[sylvanSpider]

Arabella bowed her head and nodded. She was a novice after all. It made sense that Wisp wouldn't want Ara performing the beginning processes. “Then, I'd be happy to watch to learn?” the halfling offered instead. She felt useless in this endeavor, thankful that she had plenty of experience in other areas so when the fighting actually happened she already had plenty under her belt. There, at least, she would not be wanting. “I...I don't know what I'm going to barter with just yet, just what to barter for. I...I want protection for Kastivi when the time comes. And I want to be the one granting her that protection, if only to ensure that nothing bad happens to her. I am willing to accomplish these goals by almost any means necessary – including selling my soul to whatever patron is willing to grant me this.”

There was much that she was leaving out in terms of why. The apprentice already showed plenty of potential, but, if the ancient texts were to be believed and other Daughters were to catch wind of her abilities, that safety may only be short lived, and it would be the Daughters themselves that she would need protection from. She would need much more than fire to keep them at bay.

“Juniper berries?” the wizard asked, interest piqued, “I do enjoy their taste. But how do you manage to make it while out in adventuring parties?” He looked back down at his flask, disappointingly unused, “Nope. Nuh uh, no ma'am. If I'm not allowed to drink it because our dark mage has decided to side with the goody-two-shoes wannabe knight, you aren't allowed to drink from my stores either.” He folded his arms and cast a steely glare in the direction that Christoval took off running in and looked back to Dead Waltz, “I'll share when I'm able to join you and not a moment before. So you can either convince the dark mage and her pet to leave me to my own devices, or you can wait until we make camp like I have to. She likes you more, maybe you can convince them.”

“I...I am not rejecting your company, but know that I am sensing ulterior motives,” Percival said simply, wishing that he could just be left alone to trail behind the party like he'd been able to with the last few. “Well, I don't normally care how impressed the people I travel with are, only that I can keep them alive in and out of a fight, but I suppose if it makes you swoon, I'll give it a try.” The wizard seemed to be willing to play her games, but only so far, and always with an air of caution.

> > > > > > > > > > > > > >

The explosion was all Kastivi needed to jump back off the beast's shoulders, stumbling backwards, eyes wide. She blinked, both ears ringing and she leaned against a tree to try to catch her bearings. Without thinking, balls of fire appeared in both her fists, body ready for a fight that the mind had yet to catch up on.