On the Road

Rook paused as he saw Calum among the caravan guards, and kept his head down. There was no way he could hide for the entire trip, but anything to delay a confrontation. He pulled up alongside his two new friends and spoke quietly to them.

"Keep a sharp eye out for that one, with the red sash? His name is Calum, and he is a killer. He's none too smart, but he tries to make up for it with brutality. We had some dealings, when he killed a girl I... knew. Last I heard, he was sentenced to the mines for stealing from the baron; tis strange that he'd be walking free now, but I'd know him anywhere." Rook was a bit worried, but tried to calm himself. Though there had been bad blood between the two of them for several years, there was no reason to believe that Calum had ever figured out that Rook was the one who had set him up.

"A thousand pardons for our late arrival, oh captain. We were quite concerned about this wayward mother, and what may have happened to her. My companion here is still quite upset, as they were close when he was young, and his grief has made him overstep his place."

"We are here now though, and ready to guard our charges. In fact, to that end I must warn you that I noticed the face of a villain hiding among us. The man with the red sash, known as Calum, though I do not know what name he signed up under. I do know that he that he is a killer and a thief, and he was seized by the guard in the past for stealing from the baron. I shudder to think that he might be in league with other bandits waiting in ambush up ahead."

"Ah, right..." Rook tones down the flowery ass-kissing a bit, so as not to upset the captain too much. "..and, we do regret that, of course. We will be here now. It is indeed fortunate that Calum, a newcomer to caravanning, was able to so quickly gather the armed men willing to follow along, when experienced folk such as yourselves needed more time to do so. It is almost as if..."

He pauses a moment, as if considering a possibility that had just occurred to him, then shakes his head. They will dismiss any suggestion that I make, so better to simply plant the seed and let it grow in their own minds. "I'm sure it is all fine. You no doubt wish to dispatch us to our posts, Captain?"

Rook watches the man quietly but does not approach him, trying to determine if there is a pattern to his coming and goings. If he is thieving from the caravan, this is of no concern to Rook; he has already warned the guard and the wagon master who they have among them. His only concern is to make sure that Calum is not stealing from any wagon that Rook or his new friends guard, and that blame cannot fall on them later.

Leesha could pass for an oddity of a mercenary, likely appearing to most as what she really was: too young, too weak, and clad in oversized scale armor that had a tendency to clink and clank now and then, finishing touch to which was a pink and grey rough hooded cloak, wavering on the wind - all of this likely made girl seem as one of many youngsters wannabe-mercenaries and adventurers.
It was one of the reasons why she had a bit of trouble enlisting at first, though in the end perhaps it was the knowledge unexpected of young commoner to possess, as well as claims of knowing how to tend the wounded and sick that managed to persuade recruiter to sign her up.

Then it was finally the time to hit the road. Leesha checked through her humble possessions and joined the others to go along with the caravan. There was something strange in the air that day, but it seemed to be so on many days recently, leaving the girl wondering if more grim portents shall follow.
That said, later on she mostly sticked to herself, providing what assistance she could and reading her book: during midday they walked, and she would humbly ask if it was possible to take a seat on the wagons for a short while, then later in the evening when caravan stopped, Leesha signed up to keep watch during last shift, — on that time she'd bestow the 'blessing of protection' upon the others who would keep watch, after which return to her more sole stay and perform the rite of dissolution. She is used to staying up, and not having much heavy work to do girl could allow herself some rest.

Blonde girl has turned over one of the pages, carefully smoothened the paper when a man she only saw couple of times before takes place by her side. She looks up from the tome and rests hands over the intricate symbols and lines of old language, greeting the nameless guard with a polite smile.
"Good day to you as well.. Oh? I see." Barely noticeable, but she furrows eyebrows at the man's words however Leesha is patient enough.
"I am glad your friend, Jojo, has found the Lord's blessing so comforting. In these trying times, only the divine are there to hear our pleas."
She tilted head a little at the last phrase, while understanding the overall implications of what he means, Leesha replied calmly: "I am not sure I understand, but I I am grateful for the offer of protection - I am able to defend myself, and if you or your friends would find yourself in need of healing or more.. spiritual advice, I'd be there to help in ways I can." Girl brushed strand of hair off her face and, as if remembering something, smiled apologetically, adding: "My name is Leesha, mister, and how would you desire to be adressed?"