When Ymdaton opened his eyes the next time, he was lying on the edge of the bed, highlighted by the morning sun which shone through the window. His mouth was sour, his teeth creaking as glass against ceramic. His head felt heavy. Despite all the discomfort, Crewslayer jumped from the bed and ran to the entrance, hoping to meet his comrades who should have been leaving at that time.

Abimnupal and Hasdruhy were already at the gates of the household when Crewslayer catched up with them. Two fully armored crewmen offered a strike contrast to Ymdaton’s rumpled informal clothing, messy hair, and swollen face.

“Wait a moment! I require your help,” yelled he.

“Fresh air and a lot of water, here, my helpful advice,” answered Abimnupal with a grin. Hasdruhy chuckled.

“Oh, very funny. That I can deal with myself, thank you very much. I need you to assist me in a certain undertaking,” Ymdaton proceeded to tell them about the merchant’s trouble.

“I take it that you defeated at least a small barrel yesterday. Otherwise you should be simply insane,” said Hasdruhy after Crewslayer finished the story.

“Why is that. A simple walk into the forest will not be difficult for three armed men and an experienced hunter,” shrugged his shoulders Ymdaton.

“Tell me, have you ever looked at maps of Odwitchni?” asked Hasdruhy. He continued without waiting for an answer, “The thing is they are empty to the east. Because no one is stupid enough to go there and try charting those lands, while those who were stupid enough never returned. Woods there are spirit-, monster-, devil-, and whatever-else-infested thrice over. They devour people, literally.”

“You are dragging yourself into another suicidal situation, following your lust for glory,” added Abimnupal.

“And yet hunters go there and expect to return. The forest is deadly in its entirety, and yet you go there on missions, travel through it. You should be ever ready to threaten your life as warriors. What kind of cowardice do I see now?” spat Crewslayer angrily.

“This is no cowardice,” answered Abimnupal with a disgruntled expression, “Yes, I fully expect my life to end in battle, I am long since at peace with this thought. However, what you propose equals dropping on your blade right there. This is not a valorous deed worthy of a song, this is a simple stupidity. Don’t you have a family at Isary? I have a wife and a little daughter. I don’t want my love to tell my child that her father went into cursed grooves as an idiot and did not ever return.”

Those words reminded Ymdtaon of his wife awfully. He cleared his throat.

“That is not the lust for glory that leads me. Dragomir is struck by misery and I am going to help him. Are you with me?”

Abimnupal shook his head in refusal.

“I wish you all the luck under the stars, but I will not take part in this madness,” said Hasdruhy.

“Oh fine, I will find someone with an actual spine then,” growled Crewslayer and stalked back to the house.

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It took him some time and several fists to the wall to calm down. Ymdaton bathed with cold water to shake off heaviness of body and mind. He dressed himself, armed himself and went out into the city.

Streets of Khladnetz were full of people, bakhmats and carts loaded with goods. Construction sites could be seen here and there, new homes were rising. Several moons ago lord Azytenisar issued a decree that secured the right of every family to have a housing behind the walls. Since then most of farmers began moving in, leaving their houses in the fields to be only temporary shelter for the seasonal work.

Soon he reached a fine yet relatively small house in the south part of the city. Crewslayer knocked on the door. After a considerable amount of time a middle-aged woman with ruddy cheeks opened.

“Greetings, warrior. What do you seek in my house?” said she with a warm smile. Ymdaton noticed a drop of sweat rolling down her forehead.

“Is Ahyq there? I want to talk with him.”

“I am indeed here,” said Ahyq who appeared behind the woman. The warrior gently moved her aside by the shoulders and stood in front of Crewslayer, “What brings you to my lodging, friend?”

Ymdaton glanced at the woman.

“Oh,” an expression of understanding appeared on Ahyq’s face, “Miroslava, dear. This is my comrade Ymdaton, who is known in the city as Ljadobor, He wants to speak with me in private, can you please leave us for now?”

The woman examined Crewslayer with an awed look, which made him straighten and strike a more heroic pose. She nodded and went back into the house, closing the door behind her. Ymdaton and Ahyq were left standing on the porch.

“So, again, what brings you here?”

The story was against retold by Ymdaton, including the refusal of Abimnupal and Hasdruhy.

“I am quite fond of your noble undertaking,” said Ahyq after a pause. Ymdaton’s face brightened with joy, “However, I will be busy in but two days. Sumiaton leads an armed embassy to Ovrajin. I am a part of it.”

Crewslayer let out a sigh of disappointment.

“I advise you to join us also. The Venator is going to negotiate for some valuable issues. Your blade will be much more useful with us then somewhere deep in the woods.”

“That is out of question,” cut him off Ymdaton, “I gave my word. I will certainly be going on this mission, just without you, it seems. Sorry for troubling.”

“Wait,” said Ahyq with a thoughtful face, “I can not accompany you. Yet I can propose another man who could be willing. Paltisumas was not selected for the embassy. He is currently patrolling the borders, yet he will be returning soon and will stay unoccupied for several days. Try asking him.”

A smile appeared on Ymdaton’s face.

“Thank you for an advice, friend, I will be off searching for him right away,” said he and left without adding anything more.