Olberic was really very angry.

Why had someone grabbed Tressa, put her in a sack and thrown her in the sea last night? What the hell could she have done to anyone to have deserved that?

Then there was the issue of the Cleric. How dare Ophilia think it was okay throw herself into harm's way with no regard to her own safety, nearly taking a dagger to her heart for her trouble? Pure foolishness. Protecting the other's was his job dammit..

The hardest part was that he had could very easily have lost two of his companions last night and he had been totally useless. Too far away to help - having to witness the event unable to make a difference.

Olberic was no stranger to failure. It had followed him around like a personal miasma for eight years now and it had burrowed a home in his heart - dampening the fire that had once burned there. The loss of his Kingdom had devastated the supreme confidence he'd had in his youth.

However he refused to believe that he was totally washed up and dried out just yet. He may not know why he still wielded his blade - but he did retain some skill and the smallest slither of pride. He may no longer have an army at his back and his most trusted ally at his side but he'd be damned to hell before he allowed anything like last night to happen again.

The second thing, and the one that had driven his pot completely over the boil was that the only people who could have potentially answered his first question - the two attacker's they had captured - were now both dead.

They had refused to speak last night despite his best attempts at physical persuasion and Primrose's more subtle and alluring approach so he had decided that they would wait till morning instead of keep on pressing them long into the night.

They had been very much alive when they left the gaol. Apparently death occurred no more than a few hours later and not a clue was left as to how it happened. It wasn't from their wounds and they didn't seem to have taken or been administered any poison. They were just simply sat there where they had been left completely and utterly dead.

The only useful information Olberic was able to gather at all came courtesy of Tressa's father - these men had not been known in Rippletide and they had not come off any ship currently in harbour.

The first victims to Olberic's anger were the gaol guards. He took them heavily to task looking to find any role - however small - they may have played in the demise of his prisoners. He found none but left the soldiers thoroughly chastised and in no uncertainty of his contempt at their shoddy care. Venting at those unfortunates raised the inferno in his blood to new heights and Olberic stomped back to Tressa's home with her father scurrying along behind him trying unsuccessfully to placate the raging Knight.

At Tressa's home he found his other source of frustration. Ophilia. Olberic's ire made it impossible to contain his usually temperate tongue and he spent a long time lashing her with it like she was a raw recruit caught napping on duty.

He took her to task over her spontaneous actions, the risks she had taken and her general disregard for her own wellbeing. Ophilia for her part simply allowed him to rave, wordlessly stalling the attempted protests that the others had tried to input on her behalf and listening to him with intense civility until finally he ran out of words.

'I apologise Sir Knight.' she said sincerely once he had fallen silent. 'The Archbishop has attempted repeatedly to educate me in the proper repression of my emotions to allow clear thought and action yet despite his gentle teachings I still fail on occasion.' She sighed heavily. ' I value speaking the truth Sir Olberic..' she continued '.. So I find I cannot promise to do better in the future, only to try to. That said, I do not regret the choices I made last night. While I do appreciate and accept your concerns - as long as my actions do no harm to others I believe that it is my right to decide the level of risk I may take.'

'Do you have to be so bloody reasonable?' Olberic retorted sourly, his anger deflating. 'And honestly Ophilia - have you not considered that you would be harming me - us - if something bad had happened to you?'

Ophilia blinked and looked startled.

'I didn't think so.' He said.

'So,' Primrose interjected delicately. 'What do we do now? We can't just sit here indefinitely.'

'We have no idea what last night was all about if indeed it was anything other than just a random event.' Cyrus said thoughtfully. 'Lacking any real information I believe we can only continue on with our intended course until such time as we have some actual insight.'

'I agree.' Olberic said. 'But I think we can all concur that extra vigilance is required.'

The companions began to get themselves together to move out as early as possible. It was Tressa of all people that was the only one that expressed any cheerful enthusiasm. She had already managed to persuade her parents that continuing with her travels was the right thing to do and she scurried around the others eagerly badgering them to pick up the pace and get going.

