"Regrettably I do not have funds for tack and feed Ala'Ihys. I am at this moment... well broke. I thank you for your kindness and will repay you as soon as I am able. There is a story behind the odd name She Who Knows which I will tell you on the trail, we lack time just now." replies Red gratefully.
Addressing Cavlas, “Thank you, Rock is a magnificent beast, but remember it is the rider that makes the horse.” Noting that an accord had been struck Lysander lets out a sigh of relief, “Oh good it looks like you and you’re group will be joining us. I am Lysander, forgiving me for not introducing myself at the start but it has been a long day and at about midday I gave up telling people my name.”
Lysander slightly taken aback by the briskness of Tairin’s greeting, introduction, and exit, offering a smile and nod as she turns and leaves. Returning his attention to Samir and Cavlas, “I have provisions to purchase also,” out stretching his arm toward the vendor’s stalls, “shall we?”
Red takes Ala'lhys's arm and replies "Yes, I knew Alia, a delightful girl. I hope she lives, I know that there was a massacre at "The Wet Embrace" which makes me fearful. But I have not seen her body, nor has anyone I know. And yes, Tairin has a tendency to gather followers. The new one is armed and armoured, a good sign, the more warriors the safer we will be."While thinking I like this one's manners. But perhaps the tale of how I met Alia I will keep to myself.
Watching Yetara walks away, Ala’Ihys tries to figure the man out.
He is lying to you; the girl is not his daughter. A noble of quality would have at least someone to watch for the interests of his daughter, but generally such a person would be female. A woman to aid his daughter with certain tasks that allowing a man to see would be deemed inappropriate. Further, he has shown her no direct interest or concern - he treats her more of property rather than a relative. Yet if that is true you do not know or understand why the ruse...
Also, most true nobles tend to advertise their pedigree - that is - "I am Lord John of House Smith; of the Realm of X of the Barony of Y; Master of the Hill, Commander of the Tower..." - for a noble this guy is being very closed mouth about his bevy of titles and other political nuances and that strikes you as odd and suspicious.
Further, you also note his impatience. While it is true that a noble is used to things moving at their own pace, this man seems overeager; as if he has to leave the place and the sooner the better.
In short, you don't trust him and you don't really believe most of what he's saying.
”I do have two questions Sefu. How long do you expect the journey to Zul-Bazzir to take. Also, since we are a small group, Does Tetara have any stipulations on speaking to him or his daughter, or are we expected to only speak to you?”
"Begging your pardon adhon; the time of such journeys is often uncertain, for there are many things to consider on the trail. But there are no delays and the road is safe and clear than we should arrive - hopefully - by the next full moon."
"At the least, that is our intention."
At the mention of the noble man's daughter, Sefu's eyes narrow a bit and a small frown graces his handsome features.
"A free man may speak to who he wishes; but it the desire of my lord that men do not linger overlong with.... with the young lady."
"She is a pure maiden and thus males are discouraged near her presence," he adds, his tone more sincere and a bit steely as he studies you intently for a moment.
Then his face relaxes and he smiles somewhat.
"In any case, I should not worry overmuch about my lord. You may have need to speak to him directly, but I cannot imagine why. Once we are on the trail I suspect our chief concerns will be directed to our surroundings and the terrain rather than discussing nuances with our... our companions."
Whatever he is; he's relatively honest. He's holding back some details, you think, but he's not lying to you on anything he says.
In short, he's being honest with everything he says. You think he may be holding things back, but it's clear that if he is holding something back - even though that is not lying - he is a bit uncomfortable with it even speaking partial truths.
He is certainly sincerely courteous and seems like a good person. How or why he is traveling with these two you are not sure.
Also, he seems overprotective of the girl for some reason, but you cannot guess why that may be.
Samir says nothing as he watches the group shop and attend to the particulars of buying camels, tack and harness, feed for multiple pack and riding animals, wagons, tents, weapons, armor, slaves, food and drink and other miscellaneous nuances for the journey.
At first he says nothing and his eyes widen in surprise at the proceeds.
Then he strides to a vendor and picks up a survival kit, a short bow, two quivers of arrows for it, and clothing for the terrain.
