"The populist appeal."

"I'm a very popular girl."

"I can imagine."

"Though not everyone who'd like my attention gets it."

"Then I'll count myself fortunate that you picked a riverside tree to observe. The first good bit I've had in a week, it seems like."

"It's my pleasure."

Heh.

"You've been a pretty good turn already."

"You think so?"

"You survived a dragon, which is no mean feat. And you're heading to warn people rather than hunkering down in a cave - no matter your motives. And," a bit more teasingly, "You're pretty, and will only get prettier with a chance to clean up."

Is that a blush underneath the dirt? Who can tell...

"Well. Thanks."

"Another good reason to get you to a city - though actually I might have some spare clothes at least in my inventory, and you could wash in the river though it'd be cold..."

"Tempting. But I think I'd rather be inside for that."

"Awww - that's almost sane of you."

"Is that a compliment?"

Hum... "Well, insanity's a pretty good thing..."

"So you say."

"I'm an expert on the matter."

"You're definitely favored by the relevant god."

(Elerki has no such markings herself. She is, to all appearances, a human entirely untouched by the favor of any divine being.)

"A god's favor isn't everything." (That's weird and fascinating. Everyone at least has gods who claim their race, who claimed their parents.)

"It's something."

"Sometimes that something's just 'a pain in the ass.'"

"Then I'm spared that, at least."

"Boons and curses alike."

"So it balances out."