"Hey, hey," Jarod replies, hands up, open. "I didn't say I was interested, just curious. Just because I'm married doesn't mean it fell off, after all."<br/><br/>Niara giggles in reply, shaking her head. "I can defend myself, thank you." She smirks, then adds, leaning in to whisper in his ear, "Besides, I already share all the juicy details with Svala."<br/><br/>The trip is mostly uninteresting, until they reach the rendezvous point, several hours early. A handful of the mercs are already waiting, though the rest should arrive in a few hours, only an hour's ride from the base of the mountain, where the ritual is being conducted.