The Wooden Shekel stands by the bar, instead of his usual favorite corner booth, garbed in his 'working clothes'. He constantly glances over his shoulder, shifting from side to side uncomfortably. The lizard tries to ignore the fear of having a vulnerable back, focusing on the barkeeper, and indicating a scrap of parchment in one scaly paw.

"Hey-o, Camden. I'd ask how business is, but I don't want to depress anyone," hisses Bambridge. "What's the word out on the street lately? Anything good?"

Door Camden, the large, but mostly wide Kattha looks back at the Shiga. Door looks around at the present clientele, mostly Skreeks and Kavis, then lazily answers the lizard. "Everyone is lying low, the Diamond Lance has been overflying a little too much. Covering up. Achimed's was burned, and there have been some other things that the 'protection' money doesn't seem to stop."

Momentarily distracted by something in the corner, the Kattha slowly reaches under the bar. Seeing the problem 'settle' itself, he again faces the hooded figure in front of him. "You got anything I should know?"

The Wooden Shekel shakes his head, and hunches over the bar, only his snout visible beneath his cowl. "Buggerall. As if things weren't hairy enough, eh? Gimme a glass of rotgut, I don't care what it is tonight. Not much to know from my end. I was actually thinking you could help me out with something, old chum." He unfolds his parchment, squinting at a name on the list.

"I'm looking for a spotgrunt, name of Corpselicker," hisses Bambridge, his muzzle twisting a bit at the name.

Door reaches for a glass, putting it on the bartop then filling it halfway with a dark murky liquid. He puts the bottle back on the shelf behind him. At no point during the process does he fully turn his back on the room. "That's one shekel," the patched Kattha says, and then he finally looks at the piece of paper.

"Corpselicker huh? Well you'll see him soon enough." Door stamps loudly on the floor.

A heavily-cloaked figure comes in from the street and glances around, then begins to weave its way around tables as it heads for the bar.

There is a brief Skeek-like squeak which is actually a concealed trap door opening. A very bedraggled Savanite stands in front of the bar, bowing several times to Door.

Next to Bambridge, a heavily liquor smelling Rhian raises his head from a booze induced slumber. He looks around sleepy eyed, and his gaze comes to rest on the Wooden Shekel.

The reptile lays a ceramic coin on the scarred countertop, then lays a pair of tenners by it. "Right, good. The one's for the drink, the twenty's for the info, and a little bit in return. Let word go that the Wooden Shekel's in the clear for 'jobs' again. His queue's freed up, know what I mean?" The reptile takes his glass, then nearly drops it as he spies the Savanite.

The wide Kattha just points in the corner, where all but one customer have left the table. The remaining Kavi will be taking the back door out tonight. "There, Corpselicker."

The Rhian pushes his face closer to Bambridge, "You look familiar… "

The cloaked figure finally reaches the bar and takes the first available seat, sitting sideways so it can watch the room as well from under a wide hat-brim.

"Right, got it." Door makes the coins disappear faster than most people blink.

The Savanite bows and without even glancing at the bartender Kattha literally sprints across the room. Corpselicker also gives the hunched cloaked stranger a wide berth. Once at the corner he rolls the Kavi out of the cubicle, and quickly wipes it down with a dirty rag; Once he has finished that task, he starts searching the body.

"Everyone looks the same when your eyes are full of watery ale," rasps the irritated lizard. Another ceramic coin is laid on the counter. "Door, another ale for the Rhian, and give it a little kick." One yellowish slit beneath the Shiga's cowl vanishes for a split second.

The Rhian's brow creases, and his face becomes annoyed, "Yeah, I know you. You're Lizo Rumbar. You owe me money, and its more than a shekel… "

Door just casually pours a drink for the Rhian, and sets it down in front of him. He's found it wise not to get involved in customer's business.

The cloaked figure, on the other hand, seems to focus on the Shiga and the Rhian. A hint of white muzzle is visible beneath the shadowed hat.

{ Oh, perfect. } "Listen, mac, Rumbar's brown. I'm green, see? Old Lizo bought it when he set foot out of Darkside, and a Quarter's Cricket knocked his block off." The Wooden Shekel lets his hood slip back a little, exposing more of his nose. "Why dontcha drink up? Everything's a little rosier with a pint of stout, eh?"

Corpselicker finishes searching the body. The Skreeks left nothing of interest except a knife that he quickly puts on the bar. Nervously brushing his hands against his dark clothes, and then licking them, the Savanite returns to the Kavi, and drags the body towards the back door.

The Rhian eyes the drink, grabs it, and downs it with one gulp. He slams the glass back on the counter and returns his hazy gaze to the lizard. "Nobody goes back on a bet with me!" He jumps up from his stool, knocking it to the floor, "Pay up, or I'll have some scaly boots for sale!" He wobbles a bit on his hooves.

Unsure if what she's witnessing is criminal interaction instead of plain drunkenness, the heavily disguised Aeolun turns on her seat to get a better view. Just in case.

"Hey you!" Someone calls from one of the shadowy tables, "Yeh, you turning there. Come drink with us."

Bambridge edges back a little bit, holding his paws out in front of him. "Easy, big fella! No need to get jumpy! How much did you lose?" The lizard eyes the forgotten knife on the bar…

Door just lounges casually against the wall. The glasses need cleaning, but he's not about to polish them, that's a customer's job. He waits for an order, and otherwise just keeps one paw held low by his side.

The Rhian, still a bit wobbly, glares down at the Shiga, "Thirty Five shekels! Pay up!" He looks severely agitated.

Envoy turns towards the voice, and considers her answer carefully. In keeping with her promise to think about the consequences of her actions, the Exile spent considerable time choosing an appropriate voice. One that couldn't possibly be traced to her or cause trouble. "Why?" she calls back towards the unseen voice. Her chosen voice is that of the long-missing, and almost certainly unknown in Darkside, Arch Inquisitor Caesar Moffat.

