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Message: <blockquote data-quote="MarauderX" data-source="post: 1520153" data-attributes="member: 9990">3Vance had greeted Martee by name as he approached, and instantly the man’s face became red.  He raised his chin and folded his arms as he looked at Vance sidelong.   “Well?” Martee said.“I would like to ask another favor of you,” said Vance, “one in which you will be paid in full as well as make up any difference that I overlooked last time.”“It sounds good, but I’ll have to ask you to pay up front this time.” he said.  “Fine, here is the gold” said Vance as he held purse open to show the few gold coins inside.  “Good.  More bread?” asked Martee.  “That and I need you to find me a horse or two,” said Vance, “as well as some dried fruit and cured meats to last a few weeks for half a score of hefty men.”Martee picked up the gold pieces from the pouch on the worn table.“It sounds like you aren’t going to by for a while,” he said, “going somewhere special?”“We hope.  When do you think you can get everything for me?” said Vance.“Well, the food’s not a problem, see, as the trade store probably has enough and then some.  The problem is the horses,” he said, “they are gonna be a little bit more than what you got here.”“Check the bottom of the pouch.” said the elf.  Martee scrounged through the pouch and produced two small emeralds, each of equal weight and precisely cut.“These are elven make, right?” said the grinning man.“Am I not an elf?  Trade them to get the horses if you need to.” Vance said.Martee looked up and nodded.  “Martee, I trust you to get the most you can with those.  Please don’t do anything…human…” said Vance, smiling.“Right...and I know you’ll remember too, being a full elf and all.” said Martee.  Turning on his heel, Vance walked toward the other side of the room.  His normally light hair was oily from not bathing in a week and was nearly the same shade as his worn black cape.  He saw now what he had heard in Martee’s voice.  The man had already acted in a ‘human’ fashion; several armed men acting as the local policing militia sauntered from the town square, and were looking straight at the bakers shop.  Vance glanced at Martee and swung around to find another exit.  “I’m sorry I told them now, you have to believe I never thought you would come back.”Martee opened the half door to the back and tipped his head for Vance to go out the back door.  Martee said softer, “meet me after dusk, out at the grove of trees on the hill, where the children play.  I’ll see what I can do for you.”  Vance looked out the back door and turned to face Martee, and with a quick nod of thanks Vance dipped out of sight behind the next home where he spied on the guards as they entered Martee’s bakery.  Guiding his horse quietly away, Vance trotted by the grove of trees Martee had mentioned.  He crested the hill and dismounted out of sight of the town and watched several children play on the trees as he sat in the tall grass.  Nightfall came, and it was much later than dusk when Martee finally showed, his two donkeys loaded with supplies.  He stopped once he can near the largest of the trees and looked around.  Vance purposefully crunched loudly towards him and the man looked pleased to see him.  “Here you are, Master Vance.  The donkeys are yours too, if you want them, since I couldn’t get but a week’s worth of jerky for you, though I made up for it with some sticks of bread that will last just as long.” said Martee.  “Thank you,” said Vance, “I cannot tell you how glad that makes me.  Please take the last of my gold for your donkeys, it’s the least I can do, my friend.”Martee took the small cloth pouch with only a handful of coins within it.  Smiling, Martee grabbed the elf by the shoulder and shook him pleasantly.  They heard more footsteps behind them, and Amena and Lalyer appeared behind Vance.  Martee pointed with his thumb, “Well, I suppose I better be getting back, before the wife beats my head for being gone.  Take care, I’ll see you soon.”Vance and the others led the donkeys through the night, with Vance leading and Amena in the rear, just behind the second donkey.  Just when they were starting to see the stars of the night disappear into day, one of the donkeys stumbled and collapsed.  Hopping off of their tired horses, they discovered it had stepped into a hole and sprained its leg.  They unloaded everything from the animal and decided to rest for an hour before proceeding on foot, letting their horses share the burden of the supplies.  With the donkey slowing them down, they finally made it to the overgrown apple trees by mid-afternoon.  As before, no Halflings greeted them now, and Argus and Griver probably wouldn’t show any fanfare at their arrival.  Vance could sense something was not right.  He was quiet and led his horse on, talking himself into an uneasy comfort as he watched the village ahead.  Across the muddy open square Vance focused on an unusual silhouette against the afternoon sun.   Another five steps closer and Vance leapt from his horse to charge towards the village, leaving his burdened horse behind.  He had realized that he was looking at a figure of some type lying face down in the mud between two Halfling houses.  Amena was the first realize Vance had drawn his sword and was holding it discreetly behind him as he raced forward.  She yanked her bow up and struggled to string it while riding the horse, and glanced up to follow Vance.  Vance dashed into the open yard looking for more signs of battle and seeing a few downed bugbears ran to one to inspect its condition.  It had been stripped of anything of value and looked several days old.  Examining the wound Vance recognized the angle and cut to be from Griver’s axe.  Vance’s back straightened and he sheathed his sword, realizing the threat was long gone.  Scanning the area for his friends now, he turned to face Lalyer and Amena as they approached, and Vance explained what had happened.  Unstringing her bow Amena cursed and kicked the rigid bugbear body.</blockquote>

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