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It had taken an impressive amount of willpower to keep Kauff out of the tavern following the final battle, especially when he saw how many of his temporary brethren didn't hesitate to head straight there. Although the prentice had much to celebrate and drinking was his usual way of doing so, he also had an obligation at the moment, and surprisingly it was taking precedence. He was still in possession of the ice boy's sword, and Kauff was determined to get it back to him. Even though he couldn't find him. Even if he had no idea where to look. Even when his desire to move on was close to consuming him.

He sighed, shifting the wrapped blade in his lap. He was seated in the same spot he had occupied every afternoon since the fighting had ended, outside a corner store he could tell had once been a child's dream come true. Its brightly colored paint and stock of candy had been rather ruined by the battle, but it was still open for business, an obvious and effective magnet for war orphans looking for charity. Kauff wasn't all that confident that this place would appeal to Tafiir since he had lost his father before this particular battle had even begun, but he continued to hope. That hope was dwindling, but it hadn't faded yet.

The prentice looked up as a young wind woman emerged from the shop and offered him a decently sized chunk of hard cheese and a smile. She glanced at the blade where it peeked from its protective fur, noting the crusted blood near its hilt that he hadn't risked cleaning. She nodded an acknowledgement and ducked back inside with a flourish of skirts.

Tempted to leave his self-designated guard post and follow the girl inside, Kauff rose to his feet to do just that, pausing to hastily grab the sword as it started to slide toward the floor. Once the weapon was secured, the chattering of children stalled him further as it drifted around the side of the building, the deeper voice of a man cutting in as he attempted to soothe them.

With a glimmer of hope that one of those children was the one he was looking for, the prentice hurried to the corner, taking a deep breath before peering past the wall to learn if his search was finally over. Though Tafiir hadn't been one of the ones he'd heard, the boy was still here, peering at the candies he'd been offered with an intent Kauff couldn't place.

"Chi be damned," he sighed, smiling as he joined Tafiir on the ground and stirred up a puff of dust in the process. "I thought I'd never find you." While it was true Kauff had come here every afternoon, he was legendarily prone to distraction. Some days, he reluctantly admitted to himself, he hadn't stayed for long.

"I did it," he said, holding out the sword. "And it didn't just go into battle. Several Oban were stabbed with that very blade." A mage or a minstrel might have been squeamish, but pride bled off of Kauff like an open wound.

No, it hadn't been the reaction he'd expected, but Kauff didn't particularly mind. The kid seemed to recognize him, which was all that was initially important. Tafiir seemed the sort who did things in his own time, and while Kauff was rather impatient on an average day, he was pretty sure praise was forthcoming. And he was getting candy out of the deal as well. He took the treat with a smirk, popping it into his mouth and nodding in agreement as its flavor spread across his tongue.

"They're good." He'd had his share of candy as a child, but he certainly hadn't developed any lasting addiction. Not that he didn't appreciate the sweeter things in life, he just didn't miss them when they were denied him, at least when they were candy-shaped. From the way Tafiir was downing the sweets, it looked like the world had another sugar junkie.

Kauff sat up straight when the boy thanked him, his smirk growing back into a smile. "And you're welcome for that, though it was no problem at all. I'm not afraid to say I was a little..." He teetered a hand back and forth, then wiggled his fingers. "...concerned I might die, but everything worked out. I'm glad I was able to do it. So... thank you." It was odd, expressing gratitude to someone who had urged him to seek out danger, but this fight had awakened a purpose in him that he'd lacked these past three years. It felt good.

"What do you think you'll do now? After you return your dad's sword, I mean."

A future to plan.

Kauff swallowed the last of the candy he had been chewing as he pondered this. He did so silently at first, before something in him seemed to shift and he suddenly found the thought to be one of the funniest he'd ever heard. A child with more interest in what his place in the world would be than Kauff possessed himself. His barking laugh was abrupt, though it happened to coincide with the younger boy's giggle. He hoped he didn't sound like he was laughing at the youngling.

"I've got a future to plan too," he replied, mirth back under control. "Or maybe just live." He'd always assumed that when people spoke of being changed by war that they meant it had traumatized them, but he felt no similar emotion. In his mind, he only attacked people who deserved it, and there was no harm in ridding the world of assholes, right? "You okay?" It was lucky they were fairly close to a number of responsible adults. He had no idea how to help a choking kid.

"I was thinking of heading north," he continued, watching Tafiir to see if he went any more blue than he was now. "I've seen Zena, but I've never seen Zena, you know?"

Kauff cringed a bit at the kid's description of the candy clogging his stomach. Yeah. He knew that feeling all too well. "I hate it when that happens. It should go away soon, even though it's... gross. You have my... um... sympathies." In truth, he found the whole situation kind of funny. At least until the Ice boy spoke of accompanying him north. Him? In charge of a kid? Yes, it was a smart kid who seemed to have no trouble with the unpleasant realities the world had to offer, but no amount of brains on Tafiir's end would make Kauff a better caretaker.

Etine. He vaguely recognized that as the name of a town, and the boy's next statement cemented his suspicion. He supposed if they kept to the main roads so he could find a proper, responsible adult if anything went drastically wrong, he could get the kid there safely enough. It might even be fun to have someone to talk to. His gut prickled with nerves anyway, chasing the smile off of his face. He was suddenly reminded of all the times he had paused on his journey down here to admire a pretty face... up close... for a week or two at a time. He'd have to stop that.

"If you're sure... then I say yes." Wait. "Who's Nakir?"