It was a long journey but at the very least Vin was able to get some rest after the late night of carnival activities. Thankful for rest the first day was spent mostly asleep as Nef kept watch over Vin. The dog seems to be fairly autonomous without Vin as she looks from person to person in the carriage. They seem to listen in to whatever the others say but n3ver moves more then their head so as not to disturb Vin sleeping.
The rest of the journey goes by normally for the young man. He's a bit quiet and seems preoccupied but otherwise engaged when talked to and friendly as he always is. The half-elven lad looking around and outside at the changing scenery most of the time. The rest of the time he seems to be talking with someone else in the group or one of the guards. Not as much sharing things of his own as much as trying to learn more from others.
As the traveling comes to a stop one day Vin and Nef went for their customary walk after being cooped up in a carriage for so long. The hound always seeming excited and wagging their tail just before they stop as the routine of walking after they stop has become a regular thing. They never go super far and try to keep the carriage in sight while at the same time doing some scouting.
This time around it was the others to spot something first and when the duo come back they discover thst something has been discovered. Vin makes his way right over to the others to see what they have found and asks "Did we find somethi... oh. Yeah, I guess we did! Is that a fairy?! I thought they were only a myth! Poor guy. Seems it died of exhaustion. I don't really know much about them."
As Vin runs up and puts a name to what they see, calling it what Elthana was thinking but didn’t want to put it into words, she looks at the boy, “How can you assume it is a fairy? They, they don’t exist. Only in silly kids stories.” She looks at it again, and then back up to Vin, “What makes you think he died of exhaustion?”
Before walking over to see the second find, which he soon learns is a body, Sam finally bends over and delicately picks the sword out of the ground. He looks it over carefully, studying it with a craftsman's eye (Is skilled in Smith's tools) to judge if this is just some toy or... He'll go so far as to gently grasp it in two hands and tests it's strength (though trying not to actually bend or break, just get a sense...) and poking a finger with it's point to test it's sharpness.
"Everything is only a story 'til you see it yourself," Sam grunts as he eventually catches up with Vin and Elthana and looks upon the tiny body. "Not saying that thing there is truly a faery, mind ya. Then again, nothing else I ever heard of explains it better." Sam shrugs as if that is pretty much the truth of the thing.
"Is it the only one?" Sam asks, turning in a circle and looking around. Both on the ground and in the air. "Would Neferox be able to sniff out if there were more? Without eating the poor thing or any others?" Sam tosses a wink to Vin with this last bit to try to lighten the concern...
Testing the blade Sam finds that it is no toy, this thing could be lethal in the right hands, and it's pretty solid, the shine on it tells him that it is well kept and the metal has a strange colour tint to the silver that Sam has not seen before.
At Sam's words Neferox begins sniffing around, tail wagging merrily at being out of the cramped carriage, she then turns her head to Vin momentarily, before giving up and sitting down.
Vin points to what they assume is a fairy as they reply to Elthana, "Well... ummm... I guess it might not be? I lt looks exactly like what I pictured in tales of fairies though. I think it died from exhaustion because it doesn't have any wounds or marks on it. I suppose they could of died from poison though."
Vin looks to Nef as Sam asks his question. Vin smiles as Nefacouts around. The hound returns after a bit and eyes the fairy then looks back at the boy. Vin seems to understand and says "Thank you Nef." Vin turns back to Sam. "Seems there isn't any others she smells. She is hungry though so we should get her some extra meat for helping out."
Gewyn kneels beside the 'fairy' with a soft reverence in his eyes. "You know,"he says softly, "you can't spell history without story, and the two tend to intersect a lot more than some would believe. I'd bet my fingers that we are looking at an honest to goodness legend right now."
Sam snorts. “Everything is a legend until you see one,” he says gruffly, in part to cover the sense of wonder he himself is feeling. “Skinny elephants with hair, short noses and a hump on their back. Sounds like a legend to me but I’ve known more than one who swore they rode them in the desert…”
“Damned it, the idea of a desert itself seems a myth to me, what with never been being close to one, eh?”
