Sandru jumps from his wagon and moves to embrace Harlan, smiling. "I had no doubts you would be able to pull this off, little brother! I can't wait to hear the details. You'll have to regale us over a pint or three."
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You return to the inn you shared a few weeks ago, and find Sandru and Koya (and Skygni) already there. "Good timing! We arrived just yesterday. I thought I would arrange a caravan of goods for the keep... supplies and sundries, of course, but also some indulgences to make the place a little more refined. Anything you think we need otherwise?"
Sandru's face darkens while Koya shakes her head sadly. "How could she betray us like this? She was always a bit... odd, but I'd never have thought her capable of this kind of treachery. Was she charmed, under a spell of some sort?"
"We're a loooong way from Varisia, my friend," Sandru says. "I would guess that O-Kohaku or her geisha might know where to start, though." Kiyomi: A local rumor speaks of the nokizarusan, "three monkeys on the roof", or simply Three Monkeys: three high-ranking ninja that frequently meet at the Kuroi Yane Market in the city of Enganoka. Those who wish to contract one of the ninja clans can usually find them there at the time of the new moon.
"And noses for profit!" Sandru adds, chuckling.
Sandru chuckles, then offers, "I did manage to fit some actual goods in my bags." He pats his saddle bags, which are packed to their limit. "I can play the part of the ignorant foreign trader, and will follow Kiyomi's guide. Sound like a plan?"
"Fair enough," Sandru nods, partially molified. "Since we'll be here a couple days, I'll see if we can barter for some fresh produce. Gives me a chance to brush up on my Tien pointy-talky."
"Three weeks, give or take a day, based on the map Miyaro showed me," Sandru replies to Parity first. "That will get us to the northernmost settlements. From there..." To Harlan, "No horses, but I have seen some wild oxen in the forest. Shaggy haired, with long horns. I think we could round a few up to pull the new wagons. May be some work to tame them, but Kelda has a good hand with the beasts." When Harlan walks to find a spirit to ask, there are none visible. Indeed, besides Akumi, no one has seen a manifested spirit in a few days. Speaking the queries aloud to the surrounding forest in general garners no response.
As Harlan lays out the suggestion of escorting and caring for the refugees, Sandru nods and does some quick mental math. "Twenty six mouths to feed could drain our supplies fast, but we have been doing very well through some barren spots with you and Koya supplementing. As we get further south and into spring, I think foraging will be more bountiful." "Three more supply wagons... if you guys can convince the local spirits to let us build three wagons and stock up, we should be set. I'll put them to work so it won't take more than a couple days. What do you think?"
Sandru slaps Harlan on the shoulder, "Fantastic! We will be the envy of all Varisia, coming back with such exclusive and exotic wares." He laughs, giving Harlan a smile. "We will split the profits, of course."
Sandru nods, but his frown remains. "That's just it... a missed opportunity. But instead of waiting until we returned, I could have been setting up these contracts all along. I know we've been focused on getting over the Crown, but... bah." He shakes his head, a smile coming out. "As you said, no more winter crossings. The way you've optimized the caravan... I could never have made it so efficient. Will you help me organize these trades, as we get to new cities and towns? I'd appreciate your advice."
The second day out of Ordu-Aganhei, Sandru finds Harlan during a mid-day break. "I had a great opportunity, but completely missed it!" He lays down a rough sketch of northern Tian-Xia, with the cities and roads marked. "I could have made a lucrative trade route between Minkai and Varisia, but its a non-starter without Ordu-Aganhei as a stopover." He curses colorfully.
Sandru wipes his scimitar clean on the fallen assassin, but he does not sheathe it. "We can be ready to go by dawn, if we need to leave in a hurry. Go, we'll be fine here." Sandru looks around the gathering crew and starts ordering preparations.
"Oh yaay, we're back to the Sczarni comments again," Sandru mocks. "Feel free to stay behind."
Sandru nods, then replies to Ameiko. "I will go and check on the caravan for Maeve. Who's with me?"
Sandru chuckles again, roughing Harlan on the shoulder. "I was kidding. I'd say you're being paranoid... we've been harried for so long, that we're not used to some genuine hospitality. I don't feel anything shady is going on here." He ponders for a second. "The drivers and crew are enjoying the much needed break, but... just to be sure, I'll make sure the caravan is ready for a 'hasty' departure. Will that make you feel better?"
"Could be he's got a crush on her!" Sandru laughs. "Or is she the secret ingredient for the next banquet?"
"Indigestion?" Sandru replies, with a grin.
