[h3]Ssarak & Meirin[/h3]

After a few moments of attempted healing from Meirin, it quickly became clear that the robed man was not going to awaken any time soon, but he was also still quite alive. In any case, as Meirin was searching through his belongings, Ssarak finally felt like he could breathe somewhat easy. Their enemies, whether they deserved it or not, were dead, incapacitated, or gone. Everyone was alive, and apart from perhaps Alaira, no one seemed to be seriously wounded. 

Though Ssarak was curious to see if there was anything noteworthy among the man's belongings, it was not what he was immediately concerned with. [color=f7941d]"Finally, it is over. Are you alright, Meirin? How bad is your wound?"[/color] He asked, pointing to the spot where the captain's blade had cut into her.

[color=00a651]"It's shallow. All I need is a clean bandage and it'll be fine."[/color] Meirin looked at the cut on her arm as she could slowly feel the string coming back. She didn't admit it but it hurts. Not so bad that she'd need to lay down or anything, but she would really like to get it patched up. But her current attire was too dirty and the robed man's was too wet. She'd get a clean cloth when she returns to the wagon. For now Meirin just gathered up all the things she found on the robed man, bound his hands, and put a bag over his head. She doubt this could stop him from using magic if he woke up but short of killing him Meirin didn't know how to make sure he couldn't keep using his Psychomancy. 

[color=00a651]"What should we do with him Ssarak? He... I don't feel entirely comfortable leaving him here alive."[/color] Executing others wasn't something that Meirin liked to do, but she had done it before. Killing them when they would only live to cause more trouble, or would die a slow death, was something that Meirin had an unfortuante history of doing. She usually just leaves them concussed and let nature handle it, but since she healed the robed man's injuries he may be able to continue his treachery. Or worse, go after them for vengence.

Ssarak stared at the man for a few moments in silence, his mind torn on what to do. Of all the guards, he was certainly the greatest threat, but at the same time, it had not been him that initially provoked violence. That fault ultimately laid with Alaira.  He did not feel he could justify killing him when he might not have attacked otherwise. [color=f7941d]"I...do not know. He was a threat, and he did seem eager to fight, but Alaira was the one that started all of this, not him. We cannot take him with us, but...would it really be right to kill him? I fear there is no easy solution."[/color]

Ssarak sighed, once more staring at the unconscious human. There were a few more moments of silence before Ssarak turned his head to Meirin. [color=f7941d]"You are sure you will be alright? The air is rather cool, and you are soaked."[/color] He commented with concern that seemed perhaps a bit excessive.

Squeezing some of the moisture from her clothing Meirin just smiled at Ssarak. [color=00a651]"Thank you for the concern, but I used to live in Djarkel, and worked in worse conditions. This certainly isn't comfortable, but I'll live. Anyways... We should make haste. The sooner we leave the better."[/color] Meirin casted one more wary glance at the robed man. Surely if they left him like this he'll become prey for whatever wild beast roams this part of Djarkel. Or perhaps ends up killed by a mad man, or eaten by demons. Meirin thought about these things to keep her hands clean in the event the robed man dies, but she found it even easier if she simply ignored it and moved on.

Meirin was also carefully trying to dry out the journal. It was nearl soaked to the core and she figured that she could read it to figure out the man's motivation for trying to exort them. Aside from the usual greedy and corruption that plagues Djarkel's guardsmen. But as she looked into it she found one page that she could read. It mentioned ghouls, demons, and a lack of security on the roads. There were a few names on the page but none of them were familiar to Meirin. The only thing that she could gleam from the page was that they should get ready to fight some ghouls as well as demons. Meirin did also find a map however, and though she was initally confused about it she recognized some markings and could get a general idea of where the paths led. However she was unfamiliar with some of the routes, and would need a map in order to make sense of most of it.

