Harold
Tobias Westbrook
Asairde Outskirts

He let his eyes hold her own as she spoke, seemingly trying to justify herself on a trip that she was going on regardless of his company or not. He chewed as he listened, and when she finished he inhaled deeply through his nose, setting his bowl aside and wiping his fingers on his pants. 

"I'll escort you to the border, that seems like enough to fulfill the duty that my father's going to imply is mine just by having met you." He said, and cleared his throat. "Once the patrol arrives we should stop by my home, for some supplies and a stallion for myself before we ride out. I can get you to the border in a few days time. "
James
Vanessa Ward
Asairde Outskirts

"Perfect, that is all I will need." She nodded while continuing to pick at her food. As long as she reached the border, she would be perfectly fine on her own. However when he mentioned they would have to stop by his home, she could only hope he would be the only one to enter inside. Vanessa didn't enjoy being surrounded by a family, having just left her own dysfunctional family back at home. She brought the bowl to her lips and swallowed the left over liquid, feeling the heat rush down her throat. 

"Even though you may feel forced to accompany me to the Border but it is still very generous of you." Vanessa placed the bowl aside and sat her hands on her lap with her fingers entwined. She felt bad for putting him through all this trouble but did her best to hide it, knowing she very much needed his help. "When will the Patrol arrive?"
Harold
Tobias Westbrook
Asairde Outskirts

He ran his tongue over his teeth, giving a small smile. "My apologizes, I don't mean to make you sound like a burden. The intention is more to remind myself of my duties so I don't find myself tempted to stray from a good path." He explained, and straightened, pressing his hand into his thigh to brace himself. At her question about when the Patrol was supposed to arrive, he looked to the window, noting the change in light that streamed through it. 

"Two hours ago." He answered, clicking his tongue before moving to his feet. The warmth of the cabin had been welcome before, but now he was beginning to grow warm under his furs. "I don't doubt they either got caught up with my father or brother, or that they detoured for a drink. Either way, it's-" Just as he said that the door opened, and he found himself staring at a blushed Harrison. 

"My apologies, my Lord, there was a surprise change in patrol routes, we were tasked with completing the new schedule before we were allowed to return to our posts." The man explained. He was about the same height and build as Tobias, most of the men in the Westbrooks service has the same light coloring and features that came with a life in the peaks. 

"For what reason?" Tobias asked, snapping his fingers when Harrison's gaze diverted to Vanessa behind him. 

"Er, -Potential allocation of troops to assist in the fight for the Northwind throne, my Lord." Harrison answered, stuttering a bit at the first bit out of surprise to see a woman in the cabin with Tobias. Tobias pressed his lips into a tight line, and looked over his shoulder to Vanessa. 

"Our detour might take a little longer. Would you prefer to stay here or come back to the home with me? You might find better riding clothes among my mother or sisters belongings there."
James
Vanessa Ward
Asairde Outskirts 

Two hours ago? She couldn't resist raising her brows in surprise yet remained from speaking her thoughts, knowing it was not any of her business. Once one of the men finally arrived, she sat in silence as the two men converse finding it quite amusing. She took her hands from her lap and raised out of her chair whilst taking the fur coat from her shoulders. She no longer felt a chill after the soup had warmed her insides and the fire along with the coat she had been wearing brought colour back to her skin. She didn't enjoy looking like a walking corpse . 

*Lord* She felt like palming her forehead as it made a lot more sense regarding the man in front of her, yet it made a lot of sense. It seemed to her that her journey from the Witherlands had numbed her brain. Well, that was Vanessa's reasoning even though it wasn't a logical one. 

"If you say so, I will go back with you to your home." It was not an option she wanted to choose but knew it was worth running into his family in exchange for clothes that weren't as thin in material. As she spoke, she made sure to avoid gazing at Harrison, not caring much of him. "How long will this detour take do you think?"
Harold
Tobias Westbrook
Asairde outskirts

The man shrugged a shoulder. "I'm not certain. We can still leave tonight if you wish. Or we can wait until dawn and set out then if you'd prefer a night in a bed over one on the ground." 

He nodded to Harrison, and gathered his own things. "Soup's hot, don't let it over boil." He told him, and headed for the door. It wasn't a long walk back to his father's house, and while dusk wasn't exactly far off, they would still have light to leave for at least another hour or two. 

