Back With Boris

Immediately, they see Boris, who is standing in exactly the same spot as they left him, poring over his huge plan of the city pondering his next move as if it were little more than a more advanced form of chess. They notice that there are a few less Diamond markers and more Dragon markers than there were when last they saw the chart.

'Bleedin' 'ell!' exclaims Boris as he sees the first of them emerging from the trapdoor. 'Yers back already? Didn't expect to see yers all for a long time yet. Oi! Corrow, Sonya, Heimlin, Tharnald an' Darry - yer mates are back. Come 'ere!'

With that, Boris rushes over to them, helping each of them to get up the final steps of the ladder and giving them all hearty pats on the backs as they get up. All of their old friends are equally pleased to see them all and are looking in good health - even Darry is fully recovered from the wounds inflicted by the goblins.

Boris gives another grin as he sees Darius bringing up the rear of the party:

'Yer found the little chap then did yers? Bleedin' glad to 'ear it.'

He offers his hand to Darius in order to greet him, not having the same familarity with him as the rest of the party.

'So, 'ow about the fur farm - did yer do it over?'

Jihan shakes his head sadly.

'No, Boris, I'm afraid that we did not have time to close down the farm. Darius got himself into quite a bit of trouble on his own and we ended up having to fight a large group of Nyemetz in order to retrieve him.'

Winnacer interjects at this point and smiles:

 'I'm proud to say that we were able to add another major victory to our tally yesterday. We vanquished a force of some forty Nyemetz with barely a scratch to show. Spravedelna surely smiled on us during the conflict.'

'Bloody good on yer, my son!' exclaims Boris, slapping Winnacer on the back once more.

Then Boris sees the figure of Will amongst your numbers:

'An' oo's this then? Another convert to the cause?'

Winnacer then introduces Will to the Dragons' leader, who Boris welcomes heartily.

'Glad to make yer acquaintance, Will. Make yerself comfy. Yer'll not want for nothin' while yer stays with us.'

Boris turns to speak with them all:

'So, Daniel says that 'e met up wiv yers yesterday while 'e was bringin' the news of Reinberger's demise to us. That's a bit of a turn up for the books, ay?! Who'd 'ave thought that yer plan would not only get rid o' Pavlichek, but also get rid o' Reinberger at the same stroke. Talk about killin' two birds wiv one stone!'

'I bet yer ain't 'eard the latest, 'owever' Boris continues, a wicked twinkle appearing in the old rogue's eyes. 'I guess it ain't so surprisin', but Malek weren't at all pleased at 'is mate Reinburger's assassination.'

Jihan interrupts:

'I saw him - just a couple of hours ago, heading south with a couple of companies of Worgriders.'

Boris nods, the news coming as no surprise to him.

'I just got word a couple of 'ours ago. From what Viktor's narks found out, Malek went absolutely mental when 'e 'eard the news about Reinburger. 'E swore that 'e was gonna get 'is revenge on the Diamonds if it were the last thing that 'e would ever do. Apparently 'e's goin' to Pardubitze - where the Diamonds main base is. Our narks say that 'e plans to 'ave words with the Lord Protektor of Pardubitze, Yan Strakota, and is gonna demand that 'e 'ands over the big boss of the Black Diamonds, Mirek Kominek, to 'im.'

Boris lets out a deep belly laugh.

'What I wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall at that meetin'! There's one thing that all o' the Nyemetz officials 'ave got in common, an' that's an ego the size of an 'ouse! I reckon that it's the main requirement for the job. I tell yers, when Reinberger an' Strakota face off, then it ain't gonna be a pretty sight. I jus' wonder which of 'em is gonna back down. It's sure to be an 'ell of a fireworks display!'

Jihan looks both surprised and relieved at the news:

'So he's not heading for the Twin Villages - Holitze and Sezemitze?'

