A Noble Predicament (Synkkis, PM for Entry)

[Charlotte]

Charlotte shifted her hips carefully as she looked out over the approaching mountain range that separated the sprawling Sacaen plains from the northern Illian tundra. She still wasn’t sure how she’d made it out of the isles in one piece, and really, she was still in the midst of recovering from the array of injuries she’d sustained from the Bishop’s men. Her foot still twinged when she walked, and the large gash over her eyebrow had closed but was still in the process of healing. Her right arm had been broken, but she’d taken some money she’d set aside and hired a healer in Araphen to speed the recovery for that, though her fingers were still stiff when she was too cold.

While not in the best shape of her life, it had been a month since she’d returned to Lycia to claim her reward from Balsam. Now she was off again on another journey, unable to keep stationary for any longer. And an interesting journey it was; yet again one of the centerpieces of the job was a magic weapon, though instead of receiving it as a reward, Charlotte had been tasked to find a thousand-year-old blade that had been stolen from House Araphen. Balsam had referred the blonde as the woman for the job to the Marquess of Araphen, and after a brief meeting to discuss the blade and where its believed whereabouts were, Charlotte was off, ready to find the blade and (most likely) return it to its rightful owner.

The consultant shivered, drawing her fur-lined cloak closer to her body and pulling the hood over her short blonde hair. She frowned as her fingers grazed the ends of the formerly long locks. Now, the front pieces barely touched her shoulders, leaving her feeling naked and bare. To many, something like their hair was of little to no importance to them, as there were more concerning things to fret about. But for Charlotte… it was different. Her locks were an object of pride for her, but they had been forcefully stolen, brutishly hacked off by Aurelian’s bastards. Still, the only person she could truly blame was herself. If she’d just been smarter, forward thinking enough, she might be sitting in the back of this cart with hair to the small of her back.

Leaning forward, Charlotte was very aware of a certain dagger that now sat in a leather sheath at the small of her back. Balsam had called it Melancholia, and it was supposedly a blade of great power, should she be chosen by the blade. The blonde held it in her hands a few times since Balsam gave it to her, but every time the blade only felt warm to the touch, never taking on the other characteristics the lord described. Which was probably for the better, seeing as Charlotte didn’t plan on having to use a blade to get back the missing sword of House Araphen.

The mountains nearly upon them, the cart driver came to a stop just outside of a small checkpoint at the base of the tall, towering range. “Not much to look at, but there’s warm drink, beds, and gear if you need anything else before you head further north,” the driver said, jumping down from the front of the cart to look to his old horse.

Charlotte stood lightly, being careful not to land too hard on the ground underfoot as she stepped out onto the ground, pack in her hand. “I’m supposed to have a guide to take me through the mountains. Do you know where they’re to meet me?”

Without looking to the blonde, he pointed towards one of the wooden structures. “That there is the local inn. Just tell them Felix brought you in, and they’ll set you up."

“Thanks.” Slinging her pack over her shoulder, the blonde walked away from the driver and towards the small inn. He wasn’t lying when he said it wasn’t much to look at, not much more than spare lumber holding the place together. But it was large enough for people looking to make the trek through the mountains to Arphen instead of going around were likely to stay here for at least one night before taking off. Its small tavern, Charlotte guessed as she spotted both a bed and pint of mead carved into the shop sign, likely also kept the place in business.

As she opened the front door gently, Charlotte was greeted by a hearty, musky smell mixed with a lute and light chatter. The main room of the place one just one big room, with multiple doors on the walls leading to rooms for rent and a few tables in the center to allow hungry patrons to get food and drink from the main counter near the back of the room. One small table sat near the front door, where a young woman sat with what looked like the inn’s ledger sitting open in front of her.

Charlotte approached the young woman. “Felix brought me in; I’m expecting a guide for the moun-“

Not looking up from the ledger, the young woman pointed towards a nearby empty table. “Wait there, it will be just a moment.”

The blonde obliged, slinking over to the table in question and sinking into one of its seats. With a warm fire cracking in a fireplace at the center of the inn, Charlotte presumed this would be the last time she’d be this warm for a while. She’d only been in the midst of winter, but even then, Ilia never got very warm as Charlotte had been told.