[quote=Journal Entry]Fifth time I had to bring new meat to this post. Too many ghouls, too many demons, not enough men. I have enough on my hands as it is. Lisette still hasn't allowed me the forces I need to deal with those Scarlet Traveler dolts and the Red Lions are in no mood for negotiations. I need to convince her that this petty operation isn't worth the crowns or blood I put into this. I swear, just one good haul and I'll look to the Sharptooth Legion. At least they can spare the time to see me face-to-face.[/quote]

Ssarak too looked over the journal and map as Meirin was examining them, but to have any real understanding of them would require local knowledge he did not have. The mention of demons did catch his eye, as demons were the entire reason they had been sent on this mission, but the organizations he mentioned were unfamiliar to him. Still, they could possiby find someone who could make sense of what they found. 

Once they had finished examining the documents, Ssarak reached down and picked up his hammer. [color=f7941d]"I suppose you are right, we should see if the others are in good enough condition to move. Perhaps we should just leave him here with the other guard that I believe Darius incapacitated. We could leave them with a way to free themselves then...let fate decide. They might survive, though...I cannot say if that is a good thing. These guards might be corrupt, they could cause more harm, but...we cannot know that. And I will not bring myself to their level. It might have been a mistake for me to ask you to save him, but I thank you for doing it.It means quite a lot to me. We should leave him with a note telling what we did for him."[/color]

[color=00a651]"No, no, the less we leave behind the better. The fact that he'll wake up alive is all the message he'll need from us. Not only that but if they're as corrupt as I really, really hope they're not, they might simply accuse us of being bandits for attacking them. We'll have to move fast since we're not exactly a bland group either."[/color] But just as Meirin was getting ready to leave she saw someone stirring from the ground. Meriin cursed under her breath as she realized it was the guard captain from before. She knew he wasn't dead but she didn't know he'd come to his senses so soon. Meirin didn't want to have to kill him, but if he was going to fight Meirin was going to have to put him down. [color=00a651]"Ssarak, the captain is waking up. We need to deal with him somehow. Maybe we could convince him that this was just a mistake... At the very least we could try to knock him out again so he won't give chase."[/color] Meirin hated herself for saying that, but it was better to be safe than sorry. It would be bad enough that they'll be dealing with demons and ghouls on the road, she doesn't want to be chased around by a Baron's army on top of that.

Ssarak nodded as he looked down at the blank expresson on the unconscious man's face. He hoped to perhaps give the man a sense of how close his actions brought him to death, but Meirin was probably right. The more they could distance themselves from this whole incident, the better.  He was about to give another comment when Meirin noticed the guard captain starting to stir once more. Immediately, Ssarak gripped his hammer tightly  and brought himself into a combat-ready stance. "Let us hurry and take charge of the situation before Alaira does. If we are lucky, there will be no more need for killing."

As quickly as he could, Ssarak rushed away from the riverbank and back to the caravan, stopping at a safe distance from the captain. Being that he was a difficult individual to miss, he likely attracted the attention of the others in his sprint. The captain was obviously disoriented and appeared weak, but even so, Ssarak was ready for a fight if it became necessary. [color=f7941d]"Hold, do not reach for a weapon, do not make any sudden moves. This need not devolve into violence once more;  we can all get on with our lives with no more bloodshed."[/color] Ssarak said, his voice firm and authoritative in tone. He was highly alert for any sign of aggrestion from the guard captain, but at the same time, he was also being careful to look out for Alaira. He was tired of her rash actions putting  herself and everyone around her in danger. This time, unless the captain attacked first, he was going to make sure she did not so much as get close to him.

Meirin didn't need to read Ssarak's mind to know that Ssarak wasn't concerned about the captain so much as Alaira. She was a factor in this mess, and Meirin wasn't going to let her end it as badly as she started it. While it looked like Meirin was just flanking the guard with Ssarak Meirin was also deliberately putting herself between the captain and Alaira, should she try to charge on over. Even with her back towards the wagon Meirin was ready for anything, be it the captain trying to fight them or Alaira coming in for a coup de grace.