Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Greetings to you all," the priest replied, "Lahmear's blessings upon you. Please, sit."

He gestured to the chairs with a smile and it seemed a bit of the tension in the room vanished at this. Seist was quick to accept his invitation. Behind the three, the acolyte shut the door and walked over to the scribe's desk. She drew out a piece of blank paper but made no motion to do anything more, instead waiting on High Priest Therris's request.

"There are only a handful of priests of Dues and Frain that have marked their eyes so," Therris said, watching Seist as he spoke, "Which of those are you?"

"Margrave Seist Loringar of Kas Kain. This is Bazil, my attendant for while I am in Downswood, and this woman is Autumn, of the fae people. She was attacked in the streets by what I believe are mercenaries under the employ of Baroness Yvette. They carry fae-poison and seemed intent on kidnapping her mostly unharmed, until my companion intervened. One escaped, one we brought here. We now turn to you for advisement."

Seist's tone was respectful but the priest did not seem impressed by either his title, faith, or his polite words. He barely acknowledged that Seist had spoken and instead turned his attention to Autumn.

"Do not let the priest speak for you, fae," he said gently, "I have heard of Seist. His reputation for causing trouble precedes him. What would you ask of me to do?"

Bazil made a wave with his hand reaching out into the air before him until his fingers brushed the back of the chair. With some care while maneuvering, he took a seat and listened to that which the high priest had to speak making no nod at the mention of his own name. Certainly, Priest Seist's reputation had preceded him. It was one of the reasons he had been asked to attend the wandering margrave on behest of those who hired him through his employer. Inwardly, he might be amused by the high priest's remark, but wondered if it changed anything. Thinking it over, the high priest might be interested to have a fae in his presence just as much as any other intellectual who was not completely swayed by the situation of the dragons to the East.

((woot))

Therris listened to each account gravely, seeming to pay the most attention to Autumn. He did not remark on Bazil's explanation, although he seemed keenly interested and it did not appear to be simply because he wanted to know the exact narrative of events. Seist had very little to say and managed to restrain himself from making suggestions at the end of his account. Instead, he handed over the fae-poison for the high priest to inspect, taking care to keep it away from Autumn.

"I will have to take your expertise in this," Therris replied, returning the pouch to Seist, "I am not schooled in poisons. We priests of Lahmear do not share the curiosity in all things of your order. I trust that you will dispose of it for me."

"I will," Seist replied.

"Than here is my wisdom," he said, addressing Autumn directly, "I can only advise as I would a mortal, for I have little interaction with the fae. But you must understand that this is a delicate situation. I can ensure that this man in my custody does not get another attempt at harming you. I can have some of my priests seek out his partner but it will have to be done subtly and in secret. Our chances of success are slim."

"Or," he continued, "I can use the full authority of both my god and my position to find and bring justice - true justice - to both of these. Lahmear's justice. I do not know what that will be. However, such a thing will put this entire affair in the public sphere and I am not certain that would be a wise thing to do at this point. It could... foster resentment. And I am not certain of my ability to protect you. In the end, it is your choice to make. I will honor whatever you decide."

The priest seemed satisfied with this. Relieved, almost.

"Than I shall keep your first attacker imprisoned until I am certain he is no longer a threat," Therris replied, "Lahmear's light protect you, fae-child."

Seist was the first to stand. He glanced between Autumn and Bazil and then turned to High Priest Therris.

"If you don't mind," he said, "I'd like to stay and talk a moment longer. I have some questions to be asked in private. Bazil, would you be so kind as to see Autumn to her home safely? I do not think we will be visiting the dragons until tomorrow with this detour, so I will not require your services for the rest of the evening. And I believe you are more than capable of dealing with a single mercenary without me."

((my last post for the night))

As directed, Bazil led the lady fae out of the temple and to the steps. The sky was beginning to darken at this point, the sun barely being seen over the horizon and quickly sinking. With fewer carts traveling in the eve, the two resigned to walking though neither seemed to mind. Both were accustomed to traveling by foot through the city; both looking more casual than most would at such hours when the shadows grew. Autumn was not being let by Bazil's arm this far away from the temple as formality did not require it and necessity might call upon their arms for other demands such as fighting back if attacked again.

