“What are you thinking, Varaelian? You’ve been uncharacteristically quiet since running into that man.”
Varaelian sat with his hands in his lap with his legs dangling over the edge of a cliff and the backs of his armored ankles clinking against the rocky face, “I’m not sure how to take that, Vae.”
“You’re never this quiet unless you’re asleep and even then, I wonder how Tyllanthus tolerated your terrible snoring.”
The lord shot his head up, glancing through the clouds that were scattered across a green-tinted sky, “I don’t snore.”
“That’s what you’re going to take away from this?!”
He couldn’t help but chuckle, “I never had much love for the Free Companies. I refuse to leave the fate of the world in the hands of sellswords and their love of money. I suppose seeing someone with such conviction over their beliefs, such excitement for their cause – It’s different. The Grand Companies are run by fools who don’t see past today, and we need to look to tomorrow. A tomorrow that could be snatched away the same way all over again.”
“The Riskbreakers, hm? Are you sure you should place any sort of trust into them? They are just another band of sellswords.”
“I don’t have to, I just have to make sure they get out alive and then leave Azys Lla. I can’t watch over this place forever—well, I can, but I don’t want to—and they would help rid this place of Garleans. After a good assault on the Castrum, they are like to leave it behind.”
“Lest you forget, they do have a very large airship, larger even than the Argius.”
“I’m no fool and I have no plans on taking it on. I need you to trust me, Vae. Believe in me.”
“I do believe in you, you big idiot. Ryuugan wishes you luck as well, and hopes to see you home soon. Good luck."
Van smiled, “Tell him I miss him, I’m thinking of him, and I’ll be home soon.” With a tap, his linkpearl shut off with a whir. He took a deep breath and let it out through his nose, “The Riskbreakers, let’s see what you can do.” He whispered to the wind, letting it blow the air from his face as his hands pushed forward and falling into the whispy clouds.
