Henri decided to study the man seated across from her.
Her eyes started at the top of his head and her gaze trailed all the way to his toes.
Looking him over, up and down, Henri's conclusion was promptly made.
He seemed like a lady boy.
Further questioning was needed though.
Alto noticed the cute kid was looking him up and down, and he didnt know whether he should be proud or... worried.
Weren't those kind of thoughts to early for someone seemingly so young. He resolved himself to ask for the others age.
"So, how old is my learned traveling companion?" Alto asked, not forgetting to add some subtle flattery in for good measure.
This question certianly took Henri by surprise.
But when she thought about it, it really shouldn't.
Two children and seemingly a maid, were gallivanting about in a somewhat dangerous forest. She would most definitely question such a party if she came across such.
Deciding to respond honestly, Henri replied with "I'm 9 and 4 months."
Alto who had taken out a small flask of what smelled like alchohol swiftly spat out a mouthful of spray in Henris direction.
Nine years old? He thought they were perhaps just small for their age and maybe close to 11.
What was a kid so young doing with a nanny and a little girl in the woods?
....
Alto didnt realize he had given Henri a complimentary swig of alcohol to the face, until Henri motioned with her navy blue clothed sleeve, to subsequently wipe said "free alcohol" off her face and neck.
"Mr. Merchant, while I am unsure of the age of consent for alcoholic beverages of this current country that I am in, but I do doubt that it is as young as 9 years old." Henri said with a apparent look of disgust prominently displayed on her small peach shaped face.
Alto suddenly came to his senses, and emerged from his inner thoughts to realize what a rude thing he had just done.
"I am terribly sorry, where are my manners?!" Alto squeaked out in a small fit of what Henri observed as hysteria similar to that which she had seen in serving maids who have made a major mistake.
This person really knew how to entertain ones guest. Even if it was not exactly in a positive or prim and proper manner.
"Are you the youngest child in your family?" Henri asked Alto seemingly out of nowhere.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This was a rather unexpected question for Alto.
"What lead you to that conclusion?" Alto asked , a fake smile appearing on his face.
"You seem rather childish for someone who's supposedly a adult." A small chuckle escaped Henris lips as she said these words.
"I'm the third youngest out of eight children." Alto replied curtly, a weird look appearing in his eyes for a moment before it disappeared.
"Ah, so I was close it seems. It must be nice to have a big family." The last part of her sentence was said rather quietly, and so Alto couldn't quiet make out what was said.
Looking at Henri quizzically, Alto pondered over the events that had taken place today.
Bandits had attacked his convoy, wiping out almost all the guards, and killing the original leader of their traveling party. It was going to be troublesome to explain that to the fat mans family that he was killed when they had over 30 people in their party.
Henri, somehow sensing what Alto was troubled about, decides to console him like the mature person present should.
"Dont worry those bandits were not ordinary, I wouldn't worry about explaining everything in great detail to your local authorities, I'm sure my little bundle on the other carriages roof will be plenty willing to comply and cough out the truth..."
Alto didnt know what to say. How was it that this kid was more composed than him?
He was obviously the older one here.
"Anyway, I haven't really properly introduced myself and I feel kind of self concious just bumming a free ride from you... so..." She blabbed out, trying to work up to a proper but late introduction that didnt seem weird and to out of place.
After taking a few seconds, she finally organized what she wanted to say in her head, so she spoke.
" My name is Henri Fallen, I am 9 years old, and I'm pleased to make your aqquintence Sir."
Henri followed those words of hers up with a mock bow while seated, which while was abit awkward, still would manage to pass as a acceptable bow in upper echelons of society. Coming from a child at least, that is.
After hearing the kids last name, Alto knew that this probably wasn't just some common kid. But after seeing Henri follow up her name with those mannerisms, he was almost sure of it now.
This kid came from good breeding. Whether he was a legitimate child of some good family, or a bastard born to a maid, Alto couldn't know.
On this continent, when a family from higher society fell, the remaining members of the family who hadn't accomplished anything with their previously established family Surname, would usually then adopt the surname "Fallen" as a symbol that they came from a proper heritage, but for some reason their family had fallen on hard times.
Altos curiosity was now fully peaked by the child seated in the carriage across from him not even a mere 4 feet away.
This fully fired up Altos resolution to try and keep this kid as close to him as possible.
Things would undoubtedly be getting much more exciting in Sunfall City.
As Alto sat across from her rubbing his chin, and looking at her with the most peculiar and 'enthusiastic' look Henri had ever seen, she couldn't help wondering if she made the wrong choice in which carriage to ride in...
After a about half an hour had passed with Altos weird behavior continuing and showing no signs of naturally abating, Henri decided to poke the beast.
"Alto, do you think we could maybe rush towards Sunfall City? Surely since we have much less people it should be a quicker travel. And if the problem is the horses, I can let you rent some of my Spirit beasts services to help pull the carriages through the night."
Alto was forced out of his contemplative and dreamlike state by this statement of Henri's.
Did this mean this kid had more Spirit beasts on his person? Alto thought for sure that the Suntusk Boar were surely his only ones even though he had mentioned Aquatic deer. He had just assumed it was a young kid boasting.
Afterall, how the heck would a 9 year old kid get aquatic deer?
While they weren't very strong, they were some of the most agile Spirit beasts obtainable, so much so that even a normal noble could barely afford more than one.
"So what your saying... is that you indeed have more Spirit beasts other than the Aquatic deer?" Alto asked, hesitantly, almost afraid that the child would say no and that he was only referring to his aquatic deer.
Alto didnt know about the Draig's that Henri had with him earlier due to him having woken up after Henri had returned them to a well deserved rest inside a Soul Gem.