Sam takes a moment to think on all the things he’s heard and believed or not merely based on how likely or not it seemed to him. Then again, who is he to be deciding if a thing is a myth or just hidden away? It’s not as if he knows much more than how to use his hands…
Kneeling down for a closer look, Sam inspects the tiny body, specifically looking to see if there’s a scabbard or such for the sword. Seems he was a warrior, he figures. He shouldn’t be parted from his blade…. If Sam can find a scabbard he’ll carefully slip the sword into place and then look around to the others. “Should we bury the wee one or…?”
Elthana gets up and stretches a bit more. She snorts a bit at the word legend, and as Sam asks about burying it, "Beats me. You guys do what you want. I think we've got more than what we bargained for up in Hokum and need to get a move on." she turns on her heel and heads back to the carriage.
Vin looks to Nef and then to Sam at the question of what to do with the body of the fairy, "Shouldn't we try to return them to their people? There could be people looking for them. I don't know what they do for their dead. Stories on fairies are pretty wild and fantastical." Vin looks off in the direction of Hokum then back at the group as Elthana says they are ready to just get moving. "We should probably get going. Do we have something to put them in? I'll try to make it look like we took care of this one's body in case we run into more of them. If we have a box I could line it with things like flowers and nature. Most tales I've read of fairies seem to be closely tied to nature so maybe they would appreciate it?" Vin looks to the group as they offer to make a makeshift coffin for the fallen tiny warrior.
“Not sure where to even begin looking for their people,” Sam says slowly with some thought. “But perhaps if their people are around we can get them looking for him…”
“I’m sure you can find a box or such in the carriage. Go, grab it, do what you can to make it nice quickly. If Gara or the other complain you can tell them to speak to me. I ain’t leaving til this one is seen to…”
Sam then calls for Gewyn. “Could you put together some words? Scribble something down? It wouldn’t need be an epic to last all time but something that says he was found fallen but we returned his sword and did what we could for him?” Sam asks, a bit humbly. “Nobody should die in acknowledged… And sides, if he does have people it best we not start off on the wrong foot with them, eh?”
While the others hopefully hop yo their tasks, Sam looks around the landscape a bit to try to find just the right spot. He doesn’t want to go far from where the poor fella fell but he does want the spot to be a bit separate from any trees or such…
When all is prepared Sam gathers any who wish to gather and checks that Gewyn and Vin are done. “You can say the words, if you wish, ir leave them for this one’s mates. Your call. As for myself…” Sam pauses and slowly opens and reaches into a pouch he keep a bit separate from his others. He teaches in with an almost reverence and withdraws a single golden acorn…
“Custom is to bury the dead,” Sam says quietly. “Protects from from scavengers. Gives us a place to return to. Not sure our custom is the same as the small folks though. Not sure makes sense for a winged one to be all trapped underground…” Sam thinks for a moment and then shrugs. Quickly he throws the golden acorn out to the spot he had chosen… It friend glinting through the air before falling and hitting the earth. Much like the small one must’ve, Sam cannot help but think.
Instead of landing and lying still, however, there is a sudden eruption when it strikes the earth. Soil erupts, the land itself seems to retreat and room is made for the sudden and miraculous growth of tree… in the time it takes one to blink a huge, thick tree trunk is thrust from the earth and into the sky. Branches reach out, leave grow and just like that a towering, mighty sixty-foot oak stands majestically as if it had been holding this spot for many a decade…
Sam is impressed and gobstruck himself. He had known what would happen, or what he had been told would happen, but knowing and experiencing can be quite different experiences…
“Well… um, ahh… I suppose if he has people they’ll notice this?” Sam asks hopefully, looking around to the others. “And that high up in a tree is a better resting spot for the winged than in the earth?”
Sam looks about a bit. From the tiny coffin, to the tree, to his hands, to the lowest branches… “I don’t suppose any of you are any hood at climbing? And could maybe find a good book to place him? I, ahhh… I can give ya a boost up?”
