Pondering the *sip* consequences

Dwight was taking advantage of the down time by leaning against one of the tower's support beams and wiping his brow. "This situation could easily become dire," he said to nobody in particular.

Ghost had been occupying her time by tending to the various wounds of the scouts. She was clumsy, but had tried her best. She tied off the last bit of bandaging she had and smiled at the scout before joining Dwight. With a quick glance around the enclosure, she asked, "I wouldn't mind a bit of cleaning up. Could you take me to that pond?" She gathered up the now-empty bucket she had asked him to fill.

Dwight pushed off of the beam. "Let me find a pole and some more buckets. We may as well pull some weight while we remain here."

Shallan nodded and gathered up a few more buckets. "The mounts will need water for the night too," she agreed.

Dwight left his pack in the care of Cyneric, taking only his sword and anything already tied to his belt. "Shall we be off?"

Shallan grabbed a scrap of cloth and some soap and tucked both into her belt, then shouldered half the burden of buckets. She nodded and silently followed him, armed only with her sheathed sword.

The two started off through the trees in the afternoon sunlight. The forest was quiet. "I don't think any of us are looking forward to this ordeal."

"I think there's something else going on that someone isn't telling us..." Shallan replied suspiciously. "I don't like being deceived."

Dwight nodded. "That makes two of us. The only reason I'm here is that it's an opportunity to keep the goblins at bay, hopefully for years."

She kept a close eye on the woods as they traveled, more than ready to dump her cargo and go for her sword. It felt strange not traveling with her bow strapped to her back. "So do I get to hear about your adventure the other night? How did you get rid of our pest problem so quietly?"

Dwight smiled and chuckled silently. "It's quite funny, really. The first two that strayed into the campsite weren't paying attention. I knocked one out and beheaded his friend when he wasn't looking. Assuming there were more in the area, I came up with a plan."

Her eyebrows raised and she glanced at him in between her scanning their path. Apparently, she was in store for another of his interesting tales. A hint of a tilt to the corners of her mouth appeared. "Tell on..."

Dwight cleared his throat. "Well, I figured they would come..." Dwight took a drink from his waterskin. "... looking for their friends. So, when I heard some rustling in the bushes, I laid down near the fire and placed all of my gold on the ground in plain sight. When I heard one picking up the money, I reached out and snapped its neck. The next two also fell for it." Dwight stifled a laugh. "It reminds me of a joke that my brother Dorian used to tell."

She sighed and shook her head. Amazing how he fought so well only when they weren't in combat together. "Amazing," she commented. "I hope this joke is not about fireflies."

"No, it's about goblins. It seems there was a halfling who was in the woods, jumping up and down next to his fire-pit, saying 'seven, seven, seven.' A goblin saw him and asked what he was doing. The halfling replied, 'For a gold piece, you can try.' So the goblin gave him one and began jumping up and down saying 'Seven, seven, seven.' Suddenly, in mid-jump, the halfling kicked the goblin into the fire, where it perished." Dwight began to snicker. "Then the halfling pocketed the gold piece and started jumping again, but saying, 'Eight, eight, eight!'" Dwight let out a great guffaw at this point.

Shallan laughed quietly. "You'll have to tell that one to Ayman, I believe he'll enjoy it..." She looked up and saw the glint of reflected sunlight. "I believe we're here."

The pond ahead shined in the sun as it began its trip downward over the horizon. The water was clear enough that one could even see several small fish swimming near the surface.

"How tranquil!" said Dwight. He began to fill some of the buckets he had brought along. "Would that I could stay here all day. Alas, work to be done. But I don't see why we couldn't sit for a minute."

Shallan filled her buckets and drew out her soap. She was not as clean as she usually liked and used one of the buckets to wash up in. "If we weren't using it as drinking water, I'd jump right in for a bath. A week on the trail does not leave the scent of roses."

Dwight chuckled again. "Don't concern yourself. I don't think anybody has noticed, nor is it foremost in our minds."

Shallan peeled off the top layer of armor, revealing a cloth shirt underneath. She glanced up, "Keep an eye out. Bandaging is filthy work." She dumped a bucket of clean water over her head, gasping at how cold it was. She wrung the water out of her hair and sat back, running her fingers through her hair to separate it to dry. "That felt good," she sighed. She thought for a long moment, trying to decide how to broach this subject with her companion. "Dwight...how much military training did you receive before you left home?"

Dwight straightened up his back. "From the time I was eight years old I was trained both as a soldier and a noble."

"I mean no offense! Only..." She grimaced. "I am concerned with how your brother seems to be handling the Guild. I see no signs of the Guildmaster, and yet I see your brother sending messages and directing guild members as a commander. I'm hoping my concern is unfounded, but my concern still remains."

He splashed his face with some water. "I'm concerned as well. I have heard others asking about the guildmaster. I'm curious as to where he has been myself."

"I believe we're getting in over our heads, but I think we need to do something about this once we return to Woodland." She leaned back and propped herself up on her elbows. "I'm dreading the fact that it seems the man we need to start with is your brother." Her eyes glanced up at him, "I do not wish to cause you distress, so I would understand if you did not wish to confront him with me. Especially with his treatment of you lately."

Dwight looked puzzled. "Lately? How do you mean?"

She frowned. "I do not know how he has acted with you in the past, but I was not impressed with his manners each time I have witnessed you two together. His attitude belies his nobility."

"Well, it has been some time since I left home, so I cannot tell what evoked the change. However, he does not act fully like himself. He seems too..." Dwight grasped at words. "... Underhanded."

Shaking her head, she looked troubled. "Were that I held a higher position in the guild. Then perhaps, I would feel more informed." She glanced up at him again. "I feel as if I am placing this burden on you, for he is your brother. I do not mean to cause you pain, but you know him best, and his manners and habits. I am sorry if it is uncomfortable for you. If you wish it, I shall not trouble you with this again."

"... No." Dwight stood up. "Perhaps I should have a talk with my brother." He gathered the buckets and filled the empty ones. "And perhaps it's time I sent a letter home."

Shallan took that as a sign he wished to return. She plaited her hair and fastened her armor back on. After refilling the bucket she used, she stood straight, stopped cold and looked at him carefully. "I'm sorry, Dwight," she said sincerely.

Dwight looked hard back at Shallan. Slowly, a smile grew on his face. "Come on, let's get back. There's probably several thirsty people who would be happy to see us."

She nodded and shouldered her burden, taking a moment to steady herself. She wasn't used to lifting, and weightlifting was certainly not her specialty. "Just so long as I can make it back without getting soaked..." She grinned at him and started back the way they had come.