Gerta lets out a heavy sigh. She walks over to a basin of water and dips a clean rag inside. She wrings it out with her strong hands and walks back to Garrek. She presses the cool cloth against the cut on his neck. The boy winces a little but he is still grinning at you.

Isla peeks her head out from the back room first. Seeing the coast is clear she hurries out with a mop and bucket. Petyr follows her slowly. He starts picking up the chairs that got knocked over.

[b]"That was the price of doin' business, sugar,"[/b] Gerta says. Her voice is thick with her accent and she sounds tired. She focuses on cleaning the blood and does not look at you yet. [b]"We pay 'em so they don't strike a match and burn this place to ash. Simple as that."[/b]

Isla starts mopping up the tea and blood on the floor near the door. She shakes her head. [b]"Nasty business. Every month it gets worse."[/b]

Mick walks over to where the knife fell. He picks it up and wipes the blood onto his pants leg. He leans his hip against the table.

[b]"They call 'emselves the Vultures,"[/b] Mick explains to you. [b]"Started about seven years ago up north in Thundrastone. Was just a small group at first. But rot spreads fast. Now they are here in Thornwood too."[/b]

[b]"They want a 'Free State',"[/b] Garrek adds. He sounds eager to talk even while Gerta is fussing over his wound. [b]"They hate that Queen Mycena sits on the throne. They say a woman can't lead an army or run a kingdom. They want a Council of Lords or somethin' like that to rule instead."[/b]

Petyr rights a table and checks the legs. [b]"Just a bunch of men who want the power for themselves,"[/b] the old man mutters.

Gerta snorts loud. [b]"Foolish men scared of a powerful woman. That is all it is."[/b]

She looks at you then. Her eyes are still wary. But she sees your empty hands held up. She sees you sit down in the chair looking pale. Her shoulders drop just an inch. She can tell you are frightened too.

[b]"The Queen ain't havin' it though,"[/b] Mick says. [b]"She sent the heavy guard in last year. Crushed most of their daylight operations. The Vultures are weak now. Way weaker than they were."[/b]

[b]"That makes 'em desperate,"[/b] Isla says softly. She wrings out her mop. [b]"They can't walk in the sun with the Queen's Guards watchin'. So they hide in the dark. They only come out at night to bully small places like this."[/b]

Gerta finishes taping a bandage on Garrek's neck. She gives his shoulder a rough pat. Then she turns to face you. She crosses her big arms over her chest.

[b]"And that man you poked holes in,"[/b] she says low. [b]"That was Vane. He is one of the top dogs here in Thornwood. Him and his brother Vex run the local crew."[/b]

Mick nods and looks at the floor like he is remembering something bad. [b]"Vane is nasty. But Vex is worse. When they are togeather they are a nightmare. They don't lose fights."[/b]

Gerta steps closer to the table. She looks at the strange bottle you put down. Then she looks you in the eye.

[b]"You hurt him bad,"[/b] she says. [b]"He won't forget that. And his brother won't either."[/b]

[hr]

What do you do?