His faith in the damned horse seemed to have payed off, but at a bit of a cost. Though the team's ferrum, crossbow bolts, and knives had held the two guards at bay long enough for the deor to enact his magic, the two masterfully trained Arbiters were still able to fight through the pain and wound Lasrach – a sword in the side – and Cameron – a deep cut across the forearm when he tried to engage one of the judges close range.

“Christian, get your brother back to our ship. They shoulda cleared the boardin' ramp up by now. Jory and Latvanen, you two take the cargo directly to the wardroom for the meeting.” Through trusting the unknown thief with the entire purpose of the mission might seem foolhardy, Balder was actually setting up one final test. Jory could be pressured into wrongdoing fairly easily, but if he and Marko Latvanen did decide to do anything untoward, the old master gunner would get it out of Jory easily enough that night. The thief had gone a long way towards proving himself in this mission, and Balder was impressed so far.

“And you, ya damned eee-quine fool. I'm gonna need to be helpin' ya back to the ship. Get yer giant arse onto my back. Once we're back up there, Errol will drum up a few boys to bring ya to the doctor, get that good slice taken care of. That madman'll have somethin' special for ya.” 

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Back in the warroom, Balder kicked back with his feet up on a table, dirtying up the map carefully placed there. In his left hand was a pitcher of beer – a midnight colored stout made from barley malt and roasted barley – and in his right, an empty glass, the bottom still dark with the sticky remnants of his last poured glass. The old man had given up on that right hand; however, and was drinking directly from the pitcher. That day was a rough one, and though he didn't lose anyone in his own team, the sight of Lasrach and Cameron's blood pooling up on those warped wooden planks had jarred him. He had seen a lot of death and experienced a lot of loss, but this one would be a drop too far. 

Either way it didn't happen. Another day, another run in with death, another plunder. There would be another one tomorrow and every day after that until the old man came up short.