She sighed at his offer and immediately Askeladd began to question his offer. [i][color=87CEFA]Was it not good enough? Would she turn him into the guards? Would she ask for him to become her slave?[/color][/i] His mind raced with possibilities, his face likely turning palre by the moment, if that were even possible. He was so deprived of sunlight his entire life a few minutes in the sun usually was enough to give him a maddening sun burn. [color=999933]"Let's say you owe me a favor instead, hm?"[/color] The girl said, raising an eyebrow in a way that meant she had something in mind. He nodded, understanding the deal. It'd have to do the trick, though that favour could be absolutely anything. Anything was bad. But what other option did he have?

[color=999933]"A favor is worth a bit of silence, I think. Of course, I doubt anyone will ask questions at all once we're on the road. Just try to be less...[/color]" She went on, pausing. He stared at her, waiting for her to finish. He wasn't quite sure what she meant. Less like a slave? Damned if he tried to be anything else. He had no idea how to be a person whose existence wasn't dominated by another's. [color=999933]"Less of a mess,"[/color] she concluded, throwing a hand as if she were sick of trying to find what to say. Askeladd didn't complain. "[color=87CEFA]I'll try,[/color]" he offered weakly. He would try, even if he had no idea what exactly she meant by that.

"[color=87CEFA]What do I-[/color]" he tried to ask, getting cut off by her. [color=999933]"Look: if you pop out of the wagon [i]now[/i] they'll assume you're a stowaway. If you jump out later, they might assume you're a thief, bandit or worse. You should walk alongside the caravan with everyone el--"[/color] She couldn't finish her own thought as the guard began to speak up and announce that they were going to move out. The corners of his lips rose by a hair at the news. At least they'd be less likely to throw him away now. At least, he hoped that'd be the case. 

[color=999933]"Don't do anything stupid, alright? If anyone in this motley bunch of nobodies is going to be handy in a scuffle, you're likely to be one."[/color] the short one said before leaving the back of the wagon to walk along side it. His eyes turned to the now moving ground, a long sigh slipping out from between his pale cracked lips. Well, even if he didn't understand what she meant by being less of a mess, he understood what she meant when she said he'd be useful in a fight. It was probably the scars that made her see him that way. Whenever anyone saw them, they assumed he was either a criminal from birth or someone looking for a fight. That typically led to either people avoiding him or wanting to get into a brawl with him for the hell of it. Especially the drunkards at the Drunken Mare. One look at his face and half the inn wanted to throw a hairy fist his way.

Askeladden didn't bother to gather up his cloak and tucked it into the corner of the wagon mounting the edge of the it. He was hesitant to drop to the ground and walk along like the rest of the refugees. [i][color=87CEFA]If I walk, the short one said they'd think I'm a run-away like them. She wouldn't lie to me for no reason, would she?[/color][/i] Askeladd glanced around the caravan, trying to spot any guards that might be moving toward him. Beyond the girl that he was now in debt to, there was only a small group of three that he noticed near the back. They seemed far to invested in chatting to notice him.

"[color=87CEFA]Here go,[/color]" he muttered, closing his eyes as he hopped out of the back of the wagon, expecting the worst from his feet. Like landing on hot coals, the soles of his feet immediately burned with agony and he dropped to his knees. "[color=87CEFA]Pigs tits,[/color]" he hissed, clenching two handfuls of dirt before shoving himself up to his feet. He stood on shaky legs and the pain in his feet had only grown worse after he gave them a chance to rest. He grit his teeth and turned to jog after the wagon and catch up with the one who had talked to him. "[color=87CEFA]Thank you,[/color]" he managed out as he caught up to her, his breathing already heavy, though steadily slowing and becoming less strained.

"[color=87CEFA]Askeladden,[/color]" he said, as if she had asked for his name. "[color=87CEFA]You can call me Askeladd, Ash, or Ladd for short. Others do. Easier that way. Thought you'd want to know since I'm in your debt now.[/color]" He looked away from her, back toward the others who were talking amongst one another, hoping that they hadn't caught his fall. He stumbled and caught himself again, clenching his fist for a moment. It wasn't going to be easy to hide that he was in a dodgy state for the whole day. If he was lucky, maybe he could sneak into the supplies wagon again. He'd have to eventually to clean out his wounds and change the bandages. If this was what she meant by him looking like a mess, he was failing miserably at looking any better.