Clay moves around the inn looking for one of the many familiar faces around. He spots Saelud as the man passes the kitchen but notices quickly that he is with someone else so he stays back. His shoulders moving in a small shrug as he walks around looking for other people he might know.
Clay moved around the town, moving through the market as he looks over the many things there. His green eyes moved over every new item that was there. He hadn't been allowed to be in town. Not for a bit. It was wonderful to be exploring again though, to see what was new and what had not changed. He steps back and begins to turn before a body smacks into him.
Saelud gasps and lets out a cry as he falls on the young man, his letters scattering out along the ground. He curses and helps the boy up before quickly grabbing the letters back into his arm. "I'm so sorry, I was not paying attention. I am late. far too late sir. I need to deliver these."
Clays stare at him in surprise before just smiling and offering a wave after being helped up. He grabs a couple of the letters for him and hands them off before moving away to look at other goods.
The red-haired lad moves outside and begins to go through the things in his saddle pack when his eyes catch that Saelud's wagon is still by the back of the inn. The delivery for the inn he had brought had been taken in and the horses were tied to the post but it was still there and Saelud wasn't exiting the building to return it to the farm he borrowed it from.
Clay looks up as someone sets a bundle of lilacs down in front of him, the colors a mellow purple...unlike the strong smell. He spots the same person that had bumped into him and offers a small wave though his expression was full of confusion.
Saelud winces, "If you don't like them I can deliver them to one of the farm ladies and say they were from someone else. I wanted to apologize and when I noticed you came to the inn a lot I asked Butterbur what might be a good gift."
Clay shakes his head and grabs his journal. He flips to a blank page and begins to write carefully with a piece of charcoal. "I like them, thank you. I was surprised to have them and even more surprised that Barli suggested these as a gift for me."
Saelud looks around nervously, "Well, I didn't know you and he admitted that it was a guess. I am glad you like them. I'll be back sometime again but I need to get back to work." He bows and quickly turns, walking towards the door to leave.
Clay sets his other writings to the side with a shake of his head and he brings the flowers to his nose, his eyes closing as he smells them.
Clay waits for Saelud, noticing the other looked flustered and uncomfortable. He sits down on the stairs and waits for the other to join him, the dark-haired man moving to sit as well. "I met someone. I do...I do not know how to feel. Something does not sit right. I want to give them a chance but I have never had an interest. In marriage or courting or anything of the sort. I might have gotten their hopes up without meaning too. I have heard of your adventures with it and I have a feeling, in my guts, that something will go wrong with this."
Clay leans back a bit, his face twisting into a worried frown, "[SL] It's tricky. You already said no to one marriage and it cost you. You could face the same judgment again if it does not work out." He signs carefully, slowly choosing his words. "[SL] You told me once that you could never open yourself up to that sort of trust again."
Saelud nods, "You are true in that." He runs a four-fingered hand through his hair, "I do not have the sort of interest they want. I understand they wish for me to try but I do not want to say no either. Part of me is curious and yet I still have a feeling it will end badly." He looks to Clay with a sigh, his green eyes meeting the young healers. "What would you do?"
Clay shifts in his seat, the cold air nipping at his fingers, "[SL] I would say what I feel. That I mean have thought it would be something I thought I could move on from but that the memories of the last failure are too strong. That the trust it would take is not there and that something does not feel right to me." He breathes on his fingers when he finishes signing, trying to warm them at least a bit.
Saelud shakes his head with a defeated sound and stands, "I do not want them to be angry. To turn on me like her family did because I changed my mind."
The dark-haired mail courier pulls his tankard closer, "And that is how my face got scarred and my finger removed. They chose to believe rumors because they thought the truth did not make sense. How could I not want to be married, to have a family? They thought I had found another and forfeit the arranged marriage. They wanted me to suffer and be punished over words said behind my back."
The redhead winces and shakes his head, his look one of sympathy and understanding. "[SL] I can't make the hurts deep inside go away," he signs, "Not of that sort. I can not return a finger or make the scar fade anymore. What was done to you was done. No one should expect you to just move on. It is a wound, it just takes much longer to heal but even it will leave a scar."
Saelud looks surprised, "You are wise for such a young lad. Though even I have heard the tales of what happened. I feel like that would age you, more than anyone would ever want to think about."
Clay pats his back softly and moves to stand, "[SL]Return your cart and sleep. I will be here tomorrow. I can speak to you then.." his hands are cut off by the other man as they chuckle, "Yes mother Clay. I will see you tomorrow. Do not get kidnaped again." Clay shudders at the thought and offers a wave before moving to go inside the front door.
As he enters he notices the man who Saelud had walked away with towards the back of the inn earlier that evening. An older man. One that reminded him of the other skilled horsemen from other places. He grabs a tankard and moves over, pestering him to see what he thought of the man by asking about his arm and offering to help. In the end something in him felt...off. When the man's friend came he offered a wave and a signed message, "Do not break Saelud more, he has been broken enough." The young healer offers his goodnight after that and heads towards the back.
This was his bundle of lilacs. His own gift of apology to Saelud for the damage that had already happened............that didn't need to happen again.
