But surprisingly Khyon was much more receptive than I thought. The official line was “That our job was to test the rifle and they can arrange their marriages on their own time and dime.” but something told me that there was way more to that. It would appear that my “by the book” friend had some seething resentment about his own society too. “Ok, how do you think they will hit us?” came telepathic inquiry. "I think there are three groups of them, two professionals likely working together and the last one pigeon shoot. Overzealous locals working on their own or serving as distraction for the other two, they will attack first from our right, I guess you spotted them?” “It would be hard not to I hardly resisted not taking shots, four I think but to be certain we bump it to six.” “Cool, I think they listened to too many tall tales in saloons and will wait until we are closest to the ridge and just pounce all at once opening fire on you. Since that's barely 20 feet and they have the higher ground they aim to be upon you in seconds and then hope that sheer weight of numbers will carry them.” “Plan?” “ “Ignore them I'll mow them down, maybe one manages to get the hang of the carriage, myself or the driver will take care of that. You get the bead for the real assault.” “You figure that big rock after we clear the band?” “Yeah, for one hiding the group behind us would put them too far behind, I think the third hidden group will try to push the rock on us or before us, while stalkers finally make their move we will have to worry about the rock straight form above and sudden rush from behind.” “Plan?” “First test our asset, she has telekinetic training, how much juice she is packing is anyone's guess. Best case she bounces that pretty straight behind us, making the temporary roadblock for pursuers and giving you a clearer kill lane since instead of the entire road they will have few narrow patches of road to maneuver, worse scenario she just bumps it into the ravine.” “What about the worse one: She bungles it and one of us has to jump in.” “ She can do it.” “That's an uncharacteristically optimistic stance from you.” “She tries to hide it behind all that ingrained hoity-toity crap you all High Elves brought up with it...” “Gee, thanks.” “You're welcome, any way behind it all she's not dissatisfied or lethargic but properly pissed off at it all, pissed off enough to remove three of her competitors from the running...permanently.” “Oh, I heard something about some string of accidents in lower nobility. Damn. So our innocent flower borderline had homicide as a hobby?” “Well I wouldn't go that far but once we pull the lid off of it...I think she'll handle that stone. You helping by knocking a few of dudes on that side would help, then return your attention to guys in the back I'll handle what remains, might have to jump up so unlock the roof door from your side.” “Done.” “Ok I'll make the plan with her and prepare, you do your thing.” “Ok, see you on the other side.” Line-cut I looked in the dark and again produced a small ghost light so I could see my... partner...apprentice...I guess we'll codify that later. “Ok, when I turn the light off open the hatch on the right, and look at the big round rock some 70 ft after the bend, I need you to tell me with absolute certainty what telekinetically can do with it, this is no place for either chest-thumping or false modesty. Just look at it, think about your telekinetic power and what you can do with to it. Got it?” There was a faint nervous energy in her gaze but she nodded with certainty, the light went out and I heard latches being worked and protection being opened just slightly then her shadow against outside light she was there for about 4 seconds. Then closed the hatch and locked it. She lit the small space then “What do you want me to do with it?” I raised an eyebrow “They will push it, before us, or on top of us, I want you to peak through that hole, and once baulder starts to move I want you to take control and place it behind us some 10 ft would be perfect.” She nodded “Ok.” I untied my reserve with magic bullets. She looked briefly puzzled “That's all, just “Ok.” You won't question it?” I chuckled “And how would that help exactly? Make you doubt yourself, or make you want to prove yourself, neither really good things at the moment. You said you could do it and I trust you, that's all there is about it, can I proceed now?” She nodded with a look on her face that told me that her word was rarely taken just like that without discussion and that I, accidentally, scored a point in her book, and at this point, I'll take what I can get. I finished untying and threw magic bullets next to her “We'll likely start the dance and I'll likely need to have Hel...my revolver reloaded. Those are enchanted bullets, get acquainted with them, The bullet portion is colored differently from the cartridge. Red for fire, dark blue ice, light blue lightning, and black