A good soak....

[Paks]

The ranger leans back in the chair and mulls over Joe's words for a while. She was still no closer to understanding why this Burcanto had chosen to, what was the word the bard had used, arh that's right, "toy" with her. She must have done something to seriously have annoyed him though. That would require some thinking about.

"If that's the case" she says after a bit, a slight smile appearing, "Then I guess you're stuck with me for a while. If what you say is true than I am sure he's done some research and he'll certainly know about you."

"Do you have any idea where I can find out a little more about this Burcanto? A contact perhaps that may know of his location? A friend of a friend of a friend? Anything at this stage would be helpful."

[Zee]

Joe shrugs trying to remain detached but the strain in his voice belays none of the rangers ability to detect his concern and easily picks up on the fact he doesn't believe his own words. "Aye, stay close or get so far away as it would be to much trouble." Pausing for a moment he fumbles at his pocket pulling out some coin to shift about in his hand to distract himself as he carries on. "I may know of some one who may be able to lead us to his base of operations. Not likely the information would come either easily or cheap though."

[Paks]

The ranger frowns, a little confused at Joe's words. She pulls her legs up onto the chair and wraps her arms around them. Had his feelings changed for her so much that he was indifferent as to whether she stayed close or not? If they had, it had been her own fault. Was it too late to do something about it?

"I don't know that I have the coins to fund an expensive exchange, not on me at least. I have a stash back home in Leserd if need be." Paks lifts herself out of the chair and walks slowly over to Joe, her heart pounding as she thought of the risk she was about to take. The ranger leaves little room between the two when she finally stops. Reaching across, she tucks a stray piece of hair behind his ear, her fingers lingering on his jawline for a moment. "I really should give you the choice. I'm sure you would have little difficulty staying off Burcanto's list if you wanted to. If you want to stay out of this, I respect that. But that's not me saying I wouldn't like you by my side either. I would, very much."

[Zee]

Joe sighs as he takes the womans hand between both of his. "if you intend to track down burcanto as it seems like that is what you are keen on. Then I shal aid you in this." patting the womans hand he lets it go. Taking to the door he glances back over his shoulder. "I've to get a message out to a contact of mine. I'll meet you on the morrow." heading through the door the ranger notices a trail easily followed. Not by a ranger but by a woman, the lines on his face, the tremble of his hands and crack of his voice. A trail left by a heart not yet mended.

[Paks]

The ranger waits backstage for a few minutes to compose herself, probably feeling just as hurt as Joe was. A few deep breaths later, she emerges back into the common room and heads straight to her room, not one glance for the patrons around her. Closing the door behind her, Paks collapses on the bed. She allows a few tears to be shed, feelings of rejection washing through her body. Eventually she sleeps but not well.

Dressing in the morning, the ranger secures her weapons and heads to common room. She takes a seat at the closest table and waves down one of the serving girls and orders a hot cup of tea, not bothering with any breakfast, she didn't have the stomach for it. While she is waiting, the ranger takes a quick stroll out to the stables to check on Clyde before returning to her table.

[Zee]

The ranger waits at her table in the morning by herself for quite sometime, noon not to far off. Just when she can remain idle no longer she feels a gentle touch on the back of her neck. The touch moving from her neck brushing just under her ear before carressing her cheek. Joe sits down in the chair across the table from her, dark eyes and a haggard look. If the man had gotten any sleep it wasn't much. Before he can speak the barkeep himself comes over to the table and places a steaming cup of peach cider and a small pouch that makes quite the jingle when laid on the table. "you didn't collect your share after the show last night."

Joe nods his thanks to the man and waits for him to leave before speaking to the woman. "did a bit of digging and I think I found out where a man is who can lend some information on burcanto. He's in millcreek 'bout two days ride due west along the river."

[Paks]

The ranger had been loosing her patience, she would have given the bard an earful if it weren't for his gentle touch and exhausted look. "I was beginning to think you weren't going to show" she said quietly as she sipped on the cider, watching him. The cider was nice enough, for cider but Paks had always preferred ale. Even more so, her own. "I really have missed you" she adds after a while, giving him a wry smile.

"Are you fit enough to travel today? I wouldn't mind getting back out on the open road soon" the ranger asks, thinking about what kind if man they would be likely to find in Millcreek.

[Zee]

Joe nods slowly to the woman. "well enough. Surely to have good nights rest tonight regardless of the conditions. I assume you still have Clyde with you, it would be an extra day if we had to go by foot." As the ranger nods that she does indeed still have the horse. Joe finishes the cup of cider the woman had drank from before taking the coin pouch and giving it a heft.

Nodding his satisfaction at the weight of the bag he claims his own horse at the stables and mounts up. Making sure the ranger is ready he heads out of town. He remains mostly silent for the time giving the start of the trip an awkward feeling.

[Paks]

Paks raises an eyebrow as Joe strides out the door and let's out a sigh. So it was going to be like that. She pushes herself to her feet and heads off to the kitchens to organise some food for the next couple of days. Paying what's due, the ranger saddles Clyde and follows the bard out of town. Paks keeps pace with Joe's steed, Clyde's head level with the bards leg. At first she didn't mind the silence, she spent it trying to work out exactly what she had done to attract Burcanto's attention but the ranger comes up empty. The she simply enjoys the silence for what it is, silence. She takes in the landscape, listens to the animals, watches the birds, occasionally throwing glances at Joe.

