Future Destinations? 

From the farm, they head to the northeast, further into the wooded area, but as far as possible away from the arena. They walk their horses on for around half an hour, constantly looking up whenever they see the gray skies above the treetops in order to check that the dragonrider cannot be seen. However, there is no sign of him. They carry on until they hear the sound of water.

"That must be the Labe," says Viktor as he hears the sound. "That's as far east as we're going to get."

"This should be far enough away from both the farm and the arena," says Tomas. "There should be no danger of anyone stumbling across our presence here, and I doubt that they will be able to start sending out search parties until the morning. Mind you, we should still arrange a watch system, just in case."

They come to a stop and Milan and Tadeus start to erect the tents so that they may make camp. As they do so, Faewen'il and Yaz change the bandages of all those who are injured. Almost immediately that the tents are made ready, it finally stops sleeting. A couple of the Dragons prepare a fire, taking care that the smoke from it is kept to a minimum. Once it is going, Milan and Tadeus together start to cook up a meal, while the rest of them sit around it and start to discuss their future plans.

Winnacer starts to peruse The Book of Justice, his mind uneasy after the events that have unfolded.

"The first thing that we need to decide is where to go," Winnacer starts. "I suggest Hradetz. There we can pick up items that Konan has retained, perhaps get a letter of introduction to the powerful mages and lie low for a day or two. It probably would not be prudent to be out traveling when the skies are being patrolled. We may also be able to hear some gossip about the events between Malek and Parbubitze, as I am beginning to wonder if the dragonrider was actually sent to deal with that - its appearance at the games brought on by curiosity and the smoke clouds we left in our wake. I realize that many in the party are itching to go to Kutna Hora, which also lies in this direction."

"So everybody," the young Lord continues. "What would each of you like to do now?"

Sylva is the first to respond:

"I don't know what commitments or plans you currently have, but my next course is to try to find my father. I believe he is most likely at Kutna Hora, so I will eventually head in that direction. I haven't really worked through a plan yet, so I wouldn't be opposed to another destination that would not overly delay my desire to go to Kutna Hora. If a stop in Hradetz could be accommodated, I would be able to repay a small debt I owe related to the incident at the Games."

With her piece said, Sylva sits back and waits to see what the others have to say.

Will is the next to speak:

"LawBringer Winnacer, would now be a good time to seek out an introduction with Yiri?"

"Well obviously we're goin' back to our own bases now," says Boris. "There's just me, Corrow an' Antonin 'ere left from Hradetz now. I'd be obliged if we could ride along wiv yer as I ain't gonna be much use until I get seen to by a quack."

"Viktor, myself and the other four boys will be returning to Dvur, obviously," adds Tomas. "With just the six of us, we should have few problems in evading the Nyemetz that will almost certainly be heading out here in order to start their investigations."

Winnacer speaks a quick word to Tomas in private:

"Again, it has been a pleasure working with such capable men as yourself and the rest of the Dragons. It is unfortunate that these operations incur such a high price in blood, but at times we must look past our grief and our losses and view what we have done to affect the greater picture."

"Before we part yet again, I would like to again mention the possibility of arranging a high level meeting with my associates and your boss. While we have suffered some hideous losses here today, they still do not measure up to the heavy setbacks the Nyemetz and the Diamonds have suffered in the recent weeks. While true freedom may lie a while off, the shackles upon this local area are starting to strain. With Spravedelna guidance, I pray that soon these shackles will fall free. But on that day, somebody amongst us must step forward to bring some order to the chaos that freedom can bring."

"I apologize for the fact that you have not been summoned to meet with our boss," replies Viktor. "I can assure you that he has seen your letter and is very interested in your exploits. I believe that you would most definitely have been summoned by now were it for the fact that circumstances in Dvur have yet to be fully resolved following Malek's altercation with the Lord Protektor of Pardubitze. I believe that the time is not far off when he will wish to meet with you. I have a feeling that your patience for this meeting will be amply rewarded."

Winnacer nods and continues:

"While my associates and I are looking to bring freedom to Bohavia, it will likely be impossible for us to maintain it while seeking to spread the fires of revolution elsewhere. What we need are powerful men with good hearts to step forward at that time to bear the mantle of leadership and organize the liberated rabble into unified cities. I am interested to know if the Dragons would be interested in playing that role when the day comes, embracing the laws that they have skirted for years and stepping into roles as legitimate politicians and law enforcers. I know it is quite a leap, but the true future of Bohavia lies with those who can lend their structure and resources to the unformed politic that revolution shall leave in its wake."

Bennett adds a brief note to Winnacer's comments:

"Know also that whatever position you choose to occupy in the new Bohavia, you will have the favor of our organization and whatever allies we may claim. Right now, your group has shed more blood for a free Bohavia than any other. Don't think that won't be remembered when we are in a better position to reward such bravery."

