[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/HDwS9l5.png[/img]
[h2][color=9e0039]Zeldria Miphras[/color][/h2]
Bride to Ineraz ([@SilverPaw]), Sister Bride to Sera ([@Pupperr])
Interacting with Ineraz, Sera, & Xaelia [@Ellion][/center]

Zel hadn't been sure what she expected from Sera, but her sister bride seemed civil enough in response. Granted, she didn't respond with much of anything, and it dawned on Zel that Sera had been uncomfortable ever since they'd arrived at the market. She did, however, oblige her with what seemed to be a simple random choosing game similar to "Father Bought a Donkey," and the result was the lighter grey. Which was just as well, Zel decided, and Ineraz didn't seem to find issue with it, so that was that.

[color=9e0039][b]"Thank you Sera,"[/b][/color] she said as she took it off the rack. She found a large bag for carrying her choices in, and as she loaded them into it she decided to take a moment inside the closed wagon to change out of the Drakken clothing and into one of the shirts and skirts she'd picked out. Not long after, Ineraz led them out onto one of the major thoroughfares... and straight into a scene out of a Gem's nightmare. Men screamed in pain and rage alike amid ringing metal and the sounds of flesh being torn into as what seemed like a small war broke out in the street. Zeldria's attention was soon taken away, however, as a Gem came hurtling out of the crowd, collided with Ineraz briefly, then turned to look at her.

Xaelia seemed so much different today than she had in the baths, but there was neither mistaking nor forgetting her. And, judging by the way she looked and then practically leaped at Zel, it seemed the feeling was mutual. Zeldria found herself returning the embrace, regardless of length, and couldn't help but notice how Xaelia reacted when Ineraz barked orders at them. He ordered them back to the wagon, which seemed a good idea, so Zel broke the hug but kept her arm around Xaelia. 

[color=9e0039][b]"Come on Xaelia, I'll stay with you,"[/b][/color] she said as she gently pushed on the dark-haired Gem's back and guided her back to the wagon. Senn and the hounds took up defensive positions around them once they arrived, and once they were firmly against the wooden side Zel guided her newly reunited friend to crouch down with her.

[color=9e0039][b]"It's alright, we should be safe now. Are you alright? What happened?"[/b][/color]

[hider=Summary]
Zel gets her cloak, then finds a suitcase, and changes while packing in the wagon (she was still wearing the boy's clothes. Gross.)
Returns Xae's hug, then takes her over to the wagon. Worries about her. Asks questions.
[/hider]

[center][h2]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[/h2][/center]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/M8nuVBP.png[/img]
[h2][color=9e0b0f]Wilhelm the Black Blade[/color][/h2]
Husband of Onyx ([@Vesuvius00]) and Amalia ([@Belle])
Interacting with Onyx & Amalia[/center]

It was not a good day for the injured Drakken. He'd been struck in the shoulder by a knife, kicked and clawed by a Gem, and then tripped by the reeds at the command of another, only adding insult to injury. He broke free quite soon, however, and was just getting to his feet to move for Amalia and Onyx again when a flash of movement appeared behind him and Wilhelm's black sword protruded from his chest, splashing blood across the ground before him. As the shock passed over his face he registered what was happening, and when he turned to look where the fighting had been before he only saw his compatriots lying on the ground, their blood mixing with the waters of the swamp, soundly dead. 

Wilhelm pulled the sword from the man and flung his form to the roadside without a word, glaring contemptuously at the man. For all the noises of combat, there was not a wound to be seen on him; a torn right sleeve was the only sign he'd even been assailed. Both of his brides seemed unharmed, save for Amalia's ear where it had been struck by the arrows. Leaning in to the carriage, Wilhelm easily plucked the arrow from the wood and smelled the head carefully. 

[color=9e0b0f][b]"Not venomed. That is well,"[/b][/color] he said before dismissively tossing it among the corpses. He straightened his clothes a bit, now that the fight was done, but he did not sheathe his sword as he strolled to the front of the carriage. [color=9e0b0f][b]"How many more ambushes will we be dealing with today?"[/b][/color] he asked, not quite wondering aloud. A few seconds passed where nobody spoke, and then Wilhelm rapidly reached up with his free hand to grab the Driver by the arm and bodily hurl him to the ground from off his perch. 

