Ereck ignored the mocking tone in the woman's voice as she repeated his name. It mattered not to him whether she was impressed or scared or whatever she felt towards him. The realization popped in his mind that it mattered not what anyone thought of him. If the pay was right he would kill or protect anyone, no matter how they were related to him. Not that anyone was related to him at the moment. No friends, no relatives, no partners. Ereck's life was empty and void, black like his night leather outfit and the black like the night in which he spent most of his waking life. He couldn't help a smirk as the woman spoke about the Hound's favorite color. That was actually funny, even considering the situation. Ereck listened quietly and only nodded as he absorbed the information. So the Hound was looking for people to recruit. It was a good plan, bolstering his numbers before coming out in the open. He was quite sure the Hound had been very alone when he had ended the general or whatever he was of the Daggerhands. And now he was looking for people to join him. The air of mystery surrounding the Hound appealed to the young man. It gave him that extra edge of dangerous and mysterious that would keep some more people out of his way. Her information was valuable and new to Ereck, although he didn't have any illusions about the chance of it being fake information. "Shade. Not Shadow Lad." Ereck informed her before shrugging lightly. It mattered not what she called him. They would probably never meet again. Ereck performed his Equivalent Exchange. "The Hound is a ghosting wizard woman with the head of a bull. But you already knew that. That's all I know about him. But I know there's someone else looking for him. Someone drawing attention. Big guy, full of tattoos and more weapons on his body than the two of us together. He paid quite handsomely, I think, 'cuz Merv didn't share much more than that. And a woman. Also weapons and looking for the Hound. But I think that's you.." Ereck tried to determine if the woman was interested in his words or not as he looked intently at her face. "Oh! The Hound isn't-..." Another voice suddenly butted into the conversation and Ereck's weapon was off his belt in a flash. At first, the man approaching had looked like any passer-by, coming from behind the woman and towards them to pass them. But then he had spoken directly to Ereck and the woman and it had brought Ereck to react. People butting into other people's conversations were either dumb, not from Sunberth or looking to die. In case it was the latter, Ereck's weapon was ready to go. His eyes locked onto the man as he looked for weapons and 'tells' of incoming attacks. Ereck's eyes flash darkly at the man as he sees the grin on his face. Apparently it was the first option, dumb. He was so close to getting his hands on something good about the Hound, if he could believe anything the woman had told him so far. With a sigh, Ereck lowered his blade, keeping it in hand. He looked at the woman for a moment, leaving her to decide how to react to the sudden interruption. It is quite obvious from Ereck's eyes and stance towards the man that he'd rather have the man continue walking and live his own life a little longer. You really did meet all sorts of people in Sunberth. With a sigh, Ereck put the sickle back on his belt, his hand resting on the handle once again. There would be no need for weapons for a man like this. If necessary, a good punch or kick would scare him off and put Ereck back on the Hound track. He turned his attention back to the woman, hoping for something more out of her. He wondered if his equivalent exchange had been valuable to her and if their deal had resulted in any way in an equal trade or if the woman had learned a larger amount of information from him than he had from her. This information business was providing Ereck with nothing more than headaches and worries. |