NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Haraash Saan" data-source="post: 5090621" data-attributes="member: 46615">He spied me and strode purposefully to my seat, caring not a jot for the attention that he drew to himself.   “Gerard!” he hissed.   Inwardly I shuddered. Why was it that my companions continued to use my given name when they addressed me? “Sir Gerard” or “Sir d’Montfort” was how they should have addressed me. Even “d’Monfort” offered some sort of respect. But what should I expect from peasants that have become too personally familiar with their betters?    “We gotta get out o’ere.” He continued, to addled to notice my discomfort at his frankness in a public room. “Those assassins is after us!”    I smiled to the small crowd that had been hanging on my every word and politely excused myself and my companion and I ushered him upstairs toward my room. As he tramped up the stair case he kept trying to utter similar statements, each time I hushed him with a stern look and raised finger to my lips.    In my room, I sat him down and attempted to stop his incoherent blathering. Now that I could pay him due attention I could see that he was having one of his worse episodes. He was twitching and his hands kept wiping his clammy face.     His eyes danced on his face until a firm slap across his cheek managed to settle him enough to make sense out of him.     He had overheard a conversation between some rather nefarious and well know ne’er-do-wells that the “Hydra was going to get what it had coming to them.”  And that the Daregushi was going to get his vengeance on spoiling his banquet plans.    Even as Moxadder said the name “Daregushi” he shuddered and started to convulse with fear. I could get no more from him so instructed him to wait there whilst I assembled the others.    I was not particularly worried. After all why would we expect any retribution for our actions at the banquet some two weeks after the event. Surely it would have already come? In any case the others needed to be told.    At my request the barkeep organised some boys to find my companions and bid them to return to the inn.    Eventually, after some hours, we had all gathered in my now quite cramped quarters. A quick discussion was held and it was decided that we best depart the city for safer climes. Personally I did not feel the need, but we were a company together and they were lost without my leadership. I could not abandon them.     As I had intended to visit Montfort, especially after my knighting and discussions with Isabella about the encroaching barbarians, I decided that we would make our way there. Everyone had unfinished business, even the flighty Moxadder, to attend so I decreed that we would leave the next evening.     Ship’s Cat, fully recovered and very much our friend, was asked to find us a berth on a ship that could take us to the river mouth. A journey by sea would take days off the overland journey.    I chose to spend my last evening with Melinda as blissfully as possible, deciding that telling her of my imminent departure could wait for the next day under more appropriate circumstances.    In the morning I bought what provisions I needed, informed Freydis of our plans and organised a delightful picnic lunch for Melinda and I. A few silver sickles to the barkeep saw him allow her the afternoon for herself.     Pleasantly surprised, and not at all suspicious, she gladly skipped up ahead of me as I lugged the feast behind her. I had chosen a lovely spot in one of the olive groves that overlooked the sprawling chaos that was Halfast.     After we had eaten, and a rolled in the grass beneath the silver green leaves, we sat quietly for a time.    Melinda’s soft and loving voice asked the obvious question. “Why did you bring me here? What is so special about today?”    I knew it would come. Her early enthusiasm had only delayed the questions that she had asked.     In all honesty I fought myself for the right response. One part of me wanted to ignore the intent of the afternoon and leave the day unspoilt, but the other part knew that I did not want to leave her that way. I did greatly care for the girl. No doubt she was a magnificent tumble, but she also was someone I could have a conversation with. Someone that I felt comfortable sharing my thoughts with. And someone whose thoughts and dreams I wanted to listen to.    I rose to my knees and knelt above her. Clasping her hands I said, "My dearest. I have been called away to my lands Montfort. There is unrest there and I must quash it. Whilst I do not wish to leave I must. Duty and obligation call me."    A small gasp escaped her lips and tears welled in her eyes. "But you can take me with you, can't you?" she whispered, choking back the tears.    “I most dearly wish to but alas I fear that the journey is far too dangerous to risk you my fair one.” I replied with all sincerity, “I would never forgive myself if something happened to you on such a perilous adventure.”    And it was true. I did want to take her with me, but the open road in High Summer is no place for a city woman to travel.    “And who will look after me if you’re gone?” her response gilded with the anger that began to well within her.    “You will not have to worry about that my beautiful one. I have some funds that will keep you well and I will endeavour to send more when I can.” I said.    “But even though I want to I cannot stay.” I added as I looked deeply into her eyes.    She turned from my stare, and we sat silent once more for a time, there was nothing more I could say. I lay back on the grass, closed my eyes and reflected on the wonderful times we shared.    After perhaps ten minutes it was my turn to release a gasp. This time it was because Melinda had leapt upon me! My eyes flickered open and I feared the worst, but instead I saw her grinning wickedly.    “I’ll wait for you Sir Gerard d’Montfort, but if you don’t return I’ll come looking for you!” she hissed in mock anger before launching herself passionately onto me.    The sun was low in the sky as we trundled back down the hill and through the gates of the city. We said our farewell in my room. I could hear Melinda’s soft sobs as I closed the door and headed to the harbour.    The sun had set when I arrived at the dock. My comrades were already gathered, even the strangely sober Moxadder, and waited to board the ship. With us were Freydis, who had accepted my offer as escort on her return journey to Montfort and Ship’s Cat who sought to put recent events behind her and start out afresh.</blockquote>

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