"Okay, okay, okay. Kssshh, no need to be belligerent about it," sighs Bambridge. He reaches into his cloak, and offers up the sum, holding it out to the Rhian with one paw.

"Also," the Rhian continues, "we had another bet. Seventy shekels, and you ditches me on that too!" Now he looks downright angry, and also a bit more nauseated.

The Rhian clenches his fist, "Where's the rest?"

The Jupani addressing Envoy, and his two companions certainly haven't heard the voice before. They have all the markings of an airship crew, and a very scruffy kind. "Because, we want you to drink with us. Something wrong with us? Think you're better than us?"

Envoy gets up and approaches the table, now that she knows which one it was. "Alright, that sounds like a good enough reason."

The Shiga crosses his arms indignantly. "Sev-… seventy shekels? Now you're just squeezing me! But… what can I do?" Resignedly, the reptile holds out a paw. "Whoops!" A coin slips from his fingers, and lands around the Rhian's hooves.

The Jupani's tablemates are a tan coloured Gallah, and a dirty brown Vartan. "Yeh, yeh." The Gallah says as Envoy comes over; the Vartan says nothing. The Jupani watches, then asks, "Got something to hide? Take your cloak off. No one drinking with us has anything to hide, right boys? We're all friends here." The other two return grim smiles.

Taking a seat, Envoy says, "No offense, but you are not my friends yet and I don't have a mug in my hand."

the Rhian looks down at the coin blankly for a bit, then bends down shakily. "Clumsy drunk… " he mutters.

The Jupani and Gallah wear worn leathers and ragged shirts. The Vartan is more colourful, in a faded yellow blouse with black breeches. All three have wide belts, and cutlasses, and a crossbow sits beside the Vartan.

"Ohyeh, you're our friend aren't ya? Got something to hide under there. You some kind of moootant? Drink yeh… " The Jupani points at the Vartan, "You have to buy this round." The Vartan's head shakes as a reply, and the Jupani mutters, "Ohyeh, right… right, you bought last time. Yeh, your turn." He points at Envoy.

Envoy holds out a shekel and waves it at one of the waitresses. "My appearance might cause undue disturbance here. Wouldn't want to disturb anyone, afterall."

"It'll cost you more than that, honey." One of the heavily painted waitresses replies; Perhaps they serve something other than drinks.

A pink streamer flies from the Wooden Shekel's cowl, adhering to the dagger on the counter. Just as abruptly, it flies back, the weapon ending up in Bambridge's right paw.

Envoy puts away the shekel and takes out a fiver instead. "We need another 'round' here." Hopefully the waitress will know what a round is.

As the Rhian is bent over, something happens: his eyes bug out, and a low, gutteral, rumbling noise comes from within his gullet. "BLEAAAAAUUURGHHHH!" Oops, looks like a certain lizard will need new shoes…

Bambridge winces. He's not… wearing… shoes…

"Really honey, I thought you liked things alone, and you know a foursome is going to cost much more than that." The Skreek 'waitress' oozes over.

Envoy frowns under her hat. "How much more? The drinks had better be good to cost so much."

The Rhian shoots back up with shekel in hand, looking both dazed and pleased with himself at the same time. He leans on the bar and looks woozely at Bambridge. "Now, *URP*, how 'bout the rest?"

The Rhian blinks with slow realization, "What you got there?"

The Skreek snorts, "Drinks you get from the bar, you know what I have to offer." She saunters to another convenient place to pose for a different table.

Envoy hmphs. "Good help must be hard to find," she says and tosses the five-shekel coin towards the Vartan. "Why don't you go and get the drinks. I've never known a Vartan to drop a mug."

"Why, it's my cloak." There's a swift flash of gray, and Bambridge's cape is suddenly over the Rhian's head, leaving a black Shiga standing there, fingering a knife nervously. { Please don't make me use this thing… }

"Not man enough for her, huh?" The Gallah grunts at Envoy. The Vartan snaps the coin out of the air, then places it on the table. The Jupani jumps in with, "Hey, you think Mauk's a slave or something. Your round, you get them from the bar, that's how we do it."

"Looked like just your type," the Gallah comments, elbowing Envoy. He looks at her strangely. "What you got under that, you're all deformed."

"AAAAHHH! I've been struck blind!" The Rhian sways and thrashes chaotically, bumping into several of the nearby stools, "Sorcery!! By Dagh!!"

Envoy retrieves her coin, and watches the commotion at the bar. "I'll get them in a moment then. How's business?"

"What, you skeered? You a big Skeek under that cloak? Get the drinks, I'm thirsty. Friend." The Gallah growls beside Envoy.

"Should be all over by the time you get up there, if not, I'm sure a big, important sounding person like you can handle it." The Jupani adds, and the Vartan nods.

{ Nah, this isn't worth it. } Bambridge slips the Skreek knife into his harness, and instead grabs hold of an upset barstool. With a grunt, he swings it in a clumsy sweep at the Rhian, but the unwieldy bludgeon goes wild, spraying the shattered remnants of a drink glass down the countertop.

Door casually watches the liquid drip down the counter as he leans back, just out of range.

Envoy says, "Oh, alright. I'll get first pick of the shiniest bits of glass too then."

Still thrashing about, the Rhian finally realizes that he's been tricked, "By Dagh Lizo, when I get my hands on you… " he slips the cloak off, and looks around to regain his bearings.

Envoy stands up and heads towards the bar again, stepping over one of the broken stools.

"Maybe you should keep your hands to yourself!" The Wooden Shekel gives his Rhian antagonist a close look at the workmanship of his barstool with the counterswing. Smash! Splinters fly as it connects solidly with the side of the equine's head.

Giving the drunken Rhian and the Shiga a wide berth, Envoy says to the barkeep, "I'd like three mugs of your strongest drink please, and a mug of water."

"URK!" suggests the Rhian as the stool acquaints itself with his cranium. Down he goes, with a loud *slam* as the floor rises up to greet him.

