Awenasa stares hard at the gnome, doing her best to see past the casual, genial face and see their real intent. To her surprise she does. It becomes obvious to her that the gnome doesn't care much at all what Altava wants or would do, but does think the law is real. The little gambler is merely using it as a weapon, or perhaps more accurately a shroud to hide his real purpose.
Even more apparent, Netuckelist doesn't even care if she knows this. Indeed, he seems a little smug and notices her noticing. Wheels within wheels.
"I'm not dancing." The gnome says, 'I would love to take your money. Indeed, in this circumstance I could probably skin you. Gold is gold, as you said. Although it isn't worth quite as much know that they found this big mines in Arl a few years back. Jewels would be better, fossils best of course." Awenasa has no idea what a fossil is and doesn't much care.
"But we don't want to go breaking the law, now do we?" The gnome says easily, setting his now empty mug on the card table with a tiny click. He stares back at Awenasa, apparently not daunted by her growing anger. "Now, take it easy Awenasa of the Shoanti. We wouldn't want to do anything rash would we?" The little gnome coughs and says, "I hate to suggest it, but I don't think beating the debt out of me is going to work."
Then he shrugs, little beard flipping with the practiced motion, "Besides, I think we can come to an arrangement, anyway. Here is what-"
He is cut off by a clamor from the door. Awenasa turns (careful to not let Netuckelist out of her field of view) and sees two big men at the door, dressed like common laborers. Heavy boots, grimy hands and massive shoulders. They are nearly as big as she is. Behind him the porch guards gesture helplessly, looking a bit abashed but not exactly scared.
It was a look Awenasa marked as 'lowlanders afraid to make trouble without orders'.
"We are here to drink!" One of the men says, voice slurred drunkenly.
'And eat!" the other roars in agreement, even drunker.
'And rut the women!" The first bellows, loud enough to rattle the rafters.
Netuckelist, for the first time, looks angry. Very angry actually, eyes blazing. He opens his mouth to say something, a hand twitching but then stops. A tight smile crosses his face as he says to Awenasa, quietly. "Break a few bones and I'll take ten percent off the debt."
"Bring out the dancing girls, gnome!" The first man yells and takes a slightly unsteady step forward toward the table.
"I hate to suggest it, but I don't think beating the debt out of me is going to work."
It seemed like it didn't matter if she was on a different world or not, lowlanders were all the same and they annoyed her. Why couldn't they speak plainly and with reason? Her simmering anger is disrupted a moment when he points out that beating the debt out of him wasn't going to work. I am sure that Krahnu Duhn feels differently
Ulterior motives are about to be revealed when unwanted lowlanders burst into the space. She is immediately on alert and feels disgust when she hears their words and understands their intent.
However, in that moment, she remembers one of the last things Altava had told before she left...no fighting. The Shoanti feels like screaming. Everyone she had met so far in Arsis had told her to do something different. Krahnu Duhn, Altava, and Netuckelist have each given her different orders that conflict with each other. Make the debt disappear at any cost, no fighting, fight. The conflict fuels her anger due to her frustration.
In the end what she clings to, what she has always clung to, is what is best for her quah. Her quah needs Eivind. She needs Krahnu Duhn to find Eivind. She needs Netuckelist to get Krahnu Duhn to cooperate. That puts the desires of the sheriff and the laws of a world she isn't a part of, of the lowest priority in her list of needs.
That doesn't mean that she has to fight. It all depends on how smart these drunk lowlanders are. Awenasa doesn't have high hopes.
Awenasa rises from her chair like a grizzly bear whose domain has been invaded by a lesser being. "You need to leave," she growls. "Leave while you can walk."
Netuckelist raises an eyebrow at Awenasa's attempt to scare off the drunks, but doesn't seem upset. Thak cringes slightly, apparently still not used to Awenasa's ability to unleash her fury at will, while Perey takes it in stride (like a proper Shoanti should).
At her roar, the second drunk's eyes fly open, clearly not so far gone he doesn't sense danger. The color drains from his face and he tugs at his comrade's shirt sleeve. 'Uh, she looks serious Dru, maybe...".
Dru, apparently, is less moved by Awenasa's attempt to avoid fighting. The big man blinks and looks somewhat owlishly at Awenasa. His voice is still slurred when he says, "Gnome, your dancing girls are a bit...large for my taste. Have any one smaller?" Then he grunts and shrugs, ignoring his friends attempt to dissuade him.
"But I guess she'll do." He gives Awenasa a leer, "Maybe a bear like you will be a change of pace." The big man digs in a pocket and casually tosses a lump of something at Netuckelist. Out of long habit, Awenasa snatches it first, half expecting a weapon. Instead he finds herself holding a very strange rock, somehow carved or formed in the shape of a shell.
Dru chuckles, "You do your own accounting? Good, come on then, let's go somewhere private.." He takes a few steps and outstretches a hand for Awenasa's shoulder.
Just as she is about to tear that arm off, she hears Perey whisper something. Without a sound, a slimy puddle forms around the dirty miner's approaching feet, reminding Awenasa of the drippings off cooking meat.
Caught off guard, the man roars and starts to slip....
And falls spectacularity hard onto the floor, chin first. To his cried, the is kneeling in a moment, roaring curses in confusion. For a moment Awneasa thinks the man still might attack her, even covered in slimy grease and prone. Is even a lowlander that stupid?
But, with his friends help, the drunk man realizes the inanity of such action. He finally stands up (grabbing a wall for support) and stalks out, muttering angrily as he passes the porch guards.
'Sorry, boss." One of them says to Netuckelist in apology, "Yous aid not to cause trouble if we can avoid it.."
The gnome dismisses this with a flick of his small fingers, and soon Anweasa's group is alone with the tavern owner.
The gnome looks intrigued and says, "Well, you didn't break any bones, but on the other hand all my furniture is in place. So that is fair." He turns to Perey, "I assume the unsightly puddle is not a permanent addition to my decor?" So the gnome saw Perey's spell? He was observant.
Perey shakes his head and Netuckelist goes on, speaking to Awenasa again, "Just as a friendly warning, Dru has way of holding onto grudges. I'd keep your eyes open, he'll be looking to even the score with you now. Probably with a pack of friends at his back." The gnome shrugs, clearly feeling this is not his problem.
"But now, back to business. About this debt...I have an idea. How do you feel about children?"
Awenasa's ire grows as the man called Dru continues forward as he ignores his more sensible friend. The way in which he treats and views women is obvious and she finds herself secretly relishing the chance to break more than a few bones, completely disregarding the sheriff's warnings before she left.
And then she hears Perey's words and watches as the more reasonable and safe solution unfolds before her. Even though she remains on guard against a possible futile attack by the drunkard, she recognizes that the best possible outcome has happened. She meets Perey's eyes and gives him a nod of approval.
