RP:All's well that ends well?

Background

This is part of the A Not So Jolly Hollow Holiday Vacation story arc.

Mahri, Cornelius, and Shishi's children finally reach Frostmaw Tavern. Fortune smiles on them with a chance meeting ending their search earlier than expected.

Frostmaw Tavern: the evening of arrival

Cornelius accompanies Mahri with a similar intention, except in his case warm food was the order of the day. Mercifully, he decided to forego an honest evaluation of the overly cold and draughty tavern. Its lack of a second floor or any kind of accommodation was something which could be discussed after food and drink had improved everyone's mood. He remains conscious of the bloody mess coating the back of his head, and the relentless pain of his hideously abused ribs, but nonetheless manages to maintain a relatively cheerful, albeit subdued, disposition "Well, finally made it, wot. Methinks I'll order the stew."

Veriun sat upon the bar. He obviously could, when everything is scaled for giants it becomes a bit of a miniature landscape of wood for the smaller races such as avians. So there he was, dangling his legs from the edge of the large piece of furniture, looking much like a very small child next to the giant bartender as he gazed out over the establishment with weak interest. He wasn't doing anything (beyond perhaps dangling his legs idly back and forth) or talking to anyone, which could lead one to believe he was here for a reason. Whether it was so, or not, there he was.

Mahri says to Cornelius, not yet noticing the avian, "Yeah. Made it. Now go sit and I'll bring it to you." Turning back to the scowling giant, Mahri alters her order to include two bowls of the stew for Arius and Leralynn as well as some bandaging material, clean water and whatever salves they have on hand. Of course, the hefty amount of gold she leaves on the bar probably persuaded the old warrior to be quick about it too. Drinks and food are taken to the table and put before the children before Mahri even so much as sits. And even by the time she manages that a giant (literally) of a woman is coming with the requested bandages and water and salves. "Thanks," the wolf says absently. Yellow and Orange tuck into the thick soup without once looking up.

Cornelius is still maintaining a semblance of watchful vigilance, and thus does notice Veriun. As Mahri shoos him off to the table he turns and waves "Hallo Veriun old bean! Feel free to drop by the table. There's plenty of space." He is glad that there are human-sized tables. Things could have gotten complicated otherwise. He then does as directed, and sits down, but not before removing his gorget and cuirass, placing them under his chair.

Veriun turns his head towards the dandy as he is called upon. Peering at the man and his company momentarily before he slides off the bar, takes ground and makes his way over at a rather slow pace. As he reaches the table he flicks the hood of his cloak back, revealing the usual seemingly unmotivated smile on his face. "Hello Cornelius." A gaze is given to the children "On a trip with someone else's children, I see." speaking in a tone usually known as matter-of-fact before turning his eyes upon the man once again. "And an eventful trip, I see?" he adds, a deduction from Cornelius' wounds, no doubt.

Cornelius nods "Indeed, old bean. I believe the phrase we used to use was a 'vacation'. I was brought along to ensure the vacation went relatively smoothly. And it has done, I suppose, with but the odd painful bump or two along the way. The important thing is that the children are enjoying themselves, wot."

Veriun smiled just a tiny tad wider as he listened to Cornelius' words and added a small nod at the end. "Enjoying themselves and healthy, no?" he responded before checking around as if looking for something. "Although Frostmaw does seem a strange destination for such a vacation." he concludes as he turns back to present company. "lest snow was the objective. If so, I believe you hit the jackpot."

Arius and Leralynn look up at the stranger with spoons halfway to their mouths. "Mister Cornelius fought a giant. And headbutted a goat," the boy supplies. Mahri turns her silvery eyes to Veriun, recognition lingering there a moment before Leralynn adds, "And he didn't kill the goat but Mahri made the ground shake then the goat ran away with his girlfriends." The wolf had just brought her own mug of hot non-alcoholic drink to her lips when Leralynn spoke and she sputters a bit. "It's hot," she explains when both children turn blue eyes to her. Though, that's not the real reason for the sputter and neither need to know that. With nods of understanding, the pair go back to shovelling stew into their mouths. To Veriun Mahri says, "I hate snow and I'm up here looking for someone." A pair of someone's but again, need to know and he didn't.

