They did not let Raven help set up camp. The only thing they would let him do is finding sticks for the fire. He did so, and it took him a while but soon they had a fire going that bathed them all with warmth.
As they set up the rest of the camp though, all he could do was sit down on a log and listen. There was so much going on. But everyone seemed to be working in harmony.
An argument started up on who was going to take the first watch and Raven sighed to himself feeling left out. He might be able to join someone on their watch but it would be an afterthought and he knew it.
It was Dawn who had the last say of course, being the highest-ranking person here as well as the leader of the expedition. She split it into five watches, with everyone watching for two hours. The couple took the first watch joined by Miria, much to her discomfort. The scouts took second watch. The two knights and one of the magic users took third watch. Askar and the other two sorcerers took fourth watch. Dawn claimed the last watch for herself, and had Raven join her.
For some reason this lightened up Raven's mood. The fact the queen had only him helping her on her watch made him feel somewhat proud as every other watch had three people on it. And he was really glad that he did not have to share a watch with Vixen. That girl scared him.
After a light meal, most of them turned in. There were four tents that had been set up, each of which could hold up to four people comfortably, six if you crowded. Raven was sharing a tent with the two brother knights and Fendrel. Because until now there had been inns for them to stay in this was actually the first night they would be using the tents they had brought.
It was Fendrel who helped him find the tent that way he did not accidentally enter the wrong tent, it would not have been too bad if it was the other tent for males but it would have been rather embarrassing to end up in the girl's tent or the married couple's tent.
Fendrel had also planned to turn in early. Raven though had to laugh as the man seemed to think that just because Raven was blind that he needed a lot of help. He might need some but once he figured out which cot was his he was all good. But the sorcerer had good intentions.
Raven liked the conjurer. He was bright, intelligent and seemed to get along with people fairly easily. And he did not mind too much that the young man was unsure of to what degree Raven's blindness impaired him.
As Raven settled in, he thanked the conjurer, "Thanks for letting me share the same tent as you and your friends." As odd as it was Fendrel had struck up a rather quick friendship with both the knights.
Hearing Raven's thanks, Fendrel laughed good naturedly, "Oh, don't thank me. We fought for hours for the honor of having you in our tent. So thank you for not ruining that and fleeing to the other tent."
"Why would you fight for me?" Raven shook his head, with a chuckle, "I see you've got a sense of humor."
"No joke. Seriously, every one likes you. Or admires you. One of the two." Raven was not sure what the expression on his face was but he could hear sincerity in the other man's voice, "I mean, you've managed to befriend Queen Dawn. From what I've heard that in itself is an amazing feat."
"Nah, not really." Raven made a clucking noise. "She really needed a friend when she found me, and I have absolutely no clue who I am, or what I'm doing really. Circumstances more than anything else are why we are friends. And I don't even know how close we really are actually… just I am probably the closest thing she has to a friend."
About now in their conversation, Raven heard the other two men come in, and listened to them settle down until their watch would come.
"Whatcha two talking about?" It was Kion's voice.
"Oh, just how we fought to get Raven as our tent mate."
"Oh yeah," Aklane laughed happily, "It helped our case that we just needed the one extra member of our tent. And the others could not decide who would come to our tent if you did not."
Raven felt relaxed with these three. They all seemed good natured and honest. So he rolled over and let himself fall asleep after a murmured good night. He only barely woke up when the other three left on their watch and when they came back.