It stirs a little inside of him, rears it's head and stares before he subdues it once more. Clamping a hand over it's eyes, he strokes it's head back down into submission, but one could only keep a beast in the dark so long before it grows tired of sleeping. As it had been so long, since the creature had gotten to satisfy the burning hunger in it's belly. So long since it has had such a tempting trophy prey, flaunting it's prized hide right in front of him. Unfortunately, the predator wasn't about to be overtaken by instinct and the hunter had long hung up his gun. 

 Lifting his head, he catches the man's gaze for the briefest of moments as he bends down to lift several of his own boxes, the corners of his lips tugging up into a tight lipped smile. Painfully sincere, yet ironically unrevealing; like the terse politeness of strangers passing each other in the street. The moment is brief and perhaps only Xephos notices it, but they're both left with their own thoughts as they part. His feet carrying him automatically towards the makeshift kitchen they had set up in the back room. 

 "Has the stove burned itself out again?" He asked the pair of legs bent down next to the old iron stove, the upper half of a torso swallowed up by the large cavity in the stove's side. Sounds of the inner mechanisms being tinkered with; gears grinding and liquid rushing through lead pipes like gritty music to his ears. A loud tap of the wrench against the side of the clunky iron stove answered him as a soot blackened arm loomed out of the depth of the machine.

 "I think we've gotten in some new parts, but most of them were on pre-request."

[i]Clunk[/i] Came the reply, another heavy tap of the wrench.

 "Well, I'm sure there'll still be a few parts left over to scavenge, I'm sure we'll find something for the stove by tonight."

 [i]Clunk Clunk[/i]

 "Then it'll be soup tonight. We have a rather large number of guests..but The fireplace will have to do. We still have that big pot in the storage don't we?" 

 [i] Clunk[/i].......[i]Clunk Clunk Clunk[/i]

 "I'll send Javier out to scavenge for parts. Speak of the lamb, and here he comes running." He exclaimed as the boy in question came skidding into the kitchen. Winded, he reached up and tugged the taller's sleeve, much to the man's amusement.

 "Father, Father! The new traveller!" He exclaimed with the utmost urgency and Xephos felt ice run through his veins and his gaze is suddenly more inquiring and his lips press together in a thin line before the boy finishes his sentences, "He says he's stronger than you, Father! And he's lifting up the boxes like they're pillows! All three at once! That's as much as you can lift, Father! Is it true? Is the traveller stronger than [b]you[/b]?" 

 The tension left him in a rush, though some resided within the cracks of his temperament. Kneeling down, he gently reprimanded the boy, "Don't bother our guests, he's probably strong because he eats his vegetables unlike you. Perhaps if you do the same, you'd be as strong as me one day. Now come, go help Melanie with dinner, the stove's broken so get the big pot from the storage and use the fireplace, like I showed you, with the liquid coal."

 Sending the boy off, he decided it was time to show their weary travelers to their rooms for the night. Fingering his cross cufflink, he took a deep breath unnoticed by their mechanic who was too lost in the world of wires and gears to notice his initial apprehension.
--------
 "We are truly grateful for your help." He began, approaching their newest guest, clapping his hands together, "May I show you to your room for the night?" Before an answer could be given he turned around to address the other merchants who were eager to set down their loads and follow him to their lodgings. 

 "Dinner will be prepared a little late tonight, I apologize for the inconvenience. Now, we often have lights off by nine. You may move about freely after hours, however, we discourage gatherings and leaving the north wing for the sake of the children, their safety and their sleep. The lavatories are located at the end of the hall, I trust you will behave yourselves." He instructed smoothly, watching the men disperse whilst he was still talking. He wasn't too bothered. People had the inane sense to behave themselves as not only a guest, but as a guest in the house of god. Very few misconducts could slip past him as well. 

 Strolling down the narrow hallway, the little group becoming smaller and smaller the farther they went, until all had found their rooms, but one. He had only expected as much. Turning on his heel, he flashed another polite smile, palms upturned and open, "Allow me to show you personally to your room, child. You have been of great help to us today and made quite a spectacle of yourself among the young ones. They do not usually fawn over our guests as they did you..." 

 With that he turned on his heel, back to the man as he led him further down the hallway, right to the door at the end, farthest away from the occupied room and the main hall of the church.