After that he watches the rest of the vendors in the square hurry about and do what they can to attend to the customers as they get everything ready for the trip.
Still saying nothing he moves to wall near the caravan and sits down against it, stretching out and crossing his legs in front of him and watches the others get ready.
While the others attend to their transport, Caslav runs off and quickly purchases more writing supplies, then joins Samir at the wall. Now I'm properly equipped for my career as a linguist! He sits down next to the swordsman and writes in the dirt with a stick, practicing the archaic Susrahnite inscriptions he'd found in the catacombs.
It's not so different than regular Susrahnite, really. Just simpler conjugations, and a change in emphasis on the tense... He translates several children's rhymes of Lamu into the forgotten script, wiping away the letters with his hand when he runs out of space and beginning again anew.
Feeling the comfortable weight of a shield on his back again Bjoern feels better again. One never knows when you need some inches of solid wood between yourself and an enemy.
The party is now ready to go. The gear purchased and the slaves.
Lysander is able to find two slaves – one of them trained as a Carpenter named Raj who seems to be in early twenties; the other a Herdsmen named Aras who looks like he is roughly 28. They are both local men who have recently been taken as slaves and neither of them seems like they have been broken to the life yet; both of them seem shifty and edgy, as if they are chafing under the lash rather than bending to it.
In any case, they have nothing but the sandals on their feet and the loincloths on their bodies and will need to be outfitted and geared. They have chains on their wrists and this allows them to move their arms somewhat. The bindings connecting each of them have a length of chain joining them to each other. The vendor tosses you both the length of the chain as well as the keys.
Samir looks at the entire thing with a strange smile on his face, but he says nothing as he studies the slaves.
”For myself, I do not think I shall take a mount,” he says, then swings himself on to the rear of the wagon that Tairin has purchased, along with the rest of her things and watches the men thoughtfully.
Sefu glances at Lysander.
”How shall they be garbed, goodly sir? They need gear for the desert, I deem. Yet I suspect you had planned on that with your purchases already?” he adds.
Before Lysander can answer the nobleman comes striding up.
”Such answers are not relevant. He has either equipped them right, or not; but we shall no longer dally! The time for leaving is passed,” he growls.
Sefu stiffens at the word and then bows before the noble and turns and grabs his horse and swings himself into the saddle. The caravan is then urged forward and the entire company advances through the gate, the westering sun sliding down into the horizon before you.
Samir turns his head and glances at the dusty plains, raising his hand to shield his eyes and chuckles softly to himself.
”Begging your pardon sayyid, but how far is it that you intend to go before halting to make camp? Getting our party settled for the night will likely take an hour, perhaps, and it is already seven o’clock…” he says to the nobleman.
”With sundown at roughly nine o’clock I should think we might get a total of five miles at best from the city… perhaps, before we need to set up camp?” he adds with a wry grin, then he finds an apple in his pack and pulls it out and takes a bite out of it and continues to chuckle as he munches.
The noble stiffens in the saddle as the caravan advances through the gate and turns to Samir.
”Obviously,” he says with a terse voice.
He looks at the sky and says nothing a moment, then turns back to look at Samir, his eyes grinding into the casual observer sitting idly on the rear of Tairin’s wagon as it is pulled through into the wastes.
”However… However, being that traveling long in the day is dangerous in the heat we shall instead march forward until midnight and then halt and set up camp at that time.”
He turns forward again and looks at the sky, then looks back at those in your group with a somewhat triumphal glance.
”It is obviously wiser to travel in the cool night rather than the blistering heat, of course.”
Samir says nothing but looks toward Tairin and shakes his head and chuckles again as he takes another bite out of his apple.
Tairin listened as Ala'lhys spoke of the caravan owner and his people. So the girl is not his daughter. Interesting. Perhaps we can pay or sway her to tell us the truth...
”Shall we ‘discreetly’ purchase everything from the gem pouch. Making it appear that our employers has provided the wealth?" Then you and I can settle up any financial differences later?“ Looking around at the different stalls, he nods toward the camel dealer. ”My concern is the six camels with tack, food and water. These things I will pay for out of my gem pouch. You make the bargains, then nod to me as a steward would and I will pay for those things.”
