Free food offered as soon as we arrive. Free room and board if we go after these bandits. These folks must be really desperate. Coming out here might not have been such a bad idea after all, assuming any of my travelling companions can fight, anyway.
Jacyn seems lost in thought as he walks Smoke towards Oleg, though he listens patiently to the conversation about the bandits, only briefly interupting.
"...I looks as if the place is fairly well defensible."
"If the gate were closed, Id agree. With it standing open, outer defenses are close to useless.", Jacyn offers, looking around the compound.
"Not to mention that no matter how good the walls are, you don't hold a place like this with two people. Unless one of them is Choral the Conqueror, maybe."
Beatrix stammers quickly "Oh, no, I didn't mean to imply they should've been able to stand up to the thieves, just saying the defenses here would be advantageous if they do choose to, uh, raid while we're here."
"Well, there are actually a couple of issues," Simn said, looking about thoughtfully, "Firstly, you'd need numbers to man the palisade. Sure, bandits are unlikely to attack a place like this so long as it's well defended, but if there's only a few people on hand, well, that changes things. Secondly, even if the bandits never turn up at the gates, sooner or later the attacks mean there won't be any people braving a journey through the region. Which pretty well puts paid to making any kind of living from operating the trading post." If Beatrix and Oleg hadn't been here long, it was very possible they'd set up without really understanding the precariousness of carving a living from the Stolen Lands.
Of course, their charter had been quite specific about dealing with bandits, "I doubt we'll be able to fix the problem in one fell swoop. Even from a short-term perspective, it'll take time to track down and deal with the worst set of bandits, to say nothing of changing the underlying conditions which give rise to banditry in the first place. Nevertheless, we're here for the long haul. So we definitely won't just knock over one set only to let another take their place."
"Let's get our food, and you can tell us what's going on out here."
Svetlana's smile returns when she realizes that the new arrivals are serious about helping with the bandit problem. "You're absolutely right...Retsiji, was it? Unfortunately, our own dining table is too small for a group this size, so you'll have to eat on the outer tables." She gestures toward two long, trestle tables standing to either side of a fire pit across the yard. "They're wet, unfortunately, but it's better than nothing. I'll just be a moment to fetch the food. Then, we'll tell you what we can of the bandits."
Oleg takes Smoke's reins from Jacyn and leads the horse away toward the stable, muttering under his breath. "Fool woman, giving away food and lodging, lucky we don't go broke..."
"What's that, Oleg?!"
"Nothing dear."
Jacyn hands the reigns to Oleg, patting Smoke on the side to calm his equine friend. Turning to Oleg, he says, "Sir, Im Jacyn Frestarn at your service, and this is Smoke. I dont mean to sound demanding, but she could use a good brushing down, some water, and she enjoys a bit of honey in her oats from time to time. I trust you'll take good care of her for me." Jacyn offers his hand to Oleg for a shake, which leaves the man with a pair of golden coins in his palm. Leaning in to whisper, Jacyn says, "I turst that'll cover anything my horse and I cost you over the next few days. If you don't tell your wife, I won't."
Before the pair walk off, Jacyn removes his pack from the back of saddle, though he doesn't empty the saddlebags.
Bea gratefully takes off her pack and looks for a less-wet spot up against one of the buildings to set it down. She looks at the tables with distaste, but shrugs and sets about wiping off as much of the moisture as she can from the bench before folding the blanket she had around her shoulders and laying it out lengthwise. She finally, slowly, lets herself down on a far end of the bench, leaving plenty of room for others to sit on the blanket as well.
Jacyn hands the reigns to Oleg, patting Smoke on the side to calm his equine friend. Turning to Oleg, he says, "Sir, Im Jacyn Frestarn at your service, and this is Smoke. I dont mean to sound demanding, but she could use a good brushing down, some water, and she enjoys a bit of honey in her oats from time to time. I trust you'll take good care of her for me." Jacyn offers his hand to Oleg for a shake, which leaves the man with a pair of golden coins in his palm. Leaning in to whisper, Jacyn says, "I turst that'll cover anything my horse and I cost you over the next few days. If you don't tell your wife, I won't."
Before the pair walk off, Jacyn removes his pack from the back of saddle, though he doesn't empty the saddlebags.
Oleg looks Jacyn in the eye and gives him a curt nod. After a moment's hesitation, he clasps the half-elf's extended hand.
"I know a good horse when I see one, don't you worry."
