[color=92278f]"I'm afraid I don't know very much about the agricultural conditions of the northern lands, so any statement I may make will not hold much truth concerning the matter."[/color]


[color=C7AA7D]"Very, eh..nobly put.[/color]

Dalsarad had to admit, though was only now just realizing, the girl sounded very educated. If he recalled, she hadn't mentioned receiving any. Did Lords often educate their maids? Dal seemed to recall some acting as teachers or wards for lower nobles, but he'd assumed those were already educated elsewhere. Maybe she had picked it up from her parents- maybe [i]they[/i] were educated. Perhaps there was some schooling program for the working class that Dal's parents simply had no desire to send him to; certainly seemed reasonable, given how much his father wanted him to work each week. Dal made it a point to ask the young rider about it later.

[color=92278f]"Where's your family, then? Why aren't you traveling with them?"[/color] 

Bit of a sensitive topic, but Dalsarad wouldn't ever make progress towards getting over it if he didn't talk to anyone about it.

The farmboy cleared his throat, [color=C7AA7D]"Well, my fath-"[/color]

[color=92278f]"Why haven't you been enlisted in the militia?"[/color] 

Dal's teeth clicked as he slammed his mouth shut; felt his heart melt into his stomach. His face flushed red with a multitude of feelings- anger among them. Had the young rider eluded that he was a deserter? That Dalsarad had [i]chosen[/i] to be on this caravan instead of giving his life defending his home? 

He looked back towards Lea- her knuckles were turning white from clenching the reins, and she looked tense. Didn't try looking at Dalsarad. Maybe she hadn't meant to say anything, but that didn't make the question hurt any less. In truth, the young man was unsure of what to do. He was left flabbergasted at the suddenness of the question- he wanted to yell, cry, and not say anything all at the same time. Dalsarad clenched his fists as hard as Lea was her reins. 

[color=C7AA7D]"I'll, uh.."[/color] He trailed off, not quite sure what he was going to say. Didn't like to say anything if he wasn't one-hundred percent sure of it. Besides, she didn't seem to be listening, anyway. He simply patted Lea's horse's head a few times and moved a little farther up the caravan. 

Dalsarad was a few carts ahead of where he had been when he finally came to and noticed the tuft of smoke the others around him seemed to be perplexed by. A pair of littler ones near him- couldn't have been older than ten years of age- were gossiping as to what it could be. One mused it would be the Varyan Emperor burning at the stake, while the other simply assumed it would be a campfire made by other travelers, akin to the caravan. At some point they both looked up at Dal- perplexed perhaps by his armor or sword- who smiled back at them. The caravan was reaching the crest of the hill now, and the two young ones were excited to see who was closer to being right.

[color=C7AA7D]"Oh shi-"[/color] Dal caught himself; there [i]was[/i] little ones near him, after all. The grim cavalcade came to a halt. Before them was an overturned and burning wagon- its contents (But not owners, thankfully) were strewn about the road.  

Well, in all technicality, one boy was certainly closer to being right than the other.

Dal moved to the front of the caravan, taking the scene in. He unclasped his shield and held it in his left hand while the other nervously hovered the hilt of his saber. The guards were convening, but Dal noticed some of the youth were making their way towards the overturned wagon. That could prove [i]very[/i] problematic, especially if the offenders were still around. The last thing Dal- or anyone, for that matter- wanted would be for someone to be captured, or worse. 

[color=C7AA7D][i]It's okay, I was tired of feeling safe here, anyways.[/i][/color] He thought to himself as he followed behind two others- one boy and one girl. The boy sported some knightly-looking plate while the girl was dressed much more lightly. The latter suddenly stooped to search a pack from the less fortunate wagon.

[color=C7AA7D]"Woah, easy with the sticky fingers."[/color] Dal took a swipe at the pack but missed as he didn't want to stop moving towards the wagon. He caught a small glimpse of the girl's face- she was older than he thought; was probably closer to [i]his[/i] age. As was the boy, whom he addressed next after jogging a moment to catch up to his horse.

[color=C7AA7D]"Don't see any bodies. Dunno if that makes me feel any better."[/color]