"Let me… think about it."
[A silence once again permeates the crisp dark sands.]
Sarah looks down at her knees. Battered and bloody, not from the minced sand worm meat hurled everywhere, but from the long, arduous battles she's engulfed herself in since entering the desert. She is tired, hungry, and beyond confused. A whole world of unknowns got held upon her tiny shoulders, and for just a moment she felt completely helpless.
"I understand," Thaerin says, lowering his stature further to match the sunken Sarah Chatsworth.
"Don't feel obligated to give me an answer right away."
A calm demeaner washes over Thaerin as though reassuring his claim. Sarah, if only a little, felt at ease.
"I have some business I need to attend to in the royal capital. By the time I get back I'm sure you will have your answer." He says, while standing up tall looking out over the horizon, "I am no tyrant."
With a light giggle, Sarah Chatsworth tries to get up, looking for a way to properly thank the man. In the act of doing so, she trips on her way up, stumbling back down, Thaerin catching her.
"Sorry about this," Sarah said, slightly embarrassed by her incompetence.
"I completely understand your situation, Sarah." He said, holding onto her arm as to stop her from falling.
[A light groan can be heard emanating from next to you]
Egan, now shifting in his slumber, appears to be having a bad dream. As Thaerin and Sarah look at him, wondering what in the world he's doing. Egan suddenly jolts up, sitting still, Thaerin's coat still blanketing his family jewels.
"Wha… What time is it? Why am I so wet?" He groaned, eyes still half closed
Both Sarah and Thaerin look over at the young man, looks of shock on their face. Sarah visibly beginning to get angry at the situation. She quickly materializes her staff, but instead of launching a magic attack, instead she throws her staff, hitting him square in the dome.
"Oh, now you wake up! Good morning princess, hope you slept well!" Sarah yelled, frustrated with how utterly oblivious the young man is.
"Ow, dude! What's got you all angry, huh!" Egan remarked, angry at the sudden staff being clocked against his head.
"You!" She yelled back, arm raised, Thaerin holding her back as for they to not scuffle.
Egan stands up from the sand, grey cloak sliding right off him. Now facing her fist clenched, man bits poking out for all to see.
"What's with the sudden change in attitude? Ms. almost got crushed by a sand worm!" He scoffed, offended by the "random" act of violence on her part.
"You're still naked!" She shrieked, turning around, embarrassed, Thaerin now looking down at the man's bits in front of him.
"Wow"
"Don't 'wow' him!" She said, lightly punching Thaerin in the chest, "He needs to learn some decency at least, I can't look him in the eye like that!"
Egan, now confused at the embarrassment, looks over at Thaerin. Curious about the old man standing before him and why he's clinging onto Sarah, he begins to analyze him. The tall old man, roughly around 180cm, is broad in size. His muscles, honed to perfection by endless years of training, burned into him. His crystal blue eyes shattering the darkness around them, as though light permeates through his retina. He adorns a leather, belt-bound tunic with a dark blue undershirt. He wears a healthy four brown belts around his waist, all sorted with different pouches, with gold latches hooking them closed. His long, dark brown pants are rough at tattered. Withered by age, just as the person who wears them, along with the boots, is just as tattered as his pants.
"I happen to have a spare set of clothes on me," Thaerin says, reaching into one of the 4 pouches on his hip.
"Hm?"
After digging his hand into the small, elegant pouch, he pulls out a large pair of pants. Quickly after, he grabs a small, white tunic, leather boots, and a brown belt to hold it all together. Egan, mouth shocked to see that many large items come out of such a small pouch, quickly collects himself, distrustful of this stranger.
"How did you manage that?" Egan said, curious about the articles of clothing appearing from thin air.
"Magic bags, your friend has one too." He said, tossing the clothes over to the naked Egan.
Another act of compassion.
By Sarah's request, he quickly puts on the clothes. They fit him perfectly. Sarah, hesitant, looks over at the now fully dressed Egan, a sigh of relief emanating from her breath upon seeing him.
[A harsh gaze permeates the darkness]
[An intense aura of power emanates from Egan]
He slowly walks over to Thaerin, eyes fixated on his. He begins to fixate on the hand touching Sarah, before grabbing Thaerin's wrist.
"What business do you have with her?" He asked, the aura of intensity increasing.
"I'm an acquaintance, we met in passing and I happened to find her out on my journey west."
A bold lie.
"Also, if you're curious as to why I'm holding onto her…" He releases his grip from her, as a result, she falls to her knees.
Sarah looks up at Egan, and a small, awkward smile creases across her face. As he looks down at her, he lets go of Thaerin's wrist. His eyes now look back into Thaerin's, Gaze intensifying.
"I mean you no harm, I shall debrief you while I set up a wagon for us to head into town." He said, raising his hands as a sign of peace.
[A tug pulls on your leg from below you]
Sarah, still kneeling on the ground, let's out a different smile now. This one was one of trust, as though saying the man before you is a good one. After all he is Sarah and Egans savior, but sleeping beauty was comatose throughout that experience.
Now, with a quick motion, Sarah, pulling harder on his pants, quickly twists her body. After which, a strong kick sweeps Egan off his feet, his body now plummeting forwards. With a turn of her body, she catches him and slams his head into the ground, Egan now in a deep bow.
"Hey… what are you-"
SLAM~
Sarah again slams his head into the sharp sand
"Don't be an idiot, this man saved our lives!" Sarah, silently whispering towards Egan, his face still red from the embarrassing display just moments prior.
"Haha! I think I'm going to like you two!" Thaerin cackled, a large grin plastering his face.
"Now, allow me to re-tell a story, Egan."
***
[A whistle of muffled footsteps echoes out from the darkness.]
[An approaching dust cloud plasters the horizon]
Out of the corner of Sarah and Egan's vision, a large caravan can be seen screeching towards them. The first thing they notice is two massive ground dragons strung up on leads. It continues to barrel towards them. Thaerin, not looking surprised in the slightest.
With a screech, the speeding carriage comes to a quick stop right in front of them. Its magnificent shape and fancy exterior glisten in the shadow of night. Its long, white, decorative poles gliding out from the body. Its massive wheels are emitting a bright, blue light as it wraps around the base of the carriage. The two ground dragons are massive, with horns swindling out in a magnificent spiral pattern, and their scales also radiate a bright blue color. Their four muscular legs look as if they've walked the earth for a millennium.
Eyes wide and mouths agape. The pair is too shocked to speak.
"I will give you one of my ground dragons for your journey home," Thaerin said, still chuckling at the stupid expressions plastered across the pair.
"I cannot offer you the carriage, unfortunately, but I hope this wagon will do."
Out of the corner of their peripheral vision, they notice a small wagon tied up behind the carriage. It was slightly nicer than the one Landon used, but not too much better. Sarah didn't mind the wagon, considering how weird it would be to go back in town riding that elegance. Egan had no thoughts going through his head at the time, he was still shocked at the first carriage.
Thaerin, his gaze now locked on the pair, his composure finally settling.
"You have a long journey ahead of you."
"For the next time we meet, I hope you have come to a decision."