"Alright, it wouldn't be as far. If we get separated and think they know we are using the cutyard lets keep the Inn as a back up rally point. Getting word to people will be tough. We can't just risk running around to everyone. We need one or maybe two people to get the word out for us."
"A fallback position is a wise idea. Whom do ye trust to do that subtly or to look after themselves if they are found?"
'He,' Dugan jerks a thumb towards Micheo 'and I have the least public blood on our hands. We can deliver warnings to those that need. We have the best chance of not being attacked in the street.'
"I drew no blood... but did attract some attention so amn't a good choice."
"I am willing. Whom needs to be warned and where are they?"
"Jocelyn, she works at Hide for the Hills but her sister is one of Kreed's goons. I'm actually thankful of that now, it should keep her shielded in a way."
"On that Note, what Happened before I found myself in this mess, as I don't recall any of it."
"I was still moving to the front of the crowd so I did not get a good look at the start of the incident. But Ulark took a form akin to a righteous angel, likely his ancestor. And your eyes took on a silver aspect, your wings broke free, and you spoke in a tone pronouncing divine judgement. A fight broke out between your group and the Consortium thugs, ending with Kreed and one of his thugs dead. Then you collapsed on the ground and we brought you inside. Do you truly remember none of this?"
Micheo sounds genuinely surprised, not condemnatory.
"Nope, I recall Ulark getting selected and that's about near the last I remember."
"If there's ever a poem written about it I'm sure they'd liken Ularks wrath to that of Ragathiel. I tried to knock them out but smiting was on other peoples' minds."
"True. I charged in when I saw battle had begun. This Consortium and their minions have brought much misery to the people of Falcon's Hollow, and they deserved to be struck down for it."
"I am ready to begin visiting people if others are."
"I hope I did not kill anyone while I had those silver eyes...."
"No. I did and Ulark did."
"That is a relief..."
'I got there after everything was said and done. Helped haul you inside, but that was it for me. Kreed was laying dead and Ulark was standing over him with the Hells in his eyes.' Dugan pauses for a moment. 'I'm going to want to tell Kimi to lay low, maybe hide out at the magistrate's for a few days.'
Dugan looks to the Micheo, waiting for the man to be ready to go to their task.
"Let us go then. We have people to warn."
Ulark stayed quiet through all of this, looking around for anything else to occupy his attention
What is your first destination? Whom do you warn first?
"Let us go to whomever lives closest."
Even a simple walk through town has become worrying. You feel every set of eyes upon you more keenly, wondering how much knowledge lurks behind every look. Are these nods of approval? Is that a glare of judgment? It is hard to tell as you hasten your steps.
There is an unmistakable tension, an energy running through the town - like the proverbial calm before a storm - as the weary residents slowly process the rumors they have heard racing like rats down the muddy streets. Nevertheless, you make it through town without incident.
The Eavewalker home, where Kimi lives with her mother, is the first along your path. The squat house sits across the way from the Spool & Needle tailoring shop, where the young girl's mother works as a seamstress in partnership with Joanne's sister and brother-in-law.
Kimi stands in front of her house with a small crowd of fellow children gathered around her. She impresses them with displays of the combat training she's learned so far from Dugan.
'Kimi!' Dugan says firmly, waving the girl over to him, casting a stern eye at any child that tries to follow and join the conversation. When she gets in close, the dwarf rests a firm hand on the girl's shoulder, a sign he's used over the past few days that says what Dugan has to say is important.
'My friends stirred up a heap of trouble with those tree-cutter bastards. I don't know that it'll be safe in town, even for you.' He says, cutting off her objections before they start. 'Is there a place you and your mama can lie low while we sort out the trouble?'
Micheo keeps a watchful eye out while Dugan speaks.
While waiting, Micheo decides to prepare to heal Dugan.
Kimi's expression changes from one of awe, hearing Dugan talk about the trouble they've caused, to one of confusion as he speaks of the newly minted danger.
She looks to her friends, still huddled together out of earshot to watch the tomboy talk with the dwarf. Her eyes then dart between her house, the shop across the street, and then back to Dugan.
"We don't really have anywhere else. Haven't needed to hide," she says, trying in vain to maintain her usual tough tone. "We might be able to stay with Miss Mina, but that's only over there."
Joanne hears her sister's name
"My Sister should be able to keep them out of trouble, so you should not worry too much, Dugan.
If trouble comes, that trouble might have trouble from My Sister Ayla and her husband Samson. which is always a bad idea."
Micheo leans down towards Dugan and whispers:
"There are curious eyes upon us. We should move on soon."
Nodding at Jana's suggestion Dugan adds 'If you're not comfortable going to strangers, go to the magistrate's. Tell him you need a safe place to hide. If he refuses, tell him the first thing you'll tell the men who take you is how he helped hide us. If that doesn't work, give him this.' The dwarf hands Kimi his coin purse.
Kimi's eyes nearly bug out of her head when the dwarf hands her the money.
