Stefano was watching Silas closely, summing up the man behind the budding legend, and noticed the shock... no pain, in the mention of his last name. It passed swiftly, so quick that the careless watcher would have missed it. [color=fff200]"Curious..."[/color] Stefano thought as Silas started giving orders. Realizing he had his own accounts to settle, he took his leave of Silas and Lala, saying to the latter, [color=fff200]"I must take my leave for now My brave heroine, but don't forget I still owe you my life. Perhaps I can repay a bit of that at our celebration."[/color] and with that he whistled for his hounds, lifted his hand for Drusilla and set off towards the wounded.

On the way he passed the battlefield and the heaped forms of dead orcs. He smiled and looked to his entourage, [color=fff200]"You've hunted well for me!
And as I have had my fill of the hunt for now. Go my darlings, enjoy the fruit of your labor!" [/color] he said throwing his arm signaling the animals had free range to feed on the dead orcs. The dogs and Drusilla took off with haste as Stefano continued on his path chuckling to himself.

He reached the wounded and started to searching among their ranks for two members in particular. He found the least desirable mark first. The ox of a man was huffing deep breaths trying to control his pain. The battle hadn't gone in his favor, as his face and nose looked smashed from a mailed orc fist, and worst yet was his arm missing from the elbow. Stefano however couldn't care less. He wasn't here for revenge, just his lute and wine.

[color=fff200]"The paint was unnecessary. You already burned 8 months of artistic work. Did you really have to waste my means of making more?"[/color] the man shrugged indifferently. "I was drunk. And pissed." Stefano returned in a cool tone,[color=fff200]"I was drunk last night too. And now..." [/color] he raised his arqubus and pointed the gun at the large man's chest, [color=fff200]"I'm pissed."[/color]

The man didn't look up and said  with disinterest, "I'm alive and tired. Fine you want your shit right? Your wine around my shoulder. Your funny instrument is in my knapsack. Be a dear and give me a hand with them." he shacked his stump and smiled a pessimist smile. He sighed deeply, "I've seen to have lost mine."

Stefano retook his possessions and asked the man indignantly, [color=fff200]"Good Lord man! Do you even play the lute?"[/color] the man slumped foreword, "No. I figured I could sell it. Or burn it. I bet it makes some cool sounds while on fire. We even now?" Stefano considered this a moment. He looked around to see if anyone was nearby. He remembered the hours he spent on the tree tops on his favorite water color as he slammed the butt of his gun against the man's bruised head. [color=fff200]"Ya. Were even."[/color] he didn't hear this of course as the blow had nocked him unconscious. Okay maybe he was here for a little revenge.

Stefano continued to search the camp for his second quarry. He found him in a posture of peace. The other soldiers said he was loopy and confused. They left the young farm boy to look for the other wounded, and while they were gone he must have slipt into sleep, one he would never awake from. Stefano regarded the youth in silent sadness. So young for luck to fail him. When Stefano made the bet with the boy he fully expected to be shacking his hand at the end of the battle as they dug up their gold together. Stefano sighed as he took his leave of the corpse. He didn't even know the boys name. He went to have his cheek stitched, the medic worried it would scar his otherwise handsome face, and he took his leave of the wounded.

Stefano walked to were he and farm boy had buried their coin purses and set to digging. He considered leaving the money were it was but he felt... The boy fully intended to honor the bet. No matter how it turned out.

[center] Later[/center]

Stefano listened to Silas and Dixon's offer with only have an ear. He was instead studying those assembled as if they were his mark studying their reactions and mannerisms. Stefano considered himself a predator. It was rare that he was in the presence of others of his kind. 

He filed away from the group towords a crowd of drinking soldiers. [color=fff200]"A group like that? With them I doubt the hunt will ever get stale."[/color] he quietly mused. He made a detour to his tent to stow  a sleeping Drusilla. He ordered Incitatus to guard his possessions while he allowed the blood hounds to accompany him to the party. Inciatius whined at being left behind, so Stefano shouted behind his back, [color=fff200]"Oh don't pout! It'll be their turn next time."[/color] 

As he entered the crowd of drinking soldiers he could feel the sour mood. [color=fff200]"This isn't right. Soldiers have no time for funerals. Just the wakes."[/color] he thought to himself. And so he drew his lute and played and sang a simple drinking song as old as time.

[center][color=fff200]In heaven there is no beer,[/color][/center]
[center][color=fff200]that's why we drink it here,[/color][/center]
[center][color=fff200]and when we are gone from here,[/color][/center]
[center][color=fff200]our friends will be drinking all our beer!"[/color][/center]

Once he got everyone's attention he addressed the crowd, [color=fff200]"Come now friends! The time for mourning in sorrow has past! Now we must honor our comrades with joy! The joy and merrymet they felt in life! The joy and freedom they fought to protect! I bet you sing, dance, drink and be merry! For the unlucky may be without these pleasures tommarow! And for the love of Ristoth,
someone hand me a beer!" [/color] a soldier was kind enough to oblige him, And in a great of pure showmanship he tried to chug the whole tankard, got halfway threw before spluttering for breath. The crowd laughed with Stefano, though some walked off in indignant disgust. Stefano didn't care. He couldn't force men and women to have a good time. Merely provide the tools he stuck up the lute and had the beginning of a drunken chorus joining in.


[center][color=fff200]In heaven there is no beer,[/color][/center]
[center][color=fff200]that's why we drink it here,[/color][/center]
[center][color=fff200]and when we are gone from here,[/color][/center]
[center][color=fff200]our friends will be drinking all our beer!"[/color][/center]

As soon as the crowd was good and loose, and inhabitants cast aside, he switched to more rhythmic folk music to promote dancing. It was an old country harvest festival piece, he trusted the soldier's would be familiar with.