Cornelius grimaces at the mention of the goat, the memory perhaps a little too fresh. "Indeed, it has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience". At least, he bloody well hopes this kind of thing occurs only once in a lifetime. He proceeds to slowly make his way through the boar stew. "Speaking of snow and jackpots, you up here for the lovely weather as well, old bean?"

Veriun chuckles lightly and shakes his head "Oh yes. Nothing like snowstorms and the suspicious eyes of giants." he replies and proceeds to place himself on an unoccupied part of the table's edge, looking up at a giant (one obviously unaware of the observer) "Are they always so scrutinizing or do I simply have a talent for stepping on very large toes, I wonder..?" he ponders, perhaps to himself, perhaps not. Turning his gaze back at the others he summarizes "Thought, I am not here on a vacation. I don't have those."

Mahri isn't getting into this conversation. The bandages and healing salves have arrived some time ago and with Cornelius bleeding from his head, there is no way she's going to take the chance it's more serious than a cut scalp. Gathering the bandages and salve, the lycan checks the twins who are both yawning after the warmth of the stew is gone. They'll soon be snoozing on arms folded on the table. "Let me see your head," she murmurs to the dandy. A jar of pungent salve is opened and a cloth dampened in the bowl of water. This she'll use to clean away crusted blood from the wound. Whether or not Cornelius cooperated. Which could possibly hurt more than if he did. Mahri's not gentle. Veriun will be just a moment, taking out the dishes

Cornelius comments "Oh, vacations are ever so much fun. marvellously relaxing. Tonic for the health, wot". He finishes his meal and decides to stretch his legs "I'll just be a moment, Mahri M'dear, don't mind me, just going to make sure I don't stiffen up too much." He wanders over to the message board, idly glancing through the various notices. One recent notice does catch his eye, however. "Oh, I say! Flying lessons! That sounds like a rather good time to me! I believe I met this Satoshi in Kelay once. Had the most marvellous mount. I'd never seen a land-narwhal until that day. Still not sure I trust my memory of it, truth be told." He wanders back to the table with a stifled yawn. "Methinks I may just rest my head on my arms for a little while. It'll make Mahri's life a bit easier without me fussing around too I suppose. Hate to be rude, wot, but it's the old travel-weary bit. Good chance for you and Mahri to get acquainted, wot." He waves vaguely, a flap of hand which encompasses the table. "You're both decent types. I'm sure there's scope for a good old nattering without my contributions" So saying, he places his head on his folded arms and closes his eyes. He cannot sleep, per se, but a silent half-doze mixed with his usual meditations serve to keep him quiet for a while. A pleasant change, perhaps, from the normal fuss involved whenever his wounds tend to get dressed.

Veriun watches Cornelius as he twiddles back and forth from the tables, merely raising an eyebrow at the dandy's loud thoughts of flying lessons and land-narwhals. Not that he had much interest in it, one might come to think, having wings and all. Paying but little attention to Mahri as Cornelius speaks, she clearly preferred to be outside of his attention at the moment and remained silent all trough the man's 'exit speech' or whatever one could call it. Not taking his eyes off him for a few moments even after, and then turning to the lycan. "Regular occurrence, this?"

Mahri's head is bent to the resting Cornelius' wound and she's applying salve before answering. "Travelling with children into a frozen hell? No. Cornelius getting hurt? It only seems to happen when he goes somewhere with me." She doesn't look up from her medical task. Not until she's covered the cut in her patient's scalp with clean linen. Letting the man and children rest, the lycan grabs her quickly cooling drink and finds another table to sit at. So as not to disturb the sleepers. "What about you? Do you often come up this way?" The last time she'd seen the avian, as her memory so nicely supplied, was in the mountains while she was making arrangements for a new weapon with a preklek artificer.

Veriun slid off the table and followed the lycan's silent request. Or perhaps it was an instruction. Never the less; follow he did. Taking a seat as people do most at the new location, although leaning back in the chair quite comfortably. Especially considering his earlier references to suspicious giants. "Depends on how you define often, I suppose..." he answers her question with a hand behind his ear as if stroking away an annoying itch "to be less riddling: I come whenever I have cause or want. As it is with all other places in this world." turning his attention back at the woman "You quite clearly don't. People don't frequent their definition of 'frozen hell', now do they?"

