RP:Guilty By Association

                                                    Kelay Way

Glistening dust, trampled upon by many a curious creature, forms an artery of hard packed earth through eastern Kelay. Amber vines from the willow trees lining the walkway hang low, seeming to quiver with excitement when the cool mountain breeze travels past. Sunflowers, daffodils and daisies grow freely, the subtle hues of their flowered stalks adding an appealing warmth to the surrounding vegetation. You can continue your travel east or west, although the sweetened smell of honeysuckle draws you north, towards a sheltered cloister. A thick line of dark blood continues from west to east, sun-dried and giving off a faint yet familiar stench.

Sabrina stepped out of the clearing with a book hugged tightly to her form. She looked tired and must have been reading for quite some time under the protection of the Eternal nook. She wore the usual bulky boots, tight black leather pants, and elbow length gloves. This time it seems she had exchanged her chainmail halter for a long sleeve basic black shirt. Her hair was down, making her appear quite human. She would not turn head to the left and the right, looking both ways for passing wagons. A large dwarven transport was barreling through but this was not something out of the norm so far as she knew. She waits for it to pass, politely smiling and offering the tiniest of waves to the grumpy Gus with the tethers in hand. He tipped his head to her in recognition but the angry face never faltered as he turned his attention back to the road. Krice wasn't a wagon, but he -was- a traveler. Rather than passing from one direction or the other, he actually was standing south of the shrine, hands pocketed in his pants, katana strapped to his back, gaze on the north. As the dwarven transport passed along the road, Krice waited for it to clear before his gaze settled on Sabrina's face. Would she notice him before he spoke? " Hey," he called, his greeting calm as always but a little more amicable for her sake.

Sabrina catches his 'Hey' and her attention is naturally drawn to its source. She starts of in that direction as is polite when people are trying to be social. She is stopped by the Drow Squadron for questioning, she shakes her head denying some accusation of being woodland and tries to bypass them in disregard. She drops the book in protest as one reaches out for her arm, causing her to whirl around in a panicked state to face the individual. It was an instinctual reaction when being touched without permission, more for their protection than her own. She takes a step back toward the main drag to gain a comfortable buffer zone but it seems the female assassin merely wanted to take the time to enforce her authority. It didn't matter that she was of the River, even after announcing such a fact it did not sway the others approach. “I didn't do anything.” Sabrina's voice was shaky in a mix of fear and anger. If she did something to defend herself she would in turn be found guilty of causing a ruckus. Thin brows crunch together and lips purse tightly when the woman picks up the fallen piece of text and begins ripping the pages out. That was just childish, and Sabrina reminded herself it was just a book. She balled up her fists and took a step toward the menacing group, the ground beneath them already shaking faintly as her temper rose. One false move and the stupid Elfess was going to get herself killed. Orders were orders, for now the squad could do nothing unless otherwise provoked.

Krice 's amicable expression quickly faded into one of guarded neutrality as he watched the Drow Squadron enter the area, but more so when they engaged in interaction with Sabrina. She was his friend, but aside from that, the bullying tactics of the Drow were something that really pissed him off. Krice watched from the sideline, observing Sabrina, the female Drow, and the rest of her Squadron to make sure that the situation didn't escalate. It was with a practically seething hatred that he looked on, watching the female Drow hassle Sabrina, but he would not step in unless he had to. He was reluctant to be the cause of an interracial war. Or... rather, he was reluctant to add fuel to the fire of a war already burning. That female Drow would tear only one handful of pages from Sabrina's book before Krice was there, in the thick of it in a blink, harmlessly snatching the book from the woman's hands and glancing down at it before he extended the tome to the druid. " You dropped this," he said to Sabrina, affording her a small, reassuring smile.

Sabrina watched as they Krice boldly took up the book and handed it to her. She took it with both hands offering him a genuine look of thanks. His actions would not go unanswered as the Drowess grabs a handful of Sabrina's hair stating she needed to be taken into custody for suspicious behavior. Her mouth falls open in a silent scream as pain radiated through her scalp and the book was returned to the ground in a disgraceful thump of dust. Her hands rise up, though gloved, she still manages to avoid the action of touching the other on purpose. She was well trained in that aspect, despite currently being tugged in the direction of the squad against her will. The female explained to Krice that River Elves did not have black hair and that it made her a liar. It was the sole basis of her argument. This would have been the second time in a weeks passing the Elfess managed to get tethered by her own tresses.

Krice 's left hand, the side away from the Drow, had slipped beneath the hem of his shirt. When the Drowess grabbed Sabrina's hair, the warrior slapped his right hand to the darker female's wrist to stay her pulling motion, thus saving Sabrina a little bit of that pulling sting. In the same motion, his left hand withdrew a dagger from its sheathe against the small of his back and produced the point at the Drowess' throat. He didn't dare cut her, not yet, but the threat was there. With crimson eyes fixated staunchly on the darker woman's face, he warned: " Let her go."

Sabrina had tears in her eyes, she didn't know what the hell was going on, just that she kept repeating how much she swore she was River and it wasn't her fault. With Krice's well put threat the dark fingers loosened their grip and the Elfess seeks refuge behind Krice's form. The Drowess snarls at him, spit flying in every intricate word she dealt, warning him that he was obstructing justice and that he would ultimately have to answer for his crimes. She finished off with the clear demand “So step aside and give the bitch to me.” Sabrina watched silently as her fate was being decided before her eyes. The rest of the squad had decided they attracted too much attention for one poorly bred Elf and urged her to let them continue their patrol. Another wagon passes by causing a silence in the ranks.

