Discoveries and Commitments.

[Alric Wilmot]

91st Day of Spring Dear friend Alric, I apologize for taking so long to contact you, but up until recently I had no means of communication. I have heard disturbing rumors about Alvadas, and I can only hope that you escaped the destruction from both Winter and the Djed Storm. I was lucky enough to have left the city before Winter. And I believe you know me well enough to believe me when I tell you the Storm was no match for me! I'm safe and well inside the city of Zeltiva, a wondrous place where I have found much to help me on my goal to leaning everything. A goal you said we shared. I had originally wanted to write to you so that you might join me, and we might benefit from one another. However, as I journeyed to Zeltiva I came across a dying man that shared your name. He was gravely injured I'm afraid, and I don't want to give too much detail to the incident in this letter. I would much rather tell you the story in person. I just wanted to know, does the name Alvin Wilmot mean anything to you? Wishing you peace in Morwen's name, Your friend Miro. Alric sat at his desk within his small Womiyu room, crouching over the letter with eyes as wide as saucers. Miro, was alive? And his Father, dead? In one frightful hour, his world had flipped upside down, and sideways. He had thought he had grown out of these pitiufl feelings. He had thought he had mastered them, and learned how to keep them in their place. But once again he felt overwhelming sorrow, and relief. The two contradicting emotions battled within his gut, like two rats fighting over some indistinguishable carrion. Alric did his best to quiet them both. After all, death was too common to cry about. And Miro? His friend? Well, he should be happy then, shouldn't he? Tears were not for joy, they were for sorrow. And so he held them back. Alric's face contorted into a very rare form. Alric was normally smiles and smirks. But now, nothing but a blank stern look adorned his face. He decided then, that he would go to Zeltiva, to find out how his father died. Alric enjoyed learning. He would not be dissuaded by the subject matter. Besides, his Father was important to him. Far more more important than a mask. Alric shook his head, remembering the tears he shed for his first mask when it was sucked into the void. The void summoned by the arena master in the day of the Winter Crisis. He was stronger now. Both in skill and spirit. Besides, it was time he left anyway. He had always known that his goals would set him on this path. With a confident stride, Alric made to see Jahoma, to clear with her his sudden departure. It took very little convincing. She was unusually sympathetic when Alric explained things to her. Without delay, he packed his things and headed to the bizzarre to procure a map to Zeltiva. Everything he owned in a pack on his back.

[Ssafirsotibones]

Bones had long since settled into the city of Alvadas... Settled into a routine... Or as much as one could, in such a city as this, which spat in the face of your routine, and ran away cackling to itself. He had also long since stopped fighting the city, instead allowing it to carry him around on its whims. Though he was sure there was more to the city than just a city. He was sure there was something at work, actively working and shaping things. Not that he knew what that was. But he did not fight it. He also no longer believed that things occured by chance in Alvadas. But since there was nothing he could do to control it, he simply let it. It had not got him killed, or to seriously injured yet, so he guessed it was not malevolent. Though that did not either mean that he let his guard down, or walked around unarmed. He always kept his weapon strapped to his back... He always kept himself focused... Least he should miss something important that the city wanted him to see... Especially with its odd sense of humor, which occasionally got him injured. As he walked out his door, he had a feeling today was going to be one of those days. Especially when he took a few steps, only for the street to shift, and drop him in a completely different part of the city. He walked along the street, keeping his eyes open. And who should he walk into, but Alric, heading in the opposite way. Bones gave him a lazy wave, almost getting the human expression right, but not quite... What the petch was that supposed to signify anyways, he thought to himself... In combat waving was only going to attract a blade to your gut, or an arrow to your neck... But when with humans... Do as humans do... "Hello Alric... Fancy meeting you here... I wonder why Alvadasss hasss conssspired for usss to meet..." This calm, neutral Bones, would be clearly different to the one Alric had last met outside the city... When they had fought together, and Bones had become deeply immersed in his snake side... And had nearly lost control... Here he clearly fought to stay in control, to stay passive... To fight the urge that always lingered, to rip off this human meats head, to taste his flesh, and devour him whole... Surely someone would pick up on this after seeing Bones enough... That every time he looked at a human, or a non-dhani, he could not help but see them as meat... And imagine there taste as he devoured them...