[Synkkis Kyyneltya]

A couple of dull thuds and creaks from the rafters and floorboards above would've not caught much attention from anyone as the normal bit of bustle and campfire conversation filled the old and well used inn. The Silvergate Inn was one of the few original structures that survived the Scourge. That was quite the boastful claim, but it was obvious that there were multiple additions as well as renovations. What it looked like from back then to any inquisitive historian could be found on a wooden block. The original deed and floorplan had already faded and then chipped away due to the flux of temperatures and just simply how old it was.

The young woman, finishing her marks and notes in the ledger based on their newest customer, briskly walked up the stone steps that also made up the fireplace. She stepped over a mellow and furry brown and tan cat that looked on the new blonde haired woman that had sat beneath him. The inn was certainly made to be used and efficient, but it also felt a bit cramped. Jerkies, pelts, greens, and prized elk adorned the thick wooden planked walls above the stone foundation.

Further into the room, one could see how there had been much more added onto the inn to make it a proper one for modern use and the heavy amounts of travelers that would most likely arrive from either Arphen or Taras. Not many people came from Etruria these days with the border tensions, but any that did come may be slow or old travelers from the Seine River that also had a bit of adjoining land shared by both Sacae and Ilia.

It was no challenge to hear the young woman speak to whoever was walking around in the upwards room. "Someone's going North and they're downstairs waiting on you." the woman said briefly, heading down the stairs just as quickly as she went up them. She grabbed a bucket from next to the door and stepped out from the front door.

There was a bit of fumbling around as someone was packing their things. It didn't take but a minute for that person to walk towards the wooden door and peek over the balcony as the cat did. What popped out was a man with both sides of his head shaved and hair white as snow. He had a dark red stripe across his eyes that matched his eye color. Surely being spotted, the young man stepped over the cat and descended the stairs with his pack on his back. A simple look would've told anyone that he wasn't armed... and for most people in this area, that was foolish.

"Heading to Araphen or elsewhere? I know the area well." Synkkis stated, nodding to greet the blonde woman. With how professional she looked, it was a wonder why she needed a guide. All he could think of was to keep her off the toll roads or from the prying eyes of checkpoints. Even Synkkis knew those ways. It kept him not only with a few dollars more, but also safe. Plenty of bandits and renegades looking to get their dirty fingers into pockets or necks.

[Charlotte]

A mewl from the tabby cat at the top of the stairs caught Charlotte’s eye, which had been wandering around the room, taking the dimly-lit lodge and its patrons in. Charlotte didn’t have anything against cats, but for some reason they never liked her, which she assumed was the reason the tabby’s dark green eyes were now locked on her. Don’t worry cat, Charlotte thought as if the cat would hear her assuaging him, I’ll only be in your home for a few minutes.

Breaking eye contact with the perturbed feline, Charlotte’s eyes raised for a moment as she heard the young woman from the front alert the guide that the blonde had arrived. As soon as the woman began descending the stairs again, Charlotte refocused her gaze to a small table near her where a few men sat discussing exploits of old. She had been hoping the Lycian house would arrange a proper guide themselves, but it seemed they’d done little more than send her to the right outpost and hope a guide would be there and ready. A bit worrisome, but as long as the man could get her to Arphen and could hold himself in a fight, they would be…

The blonde’s thoughts trailed off as the cat mewled again loudly at someone stepping over him. Her eyes snapped to the man descending the stairs, who she could only assume would be her guide through the mountain range. Charlotte tried not to be too judgemental, but the man didn’t look like much. He wasn’t armed (at least to her eye), and he was a bit thin and lithe for a man of his height. He did look ready to travel, though, which she considered something of a plus, all things considered.

Charlotte remained in her seat until the man approached her, returning the amicable nod with her head slightly tilted to one side. Her eyes were still coursing over him, so she remained silent for a few seconds more before standing from her seat, picking her pack up. She concluded he wasn’t who she was expecting, but time was of the essence, so she wouldn’t be picky. If the nobles from Araphen sent her here for a guide, then Charlotte knew she could trust him enough to lead her.

