Completed Trade and Treason

[Sung Na]

She’d him already there, his horse having been saved by its armor. He was already mounted and waiting. When she arrived on the back of a new horse he nodded to her in greeting. “I hope you slept well my lady.”

On the way back she’d see a large group of the soldiers escorting the children back the way they had come, towards Elbion. What would happen was not explicitly clear but if she asked he’d answer truthfully.

Upon their return, he’d leave the horses where they had the previous day and march alongside the route they had taken before, evidently remembering the way.

 

[Gracia von Stehlen]

Aldrich Stone answered the door for them once more, an irritated look plastered on his face. He welcomed the two clearly exhausted and battle-worn guests inside and Gracia immediately plopped down onto one of the large armchairs and let out a loud sigh.

A plate of bread and cheese was brought out to them and set on the table. Gracia took her share and dug in. She hadn't had anything to eat since before last night's battle and she was running on fumes. Her mind was murky and she couldn't think to converse with the nobleman until she could think straight.

Aldrich came to join them when they were settled and took a seat across from Gracia, "Well. How did things go?"

 

[Sung Na]

Aldrich Stone answered the door for them once more, an irritated look plastered on his face. He welcomed the two clearly exhausted and battle-worn guests inside and Gracia immediately plopped down onto one of the large armchairs and let out a loud sigh.

A plate of bread and cheese was brought out to them and set on the table. Gracia took her share and dug in. She hadn't had anything to eat since before last night's battle and she was running on fumes. Her mind was murky and she couldn't think to converse with the nobleman until she could think straight.

Sung Na for his part remained standing. He generally didn’t sit down in someone’s home unless it is rude not to. He observed his companion’s weariness, and thought that if she was behaving weary she must have really been hit hard by the previous day’s events.

Aldrich came to join them when they were settled and took a seat across from Gracia, "Well. How did things go?"

“The town is ours. It’s largely in ruins, but we’ve put up a palisade roundabout. It is secured, and many of the bandits have fallen, their numbers are severely diminished. They won’t be much trouble any longer.”

 

[Gracia von Stehlen]

Aldrich ran a hand over his chin, contemplating, "That's good. I trust you can rebuild the town relatively quickly."

Gracia hummed in agreement and reached out for a glass of ale as one of Aldrich's servants brought a tray around the living room. For a moment she was contemplative now that her exhaustion was beginning to settle. Her whole body was sore and the gash once present on her thigh was surely going to scar. She didn't mind so much, though. She liked the idea of having a physical reminder of her different journeys.

 

[Sung Na]

Aldrich ran a hand over his chin, contemplating, "That's good. I trust you can rebuild the town relatively quickly."

“Reconstruction is already underway. By now the palisade will already encircle the town, and many buildings should be nearly repaired.” He said with confidence. “I’ll have the rest of my soldiers move in to garrison the town while we send the ships back for settlers.”

He crossed his arms. “Though I fear that the brigands are yet to be gone. They had a surprising number of men, and even some children in the village. So I recommend the city guard be notified that bandits may be roaming about further from the town.”

 

[Gracia von Stehlen]

"I will," Aldrich assured, "The city will know of your efforts. We will have a celebration."

He raised his glass to Sung Na in a gesture of thanks, then rambled on about the successes to come until he was well drunk. Gracia giggled, feeling a slit buzz warm her body, but escorted Sung Na to the door when Aldrich was beyond a point of intelligible conversation.

"It's been a pleasure working with you," Gracia told him, leaning on the door frame, "I won't forget how we went into battle together."

She twirled her glass around in her hands, reminiscing the moments of battle that now seemed so long ago.

"You can send what you planned to my residence in Elbion, but I will be staying in Alliria for a while," she told him.

 

[Sung Na]

"I will," Aldrich assured, "The city will know of your efforts. We will have a celebration."

"There is no need good sir." He assured him. "We benefit just as much as your city does, there truly is no need."

Gracia giggled, feeling a slit buzz warm her body, but escorted Sung Na to the door when Aldrich was beyond a point of intelligible conversation.

"It's been a pleasure working with you," Gracia told him, leaning on the door frame, "I won't forget how we went into battle together."

He walked with Gracia to the door, and when he stepped outside he turned to face her for their goodbyes. "The pleasure was all mine my lady. I will remember these days fondly, and I hope that this is not the last we see of one another."

He took her hand and kissed her knuckles in farewell.

"You can send what you planned to my residence in Elbion, but I will be staying in Alliria for a while," she told him.

"I will do just that. May you have a long, full life Miss Gracia, I hope that friendship between your family and mine may continue to grow. Until next we meet, farewell."

(End(