Krice was of course pleased that his threat had worked, and with the Drow woman's hand free of Sabrina, he released her wrist and made sure that he remained between the druid and the squadron at all times. He was a falcon, watchful of threats that might try to strike him from any direction. He listened patiently whilst the Drow woman spat her accusations, and in return offered a firm word with his red eyes fixated on hers. " -You- are violating the laws of Kelay and its citizens. Stand down, or I'll be forced to act." He took note of the Drow males surrounding the female and bore no threat for them. They understood the legitimacy of Krice's threat, of the threat they suffered overall, and thus he held no ill will toward them in that moment. As the wagon passed by, the warrior stood fast where he was, shielding Sabrina from her would-be jailers.

Sabrina jumped when the woman lunged forward in a mock attack designed to get the warrior to flinch. Likely winning no such reaction from the male she spat on the ground at his feet. Darkened emerald gaze follows the strain of spit with a mild look of disgust and she realizes she is clutching his shirt sleeve in which she automatically lets go. Her cheeks flush brightly and she accommodates a half step distance between her protector and herself acknowledging she remembered he did not like her disposition as much as he pretended to. She was at a loss as to why he interjected, but his words verified his authority and it gave good reason for his actions. When they turned tail to continue toward Cenril Sabrina whispered just loud enough for him to hear. “I am not a Kelay citizen.” Her eyes did not find him again as they remained fixated on the direction of the patrol in case they had a change of heart over the whole ordeal.

Krice remained exactly where he was, his body language strong, imposing, telling of a genuine intention to defend himself and Sabrina with as much force as was necessary, if it came to that. Thankfully, they all escaped violence this day, and it was as he watched the squadron depart that he heard Sabrina's murmured words. Easily dismissing the disrespect of having someone spit at his feet, in the interest of keeping the peace, Krice glanced past a shoulder at Sabrina and arched an eyebrow. " No, but you're -in- Kelay. That's enough." His expression softened and he turned to face her, casting a long, searching gaze across her face and head. " Are you alright?"

Sabrina stares up at him, feeling like she can finally breathe and she looks to the book that lay on the ground. She bends over to pick it up, dusting it off for no particular point or purpose since it was ruined. She moves to gather the chunk of crumbled parchment and shoves it in the bindings. She could always find a book maker to have it repaired or replicated later. “I don't know what I would have done if you weren't here.” Just then Rohk comes trotting down the path without a care in the world. He must have passed the patrol on his way here but he seemed oblivious to all that just took place. That in itself was an oddity. It must have meant that Sabrina did not feel in 'dire' need or surely he'd have come sooner and with intent to kill. He stops in front of Krice, looking to the female and then to the warrior once more. His large scaly behind finds the ground swiftly, twin tails wagging as if expecting something in return for his good behavior.

Krice pressed his lips together in response to Sabrina's initial answer, a wistful acknowledgment of the good fortune that he -was- here. Despite what she thought he thought of her, he didn't want to see her get hurt. When Rohk emerged down the path, the warrior looked past Sabrina to take a glance at the hell hound, his brows furrowed in concern. Rohk should have been with his counterpart. Sliding his left hand behind him once more, the warrior sheathed his dagger and reached out with his right hand to touch the top of Rohk's head. " Hey boy," he greeted, his tone gentle and barely friendly. Looking back at Sabrina, Krice said, " You should stay away from Kelay for a while - or if you have to come here, make -sure- you bring Rohk with you every time. I don't think that Drow is gonna give up."

Sabrina agreed wholeheartedly but her visits to the Druids tree did not allow for Rohk presence. “I will be sure to bring him with me in the future.” She was lying, and she wasn't very good at it. In truth she insisted Rohk enjoy his free time of late. He couldn't very well be expected to babysit her wherever she went. Rohk looked more shocked than anything, four twisted eyes wandering from Krice to Sabrina and back again. His head dipped sidewards, demanding an answer from the warrior since he was sure he wouldn't get one from the girl. His grunt was all the query needed since he and Krice seemed to share a virtue of few words.

Krice gave Rohk an unintentionally dismissive, " Don't worry about it," before his gaze returned to Sabrina. " I mean it. Just through Kelay. He can wait outside here while you go up to the Eternal Tree, keep watch. As long as he's within reach at least."

Sabrina nodded again, an uneasy smile confirming her lies all over again. Rohk was all too displeased with his answer and scoffs in Krice's general direction before taking Sabrina by gentle nudge under one arm. She spoke in hushed tones, an answer for his query “No, I wasn't crying. Everything's fine.” She hoisted herself to sit astride him, now looking down at Krice but only by a hairs breath. “Thank you, again.” The hound had already began his departure, twin tails swinging purposefully toward the Warrior, half in jest and half bitter he didn't get the whole story. Besides, he had to keep the warrior on-guard, right?

Krice looked up that slight amount once Sabrina had mounted her hell hound, keeping his gaze locked on her face. He wanted to be sure that she was alright, for perhaps he didn't get that complete impression when she told him as much. He pressed his lips together in a sympathetic, small smile and watched as she steered Rohk away. The hound's tails were not unnoticed, and Krice merely offered the canine a quizzical stare. Before Sabrina got too far, he called out, " Sorry for the other day, by the way. It's nothing you did - I promise."

She offered no more than a nonchalant wave of hand as she called out to him in parting. An Elvish equivalent of 'No harm No foul.' They were gone, headed to Larket no doubt- her go to retreat for serenity and a gathering of her self.