“This – is [i]not[/i] – the best way to travel!” Liaena hissed back, clinging on like a limpet to Rithrynn’s arm. A horse, or perhaps even a carriage would suit her better, any day of the week. There at least she had control over the vehicle, as opposed to being bundled around like a piece of luggage. 

She might have complained more if it were not for the presence of Bella in the immediate vicinity, conspicuously very much enjoying the ride with far more style than she was herself. “This is amaaaazing! Why don’t we have these things!?”

“Would you [i]please[/i] put your hands down!?”

With a final snarl, Nisha screeched to a halt outside Graymoons mansion as she plonked her arse down into the slush sharply. Liaena was saved from going flying by Rithrynn, poised expertly in her seat, while Bella and Liam barely avoided going flying over the Night Elfs head; a move that would have resulted in them impacting the gate with some considerable velocity. 

[i]“I swear to the Light, I am not riding this thing on the way back. I’d sooner have to outrun Sherpa’s forces”[/i]

Liaena climbed out of the saddle with not a small amount of grump, a mood only marginally lessened by the admittedly extreme swiftness in which they had made the journey. Landing on her feet in the slush, she turned around to be confronted by three extra individuals to their party, two of which she recognised, one of which she did not. 

“YOU!”

Smokey roared as he brought his musket around, before coughing and glancing at the mansion as he made a big show of pointing it at the ground again, occasionally shooting death glares at Liaena. “…Yer lucky I be working for dat fella of yours, ya wee rat. But there will be a reckonin’, ho yes. There will be…”

Liaena blinked, before coughing slightly as she made a big show of inspecting Smokey closely. “…Oh, I’m sorry, have we met before? Hi Fran”

“Evenin’ Lass” Fran responded in a trace of amusement in his tone, torn between confusion at the situation and relief that at least one of the weapons that had been pointed at him, now was not. “Did yeh get tha’ backup you wanted?”

“Eh…” Liaena said vaguely, glancing over her shoulder. Bella was still cooing over Nisha as Rithrynn dragged open the gate, Liam having immediately put several meters between himself and the big cat the moment his feet touched the ground. Regardless of her feelings on the matter, the girl was inclined to feel that disavowing her companions would cause far more trouble than not. “….sorta”

At that, she turned to the final person waiting at the gate, the woman she had failed to recognise. Liaena eyed her with frank suspicion as she stepped through the gate to head towards the house. “Do I know you?”