Wordes Will Never Hurt Me

[Michaela]

Michaela stifled a groan as she bounced in Breeze's saddle. She had learned how to ride horses, but only that. She had never riden a horse for a full day before. She felt as if she wouldn't be able to walk once she got down. Nevertheless, her spirits rose and a smile broke as the gates of a humble village came into view. It was a simple town with less than 20 buildings surrounded by a passable wooden fence.

It reminded Michaela of the trips she would take with the other orphans to a village that was just down the road from the abby. On the wagon, she would always sit next to Will...Don't think about that...Do not think about that... Even the shadow of memories over her heart couldn't stop the warm smile that spread across her face.

"There!" She pointed to the benefit of the two males beyond her, oblivious to how useless her gesture was. "That must be the town!" Michaela was already picturing a hot dinner with a warm, soft bed afterwards. Adventure could wait until she got a good night's sleep.

[Bryson Desmonia]

The trio, Bryson having refused to ride at any point, as his armor would be too heavy for anything less than a warhorse, was finally in sight of the little town, and the Bernese man found the sight both reassuring and a little sad. Before they left, he'd make sure to tell the people to make their way to nearest large town or city, for their safety. The large number of bandits and other such criminals lately meant that small villages like this were probably seeing their last days... A pity. "Aye." he replied to Michaela's comment in a monotone, and finally took stock of his aches and pains. It would be good to take his armor off for the first time in what felt like an eternity, sleep on something other than the ground, and eat a real meal.

It had been a real treat to find the newly-dubbed Breeze on their way here, too. His packs were filled with dried foods, money enough to see that they wouldn't have any shortage of funds for a little while, and some extra clothing. They'd be too big for Michaela for now, and probably Valclaud as well, but it wouldn't likely be too much hassle to get them cut down to size a bit. If nothing else, they'd make nice blankets or sell for a nice amount. "Come on, lets get a move on." Bryson grumbled, obviously tired, slapping Breeze's hindquarters casually to get the smaller horse going a little faster. "I want a few hours o' good sleep 'fore we do anythin' else." He looked back at the third member of their group to make sure he was keeping up, and then the three began their way down the path to the village of Etria. 

[Michaela]

Michaela started and nearly stopped Breeze by jerking on the reins. The horse snorted and kept moving from Bryson's slap, wisely ignoring Michaela's false orders. Even from just a day's ride, Michaela was already growing found of the colt. Bryson's employer must have had a small fortune of sorts, Breeze sported a magnificent white coat with a blond mane and tail. Beyond that, Michaela didn't really know much about horses...she'd have to ask around the town.

She drew the cloak Bryson had given her a little tighter around her shoulders as the sun began to set, hints of the night's chill were playing in the wind. "Hey! Who goes there!" There was a single guard posted by the door. He wore a modest amount of armor, but his spear and shield were solidly crafted. Michaela looked to Bryson, expecting him to answer, but as the guard stared her down, she took it upon herself to answer. "We're travelers...just looking for an inn for the night." The guard sized them up, he looked over Valclaud and Michaela quickly enough, but his lance tilted forward as his gaze locked onto Bryson. "You don't have the look of a simple traveler." The guard's voice was polite, but the edge in his tone betrayed his fear.

[Valclaud]

Valclaud remained silent ever since he joined the two. From then, he made himself promise to do two things: 1) not piss off Bryson, and 2) not to make Michaela cry, thus pissing Bryson off. To make matters worse; he had to be in charge of horse. Under normal circumstances, Valclaud would've just released the beast. But since Michaela named it, he had to deal with it.

Arriving at a small town, Valclaud sunk forward in the saddle and frowned. A big place like this probably has a church, which in turn with patronize me for my magic; Just my luck. He thought as they were stopped by a guard. Tugging the reins of Toby (the name he gave the horse, since he forgot the one Michaela gave it), Valclaud waited in the saddle as the guard addressed Bryson, with fear obviously emitting from him. Ah, fear. What a delectable emotion to savor. Valclaud thought to himself as the expression on him face change to a grin and seemed happy. If everyone in town is afraid, then I'll enjoy our trip.