Having heard Ala'lhys plan for the vendors, Tairin nodded, "A sound plan," and then went about the business of speaking to each vendor/merchant, striking a deal and gesturing for Ala'lhys to come forward and pay the negotiated sum. When they were done and returning to the caravan, Tairin carefully took coin from her own pouch and handed the ranger the sum she owed him for the tack and feed. "You have my gratitude for the camel and the rouse."
When they were almost ready to leave, Tairin noted the two chained slaves, but they were of no import to her. If the one named Lysander wanted to own slaves, it was his concern alone.
Tairin watched as Samir jumped into the Lysander's wagon and the noble, Yetara, declare it was time to leave. She stowed her gear in saddlebags and using ropes and then settled herself atop the camel, whom she secretly named Haji and nudged/led her forward. During the journey, Tairin cast Resistance on herself as the cooler air began to push against her thick woollen cloak, hood and scarves/veils. She looked up at the full moon pressing through the darkness with her bright, silver beams.
Caslav warily mounts the camel provided him, and takes several minutes to convince it to stand. Once the procession starts the beast falls in line at the rear, probably due more to natural inclination than any guidance from the youth.
As the evening progresses he pulls his arms inside his shirt, his hands poking out at his waist to keep hold of the reins. When did everyone buy those warm clothes? His trick manages to keep him warm until the hour before midnight, when the chill finally bests his body warmth.
Maybe I can stuff some parchment into my jerkin...
Lysander quickly moves about the vendors and stalls. Seeking out a slaver to purchase a couple of additional strong backs for the trip, and has to stifle his excitement at hearing the one called Aras is an experienced herder, because there was now a herd of camels joining the journey. The other they call Raj, was a carpenter. While taking his newly acquired servants around the bazaar, Lysander begins to ask them questions about their circumstances. He also bought them new clothes for both the heat and cold.
“Do you have family here, in this city? How did you come to be a slave?”
No matter how they answer the second question Lysander is sympathetic toward them. If they pull at the chains or are rude in their answers, Lysander tells them he could just hire someone to break there will but he would rather work out a beneficial relationship than would be good for everyone. Also warned them coffee grounds and such.
*Also warned them about attempting to run which could wind up with them being sold again or even put to death.*
Red takes Ala'lhys's arm and replies "Yes, I knew Alia, a delightful girl. I hope she lives, I know that there was a massacre at "The Wet Embrace" which makes me fearful. But I have not seen her body, nor has anyone I know. And yes, Tairin has a tendency to gather followers. The new one is armed and armoured, a good sign, the more warriors the safer we will be."While thinking I like this one's manners. But perhaps the tale of how I met Alia I will keep to myself.’What a lovely girl, I wonder how she came to know Alia, that woman rairly left the bath house, she enjoyed her job way to much.’ Smiling to himself Ala’Ihys chuckled, ”The Bath house was a wonderful place, a totally different approach to a temple for Belet-Lil. When our dark task is done and I can return to Belthaar, I may open a place similar in Mei Mei's honor.”
Red smiles a Mona Lisa smile at the mention of Alia enjoying her work. At the suggestion Ala’Ihys may open a similar establishment to the Wet Embrace, Red smiles again and replies "A splendid idea. But one that will have to await it's day I fear."
Still arm in arm with 'Red,' getting near enough to the others so he can whisper conspiratorially before they reach the vendors. " Sefu, I think he's being honest with everything he says. He may be holding things back, and seems a bit uncomfortable with even speaking partial truths. But as for Yetara? The girl is not his daughter. A noble of quality would have at least someone to watch for the interests of his daughter, usually a female. Someone to aid his daughter with certain tasks that allowing a man to see would be deemed inappropriate. Further, he has shown her no direct interest or concern - he treats her more of property rather than a relative. But I don’t understand why the ruse... Also, most true nobles tend to advertise their pedigree, for a noble this guy is being very closed mouth about his bevy of titles and other political nuances. That strikes me as odd and suspicious. Further, why is his so impatience. It’s true nobles are used to things moving at their own pace, this man seems overeager; as if he has to leave the place and the sooner the better. I don’t trust him and I don't believe most of what he's saying.”
