91

We owe you our thanks," Straasa addresses Daelynn cordially, politely. The epitome of civility. Still not like what you'd expect from him.

"Oh yes, you do! And more than that besides," Daelynn agrees with him, her grin razor-sharp. You can see Morkai tensing up again, but the woman doesn't let him get a word in. "You'd all be dead without me. You owe me your lives. And I have something that I could use some help with, if you don't mind."

"I see. And what would that be?" Straasa asks her neutrally.

For one short moment, barely there and then gone again, you hear a faint grinding sound. You're pretty sure it's Morkai's teeth. Ouch. He won't have any teeth left by the time he goes gray, you reckon.

"I need to meet a friend that is roaming the wilds to the east of the port. The road is dangerous, so I could use some backup. Bodyguards, if you will," she tells Straasa confidently, obviously sure that she'll get her way.

She has made a pretty good case for herself. A life debt is not something that is taken lightly around these parts. You should know; you've begun to amass quite the collection of them lately.

One can always refuse to honor it, of course, but the dishonor such an action would bring would be great—if one cared about such things, that is. Do Straasa and Morkai care about such things? If you were a betting man, you'd say that they do, but you guess you'll find out soon enough.