When the party is lead deeper into the village, it's to the building that looks the most sturdy with a larger, older man sitting in a chair by the door on the small raised porch. He looks up from what he's reading as they approach, expression gruff as he meets Ashton's aggravated one before looking over the apologetic expressions on the other three's faces.
"Mm." The stack of paper gets set down, a rock placed on it, before he stands up. "That was fast. I almost wonder who persuaded who." It isn't a question. He steps forward off the porch, cracking his knuckles before shaking his head. The latter shows off his nose, which has clearly been broken before. A few times, no less.
"We're proving that they're alive before we start negotiating," Kian says, looking a little nervous under the older man's scrutiny.
"You found your nerve with me, you can stop being the sheep to him," Ashton mutters. Vidal raises an eyebrow in Kian's direction, which gets a shrug in response. Aleigh's only reply is rolling his eyes.
"If that's what's been agreed to," the older man says, giving Kian another glance before looking over the visitors one at a time.
"Velanna, Merrill, probably Nathaniel Howe," Ashton says helpfully as she points.
"Robert, Riannon," Vidal adds.
"Bitch," Ashton finishes up, pointing at Teren. To the man's blink, she shrugs. "She didn't give a name."
He sighs heavily as he turns to unlock the door to the house. "I'm Javion. Keep your heads as you go inside and remember that if anyone acts aggressively, we can have you asleep in a split second."
Once inside, it becomes clear why the place looks as sturdy as it is - it's the former village's jail. There are metal support beams, as well as three cells that are entirely metal bars. In the middle one is Alistair, looking a little worse for wear but awake, and in one next to him is Anders, curled up in the corner nearest Alistair and giving the doorway a dead-eyed stare.
Rescuing the Captives
"Mm." The stack of paper gets set down, a rock placed on it, before he stands up. "That was fast. I almost wonder who persuaded who." It isn't a question. He steps forward off the porch, cracking his knuckles before shaking his head. The latter shows off his nose, which has clearly been broken before. A few times, no less.
"We're proving that they're alive before we start negotiating," Kian says, looking a little nervous under the older man's scrutiny.
"You found your nerve with me, you can stop being the sheep to him," Ashton mutters. Vidal raises an eyebrow in Kian's direction, which gets a shrug in response. Aleigh's only reply is rolling his eyes.
"If that's what's been agreed to," the older man says, giving Kian another glance before looking over the visitors one at a time.
"Velanna, Merrill, probably Nathaniel Howe," Ashton says helpfully as she points.
"Robert, Riannon," Vidal adds.
"Bitch," Ashton finishes up, pointing at Teren. To the man's blink, she shrugs. "She didn't give a name."
He sighs heavily as he turns to unlock the door to the house. "I'm Javion. Keep your heads as you go inside and remember that if anyone acts aggressively, we can have you asleep in a split second."
Once inside, it becomes clear why the place looks as sturdy as it is - it's the former village's jail. There are metal support beams, as well as three cells that are entirely metal bars. In the middle one is Alistair, looking a little worse for wear but awake, and in one next to him is Anders, curled up in the corner nearest Alistair and giving the doorway a dead-eyed stare.