Jamie
"Well that was quick."*He'd say in a lower tone as she came to explain how it didn't work out. Part of him didn't want to come off as insensitive, the other part figuring love sometimes came and went just as often as his traveling companions. And that was often. He could have made a joke about how she reminded him of a Tholian he once met though the words never left his mouth as she continued speaking on about wanting to travel and sing about it.

She really was a struggling artist wasn't she? He figured to himself. Perhaps the Silnari didn't truly understand it with his own goals in mind. Eventually, he'd give a quick shake of his head, listening to her questions.*"Well I can say you probably wouldn't want to travel to my favorite country right now..."*He'd say to her in reference to said countries now being under siege with the wars going on. It never stopped him from revisiting, but he would suspect any traveler unaware of it to accidentally get caught in the crossfire.

Being asked where he was the happiest, however, lead him having to think for a while. He was relatively happy on his lonesome. Or perhaps, the happy moments were spent with what companions he could scavenge from his travels. Those who had not yet completely went under the radar. They traveled a lot, however, for any one place to just make him happy was a pretty hard question to answer.* "I don't think a bunch of land really decides when I'm happy or not."*He'd eventually say, cutting around the more cliche statement of it being all about the friends one made.*"You just have to meet the right people. Which I can say, is much harder than it sounds when you're traveling."
William
"Quick in words, but not in reality." She replied with a bittersweet curl to her lips. "But it is in the past and should be cherished for the good times, not remembered for the pain." To speak so openly about something so personal might seem a rare trait, but to Orlaith it helped with her art. After all, what was art for if not to capture or incense the spirit and emotions? 

She nodded to the pig-mask frucharii at his reference to the ongoing wars, brows creasing at such a prospect. She then watched him as he thought on her query, reflecting on where she might have been the happiest in turn. At last, he gave her an answer far superior to any country's name or landscape description. 

"Ahh... People. People. It *Is* About the people, isn't it? And borders and cultures can only account for so much. I think places do make me happy sometimes, like here in the wheat field on a summer day. But it was made all the better for your arrival, elsewise it would've just been me serenading my horse, wouldn't it, Treacle?" 

The horse was presently munching some of the green grass at the nearby field's edge. He gave a chuff to hearing his name but didn't even bother looking up or to stop chewing. 

Orlaith admired her equine companion for a moment before returning her burgundy gaze to Terrel. "Can I ask about your mask? And if so, would you share you tale on it? But if not, I would understand."
Jamie
"I'd say people make up a good chunk of what makes someone happy despite there being only a number of good ones out there."*He'd reply. Enjoyable scenery or not, anyone had the ability to be struck with impending loneliness upon being absent of interaction. Even the Fricharii felt it at some points with nothing more than his animals to socialize with. People made traveling more interesting than he'd care to admit, but there was no fully denying the truth of it.*"But if you want a place to start... The land near Salvania and Mentia's border was where my travels began. Only continues to sprout from there so long as you don't get cut down in the process."*It was probably metaphoric, whatever he meant by that. Terrel wouldn't doubt some travelers deciding to not continue on with their adventures like others. It was only a matter of determination. That and survival anyways. 

He'd look over towards the horse, the Elf finding himself often distracted by other things while being in conversation. He had a steed of his own, long returned to his estate for the animal's owns safety from Terrel's travels. He was always the favorite out of all the animals. There for him since day one. Terrel couldn't bring himself to let anything happen to his horse. 

Only when Orlaith would ask him another question would the missing part of his focus return to her. She wanted to know about the mask. It was something people often asked about, though never a question he gave a big answer towards despite whatever underlying truth there may be about it.*"I'm afraid there's not much to this mask other than its appearance."*He'd say back to her, giving off the lack of importance for the mask he always wore. 

