Artemis gasped and spun to see the old man ([i]hadn't that space been empty just a moment ago?[/i]). A slender hand shot up to her chest to still her heart, while the other tightened its hold on her makeshift staff. The haunting red light from the lantern cast skeletal shadows over the man's face and his armor glinted crimson.

Her eyes darted over him as his reedy voice cut through the forest's sounds. At first glance, he reminded her of the retired soldiers in the Valley – faded old knights who wore their aged chivalry and propriety like their armor. Not as sharp as they'd once been, but still nothing to scoff at. Artemis' mind drifted back to the curious way this man had so silently materialized out of nowhere. No, there was more to him than rusted metal and unkempt hair. And in a place where the trees ticked like clockwork and the metal glowed like moonlight, she knew better than to underestimate a stranger.

[color=DarkTurquoise]"Excuse me,"[/color] she said looking down a bit and then back up at him in embarrassment, [color=DarkTurquoise]"I hadn't expected to meet anyone here and had nearly reached my wit's end."[/color] This was technically true. She gave a shy smile and a slight lift of her shoulder. 

If he was this close to her, then he'd likely heard her curse – something quite inappropriate for a lady. He knew how she spoke, which was a shame. It meant she couldn't use an accent. Artemis did love a good accent. Plus they did wonders for getting people to perceive her a certain way. Oh well. The Knight and Lady game was one she'd been born to. She'd manage.

[color=DarkTurquoise]"But thank you very much for your offer, Sir,"[/color] she said with a curtsy, one hand on her skirt with the other holding her staff upright. When she rose again, she greeted him with a smile. [color=DarkTurquoise]"You are too kind and I am too fortunate."[/color] 

Artemis readjusted her grip on her staff, feeling the soft moss beneath her fingers, and pointed up to the glowing lantern.

[color=DarkTurquoise]"I would like to retrieve that lantern."[/color]

What she would've liked was to know where the [i]hell[/i] she was and how she'd gotten there, but Artemis knew better than to lead with what she was really looking for. No, best to get him talking on his own and figure out what she could. Plus… Artemis glanced over her shoulder at the lantern, and its steady glow. She turned back to the old man and looked down in a mix between a nod and a bow.

[color=darkturquoise]"If you'd please."[/color]