"Only because they are too rigid and inflexible to see anything beyond what's right in front of them. Such is the way of their gods, I guess. Me? I try to explore whatever I can, be it a new place or a personality. They remind me too much of the Kunthonites of my youth with their casual disregard for life"
"Casual disregard for life?" Kata gapes at Kheldor's words. "Really? Let's learn a little more here. So far, we've heard the oh so sympathetic side of her story. You're a fool if you think it ends there. Kressel, what happened to the others when you were taken by the Stag Lord? And how many have you and the Stag Lord's men slain, raped, and robbed over the years? I'm sure you just take everything from the rich and give it to the poor, right?"
She wheels on Kheldor, eyes flashing. "Kheldor, you signed onto this charter. If you didn't like the part that said, and I quote 'The punishment for unrepentant banditry remains, as always, execution by sword or rope' then you should have stayed in Restov. Right now, we're serving the Swordlords and Brevoy. When it is your kingdom, you can make your own laws. Other than Silas, Devlin and Linier, I have heard nothing to indicate the rest are repentant. You saw her come after me and she has shown herself to be a lying b+%*& throughout this little interrogation. Or maybe you're just blinded by her offer of what's under her shirt."
He whispers softly to Anton "I say we get as much info out of her as possible, then execute her. This one gets no shot at redemption"
Is Kheldor playing her and the others or can he not be consistent for more than a minute at a time? Anton thinks puzzled thoughts.
Anton looks from Kheldor to Kata and back again. Anton, with an air of bemusement tinged with bewilderment, says, "Casual killer, I suppose that may be true in my case, I really don't care. I would see the wicked ones here lead better lives, but I am no saint to persuade them, nor do I have the vast favor needed to compel them. I'd like to send them to areas where they could vent their rage on that which deserves it but I do not see how. I have already spoken of our limited options, if you can show me how we may offer mercy not paid in the blood of innocents, I will support you."
"Sir Arkady, I do not think we can wait days for the other bandits to return; if we clean up the camp, the returning bandits will not know what happened here and will either wander off or go to other camps. Either way we can pick them off as we encounter them in our explorations. I know that is not completely satisfactory but our numbers are few and our obligations are great. We do what we can." Anton continues to assist with the camp's activities and keeps a watch out for anything that might go wrong.
Kheldor stands up for where he was kneeling next to Kressel, his golden eyes. full of fire. He laughs a chilling laugh, something that sounds like it comes from the dark corners of the world. The shadows about him begin to dance and flicker as he talks "Under her shirt?! I am a man happily in love with a wonderful woman, who is currently risking her very life elsewhere for the well being of others. The only reason I am this far north is because I wanted to get as far away from the Shadow Lords of Nidal as possible. I signed on to this mission in order to hopefully carve out a place for my love and I to live quietly and peacefully as well as to further explore the River Kingdoms, as the Goddess Desna asks of all her faithful.
As to laws and charters, we make and enforce them now. We can offer all a chance to redem themselves. I am not so quick to kill the guilty as some here seem to be. I will say that my prior comment about others casual disregard for life was not meant to include you Kata. I see no reason we can't try and have any of these bandits assist us, especially now that we're away from the outpost, and if they turn on or betray us, cut them down then."
Arkady keeps a careful eye on the bandits, lest any of them try to wriggle out of their bonds while his companions argue. He speaks slowly and thoughtfully, but gaining speed and force as he goes on.
"Quietly and peacefully, yes. Most folk would like that. These... have already chosen to break the peace, deny the quiet. You heard Svetlana's tale of repeated robbery, Oleg's tale of repeated insults. A man might steal to live; these did worse, and without need. You have seen how empty the land is that we rode through. They could have hunted, could have farmed, could have left hard-working honest folk alone. There are a hundred lords in Brevoy that would take men into service who can ride or hunt or fight. If they did not desire that, they could have made lives for themselves out here. They. Did. Not."
Arkady pauses to look around the camp, at the various bandits.
"We know what they have done, and by their past actions they stand condemned. You wish to give them the chance to redeem themselves. I agree. We have given them that chance, and some have chosen it, others refused. Some, we judge, have lied. It is our task to sort through whom we believe, whom we trust, whom we will risk beside in battle, around us at night-watch, guarding our sleep as we guard theirs. They do not come to us total innocents, to be trusted until proved otherwise; they have already proven untrustworthy to others, dangerous to the weak, breakers of the peace, deniers of quiet. I am willing to take into my service those I judge are willing to change; that is more than many lords would do. But neither will I extend blind trust to those who have already proved they will turn on those who trust them."
