Pyp and Garth spent the rest of the day quickly checking small households in the merchant's district. Garth had been strangely quiet since they had left his treasure, Pyp was sure it had something to do with Rupert and his sly attitude. Pyp had known there was some bad blood between Erit and Garth but it seemed worse than he thought. Now with the chest full of gold, Pyp doubted Erit would take kindly to his men stealing from him. Pyp knew Erit wouldn't let that much gold slip through his fingers, he would kill Garth and Pyp to get to it. They were both slowly walking back to the camp where Erit and his men had stooped for the night, Pyp didn't think he had ever felt this tired before. He could feel the skin on his feet rubbing raw.

"Pyp," Garth said without the usual swagger in his voice "It's going to be rough in camp, Rupert's probably gone and told everyone lies about us."

He paused for a moment, struggling to find words, "You need to be stronger, you can't flinch every time one of them looks at you. If you do they will tear you apart and I won't go down with you."

Pyp knew that Garth wouldn't protect him, nobody would out here. "How do I become stronger" Pyp asked, he remembered how scared he had been. Ever since he had escaped from the bank he had felt nothing but gut-wrenching fear. Pyp didn't want to be afraid anymore.

"To be honest I don't think anyone really is strong, they just hide their weakness behind a false mask of strength, you don't have to be strong Pyp you just have to look strong." Garth looked at Pyp with something that looked like understanding.

"I'll try," said Pyp as they came up to the front of the camp.

Erit had chosen a marketplace to make camp, the building was a large horseshoe which surrounded an open courtyard. Most of the men had chosen to sleep in the stone building, there was a chill in the air which forced the men to huddle around small campfires. Garth led him to an empty patch on the ground.

"I'll get the firewood," said Garth leaving Pyp on his own.

Pyp sat on the ground and began to check over his flute, he had given the silver cups up as a fee for staying in the band.

"Playing with your flute pipeboy, doesn't surprise me" said a muscular man sat by a fire behind Pyp.

Pyp ignored the comment and continued to clean his flute, he became very aware of the men behind him focusing in on their conversation. They were talking about him in a very crude manner, they used insults that Pyp had never heard of before.

The man who first spoke to Pyp came and stood behind Pyp, "Well boy, gonna play us a sweet tune" he said he tapped Pyp with the toe of his boot.

"How about, 'Foya The fool'" said Pyp, holding his voice firm.

It was a humorous song of a mans descent from a infamous mercenary to sodden fool. Pyp knew Arthur hated this song and hoped it would dissuade the man from speaking with him further. The voices from behind Pyp went silent and he knew he made a mistake.

"What was that" the man said in a low and dangerous.

Pyp continued to move his hands around his flute, forcing them not to shake uncontrollably. His skin crawled with anticipation, he remembered what Garth said and sat there and gave no reply.

"Answer me boy, you will if you know what's good for ya" he growled not backing down. Pyp didn't dare speak, if he did he would squeak out his words and make everything worse. "You little sh-" spat the man as he moved forward.

"The hell you doing, Vernon!" Shouted Garth dropping an armful of firewood and rushing over. Garth pulled him back as Pyp stood up drawing his dagger holding it tightly in one hand.

Vernon's eyes went wide when he saw the knife, "The hell is this!" he shouted pulling a war axe into his hands, suddenly all the men around them had weapons in their hands shouting at each other to back down.

"COME ON THEN LITTLE BOY!" Vernon screamed as his camp mates pulled him away from Pyp.

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Pyp was sure the camp was going to become a battle ground until a huge boom sounded across the marketplace.

"SILENCE". Erit strolled casually between Vernon and Pyp.

Silence descended on the camp, nothing was said for a long moment.

"Well, what happened?" his voice level and sounding slightly bored.

"This little shit insulted me," all the power had gone out of Vernon voice.

"And what did he say," asked Erit, Vernon grimaced all eyes in the camp turned on him.

Clearly having a child get you this angry wasn't something to be proud of

"Well he insulted all of us, he was going to play 'Foya The Fool' that's a slight against each of us", there was whispering coming from the crowd and a few short laughs.

Vernon whipped his head around looking for the jesters in the crowd.

"I quite like 'Foya The Fool' it's an excellent cautionary tale," said Erit, which surprised Pyp, he hadn't taken Erit for an educated man. "So you were ready to throw this whole camp into chaos for one song suggestion," said Erit the laughter got louder.

