The morning they were to reach the criminal safehouse, Rhindani took care to make sure her belongings were secured in her bag rather than scattered in the saddlebags and gear strapped neatly to her dun-coloured palfrey. If she needed to move quickly to tend to an injured comrade, or even to one of the outlaws they had come to route, the dragonkin needed her kit in its entirety. 

[color=fff79a]"I have no skill to aid you in combat,"[/color] she shrugged at Nicholas, a motion that shifted her wings under where they had been concealed by her cloak. [color=fff79a]"Unless you wish me to fight like a beast."[/color] It was not common for her kind to be born with wings, let alone a set that appeared strong enough to carry her weight rather than stunted vestigial things that had no purpose. But Rhindani concealed them for the most part, taking time only at night when camp was made to practice with them, the leathery whooshing echoing from where she lingered away from the others.

And so now they were hidden under the blue shawl-robe, though her hood had been pulled back from her scaled face, the smooth ridges of her crest sparkled oddly. The dragonking held a pot of some salve in her hand and smoothed the yellowish concoction over her face and skin, rubbing it in until her scales no longer glittered. It had a faint scent, not floral as one might expect but more earthy and woody like an incense.

When she was done dulling her scales she dropped her sleeves and her hood back where they belonged. [color=fff79a]"If it didn't seem that we were in a hurry I would offer to go in alone. Even bandits might be reluctant to turn away a healer or a pilgrimage, especially if she offered her services."[/color] The proposed pretext was so in-line with her true purpose in the People's Conglomerate that she shouldn't have any trouble holding it up as a charade. [color=fff79a]"I would be able to get an idea of their forces and the design of the building inside and report back. It may take longer but may help you all approach more wisely."[/color] She didn't seem to think anything of putting herself at risk.

But her offer seemed to fall on deaf ears, so eager they were to get started. Her long tail undulated with no small amount of annoyance but in the end she was not in charge here and had no intention to be.

[color=fff79a]"If you'd rather go now, I will stay with the horses so that we don't become victims of theft ourselves. You can signal me if my skills are needed. Saida can mend some injuries but anything truly grievous I fear will require the blessings of my own Patron."[/color]

She tucked her ashy salve back into her bag and waited, patting her horse on the neck. At first the creature had seemed quite reluctant to carry a dragonkin but with the elf-woman's assistance Rhindani was learning better horsewomanship.