'Whatever gave yer that idea?' replies Boris, somewhat puzzled. 'I'd be surprised if 'e'd ever 'eard o' the villages. They're well outside 'is manor. No, the Twin Villages come under the jurisdiction of Hradetz. Malek's got a 'uge area of the country to look after, includin' most o' the Krkonoshe Mountains, although they ain't 'ighly populated. E's got 'is ands full without gettin' involved in none o' the other areas.'

'In any case, don't yer reckon that Malek's really got 'is 'ands full at the moment? In the last couple o' weeks, 'e's lost 'is finest collection of witches that 'e's captured for a long while, lost 'is Witchfinder Building, 'alf o' is Witchfinders an' now 'is best mate Reinburger, plus sixty o' is garrison. If the bloke weren't such a bastard, I'd almost be feelin' sorry for 'im!'

Hearing that Kesryk and the villagers appear to be safe relaxes them a little. A fine dinner is served and they sit down to eat.

'Enjoy' bids Boris. 'Yer've got Darry to thank for the grub. It's been a pleasure 'avin' 'im 'ere. Be quite sad to see 'im go, I will. Never ate so good in all me life.'

Darry blushes a little at the compliment.

As they begin to chat with their old friends, Winnacer speaks to Boris:

'Boris, I've been doing a bit of thinking while we've been traveling. I've put down my thoughts in a letter for you.'

With that, Winnacer passes a letter to the old rogue. Boris pulls a candle close and squints at the letter. It takes him several minutes to read it through in its entirety, mouthing the words as he reads it. They can tell that reading does not come easily to him.

He falls silent as he finishes reading and then speaks to Winnacer:

'Well, Winnacer, those are some very kind words that yer've written there. Quite 'onored I am to 'ear them, comin' from a lord such as yerself. A bit overwhelmed by it all I must say.'

'Owever, what yer askin' for ain't really for my ears. It's the big boss o' the Dragons that this letter should be addressed to, not meself.'

'Viktor?' asks Winnacer.

'No, Viktor ain't the big boss o' the Dragons,' replies Boris. 'Although 'e's 'igh up in the peckin' order. Viktor's a troubleshooter - if yer wants somethin' to get done, then Viktor's yer man, but 'e's only the number three in Dvur. 'E reports to the number two there, a bloke by the name o' Tomas Kopetzky. 'E looks after the day-to-day runnin' o' the operation in Dvur. 'E serves the same role as what I does 'ere. The three o' us, 'owever, we all reports to the big boss. The big boss keeps 'imself to 'imself. The only people that knows who 'e is are the three o' us, an' we's sworn to secrecy. Yer could torture me as much as yer liked, but yer'd never 'ear 'is identity from these lips. I can tell 'im that yer'd like to meet 'im, if yer likes, but I don't reckon that it would do yers no good. The big boss ain't never agreed to meet with no one in the past, so I don't expect 'im to go changin' 'is plans now. 'Owever, I can pass yer letter on to 'im an' get some sort o' reply from 'im for yer. That's the best I reckons yer can get.'

Winnacer nods:

'Boris, we need to get some more horses. Can you arrange this for us again?'

'Certainly' Boris replies. 'Just tell me what yer wants and I can get 'em for yers by tomorrow afternoon. I shall check on them silver weapons that they're making for yers as well. Is there anythin' else that yer'll be needin' before yer all 'eadin' off again?'

Winnacer's face smoothes out after hearing this news, and he looks half-relieved and half-disappointed:

"It seems that the consequences of our actions continue to get amplified. Mayhaps we have spelled the end of the Diamonds, albeit in a roundabout way."

'Don't yer believe it' Boris says sadly. 'Them Diamonds 'ave been around a long time an' they knows 'ow to work around the Nyemetz. I wouldn't be writin' 'em off now, if I was you. I certainly ain't.'

In response to Boris' offer to deliver his letter to the big boss of the Dragons, Winnacer replies:

"I would appreciate that Boris. This fight is greater than just eight people running around the country causing trouble. I would appreciate anything you can do, even if it as simple as running a letter to your number one."

'That ain't no problem at all' replies Boris. 'I shall put it in the next consignment of info that we sends back tomorrow.'

