head. "I keep no debts, my lord. I gave my word to see you to safety, and I shall."
The boy was much more readily agreeable to hear her out as he ate what was provided. She let him eat in silence at first till she was sure he would not pass out again or fall ill otherwise. Then she began to detail the trip that lay ahead.
From the Flames' garrison at Drybone she was able to procure some equipment and supplies, as well as two birds. Such things they were accustomed to providing to the Sultansworn when required and they knew it would be repaid quickly. She intended to lead him north and east through the Black Shroud to reach Coerthas from the opposite side of where his father may expect.
Her goal was to reach the Druthers to rest for the night. Judging by the sun they would be lucky to reach Highbridge before twilight. While Dheres finished eating, Coatleque put the rest of their affairs in order. And then they were off. On the long road to Ishgard.
