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-----Dread grins at Sol, "Well, I'm glad to hear that ye won't be a pair o' misty-eyed moon calves, ridin about and spoutin poetry to each other. I didn't really think ye would. I just wanted to be sure. Are ye interested in wagerin yer reward loot on this little contest? I trust ye to bet and still keep the outcome fair and impartial. After all, it’s our lives ridin on who can remain undetected out there and steer us clear o' danger. Sarah, are ye interested? How about yer two friends there? I'll cover all bets and split the proceeds with Kazel when we win."
-----For the first time, Dread perks up at the thought of winning huge amounts of gold on this journey.
-----Raven laughs at Dread, "I knew that's how you would react. I just wanted to piss you off. I knew you missed my point of view. We mix like oil and water there ol' mate. No I'm not going to pack up and run off like you did after the orc argument. I'm in this for the long haul whether you like it or not. Fine, I'm okay with Kaz taking point. Watch your temper there, it might get you in trouble one day."
-----Raven waves off Dread and then turns to the rest of group, "Do we leave in the morning or what? I'm be ready if we are."
-----Sarah rubs her sinuses and groans. "I can see this is going to be a regular barrel of monkeys." She looks back up at Sol. "Me and you might need to start sprouting poetry just to keep our sanity with this lot." She pauses. "Well, if that's all, I'm off to sleep. I really can't spare any more time when I should be resting to restore my magical energy. Good night." Sarah disentangles herself from Sol and walks lazily off to bed.
-----Sol watches Sarah leave then turns to regard Raven and Dread with a resigned expression. Instead of speaking to them, he turns back to Kazel, "Don't start on that. Two days ago it was Raven who convinced me to look in inns. I had no reason t'think otherwise. An' my priorities are always straight. There's just no need t'be like that with something that isn't yers...no matter how ye feel about th' owner. Ye didn't do that fer Hearthorn, ye did it t'feed yer own contempt."
-----The warrior starts to turn back to the group, but winces first and looks back at Kazel, "Um...sorry that was a little harsh. Different upbringings, different values, I guess."
-----Once again addressing the mission, "I think I'd prefer to ride to a border town. If that's all right with everyone, do ye have a preference for where? Brandel, I was just asking to make sure th' place isn't completely gone."
-----He also nods to Rinda to acknowledge the information provided.
-----Kazel stops at Sol's address. "No reason except he just wanted to 'piss off' Dread. That's what I heard. But never mind that, he's got it where it counts." She then turns around and smiles thinly at Sol. "You trivialize the words contempt and harsh." Spinning on her heels, she strides out into the streets.
-----The dwarf raises his eyebrows and says something back to Kazel as she exits the room. He follows her on out.
-----"When you leave the forest of Oakwood, the first village you come to is Navlot which is still sheltered by the large woods," Brandel tells Sol. "It is then about twenty miles southwest to the village of Grute. Navlot is the closest village to the border of Oakwood and it makes for quite a walk to the south."
-----The young man then looks at the Dread Pirate and asks him, "Do we want to meet them at the inn or at the Boar’s Head?"
-----Raven looks over at Kaz and pauses for a moment and then nods, "You're right, I shouldn't of made light of your skills. I'll watch my tongue from now on." With that Raven turns and heads off to his room.
-----The Dread Pirate shakes his head in weariness at Raven's buffoonish behavior, "I figured ye'd back off when ye were confronted with a real challenge. Joren forbid ye should actually have to do something besides kill the helpless. As fer me temper, ye don't need to worry about that. Ye'll know when ye've pushed it too far. Besides as I said before, yer not worth gettin upset over. It just doesn't surprise me that somebody who has no qualms about killin prisoners would also back away from bein tested."
-----Dread then says, "I suppose we can ride to the village. It'd be nice to have the horses somewhat close by, in case we have to make a run fer it." The Dread Pirate then turns and joins his friends as they head back to the inn.
-----Sol watches as the last of the others leaves the room, before turning to whoever is left. After some quiet contemplation, the rather perplexed warrior comments, "Ye know, this just reminds me o' family." Another moment of silence passes, then, "I guess we'll meet at th' Boar's Eye then. The rest o' ye should probably get some sleep. The next few days are going t'be...long."
-----Dread smiles somewhat sadly at Sol and says as he leaves, "I don't envy ye yer position for the next few days. But mull over this fer tonight anyway. The first thing Raven does upon seeing me and me crew is to set out to provoke me and insult Kazel. And he picks the time to do it when tension is already high between our two groups and we're discussin somethin as important as ridin into monster infested country and killin Krondor. If he's just jokin, as he claims, then he's an idiot. Or he's someone who has had his bluff about leavin the group called and he won't take a reasonable challenge. And he kills bound prisoners. All the acts of a coward. Or he is a very, very clever agent of the Dark who is tryin to sow disunity amongst out party. Frankly, I doubt the last. But those are the only three explanations I can think of to explain his behavior. Either, idiot, coward, or Dark agent. All of them are detrimental to our party. O' course he could be a cowardly idiot. Or a cowardly Dark agent. Or some other combination. In any case, maybe we should consider hiring a keeper fer him. You know, to wipe the drool from his mouth, keep him clean and fed."
-----Gimplefwick waves a jaunty goodnight as he heads for the door.
-----"Yep..." Sol affirms, "...Definitely family."
-----The Dread Pirate laughs at Sol's comment as he leaves the room and hurries to catch up with Kazel.
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