[center][h2][color=#b3ccff]Esben Mathiassen[/color][/h2][/center]
[hr]

Esben watched as Éliane paid him a small glance and looked back to the now-jammed swinging blades that she'd been staring at a moment before, lifting her rifle to them. He sighed. Worse yet, he couldn't entirely blame her; as uncomfortable as it was, he was at least used to the fatigue. He might be ready to collapse the second they were done, but that was a future problem.

[color=#b3ccff]"One moment,"[/color] he bid the others, walking over to where his countrywoman stood, putting a hand on her shoulder. [color=#b3ccff]"Elly, [i]this[/i] way,"[/color] he quietly corrected, with a slight tug to get her moving the right direction before reaching down and turning the rifle in her hands so that she'd lead with the end that would actually [i]fit[/i] the "keyhole." With the other, he reached into a pocket of his cloak, pulling out a small bag. He'd brought along more than a few snacks from home, things that essentially wouldn't spoil. Some of them he'd made a point [i]not[/i] to take into the actual desert beyond Kugane, but they'd been with him since, and he'd had them packed well enough that even a couple dips in the ocean hadn't managed to harm them.

He'd been [i]hoping[/i] to keep them to himself, or at the least, not to run the risk that Éliane might start to think she'd have free access. But, as always, the mission came first...

[color=#b3ccff]"Eat a few of these. They'll wake you back up a bit."[/color] Chocolate-covered coffee beans. He also had a tin of caffeine-enriched chocolate, but he wasn't willing to give [i]that[/i] up yet.