“Speak. Why are you here.”

I hesitated at first “SPEAK NO-” “ENOUGH!”

The girl turned her head to see the large man with a broadsword stand up and walking towards the two of us, every step he took feeling like thunder.

“But Sir, she was stalking in bush.” The girl was taken aback at the mans action.

“Abby, I get your still foreign to customs here, but no matter how you slice it she is a beggar! She probably couldn’t even obtain a knife much less use it against a few gold rank mercenaries, not to mention how expensive poison would be for her!” The girl backed away from the man as he approached me “Lass, whats your name.”

“Al-Alexis” I stutter.

“She’s not lying.” The priest mumbled

“I don’t remember there being any bounties for an Alexis. Do you know of any Frank?”

The Bowman spoke up “Not that I recall Jeff.”

The swordsman, who I know know as Jeff, reached his hand out in front of me. I took it and he pulled me up “Lass, I am not going to ask too many questions, but I have one I have to ask, why are you out in these parts?”

After a second of deciding, and remembering the girl can detect lies, I explain “I caught the attention of the Night Watchers in the city slums, and they were likely stalking me so I fled the city.”

“A smart lass too I see. I can’t count how many of those pests I’ve killed and I know I’ll kill many more. It breaks my heart to see them bullying a youngling like yourself. Everyone has their story, but some are more cruel than others. That’s why I always try to listen, you never know what you might learn.” Jeff veers his head towards the thief. “Sorry about Abby, she is still new to the north and besides not speaking Nordstrom’s common tong, our common tong, she is still good at heart.

“Sorry” Abby apologized.

“Anyway, you must be hungry traveling all the way from the big city. Want a piece of the Gob’lak? We have plenty to spare!” Jeff gestured towards a large, three horned boar as big as a small bolder.

“If its fine with you.” I manage to get out “Do you possibly think a group of four could devour this beast in one moon?” He lets out a hearty laugh “Lass, we have some pieces cooking. Just wait a few minutes and get on a stump if you want to stick around for a while at least.”

“Hey,” I flinch from the sudden voice behind me “I found pan” Abby holds out my frying pan wrapped in cloth and I immediately check to see if anything was missing. “I not touch” She stutters.

I breath out a sigh of relief and Jeff explains “I heard a large metal clang so I asked Abby to investigate.” Having realized how tired I must have been I politely ask “Can I stay the night? I’ll try not to be a bother.” “Frank, do we have the spare tent?”

Frank reaches behind him into a bag I didn’t even see at first, and grabs out a small compressed tent. Compressed tents were quite expensive as you had to use magic to make them, but were well worth it as it allowed you to carry an entire tent inside a small backpack, an essential for adventurers.

“Right here boss” Frank throws it to us, which Jeff quickly catches.

He hands the tent to me and points to an area nearby another tent “There is a good tent spot over there, right by the darker looking stump.”

I look at him, grateful and with a bit of disbelief at this situation “Thank you.” I mutter and run off to setup the tent.

I was smiling at Alexis while she was setting up the tent. Frank went to sit next to me and muttered “Why did you do it Jeff? She could be a spy for all we know.”

“I, don’t know. Maybe because of my lost daughter, but I have a feeling she means us no harm. My years of combat experience tells me she couldn’t hurt a fly, and she seems in a bit of turmoil with herself. I personally believe she has a deeper past than what she’s letting on.”

“I agree” Lela, who usually stays dead silent mumbles “She has the scent of divine on her. It isn’t god or devil, but something else, something unique. All I can say is I pray to Eva that she doesn’t stray from the path.”