The burly dwarf nods. "It ain't easy, ta lose family... speshully like that. He needs you two right now... a lot. An' you gotta take care of him. I can't promise it'll get easier, but... you three gotta stick tuhgether, an' learn an' grow tuhgether. At least you still got each other. Don' ferget that."
The dwarf pauses and stares off into the distance for a moment before giving the two a comforting smile, though it doesn't quite reach his eyes this time.
The girl gives Jess a sad nod but perks up when she scales the tree with acrobatic ease.
”Careful! He’s scared!” she says.
”Don’t worry Milo. The nice lady’s going to get you down.”
"Here, kitty, kitty," Jessamy calls.
Siolad smiles, then pokes the walls with his foot. "Glad to hear it--I wasn't sure if I needed to break out magic for this."
"So, is there anything else I need to address regarding the town's defence?" He asks Sheriff Hemlock, his fingers drumming along his staff.
Eventually the sun begins to set and, with their food settled, the children are seen home. Rodrick and Sarah's elderly keeper is asleep in her chair and the boy is quick to draw a blanket across her as Sarah gives Pirknok one last hug.
"Come back and visit us again soon Mister Pirt-Nock!"
***
Despite her limited experience with animals, Jess is able to coax the kitten from his position and into her arms. It clutches at her torso with tiny little claws as the heroic rogue makes the descent.
"Milo! Don't you ever do that again!" the girl shout as she runs over to greet Jessamy and her charge.
***
"Varisia's a dangerous place even at the best of times", Hemlock replies with a solemn nod.
"I think we're as safe as we're going to be but I might sleep a bit better knowing this Mokmurian wasn't a threat anymore", he adds rather pointedly.
At the children's house, Pirknok produces two extra pies. "One's for you all an' one's for your Mizz Banks," he explains. "Tell your paw that if he needs anythin' he should tell me, okay?" Giving each of the children a big hug, he waves and departs.
Siolad nods. "Just what I was thinking, too. We'll see if we can deal with this Mokmurian, Sheriff."
Hemlock frowns and nods.
"Sandpoint will be vulnerable with you and the others gone but I don't think we'll ever be safe as long as he is out there. Let me know when you're prepared to go. I'll see if the mayor has some supplies we can send with you."
One day after his work is done with the sick and wounded and he has some time, he gets directions from the stablehand and rents a pony. He heads out into the plains, looking for a Shoanti tribe.
When he gets to the area he was told to go, he dismounts, pulls the saddle from the pony and sits down under the shade of a tree.
After asking around, Ensu is directed to the outermost edge of the shoanti-controlled lands outside Sandpoint. With the smell of blood still strong in the air, his new pony is skittish but the pair make the trek without incident. Arriving at the designated point, the pair settle down and wait.
Sure enough within the hour a trio powerfully built and heavily tattooed figures appear in the distance. They’re clad in worn hides and sit astride beasts as built for war as they are.
One puts his hands to his mouth and whistles.
Ensu stands slowly and waits. Realizing that he doesn't speak Shoanti and then a thought crosses his mind.
Pirknok is Shoanti.
Grimacing at his stupidity, he raises both hands palms forward.
The riders can be seen speaking to each other but make move to approach.
Ensu yells out in common, "I've come to see about a war horse or pony, rather." He ponders for a moment and then in giant yells out, "I've heard the Shoanti are the people to see when someone needs the best horses."
The tattooed riders eye Ensu suspiciously as they slowly ride away.
Ensu hangs his head. After a moment or two of thought, he resaddles the pony and mounts.
Ensu returns to Sandpoint, dejected at his failure.
Pirknok emerges from the Vinders' shop just as Ensu is returning to town. The dwarf studies the gnome for a few seconds in silence, then turns and gestures back into the shop. "What's wrong, Ensu?" he asks, as he waits for the gnome to join him for a steaming hot apple pie. "You look like yer elders gave you a talkin'-to fer swimmin' in the wrong river."
Ensu laughs at the joke, then says, "Well, I should have come to you, but I need a mount, something stronger than this or whatever else the stables have. Something that might survive and get me around the battle, while all of you split up. So, anyway, the stable boy said the Shoanti have the best mounts. I don't speak Shoanti and it appears they don't speak Common or Giant."
"Maybe I should have remembered you are Shoanti, you know, before I left."
The tattooed dwarf's chuckle rumbles through the room. "No, no they don't. The Shoanti hate the giants, jus' like the dwarves do. C'mon... grab a few pies fer the road an' let's go find the Shriikirri-Quah."
