Aaron tried to calm himself and dry his tears as best he could.
It took a few minutes but Aaron, with eyes still red and irritated, picked himself up from the blood and vomit stained floor.
Aaron rose to see that Iccos had put his hand out in front of Aaron.
Aaron's mouth opened to begin to ask a question, but he quickly put the pieces together when he saw Iccos was staring fiercely at the hooded figure who had helped them.
Iccos had his other hand's claws aimed at the person, and his tail was moving back and forth, like a snake considering lashing at it's prey.
"Who are you, and why did you help us?" Iccos demanded.
The hooded figure responded by removing their hood, showing her face.
Iccos' body language immediately relaxed, and he practically lept forward as he hugged the woman.
"Tikvah, I can't believe you're here."
Tikvah shared in Iccos' embrace and smiled deeply.
"It's good to see you too Iccos, we feared you were dead."
Iccos snapped to attention.
"We? More made it out?"
Tikvah nodded.
"Not many, but enough. We've made a small camp, south of this village."
Aaron had never seen Iccos smiling so much before, so full of life and joy.
Aaron was happy that his friend was happy.
Iccos had a sudden realization, and turned to Aaron.
"Aaron, this is Tikvah. She's from the group I was with before I was arrested and met you."
Aaron smiled and stretched out his hand.
"Nice to-"
Aaron's greeting was cut off by the sound of a group of people gathering and making noise outside of the tavern.
The three of them turned to face where the noise was coming from.
"Did you bring a horse?" Asked Iccos nearly frantically.
"Yes, but just the one." Replied Tikvah.
"Take Aaron, I'll go by foot."
They all left the tavern, making sure that they weren't spotted.
Slowly, but stealthily, they made their way over to the spot that Tikvah had tied her horse.
Aaron took a moment to look at the horse.
While he had certainly seen horses before in his life, he had always been far too poor to own any.
Tikvah noticed his gazing, and lifted him onto the back part of the sadle.
"We don't have time to be looking longingly at animals."
Aaron took slight offense at the remark, but decided it was not worth saying anything on the matter.
"Will you be alright? How will you find the camp?" Aaron asked to Iccos.
Iccos flashed Aaron a reassuring smile.
"I appreciate the concern, but I've been fine. Besides I've-"
"-been in much worse spots, yes we know. Iccos, we all need to get going."
Iccos nodded in agreement, and took Tikvah's hand in his own.
"Ride swift, ride safe."
As Aaron and Tikvah rode away, Iccos called from the growing distance.
"Aaron! Stay safe! I'll see you again shortly!"
Aaron nodded in response, but realized too late that they were too far for Iccos to see.
***
Aaron and Tikvah eventually came to a small clearing with a river running through it.
"Let's stop here." Said Tikvah, which startled Aaron as she had not said a word during their ride.
Tikvah gracefully slid off the horse, at least graceful in comparison to Aaron's near fall off of the animal.
Aaron brushed off the dirt, hoping to retain at least a fraction of his composure as he did not want to appear weak in front of a friend of Iccos.
As there had been no time to discuss what had happened, Aaron was concerned about Iccos' and Tikvah's opinions on the events at the tavern.
"Drink up from the river. We've still a long ride to the camp." Tikvah told Aaron.
"Right." Aaron responded, attempting to be direct and choosing his words carefully as to not appear anything less than impressive.
While the fact that Aaron found Tikvah to be an attractive looking woman (as he so often did with almost any woman he met), he was currently more concerned with how he appeared as a friend of Iccos and if he seemed to be an equal amongst Iccos and Tikvah.
Aaron had also considered the fact that Iccos and Tikvah were currently involved in a romantic relationship.
Aaron pondered on such things as he kneeled down to cup the water with his hands.
It was here that Aaron once again felt the press of metal against his neck, a feeling he had hoped to never experience again.
Aaron, practically on instinct, threw himself away from the metal, finding himself crawling backwards on all fours and looking up at Tikvah, who still had a small knife drawn on him.
"Even at this distance, I could easily kill you. While that ease diminishes the further away you run, I am confident in the contest between my abilities and yours. Care to test that theory?"
Aaron shook his head.
"Good. I want you to answer some questions for you."
"A-and I have some, f-for you." Aaron struggled to get his words out, as he was abnormally confident for someone in his position.
Tikvah also took notice of this, as her expression changed from certainty to that of confusion and mild frustration.
"Who are you, and how do you know Iccos? Why does he trust you, and what do you know about our group?"
Aaron slowly got up, his hands outstretched as if his palm was the best defense from a thrown blade.
"I'm Aaron, Iccos and I were placed in the same jail cell when we were arrested and we helped each other escape. I think Iccos and I are friends, but that could be just my view. I don't know anything about your group, I didn't even know that Iccos had one."
Aaron was unsure as to if his answers were deemed satisfactory, as Tikvah's expression remain unchanged.
"I'd be more than happy to answer all and any of your questions, but I'd answer them better if I didn't have the threat of death looming overhead. So..."
Aaron gestured for Tikvah to put her knife down.
Tikvah paused, unmoving and thinking. Aaron's honesty hadn't taken her by surprise, as she was glad her early assumptions were true.
She put her knife away.
"Very well Aaron. Let us talk."