Terrel found it quite funny for those that ever thought it was more unique than what it was. It was simply a mask and that was that. Or so he seemed to tell everyone. That alone was a bigger let down to whatever creative thoughts people have considered for it.*
William
Orlaith certainly appreciated the man's suggestion of where to start. "I haven't been down there since... Hmm. Some years ago, travelling with my mother I think. It would be a fine place to start anew in my journeys, though." She paused. "I suspect we're at risk of getting cut down anywhere, no? Or is there more danger there than elsewhere?" 

To Terrel's explanation (or lack thereof) on his mask, Orlaith was visibly disappointed. She watched him and his mask for a time longer before slowly lifting her lute once again. She strummed a couple of times, humming, plucking, humming again in a different key. Finally she found it: more of a poem than a song, though she strummed along with it anyway.

*"I once met a young elf on my route,
Whose face was hidden behind a snout,
'Tis nothing', said he,
Yet I disagreed,
For his pig mask earned him much clout!"*

She flashed a bright, cheeky smile with the finality of her limerick then spoke further. "If it truly is simply that you like pigs, so be it! It is an amusing thing, and I would not begrudge anyone some amusement in this world."
Jamie
"I suppose there's always a chance to get shot minding your own business. With it being so far along the border though, it should be safer from the blunt of the Mentian War."*He'd answer.*"I don't suppose you know how to fight would you?"*The question he asked was less of wanting to know whether or not she could fight, though rather if she was one to follow the stereotypical path of Silnari's preferring magic to aid them. Terrel didn't have the best history with magic and it only proved a constant reminder with every Elf he's met.

He couldn't help but grin at the poem she made up on the spot.*"You're pretty creative, I'll give you that."*He'd say.*"You'll see a lot of unique things while traveling. All the more reason to let yourself stand out. Or hide away. Some people have many enemies."*He'd scratch at the side of his face casually, just below where the mask could cover his face.*"Either way. I haven't met a traveling musician before now, so I guess I can add that to the book of new things."
William
"Yes, I suppose there's always such a risk in times such as these, though I tend to agree with your sentiment. Like as not, I'd be fine as long as I stay out of the war proper." She nodded along, then gave him a side-eye after he asked about whether she knew how to fight. Nothing about that man had made her wary thus far, but being alone in a field and being asked if she could fight could possibly precede a bit of banditry. Even if she couldn't fight, she'd lie and say she could! Such as it was, however, the woman had a rather long and slender sword strung from a belt around her hips, currently pressed against the earth where she sat. She gripped her belt to tug it such that the man could see the estoc hilted there. 

"I can fight." She affirmed with surprising seriousness. "Though I prefer not to. One has to, to be able to travel alone like we do." Her eyes traced his form for any weapons of his own. 

After her poem, she bowed her head in gratitude to his praise. "I'm hoping to add many new things to my own such book. I've never met a kindly man in a pig mask, but might I know your name? I am Orlaith. Regarding hiding or standing out, well... Bards who hide don't get paid, though they might live to sing another day, so perhaps there is time enough for each. I don't have any enemies that I know of, and I'll try to keep it that way." That last comment wasn't precisely true in the broadest of terms, given that her *House* Had enemies, though she didn't count them against herself directly.
Jamie
*The most noticeable weaponry he carried would be the hilt of his Greatsword that stuck out over his shoulder from where it connected with the long sheathe across his back alongside a crossbow at his hip. Though it couldn't be seen fully, it was obvious he had quite a number of weapons at his aid with most concealed by the red cloak he wore around himself.

So she was a sword fighter? Or at least a partial one, he'd figure. The Elf had seen cases of people skillfully balancing between both magic and use of weaponry in a way that made him see them as mediocre in both. He didn't seem phased by it however, calm expression never changing with what could be seen from the mask.*

"Name's Terrel."*He'd say in response before tilting his head back in thought of her explanation regarding bards.*"Well the way I see it. Bards can stand out in a fight while also hiding behind others for protection and getting paid all the same. Probably a cowardly way, but when survival is of upmost important, people will do what is necessary. I just so happen to fight back typically."