“Are you saying that I am ill-suited for this task?†Roen arched a brow at the warrior. Despite her words, her expression and carriage held no vexation; the paladin mulled over his question as she turned back to the bowl she held in her hand. She continued to stir the thick brown stew in thought, maneuvering the pieces of floating meat as if to gauge her next morsel. It was after some time that she spoke again.
“The dragon would be a new foe to me as well. And my life and role has not solely been devoted to battle, as yours might have been. But…†The wooden spoon came to rest against the edge of the bowl and her gaze roamed about the active camp. “I too once swore to defend those in need. That is the reason I took up the sword and the shield. Now I am in Ishgard, a land that has toiled against the threat of Dravanians for a thousand years.†Her attention returned to the Xaela seated next to her, her voice gaining a clear and determined edge to them. “If I am not prepared to answer a call to arms against a dragon, then I should not be here at all.â€
She gave him an even look that held no bravado. “You have other obligations, Khadai.†Her lips twisted to one side, her brow furrowed. “This… is my obligation. I came to Ishgard to help fight the war. So this is exactly what I should be doing, whether I have experience in it or not.†She shrugged, smoothing her expression into placidity with a sigh. “Do not mistake this for neither audacity nor some conviction of valor. I have been trained to fight against larger creatures as well, but facing off against a dragon would not be a task I take lightly.â€
Roen sat straighter, her eyes going to Ser Tabourot and the group of knights around him. “I will do what I can to follow orders, learn from those around me, and try to protect those that I can.†She watched the soldiers as they went about their tasks, and while she still did not feel as if she was truly a part of them, she had come to respect the knights and soldiers of Ishgard. Despite all their differences, none could deny their tenacity or their perseverance.
The paladin began to stir her mutton again, scooping up a particularly thick chunk of meat. She let it hover in the cool air for a moment, her eyes flickering back to Khadai who had remained silent. “Besides, I am also of the mind to aid you in your journey. It would do me no good to see you harmed to a dragon during a mere caravan escort, hm?†There was a small lift to one corner of her lips before she resumed partaking in the steaming stew.
But just as she began to chew on her latest morsel, a bustle of movement attracted her attention. A new group of soldiers were being greeted at the periphery of the encampment, and while one guard gestured toward the Elezen knight, Ser Tabourot, Roen spotted another guard pointing her way. It did not take her long to understand why.
Amongst the group of half dozen men stood Heibert Bellows and Stray Oak, the sellswords that Roen had worked with under Ser Tournes. The paladin groaned under her breath, and from Bellows’ expression, he was just as glad to see her. Or more so, the Xaela seated next to her.
“Well, if it isn’t Deneith and her horned companion,†the Midlander sellsword said, approaching them both, his larger Roegadyn shadow lumbering behind. The Hyur’s half-mocking half-amused expression remained as ever as his eyes darted between her and Khadai. “I was under the impression that your status was still no longer with the company.â€
Roen immediately frowned, lowering her bowl to her lap. “I have a new assignment,†she answered sharply. “And I was under the impression that you had something to do with my current absence from the company.â€
Bellows snorted, hooking his thumbs into the grooves of his belt. A smug grin spread across his face. “That ain’t my doing, Deneith. Ya got yer Xaela friend to thank for that.â€
The paladin narrowed her eyes. “The company I keep has nothing to do with it. It was the unrest that you caused amongst the recruits--â€
“Because no one around here wants to be lookin’ over their shoulder for a Dravanian, while they are fighting dragons!†The Hyur exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. He did not seem to care nor notice a few glances and perhaps even frowns thrown in their direction. “Aren’t we here to hunt down dragons? What’s he even doing here? Or you? Captain didn’t send for ya.â€
Roen calmly sat her bowl on the ground, a gesture that was slow and careful. She sat back up and regarded Bellows with an unwavering stare, her chiding tone cutting through the air. “You know as well as anyone that the Au Ra are not Dravanian. You yourself knew what he was. Do not start with accusations that have no foundation to stand on.â€
“Oh that’s right!†Bellows slapped his hand on his forehead. “It wasn’t because I thought him Dravanian, that I didn’t like him. It’s because he confessed to killing my fellow mates! And a horde of aevis just happened to show up after he arrived!†The Midlander swiveled his head around the camp exaggeratedly. “Did you tell anyone here about that?â€
Roen held a hand out to Khadai as if to hold his tongue for a moment, as she stood and took a step toward the Midlander mercenary. Her voice remained controlled, her words deliberate. “If he was to be held accountable for those crimes, then he would not be here now. Ser Tournes would have had him put in the gaols. You know this as well as I. Stop this, Bellows. You tried to incriminate him back then, and the Captain found your allegations baseless.â€
Stray Oak also stepped forward and laid a hand on the Hyur’s shoulder, but the Midlander jerked away. Bellows snorted bitterly. “Just because the Captain seems to favor ya don’t mean the rest of us don’t see what’s wrong here. I thought at least I’d seen the last of ya around me and mine, but I guess I was wrong.†He glanced over his shoulder at the rest of the men he had arrived with at the Convictory; they were milling about near the Elezen knight, and all them had an uneasy expression about them. Ser Tabourot was even glaring in their direction.
