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Irritated and uneasy, Letalus had no more patience for girls swooning over adorable critters. A near imperceptible twitch of an eyebrow revealed his annoyance as he wordlessly took hold of Merro's upper arm and led her to the remaining horse Tomlin was kind enough to allow him.

"We're leaving," he grunted, glancing furtively back at the woods. He then nodded towards Leana. "We're heading to the next town over. I suggest you don't stay here for long."

Merro would have had more luck translating Dookian Chirpese than she would have interpreting Letalus' expressions, so his annoyance blew past her observance without even ruffling her hair. Relieved to have gotten away from this third encounter of the wild kind without having to kill anything, she wordlessly allowed herself to be led to the scruffy horse awaiting her. She looked at the saddle and then glanced down at her masculine attire, then gave up whatever of her femininity remained with a resigned sigh and swung herself into the saddle without any further ado save for a blush. Thankfully the horse was not overly tall for his species, else she would have had the further indignity of needing ask Letalus to hand her into her seat.

If her father could only see her now...dirty, scruffy, stained with the blood of victims both animal and human. Accused of being a murder and a jewel thief! Traveling alone with Letalus, attacked by brigands in broad daylight. And now, to crown it all, sitting a horse in broad daylight, wearing nothing but a pair of oversized trousers on her lower body. She suddenly wished that he could see it. The self-stuffed toad might just die of a seizure and free her.

Trying to fight down her blush, she turned her head to Letalus once he had stopped speaking to the girl, but did not meet his eyes.

"Well?" she asked. Let's get on with it.

As soon as Merro was situated on the horse, Letalus joined her in one smooth, experienced motion. Over Merro's dark hair, he favored Leana with the usual unblinking stare. "The next town over," he repeated slowly. "Parnell, as I'm sure you know." As he spoke, he rummaged inside his cloak. "The last time I was there, they had a few decent inns where..."

He trailed off, eyes widening by a fraction of a centimeter. After a long pause, his jaw tightened and his gloved hand reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose. "...the next time I see that man, I'm going to kill him," Letalus growled quietly, eyes shut.

ooc: Please disregard that Parnell sounds like a dandruff shampoo. >_>

Letalus froze and slowly lowered his hand, wary at her reaction. "The gold our mutual master granted for my task has been displaced."

Leana went wide eyed when she realized what had happened. That man...HE'D robbed them! Now she had no chance...her goal had been crushed right before her eyes, thanks to the distraction of the ferret.

"He robbed you?" she asked. "That's unfortunate. But I'm sure you'll get by with those pearls, right? Unless you'd rather not sell them."

However, Leana became slightly suspicious when Merro began saying things about her father giving Letalus a beating...or something. So this man was lower than her in status? Yet...if that were the case, he seemed to be in control.

She was also glad that she hadn't stolen though, since this Letalus seemed to be quite angry with that other man. She could've been in his shoes...oh well.

"Well it looks like you guys are in a predicament either way..." she said, sounding slightly glum.

Sounds of several men's screams could be heard coming in the distance down the road. In the distance, a figure could barely be made out, having weaved in and out of the open road. A cloud of dark smoke started to billow in the distance.

"Always one or two who think they can get the best of me.." Tomlin said, having already started his trek towards the next town.

He patted the lining of his coat, its weight a bit heavier due to the placement of valuables he pulled off the brigands in the road.. "Perhaps what I left will be suitable for the next travelers." he said, having left their most of their weapons and items behind.

He stared at the set of gloves he now possessed, having taken them from what looked like a mage. He could tell they had some function to them.. but as of yet, he could not figure it out.

A small black pouch he also took, filled with what looked like a set of jewels. Were they valuable? Possibly. He would have to find out at the next town..

"Always hated the smell of smoke.." he said as he dusted his hat off. It seemed to had caught on fire during his brief encounter with them.

ooc: The people I left behind aren't dead.. just wounded and unconscious. RP to be had, if you want it ^_^

Merro flushed angrily, her blue eyes fairly throwing sparks at the humiliation she felt. If there was anything that she was not, it was simpering. And helpless was something her irritated pride would not admit to at the moment. The insolence of his last sentence was the final blow.

The pearls were in fact hers though her father always acted as though it was an act of graciousness on his part to allow her to wear them, it having been the wish of her mother that her wedding pearls pass to her daughter. It had been a hard thing to think of parting with them in order to finance her journey, and here was Letalus speaking of it as if she'd run out of the manor with them simply because they were shiny!

She couldn't think of any words scathing enough, so Letalus was simply treated to a furious, reproachful glare before she turned away. The words exchanged between Letalus and Leana, however, turned her thoughts for a moment. Back into town?! Most of the population thought her to be a thief and a murderess, and the local law was under the impression that she was a concubine to a rich lord!

"Is there not a suitable such shop in Parnell?" she called out to the girl, deigning not to speak with Letalus for the now.