The reptile nearly tips over himself with the force of the swing, grabbing onto the bar to steady himself. With a brief glance at the short wooden stick in his paw, he glances over to make sure his drinking buddy is down for the count.

For a moment, it seems that the horse is indeed out cold. But then his leg moves a little, followed by a low, slow moan, "By the First Ones… "

The barkeep nods, taking out four chitin mugs and setting up away from the commotion. He brings up a small cask wrapped around with netting to soften impacts. Uncorking it, he holds it over a mug… slowly, some black stuff starts to oooooze out of it, slower than molasses. "Wild Turkey Black, that's 20 shekels, and 1 for the water."

Envoy produces the proper amount and pays the barkeep. She can't afford another round like this, though.

"That's 20 shekels, each." Door says as Envoy places the coins on the table. Glancing in Bambridge's direction he comments, "One more chair ought to do it, Rhians are hard to put down."

Bambridge stoops to retrieve his cloak, and refastens it. "Okay, bucko… " he pants. "Had enough, or do I have to rough you up some more?"

Envoy carefully carries the mugs back to the table, two to a hand, while being extra cautious of flying bits of furniture.

The Rhian slowly begins to return to his hooves, his eyes now blood red with anger. He doesn't speak, and merely gives a furious drunken stare at Bambridge.

"Hoy, you said it, Door. Stick the damages on my tab, I'll be good for it in a day or three." The reptile hefts one more stool, and raises it over his head. "Lights out, junior!"

"JUNIOR?!" yells the Rhian, now back standing ( albiet more clumsier than before ). He gets in a charging stance, aimed at the lizard.

Envoy wonders who would name such a big Rhian 'Junior' as she passes the mugs of Wild Turkey Black to her new friends.

Crunch! One more bit of wholesale furniture meets the scrap heap with an overhead blow. Bambridge idly wonders whether Door buys this stuff for the price, the quality, or the heft…

There is another thump at the bar, Door's crossbow pointing straight at Envoy. "Sir, I said 20 shekels each, perhaps you miscounted. You have only put down 21."

Once again, down the Rhian goes, landing on a few broken stools and making quite a nasty racket as he thumps back to solid ground. This time he looks like he's out for good.

Envoy turns back towards the bar, and uses the phrase the Shiga did. "Put it on my tab."

Corpselicker appears, having misinterpreted the noise. He wisely stays out of the aim of the Crossbow.

The Vartan reaches over and picks up the water as Envoy deals with the barkeep Kattha.

The Wooden Shekel breathes a gusty sigh of relief. "Ssss… " He adjusts his hood, and looks around shiftily a couple times, then kneels by the Rhian to search the unconscious patron's pockets. The Shiga looks up at Corpselicker, and hisses, "Your job is to drag these uglies off, right? C'mere, I'll need your help."

The Rhian only makes a light breathing sound, as if he had simply went to sleep.

"Don't walk in my sights, Corpselicker." Door orders. The Savanite nods, and ducks down, crawling past. The Kattha continues to stare at Envoy, saying in a very flat voice. "I don't know you, sir. Perhaps you'd like to establish a tab before my finger twitches."

The Aeolun considers the possible outcomes of actually asking what a tab IS, then decides displaying such ignorance would not be good. Envoy approaches the bar slowly while reaching into the pocket where she keeps her coins.

Door moves back from the bar, to lean against the wall. He casually holds the crossbow pointed at Envoy in a way that suggests his isn't ready to use it, while he actually is. The Kattha watches to see what the Aeolun removes from her pockets.

Bambridge nods at the Savanite as he approaches. The reptile wipes one paw across his palm, and then traces his thumb down beneath one eye to his jaw.

At the table, the Jupani and Gallah sample the drinks, and grimace. The Vartan just smiles at the two, and sips the water.

Envoy pulls out the rest of her cash and holds her hand open to the Kattha as she comes up to the bar. "I only have seventeen with me at the moment. Can I owe you the other twenty-three?"

Corpselicker isn't looking at Bambridge, in fact the Savanite is making a pointed effort of not looking at anything the Shiga is doing while still paying enough attention to react if it is obvious the lizard wants his help. Likely this is a survival skill he learned the hard way.

"We don't do credit here. Perhaps you have something else of value, a ring, a weapon… " Door asks casually, no longer hiding his intentions with the crossbow.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you, peon." hisses the reptile firmly. He takes a moment to look over his shoulder at the scene by the bar. {Good, that poor guy is still keeping things busy… }

Envoy thinks of her amber pendant, which she would really rather not part with. "I suppose I'll have to get the money from your patrons then. Is that acceptable?"

Door scowls, "We got rooms in the back for that, those'll cost you another twenty."

"Hey, hey, hey. We're trying to enjoy ourselves here." The Jupani says loudly, standing up from the table. He saunters over, "Tell you what, friend. I'll pay the rest, if you show us that face of yours. If you're ugly enough to make a Dromodon calve, then I'll but the next round too."

{ Poor guy… he hasn't got the slightest clue… } Now that he's listening a little more closely, the lizard's face screws up in thought.

Envoy decides having the Jupani pay is the safest path to take, so she removes her hat.

Corpselicker looks up at the Shiga with worried eyes. He twitches, expecting a blow at any second, and nods several times just in case.

{ Strange… very strange… } Bambridge repeats the gesture from before, then shortsigns "I'm a friend. Wait for me at the back door." Standing, the Wooden Shekel turns back away, looking over his shoulder to issue a grim order. "Corpselicker, get that stupid brute out of here. Whatever's on him is mine, you hear? It'll go to my tab." He continues onward toward the bar. "Hoy, Door! What's the commotion?"

"Woooo Hon, that is the BEST disguise you've brought here yet," the painted Skreek doxy calls from the other side of the Shekel.

Envoy blinks at the Skreek, then realizes that her deduction about Moffat not being in Darkside was incorrect.

