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Alright, I'm back again to being you the second chapter to my debut story! Here's a simple recap of what happened in Strife:

We the readers were introduced to Tanukisama Ryorin-Ieuso, the draconian commander of the Su'vaz (Imperial Capital) Imperial army and Dragonwolf Brigade. He was given an order by the Trade Alliance to travel south to Anshou to stop a rebel uprising from rival Suosan. To make matters worse, they told the draconian that he was to find individuals to accompany him... perfect strangers whom he had nothing to do with... until now.

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Tanukisama released a deep, hissing sigh as he circled the block in front of the headquarters, his hands gripping each other behind his back with his face, a look of unquestionable agitation plaguing it, drooping down like a plant that hasn't received nourishment in days. Is this all I'm useful for anymore? A mere puppet whose strings are being harassed by my oppressors?

After a few drawn-out moments, the regal knight's wandering feet brought him back to the city square, an intricately designed fountain gushed out crystal clear water that glistened in the sun's warming rays, probably made by a stonemason across the ocean. Tanukisama had stop walking in amazement of the craftsmanship of the fountain, taking a minute to observe every detail along the base of the fountain. He smiled and made his way around the beautiful structure toward the front end of town.

An intoxicating smell coming from the local bakery caught the draconian's full attention as he quickly changed directions and began to make haste to the local shop, the wafting smell of various breads and pastries calling out to him. When he arrived, a curious and unfamiliar sight stood out in his mind. Tanukisama twisted his head around to get a better look of this new attraction.

***

Within a squat restaurant, a large haunch of some animal was slowly turning on a spit over a fire, causing a heavy scent of spiced meats to waft out into the street and catch the attentions of many a hungry passerby. One such passer, who was more sitting rather than passing, leaned against the window of the restaurant, her eyes closed as she slowly inhaled.

This young woman was Siri, The Mysterious Thunder as some places had nominated her. At the moment however, the only thunder was that rumbling in her stomach. True, she had no money to her name. True, she would have loved to taste whatever it was the chef had been preparing beyond the window she now pressed herself up against. Also true was the fact that though she could not afford the delicacies she so desired, she needed to fill her stomach rather badly.

Opening her electric yellow eyes, the rarely seen chetaru sighed and sat forward, pulling the straps of her satchel off of her shoulders. Tugging at the drawstring, she pulled the bag open and fished out what seemed to be a somewhat stale half of a loaf of bread. She sighed quietly, gazing down upon her crusty meal. This was the only thing she had to eat, unless she wanted to go out and try to hunt for something. Recently however, she hadn't been having any luck with that, and she could hardly stand the wait for any prey to tread too close. That and the time it would take to skin and cook it... no, the bread would do for now.

Closing her eyes, she inhaled the heavenly scent of the roasting meats near by and sighed again, opening her mouth to take a bite while pretending she was eating something more than just stale bread. Just as her teeth happened to sink into the foodstuffs, a slight whimper caused one of her eyes to crack open.

In the alley way the silvery chetaru sat, a young and very thin wolf girl was now standing. She looked to be about three years of age or so, and was rather dirty compared to all the other citizens near by, her fur matted down with grime. The next thing she soon noticed was that the girl was fairly skinny, and was staring longingly at the bread she held in her paws.

As a soft wind brushed a few strands of hair in her face, the woman swallowed. Here was a girl, an orphan by the looks of things, who looked as though she were clinging to life by a meager thread. She could give her the bread now, and prolong the pain in the girls stomach for a few hours, but how much longer would that extend her hunger later?

Even with these thoughts running through her mind, the chetaru stood, crossing over to the trembling wolf girl as the chain of her weapon rattled quietly at her side. She swallowed slightly, giving a gentle smile as she held the bread out to the youngling, whose widening brown eyes followed it.

As hungry as she knew the pup had to have been, the little girl did not snatch the bread and run - rather, she politely reached up with a stained paw and took a small piece, stuffing it slowly into her mouth before turning back to the alley way beyond.

"Wait," the silvery woman whispered. The pup turned to look back at her, seemingly confused. Again, she held the bread out to the girl, and smiled encouragingly. "For you."

The wolf smiled widely, a cute girlish grin that probably hadn't spread over her face in a long time, and she took the bread. Still, she did not gobble it down, and instead the girl spoke.