Deftly pocketing the pair of gold pieces, Oleg turns and leads Smoke toward the stable with the ease of a practiced stableman.
Adam sits next to Bea.
"It is exactly as I expected; all of us have basically been hung out to dry, as it were." His sour mood has returned, or perhaps the singing was a mere moment of forced gaiety.
"We shall see bloodshed sooner than I anticipated, no doubt, good sirs. Well, then, have at thee!"
He brandishes a nearby branch that had fallen during the rain, eventually throwing it into the fire pit. He seems bemused by their predicament, however, and softly tunes his lute as he hums to himself, while awaiting their food. Every once in a while, he plays a chord, as though to satisfy the sound to himself.
"When six brave heroes wetly went....
into yon wild, their monies spent.--
Or at least mine was anyway."
Retsiji takes a moment to put his pack down, then sits at the long table, close enough to Bea to share the blanket but not crowding. "Have to memorize cleaning spells tomorrow, before this stuff mildews...."
He listens intently to Simn and Adam, then interjects "Think you missed a wrinkle, Simn. Seen bandits before, and they're...not cowards, really, but careful. There are old brigands and bold brigands, but damn few old, bold brigands, right? Better to get a gold piece without a fight than ten you have to fight for, especially if you can come back in a week and get another gold without a fight.
"So, Mistress Leveton. I'm guessing they're squeezing you, right?"
Bea gratefully takes off her pack and looks for a less-wet spot up against one of the buildings to set it down. She looks at the tables with distaste, but shrugs and sets about wiping off as much of the moisture as she can from the bench before folding the blanket she had around her shoulders and laying it out lengthwise. She finally, slowly, lets herself down on a far end of the bench, leaving plenty of room for others to sit on the blanket as well.
Seeing Bea sacrifice her blanket for her companions to sit on, Havrin removes his own blanket from his pack. "Here, please use this to ward off the chill," he says, offering his blanket to the paladin. The ranger then takes a seat at the other end of Bea's blanket, leaving room for more of their companions to sit on the dry blanket.
As they wait for Svetlana to bring the food, Havrin listens to Adam tune his lute and begin to sing. He chuckles softly at the few lines of the halfling's song. "I can certainly relate with your words, my new friend," Havrin says to Adam. "But if we can help these good people against the bandits plaguing them, then we'll at least have the satisfaction of making their lives a bit better."
Adam turns to Havrin.
"Of course. And I suppose, now that we have finally had an opportunity to rest and eat something, or are about to at any rate, I can formally introduce myself."
Adam jumps up on the table, making him about the same height as the humans around him.
"I am Adam Burlevogne , Court Bard to House Surtova, and while such introductions might normally require a musical interlude, I shall save my poor lute from the cold damp air and provide for some alternative entertainment if I am able."
He wraps his lute back in its leather sachel.
A few minutes later, the party sits in reasonable comfort (as much as can be expected considering the damp outdoor tables), and enjoys Svetlana Leveton's hospitality while Oleg remains out in the stable tending to Smoke. Svetlana's venison stew is quite tasty, while the bread is fresh and hot. The food creates a pleasant enough atmosphere, but the conversation soon turns to the less savory business at hand.
"So, Mistress Leveton. I'm guessing they're squeezing you, right?"
"You've got the right of it, I'm afraid," she replies to the mage. "'Tax collection' they call it. But let me tell you the story from the beginning."
She continues, "The bandits’ first visit was about 3 months ago. They threatened to burn down the trading post and abduct me for their own...amusements...back at their camp if we didn’t agree to hand over all of the furs and trade goods we’d accumulated over the past month from the hunters and trappers. Poor Oleg, I believe he would have given his life to try and stop them, if he wasn't so worried about what would happen to me. He's a proud man. I know the shame of feeling so powerless gnaws at him fiercely."
"Since then, the bandits have returned twice more, each time within an hour of sunrise on the first day of the month. We've learned it's best just to have our 'taxes' ready and hand them over quickly. They usually seem eager to return whence they came into the Greenbelt, so I suppose their camp may be a day's ride away or so."
Svetlana pauses for a moment, collecting her thoughts.
Not wanting to be too intrusive, but eager to help, Jacyn dives right in, "How many were there? What kinds of weapons were they aremed with? Were they on horseback? Do you know any of their names?"
"And, perhaps more importantly, what direction did they come from? If I'm to meet my death at the hands of some bandit, I'd like to know what direction to be running in." Adam intoned with hs usual sarcasm, though it was tempered with a hidden kindness.
