Ostus's fitted smile instantly disappeared as soon as Kiara muttered how much she thought Ostus despised her. This took him completely off-guard. How could he despise someone who was willing to risk her life to marry someone she didn't know to save a good country from war? He certainly disrespected her in some areas and currently did not like her, but the chill in her voice made him believe that she thought he downright hated her and that he was being unreasonable about it!

From the start, Kiara had made assumptions about his work ethic, his character, and now this... it was almost more than he could stand. This was the very reason why he was quite content remaining single for his entire life. He almost considered walking away from this whole thing, destroying the contract. She could find someone else to do her dirty work. But the pay was too good to pass up, and if his friends found out he nullified a contract because of a woman's scathing tongue... he wouldn't hear the end of it. He decided that if they were going to pretend to be married, they did not need to pretend to be [i]happily[/i] married.

"Woman, do you really want to make this trip more difficult than it already is?" he shot back in a low voice, not bothering to hide his deep glare. "I never despised you, but with the way you're acting now..."

If Ostus were to look back at this moment, he would pride himself on his incredible patience. A lesser man, elf or otherwise, would have not tolerated the way Kiara simply walked away as though he were beneath the very floor she walked on, her attention turned so easily to some damn horse at the corner of the stables.

Her haughty command did even less to placate his temper. Ostus glared at her -- perhaps he could truly despise her after all -- and counted to ten to try to calm down.

The gentleman had a certain gleam in his eye as he witnessed the exchange, his gaze flickering to the coin purse the elf man held. "She's a very fine mare," he commented to the woman, "a wise choice. She's yours for 60 gold."

Ostus balked. That was almost all of his earnings for this trip. What kind of horse was worth that much? "You're fucking out of your mind," he snapped. "30 gold."

"She's of my best stock. 55 gold."

"I've seen other horse shit better than that one. 35 gold."

"You will not find a better-trained horse. How am I supposed to keep my business open when I spent far more than that to care for her?"

Ostus glanced over his shoulder at the black steed he had been eyeing, the one with the diamond-shaped patch of fur over his forehead. The horse glanced in his direction, snorting and flaring his nostrils, though his ears were perked forward in interest. That horse would easily get them to the mountain path in a couple of days easy. There was no way he could afford both horses plus more rations and accommodations.

Then he had an idea.

He smiled at Kiara. "It is true that my sole purpose in this world is to make you happy," he agreed, "but you have always been the superior blacksmith. It is why we are even considering you working while I slave away at home for you. I'm afraid my poor, pathetic self cannot afford both your horse and mine. And if we were to share a horse, why... we would not make it a day in our journey before finding ourselves fornicating in the bushes! How would we ever get anywhere that way? All that rubbing and grinding and hard riding, our bodies rubbing against each other on the same horse. You know I can't resist you when you get frisky, and it never takes much... Anyway, I will do my very best to get the horse you want if you are willing to be a dear and pay for mine. Anything for you, love." He flashed her his most winning smile. Being the poor husband was certainly a blow to his pride, but he was not about to let her get in the habit of walking all over him.