Alec's eyes fell upon Al without the slightest quiver of emotion. He looked at the man for a moment. One of the guards that had led them in moved slightly from his position near the entrance, his hand reaching towards his hip. The Lord's hand flashed outward like the crack of a whip, beckoning the guard to hold his position. The giants remained as still as death. Alec's eyes remained on the swordsman for a few uncomfortable seconds before Ira broke the silence. Alec's eyes managed to pry themselves from the offender as the more vocal of the two brothers expressed the party's gratitude and offered a toast. The lord nodded, his expression retaining its composure. His eyes followed along as the others voiced their opinions on the matter.


   Elizabeth had half expected the swordsman to lose his head. Nothing about Alec Cross struck her as particularly merciful, even if he was being oddly generous at the moment. Ira's announcement of the group's appreciation didn't come as much of a surprise, though she sincerely hoped he wasn't considering himself their leader. From the glances some of the others seemed to be throwing at him, they weren't very fond of such an idea. Personally, it didn't bother her. There was little argument to be made. They needed supplies, and Cross was offering them at the low price of a return visit. The woman poured a small amount of wine into her glass. She wasn't very fond of the beverage, due in no small part to her past, but for the gesture it seemed appropriate. She raised the vessel with a nod. "Sounds reasonable." Noah reciprocated the gesture with a happy "To Lord Cross." Everyone seemed to be in complete agreement, that was, until the scholar threw in his piece. Elizabeth slowly turned towards him. Sure, she was certain there was a catch hidden somewhere, but reminding the Vulture that they were at his mercy and that he could conceivably ask anything of them at the moment seemed akin to teasing a viper.


   Alec's gaze cut towards Galant as he asked his question. A slight smirk crept across the lord's lips. "Few men would question someone volunteering as their benefactor... but if you insist." He began pacing the table. "As I mentioned, little about this temple interests me, excepting its existence, of course. Consider, for a moment, the fact that to reach the Wastes by land, travelers must pass through [i]my[/i] territory. Consider also the fact the no lord has claim over the Wastes. Now, this is primarily because they are quite dangerous, and not conducive to agriculture or industry of any kind. However, if someone [i]were[/i] to find something valuable... Then a number of opportunities open up for myself and my people." He stopped pacing for a moment. "As for the payment for your task, Vulture's Roost, though you might think otherwise, has access to more than enough resources to sustain itself. Thus, I lose very little in sponsoring your cause." He turned to face Galant. "Now, does that address your concerns, scholar?"




   The young girl, who had previously been quietly watching the discussion at the table, had turned her attention to the one member of the party who had refused to sit with the rest. He seemed rather observant of everything around him, as if he expected danger to be lurking around every corner. With a smirk, the girl rose from her chair and strode down the length of the hall towards the man. As she walked, the dress of feathers swayed about her. When she walked by, one of the giants seemed to move his head ever so slightly, watching the girl carefully. She stopped a few feet away from Ashley, looking up at him as her bright pink eyes scanned his face. "You know, if my father intended to kill you, you would know by now. There's no need to stand about preparing for something that isn't going to happen." The girl spoke playfully, almost taunting the stranger.