Solo [The Slave Market] Troll under the bridge

[Bob Barton]

57th day of Fall 511 AV

A lot of new faces in the slave market recently. Mostly new actually... Some Bob himself knew and he would just put it to bad luck for them being stuck in this situation. Apparently it does help to have a nice, safe and secure job like Killroy's that also provides a good place to live eventhough the pay was shit. Bob was walking one moment, looking at the slaves and next thing he knew, Jinsen was missing. "Jinsen?" he asked aloud when trying to locate his dog. Being a slave market where people are of interest, Bob had no reason to suspect his dog being stolen. If anyone wanted an animal they should go to Killroy's unless...one of the petchers who "acquires" stock for Killroy actually took Jinsen?! "I am so going to hurt you..." he promised softly before yelling out in anger "Jinsen!" to hear the faint barks in response to the tone he normally uses to train the dog when it just could not understand him. "Don't worry Jinsen, I'll get you!" he said as he chased after the barks, running past and pushing away anyone who might be in the way.

But these people did not appreciate the gravity of the situation Bob was in. Some even had the nerve to get in front of him. Offer strong men and spirited women to protect Bob. Annoyed he said "I don't need them, now get out of my way" putting his hand on the saleswoman's side to use as a launch pad for him to run past her after giving a push and whipping around. "Don't stop barking Jinsen!" he commanded after hearing the barks getting more faint, believing in the dog's efforts in obeying this once to remain with its master trumps his own failing energy that was making him slower. Then through the crowd he caught the faint glimpse of that unmistakable dirty white furball headed to the bridge towards the wharf but at least it was also slowing down because of the other people trying using the bridge as well. Bob used this opportunity to increase his pace and catch up to them, yelling in between jagged breaths to whoever was responsible "give me back my dog!" before drastic action had to be taken.

Jinsen heard its master just fine but unfortunately his dognapper did as well and he made his way to the side of the bridge, dodging all the people clogging it up with Bob hot in pursuit bumping into a few of those same very same people on the way be cause running as fast as he was he just did not have enough space or time to turn away into a route that could accommodate him. He slowed down when his eyes caught sight of Jinsen being held out by the ragged and impoverished looking man that was already waiting under the bridge before coming to a halt after a few more steps after hearing the man. The demands were simple, Bob staying back or instead of eating the dog it will end up in the river. Bob did not like the situation being in the man's control and tried to negotiate since "there is no reason to be hasty buddy..." trying to act friendly to throw him off his guard. "Just let Jinsen go and we can be on our way before you do something we'll both regret..." he suggested taking care not to make it seem like there will be any retribution.

But Bob was already thinking of the amount of force he would have to use to get what was his eventhough he pitied the man and his situation. Having nothing, being nothing. In Sunberth the man feared he would die or end up with a fate worse than death like being forced to be a slave. Bob tried to calm him down asking if there is "anything that I can do for you?" especially if it would get Jinsen back but the man's mind was already conditioned thanks to the harsh reality of Sunberth. Still not giving up Bob said "It does not have to be this way. I don't have much mizas but you can have them" he said showing a small handful of coins. While he already decided to visit the slave market and only brought enough for a meal before he got back to the Kennels, Bob did not show all he had giving the excuse that "I did not bring enough" when the man demanded for more money. When it looked like Jinsen was about to be thrown into the water, Bob frantically waved his arms yelling "stop! There must be something else you need that I can help you with!" before he really had to part with his mizas.

There was something...but Bob was not too keen on what he heard it. "You want me to get into the water...?" he asked putting his foot and finding "its cold! And what the hell can I possibly salvage?!" Bob being brought up in Zeltiva did not see much trouble in swimming and the task was almost like training with Xalet back in Syliras to dive for shiny rocks but it did not change the fact that "a Berth river, like the city is full of trash" and Bob did not want to deal with trash especially raggety beggars. "Maybe instead I can take you to the tavern for a hot meal" but that was the final offer Bob could make. The man knew he had a valuable bargaining chip in Jinsen and insisted Bob did demanded despite excuses like "I'm small, weak and you expect me to drag things out that river?" but he actually had the nerve to suggest Bob could use the exercise! After the man showed that he was really going to go through with throwing Jinsen into the river Bob yelled again "finefinefinefine" accepting the unreasonable challenge.

