She sighs as she continues to eat, she really didn't want to give him any kind of idea of interest in him because she didn't like the idea of being fawned over or stared at or whatever it was that men like him did these days when they fancied someone. She didn't know exactly why he seemed so excited, but she would make sure that she was never alone with him.
Xeni continues her meal, simply nodding. Hunting was part of the natural order of things.
Once you finish eating, Aldern stands up. "First off, let's get you some horses."
"I...I don't know about horses..."
"Nonsense," Aldern says, going over and clapping Bairn on the shoulder. "It'll be perfectly fine. A hero like yourself shouldn't go around on foot and Tickwood is a good ways away."
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Bairn stands up. "Hi."
He gestures around him. "This is my personal space. We don't know each other well enough for you to be in it."
Aldern's smile fades a little. "My apologies. I meant no offense."
Getting up she goes to Bairn and wraps an arm around his, "I think his enthusiasm got the better of him Bairn, don't hold it against him." Looking at Aldern she says, "I don't know about horses either. I've never ridden before, and aren't horses kind of....big? What if I fall off?"
"I assure you, dear lady, that you will not fall off," Aldern says. "It shall be an easy ride."
She looks at him with still some doubt in her eyes. Looking from Bairn to the others she asks, "What do you guys think?"
Bairn shrugs. "Why not? It wouldn't hurt to learn how to ride."
She waits to hear what Ana and Xeni think about the horses idea.
"I can help to maybe keep the horses a bit more docile," Xeni says to her friends. "I'm good with animals usually."
She nods and gives Xeni a smile after swallowing, "Okay, I'll let you talk to the horses first then. If you say it's okay Xeni, then I trust you not to let me get on a crazy animal that might throw me off." Looking at Bairn sh eddd adds, "I'm sure learning to ride could have it's advantages, those large animals just Maj eddd me feel a little nervous." She concludes before going back to her meal.
Ana's thoughts went back to when she was a little girl and her Father attempting to teach her to ride. It was one of the many special moments she shared with him.
Coming out of her thoughts, she said, "I might not be an expert, but I can certainly give you a couple of pointers. You'll be fine."
She sighs as she still sounds a little nervous, "With all of you there I guess it'll be safe enough. Okay, I'll give it a try."
Once you finish eating, Aldern leads you to the Goblin Squash Stables. "I'm sure you'll be in Daviren's good books after yesterday."
"Why is that?"
Aldern grins. "Daviren, the stable master, used to be a ranger. His hatred of goblins is near-legendary. Even we in Magnimar have heard of him."
She follows the others though a bit hesitantly to the stables as she just quietly listens to the conversation.
A sentiment I can relate to. Ana thought as they approached.
You arrive at the stables, bearing a sign depicting a goblin being trampled by a horse. Along the entryway, you notice a good number of goblin ears nailed to the three rafters of the covered barn.
"Charming."
"Eewwww....that's just icky." She says of the morbid decorations.
"Grisly to be sure, but it makes the people here feel safer." Xeni comments.
"I guess so...." She says, though not sounding entirely sure.
A grizzled man walks out of one of the stable stalls and approaches the group. "Whaddaya want?"
"I was looking to purchase four of your finest horses, sir," Aldern says.
The man looks Aldern over and then the group. "Oh, say, you're the four that went and killed them goblins, aintcha?"
She just nods.
"Yes." Xeni replies.
Ana looked closely at the ears, attempting to determine if they were pairs or singles or a mix of both.
Ana sees that the ears are singular, a goblin's name burned into each one.
Bairn nods as well, unsure of what to make of the old ranger.
"Good, good. I always appreciate those who can get rid of those green bastards," the man says. "I'm Daviren Hosk, at your service. You said you were needing horses?"
Aldern nods. "Yes, we were going to head to Tickwood to hunt some boars."
Daviren looks visibly disappointed. "No goblins then? That's a shame."
"Well, if we meet any on the road, we'll be sure to kill them," Aldern says quickly.
"I suppose any hunt is better than none," Daviren mutters. "Come along, I'll show you what I have."
The old ranger leads you through the stables, showing off his horses. They all seem well taken care of. "Which ones will you take?"
Thinking quietly for a moment she approaches the ranger and looks up at him, "There are larger more dangerous problems than the gobblins. The gobblins were just a distraction for some other plot that we are still trying to unravel. Do not let your hatred for the race, blind you to what is going on around you." She advises before stepping away from him to look at the large animals that she would have to pick one from.
Not knowing very much about horses, she just wanders through them looking them over and trying to decide which one might be the gentlest of the bunch and the easiest for her to ride since she had no experience handling animals.
Daviren lets out a resounding "Feh" and waits for the group to make their decisions.
After looking around, Lilla picks out one of the smaller looking horses that seems rather calm. A chestnut brown mare with a calm personality, maybe she would be able to stay in the saddle of this one.
Bairn selects a white stallion after looking at the others.
Once everyone has selected a horse, Aldern pays Daviren and he helps those who need help getting on their horses. He spends an inordinate amount of time making sure that Lilla is sitting on her horse comfortably. After you are all situated, he leads the way out of the stables where his servants meet him with his own horse. Aldern skillfully mounts his steed and leads you all out of town.
After reassuring Aldern several times that she was fine, she makes her way behind the others as she tries to go with the flow of the horse. As long as they just kept the animals walking, she might be able to do this. She stays near the rear of the pack and keeps an eye out for trouble.
However, the constant bouncing up and down in the saddle as her steed walks makes it hard to concentrate on what's around them.
Bairn looks over his shoulder at Lilla. "Are you okay back there?"
Bringing her horse closer to Bairn she nods, "Uhhh...yeah, I mean I guess so. As well as I can be for being on the back of this huge animal. Okay...okay, so maybe it isn't exactly huge...but it's still a little weird. I've only ridden in wagons until recently and I never learned how to ride....so this is just all...a little much. Sorry if I'm babbling." She says before concentrating on staying in the saddle as the horse steps down into a deeper area of the ground.
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"It's alright," Bairn says with a supportive smile. "Aren't adventures supposed to be full new experiences?"
Making sure she has a firm hold on the reigns she nods while blushing slightly and giving him a smile, "Yeah..."
Xeni rides along with the others, enjoying the interaction with her horse.
Ana took lead as to better follows any tracks they may or may not come across. But she did take care to glance back to make sure that Lilla was doing alright.
Ana doesn't find any goblinoid tracks, but happens to find fresh boar tracks.