[Alric Wilmot]

Alric strutted forward amongst the bustle of the bizarre with a neutral expression. It was foreign to his face, and it showed. He wore his common clothes this day, not wanting to get pulled aside if someone needed a Speaker. Today he needed to be quick and on his way. He wouldn't leave the city, but he had a lot of preparation to do. He had no idea where Zeltiva was, but he had a feeling that it wasn't close. He came upon a cartographer's booth quickly, thank Ionu. He purchased a map and put it in the same pack as his supplies. He had found and appropriated the necessary supplies from the Womiyu. He had a feeling that he would need his coin, and he did not want to spend it frivolously. As he turned away from the merchant and began to go, a man approached him from the side. Alric turned swiftly, afraid he might be someone who could recognize masked men. His worry was unfounded however. He wore simple green clothes, in the fashion of the poorer Alvadas' citizens. Alric recognized him immediately, he was a listener for the Womiyu. "Sir, this letter came for you today. It was sent to your house, but...well, you know. I was able to retrieve it, however. I was on my to give it to you, but I saw you enter the Bizzarre. Alric took the parchment, thanking the man and dismissing him in one breath. Alric did not bother waiting for a more private place. He unfurled the paper, wondering who might send anything to him. And then once he had procured that mental list, he wondered who would send it to the ruined remains of the Wilmot Manor. He was pleasantly surprised. Dear Alric, I am writing to you with some trepidation, unsure what you must think happened to me since my departure from Alvadas. I have begun and ended a hundred letters in the same way, and yet none have been sent. It is my hope that this one finds you, that it escapes the necessity of edit and that what I am about to tell you does not forever warp the fabric of our relationship. First, the Wretched Sprite, the ship I set out upon sank in deep waters off the coast of Syliras. For nearly two weeks I drifted on spars of driftwood, fishing with hypnotism and luck before washing ashore. I found myself in Sunberth, but it was not a welcome one could ever ask for. For nearly two seasons I was imprisoned at the mercy of a man called Breaker for reasons I hesitate to speak of in ink. Something happened in that darkness, Alric, something I thought never would. I am writing to tell you that although I escaped my imprisonment, the damage done to me at my own hands lingers. I am not myself anymore, brother, not myself at all. I am writing to you in the Spring, but my last memory was in the Winter. I do not know who I am when I am not myself, only that I am no longer in full control of my faculties. I wake up with the smell of blood on my hands and I’m terrified to sleep, terrified I’ll wake up again with weeks missing. I’ve found safe harbor in a town called Zeltiva, a far more pristine and beautiful city than Sunberth ever could be. I hope that, here, I can begin researching the effects of Overgiving at the University, perhaps find a way to return my mind to a sense of normalcy...as you knew me. There is so much I want to tell you, Alric, things I should have a long time ago. I write to ask if you wouldn’t consider a short visit to Zeltiva. I am not sure how you have fared in Alvadas, only that I hope this letter finds you well. I am staying in the University, dorm room 511, and have elected to take classes in Glyphing, Shielding, and Alchemy. I hesitate to even think about Hypnotism these days, afraid of what using it again will do to me. I can only hope similar effects have not burdened your own mind and that perhaps the company of a family member will ease my anxieties. I hope this letter finds both you and father well, and I hope that both Ket and Weaver are also healthy in your care. Sincerely, and with ardent wishes to see you again Wrenmae Wilmot. Alric's jaw dropped as he read his latest letter. This, this was beyond coincidence. All at once Zeltiva was becoming the place he needed to be. No, this was not happenstance, this was divine intervention. Someone among the pantheon wanted him in Zeltiva. He could not quite make up his mind of it was Ionu, Eyris, or some other, but he felt inspired either way. He would not wait. He would leave today. He put the letter in his pack as he did the map and headed off, away from the bizarre. It was time ti go to the docks, to see just how far he would be going. As he went on, a very... familiar sight came upon him. Bones, a man as odd (or even more so) than Alric. Alric hadn't seen him since he had fought off the herd of goat monsters just outside Alvadas. Alric allowed himself to smile as he saw the man wave. It looked silly, for some reason, for the deadly warrior to wave like that. Regardless Alric waved back. Today was going to be very eventful, Alric could see that now. As Alric and Bones neared, Bones was the first to speak. "Hello Alric... Fancy meeting you here... I wonder why Alvadasss hasss conssspired for usss to meet..." Alric smirked, but not in his usual carefree way. "Well, believe it or not, my tall fearsome friend, I actually have a good idea why. That bit you said so long ago about no luck? Well, I'm inclined to believe you, today." Alric walked to the side of the street, and motioned for Bones to follow. He did not know why exactly, but this felt as if their was something private about it. "I received two letters today, from good friends that I had thought dead. Both are beckoning me to a city called Zeltiva. I feel like it happened much to close together for it it be coincidence. This is an act of providence. I don't know from who, yet, but it doesn't matter. "I'm going to Zeltiva, Bones. I don't know where it is, or when I'll get there, but I feel like this is necessary. I have a nasty habit of getting in trouble, as you well know, and you've gotten me out of it both times we were forced together by Alvadas' whims. I feel like this is the same. It is no coincidence that I met you just now. I feel like you should accompany me. To be honest with you, I'm not sure if we're truly friends or not. But I feel like we have been tethered together in someway and this meeting only strengthens my belief in this matter. So I want to ask you, will you come with me?"