Mahri studies the winged male for a long time before speaking. And even then it's an echo of his own answer, "Only if I have want or need to." Mahri didn't particularly care about suspicious giants although a few may recognize the wolf from posters no longer posted about. What with the new ruling family and all, Mahri had no need to worry about being locked in a cage and poked at by spears made out of whole trees. It still didn't stop a few who remembered her from scowling as they shuffled about the Tavern and murmured in voices too large to be quiet. She ignores it all. "Obviously like me, you're up here for a reason. I don't care what it is but I will say if your reason interferes with mine and causes any of my party to be put into danger, you will find yourself grounded. Permanently." It was, she thought, fair warning.

Veriun chuckles and shakes his head slowly. "Oh no. My reason is much too simple to interfere with anyone else's. Unless it happens to be my very existence that causes the interference. Which, I suppose, could be the case." he responds in a light tone, as if in a good mood. "I have a hard time finding myself having motivation to stop you from whatever you intend to do, you need not waste your breath on warnings..." he continued, proceeding to sit up properly. "not that I do not enjoy hearing them, you choose the most dualistic ways of saying them."

Mahri tilts her head in mock curiosity, silver-grey eyes widening in the corners when she breaths sarcastically, "Do I?" Her only concern is that Cornelius no longer get injured and that Shishi has no reason to hunt her down.

Veriun simply nodded "You should listen to yourself sometime. It's rather interesting."

Mahri snorts and has a drink from her mug. It was probably coffee in there. "I'm sure it is."

Veriun proceeded to look over at the sleepers, as if to check on them. Remaining silent for a while, leaving Mahri to her drinking... of coffee. Until he suddenly spoke. "Do you usually babysit Shishi's children...?" a completely innocent question. He almost sounded like someone who might care for the family in question, much more humane then his usual tone and act.

Mahri's eyes narrow at the question and she slowly lowers the mug of coffee. What may seem an innocent question to Veriun isn't so to the overly suspicious and protective lycan. "He trusts me with their lives if that means anything."

Veriun nods slowly "it does mean anything. It means he trusts you." he answers and returns his attention to her. "that's quite valuable." he says in a rather absent minded voice, speaking to perhaps both of them, perhaps none. Looking upwards and away, he almost looked as if he was pretending.

Mahri knew that already and she gives Veriun a look that says 'Well, duh.'. However, if anyone knew how paranoid that vampire could be, knowing he trusted her was something Mahri wasn't willing to risk losing. "Valuable, how?"

Veriun spoke simply "Would you rather he didn't?"

Mahri said to Veriun, "I'd rather you weren't so bloody evasive."

Veriun chuckled again and spread his arms "I suppose it's my nature. Although I'm not trying to avoid answering you. " putting his hands back in his lap he continues "I suppose old habits die hard. I must answer any question I am asked. With such a limitation, I'm quite sure you'd get rather 'evasive' as well."

Mahri ponders this. If he must answer questions when asked...Curiosity has always been the bane of her existence. "I don't have to answer shyte, Bird-man. So, what sorta business brings you to Frostmaw?"

Veriun tilted his head "Indeed not." and showed no further reaction to her question, only straightened back up and peered at her for a moment "It didn't." he answered finally with a smile. "Simply because I must answer truthfully does not mean I need to say everything, or even speak in clear terms."

Mahri grins and raises her mug in a 'touche' gesture. "Well," she starts and looks over at the zonked out trio then back to Veriun, "If you happen to be going our way, I think Cornelius there can do with a break. And I don't mean a leg or arm or his neck."

Veriun raised an eyebrow "Yet I wouldn't know which way you are going, now would I?" he answered, clearly somewhat amused. Turning his gaze towards previously mentioned trio "Though, I suppose I could blindfold myself for a detour."

Mahri snickers. Again. "I have no idea where we're going."

