Valeria dismounts her horse, stretching her aching back and legs. She then makes sure her horse is settled in.
Turning to her companions, she says, "Think we can get anymore out of her before we get to the fort?" jutting a thumb in Kressel's direction.
She then begins unbuckling the straps to her breastplate, and comes across a sudden revelation. She then says, "How many tents do we have?"
Terri, to put it bluntly, is much worse for the wear, and almost falls to the ground trying to dismount.
"Not unless you wanna try seduction." she says, speaking of Kressel.
She tries her best to walk off the soreness, and stiffness, but her legs feel like jelly and she just clings to the side of the wagon as she struggles to get her feet under her.
"I think by this point, tents aren't going to help much."
Gah! How do those riders do that?! I can't even walk after that long on a horse.
"Every little bit helps." Torod responds to Terri. "And you're welcome to share mine. You know. For warmth." He says lewdly.
"Aaaaand I'd rather have two people always on watch. Ya know, to keep an eye on the bandit."
"If we have two tents, Torod can sleep in one, and we use the other one to wall off the underside of the cart," Asta says as she climbs down from the driver's seat. "That should provide ample room for the ladies to sleep. And I agree with Terri, we need two people on constant watch. Reluctantly, I must exclude myself from that list; I need a full night's sleep to recharge my magic for tomorrow. You all understand, I'm sure."
"Yeah. And we can wake up occasionally to give the bandit her sleeping pill. Hehehe. We'll take first so you women can get your beauty sleep." Torod indicates Strawberry as he says that last part. He then goes through the supplies to find food for supper.
Valeria shudders at Terri's suggestion of seduction. She had become accustomed to using her looks to get better tips in her life as a waitress, but never had she considered using her charms on another woman. The thought caused her stomach to feel like it was tying itself in knots, and for some reason she suddenly wished she hadn't removed her armor yet.
Furiously blushing, Valeria stammers, "I...I'm not sure I'm the best qualified for that. Shouldn't Torod be the one to try that route, or did she do something to make you all think she is specifically into...women?"
"I'll take watch with you, Terri," she concludes, finally recovering from her embarrassment.
Please don't let them ask me to do this. Please don't let them ask me to do this!
"No one is trying seduction," Asta says while putting down her bedroll, her voice cold and flat. "It's a stupid idea, not to mention the ethical ramifications. Everyone remember to eat and drink a bit before turning in; we've had a rough day."
"Wow, I wasn't being serious. If I honestly thought someone would try it, I'd have just said no."
She turns to Valeria.
"I guess we have second watch."
Valeria lets out an audible sigh of relief. "Thank the gods. I was hoping y'all weren't suggesting that, but back when I was a waitress you wouldn't believe some of the things people expected of me!"
Tonight Torod spikes the tea with some of the liquor that was found in the bandits ill gotten loot. Not a lot, but just enough to give it a little 'kick'.
"Are you explaining your banditry, or making apologies for it?" Asta asks, a snowy white eyebrow raised. "Or are you once again offering your services, and using this as a segue, planning to say that you would appreciate seeing both the land and yourself given order and discipline?"
"And if you're trying the sob story, don't. At least you had parents. I was raised by crooks and thieves."
"If that is your concern, put it from your mind," Asta says. "We want information from you, but if any man tries to do that..." Briefly, Asta's eyes flare crimson.
"You are what you choose to be. Everyone knows right from wrong."
"Tell us the answers to our questions, or you will have no chance at mercy once we get back to the fort."
"While my friend here can be a little rough, she does have a point. Telling us what you know would go a long ways towards showing that you're willing to make up for what you've done."
"Are you willing to give up that life? Are you willing to repent for your crimes?"
"Ah," Asta says. "I see. He won your loyalty." She frowns momentarily. "Do you think there is a chance that he could be persuaded to end the bandit life, give back the loot and accept a position as local master of the guard? It's a better life, with semi-regular pay."
"Well, we will take into account any information you can give us in regards to the area, as well as it's accuracy, before we decide on what is to become of you. You really should rethink this loyalty to this Stag Lord though, hun. Odds are he only kept his men from torturing you because he saw what you were capable of and was just using you in other ways."
As the others talk beneath the hastily constructed tent, Jennet has been standing outside, her leather cloak drawn tightly, her face tilted up into a communion with the slow rain. She moves her lips inaudibly, flinching each time a fat, cold drop strikes her skin. Heptamegistos watches her from a few paces away, unaffected by the rain sliding off his slick coat.
Long after the red glow of the setting sun has left the clouds, the oracle finally lowers her head and shakes the water from her face. Heptamegistos snorts and nuzzles her, then trots to the cover of the trees where the other horses have taken shelter, standing close together for warmth. Jennet steps to the sputtering fire and shakes out her hair, letting the warmth dry it somewhat, then helps herself to the last of the tea.