Alone again with Netuckelist, she listens to his warning and makes a mental note. Even though she doubts he was sober enough to remember, she is obviously an outsider and word would probably spread courtesy of the gnome's 'guards'. Nothing was more dangerous than a bully with a bruised ego. She would need to be careful so what happened to her in the first city she visited didn't happen again. If it hadn't been for her friends, she surprises herself a bit by thinking of them as friends, she would have been beaten.
The gnome's question catches Awenasa off guard. She has no particular feeling about children. She was always so busy with her training that she didn't have time to notice they were there let alone have any opinions about them. "Children exist. No thoughts, no feelings about them." She tries to think about what possible reason Netuckelist could have for asking her such a question and comes up empty. "Why?"
Netuckelist taps his chin, obviously thinking fast. He glances around, as if to make sure they are alone (which, of course they are). A final drum of his nervous, quick little fingers on the arm of the over-sized chair, a brief moment of silence and then,
"What do you know about fossils?" This time Awenasa's blank stare is clear enough that the Shoanti need not even answer. The gnome shrugs, "Look at that thing in your hand."
Carefully (Awenasa would not more look away from a possible threat like Netuckelist then she would pluck out her own eye), she looks at the rough rock in her palm, which she can just been about to absently slide into a pocket. It was a rocky shell, like she thought but it doesn't seem to be carved or sculpted. There are no tool marks and the detail is very intricate yet...natural. It doesn't have the abstracted symmetry that artwork usually has, but instead seems 'right' to Awenasa's mind. It just looks like someone had turned a sea shell into a rock with magic.
Maybe that was what it was? Some sort of wizard's currency?
Thak speaks, "They are old things turned to rock. Things left in the ground so long they have become the stones around them. Some are quite beautiful. I've seen whole trees, stuck in stone."
The gnome nods but adds with the obvious relish of the one-upper, "Whole forests. They make good currency. Rare, generally portable and the desert tribes think they are holy. Out here in the sticks, they are good as gold, even better."
Netuckelist narrows his eyes, "The best source comes from the diggings around the old Canal. Did you see them yet? Caves and tunnels, dug right into the ground there." Awenasa had in fact seen them, wondering what the odd holes had been. Well, one mystery solved.
Again the gnome hesitates for a moment, eyes slightly distant. Then, his voice soft, "They use children to mine them." At this Perey leans forward, losing his usual boredom with such discussions.
"Children? Why?" Awenasa's friend asks.
The gnome shrugs, "They are small, easy to bully and don't need paid. Most of all, the town looks the other way because such fossils are one of the few reasons anyone even still lives in this place. Outside traders, the tribes, everyone wants them. They can produce a tidy profit for everyone...if you just ignore the children."
"A man named Ely Piggrich runs the mines and 'owns' the children', This time the disgust becomes clear, despite the gnomes attempt to hide it. "Formally, they are his adopted kid just doing general labor, like on all the farms and such near by. But in reality...." The gnome shakes his head, and there is a shadow in his eyes, some old dark past flitting through.
Then, he glances up, "I want you to free them."
Awenasa looks down at the object in her hand and then back at Netuckelist. "This? This has value?" She turned it over in her hand, lowlanders chose the most bizarre things to covet.
Her eyes narrow slightly when the gnome mentions that the desert people consider them holy. Of course lowlanders would plunder something sacred to outsiders for profit.
The Shoanti doesn't immediately react when the gnome shares that the children are being used to mine the fossils. She had grown up where children were expected to work to help the quah. She thought back to all the hard work she had done as a child and she figured she was better for it.
The name Ely Piggrich sounds familiar and Awenasa quickly recalls that the sheriff had mentioned him as one of the merchants to get supplies from."So the children are mistreated by this Ely?". Mistreatment was a different story than working to help the community.
She contemplates his request. Perey's words from the night before come back to haunt her. Freeing the children would definitely go against what the town would want but did she really have a choice?
"And what happens to children when freed? If town doesn't want them freed, how they stay free?"
"Everything is worth what's purchaser will pay for it." Netuckelist says easily. "In town, a glass of water can me a matter of small politeness. A mere courtesy. During a drought, it becomes priceless."
"As for Ely...he does better the harder and longer they work. I do not know where you are from, but surely men able to resist such temptations are rare in any place? Go, take a look around and judge for yourself."
When Awenasa asks about the details the gnome shrugs, "Good question, but one I can take care of. As part of my little operation here, I have a few people who travel often. One such can be arranged, to take the children with them to another town, another place. A proper orphanage, where they will be cared for instead of worked like animals. The town won't mind if the children suddenly vanish, most might even give a sigh of relief to have such a problem magically fix itself. Altava won't be tracking you down for this one...unless you get caught in the act. Red-handed kidnapping a bunch of children....well, that might not go so well."
The gnome's voice hardens slightly, "But that is my price for waiving the Sheriff's debt. You free the children and I'll write it all off, instantly without complaint. It will be my problem to get them away."
Awenasa doesn't come right out and agree to Netuckelist's 'deal' but she has little choice in the matter. Frankly she is damned if she does and damned if she doesn't. Even though there is risk in freeing the children, it is the only way for her to learn about Eivind. She knows she will do it but she needs to know more about the risks so she continues to ask the gnome questions.
"How many children and are they only in mine or is there a home?"
"When are children in mine and for how long?"
"Are there men watching them?"
Awenasa hopes that if Netuckelist had been contemplating this that he would have some info that would be helpful.
Netuckelist nods at her question but does not reply right away. The little figure seems to be thinking a moment, weighing a choice. Finally he nods, and sets down his empty drink.
"Boy!" he suddenly shouts, loud enough to make Perey jump slightly. In only a moment, obviously waiting, the young boy appears. Awenasa gives them a longer look this time, seeing slightly reddish tinged skin, brown hair and dark blue eyes. They seem spry and helpful enough, nearly running over to the table.
The gnome glances from the boy to Awenasa. "This is Aigo." the boy's head bobs in agreement. "He was recently....a guest at Ely's establishment." At this name the boy's face clouds over with confusion and fear. Yes, fear. Even Awenasa , who has lived a hard and demanding life among people with little time to coddle finds the child's quick change concerning. What would darken a boy's heart so?
"Perhaps he can answer some of your questions." Netuckelist says, grim now. "Boy, how many children did you used to live with?"
Aigo seems displeased by this topic but says, sullenly, "Lots." he thinks for a bit and looks down at this hands, and Awenasa sees him using his fingers. This doesn't shock her, she's run into plenty of Shoanti and lowlanders who have trouble with numbers.
"Twenty four." Aigo says finally, nodding.
"And where did you live?" The gnome prods.
