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Derissa was seriously reconsidering killing him.

Her hand went to her dagger.

"Don't make me regret falling for you. Get your rear end in that boat now. We'll come back for the blood diamond. I did not just risk my life to save you and those people for you to not return with us to Artesia. I have to go..." Then very quietly, her eyes holding a soft, vulnerable look, "...I want you to come with me..."

The hand on her dagger reached for his and curled around it gently. "...please..."

Randol saw her hand go to her dagger and then move from it so he was thinking that she was reconsidering killing him.

He didn't want her to go to Artesia and worry about him or wonder about what if...so he thought about it for a moment until he saw the goblins start down the hill.

"WE CAN'T HOLD THEM OFF FOREVER!" someone shouted from the boat.

"It's now or never, Randol." she said looking at him.

"Alright, let's get out of here. I've had my fill of this place for now anyway."

The crew helped Derissa and Randol over the side, as the boat was already moving away from the shore. The leading goblins surged into the water, intent on gaining the deck of the boat, only to find themselves under a barrage of arrows. The survivors retreated to shore, gesturing and yelling.

The boat made its way to Artesia, where Kam insisted on going first to the Inn of the Broken Sword.

"Clerics can wait," she said, "I need a drink."

Varian sized up the group with a practiced eye as they limped in, and set up a round of drinks without being asked. He nodded to Caleb, scowled at Borst, and welcomed Kalira with a hug.

[Last interactions can be done at this point. After those are done, we'll fade out on the scene with the group at the tavern, working out their plans for the future...e.g. the next time we return to Artesia in the game]

Then Varian said, "Where is Benedict?"

Everyone in the group was silent and hung their heads. Varian needed not to ask the question anymore.

Randol sat down at the bar and hoisted his drink and toasted to Benedict. "He gave his life so that we may have ours. May we never forget him."

Everyone agreed and they all drank.

Randol sat there and was mournful because one of them was killed and he didn't accomplish what he wanted to and that he let his family and fellow country people down. However, he and Derissa and the rest were alive so he sought solace in that.

He and Derissa looked at each other for a moment and he said, "Derissa, I don't know what is going on with us, if anything, but I just wanted to say that I have some feelings..."

She placed a finger against his mouth to tell him not to say anymore about it here. She refused to let herself open up to him yet. He believed that she still had something to do and somehow it had something to do with Caleb.

"Shush. There's no such thing as feelings. They complicate matters." She glanced around and spotted Kam, smirking. She stuck her tongue at Kam, then looked around for Caleb. Then Merry. Excusing herself from Randol, she went to the tavern's songstress to inquire about to whom she needed to deliver Caleb...and maybe find out why he was so important. She had been her contact before...maybe she knew more.

"Merry!" she called, smiling. "Come sit with me! I have much to tell you for your songs...I'll even buy you a drink!" Verian's ears perked and he quirked a brow in her direction. Derissa grinned, "Just put it on Randol's tab..." She winked to Randol and sat down at a table to await Merry's company.

Merry finishes her song and ambles over to Derissa's table.

"There must be a song in the story of your adventures," she says loudly as she sits.

"Well done," she continues more quietly. "I don't think they actually expected you to survive *and* bring Caleb back."

She pauses for a moment, frowning.

"Unfortunately, you're to take him out again, beyond goblin country, to where the Konig-folk dwell. They are the ones who provided the goblin king with his magical assistance, his blood diamond, and all the rest."

Merry continues, giving Derissa what few details her own contacts have provided. The bottom line seems to be that an artifact needs stealing, and Caleb is in some way connected to it.

[The full story of that adventure will come out in the next installment of our Artesian adventures...]