Frostmaw Tavern: the next morning

Mahri sits at a table while not far away Leralynn and Arius have found a place to sleep comfortably on a giant sized bench. Mahri had at least gone out to the horses to get blankets for the twins. Cornelius had remained in his meditative state through the night while the wolf hadn't slept at all. Even now, with her head resting on the back of her chair and eyes closed somewhat, she didn't sleep. Not because she wasn't tired, Mahri simply hadn't been able to get any sort of meaningful rest in weeks. The door opening brought her wandering mind to full attention and her eyes crack open to follow the progress of the elf. Nostrils flare automatically to catch his scent and it's about then that Orange and Yellow stir. Arius is first to sit up and rub a fist into his eyes before stretching with a yawn. Leralynn's a bit more delicate about her awakening. Stretching first then sitting up to use the tips of her fingers to wipe the sleep from the corners of her eyes. Arius tugs his fluid scarf tighter around his throat and immediately looks to Mahri, "What's for breakfast. I'm starving." Mid-yawn, Leralynn seconds the feeling, "Me too. And is Mister Cornelius dead? He got an awful bump on his head yesterday. That poor goat must have a headache." To which Mahri has no useful answer other than, "I'll get us something." Her chair scrapes against the floor and a glance is cast towards a frigid elf before she saunters by to speak with the huge bartender. Who by now had stopped being suspicious of the quartet who'd taken up residence in his bar.

Jolie was another crack of door, a gust of cold wind, a walking bundle of fur. The fanged mare she left outside with a hunk of elk meat was satisfied with this offering, dropping her nose to huff white steam at the meat before licking it, and Jolie gave the creature one last look back before she entered, leaving ample opportunity for more cold air to bluster in. Not a bit aware of any discomfort she may be causing, the necromancer thudded on thick-soled boots across the room - not really able to see much at all, outside the tunnel of her parka and from under the mammoth-skin cloak Lucien had made for her in a pinch. The world was a warm and furry place, for Jolie right now, and her own breath blew from puffed cheeks to force woolly strands from her vision. Which was, by happenstance, levelled on Leralynn at that moment. Jolie blinked. Jolie said, "Orange...?"

Veriun had stayed up with Mahri for whatever reason. Only leaving for a hour or two, long since returned. He was now sitting in a chair behind the table, a bit out of the way, with his legs folded and a book in his hands, seemingly deeply absorbed into it's content. Paying little to no attention to the new arrivals nor reacting to Jolie's speaking to one of the children. Of course, he might just not have heard. The avian simply changed page in his book, at least visually disconnected from his surroundings for the moment.

Mahri turns around as the door opened and a mammoth..no a person wrapped up like a mammoth..walks in. The cold blast of air has her cringe back and bare her teeth in a hiss that pushes past them. Anything else she might have said was lost when Leralynn too looks over and a wide grin spreads across her childish face. "Miss Jolie!" she squeals while scrambling off the bench and racing towards the necromancer. Hopping from foot to foot, the girl stares up into the hooded face. "We came to find you and along the way Mister Cornelius told us about a giant and Arius was almost kidnapped by a dragon guy but Mister Cornelius and Mahri and some really huge guy all saved him. It was like a story! And then, on the mountain, there was a goat and I asked Mister Cornelius to not kill it and he didn't but he has a nasty bump and some broken ribs and now your here! So we don't have to go all over Frostmaw to find you. Do we?" As much as that girl talked, Mahri didn't have to say a thing. She simply leaned as much as she could against a bar built for much taller people. For now, the wolf will keep quiet. Arius is slower about getting up from his seat but when he does, the boy joins Mahri. A silver-eyed glance slides towards Veriun. And that book. With the page turning most of the night.

Jolie was.... stunned? Lack of sleep, shock at seeing Shishi's children.. here? ... and the presence of Mahri, who was the root cause of her mate's current, very beat-up state, produced a turmoil in her that left the lycaness simply open-mouthed for a long moment. Glancing between the children, first, she'd gather them both into her parka-furry arms for a very tight hug, one to each limb, while her gaze came to rest on Mahri, quite flatly. But she was smiling. Kind of. "Children! What a marvellous surprise, and what an adventure you've had, by the sound, very exciting! Now, let me get myself warm, and we can swap stories." That dead-stone look she was levelling on Mahri might let her know that the tale was going to censored heavily, for young ears. And that it was just as well the exhausted sineater had those kids to focus on... Releasing them, she said, tersely, "Mahri. You'll be thrilled, of course to know that Leo has survived his injuries." That imparted, she glanced about the room, taking in the other occupants in a distracted way. "If barely." A cough form a wind-dried throat reminded her of the dire need for a drink. "Orange, Yellow. Come sit with me, while I wet my whistle."