“Yes, to the capital,” Charlotte confirmed. “I’d make the journey on my own, but I’ve not passed through these mountains before.” She’d been to Arphen before, but only by boat, circumventing the need to pass through the sprawling Illian/Sacae mountains. She was also worse for wear from the Isles, but it wasn’t relevant to the point of needing a guide, only her reason for hoping for a battle-ready companion.

Besides, there was business to discuss to ensure the man was on board with the trip. “You’ll receive half of your payment in Arphen, and the other half after you accompany me safely back to Araphen,” she said as she slung her pack over her shoulder, “but I assure you I’ll make it worth your time.” This was a potential deal breaker, since the distance was so far, but she needed to be fair considering the length of the trip. She wasn’t just hitch-hiking with a band of miners this time.

“If that’s agreeable, we can set off as soon as you’re ready. My business in Arphen is rather urgent, so I’d prefer not to dally.”

[Synkkis Kyyneltya]

The guide squeezed the leather straps of his pack in between his thumb and forefinger, feeling the organic material creak and flex to the pressure he applied to it. He bit his lip, tracing his eyes about the room as he drew a map in his head of heading up to Arphen and then back down to Araphen. It was quite the journey, she was right. It would certainly take some time. He looked outside to the chilly weather and yawned, breaking away from the daytime rest he enjoyed here.

He shook his head slightly, showing that he understood her reasoning behind not going along by herself. "Yeah, I understand. Big reason why people are traveling in groups through here nowadays is mainly due to the near lawless nature of the land behind the borders. Deserters, bandits, looters, and murderers are generally able to run around without too much restriction. The Ilian army tries to play catch-up, but they're spread too thin." he said softly, grabbing a biscuit and an apple off a set of shelves. He stuffed the apple in his pocket, but took a bite of the biscuit. He noticed he was rambling. The woman meant business.

"Anyways, yeah. I agree to your terms. Pay me for what I'm worth. I don't like having a bunch of expectations set on me. It's how we Ilians do business anyways." the robed man stated, taking another bite. He took one last account of his belongings, double checking to make sure he wasn't forgetting anything. With his purple robe pulled back, a leather satchel with a metal clasp could be seen. Could be anything, but from the wear of it, it looked to have been holding books.

The young man turned and looked to his new employer and looked her over once more. "To get things sorted out, my name is Synkkis. I'm... a mage." he said hesitantly, rubbing his fingers over the metal clasp, flipping the switch from locked to unlocked and back again. "I can keep us off the main roads. I also know a few people throughout here that could give us shelter in case an emergency arose. Most the other people helping out here I could not say the same for." the mage uttered, this being one of the rare cases in which he had boasted, especially to a stranger.

So much for saying to not put any expectations on him. He immediately regretted what he'd said. Instead of facing her with a facial expression of disappointment, he stepped outside and let the feeling pass. He pulled out his pipe and sat it in the corner of his mouth. It helped keep the nervousness away. The wind blew and there was a bit of snow that had already fallen days prior on the way up the range, but down here it wasn't too bad. Thinking of his company, he must be biased being used to all of the weather. He hadn't even thought of having to impose on someone because the person he was traveling with had to warm up. He hoped that wouldn't be the case, but figured it probably would. He had to be ready for anything.

[Charlotte]

Charlotte was contented and mildly impressed with the man’s display of his knowledge of the area. It was one thing to know how to get someone from point A to B, but a large part of being a guide was understanding which gangs “owned” which roads, where military checkpoints where, and what areas were harassed by bandits. Granted, that didn’t always happen, which was the case of her and Rogus’s near disaster of a trip through occupied Bern, so she appreciated the first impression he made on her was one of understanding of the path ahead.

Watching as the man took a bite of the biscuit, the blonde gave a nod of acknowledgement, also taking a moment to look over the few belongings she’d brought along with her. The most important, though, was the small sealed letter stashed in a sewn in pocket on her arm. Charlotte didn’t know exactly what it contained, but considering it was to be provided to a specific person once they arrived in Arphen, she could only assume it was information being handed to an agent of the Lycian house. It was likely the agent who had reported the blade was in Arphen, though that was a minor detail at best.

