The strangeness the younger man carried to him left something in "The Red" unusually wary of him; not in the way of Roanoke, but in that there was a sense of unease to his demeanor. The others had all but freely displayed what they were capable of, as if it were not a fact best hidden, but Ioannes provided the impression that he had other things on his mind. Either way, the conversation between the two in slight betrayed some sort of involvement together now.

It was at this point the guardsman, his features cut with recent human blood in his lineage in their sharpness, appeared aware of the wilderman's presence, to which he issued a respectful nod. "The Red" remained as ever watchful, but appreciated the gesture - it was an unspoken one, common in its actual meaning versus the torrents of words most "civilized" men preferred. Attention shifting as his hearing caught sound of the gnome and the man with pack in tow, at least in what the barbarian deemed important.

[i]"...why don't we go look for the blacksmith, or you can take me to the fletcher. The guard can probably watch the auburn-haired woman as she shops."[/i]

What need had they with the blacksmith? Could they not mend, maintain or work their own weapons and equipment? There was little time left before the ultimatum set forth by the green eyed woman. The gnome, Tirrarian, then intervened in conversation between herself and Ioannes;

[i]"Alright, keep your secrets. I'm afraid I'm new to this town, I didn't even know this place was here."[/i]

Their exchange continued, but noted the guardsman that accompanied the three motioned to another, who without the slightest hesitation approached. "The Red" and his attention shifted, no longer paying immediate mind to the two and their conversation, but to whatever was about to transpire. Fortunately, for both the king's men, the approaching man seemed only to welcome his fellow man; the two engaged in a brief conversation before the half elf prepared to send him away on some errand. "The Red" had simply remained there throughout, noting the departure of the man and gnome - of whom disappeared amongst the crowd without notice.

It did not earn the trust of the Son of the Lioness.

Powerful hands folding across his worn, earthen tone breastplate of dense hide, he paused not to wonder their actions, but why they had gone about them so strangely. The gnome was perhaps the reason - eccentric, strange folk, with a penchant for just as unusual behavior as unusual language. Putting any man that put his faith in a musket alongside one was undoubtedly going to result in some sort of abnormal demeanor.

[i]"My good man, I beg your pardon if I interrupted your thoughts but I know nothing of this group, could you care to give me some information about these misfits?"[/i] The guardsman said as he turned to "The Red", of whom he was still beside after having seen off his cohort.

One of the tawny brows of the savage rose in inquiry and his primal eyes shifted to the man; he knew truthfully what was just asked, at least in the literal sense. To "The Red", the answer was as simple as any other of its sort, and so as he issued his reply, he tensed not in the slightest or proved to display any demeanor abnormal.

"You have both heroic fools and foolish heroes." His deep, lightly rasped voice rumbled before it carried on, "Some of whom have the desire to save your town, others of whom have the desire for riches and glory."

The beast continued, "I will not speak to know their character, half-blood, but know that I reside in neither of these camps. My business is to kill the sworn enemy. This I will do, with... or without them."

[@Letter Bee][@Jon Y][@IcePezz][@The Fated Fallen]