"In some rooms....near the mine." The boy says slowly, reluctantly. "Sometimes we'd go up to the Big House but not much." He shudders a bit at this. "The rest of the time, we were in the mine..." Then, clearly unable to stop himself, tears start to form. "You...are you sending me back? I won't go, I won't!" he suddenly shouts, surprising even himself.
For the first time Awenasa sees real emotion on Netuckelist's face, pity. A deep well of pity that seems quite out of place on the genial criminal's pointed face.
"No...you won't go back. I promised you that Aigo, and I meant it. Now, tell us. How many men did Ely have watch you?"
The boy's tears remain, gleaming in the light from the windows. His voice is husky and a bit ragged, "Just two. Big men....and Mother Aleve in the rooms. Watch us at night. They had other men who worked there though, on the big farms or mining rocks..."
Then Netuckelist leaned in, "And what did these men do to you?" The boy looks surprised but resigned. Without a word he turned and pulled up the back of his shirt.
The child's back was a horrifying criss-cross of old welts and scars. Not from a whip, Awenasa judged, but a cane perhaps? Laid on hard enough to break the skin...many times.
"Stop it!" Perey shouts, and Awenasa sees tears in her friends eyes. "That's enough!"
Netuckelist looks at the man and nods, "Perhaps." Aigo, for his part merely shrugs and says, "It doesn't hurt any more."
"Run along, boy." The gnome says quietly. Aigo dashes off, vanishing once again.
Silence fills the room.
Awenasa grips the edge of the table harder and harder as the boy shares what he had experienced. By the time Perey shouts to stop, her knuckles are white and she is seething with cold anger.
What kind of a place was Arsis where the children were treated so shamelessly? The community was supposed to collectively care for the children and the elderly, not exploit them. This whole place should be razed to the ground. As far as she is concerned, if the vulnerable aren't protected then the people were unredeemable and forfeited their rights. The sooner she can leave, the better.
Through clenched teeth she asks, "Where are the parents, the families?" She honestly can't understand how this is allowed to happen. The sheriff didn't seem like a bad person but if Awenasa understands her job properly, she should protect the whole community and not just a select few.
Discipline was one thing, she had experienced much discipline in her short life so far. Abuse is a completely different thing entirely and those who abuse the vulnerable deserve no mercy.
"Has anyone here, besides Aigo, been to the mines? I no want to add to his trauma but knowing layout of the mines would help navigate freeing children."
"They are orphans, one way or another." Netuckelist says, watching Awenasa's face closely. "Those without parents. Ones who died, or left, or are unknown. A few are even from the desert tribes, dropped off here for some reason. No one is sure. But most are locals, who wind up there with no better place to be."
"No one else has been there, but I doubt it matters. The tunnels are cramped, mostly fit for children. There are a few older shafts from previous owners, who used adults for the work, but they tend to just be the main connectors. A few are airshafts but they are either very small or covered with heavy grates. To prevent escapes." Last word is said cold enough to chill her bones. And Awneasa can only imagine what such an 'escape' might look like. Where would a mere child go? Faced with the hellish surface desert during the day, with no food or water or survival skills. Even she, with all of those in abundance, had gone the crossing arduous. No, the Shoanti guesses such escapes were rare indeed, no matter how bad the beatings or hopeless the future.
Awenasa understands that not all parents survive to raise their children but Aigo had said there were over twenty children. That would suggest a slaughter for that many to have died. Considering this didn't seem to be the case, that means many of the children were abandoned. If one couldn't take care of a child, they shouldn't be having one. Although there were a lot of lowlanders that were barely more than animals, at least in her experience, so maybe it isn't so surprising.
There is something that Awenasa is curious about ever since meeting the boy and so she asks, "How you get Aigo out?"
She continues to think through what would be involved in getting the children out. Information about how to get to the children seems to be thin so she will need to do some investigation herself. However, she couldn't be seen hanging around where she doesn't really belong. One could only use the excuse that they got lost so much before raising suspicions.
"You being local, what time of day best to get at children? And when does sheriff come here?"
Awenasa considers whether to tell Krahnu about the 'price' of settling Altava's debt. She didn't know the former sheriff well enough to know if she'd help where she could by distracting people in town or whether she'd object and become an obstacle. The Shoanti was fairly certain that Krahnu would rather Awenasa eliminate Netuckelist but how could someone be so bad if they are the only one wanting to help the vulnerable? Things are proving to be quite complicated for Awenasa.
"I will do this. Any more info you have to help is good to give me."
"Get him out?" Netuckelist said, then shrugged. "The same way you get anything of value in the world, I bought him. Granted, it was phrased somewhat differently but in essence the boy was giving Ely trouble and I said I needed a servant. For a generous 'donation' he proved willing to hand him over. It's a trick I can only use rarely however, without the man growing wise." A bit wistful, "Wouldn't do to being known as a generous, easy mark."
'As for how to rescue them, I'm not sure. Do I look like a wasteland raider?" The little dapper gnome, sitting in his oversized chair looked as far from the many hard-bitten raiders Awenasa knew (and loved). Yet, for all that, here he was putting such plans into motion. Surely the man knew blood might be spilled in such an operation, and not just those of the other side.
"At night they would all be together, but probably more guards. During the day they would be in the diggings, but more spread out. I doubt Ely's guards work very hard in the heat." Aweansa remembered the punishing inferno of the previous day, which taxed even her rugged constitution.
When she asks for other information the gnome does offer, "I know the tunnels go much deeper and farther then people think. The tunnels the child dig in, I mean. The ones near the canals are just scrapes made to find fossils, but many connects to older, natural caves. Other then that, not sure I know anything useful. But then again, I've never planned a raid before."
Awenasa's teeth involuntarily clench when Netuckelist mentions buying the boy. No one should ever be bought and sold. However, she recognizes that the gnome and his motivations are much different than the slavers she had dealt with in Riddleport.
"You not make good raider, the Shoanti says matter-of-factly. "But those who plan the raid, not always go on raid." Awenasa doesn't have much experience planning raids either but she had participated in quite a few of them.
"I will look for these natural caves and find another opening. It take time to prepare but I will find way." Awenasa is fairly sure that she will need to free the children during the day to limit the harm she may do to the locals but she would start searching the area at night when it was cooler.
What she needed to do now is discuss things with her friends. Mainly, she wanted their opinion on whether to tell Krahnu or not. Would she be helpful if it meant helping the sheriff? Or would she think this plan was too much of a disruption to the town and that Awenasa should just make Netuckelist disappear? Awenasa already knows that she wouldn't be okay with the latter. He may prey on human weakness and profit from it but he was also one of the only few that was concerned about the vulnerable being exploited.
"Where do I bring children when they free?"
Netuckelist looks a little put out when Awenasa says he wouldn't make a good raider, but she doesn't really care. It isn't her job to confirm this gnomes delusions, whatever they may be.