"To what road do we turn now, m'am?" Bazil said waiting for another direction. "How far out must you travel yet?" The night seemed not to bother the man in the least, or if it did, it was just as much bother as the day was.

Autumn was glad to discover that Bazil, too, preferred to make the return trip afoot. She had pondered asking if he could drive the cart but decided that she really didn’t care to find out from experience should he offer. She did not know how to drive a cart, nor ride a tamed horse for that matter. While she had no particular disliking for domestic animals the lacking rapport left her ill at ease.

As they moved away from the temple and Bazil had withdrawn his arm Autumn let out a sigh of relief, “Please do not take it personally, I am grateful to you for your escort, but I am relieved to be rid of formality.”

At Bazil’s question Autumn answered “I’ve a thought to heed the advice you and Seist have offered and make my way to [forest name], but I don’t think he’d be too happy to discover I’ve run off with this.” She distastefully lifted the chain careful to leave the medallion itself hidden from view. She wished for the first time in a long while that she had a pouch for storing things in. It was not the first she had born an ornamental chain about her neck but it did not mean she wished to keep it there. She hoped that the answers Seist may give would be worth the trouble he was already causing her.

“If I may be sold bold; why did you intervene?” she asked letting her feet follow their own path.

((I don't know the name of the forest so I'll edit after I know.))

"Because it very well could have escalated into a riot." Was it for the fairy tale damsel in distress? No, and he would not admit to such when it wasn't true. "The men were foolish and risked the populous around them. Yet, what they did say was true. Relations between the dragon district and human one are tense with more dragon raids being recorded elsewhere as a result of what seems to be the war of the fae to the West. I had hoped it to be simply a rumor." A rumor quickly dispelled in one day.

Bazil's staff clicked against the stone as they walked, tapping in rhythm as they walked. "We are heading in the direction of the city wall. Do you have room and board somewhere between here and there?" he inquired, wondering if she meant to leave tonight for these woods she spoke of. "If you worry of the charm and his claim on it, simply return it to him upon the morrow when you meet with him again." Better sense told him to offer to take it back to Seist then and there, but Seist seemed to speak with the fae woman again.

((They are actually still in Downswood. It is just split into different quarters. (ie: dragon, human, merchant, etc)))

“You entered the fray when so many were content to remain onlookers. For as much as I know of humans I find there is always more to be learned.” Her tone was contemplative. Autumn too had wondered about the rumored war and had, betimes, pondered asking the forest what it could tell her of events therein. She felt an unexpected longing to immerse herself in the comforts that her forest had offered her. She pondered handing Bazil the medallion Seist had given her and simply fleeing the city, but she was surprised to discover that she wanted to see Seist again. Gods help me, she thought as she let go of the chain about her neck she had absently been fiddling with. She laughed aloud at the irony as it occurred to her.

“The other side of the wall is my destination,” she said vaguely. “You mean he may intend for me to do otherwise?” she asked appalled. The thought that he would not take back his medallion had not occurred to her. That he could potentially find her at his will beyond the morrow was reprehensible.

Actually, he wondered if she had intended to do otherwise. "The priest's intentions are unknown to me." Giving up the medallion was unusual to say the least, he thought as he her the light clink of metal. "I would not worry of it though lest you go and do something rash between the time now and next we meet." Such as mock the Twins, start killing humans, threaten him, he thought to himself as he tried to decide what would irk the mage priest.

"If the other side of the wall you must go, then I will see you to the wall's gate before parting."

“It is not to the shoppe that I now head, Ardja left the same time as did I. She will be home with her husband now,” Autumn said gently. Tying to ease the tension she offered after a few steps, “I am well spoken for a cause, but I am not much of a conversationalist,” her tone a quiet apology.

((By the by in all of this she has not mentioned being a dryad. So I’m a little confused at what he now knows he did not before; I thought from the get-go her recognized her and her magic as fae.))

"Then I will follow until you return to the wall," Bazil spoke.

((Honestly, there is little else for Bazil to do here. He will for the most part stay out of the way. So I would just fast forward to either you ditching him as you considered or going ahead to the wall. At this point, since no time frame has been offered by Autumn as to when to meet up at the wall to escort her inward, Bazil will not meet with her at the wall unless you say they agree to something.

