No words to express

Alexis couldn’t help but wonder if someone somewhere had a good laugh at her expanse as the well-meaning chieftain insisted on pointing out the merits of marrying a man she hadn’t even exchanged words with in return for some - certainly valuable - lifestock.

Discussing cultural differences while both sides of the conversation had a very, very limited grasp on each other’s language seemed like a fool’s errand however.

So she settled for trying to get the point across that her refusal had nothing to do with the generous offer and everything with her not being willing to part with her group. Not fair on any potential spouse to leave them behind immediately after bonding, right?

Explaining why they insisted to go to the Fang despite the dangers was even more complicated. Objectively, that was a pretty reckless thing to do, and for very uncertain reward at that. But such was the nature of human curiosity. Again, nothing easily discussed with limited vocabulary and handsigns.

She did finally ask Da‘aar to tell her more of the dangers he tried to warn her about.
As expected, he was mostly referring to the Odonine‘s stance of women, which she assured him they were aware of and would take into consideration.
Alexis abstained from pointing out that she wasn’t really being ‘escorted’ by the men in her group, and rather doing some escorting of own. No need to go down that rabbit hole.

But the chieftain spoke of a different danger as well. Something lurking beneath the Fang. A threat he could not describe with what little words he knew of her language.
And that did stay with the mercenary. Once upon a time, she might have just waved it away as superstition. But with what she already had witnessed and experienced in Arcadia, that notion felt not as far fetched as she’d like.

Alexis took great care in expressing her gratitude, not only for the Ashen Hoove’s generous hospitality but also for their offered warnings.
She wished she could warn them of the war efforts in return, but there was no telling how they would react, and the mercenary’s obligation lay with her group’s safety first.
She could only hope the plain’s people were aware of the recent activities, given those weren’t exactly subtle, and ask Da’aar to be careful on their further travels.

If only war could be kept to the battlefields, and to the warriors. But it never did. It always found a way to reach far beyond.