Venturing South

Serah just laughed loudly at their antics, getting sometimes distracted from it as she petted the horse and cooed at it. Man, she loved horses.

Was that a compliment his blushing ears had caught - no it wasn't. Or, it was just a warrior, complienting another warrior. For sure. Horknath scratched his head. "Thank you", he just answered, hopefully without stuttering. "It might have to do with... me being not really human, I guess."

Carleen tilted her head. "So you mean you're a mix? Part human still?"

Horknath turned to look at her, blinking. He sure must have looked very confused. "I'm... an half-orc?", he said, almost sounding doubtful himself. "You've never seen one of my kin before?" That could be why she didn't really looked disgusted by him yet. She didn't know what he was.

Carleen shook her head, and smiled at him. "No. You're the first tall man with green-like skin I've ever seen. Are there many others like you?"

Horknath couldn't believe what he was hearing. He was so shocked he actually forgot he was supposed to be embarrassed. "Well... I wouldn't say that, no. Or not anymore, I guess. Half-orcs are not really... uh... well seen", he explained, as if he wanted to give her an excuse to not talk with him any longer.

Carleen tilted her head, and couldn't help but smile slightly. "Oh. Are you implying you come from a nomadic barbarian tribe, and that I should change the opinion I'm forging about you?"

Horknath tilted his head too, knitting his eyebrows together. Then he shook his head. "Well... I- no, but... well, I am not from a tribe, but-", he stuttered a bit. "... wait you have an opinion about me already?" He couldn't help himself.

"I said I was forging one," Carleen replied with a soft laugh. "For now, I now that you are a strong warrior, yet you lack of confidence. Which is kind of cute. I hope I'll be able to complete my opinion of you one day ~"

Horknath scratched his head, perplexed about how friendly Carleen seemed. Then again, apparently she didn't hold prejudices, so. "I am confident, in most things", he simply said. "But, well. I hope we'll have the chance of know each other better then, Milady", he added, politely.

"You may call me Carleen," she replied, facing him again. "I'm not much of a princess, you know. Most of all, I am the sworsdmen chief."

Was she serious? Because she totally looked like a princess to him. The fact that she was also a skilled swordswomam was a plus! "Very well then, miss Carleen", he answered with a small smile. "I am Horknath."

"I told you to call me Carleen, Horknath," Carleen kindly laugh. "No 'miss', no 'milady'. Just Carleen, please."

Horknath scratched his beard, sheepishly. "Alright", he conceded, a bit shyly. "Carleen it is, then." He liked how her name sounded.

Carleen smiled happily. "Where do you come from then, Horknath?"

"The North", Horknath answered gruffly. " 's not really a precise place where I come from, anyway. Being a nomad and all, I guess I could come from anywhere", he shrugged.

"You've never wanted to settle down at some point ?" Carleen asked him, genuinely curious.

Horknath smiled. "I've never really thought about that. I like that I am able to see many different places, and people. I'd like to, at one point, but not on my own." And maybe to get married. And to have kids. But let's not be unrealistic. "And, uh, how about you, princess that isn't a princess?", he asked with an awkward smile.

Carleen held back a kind laugh, then thought about it for a second. "Well. I get to travel a lot with my father, for business purposes. So I see some new landscapes. But I wouldn't leave my home for too long. I like it there," she told Horknath with a soft smile.

Horknath hummed, looking in front of him. "Yeah. I guess I understand your reasons", he murmured. "I like it here, too. It's warm and people are... far nicer than I'm used to." He shook his head. "So, yours is a family of merchants?"

Carleen shook her head. "Horse breeders. We go around, sell horses. Buy some. Take them home. Raise their offspring," she smiled, and patted the neck of her own horse. A proud, tall and slim mare. "I've help this one when she was born. She was barely standing up"

Horknath blinked. "... wow. Well, aren't you a woman full of talents", he allowed himself to let out in an admired voice. "She looks really strong and healthy."

Carleen smiled at him. "It's not really that difficult. I mean, if you stay around, I could show you how to take care of your own horse. I mean, you helped us a lot back there, I'm sure my father wants to gift one to you and your companions.

Horknath flushed a bit. "Miss- Carleen", he corrected himself, "I can hardly take care of myself. I don't know how me and my friends would do with a horse", he said. "But if you are willing to teach someone who's a very bad student, then I'm in", he added, more merrily.

Carleen snorted. "That open lack of confidence in yourself isn't kind of a cockblocker sometimes?" she said, suddenly very un-lady-like !

Horknath looked at her, his eye wide open. He flushed harder, and he stuttered for a good minute before managing to answer. "Well, I- I am just- it's not like I get many offers anyways, so- no one cares", he just said, then shutting up with embarrassment, obstinately looking away. That was a very sensitive topic you prodded there, Carleen!