But she was thinking too far ahead. Once they made it through the mountains she could speculate the who, what, and why. For now, she’d focus on the man in front of her. It was refreshing to hear the man lay no claim to any grand reward, though the blonde hadn’t been joking when saying he’d receive a just payment. The man being a mage was yet another bonus; even though he didn’t look it, it did give Charlotte a bit of faith in his potential to protect them should an unpleasant situation befall them. Maybe the man preferred the expectations set on him to be low, but that didn’t mean the blond would place none whatsoever on the man, especially when he still seemed to be setting expectations himself.

“Good then.” As soon as the man turned on his heel, Charlotte followed him out of the tavern. She inhaled sharply as the brisk air hit her cheeks once more, and she instantly shoved her uncovered hands into her cloak pockets, fishing for the warm wool gloves Felix had given her.

“And I’m Myscha, by the way,” Charlotte introduced herself, as she hadn’t had much of a chance to do so before the man exited the cozy inn. “So, do we have an estimate for how long this will take? And will we be starting off the journey by horse or cart?” She asked matter-of-factly, as if there was any other way to travel. Inhaling deeply, she could nearly taste the cool air mixed with a hint of tobacco from the man’s pipe. A chill coursed through her as she finally found the mittens she had been searching for, slipping them over her hands.

[Synkkis Kyyneltya]

Straining his eyes to catch the peaks in his unadjusted vision, he sighed - which then turned into a giggle. He looked downward at his hands and created a mental map using his fingers as landmarks, tracing one finger over his other hand. Halting mid-way across his palm, he turned back to his employer. "We're headed to Arphen, right? Arphen is the one on the complete opposite side of these mountains. To get to Araphen, you'd need to start heading South and go across the Lycian Range." He would've continued, but just from the woman's expression, he could tell she didn't care much for teasing. "Arphen it is. You didn't have any serious cargo with you, correct? The only beast that'd make a good trek through these mountains would be either a mule or a pegasus. The horse route is even more dangerous as it lines the actual Etrurian border. A great spot to catch arrows." he said in a cocky tone, slipping his arm through the other strap on his pack and letting it set properly on his back.

Walking was a pain, but making it through here on foot actually was in their favor. The area was a logistical nightmare - roughly equal to a solid brick wall as far as passing on supplies. A party of two would be able to slip in and out without too much trouble granted they stayed away from the more popular trails. It shouldn't be an issue. The guide rattled his brain for routes, alternate routes, and possible shelter he remembered from his journeys through the area. If it weren't so windy, one could possibly see steam coming from his ears. He shook his head, rubbed his temples, and left it all out of mind. He'd cross those bridges when he came to them. No sense dying tired and mentally exhausted. "If you have no objections to traveling on foot, it's the best way through. I'm sure you have urgent business in Arphen. Even if you don't, it pays to be as safe as one can be these days." Huh. Fanciful. Today really was out of character for the Shaman.

Once more, he could see the woman was in quite the rush. Time to start working them legs. Up, down, up, down, up, down. He remembers his mother disciplining him in military fashion as a boy. It paid off for these such tedious tasks.

Turning behind him as he walked up towards the peak and the side beyond, he finally responded to one of her questions. "Oh, it should take about three days if we don't run into any serious trouble." he stated, leaving it at that. He was sure he'd get to know the woman a little more over the course of those few days. He was just wondering if her sense of action and priority of travel would have her dragging him around the range or would he end up carrying her on his back like a cleric with weak ankles? Only time would tell. He was hoping for something in the middle. Dreams were the things meant to be broken, however.

[Charlotte]

Uh oh. Laughs were never a good thing when talking about travel, Charlotte thought as the painted man turned back to face her. She pursed her lips as he discredited making their trip by just about every method save for by foot. Frowning, she wondered if traveling by pegasus would be an option. It had to be just like riding a horse, right, just in the air! But of course, that was unrealistic. Trained pegasi generally came with their own Knight, and there was no way one of them would be here just renting the flying horse out to whoever had the coin.

“Well,” Charlotte finally replied, “I’d like to make it to Arphen alive, so walking it is, then.” Just the thought of it sent a twinge of pain through her foot. Why had she taken this job again? Well, Synkkis wasn’t going to leave much time for her to mull over it, turning and quickly starting towards the sprawling mountain range that stood between them and their destination. Three days of hiking? Of course, it made sense, as they needed time to get to where they were going, but there was something about seeing the looming mountains growing closer as they marched towards them that just made it real for the blonde.