Sandru looks uncomfortable. "I'll... stay with the caravan, if that's okay? To keep an eye on things." Shalelu nods in agreement, but as Ameiko moves to follow the guide, she sighs and trails along. Ulf and Koya are both visibly intrigued by the prince's invitation. Kelda shrugs, indifferent, and glances about for guidance.
"Care to elaborate?"
"Maeve? What's the matter?"
"Some of the wagons are hanging on by twine and boards," Sandru mentions. "This might be a good place to hold up for a while to rest and repair... and resupply."
"I'd say this is more than just a night to rest. Do we have any ale we can break out or anything?" She looks to the elves. "You as well, if you want. Let's get a good fire going!" Sandru smiles, "I think we have one small keg left. A little liquid fire to cut this chill?"
Sandru raises and eyebrow, but smiles (though Parity can see none of this). "Why thank you! It's been a few years since I was an 'adventurer', but you don't grow up around a Varisian caravan and not learn how to scrap." "No taverns in sight, but..." he leans in, mock conspiratorial, and speaking loud enough that all can hear. "I do have a small cask of brandy that I've stashed away in the food stores. I think Harlan knows about it, though... he might have used it for cooking." To the group, "Anyone up for a shot?"
Sandru nods, "There was the blocked area one level down."
Sandru replies with a chuckle and weary smile. "No one messes with my little brother." He glances up at the platforms and sphere. "Besides, I've never been much for heights."
"Get away from my brother!" Sandru steps up, attacking the demon. With a two-handed power slash, he carves a deep gash down the demon's back.
Sandru looks pale and fatigued, but he nods.
Sandru looks positively miserable, but keeps up with you in resilient silence. Shivering, breathing heavy, unable to catch up his breath, he looks across the causeway. "S-s-straight on, th-th-then?"
"Oh, what? Traps? I can handle locks and such, but I never learned much about complex or magical traps."
Sandru shrugs and steps forward. "I will go, if you wish me to, though there will be fewer to defend the wagons should they come under attack. Perhaps Kelda should stay instead." He gives the Ulfen woman a wink.
"Indeed," Sandru agrees. "Desna's smiled on us that we've got this far without such a loss. We have to keep pushing forward and hope that thing doesn't come back for more." He walks over beside Malnival, making a gesture and prayer over the burrow. Koya and the other drivers join him for a silent moment before getting back to work.
"Ok...ok...I...I didn't expect that. We would've been better off leaving the wagon! I didn't know. I didn't know." Harlan sinks to the ground after the worm attack. Sandru moves to Harlan's side, kneeling and resting a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Don't blame yourself; none of us could have known. That worm could have struck us anywhere... could do so again," he finishes ominously, looking out at the starlit horizon.
Sandru rubs his chin, thinking. "I'd rather not leave or wreck any of our wagons unless we desperately need to. Never know when that extra space may come in handy. And we're generally more secure with larger numbers... wish we had more, honestly." He gives a wistful smile.
Sandru ponders the logistics. "Sounds like we'll have to load up on food and water, and dump any non-essentials. Anything we can do to pack more, or pack more efficiently?"
"And that brings up the other problem. Are the roads still closed?" Sandru nods, grimly. "While you were away, Chief Nanquut and Sonavut dug into Tunuak's scribblings. It's not good news. We should talk to them before we leave Iqaliat."
Harlan: "Indeed. Thank you, Harlan," Sandru agrees, putting down his mug. "I knew I could count on you to cheer me up! Let's hit the shops while we still have daylight."
Harlan: Sandru snorts a laugh, despite himself, coughing up a bit of the watery mead through his nose. "'Minky?' Hah! Better not use that term around Ameiko! Well, I don't know - maybe she'd find it funny." He shakes his head, sighing. "Thanks, Harlan. I had a nice blue streak going and you broke it!" he says in mock sarcasm. "I don't know about settling in Minkai, but we'll see what the road ahead will bring."
Harlan: "Its not my 'legacy', or Ameiko's thing either. I'm here because I wish to be; I could cut and run at any time and it'd hardly be noticed. Ameiko has no such option. With all that she's facing, if she did cut and run, I don't think I'd blame her."
He shakes his head, ruefully. "No, I guess when I saw Nikki it woke up thoughts of the past, when I was young and had everything ahead of me. Now, I'm older... haven't had a meaningful relationship in a decade or more. By choice, mostly! Not that I regret my life's path, but maybe I should have set aside time to make a family."