"No I-" began Vernon.

"Quiet, put that axe away Vernon you're only embarrassing yourself" said Erit putting an end to the whole thing "I don't want anymore fights or brawling in this camp understand! Next person who starts shit gets a visit from Griv's hammer" he nodded over to Griv who stood next to an upturned cauldron with a large dent.

The crowd muttered an agreement and moved off. Erit came over to Pyp and said "I heard you and Garth went a bit off track on your first scouting run, I hope that doesn't happen again and put that knife away boy before someone notices your trembling." With that Erit moved off to talk to Griv.

Pyp moved to help Garth gather the firewood he dropped.

"I see you took my advice to heart" said Garth. "Not the best knife work but at least you didn't crumble."

"I was terrified," admitted Pyp "I only pulled out the dagger because it's what Arthur would have done."

Garth nodded not asking about Arthur, "Maybe next time don't pull it out in a camp full of armed bandits."

Pyp built a small fire and lit it with his tinderbox, Arthur taught him how to make camp on their long travels.

"So you're not entirely useless" joked Garth as the fire spread to the larger pieces of wood.

"I know some things," said Pyp, unsure how to act in the friendly atmosphere.

"Did you hear what Erit said to Vernon," Garth cleared his throat and said and said in Erit's voice "It's an excellent cautionary tale." Pyp laughed at the likeness Garth achieved.

"Who expected our fearless leader to be so well eloquent." It was Garths turn to laugh as he placed a small pot of stew on the fire. For the rest of the night he and Garth shared warm stew and pleasant jests.

The next morning Pyp woke to ash being kicked in his face.

"Get up worm" a low growl came from above Pyp.

Vernon towered above Pyp with a murderous glint in his eyes. Pyp sat up coughing and spluttering, spitting out ash and bit of burnt wood. Vernon laughed and walked off to join his cronies, Pyp washed his mouth out using his water skin.

"Morning," said Garth, head poking out of his bedroll. "Seems like you've made an enemy, well done."

Pyp couldn't tell if he was being mocked.

"He started it," Pyp said, it wasn't his fault all these brutes care about is violence.

"And you managed to show him up in front of the entire company, you better watch your back Pyp because I won't be able to forever." Garth stood up and stretched. "Come on get up we have scouting to do" said Garth.

The camp was bustling with activity, men shook their comrades awake and kicked the remains of cook fires out and loaded gear onto carts. Garth led him to a small table with a large map of Finepoint spilling over the sides, Erit stood arms crossed looking down at the table. Stood around him were the other scouts, Pyp spotted Rupert sat on a barrel eating a chicken leg. He spotted Pyp and gave him a sick smile, bits of chicken leg were stuck in his teeth. Pyp felt slightly ill as he listened to Erit outline the plan for the days march through Finepoint.

"We will leave the merchant's district by crossing the Maws bridge here, then we will move down this highway and go straight to the crown jewel of Finepoint, the central bank." a mutter of approval went across the table.

"We can't go to the bank it's occupied by the possessed," Pyp blurted out.

Erit looked over at him "How do you know that."

"Well I scouted it out before I found you, nearly died getting away" Pyp replied, he showed real fear as he remembered his imprisonment at the bang.

"Well that won't be a problem," said Erit.

"Meaning," asked Karl another scout not relishing the prospect of crossing any possessed.

"Meaning we will deal with them when we see them," said Erit glaring at Pyp. "A couple of possessed won't be able to stop us, we are gonna break into that vault and steal all the wealth of Finepoint." Most of the scouts nodded in agreement.

Karl still wasn't convinced. "Do you plan on fighting the possessed Erit, I didn't sign up for a war."

Erit lay both his hands on the table and sighed. "We have worked together for some time men", he paused allowing them all to nod, "And have I ever led you astray," they all shook their heads. "Then you should trust me when I say it won't be a problem," the whole table nodded.

Pyp noticed that Karl didn't seen convinced but the meeting had ended. Pyp ate a light breakfast of stale bread and moulding cheese before setting on his scouting path.

Garth came over to him. "Are you sure there are possessed at the bank."

"Yes" Pyp said plainly. Garth looked deep in thought for moment.

"What is it?" asked Pyp.

"Nothing for now but I have a bad feeling about this."

The way he said that sent a chill down Pyp's spine.