"This is not a decision that is mine to make," replies Viktor. "It is not for Tomas or Boris to decide either, but rather the boss. All I can say is that I have no great love of my trade, although I have to say that I have been successful in it. If it were not for the Nyemetz, then I am sure that I would have become a regular entrepreneur instead of what I do now. But what is the point in trying to earn an honest living when the Nyemetz would take almost all of my proceeds and redistribute it to their sympathizers in the form of taxation? I feel that my boss thinks little differently from me."

"While it is too soon to expect a definitive answer," continues Winnacer, "I was hoping that perhaps you can pass the good word amongst your people and drum up some support for our cause and perhaps think of how you can possibly fit into our revolution if it succeeds. And we will return to Dvur soon enough, hopefully to speak with you and your boss about what freedom will bring us all."

"Fear not," Viktor replies, "The Dragons have great influence within Dvur and are growing in stature within Hradetz. When the time is right, then Dvur shall be the first town within Bohavia that joins the cause."

Winnacer shakes Tomas and Viktor hands firmly:

"May Spravedelna look over you on your trip home. I look forward to when our paths again cross."

"We too," Viktor responds. "I feel that perhaps this time will not be so far off."

Winnacer then returns to the rest of the party and speaks to them:

"I have a number of things on my mind as to where to go, but I'll use the silence to address more immediate issues."

"Firstly, we really need to figure out a plan on how we are to deal with werewolf day when it arrives. We were attacked on Oktober 20 and it is now Nov 5, giving us a bit of time before that special night happens. We should try to make arrangements to be somewhere confined and safe that night and purchase some measures to keep us safe."

"I agree with that," adds Bennett, "but I'll leave the conducting of such care to our glorious leader, as I will have forgotten about this by the time we next talk about it."

"Secondly," continues Winnacer, "there is the matter of Faewen'il and her spellbooks. She may want some hardcore time to get work done on them before she times out."

Bennett says absolutely nothing about this subject, as he is really trying to stay away from alienating Fae any further.

"Thirdly," Winnacer continues, "there is the recruitment of other local villages to consider. I would not mind making a quick stop in Holtize and perhaps recruiting a few Holy Hammerers, and perhaps Honza, to ride from village to village recruiting and training more men, aiding the cause while letting us devote our energies elsewhere. It will also give us a place to deposit the extra horses we managed to pick up. And I may have a couple of other reasons why I want to visit as well."

"I don't think we should go back to Holitze," counters Bennett, "as our immediate business is here. Maybe we can get someone to take the horses out there, but I think for now we should just leave them in Hradetz with the Dragons. Once we leave Kutna Hora, then we are headed east anyway, I think, and we can go by Holitze at our leisure. Sorry you can't see your new girlfriend, but you'll get your chance."

Bennett smirks while saying this, but seems genuinely happy that your young lord has found someone.

Winnacer smiles back and responds:

"It is only a day's ride, and we have quite a few things to take care of before we leave for Kutna Hora, especially if we decide to bring Flint along. With a little dialogue, we may be able to double or triple our cavalry, certainly something that is worth a day or two of our time. And it is always nice to visit a place where our presence is appreciated."

"Then there are some other matters that I offer you for your consideration," Winnacer continues. "With no current pressing needs, we can choose some other things outside meeting Yiri, preparing slave uprisings in Kutna Hora, or subjecting ourselves to the aggravation of the mages. Here are some other things to think on:"

Before Winnacer has a chance to give more thoughts, Bennett interrupts:

"My understanding is that the mine slaves are mostly young gnomes, and I don't see much chance of them revolting, but I do think we have a good chance of freeing them, hurting the Nyemetz financial resources. Also, the harsh winter will make it difficult for the Nyemetz to recruit new slaves."

"My understanding is that they are mostly young adults," Winnacer counters, "the most physically able of all the gnomes they could find."

"In addition, I'm no LawBringer," the sarcastic tone in Bennett's voice is controlled, but still audible, "but I don't think we're ready to bring Yiri into the action yet.

Winnacer arches an eyebrow at this comment, but keeps silent.

