Roen kept her silence as Ser Tabourot berated Bellows, her eyes flitting to the rest of the men instead. Stray Oak rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet, a habit he had when the Roegadyn was flustered. The rest of the men that they had arrived with still stood some distance away, muttering amongst themselves. Some of their eyes went to her, but most followed the Xaela as he walked away. The paladin could not tell if they shared Bellows’ animosity or if their frowns were in disapproval of the Midlander’s harassing outburst. But neither Bellows nor the men that came with them said anything further after the Elezen knight’s stern rebuke. The men turned their attention purposefully away and Bellows spun around and marched away, grumbling.
Stray Oak lingered a moment longer, watching Bellows over his shoulder as he stalked away. The Roegadyn inched closer to the paladin and leaned in, keeping his voice low. “I’ve not seen ‘im like this since ya left, Deneith.†He shook his head, his broad frame slumping forward slightly. “He’s always goin’ on about conspiracies and such, but whether he actually believes yer friend to have had anythin’ ta do with the attack of them aevis, sure as day he don’t like the Xaela fella. He used ta play cards with Blacke and Fenco. Their deaths didn’t go over well.â€
The paladin sighed, her expression turning from consternation to concern. “I see. I was not aware he was close friends with the two.†She peered up at the Roegadyn, regarding him earnestly. “And what of you? Do you also suspect Khadai?â€
The Hellsguard quirked his lips, looking somewhat puzzled. He glanced from her to the Xaela warrior who had now taken a seat in the distance, away from the fire. “He did kill two mercs, an’ they were like us. Except…†His thick brows slowly bent downward, indicating the careful attention he was giving to the topic at hand. “Except they didn’t like to actually do the work. Just get paid. So not really like us, I s’pose.â€
When Roen canted her head expectantly, he scratched the back of his head sheepishly. “I try not ta think on stuff too much. Yer friend fought along with us against the aevis and the captain let ‘im go. That’s enough fer me.†He glanced down back at her and bore a toothy grin with a new realization. “And if he was some Dravanian spy, I doubt you’d be working with him, eh? Or alive for that matter.â€
The paladin snorted, although her expression remained relaxed. “I did bring him into the city of Ishgard, and the city has not burnt down yet under dragon fire,†she said wryly. “How is the captain?â€
Stray Oak shrugged his massive shoulders. “How isn’t he? Same as always. Strict, and sharp tongued. He’s never tolerated any foolery but since the Blacke and Fenco incident, ya won’t see anyone idle around the captain now.†The Roegadyn leaned forward again, glancing over his shoulder. “If Bellows keeps running his mouth, the captain might dismiss ‘im fer good. He’s been seen talkin’ ta all sorts of people tryin’ ta plead his case. There was even a woman that were askin’ about yer noble lady friend and the Au Ra.†He paused, eyeing the Midlander across the camp. “I think he’s been talkin’ ta whoever would listen. But the captain gave ‘im his final warnin’.†The latter was murmured with a resigned sigh.
Roen exhaled long, watching Bellows slouched near the one of the huts. “Well, let us hope the hunt goes well,†she said simply. When Stray Oak bobbed his head energetically and turned to make his way back to his friend, the paladin continued to watch them, her brow furrowed. A part of her knew that Bellows could continue to cause more trouble and that she should be wary of men like him. Never give them the benefit of the doubt, she warned herself.
The paladin glanced across the encampment to where she saw Khadai seated with his bowl, his back to the rest of the camp. Do not lose faith in your people, the Xaela’s rumbling voice rose in her memory.
Another white steam of breath plumed before her lips as she sighed, the paladin bending over to retrieve her bowl of mutton and her small stool. She strode across the camp and planted the stool next to the Au Ra, taking a seat next to him. She stirred with her spoon to loosen the gravy once more before studying Khadai from the corner of her eyes.
His visage remained as stoic as ever; it was rare that she gained any glimpse other than staunch determination and harsh stares. The paladin shrugged and spooned up another piece of meat, allowing the bustle of the camp to fill the silence between them as she enjoyed the stew.
