Packing up to Leave

We've had a really quiet afternoon.  My woollens that I wore in the Gurgam prison have been laundered, and they look really tatty.  They've not managed to get all the blood out of them, either, although I don't mind that - it's a little memorial of my adventure.  I'll be packing those away when I return to my home.

I feel a little torn over my time here.  On one hand I'm really proud of what has been achieved, and I know that my contribution to it has been valuable.  I've come to really like the Gnaeblin and their ways.  They're normally such a peaceful people.  If the Gurgam weren't so aggressive towards them, I just know that the Gnaeblin would be happy neighbours.  They have such a practical, inventive streak to them, it's a source of wonder some times.

On the other hand, of course, my time here has been filled with a personal trauma, and for that reason I'm glad that we're not staying longer.  I need to get back to the delve, to spend some time in the deep with solid stone both beneath me and above.  It'll only be a week or so, though, before we're out into the open world again.

Elenhugh has been talking a little about the lands of the Hznamen, how he and his friends have hired themselves out to various factions, even working for one of the minor barons in the lands near to where he grew up.  They've always looked for the most interesting work, and have often been well rewarded.  It's good to know how the currency we use in the delve, the Kathron coin, is accepted universally in their lands.  I'll be taking several hundred gold coins with me, and that should tide me over nicely until we receive our first pay.

Earlier today I sent a note ahead of us to Enzknn where, I'm told, Mishrune has been keeping things working smoothly in my absence.  The dispatches that Harik had received suggest that he's more than capable of picking up my work for as long as is necessary.  I asked Mishrune, in my letter, to find for me a replacement axe for the one that was lost on the battlefield.  I hope he finds one that has the right weighting - although he's pretty familiar with the one I had before.  I told him where he could find funds to cover any asking price, although there is some money owed to me by Bekzham if needed.

I also need some new armour because mine, like my axe, went missing when I was captured.  Before I had simple light leather armour, but now for my new challenge I think I need some made of sturdy Dzarraf chain links.  There are plenty of armourers on the route back, so I'll buy that myself.  I was also thinking carefully about having my beard plaited professionally.  When I mentioned this to Daran, though, he told me that there's a thriving industry supporting these kinds of services among the Hznamen, so it will be better to leave it until later.  Elenhugh explained that the Dzarraf living among his people tend to wear chain mail, but most never use for what it is intended.  It seems such a pointless weight to wear if you're never going to need it.  I, of course, fully intend to exploit mine.

As part of the plans for the journey we have bought a crate of the Cider that was imported from the Hznamen city of Keenalan, the bottles are quite fancy.  We're also bringing some Gnaeblin beer (and this is in much plainer bottles) to enjoy.  It is odd that the others did not allow me to contribute to the cost of these crates - they implied that they consider my contribution to it already paid.  I'll also be buying some new woollen clothes when we reach Kazaral, these clothes that I originally borrowed from other Dzarraf have been given to me, but they're a poor fit.  I need something a little more comfortable to travel in.

Meeting Harik and Breaking the Bad News

I met with Harik yesterday afternoon.  I had to be quite blunt with him, but I didn't want to upset him.  I told him that I'd been considering taking a break after the trauma of my captivity, and he thought that was a good idea.  I told him that I'd discussed it with the Hznamen, and they'd proposed that I spend some more time on the surface with them.  I didn't mention the rewards, or the mercenary activities, and he agreed that some time away would help.

He told me that he'd been thinking of enforcing a break upon me anyway - he'd been concerned about my welfare after the reports of Hushmaz when he met me on the battlefield.  I was effective, but clearly settling a scores with the Gurgam, and that passion may interfere with my objectivity as an investigator.  He also pointed out that, as I'm on the payroll of the delve, I'm entitled to invoke the 'year and a day' rule, where I can take a break after such suffering.  The rule means I'm allowed to take a year off to 'recover', and the delve will hold my station for me.  That's really useful, because if I'm no good as a mercenary, then I'll be free to return.

The Dzarraf contingent is preparing to leave, we'll be away from Sanvell first thing in the morning.  Harik will be coming with us, but he's expecting to be back in a week or so when the other force returns from the eastern mountains.

Overnight Discussions and a Big Decision

After finishing my evening in the common room yesterday, I went back out to the suite that we've been given.  It's a warm and well furnished place.  I sat in the main chamber pondering what direction my life would lead next - I was mulling over whether the experience I had should lead to me taking a small break, or if, perhaps, I ought to throw myself into work, immerse myself to try and drive the memory of the Gurgam gaol from my mind.

I must have been mulling that over pretty deeply, as woke with a start when Daran and Kenner returned to the room.  I didn't know it but Barr was also resting in his bedroom, and he was woken by them too.  Kenner was quite merry.  Almost falling down merry.  But Daran was quite lucid, he seems to have been keeping an eye on his compatriot.  A moment after they returned, Mullory was back too.