At her idea at finding a natural cave the little gnome shrugs but looks slightly apprehensive, which she can't blame them for. Awenasa knows, from long experience, caves can be very dangerous places. Quite apart from the mundane dangers of being trapped or lost, they were often the home of viscous creatures of all types, even more so in such a hostile surface environment. A cool protected cave made a desirable home for most desert animals.
Still, she needed Krahnu's information, and this was the start of the chain that led to it. Besides, if she was being honest, freeing children from such a fate would be a good deed. Maybe her ancestors would approve and help guide some luck her way? Assuming they had power in such a strange land.
At her final question, The gnome rubs his bearded chin for a moment. "There is a small garden at the edge of town, which I own. There are a few sheds and such for the tools and seeds. My man, with a cart, will hide there until you drop them off. " Netuckelist gives her the directions to the spot, which, to his credit, is a fairly easy approach that avoids any main roads.
At this the gnome gets up off his chair and takes a step toward Awenasa. He holds out a tiny pale hand to her and says, "I think this is the custom in your homeland? To shake on the agreement of a deal?"
"My first customers won't be here for another hour or so. Consider this room yours until then, if you need to plan or anything of that nature. I will make sure you are not disturbed or overheard. Please, enjoy the drinks if you wish. On the house."
And with that he fades out of a side door, leaving Awenasa alone with her friends.
Awenasa nods at his mention of the garden. It was less conspicuous than this place and hopefully had a lot of hiding places until she could get them all out of the mines.
The Shoanti stands to face the gnome and stares for a moment as Netuckelist stuck out his hand. Then as was her way, she says bluntly, "Lowlanders do this, not my people. Our word is our bond." She eventually holds out her hand, "But if you need such ritual I will do so." After all, she was doing many things that she never thought she would have to do in order to help her people,
Even though Awenasa finds it hard to trust anyone outside of her inner circle, she does need a place to speak freely with the others where she is fairly certain the sheriff will not overhear. She knows that Netuckelist wants her to succeed so it is in his best interest to not lie to her at this moment. She sits back down, "Thank you. We will not stay too long."
Once they are alone, Awenasa turns her attention to Perey and Thak. "We will need to learn about this Ely and his operation."
"Night time would be best because all the children will be in one place but they are also guarded and there is greater risk of creating trouble in the town." Awenasa continues to sum up their options. "Day would be best to get the children out more stealthily but it will also be more punishing due to the heat. And we will need to find a different way into the mine."
"It may prove helpful to speak with Krahnu about this given she would know the town and surrounding area. Unless she doesn't want the children freed, then speaking with her would be harmful."
She looks into Perey's eyes and then Thak's, "Thoughts?"
Awenasa takes along look at her two friends. She does not doubt their bravery (she had seen Thak ignore a burning building and Perey had faced down an armed lizardfolk on his own) but they didn't quite have the raw power she might have liked. What she would give for a raider like Matoska?
With He-With-Fire-Inside at her side, they wouldn't even need to bother with plans. They would just go and take these children by brute force. Alas, it was not meant to be so simple.
Thak is still looking over the drink tray when he speaks, "Krahnu was the sheriff so she also allowed this children slavery to go on. I doubt she cares very much either way, Awenasa. The main issue, I see is that the more we involve her the more risk we run brining Altava into it. And remember, that will upset the whole crazy bargain we are caught up in."
Perey taps his fingers on the table thinking, "A night time attack risks the children more, Awenasa. In the confusion, in the dark...chaos might break out. If we did it during the day, if we can get to the diggings, we'd meet them only a few at a time. Not that I really want to climb through a bunch of dark caves...."
Thak spoke up again, "Krahnu said this Ely sold items for miners and travelers? We are travelers, I could go and visit his shop, and see what I can learn? It would not raise alarm, in fact this town might expect us to visit." The redfish skinned man smiled, glancing at Awenasa, "I am experienced shopper who will not scare anyone off."
"If we wait until tomorrow, I can help with some spells," Perey says, "Thak has been teaching me some magic, I can help us share languages as well. That way we can talk to the children. Also, I might be able to help us find our way underground too."
Awenasa looks at Thak sharply. Not because she is upset by anything he has said but because he had said something she hadn't considered. She had been assuming the children were being abused only on Altava's watch as sheriff but it made complete sense that this had probably been happening under Krahnu's watch as well. "Good thought, Thak. We will keep Krahnu in the dark."
She nods in relief as Thak offers to go 'shopping' on their behalf so that she doesn't have to. "While you shop and learn about our foe, Perey and I can look for a secret way into the diggings."
"I agree that we shouldn't attempt to free any of the children today. We need more information before we act. If we can learn enough this afternoon, we can try tomorrow."
The Shoanti clapped one of her hands down on Perey's shoulder and the other clasped Thak's shoulder. She may have preferred to raze the mines with Matoska's help but she was grateful to have the help of her friends. "We will free the children together. This good we will do. You are warriors in your own way."
Thak grins at Awenasa's words but Perey looks uncomfortable, even more then usual. He quickly wriggles free of Awenasa's embrace and the Shoanti wonders what she said that bothers him. She had meant her words and, to her, were the highest praise she could give.
Thak takes a final drink and departs, after taking a small allowance from Awenasa, just enough to 'play the part', at least according to the Vudran. This left Perey and here alone, and together they stepped back out onto the shaded porch around the gambling house.
The slovenly guards were still there, dicing and talking but none of them met Awenasa's eye. Clearly they had been told to leave her alone, and let them pass at will. Not that they could have stopped her anyway.
Outside the morning is growing hot, the sun a disk of blazing white surrounded by a sizzling halo of clouds or dust , Awenasa can not tell. Even in the shade of the porch, she feels a sweat start on her skin, quickly whisked off by the dry air. There is no wind, and the Shoanti is not sure if that is a blessing or curse. At least it meant no dust-storms today, or so she helped.
She turned her eyes back the town, and over the canal at the building's edge. There, small rugged hills lay scattered, surrounded by red sand dunes. Sometimes the hills were sharp and jagged, lifting ledges of raw rock toward the sun while others were smooth and worn by endless storms. She saw little signs of life, few trees or plants but this did not shock her. In the heat of the day, most living things were be hiding.
Awenasa stares curiously at Perey. She has a hard time figuring him out. He seems to want to be treated like Shoanti and belong to the quah but also acts awkward and weird when she treats him like Shoanti. Does he think she is lying?
She tries to keep the disdain off her face when she steps outside with Perey and sees the guards doing their best impersonations of...lowlanders. She had tried to think of something very lazy that she is familiar with and frankly couldn't come up with anything better than lowlander.
She does not like the degree of heat that assaults her body even while she stands in the shade. The full impact of the sun will not be welcomed but to search for a cave meant that they would have to spend time in the direct sun.
