Roen blinked, just staring at Khadai as he took point in front of the wagon. “You… do not have to walk ahead of the...†she began, then stopped. The paladin shook her head as she took a seat at the head of the wagon; she could not argue that a pair of extra eyes in front was a bad idea. She looked to the space where she had cleared the snow next to her, but she plopped her satchel down on the empty seat instead.
“Due south,†she gestured with her hand. “There is a trail there leading around the side of the bluff, wide enough for a wagon. It should get us down from this plateau.†She glanced to the grey skies, squinting her eyes in thought. How long had the blizzard delayed them? Khadai’s words did instill a small sense of urgency that had not been there before; the caravan supplies behind her could be crucial potions and food that were essential to those waiting for them.
In truth, she was quietly relieved that he had offered to accompany her. She did have others that were to guard the caravan before the storm, but they had left early in lieu of the bad weather that the dark clouds were bringing with them. If it was not for the injured chocobo and the fact that she had asked the Xaela warrior to join her there, she too might have left for the Convictory bells ago.
Now that the storm had passed, the supplies still needed to be delivered, and it would have been a task that she would have undertaken by her lonesome. Having Khadai’s capable company along eased her mind considerably.
A breath of steam plumed in front of her nostrils as she exhaled long, the paladin taking up the reins in both hands. She could not help but recall the warnings of Ser Heuloix as he shared with her his thoughts, and likely those of other Ishgardian knights, regarding those like Khadai.
“Officially… the Au Ra are recognized as people. Not creatures, not dravanians. Unofficially however... there is little to protect them should a knight or band of knights see fit to put what, by all counts, appears to be the thousand year enemy of our city-state, our people, our very goddess herself, to the blade.â€
Surely that is not the prevailing belief now, Roen told herself. But knowing that even fair minded beings like Ser Heuloix once thought the Au Ra to represent danger to their home… it did trouble her. How would the Xaela be received at the Convictory then?
From Khadai’s tone, the paladin could not tell if the Xaela warrior had already became acquainted with those who patrolled near the encampment. Roen herself had only met a couple, having accompanied more than a few caravans through the area. She thought that by having Khadai seen working with others in delivering supplies, the sight of him would become a familiar thing, rather than something that warranted alarm. The more acclimated both Khadai and the Ishgardians became with each other, better the chances that the Xaela could seek refuge in various camps if need be.
At least, that was her hope.
Roen glanced to the back of the dark-skinned Au Ra in front of her and sighed. The journey ahead of him may be wrought with some difficulties yet… but maybe with small steps like these taken, he would not have to face them alone for too long.
“Due south,†she gestured with her hand. “There is a trail there leading around the side of the bluff, wide enough for a wagon. It should get us down from this plateau.†She glanced to the grey skies, squinting her eyes in thought. How long had the blizzard delayed them? Khadai’s words did instill a small sense of urgency that had not been there before; the caravan supplies behind her could be crucial potions and food that were essential to those waiting for them.
In truth, she was quietly relieved that he had offered to accompany her. She did have others that were to guard the caravan before the storm, but they had left early in lieu of the bad weather that the dark clouds were bringing with them. If it was not for the injured chocobo and the fact that she had asked the Xaela warrior to join her there, she too might have left for the Convictory bells ago.
Now that the storm had passed, the supplies still needed to be delivered, and it would have been a task that she would have undertaken by her lonesome. Having Khadai’s capable company along eased her mind considerably.
A breath of steam plumed in front of her nostrils as she exhaled long, the paladin taking up the reins in both hands. She could not help but recall the warnings of Ser Heuloix as he shared with her his thoughts, and likely those of other Ishgardian knights, regarding those like Khadai.
“Officially… the Au Ra are recognized as people. Not creatures, not dravanians. Unofficially however... there is little to protect them should a knight or band of knights see fit to put what, by all counts, appears to be the thousand year enemy of our city-state, our people, our very goddess herself, to the blade.â€
Surely that is not the prevailing belief now, Roen told herself. But knowing that even fair minded beings like Ser Heuloix once thought the Au Ra to represent danger to their home… it did trouble her. How would the Xaela be received at the Convictory then?
From Khadai’s tone, the paladin could not tell if the Xaela warrior had already became acquainted with those who patrolled near the encampment. Roen herself had only met a couple, having accompanied more than a few caravans through the area. She thought that by having Khadai seen working with others in delivering supplies, the sight of him would become a familiar thing, rather than something that warranted alarm. The more acclimated both Khadai and the Ishgardians became with each other, better the chances that the Xaela could seek refuge in various camps if need be.
At least, that was her hope.
Roen glanced to the back of the dark-skinned Au Ra in front of her and sighed. The journey ahead of him may be wrought with some difficulties yet… but maybe with small steps like these taken, he would not have to face them alone for too long.