No where did I mention that Bazil knew she was a dryad so I am unsure what you are speaking of. Being a dryad or her mentioning such has nothing to do with it his ability anyways. Being fae - does. If you are concerned, then pm me and we will discuss this in private.))

Seist's conversation with the high priest was both productive and somewhat distressing. He had known that Baroness Yvette was doing curious things but had no idea just so far her reach had stretched. She even played games with the temple of Lahmear. His head spinning with matters of politics and a priest's plea for help, he took his leave of the temple well after sundown. He'd have to find a way to abandon both Bazil and Autumn. The former was too observant and he needed his intentions to go unnoticed - especially now. The latter was too much of an unknown element and he did not wish to complicate anyone else into this. Thankfully, it would be easy to do. Bazil would be left behind when he left Downswood and the fae girl would surely return to the forest now.

Still, there was something he needed to do. He carried with him the escaped thug's sword, his thumb pressed tight against the metal of the hilt. Swords were such... intimate things. When a person lived by the sword they were even more so, to the point where they were almost indistinguishable from the person from a magical standpoint. And Seist was oh so good at tracking spells. He found the man walking the street in the outer ring of the city. It wasn't the slums but nor was it the most reputable part of town, catering to a clientele that had money and wanted to go unremarked. He probably planned to slip out first thing in the morning and was finishing up his affairs before he left Downswood. Seist tailed him for a short time as the street grew more empty and desolate. Finally, the man gave the priest the opportunity he'd been waiting for. The thug seemed to be growing more desperate and Seist smiled to himself - he was checking with fences, probably hoping his sword had been snatched by a street urchin and promptly sold off. He was getting careless and took a shortcut down a narrow passage between buildings. Seist darted after him and the darkness swallowed them both up, only partly aided by the thick veil of magic Seist dropped over the area to hide what was about to happen from sight, both arcane and human.

He walked gently, the soft soles of his boots making not a sound, and slid a wire free of his belt as he approached. The man paused, like a deer catching wind of the hound, but it was too late then. Seist hooked the wire around his neck and pulled it tight, drawing the man against his chest and then up onto his toes and holding him there. He flailed and Seist grunted as the man's foot struck him in the knee and then an elbow to the ribs. He did not let go though and after a moment the trashing grew quieter and then the body became dead weight, hands hanging limply at either side. Seist held on a bit longer to ensure the breath was truly gone and the life with it before letting him fall heavily to the ground. He knelt over the body, summoning a spark of mage-light to see by, and carefully drew three lines in the dead man's face with the tip of his knife, mirroring his own scars, faint enough that they could be easily missed. Then he slit the man's throat, just over the line the garrote had left. The raw edges of the wound would hide the mark and the bruising. It was one thing to find a body with a slit throat, the work of a common criminal. A professional garrote was cause for more concern. Then, to finish the impression of uncomplicated murder, Seist relieved the man of his valuables. They'd find their way to one of the temples of Marckius at some point, to thank the patron god whose priesthood had trained Seist in their ways.

That done, Seist stood and walked away. He did not look back.

((Seist is going to sleep in the next morning as he's tired from playing assassin. Bazil may have to find him))

Seist woke when the sun was well into the sky. It wasn't quite noon, but it was close. The priest groaned and reluctantly sat up in bed, still feeling tired from his... errand... last night. Briefly, he wondered if the body had been found yet. There was an accompanying stab of fear at that thought, a familiar sensation that Seist had long since learned to ignore. If he was ever caught, he'd be caught and there was nothing he could do about it besides take what precautions he could.

Besides, he had other things to attend to. He focused briefly, reaching out a tendril of magic to track the general location of his priesthood pendant. There was - nothing. Frowning, Seist tried again and was once more disappointed. The worry came rushing back full-force once more and Seist had to actively pause and remind himself that just because he couldn't locate his priesthood amulet it didn't mean that there'd be a warrior-priest of Lahmear hunting him down just yet. Totally unrelated.

"Blasted fae," Seist muttered, pulling on his boots, "Probably thinks it's funny."

