Dheres awoke the next morning alone in a strange tent. While not exactly a full-service inn, it was still a far cry above a thin bedroll beneath a rain-soaked tree. He emerged when redressed to find Coatleque once more had been awake for far longer. She stood off by the aetherite securing their gear again and making sure the birds were fit for longer travel. The rain had not let up all the night. Even this morning it still drizzled around them like a coarse mist.
"Did you sleep at all, Ser Crofte?" He asked as he approached.
"Would you feel safer if I said yes or no?" she replied without looking back.
He gave her a rather indignant look and perhaps it was justified. He was no back alley refugee pressed into service when faced otherwise with starvation. He was the son, a lesser son, but son no less of a Lord. Trained in many things not the least of which was swordplay. "Ser, I realize you are here to make me safer, but I assure you, I can fight."
The flap of one sack was flipped downward and tied securely. She stopped and leaned towards the bird, resting one hand upon the saddle. "I do not doubt your abilities, my lord. I simply prefer to play things safe."
"I was not elevated to the Immortal Flames because of a- a lordship!" His voice lowered then. "Or the potential of one."
There was a pause. Coatleque turned to face him and bowed her head low. "Apologies, my lord. I misspoke."
She held his bird steady while he climbed atop, then followed suit. The rest of the morning was spent in silence after that. They departed Camp Tranquil heading northward towards the Druthers. Her intention now was to reach Fallgourd if possible. Barring no interruptions along the road, they should make it before nightfall she guessed. She had made this trek many times before to avoid passing the castrum that loomed over Mor Dhona. It had been safe enough in the past, but she was not escorting high value targets then.
It was Coatleque's turn to break the awkwardness this time. She owed him that at least after her blunder this morning. Once more she held her pace to allow her bird to fall back next to Dheres. "So," she began. "How long have you known Lord Taeros?"
"Oh, near two years now? Ever since father moved us to the Jewel." He did seem more amenable to talking. The afternoon passed more quickly as he spoke at least. He told her of how they moved south, where his mother was from, how Jameson had assisted in their settling in Thanalan.
Coatleque managed a gentle smile to his side. "He is a generous man, despite what most people think."
Dheres frowned. "Yes, some speak ill of him, but they do of all monetarists."
She hummed to herself. "Which is why they do not like me on his arm, I am sure."
The trees which flanked them soon began to thin and the terrain became more rocky, signalling their proximity to the northern part of the Shroud. Coatleque chose to dismount and lead them on by foot from here as this would be the more dangerous leg of their trek. Should they be walking into an ambush, she wanted to be ready to defend while Dheres could flee backwards. Dheres continued to talk to her even though she could not face him from her position ahead.
"Without Lord Taeros, I would never have met one of my very best friends."
"Oh?" She asked if only to keep his spirits up.
"Yes. Belaire. You briefly met her."
Coatleque had met the girl more than once before. Typically in the presence of her Lady's husband. "She is the Lady Mandercrown's handmaiden if I remember correctly." Her tone turned rather dry. "I do not envy her position."
He laughed lightly. "No. They are in truth very difficult. And rather entitled. And not at all like Lord Taeros."
They continued on again in silence for a time. Coatleque found herself holding her arm tightly to her chest as it began to throb. 'From the weather', she told herself, and that brought the idle thought that perhaps it will always do so now. She did not like that much.
It was still early evening when they arrived in Fallgourd. She led them round the aetherite before Dheres dismounted and moved up beside her. "This would be the next best place to stop," he began.
"Of course, my lord. I was about to say just that. This is our last stop before Coerthas." She regarded him then as if gauging how his strength had recovered since the previous night. With a cluck of her tongue she gestured to the large building suspended over the river by cliff side. "The Bobbing Cork will have a proper room for you. I will see to our birds and join you in a moment." He needed no further convincing, already excited by the prospect of a real bed, and headed for the inn while she turned aside to stable their mounts for the night.
"Did you sleep at all, Ser Crofte?" He asked as he approached.
"Would you feel safer if I said yes or no?" she replied without looking back.
He gave her a rather indignant look and perhaps it was justified. He was no back alley refugee pressed into service when faced otherwise with starvation. He was the son, a lesser son, but son no less of a Lord. Trained in many things not the least of which was swordplay. "Ser, I realize you are here to make me safer, but I assure you, I can fight."
The flap of one sack was flipped downward and tied securely. She stopped and leaned towards the bird, resting one hand upon the saddle. "I do not doubt your abilities, my lord. I simply prefer to play things safe."
"I was not elevated to the Immortal Flames because of a- a lordship!" His voice lowered then. "Or the potential of one."
There was a pause. Coatleque turned to face him and bowed her head low. "Apologies, my lord. I misspoke."
She held his bird steady while he climbed atop, then followed suit. The rest of the morning was spent in silence after that. They departed Camp Tranquil heading northward towards the Druthers. Her intention now was to reach Fallgourd if possible. Barring no interruptions along the road, they should make it before nightfall she guessed. She had made this trek many times before to avoid passing the castrum that loomed over Mor Dhona. It had been safe enough in the past, but she was not escorting high value targets then.
It was Coatleque's turn to break the awkwardness this time. She owed him that at least after her blunder this morning. Once more she held her pace to allow her bird to fall back next to Dheres. "So," she began. "How long have you known Lord Taeros?"
"Oh, near two years now? Ever since father moved us to the Jewel." He did seem more amenable to talking. The afternoon passed more quickly as he spoke at least. He told her of how they moved south, where his mother was from, how Jameson had assisted in their settling in Thanalan.
Coatleque managed a gentle smile to his side. "He is a generous man, despite what most people think."
Dheres frowned. "Yes, some speak ill of him, but they do of all monetarists."
She hummed to herself. "Which is why they do not like me on his arm, I am sure."
The trees which flanked them soon began to thin and the terrain became more rocky, signalling their proximity to the northern part of the Shroud. Coatleque chose to dismount and lead them on by foot from here as this would be the more dangerous leg of their trek. Should they be walking into an ambush, she wanted to be ready to defend while Dheres could flee backwards. Dheres continued to talk to her even though she could not face him from her position ahead.
"Without Lord Taeros, I would never have met one of my very best friends."
"Oh?" She asked if only to keep his spirits up.
"Yes. Belaire. You briefly met her."
Coatleque had met the girl more than once before. Typically in the presence of her Lady's husband. "She is the Lady Mandercrown's handmaiden if I remember correctly." Her tone turned rather dry. "I do not envy her position."
He laughed lightly. "No. They are in truth very difficult. And rather entitled. And not at all like Lord Taeros."
They continued on again in silence for a time. Coatleque found herself holding her arm tightly to her chest as it began to throb. 'From the weather', she told herself, and that brought the idle thought that perhaps it will always do so now. She did not like that much.
It was still early evening when they arrived in Fallgourd. She led them round the aetherite before Dheres dismounted and moved up beside her. "This would be the next best place to stop," he began.
"Of course, my lord. I was about to say just that. This is our last stop before Coerthas." She regarded him then as if gauging how his strength had recovered since the previous night. With a cluck of her tongue she gestured to the large building suspended over the river by cliff side. "The Bobbing Cork will have a proper room for you. I will see to our birds and join you in a moment." He needed no further convincing, already excited by the prospect of a real bed, and headed for the inn while she turned aside to stable their mounts for the night.