"Any man may stumble into a filthy pigpen, or be lured in by bad companions. One may try to climb out when he sees a chance, and I will give him a helping hand. One may be blinded by the dung, and I will wade in and pull him out. But one... may take joy in wallowing in the filth. I will treat him, also, as he has shown himself to be. If you think I am wrong in one case or another, I will listen, but I can only judge from what is heard and known." He glances over at Devlin and Linier, loading the wagon. "Men can prove themselves, but I will test them before I trust them with a sword at my back."
"I fear you are right about the need for time. We can clean up the camp, but we must deal with the bodies of the slain. In common decency we owe them burning or burial, but a pyre raises a signal for unfriendly eyes, and burying so many would be long and hard. I suppose we could carry them part way back, and bury them in some quiet crack in the ground. Do Gorum's gifts include any way to quickly give honorable treatment to the vanquished?"
... I see no reason we can't try and have any of these bandits assist us, especially now that we're away from the outpost, and if they turn on or betray us, cut them down then...
"As to law, I'll allow Marcus to argue about it. Sir Arkady presented the moral case as eloquently as it could possibly be done. I'll stick to the practical. You said you saw no reason we cannot use them, I see many. We are few, fewer than they; do you really think disarming them is sufficient to keep hostile prisoners under control? It is not. We do not have a gaol, we do not have manacles, in the course of future events, in fights we are going to be pushed to our limits, maybe beyond. Are you suggesting that these provably cruel people would not slit our throats at the first chance? One or two might be handled, at great effort, but I think I count six and that is only the beginning. We are not here to be prison guards. Perhaps executions are cruel on our part but what other practical choice do we have? You have dodged this question before so I will ask it more clearly. Who do we show a dangerous mercy to and why do you believe that would not greatly risk not only our lives but Oleg's, Svetlana's and all other good people in this land? Do not think keeping prisoners is easy, it is not." Anton finishes his piece and continues his rounds about the camp.
"I fear those gifts are granted the followers of the Gracious Lady of Death, not those of the Lord in Iron. All I can offer is my hands in aid. Taking the bodies with might work, we could take time to bury them near the trading post, if nothing better presents itself."
"Kheldor, I do understand the right thing is not to take lives unnecessarily. Believe me, if they showed their repentance, I would be the first to stand for letting them live. As it is, we need to execute them swiftly, clear this camp, and find someplace along the way to bury the remains."
"Kheldor wishes, not to imprison them, but to pardon them all, and then judge only by their future conduct," Arkady says to Anton. "I would also take their past conduct into consideration, as far as we know it. It is rough crude justice, but we can do little more now, unless Marcus has some tangle of law that has so far eluded us all."
Arkady turns away from the living and helps Devlin and Linier pile bodies into the cart, then returns to the imprisoned bandits. "Kheldor? Marcus? What do you say?"
Anton turns to Lady Kata. "Thank you Lady Kata, for seeing the unpleasant duty that must be done, if I saw another way, I would follow it." Anton turns to Arkady.
"That's even less practical, the untrustworthy will turn on us and their former brethren, at the first moment of advantage, otherwise I'd be fully supportive of pardons, even if I thought repentance to be convenient. But I'll abide by the decision of all." Anton replies to Sir Arkady.
Anton waits for the comments of the others.
The executions are carried out, though Kheldor seems a bit annoyed at the necessity, and all supplies are loaded into the small wagon, which strains under the weight.
"I think we are agreed to head back to Oleg's the long way and see if we can find the lair on the mites on our way. Is everyone in agreement?"
"Long, but not too long. We should find a place along the way to bury the dead, but I doubt not that one will arise. We have food for several days, and I can hunt along the way. What of the rest of you?"
"Kheldor, your love for life is commendable. I can understand the desire to see men turned from the path that they are on, but some are unwilling to change. Were there any other way for us to deal with these souls that did not endanger the lives of the innocent, then that avenue would be explored, but alas, until we have established a robust penal system, then to pardon these men and pray to the gods that they do not re-offend isn't a chance that I'm willing to accomodate," Marcus says openly.
"Arkady, for the sake of expedience, we should probably bury them here. I've no real desire to transport their corpses very far," Marcus looks at the corpses dispassionately.
"Nor do I," Arkady says, "but I think it would be wise to hide the bodies some distance away, so that the other bandits will not know what became of them. Fear among the enemy does half the work of battle."