Not wanting to risk Jinsen with further attempts in negotiating with the bewildered man, Bob asked "how do you want me to do this?" as he started to strip, putting his clothes in a pile to the side. The man did not care as long as he got what he wanted so the question came, "what do you want?" The man only told Bob he would know when stopped "or when I'm tired and I think you have more than enough..." Bob added before the tried to use Jinsen as a bargaining chip again. Bob angry enough, threatened "you can only use Jinsen for a shield for so long and if you have the balls to dunk him, be prepared to join him and watch me leave you under when I get him out!" The tone Bob used got the man and even Jinsen silent for a moment before Bob asked-no demanded "take care of my shit or my dog" which came under the label "will not protect you any longer." If only Jinsen did not get caught. Bob would not have to go through with this...

[Bob Barton]

Bob dived into the water finding and it was "c-c-c-cold damn you!" but the man tried to motivate him to continue saying since he was already in, Bob might as well go through it and he would "a-as long as yo-ou keep your-r-r end of the d-d-deal." Like Xalet taught him, Bob popped his head under the water to look inside but the dark murky waters of Sunberth showed nothing much for him to identify what lies beneath other than making out their shapes. In order to make sure he does not tire as Xalet had taught him, Bob went for the smaller shapes as he dropped down without resisting the water only using his arms to help with his descent and his feet to maneuver himself towards his intended target. Landing on the riverbed Bob dug his feet in to support his body and grasped the item tight before launching himself towards the surface keeping his body as straight as possible, holding the item up so it would reach land faster where the man commended on the good job. "It better be! I haven't done something l-l-like this for years! The man ignored him and waved him off to get more, which Bob reluctantly followed.

After taking a deep breath, Bob went down once more using the descent to determine the items to look out for. With the water obscuring everything except dark silhouettes he again pointed his feet towards the smallest object he found until he landed, the water cushioning him from the impact he would have felt if the height was made on land. Even this close Bob could not recognize the object and will not until he brought it up. As he did the first one he made a grab for the object and bent his knees to lift it from the riverbed slightly before straightening his legs to launch himself towards the surface. At least he realized his mistake early. While kicking the water using the same speed he found no other explanation for him being faster now than when he was carrying the first object except by dragging it from the bottom. As a result he changed his method of retrieving the objects back to the surface. Although he still tried his best to kick at a constant speed to conserve envergy he also had to drag the object up with the water tiring him even more than when he was lifting up the water against him.

He would probably have to make a choice of what method to use but feelings he had long forgotten of weights trying to pull him down along with the river pushing against him while he himself did everything he could to resist and go up seemed to make the choice for him. Not looking forward to another one sided conversation, the object now lighter when it was taken out of the water was tossed on the ground before Bob took a breather and went down once more. This process of retrieving whatever strange objects in the Sunberth river went on for some time and after being submerged for some time Bob was able to get used to the temperature of the river. That was when he recalled something and tried to decide if it was good or bad for him according to what his uncle had told him before. Deep in thought Bob's feet nearly slipped from under him when he landed, taking the routine movements for granted. The objects as he saw on his way down were becoming bigger. He tried to pick up the next one, hand missing a few times even when his fingers were able to lift the object up slightly after applying enough strength.

But almost getting the object off the riverbed was not enough for him to try and retrieve it after wasting so much time and effort. His lungs burning from the air he was losing, Bob had no choice but to give up and launch himself once more back to the surface before he ran out of air. He was faster this time. The sensation in his chest urging him to do whatever he could to breaeth in some fresh air. It was halfway to the top when he had to force himself to use all his strength he could, speeding up his kicks against the water and using his now free hands from any weight to pull against the water as if he had this huge mountain to conquer before him. At least that was what he felt when he the bubbles of air that escaped his mouth trailing to the top. When he finally reached the top he was gasping for air in a way that no one could ignore except, the man. Seeing Bob, he only cared to ask about his next item and Bob told him to "try doing this yourself! I'm risking hippo...hyper... hypothermia here!"

Yes, that was what Bob's uncle warned him about but the man did not care and insinuated it would be the least of Bob's worries if he did not finish his task. Asking "you realize I could get sick or injured?" finally allowed the crazy man to say something that made sense if applied under different circumstances. Bob's response? "Of course I'd be in better condition if I worked out more but one day of this won't even help..." Not unless he was consistent like he was back in Syliras with a partner to compete with. Based on how their conversations panned out, Bob could conclude the man was not too bright especially when he only ever states the obvious. If it was true, Bob would not be in this tight spot but he still could not tell how this information would be useful in helping him get out of it. Realizing it was not only his physical condition at stake with Jinsen also in trouble, Bob decided to consider more on his next dive down. Like the man said, Bob also benefits doing this in strengthening himself but Bob looked at it as buying time for Jinsen.