During their sparring, Dugan has come to learn that the tomboy is never at a loss for tough talk, but now she finds herself speechless.
She stammers an almost mute "Thank you" before bolting like a hare across the street to the Spool & Needle to see her mother.
Of the party's acquaintances and relatives, Joanne's sister Mina is the next closest, as her family's shop obviously stands across the street.
Further down Worship Way lies the Artem house where Jocelyn lives with her family, the Aiba Smithy where Ayla and Samson live and work, and finally Lina and Solomon's Hide for the Hills.
"That was right. On to Mina's then." Micheo says with quiet satisfaction.
The party follows on Kimi's heels to the tailors' shop. The girl rushes excitedly to find her mother and pass along Dugan's generosity.
David is in the shop front, splitting his attention between stitching together the split seams on a pair of breeches and keeping small, grasping Luke from getting into the spools of thread.
"How may I help...oh? Jana? How are you?" David calls, bored and distracted at first, but taking keener interest upon seeing his sister-in-law.
Joanne smiles as she replies back
"Hey David, Can you keep an eye on Kimi, as things have been happening in town...
I hope Luke is not being a handful for you."
As his sister-in-law clears the entrance, and he draws his eyes away from her eclectic companions, David notices her unsheathed wings, and the rest of his side of the conversation becomes rather stammered.
"Um, he's no more trouble than Ingrid and Astrid. Mina is, er, she's feeding them right now. Kimi ran through here just a moment ago."
He pauses a moment before whispering a bit too loudly, "Well, now I know what that 'special project' was that Mina mentioned."
Finding the assembled eyes arrayed upon him, David tries to better compose himself. He rises from his work and steps closer to Joanne.
"Trouble in town? Are you okay? Is there anything else we can do?"
Joanne replies
"Cat's out of the bag with my wings at the moment."
takes a moment to resume.
"I'm not quite sure about what happened myself, but from what I know Mr Kreed won't be causing trouble, and I didn't do it."
'All the same, the kid and her mom aren't here. They have gold to cover their costs. I trust you're good folk.' Dugan says with all seriousness.
Micheo interjects quietly.
"The Consortium will likely want to take vengeance on a few of us. It would be best if no one else was in danger."
"What do you think we should do, then?" David asks, failing to hide the vein of fear in his voice. "Mina and I could go talk to Lina and Ayla's families, have everyone meet up at your parents' farm?"
Another woman, a raven-haired half-elven beauty, enters from a side workshop with Kimi in tow. Although the young girl's tomboyish appearance contrasts sharply with the woman's more feminine appeal, the family resemblance is undeniable.
"Are you the folks responsible for this generosity?" she asks sweetly, holding up the bag of coins that Dugan gave to Kimi.
Joanne replies to David
"It sounds good, but I think the LC would be expecting that location.
Best the family meets up at the Old Sander's Barn."
Micheo takes his belt pouch and takes out the gold coins, placing them on the counter.
"You may need it more than I." he says smiling gently.
'It's to help take care of things during the trouble we caused. If we all come out of this okay, cook us up a big meal and keep the ale flowing, we'll call it even.' Dugan nods at Micheo's contribution.
Kimi's mother nearly swoons at the additional generosity.
"Thank you every so much," she says, her eyes darting between the bundle of coins and Micheo. "My name is Kitani Eavewalker, and my daughter and I both thank you graciously."
David scoops up Luke and steps closer to Joanne, although he keeps clear of her wings.
"I'll ask Mina to set up space for Kimi and her mother," he says in a hushed tone so the Eavewalkers don't hear. "I'll close up the shop, then go talk to the rest of the family in town. Hopefully we can get everyone to meet up at the Sander's Barn tonight after suppertime. For now, I think you and your friends need to skedaddle out of town."
Joanne whispers back to her brother in-law
"You don't need to tell me twice, I still recall what the LC did to Al, the old colonel, and his family."
Micheo smiles, a little unsure of himself around Kitani, but trying to be charming.
"I am Micheo. It is a pleasure to meet you Kitani. We must go unfortunately but hopefully this will all be resolved soon."
Ulark nodded. It was indeed time to go. He felt far too exposed out here in the open. He wondered if it was time to start wearing a disguise? He couldn't imagine a life avoiding people or crowds...it was something to think on.
Kimi and her mother have been addressed, and David and Mina will gather together the rest of Joanne's numerous relatives later this evening.
The only other acquaintance in town yet to approach is Jocelyn, who could either be at her family's home or at work at the tannery.
Joanne then queries
"Anyone else we should give a heads up about before we go into hiding for a bit?"
Dugan shrugs 'Kimi and her ma were the only people on my list. You lot have deeper roots here in town.'
"Jocelyn but we've got to keep an eye out for her sister as she is one of Kreed's stooges. Lets try Hide for the Hills where she works first, if we are lucky that is where we will spot her."
Joanne then adds
"Well my sister owns the place, so we could hit two birds with one stone."
"I am willing to enter, if I have a description. I may not be as known to the Consortium yet."