pure Aether. My usual load is one of either color, then pure Aether, so say ordinary load would be lightning, Aether, fire, Aether, ice, Aether. It doesn't matter in which order you mix the elements just that one of each is inside. Got it?” She nodded. “Ok, that Bowie is for close quarters, that is it's perfect for this, now what are you packing?” She looked at me surprised “How do you know I...” “Cats have claws and you are more lynx, or cougar so tell me all of it.” She sighed and pointed at the wooden sticks that were holding her bun in place, “...wood is a scabbard they are throwing needles...” she noticed my suppressed eye-roll “I'm not dumb, I know they are not killing weapons that's why I don't remove them from the scabbard, they are coated with one of the most potent venoms, paralyze is instant and death will take for how long person can hold breath. unless some other organ doesn't kill them first...like the heart. I heard that it's bad when those stop beating. Their size is perfect for stabbing at the hand that tries to gain the purchase to the inside, even better if they gain a good purchase they will block others with their body so others will have to rip their compatriot to take his place and repeat the process, after them comes these.” she opens her coat and shows two proper throwing knives one that could easily go through smaller bones like fingers and ribs. not to mention neck arteries or eyes, she had 4 in total. “All are treated with the same poison.” finally she reaches down and grabs her high heel turns it 360 degrees and removes it leaving a thick and sharp spike in its place. “The second shoe has the same feature, perfect for confined spaces, and will come in handy paired with your Bowie. No poison I'm afraid.” She returns the heel. Some of my dumbfoundedness might've shown on my face “What? The Lady has to be prepared for such a dangerous trip.” I laughed “And prepared you are. So now we wait for our invitation to the dance.” I carefully opened the hatch on my side and drew both Hand Crossbow and Helen noticing that 'Mina is checking opposite doors are well and properly locked. I kinda started to think we accidentally made a find of the century. Then fully paid attention outside, Khyon was right, I rarely had to use my binoculars at all. Every half a minute or so top of the hat popped against the sky, so much horse sweat and breath that it almost made a mist of its own and one entire head popped out. I understood Khyon's twitchy finger, it would be a bit far but I was fairly sure with a lighting bullet I could make a shot a few times.

But the time was coming I whispered to 'Mina “Get down on the floor and don't pop up, it would suck to die from a stray bullet. In my whole life of misdeeds that was my biggest fear, prepare for reloading and start to concentrate your power, your big moment is coming just after I clean this trash.” She got to the floor without objection and I noticed she had already taken out from the bag three Aether bullets and three others. I activated the Hand Crossbow and the mechanism whirled to readiness. I manually fiddled with the load, the first three lightning hoping to catch 3-5 of them into a paralyzing net, then 3 explosive ones to check for myself how this baby can bang. The remaining three loads I left default because I doubted we'd need them. Unlike what I said to 'Mina this time Helen was filled to the gills with Aether bullets. Just by extreme luck even one of six might land on the carriage, I smelled ozone and looked up, Driver or Khyon placed a dome over the top. Likely the driver, not that I blamed him, he would have been the prime target. Without him, imminent bend would throw us into the ravine no matter how inept they were. It was doubtful they noticed I only noticed by smell and the other sparkles of the spell better visible in the dark, others were too far. We were close to the place now and I opened my window completely leaving just a wall as protection as I crouched next to 'Mina peaking with one eye out from her locked window, I hated waiting. Telepathic channel to Khyon opened “Movement around the rock I see three targets, advise.” “We will be at the spot in some 5 seconds. Will they still be there?” “Inconclusive.” I really hated to burn such a perfect ambush but those three were real targets, not these yahoos above us “Fuck it, use your best judgment but don't let all of them go. We'll deal with the fact they know the cover is blown. Drow?” “Yup.” “At least some sweet, sweet loot.” “If we survive.” “Don't rain at my loot parade.” He was right though. That was at least 7 Drows in better positions and I doubt three were all that was there. I listened and a few seconds later I heard two fast-suppressed shots. Grunt from telepathic channel “One down, the second dove into the cover.” “Good enough watch for the reaction.” Accidentally or not yahoos made their move, together with the reaction to the shots. And another