Tell her more? Thalion felt as if he were performing story-time for thieves. Only two of them were taking naps and the other one had started off across the sands, probably realizing that he needed a head start if he planned to pay his debt. Thalion watched Gron move in odd patterns across the sand, drunk as the fool was. As for Thalion, he kept drinking, fully confident that this would be the last night in many that he could sit out under the stars wit-less and irresponsible.
The wind of a desert evening could be deceptively kind, stirring his hair as if there were a river near-by to carry him off. Thalion liked the Din Lyore because it lied and cheated you, until you either took on its image or fell victim. He leaned his head back on the cart.
Orchid was the only one with the attention span for stories, but she was motivated by the fact that it involved a reward at the end. Wasn't she? Thalion tried not to let himself consider her a layered personality, if only because he didn't want to be fooled. Everyone had their own version of a happy ending. Thalion liked sitting here like this with her, if only because they both knew exactly what they were...even if what they were looking for was not so certain.
"About Astarii? It is made up of forests along the mountains and plains to the East. I was born there. I spent most of my childhood wandering the cities. I used to think the stars were brightest of all in the Stardriel Forest and that there was nothing more intimidating than the towers of Ceranarad," Thalion smiled. "It is a holy land in its way; temples to Lorien are strong among elves of Astarii. I make a pilgrimage every few years."
By pilgrimage, he meant relieving a temple of a shipment of gold or two. Thalion had come a long way from having to beg for food at their doors.
He smiled. The ease of the expression did not match the description that followed;
"The country's king died and now they're fighting for power. It will make it easy for us to pass through to the mountains, and perhaps pick up some goods for free on the way, but we'll have to watch where we walk. More of the residents are hiding, I hear, than traveling about the country. Once we are in the mountains, we climb. It will be hard, but more peaceful. There is safe passage to Kveldsigr without a guide, which we will need. I don't want to be known when we enter that city."
Thalion did not say that he knew that the knife would be there. In truth, he only intended to collect information. Kveldsigr was a hub.