Bea was starting to relax as she enjoyed the warm meal until she heard Svetlana's story. She bristled at the amusments comment and shifts uncomfortably in her seat, but says nothing.
"From what I've heard bandits tend to favor ambushes," Havrin says consideringly. "Perhaps we should follow their example and set an ambush for them tomorrow. Any thoughts?" he asks his companions.
During the rest of the meal Havrin builds on Jacyn's questions, carefully questioning Svetlana (and Oleg, when he joins them) about the bandits due to arrive the next day in an attempt to gather more information that will help in planning an ambush.
"What do the bandits do when they arrive? Are there any particular actions that they take?"
"What do you do when they arrive? Are there any particular actions that you take? Things they expect you to do?"
"Do they come into the trading post? Any particular areas that they go into? Any that they don't?"
Havrin also asks Retsiji and Adam, "Do either of you know any mundane or magical ways in which to disguise two of our number to appear as Oleg and Svetlana? If two of us could act as decoys, those two could hide in plain sight, as it were, while keeping our hosts out of harm's way."
"Well, it'll be an early start for us tomorrow," Simn said seriously, "If we can get them all at once, that would be ideal. We don't want anybody running off to fetch reinforcements, after all. That's going to mean letting them inside the compound though."
"So we'll set a trap for them, I'm hoping?" Adam practically grins with a rather terrible amusement.
"I have no magic of disguise, but I'm very good at seeming nonthreatening. I'm sure it's been some time since our brigands have heard a courtly musical composition."
"I know of the existence of such magic, but focused elsewhere in my studies. I can put a number of them to sleep when it comes time to fight them, though.
"I suppose another important question is--and I don't know if you can answer this--how competent are they? Do they show knowledge of what you have in stock...anything that would indicate to you that they watch this place, and who comes and goes?"
"...We don't want anybody running off to fetch reinforcements, after all..."
"Obviously we ought to be as careful as possible, but unless they are on somethin faster than Smoke, I dont think thats gonna be a problem, Simn."
Not wanting to be too intrusive, but eager to help, Jacyn dives right in, "How many were there? What kinds of weapons were they aremed with? Were they on horseback? Do you know any of their names?"
"The first time the bandits visited, there were a dozen of them...most of them looked like common thugs with swords and bows, but they were led by a cloaked man armed with a bow, and a woman who carried two small hatchets. The woman did most of the talking on that first trip. Oh, she had a black sense of humor! The way she smiled when she threatened me if we didn't do as they ordered..." Svetlana trails off for a moment, clearly pained by having to relive that moment. With a small sniff, she continues, "Well...it frightened me so, as you might well imagine. She quite nearly lopped off Oleg's right hand with one of her hatchets in a cruel bit of mockery! As it was, she did take my wedding ring right off my hand. That woman seemed sharp and observant, and definitely the most dangerous of the group. The bowman just seemed a bit more crude and foolish, all bluster and arrogance."
"On the second and third visit, only the crude hooded man accompanied the bandits. The second visit, he came with only six other men, while on the third he only came with four. I suppose they think us cowed and have let down their guard somewhat. I don't know how many may come tomorrow, but hopefully that scary woman with the hatchets won't be with them."
Trying her best to answer all of Jacyn's questions, Svetlana continues, "They come and go on horseback, yes. And no, I've never heard any of them call each other by name."
"And, perhaps more importantly, what direction did they come from? If I'm to meet my death at the hands of some bandit, I'd like to know what direction to be running in." Adam intoned with hs usual sarcasm, though it was tempered with a hidden kindness.
"They come from the south, which is why Oleg presumes their camp must somewhere down in the Greebelt."
"What do the bandits do when they arrive? Are there any particular actions that they take?"
"What do you do when they arrive? Are there any particular actions that you take? Things they expect you to do?"
"Do they come into the trading post? Any particular areas that they go into? Any that they don't?"
"Mostly, they just wait here in the yard, making threats and jokes while Oleg and I load their horses up with whatever goods we have from the storage pen and our stockroom."
"I suppose another important question is--and I don't know if you can answer this--how competent are they? Do they show knowledge of what you have in stock...anything that would indicate to you that they watch this place, and who comes and goes?"
"Well, they look like they know how to use their weapons, if that's what you mean. But, no, they just take whatever we have on hand when they come. I don't think they watch us in between visits."
Retsiji leans forward, listening intently to Svetlana while she talks.
