Silver Lake — [AW] Toeing the Line

Caedwyn watched carefully as she dipped her head to him. A smart choice. Caedwyn wasn't a complete fool but he wasn't immune to pomp and politeness either. She claimed to be a vagrant and his nose flared a bit as he took in her scent once more. He didn't smell anything obvious on her but he also didn't make a habit of acquainting himself with those cowards in Verdantis. He thought back to his earlier years when he himself had been placed as a spy in Athadia. All he had to do was spend a week wandering the wilds before he joined Athadia to safely get rid of the smell of his home pack. But this Trisdi wasn't giving any obvious signs of subterfuge. She was simply asking for passage so that she wouldn't starve. His ear twitched slightly with excitement. An opportunity. His tongue moved slowly across his teeth, under his lips. She may have seen it but he made no motion to hide it either. If she didn't get south, she would starve. It meant she needed him. Not only that, but she appeared to be in a rather dire situation. He was in a position to stand in her way... or, more interesting to Caedwyn, he was in a position to help her. "Vagrant by choice or...?" His tone relaxed more than before and he let his bristled fur lie back down along his back to appear less threatening to her. He remembered when he too had been without a pack. When Enya had exiled him. He wondered if Trisdi had been exiled for some sort of crime or if she was simply the wandering type. Someone who was a criminal came with its own risks, but a wanderer - well, they'd take more convincing to stay that someone who was purposely looking for a home. "... or is there some family waiting for you in Brightwood?" he asked with a curious tone, still trying to make himself appear more friendly. Behind his words, his mind was already thinking ahead, scheming. If Trisdi was alone, if she was desperate to survive the winter, he might be able to make use of her. Of course, she would be expected to serve Tsillah but - perhaps they could come to an arrangement and he could convince her to join their Kingdom. The thought was very tantalizing to him indeed. --- Speech.