Whitefish River a thousand times good night

merrick was aware they did not trust him — he capitalized upon the idea that it was only his nearness as a stranger that kept them both on edge. his own inner churning; if they could sense such, he would be damned. the pair confirmed the borders, to which the one-eyed boy gave a smart nod.
" will. and i do," merrick confirmed, seeking another apt lie in the web of them, "but my leader ... well, frankly, he sucks at it. was hoping to catch something for myself and my sister," he embellished, thinking of astara with an inward flare of glee. 
"can i ask what this place is?" he inquired, turning his full attention to the woman under the girl's watchful eye. he'd proven himself as someone lost, with an interest in hunting, if not a fondness for borders, established the presence of family — a fair introduction for an individual seeking to recruit before winter arrived.