[Bryson Desmonia]

Bryson stepped forward, swatting the guard's lance away with his armored forearm. "Aye, that's right. I sure as hell ain't a simple traveler; how could I be? Times are tough fer travelers." The Bern man rolled his shoulders, sighing. "And what a pity, too. Lovely little countryside ye got here." he rumbled, gesturing tiredly behind him. It was true enough, actually. It wasn't exactly up his alley, however; most of the land that would have been good for farming already had farms built upon it. It was also very suspectible to bandit raids, especially from range, with the hills around it. "I ain't lookin' ta cause trouble. Only reason I'm even wearin' full armor is ta protect these two lumps." Bryson laughed, getting a half-hearted chuckle out of the guard. 

"Don't worry. We're tired from travel. We'll just head on in ta tha inn, rest a while, and I promise ya that I'll remove my armor and weapons. Sounds like a deal?" Bryson raised an eyebrow, receiving a quick nod from the guard. "A'right then. Keep up yer good work." He gave a reassuring pat on the shoulder to the guard, and then led Gale and Breeze, riders on top, into the town. "So, let's see... We got tha Oaken Shield Inn. Sounds cute." He smiled at Michaela. "Right up yer alley, eh?" He laughed. "Valclaud, why don't ye... Come with me. Michaela, you take tha purse and get us a couple o' rooms, will ya?" he rumbled, taking Gale and Breeze's reins in his hands (and also pulling them from Michaela and Valclaud's). "We'll put tha horses in a stable."

[Michaela]

The guard tensed when his lance was knocked aside, but gradually relaxed as the man with superior armor chatted, finally venturing a laugh as the knight indicated his two young travelling companions. "Aye...they look soft." Michaela could say the same of him, judging by his armor. "Mind that you watch after them, we've had a little trouble as of late..." The guard pursed his lips thoughtfully, and then shook his head as if ridding himself of a worry. "Enough about that, welcome to the town of Etria, of the Worde province of Lycia!" He finished with a bow and a grand gesture to proceed through the city gates.

As they rode into the streets, Michaela hopped off of Breeze and absentmindedly handed the reins to Bryson. She was distracted by the views beyond the village's fence, a green mountain loomed behind the town, with a clear blue river cutting neatly across its center. Michaela had never seen such sights before, her breath came a little lightly. "Yes, that sounds quite nice..." she said airily at Bryson's suggestion, she only half heard him. Her eyes strayed from the mountain, and she gave Bryson her full attention as he outlined their plans. "Right," she bounced the purse, smiling at the sound of jingling coins. "Better hurry! It's starting to get dark!"

Michaela's confidence abandoned her somewhat as she entered the inn. Despite the Oaken Shield's formidable name, the people drinking in the tavern were a mixed company of commoners, with only a glimpse of a weapon amongst them.

She approached the desk apart from the bar nervously. The man behind it was middle-aged, with a portly belly that neatly matched his balding head and stout beard. He wore commoner's clothing, and stood only a few inches taller than Michaela. "How can I help ya, lass?" He eyed the young, lanky teenager with a kindly, if doubtful expression, as if she were lost. "I-I'd like a room, pl-please." Michaela fumbled with the purse before setting it on the counter, the innkeeper's eyebrows shot up as he considered how much a bulky purse like that can contain. "Uhm...anyone else with 'ye?"

Michaela bit her lip, remembering Bryson's advice. "Three...my father and my brother. We just lost our home to bandits..." The innkeeper's eyebrows shot up further, were that possible, any idea of ripping this modestly wealthy-appearing girl off abandoned his mind. "Ah...yes. I've got just the room for 'ye. That will be 80 gold, please." Michaela smiled warmly, "thank you so much!" and carefully counted out the money before pressing the coins into the innkeeper's hands. Taking the key, she thanked the innkeeper warmly and went to wait by the stairs leading up to the rooms.