"Ugly huh?" The Jupani grins at Envoy, and slaps forty Shekels on the table, "Ugly like my grandmother is stupid. Come on back to the table… hon."

Envoy retrieves and replaces her hat before following the Jupani.

The Shiga manages to conceal how stunned he looks beneath his cowl. { It's that fool bug-woman from the bazaar! What's she think she's doing?! She must be insane! }

The Jupani takes his seat, opposite Envoy. He smiles, showing off a mouth of rotting teeth. "So maybe you want to tell us about yourself, friend. What's your name? oh and keep your hat off. I didn't pay for a few seconds of Ugly."

"Nothing wrong, Scotch. Just a customer that doesn't think we can add here in the Missing Shekel." Door answers Bambridge, sliding his crossbow back under the bar.

Corpselicker has to work to drag the Rhian out, but obviously he is skilled at this sort of thing. With lurching tugs the cheetah manages to pull the horse away.

Envoy sighs and folds the big floppy hat down into a bundle she can fit into one of her pockets. "I'm called Envoy. Or Scout Envoy of Shkarkin Hive. Or Envoy of Lothrhyn. And sometimes That Crazy Exile."

Envoy begins to talk in her normal voice now that her disguise is no more.

Bambridge sighs, and shakes his head, leaning on the bar. He tries to keep his demeanor casual, though his mind races. "A piece of work, isn't she, Camden? I've seen her before, out in the bazaar. Trust me, that gal is bad news. Runs with a weird crowd."

"Ennui, ish a nize name," the Gallah slurs, halfway through his mug of Wild Turkey Black.

The Jupani glares at his partner, and offers the last mug to Envoy, "Nice name indeed. Here you go Envoy. So, tell us about yourself."

"I don't know what she's here for, but if it's booze, then I'm not Tugsly Pine," hisses Bambridge, tapping one clawtip on the counter. "If you don't want the Temple coming back to Darkside, and landing on you like a ton of Zelaks, you'd better get her out of here."

Envoy says, "Ennui is a state of emotional or intellectual dissatisfaction. Boredom. I've never been accused of being boring before."

Envoy sniffs at the mug, and frowns when she discovers it full of that Turkey Slime stuff.

Door looks at Bambridge, "I've found it wise not to involve myself in my customer's business. You should stick to yours, and see what your Rhian friend has for you."

Envoy says, "You're not likely to believe anything I tell you about myself, I'm afraid."

"Noosh nossh no… not boring." The Gallah shakes his head energetically, almost falling over.

The dirty brown Vartan seems keenly interested in Envoy. Her horn has caught the bird's attention better than her words have.

Envoy leans in and whispers, "But no matter what you may hear, I assure you that I do not eat people's brains. That is an entirely unfounded rumor based on miscommunication."

"Yeah… I guess you're right, Door," replies the Wooden Shekel, rubbing the frill under his chin. "First thing's first, though. I want to buy Corpselicker off you."

"Drink." The Jupani smiles, leaning forward to hear the whisper. His smile widens. "Brains huh? Do you eat em when they're dead, or do you bolt their head up through a table, lop the top off, and scoop them out while they're screaming insults at you and your mother?"

Envoy says, "It is also untrue that I take pleasure in mangling corpses. I am quite objective about it."

Door looks at Bambridge, "You want Corpselicker huh? 120 Shekels, and I'll throw in the drugs he needs too."

"And I don't have a mother, exactly," the Aeolun whispers.

Envoy has a small taste of the Wild Turkey Black, and immediately offers to trade mugs with the Vartan.

Bambridge leans against the bar casually, propping his elbows on the edge. "Well, I got a friend what's in the undertaking business. You don't think all those fellows on the street just get up and walk to the graveyard, do you?" He holds a copper up for the barkeep's inspection. "You're one-upping me on this as it is, you old rogue. You'll be able to buy a spotgrunt with a strong back to replace that old bag of bones with a copper."

"Nope? I don't either. I slit the useless old bag's throat, kept her teeth in a jar though, to remember her by." The Jupani laughs. "Drink up already, I paid for it."

Envoy blinks, and asks, "Do you have them with you? The teeth, that is?"

"Swold… swold mine tish Abdhul's furs." The Gallah drunkenly adds.

The Vartan doesn't seem willing to part with the water.

Door looks at the coin, and taps the bar a few times, "Sure. You send your undertaker friend around if he's interested in a supply. I can get one of those new Nagai slaves cheap. A Copper for Corpselicker it is."

"Oh, not on me. I keep them safe in my sling for when these ones fall out." The Jupani shows off his rotten smile with all its glory.

Envoy blinks in amazement, "Your teeth fall out?" She tries another sip of the nasty black drink.

Blinking again, Envoy leans over to look under the table.

The coin is clapped onto the table, the lizard sighing. "If we didn't need a spotgrunt to haul stiffs right away, I'd wait till then too. You're a shrewd businessman to get a copper out of old Scotch, but done is done," he hisses, wagging a claw at the bartender. "Maybe I'll connect you with my friend, he can haul your rotters away for a couple shekels a piece, and everyone's happy. Get the bonebag out here, and tell him he's changing paws."

"CORPSELICKER GET BACK IN HERE!" The Kattha bellows at the back. An instant later the cheetah appears, bowing frequently and clutching the contents of the Rhian's pockets in his paws. Door points at the Shiga, "You're changing paws Corpselicker, meet your new master."

Envoy straightens back up, and sets her mug down. "This drink is too strong for me. But I don't need help staying in my seat, really."

"Good lad, Corpselicker. Hand the goodies over, and let's get out of here." The Wooden Shekel glances over at Envoy. { Maybe I'll have time enough to hunt down that kavi-bitten madwoman's pet Zelak, and get it to help her out. Maybe there's a reward in it… }

"So," Envoy explains, "you don't need to hold onto my leg like that. What do you do for a living? I came here to observe criminal behaviour, but I'm not sure if I've seen any yet."

