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Errat seems defensive, but not entirely unreasonable. You can't quite pin down if he's simply defensive of his vehicle or distrustful of strangers- perhaps both, honestly. Or there was something else that was bothering him, but in any chance, it didn't hurt to be extra polite.
You pinch the sides of your robes and pull them out gently as you drop into a low curtsy, not quite prostrating yourself like you would for the upper nobility, but low enough to have to slide your foot out to the side to balance yourself. “Thank you for accommodating me.” You say, politely not mentioning the fact that you're <span class="mu-i">paying</span> them.
Cad grunts. “She's got manners.”
Errat simply seems at a loss for words, before silently gesturing back to his truck. “Let's hitch up, then. The sooner we get this over with, the better.”
“It's a six day drive, Errat, remember? We're not just bouncing over to Cogway like normal, we're under and up to the Tribute.”
“Yeah, yeah. I know.” Errat sounded dismissive. “I've run it before.” He turned to you. “Come on.”
Glancing briefly at Cad, you follow Errat back to one of the trucks lined up on the edge of the platform. Like all the others, it was a boxy thing, with squared edges as six oversized wheels with deep-cut treads suitable for offroading. That seemed curious to you, but you were going outside the road network of the hive, if you understood what they meant about going under the ‘foundations'. Yesterday, the beds had been empty, but now it along with the others was piled with heavy crates and bags secured down with tarps and straps, carefully arranged so that the softer cargo would not be crushed by jostling crates as they ran.
You absently nod at the arrangement, noting only minor flaws in the packing procedure before Errat opens the door and gestures for you to step inside.
“M'lady.” He says dryly.
You ignore the implied jab and pull yourself up into the cab, sliding yourself into the worn cloth passenger seat and slipping your bag off your shoulders. The door shuts behind you, and you put the bag on your feet as Errat comes around the front of the cab to speak to Cad one last time, although he can't seem to help stealing occasional glances at you as if he expects to catch you doing something. You adjust some of the tools beneath your robe so they don't pinch you as hard, tucking the loose fabric of your skirt beneath your thighs and settling in for what you can only guess will be a long drive.
Errat pulls the door open and drops himself down into his own seat. He glances up at the mirror and carefully adjusts it slightly, jostling the bronze eagle talisman hanging from it's pole as he does. “Ground rules, by the way.” He says as he fishes a key out from inside his jacket pocket. “Don't get anything on the seat or you'll be buying a new one. If I say to do something, don't question me and just do it. Clear?"
