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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Whizbang Dustyboots" data-source="post: 3440560" data-attributes="member: 11760">Bufer smiles as he watches Katadid rush back and forth, compulsively counting the tombstones. Though he'd never admit it out loud, he's secretly relieved to have a friend close at hand. One who won't cut and run on him at the first available opportunity, at any rate."You get more converts with honey than a mace to the head," he says with a knowing grin, without taking his eyes off of Leach. "You make a tempting offer, Mister Wizard, sir. The opportunity to learn the secrets of the kobolds in the Black Tower, a chance to apply my considerable training towards matters of intrigue an' secrecy, an' come out the other side a hero. Throw in Heda Littlelark in a charitable mood, or possibly a blindfold, an' it'd be everythin' I've ever wanted out of life. But there's just one thing that bothers me..."Bufer fixes Khenemet-Apep with a look and jerks a thumb over his shoulder."Kem here's many things, sir, but 'selfless' and 'heroic' ain't even in his vocabulary. The only way he'd even consider an undertakin' as you've described would be if someone paid him a right goodly sum, and even then, I believe he'd be apt to take the money an' run." He glances over his shoulder at Renraw. "No offense."Bufer turns back to the olive-skinned wizard with a cocked eyebrow."So if you don't mind, sir, I do believe we'll go with your original suggestion, an' find ourselves a body capable of conjuring a zone of truth. I reckon the constable is the body to see. What say we all go find 'im together, bein' sure to keep all our hands where everyone else can see 'em, right genial-like?"Khenemet-Apep leans down, smiling, and murmurs quietly in Bufer's ear."Certainly. But dear gnome, don't think for a moment I ever intended to harm you. If I had, you'd already be dead, as well as these other two here." He straightens back up, snapping his fingers at his cat, who is digging at a hole beneath a nearby tree, attempting to pull some small animal from its den. "The constable it is. I've got a cold in my bones from sitting in this graveyard, and the cold gives me the piles."Renraw claps his hands together in a mixture of delight and relief as the trio begin heading back towards the festivities, leaving Katadid to catch up after he finishes his count."Oh, that's the spirit, Bufer! I knew you'd do the right thing."Bufer nearly stumbles, Renraw telling him he's done the right thing now giving him second thoughts. Shaking his head, he looks over his shoulder."We're off to find the constable, Kat!" he shouts to the white-haired wizard. Then, as an afterthought, he adds: "Find as many of the other roughnecks as you can, and ask 'em to meet us there!"Katadid looks up and nods his assent and goes back to counting."Wizards," Bufer sighs.* * *Back in the graveyard, Katadid counts rapidly, using outstretched fingers to count two tombstones at a time."Seventy-seven, seventy-eight, seventy-nine!"He closes his eyes and lets out a ragged breath. Now able to think more clearly, he looks over the tombstones toward the bustling town square. The muddy ground has been well torn up by the drunken dwarven brawl, so the townspeople now find their feet slurping with every step as they avoid freshly worn grooves caused by cracked skulls and stiff beards. Kat scans the crowd for Khenemet-Apep's olive skin tone, but finds nothing. He looks toward the Maiden's Bridge in case the group began walking across it to the warden's house, but either they haven't gotten there yet or had already crossed. Kat bites his lip in frustration. The town square is buzzing with the familiar hum of excitement before the Frost's Leaving music contest, and the crowd is clinging together, leaving little room to see anyone inside it.Katadid squeaks with excitement when he spots Hazel Sawyer on the outskirts of the crowd, muttering and dragging her sullen brother in tow. Katadid from out of the graveyard to the ranger, arriving panting and out of breath."Them ... the gnome and ... the Wormy wizards ... they're ... Where's the constable? They said that. And so do I. Since ... well, that's where they ..."Almost without realizing it, Kat's hand shoves the crumpled letter in one pocket while he reaches into his other pocket to pull out a neatly folded piece of parchment. He hand it to Hazel, who recognizes it as a graded worksheet from her Draconic lessons. Judging from the red ink that has bled through, she missed more than half of the questions again."Yes, terrible," he says, following Hazel's gaze to her homework. "Oh. And now you're a roughneck."</blockquote>

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