[center][color=FFCE00][h2][u]The Snakeburrow Woods[/u][/h2][/color][/center]

[center][sub]15th of the Full Autumn Moon, 1698 P.A.
Night - Overcast Skies[/sub][/center]


Cerric’s eyebrows moved higher and higher as Kyreth all but whispered his words. He followed Kyreth’s fleeting glance at the flint strike and he seemed more and more confused as the Tainted continued with this strange line of conversation. [color=skyblue]“What in the world has given you the impression you are a burden? If I shared that belief, you wouldn’t have made it across the lake, let alone traveled with us a full day.”[/color] Cerric laughed, waving away the boy’s concerns. [color=skyblue]“Listen, Kyreth. I understand you’ve suffered a difficult life thus far and I do not want to make light of it, but it’s time to put that away. You’ve stepped foot in a world that demands more confidence and selfishness than the, and forgive me my bluntness, sniveling you’re doing now. Buck up. You don’t need to thank me for following orders.”[/color] Cerric clapped him on the shoulder, giving him a thumbs up. He murmured a soft word and held his hand above the trough, a steady stream of water pouring out to fill it. 

[color=skyblue]“At the end of the day, our Lord respects my opinion on our business. If I said your presence would compromise the job, he’d have found another task for you, but you are already serving an important role: the unknown variable. If five people can’t handle an extra, unanticipated addition to the team that is more hindrance than help, then they shouldn’t be pursuing this line of work. Flexibility is the key to survival.”[/color] Cerric shrugged. [color=skyblue]“And this is an excellent environment to practice. The aether is calm and stable, more willing to work with you than against you. I can’t exactly fault our Lord for wanting to give you an opportunity to learn outside of the House for a bit. But if passive assistance isn’t your style, I’ll keep your offer in mind.”[/color] Cerric shook his wrist sharply a few times, the water stopping before he moved onto the waterskins. He tapped each one and commanded them to fill, the water skins plumped back up to brimming. 

Meanwhile, Esvelee had removed the tack from her horse and had started brushing it, humming a soft song. The clouds above continued to sit, darkening over the course of the day and threatening with a quiet rumble of thunder, but it still stayed miraculously dry. The faint music of Snakeburrow wound its way through the campsite, a constant companion on travels through the woods, and the soft shushing of leaves and grasses as the wind snatched playfully at the branches of the trees and the edges of clothes. The last bit of sunlight faded away, leaving only the flickering campfire to cast long shadows amongst the clearing.