Aeri and Vesh stood against the balcony of an old, ruined inn. It wasn't anyone's preferred location, but it was the exact halfway point between Mount Eyre and the city of Vincennes, home of the de Velenaires.
"Haven't we waited long enough already?" Vesh raspily complained. The hazy sun was already low in the sky.
Aeri made no move to comment. Her expressionless face continued to scan the landscape for any sign of their imminent third party member.
"Fuck him, I'm leaving before the sun sets," Vesh barked after some more time passed. He paced the remnants of Sanctum Inn, kicking down what remained of its posts.
"Perhaps a monster got him," Aeri murmured.
"Haughty noble bastard probably just decided not to come."
"How do you know he's haughty?"
"They all are!"
"Hm," Aeri shifted her stance for the first time in hours. "I'm certain he will arrive, if he wasn't killed. The de Velenaires have a lot riding on this."
The three of them were supposed to meet at the inn within the first hour of sunrise. Vesh and Aeri traveled together from Mount Eyre, but the envoy from Vincennes in the opposite direction was nowhere to be seen.
Some time later . . .
"Greetings, my fellow companions!" The nobleman leapt up the staircase, startling Aeri and Vesh. They had nearly given up hope he would arrive.
He swept low in a well-practiced and precise bow. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, I am Alistair de Velenaire."
Vesh nor Aeri gave any acknowledgment to him, other than to stare. Alistair continued.
"I do apologize for my tardiness, I was unfortunately delayed... I have the correct inn, haven't I?
"My goodman! You look like you belong in a hospital bed, should you be up and about?" Alistair surveyed the bandaged face of Vesh. Vesh opened his mouth to launch an attack, but Alistair continued, looking to Aeri. "And you dear, have you lost your way? Is your mother around? Surely these plains are no place for children!"
Aeri's face changed from blank to indignation in a split second.
"Bastard, we waited all day for you, show some humility," Vesh barked, stepping towards the lordling.
"Bastard? Bastard?! I assure you," Alistair adjusted a stray curl. "I am no bastard."
"Enough," Aeri interjected, expressionless once again. "Let us not get off on the wrong foot. I am Aeri, this is Vesh. We are the delegates you were to meet."
Alistair elegantly coughed, "My, no offense meant. I suppose I wasn't sure what to expect when meeting the emissaries of the Myron sect. Well, Aeri, Vesh," Alistair tipped his hat to them both in turn.
"Now that we are united, shall we be on our way? We can make more introductions as we travel. I am not particularly fond of these lands, and the monsters will be out tenfold once the sun goes down. We haven't much time before the sun sets."
"And whose fault is it that?" Vesh growled again.
"Yes," Aeri interjected again before Alistair could reply. "Off we go."
