Shivian was startled by the sudden slap on the shoulder, and was glad that he had already finished helping the girl up. He spun around, and hadn't even been looking at the man who had used the brutish method of grabbing his attention for two seconds when the guy started talking faster than a repeating crossbow could fire.

[b]“That’d be me, good sir! You’re lookin’ to join, then? If you’ll just follow me into my tent, we can go through the whole process of getting you signed up and ready for action!"[/b] The man seemed to say the whole thing in a single, energetic breath, leaving Shivian no room to reply. He was about to speak up after the man quickly pointed to a tent and motioned for him to follow, but he found that the eccentric man was not through speaking. [b]“Maria, you think you could fetch our guest here some refreshments? I think we still have some ale lying in a barrel around here, somewhere,”[/b] he said to the girl Shivian had just helped to stand.

[i]So her name's Maria. I've got to remember that,[/i] Shivian thought before the man with the fluffy ears spoke up once again.

[b]“Name’s Aventus, by the way. Commander of the Greywood Company, Jaris Branch!”[/b] the man exclaimed, seeming, to Shivian, to get more excited each time he spoke.

[b]"Uh . . . "[/b] Shivian stuttered as they reached the tent. He was trying to process everything the man had said. It was such fluent, yet rapid speech, Shivian was afraid that for a moment he would have to ask the man to repeat everything, but then he began to process it all. [b]"I'm Shivian Edgebolt, wandering swordsman,"[/b] Shivian said softly. [b]"Er . . . Glad to meet you."[/b]