Faewen'il once more sits around the edges of the group; though she does manage to give Sonya and Corrow a small smile and a hello when they all gather together just before dinner. Her ears manage to turn an exceptional state of red when greeted by the real gay dwarves as they complement her on her family assets and hint at a family reunion if she was up to it. Faewen'il refuses to say a word.

Faewen'il brought a book with her to the dinner table and half-heartedly eats the good food as she flips through the pages of the thickest book they have seen her with. Upon close inspection the others realize it to be the Nyemetz law book that she had asked for at the trial.

"You must excuse us, brother," Jihan says to Boris' puzzlement on the matter of your concerns that Malek was headed for Holitze, "with everything going on as it is nowadays, one can't help but get a little paranoid about things that matter to one when the Nyemetz start moving around close by..."

Now that the immediate danger is gone, the elf sloughs off his worry like an old coat. All the excitement and anxiety of the past few hours has left him with a lot of nervous energy, and he is nearly bouncing on the balls of his feet. He goes and has a few quick words with Boris, asking him to look into some small items for purchase. Returning from this, he asks the rest:

"We're staying here for the night, I would guess. I think we all need a rest before running off saving the country again..."

He is genuinely glad to see the gnomes and dwarves well and safe, and he walks over to have a bit of a chat with them before dinner. He walks up to Tharnold and looks him up and down briefly, then patting himself:

"Sorry to have had to deface you, brother. I needed to be sure that I could get into the city without any hassle, and both you and I know how this body can draw the wrong men when they're unwanted," he says with a wink and a grin.

Turning to the gnomes, his joy falters, and he gets a look of pain in his eyes. He gives Bekkah a careful looking at, whispering a few prayers in elven as they've always noticed him doing while he's checking on her. He holds her hand and brushes her hair back from her face. To Heimlin he speaks in his fairly fluent gnomish:

"Is there any improvement, uncle? I hope that it has been more good for her here... without all the running. In a few days, we will bring her to security. She is strong for coming this far. Is there something more that I may do to help her?"

'Thank yer for yer concern, Jihan, lad' says Heimlin with a weak smile. 'She ain't been gettin' no worse while she's been 'ere, but I ain't seen no sign of improvement neither. I reckon that someone's gonna 'ave to take a look at 'er. Like a priest or someone. I can't see that she'll ever get over the shock otherwise. I was gonna speak to Kesryk about 'er when we got to 'Olitze. 'E'll know what to do, I'm sure 'e will.'

A little sobered by the encounter, Jihan nonetheless tries to enjoy the meal that Darry whipped up, complimenting the dwarf extravagantly on his 'prowess with his tools' which sets the dwarf giggling wildly. After dining, he still seems a little tense, so he approaches Will and asks:

"How about that sword practice now, brother? I've got to work off some of this left over anxiety. I can even teach you an elven battle song while we have at it... What say you?"

Jihan then turns to Darius, his look sobering once more, acutely aware that the goblin has been all but ignoring him and his words since they were reunited:

"Will you join us, brother? We need to talk... and yes, there is something to talk about, no matter how adamantly you're denying it..."

He looks around at the other warriors, giving them the "i'll-take-this-alone" look and nodding towards Corrow and the fine wine still abundant on the table. Turning back to Darius, he says,

"Well, brother, shall the three of us go at it?..."

Tharnald hasn't been listening terribly carefully to the conversation, but his eyes light up at the last statement.

'What? You me and Darry!? I thought you'd never ask. Shall we retire to our room now?'

Tharnald and Darry get up to leave.

Jihan's face starts to glow a bright shade of red as the others start giggling:

'Errm…sorry brother…that wasn't…errm…quite what I had in mind' he says, weakly.

The two dwarves sit down again, looking highly disappointed.

Talk moves on to the subject of making additional purchases. As the topic of shopping raises it's ugly head, Faewen'il puts down the lawbook and listens.