"That's a good a route as any, maybe Silas can help with the mapping."
"Best to hide them a bit, at least it will throw off any returning bandits for a while. Time, we need some time to do all the things required of us." Anton helps with the final clearing of the camp and moves out saying,"I fear I'm a city boy myself, don't know a thing about hunting but I'd like to learn, what do you look for when you hunt?" Anton talks with Sir Arkady and anyone else about hunting and woodsmanship, he really seems to want to learn.
As we move off, Arkady starts the basic rundown as he learned it from the huntsmaster at home -- different types of game, ways of tracking them, where to hunt, when to hunt, how to stalk (starting by taking off all that clanky iron, sorry), how to organize a large-scale hunt (if you have more people, get into a circle and drive everything toward the center), how to skin and butcher animals, what to do with hides and all the rest.
"Easy to say all that, of course. The hard part is practicing it on a regular basis. The huntsman had us start by sneaking up on the chickens in the henhouse, and setting snares for rabbits. He told us that potting rabbits and finding roots were probably more useful on campaign than any 'fancy duelists' tricks'. Eventually we worked up to hunting stags and boars in the forest. Alas, without hounds some hunts are harder."
Devlin interjects, "Find a waterhole. Hide. Wait till evening. Shoot whatever shows up. Preferably a ways from the hole so nothing panics."
"Well, yes." Arkady admits. "Seeking only food, one proceeds differently than hunting for sport in a royal progress. But woodcraft is needed for either, and knowing what one hunts."
"I can tell you where to find them and what to look for, but tracking and hunting is another matter and one that I will have to leave to you."
The wagon and group moves toward the east, swinging about toward the location of the mites lair, spending a day exploring the are immediately west of the bandit camp.
Devlin and Linier also make aid another checks but I don't know their bonuses. Rolls for them: and
Arkady's Perception:
Engaged in discussing the hunting of elk, and discussing various other things with Devlin and Linier, Arkady fails to notice anything.
Perception:
Marcus wasn't particularly interested in the talk of woodcraft; he was born and raised in the city and there were plenty of people both in the group and in the area who were far better versed in those arts than he.
It was because of this disinterest that Marcus noticed a crack in the rock.
"Wait a minute," Marcus called out, hauling on the reins of his horse, "There's a crack in that rock. Might be worth investigating. It could be the lair of some kind of beast, something we'll need to note if we intend to make this land safe for agriculture and the like."
Marcus pointed towards the crack in an effort to let the others notice it.
"Might also be a place to shelter from the weather, or where we can cache supplies. Good eyes, Marcus. Let us approach. Devlin, Linier, do you know anything of this?"
Perception See or smell anything?
At Marcus's call Anton shifts his eyes in the direction indicated and starts sniffing the air to see if any scent is about.
"Let's be careful, hard to tell what might be in there." Anton easies his bulk off his horse that nearly collapses from relief from the strain. He readies his sword for any threat that might arise.
After seeing, hearing and smelling nothing you head into the cave carefully. The small crack widens into a 20 foot radius cave. The back wall sparkles slightly in your torchlight.
This also would be a very defendable site to camp for the night if you so chose.
"Well, doesn't look like this is home to the mites or anything else nasty. Good place for a camp before it gets too late?"
Appraise:
"Sounds like a good idea," Marcus replies to Kata.
Appraise
Anton slowly walks into the cave looking for any threat. Sensing none, he relaxes. He nods at the other's comments. "Seems as comfortable as we can get in the wilderness. But too small for the horses it seems, what do the foresters think?"
"Seems large enough for the horses," Arkady offers. "We can camp here for a bit while Devlin and I go hunting."
"I know I need a chance to recover my spells, but unfortunately that takes a good night's sleep."
"Kheldor, I'm with you. Mine are pretty depleted too and I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep. Any thoughts on what you are going to prepare for tomorrow? Perhaps we should start coordinating our plans?"
"I generally prepare that blast of color I used at the outpost as an extra spell I get for focusing my studies on illusions. Beyond that, I think I will choose one that fires unerring bolts of force, and a protection spell that calls forth an invisible barrier. Not sure at the moment what my last shall be."
Devlin is unable to bring down anything significant, and returns rather annoyed. Arkady snares a rabbit, which he offers to share. Everyone eats a small portion of rabbit stew made by Linier, who finds certain herbs nearby and proves to be a fairly good cook. It is a tasty supplement to the otherwise bland trail food.
The night passes without incident and after spending the next day in search and charting, you have a reasonable map of the hex that you are fairly certain is accurate. You have yet enough time to do a bit of travelling before next nightfall.