[color=9e0b0f][b]"I asked you a question, Matteo. How many more ambushes are waiting for us on this road?"[/b][/color] he said with a voice like ice.

[b]"M-my Lord?"[/b] Matteo stuttered as he sat up, [b]"I've no idea why you're asking me-"[/b]

[color=9e0b0f][b]"Oh you don't?"[/b][/color] Wilhelm snarled, [color=9e0b0f][b]"You think me a fool then? You come to me with reports of a blocked pass..."[/b][/color]

[b]"But it's true my lord! It is blocked!"[/b] Matteo pleaded as he began to scramble backwards while Wilhelm followed him.

[color=9e0b0f][b]"You tell me there are bandits on the Highroad, so my only option is this path..."[/b][/color]

[b]"I could not confirm that, but it did not seem worth the risk-"[/b]

[color=9e0b0f][b]"And then, strangely, the wagon horses grind to a sudden halt HERE, where an ambush was waiting!"[/b][/color]

[b]"Th-the horses must have been startled by something!"[/b]

[color=9e0b0f][b]"Indeed. But how would something startle them while my steed remains untroubled?"[/b][/color]

[b]"Y-y-your steed is trained and bred for war my lord!"[/b] Matteo stammered, panic beginning to flood his face as he found his back pressed against a tree, [b]"Surely he wouldn't be startled by something so-"[/b]

[color=9e0b0f][b]"Of course not! But he would still sense it and alert me, as he has been trained. Unless, of course, it was something he was not intended to sense. A localized tremor, only beneath the wagon horses perhaps?"[/b][/color]

[b]"Yes, of course! One of the attackers must have-"[/b]

[color=9e0b0f][b]"And why would they do that? Only someone who knew my horse would alert me would specifically avoid affecting him with it. Someone who has been around these horses their entire life. Someone like [i]you,[/i] Matteo."[/b][/color]

Wilhelm reached down and gripped Matteo by the throat, hoisting him up against the tree with seemingly little effort.

[color=9e0b0f][b]"Now, I will ask you one. Last. Time,"[/b][/color] he said venomously, [color=9e0b0f][b]"How many other ambushes are there?"[/b][/color]

Matteo struggled to find enough breath, but the more he groped and scratched against Wilhelm's iron grasp the more he seemed to realize that he was running out of options. Finally, he managed to breathe out [b]"This was the only one, my lord."[/b]

[color=9e0b0f][b]"And who were these men?"[/b][/color] Wilhelm asked.

[b]"Peasants, my lord...."[/b] Matteo said between gasps, [b]"Disgraced soldiers who only wanted some Gems for themselves..."[/b]

[color=9e0b0f][b]"You are certain of that? Or are you deceiving me again?"[/b][/color] Wilhelm demanded as he hoisted the servant higher still.

[b]"N-no my lord! I tell you truth! Please!"[/b] Matteo began to beg as tears formed in his eyes.

[color=9e0b0f][b]"Very well,"[/b][/color] Wilhelm said as he let go and Matteo flopped to the ground, gasping for air. Wilhelm watched him patiently as he began to right himself then looked him straight in the eyes. [color=9e0b0f][b]"Then you are [i]dismissed[/i]."[/b][/color]

With a single motion the black sword lashed out, severing the servant's head with an impossibly clean strike that left a single, straight gash in the trunk of the tree behind him. He cleaned the sword of its blood as he trod back to the wagon to take stock of the situation. With nary a word to his brides, at first, he went to the back of the carriage and began to pull the saddles from it. He unhooked the horses from their post and quickly saddled each of them, then turned to Amalia and Onyx.

[color=9e0b0f][b]"We will be riding the rest of the way,"[/b][/color] he told them, [color=9e0b0f][b]"It will be faster and less noticeable. Are you both familiar with the action, or need I instruct you?"[/b][/color]

[hider=Summary]
Wilhelm kills some people, determines that Amalia isn't poisoned from the arrow, then deduces that the driver was complicate in the whole affair. There's some Q & A, Wilhelm has to choke a bitch, and then we all learn what happens when you betray the man; you die!

Now he just needs to know if his brides can ride horses at all before they get going. 
(Note: Nothing more planned for the road, next post will get us to Nachtstone)
[/hider]