It was night when they arrived back at Alterna. They stood facing the housing across Brewary's lodgings. It was upscale, sterile and sounded joyful. There was a guard at the door. 2 sweaty, hungry and tired men with muddy knees weren't going to be let in. Jakson tapped Roland's arm and pointed to a nearby stall.
"Buy flower", he said, pointing at a nearby stall.
"What, why?"
"Ask nicely, explain, say 'please', give flower."
"If I'm buying a flower, you're buying a flower", Roland said. Jakson shrugged.
"Goblin money pay for flower". He pointed up, where some men were leaning against the veranda railings, drinking and talking. They wore red.
"They wear red. Buy red flower". They bought the middle priced ones then turned and approached the door.
"Excuse us. We're looking for Brewary. We're sorry to come at this time but there's no avoiding the urgency of the situation, if you could let us in? We'll be out before you know it". Oh man, his lips are red. The guard sniffed in contempt before another voice from the veranda said;
"Let them in, Bobo sweetie. How could they possibly have figured out the night's theme?" He stood aside and they entered, greeted by another in red clothes with puffy arms and white powder on his face. He took the flowers and arranged them in a bouquet nearby. From the looks of it, there were cheaper flowers there. Guess Jakson's drinks are on me tonight.
"Oh my, 2 strong men, fresh from the fight, coming with flowers. Hunting was good I assume?". The man did not wait for them to answer before handing them wine.
"Little pick-me-up. Oh dear, you do pull that bow, don't you?". He was feeling Roland's arms. Play along... just play along...
"Need to keep the darts off Brewary while he fights", answered Roland, an answer that pleased the man.
"And that's why you're Honey and Sugar, such reliable men". He laughed at their reaction, then ushered them on.
"Do be gentle, Brewary had a fight and some very mean things were said to him, and he's ever so sad". They found him on a long couch, his head resting against the bare chest of another man. His hair was being stroked. Oh hell no, he's faking it. He's enjoying the attention. Seeing the two, Brewary cheered up and so did the few around him.
"Honey, Sugar. Look at you. Oh, poor things. Did you find a way in? Feed the poor things will you?", he said to an attendant. He sat and sipped wine while Roland and Jakson told him what they found. The dinner and wine they had would've cost at least a silver per meal. Jakson filled both skins with wine before leaving.
"What about Demit, we need to tell her too."
"Well then tie a note to one of those pretty arrows of yours and fire it through her window."
Demit's lodgings were downright impossible to enter because they were males. In the end, they stopped a passing Priest and asked for help. She was quite good looking with blue eyes and hair. The only problem was she didn't have the kind of… kindness… that Priests had. Even Demit with all her cussing had this look that she was one of the good guys. This priest had a poker-straight, unsmiling face that had its own kind of sad beauty under the red moon. Still, she didn't seem a bad person when she led them to the veranda, said 'Wait here' and left. She ignored Roland's repeated 'thank you' and 'sorry for disturbing'. An angry matron's head poked out from behind curtains and kept an eye on them. Demit finally arrived, carrying a small bag.
"Fuck you motherfuckers doing, sending PTSD Mary at my ass for?", She said it carefully, looking around for Mary. Jakson was amused.
"Mary is pretty woman."
"We did not know that was Mary. C'mon man, long day."
"So tell me I'm right. We're heading to Cyrene Mines and dragging Deathspots's ass down here as proof."
"No, Jakson found a way into New City-"
"How? Place's a fucking fortress. That's how they keep the ghetto goblins out."
"Wai- You didn't bother to mention this to us? We were sneaking around Old City avoiding patrols like Team Manato", answered Roland. Jakson nodded in agreement.
"How can you not know, soldier? If you set up base, you set up where it's most defensible, with overwatch and overlapping fields of fire. You entrench, you set perimeter patrols and you control the region". Roland held up his hands.
"Alright, alright, ju-just… , what the hell's going on?", asked Roland. Demit was still fuming.
"Okay. Okay. Just pissed off is all. You told him yet?"
"Yea."
"How'd you get in?"
"We asked."
"Seriously?"
"Yea. We just asked and they let us in". They weren't going to tell the full story.
"Motherfucker. I came back to make him understand why we should go to the Mines but faggot den won't let me in". Now it was her turn to raise her hands at their reaction.
"Alright, alright. Sorry". She opened the bag. There were some cheese, nuts and bread wrapped in cloth. Jakson handed over a drinking skin and they shared a small meal.
"This came from over there?", asked Demit. It was good wine. Jakson nodded. Roland took that chance to tell what they found out that day. The 2 who did the scouting shared the same opinion that it was feasible. Plus, it's very likely that the New City Goblins could yield more loot.
"One week, maybe 2 or longer, then we get better gear, hit the Guilds and go straight for the Orcs. Sounds good?"
"Yea whatever. Fuck it."
"You're still Fireteam Alpha leader, you know? We're just not the kind that will simply agree to walk into any kind of fight", explained Roland. Demit just nodded, muttering something about 'pussies'.
"Want to talk about it?". Jakson looked like he'd rather just leave but Roland gently nudged his knee under the table. Demit talked for about an hour about what happened. It was from her point of view, but they had an inkling of the exchange. Roland was glad they didn't come to blows. Demit would never have won and Roland would never want to be on the same team as a team-killer. She looked better as they bade each other good night.
"Chuvak, why poke sleeping bear?", asked Jakson.
"Call me crazy, but I think… in the life I had before coming to Grimgar… I had a girlfriend. She always cheered up if I just let her talk". Jakson did not reply, so Roland asked;
"Do you ever think of what you were like before all this?"
"Da. Remember little sister, maybe brother. Not remember name, only calling 'Cheburashka'. Remember friends. Not remember face, but remember drinking."
"C'mon, let the rest of the goblin money pay for more Kvass before the markets close. No way we're letting them have coin after all the trouble we went through". Yes. Jakson would like to make more Kvass.
"What's a 'chuvak'?"
"What you say when talk to friend."
"What's a 'droog'?"
"Also friend".
Roughly put, rye bread is charred slightly and left in hot water for hours with sweet things like dried fruit and raisins. When it has cooled to warm, it is strained with a cheese cloth and yeast is added with more sweet things. Once it has properly cooled, it is strained for the last time, barrel tightly sealed and left in a cellar for 2 days.
Something like that. Roland was too tired to try and remember anything.