[Bryson Desmonia]

Bryson nodded slowly at Michaela, and then gave a short, powerful tug on the horses' reins to get them moving. He walked through the town quickly, the promise of getting his armor off for an extended period of time for the first time in a long while being more than enough to ensure his haste. People sitting outside their homes, children playing their silly games, and other people who probably had no real business being out and about stopped at the odd sight of a man wearing nearly-full armor, with two horses being dragged along behind him. Valclaud seemed to have not come with him, which probably reduced the number of stares Bryson was getting by a good deal; the seemingly sadistic boy would have been even more out of place than Bryson was with his armor and weaponry.

But people moved on, and, although the children perhaps were more enthralled with him and followed him, staying back where they thought he wouldn't detect them, the stares subsided. Rumors would undoubtedly follow, but they would probably clear up after a few days in the town. After all, Bryson and Michaela would need to make a plan, with the first thing to do would be to decide what to do with Valclaud. That boy was a mental case to be sure, and Bryson knew he was in no way capable of helping him through whatever traumatic experiences had actually happened to the boy. Bryson also wasn't a fan of leaving him here, but a live among townspeople who would genuinely try to help him would probably be good. Intense manual labor, actually, wouldn't be bad; working as a farm hand might help Valclaud work through his issues.

A stable was soon found, and a bit of money was exchanged; the deal would be to pay for this first night now, and then pay for the rest of the days upon the date they would be collected once again. The Bern man retraced his steps through the little town, pleased with how little attention he seemed to be getting this time around (even if he still had a following of small children some ways behind him), until he stood in front of the Oaken Shield once again. He pushed his weight against the door, not particularly fond of the thought of raising his arms at the moment, and was met with the filling tavern portion of the inn. As he stood there for a moment, another man, unaware of the armored man in front of the door, pushed him forward on accident; a quick apology and the fair-haired man was off to locate his friends at their table. Bryson nodded, and meandered his way over to Michaela, and then motioned behind him lazily, throwing his right hand, thumb out, over his shoulder. "Have ye seen Valclaud?" he rumbled, putting his arm back to his side.

[Michaela]

Michaela clutched her cloak's fastener as she leaned up against the splintered bannister by the worn, rickety staircase. She was noticeably pale, and breathing a little fast. It wasn't that crowds made her nervous (except for when she visited the bazaar as a young girl, too much pushing), but this was her first time being around people since...Michaela blinked hard to rid her imagination of the ruined orphanage, she was safe here.

The patrons at the inn paid her little mind, a few gave the pale girl some curious glances, and one man even had the audacity to ask if she were ok! "Y-yes sir! I'm f-f-fine!" Michaela backed up a little bit, when the well-intentioned man also took a step away, Michaela shrank away, making a run for the inn's front door.

"Oof!" Michaela nearly fell to the ground as she ran into Bryson's outstretched arm. The man scarcely shifted. "Oops! Sorry! I-I..." She resolutely ignored the man she had fled from, meeting Bryson's eyes evenly. "No...I haven't, I take it you had luck with the stables though?" She didn't see any horses behind him...

[Valclaud]

"Valclaud, why don't ye... Come with me." was all he needed to slide off the horse as fast he could and head in the opposite direction of the stables. Taking note of the inn's location, Valclaud set off on his own little adventure before returning to the inn later. Heading down alleyway after alleyway, he finally emerged into the street after making sure he lost his companions before recognizing where he ended up; in the central market. [white]"Well, I'm gonna get stares from the people at the inn; might as well see if there's anything miserable here before moving on,"[/white] Valclaud muttered to himself before taking his first step into the street and traveling from stall to stall. Most of them didn't interest the boy, or were just empty and crowded with merchants counting coins; fat, pompous merchants who let underlings risk their own neck to deliver goods to the markets. Some of the other stalls were run by townsfolk; vegetable sellers, smiths, bookkeepers, clothesmakers, mead brewers ( he swore he even saw a mortician selling coffins). Noticing the scared and spiteful looks, Valclaud nervously headed towards a huge building he noticing people exiting out of, and decided to hide in there.