He decided that he should at least try to satisfy the man even for a moment. During his descent Bob looked for the best thing he could find. The kind of thing that he would not have to spend effort in searching through the dark waters of the 'berth river as any large object would have to stand out. With how demanding the man has been Bob used his arms to point his head down and started stroking the water with his legs and arms to propel him right down to the bottom. Righting himself again only when he was so close to the object, he could already be touching it. Full of purpose for himself, for Jinsen and for a chance at escape Bob's fingers energized as they were was able to dart right below the object as far as they could until his palms were gripping hard on the sides of it. With another burst of energy he pushed in and up to lift the object from the riverbed. Another final push with more energy into his legs, Bob was up again. While his burdened hands could no longer be of use for his ascent, his legs did not let up. Kicking harder, kicking faster he soon reached the surface and dumped the large object on the ground asking "there! are you happy now my lord...uhhh...?!" trying to get a name.

Of course the man, Ravash was happy. This has to be his biggest prize yet with Bob getting something equally important like a name but being happy and being satisfied were two entirely different matters. While he applauded Bob's work and effort he sent the dwarf down again. Bob could already feel his limits as his limbs trembled, even more now that the water was no longer supporting his own body. He questioned it though, seeing the pile he has accumulated were mostly smaller objects as he has chosen them and wondered if it could have been the hippo...hypothermia condition his uncle has told him about. Failing to recall what Marny told him about the symptoms being weakened and distracted as he was, Bob's mind could only keep reminding him about one thing. He was cold and it was the bad kind like being out in the winter without clothes bad. Looking at the man he asked in hoped that he will be let go "if you are happy we can conclude our business now right Ravish?" before his eyes moved expectantly to Jinsen.

"Fine. One more!" Bob said in agreement but added "this is the last time I am going in there" which was the only way he was going to go back in. Jinsen or not those were the terms that had to be followed in their...agreement because there was only so much he would put himself through to save Jinsen before giving up. Giving what he believed was the last look in the riverbed, Bob headed for the strange object which looked like it was waving at him in the murky waters as it was trying to float. Reaching it Bob held on tightly and it felt familiar somehow... The dangling bit waving at him earlier felt firm enough to pull when he gave a tug too. Whether or not it was because of the height of the object or something else, Bob could only get so high with it despite kicking against the water as always to get to the surface. The object was keeping him in place like an anchor. With it doing half his job floating in the river like this, Bob was not going to exhaust himself going down for another object and decided to keep this one no matter what he had to do.

Despite how he much he wanted to bring it up with him, Bob let the object go and allowed himself to sink a little under the weight of the water without resistance. Looking at the shape of the object, there was something bugging him but the experience of the day was really getting to him. Only moving his arms in the water so he could stay close to the object Bob finally reached a little below the object finding what he wanted. A rope keeping the object submerged in the water. He thought it was interesting to him but he cut it anyway seeing the now free object floating up to the surface. It would not do for him to have it reaching before him where Ravash could use as an excuse to make him get something again. Bob kicked himself into motion, his arms spread wide apart. While it knew it would make it harder for him to swim, the knowledge this was the last object helped him to use his remaining strength to cut through the water. As he was about to pass the object on his way up, he wound his arms around it to hug it at the the middle, securing them under the solid wavy things and brought it up with him to the surface.

It was when his no longer submerged ears which were cleared of water picked up Ravash's that Bob proudly proclaimed "if I knew you would be happy about this I wouldn't have saved it for last. I guess we are..." wait... What exactly did Ravash mean by "dead? Yargh!!!" Bob has been hugging on to a corpse the whole time. It was no wonder it felt so familiar and the sight of it unnerv ed him so much. Bob no longer wanted to hold on to it especially if it can be said a premonition of that hippo condition his uncle told him about so "you can have it! Now my dog?!" he demanded after tossing the corpse over to Ravash's direction. Bob could tell that the man was unnerved as he was, stepping away from the the corpse with eyes being unable to look away from it in shock of its sudden appearance.