Some four hours later she was downright sick of it. If he wasn't going to speak with her, fine.

"So, you'll never believe who I ran into last night Clyde, Joe." She pauses for a moment, almost like she's listening to a response. "I know, I was shocked too, to tell you the truth it kinda threw me. He was all dark and gloomy, you know those bard types, excellent performers." She pauses again. "Oh no, I don't think he was too happy to see me really, but then again I can't really blame him." Another pause. "Well I tried but he didn't seem too interested, guess I left the run too late." Pause. "Oh, I don't know, maybe I didn't, I guess I probably should have appologised, maybe I will remember that for when he's talking to me again." She pauses and then laughs a little, "Yeah that's him, I think you're more likely to get conversation out of his horse though, than I am out of him. But I shouldn't be pushy, he is helping me out," the ranger adds, leaning down to pat Clyde on the neck.

 

[Zee]

Joe sighs listening to the rangers conversation with her mount. He knew rangers were capable of speaking to animals but he knew this was aimed more in his direction than it was really a conversation she was having with clyde. Were he in a typical mood he may haven stricken up a conversation with his own mount.

He was not in a typical mood. "You chose the swanmays over me after I'd told you I wanted you." He speaks the next part carefully intending no ill feelings towards the deceased. "Then you come back to me because of them. I wanted you, no, I want you. But I won't be wounded so again." Oh if words could bleed the woman was sure the pain he projected as he spoke would have ripped another wound so deep his heart would empty of blood faster than he'd known that he had been struck.

[Paks]

"That's not exactly how I remember it happening" she mutters very, very quietly to herself, she could hear the pain in his voice and there was no way she was going to say that loud enough for him to hear.

"I'm sorry Joe, really I am" the ranger says, coming up along side the bards mount and grabbing the reins, forcing him to stop and talk to her. "I made a bad choice. It was something I had wanted for a long time and I thought I wanted it more than you," she says, looking him directly in the eyes. "I .... struggled when you left. Sure, I had what I wanted, it just took me a while to realise that what I wanted more had left the Island. I never meant to hurt you, truly. I don't want to hurt you now either."

Taking a deep breath she continues on, her voice shaking, the reins trembling in her fingers. "I know that the swanmays have brought me back to you and well, I'm glad. I don't want to be parted from you, I've always kept you close." She takes the both sets of reins in one hand and with the free hand the ranger reaches into her tunic and pulls a sliver necklace with a heart shaped ruby into view.

"But for the moment, I'm still a part of them" she says with a sigh, tucking the necklace back into her tunic, out of complete view. "But I can give you this" Paks says, pulling a ring from her finger and holding it out to him. "I'm sure you recognise it, the token that gives me the ability to change to the swan form. I'm giving it to you so that you know this time, I choose you." And with that, the ranger lets Joe's reins go, allowing him to move away from her.

[Zee]

Joe looks at the woman, watching her as she speaks. When she's done and offers him the trinket he cups her hand with his before using his other hand to close the trinket back in her own fist. His jaw drops slightly as he starts to speak before he shakes his head. Looking back up to her his eyes speak more volume than all the flowery prose in his repetoire could ever articulate.

Reaching a hand up he strokes her hair softly before running his hand down her neckline plucking the necklace from beneath her tunic. Holding it close to her chest he casts a long glance at it before he releases it letting it settle back against her tunic. His fingers cupping the back of her head and his thumb gently stroking her cheek. Despite the awkward position and height difference he leans in to steal a kiss.

[Paks]

The ring enclosed in her hand, the ranger let's out an involuntary sigh as Joe runs his hand down her neck. She watches him closely as he stares at the necklace, her heart racing as he moves his hand back to behind her head, pulling her closer. She leans in and looses herself to the kiss, not pulling back for a good while. When she finally does, Paks smiles at the bard. "Now that is how you should have greeted me yesterday" she says affectionately as she tucks that same stray lock of hair behind his ear.

[Zee]

Joe smiles at her reaching over to take her hand. "Had only I'd known there would not have been a wasted day between us nor childish moping on my part." Entwining his fingers with hers he clicks his tongue and sets his horse to an easy pace so as to not hurry the shorter legged Clyde. Glancing at the sun now about half way between noon and dusk he lets out a sigh faking sadness. "Pity it is so near to night. I fear we may have to break for camp soon. And it does seem I may have another night without rest." He pauses to look at her, his old devious smile showing. "I suppose the conditions will be improved on from what I reckoned they would be when we left this morning though"

[Paks]

The ranger raises her eyebrows and laughs at Joe's grin. "Well, should we happen to pass a suitable campsite sooner rather than later I may be persuaded to call it a day, after all, we can't have you sleep deprived now can we?"

Her fingers feel comfortable, entwined with his, relief seems to have washed through her body only to be replaced with a flood of happiness. Life seemed to be good, if you could forget that someone was out to get you and at this particular moment, she could.

"Mind you, this campsite better be secluded, I'd hate for any interruptions to your.....sleep. If you play your cards right, and I have no doubt you will, I may also be persuaded to make a late start in the morning" Paks adds, with much more confidence in her voice than she really felt.