[b][center][h3][color=orange] Lein [/color][/h3][/center][/b]
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[b][color=orange]Location:[/color][/b] Roadside, Bandit Camp Approach
[b][color=orange]Interactions:[/color][/b]
[b][color=orange]Mentions:[/color][/b]
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[color=orange]
[i]Huh, guess Hope is used to this kind of attention.[/i][/color]
Lein had expected a fluster from Hope at the sudden approach, not a matronly kind of gentleness and certainly not a scratch behind the ears. What was meant to be tease had come off as youthful zeal. Perhaps Lein's initial impression of Hope as the 'royal hemmed in child' had been too hasty; there was a more hardened sort behind those soft looks. Nonetheless, Lein played into his character with his bushy tail swooshing with a guileful sort of enthusiasm. [color=orange]"But of course! This march is yet treacherous, beyond these scrappy scoundrels."[/color]

As the battle wrapped up, roars and screams quietening down to whimpers and gurgles, Lein took the time to pull any spare arrows back from the cadavers. The bodies that twitched when Lein retrieved his ammunition, he made sure to cut out the arteries with his dagger. A compassionate gesture, as the young Knight-Captain suggested - and a practical one. Live prisoners too weak to carry themselves would just be a burden, extra cargo to lug around. With the Knight Order trying to stay 'pristine' and 'noble', ransoming would be off the tables as well. 

Lein paused as he examined the under-brush leading from the main trail. The brush was torn up and crushed down from the dozens of boots and bodies that fell upon it during the battle, but a peculiar trail of reddened slickness wound out from the trail. A body dragged. Probably an escapee, though they wouldn't have gotten too far. Not exactly urgent, but - Lein looked around the site, the other knights busily delivering their coup de grace - it wasn't like Lein had much to do, anyway. 

Just as Lein guessed, it wasn't long before he found his mark. A crumbled brigand, heaving and slumped under the tree. He was confusedly attempting to move his legs that remained limply on the ground, the rough leather of the armour starting to be dyed with pooling blood. He didn't move nor speak even as Lein approached, only squinting at the Hundi with an exhausted look. An animal that was far too tired and shocked to register that it was looking right at a trapper. A heavy blow to the back? Shattered the spine at the wrong place perhaps. Lein usually just aimed for a fatal blow near the neck just for frugality's sake, and to avoid these situations. This one would live, given the treatment that the castle healers could bring. But the legs were gone. For this profession, it was as good as just a slow, protracted death sentence. 

Lein's ears twitched thoughtfully, his ossific hand still holding the arrow to the bowstring. Die easy here or die awkwardly later. [i]What a pain.[/i] With a quick look around to confirm that his compatriots were too busy cleaning up the rest of the battlefield, Lein leant in close with a hushed but firm tone. [color=orange]"If ever they let you keep your head on your shoulders, head to Marlea'an. Look for a Sister Ifreet. Tell her, ah, tell her you messed up and got bit by a dog or something." [/color]

The wounded brigand gave Lein a confused look. Lein yawned and shrugged, resuming his nonchalant smile. With a short wave, he hailed down a healer to carry the brigand away. [i]Eh, not like he'll probably make it to Marlea'an[/i], Lein thought with a foreign brand of uneasiness brewing as he watched the newly imprisoned brigand be tied and hauled away.