[Ainyi]

Ainyi groaned as sunlight hit her in the eyes, and she rolled over in bed. Well, Alric's bed. It's not like they were interested in one another like that! She remembered trying to tease Alric with some sort of innuendo jokingly and all he did was blink. Even so, she wasn't interested, and seeing as he was in the same state, nothing came of her curling up on the edge of his bed but sound sleep on both parties it seemed. She didn't move when she slept, and she was small enough to curl up on the edge of the bed and not disturb Alric. At least, she hadn't heard any complaints so far. That was good enough for her.

But the sun disturbed her plenty as it made to wake her. She groaned and opened her eyes. As usual, Alric was already up and elsewhere. She sat up and rubbed at her eyes, looking around. Braghna chirped from the corner she made him sleep and ruffled his feathers. He was probably impatient to leave the room; she wouldn't let him go outside to fly during the night for fear he couldn't find her again. She got up and stretched as she walked over to him, petting some of his chest feathers as he cooed to her.

"Think I'll find a job today?" She asked the hawk softly in Nari, as she found her clothes, looking around for her other things. While she didn't need to bring her pack with her, she often just wore it with very little inside the pack just so that she had a place for Braghna to hook onto. It was that, or hold up her arm all day, or have his talons dig into her shoulder. After dressing in her Vinati, Bhyrda and other traditional wear, she checked on her arm. There was a faint scar on it from the run-in with the Yukmen that she would have for the rest of her life most likely, but she was proud of it. If she was lucky, she would have many more scars to show in her life time.

After a week, this city was still strange, but at least she was learning. She left the apartment, taking a few negative heckles from Alric's neighbors as he warned her about, and began walking in a random direction. She really wanted to get to Halik, to feed him and maybe take him out with her. Maybe if she rode a horse to different shops asking for a job, they might see her potential as a supply cart woman. Halik's trained enough; he could do it. But to get to Halik, she had to consciously not look for him. Which was hard. This god was a mite cruel, she thought. But it was what she had to deal with.

As she was walking, Braghna flew about ten feet above her. If he ventured farther, she whistled him back. After a few minutes, she was brought to the marketplace. While this was a great place to search for jobs about a few days ago, Braghna decided to relieve himself on the stall she was inquiring for a job, so that ended very quickly. And the stall ended up right in front of her. She very quickly made to round the corner and leave the market place...but she ended up at the market place again, just on a different side of it. Frustrated, she tried to leave again, but she ended up on yet another side of the market place!

This made her want to grit her teeth, but she calmed herself. She stopped to think about it. The rich man told her that incidences like this would most likely be Ionu trying to tell her something. So she was supposed to be in the market? But what about Halik? He needed feeding and tending to. Was a job opportunity here? From the dirty looks she got at the stalls, she assumed not. Sighing, she entered and began to look around. This god had a very odd sense of humor.

She didn't see anything, or anyone at first that might give her reason to be here. But as she looked around, she noticed Alric, on the side of a street talking with...someone? They were much taller, much bulkier. She didn't know how to react to him. Something about him seemed odd. Either way, she wasn't going to let the size of him intimidate her. If Alric was speaking with him, he couldn't be that bad, could he? She still kept a protective hand near Braghna, and double checked that she had her talon sword at the ready if need be.