"Tanky missy," the little girl said in a high pitched voice, before nibbling at her gift. The chunk would probably fill her stomach more than it would Siri's. Nodding, she smiled at the youngling who then skipped happily back down the alley to where ever it was she had come from. The feline watched on for a while before turning back to her things, quickly gathering them up. She had no need to stay in this spot for much longer, in any case. She had nothing left to eat, and the smells leaking from the restaurant would only serve to drive her insane.

As she walked out into the open streets, her eyes catching sight of a regal looking draconian for one reason or another, she could not help but smile. True, her stomach was growling and empty, but she could live with that. Besides, the little girl had probably been more hungry than Siri had ever been in her life. At least the stomach that most needed to be filled would no longer be empty...

***

It was a young girl with delicate features, probably no older than twenty. Her nose was angled upwards, catching the euphoric whiff of the food inside. He cocked his lithe head slightly and it hit him. She's got no money, the noble commander noted to himself. It looks like she hasn't eaten at all recently, and she's starting to look pale.

The draconian approached the female and nodded his head slowly, acknowledging her presence. "Would you like something to eat, young lady? You look about half-starved to death." Tanukisama didn't even wait for a response from the woman, but rather he nudged her softly with his concealed hands, directing her to the bakery entrance.

After pausing to inhale the scent of baking breads in a near by pastry house, Siri had caught someone's attention. Nothing but trouble the smells of food would bring her at this point, she realized, as she turned away from the approaching man in an attempt to get out of an awkward situation. He was probably going to pester her about loitering or something...

A few steps however served to prove her thoughts other wise. The gentle nudging on her arm brought her to turn and face the one attempting to get her attention- which, to her surprise, was the draconian man she had spied earlier. Confused, she frowned at him, waiting for him to ask her whatever it was that he wanted.

"Would you like something to eat, young lady? You look about half-starved to death."

Blinking in surprise, she stared at him. Before even being able to respond, he was already coaxing her into the bakery. Normally she would have refused, but apparently today this man (and her growling stomach) was deciding for her what she would be doing. Once inside the shop, the over powering scent of baking breads caused her mouth to water considerably. Yet, as much as she wanted something to eat, she could not quite get over the fact that it wasn't money from her own pocket that she would be spending should she want something.

Turning back to the draconian man, whose name still eluded her, Siri crossed her arms in front of her and rocked her hip to one side, in a pose that allowed her to tap her foot thoughtfully should she choose to do so.

"Alright then," she stated in a clear voice, one eye brow raising over her bright yellow pupils. "Who are you, and what's the catch? Not too many people any where are nice to a complete stranger unless they're wanting something in return."

Indeed, the dominating scent of the bakery filled the small shop with a welcoming smell of freshly baked goods. The draconian angled his head slightly, motioning his guest to the corner of the sitting area provided by the shopkeeper. The tables were made simply by a local craftsman, using oak wood for the legs and tabletop followed up with a medium brown wood polish to give it a glossed finish. The surrounding chairs had a slightly wider-than-average seat and a taller backing with a delicately crafted design of vines and flowers engraved into the oaken backing, also finished the same way as the tables.

As the female slowly made her way to the corner table, Tanukisama approached the store counter with a confident stride, greeted by the shopkeeper and his array of baked creations all placed on a rotating display wheel. The businessman was a short, portly canine with smoky grey fur dotted with black spots. He wore a loose white v-neck shirt and baggy tan pants, all covered with a light brown apron.

The canine reached out, shaking the knight's hand, belting out a boisterous belly laugh. "Good to s-see you again, sir!"

His tone was light and friendly, with a slight stutter in his speech. "So, dragon, what strikes your f-fancy today? May I suggest the cranberry and pecan croissants? Just came out of the oven a couple of minutes ago."

"Mmm... sounds tempting, but I'll have to decline this time. Just give me a few hunks of your white bread and that'll be enough."

Tanukisama gently placed a small stack of gold coins on the countertop as the canine proceeded to skillfully carve out large pieces of bread, placing the hunks on a small wooden serving plate and pushed it in front of the knight, depositing the coins into a glass vase on the other side of the counter.

He returned to the corner table with the plate of bread and leisurely sat down across from the chetaru, placing the warm food in between the two of them.

"I saw what you did for that child, giving her your last bit of food. That was very kind of you."

The venerable draconian exhaled deeply and let his head droop slightly, his eyes closing for a moment to gather his thought before explaining himself to his guest.

"I apologize, but there is a 'catch,' like you said." Tanukisama leaned forward, his inquiring tone softened to keep their conversation private. "When I walked by the first time, I couldn't help but notice the piece of equipment that hangs from your hip. Would you mind showing it to me?"

