Jovik sits quietly in the corner, his chair tilted back, feet on the table. He is tossing Erylrium's dagger absently in the air with one hand while drinking his ale with the other, occaisonally switching hands.
"I agree, once Hemlock gets back we need to take the fight to the goblins, slow down the attack at least to let the people here put up better defenses, or let reinforcements arrive, if any get sent."
"Which I doubt" replies Jovik bitterly after a hearty swig.
With a sudden crash, his chair legs hit the ground. "I need some fresh air. See you guys in the morning." And Jovik heads out by a backdoor into the night.
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Jovik heads out into the cool night. This had always been his time, the time, the time that obscured his activities, the time when he found freedom. Now though, the events of the last few days had sullied the night. Jovik walks a bit looking up at the stars enjoying the cool evening breeze, relishing the quiet. The last few days had been harder on the young man than he had let on. In the heat of battle, it was kill or be killed, and instinct took over. Joivk had always trusted his instincts. He was proud of the gfact that he had not only lived but been of such an asset in battle as to draw the praise of a Shoanti warrior. Still though, this was far beyond stealing a few apples or even hiding cash from the town guards. This was life and death. Not only that now he was the one with responsibility, he was the one who had to protect the village, and his home, his family. He had always run from responsibility and here it had crept up on him. He didn't want it, but yet wouldn't run from it. Too much of his grandfather most likely. Still he hated it, and hated the goblins for forcing it on him.
As he wandered in the evening, he came to think about the goblins. He never thought about goblins when he was about in the dark before, ignorance was bliss. Now that he knew the goblins were about, he wasn't afraid, he almost wished they would show up. He came across Farmer Kulian's fence. For old time's sake he hopped the fence and picked a few apples, until the dogs started barking. Jovik made his way back into the village proper eating his small prize, a salve almost to his soul to have stolen something. Not knowing where his feet were going Joivk avoided the main streets. No one was really about, they weren't out late with the goblins around.
Jovik found himself suddenly standing in front of his house. He hadn't planned on coming here, but since he didn't know where he was going, his feet fell bac to old habits. He sat down on a rock watching as he finished the last of the apples. He sighs, stands and heads to the door and quietly knocks. As if he didn't even live there anymore. Actually he didn't he remembered with a small smile. His mother tenitively cracked open the door and when she saw Jovik embraced him in a crushing hug the simultaneously dragged him in. He was ready for the hug this time, and as she hugged and cried Jovik quietly slipped several gold coins into her pocket so well Mom didn't even know. Mom was crying and saying how she feared every knock would be the constables bringin word of his death and how she was glad to know he was alive een though she had heard we all come back, she didn't believe it, ut know she had seen him and on and on. He commotion drew the rest of the family. His brother came in and started ribbing the 'family's new warrior' and asking hundreds of questions. Then Father walked into the room and silence fell like the sea fog. A heartbeat or a hundred went by. Then Father said, "Why don't you stay for a drink?"
Jovik, braced for the worst, smiled just slightly at this enourmous gesture on his father's part. "Sure, for a bit" he replied. Instantly his mother was a whirlwind of activity brewing tea and finding some small cakes as the men sat by the fire. Father didn't say anything else and Jovik was forced to related a bit of the events of the last few days, though it was glossed over in many areas keeping the Mayor's request in mind. After a bit though Jovik stood and said "I need to get going, I've had a long day" and despite his mother's protests headed towrds the door. He stopped as he stood there and turned to his father. "I've followed you instuctions so far" he says recalling his father's plead to not get himself killed. "I think Gramps would be glad to know" he says patting his belt where Goblin Hook was. A secret, Joivk had kept so many from his father and now he shared one with him.
With that Jovik stepped out and closed the door before his mother could get ahold of him again.
Back in the cool night air, Jovik walked a bit more until he came to the Hagfish. It was a bit less merry than after the first Goblin fight, but still he had many mates there and they know knew him not only as Jovik, but as a local hero. Someone was always ready to buy him a beer that evening and he even won a little at cards. He awoke the next morning in one of the room, Jesina, one of the barmaid whom he'd always had a crush on next to him, and a heck of a hang over. He stumbled out of the room and out into the morning sun. A sun he now almost hated, not only because it made it his head hurt, but it made the town brighter, and he saw more clearly the ravages of the goblins, the night concealed such blemishes. Sandpoint, the town he loathed and couldn't wait to leave a fortnight ago, now held some small value to him, even if it was childhood memories, and he hated to see it harmed.
OOC: Sorry Hew, I got carried away. Figured I make up for not posting so much of late with one big post.
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