"Your god has an odd sense of humor, rich man," She said in a matter-of-fact tone as she approaches. Her accent hasn't been diluted a bit in the past week. "I am searching for a job, or the stables to feed Halik, and It won't let me leave the market. Since you are here, maybe this god of yours wants me to talk with you? Whatever it is, make it quick. Halik hates stables." She didn't see a reason to greet the stranger he spoke with. Perhaps Alric had nothing to say, and that this was pointless, so that she wouldn't see this giant man again. If he was a man. No; this was probably nothing. She was sure of it. Well, she hoped.

[Ssafirsotibones]

Bonees smirked a bit. It seemed not only had Alric recalled one of the many things he believed, and had mentioned, but also was believing in it to... Though it was not surprising, considering he also had spent a lot of time here in the city of illusions. On a whim, Bones followed along with him, he figured he would elaborate on why he believed in Bones belief of the city being alive and interceding, if he followed. Which soon proved true. Bones did wonder about his opening... Bones himself had never received a letter before. Who would send him one? And yet this man was saying he had received two in the same day. He did not believe receiving letters were that common for people, due to the difficulty inherent in them, and so to get two at once... Though he was heading to Zeltiva? He had a vague idea of were that was... Somewhere far to the east... He had visited parts of Kalea and Falyndar, and had visited Riverfall before, but had never gone that far east. Though he was surprised by the fact that he wanted him to come along... To act as... What, a bodyguard. He did not doubt Alric needed it, he had seen him fight, or try to, and was not to good at it... But to just leave his home, and go with him? "Come wiss you? To Zeltiva... Which by sse way isss in sse far eassst from here... I am not sssure... I would have to drop everyssing here... In what capacity would I be coming along? For how long? And why exactly are you wanting to go ssere... You sssaid you received lettersss... But who are sse sssendersss to you, and why do ssey want you to come? For what purpossse?" After he finished saying this, but before Alric had time to respond, someone suddenly came up, and interrupted, butting in rudely, and talking to Alric, ignoring Bones. Bones felt a bit of anger pop up inside of him, but he kept it from showing on his face. Instead, he gave a dead neutral stare at Alric in response, before sweeping his gaze over to the new woman... He stared the short read headed woman down, inspecting her... Pushing down the urge to draw out his blade for her impertinence, and cut her down... But lucky for her, he was able to hold back this violent impulse... For know... "Isss ssisss a... 'Friend' of yoursss Alric?"

[Alric Wilmot]

"Come wiss you? To Zeltiva... Which by sse way isss in sse far eassst from here... I am not sssure... I would have to drop everyssing here... In what capacity would I be coming along? For how long? And why exactly are you wanting to go ssere... You sssaid you received lettersss... But who are sse sssendersss to you, and why do ssey want you to come? For what purpossse?" These were good questions, ones that any sane man would answer. And ones that Alric had not thought about. He had just felt, in the moment. Though now, as he slowed down to think, he knew the answers. "You would be coming as a protector, a bodyguard. And, if you're up for it, a trainer. I've seen you fight twice now, and I don't doubt you are a master at your craft. And your craft is killing. "I am a creature of the background, but I won't always be so. I really know very little about this, Bones. I am working out of curiosity and a strange sense of destiny I have not felt in a long time. "I apologize for the rushed tone of my speech. But you see the letters came from people I thought long dead. A good friend, and a brother. Both bear bad news, and request me, and both are in Zeltiva. It's just all so...coincidental." Alric shook his head. "Not coincidental, but you understand. After all, you said it yourself. There is no luck. I'm sorry that I'm not giving much detail, but I'd rather keep some things private..." Alric trailed off. He made a face. This was important. He could feel it. He reached into his pack and grabbed a gold Miza, flipping it to Bones. "I'm not asking this as a favor, I'm willing to pay you for your company and services." Suddenly a woman came from the crowds, interrupting Alric and Bones. Alric normally welcomed attention, but this felt rather rude. He was about to tell the woman to leave, when he turned and came face to face with Ainsley. He had left her asleep in his room earlier today. He did not expect to meet her here. "Your god has an odd sense of humor, rich man, I am searching for a job, or the stables to feed Halik, and It won't let me leave the market. Since you are here, maybe this god of yours wants me to talk with you? Whatever it is, make it quick. Halik hates stables." Alric gave off a smirk at her bluntness. It was refreshing. Not as pompous as his own speech, and not as threatening as Bones. It was its own, and Alric liked that. However, she was far too blunt for her own good. Alric was half afraid for her life. Bones was a very unpredictable fellow. A lot like the city, really. Luckily, Bones seemed to constrain himself. "Isss ssisss a... 'Friend' of yoursss Alric?" Alric gave a sigh of relief. "Yes, Bones. She is.” Suddenly, Alric had an idea. “Ainsley, something very important happened today. I received two letters, nearly one chime apart. Both of which beckoned me to Zeltiva. I believe it is divine in its oddity. Bones here, is a...friend, that I have asked to accompany me to the unknown city.” Alric looked sternly at her. “I plan on leaving. Today. It would mean much to me if you came along." She was not as fierce as Bones, but she was fierce nonetheless. And If Alric was to depart for unknown lands, he wanted as many assets as possible.