Red thinks before replying, then says "You are most observant Ala’Ihys. There is probably some hidden reason for Yetara's haste as you say. But we too are in a hurry. I will keep a watchful eye on him. I am far, far more worried about the wizard behind the slaughter at the Wet Embrace than Yetara."
The journey started uneventful, the ride smooth.
The new addition seemed to like to talk to his slaves and that made Bjoern uneasy.
Talkactive masters were usually bad news.
Still let him use them as he wanted. Better than raping them, but alas time would tell.
Only failing if the last is not against cold.
No matter how they answer the second question Lysander is sympathetic toward them. If they pull at the chains or are rude in their answers, Lysander tells them he could just hire someone to break there will but he would rather work out a beneficial relationship than would be good for everyone. Also warned them coffee grounds and such.
Aras: He has no family; he had a wife, but his people were slaughtered by barbarians who came down from the Zorab mountains. Once his family was slaughtered and his herd largely destroyed he became destitute and wandered south and - being that he was poor and without family, arms or gear, he was caught by local slavers near Balthaar who recently brought him here and then sold him to you.
Raj: Has no family, never married. Had been commissioned to do a project for a local noble but did not complete the project to the nobles satisfaction and so he went to the courts to demand recompense. The noble responded by claiming that the work did not deserve payment (this was a lie; the noble still has the work, he just did not wish to pay for it). Raj insulted the noble at he court for the lie and was told that his insult was so rude that he had forfeited his right to a reasonable trial and was condemned to slavery two days ago - this is how he became a slave.
Dain GM-Red has both hot and cold weather gear, so so may well be rolling at +5 on those fort rolls. If I get +5 I made them all. If not I have taken the damage rolled above and are fatigued.
”It appears Samir is riding on the wagon. It may be to our advantage. This way I can scout faster.”
Samir has taken his bedroll and the blankets therein and stretches it around himself comfortably; effectively rolling up on the wagon and sleeping comfortably while it moves forward.
Unfortunately, even at the normal speed, the wagon is not very fast moving you are only able to travel roughly three miles an hour witht it.
This slows your company somewhat, but you are able to get about fifteen miles from the city when you start to set up camp.
This process takes some time and Samir awakens for it.
He goes about the business of setting up the two-person tent and then wanders about looking through the thick drifts of sand to try to find any errant scrub brush to collect to help get a fire going.
Sefu then goes about the business of setting up a large, four person tent and then hobbles the camels and his horse and unloads the goods and gear and puts it under a large tarp while the noble and his daughter enter the tent.
At some point during this time the daughter comes out and watches the party under the awning of the tent while the snores of the noble come from the muffled cloth within.
Sefu will glare at any male who approaches her, but he seems neutral if a female wishes to speak with her.
Sefu then goes about the business of setting up a large, four person tent and then hobbles the camels and his horse and unloads the goods and gear and puts it under a large tarp while the noble and his daughter enter the tent.
At some point during this time the daughter comes out and watches the party under the awning of the tent while the snores of the noble come from the muffled cloth within.
Sefu will glare at any male who approaches her, but he seems neutral if a female wishes to speak with her.
It was good to dismount and be standing on sandy ground again. Tairin pulled Haji by the lead rope and secured her with the other camels of the caravan.
Using the bright light of the full moon she looked about the surrounds to determine the safety of the campsite. Tairin was hesitant to use her magic around the unfamiliar noble and his servants.
As the noble's camp was being prepared by the ever dutiful Sefu, who was clever enough to set lit torches and lanterns around the camp, Tairin took her small tent and began constructing it. It took her some time, but she was satisfied with the job once it was complete. Before she took some of the trail rations to eat, Tairin spied the "daughter" under the awning of Yetara's tent. Deciding on approaching her before eating, Tairin took to the task on quiet/steady feet, lest she draw attention of the noble inside the tent or frighten the girl with her advance. Tairin politely nodded to Sefu as she passed him to speak with the girl.
