Ardnt dressed slowly, unsure what was going to come of the interaction. Of where they were headed. His end might only have been prolonged if they showed up only to turn him over to the those that would seek justice for what he'd done. It seemed Luitwin wanted to discuss it, though Ardnt was reluctant to tell him anything specific and he was frowning as they walked together down the hall. What he wouldn't stand for was adding things to the list of his crimes that he wasn't actually guilty of.<br/><br/>“Whose to say I'm a sodomite? That isn't one of my crimes in your country, so I won't take that. Blood on my hands, maybe.” It never happened on their soil that anyone could prove, anyway, and so rare it hardly mattered. Different from his youth. Consensual, infrequent, and usually one or both were shitfaced drunk. “Probably doesn't look all that much better regardless.” Maybe his body's reaction was enough to incriminate him, at least a little bit, but Luitwin hadn't acted all that offended. Merely removed himself with a professional air about him, like he was better than all of it. Still, he warned him that he should be wary, yet he said it in a way that made it seem like he was on his side. He took his hands and Ardnt allowed it. His brows rose in surprise when Luitwin got to the point.<br/><br/>“You think that god put me on your path after all these years to see me to redemption?” He sounded skeptical but he at least had enough decency not to laugh in the earnest man's face. Ardnt leaned in closer, licking his lips, and contemplating his response.<br/><br/>“<i>Why</i>would god want a man like me redeemed?” he asked softly. It wasn't that he didn't have some beliefs of his own, more so that he felt he was past that point that he could be redeemed. He'd done too much. It was far worse than anyone would ever know. Yet, this religious man thought it was his duty. Too much of a freak sort of thing to find him and it be without purpose.<br/><br/><i>What will you do? </i><br/><br/>'<i>The bare minimum,</i>' Ardnt thought.<br/><br/>“I don't know what I'll do,” he answered. He wasn't sure if he was just tired of it all or if he simply felt some pull to be honest with this man. Luitwin certainly spoke plainly. “I'm not confident of anything if I have to face conviction.” He was a foreigner with a list of crimes a mile long and a distinguishable face. And now he was without noble protection as his partner was quite obviously done with him.<br/><br/>“I know nothing of your laws of sanctuary; what I'd have to do. I wasn't raised here, though I imagine our gods are the same.” Not their crimes though, as sodomy wasn't punishable in Alriah.<br/><br/>Luitwin leaned down to touch his lips to a finger and Ardnt refrained from jerking away from the soft skin and warmth that escaped the priest. Not a common gesture in Alriah. Even in Herzland he'd never had anyone respond to him in such a way. The priest was unnerving, leaving himself wide open with him in a way that he doubted he'd get used to. Earnest and sincere. It was clear this was what he thought he should be doing and he would give Ardnt time to mull it over. To possibly come to terms with it on his own. He took the water and the bread and Luitwin left him again to his solitude.<br/><br/>Ardnt knew one thing for certain and that was he lacked in options. The way he'd turned up it was hard to argue he was anyone reputable at all. Pointless almost, and definitely would be once they reached land. Escape was a possibility, especially if he acted placid and they couldn't anticipate him. That was easy enough for Ardnt to accomplish. He wasn't the volatile youth he used to be. As for Luitwin, there was some part of him that was curious if he could be forgiven in the eyes of god. Maybe a stepping stone before getting to wherever he'd be going next if he managed to skate by with his life. Maybe that was where it had gone wrong the second time; he'd simply gone back to his old habits. Ardnt stayed put again, contemplating what the priest had said to him and the way he'd acted, so sure that he could accomplish the task he felt he was set upon if only Ardnt would open himself to it.<br/><br/>When Luitwin returned he'd been able to reflect on all of it. He'd be stupid to refuse the man no matter what he believed and at that point he somewhere in the middle. Halfway expecting to use it to facilitate an escape, another part of him thinking he might actually be able to get some personal growth from it. It had always been an aspect of his life he'd been neglected.<br/><br/>“If you can convince god to have me..,” Ardnt said, indicating his willingness to give it all a shot. Especially if things were to go wrong and he was to face execution. No harm in getting right with god. “I don't think you realize what you'd be getting yourself involved with though. Maybe you're the one that ought to give it more thought.”