Once Kenner was rolled into his bed (and the snoring started immediately) Daran asked if they'd woken me.  They had, but I said I was trying to think through my next options, and may have nodded off, I wasn't  intending to be asleep, so they'd done me a favour.  Mullory was next with the plans - they talked through some of what my formal day-job is, what I actually do, not what the title says.  They couldn't believe that someone so gifted with a sword could be contained so easily in a mundane job.  I told them it was vitally important to the safety of the delve - and it's the chance to preserve the lives of many of my kindred Dzarraf.

I told them I was considering my options, whether a month or two off would be a good thing, or whether I should throw myself into my work.  I couldn't decide.  I left that hanging, and after a few seconds Barr just said "Well, neither sound any good.  How about doing something else?"  I didn't understand, and I said so.

"Take the gold out of your purse", he said, "the stuff you got earlier today."  I obliged, it sat there in my palm, gleaming in the candlelight.  It felt good against my skin.  "Take a long look at it" he continued, "now, how does it make you feel?"  I closed my eyes here and wrapped my fingers around the coin.  "You told us earlier that you were well paid for the work you did.  Does your regular pay feel as good at that.  That's real gold."  It was warm and relaxing.  It stirred desires deep within me.

Then he knocked me sideways with his next comment.  "I think you're drastically underpaid.  If I'd been subjected to what you went through in that cell I'd want ten times the salary you were given.  From what I can see, you've been giving to your kin for far too long - it's time you rewarded yourself.  When you've earned your fortune, you can easily return and help your neighbours some more."

I looked at him; I could barely believe what I was hearing.  "You can come with us, you know.  We're mercenaries really, but we always try to do good works.  I'll be honest, your skills would be very useful to us, and likewise I think we can help you achieve your own goals in return."

It's a tempting offer.  After considering it for several minutes in silence I said I'd sleep on it.  As I headed to my bed and closed the door, I heard Barr saying "It's the gold, I never new one of them little buggers that weren't affected by it".  That was it, that was what made my mind up to go - 'little buggers' means he respects me, 'shortarse bastard, no offence' is how he referred to the Dzarraf soldiers that he didn't like.

I told them what I'd planned as soon as I awoke.  I only have to tell Harik now.  And I have to go home one more time, I'll be needing my proper armour and a new axe.  The others are coming with me this time, and we'll be heading out of the oriental entrance.

A Formal Party

I felt quite humbled; and quite embarrassed if I'm honest.  The formal backslapping at the banquet was quite a sight to behold, but once the thanks to each of the leaders was handed out, the personal awards were made.

My Hznamen friends were held in high honour indeed - there seemed to be quite a bit of guilt on the plate of Harik, but he mastered the situation with the deftness of a time-served politician.  He lauded my achievements, and my suffering, and the huge help my new friends had given me.  He was genuinely relieved that I'd come through the whole mess, despite the suffering, with my dignity intact.  I was, he said, something of a hero back in the delve.  I blushed profusely - not something that a Dzarraf does with any ease either.

After the meal, the physical rewards were handed out.  Many speeches were made, and everyone hung on the words of each speaker in turn relating their experiences in the military campaign.  No one was missed, and especial praise was held for the troops that had set off to purge the mountains of the Gurgam at source - troops that were still out there enduring hardship and laying their lives on the line for the safety of the delve and the lands of the Gnaeblin.

When it was my turn to speak, I arose to polite applause.  My story I told as accurately as I could and to silence.  Everyone seemed to hang on my words.  At the end there was rapturous applause - I really was seen as a hero.  I'm not sure I'll ever become accustomed to the adulation or attention that brings.

The meal, too, was exceptional.  There were Welfen wines alongside the Dzarraf beers, and drink from the lands of the Hznamen away in the east and north - something they called 'cider' made from the juice of apples, and as clear and refreshing as anything I drank from the cold mountain streams up in the mountains.  It really helped lubricate my mouth during my speech.

After the meal, I spent an hour in the company of Harik and Hushmaz.  Both were gushing with their compliments even then.  We talked about all kinds of political matters, and I pointed out to the rebellious talk I'd heard among the Gnaeblin during the early part of my mission.  Harik was surprised, but Hushmaz less so - he's met many of the same Gnaeblin I have, and he's heard the same stories.  He promised to investigate.

I'm off back to the suite in a few minutes.  Daran and Elenhugh have been in the very plush common room in this formal palace, and I'm starting to tire of the luxury.  I think I was happier when I was hunting the Gurgam.