Siri watched him for a moment from across the table. Her stomach still growled, but his 'catch' held something that made her somewhat worried. Keeping her hands away from the bread so as to not take one (and initially agree upon whatever it was this man wanted) she leaned back in the oaken chair and pursed her lips.

"You mean to tell me then," she began, one hand sliding down to protectively grasp the chain at her hip, "That you saw the entire scene with me and the orphan girl, and you find it kind? And yet here I am sitting before you and a plate full of fresh white bread while that child has only the stale food I've given her? If you could bring me here sir, sit me down at this table, and feed me, then why not her? Why not any other starving child on the street?"

Pausing for a moment, she acted as though she were giving him the time to answer before she shook her head. "I'll tell you why," she murmured, closing her eyes. "It's because I have something you want, apparently. Something you wish to acquire, that a poor starving child cannot give to you. Just the way the world works I suppose. The ones who have something to give will receive something in return."

Siri opened her eyes again, their vibrant yellow glare boring into the eyes of the draconian sitting in front of her. "No, sir," she told him in a crisp voice. "I will not hand over this weapon to you to inspect at your leisure, nor will I remove it from my side and show you in the middle of this establishment.

"I'll tell you what though." Sitting up straight in her chair, the chetaru cracked her neck, and with her paws in her lap she stretched her back a bit. "I'll ignore the fact that we seem to have skipped straight on past asking for names and other random information. I'll ignore the fact that I don't realize how dangerous you might be, and the fact that you don't know how dangerous I can be. However, if you take all but two pieces of this bread and hand it out to the next few people in need that you can find, I will eat one of the pieces left, and leave the other for you to have. And when you're ready, I will take you outside of this town into an open field, and then I will show you how Foudre and I dance...

"So, what will it be?" she asked him, a cat like grin spreading across her maw. "Do you accept my catch?"

***

From behind a nearby building, a robed figure watched from the shadows as the pair moved into the pastry shop. His dirty robe did well to hide his facial features, keeping his identity secret to no one but himself. "That is her?" he asked of a small girl to behind him.

"Right she is, papa Silas" she replied, "T'at pretty girl there, right nice'n sweet she is."

Silas watched her disappear into the bakery, and stroked his chin as he inspected a face he hadn't seen in a long time. "The man with her is a good fellow also" he said, "He's a paladin of a high order, and a fine man, if not a little dry." he turned and held out his hand, and the girl placed the bread she had been gifted into it.

He smiled at her, and placed it into a large sack. "Now for this, I'll need some gold, you have some, right?"

"Nay, sir," the young cub quietly said, looking downtrodden for a moment.

The young wolf smiled, and shook his head. "Sure you do! it's right there" he said as he pulled a gold coin from behind of each of the child's ears. Her eyes brightened, and an amazed smile crossed her face at the small trick. "But that isn't all," he said as he flipped the coins around his fingers, seemingly causing new ones to appear in his fingers until he had six. "But now you've given me too much" he said, and handed her five of them, "I only need one."

The priest's head moved side to side as he made sure no one was watching, and then put his hands over the bag. A low prayer uttered from his lips as he performed for the girl an act of real magic, and the bag seemed to fill. Her tiny eyes lit up brighter than ever when he opened it to reveal the bag full of breads, and jerky. "Don't let anyone see what you have" he said, "Or someone will want to take it from you. Also, make sure you share with the other children, or the magic will fail and it will be only a piece of bread again. If you take proper care though, this feast will last you awhile."

He reached in and took out a roll, and flipped her the last of the six gold he had produced earlier. "For the bread I'm taking" he said, and smiled as she hugged him lovingly. She took a bit of meat, then closed the bag and hurried off to her siblings, and fellow orphans.

The robed man sighed contentedly for a moment, allowing himself to enjoy the act before a frown crept over his face. For a few days now the voices in his head had warned him of trouble, and they grew more insistent the longer he failed to act. Warnings of strife, and possibly war plagued him during his waking hours, quieting only when he used his magic for some charity. The experience had almost become pain inspiring over the previous hours, and caused him to squint and stumble in his first few steps. The young lady he had seen generously gifting her meal to the young lady behind him is somehow important he figured, and considering that one of the foremost paladins of the kingdom was in the self-same establishment could be the sign that his locutions were urging him towards. He wished fro a moment that the inspirations of god could be a bit less cryptic, and more direct.