"My opinion is that we should be stronger and have more allies before Yiri comes back," Bennett continues, "if he is even willing to do so. We need to decide if we are going to pull off something major before hiding away in the winter or if we have done enough to get quiet for a while. I'm for the former, as I would like to have the damn Nyemetz absolutely seething to get at us, and the arena operation killed mostly Bohavians. I think we can combine a serious setback for the Nyemetz with the repayment of an old debt. Kutna Hora has to be the next target, and our aim has to be the freeing of the slave miners there. Not just Heimlin's son, but all of them We don't have the manpower to assault the place, so what we need to do is get in and get out quietly, if there's any way that's possible"

"It seems to me that the mines are spread out quite a bit," Bennett continues, "and even if the Nyemetz have them guarded quite well, the guards would have to be some distance from each other to be effective. Also, it's almost impossible for guards to be in defendable positions guarding mines unless they go into the mine itself, which makes them unable to contact anyone to help them. If we faced small groups of guards, mine by mine, we can free as many slaves as is possible, yet still know when we've played out our hands, either because we don't have anything left to down any more guards or if one gets away to warn his friends. Once either of these events happen, we gather those slaves we were able to free, hopefully a large number of them, and head out, perhaps to Heimlin's old grotto or anyplace else that can contain such a large number. I admit that it would be difficult to hide such a large group, but perhaps the increasingly miserable weather could help us out in that, or Yaz could help the weather hide us. I say our next target has to be the mines. We've been waiting too long."

Bennett draws a breath and continues:

"Once we make this move, we re-establish the gnomes somewhere of their choosing and then we head out in search of some stronger allies. The underground meeting with the master mages, the Bohavian general on the Slovene front, and Yiri are all definite potentialities. If we pull off the trick of getting allied with all these groups, then we are in a position where we can be a true threat to the Nyemetz control, rather than the annoyance we now are. Looking further ahead, perhaps we can re-contact Hrust, letting him know where the Nyemetz are weakest on the Eastern Front. We can probably find this out from the general. If we are able to coordinate a crushing blow from the Slovenes and a rebel uprising among Free Bohavia, the Nyemetz as a power over Bohavia could be toppled."

Bennett lets the breath out, then calmly says:

"I realize all this is quite some time in the future, but you must admit there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel, and our goal is not just a dream, but something that's tangible and reachable, if we play our cards right."

Winnacer listens respectfully to Bennett before saying the following:

"It seems that many of us have an overwhelming desire to venture to Kutna Hora, and I cannot disagree that we have much work to do there. But I think we need to be realistic in the scope of what we believe we can accomplish there. We are not talking about a village or two of enslaved gnomes that we are trying to free. We are talking about thousands of gnomes and probably half that number in Nyemetz troops. Even if by Spravedelna's graces we were to liberate Kutna Hora, we could not provide food and lodging for all of them, leaving them likely to starve to death during the upcoming winter. And if we were to try to relocate them all by stealth, I think that some of the Nyemetz would notice."

"As to the idea that we can't house or feed them during the winter," Bennett responds, "don't you think we should leave that choice up to them? I imagine this will be a harsh winter to leave twenty or thirty to a room, and with the Nyemetz using all their resources to fight the war to the east, how much money do you think they are going to spend to keep thousands of gnomes fed and warm? How many do you think will die there while we hole up in comfort? I can't do that. Better to die free than to live in slavery, and the chance to live, to fight for your freedom! We can't, in good conscience, allow the gnome slaves to spend another cold and hungry winter under Nyemetz dominion. Bohavian collaborators are one thing, but slaves, that's something else!"

"I do not plan to hole up for the winter, Bennett," Winnacer replies, "for there is too much for us to do. As for the enslaved gnomes, there are few who wish to see them receive the Justice that is long overdue to them more than myself. But sometimes patience and endurance can yield better results than haste. To be honest, we cannot know what we are capable of until we see the situation with our own eyes. And it is always a useful exercise to discuss all of our options, in case certain ones turn out to be impossible."

"I would agree with that," Bennett responds, "since an assault on the town is certainly impossible. An underground network to supply them with arms wouldn't succeed either, though, unless we manage to get the cooperation of a proportion of the guards in the mines. As to them rebelling from within, I can't imagine that working unless we could put pressure on from the outside at the same time. Though I have objections, and certainly Fae will as well, I don't see any way we can lay siege on a town, and I can't see any way we can accomplish our objectives without doing so. I guess Kutna Hora cannot be our objective right now."

"If you are itching to make a statement before the winter," suggests Winnacer, "perhaps we can send the head of that Dragonrider to Mynesto. Or perhaps we can concentrate on escalating the feud we have begun. Considering it is Parbubitze's turn to deal an underhanded blow to Malek, we may want to make the trip to Dvur soon enough to help him along. With few Witchfinders left and real trouble in replacing losses to troops and mounts, we can really cause some irreparable trouble if we set our mind to it. And if we are cunning, perhaps we can blame it on Parbubitze. Now that's an interesting thought... how would you guys like to work FOR the Nyemetz for a few minutes?"