[Bob Barton]

While Ravash was still staring at the corpse, Bob started to flick off the icky river water off his skin in attempts to dry himself up. After doing the best he could Bob started to dress himself again, his clothes only becoming slightly damp as a result but he needed to go back now or risk getting sick. Killroy's was not paying him enough already in his opinion and he did not want to lose out on a day because he was sick, losing out on his pay as a result too. Taking a step towards Ravash, Bob could tell even with his fears of the corpse the man was still attentive as he held Jinsen away from its master the way he always did everytime Bob tried to approach him. An interesting reaction he always had that Bob felt was good enough for him to act. After a pause, Bob tried to remind the man "I've done what we agreed. May I have Jinsen and leave now?" he asked never averting his eyes. He can no longer show weakness. Whatever Ravish wanted, he should do it himself.

Do it himself without asking Bob to carry the objects somemore. "That was not what we agreed" Bob said, realizing Ravash really did not want to go near the corpse when he asked Bob to bring the objects closer. Again the man used Jinsen to threaten Bob and enough was enough. Bob decided to teach him a lesson but acted subservient to the man, waiting for his chance to act. Turning around he made it look as if he was watching the corpse but what Bob actually did was strange to those that did not understand it. He bit a little bit of skin on his thumb, allowing the deep red blood to trickle down until it reached whatever water was left on him and became lighter. That did not matter much to Bob who already knew what he wanted to do. Moving his thumb around his lips, Bob smeared the now lightly coloured blood on his face. He may have no mirror but the motion but the confidence he has in this...method he has practiced for so long was enough for him to know that the result of his action was a lightly coloured circle around his mouth.

And that circle was good enough to make up for his mental exhaustion from being stuck alone in the water for Ravash's ill wants up to the point he was hugging a corpse. Bob confidence in his plan was slowly being overcome by anger but his emotions did not show it when he told Ravash in a rather dead voice "the swim, its making my limbs wobbly up here." He could feel his face grimacing which was why he never turned around yet instead opting to remain facing the corpse. As he started stretching his arms and legs out to free himself from the strain he felt because of the pressure from the water, Bob started to bring out his djed. Even with his inability to concentrate well from being tired after his dip Bob could feel his djed slowly reaching his mouth with less difficulty than he accepted. The glyph was truly doing its job to focus his djed to where he wanted it and that fact alone makes up for the discomfort he has on his thumb.

Feeling that he has gathered just enough djed for his purposes, Bob walked over to the pile of junk asking "where do you want me to put these?" His eyes were already scanning over them. Now that they were out of the water he was able to recognize them. There was no use for most them right now but he thought for a moment about all the strange things that a floods and storms during the season has brought into the river. "Wouldn't it be better if we take it straight to your place?" Bob asked when picking up some of the things. On one hand, he had his hand wrapped around something that looked like some distasteful ornament and his other hand held a rather heavy looking sack. With the djed he felt lingering in his mouth, Bob believed he was more prepared enough to put his plan into action based on everything he learned about Ravash.

First was to act on the man's fears. Slowly walking towards the man Bob called out "Ravish!" getting the man's attention and continued asking "what do you thin-..." before pausing and looking behind him. Bob was going to play on what the man feared and he acted as though as he was staring at the corpse when he settled the djed in his mouth, making sure that the focus held them all in right before he released them when he said "did you hear that?" with a slight tremor in his voice as if he was afraid as well. Bob knew he was not a good actor which is why he had to rely on his other skills, like his hypnotism that gave Ravash a flash of the corpse's arm raising itself up and falling with a thud when the words reached the ears to make himself convincing. While Bob thought that the sound was a bit of an overkill, it even had Bob convinced when he swore he saw it. In truth the focus helped to keep and maintain the djed but when the djed left its borders, the exhausted Bob that was unable to control it properly even had some of it reaching into himself and showing the same flash for him.

Bob took another quick glance at the corpse nearly losing out on his chance when he yelled the name "Ravish!" once more to grab the man's attention. If he already had been distracted enough with the combination of the corpse and hypnotism, what more the intended target? In taking advantage of the man's fears and a call that he would always react to after being conditioned from birth Bob has already provided the opportunity he wanted. An opportunity to charge. He was not too sure what Ravash will do but Bob being the gambler he is was betting that Ravash will do the same thing that he always did when approached. Although he was tired, Bob was telling himself over and over that it was only a short distance away. He would not have to run anymore. It will only be a short sprint and sprint he did. In closing the distance between him and Ravash, Bob was spreading his legs as far apart as he could to get the most distance and swung the sack front and back to keep him stable.

