How Could You Refuse?

You looked to Kent for a short moment, locking eyes with him for a moment before looking back to the blue-haired girl, "Course, miss, it'd be safer if you got off the land as soon as possible," You agreed causing Jenessa to let out a relieved exhale, quickly walking over to both you and Kent,

"Thank you, being with you two is much smarter, I promise I won't slow you down either," She assured you, "A-And, I can fight, I wouldn't run, and you wouldn't need to protect me,"

"After what I saw just now, I'd have to agree, you handle yourself well," Kent nodded in agreement,

"Agreed," You affirmed. While holding onto your side, you motioned the pair forward with your head, quickly falling into a horizontal line, with Kent on your left and Jenessa on your right, "Who taught you how to use a bow?" You curiously asked,

"My father, he was in the army as well, but retired once I was born." Jenessa smiled, thinking about the man for a brief moment, "My mother passed during my birth, so it was up to him to raise me. After a few years he decided that the city was no place for us any longer, he wanted to be away from it all, so he built a cabin out here, and that's where we lived for the last fifteen years."

"Should we get him? Where's your cabin?" Keny quickly asked,

Jenessa let out a low sigh, "No need...my father died about eight months back, I wasn't sure what happened, but he disappeared on a hunt and never returned."

"You have my sympathies," You softly said to the girl,

"And mine," Kent agreed,

"Thank you," Jenessa said before taking a small breath, "I've been living alone since, hunting for my meals and trading pelts to traders once and awhile. I'm good with a bow, but my father wasn't able to teach me in the art of tracking. It's made things...difficult," He cheeks suddenly turned a bit red, and she let out a small laugh, "My apologies, I haven't told either of you my name," Both you and Kent gave a half smile, realizing you haven't done the same, "Jenessa Nerario," She said a properly as she could,

"Kent Sacusus," Kent smiled,

"John Doe," You nodded, "A pleasure," Jenessa let out a little smile, holding your gaze for a moment, "Now, you said Nerario, don't tell me your father was Jarans Nerario,"

"The very same!" Jenessa almost gasped, "How do you know that?"

"Wait, the Jarans Nerario? He was a Reness legend, they said he could he could hit a man a mile away with his bow," Kent awed,

"They did?" Jenessa replied in surprise, "I...didn't know that, my father never really talked about his life in the military or the wars he was involved in,"

"You father was a talented man, a revered man, you should be proud of his accomplishments," You firmly stated with a smile, "Men like your father helped keep this land safe,"

"If only every man was like him...maybe things could have been different for us all," Kent lowly tacked on, "You know my father fought with him once, early on, when he joined, he was on a battlefield resupplying the archers with arrows. He always said that Jarans would run out in minutes, but almost every shot was a hit,"

Jenessa slowly allowed a smile to form, "Wow, that's...huh, I didn't think my father was an important man in that regard, he never seemed bothered by leaving,"

"Some men can see things beyond the battlefield are more important," You remarked before wincing slightly, "This is going to be a long five days,"

"Two days," Jenessa corrected,

"Two days? Falcone's border is five days away at the least," Kent scoffed, "With our luck, it'll be even longer,"

"I'm sure that's what you believe, and following these paths will take five days or more, but I know the hunting trails. Routes that go all through these forests, paths that can lead right to the border in two days," You and Kent quickly looked at one another, "Follow me, quickly, before another group of headhunters show up,"

You looked to Kent and smirked as Jenessa turned off the path and headed off into the forest, "Jaranas Nerario...can't believe we are traveling with his daughter, what are the odds?" Kent mumbled out with an almost star-struck grin, "John?" Kent asked after a moment,

Your eyes were instead glued to the blue-haired beauty that was walking into the woods. You could care less about her birthright, she was utterly charming, and her body rivaled nearly all the girls you've seen in the cities. You wound may be troubling you now, but after a few days of walking with Jenessa...or perhaps behind her, you should feel as right as rain. After another minute of your gawking Kent slapped you on your shoulder, "Wake up, would you? I can't protect your hurt ass if you're also...sight seeing all day,"

"Shut up; I can still kick your ass, Kent," You jokingly replied with a little shove in return,

"Sirs, are you coming?!" Jenessa suddenly called out causing you and Kent to snap back to the girl ahead of you quickly,

"Of course, right behind you!" You called back and quickly began to walk with Kent in tow.