Linier bends over the pot, his salt and pepper hair pulled out of his dark eyes by a simple knot of rawhide. "Never felt like it. Learned in Galt. Reminds me of my past. I don't cook much anymore." The man seems a little pained.
"Yes, that was an excellent spell Kheldor. Since we may face the mites tomorrow, I need to think on my options. If I recall, they tend to live under the earth, so my spell to enlarge a man is probably not a good choice. I also do not believe my ability to charm people will work against their strange nature, but I may still be able to get them to sleep. I may prepare that, the ability to heal and something to help protect myself. I do have a few other tricks, but I'm not sure they are so helpful here. I can create a mist to hide us, enchant my voice so my scream harms foes, and cast a spell that causes ill luck." She sips the soup made by Linier. "This is really good Linier. Much tastier than the options I have in my pack." Blackthorn has made one of his rare appearances and sits on Kata's shoulder. Suddenly, his head dips down and snatches a bit of rabbit out of her stew, splashing some over her tunic. Kata bats him back, "Blackthorn! Really? Your manners are terrible. Is this how you behave with our friends?"
"I'm sorry Linier. It seems we all have some difficulty in our pasts. " A tear wells up in her eye. "I lost my mother quite recently in fact. I don't know why, but a black knight slew her in our home. I barely escaped myself. If not for Arkady..."
When talk turns to the watch, she adds "It is best for me if I can take the first or last shift. I have to prepare spells and without good sleep it is difficult. If it is all right with everyone, I shall help with the first watch."
The next day after a full day of exploring and mapping, she comments "I am in favor of continuing our exploration toward the mites. But, if some of you are going concerned with our supplies, I will not object to a return to Oleg's."
"I can take a mid-watch, Marcus says with regards to the watch.
"I'm all in favor of spending another day exploring," Marcus says brightly, "The more we know of this land, the better."
"I'll take the last watch then, need enough rest to do service to Gorum in the morning."
"All of life is battle Linier, the sorrows lets us know joy. But words are rarely a comfort. You are here and moving forward to a better future. That is enough for today."
When Kata speaks Anton says,"Sounds like a coward, striking like that, can you better describe him? Such creatures deserve only wrath, but any details you know might be helpful."
"We are heavily burdened, might it not be faster if we pressed ahead, and then explored more lightly loaded?" Anton looks at the other questioningly.
"We should probably have two people on watch most times, if we have them to spare," Arkady adds. "I can join Kata, Devlin can join Marcus, and Linier can watch with Gorum." He glances at Silas, then shakes his head. He adds some wood to the fire and sits back, relaxing. "We should turn back towards Oleg's soon, but I think we can spare another day or two for exploration. Most of us should have some additional supplies beyond the captured ones. I would rather not meet foes burdened with a cart -- if we have to flee, we should lose it; if we needs pursue, it will slow us. I do not think mites are much of a threat, but the principle applies."
"I met Kata being chased by a knight all in black armor. When I challenged him, thinking it not right to pursue a damsel with sword in hand, he made some uncouth answer and sought to slay me. I knocked him from his horse, very luckily on my part, and decided to leave with Kata rather than slay a man on the ground or wait for, perhaps, his servants to come after us. I found out from our later speech that she was kin to me, but I still do not know who he is. You said, cousin, that he was a Surtova?"
Arkady takes a bite of stew and savors it, waiting for a response.
"That rotation sounds good. I wish we had someplace to hide the wagon. This cave seems like someplace we could pretty easily hide other things that we don't want to bring back to Oleg's. Or at least things we don't want to weigh us down when we continue to explore. Maybe we can find someplace nearby to hide it."
Kata looks down at what's left of her stew and distracted picks out another bit for Blackthorn. "Yes, I didn't get a very good look at him, but aren't the Surtovas pretty much responsible for everything that is wrong in Brevoy today? And, I'm pretty sure when Arkady knocked him off I saw the black cover on his shield come loose and reveal their ship and stars. But, I really don't like talking about it. I'm sorry I brought it up. Can we talk about something else?"
You have the sense that Kata is not telling the truth about the black knight being a Surtova.
"I'll take last watch as well, as I prefer to study my spells while its still dark out, or close to it. There's eight of us, plenty to have two people on each watch. I'm up for more exploring, and we should attempt to find the mites, after all, we have a stolen piece of jewelry to recover."
As the consensus seems to be to move ahead, the band sets out to the east, making good time and moving into the next hilly area before stopping for another uneventful night.
