What enthusiasm he could muster grew with the word of the strange woman. She seemed to have an ear, that one, and he couldn't say that he had ever met someone from Keshal before. Their women certainly were eye-catching. But his hopes were snuffed out as soon as the dunmer opened her mouth. Of course he would have no chance of competing with the Jarl's coin, so instead he would have to try and reason with them. Or at least spin a tale or two that could make them take interest.<br/><br/>"Well, as you might suspect I certainly can't compete with the Jarl's coffers. And while I admire your... bravery, I must say this coming battle is not something that any one of us would like to stay and witness. Out of us, only the Nord here and maybe Lady Jorin if they squint would be able to pay king's ransom in the mines for a decade unless they are killed in battle. An Argonian and a dunmer though, not even I can glaze that death with honey and gold. It will be long and ugly like a giant with a broken nose... however."<br/><br/>He smiled knowingly, looking around as if he wanted to ensure their privacy. His eyes sparkled a little as it seemed their surroundings was muffled into a whisper as he moved closer. In reality it was they who had gone silent, but he enjoyed the dramatic effect his slightly altered spell borrowed to his words.<br/><br/>"Where are my manners. I'm Ilya Evermore." The sound of their surroundings returned again in an almost deafening roar as the bard smiled broadly. "And I know our only way out of here now that the soldiers are barring the gates. I am good for but a pouch of gold, but have a few favors to collect in Winterhold, as well as the locations of some rather tasty treasures. I understand your plight, Lady Dunmer, I would share it were I such a valorous person myself. But as we say in Black Marsh, it is better to run to fight another day. We won't do much difference in the coming battle, not with the full march of the Stormcloaks upon us and that Jarl won't do us much good with her head in a basket. If you want to fight them so badly, were better than behind their lines were small numbers matter, cutting their supplies and spreading chaos? I can get you there, but it will take some raw brawn to get to it."<br/><br/>He took a step forward and presented his hand to shake, exchanging looks with the sellswords. He'd probably already lost the dunmer, she seemed like the foolishly heroic type who didn't know a loss from a victory since both took bravery to match. But if he could get just one of the others to join him, that would be enough to gamble. Hopefully they didn't share her sense of pride and bravado.<br/><br/>"What say thee?"