curveball there were eight of them, slightly over our worst predictions. I gritted my teeth and just grunted as the first salvo slammed into the carriage and got introduced to our armor. Few hit in the barrier too but it held. I swung up and aimed at the middle of the mass of now 15 feet-away riders and pressed the trigger, the crossbow made od “twang” sound before the mechanism started to pull up three explosive bolts. The electric ones smacked into the bunched group at an ideal 10 feet making some nice fireworks as every bolt conected with the charge of another making a large electric fence, several rounds punched through the canvas and almost singed my hair, and, in response I aimed Helen leaving one of the riders at the side without head and shoulders. Their inexperience shoved as once they got hit with the crossbow and swift decapitation a second later. They did as prey did and bunched up together. At first sight, already 5 of them were out, either dead or without a horse. I unleashed three explosive bolts in those that remained and, on second thought it might not be the wisest idea since they were just about 5 feet away, the explosion left very little of them but the potency of it hit us too having driver struggle to keep us on the road, fighting both blowback from explosion and the curve in the road we were thrown a round a bit. I sent a message to Khyon “Report?” “Well amateur hour went in flames but Drows from the back are closing fast.” just then I noticed hits in the back wall of the carriage “I hope your big angry hope is ready because she's up in five.” Shit. we got thrown around a bit longer than I thought “'Mina?” She threw out a few expletives that I would definitely expect from my mouth, but not out of the lady of good breeding, minor nobility or not. “Oh, we're having a talk about that mouth of your young lady.” “Oh thanks for reminding me about you, add yourself to the aforementioned pile.” “Noted. For now, I'll remind you to open the window and deal with the boulder, like now.” “Already? Fuck.” I felt her squirming and instead of opening the side window she opened the hatch to the roof and threw herself half out. “The fuck?” I think I heard Khyon mirror my words. but it was too late for that I slid back the window and saw that Drows were around 50 feet away. Good enough for Helen but at the far end of the crossbow so I placed it next to me and grabbed Helen with both hands for better accuracy. I cocked the revolver and let one loose, making the lead rider do the same head-vanishing magic trick. Just for the one next to him to get catapulted from the saddle with still smoking hole in his chest, I cocked the Helen again but my target stayed without the upper part of the head. Khyon was showing off his superior rate of fire, I slightly adjusted, and Willowy rider hit with an Aether bullet got torn in half at its thinnest point, waist. Leaving the lower portion in saddle riding in macabre display as the upper part slammed once against the road before falling in the crevasse. Khyon took one more out before a large boulder slammed in front of our pursuers. I turned and grabbed 'Minna drawing her back in “That was fucking irresponsible and...you are bleeding...” I was in shock for a second before checking out the wounds, they were not immediately life-threatening but not grazes either, well one wasn't. She got slammed with a revolver bullet right in the shoulder, second one was a graze to her temple. I closed the sliding door at the back and secured all doors and windows. Then turned toward her “Do you know any healing magic?” Still high on adrenaline she pushed me up “I'm not a damn damsel in distress, I'll live, go up they'll get overwhelmed.” I looked at her one last time “First worst wound then others, start now." I grabbed a Crossbow and hurled myself up just in time to blow away Drow who jumped behind Khyon as he made another barrier. Without even looking at what I killed he nodded settled himself into a shooting position and began to pick off our pursuers, I took a glance at the driver he was missing an ear but handled it surprisingly well. I thought about reloading Helen but 'Mina was right. Two more Drows jumped from above, Both with rapiers I honorably shot closer one in the chest with all three bolts from the Crossbow and pushed him with my foot in his compatriot's way while mechanism did its thing, Drow burst into flames as he was drenched in the oil, likely all three bolts were fire enchanted, but with honor equaling mine, his friend just kicked him off the roof. Ultimately buying me just enough time to holster the revolver, draw the Sabre, and wait for the mechanism to finish, while testing Red's teaching abilities. Rapier was significantly longer, but Saber had heft, both Drow made drawing glances from my opponent. I decided to equalize the length of my weapon with the size and barb of my tongue. “Yeah fucker your friend wasn't the first one to have the misfortune