A moment later Silas stood in the doorway of the bakery glaring at the pair of warriors from under the hood of his dirty beggar's robe. He watched the pair for a minute as his head swooned momentarily with the weight of the speach in his mind before the voices quieted, and silenced. He nooded once, and thanked his god for his insight.

Tanukisama bit his lip and looked away from the chetaru. She had him cornered and he knew it. He turned back to the feline, his green eyes piercing through his female guest with a sense of urgency.

"You are right, miss." The draconian leaned forward once more, his once firm voice now reduced to merely a whisper. "You don't know who I am. You don't know what I want, and even though you are nothing but a complete stranger to me, I have an idea of how dangerous you can be. But trust me," he stopped briefly as his brow once again angled itself downward, his whisper transforming into a deep, ominous tone that appeared to emerge from the core of his mind, "I have seen, experienced more than you can possibly imagine."

The knight, hoping that his slight bit of intimidation would snake its way into the cat's mindset, casually leaned back into his chair, folding his arms across his armored chest. "Regardless, you do still have a right to know why you're here sitting with me now." Tanukisama reached into the inside pocket of his cloak and pulled out a small silver emblem consisting of a dragon head with two slash marks crisscrossing over it.

"My name is Tanukisama Ryorin-Ieuso. I am the commander of the army that is housed here in the capital city. And right now, there's something happening south of here, and it's gradually getting worse. If you still want to know everything, then you must come with me."

The draconian took hold of his prized possession, carefully placing it into his hiding place inside of his cloak. "If you still feel that the food I had bought for us should be given to those that could use it more, then I know of a small family, a married couple with a five-year old son, that can surely use the offering."

One of Siri's ears was now held back in a fashion that made her look contemplative. Apparently whatever it was that this military leader hand meant to be intimidating had not taken effect- or, she had just not noticed. Well, either that, or she was just taking it rather well.

"Experienced more, perhaps," she murmured, frowning, her mind focused on the urgent look he had given her. "But perhaps not. Perhaps it is only that I have not experienced the same things you have, Sir Tanukisama, that should bother me. On the other hand, you have not experienced all that I have. With your knowledge and mine compared, many a situation could be conquered. The only thing left is to agree upon wanting to conquer them together.

"I," she continued, her vibrant eyes coming to rest on his face, "Am Sirietta Donner. You may call me Siri if you find it easier. Would you allow me to call you Tanik, if it does not bother you?"

True, it would save them quite the bit of trouble later on if he were to allow her to call him by that name. Being a commander, he was probably well known through the city, as well as a few other places. His full name might draw unwanted attentions later on, even if Siri chose not to ally herself with him. A separate name was best, she figured.

Finally she sighed, looking down at the table before her. "There are many in the world who deserve to eat before I do. Though it is not healthy for me for too long, I will give up food for today, and wait till tomorrow to eat something. The bread should go to that family then."

"I have to ask though," she questioned, pushing her chair back and standing. "If I choose to follow you now out of curiosity, will I have no chance to leave later should I wish to do so? I would hope that you are not the kind of person to force someone into a situation that might make them uncomfortable."

Again, she was right. Sirietta's age had indeed defied her wisdom. For a young girl, the chetaru was intelligently hardened - a quality that the draconian took much interest in. She had a craving for knowledge, but not overly consumed in her curiosity. The young woman was hard to intimidate with a steely resolve that could go to battle with some of the best minds in the country.

Tanukisama lifted himself up from his chair and gently pushed it in, his leer returning to the chetaru's face. "I've been called many things during my tenure here," he began with a light chuckle at the sound of the name Tanik, "but I have never heard of that rendition before. If it is easier for you to call me Tanik, then I have no problem with it," The draconian reached for the plate of bread, carefully placing each piece into the small pack tied to his left side.

If I choose to follow you now out of curiosity, will I have no choice to leave later should I wish to do so?

Sirietta's ominous question came down upon his mind like a ton of bricks. He took a moment to ponder the potential responses, carefully examining each one as to not repeat the wrong one and lose the feline entirely.

"If there is ever something that you need to do, I see no problem in you leaving at all. Your personal life takes precedence over my terms." Tanukisama gave the cat a slight nod of approval as he glided towards the door. As his hand pressed up against the wood to push it open, his head twisted around to catch a final glimpse of the chetaru.

"Let's go make this delivery," the knight said as he pushed the door open, walking back out into the town.