Drawing slowly with a gentle smile on her face, she addressed the girl, "Hello. I am Tairin. I would like to know your name, if you'd be kind enough to tell me. What is your position in this caravan, so I may know how to address you?" Tairin momentarily paused to give the girl a chance to respond to her questions before continuing, "If you'd allow it, I can be a personal guard to you and see to your safety. Or I can have my man, Bjoern, look out for you."
As she was about to move toward the girl, Ala'lhys asked a question of her, "Being you are a proficient ranger, I give you leave to set up watch for the camp. Sefu appears to have his duties, and he may expect us to ensure the safety of the caravan. Please go ahead, scout the area and let the others know what watch shift they are required to take. I have another matter I need to attend to. If you are weary, then take your rest and have Bjoern set up watch in your stead. I will not be long." Tairin nodded and moved forward.
Sent you a PM on this...
Hearing Ala'lhys' reply, Tairin turned her head and looked at him with her deep brown eyes, as if gauging something, before turning her gaze toward Bjoern and speaking, "Bear, set up a watch for this night. Ala'lhys will be scouring the area around the encampment to ensure it is safe and there are no immediate tracks leading to us. Samir is collecting firewood, last I saw. I will be back soon."
Still in low/quiet voice, she responded, "It is nice to meet you, Daniya. And yes, Sefu seems very capable, you are fortunate to have him as protector." Tairin gave the girl another gentle smile, attempting to win her over yet also feeling a little protective of the naive/innocent girl. It was a strange feeling for her as she never felt protective of any other person - well except for Bear.
"My face is uncovered as I wanted to feel the breeze upon my skin and I am around companions I am familiar with. I had the veils up as I rode and I wanted to speak to you, face to face. As to the protection of my modesty, I was fortunate to have five elder brothers to ensure I was not accosted and now I have my own protector among my companions, Bjoern."
Sensing the girl's loneliness, Tairin gently pressed on, "I am away from my family and I understand that can be hard. If you would have me, I would like to be friend to you and you a friend to me. It will make this journey a little easier, do you not think? It I may be so bold to ask, how old are you, Daniya?"
It had been a loong day and the fatigue was taking his toll. Still there were some things to do before they could get some sleep.
Adressing the others he took care that the watch was organized. He would take the first one, then Ala’Ihys, after that Caslav and finally Lysander
"It is nice to meet you, Daniya. And yes, Sefu seems very capable, you are fortunate to have him as protector."
She turns and looks at Bjeorn move around the camp.
"He is very large; I have seen northmen before, but not with hear like his... It looks very odd in color," she says, watching him for a long moment then turning to Tairin.
"My face is uncovered as I wanted to feel the breeze upon my skin and I am around companions I am familiar with. I had the veils up as I rode and I wanted to speak to you, face to face. As to the protection of my modesty, I was fortunate to have five elder brothers to ensure I was not accosted and now I have my own protector among my companions, Bjoern."
"I do not have any brothers or sisters," she says slowly.
"But I know how to do some things to defend myself," she says and slides part her robe aside.
At her hip you see a long, wicked looking dagger.
She lets the robe fall back over it and shrugs.
"But I am not so interested in keeping people away..." she adds as she stares at her.
"I am away from my family and I understand that can be hard. If you would have me, I would like to be friend to you and you a friend to me. It will make this journey a little easier, do you not think?"
She lays her hand on Tairin's arm.
"I would like that, too," she says.
" It I may be so bold to ask, how old are you, Daniya?"
"It is not overly bold. I am eighteen," she answers and absently traces symbols in the sand.
...
After speaking with Tairin, Ala'Ihys asks 'Red'”Mistress, may I also help you as well? I will unload your saddle then hobble the camel and take it to the edge of the camp where mine are along with Tairins.”
He then begins to help unpack the saddles, hobbling "She Who Knows" camel and helping her unload it as well, ”I trust your camel did acceptably?”
She Who Knows is struggling with her saddle when Ala'Ihys makes his offer and accepts gratefully, saying "Thank you Ala'Ihys. Fatigue and my lack of strength are making this very difficult. And call me Red like the others do if it pleases you."
