The Ranger's icy glare continues accompanied by a very pregnant pause. With surprising grace and speed she's back on her feet. Ornthal cannot hide the facial expression that moves almost as quickly from surprise to pride to nervous.
"I cannot be Named. I don't want you dead, at least not today. The time for my Naming," she smiles at him mockingly, "approacheth. The person closest to me must be present. He must also nominate a name."
"You have a name, for gods' sakes. You're twenty-three years old."
"I have what you have called me. In the eyes of The People, I have no name."
"More foolishness. Going 23 years with no name, no title. How does anything get done?" He gestures in frustration, arms flail as he paces. "Surely you've grown close to someone in the last five years?"
"It's not the person who is most convenient, Ornthal. It's the person closest, even if you hate them," she sounds more defeated by the word.
"So you do hate me. I bet you hope I'm sad or surprised. I'm neither, and I'm not going back with you."
"You selfish bastard!" Sounds of stirring in the forgotten campsite steals their attention. As she looks toward th noise, Ornthal grabs her whispering gruffly, "look angry." She needs no such prodding.
Shoving her toward the encampment she walks with a clumsy awkwardness he knows to be false. He does his best o cover his amusement and begrudging admiration with ire. Taking her dagger, Ornthal sits her near the embers as one groggy man tries to stoke the fire and the other relieves himself outside camp. She doesn't need that dagger, she has plenty to stare at Ornthal. She is not so intent on him as to miss the glances of his companions.
Neither is the attention lost on Ornthal. "I found her snooping around. Don't get any stupid ideas. Don't get any smart ones, either. About her," pointing for emphasis, "there are no ideas." Her legitimate fear at his implication hides well her silent smile at his concern. He didn't bind her hands as if she's a prisoner and he had only taken her obvious weapon. It seems he is not so picky about his colleagues these days. That fact alone tells her enough about his current circumstances that, for the first time, she feels confident she can be successful in convincing Ornthal to go with her.
To save her.