to run into me... I casually waved Crossbow “... or the second, let's see will you have better luck, I like your boots.” He spat something in their language and lunged aiming at my heart, and fuck me I almost heard Red in my ear. “An angry opponent tends to overcommit, you tend to make that mistake. Keep a cool head if you want to keep it.” I couldn't help but smile as I sidestepped the lounge and instead of rushing for the finish, again heard her “You are a beginner, experienced in various forms of combat, but when comes to curved swords beginner. Always favor basics no matter if it takes longer, victory is important not the style.” I did a basic circular cut cutting his sword hand above the wrist, and when he yelped and grabbed the stump stepping back I simply kicked him off the carriage. The barrier was taking the beating but less and less. I looked above as the crossbow finished its cycle. Khyon was on one shoulder, the cell was open and he was reloading, slightly pale, who knows which reload this was. Not to count the barrier. Even he had limits I looked at the bunch that rode after us they were at a comfortable 30 feet now. I glanced at the Crossbow and almost smiled, when I enchanted the bolts I colored feathers the same as with bullets. Three black feathered bolts looked at me, well let's try explosion but at a safe distance now. Instead of remaining 3-4 opponents, I shot at the cliff slightly ahead of them and bolts struck exactly as they were underneath. Now I could enjoy our little invention in safety. The boom was something spectacular I knew it would be stronger than bullets simply because bolts were larger and more Aether went into them but three together striking at the same time it was like looking like the sun. For a brief moment you could read outside in some half-mile radius, after images still dancing in front of my eyes I didn't see a landslide but I heard it, the rumble of earth and stone mixed with screams of Drows being dragged with it into the crevasse. When my vision returned road behind us was empty. “All of them?” Khyon shook his head “Nope I heard two maybe three horses galloping away, cutting their losses.” “Smart, lads. Go check on the girl, you were always better with healing stuff than I was.” He threw me the rifle “Just in case.” I nodded and sat at his place, I called to the driver “You okay there? It's bleeding pretty badly.” He nodded “Ach it's just ears, always bleed like a motherfuckers. But I'll be good.” He looked at me, a strange look in his eyes “You killed 6 of them just like that.” I was slightly taken aback not really getting used to getting praise from High Elves, but then I realized that through happenstance I always communicated with higher strata of society. I doubt Humans would treat me much better in such a situation. This was just the driver. Common folk. I guessed they were always the same, for him this was a maybe once-in-a-lifetime experience. I shrugged “That's what I was hired to do.” “I saw you take that one with just a Sabre. I thought you dead and poof you dismembered bastard in two moves.” I shrugged. Nothing I say will lessen what he saw in his eyes. “What's your name?” I looked at him and thought to lie but just shrugged “Hákon Firehand” There was a shadow of recognition in his eyes “I heard about you” I gave him a half smile “They say you are one mean sonnuvabitch.” I chuckled “Do they? And what do you figure.” “That I pity the fool who crosses you, but sonnuvabitch part might be from jealous posh dicks who wish they are half as good as you.” I looked at the man in surprise “Never thought of it that way.” Man shrugs “You should try sometime.” “Maybe I will, thanks.” Now he seems at a loss for words and just shrugs again. “Hákon.“ Khyon pops up and I glance at him and his bloody hands and feel something in my gut twist “Don't tell me that.” “I'm sorry, she got a gut wound she hid even from me, you had no chance to see it.” My jaw sets and I spit over the railing. Khyon whispers something to the driver and soon carriage stops at the small clearing. I look around, Khyon places an arm on my shoulder “I'll open the portal to the camp.” “Why?” “Because I can shove a lot of things under the rug but not you killing a member of Higher House.” “And you think I would try?” “I don't think you would try, I think you'd kill him because I'd side with you. Just go home.” “Handle funeral for her, a proper one.” “Don't worry about it, I'll handle things for her family too. This is for you.” He gave me a bloody piece of paper. Proper to the end, She found a Notebook, pen and ink, it was dated, she even somehow figured out the time under that was just written: Thanks 'Mina I looked at the note for several seconds before it burst into flames and I blew the ashes off my fingers. Khyon opens the portal, and the driver clears his throat “I'm sorry sir.” I just nod his way, “I hope it heals well.” “Thanks, sir.” I passed through the portal.

