In a dead man's clothes.

Ramos steps out to offer a handful of fodder to Aegis and to prepare his things, offering you some privacy as you pick over the Tully's belongings. The woolen tunic is too soiled with blood and semen to wear, so you cut the skirt from your gown which is filthy only with dirt, and shrug it on over your bare chest. Over your now dry underclothes, you don his rough spun stockings, which are stiff with dirt but thick and warm. They are both too long and much too loose, but after cutting almost a hand's span from the hem, securing a folded flap of excess material down the side of each leg with a couple of hasty stitches, they are somewhat snug and will serve for the time being. Your modesty now restored, you cast your eye over the thicker and more protective outer garments inherited from the dead man. You elect not to put on some padded leather breeches as there is not much you can do to make these fit you better; they are more like to get in the way than to offer any protection. His supple leather jerkin is in remarkably good repair, and once cinched around your waist with his dagger's baldrick it almost looks flattering. Finally you wrap his dark green oilskin cloak and hood around your shoulders and pin it with the crude brooch that he wore. Slipping your now freezing cold feet back into your modest abbey shoes, you look longingly at Tully's thick, wool-lined boots and wish desperately that his feet were nearer your own in size.

Next you look over the man's weapons. With the eye of one who has practiced for many years with smith-forged swords and spears, you find yourself rejecting the humble items before you. His longbow is the only item of true quality, but is unstrung more than a head taller than you with a draw weight far in excess of your capability. You doubt you could even string it. It is of no use to you, but perhaps Ramos will be glad of it. Tully's felling axe is not even really a weapon, being far too unwieldy and heavy for use in combat, it would get stuck in the flesh of the first enemy you hit. He also has a number of knives and daggers, the best of which you secrete about your person in his various hidden sheathes. You come, at last, to the evil-looking knife with which he threatened you, and hesitate momentarily before sliding it into a reinforced loop on the back of your belt. The weapon nestles in the small of your back, blade and point cunningly turned from your person. You shudder at the thought of what would motivate a man to possess this kind of concealed blade, but find yourself glad of the reassurance in the dark circumstances in which you find yourself.

Looking about the cave for any further items of importance, you kick some dirt over the last pathetic embers of the fire and step out to meet Ramos, who has loaded an impossibly large pack and is preparing to struggle it onto his back.

"That looks a little too much," you offer with a touch of humour. "Perhaps Aegis can carry it for you."

"That is a kind thought Sabine, but mighty as he is he cannot carry both it and you."

"Well that shouldn't be a problem, as I will be walking alongside you." Your companion looks embarrassed. He is accustomed to treating women with a man's kindly contempt, you realise, and does not believe you capable of making the journey on foot. It is time to reveal yet another of your secrets. "Ramos... A novice I may be, but I was not at the Abbey to serve in the library, or the hospital. I am... was... to become a warrior. The day after the attack, I was to undertake the trial which would allow me to enter the ranks and fight for the goddess, eventually to become a paladin. I have been in martial training for six years, although admittedly had never fought for real until yesterday. I will not ride like some coddled priestess while you travel on foot." The embarrassment turns to amusement at your indigation, and Ramos looks a lot happier. It is a demeanor that suits him, you decide.

"Have it your way," he says with mock sarcasm. "But I'll wager your lily white feet are cracked, bruised and blistered when we reach my home tonight. And I suppose, young paladin-to-be, that it should be you that carries this as we travel." He slips the sheathed longsword from Aegis' saddle and hands it to you. "I would not have the first idea what to do with this thing, so it gladdens me that you claim to be an expert."

Your cheeks are burning as he winks, but you are glad that there is humour between you now. You help him break his pack down and load it onto Aegis' saddle, and then the two of you make some small adjustments to your gear before grinning at each other and setting off.