[Ainyi]

"Isss ssisss a... 'Friend' of yoursss Alric?"

Why did he talk so funny? He sounded like a snake. His body hulked over her, but that didn't intimidate her. If anything, it made her puff her chest out just a little more, and raise her chin that much more. Ainyi wasn't that good at reading people, but she could tell this one didn't like her already. What did she do? She still didn't get these social courtesies thing; it's not like she didn't have business with one of the parties involved in this conversation. What was she supposed to do, creep up meekly and hope the rich man would notice her? From what she could tell about him, he wasn't that kind of man. In plus, he normally enjoys this kind of thing.

Wait. If they didn't, did that mean something was wrong?

"Yes, Bones. She is.”

It made her feel better to see his trade mark smirk. He looked relieved. Was His friend Bones going to do something? Folk here truly were strange.

What she didn't see coming was what he said next.

“Ainsley, something very important happened today. I received two letters, nearly one chime apart. Both of which beckoned me to Zeltiva. I believe it is divine in its oddity. Bones here, is a...friend, that I have asked to accompany me to the unknown city.”

He was talking so fast, she could barely catch anything. She knew he meant to say more, but before she could tell him to slow down, he kept going. And very unlike himself, he looked at her like...like something very serious was happening. It almost worried her.

“I plan on leaving. Today. It would mean much to me if you came along."

She sat there for a moment, her face contorted as she deciphered all he said. I plan on leaving. Today. Come along. She knew what that meant, even at his fast pace. Earlier she heard the name Zelvita; that name sounded familiar, from the roads. But people spoke of places, and didn't say they moved.

He was asking her to come with him. To leave Alvadas. The joy in her face was plain. "Do places hold still in Zelvitas?" She asked with relief. "Will I wake up and find the market in the same place, and see the same thing out my window?" She could have kissed him right now. But somehow, she didn't think he would understand, and that might only confuse his friend. Well, him too.

Before she could think to be happy, she started to think of logistics.

"Do I have to leave behind Halik? I can pay for travel; I think, at least." She shook her head a moment, brushing her hair out of her face. It was so thick her hand naturally stopped a few inches past her hairline, glass beads clinking together.

"Yes. Yes, I'll go with you. I - what do I need to do? Is there anything I should sell? Braghna must come with me - but what about Halik?"

She realized now her questions were flying a mile a minute. If someone was willing to take her out of this city, she wasn't going to say no. Braghna chirped at her and nudged her neck. The great man that spoke like a snake made both of them nervous. Was he coming too?

"But...why?" She finally found herself asking. "You love Alvadas. But you want to leave...?"

She glanced over the the big man, and gave a nod to him. She didn't want to not acknowledge him. But seeing as there was no room in between for introductions, it would have to do. And with the feeling he gave her, she didn't want to start off on an insult if he was also going on this spur of the moment trip.

[Ssafirsotibones]

