Put at ease by the clear affection that man has for his horse, she comes further still, but stops a good distance away. Very much as a scared filly ready to bolt at a moments notice. "No. I mean, I ride one here, for the task at hand, but it is not one of my own." She pauses to consider her next thought. "It would be hard to keep such an animal in the wilds of the forest and road. There are too many traps and natural snares. They belong in the open, where they can roam and run free. But that does not mean I do not enjoy their company from time to time." Folding her arms more tightly over her chest as she surveys the animal once more and the setting about them.

"If I may ask, Sir, will you be staying long?" The fact the individual has been pleasant to this point confuses her. That De La Maistre managed to find so many tolerant people seems beyond her comprehension and yet she is not quite so convinced at the tolerance of others. More convinced is she that they keep it in check for the sake of their given task and the size of their coin purses.

”Oh yes, he is certainly a creature of the open country.  He doesn’t much like forests, wetlands or mountains.” he says with a slight smile.  ”And, as a cavalryman at heart,  they are not  places I go comfortably either.  Although I have generally found all three to be home to hardy people who are more interested in how a person behaves than someone’s looks, accent or wealth.”

”While it is nice to be away from the city environs for a few days, I must return shortly.  I will join  those of you heading for the Orcy-Ring, for the first part of that journey, but will continue on, hoping to follow the trail continues along the banks of the river to  join the main road at Fort Sarenko.  From there back into Resov to report to my masters.” He continues.

”But what of you?  Will you brave the battle at the fort?  Of are you heading back into the forest to talk with the fey?”

Listening thoughtfully, Aris'ta nodded her head at the occasionally pause, but otherwise said nothing for the moment, letting her companion speak and answer her question. When he spoke of their next task, she seemed inclined to decline her presence at the 'ring' until he made mention of the Fey. Her features turned a decidedly pale shade of gray before she gathered herself and swallowed with a shake of her head.

"I think it would take a great deal of persuasion for me to return to those creatures of the wood. I prefer to see my enemy, or friend if the case may be, such ghosts are best left to others with stronger constitutions." She place a hand over her stomach to settle herself and then lifted her head, "So I shall more than likely be joining you in your examination and securing of the 'ring.'"

"Oh, I won't be going as far as the ring.  I will leave that to you and the rest of Henry's people.  After all, if you can't take it and hold that - then you can't take and hold the rest of this land." he says bluntly.

"But I know what you mean.  I would much rather have a foe I can see and treat with by force of arms, than a foe who hides and skulks about."

"You mean lead an army?" She asks with a loft of her brow, wrapping her arms across her chest and pivoting to stand more heavily upon one heel.

"But yes, I see what you mean. I'm more inclined to have more rather than less, but perhaps that it the best plan of action in both cases. The Fey were not inclined to our visit, so perhaps it would be wise to send a small force not so visibly armed and send the fighters to hold the fort." Flipping one hand out to indicate the end of her thought.

"I would imagine that the Stag Lord's fort will be larger and better defended than this ring, so you might as well get the idea now.  I rather think tha Henry will want you all to challenge the Stag Lord sooner rather than later.  And as for the Fey, I understand that it can be tricky to get them to face you in a fair battle.  Where as, if they are prepared to talk ...."

"It is not for certain they are." She finishes for him, with a slight nod of her head.

"As for the Stag Lord, given that others have pulled from his forces, of course it would be wise to attack sooner than later as it gives him less time to prepare for our arrival. It will be a hard-won fight, regardless." Wincing slight to her wounded pride and her pitiful display of skill on their last journey. "We can do only what we can do and hold to that. They appear a strong-willed group and well skilled when their minds are set to it. Unless this Stag Lord offers something unexpected, it is likely to be a victory."

"One can only hope so."

Aris'ta couldn't help but smirk, "I've heard somewhere, that to assume battles of great importance will be a failure will likely make failure a certainty. I am not greatly superstitious, of course, but one likes to err on the side of caution."

"But then, a general who assumes success will often underestimate their opponent." he says with the air of someone quoting a strategy manual.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:37, Mon 10 Oct 2016.

Pausing a moment, the woman reflects and then nods her head with clearer understanding. Turning, she lifts her eyes and looks around uncomfortably, before simply shaking her head at some inward thought. "I will keep that in mind, if you'll excuse me..." Not giving a moment to protest, as per usual, she twists and departs towards her initial destination, suddenly greatly fatigued.


-->Off to sleep near the dead.-->

"Of course ..." he nods his farewells.
This message was last updated by the player at 15:06, Mon 10 Oct 2016.