Silas stood in the doorway the sparsely populated bakery and set his staff against his shoulder to rest it. He placed his hand on the paladin's shoulder as he approached and leaned close to his ear causing his robe to slip a bit, and reveal the brand of shame that labeled his forehead. A few tiny whispers pricked the back of his mind, and he concluded that this was indeed his predestined path. "My lord," he said in a low tone, "the voices have spoken to me, and warn of some grave peril. I've been led to you for something, and I assume it is that you know a bit about what might be wrong. If I am wrong, I'll be on my way, but if there is some tragedy I could be of assistance against, know that I will answer any call you may have."

"If there is ever something that you need to do, I see no problem in you leaving at all. Your personal life takes precedence over my terms."

Siri paused, her left ear twitching a bit as she studied the draconian's face. He appeared to have been honest with his statement- though that view could of course change with time. Still though, she had no reason at the moment to believe he might go back on his word. In fact, after some of the things he had done tonight, she saw no reason as to why she would be unable to trust him in any given situation. Later, if he betrayed her at all, she could just attempt to walk away by calling him on his word and leaving as simply as that. These thoughts were getting a bit ahead of themselves however, she realized with a frown. Why worry about it now? She would burn that bridge if she had to.

Bringing her attentions back to the present, a somewhat grim half smile crossed her face. "To the helpless," she murmured under her breath as she sighed, following quietly behind the paladin. "Let's give them the help that they need, and then we'll attend to the help that you need."

At the door way and nearly out of the bakery, Tanik stopped before her, causing her to furrow her brow in confusion. With her ears back she stood on tip toe, peering over his shoulder as best she could to spot the hold up- and was met with the sight of a mans forehead, scarred with an insignia that showed him to have been a once captured thief. Siri blanched at this, though no one was paying enough attention to her at the time to notice it. Why would a paladin be talking to a thief of all people?

... Then again, Siri wasn't even entirely sure why Tanik had spoken to her.

In the midst of her new thoughts and worries, Siri's ears had pricked fore ward to listen to the conversation. Most of it made no sense to her, to be honest. Voices of some sort mostly, but the word tragedy stuck in her mind. Was this what Tanik needed her for?

A few simple steps brought her in full view of both Tanik and the man in the robe, and into the conversation- or so she thought. Just as she opened her mouth to ask a question, the eyes of the marked man came to rest on her. It was strange, the sensation of confusion mingling with worry in the pit of her stomach as the man pulled his dirty hood back over his head, hiding the mark burned forever into his skin.

"I'm sorry to have interrupted your conversation" he said, "But it is very important I speak to this man for a moment."

Her short tail twitched slightly as her ears pulled back. Though the scene here did seem a tad foreboding, she pursed her lips and nodded. "Not a problem," she stated, her ears coming fore ward a notch. She bobbed her head at the two men and crossed her arms, waving one hand idly, staying firm in her place until she was asked to leave. "Feel free to continue then."

As she waited for the conversation to pick up once more, her eyes furrowed in thought. What in the world was she getting herself into?

What now?

The sudden appearance of the robed lupine began to nitpick at his nerves. He already had enough things to do before he left tomorrow, and the assumed beggar's coming up to him didn't improve his situation at all. The draconian released a silent hissing sigh before directing his focus back to his new guest. Tanukisama's eyes began to scale up and down the hooded wolf's slightly concealed face as he discovered the infamous shame-brand. The marking is reserved for convicted thieves, felons and the like. It is torturously burned into the forehead, leaving a mark that would label them as criminals for all of eternity. Why a convicted felon wished to speak to the commander was completely oblivious to him.

The voices have spoken to me, and warn of some grave peril. I've been led to you for something, and I assume it is that you know a bit about what might be wrong. If I am wrong, I'll be on my way, but if there is some tragedy I could be of assistance against, know that I will answer any call you may have.

"It's alright, Siri. This won't take long. I have an idea as to what this man is talking about." Tanik stepped off to the side, allowing the chetaru to exit the bakery in anticipation for his arrival. Turning back to the lupine he began his inquiry, as he felt he had every right to do so. He folded his arms across his chest, his forest green eyes digging into the mind of the thief.

"These voices," the paladin began, his voice reduced to a mere whisper, "when did you hear them? I don't know how you found out about it, and I'd rather not find out." Tanik shifted his weight uncomfortably, his body beginning to feel stiff from maintaining a statuesque stance. "I do know what your 'voices' have told you. There is a battle waging south of here, and is it my job to stop it, as there is quite a bit of significance in the outcome. Again, I don't know how you found out about it. Leave that secret to yourself for now, but you will tell me later on."