"Huh. I'm no strategist, but I'm thinking we have to expect a followup raid in force even if we take down all of them tomorrow. At least, unless the crude one is their leader--they don't seem like the sort to have a proper chain of command.
"Do they stay on their horses while they wait, or dismount?"
Adam looks at Bea, his military companion.
"Of course, I am no military strategist, just a courtly one. But I wonder if courtly intrigues might be employable here. I am devising a trap in my mind, but perhaps it will not be too effective."
"If what Svetlana says is true, they do seem to be letting their guard down. It should be fairly simple to set a trap for them, and quite possibly even capture them alive. It would be useful to interrogate them for information about other bandits in the area.
"I suggest putting all the goods out here in the open" pointing to the courtyard inside the gate, "I imagine we won't even have to involve Oleg and the missus. Bandits ride in and start loading the wares, we close the gate behind them, and the rest of us emerge from hiding in the stables and guest house to surround them."
"Huh. I'm no strategist, but I'm thinking we have to expect a followup raid in force even if we take down all of them tomorrow. At least, unless the crude one is their leader--they don't seem like the sort to have a proper chain of command.
"You make a good point," Havrin agrees with the diviner. "We could try to capture one of the bandits and interrogate them to reveal the location of their stronghold," the ranger muses. "Mistress Leveton, didn't you say that you thought their camp might be a day's ride away or so? If we're successful tomorrow maybe we could take the fight back to their stronghold before their leaders get suspicious about the absence of their raiding party and send force in retaliation. Even if we can't get one to reveal the location of their camp, I could probably follow their tracks back - it sounds like they're getting pretty complacent about coming here, and they probably won't bother to hide their tracks."
"But before we plan too far ahead, I suppose we should make a plan for tomorrow, eh?"
"If what Svetlana says is true, they do seem to be letting their guard down. It should be fairly simple to set a trap for them, and quite possibly even capture them alive. It would be useful to interrogate them for information about other bandits in the area.
"I suggest putting all the goods out here in the open" pointing to the courtyard inside the gate, "I imagine we won't even have to involve Oleg and the missus. Bandits ride in and start loading the wares, we close the gate behind them, and the rest of us emerge from hiding in the stables and guest house to surround them."
"My thoughts exactly," Havrin agrees with Bea. "But Mistress Leveton said that she and Master Oleg here are the ones who have loaded the bandits' horses in the past. The bandits would probably get suspicious if no one is here to greet them."
"Of course, I am no military strategist, just a courtly one. But I wonder if courtly intrigues might be employable here. I am devising a trap in my mind, but perhaps it will not be too effective."
"I think right now we're open to any suggestions. I'd be very interested in hearing your thoughts," Havrin says to Adam.
"Do they stay on their horses while they wait, or dismount?"
Svetlana answers, "Most of the time they dismount and stretch their legs a bit."
Retsiji holds up one hand. "Wait a moment. We are going to capture as many as we can, not only because we want information, but because that piece of paper we're carrying makes us responsible for enforcing Restov law here. What did it say?" He takes out the charter and reads from it. "'The punishment for unrepentant banditry remains, as always, execution by sword or rope.' We *will* do this right. Every one of those scum we capture will get the fairest trial we can give them before we hang them. And we're going to write it all down, so no one can question it later. And--in the unlikely event that any of them repent--fine. I'll believe it when they pay the Levetons restitution, when they tell us the truth about their strength here, and if they can convince Adam that they're sincere. Then we'll just make them earn their keep here--I'm sure there'll be more than enough work once we get going."
He looks around the group. "That's what will make this justice. Besides, it'll make us look better in the long run."
"While I would be content just to hang the rascals, or pierce them through with my rapier, Retsiji's method seems the most beneficial for all involved."
He stands and walks on the table, where there is no food, so he can see his companions eye to eye.
"Here is my strange little plan: I would love to be here to welcome the bandits with their apportioned taxes, as well as a song of gratitude from the government for their taxation efforts. Perhaps mistress Leveton might even be willing to provide a meal for them. So, I would lull them into a sense of harmony and well-being, and then our more militant members can spring forth from hiding places and arrest them."
"I don't know, Adam," Simn said, "The bandits seem pretty relaxed already. Some new arrival singing to them and expressing his gratitude for their efforts is only going to make them suspicious, magic or not. If you think you can convince them to surrender without a fight, well and good, but let's reveal ourselves after they're all inside the compound and vulnerable. Negotiating from a position of strength tends to work better."