Veriun shut the book and put it away beneath his coat as he stood up and approached the gathering around Jolie, although he remains a few steps away, looking between the two women and the children. With his hands in his pockets and his head cocked to the side much like a bird, rather ironic considering some of his less affectionate nicknames, he seemed to quickly summarize the situation within his head, or something similar, at least, judging from the analytic air about him. "It'd seem your quest here just finished itself, Doesn't it?" he finally commented with that smile of his, turning a gaze upon Mahri.

Mahri didn't follow the Colours and Jolie. She was, quite frankly, rooted to her spot by the words imparted. Damn it. She needed a drink and could..wouldn't..have one. Orange and Yellow eagerly follow Jolie to hear her tale and Mahri narrows a gaze at Veriun. "Yes. It seems so." Still, the possibility that Leo had nearly died and it was her fault..that thought makes the pale woman lose all colour she might have regained in the warmth of the Tavern. Guilt was a heavy weight to carry.

Jolie would possibly be rubbing Mahri's nose in that guilt for .. centuries? depending on how long lycans lived. It was sheer stint of her being family that Leralynn and Arius were severely not traumatised by watching their friend and travel companion being torn apart as it was. But a drink.. yes, a drink. One free of bitter herbs and vision-inducing mushrooms.. "Ale, thanks, pet," she told the keep, who knew her well. The tankard was quick in arriving, therefore, and she'd ease her saddle-sore seat into a chair by the fire. Mahri could join them, if she wanted. Veriun was offered a polite nod, his face somewhat familiar. But soon after, two little faces, eager on hers, were both kissed soundly - there were three children in this world Jolie did not still think of in the back of her mind as an easy snack, and one of those was her own - before she started. "Well, I must tell you of a very special old lady, named Tanaraq..." Here, she launched into a magical. mythical and mostly accurate tale of sled dogs and magic flying journeys into other worlds, and elderly shamans who turned into deer, and the Great Sea with its deadly, motherly Seal-woman, into whose arms we must all vanish some day. "And Leo.. he's okay." She finished. "Just very tired. Tanaraq is feeding him bear soup, as we speak. And Lucien is hunting mammoths."

Veriun returned the nod but remained standing rather than intrude on the woman and the children, although he, seemingly amused, paid attention to the tale of all the extraordinary things that had befallen the necromancer and her family. He had the attentive air of a storyteller listening to the work of another. Although he remained silent for the moment. There would be no lack of comments and questions from the children, of course. He was merely a bystander. An unusual one, but that changed little.

Mahri listened as well. Filling in some of the blanks herself. Or as much as she can. What was there for her to say? She was sorry? Only for some of it. She, Mahri told herself, could not be responsible for the actions of others. Firmly entrenching that thought into her mind, the wolf raises her chin in that familiar stubborn angle. Walking back to her abandoned table, Mahri scoops up the discarded cloak and swings it around her shoulders to be tied at her neck, "Orange, Yellow, get something to eat. I'll go see about the horses. I imagine Cornelius will be waking up soon." How could he stay sleeping with all the excitement? With a swirl of a furlined white cloak, the lycan stalks to the door to jerk it open and let in yet more of the frigid outside. Gritting her teeth against the despised chill, Mahri steps out.

Jolie was left to tend to the children, not that she minded, she'd missed them horribly. Not to mention their father, whom she enquired about. Noting Veriun's occasional observances, she waved him over to the fireside. "Here, fellow.. why don't you tell the children another story while I fetch them some stew?" The Colours nodded eagerly, "Please...?" The request spoken in tandem was left to hover in the air, while Jolie eyed Mahri's retreating back. There was a conversation to be had, Not today. Not tomorrow, probably. But one day, when she was a little more calm about things. Unless Leo took a turn for the worse, that is... "Two bowls of stew, Drargon, two warm milks, another ale and... what'll you have, sir?" she called to Veriun. Jolie took a moment to study the supposedly slumbering fop. But Jolie knew him, too.. she'd offer his reposing frame a little wave, just in case.

Veriun nodded briefly and walked over, taking a seat. Looking between the children thoughtfully, as if choosing which one of many tales would be most suitable. Looking over to the necromancer as he responds "Nothing, I've already eaten. Although I thank you for the offer" before he starts at a tale for the children. One of a group who were also called after Colours; White, Black and Grey. In order an Angel, a Demon and something else, their travels bringing them trough many worlds, escaping those who wished to harness the dormant power of the three. He had the way of speaking and the manner of an experienced storyteller. It was clearly a skill of his. Perhaps even his job. He seemed to give life to the tale and insert pictures and imagery into the heads of his listeners, as if they had seen it for themselves.