Corpselicker looks at Door, and signs desperately. "I'm going to die?"

The Jupani sits back with a sigh, bumping his mug. "You ain't seen nothing yet. No life in you, better a bed in Moz Ezley than one in the back. If you won't drink with us, go drink somewhere else."

"Mashes sensh," the Gallah tells the table as he finishes his mug.

Envoy stands up, "Well, thank you for paying for the drinks." She slides her barely-touched mug towards the Gallah.

A passing Skreek bumps Envoy 'accidentally', quite hard.

Envoy stumbles a bit, and says, "Excuse me," to the Skreek before heading towards the door.

{Is… is she actually going to get out of this? } The Shiga watches Envoy incredulously. { Amazing… she's got the luck of a Star-blessed poodle. } Shrugging, he jerks his head at his new Savanite. "Well, that's that. Come along, slave, I've got work for you to do."

A Kavi stands in the doorway, holding a wicked thin knife. A much larger Khatta and Skreek standing on either side of him. The weasel hisses, "We don't take kindly to people watching… maybe I should cut out your eyes and cure you of a bad habit."

Envoy blinks at the Kavi. "What bad habit would that be?"

"Cheers!" The Jupani calls to Envoy's back from his table.

"Lookin around for things that don't concern youse." The Kavi makes a semi-circular gesture, aimed at the Aeolun's face.

Envoy blinks again, and pulls her head back a bit. "But that is my function. How old are you?"

Door looks at the Savanite, then nods. "Right. Hold it a second Scotch." He reaches into a drawer and takes out a large bag. "Brew Corpselicker a tea every morning from this."

"I'm old enough… and the way things look, I'll outlive you." The Kavi sneers.

"Uh-oh… scratch that thought," mutters Bambridge, this time out loud. He turns to nod at Door, and makes the teabag vanish somewhere into his cloak. "Gotchas. Camden, old chum… once again, I'll be availing myself of the rear exit, and bringing a couple guests this time. Well wishes, and watch your back."

Envoy shakes her head, "That is unlikely. Do you have any children?"

The Kavi's eyes narrow in rage, and he gestures. In two fluid motions the Skreek then Khatta dart forward. The Skreek grabs the Aeolun's cloak and pulls, the Khatta grabs for her body through the fabric, heaving and shoving. The Kavi jumps in as Envoy is whipped around, and kicks at her legs. The Aeolun goes down, hard, and the Skreek and Khatta pin her to the ground while the Kavi screams in the exile's face, "DON'T MAKE FUN OF ME!"

"You some noble here to make fun of me? You some really dumb cop?" The Kavi raves, "Or are you just too stupid to live! I should carve my name on your face."

Stunned, Envoy just blinks at the raving Kavi.

Envoy finally manages to reply, "Please let me go."

The Kavi jumps up, "Why? You said everything you want to about my faaamily! Said everything HOW MUCH LONGER you're going to live than I am. Think your nobleness is going to protect you here? Arm!"

"Grife… " Bambridge shifts his weight uneasily. "Door, I know you don't want to get involved, but do you mind if I rent your crossbow for a tenner? I don't have much left."

The Khatta on Envoy's back twists her arm out in front of the Aeolun, and holds it against the ground.

Envoy blinks in confusion, "But I don't know about your family, that's why I asked. I don't have any family here on Sinai. What are you doing to my arm??"

"Scotch," The bartender leans forward, "I might need it. If you don't have a weapon, you probably don't want to get the people who do mad at you."

"Ohyeh, don't know anything about my family," the Kavi growls, putting his boot on Envoy's hand, then letting his full weight stand on it. The boot rises up, "Don't know anything about Kavis do you?" Stamp "We're not important enough to care about, huh?" Stamp The crushing blows on the Aeolun's hand are getting stronger.

"Gah, I just have a dagger, that's it… " frets the reptile. With a deep breath, he begins walking over to the fray. "Hey, hey, hey, guys… ease up, ease up. Don't you know money when you smell it?" {Why… am I doing this?}

Envoy begins to wince at the painful stomping. "I don't understand. You're hurting my hand."

"Hurting? What do you know about hurting?" Stamp! "Ever worked a day in your life? Ever got a blister?" Stamp! "Pampered Soft-skinned noble, what do you know about pain and a hard life!" Something crunches as the Kavi's boot slams down.

Envoy shrieks loudly; a horrible claws-scraping-blackboard sound.

The Kavi's boot comes down again, CRUNCH!

The Skreek glances up at Bambridge's offer. "You want ta buy her?"

Envoy tries to push the Khatta off of her back with her wings.

Something also twists in the Wooden Shekel's stomach. He nods at the Khatta, and raises his voice to get the Kavi's attention. "Hey, Kavi! C'mon! Don't throw away a little extra cash! S'lezan could use another comely wench, especially a stupid one!"

Several of the Skeeks flatten their ears. "Hey, keep it down there!" one yelps from where he's holding a set of five dice, four of them white, one black.

"No, Master, Bambridge!" Corpselicker signs, moving ahead of the Shiga to stop him. "Don't get involved, people will remember you and you'll get a knife in the back."

The Khatta is shifted, and then wedges himself back into place, twisting one arm around Envoy's wing and painfully pressuring it.

"Yeah? 'ol uncle eh?" the Skreek says. "You know him like you're a nephew eh? Know him well enough to sell him… " He looks down at the Kavi's obvious sadistic enjoyment. "Damaged goods for a decent price?"

"Stay still!" The Kavi shouts, slamming his heel down on Envoy's hand again, "We let her go when I say so, and I'm not done having fun."

Envoy screams, "FUN?! I WAS BROUGHT HERE IN A CAGE YOU HATEFUL CREEP!" She tries to bite the Kavi's foot.

"Go to the rear exit, Corpselicker," orders Bambridge. He raises one paw to scratch his nose, and shortsigns, "A bug. Get help." "Yeah, I know him like a nephew," replies the lizard. He snaps his fingers, and signs the thief's guild-symbol.