She pulls the tent canvas aside and slips silently inside, taking her place amid the gloom. She has not said a word to the prisoner since her capture. She listens in on the conversation as she hones her shortspear once more to a fine edge. Her cloudy eyes stay on Kressel.
Zzzzzzzz. Grunt. Zzzzzzzzz.
"That is certainly a possibility, another is we hire you."
"It would definately be a step in the right direction. But, you would have to prove to us that your intentions are not just words trying to save your neck. And you may as well be ready for Oleg and Svetlana wanting your head for what you've done to them. If we come across any lies in your information, or detect a sign of treachery, then you may as well forget anymore mercy on our end."
"We'd have to discuss it, but it at the very least will buy you some time, and we won't let Oleg kill you on sight tomorrow. You have to admit, you're not in the strongest bargaining position right now. All the information we are asking of you we can find out ourselves in time, but you're aid would sure make things easier."
Valeria stands up from her spot near the bandit, and looks to Terri, "I'm gonna go take a stroll around the camp, make sure nothin's creepin up on us. I'll be back in a few." Valeria bends down and picks up her shield, and straps her sword belt on and begins walking slowly around the camp, watching the wilds for signs of movement.
"That would be premature," Asta says, her voice cool but not impolite. "She may be of service. Like it or not, she has considerable experience of this area and the bandits. That is not to be wasted with a piece of hemp."
Svetlana cries and is comforted by Oleg...
Later Oleg brings the list of Kressels crimes.
"I'm for hanging her. She ain't the type to have a change of heart and want to go atoning for the evil she has wrought in this world. The sooner she's dead the better."
"That would be a drumhead trial," Asta says, disapprovingly. "And why waste a resource? Criminals are allowed to make reparations for their misdeeds and so moderate their sentence, even under the laws of Irrisen."
"If you recall, the penalty for unrepentant banditry is death. If she could convince me of her sincere repentance, then I will change my mind. But since she isn't she can't so I won't. She needs to die."
"Ain't no sorrow in that one just trying to save her own skin."
"Then, Oleg, this is the one who threatened to chop off your hands, and stole your wedding ring? And yet, she did intervene to stop her men from abusing your wife."
Jennet turns to the prisoner and speaks to her for the first time. "Where is that ring now?"
Oleg grumbles under his breath that he has to grudgingly admit that the woman Kressel would not let the bandits do anything to his wife.
"Just pointing out she is an unrepentant bandit."
Oleg goes inside......
Jennet stares through Kressel, face blank.
“We don’t know what’s in this woman’s heart,” she says at length. “All we can do is judge her actions. She’s been vicious and brutal. Will she give us useful information, if we keep her prisoner? Maybe. But we’d have to guard against her sending us into a trap, and we’d have to guard her. We can’t expect the Levetons to do it. If we let her go, whatever blood she sheds will be on our consciences too. We’d have to trust her, to some degree.”
“On the other hand, if we kill every bandit we come across without hesitation or mercy, they have no reason to surrender or sue for peace. We could send her with a message to the Stag Lord, telling him the swordlords of Rostland are bringing civilization back to these lands, and he must give up banditry or face their forces. She would make an oath to give up banditry herself, and bring back his reply. If we thought she was trustworthy.”
“Do we trust her, or hang her? There is no law other than our own judgement to consult in these stolen lands.”
“So I think we should vote. Blackheart, Riverrun, Windsong, First, make your choices: Trust her, or hang her?”
"We don't have to kill every bandit we come across, but hang, hang, hang that vicious she-cat."
Valeria remains silent as she rides into Oleg's. She listens as Oleg makes his case, and the others speak their minds.
I wonder how Torod thinks of all of us. He obviously has something against women. I bet working with all of us must be driving him mad.
"Before I can comfortably cast my vote, I need to know Kressel's true beliefs. Jennet, you've proven yourself to be quite capable of seeing into people's thoughts and intentions. Go and find out if she is truly repentant and can be trusted. I'll trust in your opinion on the matter. If she can, I vote mercy. If she's lieing, I'll help Oleg tie the noose."
Jennet shakes her head. “No, Valeria. I won’t accept your share of the responsibility for her fate. You must use your own judgement.” The oracle smiles a bit sadly. “Besides, I can’t imagine what it’s like to be her. Maybe Terri can.” She pauses. “Not that I’m saying you’re anything like her, Riverrun. Just that you’re best equipped to know her mind.”
"She told you her mind when she fought to the end. We're having this discussion is because someone just had to have a prisoner, not because she surrendered when told to many times. That is unrepentant and the penalty for that is death."
“You’ve had your vote, First,” Jennet says evenly. “Let the others have theirs.”
She turns to Terri. “Well, Riverrun? This woman’s fate might be yours, had you made different choices with your life. What does that tell you about her?”