Olberic was the last out of the door when the time came. He solemnly promised Tressa's parents that he would do everything in his power to keep their daughter safe.

'Your Cleric had a point.' Tressa's father said to the Knight reflectively. I had people around me too when I started out as a traveller just like Tressa is now. They allowed me the freedom to be myself but also gave advise and opened my eyes to options. Honestly I'd rather that you promised to use your experience to help guide my daughter's feet along the path rather than you tried to restrict her choices in order to keep her safe. The world isn't a nice place. We both know that. Learning, experience and the company of good people is the best way to navigate new waters.' He nodded at the Knight and clasped his arm before turning and going back inside.

Olberic found himself brooding as the companions started back out on the road falling easily into patterns that had begun after leaving Atlasdam. Brooding was also a thing that had settled on him since the fall of Hornburg. He doubted that Erhardt would even recognise the man he had become. Perhaps he would get the chance to find that out for himself before his journey was done.

'Might I walk with yer Sir Olberic?' Alfyn asked having stalled and waited for him as he brought up the rearguard of the group.

'You may.' Olberic grunted, although he wished for nothing more than to be left to his thoughts.

'Great!' Alfyn grinned matching his loping stride to the Knight and running his hand through his hair causing it to stand up in even messier shocks than normal.

They walked in companionable silence for a bit taking the measure of the road and the sight of the sea along the coastal path. After a while Primrose joined with them, having escaped from Tressa's babble when the young girl ran to join up with Ophilia and Cyrus and interrupt whatever their conversation had been.

'Tressa is remarkably untouched by her ordeal.' Primrose noted as the men unconsciously adjusted their pace to her smaller steps.

'Dunno if she really realises how close she was to, well - you know.' Alfyn said. 'She was out for most of it - a blessing' I guess.'

'All the same,' Primrose's face was grim 'We have got to accept that our undertaking isn't exactly safe. Even just travelling the roads could result in the worst happening.'

They all felt the weight of her words.

'Ain't really nothing in life that's truly safe though is it?' Alfyn mused. 'Zeph's sister was bit by a rare snake just gathering flowers - something she does most days. No rhyme or reason really. Just happens.'

'All the same a bit of planning and thought can lessen the risks.' Olberic stated.

'Right yer are Sir Olberic,' Alf agreed.

'So are you two here to take me to task for the way I spoke to Ophilia earlier?' Olberic asked with a weary sigh. 'Because I already regret my anger and how I handled it.'

'I honestly don't think Ophilia minded in the least.' Primrose replied. 'If it had been me I would have probably punched you there and then - you were rather ... verbal. Of course Ophilia being Ophilia just let you run your anger down on her which was just what you needed to do. Her understanding and compassion is quite beyond me.'

'I got a feeling she'd prefer your honesty anyway. Not one to let stuff simmer.' Alfyn added. 'It ain't gonna be the only time you clash either. A bit too alike in your ways you two are.'

Olberic raised an eyebrow at that.

'I mean, her first thought is to give herself to the service of others n' your first thought is to keep others safe.' Alfyn explained. 'It's a subtle difference but an important one and I can't see either of you changing any time soon. There are gonna be times when what she does is gonna take her places that ain't wholesome. Even just in healing - we get called to areas that are disreputable and have to deal with people who are half crazy in pain, or violent in their sickness. Ain't you noticed she is a lot physically stronger than you'd expect for someone of her size?' Alfyn chuckled. 'I know she's had to pin down more than one person to administer to them and certainly taken more than a few hits in the doing of it. She may look vulnerable but don't let it colour your assessment. She has a spine of pure steel.'

'I see.' Olberic mused.