As Vin is searching the carriage for the required item of a box the sudden rumble of a ginormous tree sprouting from the ground and tearing the ground up as it digs it's roots into the earth unsurprisingly grabs Vin's attention. When all is said and done it looks like the tree has just been here as a part of the area. Curiously seeming a part of the country side like a normal tree. The only thing remarkable about it is just the fact it wasn't there just moments ago. "Wow." Neferox goes over to smell the massive tree and then comes back over to Vin as they continue their search. A small delay as Vin grabs some extra magic meat for Nef, it doesn't take long for Vin to find a suitable container for the dead fairy as they proceed to fill the container with grass and flowers located around this area. Getting back to the others the young man can only look up at the tree in wonder. They had arranged a box for the tiny being. The bottom and sides lined with green grass and there seems to be a bed of flowers in the center to place the tiny one. Vin carefully picks up the creature and places them into the box before addressing Sam, "I'm... not the best climber... I'll try if no one else wants to though." Neferox looks back at the others with a threatening glare as if trying to intimidate the others to take on the task of climbing.
Gewyn looks to Sam, a little surprised by the show of compassion. Then he smiles sadly as Sam throws the golden acorn. "Yes, I agree that something should be done for him. Though for all the stories I know of them, I'm not sure I've ever heard of them dying."He gapes openly at the tree bursting forth from the acorn.
"But you know, Sam... I think whatever funeral rites one believes in, it would be hard to ask for a more splendid send-off." He pulls his bird pipes out from his shirt. "You can definitely leave this bit to me."
Elthana was about to walk back to the carriage when the sudden growth of a mature tree stopped her in her tracks. She looked back in wonder at it, realizing it was Sam and the questions overload her mind. But "How?" is all that escapes.
She stands there transfixed for a minute as the rest gather and prepare for the little fairies send off. She looks to the rest with a little mix of annoyance and amusement as they do, and when Vin says he'll climb if no one else will, she holds out her hand for the box.
"I'll do it just to get this over with."and if Vin gives it to her, she climbs a good ways up the tree, nestling the box in a crook of the tree before heading back down. "Now, can we go?"
With the box prepared in fine fashion containing the small body and the bounty of nature around you, as well as a little nugget of fools gold provided by Elthana, the box is easily nestled in the tree, and the party begin their return to the carriage where Gara and Walker stand with their mouths agape.
"How in the fu-" begins Gara before Walker shushes him, Walker is peering at the tree with interest and takes a couple of steps toward it, squinting, tilting his head, then a couple more steps. Slowly and surely Walker reaches the tree and shouts back "do you see this?" On the tree, is that supposed to be there? I can't read it...", Gara rolls his eyes, "of course I see it, it's a tree, Sam just magicked it out of his arse apparently, what do you mean read it, come back here! We don't have time for your crap...". The two begin bickering as Walker largely ignores his superior, choosing instead to study the bark of the tree with his hands and take a closer look.
Those who make their way back to the carriage find Ebb still sitting inside, deep in thought, something heavy on his mind as it has been the past couple of days after his morning missing in Trundlesten.
Vin watches as Elthana places the fallen creature in a nook of the tree high in the sky. He is a bit amazed at the tree but also at how skill all his allies are. Nef seems satisfied that Vin didn't climb the tree and even nods in approval to Elthana for taking the task in hand. When she gets back down the dog seems to go back in step with Vin's shadow. Vin seems a bit awestruck as he he backpedals towards the carriage trying to take in the sight of the lonely tree that Sam summoned from nothing but an acorn. Its not until he hears the two guards bickering that the young man focuses on what they are doing. Watching Walker get closer to the tree and seemingly staring at something on it Vin goes back towards them and says "I think we are ready to get going, did you spot something?" Vin tries to see whatever Walker is noticing a bit of confusion on Vin's face as they follow Walker's gaze.
"It didn't come out of my... Arrrrr, damn yer eyes! It don't matter..." Sam exclaims at first before waving a dismissive hand at the guards and giving a shrug. To the hells with what they think. Anyone fool enough to think he could do magic deserved to be a fool...
Not being the overly sentimental type, tree notwithstanding, Sam is ready to continue on as soon as the body is places and Elthana has climbed out of the tree. "Sure, let's go," he agrees and starts to follow her back to the carriage. He does pause to take another look, squinting at what he has brought about to try and see if he can figure out what Walker is on about... But whatever it is, Sam just doesn't seem to be seeing it.
