As Velwrith and Saeria exited the inn, he noticed the party had lodged in a random nameless hamlet built on a crossroad.

He watched a healer hurry from the northeast, around the well, and into the smithy. Then, he observed a stableboy operating a gate to a large field for the horses, yelling at another boy stationed on an entrance to a pit of hot black sand for reptiles. Both yards had separated stables at the far end.

Behind the Inn, they found the metal-handed bandit lying in a horse trough, arrested under a thick blanket of ice. Only his head poked out from the block, revealing ugly short, cropped ears.

 Odordious, relaxed under an oak tree. He could refreeze the water whenever it threatened to melt, and both knew so. Theaiss sat in the branches above, smoking hemp and eating sunflower seeds. Emmerriss was nowhere visible, but Velwrith could hear him singing and strumming at some mild distance.

Seeing Velwrith and Saeria wearing Betsy, the swordsman waved but continued smoking. Then, respectfully the sorcerer closed his book and stood, greeting his friends.

“Good morning Saeria, Betsy. Velwrith, how are you feeling today?”

“Like my horse kicked me, but I am alive.” the prince said, his voice pained but determined.

“What brings you both to this particular corner on such a superfluously beautiful morning?” 

Velwrith pointed at the bandit.

“What could you possibly want with him?”

“To bring him to our side. Betsy thinks we might be able to help each other.” 

Kale’Saeria adjusted the purple boater on her head. “I don’t think it’ll work, but I’m responsible for keeping him out of trouble.” 

“Aye, ye bastards, I can hear you talkin about me!” the bandit shouted. “Why don’t ye come here and talk to me face! Scared I can still kill ye?”

Theaiss chucked and exhaled a dank white plume. “Well, now you’re blowing more smoke than I am!”

The Wildling tried to thrash, but the ice held fast. So instead, he just shimmied a little.

Velwrith stepped in then, hobbling up to the frozen brigand. “Well, you did defeat the Lightbringer. Although, perhaps you’re more threatening than my friend would admit.”

 Theaiss snorted loudly before entering into a coughing fit.

Velwrith continued, “Perhaps we could know your name? Then, if you are going to kill us, we should at least know from whom to beg mercy.”

“Stop yer panderin. I won’t be havin another word of it. My name is Chalco Tevta. What about your lot here, firefly?”

The Aldrem bowed his head, regretting even that.“ I am Tok’Velwrith Silverwind, Prince of Aldrey, The Lightbringer.  This woman with me is Kal’Saeria of the Red Dragonflight, apprentice to The Stargazer.”

“Now I see, you’re nobles, how interestin. What about your couple of crayfish? Do they give out names underwater?”

The sorcerer clenched his jaw a moment before looking at his partner; Theaiss just grinned. The swordsman leaped from the tree, drawing his sword mid-fall. Then, he twirled the blade as he approached the trough, letting Chalco see the Mythril glimmer in the sun. When he was within reach, he spoke. “Well, you chilly bastard, I am Tok’Theaiss Seastrider, Prince of Deepstone and captain of The Fortnight. That beautiful young man keeping you so well preserved is my husband, the sorcerer Tok’Odordious Seastrider of Siege. You can also hear our archer and bard Emmeriss Oakheart of Fairview.”

 The Myrmish swordsman reached the trough, touching the blade's tip to the ice. Then, without slowing his stride, he circled. “You also remember Tok’Valasta Bloodrunner, our purple-clad wizard companion, the one who you crippled.” The swordsman and dhampir wildling were eye to eye. The sword tip perched an inch from the man’s exposed neck. “Now, tell me why exactly you attacked us.”

“I had no other choices. I don’t want war with ye, but I am looking after me own.” Chalco said, ignoring the blade. “The Grey Emperor has me, sister, and I’m gonna be getting her back. I made a deal that if I brought the Lightbringer to him, he’d let me see Sheila. It’s that simple.”

“What does the Godking want with me? I don’t serve him. I follow the Golden Goddess and her Champion.” Velwrith said back.

“Damned if I know Firefly, I didn’t go about asking too many questions past how to spot that tattoo o’yours.”

Velwrith nodded. “What about the others with you, the ones we slew?”

“Just some muscle, thugs from the god-king. Guards and thugs back in Deepwatch. I never even learned their names. The man went by Darkstar the whole while. That one was insistent that he get on the job. The girls were with him or some such. "

“If I agree to let you take me to the Godking, can we trust you not to hurt anyone else?” Velwrith relaxed against the fence, glad for the support.

“That has a very great deal to do with whether or not you return me things and do me no harm in return.”

Theaiss flexed his hand, and the blade nibbled a tiny nick on the Dhampire’s skin. “Apologize for calling my husband a shellfish, and we will agree.”

Chalco looked over to Velwrith, then Odordious, and lifted his chin to Theaiss. “I’d rather die with my pride! Cut a clean one, don’t be half assin it like everything else in yur life!”

Theaiss chuckled, whipping the blade back into its sheath. “Well, Betsy, you were right. I like this one.”