Beleg had changed quickly into some torn up clothes, complete with fresh looking bloodstains down his right leg. He appeared to be leaning heavily on Ras’s shoulder as though he needed the support to remain upright and walking.
Ras motioned at Kre with his free hand, the other being wrapped around Beleg’s waist as if helping the older man, “Come brother,” he said, “Father needs our help to get back to town. That boar did a number on his leg and he needs our help through these dangerous woods.”
Kre’s mind was still trying to process the swift change in his two new friends when he suddenly realized that the three of them were the only ones left in the clearing. “Where did everyone…”
“They’re getting into position!” Beleg said with a laugh. “Just as we should be.” He gestured at Kre’s tyrfang, “Now, tuck that inside your trousers. Don’t let on that you have a weapon at hand. That said, take up that axe there and carry it over your shoulder.” He nodded as Kre arranged himself as directed. “Now, some mud on your face and muss your hair a bit and…”
“Right and proper woodcutter’s son he is,” Ras said with a grin. “We’re goblin bait for certain.”
“I can’t tell if you’re actually happy about that or if you’re pulling my leg,” muttered Kre.
Ras chuckled and winked at his friend. Then he paused and cocked his head, “What do you mean by pulling your leg?”
“It’s one of them strange Tehynshin phrases,” Beleg responded. “Pulling my leg means that you’re jesting with him. Now, off we go!”
Even though they had a bit of a walk to go before they made it to the rocky area, Beleg insisted that they remain in character in case the goblins had a lookouts or a patrol out. Kre could tell that the big man loved every second of play acting. He wondered briefly if the big man had dreams of working in a theatre troupe before he found that his large size and martial ability made for an excellent build for a career as an adventurer.
As they walked, with Beleg and Ras in front of him, Kre noticed small details such as how even though Beleg dragged his supposedly bad leg behind him, he was still somehow supporting his own weight enough that Ras had complete freedom of movement should he need it. He also noticed that Ras’s cloak was hiding a pair of swords, swaddled in cloth and secured to his back. He nervously tapped the tyrfang at his side, to reassure himself of its presence.
“Don’t touch your blade,” he heard Beleg hiss in a low whisper. “It’s a sure tell that you’re hiding something there.”
How the man knew Kre had done so was beyond him. Both Ras and Beleg had agreed that Kre should stay behind them, for his own safety, given that this was his first skirmish as a member of the company.