As Elthana climbs, Gewyn begins to play his pipes. The melody is somber and mournful, slow and contemplative, but when Elthana reaches the apex of her climb, Gewyn lowers the pipes, looks skyward, takes a deep breath, and then begins to sing. There are no words, just high, lingering notes lifted by the wind. The melody stays the same, but somehow becomes lighter. Almost joyful and whimsical.
His last note subsides as Elthana's feet touch down. He nods to her. Then to Sam, and then Vin.
Walker continues looking around the tree, concentrating on the bark and seemingly oblivious to the fact that there is a small dead creature in a box above him. Gara, having enough of this, yells out "come on, everyone back on the carriage! You too Walker, bloody magic tree nonsense." He seems frustrated as he climbs back up to the driver's box.
Walker hesitantly returns to the carriage, nodding to Vin a little as he does, "thought I saw something, like the bark was... Doesn't matter, uhh let's get going eh?", He climbs up too ready to resume travels.
Sam perked up his ears to try to here any scuttlebutt about the tree and what Walker may or may not have heard, but he refused to show any outright interest or ask any questions. He mostly figured that of course a magic tree grown in a second is going to be a bit off... And he didn't trust Walker and his judgement... So the combination didn't bode well for there really being something to Walker's interest. Still, Sam was interested. How could he not be?
So Sam climbed into the wagon and took his regular spot, stretching out his legs, crossing his arms and letting his head rest against a folded up camp blanket. His eyes closed and he breathed slow and steady, like always. Though this time was a bit more alert than usual...
At least until the boredom and rhythmic motion of the wagon sent him into a real doze...
As they finally get moving on the carriage, Elthana finds herself next to Gewyn. After watching the countryside slide by after a few hours, she bores of watching it and turns to him. "So that was quite a show you put on at the festival. Is that a typical night for Gewyn the Melodic? I'd say you and I live our lives quite differently. I tend to stick to the shadows while you seem to thrive in the light."
She goes silent for a bit, not big on talking in the first place. "So what's it like in the luxury merchant district? The times I am there... well, it is definitely not for pleasure." She doesn't elaborate, but waits for him to respond.
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It was a long journey but at the very least Vin was able to get some rest after the late night of carnival activities. Thankful for rest the first day was spent mostly asleep as Nef kept watch over Vin. The dog seems to be fairly autonomous without Vin as she looks from person to person in the carriage. They seem to listen in to whatever the others say but n3ver moves more then their head so as not to disturb Vin sleeping.
The rest of the journey goes by normally for the young man. He's a bit quiet and seems preoccupied but otherwise engaged when talked to and friendly as he always is. The half-elven lad looking around and outside at the changing scenery most of the time. The rest of the time he seems to be talking with someone else in the group or one of the guards. Not as much sharing things of his own as much as trying to learn more from others.
As the traveling comes to a stop one day Vin and Nef went for their customary walk after being cooped up in a carriage for so long. The hound always seeming excited and wagging their tail just before they stop as the routine of walking after they stop has become a regular thing. They never go super far and try to keep the carriage in sight while at the same time doing some scouting.
This time around it was the others to spot something first and when the duo come back they discover thst something has been discovered. Vin makes his way right over to the others to see what they have found and asks "Did we find somethi... oh. Yeah, I guess we did! Is that a fairy?! I thought they were only a myth! Poor guy. Seems it died of exhaustion. I don't really know much about them."
As Vin runs up and puts a name to what they see, calling it what Elthana was thinking but didn’t want to put it into words, she looks at the boy, “How can you assume it is a fairy? They, they don’t exist. Only in silly kids stories.” She looks at it again, and then back up to Vin, “What makes you think he died of exhaustion?”
Before walking over to see the second find, which he soon learns is a body, Sam finally bends over and delicately picks the sword out of the ground. He looks it over carefully, studying it with a craftsman's eye (Is skilled in Smith's tools) to judge if this is just some toy or... He'll go so far as to gently grasp it in two hands and tests it's strength (though trying not to actually bend or break, just get a sense...) and poking a finger with it's point to test it's sharpness.