The next two days passed in a haze I occupied the small space behind the former building turned into a few walls. Which was stupid on a few levels first one was that there were like 6 feet of eroding sandy terrain that got smaller with every move. The second level was that those two days I spent mostly drunk out of my mind and even dignified acts like pissing down some 50-60 feet drop were kinda wobbly. Most in the camp knew what happened and did not really know what to do, they saw me lose people definitely closer than High Elf Highborn who I knew for all 2 hours. And I handled it much healthier, I couldn't help them either since the reason for my...”funk”, was unknown to me too. Ronald was not good with heights and two of us couldn't sit there so he limited his visits to bring me a new bottle in the morning and new the dusk. basically, as soon as he heard I sent the last one down in the rain of shattered glass on the larger and larger group of Hellhounds Wards didn't go that way since they couldn't climb but they'd gave a good ol' try. Some get up to 15 feet before clawing down. Some use a mix of that and a mix of animal and hellish cunning to get to safe 10 feet and then do the final push with one bound and jump up and then try to snipe me with a fire breath. A few even got close. In the beginning, they dispersed every time Helen sent another bottle in the shards down on them. But soon they figured out that revolver fury wasn't aimed at them. It wasn't aimed at the bottles either really, but as I threw them their spinning and glittering tugged on something primitive in my mind. And I began to shoot them down nearly automatically. I was downing record third bottle when two nearly soundless steps landed on the wall above me. “Hey, Red.” this was her first time here. As I said Ronald was as Anne said my enabler which he answered philosophically “Everyone grieves in their own way.” “What's to grieve he knew her for a few hours, and he doesn't even know her full name.” I could almost imagine old Dwarf shrugging at that and never rising to the bait and arguing. Santino visited once a day, never said a word just shared half a bottle with me before nodding goodbye and leaving. Khyon also never said a word, nor showed himself but I both heard and felt him as he sat cleaning and adjusting his rifle on the opposite side of the wall. Never left for a second I did my “business” off the ledge, and so did he, only another wall separated us and his position was much safer. He didn't drink to pass the time but regulated the pack down the cliff. Once a day usually a bit after dusk as the moon started to rise I heard “Poof”, “Poof”, “Poof”... Sometimes for an hour or longer. Even Anne for all her railing was here often, and long. I believe she was watching I don't slip down the ledge in the sleep. She was good at removing all the traces but since she had to remain almost until I awoke I smelled her. Her love for various perfumes will keep betraying her until we move sometimes cacti aren't the only plant besides dried grass. But this was the first time Red came. “I'm not in the mood or...capacity, for the lesson tonight sorry.” The way she was crouching lock of her hair touched my ear. “No more lessons. Khyon told me a duel you had at the top of the carriage. Impressive.” I snorted “The guy was crap.” “Khyon wasn't talking about him but you. You kept your cool, resisted your urges to just jump in and chop him to pieces, and as you said the guy was crap, you likely could but you did as thought. Strong fundamentals and a cool head, if he was three times better outcome wouldn't change. Of course, there is a limit to that tactic and I can do it, but can't teach it. Practice what I taught you and be patient, another teacher will present itself.” “Why are you hear then? To tell me off, I thought that was Anne's job.” There was a trace of a smile in her voice “It is, and Gods things she says... just not to your face. I'm here just to see you.” “Why?” “For the same reason you cut yourself from the rest of us.” “I don't know why I did that.” “And I don't know why I do this.” There was the break and she landed next to me and took a seat. There was not a place for one of those ladylike dogs the size of a shoe on the ledge anymore. She took the bottle and threw it in the