"This idea may be a bit rough, but it could work. If one of us, say Xavier, were to pose as the head of some foreign mercenaries, with a grudge against Malek, and looking to give the Lord Protektor a bit of help in evening the odds for a bit of cash, we could get paid for killing the Nyemetz scum in Dvur. And it may give us an opportunity to get real close to the Lord Protektor in the future and end his reign of terror. Not as auspicious as a campaign to Kutna Hora, but perhaps more feasible right now."

"I do not believe we are ready to perform a major operation against Kutna Hora," the young Lord continues. "But that does not mean we cannot make an auspicious start. While total liberation is not a realistic short-term goal, the spreading of hope amongst the gnomes is. We can certainly attempt to start an underground liberation road, helping to bring small parties of gnomes secretly out of Kutna Hora on a regular basis. We can also spread the word of revolution amongst the slaves and figure out a way to bring weapons and supplies in to the gnomes, to prepare to rise in resistance when we can gather a real army to threaten Kutna Hora's walls. The gnomes enslaved represent the pinnacle of manhood in the gnomish communities, and should be easily convinced to take up arms at the appropriate time against their masters. Perhaps we can call in some favors from the Dragons to aid in such smuggling operations once we establish them. We also will have the opportunity to keep an old promise to a good friend. There is much we can achieve in Kutna Hora but we must keep our expectations grounded in reality."

"While I am quite willing to make the journey to help our beleaguered friends in the mines, I believe we should at least wait until we have dealt with the possible werewolf threat and met back up with Flint. Flint's specialized skills may come in handy in a place like Kutna Hora. But the first step towards Kutna Hora is in Hradetz, perusing maps I pray that Konan has."

"Actually, all of that is unnecessary," Bennett replies. "The only thing that Flint can do is collapse the mines and we don't need to do that as much as freeing the slaves. We can always blow them up later if we choose to do that. It sounds as if you think we need to actually invade the town. Why would we need to do that? During the day they must be out of town in the mines and that's where they are vulnerable. Now if Konan has maps of the mines, that would help, though there are a couple that I remember well enough. Maybe Yaz's owl can scout the guards, then we wipe them out, plain and simple. I think attacking Kutna Hora is foolish and absolutely unnecessary, as that isn't the current objective anyway."

Something in Bennett's voice gives you the distinct impression that he would like that to be the objective, but it goes as fast as it appeared.

"I was thinking that such a skill may really come in handy," the young Lord responds. "There's no better way to cover the disappearance of a group of gnomes than to collapse a mine, leaving the Nyemetz thinking the missing gnomes have been crushed to death rather than have escaped. Plus collapsing the mines will certainly put a financial cramp upon the Nyemetz, because I am sure that their bosses would be comfortable sending their goblin warriors into the mines to finish the job in the gnomes' absence. It is always nice to have the option of blowing something up, as it tends to come in handy in our line of work."

"Well, blowing up the mines if they are actually inside the town won't do us one bit of good, will it?" asks Bennett, rhetorically. "What Flint might be able to do is open an alternate route to the mines from outside of town, as they certainly can't be contained within the town, then we might be able to use that access point to get to the gnomes and start your resistance movement. Not the spectacular move I wanted to go into the winter with, but I suppose it could help us get Heimlin's son out, which is something."

Bennett is still not done just yet:

"On the notion of who we are, I think Lion's Claw sound a little too much like a gang or a mercenary troop. I think we should quite simply call ourselves Free Bohavia. That makes our name ring out and has propaganda purposes as well. If we can ally ourselves with the big fish that agree with our cause, the name itself will bring recognition to us. In any case, whatever name we use we should start using it, as the unknown rebel force just doesn't have the power to make the Nyemetz quake in their boots. I want not only the Nyemetz Overlord to know who's doing this, but the Bohavian peasants, merchants, guards, who are currently working for the Nyemetz because they don't know what else to do. If we begin to sow the seeds of dissension, publicly and privately, as we have done so far, maybe the next troop of Nyemetz we see won't be so heartfelt about fighting with us. Maybe the next group of farmers we meet might be a little more conducive to letting us stay in their barn, knowing that we are fighting for the freedom of their progeny. Let's kick this revolution into high gear."

"We certainly can put the name of our group up to a vote," suggests Winnacer. "I guess we can even be presumptuous and call ourselves New Bohavia so that we are treated more as a political body than just another resistance movement. But I'm not sure if we really are served best by claiming credit for our actions directly. By leaving some doubt to the origins to the local happenings, we have the potential to escalate the bad feelings we managed to sow between the different Nyemetz leaders. And our anonymous nature does not give the Nyemetz a common threat to remind them who they should be fighting. Let us use propaganda wisely, using nameless mystery to confuse our enemies in certain situations and boldly proclaiming ourselves in others."

