[sylvanSpider]

Arabella laughed, shaking her head, “Yes, this is important and I'm sure there's a reason you're with us. We'll see what that is when we get to where we're going. Those goblins aren't going to kill themselves, and I can think of none better suit to do it for them.” Arabella took the weights from Kastivi and fastened them to her own ankles, putting the other set on her shoulders so as not to upset her back and throw off the balance. After all, someone had to carry them when they weren't being used by another person.

Kastivi sat down where she was, finding a nice rock to rest her weary haunches and reached for her toes. Ara would be pleased to see her stretching in between her workouts, but she wasn't about to call attention to it; she wanted to go without weights as long as possible. Still, she could feel a bit of guilt well up in her chest. Both sets of weights went to the halfling any time they weren't in use. Truly, her strength went further than she'd bother to say, but then, she knew that even those to a person like Deadwaltz were probably nill. Arabella sat down beside Deadwaltz and watched her sharpen her swords as she sang. Soon, her voice joined Deadwaltz's in a harmony, letting Waltz take the melody:

I sought the songs
I sent the songs
when the deepest well
gave me the drops so touched
of Death-fathers wager...

Kastivi blinked. She'd heard Ara sing before, but she never expected her to know the words that the barbarian sang, especially considering the references to gods she'd never worshiped, let alone mentioned. Kastivi colored, glancing down, “I would do the same, again and again. And I know you and I are not the only ones to share that sentiment.” She wiped some sweat from her brow before leaning back, propping herself up by locked wrists, “I truly believe that this expedition is going to be a success. Who knows, we might even get to see a step closer to peace.”

“I have nothing to prove to you, apprentice knight. Tell you what, if you can tell me of a single adventurer that has died within the past five years under my care, I will give it to you,” Percival said, narrowing his eyes at said knight. “Be grateful it is I and not your mentor doing the healing. I don't punish you for taking hits, her healing does. Not that I see anything wrong with it if it gets the job done.”