As she contemplates their next move, she studies the surrounding hills and applies what she knows about the type of landscape from back home.
Awenasa is no stranger to searching out such formations. On the Stroval Plateau of her home, a cave is often the difference between surviving a storm or winter, or dying. True, most of the caves in her homeland had long been found and searched out, the locations memorized and handed down for generations but quah's moved, migrated. It was still a skill taught and understood.
Still, it would be a daunting task. The main trick was to find water, which is what dug out the deep places of the world. But finding moisture in a place like this....would be difficult.
For the next hour or so Awenasa roams around the edge of town, staring out at the circling desert. What is she looking for? Signs of life at a distance. The flash of green from leaves, the hint of shade of a rock, the tell-tale sign of a game trail. She knows she will, eventually, have to venture out into the blasted waste but that is best done carefully, slowly. A Shoanti did not rush out into unknown lands. She would survey as best she could from a safe location, well safer then a sun scorched desert outcropping.
Maybe. the town made her uncomfortable. The people all wore heavy clothes and veils, coated with dust, hiding their faces and eyes. Most ignored her, but a few seemed to almost follow her around, although Awenasa was not sure if was because of fear, interest or just boredom. Who knew with lowlanders?
After about an hour she had two or three locations sighted she wished to try. At her side Perey was sweating and slightly sunburned, his paler skin dealing worse with the pounding sun above. There were no clouds, just a filmy milky hazy above, like a lowlander's gossamer shawl through over the dome of the sky.
As Awenasa glances over at Perey near the end of her assessment of the surrounding environment, she is concerned but doesn't want to coddle the man.
She finds some shade for the two of them and takes a drink of water from her waterskin before holding it out for Perey. She finds speaking Shoanti to be oddly comforting with it just being the two of them, "You good to keep going and maybe explore a site or two? Or would you prefer a break and hope things cool a bit before venturing out?"
Firstly, Awenasa makes sure that they have adequate supplies for venturing into the wilderness. They may not be going far but they needed to be safe. Secondly, she tells Perey her thought process for choosing the site that looked most promising to her. With nothing else left to discuss, all that there was to do was actually go and explore.
"I think, it is only going to get hotter." Perey says miserably, looking out over the blasted baking wastes that surround Arsis. Even as they watch, the air shimmers and dances in heat waves, making their vision swim oddly. It was something Awenasa knew well, and knew it was a danger of itself. It could fool the eye, making entire ponds appear and vanish instantly. A mirage could lead a thirsty traveler astray for hours, chasing an endlessly receding fiction.
"We can't wait until nightfall." Perey adds, getting to his feet. "And I don't want to be crawling around in the dark. Gods know what other things might be out there."
Awenasa checks their supplies and after making sure all is well, heads out. Their departure raises more attention then she would have wished, with more then two dozen locals openly watching them set off into the red sandy desert. It occurs to her that people setting off into the empty desert, during the day, is probably not common.
Still, there was nothing for it. With no trees or anythign else, leaving via stealth during the day would be virtually impossible unless she really became a local expert. One good thing, the uneven ground and rocks meant she and Perey would drop out of sight quickly and easily. Even if the entire town watched them leave, they would have no idea where they were going.
It is hard going, over rough ground in the high heat of the day. The world around them become a haze of red dust, milky sky and blazing sun. Awenasa can feel the warmth through her boots, radiating up. Sweat runs down her back, pooling under her arms, drenching her chest. The only saving grace is a bit of dry wind, racing along the sandy dunes. It isn't enough to kick up much dust, but it does dry the sweat. The only issue is they have to keep blinking away the whipping heat.
They are nearly at her first likely site when she has to, reluctantly, conclude someone is following them. Awenasa had, of course, been watching their back trail. She no more could have forgotten that then forget to breathe. What Shoanti raider would fail to notice a pursuer?
Still, she had hoped she was wrong but finally, after nearly an hour of travel, she was sure. Shortly behind them, following along a rocky defile, was some dark-robed humanoid figure. It did not quite move with the easy grace of the desert dweller she met before. A villager, she guessed but she knew little else. Perey at her side, was more busy trying to survive then notice his surroundings.
Awenasa agrees with Perey's assessment and doesn't see any physical signs that he would not be able to continue so she nods and gathers their equipment.
Being watched by uncomprehending lowlanders is not new for Awenasa and so she doesn't pay much attention to the strange looks they were given as they set off into the desert.
Awenasa's training had prepared her for many difficulties by building strength of her body, mind, and spirit. However, this desert tested the limits of her strength and her resolve.
Had she just focused on her own discomfort, she may have missed noticing that someone is following them. Years of training cannot be undone by harsh conditions and so she soon becomes aware of their pursuer.
As usual, she bluntly shares with Perey what she has seen. "We are being followed. It's best to find out who it is and why they follow. There are enough rocky crevices and shadowy places in this area to plan an ambush. It will give you a bit of rest in the shade."
Perey doesn't argue when Awenasa suggests hiding him away somewhere shaded. Clearly the punishing heat is taking a toll on him as well, not that Awenasa is immune. She runs a finger over her ears and the back of her beck. Even slightly protected by her hair, her skin feels tingling and hot to the touch. Sunburn. Ouch.
Still, with all the cragged rocks around, it is easy to find a shady crevice to hide Perey in. Indeed, this area is so broken she almost considered hunting for caves here but there is no trace of water, either now or in the past. Just dry sand, wind-sculpted into small ankle high ripples.
Perey lets out a sigh of relief when he passes into the lee shade of a large red rock, huge cracks running up the side. It almost reminded Awenasa of a huge tree trunk, with ancient cracked bark. Indeed, she almost spotted growth rings among the sand.
"I'll keep an ear out. Make some noise, if you need help." Perey says, already sitting down on a bare low stone. Awenasa can't blame him. She herself is half tempted to stay here and rest a bit, recover her energy and stamina. But that is impossible, finding caves will take time, not to mention the mysterious stranger following them.
So, with some reluctance, Awenasa leaves the shelter of the shade and hides a likely ambush spot. Judging the terrain, she makes a guess at where their pursuer will follow, the obvious path among the tumbled stones and rocky pinnacles. After finding a slightly more exposed bit of path, she hunts for an overhanging ledge, so she can watch and wait. Like a hunting cat was the old Shoanti raider saying. Quiet and calm, resting until that one fatal moment of exertion, an explosion of violence.
If it came to that, of course. Awenasa had no idea who was following them.
A low rocky cliff wall gave good handholds and a lifetime of climbing let Awenasa easily slighter up into a perfect hiding place. A low ledge of rock, sheltered from both the sun and prying eyes below, while offering her a clear sight of the likely trail. Even better, it offered two escape routes. Some sand below allowed an easy jump down, while the top of the wall was just above her, giving the Shoanti the option of rolling up and away.