darkness. “Hey...” I started and then she shut me up or startled me in shutting up not sure which, but I was silent. She hugged me and lowered me as he placed my head on her lap, I felt alcohol vanish and I was stone sober and didn't like the feeling. Yet her fingers went threw my hair and she sang something I did not understand, except it was beautiful...and sad. So much that it hurt, so much that I cried the first time after I realized I was alone and unwanted...when I was maybe 7. It was an ugly, slimy slobbering cry when you sometimes forget to breathe, I'm pretty sure I destroyed her dress and that she had to scrub her hands afterward. Yet she didn't pause for a second until, like a child, I got tuckered out and fell asleep. Sun woke me up. I felt the smell of roses this time and took a seat. I stood up without swaying first time in a while and glanced down. Khyon was at work again only 6 Hellhounds looked up at me with their yellow fiery eyes and one did a trick with a jump and fire sniping while the others began to snarl trying to think what to do and finally get their prize. I gave it to them...in a way. Ice was my weakest destruction magic but it was also one that was extra powerful against Hellhounds I used both hands to churn a cyclone of winter cold wind down, and it caught them by surprise I made the wind go faster and faster and the temperature to fall ever lower until they helplessly tumbled in that cauldron of freezing wind, their hellfire long extinguished and fur frozen and brittle breaking as they hit the ground I physically took a large breath and raised my arms and down there wind stopped and 6 beasts beaten and bruised landed trying to get a purchase on solid ground and flee when I exhaled and lowered my arms turning them into 6 ice statues before making fists and making them shatter in thousand pieces. I saw in the distance about 4-5 more strewn around on their way to their daily ritual, too far to deal with magic or a Helen, then I heard three fast “Poofs” in about two seconds tearing large portions of skulls from meaty heads, as they fell two last turned to flee and two slower “Poofs” fell them in movement in a manner their ass went over their buckling front legs. “Showoff!!” I called to the other side of the wall. “Says the man called “Firehand” who just froze six Hellhounds before crushing them into the hail!” came the response. I came from behind the wall and saw Khyon disassembling my soon-to-be rifle. “Got that final job?” “A few days ago.” I raised my eyebrow. He didn't return it “My spotter needs a few days of rest, he gets them. What are they gonna do? Call the guys with almost 30% smaller success rate for a mission marked red.” “Red meaning?” Now he looks at me with a crooked smile. “Extremely dangerous/Suicidal.” “Oh you just spoil me.” “Just think about the rifle.” He picks up the package and throws it to me. It was remarkably light. Partly opening it I looked at him “How?” “There were like 13-15 asswipes last time I returned and did some digging.” “How much?” “Price of doing business, you killed almost half of them. Come to my place and we'll discuss for how much you wanna sell that second-hand garbage.” “Second, hand garbage!? I bought it from you brand new as a “State of the art” not a week ago!!” He grins “It's miraculous how armors price declines when you're being shot at. Go try it on.” I vanished behind the wall and unpacked it, it was remains of the armor from the Drow helmet I haven't yet used. Khyon didn't lie, the thing was basically 60% plate and was basically half the weight of the stuff I wore now. And fully conected like now it was more like a body glove than separate armor, I found connectors and separated the bottom from the upper part. It was possible to detach every part to the individual pouldrons and gauntlets, greaves, and of course helmet but the best part, it wasn't even necessary, I stripped naked to my briefs and slid into the entire armor in less than several minutes, I conected upper and lower parts and adjusted straps a bit and looked down, I barely believed I had this much platelike substance on me and it was so light. I went with my hand over it parts were metal, likely Mithril, and parts were layered wood and textile glued together with odd black resin that was giving more than 50% durability, it