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 Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 1:14 pm
 Barely returned and wounded to boot Ironforge none the less knew that this talk had to take place - Camaria had gone above and beyond her typical role in helping them and for that she deserved whatever it was she wanted..as long as it was within his power to give it to her. With many others Ironforge would be nervous about this conversation - but Camaria was a fair mare and he had worked with her before...and that made this much easier.
Leading the mare away from the rest of the party where wounds were being seen to and bellies were being filled he came to a stop in a nice secluded glen, it was a quiet place and with the business of the groups return it was unlikely that anyone would come to bother them. "We have returned safety." He stated as he turned to face the mare following him. "You were unharmed?" he asked - the mare had not complained about any injuries but adrenaline was funny about that sometimes and it never hurt to double check.
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Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 1:29 pm
 Camaria followed behind the shaggy stallion as they moved to a secluded area to talk. The rescue had gone well, there were injuries but that was to be expected given the circumstances. Nodding her head Camaria felt exhausted, the adrenaline that had been pumping during the fighting and the initial flee from the mountain had left and now everything was catching up with her. "We did, all thanks to good planning and teamwork." At his question she glanced over her back. "A few scratches here and there but nothing major." Most of the brush in that area had been dry and scraggly, even a small bump into a bush had caused scratches to appear and she had hidden in several throughout the initial scouting phase along with the start of the rescue. They were minor and would take only a day or two to heal, not enough to bother the healers with when the others had suffered real injuries.
She fell silent for a moment, her exhaustion getting the better of her, but this may be the only chance to talk with Ironforge for some time as surely the herd would be busy tending wounds and hearing about what had happened during the rescue. She would stick around for a few days, to recoup as well, that was after all her usual payment, a safe place to sleep with food and water to restore her energy, but this mission had had plenty of extra dangers and while she had agreed to it knowing the risks involved and had made Ironforge agree to hazard pay because of it she had done even more than they had originally planned. He owed her big time, and now that they were alone and away from the commotion of the returning group would be the best time to discuss it. "I'll stay for three days, to rest and ensure everything here is kept safe." That meant that once she had some rest she would do a bit of scouting work, she knew who and what to look for should any of the spider mares minions followed them after their initial escape. She paused waiting to see what else he would say, plus it would give her a moment to think on what her hazard pay would be. They had been so involved in the rescue that there had been no time to think on it until now.
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Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 2:05 pm
Ironforge was relieved to hear that the mare had suffered no great injury in helping them. Injuries from such operations were to be expected of course but Ironforge did not like to ask those like Camaria - those who had not agreed to take up the life of a Knight - to take the risk and when they did it was always those injuries which haunted him afterwards. Made him consider the what ifs..what if he hadn't asked them to help? Could he have still pulled it off? What if he had tried a different method? It was nice to know that such thoughts would not haunt him from this outing.
Her demands to stay was not unexpected but her offer to help was not...though Ironforge wasn't all that surprised by it. Camaria had a good heart..if she wasn't so hellbent on pursuing her information brokering he would have tried to recruit her for his own mission. He had attempted to do so in the past but had given up once he realized her passion for her work...still the mare had a standing offer of a waiting home whenever she decided to retire...though Ironforge expected that she would continue working until she died. "I am glad to hear it..and of course you may stay for as long as necessary" He told her "Have you given any thought to what else you might desire? You have certainly gone above and beyond your duties and I am both very grateful and well aware of how much I owe you for it."
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Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 3:02 pm
Camaria nodded knowing that he would allow her to stay for as long as she wished, he had once offered her a permanent home here and while she had appreciated the gesture she had turned it down. Her life was traveling and gathering information for others, not just for his herd but anyone who would pay her service fees and it was something she had no desire to give up just yet. There may come a day when the job no longer held appeal but that may be some time off, for now the challenges behind it were what kept her going. As long as there were Soquili out there who needed one such as herself then she would continue to do so.
"Thank you." She finally said and paused before continuing. It was no easy task to decide upon what her extra payment was, and oddly enough she thought it was harder than what they had all just endured. It wasn't often she got extra payment such as this and knowing Ironforge meant that she needed to choose carefully. Yet as hard as the decision was the answer came to her quite readily. The question was, would he accept. "Things are getting more and more dangerous out there Ironforge. Not just the job I finished for you, but others recently have had their share of challenges I did not encounter when I first started doing this. I hate to admit it, but there is more evil in the lands now and my job is no longer a simply fly in and fly out operation." She gave her head a shake before continuing. "I've had a few too many close calls recently and while I plan to continue doing what I do I need help now and then. So we come to my extra payment. With all that is going on in the lands this may not be an easy request to accept. Should I ever need help, be it that I have been captured by the one I was sent to spy on, or that I find myself being turned on by the one I was hired, no matter what the situationis I want to be able to call on you, on your help to come and save me." It was a huge thing to ask her but surely he would understand why she was requesting it. The lands were a lot more dangerous and her job put her into situations, similar to the one they just escape or worse and one day, she knew, things would turn bad and she would need help.