Adam shrugs.
"I told you it was a strange little plan. But definitely worth keeping in mind for court intrigues, even if it won't work in this situation."
Adam paces back and forth a bit more.
"The bandits don't know we've arrived, yet, and I'm sure there's some way we can use this to our advantage. It is important to get the upper hand immediately."
"I agree with Simn. Right now the only advantage we have over these bandits is the fact that they don't know we're here," Havrin says. "The more things are different from what they're used to, the less complacent they're going to be."
"Like Simn said, I think our best bet is to not reveal ourselves to the bandits until after they're all within the walls of the trading post. Then we can spring our trap - whether it be by incapacitating them with magic or overwhelming them with a superior show of force. If we can capture them alive to face trial for their crimes, or if they honestly repent their ways, then fine. Otherwise I have no qualms with administering justice if they choose to fight - I doubt they'll be as merciful to us, or to the Levetons once we make our presence known."
"However, regardless of what we choose to do, I would prefer that we do not put the Leveton's in harm's way. If there is any way that we can disguise some of our number to appear to be Oleg and Svetlana - even if it's just by wearing their clothes and changing hair color to fool the bandits long enough to get them all in the yard - then I think we should do that and have the Leveton's hide somewhere out of sight."
"However, regardless of what we choose to do, I would prefer that we do not put the Leveton's in harm's way. If there is any way that we can disguise some of our number to appear to be Oleg and Svetlana - even if it's just by wearing their clothes and changing hair color to fool the bandits long enough to get them all in the yard - then I think we should do that and have the Leveton's hide somewhere out of sight."
"I will not be hiding anywhere." Oleg Leveton's voice interjects, as the man approaches from the direction of the stables. Obviously having heard Havrin's last comment, he continues with grim countenance, "I will be waiting to meet them in the yard, as they've come to expect. Svetlana, you will be hiding safely in our bedroom with the door locked."
"But Oleg..." Svetlana attempts to get a word in.
"But nothing. You will not be placed in harm's way. You know these people, the things they've said and done. This business is likely to get ugly, and I can't stand the thought of risking your safety. But for me? I've licked the boots of these thugs long enough. I will not hide."
Jacyn nods with a small smile in approval of Oleg's decision to not hide. Turning to Svetlana, he says, "No harm will come to your husband. We will see to that."
"Are the gates light enough that one person could close them somewhat quickly? If so, someone could hide behind the doors and wait for the bandits to sneak inside, only to find themselves trapped."
"I don't think the bandits will sneak, not if they have been so successful in their last ventures. We only need to hide and I'm sure they will let themselves in most openly."
"Are the gates light enough that one person could close them somewhat quickly? If so, someone could hide behind the doors and wait for the bandits to sneak inside, only to find themselves trapped."
Oleg shakes his head "The gate is fairly heavy, I don't think you could close it fast enough to prevent them from riding out. Then again, that bowman who fancies himself the boss...he seems to have more stones than sense. I bet he'll fight rather than run."
"I don't think the bandits will sneak, not if they have been so successful in their last ventures. We only need to hide and I'm sure they will let themselves in most openly."
Oleg says, "Right you are, they'll march in bold as brass, making threats against us the whole time, if past experience is any guide." Some of the trader's acerbic nature seems to be wearing off, now that a plan of action is taking shape.
Jacyn hands his now empty bowl back to Svetlana, "Thank you, it was delicious."
Looking to Oleg, Jacyn asks, "What do you have in stock here? Weapons, armor, rope, tools? Anything that Might help us fight the bandits off is good." Turning to his companions, he adds, "Alright, so the 'hide until they enter the fort and dismount, and then come out and fight or convince them to surrender' seems like our best option to me. What about specifics? What do you all have with you that could help us?
Im most proficient with my sword, or my lance from Smoke's back, so if we could manage it, id prefer to be already mounted, in case they try to make a quick get-a-way. Do all of you use swords, or is anyone proficient with a bow? What about you, Oleg?"
"I prefer my sword but can certainly fight with a bow if needed. I suggest those of us who can conceal ourselves the best hide close by in the stables, while the rest of us hide in the guest house or behind the large gate doors. We may need some sort of signal to know when to emerge, to fully take advantage of the element of surprise. Anyone have a whistle? Oleg?"