Closing the heavy door behind him with a soft thud, it suddenly dawned on him what he just entered; the town's church. Luckily for Valclaud, the priest at the altar hadn't noticed him yet, and reached for the door. "You have just now entered the house of God, and you wish to leave already? Please, stay awhile and pray before you headbavk out into the city streets" the priest remarked, never once turning around from his task. Deciding to not offend the man, Valclaud sat down close to the door and waited in silence as priest preformed his duties before turning to face the boy. "Greetings. I am Coteaz, and head of this church. I'd like to welcome you.....to....our....what do you thinking you're doing here to cretin? OUT! You defile the the very ground you walk upon, heretic. Leave now or I'll call the city guards." Coteaz said to him in a condecending tone, realizing who Valclaud was by his garbs. Swiftly standing up, Valclaud spoke a soft [white]"good day"[/white] before exiting the church.

With a sullen look upon his face, Valclaud made his trek back to the inn under the spitful stares of the townsfolk, and navigated his way over to his two companions as he heard Bryson ask "Have you seen Valclaud?", only to answer and announce his presense to the two with a weak [white]"Here I am."[/white]

[Bryson Desmonia]

Bryson nodded, checking the girl over after she had almost tried to run him over. Hadn't worked out very well for her, unfortunately... If he hadn't been concerned over her safety, the armored man may have chuckled a little bit. But no; she seemed more startled than truly injured. She apologized quickly, which Bryson didn't even bother to acknowledge, and then answered his question. Hmm.

"No...I haven't, I take it you had luck with the stables though?"

Well then, where had Valclaud run off to...? That strange, possibly mentally-scarred boy was supposed to follow Bryson to the stables, but no. Bryson scratched his goatee in silent thought for a moment, and then Valclaud was behind him, answering the question about himself. "Here I am." was all he said, prompting another round of ignoring from Bryson as the latter moved further into the inn.

"Aye, I found a place that would hold 'em fer a while." Bryson said, answering Michaela's question. "Managed ta work out a deal with tha owner; we'll be able ta keep 'em there 'til we're ready ta leave town." He went to make a motion with his hand, as if to extend it and replace an out-of-place hair on Michaela's head, but he quickly changed it to a readjustment of a shoulder plate. "Now then, ye got us a room? I can't wait ta get outta this armor..."

[Michaela]

Michaela readjusted her cloak, turning it on her shoulders and double checking the fastening to make sure it was secure. It was just a nervous habit, more than anything else, she'd be removing the cloak once they got up to their room anyways.

"Here I am." Michaela turned, fighting the instinct to back away as the shabbily-clad shaman rejoined their midst. "H-hey, where were you?.." Her tone was a little to nervous to be friendly, but she was giving it her best effort. She had never noticed how much the two contrasted each other; Valclaud in his bloodstained furs, and herself in a pure white cloak. Small wonder it was so hard to relate to the boy, despite being similar ages.

"Oh? That's great!" She smiled, with at that had happened over the last few days, it was great to have a little stability...even if she would have never imagined it herself. Michaela looked back at Valclaud to make sure he had followed them deeper into the inn. She completely missed Bryson's gesture, and instead looked back at him excitedly. "Yeah! I have the key right..." she fished through a few pockets of her traveling cloak, forgetting where she had put it. "Here!" She checked the door as she pulled out the key, and realized they were standing outside of their bedroom. The lock clicked open as she turned the key, and the door scarcely creaked as she pushed her way inside. The room was simple, but pleasantly clean...except..."T-two...beds...?"