"Everything is only a story 'til you see it yourself," Sam grunts as he eventually catches up with Vin and Elthana and looks upon the tiny body. "Not saying that thing there is truly a faery, mind ya. Then again, nothing else I ever heard of explains it better." Sam shrugs as if that is pretty much the truth of the thing.
"Is it the only one?" Sam asks, turning in a circle and looking around. Both on the ground and in the air. "Would Neferox be able to sniff out if there were more? Without eating the poor thing or any others?" Sam tosses a wink to Vin with this last bit to try to lighten the concern...
Testing the blade Sam finds that it is no toy, this thing could be lethal in the right hands, and it's pretty solid, the shine on it tells him that it is well kept and the metal has a strange colour tint to the silver that Sam has not seen before.
At Sam's words Neferox begins sniffing around, tail wagging merrily at being out of the cramped carriage, she then turns her head to Vin momentarily, before giving up and sitting down.
Vin points to what they assume is a fairy as they reply to Elthana, "Well... ummm... I guess it might not be? I lt looks exactly like what I pictured in tales of fairies though. I think it died from exhaustion because it doesn't have any wounds or marks on it. I suppose they could of died from poison though."
Vin looks to Nef as Sam asks his question. Vin smiles as Nefacouts around. The hound returns after a bit and eyes the fairy then looks back at the boy. Vin seems to understand and says "Thank you Nef." Vin turns back to Sam. "Seems there isn't any others she smells. She is hungry though so we should get her some extra meat for helping out."
Gewyn kneels beside the 'fairy' with a soft reverence in his eyes. "You know," he says softly, "you can't spell history without story, and the two tend to intersect a lot more than some would believe. I'd bet my fingers that we are looking at an honest to goodness legend right now."
Sam snorts. “Everything is a legend until you see one,” he says gruffly, in part to cover the sense of wonder he himself is feeling. “Skinny elephants with hair, short noses and a hump on their back. Sounds like a legend to me but I’ve known more than one who swore they rode them in the desert…”
“Damned it, the idea of a desert itself seems a myth to me, what with never been being close to one, eh?”
Sam takes a moment to think on all the things he’s heard and believed or not merely based on how likely or not it seemed to him. Then again, who is he to be deciding if a thing is a myth or just hidden away? It’s not as if he knows much more than how to use his hands…
Kneeling down for a closer look, Sam inspects the tiny body, specifically looking to see if there’s a scabbard or such for the sword. Seems he was a warrior, he figures. He shouldn’t be parted from his blade…. If Sam can find a scabbard he’ll carefully slip the sword into place and then look around to the others. “Should we bury the wee one or…?”
Elthana gets up and stretches a bit more. She snorts a bit at the word legend, and as Sam asks about burying it, "Beats me. You guys do what you want. I think we've got more than what we bargained for up in Hokum and need to get a move on." she turns on her heel and heads back to the carriage.
Vin looks to Nef and then to Sam at the question of what to do with the body of the fairy, "Shouldn't we try to return them to their people? There could be people looking for them. I don't know what they do for their dead. Stories on fairies are pretty wild and fantastical." Vin looks off in the direction of Hokum then back at the group as Elthana says they are ready to just get moving. "We should probably get going. Do we have something to put them in? I'll try to make it look like we took care of this one's body in case we run into more of them. If we have a box I could line it with things like flowers and nature. Most tales I've read of fairies seem to be closely tied to nature so maybe they would appreciate it?" Vin looks to the group as they offer to make a makeshift coffin for the fallen tiny warrior.
“Not sure where to even begin looking for their people,” Sam says slowly with some thought. “But perhaps if their people are around we can get them looking for him…”
“I’m sure you can find a box or such in the carriage. Go, grab it, do what you can to make it nice quickly. If Gara or the other complain you can tell them to speak to me. I ain’t leaving til this one is seen to…”
Sam then calls for Gewyn. “Could you put together some words? Scribble something down? It wouldn’t need be an epic to last all time but something that says he was found fallen but we returned his sword and did what we could for him?” Sam asks, a bit humbly. “Nobody should die in acknowledged… And sides, if he does have people it best we not start off on the wrong foot with them, eh?”
