king with no throne

Dante could tell the man's heart wasn't in his smile but made no mention of it, not wanting to bring awkwardness to the situation. There were some who liked to share their troubles and others who held them close; not knowing Galileo, he did not want to make any assumptions.

"No worries, you haven't passed into claimed lands." He smiled. "I'm just out for a bit of a rove myself, it's a bit easier to think out here. My name is Dante." He was happy that the first face he met on this excursion was a friendly one. Suspicions of strangers could sometimes make emotions run high in first meetings such as this one, but Dante preferred to think that, when on unclaimed territory, most were not looking for a fight. Thus he rarely approached ready for one. Possibly an unwise choice, but diffusing tension was something he readily did.

"You are not from these parts then?" Obviously, if he thought he was trespassing. The question invited conversation, though, if the other man wished to expand upon it. It was not too forward, however, so as to pry. He would hate to raise defenses by seeming too nosy for his own good.