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Message: <blockquote data-quote="seasong" data-source="post: 896947" data-attributes="member: 5137">Good PeopleThey're just tribesfolk, Bellos reminded himself. A staunch Aglaonese citizen, he lacked any real love of the tribes, although he respected their valor in combat. Greppa and Merideth, however, seemed to be half orc themselves. They had been running to Chatham's ward drum for days now, stopping at practically every tribal camp they had come across and spending a day just... hanging around.Socializing - it wasn't what Bellos liked best, by a long stretch. He preferred clean wilderness, solitude, or crushing battle. He did not prefer consorting with enemy fiends, lollygagging with tribals, or watching Greppa summon Uripedas just to groom and chat. And yet... The things I do for Allas, and he shook his head and continued to watch.He understood, essentially, what was going on. They needed supplies kept light, and trading with tribals for meat along the way was a good idea. It was the fact that trading seemed to take all day, while Greppa shared drinks with shamans and Merideth practically hung on Chatham's arm, and while Chatham swapped constant stories with the current tribals... that was what grated the most.He smiled when he needed to. He played dumb. He watched. And then Merideth took him aside... "You think we are wasting our time." It was not a question.He sighed, "Look, Merideth, we spend a day with every tribe we come across. What am I supposed to think? That we are rushing?""You're the expert about the wild. How far have we come?"Warily, he looked at her, "I'm not sure, perhaps.." his eyes widened. He looked at the stars. He thought back over the past week of running. Quietly, almost in awe, "Four hundred miles. At a minimum.""Without Chatham, and without stopping for the tribes, how far would we have gotten?""Perhaps half that.""So we go at Chatham's pace, agreed?"Stiffly, his eyes narrowed at her tone, "Agreed. You could have just said that.""You did not hear anyone when it was said the first time, a week ago. I decided it would be better if you heard it from yourself, instead of us." She paused, then looked at him warmly, "I know you don't always agree with us. I can sense your frustration. But until you give your opinion, there is no way for Greppa to accomodate it.""Does Greppa accomodate your opinions?"Merideth just grinned, then, mischievously, "He doesn't get much choice. I can have very loud opinions." Then, satisfied that she had averted as much ill will as she could between the two men, she nodded and wandered off to hang on Chatham's arm.Bellos continued to sit where he was. And think.</blockquote>

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