[Ridge]
I'm prepared to just watch the carriage go by, but apparently I should have discussed that with my party beforehand, because the next thing I know Tellur is jumping out in front of the horse. It rears up a little, kicking out its powerful front legs and shaking the giant antlers on its head around in a frenzy.
The man holding the reins pulls back calmly and the horse immediately settles down. The man lifts up both hands and parts the chopped blond bangs laying in front of his eyes. He stares down at Tellur in wide, unblinking observation. On anyone else, that gaze would seem creepy as shit, but somehow it fits him. If he was older, and bald with runes covering his skin, I'd think he was a wise monk, or experienced traveler. He has that knowing look in his eyes, like he can see into your soul... in a good way?
He lets his hair fall back over his pale blue eyes and jumps down from the cart with surprising elegance for someone with their eyes completely covered. Kadeeth makes a small noise in the back of his throat to get my attention. When I look back at him he inclines his head towards our elite Knight standing in the middle of the road. I shake my head and hold up my hand, telling him to stay out for now. We should watch first and see how this goes.
In peak condition we could take on almost anything. Two Knights, a prodigy, and a healer- we're pretty stacked. Unfortunately, the reality of our situation is that I'm injured, Tellur's hungover, and Raforn's not even an actual doctor. Even for all his gifts, I'd never voluntarily send Kadeeth to fight a stranger alone. Not if we know nothing about them.
The long haired man floats over to Tellur, his footsteps so light they don't make a sound. However, instead of addressing the huge man sheepishly waving at him from in front of his carriage, the man starts checking his horse over.
He produces a small handful of pink berries and extends his flat palm to the skittish horse, "That is much better is it not, Branch?" Everyone collectively tries to take in not only the interesting name of the horse, but also the man's strange speech. Something sounds off about it. Is it the grammar?
"'scuse me, Mr, are you a trader by any chance?" Tellur asks, fiddling with his nails. The blond man finally acknowledges him, stepping out from around the horse so the three of us hiding in the brush can see him slightly better.
"I am a peddler." He says in an airy voice. Is he trying to be mysterious on purpose, or is he legit some crazy wanderer?
"Cool, cool, do you carry any drinks-" I let out a sigh and interrupt their exchange by leaving our hiding place and stepping out onto the road. The man doesn't look startled by my appearance at all, as if he was already aware of my presence. Or maybe my mind is just twisting things to seem more impressive because I find his appearance mysteriously attractive and whimsical.
Up close though, he's as perfect as he was from afar. He's unhealthily thin, and his long silky hair is slightly tossed and tangled from the wagon ride. His shoulders are covered in scratches from where low branches on the path often scrape riders, snagging their clothing and allowing bugs to fall in their hair.
"I buy and sell many rare beverages from all across the Empire, and our neighboring lands." He answers poetically, not questioning my sudden appearance at all. Kadeeth takes that as his cue to emerge as well, but I notice that Raforn stays behind the trees with our belongings.
I take over for Tellur, "Unfortunately, Mr...?"
"Peddler." He dawn's a smile, small but radiant.
"I was inquiring for your name." I clarify.
He nods understandingly, "Yes. You may call me, Peddler." Why do I feel so SEEN when he makes that understanding face? I can't even see half of his expression!
"Of course. Then, Mr. Peddler," I move on, I'm not going to fight someone I don't even know over what their name is, "we'll be on our way. We have no need for your wares, however fine." I decline very respectfully.
"Ah, but you do, young rebels." He insists in that all-knowing tone. At first I don't even catch that he called us rebels, I'm too caught up on the fact that this guy thinks we're YOUNG. He's, like, the same age as us??
"What did you say?" Kadeeth asks passive aggressively, his empty smile plastered on his face. To my astonishment, the peddler actually gulps. So Kadeeth's fake grin makes him nervous, but not the two ton man who stepped blindly in front of a moving carriage? And what about me? The guy with the sword who politely told him to fuck off? I don't get any intimidation points?
"I have ma, many artifacts to aid you adventurers on your long journey..." He shrinks into himself, no longer looking as ethereal. Y'know what he looks like now? A liar that's just been caught.
I pinch the bridge of my nose, "Unbelievable." I mutter, "This guy's just a freaking scam artist."
"I am but a-" Kadeeth takes a single step forward, smiling blankly with enough force to make even the strongest warrior cry, and the peddler flinches. His involuntary reaction completely shatters the illusion and has him scampering to climb back up on his carriage. He continues to glance back at us nervously, mainly directed at Kadeeth, as he runs away hurriedly.
"Hey, do you know what we do with scammers like you back home?" Kadeeth yells out in a taunting, yet somehow friendly, voice. The peddler looks at him, terrified at being caught and made fun of. He snags the reins and cracks them. Branch immediately shifts into gear, shaking their curved antlers around and taking off.
The three of us jump out the way as it storms past. Kadeeth shoots one arm out protectively in front of me as I limp to the side of the path, and bends to scoop up a stone from the ground with the other. He takes the time to toss it up and catch it with one hand, testing the weight and scaring the shit out of the peddler while he tries to whip the reins faster.
"Offending a Noble is punishable by any means deemed fit!" He yells out over the sound, smile still present in his voice, of Branch's hooves as the carriage passes by. He winds up his arm, ready to chuck the broken chunk of rock at the peddler's moving head.
Dread pools in my stomach and I darkly my hand out as he tries to release it. Did he get more manic while I wasn't paying attention? Not everyone who doesn't earn an honest living deserves to have their head cracked open. Like the Viscount, probably. Hopefully.
"You psycho!" I scream in his face, shoving him backwards against a tree. I can tell a low branch is digging into his back, but his face shows no signs of registering the pain.
"He tried to dupe you." Kadeeth shrugs, like it's the most simple, reasonable explanation ever.
"So what? It's not like I fell for it!" I get up in his face, trying to make him realize that he can't just hurt people when something unpleasant happens, "He didn't do any real harm."
"I saw your face when we were listening in on him and cry-baby over there." He points at Tellur, then casually looks back down at me, "You were completely enamored, and that oaf would do anything for a drink. Hell, he's still drunk from last night!" Even Tellur would probably get mad at an insult like that, if he wasn't so embarrassed about how true it is.
"None of that constitutes violence." I state firmly. Have his 'fits of violence' really gotten worse? He did seek out a fight with Caroley, and he just tried to stone a stranger. It's still not the right term though. 'Fits' sounds like it stems from rage, but he always seems EXCITED about causing damage.
Is he really going mad? If his already unpredictable moods get worse, or dangerous, will that harsh night in the Riddotha Manor repeat itself?