Finally after a few more days of rest the three venture into the hiring grounds searching for a caravan for Jessa and Nathan. Dhiren is tagging along to just spend time with Jessa. Their time is short now and every minute is precious. 

Dhiren will be able to see the king later that day and so Jessa will know if she needs to deal with the bandits on her own or if the human king will deal with it, like he should. They are both aware that the likelihood of that happening is little to none.

They are standing there eating the sweet roll that Dhiren purchased and just talking to help them wake up when they are approached by a caravan master.

"Nathan, I am glad to see you available. I would like to hire you for my caravan back to Kyron. We'll leave in two days." The slightly snooty master tells Nathan, interrupting the three without apologies.

Nathan holds in his disdain for the master, but Jessa and Dhiren narrow their eyes at the man in dislike. Jessa shakes her head no. She won't go with this one even if he wanted her.

"Sorry, master Naglagot, I am only accepting offers that will accept my friend, Jessa as well." Nathan is well aware of Naglagot's dislike of the female guards. He thinks that they are useless and only cause trouble. An attitude widely held by many of the masters.

"I see, are you sure that I can't interest you in coming with me? I'll double your wages."

Nathan doesn't even think about it, "No, I'm sorry, but I already am promised to stay with her."

Naglagot sneers at the female guard, "Can she even wield the sword that she carries?" He intentionally snubs the elf that is at her side.

"She is the best fighter I've ever met. She's even better than the elven prince."

"Like that is hard to be. I'm sure that his abilities are just rumors and tall tales made to make humans avoid going into Silva."

Dhiren has a hard time holding his tongue at the insult to him and his people. "You shouldn't be so disparaging of those that you don't know. I know the elven prince and he's a better fighter than I've seen of any, bar none."

"Not true, Jessa, you are a much better fighter than he is." Dhiren interjects, which surprises the human that was so dismissive before. He's never heard of an elf willing to praise a human over another elf. Especially one of the leaders.

Naglagot sneers at the elf before him. "Whatever, I'm sure that I could best you in a fight."

Jessa can't hold back her peals of laughter at the words the arrogant human just uttered. Dhiren merely smiles before he calmly states, "How about you put your money where your mouth is? I challenge you to a match, first one to cry out loses. The loser will admit that the other is a superior fighter."

Naglagot is considered a decent fighter by those that know him. Indeed it is the only reason why Nathan would have considered hiring on with him if he wasn't already employed.

Naglagot is more than satisfied to accept the challenge and the two move over to the area set aside for sparring. Occasionally the masters wish to watch possible hirees to spar first to see how well they are able to handle their weapon.

It takes just minutes for Dhiren to disarm and place his swords in a cross over Naglagots throat just needing the slightest pressure from Dhiren to cut the man's throat completely. Naglagot holds still and cries out ending the match. He unwillingly admits that he was wrong. He'd never been against such a fighter.

"What is your name, elf?" Naglagot demands of Dhiren.

The guard had silently melted out of the crowd and angered at the disrespect shown their prince come towards the human with weapons drawn. "That is Prince Dhiren, prince of the moon elves of Silva." Jessa is more than willing to answer the ass's question.

Whispers take off and soon there is a low roar as the information is sent to those that did not hear Jessa's words.

Naglagot turns white as he realizes that he not only insulted the elven prince, but also damn near died by the very same prince. "I see, you are indeed a formidable opponent, Prince Dhiren." This time there is no arrogance in his words. But it did sound as if he had trouble speaking them.

Dhiren merely sneered at him before saying, "You should see with your own eyes the abilities of those you denigrate. This fight was nothing. You should see Jessa. Now she is a fine fighter."

Nathan smirks, "Yeah, why don't we see Jessa go against the Prince?"

Both Jessa and Dhiren give Nathan a dark look and Nathan merely snickers at their discomfort.

"You up for it, Jessa? We are close to your grandfather should anything go wrong."

Jessa leans her head to the side as she thinks about it. After a bit she nods, "Alright, it will help pass the time at least."

Jessa takes her place across from Dhiren as the defeated human slinks away from the sparring arena.