The Kavi kicks Envoy in the face. "You done talking yet?! You got anything more to say?"

The Skreek looks calculatingly up at the Shiga from where he's pinning down Envoy's legs, then returns the sign in a quick, practiced move. "Cut us in for half, and it'd better be at least a silver." He glances meaningfully at the Khatta.

Corpselicker bolts out the back way.

"You won't see silver if your Kavi friend keeps beating the merchandise. The better condition she's in, the more likely you are to hear coins ringing, gehnoh?" The lizard narrows his eyes grimly. "Done and done."

Envoy glares up at the Kavi, and continues to struggle.

The Kavi glares at the Skreek, then turns on Bambridge, "I said, You can have her when I'm done having fun! Everyone knows people… "

"Gehnoh." The Skreek locks eyes with the Khatta, and then both rise up as one to whop the Kavi on the head.

*THUNK!*

The Kavi collapses.

"He's a noisy one," comments Bambridge dryly. "And you're going to cut him in on your silver? There're more… practical options, hmmm?" He draws one boney finger across his throat.

Envoy tries to sit upright as soon as the Khatta and Skreek move off of her.

The Khatta says, "You bring the money, we'll handle him. Let'shave a good look at you just so there aren't any misunderstandings."

The Skreek rummages about in a pouch and extracts a long, thin cord, and starts tying the Aeolun's wrists with it, painfully tight, while the Khatta continues to hold her down. "Oh, he's vicious, but he has his uses," the Skreek says cheerfully.

Envoy says, "Just let me go, before something bad happens."

Bambridge grimaces, then lifts a paw to draw back his hood. "Very well… " The Wooden Shekel glares at the trio, his scales bright green. He flips a rough-edged coin carved from pine, and catches it again.

The Khatta leans to watch the Skreek tie up Envoy, "Ohyeh, Zolk Cord too, ten shekels for that."

"Ksssshha! At this rate, you'll squeeze all the profit out of the deal for my end. Fine, here's your tenner." The reptile tosses a heavy ceramic coin to his Khatta guild-mate.

"I'm the Green Copper Rat," the Skreek says by way of introduction as Bambridge reveals himself, then drives a sharp elbow into Envoy's side painfully to shut her up. "You must be the Wooden Shekel. I've heard of ya. All right, thief's honor, I'll expect t'see the silver inna… Ten days?"

The coin disappears into the cat's pocket, "thank you sahr, and I'm the Sneak Cat."

The Shiga crosses his arms. "I'm dry until this deal comes through, so no more fun and games, huh? Ten days it is. Step clear, I'll be in touch after I talk to Sleazy, thief's honor."

Envoy tries to set the 'bones' of her broken hand back into place with her other hand, even though they're tied together at the wrist. A nosebleed gives her breath a gurgling sound, but she quiets down at the jab. That was one of the first things she learned when she was in the sideshow…

"Thief's honour," Sneak Cat says, as he stands and moves out of the way. Quietly he says under his breath, "I'll believe the rumours that Uncle's gone senile if he'll pay two silvers for a dumb Exile."

The Skreek hands the cord leash to Bambridge.

"Right-o. Sneak Cat, Green Copper Rat… I'll be seeing you soon, when I get this mess cleaned up." The Wooden Shekel takes the leash, and gives it a short tug. "You just gotta know the market, and Uncle's got a nose for metal. Just keep your kavi's nose clean, hear?"

Envoy winces at the tug.

Across the bar, the Jupani at the table waves and says, "next time, stay and drink a while."

The Skreek nods and then helps the unconscious Kavi up on one side, looking to Sneak Cat to get the other.

The Khatta takes the other arm, lifting the weasel to a nearby table, "Oh, we'll take care of him. Don't worry."

Envoy doesn't reply to the Jupani.

The business completed, Bambridge nods, and heads toward the back exit with Envoy in tow. "C'mon, you."

Envoy follows quietly, focusing on her hand and trying to ignore certain thoughts that seem to bubble up from somewhere deep in her cells.

Even late at night, there's still plenty of traffic in the Bazaar, and Eeee wing overhead lazily, some munching on bug pastries and lunches at what is for them 'midday'. No one pays much attention to a Shiga leading a strange-looking Exile through the 'streets' of the Bazaar…

Inside the tent, a thin looking Skreek washes their hands and puts a few chitin instruments away. "Hurry up with that water, cub." a feminine voice shouts from inside.

No one appears to respond to the Skreek, but nevertheless, she seems satisfied.

"It's going to be okay," hisses the Shiga, in his best attempt at a soothing voice. He brushes the tent flap out of the way, and tries to guide Envoy in. "By the Serpent's spleen, I don't know what you could have been thinking to walk into the Missing Shekel like a newborn Khatta-kitten, but you're lucky to have gotten off as lightly as you did. I've heard good things about this healer, and I don't think she'll flap her jaw too much, so she'll get you fixed up."

Envoy looks at the Shiga, and says, "You shouldn't have helped me. Everyone that helps me only gets more trouble."

"I'll be with you in jussasec." the Skreek says, arranging some jars on a shelf. Her back is to the newly arrived pair as she puts some brightly colored pots away. She doesn't look much like a healer, dressed in a plain shirt and baggy cotton breeches that don't hide her gaunt form very well. Around her head is a zolk bandana, which allows the slightest shock of red hair to poke out in front.

A snort is the reply. Bambridge points at Envoy accusingly. "For once, you're making sense. You're absolutely right. I shouldn't have helped you. And Dagh only knows why I did; I'm pretty sure that hide of yours wouldn't fetch a rusty iron, even if I had half a mind to sell S'Lezan a Moz Ezley patient."

Envoy says, "My hide is the only one of its kind on this world."

"Now then, then can I do for-" The rat stops short as she turns around, her eyes falling on Envoy.