'Don't mean that you won't want to protect her though. Hell, I was mad at her last night, soaking wet, bleeding and more concerned with Tressa than caring for herself. Just I think maybe she needs to learn that people care about her before she's gonna understand that taking care of herself is important too.' Alfyn shrugged 'But what do I know?' he said with a grin. 'I'm just a guy who likes any excuse to cuddle a pretty girl.'

Primrose snorted at him. 'I don't see you ever needing an excuse Alfyn you'd cuddle a tree-stump if there wasn't anyone around you could get your hands on!'

'Oh, how you wound me Lady Primrose... perhaps you would like to offer a hug to make me feel better?' Alfyn held out his arms hopefully.

'Bad boy.' Primrose admonished him.

'I think perhaps I should go and make peace.' Olberic pondered. 'It will do no-one any good to have a cloud hanging, and I'm the one at fault.'

'No fault in caring Olberic.' Primrose smiled at the Knight. 'Actually I confess that I have been feeling rather sorry for you lately .. It occurred to me that you have been used to the disciplined ranks of troops you commanded in battle and yet now you have somehow managed to land yourself with this ragtag band of reprobates. Honestly darling, it's a wonder your still sane!'

'Ain't that the truth.' Alfyn grinned.

Olberic waited until Tressa finally bored of conversation with Ophilia and Cyrus, and had run forward to the front of their rank where H'aanit and Therion were walking either side of Linde.

'Right then.' The warrior muttered a farewell to Alf and Primrose and picked up his pace towards the Cleric and Scholar.

It was Cyrus that first noted his approach. The professor frowned darkly and put an arm protectively around Ophilia's shoulder whilst managing to not even break in whatever he was saying to her. Olberic smiled weakly at the man and held both his hands up slightly to indicate his peaceful intent. Cyrus inclined his head barely noticeably but was still frowning.

When Olberic pulled up alongside Ophilia she beamed up at him.

'Your timing is impeccable Sir Olberic,' she welcomed him warmly. 'Cyrus has been gamely trying to explain to me the fundamentals of battle strategy for the past few days now and I fear I may be wearing him down with my questions!'

'Nonsense dearest,' Cyrus squeezed her shoulder 'Your questioning is always invigorating and thoughtful.'

'And your patience is endless.' Ophilia grinned at him. 'Between you and me Sir Knight, I confess I have struggled with a number of concepts. If it were not for the good Professor's amazing ability to teach I would be hopelessly lost. It is not a subject covered in the curriculum of the Church.'

Olberic grunted in surprise. 'An odd choice of topic Sister, whatever began your interest?'

'I was fortunate enough to have picked up a rather fascinating book in Rippletide.' Cyrus explained, his frown finally melting away, 'I happened to remark on it to our friend here and Ophilia's rather endearing keenness to learn new things took over from there.'

'Like I said,' Ophilia laughed, shyly slipping her own arm affectionately around the Scholars waist. '.. I have questioned this poor man to within an inch of his life.'

'It is unfortunate that my own knowledge of the subject is lacking,' Cyrus admitted. 'Obviously I have historically taken an interest in magical warfare but I know very little of physical combat. It's just not something I have studied in any great depth and given our current travels I find it a rather relevant point of interest.'

'It occurs to me...,' Ophilia said thoughtfully, '...That we happen to be travelling with a veritable font of battle experience Cyrus. Do you think it would be wise of us to beg some insight into our studies?'

'Oh dearheart, what a remarkable idea! Real life experience is a far greater source of practical knowledge than a book!'

They both turned to look imploringly at Olberic.

Faced with two almost identical expressions of hopeful enthusiasm Olberic found himself chuckling. Suddenly the weight that had settled across his shoulders started to alleviate just a bit.

'Has no-one ever warned you that asking a veteran for his war-stories is dangerous?' he grunted at them. 'We are generally very hard to stop once we get going!'

'Oh how wonderful!' Ophilia squealed, her eyes shining.

'Indeed!' Cyrus added beaming brightly at the Warrior.