Snippet #2686072

The sun had not yet risen into view when Dervish and the other two bandits reached the point of the road closest to the Ragged Camp. The masked man glanced at the surrounding foliage yet again, but the leader had been very surprised at the uneventful trip. The horses of his followers were laden with their spoils from the mission, all except a particular sword which Dervish had claimed for himself, and despite the outfits being hidden it would have been a pain to deal with anyone on the road whether guard or criminal. Exhaling steam in the cool morning air, Dervish steered the horse off of the road, and towards home.

It didn't take long for one of the ragged bandits to meet Dervish on the pathway, and take the reins of the leader's horse. The bandit leader listened as the happenings of the last two days were explained to him, an unbelievable tale of the merchant girl's escape and a battle. At the word 'Witch', Dervish snapped his head towards the follower, and that's when he began to ask questions. It took time for him to be satisfied, but finally they reached camp and Dervish descended from the horse, intent on speaking with the salt maiden, the palisade, and the witch. If everything that he had been told was true, their plans were going to change. An ambitious smirk remained hidden behind his emotionless steel mask.

Pushing the heavy tent flap aside, Dervish entered the dark and the warmth of his quarters and was immediately greeted to the sight of Arya's naked form, the curve of her behind and back dimly illuminated in what little morning light filtered into the tent. Both Weaver and the mysterious Witch woman were nowhere to be seen in the tent, although the bandit leader assumed that the first place his soldier would go after the strenuous events of the previous night was to a drink. Stepping closer to the bed, Dervish noted the missing bottle that had been on his dresser and silently confirmed his suspicion. If the witch had left in the night while Weaver was drinking himself into unconsciousness, the bandit leader would regretfully have to make an example of him. Perhaps Arya knew more - The fact that she was here still, at least, was a good sign. Even if the information she gave was under duress and her escape attempt should have ended with the death of one of his lieutenants, without both her information and her wily escape they wouldn't be in the position to move for power that were currently in.

Looking again to the girl's form in the light, Dervish briefly felt a stirring that he'd ignored for years, now, but the man pushed the thought aside and sat on the edge of the bed. "Glad to see that you've made yourself comfortable in my bed." His tone was almost playful. He'd wait for her to awaken and then see if she knew where the Witch had slept or gone in the night, and then they could begin to plan.