[AkashicRecord]

~~~
(cont'd):


"I knew I could count on you."

Those were the first words I hear upon returning to Miss TGaza with the loot.

"Wasn't even a problem... except for this..."

(I show her the blood on my hands and spear.)

"I'll make sure that Lucan gets the good word."

"You're dismissed, unless there's something else I can help you with?"

I again considered asking about the dead bodies, or even asking her about the escaped Iksar prisoner from Firiona Vie... something... anything other than just simply walking away...

For some reason I'm unable to come up with anything as she tosses me a single, measly copper piece and sends me on my way. I hustle back to the Militia House a whole penny richer...

Just inside the barracks, Guard Fikus yells over to me, promptly getting my attention:

"Valon was looking for you over in West Commons earlier... Oh, and tell Colin I said, 'Hi.'"

(I nod in acknowledgement.)

A sweet, savory aroma emanates from the mess hall, so I slip in for a quick bite and depart for West Commons to see what Guard Valon could possibly need of me. (If it's another set of Orc Pawn Picks, I'm going to freak.) Unfortunately, there wasn't any Griffin Stew on the menu...

Knowing that I'll probably run into at least one griffin, I cast an Invisibility vs. Animals spell on myself for a more effortless passage through the Commons, casually remembering how that particular magic had already saved my own hide on more than one occasion.

Immediately inside the front gate of Freeport, some argument breaks out between that big pickle-peddling ogre and some rather seedy-looking clientele. During the scuffle (while no one was paying any mind), I manage to grab a few bottles from the ground. "Paladin Pickles" were written in some incredibly bad Ogre handwriting.

The quick trek through East Commons into the Western side goes without much hassle, and I head directly to the Toll Booth.

"Fikus says, 'Hi!'"

"Hey, it's been a while! You doing well?"

"I'm good, but I could use some time off..."

"Dellin can probably pull some strings for you, but I have a task for you first."

"I need you to hunt the Dervish Cutthroats--"

(I interrupt him and dump out dozens of Cutthroat Insignia Rings onto the ground and remove a few from my own hands...)

"What the?!"

"Well, you certainly earned *this*...

Guard Valon hands me a Reserve Militia Token and I immediately know what to do with it...
~~~

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(Freeport's Newest... And most certainly, "finest.")