So she waited, in her perfect hunting blind.
It did not take long. The sun had barely time to move in the milky, strange pale sky when a figure appeared behind some rocks below her.
It was the same humanoid figure she spotted earlier. Covered head in foot in a dark burnoose, Awenasa could see few details, but if it was a human it was a thin and wiry one. They moved with some skill over the broken ground, perhaps not with the grace of a Shoanti raider or the desert nomads, but also not a callow town dweller. This was someone used to the dry places.
What also set them apart from a raider was their gear, of which they carried a great deal. A wide belt hung at their waist, weighed down with many pockets, mostly bulging with unknown items, but Awenasa did recognize two water canteens, a large knife and a mirror. On their back was a very large and heavy looking pack, worn by long years of use in the sun, with sweat stains worked into the battered leather. A shovel and small pick were tied to it, jangling slightly with every step. An unforgivable sin to Awenasa who took utter silence for granted when traveling.
The figure drew near, looking to pass right under her hiding place, still generally following their trail. If she ignored them, they might pass her and Perey entirely (her friend's shady hideout would not be spotted).
In addition to being annoyed that someone has followed them, Awenasa has a small amount of grudging respect for the fact that their pursuer appears to be prepared to be out in the desert. It definitely isn't the drunkard from this morning wanting revenge which had been her first thought when she initially noticed them.
However, she silently winces at the noise made with each step due to the hanging tools.
Awenasa waits until the figure passes below her, waiting for her moment to act. She quietly jumps down behind their unknown follower and sternly demands, "Why you follow us?"
The figure must have jumped a foot in the air when Awenasa appears, if by magic, out of the sky. They shout something in a language Awenasa doesn't know and then falls to the ground, sprawled out. Their robe goes flapping, as they land in the dust, gear rattling loudly. They quickly roll face-up and shed their heavy pack.
Then they slow down, moving carefully as if not to startle Awenasa. Hands slowly reach up and remove the dark head-covering. It reveals a humanoid face, although with the dark almost purple eyes of the locals. A male face, with a scruffy brown beard and sharp pointed features. His skins is tanned and worn, showing a life spent out of doors, and probably a decade or two older then Awenasa.
The man spreads his arms wide and says something in a language Awenasa doesn't know. He looks frightened but not terrified.
Great. Now what?
Awenasa watches with satisfaction as her prey is genuinely startled by her sudden appearance meaning that she hasn't lost her touch, even in somewhat unfamiliar territory.
However, her satisfaction quickly turns to frustration when she realizes that Thak's spell has worn off and she is no longer able to understand or be understood by the locals.
She sighs. Back to charades.
Awenasa makes sure that she makes eye contact and then holds up her hands in front of herself to indicate he needed to stop and wait. She then points at her eyes and then at his to tell him to watch.
She then shrugs with her arms out to the sides...why
She points at him...you
She makes her fingers walk along her arm...follow
Then she points at herself...me?
The man narrows his eyes at Awenasa's gestures, then shakes his head a smile on his face. He opens his mouth and starts talking, again in a language Awenasa doesn't know. The man seems chatty, talking quite freely and loudly. Several times he points to his ear, where a small shiny earring dangles. After pointing he points to Awenasa, indicating she should speak.
Why? the Shaonti's mind instantly is wary. Was it a trap, to stall for time? Did the man have confederates? She glanced around. No, unless they were using magic or some trick of this desert she did not know, Awenasa would swear no one else is out here except the animals, plants and rocks (and not too many of the plants and animals in this place).
Awenasa goes through the same routine, of using her motions but this time also narrates things in her fairly weak Common. Anything to indulge this man. At the very least, as she talks, he shuts up and remains quiet (and attentive. Awenasa repeats her entire spiel twice and is starting to get worried she has an idiot on her hands when, out of the blue, the man speaks.
In perfect Common, "Finally! Took long enough." Still sprawled at her feet he smiles and says, "Translator." he taps the earring, "Magic but it needs something work off of. I use it for the desert folks, but figured it's work here too." He looks up at her and then says, "May I stand up?"
A pause and then, "Oh, my name's Euler. I'm a prospector in the lands around here."
Awenasa's tone and motions exude frustration as she repeats her simple words again and again. However, that frustration evaporates when words finally form and they're able to communicate.
She shifts into a defensive stance as he speaks. He seems harmless enough but she will always be wary of lowlanders.
Having experienced Thak's magic, the translator didn't surprise or amaze Awenasa but she did find it interesting that an object could do what Thak did.
At his question to stand, Awenasa takes a step backwards and gives a slight nod.
"What is prospector? One who follows?
She is still unsure of what to make of this Euler but he mentioned desert people and the land. Maybe he could be helpful but as usual, she needed to know her prey better.
Euler stands up slowly, keeping his hands clear, a sign that he at least knows how to not startle someone. perhaps his run ins with the 'desert people', the nomads Awenasa already has met, were touchy situations. Good, at least he wasn't entirely clueless.
"No, quite the opposite, actually." The man says, wiping dust off of his robes. He pushes his pack with his foot, which clanks lightly. The shovel and pick catch the sun, reflecting dully. "I find things. Things buried in the ground. Fossils mostly, but I'll take gold or silver if I can find it. Even iron, although that's mostly worthless." He squints at her, "They don't have miners where you are from?"
Then a flash of an idea crosses his face and he nods, "Are you some sort of other desert people? I know the local nomads don't mine, they find the entire idea quite bizarre, far as I understand. Are you something like that? Akiton is a big place, I guess. Room for all sorts," he says this last bit hopefully, as if maybe she had the same non violent viewpoint.
"I wasn't trying to bother you," he finally adds, "Just, I have claims out here and I didn't know what you were doing. I didn't want you poaching on my claims. That's my livelihood, after all." He looks at her, purple eyes lighter then Altava's. "I can see by your expression that you have no idea what I am talking about and so my worries are groundless." he smiles at this last word like it's a joke but Awenasa doesn't get it.
The prospector shrugs, 'Anyway, what are you doing out here? The desert in mid day is no laughing matter. The nomads don't come up here very much but they don't care for outsiders much. I'd be careful if I were you." he glances around, "Where is the second one, the little fella? Watching me with a rifle from some hidey hole?"
"You find things...", Awenasa repeats as she begins to think about how this may help her. Then she shakes her head 'no' when asked about miners. That made as much sense to her as 'prospector'.
Out of everyone she had met here on Akiton, the desert people seemed to be the most like her own. "My people not live in desert but we live as part of the land." Many lowlanders may consider the Plateau a desert of sorts but it wasn't how Awenasa saw it.