Right until he was just about to reach Ravash. Bob moved quickly and Ravash who still had the corpse in his mind took a few moments to react. The moments of delay was what Bob needed to close the gap and when he finally saw Ravash holding Jinsen away from Bob, Bob smirked and swung as hard as he could the sack from behind almost tripping on himself when he released it. Seeing the sack flying straight at Ravash, Bob followed behind it. When it knocked into the man, the impact forcing him to release Jinsen Bob was relieved. Up until that point he was still afraid that Jinsen would have gotten in the way if Ravash was fast enough in bringing the dog back or did not follow Bob's predictions of what would happen when he started moving. Bob was pleased. His plan worked. Now there was only one thing left that would please him even more...

Retribution.

Bob clutched the ornament in his hands and used the speed he had built up in his run to ram his shoulder into Ravash resulting in both men going down to the ground. Already prepared for it to happen since it was his plan, Bob was able to recover first. Scrambling towards where Ravash landed, Bob got on top of him and clutching the ornament hard in his hands he gave the man a punch to the face. Even as he sent his fist he could feel his lack of strength behind it but he had the foresight to do something about it. Despite what should have happened of Bob being unable to hurt Ravash, the ornament he held in his hands supplied him with the necessary weight to make up for it and the person he was assaulting would be glad that Bob did not prepare another one. This was because he sent another blow to Ravash's face with his other fist in a continuation of his attack. Bob scowled when he felt his fist weakly landing and again brought up the fist with the ornament for another blow, bringing it down to his enemy's stomach this time.

[Bob Barton]

The barrage of blows continued but it could not last long. Bob in his exhausted body was running on anger. Anger that although burning so hot could only fuel his fists movements. All his blows connected on to his opponent although Ravash did a good job of blocking most of them which came after the two Bob sent at him in his surprised. Only half of those blows were truly capable of doing any damage to the man being made heavier with the ornament it held. Ravash did not have to wait too long for his counterattack as Bob started to gasp for breath with his fatigue catching up to him. Soon after his punches got slower. That was when Ravash acted, predicting the slow punches that Bob has repeated over and over in order to keep the man down. Unlike Bob, the man was fresh and Bob felt the pain as fingernails dug into his wrists forcing him release ornament he depended on to add much needed strength to his blows.

Knowing that he needed to get out of this situation before things turn out for the worse, Bob tried to pull himself back. Call it experience on Ravash's part or the lack of in Bob himself they both found their positions reversed. Somehow Bob saw Ravash on top of him as he was on the ground. It was Ravash's turn to send a few blows of his own which Bob got on his face and his stomach before he recovered from his surprise and started to block them off. Unlike himself, Ravash's punches actually hurt. Bob had no doubts it would not be worse if the man was not as starved as he was but the pain of the blows knocking the wind off of him forced Bob to take the effort to defend himself. Efforts in vain Bob just could not catch up with Ravash that was still full of energy. It was as if where he sent his hands and arms, Ravash was already going on to his next target which Bob left undefended unless it happened to be close enough to where Bob decided to defend.

The situation would only get worse the longer it took as realization reached Bob that eventually he would not even be able to move his arms. Still trying to block whatever he could he tried to see if there was any weakness in Ravash he could exploit. That was when he saw Jinsen standing behind the two people slobbering in the ground. Bob wanted to call out to the dog for help but only having it for a season he knew that the dog would not be of much use. Even it reacting to him during the chase was a miracle in itself. Maybe if Bob has trained it better...but no. If Jinsen did not understand what its master wanted after crying out, Ravash will be aware of the dog's presence and the risk it had on him. Bob's only hope will lose out on its element of surprise and he will end up as another casualty in the vicious cycle of Sunberth.

This...would be the last chance he will take today, probably the last he ever will if he failed. What Hannah told him when he first got Jinsen, that Jinsen would understand his actions and intents more than his commands. By Kelwyn not only would it get Jinsen into action but it will fool Ravash as well. Bob prepared himself and deliberately slow down his blocks. Eventhough he was prepared for them this time, the blocks still hurt but they took them or at least one...two...three...four...five... Finally he allowed his limbs to go limp. It was not too hard when he is already so weakened from the combination of his exhaustion and blows from Ravash but Bob allowed one more thing to make himself seem convincing. He visibly grimaced at the sixth blow and puckered up his lips at the same time as he squealed weakly. Despite that he did his best to make sure that he added that one last word "J-J-Jin...sen..." as clear as he could eventhough he tried to keep it soft like he was on his last legs for Ravash's sake.

