The Steel Howl

[Tallia]

Without much else to do, she stood at the gate, still feeling the sting of rejection, as the caravan moved towards the north. The money... the adventure... all gone... She gave out a heavy sigh as she wondered what to do now...

[Serenity]

"It would be a shame if I had to do that all by my lonesome, poor scout yet amazing warrior that I am."

Greyson came up behind Tallia and put his hand on her shoulder.

"You wouldn't let poor ol' Quick go off to his death would ya?" he said, smiling down at Tallia.

[Tallia]

Tallia jumped as he felt his hand land on her shoulder. Upon turning to see his face, she calmed down, but still had a look of wonder upon her. Taking a few quick glances around, she thought she saw everyone pack up and leave... must have been her imagination...?

"A...ah... W...wh... what...? What's... going on...? I... I thought you... you left... A... and... wh-what... do you mean...?"

[Serenity]

"Whoa there, calm down little sister." he said patting her lightly on the shoulder a few times before letting go.

"I stayed behind to catch my own ride, that train is small but catches attention, I can't be seen anywhere near it with all the patrols on the road an' all. The plan is for me to hitch a ride on another wagon, break off down the road and meet the target. Fray and his boys will make camp nearby to be ready with their side of the heist."

He picked up his hat a bit to scratch his head, "So what do you say, darlin, want to steal from the rich and give to the poor?"

[Tallia]

As this wasn't the first time she had been offered the task, she thought she would sound more resolute. Stealing... was wrong... a criminal offense... However... poverty didn't stop people from suffering... that she knew very well... What's more, is that many don't ever bother to help...
She looked at Greyson. These people... they have good intentions... they're just not going about it in the most legal way... She didn't want to risk her title, but if she wasn't going to be in Wistvale, what risk would she have to take...? She hadn't made her presence very well-known, and she could always take to a disguise of some sort just in case... Looks like it was time to put those skills to use again...

"...I... I've reconsidered... I-I'll go... with you..."

[Serenity]

"Good girl, we should get going if we're gonna make it on time." he said looking quite pleased.

They both hitch a ride on a wagon heading North as well, a simple farmer's vehicle with various produce. The ride is rickety at best, but otherwise Quick seems to be enjoying himself.

"We'll get off close to sundown and start a trek in the woods, make a small camp. We'll talk about the rest of the trip from there." he finished while motioning his head towards the driver, letting Tallia know that if she wanted to ask more questions about the job it would have to wait.

[Tallia]

She nodded back, knowing it unwise to risk details getting leaked. Still, that didn't mean she didn't have questions... Regardless of her reasoning with herself, she still felt uneasy about the operation... She wasn't quite a master thief, but she was pretty close to it. It brought her back a little...

Nervous about this whole situation, she sat in silence next to Quick, not sure what to even begin talking about.

[Serenity]

"First name's Quick, by the way, in case that weren't obvious already. I'm a hand for hire, any kind of work will do fine by me, so long's it pay of course." he finished, chuckling.

"I knew there was something a bit special about you when I saw you. So I knew you had to come along on this trip. Ol' Greg may not like it, but you'll work hard I know. I got that eye about people."

He casually changed Fray's name in front of Tallia who he hoped caught on. Though the only other person near them was their driver, he was still being cautious. Quick probably did many jobs like this before to take it so easily.

[Tallia]

She was glad he started a conversation; Tallia wouldn't have said anything throughout the entire ride had he not broken the ice. She smiled and blushed at his flattery, unaware and unsure of what he really noticed about her.

"U... um...t-thank you... I... I also want to... to th-thank you for... sticking up for me... th... that was nice... Um... h-how do you know... um... Greg...? You... you're a mercenary... s-so... I wouldn't imagine...th-that you do this often..."

Tallia could understand Quick's discretion when it came to the job, so she was not going to try to put that at risk while they were with someone else.

[Serenity]

Quick chuckled, "Well I do all sorts of things," he said somewhat suggestively. "But I knew you would be fit for the job, Greg just couldn't see it. I have an eye for opportunity. "

He relaxed his back against the wall of the wagon, the chains under his coat rattled a little as he did.

"So you're a guard is that right? How did a sweet little thing like you go about getting that position?"

[Tallia]

Tallia sighed. Things were always weird whenever anyone mentioned anything like that. Nevertheless, it wouldn't do good to just never tell anybody about it.

"W... well... I... I came to Wistvale in search of... of a certain someone... I-it turns out she was a... a member as well... I-I figured it would be better to join... I get to help people... a-and... I... I get to be... c-close to her..."

As usual, her complexion deepened as she turned away from Quick. He must think I'm so weird right now, she thought.

[Serenity]

Quick muffled a quick laugh that wasn't intended to be rude, but a response to Tallia's sudden shyness.

"You must admire this woman then, aye? There's no shame in that. You can say I'm the same regarding my life. A man inspired me to take up the coat of a mercenary. What's this inspirational lady like?" he asked earnestly.

[Tallia]

Tallia's awkwardness took a backseat as she thought about her Lady and all that has happened so far. It had been some time, she thought.

"W... well... she's... s-strong... And... and she fights... she fights for everyone... not j-just herself... It makes me wonder... if... if I can do... the same..."

Her head sunk low, becoming absorbed in even more thought.

"S-she's... done so much for me... I.... I just wish... I-I can help her... Maybe... maybe when... that day comes..."

Shaking her head out of it, she flashed Quick a smile.

"I... I'm sorry... I'm... just talking nonsense now... aren't I...? She's someone... I think about... a... a lot..."

[Serenity]

"So you love her? Could have just said that, darlin,'" Quick laughed a bit while patting Tallia on the shoulder. It wasn't quite clear how much of that was teasing, if not all of it.

The little farm wagon had gone a little ways down the road already, as little as two hours probably passing since taking the journey. The driver was nearing his own destination which was a little town not much farther down the road.

Quick whistled and requested the driver to stop, where he then gave the man a few coins for his trouble.

"This is our stop, we're gonna hoof it to a decent camp site."

The driver took off again as soon as they both got off.

"Anything you want to ask now? We got all the time in the world until we head to camp."

[Tallia]

Regardless of how he meant it, Tallia's face was still a fiery red from Quick mentioning Margrett like that. Nevertheless, she was curious about everything that was going to happen...

"S...so...w-why are you guys... doing... this...? How... l-long will it... take...? You... you've done this before... right...? H-how long... have you known... Fr...Fray...? "Quick"... is your... r-real name...? Why... why aren't you... k-keeping the spoils...?
Umm... is... is that... too many questions...?"

Her ears fell to her as she bunched up in embarrassment. She didn't mean to bombard him with questions, but... she just wanted to know so much...