Harlan: "Ameiko? Hah! No, but with all she's got ahead of her, she should be in here with us. You can almost see the chains of responsibility pulling her down, more and more. The poor girl's a free spirit... this legacy thing will crush that out of her, turn her into... someone else." He takes another long quaff of the mead, setting the mug down. "Yeah, this is pretty vile," he adds with a grimace.
Sandru stares up at the ceiling. "No, I saw a lass in one of the other caravans. Well, she was a lass, when we first got together. Now she's older, like me... she had three kids running around her." He takes another gulp.
Harlan: Sandru turns into the first open tavern he encounters, which given the Bone Quarter's lack of affluence, is a pretty ramshackle dive. Inside, the windowless common room is lit dimly by the fading fire in the hearth. Sandru walks to the bar and sits down, ordering two meads. At mid-day, you are the only patrons, and only a single barmaid the size of Heng serves you.
She brings the drinks in two clay mugs. You take a sip of the warm drink and try not to wince at its watery 'flavor'. Sandru chugs the entire mug in a few gulps, slams down the empty container, and orders another. He sighs loudly at the delay (all of ten seconds).
Harlan: "Yeah, that's great," Sandru replies, his tone betraying his annoyance. He continues working on a wagon wheel, setting a new spoke, until a poor twist backlashes, striking him painfully in the hand. He shouts a loud curse, wincing and rubbing his hand.
He looks at you, closes his eyes and lets out a sigh. "Come on, let's go find a tavern." Without waiting, he starts walking.
Harlan: Through a long day of working on the wagon undercarriages and general preparation, you notice that Sandru is abnormally silent and even morose, snapping orders impatiently.
Paying for the scrolls and various tomes, she leads Sandru out into the street where she notices Heng and Koya passing in the street and tries to wave to them. Since her arms are laden down, this is a rather more interesting challenge than it probably seems at first, and it's starting to look like she's considering kicking her leg up to do the task. Sandru chuckles at Maeve's awkward effort, but takes the gentlemenly route. "Can I help my lady by carring those?"
"I'm pretty sure it's a traditional fairy tale, but that doesn't mean they're not useful. It was an old story that I remembered that let me know Kimandatsu could regenerate like a troll." Maeve points out. Sandru smiles, nodding. "You'll have to regale us all with the stories over our nights on the road. A fine tale, and educational as well! Or, were you planning to make this gift a surprise?" He winks, conspiritorially. "Well..." Maeve thinks. "Other than the stuff we brought back, we had to leave behind some trade bars..." His eyes widen at the mention of trade bars. "And they're still there?" He blinks, thinking. "Trade bars might be a valuable resource on the road. They're liquid, and nearly universally accepted. And a trade contract for our trek wouldn't hurt either..." You see the wheels turning behind his eyes.
Maeve grins, a little relieved. "Actually, this is the regional dialect used in Minkai - you can tell from the simpler characters they intersperse in there. There are some other copies of some of the stories in Tien and some other languages, and some Taldane in there, in the mix too. Hopefully we'll get some use out of studying them too...it looks like this is a chronicle about oni." "Well, that could be very helpful! Ameiko alluded that we would be facing more of them. Are these stories accurate, or, umm... 'fairy taled'?" After going to the front desk to pay for this last purchase, she smiles back at Sandru. "Okay, next stop...hmm...well, the fortress had this rice liqour in big barrels. At least, that's what I think it was. I'll bet we can find some more around here - the barrels were too big to carry." Sandru raises an eyebrow, interested. "Large barrels... What else did you find there?"
"Do you think Ameiko would like them?" she asks the older gentleman, sounding at least a bit like her old self. "Let me see," Sandru leans in closer, unfurling the scrolls to review the contents. "Well, I can't read Tien, but the calligraphy looks nice, and the drawings are excellent, if a bit angular." He hands the scroll back to Maeve, his face skeptical. "Ehhh, an epic tale, on a painted scroll, in Tien characters and from Tian Xia..." His look changes to a knowing smile. "I think she'll love them!"
Maeve blinks at that, then shrugs and smiles. "Sure." She takes the ham and bites into it. "Mind, I really do need to go through the Jade quarter before the fun parts." Sandru chuckles. "Lead on, my lady... I'm just happy to get out of camp on a foray of pleasure rather than business."
Sandru watches Maeve leave, thinking for a moment. Then, he bites onto a slice of ham, grabs his scimitar and the remaining slices, and runs to catch up to her. "Are you sure you wouldn't mind some company? It will be nice to walk the streets without having to worry about ravens, or assassins, or whatever." He offers a slice of ham.
Sandru raises an eyebrow, but continues smiling. "No... Be careful though." |