Retsiji splashes a bit more wine from the bottle into his cup and fills it the rest of the way with water. "I know which end of the crossbow goes towards the enemy, but I wouldn't exactly call myself proficient with it. However, I can cast sleep from one of the towers, and unless they're quite an exceptional band of brigands the spell should knock a few of them out. The spell doesn't discriminate, though, so unless we're desperate I should only cast it before you've closed with them.
"Something else we should think about--we're assuming that they're going to continue to be complacent, and only a few of them will show up. This is good, because I doubt we can defeat the entire band at once--I'm confident that we can take out the group that came last month, though. Where do we draw the line and abort the attack, if more of them come?*
"Oleg, what will you tell them when they ask after Svetlana? That she's given up and gone back home?"
*
Im most proficient with my sword, or my lance from Smoke's back, so if we could manage it, id prefer to be already mounted, in case they try to make a quick get-a-way.
Havrin considers the half-elf's words as he looks about the yard of the trading post. "There's not many places to hide a warrior mounted on a horse," the ranger muses. "Do you think it would work for you and Smoke to hide within the stable? If one of us hid with you, we could throw open the door for you."
Do all of you use swords, or is anyone proficient with a bow? What about you, Oleg?"
"I'm most proficient with my bow, but I can also handle a sword."
We may need some sort of signal to know when to emerge, to fully take advantage of the element of surprise. Anyone have a whistle? Oleg?"
"Maybe Master Retsiji's spell taking effect could be our signal?" Havrin asks. The ranger then turns to the diviner. "Master Retsiji, you said that your spell is not discriminating. What is the size of the area that we should stay clear of in order to avoid its effects?"
"Maybe Master Retsiji's spell taking effect could be our signal?" Havrin asks. The ranger then turns to the diviner. "Master Retsiji, you said that your spell is not discriminating. What is the size of the area that we should stay clear of in order to avoid its effects?"
"It's a circle twenty feet across, and I'll be aiming to catch as many of them as I can without hitting any of the buildings. This is just a quick guess, but I think I can cover most of the area between the stable and these tables."
"Do you think it would work for you and Smoke to hide within the stable? If one of us hid with you, we could throw open the door for you."
"Yea, that's probably the best idea."
"I'm most proficient with my bow, but I can also handle a sword."
"Good, at the very least we should have one person with a bow, just in case."
"Maybe Master Retsiji's spell taking effect could be our signal?" Havrin asks. The ranger then turns to the diviner. "Master Retsiji, you said that your spell is not discriminating. What is the size of the area that we should stay clear of in order to avoid its effects?"
"Sounds as good as anything else we could use."
Simn nodded thoughtfully, "I can fire a crossbow well enough," he said, "As well as providing some divine aid to those about me. Do we want anybody to try and block the gate? Getting into position should be easy enough, but that person would be on their own if anyone tried to make a break for it."
Adam scowls.
"Bah, I have no use for such crude devices. In court, we relied upon the elegance of the blade and a swift wit."
Before anyone can do anything else, he presses the hidden trigger on his scabbard, shooting the pommel into his outstretched hand. The rapier swiftly pierces several pieces of meat and cheese on the larder, and Adam whips the blade back by his side, delicately removing the prize.
Jacyn hands his now empty bowl back to Svetlana, "Thank you, it was delicious."
"My thanks to you, young man." Svetlana answers with a smile.
Looking to Oleg, Jacyn asks, "What do you have in stock here? Weapons, armor, rope, tools? Anything that Might help us fight the bandits off is good." Turning to his companions, he adds, "Alright, so the 'hide until they enter the fort and dismount, and then come out and fight or convince them to surrender' seems like our best option to me. What about specifics? What do you all have with you that could help us?
Im most proficient with my sword, or my lance from Smoke's back, so if we could manage it, id prefer to be already mounted, in case they try to make a quick get-a-way. Do all of you use swords, or is anyone proficient with a bow? What about you, Oleg?"
Oleg answers, "I've a few weapons in stock, nothing fancy. A pair of spears, a longbow, a few javelins. A pair of handaxes, I think. Not that I know how to use any of them, really. But I do have plenty of rope and a good selection of tools. If you think you could use any of that, just say the word."
"Anyone have a whistle? Oleg?"
"No whistle, sorry."
"Oleg, what will you tell them when they ask after Svetlana? That she's given up and gone back home?"
Oleg takes a moment in thought before replying. "Well, I suppose I could just tell them she's abed with a fever or some such a story. I don't suppose they'll think anything amiss with that." Svetlana looks on with concern as her husband speaks, but says nothing.