Jolie returned during the tale, to set the various bowls and tankards and mugs on the low table between the chairs, and settled into her own seat to listen almost as raptly as the children. As Veriun approached the part where the shades of dark and light were labelled, she blanched somewhat, the story painfully familiar... The necromancer turned her mind to worry about the Cap'n instead, who was at least alive and in Tanaraq's fine care, but ever moment he suffered was a moment she did, too, especially when not there to pore and fuss over his every breath. But she needed to get her mind strong and clear again, for the times yet to come, the long trek home, and bright company and a good tale was doing a great deal to revive her, presently. Well, until the part about the shades of dark and light, anyway.

Veriun continued his tale, as the children were his main audience. A quick gaze seemed to register Jolie's unwilling reaction to the names of the three, however. And the ending might not make it much better: He proceeded to vividly retell how white awakened his power unwillingly, resulting in 'the others' finding the trio and the death of Black. After they managed to escape, the relationship between the other two was never quite the same, until Grey finally revealed what caused it; he blamed White for the death of Black and his ire had not lessened with time. Grey would soon try to kill White, who could not properly control his now a single year-old power. It ended with the death of Grey, leaving white to travel all the worlds alone in despair and regret for his only two friends, both dead by his mistakes and faults. "However. Simply because the tale ends there, does not mean it is a sad one." summarized the avian "I like to think that, while we cannot know for sure, he found something to mend his wounds. It is a large number of worlds out there. Anyone can find peace. If you know where to look..." he explained with that strange smile of his. Leaving a thoughtful silence.

Jolie was open-mouthed again, and so were the children. Arius's spoon, half-lifted to his mouth, dripped stew back into his bowl with a steady splat-splat of cooling gravy. "Well," said Jolie at last, clearing her throat. "What a.. fine tale. And quite right, too, on that part. Good and bad in everything, as they say." Orange nodded sagely, "Like you, Miss Jolie." The necromancer's weak smile grew weaker, just for a second, and was replaced with something at once more cheerful and less genuine. "Quite so. Thank you, Mister... er. Thanks, for the story." Yellow remembered his stew, and ate the mouthful, and another, nodding, forgetting his manners to speak around a chunk of boar-meat, "Yef, fankyoo, waf great!" Jolie gave the story-teller a studious look, having her suspicions about how true that tale really was.

Mahri came in just as the tale ended. And she stood there, a figure in white with wisps of black peeking from the hood pulled up as high as it would go, looking at the cosy scene. Like an outsider destined to always be looking through warped glass. Shrugging off the melancholy feeling, she approaches the table to say, "The horses are ready. Whenever you are."

Veriun nodded briefly and pretended to lift a hat of his head "Veriun Ze'thra." he introduces himself, and tend tilts his head towards Mahri as she enters, seeking to redirect the others attention that way before she speaks.

Orange and Yellow bounce in their seats with that energy only children seem capable of exhibiting. "Mahri, Mahri!" They had long since given up on the miss part of that, "Mister Veriun told the bestest story ever!" Leralynn drops her spoon and nods enthusiastically, "It was as good as Mister Cornelius' story about almost getting eaten by a giant." The lycan pushes back the hood while the children chatter on about the amazing tale, her features softening into an indulgent smile. "Oh, that's nice. Finish eating you two then we have to get going." The look she passes to Jolie is bereft of discernible emotion, "I want to see him but I have to get Cornelius to a healer." There can be no mistaking who 'he' is. Shifting her gaze to Veriun she asks, "Can you help me? I can't lift the man myself." Considering he seems to still be sleeping, the woman who'd once been able to heal with hands that now kill, is sure his head injury is more serious than she can cope with.

Jolie said, "Joliette Thorne." The name offered to Veriun, she gave the children a soft smile, ignoring utterly whatever look Mahri chose to wear on her face. Until she heard.... "Corny's wounded?" She'd glance his way. Man had a knack of getting himself banged about. And some things were just more important than her anger. For now. "How bad?""