A Banquet in Honour

It was an odd morning.  I think that the arrival of Harik mid-morning was the event that prevented Banneghenn from handing out the awards last night.  He visited me, and my Hznamen friends, this morning with a couple of his councillors.  We've been issued a suite of rooms, and the comfort is exceptional.  I'd already suggested that my new friends visit the Dzarraf realms to receive the thanks of Harik and Bekzham, but we'd not really discussed it in any detail.

Now, Banneghenn was telling me, Harik was coming to Sanvell.  It's an official visit, so the Gnaeblin state silverware will be rolled out, although in truth it's really a chance to thank each other - the Dzarraf want to thank the Gnaeblin for the chance to have a go at the Gurgam, and the Gnaeblin want to thank the Dzarraf for making a sacrifice to defend their neighbours.

While he was here the Gnaeblin leader told us of his plan to offer us all seals denoting the freedom of the city of Sanvell.  He's also brought a bag of money - he's fulfilling the cost of the bounty that he'd previously offered the others.  In fact he'd doubled it and put another bonus on top.  There's quite a bit of gold being handed over here.  Suddenly, life in the delves looks less interesting.  I get paid barely a fraction of this, although - lets be clear - I'm not underpaid by any stretch.

Elenhugh was insistent that I'd played my part and am entitled to a chunk of this money.  But I don't think that's wholly true.  After all, they saved my life, and the Dzarraf continued to pay me anyway.

We had little time to discuss it, though.  We were being whisked into the formal dinner with Harik.  I accepted a small payment, just to keep them quiet.  But the gold feels good in my hands.

Sanvell in Glory

The arrival in Sanvell should have been in the early evening, but it was mid afternoon when we started meeting the city's inhabitants.  The next big surprise was the honour guard that were waiting for us.  I thought at first that it was all for Hushmaz's troops, as they'd done most of the fighting.  I was wrong.  The honour is for everyone that's been involved with the fighting, they insisted that my name was the one singled out for special praise by Banneghenn.

Hushmaz and I rode at the front as we approached the city, and right behind us came Gallanarre, Hushmaz's senior officers and the Hznamen, all arriving in Glory.  I told Hushmaz and the honour guard that I wanted to ride with the Hznamen, but Banneghenn had given them orders.

Banneghenn was waiting for us at the gates of the city.  He was keen to honour us personally and publicly, and he rode with us back to the civic building in the town.  The leaders were brought inside but he left us with the members of his committee while he spent an hour just meeting the troops who were busy building bivouacs in the courtyard.

When he returned, we went into his beautiful dining room where a celebration meal was served.  It was all very formal, and I had to point out to Barr that the silver knives should be left behind after the meal.  Banneghenn was very complimentary, and was full of praise for what we'd done.  He also had special words for me - I don't live in the lands of the Gnaeblin but I'd put myself in a position of extreme risk while helping the people of those lands.  I think he feels guilty about putting me through it all.

He passed on lots of public praise and thanks for the help that Elenhugh's team had provided.  He said he had a special reward for them, but he was going to deal with all that in a special ceremony tomorrow.  Tonight he's told us all that it's a full on celebration, and we're just to enjoy the evening.  If the celebration quietens down later, Barr has suggested I might like to try out some of the tricks he's been teaching me.  I don't think I'm anywhere near ready - but he seems to think I am.

First Familiar Surroundings

Late this afternoon we reached the entrances to the Gnaeblin under-land.  As we passed inside, though a very welcoming entrance chamber, the light drew in and I began to feel properly at home once again.  I'm not sure if I imagined it, but I thought I could sense the copper ore as we went in deeper.  Within ten minutes or so of entering this place we were down into the proper dark.  How comforting it felt.

We stopped at a first familiar place - we'd reached Bilerren a town in the Borders where we'd passed through on the way out from Sanvell.  We were welcomed by Vachney the senior elder of the town, and he seemed very pleased to see us.  The mood in the town had changed.  Several of the young Gnaeblin who'd been off to fight had returned, and the youth unrest we'd encountered on our first visit had dissipated; the veterans have swayed opinion in a very positive way.  The town also seems to have lost very few of its young in the fighting, and is in celebratory mood.

They wanted to host another feast for us this evening, we couldn't disappoint them - but Gallanarre did have a quiet word about keeping the celebration somewhat low-key.  He asked that the town celebrate its own people's victory, and remember the young who would not be returning.  That call went down well, and Mullory offered to join the local religious leaders in praise and worship before the feast began.

We've been given more real beds to sleep in too.  I'm sure our tales will be told again during the feast - and Barr has promised that I'll be able to see some of the tricks he taught me today and yesterday being played out for real.  One of the most important tips, he stressed, is to keep the beer drinking to an absolute minimum, it's much easier to do the mathematics if your mind isn't trying to do it through a beer haze.