He was more bothered by the fact his magic was being foiled than by the idea that harm may have come to her. She was fae though, he couldn't be too surprised by this. Still. It was irritating.

In a foul mood, Seist made for the door. Breakfast would help and then he could get to work tracking down his wayward pendant. He yanked the door open with a bit more force than needed in his ire.

Already Bazil was standing opposite the door, waiting in the same cloak of green with hood drawn. His hands were tucked together in their sleeves, the staff they sometimes carried upon his back.

"Shall I be called upon for anything? A fresh pitcher and a cloth, perhaps?" Bazil asked, skipping any sort of good day pleasantries. Seist's heavy footsteps and the rough handling of the latch had hinted that it would be best otherwise. After years of sleepy charges, one learned to let the nobles wake in the fashion they chose unless they requested otherwise.

He was mostly awake at this point, himself. After seeing the fae woman off, Bazil had diverted to his own abode, slept some before the dawn. Waking early, he had made one little diversion to speak with his employer before arriving at the dragon district again to wait for Seist to rouse.

Bazil had no comment to make regarding humans and fae folk. Most folk had likely not met one, including himself before Autumn had come. And in the current time frame, yes, rumors had swayed the populous as the fae were taking on the role of stirring up the dragons, adding an undeniable negative impact on their mythical reputation. He did not see the race of fae coming any time soon to fight that claim.

Regardless of her blush, embarrassment tinged the woman's voice hinting another topic that Bazil had no interest in delving into, appreciative when Ardja changed the topic back to the plant life in the shop. Choosing not to waste more time in a location with no answers, he asked if the woman would simply pick a small but durable plant, the roots bagged so that it could be easily carried. He paid his coin, thanked the business woman for her time, and hurried off on his way back to the restpoint where Seist had taken room. He was still going to be early, but that would only give him time to sit and eat before meeting again.

Bazil was waiting at the doorway to Seist's room when high sun arrived.

Ardja looked over the miniatures* she and Autumn had been grooming last night and selected one. She boxed the planter before bagging it as requested. She took Bazil’s coin and thanked him for his business.

After Bazil was gone Ardja let out a sigh of relief. The man had not accepted her tea last night and Autumn had kept their conversation away from him. She wasn’t sure what Autumn was mixed up in now, but she hadn’t been about to hand over an easy means of tracking the girl. How was she to know that Autumn hadn’t simply escaped from this man? He had, after all, refused tea last night no matter how politely done. While it hadn’t been particularly worrisome last night it just didn’t sit right with Ardja today.

While it was true that both she and Autumn had been working on the miniatures last night Autumn hadn’t been particularly attentive seeing as how she had been caught up in Ardja’s own revelry about her newly discovered pregnancy. Ardja wasn’t sure that really said much where Autumn was concerned though, everything that Autumn touched flourished and even the cut flowers she arranged seemed to hold up longer. Still the miniatures were Ardja’s own delight; it seemed that fae women (or at least Autumn) didn’t have the same inborn attraction to small plants and animals that most human women did.

While Ardja didn’t know much about magic herself her husband was a highly respected physician well versed in both magical and non-magical means of treating his patients. Her husband had attended search parties where magical means of tracking were used. Ardja wasn’t sure just how the tracking worked but she hoped that she hadn’t just handed Autumn over to someone that Autumn didn’t want finding her. She wanted to do right by the sweet shy girl she knew.

((*For the purposed of what they were working on last night think bonsai trees. Miniatures would also include, in Ardja’s mind, things like miniature roses and such.))

(( Kiddo: You’re welcome to have Ardja have handed over a maple miniature—she doesn’t know that Autumn’s a maple— and we could say that was the last one that Autunmn was working on last night. Ardja’s hope, however, was that the tracking spell would lead back to her rather than to Atutumn. I, personally, don’t have a preference for which way it goes.))

Seist was a touch late to their meeting, but he seemed in good spirits nonetheless. He dumped a satchel on the table downstairs and then looked around the sparse common room. Most people had business to attend to during the day so he'd have most of the room to himself. Not seeing Bazil, he stuck he head up the stairwell to check.