Veriun peered calmly at the sleeping dandy, his gaze growing into that piercing type he'd used before. Mahri would recognize it. The one that gives the feeling of him peering into your soul. "Not too badly. Nothing he'll die from. But he could well do with a healer." he responded to Jolie with a nod to confirm her introduction. Standing up from his seat he walked over and placed a gentle hand on the back of the sleeping man, a gauntlet-clad hand, granted, but that didn't seem to matter much. "Cracked rib.. Some minor damage to the skull..." he murmured to himself, then nodded to Mahri. "I'll help you, then. I'm no old war veteran, But I should be able to aid with a bit of scotwork."

Jolie listened to Veriun's assessment more carefully than she'd done to the same information when it'd been given by Mahri and the children earlier. "Might've said he needed a bloody healer..." she mumbled. Louder she said, "I know one. A good one, better than the sawbones in the village here. But.. it's a bit of a hike, out west." She enunciated, clearly, "Same feller who patched Leo up."

Mahri looks from the avian, nodding acknowledgment to his agreement to help, then back to Jolie. "I have horses. He can be put on one. West, you say?" Maybe it'd be a bit warmer to the west. Not that she's really expecting it to be. The door is the recipient of her gaze next. The horses had their purple mash and didn't appear to be suffering too much from the cold. Lucky them. "Will you come with us?" The question is for Jolie. "Can we come too?" pipes up Arius, determined not to be forgotten or ignored during the exchange. That or he's afraid of being left behind by the adults.

Veriun remained still as he waited for the others to come to their decisions and act upon them. He almost seemed frozen in time due to how inanimate he was. He barely blinked. Or, well, he did take his hand off Cornelius. But that was all.

Jolie said to Arius, "Of course. If it's alright, that is." She lifted her eyes to Mahri while she spoke. "You may even get to meet Tanaraq. And Lucien is out there, somewhere. I'm sure he'd love to see you." She spoke a few hasty words to Drargon, then, a request for a sled-load of liquor and a few other items for the elder who'd been so motherly and kind to she and her family this while. Then she made her way to the door, beyond which an angry whinny, half a snarl, said Bonnie had found issue with the other horses. "I'll wait for you all outside."

Cornelius comes to with a start and a grimace, the sensation of physical contact having filtered through to his subconscious. He must be injured - by the time his dagger is in his hand, there is nobody close enough by to be at risk. His gaze is a bit bleary at first "Was that Jolly-Girl's voice earlier? I swear I heard her, or was I daydreaming?" Dagger is quickly sheathed, and the hand once holding it moves quickly to his head, as if to keep the pain in his skull through physical effort.

Mahri turns her attention from the door Jolie just went through to Cornelius. Slanting a look towards the Avian, who she hopes as backed off of his own accord, Mahri answers simply, "It was her. She says there's a healer nearby that can fix you up. Good and proper like, not the way I do."

Cornelius grimaces again, whether from pain or from something else. "I appreciate the offer, I really do. But methinks I have had enough hiking through this amenity-forsaken place. Did she say if Luc was alright?" Injuries or no, there was one other thing he had to be sure of before Cornelius could feel he had discharged his duty honourably. "Off training mammoths to dance, or somesuch, perhaps?"

Mahri hesitates, having grown used to the man's company. And that, in and of itself, is enough to make up her mind. "Yeah. Sure. Go on back. I know what I need to know and Luc is fine. Hunting mammoths rather than teaching them to dance." Whether or not Veriun will follow, Mahri's already heading for the door. It would be rude to keep the necromancer waiting, right? It wasn't because she might be mildly interested in Cornelius' welfare. Or that she just might miss the bastard. Oh no. She had other things to see to. Like making amends to friends and family. Not worrying about a bloody fop who somehow managed to get himself seriously injured anytime he spent a significant amount of time in her company. Pausing at the door, the lycan looks back once. And then only to say, "See a healer when you get back, aye? Jolly-Girl'd kill me I think if you died on the way down."

Cornelius grins weakly and calls out "But of course, M'dear. Doctor Brandy will look after me well. When you see Luc, tell him I have need of his services when he returns to the warmer lands, would you? Much obliged! Also, if you could leave me one of the packhorses, I'd consider it a favour. Especially if it's the one with my equipment. Safe travels, wot"

Mahri gives a short nod before pulling her cloak and hood protectively around herself. Bracing for the blast of cold sure to implode into the room, she opens the door and steps out with an audible sucking in of breath. Before the door closes behind her, Cornelius might hear her say, "Damn bloody waste-land of snow and gods-be-damned cold."