Bones had asked his questions, and was expecting answers... Though they had been more probative than they might seem on the surface... He was also interested to know of the full situation... And why Alric wanted him to come... As a hired hand? As a friend? As someone he trusted? Or someone he saw as a able to defend him, but little else... Did he see Bones as a mindless killing machine? Or realize he went much deeper than that? All of these would be answered, at least in part, by his answer to his questions... He supposed he would go... Though he needed to know why... And the answer was given, as Alric flipped the miza to Bones, saying he would pay him for the work of protecting him, and teaching him to fight... He was just buying him off... He saw him as a body, a warrior, and nothing else... As was so common... He needed someone he could trust to watch his back, and felt that Bones had enough honor not to go back on it... Bones did his best to keep the displeasure from his face, which grew a bit more rigid and cold... Though that could be confused as displeasure at the womans rude entrance... But his course was set now... If he had asked him as a friend, someone he trusted and needed to help... Had told him the truth from the beginning, and really trusted him in return for the trust he expected from Bones... Not just tried to buy his trust... If he had done that, Bones likely would have done it for free... But now the course was set, and he was little more than a hired merc, payed to protect the one paying him... He could do that... Though he barely admitted it to himself, he wished he had not offered to pay him, and had truly seen Bones for what he was... Deep down... Not the rough blood encrusted surface... So few bothered to look further than what there eyes showed them... He thought of all people Alric here might... But apparently not... "I will come wiss you... It ssseemsss sse city wantsss me to... It ssseemsss to wisssh it of me... To make sssure you can come back alive... Or perhapsss wantsss you to sssucceed at your endeavor... And I am not one to go againssst sse current, when it isss ssso ssstrong, and sssweeping me in itsss chosssen direction." "Do you have any plan of how to get ssere? By land? By sssea? Will we walk? Carry our ssingsss by cart? Go by horssse? I don't usssually ride horsssesss... Ssey don't really like me... What all will we take wiss usss? I need to pack accordingly..."

[Alric Wilmot]

Alric smiled a genuine smile as Bones and Ainsley agreed to accompany him. He was oblivious to Bones' discontent at being hired, and he did not pay much attention to Ainsley's discomfort. They were honorable people, Alric knew. But he only knew them as such. They were useful, and trustworthy. This Alric knew, for it was why he wanted them to come with him. But he did not see them as friends. Not as normal people did. "I do love Alvadas, Ainsley, but I love learning more. And I must seek knowledge wherever it is. Those letters have posed mysteries to me that I need to unravel. "And Bones, don't worry so much. I might not know where Zeltiva is, but I know how to travel. We'll go by boat. I encourage you to bring a pack, I won't be providing horses. If a captain is worth his station he'll know where to go. I do however, need to procure a list of schedules and other boats that will head there as quickly as possible." Alric scratched his chin. He had traveled before, but that had not ended well. Hopefully this voyage would go more smoothly. "You two go do what you need to do. I'll head to the docks and prepare for our voyage. I'll stand on the gangplank of the proper ship. I eagerly await our departure. You two are good people. I'm glad that I know you."

[Ainyi]

Was her entry so insulting? She watched the big man's face sink into a sullen, frozen over expression. He certainly didn't look like a man to willfully insult. But she didn't willfully insult.

"You two go do what you need to do. I'll head to the docks and prepare for our voyage. I'll stand on the gangplank of the proper ship. I eagerly await our departure. You two are good people. I'm glad that I know you."

She nodded him good luck as he went off to find this boat. He never answered her question about Halik. What ship captain would let her bring a horse on board? And even so, that would be torture for him; This place was far away. Travel on the boat might kill him just as easily as it might transport him. No; she knew that she had to sell her horse. He was a good companion, and she had him from leaving Wind Reach, to her place here in Alvadas. He was a good horse, and he obeyed her well, but he would be much better suited to a different owner. Braghna, she would never separate with, but this...this she could do.

But before she would leave to find someone to sell Halik to, she craned her neck to look at the big man. She almost wondered if she felt the back of her skull touch the base of her neck.

"Sorry for rudeness," She said bluntly, hoping her accent wouldn't impede his understanding. His certainly impeded hers. She could barely understand a word he said. "It is...busy morning, no? I did not want to give you anger. Soon we travel together, it seems." She offered her hand. She wasn't a general fan of handshakes; they felt awkward usually, and insincere. But it was a nice gesture, and while she had no doubts that she could take a big burly man in a fight, she did have doubts of wanting to be stuck on a boat with one that hated her for weeks on end.

"My name is Ainsley," She blurted, almost forgetting her train of thought. It almost didn't sound forced this time. Like it was her real name. She smirked a small amount; she was getting better. "I don't have long to talk; I must sell my horse, and tent and things. But I wanted to meet you. We will travel together for a while, yes?"

She did hope that this didn't feel forced, or contrived, or whatever they called it. Etiquette never was her thing. She just didn't want to make an enemy with someone she'd be with for a while, but it was obvious that these kind of courtesies were just as foreign to her as the Common tongue was to him. Braghna looked up at the man as well, though the hawk was not posturing or doing anything threatening. Inspecting might be a better word.