[center][h1][color=f26522]Carnatia de Valmont[/color][/h1][/center]
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[quote]
"Aint no sure, sire, but no less than a hundred red stripes. Could be wrong, for I isn't from here."

Carmen reassuringly tapped the peasant's shoulder and clapped his hands to quickly gather everyone's attention.  

"We need to move now," he announced. "Quickly, before this place turns into another Vesnaggrad. Amaris, Mirielle, Ludvig, por favor! let us leave this place and leave those soldiers be! Peasant, you will ride with me, show us the way." 
[/quote]

Carnatia did not like this, she did not like this at all.

There was no guarantee that the information this man claimed to have was valid. In fact, there was no reason to not think he actually did belong to a criminal element and he would actually be leading them to an ambush instead of a lead to Paladin Thomas.

She was not one to think ill merely because one was a peasant, but the reality was, in this war-torn land of a failed state, their group would make an attractive target for their supplies and the potential gold their equipment could be sold. Especially considering the man was accused of being a theft, he must be in dire circumstances. If he were part of a brigand or something, him leading them to an ambush wasn't unthinkable.

Then there was the matter of the soldiers that had seen their faces. She didn't feel right outright killing them, as they were doing their duty all things considered, however, were their group to be on the wanted list of this region's ruler, it would undoubtedly make their job harder. Ideally, they would at least discuss what to do with the soldiers, but...

That was a contentious topic and she could just see the group devolving into a debate and wasting time. Something that they cannot afford if this prisoner's statement of a nearby garrison was to be believed.

Before Carnatia could come to a decision, Carmen ordered them to flee, leaving the soldiers behind. As she had not yet come to a decision on her own, Carnatia acquiesced to Carmen, who was the designated leader by the Church.

She ran over to her horse, climbed up to the saddle, and took up the reins. She then urged the horse to ride close to where Linceleste was.

[color=f26522]"Follow me, there is something I need you to confirm!"[/color]

Hoping that the girl heeded her, Carnatia then rode to catch up to Carmen and the peasant. Addressing the peasant, she asked, [color=f26522]"You there, you say you know where the group we are looking for went? From what you said, it seemed that you saw them yourself. What about the paladin leading them? What can you tell us of him?"[/color]

She then glanced back, hoping to see Linceleste there. If the peasant was simply making things up, hopefully, Paladin Thomas' niece would notice.


[@Soldat Elf][@Mas Bagus]