At least Synkkis had answered her questions about the trip, even if the answers hadn’t been exactly what she wanted to hear. She’d be worn out upon arriving in Arphen, but at least she’d make it. The man seemed to have a good head on his shoulders, so she was confident they’d at least make it to the city. Actually getting out after retrieving the stolen goods, however, would be another thing entirely, but luckily she had three more days to plan their escape in the aftermath.

For now, though, it was just her and Synkkis, her new, oddly-dressed friend. Their boots crunching the fresh, wet snow underfoot, Charlotte decided she would pass her time through these mountains the same way she had when she was in the Isles. “So... you know a lot about the area we’re moving through. Are you from somewhere on the Ilian side of the range, or just travel a lot?”

[Synkkis Kyyneltya]

The guide knew right away that the blonde woman wasn't too thrilled about having to leg it across the range - not very many people who needed a guide were. Synkkis was accustomed to it, yet he could empathize with the foreigners. He couldn't imagine ever being in Nabata. He shuddered at the thought. Sacae was dry enough for him.

He heard the woman ask of his origin, yet he didn't answer right away. He walked even further, thinking on his home and his travels. The things he'd seen in the past two or three years. Times had changed and so had he. "Both, yeah. It's good to be home, though." he mentioned in a calm voice. This was his home, now plagued by bandits, deserters, and depending on where you were, the unusual undead group. He remembered his brother speaking of Richter and his mercenary army marching through here years ago. Different times back then. Everything seemed much more fresh and new. An air of naivety to the joys he experienced. We are at the beginning of a new wave of violence. The flesh to be torn has been stretched and pinned to the peaks of the ancient range that has embraced many's last breaths. Even Synkkis would end as just a memory.

--

The two reached the first few peaks and left the warmer (in comparison) and dry air of Sacae and entered the whipping winds of Ilia as well as the snowfall of late winter. The trees grew tall here in the pine forests. Other areas were barren or too jagged to sustain significant plant life. The trails started to become much more narrow or even completely disappear if it weren't the context that would allow the travelers to return to marked ground. It is the end of day one as the sun sets early on the spire. For footing reasons, further travel was simply too dangerous. The snow-haired guide led the two to an abandoned hunter's cabin. The Ilian being cautious, had the two camp in the cellar and he made a small fire to keep them warm for the night.

At dawn's light, Synkkis was already ready to move on even though it showed in his eyes how much he hated getting up early. A job was a job was a job. He stuck his face into a snowbank just to help keep himself awake. The casual way as to how he went about it would be shocking to most people. Kyyneltya didn't even look back to his employer to think of her reaction if she were to have one. He just dried his face off with his tattered cloak. He'd have to remember to take care of more sanitary things during dusk rather than morning when travel was important. He'd sooner fall on a sword than wake up earlier than he had to. "Feeling up for our next day of travel? We can go at a pace that suits you." Synkkis offered, trying to empathize with the woman.

[Charlotte]

Sleep didn’t come to Charlotte as the traveling partners took their first rest in the cellar of the abandoned cabin Synkkis had known about. The air was damp and cold, and smelled much like the cellar from the northern docks - save from the salty musk the Bishop’s men had gracefully perfumed the place with. All night she lay on her old bedroll facing the ragged dirt wall, but her eyes were glassy and wide, counting the cracks as she had on the Isles, trying to forget the ache in her shoulder as the taste of iron filled her mouth again.


Frustrated, angry, and albeit tired, Charlotte too had stirred at dawn, though she felt surprisingly alert. She quickly packed her roll away with her backpack, hands instinctively moving to plait her hair as she readied herself for another day of travel. Yet again, though, when her fingers came up short, she huffed, running her hand through the short blonde strands before following Synkkis out of the cellar and into the morning light.

To be honest, the blonde hadn’t even seen as the man shoved his face into a pile of snow, her eyes instead directed skyward. How a sky could be that blue, she really wasn’t sure; it was naturally beautiful, amplified by the towering pine trees and the luminescent snow around them. Charlotte sighed and then shivered, tightening her grip on the cloak wrapped around her shoulders. For a brief moment she considered retiring in a place like this, a small cozy hut in the middle of the mountains, where no one could find her and she could just live peacefully after all was said and done. But in the same thought she nearly laughed - it was too cold, and she’d become bored in an instant with nothing to do all day but sit by a fire and walk about in the snow.

