He's Not As Think As You Drunk He Is!

"It is!" he declared, coming to his feet and swaying precariously. "I seed 'em all three in here t'other night, servin' it up and havin' a good ol' time!"

Jossim spat contemptuously. "Course ya did, Nilth. And weren't that the night ye also saw a sea monster out back in the privy?"

The other three customers, strangers all, burst into raucous laughter, and the soldier laughed along with it. Sigourney smiled what she hoped was a tolerant and pitying smile.

"Sorry about Nilth, Gen'ral," Jossim said as the drunkard tottered out of the bar, muttering imprecations. "He sees three of 'bout everthing."

"It sounds like it," the soldier agreed. "Still, I suppose I ought to take a look around, just for form's sake."

"Be me guest," Jossim replied. The soldier smiled, and headed for the storeroom.

The minute he was out of sight, Jossim pulled Sigourney aside. "I think it's time ye and yer sisters be movin' along," he whispered. He shoved a paper into her hand. "Go find the others at the market, then head ye for a ship named 'Nyriad'. The master's an old frienda mine, an' owes me a couplea sizable favors. I'll wager he can give ye a lift to wherever he's headin out to."

"Oh! But Jossim, what about..." she gestured towards the storeroom.

Jossim snorted. "Don't worry none. The day an old salt like me can't deal with the likes o' one prissy land soldier is the day I fill in me own grave! Now go - stand under the window out back an' I'll drop yer packs down to ya!"

"Thank you, Jossim - you're a sweet old man!" Sigourney gave the flustered bar owner a kiss on the cheek and fled to the alley behind the bar.

Minutes later, she saw Jossim's one good hand stick out the window and drop three small bundles, which she easily caught. Gathering the packs into a large basket she'd found, she made a straight run for the marketplace, where she knew Louise & Thelma were.

She turned a sharp corner into the market square and took a quick look around.

1. She quickly spotted her sisters at a nearby stall.
2. She spotted one of her sisters, but the other one was nowhere to be seen.
3. She saw her sisters, being led away at spearpoint by a group of soldiers.
4. She didn't see her sisters anywhere.
5. The marketplace was completely deserted.
6. Suddenly, a hand grasped her wrist. "Thought I'd find ye here!" Nilth crowed. "Now, let's go see about that reward he mentioned!"

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