'I already have my horse' starts Winnacer. 'But I recommend that perhaps the other warriors upgrade to heavy warhorses while we pass the medium horses down the line. I also recommend perhaps getting another pack animal to carry the barding I'd like to purchase, lightweight leather would be suitable. And if the sword is ready - even better. If you want a horse, please just raise your hand and make an order.'

'All that I need is a horse that can travel faster than I can on foot when the circumstances require it' responds Will. 'Whether it be a hand-me-down or a new light riding horse doesn't matter.'

'I would very much like to purchase a silver dagger' adds Bennett. 'But I don't trust a silver weapon of enough heft that he could use it properly in his preferred style.'

He also declines Winnacer's recommendation to upgrade his horse:

"Maire is a fine steed, and it feels so good to ride her. I would not trade her in an instant, for the largest of beasts."

Only the hint of a smile exists at this statement.

"However, I would like to buy some barding for her as well, the best we can afford. You can use my share of whatever's left from our Lord's extravagant spending." At this, he smiles broadly.

Faewen'il ignores Bennett's attempt at humor as she digs in the new backpack at her feet for a piece of parchment and writing implements. Her brows furrow a bit as she realizes she will have to rip one of the blank pages out of the back of one of her books; and with a small sigh she does just that.

She then digs further into the pack and pulls out several bags of coins and begins counting them; putting the tally on the piece of paper.

'We be havin 2012 gold pieces after takin the coins off'n the Nyemetz. It be a fair amount, but not if'n ye all goes spendin it too fast.'

Then Faewen'il begins to write in a very legible hand, the things people list as wanting while in town; not once saying a word. As the purchases are discussed, Boris gives Faewen'il price estimates for all of the discussed items.

Will walks over to Darry and places another request:

"Along with a steed, provisions are also running low and need replenishing. Just some more drink to fill my skins with and some small dried goods to eat when needed. Thank you."

They talk for several minutes about all of the purchases while Faewen'il writes them down and subtracts them from the party funds. She then sums up all that has been discussed:

'So, the silver longsword that Winnacer has on order, that be 600, a silver dagger for Bennett, another 100, riding horses for maself, Yaz, Will, Jihan an Darius, that be 457 altogether includin tha cost o tha tack, leather bardin for the three horses o the warriors, that be another 450 in total, a second ass, another 16, an let's say another 25 for some more rations an' drink. I think that be all. So how much will we have left…We be havin just 364 gold pieces left after that. Is that enough, or should we cut down somewhere?'

'I reckon that this is enough work for one evenin' says Boris, looking a little tired. 'I reckon that we've all been workin' a bit 'ard recently an' need a bit of a break. We can carry on with all the talkin' in the mornin'. For now, let's all jus' enjoy ourselves. After all, that's what life is all about at the end of the day, ain't it?'

Will agrees with Boris whole-heartedly and begins to entertain all present in a variety of ways - singing his repertoire of songs, juggling, performing tricks with Min and generally putting on a wonderful show, much to the delight of Boris and the other Dragons in the room. After sleeping through much of the day, the show goes on well into the small hours.

Bennett, meanwhile, breaks out a small flask from his shirt pocket, one that the others have not seen before.

"This is only for special occasions, mind you, as it was a gift from my father before...."

His eyes glaze over for a brief instant, but he quickly recovers:

"We have struck a major blow for Bohavia's independence yesterday, and blows are now being struck by other forces by our actions. Let us drink to our victories, all of us."

Bennett even looks at Darius expectantly:

"Yes, even you, little troll, for better or for worse, we are companions once again."

Those who accept a drink from the flask find it to be extremely bitter whiskey, perhaps homemade, but strangely tasty and quite strong.

Ah, Bennett, thank you," says Will as he takes a break from his merry-making and takes a shot of the whiskey. He then shudders, then makes a face and then smiles:

"Whoo! Not bad, but boy, she's got a kick!"

Passing the flask on, he comments on Bennett's actions:

"It is a good thing you do to mend the rifts in the party that exist between you and Darius."

