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<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Arioch was curious what business Altima could possibly have with her. Whatever it was, she supposed that it couldn't hurt anything to hear the knight out. The two of them hadn't really gotten along with one another since meeting, as neither of them had been able to say a thing to one another without making jabs for one another's throat. She hoped that whatever this matter Altima felt she needed to discuss with the former general was wasn't anything that would cause anymore friction between the two of them. Her eyes wandered back to Brand's face, making sure to keep her eyes situated above his waist, then to the other man with him, and finally the tiger. Indeed, the tiger was well behaved. It wasn't attacking anyone, and hadn't taken Brand's hand off.<br/>
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<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#0040ff">"Perhaps you can not read the Elven language, but the sign by the bath says that animals are not permitted inside,"</span> Arioch explained. The answer to such a question was quite simple, and not at all something that she held against the man, Tsu'Ro he had been called, and his animal, but the rules set by the owner of the tavern. Such a thing was beyond anyone's control. The general shrugged almost apologetically. The man and his tiger were obviously much closer than any of them could understand. This tiger was a bit intriguing though, as it seemed to understand what was seeing said around it just as well as any human could, and responded to what was being said in a most curious way.<br/>
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The high elf sighed with relief when Brand finally seemed to get the picture and made his way back into the baths. So much trouble had already been caused, she thought it a miracle that the owner hadn't yet thrown them all out. But the look they received by the young man? His eyes looked. . .almost childlike, and there seemed to be an unnatural purity in them for a knight who had stained his hands and his blade with the blood of others. Arioch was unable to hide her surprise. Rather than saying anything, she ducked into one of the changing rooms to remove her clothing, only to reemerge with a towel wrapped around her slender form. She slipped into the water opposite of where Brand and Valen sat, careful to keep a distance between them. She still wasn't exactly comfortable with either of them yet.<br/>
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<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#0040ff">"If you wish to appeal for the King for aid, I feel it's only fair to warn you that he has no intention of doing anything. He fears bringing the wrath of the King of Darkness down upon Hieronidan, and feels that doing anything would paint upon our quiet little haven a target for the dark army to destroy,"</span> she explained. Arioch knew all too well how the King thought at this point in time - it was the reason that she was leaving in the first place. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:#0040ff">"If you insist on seeing him and appealing directly, I will not hinder you. But I do feel it best that I not join you, if only to help your situation."</span> The elf had no intentions upon elaborating any further the matter.[/list:u]</li>
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