The Serpent and The Knight (Savi)

[Henrik Thaldrin]

Henrik lay on his side as Savitaire spoke again. It amazed him how people could always give their honest opinion about things. So he didn't think he'd be seeing Savi in armour any time soon. The thought of the Dhani getting a bit angry in armour crept into Henrik's head and he couldn't help but stifle a rather loud chuckle. Luckily though, this didn't catch the attention of Savitaire and Henrik just lay there as nothing had happened.

The next thing that happened slightly scared Henrik. After asking Savi whether he was a Dhani or not certainly sparked something off inside of him. The feeling in the air was stand-offish as Henrik raised his arms up to waist height in an attempt to calm Savi down. But, if things did take a turn for the worse, Henrik always had his longsword right next to him, which he was rather skilled with in combat.

The two stood around three metres away from each other for a couple of minutes, just staring into each others eyes. Finally, Henrik spoke in a calm tone. "I wasn't planning on hurting you if you are. I was just simply wondering. Anyway, you haven't given me a reason to harm you. Let's just sit back down and I'll take you into the city before nightfall since I don't really want to be out here when it is. What do you say?"

[Savitaire]

It would be a rather interesting sight to see, Savitaire simply relaxed, just like that. Knowing he wasn’t in any danger was, for now, enough though he’d still keep an eye on the man should he prove he was lying. “Yes, I am… Mostly I choose to not make others decide to be my enemies, but I suppose I am the rare exception. So…what gave me away?”

Knowing what it was that had tipped the man off would help him blend in better. It would not be good if he got himself killed just when he had started doing the things he wanted to do. “I don’t have a place to stay in your city, but for a bit I’ll be happy to let you show me around. Know a place that has good food?”

A meal would also settle the left over tension, a fight would have meant a meal as he would have had to dispose of the body some way. Now that he wasn’t going to be forced to defend his lifeblood he wanted something to eat. While he wasn’t as relaxed as he was before, he wasn’t aggressive either, which was a very very good thing.

[Henrik Thaldrin]

Henrik sat back down, glad the stand off had averted fighting since he didn't think he'd win against a tall guy like Savitaire. The man had admitted to being a Dhani so that would also help Henrik if he ever needed to spot one. Once Savi asked him how he'd figured it out, Henrik couldn't help but smile. "Your name and the way it's pronounced. I've heard names like that before when I was living in the wild."

After splashing some more water in his face from the creek, since Henrik was becoming tired, he donned his knight armour minus his helmet and held his sword in his left hand and shield in the other. "That's fine you don't have a place to sleep for tonight. You can stay with me and find an apartment in the morning. I'll also show you about once we get inside the city. But be warned, it's pretty big!"

Henrik then made his way onto the path leading towards the huge city of Syliras. "It's about a fifteen minute walk so we'll set off once you're ready." Henrik smirked as he awaited Savi's confirmation that they could set off for home.

[Savitaire]

So then it was the way he spoke, his name could just be taken as something exotic. He would have to pay close attention to how others spoke to change his own speech. He took one long last drink of water, plunging his whole head in to the creek as he did so. The cold felt good, he shook the water off pushing his wet hair from his face and sighed standing. “I’ve been within the walls before, it is rather impressive. Are you sure I can stay with you?”

Mostly he wondered because he liked to sleep as a snake, not as a human, he was less vulnerable that way. It would be convenient to be sleeping in a shelter, though he’ll miss the sounds of the forest and the food he would have hunted. He looked off in the direction of the city, he could hear it already alive and moving.

[Henrik Thaldrin]

Henrik chuckled as Savitaire asked him the question. "As long as you don't kill me in my sleep... or anyone else for that matter. All right?" Henrik laughed pretty loudly as the two began their walked back to the gates of Syliras through the dense forest that blocked blocked their view of the sky and sun.

Henrik thought about the man next to him. He still didn't trust Savitaire fully and was worried that he might possibly harm someone or something in Syliras tonight. No. Henrik put the thought out of his mind since the Dhani could probably be stopped by a handful of Syliran Knights if he chose to take that path.

Once they reached Syliras, both men were tired from the rather long walk. Henrik looked up to the setting sun which meant nightfall was about two, maybe three, hours away. They wasted no time in getting inside the city where Henrik finally felt safe. "So, where do you want to go?" Henrik asked Savitaire.

