Venturing South

A few months after the assassination attempt at the Dutchess's birthday party, Valdyr, Hornath and Yvan were travelling towards the South as expected, with... Serah along with them. The elf had suddenly joined their group after a request from Nadia, and, although Yvan occasionally complained about their lost manly intimacy, she had mixed rather well with the group. There was still some occasional bickering between Valdyr and her, but it mostly remained friendly.
South were a lot more thieves on the roads, and around them. Actually, the group's main source of money consisted in escort missions, to help merchants reach the next city. Eventually, they ended up fighting assassins that - and they did not know it - were targetting an important lord from the Southern region. And from whom did they learn that? Said lord himself.
He was a tall man with dark skin, and a kind gaze, with a thick yet short black beard. He smiled at them as he uncovered his face. "Milady - gentlemen, it looks like I owe you much for your help," he told them, as he gave a quick look around at his wounded guards. Fortunately, he was untouched himself, for the chief of his guards - a young woman that looked strangely like him - had been by his side the whole time.

Horknath shook his head, feeling a bit sheepish about actually being thanked by a rich, noble lord. He put his axe back where it was before, hissing at a fresh wound or two he had gained. "We are just glad you are fine", he said. "Your guards fought very well!"
Serah snorted, elbowing Valdyr and Yvan. "Did you hear that? I am milady now!" She had indeed integrated very well. She loved being in that half assed group of men! She was there to bring that feminine (or not really) point of view that they totally lacked. If that brought to friendly bickering with Valdyr, it was more than welcome. Her favourite sport.

"Of course. My folks are the best warriors of these lands," the man replied with a proud smile. "You don't see from here, though. Let me introduce myself - I am lord Sakrish, and this is my daughter, Carleen." Carleen winked at Horknath after giving his fine muscles a careful, long look.
Valdyr snorted at Serah's comment. "And he called us gentlemen, so you shouldn't get so excited about it."

Horknath eyed both of them carefully - instantly getting a hundred percent more embarrassed when he learnt that one of the warriors he had just praised was not only a beautiful woman, but also sort of a princess. He bowed slightly, carefully avoiding to look at her. "It's my pleasure."
Serah laughed. "All the better! Now we are fancy!" Then she looked at lord Sakrish, tilting her head. "Were you travelling home?"

Sakrish turned to Serah, and nodded. "Indeed, milady. Actually, I'd like to offer you dinner and shelter for a few days, to thank you for your help. That is, if you aren't in a hurry. I wouldn't want to hold you back." He moved his hand in an intricate way, gesturing for one of his men to get two horses near them - he and his men were riding on horses, and probably selling some, given how many he had.

Serah bounced exitedly. "Ooh, we'll sleep in a real bed! And, and have free food! Can we go, guys? Can we?" Horknath glanced at Valdyr and Yvan. "Well, can we?", he asked. "I mean. We don't really have to go anywhere, right?"

Valdyr shrugged. "No, we don't. And besides, everyone's being super excited," he pointed out, pointing litterally at Yvan who had jumped on the back of one of the horse.
Sakrish held back a laugh and got his horse to move on, leading the way with his men "Take a horse each, we still have an hour or so before reaching my palace."

Horknath laughed and mounted on a horse, after picking one. Or best to say, repeatedly tried to mount on a horse that really, really didn't seem to have the slightest intention of getting him on his back.
Eventually succeeding, but only when his face was terribly flushed from embarrassment.
Serah had gracefully leaped on an horse, and was now apparently cooing at it, patting his side gently.

Valdyr just... stood there.
"Can any one of you have the decency to help me?" he sighed heavily. Yvan snorted.
"Serah, I'll help him up, get him on your horse," the magician said as he extended an arm to help her lift Valdyr on her own horse.

Serah laughed, snorting as she got Valdyr to get on her horse. "Don't worry, I'll be your amazon. Me and horses are basically best friends", she grinned. "Just stay attached to me, princess!"

Valdyr rolled his eyes but wrapped his arms around her waist. "If you get it to stand on his back legs, woman or not, I'm going to smack your head."

"Oh I would never", Serah began, just to hiss between her theet, "party pooper." Then she chuckled. "Enjoy the quiet trip while it lasts, because once we arrive, you can bet your ass I am going to make this one stand up!"
Horknath, in the meantime, was struggling not to look like an idiot on his own horse. God, why had he ignored his father and his horse-riding lessons.