While the others hopefully hop yo their tasks, Sam looks around the landscape a bit to try to find just the right spot. He doesn’t want to go far from where the poor fella fell but he does want the spot to be a bit separate from any trees or such…
When all is prepared Sam gathers any who wish to gather and checks that Gewyn and Vin are done. “You can say the words, if you wish, ir leave them for this one’s mates. Your call. As for myself…” Sam pauses and slowly opens and reaches into a pouch he keep a bit separate from his others. He teaches in with an almost reverence and withdraws a single golden acorn…
“Custom is to bury the dead,” Sam says quietly. “Protects from from scavengers. Gives us a place to return to. Not sure our custom is the same as the small folks though. Not sure makes sense for a winged one to be all trapped underground…” Sam thinks for a moment and then shrugs. Quickly he throws the golden acorn out to the spot he had chosen… It friend glinting through the air before falling and hitting the earth. Much like the small one must’ve, Sam cannot help but think.
Instead of landing and lying still, however, there is a sudden eruption when it strikes the earth. Soil erupts, the land itself seems to retreat and room is made for the sudden and miraculous growth of tree… in the time it takes one to blink a huge, thick tree trunk is thrust from the earth and into the sky. Branches reach out, leave grow and just like that a towering, mighty sixty-foot oak stands majestically as if it had been holding this spot for many a decade…
Sam is impressed and gobstruck himself. He had known what would happen, or what he had been told would happen, but knowing and experiencing can be quite different experiences…
“Well… um, ahh… I suppose if he has people they’ll notice this?” Sam asks hopefully, looking around to the others. “And that high up in a tree is a better resting spot for the winged than in the earth?”
Sam looks about a bit. From the tiny coffin, to the tree, to his hands, to the lowest branches… “I don’t suppose any of you are any hood at climbing? And could maybe find a good book to place him? I, ahhh… I can give ya a boost up?”
As Vin is searching the carriage for the required item of a box the sudden rumble of a ginormous tree sprouting from the ground and tearing the ground up as it digs it's roots into the earth unsurprisingly grabs Vin's attention. When all is said and done it looks like the tree has just been here as a part of the area. Curiously seeming a part of the country side like a normal tree. The only thing remarkable about it is just the fact it wasn't there just moments ago. "Wow." Neferox goes over to smell the massive tree and then comes back over to Vin as they continue their search. A small delay as Vin grabs some extra magic meat for Nef, it doesn't take long for Vin to find a suitable container for the dead fairy as they proceed to fill the container with grass and flowers located around this area. Getting back to the others the young man can only look up at the tree in wonder. They had arranged a box for the tiny being. The bottom and sides lined with green grass and there seems to be a bed of flowers in the center to place the tiny one. Vin carefully picks up the creature and places them into the box before addressing Sam, "I'm... not the best climber... I'll try if no one else wants to though." Neferox looks back at the others with a threatening glare as if trying to intimidate the others to take on the task of climbing.
Gewyn looks to Sam, a little surprised by the show of compassion. Then he smiles sadly as Sam throws the golden acorn. "Yes, I agree that something should be done for him. Though for all the stories I know of them, I'm not sure I've ever heard of them dying." He gapes openly at the tree bursting forth from the acorn.
"But you know, Sam... I think whatever funeral rites one believes in, it would be hard to ask for a more splendid send-off." He pulls his bird pipes out from his shirt. "You can definitely leave this bit to me."
Elthana was about to walk back to the carriage when the sudden growth of a mature tree stopped her in her tracks. She looked back in wonder at it, realizing it was Sam and the questions overload her mind. But "How?" is all that escapes.
She stands there transfixed for a minute as the rest gather and prepare for the little fairies send off. She looks to the rest with a little mix of annoyance and amusement as they do, and when Vin says he'll climb if no one else will, she holds out her hand for the box.
"I'll do it just to get this over with." and if Vin gives it to her, she climbs a good ways up the tree, nestling the box in a crook of the tree before heading back down. "Now, can we go?"
With the box prepared in fine fashion containing the small body and the bounty of nature around you, as well as a little nugget of fools gold provided by Elthana, the box is easily nestled in the tree, and the party begin their return to the carriage where Gara and Walker stand with their mouths agape.