It might have been the silent look of reproach from the Elezen knight, or perhaps just the Midlander’s hurt pride. Roen was not certain. But something made Bellows whirl back around and spit at Khadai’s general direction, thick yellow spittle landing near the Xaela’s boot. “Well, I don’t trust him. And I sure ain’t going to have him watch my back.â€
“The dragon would be a new foe to me as well. And my life and role has not solely been devoted to battle, as yours might have been. But…†The wooden spoon came to rest against the edge of the bowl and her gaze roamed about the active camp. “I too once swore to defend those in need. That is the reason I took up the sword and the shield. Now I am in Ishgard, a land that has toiled against the threat of Dravanians for a thousand years.†Her attention returned to the Xaela seated next to her, her voice gaining a clear and determined edge to them. “If I am not prepared to answer a call to arms against a dragon, then I should not be here at all.â€
She gave him an even look that held no bravado. “You have other obligations, Khadai.†Her lips twisted to one side, her brow furrowed. “This… is my obligation. I came to Ishgard to help fight the war. So this is exactly what I should be doing, whether I have experience in it or not.†She shrugged, smoothing her expression into placidity with a sigh. “Do not mistake this for neither audacity nor some conviction of valor. I have been trained to fight against larger creatures as well, but facing off against a dragon would not be a task I take lightly.â€
Roen sat straighter, her eyes going to Ser Tabourot and the group of knights around him. “I will do what I can to follow orders, learn from those around me, and try to protect those that I can.†She watched the soldiers as they went about their tasks, and while she still did not feel as if she was truly a part of them, she had come to respect the knights and soldiers of Ishgard. Despite all their differences, none could deny their tenacity or their perseverance.
The paladin began to stir her mutton again, scooping up a particularly thick chunk of meat. She let it hover in the cool air for a moment, her eyes flickering back to Khadai who had remained silent. “Besides, I am also of the mind to aid you in your journey. It would do me no good to see you harmed to a dragon during a mere caravan escort, hm?†There was a small lift to one corner of her lips before she resumed partaking in the steaming stew.
But just as she began to chew on her latest morsel, a bustle of movement attracted her attention. A new group of soldiers were being greeted at the periphery of the encampment, and while one guard gestured toward the Elezen knight, Ser Tabourot, Roen spotted another guard pointing her way. It did not take her long to understand why.
Amongst the group of half dozen men stood Heibert Bellows and Stray Oak, the sellswords that Roen had worked with under Ser Tournes. The paladin groaned under her breath, and from Bellows’ expression, he was just as glad to see her. Or more so, the Xaela seated next to her.
“Well, if it isn’t Deneith and her horned companion,†the Midlander sellsword said, approaching them both, his larger Roegadyn shadow lumbering behind. The Hyur’s half-mocking half-amused expression remained as ever as his eyes darted between her and Khadai. “I was under the impression that your status was still no longer with the company.â€
Roen immediately frowned, lowering her bowl to her lap. “I have a new assignment,†she answered sharply. “And I was under the impression that you had something to do with my current absence from the company.â€
Bellows snorted, hooking his thumbs into the grooves of his belt. A smug grin spread across his face. “That ain’t my doing, Deneith. Ya got yer Xaela friend to thank for that.â€
The paladin narrowed her eyes. “The company I keep has nothing to do with it. It was the unrest that you caused amongst the recruits--â€
“Because no one around here wants to be lookin’ over their shoulder for a Dravanian, while they are fighting dragons!†The Hyur exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. He did not seem to care nor notice a few glances and perhaps even frowns thrown in their direction. “Aren’t we here to hunt down dragons? What’s he even doing here? Or you? Captain didn’t send for ya.â€
Roen calmly sat her bowl on the ground, a gesture that was slow and careful. She sat back up and regarded Bellows with an unwavering stare, her chiding tone cutting through the air. “You know as well as anyone that the Au Ra are not Dravanian. You yourself knew what he was. Do not start with accusations that have no foundation to stand on.â€
“Oh that’s right!†Bellows slapped his hand on his forehead. “It wasn’t because I thought him Dravanian, that I didn’t like him. It’s because he confessed to killing my fellow mates! And a horde of aevis just happened to show up after he arrived!†The Midlander swiveled his head around the camp exaggeratedly. “Did you tell anyone here about that?â€
Roen held a hand out to Khadai as if to hold his tongue for a moment, as she stood and took a step toward the Midlander mercenary. Her voice remained controlled, her words deliberate. “If he was to be held accountable for those crimes, then he would not be here now. Ser Tournes would have had him put in the gaols. You know this as well as I. Stop this, Bellows. You tried to incriminate him back then, and the Captain found your allegations baseless.â€
Stray Oak also stepped forward and laid a hand on the Hyur’s shoulder, but the Midlander jerked away. Bellows snorted bitterly. “Just because the Captain seems to favor ya don’t mean the rest of us don’t see what’s wrong here. I thought at least I’d seen the last of ya around me and mine, but I guess I was wrong.†He glanced over his shoulder at the rest of the men he had arrived with at the Convictory; they were milling about near the Elezen knight, and all them had an uneasy expression about them. Ser Tabourot was even glaring in their direction.
It might have been the silent look of reproach from the Elezen knight, or perhaps just the Midlander’s hurt pride. Roen was not certain. But something made Bellows whirl back around and spit at Khadai’s general direction, thick yellow spittle landing near the Xaela’s boot. “Well, I don’t trust him. And I sure ain’t going to have him watch my back.â€