Vladyr tightened slightly his grip on Serah's waist. "Then don't cry if I slap you afterwards," he grunted. He wasn't particularily fond of heights.

After exchanging a few words with her first maiden, asking her to watch for her father's back for a few minutes, Carleen got her horse to slow down enough for her to end up next to Horknath's. She smiled at him, and swiftly leaned forward to settle his foot better in the horse's stirrup. "There. Straighten up, and do the same with your other foot."

Serah laughed. "You've literally never seen me cry because of a bump, please. And watch those hands, you didn't even offer me a drink."

Horknath blinked at her, and looked at how she had settled his foot. He then did the same with the other, carefully straightening up. He had indeed gained more stability that way. "Thanks", he told her awkwardly. "I never travel on horses."

"You've robbed me for enough drinks as it is," Valdyr grumbled again, not letting her go much. After all, he wasn't feeling really well on that horse's back.

"I noticed," Carleen replied with a playful grin, and she straightened up herself. "Push on your feet. Fin your balance. The horse will feel more at ease if you don't crush its back with your bodyweight." She seemed like the kind of person who had learnt how to ride a horse as soon as she was tall enough for it.

Serah just laughed. So true, so true. "Well you can't really say I've never paid you back with more drinks, don't you think? I am pretty generous!"

Horknath grumbled as he tried his best to follow Carleen's advice. Easy to talk that way for someone that didn't weight as much as him. And who wasn't as clumsy as him. After some time, however, he actually managed to find a decent stance and he took on a proud expression.

"... You bought them with MY money," Valdyr pointed out, amused.

Carleen had to stiffle back a soft chuckle. "I'm afraid this horse isn't the best fitted for you, though. But I'm thinking of one that might be perfect for you back at our place. That is, if you're willing to learn."

"Oh, did I", Serah asked merrily. "I won that money regularly! It doesnt count how drunk you were when we played cards, you know."

"One that can take a hundred kilos? It must be one hell of a horse", Horknath observed. He had a lot of difficulties to not sound awkward, though. Or to look at her. "I don't know if we will stop enough for me to learn, Milady", he added then.

Valdyr sighed heavily. "Sometimes I feel like there's actually a demon inside of you. And it's always been there."

"... You won't?" Carleen seemed very, very disappointed. "Are you in a hurry?"

Serah looked back at him, pouting. "Hey, that's offensive. I'm just an asshole elf, there's no demon involved!"

Horknath tilted his head, sensing that she was troubled by something. He couldn't quite place what, though. Maybe she was being polite by acting displeased that her guests would have left early? "Not really, actually. It depends a lot on my group. I guess that if they'll want to stay, we will stay."

".. Don't call yourself that," Valdyr told her, suddenly serious. "You're definitely not an asshole."

Carleen seemed confused. "You mean you're not the leader of the group? I thought the strongest was always the lead."

Serah took on a confused expression. "... eh?", she let out, along with an uncertain laughter. "Of course I am! Hello, I am Serah, we know each other by this point, right?"

Horknath let out a chuckle. "Nah. I am more of an arm than a brain. If you ask me, Valdyr would be the leader", he said, nodding towards his dwarven friend. "He has common sense. But really ours is more of a... democracy, I guess", he concluded, the sudden burst of bravery waving away already. Hey, it was still a woman he was speaking to. ....HOW WAS HE EVEN MANAGING IT OH MY GOD.

Valdyr didn't reply right away. "Just make sure you don't end up believing it yourself for real."

Carleen smiled. "I guess it works more easily in a small group. Me and my warriors are organized like a tiny army. Which is why we need order and ranks."

Serah didn't really know what to answer to that. For once in her life, she found herself lacking a witty remark. She just hummed, doubtfully.

Horknath nodded, thoughtfully. "It makes sense. On the other hand, we are just a group of friends that goes camping and occasionally punches people in the face. ... and well, you... uh, fight really well. Which makes sense, if you're the general", he muttered, looking away.

Valdyr said nothing more. At some point during their travel though, he ended up bickering with Yvan, who was making fun of how uneasy he felt on a horse.

"Yet I've never see a warrio wield an axe the way you do. In the good way," Carleen told him. "You appear much stronger - physically, I mean - than any of the men I've met so far ~"