"As for more immediate actions," he continues, "I was wondering about the possibility of ambushing the Dragon-rider. It would probably not be the easiest thing to do, but with some reconnaissance, we could perhaps set up an ambush for the high ranking Nyemetz official, preferably when he sleeps and is very far away from his dragon."

"I'm not sure how doable this is," replies Bennett, "though it certainly would be desirable if we are given the opportunity. I don't embrace the possibility of fighting a dragon, though, which may very well be the result of any such attempt."

"Another option would be to go somewhere else," continues Winnacer. "While the fires of the revolution are burning locally, they need some stirring elsewhere. Being winter, we can expect little Nyemetz activity locally, besides what we have started, and may wish to consider traveling to meet with the dwarves or the elves and enlisting some aid from them. It would be quite nice to have some cannon or elven longbows to stand besides the cavalry we have assembled."

Tomas interrupts at this point:

"I don't see how winter is going to put a stop to the Nyemetz activity. They don't like it very much, it's true, but I can't see that it is going to stop them. I have a bad feeling that the great losses that their supporters have taken in the arena will spur them on to pay very close attention to what is happening in this area. Didn't you say that your brother came to this area as he heard that the Nyemetz were looking for bounty hunters to deal with the problem? After the events today, I feel that it will only serve to redouble their efforts. However, I don't think that this should be a reason for you to stay around here. Actually, it's probably better if you don't, as the revolution will obviously be stopped in its tracks were they to capture you."

"I agree we should head out and gather some allies," adds Bennett, "but we shouldn't allow Heimlin's boy to weather another winter first. We should hit Kutna Hora, then out and away from the inevitable Nyemetz retribution."

Winnacer pauses in thought after hearing Tomas' words and then continues:

"Finally, there are perhaps some personal matters that we would wish to see to. My personal life has seemed to find me, but perhaps some other people have pressing things that need to be done. I remember Fae wanting to reclaim Master Luud's books and so forth. I could always take the winter and try to recover the Holy Sword that is my right that was lost. I'm sure the rest of you have some grudges to end or the like, and now may be a time to address them."

"I don't think the recovery of an artifact for you personally should take precedence over the task of freeing Bohavia," says Bennett. "If we run across anything that leads to it in our travels, then I could see going after it, but I can't call it a priority at this point. As to Fae's books, I don't know where she's from, so I can't tell whether or not we should go back and try to retrieve them or not. If it's not out of our way, then yeah, but not right now. Kutna Hora, now, I think."

"However," Bennett continues, "I think that a stop in Hradetz is something we need to do as our first course of action. We need to see if Konan is willing to embrace Jihan's idea of gathering the Kozlites and letting us chat with them about them taking the Tower."

As Bennett sees Jihan about to protest, he says:

"No obligations this time, just a simple offer of the Tower to them. Hopefully, they will regard the offer kindly and be cooperative in the future, but no strings attached, okay? Secondly, those who have left items in Konan's care should be able to retrieve them. He's always good to chat with anyway."

Only after she had changed clothing did Faewen'il join the others around their campfire.

"We still need ta be rescuin tha gnomes... a promise we seem ta have managed ta put off far quite some time now... that an I would like ta get me spellbook back from tha Kitrans as I am out o new thins ta be researchin till I get it back."

Faewen'il adds the last with bit of acid to her tone.

As soon as Faewen'il has spoken, Milan announces that the meal is now ready to be served and starts to ladle out bowls of thick broth to each of them. The conversation stops as they all sit down to enjoy the first meal of a very long day. Winnacer is deep in thought and it is obvious to all of those that observe him that something is wrong. Eventually, he can hide it no longer and speaks to Bennett:

"Bennett, could I have a word with you in private?" the young Lord asks.

Bennett readily agrees and so the two of them wander off from the main party:

Winnacer stands quiet for a minute as he searches for the right words to say.

"Bennett," Winnacer begins, "I know that you have a lot of problems with the way I do things. From the beginning, you have said that you are a man with a strong will and no master besides yourself. It also seems I have become a bit stronger willed than any of my own family would have believed possible. I guess it is this that has generated much friction between the two of us, which is something that upsets me greatly."

"Oftentimes you have said that you cannot be understood by anyone, that you have a secret pain that makes all attempts at touching your inner essence impossible. I, too, have a great inner pain, one that would have happily run me through if it wasn't for my friends back at the games. My entire life I grew up in the shadow of Nyemetz collaborators tormented horribly each time I feebly protested. Your family may have found death at the hands of the Nyemetz, but mine simply lost their lives, being stripped of all that would make a real man proud. It is my humiliation that brought me to the cause, in the same way that your rage brought you. In some ways we may have more in common than either of us care to admit."

