Backscene: Paranoia Who: Ordhan Wyland, Lalin Adain Where: Along the Pilgrim's Path, south of Vigil's Keep When: Afternoon 16 Molioris Summary: Ordhan decides that he owes Lalin an explanation. Rating: K+ Status: Complete
It would just so happen that Dolain would be the one walking just behind him.
It could have been worse, Ordhan reminded himself. If Dolain was walking in front of him, Ordhan knew he would be checking the ground every few seconds for...who knows, some sort of trap that the elf could have tossed down a moment before. It made his head ache and eyes throb just to think of it. Still, long hours of trudging at the front, trying to not look over his shoulder every minute, was just as wearing. The back of Ordhan's neck prickled in uncomfortable anticipation, as if a dagger-blade was just a hair's breadth away. His back was well-armored, but he was all too conscious of every inch that wasn't, specifically the backs of his knees.
Even more aggravating was the knowledge that this was distracting him. The duty of those in the front was to watch for any sign of trouble and to be the first to meet it. It was difficult to watch for danger ahead when the cause of one of his closest brushes with death was trotting behind him.
It was going to be a long trip to Denerim.
His nerves were already scraped raw by the time they first paused to rest. Finding a stone a short distance from the bulk of the group, Ordhan sat heavily and ran a hand through his hair. The city was another day and a half's journey away, at least, and if no one had noticed his edgy behavior yet, they certainly would by then. It was not fitting for a knight. As he tugged his gauntlets back on, he noticed the Grey Warden Lalin nearby--it seemed, for once, that her grubby shadow was absent. In fact, she was not too near any of the others. Hopefully things could be cleared up without disturbing any of them.
This was as good a time as any would be. He took a long breath as he rose to his feet and began to approach her. "Your pardon, Grey Warden," he began, voice quiet. "I believe I owe you an explanation."