They both move forward to take offense and Jessa is mildly shocked. "You've improved, Dhiren. Have you been spending extra time practicing?" They speak in elvish not wishing the humans to understand.

"Of course. Can't have my girlfriend always showing me up."

Jessa laughs in delight at his words and give him another attack. She is very pleased that Dhiren is able to keep up his defense and even offer his own attack in turn. He lasts far longer than she had ever fought him to. Once she disarms him they set away their weapons and move on to hand to hand melee.

This time there is no stopping due to some one attacking the prince or her.

The prince lasts far longer than he ever has before and they are both breathing heavily as Jessa finally is able to take him down.

Jessa is delighted at how much better he has become and lets him know.

"It's because you've challenged me, Jessa. Sparring against you and knowing that I need to improve has made it so that I have been more diligent in my practices."

"Well, what ever the reason, I am very pleased with your improvement." Jessa tells him glowing at the work out. She hadn't had to hold back very much this time.

Once more the guard look at her and shake their heads. They are very thankful that Jessa had never gone against them that hard.

"Jessa, I just want to apologize to you for how I treated you while we trained together." Kristoff tells her softly and in elvish so that the humans nearby wouldn't be able to understand what he said.

Jessa stops still and stares at Kristoff in complete shock. Of all the elves she least expected Kristoff to be the one to apologize to her. She never expected any of them to do so, actually so the fact one did was enough to shock her, but who it was, well that was more than she ever expected.

"Are you feeling alright, Kristoff? Should I have my grandfather take a look at you?" Jessa asks in real concern, believing illness being the only reason he would offer her an apology.

Kristoff looks down with his face burning in embarrassment. "No, Princess, I have just realized that my actions against you were completely in the wrong. My only reason being because my father encouraged me to treat you that way. I understand much better that he is wrong and my continuing to listen to him would be beyond foolish. It would be downright stupid on my part. You are superior to me, to us, not just in fighting, but in your person. You have had every right to hate us for how we've treated you. You have every right to hate me for all that I've done to your over the years and yet, other than a few well deserved remarks you haven't said or done anything against me. 

"You were correct in that my father chose me intentionally and I hadn't earned my way to being the prince's body guard. But I have worked and improved. When General Brightblade held the tryouts I did earn this spot.

"After watching you go against the prince you have great reason to hold my fighting ability in low esteem. I swear to you both that I will continue to work and improve my abilities to equal this honor." Kristoff finishes off finally looking up from the ground to look Jessa and then the prince in the eyes.

Jessa is silent for some time as she digests what Kristoff had just told her. "I will accept your apology, Kristoff. Make sure that you do practice and do your best to improve. I hope to see improvement when I return to Silva after my trip to Kyron. I will be going the long way so it will give you some time to make those improvements."

Her words alarm Kristoff and he looks from her then to Dhiren in fear. There is no doubt in any of them that Dhiren is in love with Jessa. They've all heard the news that Jessa had brought about the bandits congregating at the pass.

"Please, princess, don't take that route." Kristoff tells her in a panic filled voice.

"It is something I must do since the human king isn't taking care of his people. The ones being killed are my friends or at least acquaintances. I can't allow that to continue." Jessa looks sad. They've already noticed that the caravans have stopped. Rumors have started going around the market that the caravans are being massacred at the pass.

As the reality is starting to sink in panic is starting to take hold. They haven't felt hunger yet, but prices for items have gone up. Soon there will be problems among the people.

"Jessa, Nathan, might I be able to interest you in working for me?" Josnick comes up to them and offers them work.

Jessa turns from the stricken elf and to the human. She smiles brightly at the human that she had helped before. "Of course, it only makes sense since I have partnered with you that I should travel and protect my investment."

"Would you be willing to be my caravan master? I had hoped that you two would be available when I heard that you haven't left Castlerock yet."

And just like that the crowd melts away taking many masters that are more than a little scared about taking their caravan through the pass. They decide that they will await further information, at least those that can afford to wait do so. Those that can't just hope that they are able to make it through the pass, that it's really just rumors and not reality. But they know deep inside that it's truth and it makes them sick.