Therin slightly frowned at H'sikar's response. Perhaps the Argonian hadn't translated the word "motive" from Cyrodiilic into Jel properly enough to understand the question. The desire to kill a formidable foe
was a motive...and a pretty common one for Argonians, in Therin's experience. They were a race that enjoyed challenging themselves against others. He wondered if the Argonian in front of him was a Shadowscale, but such a question would've been inappropriate to ask.
Therin looked over at the cloaked Breton with a wide-brimmed hat. The man sat in silence, refusing to answer the Argonian's question of his motive. Therin didn't blame him for not answering. If Therin hadn't just revealed his own motives to the entire inn in the hopes of allaying their fears, he would've kept such things to himself. Unfortunately, Therin served the people, and was responsible to them.
As the silence stretched out, Therin caught a concerned look on Katelle's face. Her quirked eyebrow seemed to be questioning him. It had been a long day for Therin, and it looked like the coming days were going to be just as long. He had neither the energy nor the desire to overcome the impasse that blocked further conversation, and so stood.
"
I wish you well in your endeavor, H'sikar," Therin said politely. He had briefly considered asking him to join, but the Argonian's less than altruistic answer didn't inspire confidence in the man's commitment. Nor had Therin seen any talent from the Argonian that would be of much use against the abomination. Therin didn't know much about the monstrosity he faced earlier, but he didn't think it could be defeated through a drinking contest. "
And I humbly thank you for your assistance earlier. May Mara bless you both."
Therin nodded a polite goodbye to the Argonian and the Breton, and quirked his own questioning eyebrow at Katelle. She stood as well, following Therin's lead, and wished a hasty goodbye to the others. Therin escorted her upstairs to her room and made sure the door was safely secured after promising again to reunite with her first thing in the morning. Gathering up his things, Therin made his way to the Bunkhouse to find some place to sleep.
* * *
Magnus' rays peeked warmly over the treetops as Therin and Katelle turned their backs on Riften and began their northward journey towards Shor's Stone. Therin guessed, after looking at a map, that it would take them the morning to get there, which Katelle confirmed by admitting she had passed by the small village on her way to Riften, although giving it a wide berth. Therin hoped that whatever darkness had plagued the village--and may still be there--would be weakest at midday. He planned on investigating the area as quickly as possible and leave before nightfall.
After a few minutes walking on the road, Therin stopped short, as if remembering something long forgotten.
"Wait here," he told Katelle. "I'll be back in a few moments."
He turned off the road and walked eastward. His steel plate armor, a reassuring weight on his shoulders, wasn't ideal for traipsing through the close-knit underbrush of the forest. Abandoning the notion of trying to weave his way through a path of least resistance, Therin ended up crashing through the twigs and branches blocking his way, like a troll in a pottery shop.
Therin returned to Katelle within the promised few moments, leading a horse behind him. He smiled at Katelle's shocked and bewildered face and answered her question before she could ask it.
"The horse belonged to a woman named Holga who I tried to help yesterday before the attack. She mentioned that she had tied it to a tree off the road before sneaking into Riften. I was preparing to get the horse when the monster attacked, and I had forgotten about it until now. She has no more need for it, so we might as well put the mare to good use."
Securing their packs to the horse's saddle--greatly reducing the weight of their load--Therin and Katelle continued down the road, the horse walking behind them. After a short while, they caught up with an Argonian making his own way northward. It turned out to be H'sikar, who informed them that he, too, was travelling to Shor's Stone. It was better to make a friend than an enemy, Therin thought, and invited the Argonian to travel with them since he seemed like he was heading there anyway.
The three journeyed north and arrived at the outskirts of the village just as Magnus reached its zenith.