Zorah passes Aris'ta on the way to the corral.  "Good night."  She cheerily offers, somehow still good-natured after lack of sleep and physically exhausted.

"Good evening, sir."  She says to Sir Ferdinand as she makes her way to Puck.  "You have a gorgeous animal, but I'm sure everyone tells you that.  Very strong willed, as well."

Zorah makes sure Puck is fed and watered.  She spends a few minutes brushing him before calling Murdock over to do the same, and finally Wilson.  She takes the next hour to continue Wilson's training.  Zorah holds an empty bottle in one hand and releases Wilson with the other.  The hawk is able to grab the bottle and keep it in his grasp as he flies up into the air.  Zorah points to a small bush nearby.  The hawk tries to fly over and drop the bottle on the bush but misses by a long way.  Zorah seems pleased with Wilson's progress so far.

Ferdinand leans against the railing for a while watch Zorah at work.   Then with a "That's going nicely" to the young druid he strolls away to stretch his legs.

About the same time Ferdinand left, Lex appeared. He watched Zorah with her animals for a bit before approaching carrying the saddle she'd commissioned. "I hope you like it. How was your journey? Did you meet any new animal friends?"

"Lex!"  Zorah embraces the young man in an awkward hug as she tries to get her arms around both him and the saddle in his hands.  She looks over the saddle.  "May I?"  She holds out her hands to examine it more closely.

"The trip was mostly as expected.  Slow going, but a few intriguing bits here and there.  We found some fey out in the woods.  Beautiful creatures.  I saw tiny glowing fey, like tiny torches.  Brilliantly bright and colorful.  A ghostly tree spirit helped us with some bandits.  Oh!  And I found a faerie dragon nest.  He was gorgeous!" 

Lex recovers from the awkward hug and shows Zorah the saddle, pointing out the care and details he had added for her. "That's an owl, and that's a... hedgehog, and that's a horse, of course. Do you want me to add any other designs? I assumed you would like these."

"A faerie dragon? The Fey? We were always doing our best to avoid the Fey and a faerie dragon sounds scary not beautiful, but you must be right. Any signs of the Stag Lord?"

"Hmm, oh yes, yes.  In a fort or something."  Zorah answers only half paying attention to the question.  "This is beautiful Lex.  Thank you so much.  I don't recall if I paid you for this yet or not.  What do I owe you?  Oh, and I'm trying to call dibs on some furs we found out there from the loot pile.  If I can get them they're all yours."

Taking her eyes off the saddle Zorah remembers his other comment.  "Oh no, it was quite beautiful.  Small, the size of a dog maybe.  Kind of like a lizard dog, a flying lizard dog.  Maybe if things go well I can bring one back here and you'll get to see.  Oh, silly me.  I forgot to mention.  I'm going back out to speak to them soon.  They are intelligent so I wouldn't dream of trying to capture one, but a partnership could be very beneficial."

Lex answered Zorah's question a bit sheepishly, "We didn't discuss payment before you left, but I assumed we would work it out when you returned. Thank you for thinking of me! The leather will help as Oleg doesn't have a lot and the more material I have the more goods I can make for you and your companions. I am sure some new boots would be in order, right? Did you have anything else that I could make for you?"

"How does ten gold sound?  I think that's about market price for a riding saddle.  The detailing is beautiful, I'd hate for you to think I was trying to cheat you."

"You should ask around and see if anyone else is in need of supplies.  If I hear anything I'll point them in your direction.  Have you worked with any of the horses since I've been away?"

"Oh, I nearly forgot!" Zorah rummages through Puck's saddle bag.  She pulls out a pile of animal skins and a small knife.  "I thought these would be of more use to you than any of us.  I'm told this is a high quality skinner's knife."

Lex looks at the woman as though she has just handed him a diamond, which maybe she had, and says, "Thank you so much Zorah, I find it hard to accept this and the 10 gold, this knife is worth far more, though I will need the gold to buy more skins, especially if there are others among you in need of saddles or other leather goods."

He takes the gold and the knife and examines it feeling the weight of it in his hands. Though this could be used to injure, it was clearly made for a craftsman to aid in the skinning process. "Anything you need, I am your man."

"We'll talk in the coming weeks.  I may need someone with skill in working with animals, but for now I need to head back out on a short trip with Bai and Pipre.  Take care of yourself and thank you for the beautiful saddle."

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Some time later
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A simple fenced enclosure that holds a number of horses.  A worker nods a greeting to you then goes back to working on a horses hoof.