Mists over the Musarde, Chapter Two

[ewancummins]

NOrzak sighs as he gets up off of Greasy Louie. "All right. I'm sorry bout tha girl, she din' deserve ta die. Adrenalin can do strange thin's in the heat of action. Now where we find the Doc, bub?"

He moves to stand next to Jon and lays his hand on the youth's shoulder to reassure him. "Save some fer the doc I bet he knows where Van Dieks is too, okay Jon?"

Greasy Louis gets to his feet and looks about, blinking furiously.

''You aren't going to kill me?''
He sighs deeply.

''I'll help you, sure. I know exactly where you need to go. Just head to the Court of Crows- that's where the Great Gallows stands. The Doctor's shop is on the south side of the Plaza, right in the middle. It's a little two storey building with a whitewashed front. He's got a sign hanging out front with a saw and a knife painted on it. You can't miss it.''

[steveflam]

Greasy Louis gets to his feet and looks about, blinking furiously.

''You aren't going to kill me?''
He sighs deeply.

''I'll help you, sure. I know exactly where you need to go. Just head to the Court of Crows- that's where the Great Gallows stands. The Doctor's shop is on the south side of the Plaza, right in the middle. It's a little two storey building with a whitewashed front. He's got a sign hanging out front with a saw and a knife painted on it. You can't miss it.''

"No, I won't kill ye. On one condition. Ye leave town and don' come back. Unnerstood? And as for the girls, leave that to me, theys all goin' home after tonight. For now ye kin come with us so I knows ye won't warn Van Dieks, bub."

Norzak sighs. "All right. Mebbe I's a had a bad influence on Jon. SOrry if I did, younguns kin be impressionable. Ye kin keep the crossbow laddie, a gift. But promise me ye'll use it wisely. Now if we can get o'er ta this DOc's shop and finish our unfinished bizzness, that's be smashin'. Anyone wanna add their two coppers or we kin go? Mebbe toss the girl into tha drink, nuthin' we kin do fer her, unless ye wanna take her to the police."

Norzak says this last phrase with a raised eyebrow. Once everyone is on board, he adds. "Why don' we search this boat then sink it? With the girl on it? If'n tha militias fin' it, they know it were Van Dieks so he'll get blamed."

[ewancummins]

Louis nods.

''Yes, no problem. I won't warn anyone. I'll go wherever you like. Just don't hurt me.''

[Le Noir Faineant]

On the boat, Cirdan will clap up his vizor and look straight at Diogrio.

"Make sure there are no more unnecessary dead. If the dwarf cannot restrain his thirst for blood, I'll take him out."

When they reach the others, Cirdan will drop the paddles, jump up on the deck, and draw his sword...

[steveflam]

"Hey bub I dint kill noone, get yer facts straight afore ye accuse me ye daft pointy eared jackaninny!" Norzak is now furious and spits on the ground, waiting for Cirdan to react.

[Le Noir Faineant]

I don't think Norzak heard that...

[steveflam]

Before Cirdan goes accusing Norzak of killing maybe he should get his facts straight. And Norzak will stand up for himself, Raf. Up to you, I don't care if we do end up fighting but Norzak killed noone. Maybe wait until others post before going any further, ok?

[Le Noir Faineant]

Hey, everything in-character, of course! I'd never go and kill a buddy's character, and especially not your chara! Just working a little bit more on the elf's Dark Knight persona...

[JMaytr]

Jonathan nods to Norzak, he can tell the dwarf is disappointed in him. When the knight jumps on board and draws his sword the youth puts himself between Cirdan and Norzak.

"It was me. I did the killing. I acted in haste and fear. I just didn't want Norzak to get hurt. Last time we fought Van Dieks he nearly killed us both. If you see fit to hand me over to the law, I'll not fight you. But Norzak is innocent."

Jonathan watches the dark knight without fear.

[steveflam]

Norzak puts his hand on Jon's shoulder. He is still furious. "What the lad says is true. I's got no thirst for blood, I'm no Vampire, ye dolt. Let's get Van Dieks then we can work this out.Then I kin put me foot up yer backside fer accusing me wrongly, bub. NOw, none o' tha Darkender clan of ever backed down from no insults an I ain' plannin' ta start now."

The dwarf still has his sharpened dagger in his hand, and grips it tightly. All he wants to do is to throw it right into the half-elf's helmet, but he doesn't. Cirdan didn't know what's had transpired in the cabin.

"Bah!" He turns and before Louis can react, he punches him in the nose. "Count yerself lucky I ain' killed ye, ye pansy. We's knowin where ta fin' both dolts. Tha punch is fer lettin' Van Dieks treat the wimmin like dirt, ye spineless git."

It's very obvious that Norzak is venting. Luckily for Greasy Louie, he only punched him.

[Le Noir Faineant]

Cirdan, kind of baffled, put up his vizor.

"Boy, take a deep breath. Did you expect me to get on the boat with my sword in the sheath, or what?!"

And to the dwarf, unsure if Norzak has overheard his conversation with Diorgio.

"Easy, my friend. Just don't push it this time!"

Clapping down the vizor again, Cirdan sighs.

"Well,at least I didn't have to fight this time... You controlled the situation well."

Thw sword leaned on hi shoulder, Cirdan will then step back and
wait what the others do...

[steveflam]

"Taint no easy, elf. I"s killed noone, ye dunce. I's got ears an I may appear uncleanly but they hear mighty fine. Ye insulted me an I don' take that lightly, bub. If'n ye wanna see real blood lust just say so, I'll show ye more than ye bargained for. Otherwise lets go kill Van Dieks."

The dwarf then grabs Greasy Louie by the shirt, and basically shakes him hard. "Van Dieks better be there bub, else I will kill ye, ya lapdog!" He lets go and storms past everyone and slips into the water. He swims to the safety of the city. He climbs up and waits.

[JMaytr]

Jonathan looks away from the knight. "I am sorry if I offended you sir elf." He walks slowly to the edge of the boat and peers into the blackend waters below, deep in thought. After a moment he finally speaks.

"We'd better hurry to the doctors shop. He may already have Van Dieks patched up. Louie? Show us to the chest now. We should sink the house boat or set it ablaze. Or better yet...We'll leave Louie on board after we take that chest and let him go. He was the last one seen with the prostitute in the next room, he has his own reasons for fleeing now. We'll get to Van Dieks before he would anyways. I've seen too many dead people tonight, hopefully Van Dieks will be the last corpse I see."

Jonathan leads Louie towards the chest.

[ewancummins]

The chest, which Louis drags out onto the deck for all to see, is about two feet long by two feet wide and one foot deep. It's built of hardwood, with brass fittings. There is a heavy lock attached. Louis produces a key and unlocks the chest, opening it so that you can all see inside it. There are bulging leather sacks in the chest. Each is labelled by the type of coinage it contains. Also inside the chest is a small, well-made abacus and a writing kit with a few sheets of blank parchment.

Louis laughs nervously.


''Here you go. I don't suppose I could keep just one bag,
eh? ''

His expression then becomes more serious.

'' Travelling expenses if you let me take the boat downriver, just as the fine boy suggests. That way I'll be well out of town and no bother to anyone. I'll use some of it to get the girl a decent burial, I promise.''

Louis looks around, as if hoping to gauge the reaction to his suggestion.

[JMaytr]

Jonathan takes out one of the bags and hands it to the man. Then he hands him another.

"There, two bags for you Louie. Now go down river and never come back."

Jonathan hands the chest over to Cirdan.

"I think you will dispense of this gold fairly. Alright lets follow Norzak before he gets in over his head."