Cooper found himself watching the sunrise, still talking to the Captain. Apparently 'fresh ones' were not out of the ordinary, and this wasn't the Captain's first time explaining things to one. He'd efficiently gone through many of the important Guilds, Orders, powerful people and nations. They were both starting to get tired, finally. Just in time for... everybody else to wake up. He saw several people coming out of their tents, wagons and the like. The tradies and the rest of the Captain's people he assumed.
The Captain spoke up "I'll notify the rest of the people about you and your pets presence here. If you want some sleep, you both can sleep in my wagon. It's that one, covered with green cloth. I'll wake you when I need to sleep, though we're likely to leave before then."
Looking for the aforementioned wagon, he found what he thought was the one. "Is that the one? I am feeling the effects of my journey at last it seems." Cooper asked for confirmation, pointing at the wagon.
"Yup, that's the one. Now off with you, I've got things to take care of." The Captain walked off in the direction of some of the waking people, armed people, Cooper realized. Cooper assumed it was the rest of his group. Without further stalling, he went to have a look at his temporary sleeping quarters, finding himself quite tired as the excitement finally started to wear off. Opening the flap to the back of the wagon, he peeked in. It looked surprisingly comfortable, some sort of cushions, a few blankets, enclosed from the cold night air and wind by some cloth.
"Well, he did say it was for both of us, right? I guess that means you're welcome up here too." He motioned his companion to hop up into the wagon, which the Grey Stalker was more than happy to follow. After they both found a comfortable position, they quickly drifted off to sleep.
In the morning, or what Cooper perceived to be morning anyways, he was woken by the sudden halt of the wagon and shouts. Not particularly panicked shouting, just loud, attention gathering shouting. He and his newfound companion arose from the wagon and dismounted to a sight of about 30 soldiers led by 3 men in rather fancy silver and gold adorned plate armor.
The Captain was currently in talks with the three men, with two of the three seeming somewhat agitated already. Walking closer to hear what was going on, the Captain turned and answered his thoughts, "Move the wagons and everything else to the side of the road, let these paladins pass." turning back to what Cooper now knew to be paladins, the Captain resumed his chat with them. "Well, there you go, your mighty holiness, the way is being cleared. I don't see why you couldn't just go back at most a five minute walk to the crossroads, where the road is much wider for maneuvers or perhaps get your much more mobile forces over the ditch and through the forest, but then again, I am not an all-knowing holy entity like yourself." Cooper was starting to regret coming closer to what he now realized was a slightly heated conversation with the paladins.
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"You are indeed not a member of any of the Holy Orders, Captain." Spat back the front paladin. "You are REQUIRED by your duty as a citizen to step aside and make way for your betters, IMMEDIATELY. None of this dawdling you are currently displaying. Your 'suggestions', would impede our mission to drive out the darkness that has taken hold nearby. You will not stand in our way."
The Captain stepped closer to the lead paladin and spoke in a hushed and serious tone that it had lacked the previous night, "You would do well to not threaten my men, lest I remind you why I have remained a Captain rather than retiring or taking the promotion to a more managerial position, like most would do, and have done, after SEVERAL succesful campaigns and battles under their belt, Harwyn. Threats like yours, thinly veiled as they may be, will earn you that reminder." With that, the two paladins left their third to talk it out with the disgruntled Captain, obviously annoyed.
"Well, let me be the first to apologize for my rather uncouth companions. I should also note, not all paladins of the many orders are as pompous as those two, and that I agree with your suggestions, but cannot aid in this regard as I am but a glorified guide on this mission. I am Tenet, and yes, I know how fitting my name is." Spoke the third paladin, in a surprisingly soothing manner, especially in contrast to the other one.
"...Very well then, Tenet. I must admit to finding your good manners to be surprising. Most of the paladins and their higher ups I've come across have been pompous pricks. I am Captain Gort, good to meet a non-prick paladin." The Captain replied.
"Now that that's out of the way, I suppose I should return to my companions, otherwise they may think I am deserting. Good journeys and farewells." The nicer paladin quipped as he returned to his sulking companions.
Eventually the wagons had been moved to the side in a pleasing enough manner for the leading Prick-adin to continue his march where-ever their quest was taking them. "Get the wagons back on the road proper, we've lost enough time as is on this foolish little encounter." Captain Gort half-yelled to get the attention of the caravan. "Darren, Tommy, get a little scouting going and make sure there isn't another convoy of idiots or some such blocking our way further up, take the new kid with you as well, talk him through some basics regarding classes and weapons while you're at it." Darren and Tommy looked a little displeased with their assignment, having stayed on night watch last night, but continued as instructed.
"Well, come on then Cooper, we've got some walking and talking ahead of us it seems." Darren said as he motioned Cooper to follow, picking up his walking pace.