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The BloodVaine EpicChapter 65: Feasts And Feuds
Green Fox was sitting under a tree surrounded by charred tree stumps, cursing. He had been found by the Forestmen camp guards, but they didn't recognize him, thankfully. He assumed the boats were now long gone. He recalled the stories of Dirk Do-Good, his childhood hero, and his fantastic disguises. He never was caught and thrown into a river. He managed to retrieve half of his money from the fast-flowing river, but lost his newest knife and Bjarn’s hat. It was probably in the sea now. His thoughts were broken by a badger running out from under a pile of leaves. He charged after it, very hungry, and threw a stick at it. It missed by a good yard.
“MEGABLOKS!”
Then it hit him.
“If Drullen Bell is empty, because everyone is gone in a hurry, the food must still be there…”
He sprinted up to a side door and entered. The corridors were deserted. Signs on the wall directed him to a door marked Kitchen. Beside was a set of heavy oak doors marked Great Hall.
The kitchen was empty, but there was evidence that a large meal had been cooked only a few minutes earlier.
“So…it must be in the Great hall…”
He flung the doors open and shouted, “WOO-HOOOOO!”
All the persons dining in the hall turned to the doors. Green Fox had inadvertently walked into a feast celebrating the return of the Bulls.
Bjarn slammed his fist on the table and stood up but Voolmark instantly shot out his hand and restrained Bjarn.
The old man hissed, “Ones who let the past prevail over the present ruins their future, and the future of others.”
Bjarn hesitated. Jack seized the opportunity and jumped forward to shake hands with Green Fox, putting on a semi-false smile.
“Foxy! Brix and Blox, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you!”
Green Fox smiled weakly, still extremely nervous under Bjarn’s glare. He glanced about, people were beginning to return to their meals, and it looked like no guards were advancing to take him away, so he relaxed slightly.
“Ah...Jack...ol’ pal…”
He faltered. Bjarn was approaching. Green Fox attempted to run, but Jack still held him in a iron grip. Bjarn stared coolly at Green Fox for a moment, and then he forced a grin and said through clenched teeth in a loud voice.
“So glad to see you escaped the fire. If you are hungry, feel free to eat. Accommodations will be provided tonight.”
Bjarn left, his fists clench, fingernails digging into his flesh. Jack moved Green Fox away and pressed food upon him, seating him as far away from Bjarn as possible. When Bjarn sat down again, Voolmark leaned over and said, “It’s a start.”
Bjarn said nothing.
Sitting all but alone by the fire’s edge, Green Fox tore hungrily into a leg of mutton and chortled at Jack.
“Smmph...s’good to see you again, Jack. You’re just the man I need....chomp…”
“Aye? And how’s that?”
Green Fox swigged down a tankard of ale and gestured towards Jack with the empty vessel, scattering droplets that hissed and crackled among the flames.
“You were always a dab hand with a lockpick, Craft. And cat-footed, when you tried. And with most of the Forestmen gone…”
He trailed off meaningfully and tucked into a meat-pie. Jack’s eyes narrowed.
“Aye, so you want Jack to help you rob the place, is that it? Brix and Blox, you really are as big a fool as everyone says.”
Green Fox was just tipsy enough to be impervious to offence.
“Huh...and who was it who came to me from the Hewbridge guild, wanting to be a master thief? You were a second rate pickpocket when I took you in hand.”
“Master thief. Feh. You’re about as much of a master thief as you are a gilded war-horse. And I learned quickly enough that Bjarn made a better friend than victim. And here we are ten years on and you still haven’t figured that out.”
“So you won’t help me?”
“Aye, Jack’ll help you all right. I’ll be watching you so closely your shadow’ll be jealous. And if so much as a copper goes missing while you’re under Bjarn’s roof, I’ll be the one to clap irons on you.”
“You’ve changed, Jack. When you worked with me as a cracksman, you used to love to talk about robbing the Lords and Ladies blind. Why, when you were a highwayman…”
“I was a young fool who knew no better. Bjarn was good to me. He would have been good to you, if you gave him half a chance -- still might be, though the Fates know you don’t deserve it at this point. But Bjarn always was the forgiving type. Aye, Jack’s been a thief before, and might well be again, before all’s said and done, but he’ll not steal from a friend.”
Jack stood and leaned in closer to the Fox, his voice sharp enough to etch glass.
“There’s a war on, Fox. And some of these folk -- aye, and Jack himself -- might not survive the weeks to come. Still, we’re going to do what we can to keep a whole lot more folks from dying...or worse...and if you can’t get it though your booze-addled head to be of some use, then at least try not to make things worse, eh?”
Turning back towards the main table, Jack walked away and left Green Fox alone with his thoughts.
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