"Ah!" he called to him, "Downstairs. I found everything I need - well, most everything. Enough to make do. The Borderlands never ceases to surprise me with just how active a magical community there is, though it is rather... unconventional. But improvisation is good for the mind, you know. Did you find something of Autumn's?"

The priest was obviously excited, for his chatter was fast and he hardly paused for breath. Losing his amulet to Autumn didn't seem to bother him - indeed, the priest seemed to be acting as if this were some sort of new and interesting game.

"Improvisation is everything to the blind," Bazil chuckled more to himself as he gauged the movements of excited mage priest before heading for the stairs.

"Fae is as Fae are. I decided to check with her employer who was surprised at hearing about Autumn's run in despite speaking with her last night. Unsurprisingly there is little left behind other than the plant life she tended at a greenery store," Bazil said as he stepped up to the table and held up the wrapped dirt and plant. "Or if there is, her employer is not going to give it up to a stranger being suspicious which I cannot blame her in this current climate. Even so, I believe I may have one better - something that has been within reach the entire time. I just need but to borrow your eyes." Setting his staff aside, he began to disrobe, pulling off the classic green robe and holding it out toward Seist. He now stood there, colorless eyes unhidden, while standing in a grey gi with something much like a cloth blindfold tied loosely around his neck.

"The last person to be in direct contact with Autumn aside from her employer was myself, between escorting and carrying her. While I cannot be certain as I could not look, I had the impression that our fae woman may have taken a hit or two. If you would be so obliged to look my robe over for any stains or traces of the fae woman remaining on it. You may find the same regarding the sword you kept belonging to the other attacker as well."


((Yeah... the flower shop, to Bazil, was more an info run and to see if there was something gather more than Autumn's... sap. lol
Edit in: Kiddo: Oh hey, look! Another moment where Seist's flirty side and magic interests compete? XD ))

Seists eyes went wide for a moment and he mutely accepted the green robe from Bazil. He turned it over in his hands a couple times, his gaze occasionally flickering from Bazil to the robe and back again. Then he folded it and turned his attention fully on the blind attendant.

"This will do in conjunction with the plant," he said demurely, "She is fae, so she will have a strong tie to the earth. I believe I see a strand of long hair on this as well, so that shall help. Not as much as the plant, truth be told, as personal effects will have a greater emotional investment than an errant piece of hair or a drop or two of blood. Well. In some circumstances that's not the case, but it requires the hair or blood to be obtained in a manner that gives it meaning - willing or unwilling sacrifice, for instance."

Then he dropped the pristine, clinical tone.

"I suppose I could return this to you," he added, hefting the robe with one hand. Then he turned and walked away, back towards the common room downstairs, still carrying Bazil's robe, grinning like a fiend.

Bazil made more of a hurried notion to read the rest of the writing. "It is not my city," he said almost too bluntly as he moved to a different side of the table allowing Seist access to clean, picking up his robe as he came around to it. "And that is a lot of 'we' speak before giving me the option," Bazil chuckled. "For what it amounts to, unless you are outright in traveling alone, I would like to see that said fae did not cross any more trouble with fortune-hunters. Unless the High Priest of Lahmear has found anything different from the man incarcerated, we know not about his partner's whereabouts or if that was his only partner. After stepping up yesterday in the streets, I would hate to see such an effort wasted. If their sponsor was willing to supply them with fae powder, what else might hey have carried?"

Stepping back, he slipped on the robe, straightening it over his frame. "But yes, I will go see to your horse, though I suppose that would mean I should also find one."

Seist let Bazil go with some dismay at his words. He wasn't terribly keen on having a companion, but he had to admit that it probably wouldn't hurt for now. Not until he got involved deeper with his usual affairs. He'd have to dismiss Bazil then for certain, even if he did like the man. Still, he had to wonder just what the blind man had meant by this not being his city and why exactly he was so keen to stick close to the priest. Seist shook his head in astonishment. Most of his retainers were happy to keep their distance.

After cleaning away his runes, Seist headed outside to the stable. The vial hung warm against his chest, hidden under his tunic, and he could feel the thin line of power that pulled him towards the fae-girl, like a sort of homesickness. He walked over and took the reins of his horse, stroking its nose.

