Tethers that Bind

Amalia breached the treeline and causally made her way across the glen. The sun was setting quickly, and the only sound was the crackling fire and the crunch of her boots. She made her way to the fire and sat down on a felled tree across from two men.  "I offer you my protection."   One man, seemingly good-humored with a slight build, quirked an eyebrow saying, "Welcome to our fire, now who are you and what do we need protection from exactly?" This man is in simple and soft garb, with only a small carving knife on his belt. His nature was clear from his expression, good-natured and mischievously spirited. She knew as much from scoping these two out for the last hour that this one wouldn't cause an issue.    As far as she could tell, only the second man had weapons. A sword at his hip, a bow and arrows behind the fallen tree he sat on, and another sword on his saddle. She would bet on her life that he had a dagger stashed in his boot too. A man like this one would be prepared when going someplace like the Ravine.  The second man never raised his gaze from the fire. His honeyed eyes focused on the flames as they licked around the logs. How he could have ignored a stranger who could be a potential danger, had just strolled out of the dark forest and into their lives was beyond her. He didn't even glance her way! What is this guy's deal? Is he that confident in his ability to defend himself against me?  Intensity radiated from him in stark contrast to his companion. A dark beacon to his jovial friend. As creepy as he may be, on her time watching the men she noticed that he was incredibly attractive. The man moved like the big cats she used to see growing up. All territorial and daunting but somehow graceful. Like the power inside their muscles was clawing for use but made graceful by constant use on treacherous and steep mountains. This man was an animal but his eyes betrayed wits. She couldn't be caught lacking in front of him.  Amalia flicked her eyes at the bard and back to this fighter and tried not to linger on his open-collared tunic or the strength of his jawline as shadows danced around its contours in the dark. She definitely didn't linger on the familiar flutters in her lower belly when looking at his forearms. All muscled and toned, probably from practice with those swords. Nope. She was a dangerous woman who didn't need anyone and had s**t to do... Well, normally she didn't need anyone. Tonight, she needed them to blend in and get through the Ravine unnoticed. Then she wouldn't need them.   "Well, if you're going to stay a little while, might we know your name?" The bard said, handing her his flask, he smiled. She hadn't answered his initial questions and chose to continue like he never asked them in the first place. The less they knew, the better. Shifting in her seat, she didn't miss that his smile didn't reach his eyes or the way he narrowed his eyes slightly. Oh, he was clever alright, but she was better. They would see her as a woman, not a threat, and let her travel with them without knowledge of her background. She would have to give them something though.  "Amalia." She stated bluntly as she took a swig and handed it back. Amalia didn't bother to return the smile, frankly, she figured that she had forgotten how to move the muscles in her face to even try. The last few months had changed her from her naive self into something stronger, harder.  "Ah Amalia, what a beautiful name!" He declared loudly, standing and gesturing wide with his arms. Who does grand gestures like that? Amalia smirked at his announcement. He's either a bard or drunk, maybe both. "And in need of your protection Larnin!" The smirk died on her face at the idea.  Larnin cast an annoyed glance at his companion but only turned his eyes back to the fire, annoyed. Amalia flexed her hand, turning it over to see the scars on her palm.   "No bard, I don't need an incapable thug to break rocks for me. Though I'm sure his head is hard enough to do the job."   She didn't know these men, they could take offense to her comment but she wanted to gain a reaction from them. To gauge what they'd do.   This piqued the bard's interest, "Clever girl! Rin, she guessed I was a bard, we had best keep our eyes on her!" Sitting back down he propped his head on his hand and continued. "Oh, and you're right, that head is one of the hardest I've seen! One time he used it to" he was cut off by a gruff and rasping voice,   "Enough Yames." All eyes landed on Larnin.