e&tg 48

[rone]

Kohasadi couldn't get a lot of elevation, but we arrived at the park without any spills or stops.  Kohasadi circled around the back of the building and landed.  "Why are we landing here? " i asked him as i dismounted.  He pointed at me with his claw, then at the other side of the building; then he tapped himself and pointed upwards.  Then he took off again.

"C'mon, Merc," said Ĥavar, "i'm not going to stand around while you and your gryphon play Looks Like Sounds Like."

"Yeah, yeah, i'm with you.  I think he has a plan," i said as we started walking around.  "I hope so, anyway."

As we turned the corner we found one halfling standing nonchalantly against a tree.  We approached him, but he held out a hand and said, "Talk to Yem.  He's by the front door."  Ĥavar glared at him and turned towards the entrance.  Two short thugs stood there with their arms crossed.  Ĥavar stopped several paces away from them and said, "Which one of you is Yem?"

"I am," said the shorter one.  He had a scar that ran from the bridge of his nose to the left corner of his mouth.  "You're Havar?"

"Close enough," growled Ĥavar.  "Where's my geologist?"

"Down.  You can come in, as soon as you drop that," he said as he pointed at the dwarf's crossbow.  "You," he pointed at me, "stay here."

"There's something comical about being issued orders that are unenforceable," i sneered.

He shrugged.  "Suit yourself."  He whistled and he and his partner drew a long, knurled mace.  I saw the halfling we walked past also wield his mace and advance towards us, and another one on the opposite corner match his moves.

Ĥavar pulled me down to his height and whispered, "Maybe you shouldn't be causing me trouble so soon."

"I can't help you if i'm not next to you," i bit back.

Ĥavar swore in Dwarvish (it doesn't make sense in Western, believe me), aimed his crossbow at Yem and fired, nailing him in the left cheek.