"Perhaps I am the last person here that you want to speak of the horrors that tempered your personality. But I think it is important that we both step down from the roles we have taken within our small group and look at each other as just two men whose hands are red with the blood of their enemies."

"You and I often do not see eye to eye, which is not surprising to either of us. I have decided to attempt to walk the difficult path of righteousness, which is much harder than it may look and often seems to make me seem less approachable. You have embraced your anger and have attempted to sublimate those base instincts to achieve lofty goals. But neither of these philosophies make us anything greater than men. Both of us need to open ourselves for compromise, because for each time you may feel I ignore your words there is a time when you oppose me simply out of spite. Perhaps you should tell me what it is that I do that is so offensive to you, so that we can improve things between us."

Bennett looks into Winnacer's eyes:

"Look, we may never get along and maybe we don't have to. I'm going to fight you on things I don't agree with and I may not always be the most diplomatic soul in the world, but realize that it's me, not you, and we'll all get along just fine. Don't take it personal, by the way."

Bennett reaches over to Maire and pulls his old shield from the saddle hanger where it has been for quite some time.

"I heard you saying you didn't have a shield, so if you want, you're more than welcome to use this one. I built it myself, and it's served me pretty well. Also, you look right in that armor, so you're welcome to keep it. I've got my share of stuff and you should have something a little heavier to keep that big old head from floating away."

Bennett smiles at his faint joke and starts walking away, then turns briefly and almost whispers:

"You make it hard to hate you, but not impossible."

Still smiling, Bennett walks over to his own tent, which he insisted that the squires not set up for him, erecting it himself instead.

Winnacer sees Bennett start to leave and calls out quickly to the warrior:

"Hold on a second. I have this for you."

Winnacer opens the bundle he has placed next to him, revealing the tabard Winnacer had commissioned for him a while back:

"You have made your presence in the Lion's Claw, Free Bohavia, New Bohavia, or whatever we are called known, and deserve to be noted as such. Whether you and I will ever see eye to eye does not diminish what you have done for the good of Bohavia one bit. Please accept this, for you have certainly earned it."

Winnacer then hands Bennett the tabard.

"Well, I'm not much of a tabard guy," Bennett responds, "but I'll take it. Just don't expect me to wear it."

Bennett takes the folded cloth and put it carefully inside his saddlebag.

The young Lord looks as if he has more to say, but keeps quiet as Bennett accepts the tabard. He does not pursue Bennett any farther, but Bennett cannot help but have the feeling that Winnacer had something else to say.

Bennett turns from the horse, seeing the look in Winn's eye:

"All right, I thought you might have more to say. Go ahead and talk while I set up my tent."

Winnacer quietly answers:

"Perhaps another time, Bennett, another time."

Winnacer leaves Bennett to fix up his tent.

While Winnacer and Bennett are talking together, Faewenil turns to Sylva and whispers:

"You donna understand tha ways o magick... I have na choice in tha matter. Ta wield magic requires hours o intense concentration readin me books. Ta have another in me own tent would require me ta not be in it ta study an that simply defeats tha purpose o it all."

"An as far them understandin me as a parson; I have given up that battle. They fear me more than respect me an that be that. They have na more understandin o magic than ye do... an it be none o thar fault. Me only wish is that they did na try ta make decisions far me in regards to magic. Already, they have cost me weeks o study and thin that they be doin me a favor... an all they did was risk other people's lives..."

Faewen'il then closes her eyes and stops speaking for a moment.

"But what do I care what they thin... after all, I just be thar pet mage that they ask far thins when it be suitin them. Master Luud told me I would meet people like them an that I would simply have ta endure it ta be able ta help out those that needed it."

"I live far me magic... not them.... I just have ta keep thinkin that."

"Now iffin ye will excuse me I have thins ta be doin."

Faewen'il then got to her feet and headed to her mount to get a change of clothing.

As Fae walks away, Will can be seen not too far away, his head down, but on his hidden face is a look of concern. He looks up at the scene and almost imperceptably shakes his head sadly.

At that point, Bennett and Winnacer return from their private discussions and Winnacer speaks to all:

"Well it seems as if deciding upon our next course of action is not going to be an easy one to make. However, it seems as if we are pretty much all agreed that we should first of all travel south to Hradetz before going on to our next destination. As a result, I suggest that we take a break from our discussions and carry on with them in Hradetz. It has been a long and arduous day today, and I am sure that we shall all be able to think better after our wounds have recovered and we have had a good night's sleep or two."

"Aye, we all be needin' to go to sleep early tonight," adds Boris. "We'll need to be movin' cross country to get back to Hradetz and that'll take a lot longer than goin' by road, which is somethin' that I don't reckon that we wants to be doin' as I reckon it'll be watched carefully by the Nyemetz already. In order to get to Hradetz before curfew, we'll need to get up at dawn an' spend the 'ole day travelin', an' so it might be best for us to all get an early night."