Having had enough introspection for one morning, Charlotte looked to Synkkis, nodding as she rolled her shoulders, ignoring how stiff her right hand felt. “Yesterday’s pace was good,” she replied, wet snow crunching underneath her boots as she stepped back over to the entrance of the hut, picking up her pack before walking back over to her mage guide, ready to start the day of travel. According to the man she’d only have to spend three days in the brisk mountains, so the sooner they could get moving the better.

“So is the path going to be steeper today?” Charlotte inquired, voice shaking a bit as sharp, cool air filled her lungs. Sure, she’d become accustomed to certain comforts, but that didn’t mean she didn’t remember growing up in the Isles. She knew when to complain, and when to suck it up and do what had to be done. She needed to get to Arphen, so there was no use moaning about a trip that she had to make.

[Hey, so sorry for the delay. It's been an insanely busy past few weeks, but I haven't quit, so sorry for making you wait]

[Synkkis Kyyneltya]

Sighing, the snow-haired man rubbed his hands together for warmth and started stretching to improve his circulation. Using a section of his cape, he wiped his face once more as he felt there was still some icy water left in the nooks of his eyes. OK. He was awake now. Hearing of her comment on the way they traveled yesterday and based on what he had seen, she was correct. Their trek wasn't too difficult, but they were able to make a lot more ground than he thought they would. Only the Gods would know if the rest of the journey would bring a more than welcome unadventurous trip. They wouldn't know until they started moving.

Walking up a small and brisk path to the trail Synkkis wanted to pursue, he answered his employer. "It will be if we run into any sign of trouble. Despite how things seem, the Sacaens do what they can to patrol their lands. The Ilians have a much harder time due to the Rebellion. By nightfall we should hopefully be on the other side of the range."

In a quickened pace, the guide had his bedroll tied on both ends by a slim rope and slung across his shoulder. Not too far into the hike he found a suitable walking stick which would help when the slopes started getting steep even on the trails. This wasn't surprising given the sheer heights of the mountains. They already had to overcome some yesterday. The hiking itself was a chore, but the most danger came from the slick ice that would be hidden by a thin layer of snow. A wrong step could mean a hundred meter drop and certain death.

[Charlotte]

Charlotte was relieved to hear they would at least be crossed over to the other side of the range by the end of today’s hike. She was tired, and her right hand was constantly aching from the cold. Like Synkkis, the blonde did what she could to keep her hands warm by rubbing them together and blowing air into her cupped palms. It didn’t do much for long, but temporary relief was better than nothing.

Listening to Synkkis speak about the paths and the area interested Charlotte, considering he seemed to have a decent lay of the land. It was something she lacked, real insight to the workings of Sacae and Ilia. She didn’t do much business at all in Sacae, and what business she had done with Ilia had stopped after transporting the siege equipment for the rebellion. Not that she felt a particular pull either way; she had done the job to obtain a considerable paycheck from her private interest, nothing more. Thank goodness she had too, as the majority of that pay had gone towards her recovery from the Isles.

Charlotte was careful to follow Synkkis’s exact steps on the path, as Charlotte was all too cognizant of the drop she would subject herself to if she miss-stepped. It was frustrating, but she knew she had to trust her guide or she’d have spent all that time in Laus building back up her strength for nothing.

As they walked her mind wandered back to the man ahead of her, as she was curious about him to say the least. She hadn’t allowed herself to think about it much so far, but the man was a peculiar one. The bones around his neck, paint on his face, skull at his shoulder... All very tribal accoutrements she’d expect from a Sacaen, but not necessarily from an Ilian. He might have been from a village with some alternative customs, though the details weren’t entirely important. She was more interested in how a mage ended up being a mountain guide.

“So,” Charlotte huffed, doing her best to keep up with the man’s pace, “are you just a guide, or do you do other things to make ends meet?” With Charlotte’s focus on the back of Synkkis’s head, she didn’t notice what looked like a thread of white smoke rising ahead in the distance, up ahead.