The draconian freed his legs from the stiffness, turning back to his feline companion. "If we're going to leave for the southern province tomorrow, we need to make that visit to the family I told you about now." His eyes shifted quickly, catching a final glimpse at the robed convict. "You're welcome to come along, if you wish to." Tanukisama reached for the wooden door and pushed it open, exiting the bakery with a hastened step in his stride.

Siri raised an eye brow at the paladin's new found 'attitude' as he spoke to the robed man. Apparently now that Tanik had her attentions, he was in quite the hurry to get on with things. At least she knew now, from the small amount of information she had just acquired, that the draconian wasn't interested in her for any physical gains. Unless this was an elaborate ruse to lower her securities, though she was fairly certain it was not. For the most part.

When Tanik turned his gaze back onto her, Siri smiled and raised both of her eye brows, innocently placing a finger to her lips. With one arm still crossed, her expression looked as though she were just dying to say, 'Oh, you've noticed I'm still here then?'

"If we're going to leave for the southern province tomorrow, we need to make that visit to the family I told you about now."

She simply nodded in agreement, her smile turning into a half-caring smirk as the draconian turned back to the man in the robes.

"You're welcome to come along, if you wish to."

And finally, Tanik turned to leave. Siri watched on for a moment, unsure if the paladin had even noticed that she was not right at his heels following him. leisurely she padded up to the exit, her soft leather boots making not a sound, and she caught the door by the handle just as it was swinging shut. Rather than leave however, she turned back to the thief, her shocking yellow eyes going over the details in his face.

"Apparently, you've upset my new paladin friend," she told him, a small grin crossing her lips. "Funny. I've been trying to do that all night without much success. Perhaps it had something to do with that mark you've acquired? Ah well... There aren't many people who will listen to those who have been branded."

She paused suddenly, a frown now replacing her previous impish grin. Branded... she thought to herself. In her mind, visions of her dim home crossed. The echoes of pleas to her parents, in her attempts to tell them that she did not want to be simply a doll, or a prized possession to be sold wracked her brain. But they had marked her as such, and would think nothing of her sadness, feeling no guilt at what they considered to be normal, when so clearly to Siri it was not.

"... With a mark, or a name, or a view that everyone else has put on you, a brand is still a brand."

Her now sullen eyes focused back on the robed man. Though she had no idea who he was, or where he had come from, she had looked at his scar and not him as a person. He could be of help in this situation, which she had nearly ignored. True, so far he had given her no reasons as to why she should bother with paying attention to him, but then again he did seem to know more than even she did, without consulting Tanik first. That was indeed a feat in itself, and something she would never be able to accomplish. Truly it would be wrong of her now to treat him as her parents had treated her so long ago- with her treating him as what his mark made him out to be, without knowing him as a person yet. Who was she to judge, when for all she knew he could have been branded for stealing an apple so that he would not starve? Nodding as if she were concluding something with herself, she looked back at the wolf and gave him a softly apologetic smile.

"Perhaps you should come with us," she offered again, no longer looking at the mark the lupine wore, but rather what she could see of his face beneath the hood. "I am Siri Donner. If you feel there is something important that you need to be doing and it involves us, then you should probably come along. There is no better way to achieve your goals than by working on them with whatever means available to you."

Quietly, she pushed through the door and held it open behind her, stepping out onto the street and looking back at her new acquaintance with an encouraging expression. "Shall we then?"

Silas smiled warmly the as each warrior responded to him in kind, and nodded politely as they spoke. His expression grew far more pleased however as Siri spoke to him, or more specificially amended her initial reaction, and referred to him more kindly. He could tell that there was something under her speach, and buried in her eyes that hinted to some internal trouble. He bowed his head slightly, and stepped out the behind her.

"Thank you" he said politely, "but you needn't apologize. It is actually uncommon for someone to mention it anymore so I can see that you are either new to this city, or at least to these streets that I frequent." He walked beside her, his staff lightly clicking on the cobblestone as he walked.

"However" he continued, "I'm afraid it is the choice of the good paladin whether or not I can accompany you." He looked towards him, and smiled broadly. "I'm surprised he doesn't recognize me" he said a louder so that he would be heard, "I am called Silas, the Humble because I am that. Now a lowly servant of the most beautific and mighty Skirva, but I was once a paladin of the Order as he is now."

He looked back to her, and slid his hood down off of his head revealing his features, and grimy hair. "I saw you give that girl your meal earlier. I was impressed with your kindness, and I thank you for your generosity. You probably don't know how many that bread will feed today."