Shady

"I'm sorry to hear that," Pratik cringed. "It's disgusting. What people do to other humans. I'll kill every last slaver that I get the opportunity to."

"I as well," Pratik agreed, sitting down on the hearth and holding his frigid fingers out to it, cringing at the pain that creeped into them. But, then, that was ...

"Oh, hey, it's all good," Pratik said with a grin. He walked forward and stretched out the coat so that it would dry near the fire. It was nice Rickard ...

Pratik shrugged his own coat off and turned to lock the door. "You alright there, buddy?"

"We're in the room next door, if you need anything." Pratik slipped into the hall and walked back to the room he was sharing with Rickard.

Pratik eyed her warily, not sure how to respond. On the one hand, agreeing would confirm that he was, in fact, not being honest with her now. On the other, ...

"Me too," he muttered, stepping towards the door. "Do you need anything from me? Any questions?"

"You need to try to rest as much as you can," Pratik said. As if he wasn't calling the pot calling the kettle black. "This is the last night of ...

"Do you wake up easily?" Pratik asked. "I can't be loud at four in the morning, or whenever it is I wake up. Will you wake if I knock softly?"

"Solid advice," Pratik said with a nod. "With any luck, maybe he'll help you along back to your tribe." And, he hoped they'd be lucky. God only knew what Ash ...

"Cold. Suspicious. Calculating. Paranoid." Pratik shrugged. "But he must have a heart beneath it all, because he helps every last freed slave that comes his way, as I understand it."

"I don't think the paranoid bastard knows what friends are," Pratik answered. He was tempted to also move nearer the fire, but thought better of it. He was still trying ...

"This is the nearest town," Pratik said simply. "So they'll be coming here first, and I want to be as far from it as possible, by the time they come. ...

" Who know what ?" Pratik clarified.

Pratik slipped into the room, pushing the door shut behind him. He took a step away from her and crossed his arms. "We're leaving a bit before dawn. That'll be ...