Charumati laughed, but there was no humour in her voice. 

"I would love to see them try it, though," she said wryly, with just a hint of bitterness. "If the Bhok thins out their numbers, that makes our job a little easier."

The Fire Lord and his military were just the kind of arrogant fools to disregard local legends and tales. The Earth Kingdom had long respected the spirit guardians that roamed their lands, and it wouldn't be the first time the Fire Nation did such a thing. She had heard tales of multiple shrines and forests being razed to the ground by the ever-expanding Fire Nation army, and Charumati could only hope they made the error of challenging what was clearly a very dangerous spirit.

She listened as Nirav listed out his skills, musing over the not unexpected list of abilities.

"Rohana could use a body guard," she finally said. "My driver currently does both, though she has no one when she is not taking her carriage."

Charu grazed the tip of a finger cuff delicately across her cheek bone as she thought of how to make a thing such as hiring a mountain man to be her personal body guard as opposed to any of the well reputed mercenaries available locally.

"It is unusual for someone of the wealth that Rohana possesses not to have a personal guard at all times. There are guards for the house, and for her warehouses, but no one for her herself. Tomorrow, my butler shall meet you here."

In the dirt between them, she sketched out an outline of the town, marking their current position with a cross shape, then tapping the place where the market place was and drawing another cross.

"For the benefit of anyone listening, he shall say that his mistress was impressed with the skill of your hunt and the quality of your knifework, and that she wishes to turn those talents to her personal use. You will agree, but make it seem real — be surprised, at first, hesitant. Argue with him, and say that you had meant to move on. He will offer you money; reject it at first, and let him raise the price twice before you agree.

"Once we get you to my house, we will be able to speak freely. How does this sound to you?"

Nirav frowned once more at Rohana's thought that she may have enjoyed the Fire Nation attempting to conquer the Wild Mountain. The hunter had seen the results of those that had crossed paths with the Bhok. Even to this day, such memories made him shudder, a cold feeling running up his spine.

"If you saw what was left behind when that spirit has fed, you would not speak like this," Nirav said. "To live in such state... there are things you do not wish on even your enemies."

There was a tone of reproach in the man's normally monotone voice. He heard that bitterness, and knew in his soul how the woman felt. He felt it too. It was why he had agreed to join her. But there were things that should never be wished. This was one of those things.

The suggestion that he could pose as a bodyguard made sense to the hunter; during his time, he had been called on to fight. For the first part of his life, it was mostly against the elements and wildlife of his mountainous home, but recently he had been forced to defend himself against bandits, and the occasional Fire Nation soldier that attempted to rob him.

He watched wordlessly as Rohana created a map in the dirt near the campfire, nodding along as she spoke to show that he understood her words. It was all a bit more complicated than what he was used to; he preferred a more straightforward approach. A shame that this was how it had to be.

"I go to market again. Man comes, they say you wish to hire me. I am surprised, want to move on, am persuaded after two more offers. He bring me to house, we speak again," Nirav repeated, as if burning the sequence of events into his brain. With a grunt, he nodded as he scratched at the remaining lump of his ear, accepting this scenario.

Still, he gave Rohana an uncertain look.

"There will be space for Sejun, yes? He is getting a little fat," he said, these last words a whisper. Despite the hushed tones, the gemsbok bull's head still reared, a deep sound of annoyance sounding from him. Nirav waved placating at the beast. "No, no, I say wrong word. Big! Strong! He is big and strong."

Sejun huffed and laid his head back down. Seeing the gaze averted, Nirav shook his head slightly at the woman across from him to indicate what he said first is what he meant.