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[howandwhy99]

Darius poured the platinum back in the hole and handed Dram his sack. “Horse” No. “Animal” He pulled out a pair of ivory dice. Darius tossed them over to Dalin and they rolled up seven.
“That’s a sign of good luck!” Dalin said. He leaned over and gave them some test rolls. Each time they came up seven.
“Magic” said Darius. He pushed the chest back. “Food” He felt a bone…and pulled out a steaming hot drumstick. The others laughed. “It’s still hot!” he exclaimed. He tossed it back in the hole. “Zelligar” No. “Rogahn” No. “Certa” No. “Pendra” Slowly a large pelt was pulled out. Dram recognized it as an owlbear skin. It was put back in. “Quasqueton” No. Darius had an idea. He pulled off his gauntlet and stuck his hand back in. “Glove” He waited, but nothing came. “Igor” No. “Mirel” No. “Contentsofthechestnotincludingthesheets” He waited. Gwenna lit a torch in case of another attack, so Darius pulled his hand out before trying again. “Paper” No. “Wood” The chest came again. Book, paper, papyrus, and scroll all were No’s. When Darius would wait only the chest came.

A scream rang out from next door. Ben jumped up, but he could already tell it was not the sheet. In the women’s bedroom they found Rose struggling fitfully in a featherbed. She was still asleep, but having a nightmare. Ben had Pax place her on the floor. Kayla told the others about the metal in the bed and its effect on Rose. Pax stayed behind as everyone else went returned to test the hole some more. “Armor” said Darius. Nothing. “Shield” No. Clothi…” He quickly pulled out his hand. “Gotta be more careful,” he said smiling. “Gem” No. “Rock” They waited expecting a stone like the Earl’s gift. Darius pulled out a slingstone instead. “Sling” He pulled out a pouch of stones and set them aside. “Sling” Nope, so he tossed the bag back in.

There was a knock at the door. Darius hurriedly started to roll up the cloak, but Pax came through the door without waiting. They had forgotten to relock it. “Rose is over there mumbling in her sleep. I thought you should know. She said something like ‘A dragon is in the skies, but the nights are away’. It sounded important.” Darius dismissed him.
“It’s the Sky Knights. Just make sure she doesn’t hurt herself.” Ben reflected Darius knew a bit more than he was telling. Pax backed out of the door and Darius turned his focus back to the hole. “Drink!” He drew out his wet hand. “Hand me the tankurd,” he told Dram. Pax had left it. “Ale” No. “Beer” The mug was an inch full. He laughed in spite of himself and tossed tankurd and all back inside. “Symbol” No. “Barth” No. “Pen” No. “Quill” No. “Ink vial” No.

“Aren’t you getting tired yet?” asked Kayla. “It’s getting very late.” Ben looked over to the curtained window. No light shone through. He had not noticed, but his grumbling stomach said some time had passed. Darius pulled the cloakhole back up and handed it over to Kayla. He instructed her to have Rose wear it. While he was small enough it looked less conspicuous on her. The curtains were opened and Ben saw the sky was black with no moon. Diedre and Kayla left to go study and a horrible noise drifted in the room when the door opened. Grog was singing bawdy songs in the common room below.
“He’s already drunk!” said Dalin. Dram elbowed him in the side and winked. Then he looked over to the mercenaries.
“See what we have to offer?” he bragged.
“Yes. We’ll take ten percent of everything found now and in the future,” said Gwenna. Dram was stupefied.

”Oh no! No, no, no. JUST the future,” said Dram. Dalin began bartering with the woman.
Dram interjected, “The whole lot should get ten percent and that’s it, not apiece like she says.”
“Why?” asked Gwenna. Dram and Dalin looked at each other.
Darius spoke up. “Because we’re seasoned fighters! That’s why.”
“We’ve been back and forth to Adlerweg!” retorted Hanz. Darius took Gwenna out into the hallway and began bartering in private. Ben followed along just to observe. The two finally agreed on terms. Gwenna would pay the three men out of her portion, and in return would receive a full share of future spoils. Both were satisfied with the agreement. “At the moment anyway,” thought Ben. They went back into the room.

“Seeing this was just a taste of our future together.” Dram was trying to impress the other three mercenaries. Darius stopped him and announced the agreement they had forged. Then he walked up and handed each of the four a platinum coin.
“You get this to start and your pick of personal weapons from the Earl.”
“Tomorrow we will all take a pledge in the morning after prayer,” said Ben. Gwenna looked at him as if he were mad. He led the four mercenaries to Rose’s side in the other bedroom. Kayla and Diedra were already counting out the coins from the cloakhole. “I will show you the power the Gods posses.” Ben laid his hand on Rose’s brow. Soft light poured into her body healing the remaining bruises and scrapes. Gwenna was stunned. Ben seized the opportunity to sermonize on what the Gods stood for, but Dram came in and cut in. He kept saying how Thor demanded a different path from His followers.

Ben watched as Kayla leaned in close to Gwenna’s ear. He heard her whisper, “Just nod and don’t speak and those two will leave you pretty much alone.” Ben was astonished.
"Does this mean we have to join the church now?” asked Gwenna.
“No. No, but…” Ben tried to say, but the mercenaries immediately left.