[Ridge]
Kadeeth slings his bad over one shoulder, and then drapes mine over the other. I reach to take it back from him, but he dodges my hand.
"Oh no, no, no." He uses his outstretched hand to keep me at bay, "Doc says you should avoid putting extra weight on that foot, that's the whole point of the crutch." He flicks the staff I'm holding and gives me 'the look'. I roll my eyes and keep my face stoic.
"I can carry my own bag."
"No way. I'm nothing if not a gentleman, and until you realize that things not just for decoration I'm gonna stay that way." He sidesteps my grabby hands again.
"Do I look like some helpless lady?" I limp towards him, but he keeps backing up, stepping outside the open door and onto the front porch. I follow him out, still trying to retrieve my bag.
Raforn stops strapping a blanket roll onto his own bag and looks up at us. He furrows his brow and a disgusted expression washes over his face. He crosses his arms and cocks his hip to one side. Kadeeth and I both watch him expectantly. So far he hasn't been someone to not express his opinion, so I brace myself for whatever that condescending look in his eyes will bring.
"What?" Kadeeth prompts.
Raforn shrugs, "I just didn't think I'd hear such an outdated statement from people so young. Or maybe you two have babyfaces and are actually from the old generation." He taps his foot.
Kadeeth and I share a few glances back and forth before he laughs awkwardly and rubs the back of his neck. I take the opportunity to snatch my bag from around his shoulder. Then I address Raforn.
"Let's just say we both grew up around very different people than you did." I dust off my sachal, "And those people happened to be stuck up Nobles who still think that if a woman isn't engaged by eighteen she's a witch." When I catch the dawning look on his face I continue, "So, can't you be understanding if we say something a bit rude out of habit?"
He stares at me, "No." I blink in surprise, "Just don't be rude." Kadeeth breaks out into laughter and goes to help Tellur haul our food supply into the small wagon we found in the shed. It mostly consists of bags of old potatoes, and the wagon is a small cart we'll have to pull by hand, but this way we won't have to buy food along the way for a while. Turns out the Duke emptied most of the cabins finances before retreating to the south.
"Yeah, you're right, Doc. Sorry about that, didn't mean to upset ya." I pat Raforn on the back sincerely. Someone told me a long time ago that my father was a scoundrel, and that I had inherited some of his unfavorable personality and ideals. I don't know about that, but sometimes I do say ridiculous things that I don't really mean. I'm not sure if I can really blame my upbringing, but it makes it easier.
"It's all good. I've heard guys talk like that before, but times are changing." He explains passionately.
"Hey, we're all good to go! Let's head out!" Kadeeth yells. We start to decend the steps to join them, and I put my hand on Raforn's bony shoulder.
"Tell me more." His usually guarded eyes light up.