[Savitaire]

Savitaire nodded “I won’t, I don’t kill others unless provoked and I don’t fight unless challenged. There is no sport in killing a man in his sleep, so you’ll not have to fear harm from me.”

When they passed through the gates the sounds of the castle city were louder, the smells of civilization was a curious concoction, some good, some bad. So many people in one place trying to survive, it was a sight he was sure would always fascinate him. “A meal perhaps? Though I don’t have much...”

He wasn’t sure how much things would cost, he wanted to save what money he had so he could use it only if he truly needed to. It was another reason why he had stayed in the forest, you didn’t pay money to trees for a night coiled in their branches.

[Henrik Thaldrin]

Henrik smiled at Savi as they entered the main courtyard of the city. The merchants were pretty much packing up for the night except for the little few who were staying open for longer. The two then proceeded to the nearest tavern for a drink and maybe something to eat since both men were pretty hungry.

They both sat down and Henrik ordered two pints of ale, one for him and the other for Savitaire. "I hope you like ale, Savi, because I don't want to be wasting my money, 'eh?" Henrik joked about and the bartender brought them their drinks and Henrik paid him.

As Henrik drank his ale, he spoke to Savi. "So, what do you plan on doing once you've settled in? I mean, you can't live with me for the duration of your stay." Henrik laughed out rather loud as he continued to down his ale. As he awaited Savi's reply, Henrik thought about who or what Savitaire could be employed hopefully soon.

[Savitaire]

The tavern was a new experience for him, sure he had seen some places, but hadn’t gone in to a place such as he had been led to. The smell of food, the smells of people, the bubbling sounds of conversation and, once the drink was set before him, the smells of whatever was in the cup. He lifted the glass taking in the scent curious, a tentative sip brought to his tongue made a blend of flavors he’d never tasted before. It was a bit bizzare at first, but as it traveled down his throat a curious hint of warmth followed after. He took a deeper drink savoring it, he wondered if the warm feeling was normal. “I’ve never had this till now, its…good.”

The mug was finished all too soon and he sat back enjoying the flavor still on his tongue. He thought over what he was good at and then shrugged “I don’t have any mundane skills I’m afraid. I can fight of course, perhaps I’ll find work as a bodyguard or something, though I’m skilled in unarmed combat and not with weaponry.” An idea crossed his mind and he grinned “Maybe I’ll see about becoming a Knight like you eh? Wearing metal and spooking at the thought of wolves… That is if I’d be allowed?”

He wasn’t sure what he’d need to do, but he was fairly confident that whatever happened would be worth the trial. He watched as a woman walked by a table placing food before a man, it smelled good which made his mouth water. He smirked “I like the idea of being a knight, sounds like it’ll be entertaining. So, what will I have to do?”

[Henrik Thaldrin]

Henrik chuckled at Savitaire's reaction to his first tasting of ale whilst listening to the buzz of the crowd in the tavern. It amused him when somebody first drank alcohol. He liked to watch their facial expressions to determine whether they like it or not. Well, needless to say, Savitaire obviously liked it, judging by his reaction and comment. "If you want another, Savi, you're gonna have to buy it because I'm on a very slim budget as it is, since I didn't leave Ravok with much money and, if I'm honest, this job doesn't pay very much." Henrik chuckled as he finished his sentence.

As Henrik downed the final drops of his ale, nearly making it look like none had even been there in the first place, he listened to Savitaire's question about joining the Syliran Knights. At first, it kind of took him by surprise since he'd only been in the city for about half an hour but then Henrik settled down and just answered it calmly and coolly. "Well, you need to be a good fighter, armed and unarmed. And, judging by what you've told me, you seem like a good fighter. If you're serious about this, go down to the recruitment office and talk to the guy behind the bar. Oh, and, if you could, I was wondering if you could train me to become a better unarmed fighter?"

[Savitaire]

He froze looking at Henrik surprised, him teach? He sat back with a sigh, he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to. “I…could try I suppose, perhaps we could spar, I’ve never taught anyone anything before.”

He’d have to hold back some since he didn’t want to cause serious harm, but while he was unsure, he figured he’d give it a shot.