Neither of the hunters come back with any food and each of you settles for a cold ration. The night passes without incident once more, leaving you to awaken in the morning to find that Marcus' hair seems to have grown in the night. In fact it seems to have become quite cumbersome heaps, the sort of growth you would expect to see in more than a year of leaving it unshorn.
This is not the only odd thing to have happened, as overnight Kheldor's staff seems to have sprouted into a fully formed tree, ripping through his pack to become a full branched and leafy oak. You are all thankful it was not within his tent.
Spending the day exploring, you find little of note, with a lightning struck tree atop a hill being the only interesting find on the chilly day.
Arkady returns once more empty handed, but Devlin brings down a small elk with a beautiful shot and is rewarded with enough meat to give everyone half a meal, using the rations to supplement enough for everyone to remain quite full. Looking over the remaining rations, you feel a bit worried for your progress.
"That is not clear yet Linier, the Swordlords commissioned the charter but to what purpose? Settlement is likely and that implies settlers, land grants and such things but much is uncertain now, no promises were made to me to be sure. I'm here because my Captain, Lady Domna Lebeda, who I rarely call mother, ordered me in the name of the Lord in Iron and House Lebeda."
"As to Lords well, there are those who rule and the ruled. Rulers have power, the ruled do not. Thus it is everywhere. The form matters less than the character of the rulers. Are they good or evil, honorable or despicable. If it so happens I become a Lord in this land, I promise to be better than a drunken bandit chiefling. I think Sir Arkady would be a fine and honorable lord. Any here would be an improvement on the terror that rules this land now."
"If you want something better, fight for it, because there is no other way. The weak are always brushed aside, like it or not. The strong do as they will, the weak suffer what they must. That is the most basic truth. Someone will rule here sooner or later. By what right, in what cause, I do not know nor deeply care. Only that they fought for it."
"I am a Blood Chosen of Gorum, that is the way I follow, that is the way the lies under all other ways. Others may believe differently, they are wrong but it does not matter. Just living will teach them otherwise or kill them. However harsh, truth is valuable and only found in the essence of battle. And let that be the homily for today from me. Soon to bed." Anton listens to any reply while he prepares for bed.
Anton help with the remaining explorations as he can but points out low supplies.
"I would be a very poor bandit chief," Arkady jests, then his face turns more serious. "For I am not one to strip all they have from others, and it would be unjust to take just because my hand was stronger. I would protect folk while they live their lives, while they make and grow, while they raise children and build houses and do all the other tasks of life. My task is to put my life at risk in defense of the folk, and beg of the gods strength for that service, and wisdom and honor in judging quarrels. There are things owed in return, but I would not take beyond the bounds of tradition and of honor." He remains silent for a while, thinking how to put his thoughts in words.
"I came south to make a name, to enter service, to earn a living with what skill in sword and speech I might possess. I still mean to do that, if so it may be. I do not know why this land is empty when it is so fair; perhaps we will find out. Anton is right that what is held must be defended, but there are more enemies out there than would-be strongmen. There is famine, there is foolishness, there is waste; there are the winds of winter, and rains and floods and fires, and a dozen other things. Sometimes one must endure, sometimes one can fight back against them. And everyone has their part. A lord defends against robbers and thieves and warlords; a farmer provides food against hunger; a weaver makes clothes against the cold; there are many such, and life depends on all of them. I will do my part, though I fear it is long before I will be as good a judge as I am a warrior. But... there is more."
Slowly he turns away, speaking in a low voice, as if he does not want to see the expressions on other faces as he speaks. "I have never told anyone this, but on the road south from my father's lands I dreamed a dream. I followed a white stag into battle after battle, against darker and darker evil, enduring to the end. I do not remember all that I dreamed, but when I woke I knew I would ride that stag in waking life. Old Deadeye does not send folk far from home and field and flock. I think... something waits on the road that I was riding. I know not what it is, but I am sent against it, armed and guarded for that battle. I will train and hone Erastil's gifts, along with horse and bow and lance. I will not be unworthy in the fray foreseen." He stands still for a while, staring out past the cave-mouth into the darkness, before he turns again to the fire and companionship.
As the food begins to run low, and the hunting is not so good in this cold spring, Arkady suggests returning to Oleg's after we finish exploring the immediate area and restocking with food.