Then he turns to Darius and asks:

"Darius, tell me, what is your people's view of trolls? Are they derided as among some other races, or do goblins as a rule hold them in respect? No offense intended in the question, I am just curious and ignorant of such things. For all I know, a goblin that overheard you being called a troll, may think that Bennett is complimenting you!"

He laughs tentatively, hoping that Darius takes the question as lightly as it was given.

"Hahahahahahaha" Bennett laughs uproariously, "Wouldn't that be the greatest joke of all? Have all this time I been complimenting you, rat-man? I guess you have a laugh on me, then, as it was certainly not my intent!"

Bennett merrily puts the little flask away, gently, after all those that are willing have had some, and cheerfully partakes of Will's more plentiful supply, asking to hear some more of his tales.

Will responds:

"More tales... uh tales," he starts patting his clothes as if searching through pockets," where did I put those tales?"

He then whistles a quick note and calls out," Min, tales!" Upon which the little dog runs over to him and licks him in the face. Rubbing him around the ears and muzzle, Will pulls the dog's snout over to his own ear and acts as if listening.

"Mmm-hmmm... yep..... yep.... uh-huh...... ok."

Then he turns to address the group.

"There once was a young man named Nate. Now Nate was a good fellow, loved by all. One day, good ole Nate was walking along, minding his own business when he came to the mountain pass. The pass was very narrow and right in the pass, beside the path was a shrine. The shrine contained the Mighty Lever of the gods, which if touched would bring about the end of the world. Now, as Nate was passing by the shrine and the Lever, he saw a wagon drawn by a team of horses come flying around the bend directly toward him. As I said, the path was very narrow, and there was nowhere for Nate to run to get away from the wagon without touching the sacred Lever in the shrine. Now the driver of the wagon was doing his best to get his horses under control. He wasn't the sort that just drove his wagon about recklessly, but something had spooked his team of horses, and he could not stop them. He too saw Nate, and the shrine that contained the Mighty Lever of the gods. Knowing that he could not avoid hitting one or the other, because of the narrowness of the pass, he was in a quandary. He too knew and loved Nate for the good lad that he was. He tried his best to stop his wagon, but to no avail."

Will stops for a moment and comments," fear not, this is just a tale for amusement."

He then continues, assured that no one is fretting too much over the end of the world or poor Nate,

"So, with only those two choices, the driver of the wagon ran poor Nate right over and killed him dead."

It seems as if the story is at an end as Will falls silent for a moment.

Then he takes on his narrative voice again, "The moral of the story is: Better Nate than Lever!"

Will chuckles a little, and hopes that someone else joins in.

Boris is silent for a moment and looks somewhat puzzled, but then he gets it and lets out a deep belly laugh.

Bennett's laughter, which had slowed to a small giggle when Will started the tale returns, increasing even more, and his eyes bulge out and he starts panting:

"Hot damn, you are one fine addition to the party."

As sad as that may be for Will, Bennett has a new friend.

Will is tickled to have won the confirmation of a friend among allies, and warmly receives such.

Behind the jovialities and fine words however, he is still somewhat reserved in his thinking and cautious, longing for the time when words will be reinforced with actions that will confirm true friendship. He knows it will not be long till opportunities for such present themselves in this fight for Bohavia.

As the evening progresses, they start to drift off one by one. Jihan disappears off with Sonya quite early on. The elf spends around half an hour in private with the girl before coming back into the room with a very concerned expression on his face. Speaking to no one, he walks out of the warehouse and spends much of the night wandering the streets of Hradetz in solitude, alone with his thoughts. Tharnald and Darry also take their leave quite early. None of the others quite see when Faewen'il makes her departure, nor where she goes. After midnight, a couple of girls from 'The Pink Pussy' turn up. Bennett gives a howl of delight upon seeing them and disappears off into one of the rooms with them.

The others stay up much later, listening to Will go through his entire repertoire until he starts to tire and run out of material, at which point he decides to retire. With the show over, the rest of them retire to their rooms also to get a few hours of sleep in order to reset their sleep patterns.