Shantania/Supports/BrenickLynia

Lynia and Brenick - level 1

"Now, thrust with the short end in your left hand, then use the momentum to spin clockwise."

"Clockwise?" Lynia halts her staff practice.

"I thought you knew what clockwise meant," says Brenick, resting his own "staff" against a nearby tent pole; actually a long tree branch, haphazardly straightened over the campfire and bearing the scorch marks to prove it.

"I know what a clock is, at least," Lynia offers, "but never have I heard of one in relation to a combat tactic. Some exotic style from up north, I am to assume?"

"Er, not exactly..." Brenick begins fishing around in his satchel, eventually finding a small brass locket, which he springs open and presents to Lynia.

"What am I to glean from this? Should my actions be more stilted, or precisely timed?" She examines almost every detail of the pocket watch, but does not seem especially confident in her observations.

"No...do you see which way the hands are moving? That's what I mean by clockwise."

Lynia appears to be taking the information to heart, but stops to glance sidelong at Brenick. "You could have just said, 'to the right.'"

"But I thought..." Brenick folds his arms and lets out a sigh of surrender. "Never mind. Let's take a break, milady."

Lynia and Brenick - level 2

"I've been thinking, Brenick...how does a caravan driver like you afford a pocket watch?"

He sets his ledger down. "What? Oh, are you talking about the last time we trained together?"

"Pocket watches like yours aren't common, particularly not south of the Caynean Divide. I've only seen one in my life, apart from yours."

"You've got me there, milady." Brenick sighs and retrieves the watch in question from his satchel. "Truth be told, I've no knowledge of where this watch came from. It was given to me as a gift."

"A gift? You must have powerful friends." Lynia innocently folds her arms behind her back.

"No, I--uh..." He turns a shade of red ordinarily reserved for beets. "Well, I...suppose I was not entirely forthcoming with the truth, milady. This watch is...a memento, I suppose you could say. A keepsake from my previous life."

"Reincarnation?" Lynia seats herself on a nearby table. "Or are you implying that you were not always a caravanner?"

"I'll need to speak with you later, Lynia. I've got...pressing...uh..." Brenick decides not to finish his sentence, and bolts for the exit of the wagon.

Lynia and Brenick - level ???

Lynia steps into the wagonmaster's cabin and positions herself as to block the door. "You're hiding something from me, Bren."

"...I am." He does not move from his seat.

"You know me too well for a man of your status."

"My status? Hah!" Bren suddenly hops out of his chair, still facing away from the door. "What do you know of my status?"

"Please, Bren, it was not my intention to--"

"Oh, come off it. There are more important things to be worrying about than who I am."

"There are not, if I've any intention of trusting you, past today."

"I'm a friend, and a useful one at that. Surely I've gained your trust by now?"

"That remains to be seen. I've been considering the other day's events...your pocket watch, and how you ran away before answering where you got it from."

"I should never have shown you that damn thing," Brenick curses beneath his breath.

"What has gotten into you? You were friendly but a day or so previous, but you won't even meet my glance. I can't speak to the back of your head forever."