A little Savanite boy assists the healer. At the moment, he's sitting by a ceramic pot of water which is just starting to boil atop a fire in the back of the tent. A flap in the roof has been opened to let out the smoke.

Envoy looks up at the Skreek. "Chiri?"

"Heh, heh, heh, that's a good one. Did that Skeek Marie feed you that line back at the tavern?" The lizard snaps his gaze back over at the Skreek. "I guess you're the sawbones here. This fool got roughed up something fierce," he grunts, and begins untying the zolk cord. "See what you can do, eh? No funny questions."

Chiri jolts out of her reverie as the Savanite enters. "On the table, Reed." She gives Envoy a curt nod, "Yeah… back home in all my glory. Take a seat on one of the tables. I'll need to wash my hands."

Envoy sits at a table as soon as the cord is off, and checks her battered hand.

Bambridge folds his arms in front of him, standing by the entrance to the tent. "So, you two know each other? My, what a lovely little party we're developing."

Envoy glances at the lizard, and asks, "You're being sarcastic, aren't you?"

"Very."

The Savanite cub, full of curiosity, signs, "Do you know her?" to the Skreek.

"You don't know the half of it, scaly." Chiri says as she helps the cub with the bucket. "Did she pretend to be a Zelak again?"

Envoy lays the wounded hand in her lap, and uses her other one to pull an amber pendant (really just a chunk wrapped in some wire) out of her shirt.

The Shiga smirks wryly. "So, she's that insane all the time? You must be a good friend to be patching her up constantly."

Little Reed hands the bucket up to the healer and looks proud of himself as if he had done all the work. He looks at the Shiga with curiosity as well.

The rat begins scrubbing her hands with some kind of foamy blue soap. "First time I've had the pleasure, actually. And I don't commonly take friends of people who make my life harder." She dries her fur off and pulls a few items off the shelf. "I quit my last job on account of that."

Envoy holds the amber up to her unbruised cheek, and closes her eyes for a few moments.

Chiri carries her load of bandages and vials over to the table and plunks them down next to Envoy. She starts examining the Aeolun's face. "Your lip looks cut, but it seems to be healing." She turns back to the cub, "Ice, Reedy. Now, and don't chew on it this time."

The Shiga emits a harsh, raspy laugh, grinning in spite of himself. "Setting up shop this close to Darkside, I figure you'll be seeing a lot of hardship, and a lot of customers. But you've got some knowhow, though. Like I was telling the lunatic, I've heard good things about you." He touches the end of his hood, and leans forward just a smidge. "Tugsley "Scotch" Pine. And you might be?"

Envoy says, "I need to have my hand splinted for it to heal correctly. The rest is just superficial."

The Savanite cub nods mutely and then runs off to a large wooden chest that looks wet. Ice isn't easy to get; it has to be shipped down in blocks from the cap of Rephidim's mountain. He flips the lid open and starts picking at the ice.

"Chiria Naochi." the rat squeaks. "The cub is Little Reed, X is around here somewhere… probably after that Rhian that swiped my headache pills." She continues poking at Envoy's face. "Oh, so you're a physician now as well as a Zelak?"

Envoy frowns, "I just don't want you to waste your resources on things that will heal on their own. Do you see any scars on me from Shkarkin's bite?"

Little Reed takes the shards of ice and rolls them up into a recently-washed-looking cloth, then shuts the box. He pads up to Chiri with the resulting ice pack.

Chiri takes up the ice pack and presses it against Envoy's cheek. "That was well over six months ago, sweetie. I could shave your neck and have a looksie, but I think I'll work on your hand now."

"Yeah, what's the deal with you and Zelaks, lady? Where was your pet bug when you were getting worked over in the pub?" huffs 'Scotch'. He waves a paw out at the entrance to the tent. "Maybe I wouldn't have lost track of Corpselicker if he'd shown up." {Wishing for a Zelak… now that's a novel sensation.}

Chiri winces at Envoy's hand. "What happened… you stick this under a Dromodon cart?" she mutters, then speaks up a bit more. "This'll take a few months to heal. Do you need anything to numb the pain while I set it?"

Envoy says, "Bem will find me soon enough, probably, and be upset that I didn't bring him. But I couldn't risk him hurting people."

Envoy blinks at Chiri. "Nothing for the pain. It should be fine in a few days if the bones are reset and the hand immobilized."

Envoy says, "And it was a Kavi, not a Dromodon."

Bambridge rolls his bulgy eyes. "Just in the nick of time, then! In the meantime, what'm I supposed to do? If I don't find at least one silver in ten days, I'm dead squibbit on a stick. All I have is a copper for the doc, here, and whatever Corpselicker got off that Rhian… say, that reminds me… "

Envoy sighs, "I can get you the silver, probably. If Venerable Officer Miriam will part with it finally."

"Was the Rhian that nicked your pills about yay tall?" The Shiga stands on his toes and raises an arm. "Kind of gray dappled, liked his drink? Might have a dent in his head now, those barstools were heavy."

"That's what Zelaks do." the rat says as she begins to slowly set each bone back into place on Envoy's hand. She glances back at 'Scotch', "I suggest you find a nice place to relocate yourself and change your name. I've seen what they do to people who don't pay their debts, they usually ask me to do something merciful like let X snap their necks… "

Chiri shivers at the memory and goes back to her work.

"Lady, you have no idea," hisses Bambridge to the Aeolun. "And I still haven't heard your name."

Little Reed watches curiously.

Envoy says, "I'm Envoy."

She begins to breathe a bit faster as Chiri works on her hand. It hurts more than anything she's ever experienced; even more than the electric shocks she got from the Temple's computer interface.

The lizard nods, and lapses into silence as the medical maneuvering of bones is practiced.

"You'd be surprised what these yellow eyes have seen, Scotch." Chiri pauses in her work to look up at her patient. "Last chance. I can give you a shot and send you into happyland… or you can just deal."

