Patience was not one of Brandt’s virtues. Certainly he was able to walk long distances without growing too bored, for there was nothing to be done and the view changed around every bend of the road. He could lie in wait for prey, or to avoid pursuit, for hours if need be, as there was a certain amount of excitement to that as well. The siege of Lorch had been mostly waiting, in fact. Brandt had taken well to the adventuring life, however, and was not so accustomed to waiting in an office. Or foyer? Maybe he could ask one of the Bretonnians what a foyer was if either of them decided to show.

Brandt felt a pop under his fingers. He’d been looking out the window, hand resting against the back of a well made leatherback chair, and had begun fiddling with the great brass upholstery pins. They were fine work, no mold lines from the casting process. One of them was a little loose, and for a while he was content to idly spin it. It had been worked loose without his realising, and come out. It’s absence would be quite conspicuous and Brandt froze, wondering if he could fit it back where it came from without Fancy Johan noticing. 

The moment was saved by the robed sister who had been tending to the boy. Asthe three men turned to greet her, Brandt bowed, and stuffed the pin into a pouch at his belt. 

“Sister,” he said awkwardly. She delivered her explanation of the boy. In truth the talk of cages and crows gave him the willies, but he’ refused to show it. “Bugger me, another Johan…”

“Bandits maybe?” he suggested. “With a crow banner. If the boys so hysterical he might’ve seen a plain red robin in the night for all we know, eh Roderick?”

The dwarf joined them then, and Brandt couldn’t hide his grin, his excitement for fighting next to one of the stout folk. Burundi discounted grobi, and the swordsman nodded..

“Aye, if that’s your word for greenskin, I’m inclined to agree. My spiritual companion and I have had to deal with them a few times, and capture doesn’t ever seem like their plan. What do you think, Roderick? Bandits, or some sort of foul witchery?”

A bit of cockiness came easily. He was going to get to fight beside a dwarf, and maybe even impress a lady! Schartenfeld was looking up, so long as he could survive the collections of Johan’s.