They all agree, feeling very tired after the long, exerting and difficult day. A watch system is arranged and those not on watch head for their tents.

Throughout the lengthy debates of the evening, Xavier sat quietly, his mind still burning with a seething anger at the unresolved matter with Winnacer's brother.

"To let such a matter of honor go unavenged," he mutters to himself as he takes the first watch. "Damn it to hell! If only Winnacer had allowed me to force that whoreson's words down his throat as was just and proper. The young lord has much to learn. Titles are based on respect and if such a great slight are ignored, what will come of the world."

Xavier listened but gave no opinion on the future direction of the party. Throughout the night he was moody and little prone to conversation. A sad contrast to the lightness of his mood the past days since his journey with his lord to the temple of Radegast. He drank heavily, from stocks of wine obviously looted from the Arena. Throughout the evening he muttered to himself, sometimes in Bohavian but mostly German, his accent becoming more and more thick as the wine took hold. On occasions, he glared at Winnacer, but dropped his eyes whenever their eyes met.

At around midnight, Xavier unrolled his bedroll and lay down to sleep, the snores of a drunk soon echoing in the night air.

Efforts by Tadeus his squire to lighten his mood were unsuccessful. Concern is written all over the boy's face.

While his Lord slept, Tadeus approached Winnacer while he is on watch. Obviously nervous at breaking the confidence of his lord, Tadeus speaks with many pauses:

"My ...lord, I am... worried about his lordship. He...... ain't happy, and I think he might be, might be .... planning to do something foolish. I do not understand much ....of what he has been saying this night, but he.... did mutter something about your brother"

Winnacer looks up from the Book of Justice he was looking through to look Tadeus in the eye. He slowly closes the book on his lap, climbing to his feet with a deep breath. Winnacer places a hand on Tadeus' shoulder:

"You are a good lad and doing a fine job here. Coming to me with your concerns was the right thing to do. With judgement like that, you'll make an excellent knight one day."

With that said Winnacer makes his way to Xavier's tent, wishing that Xavier never met his corrupt brother.

Winnacer opens Xavier's tent slowly, greeting his warrior friend with a friendly smile. Without a word, Winnacer sits across from the grizzled veteran, placing two glasses between them and filling them with fortified wine.

"Xavier, your eyes betray you on this day. It seems that your introduction to the rest of my family did not go as....errm... smoothly as I could have wished."

Winnacer takes a slug of wine.

"He's a real asshole, isn't he? The strongest Stradheim in five generations may also be the most twisted."

"But this is not about Klauf, is it? This is about honor and the graces of Rodengast and the sanctity of combat. And to be honest, I have no good answers for you."

Winnacer reaches for his cup again, draining it.

"If it was anyone else, I would be better able to keep from intervening. But it's my brother, my own flesh and blood. There's no honor in watching your kin get slaughtered. And I need to try to redeem them before just giving up on them. But that does little good in assuaging your own personal needs..."

Winnacer refills his own glass and takes another sip, keeping quiet in order to allow Xavier to get a word in edgewise.

Xavier looks at Winnacer with his deep blue eyes bloodshot with not only wine but also supressed emotion.

"My freund......, my damn heart burns vith shame this day. I know not vhat to do!!! Anger burns within my soul in the hearth which once lay guilt. The redemption that I did find vith the blessing of that Padre has awoken emotions which my guilt had long hidden. Resumed faith in the great father of honorable combat. A heart and soul which desires life! But with this too comes an acceptance of the vows I took as a young man, not much older than Milan. Knightly vows not only to the realm of Saxony but to a military religious order. I swore upon my soul to defend unto death the honor of my faith, folk, family and Fuhrer."

Xavier is silent for a moment.

"Circumstances have seen vows to my faith, folk and family be betrayed. My faith now returned, I lost in the carnage of Rus.The desire to defend the honor of my people, my folk, lost by their acceptance of foreign domination. The desire to bear the arms of the Von Trauloft family with pride, by the cruelty of a pious father, none accepting of the failings of the flesh of a young son. Did you not know, Winnacer, my freund, dat at the age of Tadeus I wore not armour but the cossack of an acolyte of the church? By the pen and the holy scriptures did the young Xavier spend his day. I wielded not a sword until I vas 16. It vas a young fraulein, Anna, dat set me on this path vere I now stand. So pretty, to make the body of a young boy of 14 burn vith fire....."

Xavier is again silent, his eyes focused many years in the past.

