“Madame, you do me too much credit. I'm merely a swordsman, lending my blade to a righteous cause. I'm afraid I wouldn't know the first thing about...gentlemanly behaviour,” Aldrem responded to her first statement carefully and elusively, his eyes quickly but thoroughly studying her form once again. He was being careful about trying to get a read on her, much like she was him. Respectable enough, she thought, lifting her chalice to her lips for a small sip of the bitter, red liquid within. It was becoming more and more clear to her that this man was more than just a simple mercenary swordsman and much more than the average mercenary for hire. He was just as critical in his analyzing of this entire situation as she was, and just as dangerous as that could be for her in the long run—it could also turn out to be a good thing.
“I suspect the road will be perilous. We may face worse than mere bandits,” he began responding to her last question for him, and as he did so he began to stare off in no particular direction, or at any particular subject. It seemed he was almost imagining their adventures ahead with a bit of wondrous anticipation for it all. A man eager for a fight, she noted to herself, letting the gin on her face grow slightly for a moment before returning to its original state. She let her eyes return to meet his when he began speaking once more.
“I am sure, of course, that Lord Gravus is equally glad to have your skills among the group. If you'll forgive me for presuming, but you are a mage of sorts, are you not?"
His question left a stain of distaste in her ears, but she did not let it reflect in her facial expressions or posture. She had known most of them had immediately pegged her as a mage as soon as they had seen her, and it was the last thing she wanted anybody to think about her. She wanted to remain under the radar, as unassuming as possible and even completely written off as any kind of useful if she could help it. If there was one thing Maelin had learned in her life, it was that her knowledge and natural prowess in the Arcane Arts made her nothing more than a giant target for anybody. If there was another thing Maelin had learned, it was that it suited her much better being seen as innocent and to put it simply: less than average.
“I’m afraid that you have presumed wrong, dear Aldrem. As I’m sure the rest of your comrades will as well. I’m no more a mage than a moth is an eagle,” she responded politely, and in a well-rehearsed tone of embarrassment, “As I said before, I’m just an advisor—or more accurately an ambassador for the Royal Houses in Wayrest and all of High Rock, here in the service of Lord Gravus. I’m afraid I’m really only here to observe and report, because you see, the sudden and unforeseen return of an otherwise thought extinct royal house is of grave importance and greater interest to the biggest houses in all of High Rock. Of course they’d all like to make sure that he remains in good health for the continuation of his House’s return, however, since they were unable to send forces of their own to his aid they thought it best to at least remain informed and updated as to his status in this mission of his.”
Maelin watched Aldrem carefully but subtly as she explained her presence, occasionally glancing down at her fidgeting hands in practised bashfulness as she spoke. “Which is why I am so relieved to have such handsome men such as yourself, and women skilled in dealing with ‘worse than mere bandits’. I couldn’t imagine travelling the roads out here by myself. I arrived here in a carriage accompanied by a group of Stendarr Agents on their way to Hammerfell,” she continued with a friendly giggle, placing a hand on his forearm gingerly with a gentle squeeze.
Before Maelin was able to continue her discussion with Aldrem, she noticed his attention trail off in the direction of the rest of the group, who’s murmurs of discussion had faded. She turned her attention as well, noticing their eyes following the Lord Gravus and his attendants leaving the safety of their tent and approaching the group. Behind them, servants and soldiers began to fall in and dismantle the camp where it stood, and the Lord stopped in front of the group where all eyes could see him. Maelin kept her hand on Aldrem’s arm in an attempt to put off a sort of unease or nervousness, and took another slow sip of her wine before finally ending their physical contact.
“Your attention please!” The young Lord called out to them all, and as Aldrem turned to face the man, Maelin stepped to his side to listen to the Lord address the group. “It seems everyone has arrived and we will be departing momentarily. However, every expedition requires supplies.”
The Lord gestured to nobody in particular, and from a place, Maelin could not see before, a cluster of covered wagons pulled buy sturdy northern horses approached the group. Then Gravus spoke up once more. "These wagons carry all the provisions we'll need for our journey, and enough to supply aid to the village once we reach it. I beseech that you guard them diligently. There is room to sit and rest if you grow tired of the road, of course."
Just as the Lord looked like he was about to make his way toward one of the wagons, the man Trollis pulled at his shoulder and began whispering something in his ear. This changed the expression on the Lord’s face, and after a short sigh the man spoke up once again. “I will not lie to you. The journey will be perilous, and there is a chance we may encounter worse than mere bandits along the way. I ask for no oath of servitude or fealty, but I would ask that any who have not the courage to remain leave now."
Maelin glanced around at the group, in anticipation that somebody may consider his words and take their leave, but nobody moved. A courageous lot then, she thought to herself, as the Lord spoke up one last time. “Excellent. And with that, we are headed for the open road, and the reclamation of my ancestral home."
She watched the Lord move towards the lead wagon with his advisors and climb aboard, and immediately after the caravan began to move. The group along with the soldiers in Gravus’ service formed around the cluster of wagons, some climbing into them, but most just walking beside them. It took her a moment of walking to notice that the man Aldrem to whom she had just been speaking, had made his way to stand beside one of the grim-faced paladins. She raised an eyebrow and set her chalice down before moving in a quickened pace towards the head caravan. If she were to remain faithful to her story, she needed to remain close to the Lord and his advisors for as long as she could. However, Maelin was ready for most anything that would lay ahead.