"I'll make sure that Galneak sees getting you a horse." She appeared thoughtful for a moment as she performed some calculations in her head. "I believe Galneak had budgeted around 5-750 gold depending on skill, but don't quote me on that." It would probably push Galneak over the edge that she was inserting herself into the negotiation side of things and not sitting back like a good porcelain doll.<br/><br/>When the subject changed to Dravin, Anders' words shocked her; he thought she would leave Dravin behind. It was likely that Galneak had the same thoughts, but they both had another thing coming if they thought she would let that happen. Rather than correct him, she gave him a soft smile that hid the fires of defiance within. A priestess of Otean was supposed to be unbiased in their decisions and concerned simply with the balance of the cosmos. Alianor had heard the whispers that ice had more warmth than an acolyte of Otean.<br/><br/>Yet she was Alianor flame blessed of the night and had no allegiance beyond the order. She would die for those of the order close to her; perhaps that was her weakness as a priestess. 'Was that why Otean refused to lend her the strength to heal Dravin?' Dark thoughts led to dark days was a favored saying of one of her friends at the monastery. Perhaps they were right; Alianor pushed the thoughts from her mind and brought her attention back to Anders. She strolled beside him in peaceful silence and studied how he walked and the items he gravitated towards. It was clear that he was no stranger to being out in the wild based on his choices.<br/><br/>While he took the necessary items, Alianor picked up an ornate fan with a phoenix painted on the panels; she tested the thing before returning it to the shelf. She lingered the longest over a set of brushes with opal inlays set into the back. Eventually, she moved on to a case filled with various sizes and shapes of daggers. As Anders was concluding his business, her curiosity was peaked at the mention of Anders's past. At least she'd have plenty of time to quiz him on the road.<br/><br/>"Thank you," she whispered softly to the shopkeeper as she followed Anders and darted ahead when he opened the door. "Galneak will be happy that you're so efficient." Alianor kept stride with him staying close to his left elbow. It was different walking down the street with an armed man. People moved and didn't attempt to crowd; some even averted their gaze, which was nice. It was a power that he didn't even likely realize he possessed.<br/><br/>When they arrived at the stables, Alianor crept over to the wagon to see if Galneak had left body-sized space in the back, which he hadn't. Alianor's lips pressed into a flat line, and her jaw set as she tilted her head back. Some of the fire in her eyes was doused as she listened to Galneak and Anders. She had heard of the Swordborn but only in the context that the loss of that house created a shift in the balance. A loss for Otean to maintain the balance between the civilized and the chaotic. Was this what Otean had been telling her, to keep Anders safe?<br/><br/>Alianor took a step forward to get a better look at Galneak, who gave Anders a curious look. "I'll be damned. I knew of your father and trained briefly in the east. I had the pleasure of seeing him fight once as well. I didn't realize any of you had survived." Galneaks pace of loading the cart had slowed and stopped entirely as he folded his arms over his chest.<br/><br/>"I suppose out of fifteen, it's good you survived." Galneak had never been one to pick at old scars, but an old saying was, 'never trust a survivor until you know what they did to survive.'<br/><br/>"How did you manage to survive all these years?"<br/><br/>Alianor interrupted, much to Galneak's annoyance. "Fifteen siblings?! Was your mother a follower of Esyn?"<br/><br/>When Galneak tried to push back in front of her, she elbowed him hard in the ribs and scowled up at him. "I was talking to him." Galneak sighed and had the look of an exhausted mother. "And what exactly have you already told him, Alianor?" It was the final spark to the dry haystack.<br/><br/>Some of the fire from earlier returned, "just that you would get him a horse Galneak and that we have an injured companion. That you need to clear a spot for in the wagon. And that the pay is seven hundred and fifty gold." The last part was petty and childish, but she had dealt with his patronizing attitude for two weeks since they fled.<br/><br/>"Alianor, the healing hasn't worked. It'll be torture." Galneak explained in a slow even tone.<br/><br/>"I'm not leaving him. If you would just wait another day."<br/><br/>"You must be reasonable and think logically like you've been trained."<br/><br/>Alianor audibly ground her teeth and was on the verge of telling Galneak how she had been trained. Then provide him with a detailed breakdown of the monastery's hierarchy when she heard Anders clear his throat. She closed her eyes and exhaled. "Guess you should find out now," Galneak turned towards Anders and undid the top laces of his tunic, so the inked bird taking flight along his collarbone was visible. Begrudgingly, Alianor did the same to reveal an intricate blossoming flower surrounded by clouds that were only partially visible.<br/><br/>"We serve the monastery in the Shrieking Mountains," Galneak stopped there as Alianor waited for him to expand. "We are just trying to get home to provide information to the head priest." It seemed that Galneak was going to omit that she was a priestess.