Red observes Ala'Ihys hobbling the camel so she will know how to do it. After Ala'Ihys departs Red sets up her tent not far from Tairin's and then starts building a fire, if there are is fuel to do so.
Tairin looked behind the girl, at the tent opening, to determine if the noble was still sleeping or awake and gauging how much time she had with Daniya.
Tairin laid her own hand gently atop Daniya's and smiled.
"We are the same age, so I believe we will get along just fine." Tairin smiled. "I am the youngest of seven children and it is not always easy." She noted how Daniya spoke of defending herself and Tairin wondered why the girl felt the need to if Sefu was her immediate protector. "I applaud you for carrying a weapon to protect yourself with. I have my own, as well. As to Bjoern, it is refreshing to see his flaxen hair for my own people have raven hair. I like that he is strong and he does not say much. I wish to ask you, the noble born, Yetara, told us you are his daughter. Is this true?" Careful and slowly, Tairin, you do not want to distress her with your question, especially if it is true that she isn't Yetara's daughter.
Tairin's gaze strayed to the sandy ground where she looked over the symbols Daniya was drawing.
"What is it you draw in the sand, Daniya?"
"She Who Knows wrote:
Dain GM-Red has both hot and cold weather gear, so so may well be rolling at +5 on those fort rolls. If I get +5 I made them all. If not I have taken the damage rolled above and are fatigued.
Technically it was a combination of the long day from being up late the night before until dawn; the issues with the undead; the long day without a proper meal; as well as the temperature. In this case, however, I will allow the appropriate gear to allow you take only Half the Non Lethal Damage, but you are still considered Fatigued when you reach your resting area.
Meantime, as you didn't roll the 4th Check, I will now roll it for you.
Fortitude Save
1d20 + 3 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 5 = 14
EDIT: This failed, so you take another set of Non-Lethal Damage
1d6 ⇒ 2
NOTE: So you took only 4 the first time around; but you now take an extra 2 for a net of 6 Non-Lethal Damage."
Dain ruled that Red took half the non-lethal damage and was fatigued as the rolls were only half due to cold. I would have thought Tairin would be the same.
"I am not offended. Red just seems more... egalitarian. Call me mistress if you prefer. A desire to be of service is a good thing. Far better than laziness or a desire to be in charge, which are more common I think."
"It has been a long day and you must be tired, so take extra care Ala'Ihys."
After the evening's ride Caslav attempts to make peace with his camel but is met only with continued disinterest. He lays out his bedroll and blanket next to any communal fire, stealing glances at the young woman as he does so. Perhaps she or our employer have heard news of the village. Though even if they have, there's no way to inquire without raising suspicion. He focuses his attention away from her and the thewsome Sefu. Best to stay away from them both.
Once his roll is laid out to his satisfaction, he nibbles on his share of rations and heads over to Lysander to appreciatively study his mount.
"How do you make it do what you want?" he asks of the Nabastissean. "Your mount, that is!" he adds, blushing slightly as he glances at the man's pair of slaves.
The carpenter is driving the wagon and the herder is riding one of the camels. The animals and slaves are arranged as such: Lysander on his mount with a length of rope connecting it to the riding camel, which is connected to the pack camel which is then connected to the wagon camel. The slaves have their chains on but are not bound to anything
"How do you make it do what you want?" he asks of the Nabastissean. "Your mount, that is!" he adds, blushing slightly as he glances at the man's pair of slaves.
[dice=Wild Empathy / Camel]1d20 + 4
"I applaud you for carrying a weapon to protect yourself with. I have my own, as well. As to Bjoern, it is refreshing to see his flaxen hair for my own people have raven hair. I like that he is strong and he does not say much. I wish to ask you, the noble born, Yetara, told us you are his daughter. Is this true?"
Yetara continues to snore as the girl glances at the tent then looks at Tairin, but her expression is not easy to read with the veil covering her face.
”He is not my father, no,” she says with a somewhat strange tone to her voice which seems almost bemused that she may actually be related to the man, but it is not easy to tell.
"What is it you draw in the sand, Daniya?"
