The moment the dagger was produced, a smile curled across Caine's face and the man gave a muted chuckle as he closed the distance between them, taking a hold of it and tossing it up and down in his hand to gauge the weight.<br/><br/>"Hmm, just as heavy as it looked. Surprisingly good make considering where it came from." Apparently he wasn't too pleased with the look of Ace's companion but, after one more scrutinizing glance that added up just how much he could make off of it, he tucked it away at the side of his hip. "Thank you. A luck charm indeed." Something about the way his smile had deepened as he'd stowed it away suggested that Caine enjoyed the little memento more than his strangely policed personality would allow him to show. Flattery would get people far, but materialistic showerings would always land them right where they wanted to be. Caine's affinity for shiny things rivaled most crows.<br/><br/>His attention turned to Dane as well, pleased by the easy flow of their conversation. At least they wouldn't have to suffer tension all the way in. Then again, he supposed he knew that one way or another. Still, it was good to see so early on. At Ace's answer, the raven haired man just ran a hand back through it and proposed, "I think horses on the way in. Get there quickly and get it over. I'm sure we're all eager to begin and this will keep us from having to spend so many nights around the campfire with only stories to entertain us." His tense smile suggested that he was as eager as his word, something that Dane echoed with a nod of his head. Caine knew he'd appreciate it and, yet, he noted the way the other man looked off to the side.<br/><br/>Of course they'd want to ride. Any sane person would have. Dane just gave a sigh and gave a nod of his head while Caine gave him an inquisitive glance that warranted an answer. "Lost mine on the way in. I'll have to pick up another here or along the way." Which was going to be vastly more annoying that it sounded, hence the gruff turn his tone took.<br/><br/>He'd been judged his whole life, whispers behind his back and turned gazes escorting him along any market strip but  never did Dane feel so jugged as he did by common beasts. Hounds, horses, cattle. They all met him with turns of the head, worried sounds rattling in their chests. They could smell something off about him, sense that being around him wasn't good for their survival. He'd been forbidden from the stables and farms outside the church. The first few stampedes had brought about that rule and having sent an entire herd of sheep fleeing off the edge of a cliff had set it in stone. He never could bring himself to eat mutton again.<br/><br/>He shook off the thought, a distant look in that normally sharp and ever present gaze fleeing as he looked between his traveling companions in a panic, afraid he'd missed something. He soothed his thoughts knowing that, like many socially odd predicaments he found himself in, he'd learned a few tricks that could easily be hidden up his sleeve. He only hoped he could keep it up for the lifespan of the poor beast he'd choose. Deciding not to let the decision linger any longer, he turned himself toward the stable without so much as another word.<br/><br/><br/>Caine watched and chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest as he walked to stand next to Ace. "He's a determined one, isn't he? You have to admire the directness. And the tightness of those leathers," he muttered with a tilt of his head, eyes watching the stride of their other companion. "His attire is as stiff as his personality, and just as tight." His gaze slid back over to Ace, hoping he could ease any ill thoughts about the other man. He did want to see them succeed, after all. He had quite a lot riding on it.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>One hand splayed on the wooden door in front of him, a slight hesitation in his movements before he shoved it aside. An uneven wave of discomforted barnyard sounds rushed through the stable as he entered, an all too familiar herald for the man. In its wake, there came a tense silence as Dane looked around, a frown tugging deeply on his features. What horses were there were already turning their heads away, eyes a bit wider as they paced in their stalls and stamped their feet. Somewhere down the way, a pig gave an awkward and worried squeal. While his gaze stayed up to survey the paltry choice of tense long necks he had to choose from, there was a soft peeping mewl from the hay near his feet. His gaze dropped.<br/><br/>Cats.<br/><br/>Cats never seemed to mind him.<br/><br/>The tiny grey thing was staggering forward to run its head into the side of his boot, a chorus of those noises coming out. He bent down and picked it up with one hand before plopping it the crook of his other arm, holding it there as one hand absentmindedly stroked over its head. The rattle purr that came out grew all the louder as he began his pacing down the brief length of stalls to choose the poor beast that would have to stand him for as long as it could before some ill fate befell it. The secondary thought on his mind was finding someone who was also willing to part with theirs, as most of the horses there had tack set to the side or still wearing it. With his luck, he'd end up with a mule.<br/><br/>A soft sigh left his lips though, the moment it did, there came another chirp of a mew. His eyes fell down at the little thing with its big green eyes as it currently tried to scale his cuirass. It managed to dislodge the frown from his lips, just the hint of smile there as it made it to his shoulder, perching unsteadily there to bump its head against his. Apparently there were chinks in that stiff personality of his, and the kitten had found its way in. With a deep breath, he lifted his head and scanned for the stable master. If this place had one.