Questionable Entrance

[Albert Wesker]

For a moment, Kuzan hung back, reigning in his horse to a halt, staring first one way along the road, and then the other. He was half-expecting to see someone on the road somewhere, especially given where it was headed and the size of it. When he didn't, his mind irrationally jumped to foul play, such as when he'd first been roped into the mess on his first arrival here. But just as quickly it was replaced with the more sensible thought that maybe it really was as simple as no one was out travelling at the moment.

None that he could see, at any rate.

Shaking his head, he spurred his steed forward, a little too overzealously in his distraction. The creature snorted in annoyance, jerking its head around in an effort to stare judgementally at him, but the motion nearly unbalanced Kuzan despite his securements. With a second, more careful urging, the horse started forward, through the line of trees. He came upon something that put his earlier theory to immediate discredit.

"...and there's been some rumors of some strange things going on lately. Poor folk got ripped apart and everything, new arrivals getting into a fight right off the bat... all manner of things, really." The speaker, a strange-looking man mostly covered in the purple travelling cloak he was wearing, paused to turn and point down the road, toward the capital. "There's a town up that way, not too much further if memory serves...might be able to tell you more." He turned back, and tilted his head with an audible pop. "As for me, well...I don't buy much into rumors, most of the time..."

Drawing to a halt beside Ornstein, the ice man assumed his brief halt had caused him to miss the beginning of whatever conversation had been going on here.

"Oh! And one more thing, gentlemen..." His tone, previously lighthearted and jovial, took on a slightly more serious edge. "There is one rumor I do buy into around here. Thieves and bandits have been about lately, looking to take anything and everything they can from travellers in the area. Even on this road, knowing full well where it leads and who travels it from time to time." His expression looking as if he'd smelled something unpleasant, he simply shook his head in disappointment. "I'd advise being careful, if I were you...no telling what could happen around here lately."

Well...that sounded vaguely ominous. But it also gave at least some reason why there might not be any people about. Rumors or not, even the risk of highwaymen could put some people ill enough at ease about travelling to simply stay home. Especially if that travel was merely for the fun of it, as far as such things went.

"Thanks for the warning," the former Admiral said offhandedly, earning a nod and a "don't mention it" gesture from the stranger.