[Synkkis Kyyneltya]

The painful march only became more intensive as the slopes sharpened and they reached the series of summits that apex the range. The air became thinner and the pair took more breaks, slowing their travels just because of physical limitations. Although they were about to pass into Ilia proper, the land didn't seem to change much. Funny how borders worked.

The otherwise complacent and quiet woman broke the ice figuratively with her asking about his personal life. Things came and went, jobs too with his job title changing weekly it seemed. How could the Ilian be shoved into a box unless it were extremely vague. That's just what he'd have to say.

"I do odd jobs such as this. I also dabble in magic and do a bit of reading as well as traveling." he answered, not wanting to let too much on. He was smart enough to not let people know he was a heretic nor a dark mage. For some it was enough to convince them to try and plant a silver sword into his back. No need to take chances with someone he himself couldn't really get a good bead on. He figured she had a muddy past just like his or she wouldn't be needing a guide like him to get past the conventional routes and Customs. "A lot of it is just doing what I can to survive." he stated. While not all the way true, his operational freedom allowed sanity of thought. He'd be damned if he were to take another tactician job for a nut of a mage in a decrepit fort.

Just for the sake of small talk to keep his mind off the path, he was about to ask her the same, but the faint smell of smoke in the distance perked his senses. Looking back to see if for some reason she caught fire, he saw his employer had her eyes set dead ahead towards something. Catching a glimpse of what she could've been eyeing, he also saw a trail of smoke in the distance. Almost right away, he ducked his head down and rested his fingers on the latch of his satchel.

"Careful, I'm not sure of other trails in this area. We may have to backtrack or follow an animal path. I want to scout it out." he mentioned, checking her body language to see what her reaction would be.

[Charlotte]

Synkkis’s response was expected, to say the least. Charlotte didn’t see the man letting on much about his profession, but his answer at least told her that whatever he did, he felt the need to euphemize or potentially hide all together. She didn’t hold it against the man; of course, she had her own business that she kept to herself, so she empathized with the sentiment. Regardless, though, she was still interested in knowing what it was he felt he needed to keep to himself.

As soon as Synkkis bowed his head, Charlotte’s looked up, spotting the spindle of white smoke that had likely caused his reaction. Others being on their path was not a good sign, as her mage guide had made it clear those taking to the mountains these days weren’t doing so with pure intentions – that’s why she was here, after all. She bent her knees a bit, an instinctive reaction, but her eyes stayed skyward, as if hoping she’d catch a glimpse of who was at the other side of the plume of smoke.

Backtracking was not a preferable option, but with how steep the slopes had become, and how short of breath she’d become from their altitude, the woman determined it was best to defer to the man’s judgement on their next moves. If he felt it right to scout their path and avoid the main trail, that was what they’d do. All it would require was being a bit more careful, right?

Still squinting, she looked back to Synkkis, nodding and relaxing her gaze. “I guess our little chat can wait,” she said in jest, her voice unusually playful considering the tone of their journey so far. She hadn’t been in a very light mood as of late, so the attempt at a joke was her own way of trying to provide some relief for their unease. Not the best, of course, but at least she was trying. When had she become so dour and quiet?

"Want me to stay back or keep close?" Charlotte replied, eyes flitting back to the plume of smoke before resting on him again.

[Synkkis Kyyneltya]

The cautious approach of backtracking could've endangered them more than pushing forward. Another day in the mountains without proper supplies was troublesome. It'd turn deadly if they were to be caught in a storm or further delayed. There was a good safe-house up ahead that would be the ideal stopping place for the night. Caught with indecision, Synkkis sighed and pulled a darkly covered book out of his satchel, another one similar to it being in the next divider. The book had a faint embossed and golden diamond on the front. It had lettering on it, a title, but his hand clung onto the binding concealed it mostly. It had a plethora of notes, bands, and ribbons of bookmarks throughout it, giving it more the appearance of a journal if not for its size.

"We'll have to push ahead. I want you to stick with me with a moderate distance away. It would make us less of a target in case they were malicious. There's a chance we could become separated if you were to stay here - one I'm not willing to make." the guide ordered, covering his snow-white hair with the hood of his cloak. Perhaps he was being too cautious, but he was not here to make an easy trek through the mountains. It was going to be the route in which they both survived.