She glances toward the wastes.
”Something from home,” she answers with a bit of a sigh.
Lysander's heavy breathing can be heard as he leads his mini caravan to the camping area. Leaning forward and tapping on Rock's neck, the grey beast lowers to its knees, and Lysander slides off barely standing begins to remove his armor. Taking a minute to regain composure, he grabs a,waterskin from his saddle bag and takes a long drink. Then helps Aras off the camel and hads him the skin, when finished there he moves to Raj and offers him the bottle also. Gathering his armor from the earth he places it in the wagon. Lysander then unlocks the slaves from their bindings and tells the to begin setting up the tent while he hobbles the animals.
At hearing a watch being set Lysander figures its a good time to introduce himself to those not met yet. Walking over to the others and situating himself so he can see Aras and Raj, "If a watch is being set I'd like to be on the final shift, this ride took much more from me than I had expected. I am Lysander, sp far I've had the pleasure of meeting Tairin, Caslav, and Pratap. Sorry we didn't get to make introductions earlier."
Chuckling at Caslav's question and simply smiles back and says, "Practice."
Bjoern shrugs and nods. "If you feel that wasted, you can have the first shift and I will take the last. If someone does not manage to get sleep well he can sleep on the wagon in the morning hours. Maybe we should rest during the worst noon hours, and travel in the less brutal night ones."
Looking at Tairin and Red he adds. "You should take half a shift each too. So the men take 2 hours each, you woman one hour."
Tairin continued in low voice, "Daniya, please help me understand. Yetara informed us that you were his daughter. If this is not so, is there some trouble we should be aware of? Do you come willingly with him to Zul Bazzir?"
She asked the question steadily in case it seemed she was pushing Daniya. Her face showed only concern for the girl as Tairin was trying to get the girl to tell her the truth.
When the girl mentioned 'home', Tairin asked in a friendly manner, "Where is home for you, Daniya? I hail from Yar Ammon."
As she waited for the girl to answer, Tairin glanced down at the drawing in the sand and contemplated what the image could mean or represent.
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Lysander then unlocks the slaves from their bindings and tells the to begin setting up the tent while he hobbles the animals.
The men seem fairly neutral to your requests. They do not protest or have any harsh reaction; but nor do they seem to be overly thankful or responsive when you unbind their chains. Still, they go about their business and do what they are requested at this time and that is encouraging...
"Daniya, please help me understand. Yetara informed us that you were his daughter. If this is not so, is there some trouble we should be aware of? Do you come willingly with him to Zul Bazzir?"
The girl shrugs her slender shoulders.
”I am sure he has his reasons for the duplicity, though I am not sure what they are.”
”It is a long and dangerous journey and there may be trouble on the road, but I do not think it will because of us… simply the troubles of travel.”
She pauses a bit as she adds some more details to her sketch before answering.
”Yetara said I am to come with him; beyond that? I am to come, so that is enough for me,” she adds with a disarming ambivalence to what seems to be what she sees as her fate.
"Where is home for you, Daniya? I hail from Yar Ammon."
She pauses and studies the picture and then reaches forward and wipes it away in the sand.
”I come from Lamra,” she says, mentioning the capital of the northern nation of Lamu.
”I have heard of your land, but I have not met anyone from it until now,” she adds as she leans back and cocks her head, watching Tairin thoughtfully.
”The hour grows late, perhaps we should retire. I think the journey will be long tomorrow, or at least hot.”
She stands up and bows gracefully before Tairin.
”I am glad to have met you, Tairin and I am glad to know you better,” she says with a soft voice, then slips into the tent.
Red gives Bjoern an impatient look, one that could even be thought almost menacing if Red was't an average sized woman faced with an armoured man-mountain, and replies "I think Lysander wants you to watch first Bjoern, and for Lysander to take the last watch. Wake me in two hours if you will and I will take the second watch. And pleased to meet you Lysander, I am called Red, or more formally the Red Seer or She Who Knows."
Bjoern looks at Red and shakes his head. "I heard him, and that is why I took the hardest shift and gave him the easiest. With all his extra packing and new merchandise he will need the extra time anyway."