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 4:41 pm
Ironforge waited patiently for Camaria to consider what it was that she wanted from him before speaking and despite the drawn out pause before she formulated her request the shaggy stallion wasn't overly concerned. Cameria would never ask of him what he could not provide - she was a smart mare and it was only the very silly who demanded the impossible from those who owed them..certainly getting something was better then the nothing that would inevitably result from some crazy request that couldn't possibly be fulfilled. Not that he wouldn't try to get her what she requested regardless of what it was.
When she finally spoke however the stallion knew that he had been right all along, Camaria's request..while no small thing was also not impossible..nor even against his natural inclination to help regardless of any debt which might be owed. Yes she was indeed a wise mare, in requesting what she did she assured herself not only help in the future but certain payment and a hidden trump card to play when a dire situation arose..and in her line of work? Well it was more a matter of when such a situation would occur then if.
Gravely the shaggy stallion lowered his head and bent one foreleg in a bow to the mare. "By my oath not only to repay your debt, but the very code by which I live, I do so swear to lend you aid, without question, whenever you do so seek it from me." He promised her sincerely and formally. Ironforge knew of no greater oath then that against his code of honor..save perhaps one again his children - that he could give her which would be more binding.
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 4:59 pm
There was a moment, a pause when after she had informed Ironforge of what she thought her hazard pay could and should be, that she wondered if he would indeed turn down her request. She would understand if he did. Things were dangerous out there, some greater than others and if she were to become trapped for some reason during her duty she may and very well would be putting Ironforge or any rescuer that may come for her at great risk. She did not want their blood on her hooves. And still she had asked, the thing that would be hard for anyone to accept, even one who was a knight and followed such a code. Camaria did not expect an instant reply from him, this was no easy decision and as such was willing to wait for an answer, even if it meant not getting it today.
When he finally gave her answer she exhaled a breath she hadn't realize that she had been holding. It was... a heavy burden for him to accept, yet if anyone could or would accept such a thing she knew Ironforge was that kind. With a smile she inclined her head in thanks. "I know it's not an easy thing for you to accept, even given your code, but I do appreciate it Ironforge." Her smile faltered slightly on her next words. "Let us hope that it never comes to pass that I need such assistance. But it makes me feel better knowing that I can count on you should the need arise."
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 5:12 pm
Rising from his bow Ironforge gave the mare a warm look. "On the contrary dear Camaria it is easy to accept. A heavy burden it is true, but one gladly taken for I would much rather be marshaled to help you then hear through the wind that something had happened to you because no one would come to your aid."
"That said" He continued after a pause "I too hope that this promise never needs fulfillment - fore it would mean that our enemies have gotten far more clever then ever before and we are indeed in dire straights." Camaria was a good spy and while,yes, terrible mistakes happened, Ironforge did not think that Camaria made them often - and even if she did it would be rare for her to find herself in a situation she could not escape from. No..it was far more likely that should he ever be called to help Camaria then it would be because she found herself lured into a trap...and Ironforge did not want his enemies getting smart enough to contrive such a trap.
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 5:36 pm
Camaria smiled at her longtime friend and contact. "I understand. Yet you have to admit that not everyone, even those that claim to follow the same knightly code as you, would so willingly accept such terms." This just proved to her that Ironforge was one of good heart and that he was willing to go the distance if needed, just as she had proven to him not that long ago that she too was willing to do more than was generally required of her and her duties to see things through. "You are a true friend Ironforge and I count myself lucky to have you among my allies."
The mare fell silent for a moment before speaking again. "It is that reason that I try to constantly adapt and change as the world does the same. Becoming to complacent in my ways...well I would need your help far too soon and too often and it would likely be my end." She always needed to be one step ahead with a few extra steps to work with should that one step not be enough, but even then it might not always be enough, one day she feared something would catch up to her. Giving her head a slight shake to rid her mind of those negative, yet all to realistic thoughts, Camaria lifted her gaze back to Ironforge. "We should probably head back, I'm sure the healers will want to look you over as well, even though you seem to have faired not too badly in the fighting." Not to mention it would be good to check in on the others and spend some time together to show that they were a team and that nothing would happen now in the safety of this place.
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 5:42 pm
"Those who are not willing to go as far as necessary to fulfill their duties merely play at being Knights." The shaggy stallion stated in a serious tone. He had met many such Soquilli in his days and he was never happy to run across them - those half Knights gave all the rest of them a bad name. Made those who needed help all the more leery of asking for it. Snorting slightly to rid his own mind from such thoughts the stallion nodded. "A good idea, I'm sure they will have finished with the more serious wounds by now and will be ready to check us over."
Starting forward he fell into step beside Camaria and they returned to the group. Important business concluded for the time being.
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