It was not hard to hide his concern about what lied up ahead, but he also knew he had to have the confidence to make decisions and stick with them. Otherwise the woman would be guiding him through these mountains. "I don't want to talk to them if we can spare it. Too many generous Ilian deserters who will welcome you in and you find yourself tied to a tree without your belongings. Even if they aren't deserters, they could be observers. Keep on your toes - so to speak." he thought, trying to tip-toe through knee-high snow wouldn't be the greatest idea.

Double-checking himself and trying to clear his mind, he nodded to Charlotte letting her know he was ready to move. Noticing she didn't really do the same impressed him rather than worried him. He could tell she was light on her feet.

Upon a ridge overlooking a gully, the culprit of the plume could be found. An older man, probably in his 40s, sat cooking over the fire. A mule with a heavy load and three horses were tied to the trees nearby as their thick evergreen branches provided a clear ground for them to stay.

After identifying the living and breathing features of the open, he set his sights on the surrounding area. To one side, their left, the ridge continued sharply with a rough, but navigable path used by goats from one rock to the next. Problem was, it was right on the face of the cliff and could be seen with the daylight. Trying to use it by dark, however, would also be dangerous.

To their right, the small slope wasn't much and it was essentially the bank to the stream that flowed past the camp. It was likely beyond that there were more woods, but the water was rather deep and would soak their feet. All of this buzzing in his head, he noticed Charlotte, who was good at keeping her distance, shuffle up next to him and also looked out. Synkkis pointed four directions: the man, the goat path, the stream bank, and where their trail continued ahead. Whispering, he mentioned to her about his concerns about each path. Then, he stated plainly, "We have options. None all that great."

[Charlotte]

Charlotte watched curiously as Synkkis pulled some sort of book from his bag. Considering he hadn’t opened it, simply holding it in his hand, the blonde assumed it was likely the man’s magic tome, pulled defensively in case anything went awry. Charlotte thought for a moment of pulling one of her daggers, but decided against it for now. She couldn’t use Melancholia yet, given it hadn’t given her the proper “response,” and her iron dagger was easily accessible in a sheath on her left side. She could quickly draw if the moment called for it.

Synkkis’s instructions were clear, and Charlotte took note of the observations and instructions he gave. He didn’t seem used to telling someone else what to do like this, but then again, the situation was largely variable. Sure, they knew there to be a man ahead, but his intentions, as the mage had pointed out, were unknown to them. Charlotte had walked into plenty of jobs or situations fairly blind, but something about being up in the mountains as such made her more anxious than usual. Still, she did as Synkkis said, keeping back but following him through the snow.

Her usual lithe movements were more jilted and slower as she maintained her distance, though as soon as her guide stopped at the ridge she halted for a moment as well before moving to meet him. Staying back would prevent them from being too suspicious if they were spotted from afar, but it was clear that there was something to be seen. As soon as she took a spot next to the hooded man, he whispered their options to her.

Hmm, they were in a bit of a bind. If they’d been here a month and a half ago, Charlotte likely would have chosen the goat path hands down. She wasn’t terribly afraid of heights, and considering she’d had to climb from second or third stories of buildings quite a few times now, the concept of using a cliff face to do the same wouldn’t usually be daunting. But with her right foot still giving her trouble every now and then, and her right hand essentially too stiff from the cold to take a proper hold on anything, she had to rule the path out.

The man was out of the question as well, since from the looks of it, there were at least two others, maybe three, who were with him as well. That meant no matter what they were outnumbered, so if the men were trained fighters, they were in even more trouble. Their current trail could work, but it passed awfully close to where the man’s camp was set, which risked them being found by him or his friend. And the river, while seemingly the safest, would get at least their feet wet. If they were closer to a town, the option would be the obvious choice, but they still had at least a day and a half before they were even out of the mountains. Wet boots risked them becoming ill and incapacitated, and the last thing she wanted to do was die from that.

Charlotte sighed. She felt like a fool giving her suggestion, but it was the only one she could give with reason. “There’s too much risk using the ridge or the river path. I say we try our hand at keeping on the current trail, get past the camp as quickly as possible. Before his friends get back, that is. What do you think?”