Night Watch

(OOC – No worries, Ren. I don't expect you to post every single day. At times I won't be able to either, although at the moment I usually have enough time in the mornings to scrawl off a post or two.)

Kalena studied the eerie, eldritch lights twinkling through the thick, old-growth trees and wondered if Kline and his men had inadvertently camped next to a faerie glen. After being welcomed to Dalen it would be the height of ingratitude if the little creatures were to prey on the Queen's human subjects, so they were probably not a threat to be overly concerned about. These were also the miniature pixie kind as opposed to the more human-sized fae of Kobrorus that could be a lot more dangerous and malevolent. But she knew it would still be wise to keep a cautious eye on them, lest they decide to cause some playful mischief during the night.

“Yes, a shave would be nice,” Kline responded, rubbing his chin.

Kalena glanced over at the mercenary captain and saw in the faint glow of the moon his beginnings of a beard. She tended to like a bit of stubble on a man, but usually found clean-shaven men more attractive. Rugged, with strong masculine features, his face might look good either way. She noticed his gaze falling on her appreciatively; she was used to such things, but was all too aware she was looking far from her best at the moment, and that the darkness was doing her favours.

At her mention of slave girls, Kline said, “I am sure the guys would love that. My men are anything but shy, Miss Kalena, in fact you would not believe what I heard them say in front of a nobleman.” He laughed and looked over in their direction, and then he let out another, more nervous and shocked laugh in response to her question as to whether he was perhaps married with children. “No, I had not even thought of such a thing. I really do not have time for a wife currently, and it is not like I have a chance to get out and do some courting, if you understand.”

Kalena nodded her understanding. She could well imagine that commanding a mercenary band would keep him far too busy for a social life of any real extent, with all the travelling involved in selling his skill at arms to rich nobles and merchants. It could be quite an adventurous life, but not one very well suited for being a husband or parent.

Kline leaned back against the wagon, his heels dug in the dirt as he did, and his arms folded across his chest. “I am sure you understand, I suspect it is much the same for yourself. You have work that keeps you from seeing others?”

Kalena rested a hand on a hip, glancing toward the faerie lights, up and down the road, then back at him as she maintained her watch over the campsite. “My work was much the same for me, yes, but I finally put down roots here in Dalen, and now have plenty of leisure time at my disposal. I've more or less integrated into Dalen's aristocracy, but unfortunately—” She let out a delicate sigh. “With all their cold pompousness and affectation, most of the nobles bear little resemblance to actual human beings. The Queen herself is very direct and informal though, and I've made friends with a few local merchants and tradesmen who are a decent enough lot, including an Orc blacksmith, if you can believe it. Parts of the capital are quite cosmopolitan that way, but I haven't met any men worth my time, in the way you mean. Although... there was this bounty hunter I crossed paths with recently,” she said, watching Kline for any sign of jealousy, “who I found most impressive. Competent, dedicated, and with a real spark of personality. I think the both of you would get on well together; he's fairly plain-spoken too, and you're in somewhat the same business.”

Her soft, wide mouth quirked a bit at the corners, but she resisted the urge to smile. “By the way, I've been meaning to ask just out of curiosity, who is your present employer?” She squinted up at the labels on the casks of wine in the wagon, trying to make out the name of the vineyard where they came from.