Suteil stepped into the carriage, scanning the people inside. Two men, two women. Their eyes flickered toward him with mild curiosity.
A man in his late twenties, with short brown hair and a sturdy build, gestured to an empty seat. "You can sit here."
Suteil took the seat, adjusting himself to seem at ease. He needed information, but being too direct might make them suspicious. He decided to ease into it.
Clearing his throat, he flashed a polite smile. "I appreciate the ride. The name's Suteil. May I know who I'm traveling with?"
The brown-haired man nodded. "I'm Orim. That's my sister, Lirien." He gestured to the woman beside him, a slender young woman with sharp eyes and a dagger strapped to her belt.
Lirien gave Suteil a cautious look but nodded in greeting.
Across from them, the other two remained quiet until Orim continued, "And these two are Ralen and Mira."
Ralen was a middle-aged man with graying hair, his arms crossed as he studied Suteil. Mira, the younger woman beside him, was petite and wrapped in a dark cloak, her face partially hidden under a hood.
Suteil took mental notes. Orim—the talkative one, possibly a fighter. Lirien—wary, likely skilled with that dagger. Ralen—calculating, maybe the leader. Mira—silent, possibly hiding something.
Lirien was the first to break the silence. "You're well-armed. What were you doing alone in the Magenta Forest?"
Suteil chuckled, pretending to relax. "Ah, well… I had an unfortunate situation. Got separated from my group and lost most of my supplies. Almost didn't make it out."
Ralen raised an eyebrow. "Separated? You don't look like someone who just barely survived."
Suteil met his gaze, smirking. "Let's just say… I've been through worse."
Orim leaned forward, intrigued. "You must be a warrior, then. No ordinary man walks through that cursed forest and comes out alive."
Suteil let out a small laugh. "I can hold my own."
Mira finally spoke, her voice soft but firm. "You're hiding something."
Suteil turned to her, feigning confusion. "Oh? And what makes you say that?"
She lifted her head slightly, her green eyes peering through the shadows of her hood. "You don't smell like blood, sweat, or fear. If you truly struggled to survive, we would've noticed."
Suteil's smile didn't waver, but inside, he was impressed. Sharp girl.
He sighed dramatically. "Fine, you caught me. I wasn't 'lost' exactly—I was testing myself. Pushed a little too far, and, well… ended up here."
Lirien scoffed. "Testing yourself? What kind of fool does that in a death zone?"
"The kind who doesn't like being weak," Suteil said simply, leaning back against the carriage wall.
Ralen hummed, still watching him closely. "Where are you headed now?"
Suteil shrugged. "Wherever the road takes me. But, seeing as I'm new to this region, I wouldn't mind some guidance."
Orim grinned. "Then you're in luck. We're heading to Red Hollow, a merchant town just two days from here. If you're looking for work, that's the place to be."
"Red Hollow, huh?" Suteil pretended to consider it. "Sounds interesting."
Inside, he was already plotting.
A merchant town? A perfect place to blend in, gather intel, and manipulate the right people.
For now, he just needed to keep playing the role of an intrigued traveler.
Smiling at his new 'companions,' he said, "Well then, I guess I'll be traveling with you for a while."