Little Reed looks worried. He's never seen Chiri set someone's bones without giving them painkiller first and she doesn't look at all like she's going to take it well. The little Savanite cub looks up at 'Scotch'.

Envoy blinks, "Happy… land? Is it bad for it to hurt?"

The reptile grins. "Maybe eyes go yellow when you've seen too much. I think mine have." Bambridge kneels down to look at little Reed. "Hullo there. You're a strong-looking fella… you must be that 'X' that the Skreek keeps mentioning."

Little Reed blinks up at Bambridge and signs quickly, "Oh no, I'm not. He's my dad! He's the strongest Savanite in the whole world." The cub looks quite proud of his father.

"It's not very common for people to feel all happy and bubbly after having their hands turned to mulch, no." Chiri says dryly. She glances at Bambridge, "Careful, Reedy's picked up a few bad habits from my clientele. Be sure and check your belongings on your way out."

Envoy's concentration begins to suffer as more and more of her awareness is tied up processing the pain signals. "Yes… please make the pain stop."

Little Reed blinks innocently. He's really very good at that. "I wouldn't do that!"

"Ohhh, not to worry, healer. I bet I could teach him a thing or two myself, heh, heh." The reptile chortles, crooking his fingers by his head to mimick ear-wiggling. "Ahh, easy mistake to make, little friend! Your father looks to have sired a strong boy. Not to worry, I believe you."

Little Reed wiggles his ears properly, in Savanite laughter at Bambridge's antics. "Mom said never to talk to strangers, but you're funny!"

"I suppose that Mister Gharr's brass tooth suddenly appearing under your mattress was just happenstance, then?" Chiri says as she loads a needle up with some yellowish liquid.

Envoy says, "I also need a supplemental source of calcium, carbon, silicon, gallium, and arsenic."

"Eat a rock." Chiri answers, tapping the side of the plunger and allowing a jet of the liquid to shoot out.

Bambridge's smile widens. "Oho! So, the boy's got rich tastes! Good for him! Not to worry, Little Reed, I know how that tooth got there. It just appeared, like so, right?" To demonstrate, the reptile waves one paw, then closes it. A little varnished ball of wood is in it when it opens again.

Little Reed signs to Chiri, "I was just practicing!" He forms his mouth into the shape of an O and his tail flickers back and forth as he watches Bambridge.

"Umm, bonemeal, soot and sand would be better," the Aeolun remarks as she watches the action of the syringe in fascination.

"Sorry," the Skreek squeaks. "but I just do patchup work. You want supplements, you should go see a nutritionist. Now hold out your good arm and make a fist. This won't konk you out or anything… but you'll feel a tad detached. I recommend against flying, and you should probably have someone escort you home."

The Shiga's wrist twists, and the ball rolls over his knuckles, then switches around between fingers. As he moves the sphere about, Bambridge hisses, "So then… how much do I owe you, doc?"

Envoy holds out her arm and makes a fist as directed.

Something about the intent way that Little Reed studies Bambridge suggests that his mother is going to have to watch him with the eggs, later.

Chiri delivers the injection and places a cottonball over pinprick. "I'm feeling generous, especially since it sounds like you've got a few other problems to worry about now… and I might be seeing you soon if you don't deal with them. Twenty-Five shekels." She glances at the Savanite cub, "'Sides… 'Reedy seems to like you."

Envoy blinks rapidly as she tries to follow the effects of the drug.

"More than fair, my good healer. I'm down to a few tenners, but I should have enough for mealtime." The ball stops on the back of Bambridge's paw again. "Yes, Reedy's a smart young man, Chiria. Funny, but you seem to have a different relationship with your Savanite companions than most I've seen."

The winged alien's muscles start to go slack, and her eyelids droop a bit as well.

The Rat goes back to binding up Envoy's hand. "I'll give you some pills to take if the pain comes back. Luckily the Rhian didn't get any of those."

Envoy nods slowly, "Healing hurts."

"His daddy caused me a lot of trouble," Chiri answers Bambridge. "but the kid's a good worker."

"But can he figure this one out? I'll show you why the ball can move with a mind of its own, little friend." The Shiga tosses his sphere up, then snatches it again. He opens his palm, and blows on a beetle now resting in it. It opens its wingcases, and buzzes off, adhering to a wall of the tent.

Envoy tries to focus her eyes on the beetle.

Little Reed smiles thankfully to Chiri, and then stares open-mouthed at the revelation of the trick. His ears wiggle even more, 'til it might seem that they would fall off if he flicked them any harder.

Envoy mutters, "Woodrow the Wonderous."

The Wooden Shekel nods, and stands up, stretching his back, which makes an audible cricking noise. "Ummmmph… trouble, eh? Well, Savanites seem to be magnets for it, but so it goes." He gives Envoy a startled look. "Ahh… hmm… that drug you gave Envoy must have made her a little loopy."

Chiri starts to put her supplies away. "As I said, happyland." She puts a few capsules into a smaller bag and offers it to the lizard. "Just tell her to pop one of these when the pain comes back."

Little Reed signs, "Maybe I'll grow up to be like you. Daddy doesn't want me to grow up like him. He says there aren't any fighting pits in Rephidim anyway, but I don't know what he means."

"Daddy had an interesting life, and it ain't over for him yet." Chiri gives the cub a rough fuzzle on the head.

The Savanite cub grins at the fuzzling.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa… " hisses the Shiga, holding his paws up at Chiri, shaking his head vehemently. "I'm not her nursemaid. I'll be finding her again when I need to get the cash /my/ hide is worth, but until then, I have to find a Savanite I lost myself. I don't know what might have happened to him."

The tentflap is pulled back, and a scruffy looking Savanite pokes his head in. He quickly bows and spotting Bambridge signs, "Master! I had to look everywhere for you, I found the bug." Corpselicker steps back and a familiar green Zelak enters the tent. It clacks, "The Fugitive will allow himself to be apprehended."