Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-12599067-20131228033942/@comment-12599067-20140102061259

When Makoru woke from his rest many hours later, he found that the landscape through which they were traversing was shrouded in night. He let out a yawn and looked around. The other travelers had fallen asleep long before him, save the carter and a great brown Cathay-raht, who wore armor of steel and iron done in the Ancient Nordic style. A wicked battleaxe of iron was strapped to his back, a dull grey weapon that looked like a headsman's axe.

"You're awake," the Khajiit observed.

"I wish I wasn't. The desert is cold at night, and I have been gone from this place a long time. Perhaps too long," Makoru replied.

"Ah, an exile? What drove you from your home?" the Khajiit smiled.

"How do you know I'm an exile?"

"It is not hard to tell pick out an exile from a group of travelers, especially when he is wearing the garbs of a thief," the Khajiit laughed. "Do not worry. I will not tell any others, and so long as you keep your hands out of my pockets, than we will get along fine."

"I should hope so," Makoru answered, eyeing the battleaxe warily.

"Come now. We are all friends here. I would not strike down a stranger unless he has done something against me. And I trust you would know better than to steal from me," the Khajiit chuckled. "What's your name, exile?"

"You first."

"Ah, you are smart. It is a smart man that does not freely give away names. Very well. You may call me Manjur. And you?"

"Makoru Ghede, but I would prefer you not to use my last name. Most call me Makoru or just Mak, and I have no qualms if you do the same."

"Very well, Mak. So. Now that we have exchanged names, and since sharing names takes a degree of trust, I would hope you could trust me with the reason you have been exiled?"

"Another time, my friend. It is cold and I grow weary, and I have had enough to think about already. So if you'll excuse me, I think I'll catch some rest," Makoru said with the finality of a judge. Manjur did not argue, and so Makoru leaned back against the side of the carriage and slept, grateful to finally get a moment's rest.