"Only to my vow of fealty to my fuhrer have I held true until this day. I have always remained true to the rightful line of the throne of Saxony. Never did I, or shall I, give loyalty to the usurper who sold our birthright for Nyemetz gold. This betrayal made my vow void. My loyalty died vith his murdered nephew, the young and most noble prince Erwin . To you did I renew my vow to a rightful lord, worthy of respect. The venom of your whoreson brother's words burn my soul like fire. The betrayal not only of a country's birthright, but of one's own flesh and blood. Gott in himmel! Can you not see! YOU are my sworn fuhrer, and I did not force dat scoundrel to eat his vords. ........."

Winnacer chokes on his wine with this statement, staying quiet - partly out of respect for his friend, partly out of not knowing what he could say.

Xavier's word get more and more slurred as he continues, his voice agitated.

"I could nearly kill my own flesh in blood, on the point of honor, but for you I did not. Three years ago did my brother Gottfried discover dat I still lived. He had come to Bohavia as part of an honor guard to a Saxon ambassador. Ve had met by chance in the tap room of an tavern run by one of my countrymen. It vas so good to see him. He had been my favorite younger brother who I had saved from certain death. Recently knighted and not long in Rus, had I feared for his life. I sent him home vith despatches on the eve of Battle of Lake Roga......We embraced, cried vith the happiness of our meeting. He told me of our father's death, and the good fortune of the Von Traulofts under the new reign. He asked me to return home, for surely vould there be a place for me. He said Prince Aldophus vas a most noble and generous man....... I spitted upon the ground, never vould I swear to serve dat whoreson usurper and betrayer of our birthright. Ve came to blows, ve are a family of hot passions. . My brothers leg did I open up vith cold steel. So much blood could not wash away the shame of our family's misgotten loyalties to the Nyemetz puppet. My poor father, for all his faults, must have died, his heart heavy vith the shame of it. He vas a true patriot and an honored veteran of the Saxon Civil War. I fled into the night, I later heard my brother lived but shall not again walk. By Rodengast, I feel dat I HAVE NOT DONE MY DUTY"

Winnacer puts down his wine goblet and looks at the weather-worn skin of Xavier 's features:

"It can only be by Spravedelna's graces that I have had the incredible fortune of meeting a man of your integrity to fight by my side. You have done more than your...errrm... duty in service of Bohavia and as a swordsbrother to me. Your strong arm and sense of honor has allowed one dead man's dream to kindle into the flame of rebellion. Your advice and experience has kept one young lord from straying from the path of honor and virtue. Rodengast himself would not criticize your actions, as while we may have to weather the insults of our enemies, it is only to make us in a stronger position to win the whole war. Let those whom align themselves with the Nyemetz speak their rotten words, for it is those words that they will hang by when the last of their fortresses have been breached by those with a sense of honor and Justice. The complicit shall all be punished if they do not change their ways, for disgracing the honor of their birthright."

"Klauf must be ignored, for a man who must run home to seek advice from his father has no true honor. I know my brother and he will happily change his tune once the Nyemetz are defeated, as he is without true honor. If you must defend my honor, reserve it for those that have honor to begin with. Klauf is not worth a second thought, for he kills not for higher principle or honor, but for sheer bloodlust."

Xaviers pain filled eyes look deepily into the soul of Winnacer.

"I envy your ability to forgive, or at least forget, mein freund! You contain your emotions well. I vish such vill dwelt within my own heart. All my life, I have been a man of passion. Love, hate, lust, sadness, happiness, joy has all shaped my actions during all the events of my life. Emotions I have battled, but never learnt to control. Der Bishop vas right all those years ago."

Xavier's words echo a conversation of a distant past, two voices issue from his lips. One the commanding voice of authority, the other a terrified lost boy.

"Young man, your faith is strong and your mind thirsty for knowledge, but der discipline of the priesthood is not for you. Bid goodbye to your fellow acolytes, for upon the morrow you shall return home........No, Holy Father ,send me not home, here I vant to stay. It vill not happen again, it vas but a moment of weakness. Do not send me away"

Tears roll down Xavier's face with the surfacing of such a deep rooted memory. His hands tremble as he reaches for his goblet. His eyes fight to regain focus on the present, not the forgotten past.

"Please forgive me, mein Lord, I am but a fool too deep in his cups to be making sense. I dishonor you by my actions this night. More important things should you concern yourself vith than the ramblings of a drunkard. I should sleep now, before I embarass you any more. I accept your vords vith the respect that they deserve. Your brother is forgotten for now. But let it be known that no blow shall I pull if I face him on the field of battle. One day he shall die knowing, dat he dies a foolish knave"

Seeing that Xavier is too drunk to continue making much mroe sense, Winnacer leaves him and returns to his own tent.