Lurbe and I will clash slightly on our views of how we met our loyal henchies. Nevertheless, we pick up from "Cauterization" (go back and read it if you really don't remember).

How Klaos and Pai Failed at Gathering a Party
(Part One of Pix's Henchie Series)

To the mild shock of the merchants and craftspeople scattered about the harbor-town, the two people who limped pathetically through the gates from Jaya Bluffs – the dark one practically carrying the other, who looked as if she were about to faint, on his shoulder while he himself seemed to be suffering from a great number of open wounds – did not stop for aid at the monk station, nor did they retreat to the inn for what looked like some much needed relaxation.

Instead, the girl in purple was rather carelessly deposited into a clump of chairs surrounding a table that had been put out because it was hot outside, and Seitung was not prided for its superior circulation of air. The traffic around them made certain to cut them a wide berth when treated to the overwhelming stench of blood, Sensali intestines, and, for some strange reason, burning flesh.

It was a while before either of them spoke. When they did, whatever they said was unintelligible to passersby – the dark one because he was speaking another language, and the one in purple because she simply could not be bothered to form actual words.

"Klaos," the girl finally began, making a lackluster attempt at waving the unpleasant perfume from her armor, "I'm tired of getting beaten within an inch of my life every time we run into some Crimson Skull."

Klaos said something that sounded vaguely like "Mea etiam." Pai groaned in response, not looking forward to expending the energy to decipher things quite so late in the afternoon.

"I know you said no to that whole idea about getting someone else to come with us. But I really think we should consider it… I mean, Lukas might be an ass and a blithering idiot, but you have to admit, he would make a perfectly grand meat shield."

As Klaos gave her a dubious stare, she continued earnestly. "And – and what about Aeson? Sure, he's blind as a bat. But I'm sure he's got a wonderful personality. And I know you hate Taya because of that incident with the chicken feet in the mess hall, but you two can get over it, right?"

"Nous n'avons pas besoin d'un plus grande equipe des personnes," Klaos said flatly, "parce qu'ils toujours nous mettront a mort quoi qu'il en soit!"

"Klaos, please speak the language. I'm not in the mood right now."

The assassin scowled and didn't comply, and Pai gave a world-weary sigh. "You know, it wouldn't be entirely unwelcome to swallow our pride once in a while. You must get tired of this running-away thing sometime."

Klaos decided to pursue another course of protest.

"Si nous enrôlons plus des personnes," he reasoned, "nous devrons les payer."

"Well, of course we'll have to pay them. But frankly, don't you think the reward for actually completing a task once in a while might outweigh the cost of paying some traveling companions? Come now. We went through this already."

"Peut-être," Klaos conceded moodily, and as he rubbed his eyes, "Maybe."

He turned one more suspicious glare to Pai. "But we are not inviting Taya or Lukas or Aeson. Or Mai. Or what's-his-name. That bloke who's always having a fit of glee or summat. Yuun."

Exasperatedly, Pai began to claw at her eyes. "Klaos! They're the only other students who are even here in Seitung!"

"Non illos amo," Klaos persisted, "et je sais que tu ne les aimes pas aussi."

"No. You're right. I hate them too." Pai pondered for a moment. "What about Kisai? You don't hate her, right?"

"Vere," Klaos deigned, "elle n'est pas trop terrible."

"Good! Then she can come along. I'll go get her now!"

Pai tried in her over-enthusiasm to get up, and realized too late that her legs were still not working properly. Klaos spared her a bemused glance as she toppled from the chair to the floor with a yelp, weighed her chances of getting back into the chair without further injury, and consequently decided to remain on the ground until the sensation returned to her calves.

"Erm… maybe later, then."

Klaos appeared not to care very much. He shrugged, leaned back, and fell asleep.