He moved to the makeshift stable he'd tucked her mare into, pleased to see the creature seemed grateful for a rest and a blanket, and guided her back out for Vanessa to mount.
James
Vanessa Ward
Asairde Outskirts

The options weighed in her mind. It would make her less anxious to leave immediately but she had to think about the pros of staying a night under shelter. Seeing as they were now leaving, Vanessa grabbed the Coat she had just taken off and placed it back over her shoulders. When she passed Harrison, she gave him a small smile out of politeness before following Tobias towards the stables. The sight of her Mare brought her to her final decision. 

"I will stay a night. Not for me but because this poor darling needs a proper night's rest." Her hand stroked against the Mare's neck gently as she spoke, caring more for the horse than her own comfort. She had done so much for the Mercenary compared to anyone she had met. "That way she would have the energy for our travel." 

Vanessa raised her foot to slide into the stirrup and gripped her fingers around the cantal and pommel of the saddle, bringing her some stability as she pushed herself onto the mare's back. 

"So the Northwind throne." She began with a slight smirk forming at the thought. "What is your opinion on that?"
Harold
Tobias Westbrook
Asairde Outskirts

In fairness, he'd been the one to offer to spend the evening before heading out. He just hadn't expected her to agree to the option, it was more out of politeness than anything else. The longer she spent in the Westbrook house the more time she'd spend with Taedra, and Thierou. And by morning she'd be asking for a different escort because why have the Second Son when you could have the first. 

He didn't let the thought color his features though, he didn't care for the women in any other way than as a traveler looking for shelter, but it would have been nice to be the one to do a good deed instead of that being his brothers position. Thierou was charming and radiated confidence, while he'd spent his time training, falling into the positions of 'Lord' and 'Head Knight' as closely as they existed in these parts of Northwind. 

"She'll enjoy a night in a stable with more hay than she can think to eat. She will be well rested by the time she's called upon tomorrow." Tobias agreed, and started to walk on foot beside the beast, leading the way though the mountains back towards his home.

"My opinion is that it's remained vacant for so long, and the South of Northwind has been filled with nothing but ghosts. They're fighting over a title that doesn't really exist anymore, nor does it matter. They just want to claim the territory so they're not contested when they settle their people there."
James
Vanessa Ward
Asairde Outskirts 

His explanation was her reason for why she was passing through Northwind rather than finding work whilst she was there. The last thing she wanted was to be caught in the middle of a war while attempting to hunt down a bounty. "Touché." Was her simple reply. 

She looked down towards Tobias and wondered what thoughts were occurring in his mind. He intrigued her with the way he spoke, he didn't ask any personal questions unlike herself and kept his answers simple. "Anything I should know about you family before we arrive?" 

She kept one of her hands on the saddle to keep balance while petting the Mare with the other since Tobias was guiding them by the reigns. The petting was more for herself than the horse as it kept her calm.
Harold
Tobias Westbrook
Asairde Outskirts

Tobias cast a look over his shoulder to her, only to find her looking down, her hand stroking the mare beneath her. "My father's name is Tredor, he's been the patriarch of our house for a little over two decades. My brother, Thierou is set to follow in his footsteps. My mother is long gone, so you don't need to worry on that one. My sister will most likely find you though, Taedra, just don't answer too many of her questions and you'll be fine." 

It wasn't helpful, but he figured that was all she really needed to know for one night within the walls of his family home. It wasn't as if she had anyone there to impress, maybe his brother, if she took a liking to him. 

The rest of the walk wasn't far, he hadn't been stationed at the furthest outpost, just the highest, and they came upon the home quickly. A few men at arms greeted them, but they were mostly stationed for predators rather than enemies. Tobias lead her and her mare to the stables, located on the left side of the home where the mountain's peaks plateau'd a bit and gave way to solid ground. The house had been built into the cliffs, and towered overhead with sunbleached stone walls flecked with gold to glint in the setting sun.
James
Vanessa Ward
Asairde Outskirts

Interesting. She felt less anxious about meeting his family after he informed her about his siblings and Father, keeping in mind to be cautious around his sister and the answers she provided her. She kept her gaze on Tobias as he spoke, considering she didn't need to direct the horse or worry herself about the dangers ahead. It was his family's land so she trusted him enough to guide her safely to his home.

She missed her home before her youngest brother's passing, when both her parents were mentally stable and there was no hidden darkness within their walls. Vanessa shook the thought from her head and made herself aware of the men and house in front of her. She refrained from asking further questions now they were not alone until the two reached the stables, doing her best to not look at her surroundings in awe. 

As the horse was brought to a halt, Vanessa made her way off the mare's back with both of her feet landing safely on the ground. "Are you sure your family will be alright with me staying?"