"Without the cart, we could cover ground and explore more quickly. Also, Oleg must have other customers, hunters and trappers and such folk. I would gather what news I can of this land, perhaps find a guide. Two we have with us -- Linier, Devlin, where have the Stag Lord's people travelled? Who do they prey upon? What roads, what landmarks, what springs or caves, do you have knowledge of?"
Marcus nods in agreement with Arkady. "I agree, we should get the wagon back to Oleg's and see how things have progressed. We might be able to get information from passers by about the Stag Lord and his lieutenants. Perhaps we can lure some of them out in order to weaken his defences."
Marcus scribbles on parchment to catalogue their travels so far, although his skill at cartography is rudimentary at best.
"Let us first do the deed at hand, before we begin building castles in the sky," Arkady says. He seems both excited and abashed by the talk of lordship. "We are here to explore the land, and remove the bandits from it. Time enough to discuss other issues when that is settled." He glances over at the three ex-bandits. "As the old priest of Erastil at our village used to say, 'Make an enemy into a friend.'"
"Sounds like we turn for Oleg's after we finish mapping this area, then. Perhaps we can map the area on the way back if our food holds out. We still haven't seen any sign of mites, though."
You are all surprised by the beauty of the hills as the sun shines through the clouds. You all bunker down in the lee of a hill and the night passes easily, using most of your few food supplies.
In the morning you head to the north, toward Oleg's, the clouds overhead pregnant and fat with rain.
"However, I doubt that the Stag Lord would be a man to bend his knee to the law. He has committed atrocious crimes and I imagine he will not willingly repent. For that reason, he must be removed from the picture," Marcus grimaces at the prospect of yet more executions.
"I don't think we should tarry," Marcus says as they break camp, "The horses could probably do with a rest, and I need a haircut."
Kata barely contains a laugh when she sees Marcus's hair in the morning. "Looks like our admirers have taken a liking to you Marcus."
"I'm sorry, I really shouldn't make fun of you Marcus. The fae are playing tricks on you. I think you should try offering them another gift. I would have thought your goggles were a good suggestion, but I think you should perhaps try something shiny or even some of the alcohol we took from the bandits. Kheldor, did you offer them something last time?"
She packs up her things, "I agree with you on pressing on to Oleg's Marcus. We can come back out once we've resupplied. Let's push to reach there as soon as we can."
"Yes Linier, I agree with Marcus. Perhaps you have different stories to tell of the Stag Lord, but from what we've heard thus far, his crimes have been pretty terrible. Do you think he would be as willing as yourself to turn a new page?"
"I'd rather not be trapped starving in a storm," Arkady avers. "Let us return to Oleg's." He glances down at his tabard, showing signs of mud and dirt and smoke. "We might consider, as we go, what supplies we will need for a longer expedition, particularly in cold spring weather. And, perhaps, what gifts we might take along for the fae?" He smiles thoughtfully. "They do like respect, you know. Old family stories. You can do anything with them as long as you do it politely, my aunt said."
Arkady listens to the conversation, then says slowly, "I have not heard so much of the Stag Lord yet that I would entirely discount him. More noble families than one begun as bandits who played their cards right, and Choral the Conqueror took a kingdom such; the peasants still remember him so. The Stag Lord has, it seems, the gift of winning loyalty, and perhaps by more than fear. Such men can do great evil... or great good. I do not know what he intends, what he desires. It may be we shall have speech with him and learn more."
He looks searchingly at Linier. "But what did he or his lieutenants give to you? What justice did he do? What protection did he offer to those beneath him? If Happs and Kressle are his chosen ones, I fear that he means more to plunder than protect, to rob and rape rather than farm and foster. If that is all he is, then rope or sword await him. If he can be more, can build rather than lay waste -- I would pardon much, if he were to turn so. What chance do you see of that?"
He gestures at the somewhat scanty fare around the fire. "I doubt we have enough gold to buy him off. I misdoubt me much that he would keep that bargain. The taste for blood is hard to sate. I have seen many in Brevoy abuse their rank, who think their crest or sword sets them above what law exists. My brothers among them, brave though they are in battle." He looks down, faced flushed slightly, whether in anger or in shame is hard to tell. "So I know well of what Marcus speaks, Linier. I would build a better place than that, were choice and power mine. A lord owes more to those under his protection and in his service than merely robbing them in livery rather than motley."
Arkady catches Devlin and Linier both by the eye, speaking slowly and firmly. "Understand this. You chose to enter my service. This is it. There will be hardship. There will be danger. There may be wounds or death. But I will hazard all these at your head, and if we live we will make this land better than it was. I am not here to replace one Stag Lord with another."