Ensu grabs a few pies and heads back out with Pirknok. On the way, he says, "I didn't mean they loved the giants, I meant, in my experience, it seems the Shoanti language is built from some giant words, at least that's what I recall. I should learn Shoanti, been a while since I studied a new language."
Ensu spends much of the ride babbling on and on about languages.
A couple hours later, the duo arrive at the same point at the shoanti border. Once again, a patrol appears in the distance. They whistle upon spotting Pirknok and Ensu.
The burly Shoanti grunts and shakes his head. "Can you whistle?" he asks his companion. "If so, ya might want to give two loud ones right now."
Ensu whistles twice, loudly, louder than you thought he could.
"Sometimes you have to learn to be seen and heard, so you learn to make the loudest sound you can." he says matter-of-factly.
Hearing the gnome’s whistled reply, the riders approach slowly. They are visibly anxious but the sight of the tattooed dwarf seems to calm their nerves a bit.
The brawny tattooed men appear calm but there’s a hint of danger in the speaker’s voice.
Pirknok frowns at the other's words and glances over at the gnome with him. These are the ones reputed to not even hate the Chelaxian invaders... what is it that has unsettled them so? Or maybe they're just like this? Was I like this once?
Deciding that now isn't the time to translate, the dwarf inclines his head in greeting and replies in his native tongue. "Riv nik, makivikih nak riv mak nakim vik rivak. Vak kik, mikih nakiv nik nakur, vik mir nav kik..." The dwarf pauses, hesitating. "... kav makur vik tshak? Nak makimah kiv."
The Shriikirri-Quah scouts seem to relax further still at Pirknok’s measured words.
The dwarf takes a deep breath as the giants are mentioned.
Turning to Ensu, the dwarf nods. "I told 'um who we are, but you should do the bargainin' since it's you who wants somethin'. I will speak your words in our language and theirs in this one so you can talk to each other. They wanna know what you want."
Ensu nods.
"I need a great warhorse to carry me to battle, to bring healing and help to my comrades. They have slayed a dragon and several giants, but they need my help and my legs are not long. I have heard that the Shoanti are the ones to visit when a might warhorse is needed. My horse doesn't need to be very big, but sturdy and fast." Ensu says with as much flourish as he can muster.
Hopefully, this is the way to get them to sell me a great horse.
Pirknok frowns slightly. I should change it... no, I told him I'd translate directly.
With a slightly apologetic tilt of his head, he translates the gnome's words.
One of the shoanti chuckles.
The dwarf smothers a chuckle of his own before replying to the untranslated comment.
With nothing much else to do while he waits for the others to finish preparations, Siolad goes for a walk about town.
The riders deliberate for a minute and then the speaker nods.
The trio chat again.
The dwarf nods.
Pirknok turns to Ensu. "Time ta go. We're gonna come back tomorrow. They're gonna try ta fin' you a horse that'll fit you."
Ensu smiles broadly and bows to the riders.
As the two turn to leave, Ensu says, "That went much better than last time, thank you!"
The burly Shoanti chuckles deeply, but there's a hint of a blush in his heavily-tattooed cheeks. "Thank ya, Ensu. I'm real glad I could help."
As the two walk, the dwarf explains a bit about the Shriikirri Quah and their amazing way with animals. "They want ta know that you're gonna treat it real well. They didn't even ask for any kind of payment... you should come up with a real good name for that creature, ta honor their gift."
"Hrm. A name. Should I meet the horse before I name it, seems that should be the way. Maybe something about how it's going to deliver me into battle? I dunno, seems those warriors might not care much for my part in the battles, just healing and such. Maybe they are more impressed with you and Jessamy and Adventus and Beaks. Oh I know I play a part of this group and without me you'd all be dragon or giant food. But some folks just don't see. Not you, no you folks see my worth. I am not some child underfoot. No, I.." The words delivered at an even faster rate than normal from the excitable gnome. They trail off at the end as he appears in thought.
"You gotta wait ta name it until ya meet it, but you should have some ideas b'forehand. The horse has ta accept the name you give it, see... so it's gotta be a good an' honorable name."
Pirknok's eyes narrow slightly as the gnome prattles on about not feeling valuable. After Ensu trails off, the dwarf reaches over and clasps the other's shoulder. "The warriors of the Shriikirri Quah have already judged you worthy," he says softly. "As have I. The namin' is... a way to show 'em that they've judged right."
Ensu nods solemnly and almost whispers, "Thank you, Pirknok"