Awenasa makes the decision to ask for help when Euler asks her why she's out in the desert. If he's familiar with the area, he may know of the kind of tunnels she is looking for. "My friend is resting in shade. Like you said, desert at midday is harsh. We out here to explore the caves. What you know about the caves in this area?"
"Shade is a good idea, out here." Euler says, wiping the last of the dust off his shoulders. "Sure you've noticed, the heat is a killer. Doubly for those not used to it."
The man wiped at his face, sweat leaving streaks among the ever present dust. "Although maybe you are used to it. I noticed you didn't say where you were from, stranger. Lots of rumors in town. Some saya traveler out of Arl, some say a former guard at the Hivemarket and a few even suggest the Ice Clans. I don't think the last, not that I know what an Ice Clanner looks likes." His eyes seem to smile as he adds, "And I am guessing you don't want to share. Fair enough, fair enough."
When Awenasa mentions caves though, his face becomes more guarded again, wary. Not sly or furtive, just someone touching on an unwanted topic.
"Caves? Yes, I know lots of caves."The prospector says slowly, "No one better. How couldn't I? I spend my life digging holes in the countryside, ones already there can make my life easier." He sighs though and glances up at the milky white sky and then the red rocks around them. Finally back to Awenasa, "But see, now you have me worried again. What do you want caves for? The only reason people want to find caves is to find what I'm looking for, a good claim."
Awenasa takes a long hard look at this person. He seems to be telling the truth, both about his knowledge and his concerns. Clearly caves are, somehow, connected to his work. Perhaps he views Awenasa as a possible rival?
Awenasa isn't being evasive on purpose but how do you explain to someone that you aren't from their world? If a stranger arrived on the Plateau with such a story, they would be quickly escorted off the Plateau. "I doubt you heard of where I from. It not that I not want to share but it no where on your world."
She can see his defenses go back up when she asks about caves so she decides to test the water and approach the conversation from a different angle. "Before I tell you what I want caves for, what your thoughts on Ely Piggrich? He friend or foe?"
When Awenasa gives a vague answer to her homeland, Euler waves a hand dismissively, "Oh, I understand. Your business is your own. I wouldn't mind knowing the answer, just to see smart to the folks back in town, but it is not proper to pry. My apologies."
When she mentions Piggrich though, the prospector's face becomes even more closed and the man takes a seemingly unconscious half step away from Awenasa. "Friend or foe," The man says musingly, "Well, if that isn't the most desert nomad phrase I've ever heard. Is that how you look at things? You sure you aren't one of them?"
His words seem more aimed at himself, playing for time. He does go on though, "It's complicated. " he fays finally, reaching some internal choice, "I am my own man, free and clear. But Ely is the closest thing I have to a boss. He sells me my equipment and if I find anything, he's the factor I go through. Not that I have much choice in this town. If you are doing something against him, leave me out of it. I want to stay clear." Euler rubs his chin for a moment before adding, voice quiet.
"He is a tough one, Piggrich. Others have tried messing with his affairs and all have come to bad ends. Now you look tough enough, and know your own affairs but I'm just giving you a warning. Don't mess with Ely unless you are ready for a heck of a dust storm."
Awenasa finds it curious that she's constantly questioned for her black and white view of the world when to her, the lowlanders' need to see everything as grey made things more complicated than they needed to be. This is precisely why a whole town allowed child slavery to happen.
"He has something I need. I need what he has to get information that will save my people from being killed. My plan is to get in and get out without any kind of confrontation. That's why I need caves, to find a hidden way in."
Awenasa levels her gaze at Euler, "You help me find a way in, the faster I leave your town in peace. And maybe after I done, Piggrich no longer so powerful and you can make your own way. He doesn't sound like a good man so why help him oppress the town?"
"I understand your concern but my whole life has been dust storm. The only thing that changes is location."
Euler looks at Awenasa, looks at the empty rocks around them, and then up at that strange milky sky. A pale dusty blue shot through with streaks of dull white, running on a wind Awenasa cannot feel. The heat is oppressive, even down here in the shade of the rocks. Nothing moves here, no signs of life apart from a few dried looking bushes clinging to the rocks. Not even the whine of insects.
The prospector (whatever that was exactly) shakes his head, knowingly, "You are not the first person to try and rob Ely Piggrich, stranger. He is the richest person in town so he attracts his fair share of troubles. Plenty of travelers hear about his mines and figure out a big scheme to steal from them." The man sighs, "They never work. And mark me, yours will not work either."
"I won't be part of any such plan, it'll never work." The robed man goes on, "And I have better ways to spend my time then get worked out by Ely's bully boys...or worse. Stealing from Piggrich is a crime you know. The Sheriff is a nice enough lady but stealing from a citizen? They'll hang you, you know. They have a pole set up just for that, just for hanging folks. Is that where you want to end your travels? No fossils are worth that."
Awenasa looks more and more confused as Euler talks about her robbing Ely and stealing. Freeing slaves was not stealing, it was making things right.
When he finishes by mentioning fossils, she snorts somewhat derisively, "Who said anything about fossils? He can keep his fossils. I seek something more worthwhile. This town ignores what I seek, so no loss."
She fixed her intense gaze on Euler. "Does it change mind to know I not want to take his wealth?"
Funnily enough, as Awenasa gets more confused, so does Euler. "Not stealing his wealth..." The man ponders this for a few moments then shakes his head, "I don't know what you are getting at, but I don't want any part of it. And if you had any sense, you wouldn't either."
The man wipes off the last of the dust of his robes and picks up his heavy pack, which jangles loudly. "But your choices aren't my business. You seem nice enough so I'll wish you well and be on my way. My claims are safe enough, I suppose. Tell your friend good fortune as well. " And with that, the man starts back down the rocky alley, back the way he came.
Awenasa shakes her head sadly as she watches Euler start back towards town. Obviously he was no longer concerned about his claims but rather in telling Ely about her. That is something that she cannot allow. She had hoped he would do the right thing since he seemed pleasant enough but it was just another example of turning a blind eye to injustice for the sake of wealth.
The Shoanti literally springs into action but also does so quietly as to not alert her prey. She jumps and lands just behind the man and uses her training to knock him out.
Like a hunting cat, Awenasa leaps toward the man. Even if he had heard her nearly silent feet on the sandy rocks, Euler wouldn't have time to react. Knotting up a fist she slams it right on the top of his head. Hard, but hopefully only hard enough to stun him and not crack his skull like an egg.
The prospector drops like a sack of potatoes, sending up a small cloud of dust. Awenasa feels a bit bad watching his head bounce off a rock but there isn't much for it. She couldn't just let him go and tell everyone about her plans. Even if he meant well (and she doubted that) he might slip up and reveal her activites out here.
Still, did she just want to leave him out here? Who knows what might happen upon him. Another person, a desert scavenger or just plain old heat stroke.