"She's most likely on foot, so we shouldn't have any trouble catching up," Seist said, "And Bazil? I scryed out the second attacker earlier this morning and found nothing. He's either found someone very capable to hide him or he's dead. From what I know of this city's mages, I would suspect the latter."

The priest swung himself up into the saddle and pointed his horse towards the east.

"Take us the quickest way to the gate," he said.

Autumn was in no particular hurry to get to the forest but neither did she feel like lingering near Downswood when she had a new destination in mind. Her pace was a brisk walk (one that she could easily maintain for a great distance over open land) and she listened for any sound of a wild mount that she may be able to persuade to her service. A subconscious veil of magic would suggest to any that she may encounter in her journey that her presence was of little or no import; that she be overlooked and passed by then forgotten as if she had not been there at all.

((I think I have a slight preference for her not finding a mount, but I'm not opposed to her finding a wild horse or something if you wanna have her closer to the forest when Seist catches up to her—which could be a useful option if we want to have her meet the newly exciled prince while keeping Seist away from him. Not saying that we have to, just tossing out ideas.))

Seist pushed the horses, but not recklessly so. He did not attempt to converse while they road, indeed, such a task would be difficult with the horses moving as they were across the land. The necklace he wore tucked under his tunic pulled him in the direction Autumn had gone, and as he rode, his irritation grew. A day's worth of travel time lost because some ridiculous fae couldn't just return his pendant and be done with it. Hadn't he done plenty for her? He'd even slit someone's throat in a backalley. The fae were not known for gratitude, however, and Seist sternly told himself he'd do well to remember that in the future.

((Jenn, if you're ready for them to catch up you can have Autumn hear the hooves of the horses))

Autumn heard the approach of hooves and stopped to listen for a moment. Domestic, she thought mildly disappointed as she resumed walking; she saw no reason to do otherwise. Odds were that the horses bore unknown men to an unknown destination and they would pass her by. If the two horses bore men who were after her they would find her highly more capable of defending herself outside the city where her ties to nature were stronger.

Her magic, subconscious on a level with breathing, remained active. If she was being sought out she would be found, but were she not it would be as if she were not there.

As the two rode within eyeshot of Autumn, Seist rose up in his stirrups to get a better look. They'd passed a handful of people earlier and the priest had been starting to wonder if perhaps his tracking spell had gone wrong - but no, it was pulling stronger than ever now, like the thought of something left undone in the back of his head, and here was a solitary figure on the road. Not many traveled alone in the Borderlands, not unless they considered themselves quite a capable fighter.

"Bazil, how do you think we should handle this?" Seist asked, pulling his horse into a slow trot, "I must confess I have little understanding of fae nature."

Seist's magic quickly restored the ground to normal, now that it was unopposed. His head snapped up, startled by the sudden lack of resistance, and at Autumn's flight. Bewildered, he stood and turned, darting to where his horse waited patiently and swinging himself back up into the saddle.

"Bloody batshit insane fae," he cursed, "I swear by the Siblings I will never get involved in their affairs again!"

And he kicked his horse into a gallop after Autumn, all thoughts of Bazil's assessment gone. He swung wide, aiming to cut her off and stop her escape.

Seist steered his horse parallel to the fae, wrapping the reins and tying them off so the horse could be allowed to run without being guided. He gripped the saddle with his knees and held tight to the straps with one hand. As he came up close to the fae he leaned out, catching his arm around her chest and hauling her off her feet and up onto the saddle, half-throwing her stomach-down onto it before her. Then he grabbed the back of her shirt with one hand to keep her steady and took up the reins again, drawing the horse back into a canter. He swung it around, back towards the road and the city.

"We're going back to the city," he said, "and you're showing me where you stashed my pendant. Then you can run off for the forest, for all I care."

He spoke with the matter-of-fact manner of someone who was quite used to getting his way.

Seist exhaled slowly, carefully bringing his temper back under control. He did not slow his horse, however, nor alter its course, despite what Autumn said.

"Then I hope it'll inconvenience you as much as this has inconvenienced me," he replied, "I know you fae don't care one whit about human gods, but a pendant like that is still not something to toy around with. It was given to me by another priest and do you have any idea just how many priests of Dues and Frain are out there? Very few. So. I'll let you go the moment you relinquish my pendant."

