@HawlinIt had to be admitted in Eins mind that honestly, what she was doing right now was probably very dumb and went against nearly all caution. Inviting an armor-clad stranger who, quite clearly had mentioned ending the lives of some unfortunate bandit group without even blinking an eye, into the safety of her home was probably the riskiest thing she’d done since settling down in this forest. But none of that really concerned her then, not the caution in the wind nor the obvious danger that her newest guest might present, and it wasn’t solely her hungry stomach that convinced her either.
This stranger saw something about her, something Ein was quite positive she could no longer see herself. The stranger looked at her in a way that none of the mundane villagers had before, and the vague sense that this woman wasn’t entirely human herself rustled somewhere in the back of her mind. Perhaps it was simply reaching, and not worth the risk if she were wrong, but the desperation that Ein had for finding even the smallest piece of information left her willing to place common sense aside.
"I haf fresh provisions if you vould allow me to...hrm..."
The strangers voice quickly shook her from her musing, and she momentarily glanced at them, but didn’t answer their unfinished offer. A patient smile covered her lips while she waited for them to speak again, curious as to what they were trying to get across. After a moment, they began again, their voice accompanied by the jingling of coins.
"I cannot go into town, alone...iz suspicious. Ehn I can pay you quite vell to let me stay for even just ze night. Zeh dirt unt stones pale to the simplest of roofs over mein head. Ehn...hrm...no, zeht vould be enough."
Ein had to admit, she never expected the stranger to be so earnest, and by the sound of their coin purse, generous as well. Her cool expression wavered for only a moment, filled with a softer expression, before the smiled again and nodded.
“Okay, that’s fine. I don’t have a guest bed though, so you’ll have to settle for the floor.” She while poking at her cheek. “Although, I have plenty of blankets and maybe some extra straw mats, so we should be able to put together something more comfortable than the rocks out here.” She added confidently. Tall armored stranger or not, it seemed a bit cruel to leave someone to sleep outdoors in a forest such as this one.
Besides, there was no turning back now, Ein noted after turning ahead. Slowly becoming more visible through the thicket that surrounded it, was a small stone cabin with a thickly thatched roof. They approached from the front, where a single unlit window and a tall oak doorway welcomed them, worn by what looked like decades of standing.
“I’ll just need a moment put my cart away.” She spoke while wheeling towards the side of the cabin. The back was just as covered by thickets as the front, hiding away the small garden and toolshed that sat behind the tiny building. Ein parked the cart right beside the shed and began to pull out baskets and set them inside. Finally, she pulled her saber from the cart and loosely hung it from her shoulder before heading towards the cabins backdoor. She waved for her guest to follow before disappearing inside the cabin. The inside of the structure would seem just as small as the outside led you to believe, but the few vases of spring flowers and vibrant paintings that decorated every corner of the house made it feel cozy and warm. The majority of the space was used as sitting space, with a few chairs and a nice sized dining table, which Ein passed by quickly to reach the small kitchen that sat in the farthest right corner of the home. In the opposite sat a woodstove. Above them, only covered by a thin railing, was an open loft.
“Make yourself at home.” Ein offered politely from one of the kitchens counters. Hung by a nail in the wall just a bit beside her, though not hidden to anyone in the room, sat her saber.