“I am eager to see Ser Vaillancourt’s skills against a dragon,†Roen said after swallowing the morsel. She kept her tone light, wanting to dismiss the unpleasantries that had just passed with Bellows. “Dragoons never fail to impress with their abilities. They were trained especially for the task of fighting dragons, after all. They are like the Khadai--called to defend, but specifically against dragons. They are the elite soldiers of Ishgard.â€
“So there you have it," she added with a hard smirk. "You two do have something in common."
Stray Oak lingered a moment longer, watching Bellows over his shoulder as he stalked away. The Roegadyn inched closer to the paladin and leaned in, keeping his voice low. “I’ve not seen ‘im like this since ya left, Deneith.†He shook his head, his broad frame slumping forward slightly. “He’s always goin’ on about conspiracies and such, but whether he actually believes yer friend to have had anythin’ ta do with the attack of them aevis, sure as day he don’t like the Xaela fella. He used ta play cards with Blacke and Fenco. Their deaths didn’t go over well.â€
The paladin sighed, her expression turning from consternation to concern. “I see. I was not aware he was close friends with the two.†She peered up at the Roegadyn, regarding him earnestly. “And what of you? Do you also suspect Khadai?â€
The Hellsguard quirked his lips, looking somewhat puzzled. He glanced from her to the Xaela warrior who had now taken a seat in the distance, away from the fire. “He did kill two mercs, an’ they were like us. Except…†His thick brows slowly bent downward, indicating the careful attention he was giving to the topic at hand. “Except they didn’t like to actually do the work. Just get paid. So not really like us, I s’pose.â€
When Roen canted her head expectantly, he scratched the back of his head sheepishly. “I try not ta think on stuff too much. Yer friend fought along with us against the aevis and the captain let ‘im go. That’s enough fer me.†He glanced down back at her and bore a toothy grin with a new realization. “And if he was some Dravanian spy, I doubt you’d be working with him, eh? Or alive for that matter.â€
The paladin snorted, although her expression remained relaxed. “I did bring him into the city of Ishgard, and the city has not burnt down yet under dragon fire,†she said wryly. “How is the captain?â€
Stray Oak shrugged his massive shoulders. “How isn’t he? Same as always. Strict, and sharp tongued. He’s never tolerated any foolery but since the Blacke and Fenco incident, ya won’t see anyone idle around the captain now.†The Roegadyn leaned forward again, glancing over his shoulder. “If Bellows keeps running his mouth, the captain might dismiss ‘im fer good. He’s been seen talkin’ ta all sorts of people tryin’ ta plead his case. There was even a woman that were askin’ about yer noble lady friend and the Au Ra.†He paused, eyeing the Midlander across the camp. “I think he’s been talkin’ ta whoever would listen. But the captain gave ‘im his final warnin’.†The latter was murmured with a resigned sigh.
Roen exhaled long, watching Bellows slouched near the one of the huts. “Well, let us hope the hunt goes well,†she said simply. When Stray Oak bobbed his head energetically and turned to make his way back to his friend, the paladin continued to watch them, her brow furrowed. A part of her knew that Bellows could continue to cause more trouble and that she should be wary of men like him. Never give them the benefit of the doubt, she warned herself.
The paladin glanced across the encampment to where she saw Khadai seated with his bowl, his back to the rest of the camp. Do not lose faith in your people, the Xaela’s rumbling voice rose in her memory.
Another white steam of breath plumed before her lips as she sighed, the paladin bending over to retrieve her bowl of mutton and her small stool. She strode across the camp and planted the stool next to the Au Ra, taking a seat next to him. She stirred with her spoon to loosen the gravy once more before studying Khadai from the corner of her eyes.
His visage remained as stoic as ever; it was rare that she gained any glimpse other than staunch determination and harsh stares. The paladin shrugged and spooned up another piece of meat, allowing the bustle of the camp to fill the silence between them as she enjoyed the stew.
“I am eager to see Ser Vaillancourt’s skills against a dragon,†Roen said after swallowing the morsel. She kept her tone light, wanting to dismiss the unpleasantries that had just passed with Bellows. “Dragoons never fail to impress with their abilities. They were trained especially for the task of fighting dragons, after all. They are like the Khadai--called to defend, but specifically against dragons. They are the elite soldiers of Ishgard.â€
“So there you have it," she added with a hard smirk. "You two do have something in common."