His words were coming fast, clipped and brusque, and he seemed about to continue into a longer tirade, but stopped himself with a sharp breath in.

Seist flinched every so slightly as she pointed out how long he had taken to arise in the morning. She had no way to know the other bandit was dead - she'd been anxious to leave and in no mood to wait around on him. Still. She'd certainly given him a good deal of trouble over this. He did not loose his grip.

"Fair enough," he said softly, gentler this time, "Swear to me you will not try and run again. Then we can talk. Swear three times, if you would."

He knew enough about fae to ask for that.

The way she asked made Seist think that no, he didn't realize what he asked of her. He wasn't one to back down though, especially in something as relatively trivial as this. He'd ask nothing more of her than what he needed to get his amulet back, and then he could let her go her way.

"Somewhat," he admitted, "I just want my amulet back though. That is all. Swear to me you won't run and I will swear to you upon the gods I serve - upon Dues and Frain - that I will do no harm to you so long as you do none to me."

It'd have to suffice. Frain would hold him to that oath and he felt his chest tighten in response, like he was holding his breath, and knew that the gods had heard him. There was a bit of wiggle room, at least. He did not have to take his dagger away, for start, not until she returned his oath with one of her own.

Seist was quiet a moment, thinking it over. It was said that fae could not lie - but could still deceive quite well for that restriction - and that a fae's word was absolute. Even more so if it was sworn three times, that they would be compelled by some power beyond them to see the task through to completion. He didn't see a reason to force Autumn to swear it any further, as if she planned treachery he could just chase her down again. A bit wary, he drew the dagger back and slid it back into the sheath, loosing his grip on her as well and letting her slide off the horse and onto the ground. He kept his power in tight check, ready to draw it up in a heartbeat if need be.

"I didn't come as early as you would have liked," he said gently, "because I was exhausted from the night before. I was... out most of the night, ensuring that the second bandit wouldn't track either you nor anyone else down."

Seist sighed heavily and tapped absently on the side of the saddle with the excess reins. She hadn't been completely discreet, but he had to admit that his idea of secrecy bordered on paranoia. Most people were uneducated about the fae as well, and might not even recognize the rarity of what Autumn claimed she was. He'd certainly heard no rumors and he made it his business to keep tabs on what the less... devout... of his kind were up to. Besides, she may only be free with this information with him because he was a priest and she knew some of what Dues and Frain demanded of their followers.

"I suppose that's safe enough," he finally said, "I'll not betray your secret to a soul. But on to other matters - what did you do with my pendant?"

Trust the fae to be cryptic. In her tree. And her tree was... with her? So how was she supposed to get to it?

"I'd prefer you to be on your way to the forest," he said, "But not with my pendant. I'd appreciate if you... called your tree or whatever it is you have to do to get it back to me. And - "

He hesitated, wondering if he should really say what he planned. His only hesitation was because she was fae. Were she human, he wouldn't have waited this long. And the only reason he was even realizing that perhaps he should do this was because she acted human at moments, as if the years spent among his kind had worn away some of the rough arrogance that was so typical of her kind. Well. Among most. There were some that genuinely liked humanity above their own people, but he had read that dryads typically were not among their numbers.

"I'm sorry I misjudged you," he said, no hint of dishonesty in his voice, "I thought you spirited the pendant away out of malice. It doesn't sound like that is the case. I would appreciate news of the fae war as well, since you've graciously offered. All I have heard is rumors."

"We're well out of eyeshot of the city!" Seist exclaimed, flinging his hand in its general direction to demonstrate, "but very well, I suppose we can put a bit more distance if you insist. Gods know I've wasted enough time already, what's a few more hours?"

He shook his head in mock dismay and eyed both her and then his ring warily, running his thumb over the grooves.

"I would never dare give out my signet ring," he said solemnly, "Can you imagine the damage that could be done with it? I'd come home and find that a letter instructing my steward to move the stables into my personal quarters had arrived and they'd carried my instructions out while I was away. Here, if you're willing, I can let you ride double for a time. Put some more distance between us and the city before you turn into a tree."

Seist pulled himself further up in the saddle, giving her room to swing up behind him if she so chose.