was like rubber but less stiff at the same thickness without losing any properties, but maybe largest improvements were small metal plates arranged as fish-scales and individually treated with this resin I could slam those two metal surfaces one against other and they would bounce one from another nearly without sound. most parts covered traditionally with mail were covered with these fish scales, even Mithril was treated with it but in thinner amounts. It was also on the soles of the boots, that had another particularity. The thumb was separated from the other fingers and I immediately understood why. This was scouting and infiltrating armor. Sturdy, yeah, compared to Human stuff it could take an unbelievable amount of punishment. But boots in this configuration were both stealthier and easier to climb difficult surfaces with. I armed myself and again turned the corner, Khyon approached me adjusted a few straps, and nodded “Fits like a glove, with a helmet you will be invisible. How does it feel?” “Incredible. I can't believe no one thought of this boot thing?” “Actually it comes from Humans in far Asia originally, Drows just adjusted it, improved upon the design and hence it stayed in use when it was surpassed in the original country. I think it's called Nippon.” I shrugged “Asia is not my strong suit, You guys took strongholds at most of it.”

Ronald showed behind the tent and when he saw me almost reached for the axe before recognizing me “Hey boy, easy with that you'll give old Dwarf a heart attack.” He looks at me and carefully chooses sentences “You look...well.” “I am well.” “So this?” He revealed a bottle of whiskey I clapped him on the shoulder “We'll toast with it when we return.” “So you finally go up and earn that bloody rifle, I hope it is worth all of this.” It was obvious Dwarf was still skeptical “It will be, some trust please.” He harumphs but hides the bottle and slaps us on the back “Ok. On your way then, and this time bring me something nice for a change.” I nodded to him and moved toward the fireplace, Santino was there with Anne he looked at my new duds and just nodded “Looks both practical and improvement defensively, of course, if you wore a helmet it would help even more, I'll point out that you can wear your beloved Stanton over it, it's form-fitting for a reason.” I gave him half a smile “Yeah fashion is a reason I didn't wear it, the fact that it truly locks in place with this chest plate had nothing to do with it.” He shrugged “We'll see now won't we?” I shook my head with a smile and as Khyon and Ronald joined us I got serious and looked at them “Once we do this all our preparations are ready, we should start with preparation for Louisiana.” Santino looks at me “Any place in particular.” I nodded “St. Orleans, there is Houngan and a retired Pirate that could be of use. We'll see from there.” They nodded Santino nodded toward Ronald “We'll settle necessary and more specialized equipment before you come, then we'll discuss finer points, I figure to move within three days after you return.” I nodded “See you in a bit then.” I was passing near Anne and paused “Thanks.” She arched one of her always royally manicured eyebrows “For?” I gave a half smile “Pleasant smell in the morning.” I could swear she blushed a bit “If you drop to your death, you're no good to us.” She turns her head and grumbles “I swear you have a nose of a bear.” I chuckled and moved toward the horses and found Red there washing her hair. She looked at me lightly “Hey. You two are leaving?” “Yup, last piece of unfinished business before we leave Southward.” “Well, good luck.” I paused “About last night.” She expertly twists her hair at the top of her head in one move looking at me “Last night, I simply did for you what you would do for me if you knew how, nothing more, I'm sure you would kill a lot of people to protect me and honestly I try not to think what you'd be capable of if any one of us was killed, that's your skillset. You struggle with empathy, and when you feel it once in a while you lock up.” She places a wet palm on my cheek “That is not a flaw, we are built for different things. But I'd be pleased if you tried to work on it a bit. Ok?” I kinda again didn't know what to say except “Ok.” Khyon showed up and we took and saddled our horses.