Why couldn't low landers ever just make things easy and do the right thing? It is also this job for this information, or just task for help. Circles and circles!
There is a moment of satisfaction when Euler drops under the weight of her fist. She regrets his decision to go back to town. Now she would have to lug around dead weight in this heat until she could find a safe place to stash him.
She would not leave him to predators or exposure to the elements, that she knew. Now she had another reason to find a cave.
While he was still unconscious, Awenasa uses some rope to tie Euler up in case he wakes up while she's carrying him.
She had left Perey nearby so she calls out for him. Once he shows up she says, "You need to carry pack because I carry him." Then she heaves Euler over her shoulder and continues on her initial trajectory to try to find another way into the mines via one of the caves.
She is fairly certain that if the tables were turned that she would have been left out in the elements to die but she couldn't bring herself to do that, even if he was a lowlander.
Perey is not overly surprised that Awenasa has bested whoever was following them. Clearly the smaller man takes it on faith that his friend can handle any physical danger. If only she felt that level of confidence herself.
Still, he does cough slightly as Awenasa is trudging along, sweating in the dry, oppressive heat. Euler isn't an overly large man, but it still isn't easy to carry all that extra weight in such conditions.
'Uh, Awenasa?" Perey finally offers, "Can I ask something? You said he digs around for shells and stuff, right? So he knows the area? he probably knows where the caves are. Why don't we just ask him? And wouldn't he be easier to move around if he was awake?" Perey blushes slightly, "I mean, you already hit him. I doubt asking him to help is going to change his attitude much."
Awenasa stops and unceremoniously puts down her load for a moment. She takes the opportunity to take a short rest and sip some water.
"I did ask him and he decided not to help. He then started returning to town. I couldn't allow him to warn anyone of what we're doing out here."
However, carrying the extra weight was proving to be more taxing than she had expected and Perey did have a point. "I was worried that him being conscious would increase his chance of escape but we probably could move faster if he was awake, even if I have to drag him along rather than carry him."
The Shoanti changes how Euler is tied up so that he can use his feet but makes sure that his arms are pinned tightly to his torso and that she has enough rope to act as a leash. Content that he wouldn't be able to get away from her without sealing his own fate in this heat, she wakes him up.
After tying the man down (a bit), Awenasa tries to wake up the unconscious prospector. The Shoanti starts by poking him a bit, and then gently shaking him. Nothing works and the man's head lolls rather unpleasantly.
"How hard did you hit him?" Perey asks, a bit of accusation in his voice. Hard enough apparently. 'Stop shaking him, let me give this a try."
The bard shakes his head and pulls out a small flute from his baggage. The metal catches in the sun, twinkling. After a moment of preparation, the little man starts to play a jaunty jig, spritely enough to set Awenasa's foot tapping. It is strange to hear music in the empty winding canyon but the sound is not loud, just very...insistent. A bouncing, lively tune that makes Awenasa think of late nights of dances and celebrations, of happy events long. A sudden wash of homesickness engulfs her, sharp and harsh.
And then Euler coughs and comes to. His first words are fitting enough.
"Ow!" he rubs his head, where an egg sized lump is busy forming. The man seems a bit confused but his eyes focus on Awenasa and he says, indignetly, "Oy, did you hit me? When my back was turned? That wasn't very fair, was it?" Still, he doesn't make to escape or fight.
At least for now.
Awenasa has to turn her back to Perey and Euler as a wave of homesickness hits her. She feels an intense ache that brings tears to her eyes and there is no way that she is going to let either of them see her emotional. She breathes deeply through her feelings until they lessen and she blinks quickly so that the dry heat around her evaporates the tears that threatened to fall.
She composes herself just as Euler coughs and voices his pain. Her homesickness is quickly replaced by disdain for the selfishness and greed of lowlanders. "I barely touch you. And I not hit if you not go tell Ely what I do to gain his favour. Since when do lowlanders care about fair? Only care about wealth."
"Now you come with us. No choice. But you do have choice how long you stuck out here with us. You help and we go back sooner."
"Barely touched me..." Euler says, still wincing. "I'd hate to see if you meant business." At her last words though the prospector gives Awenasa a grim smile, "I might not be very bright, but I'm no fool. What, I help you and then you turn me loose? I doubt it. if you were willing to knock me out and tie me up, clearly you aren't messing around. So, what is the actual deal? I help you and then you kill me, drop me in a canyon to never be found?"
Euler shakes his head, "Fine, do whatever you want, but I'm not helping you out of free will. Why should I? You hit me when my back was turned!"
Awenasa looks confused at his apparent misunderstanding. It seems like lowlanders mistrusted themselves as well. Otherwise, why would he be expecting her to behave like a lowlander? Navigating such preconceived ideas is exhausting.
"You go home when done. And why would I kill you for helping? I not lowlander. I only hit you to stop you from telling Ely about me. I only tie you to keep you from running to tell Ely about me." A tinge of frustration coloured her words because Euler didn't seem to be thinking reasonably. How hard did she hit him? "You already told me you not help. If I going to kill you, why you not dead? Why did I not just take your stuff and leave you in heat to die unconscious where no one find you?"
She sighs, "I asked for help before, you chose no. Now you come with. You decide if you help or not. If I finish fast, you go home fast." She shrugs, "You going back to town is reason you get hit. If I had been between you and town, I would have hit you in face. Town behind so you get hit from behind. You face me or not, would it make difference? You still get knocked out."
"Now, we waste enough time. Time to explore cave." She looks at Perey, "Unless you add something?"
Euler seems unconvinced by Awenasa's words but the Shaonti doesn't care. This while thing is already taking longer then she wanted, and she didn't want to spend any more time sitting out in the dusty sun then she had to. if the prospector wanted to believe death was around the next rock..well, so be it. She wasn't his parent.
Perey shook his head so Awenasa made to move.
Euler though coughed, sighed heavily and said, "No caves up there. Just a few dry hollows made by the wind." The man seems to regret helping at all but goes on, "I figure wasting your time won't help anyone. Maybe if we hurry this along I won't need to die of thirst or something."
Standing up (carefully, so not to startle Awenasa), he gestures eastward, through the rock wall of the canyon. It is invisible but Awenasa second likely site lies in that direction.
"Over that way are some caves that connect to the network underground. I presume that is what you are looking for? I've never ventured down far myself, too dangerous. Rock falls, bad air, and monsters they say." he shrugs, "But you seem tough enough, I'm sure you can handle it."
When Euler ends up helping her, even though it seems reluctant, Awenasa voices her thanks. "Thank you for not wasting time. That what I say. I finish quick then you go home."
The Shoanti looks towards the area the prospector was was talking about. "We go look. Always some danger but I look after." She motions at Perey, "He been with me many months and he in good shape."
"It will be good to get out of heat."