"How in the fu-" begins Gara before Walker shushes him, Walker is peering at the tree with interest and takes a couple of steps toward it, squinting, tilting his head, then a couple more steps. Slowly and surely Walker reaches the tree and shouts back "do you see this?" On the tree, is that supposed to be there? I can't read it...", Gara rolls his eyes, "of course I see it, it's a tree, Sam just magicked it out of his arse apparently, what do you mean read it, come back here! We don't have time for your crap...". The two begin bickering as Walker largely ignores his superior, choosing instead to study the bark of the tree with his hands and take a closer look.
Those who make their way back to the carriage find Ebb still sitting inside, deep in thought, something heavy on his mind as it has been the past couple of days after his morning missing in Trundlesten.
Vin watches as Elthana places the fallen creature in a nook of the tree high in the sky. He is a bit amazed at the tree but also at how skill all his allies are. Nef seems satisfied that Vin didn't climb the tree and even nods in approval to Elthana for taking the task in hand. When she gets back down the dog seems to go back in step with Vin's shadow. Vin seems a bit awestruck as he he backpedals towards the carriage trying to take in the sight of the lonely tree that Sam summoned from nothing but an acorn. Its not until he hears the two guards bickering that the young man focuses on what they are doing. Watching Walker get closer to the tree and seemingly staring at something on it Vin goes back towards them and says "I think we are ready to get going, did you spot something?" Vin tries to see whatever Walker is noticing a bit of confusion on Vin's face as they follow Walker's gaze.
"It didn't come out of my... Arrrrr, damn yer eyes! It don't matter..." Sam exclaims at first before waving a dismissive hand at the guards and giving a shrug. To the hells with what they think. Anyone fool enough to think he could do magic deserved to be a fool...
Not being the overly sentimental type, tree notwithstanding, Sam is ready to continue on as soon as the body is places and Elthana has climbed out of the tree. "Sure, let's go," he agrees and starts to follow her back to the carriage. He does pause to take another look, squinting at what he has brought about to try and see if he can figure out what Walker is on about... But whatever it is, Sam just doesn't seem to be seeing it.
As Elthana climbs, Gewyn begins to play his pipes. The melody is somber and mournful, slow and contemplative, but when Elthana reaches the apex of her climb, Gewyn lowers the pipes, looks skyward, takes a deep breath, and then begins to sing. There are no words, just high, lingering notes lifted by the wind. The melody stays the same, but somehow becomes lighter. Almost joyful and whimsical.
His last note subsides as Elthana's feet touch down. He nods to her. Then to Sam, and then Vin.
Walker continues looking around the tree, concentrating on the bark and seemingly oblivious to the fact that there is a small dead creature in a box above him. Gara, having enough of this, yells out "come on, everyone back on the carriage! You too Walker, bloody magic tree nonsense." He seems frustrated as he climbs back up to the driver's box.
Walker hesitantly returns to the carriage, nodding to Vin a little as he does, "thought I saw something, like the bark was... Doesn't matter, uhh let's get going eh?", He climbs up too ready to resume travels.
Sam perked up his ears to try to here any scuttlebutt about the tree and what Walker may or may not have heard, but he refused to show any outright interest or ask any questions. He mostly figured that of course a magic tree grown in a second is going to be a bit off... And he didn't trust Walker and his judgement... So the combination didn't bode well for there really being something to Walker's interest. Still, Sam was interested. How could he not be?
So Sam climbed into the wagon and took his regular spot, stretching out his legs, crossing his arms and letting his head rest against a folded up camp blanket. His eyes closed and he breathed slow and steady, like always. Though this time was a bit more alert than usual...
At least until the boredom and rhythmic motion of the wagon sent him into a real doze...
As they finally get moving on the carriage, Elthana finds herself next to Gewyn. After watching the countryside slide by after a few hours, she bores of watching it and turns to him. "So that was quite a show you put on at the festival. Is that a typical night for Gewyn the Melodic? I'd say you and I live our lives quite differently. I tend to stick to the shadows while you seem to thrive in the light."
She goes silent for a bit, not big on talking in the first place. "So what's it like in the luxury merchant district? The times I am there... well, it is definitely not for pleasure." She doesn't elaborate, but waits for him to respond.