"Ouch..." he told himself... Preparation can never be enough for him just letting his head drop on the ground on his own to appear like he has finally succumbed but it did the job. Ravash slowed down but it was unimportant since he was a fellow actor in this play. No Jinsen the main audience stepped up like spectators that will cheer or boo at the conclusion. The dog seeing its master go down, charged at his assailant and while Bob could not see it with him closing his eyes playing his dead he heard the bark and the yell of pain which followed. After he felt the body on top of him shifting itself as if trying to prevent whatever it was Jinsen did to Ravash from continuing, Bob could tell this was how it was going to end. While he did not know how exactly Ravash did it, Bob was going to try it himself. A way to get Ravash off him.

With his hands already touching the ground from his act earlier, Bob only needed to push against it. At the same time when he opened his eyes and saw that indeed Jinsen had its jaws on Ravash's arm. With the man being so focused on trying to get rid of the dog, he did not notice Bob bending his back up. Not until Bob quickly jerked himself forward, using his arms to drive him and had Ravash stumbling back. Instead of helping Jinsen, Bob crawled back to get some distance encouraging Jinsen "don't let up!" in an energetic voice. As if applauding Jinsen for yet another job well done which was actually true. Bob hopes that Jinsen would remember this because he could not allow himself to constantly get into fights just to train the dog to protect him from danger. Eventhough it is so easy to see when Bob was getting attack. Speaking of attack, Bob made sure that he was crawling towards the sack and held it in both his hands and dragged it towards Ravash.

What happened next needed no telling as Bob used the sack in his hands. An exhausted Bob or an untrained Jinsen was maybe just enough for the man to defend against but both of them? Needless to say Bob did not let up on the attack just as he did not allow Jinsen to let go when he constantly reminded the dog "don't let go." The bag continued hitting Ravash as Bob kept it in a rotating motion to keep up the momentum even when the man went down only stopping when the sack finally burst. With that Jinsen stopped biting with on its own accord which Bob reprimanded "no! Bad Jinsen. Wait until I tell you to stop next time" his tone conveying his intents as it looks like Jinsen was stepping back. Whining a little bit as if it was sorry for not waiting on Bob's commands. Bob would have a few more words when his eyes spied what turned out from the bag and widened. "This...this makes it all worth it!" he told Jinsen holding the dog up to the air happily which the Bob only understanding its masters joy was most happy to give an excited bark.

Predictably Bob not only put back the contents of the sack where they belonged and tried to seal up the breach, but also looked through the other items he fished up. This also included the corpse he found although it was a bit unnerving. Bob was not going to leave it where it was and decided to drag it under the bridge where Ravash laid. At least the storm being so recent, whoever this poor soul was is not disgusting enough for Bob to run away...yet... He searched through the pockets still anticipating the hand to move after what his hypnotism showed him but to his satisfaction nothing of the sort happened. After that he searched through the coat and took whatever he could. "Now what to do with the both of you..." Bob wondered to himself seeing the corpse and the unconscious Ravash side by side. He could not allow the body to stay where it is to be eaten by animals, or worse and he could not allow Ravash to be let off after what he did.

In the end, he decided. Bob took out the dagger he got off the akalak last season. A reminder to him that he could beat even a bigger opponent. With it he started cutting into the corpses body. Foul blood splurting out as the steel cut into flesh to form shapes. This time, looking at it Bob was able to make sure that the shape he made resembles a circle eventhough the his shaky arms made the circle look rushed. After finishing the circle Bob continued to add something else while stealing glances at Ravash to make sure the man has not gotten up yet. This was a little bit dangerous to do in a place like Sunberth but hopefully the bridge was good enough cover for him. He lightly stabbed into the body and flicked to make a small line from the cut and another two following each one, joined to form a triangle. To Bob when he saw a fire, the shape he was reminded most of was a triangle of course. He continued cutting in and flicking until the circle was surrounded by triangles. Finally he poked in and started carving into the flesh as he slowly wrote what would happen. Release when moved.

While the glyph looked good Bob knew it would now be stable from what he was thought but it suited him just fine for his plans. Ravash will be the one to worry about it. Taking one last glance around the bridge to make sure that no one else was watching him and Ravash was still unconscious, Bob put his hand on the glyph. It already had a focus. Good enough to help him being out res from his hand again above the glyph. It felt like he was applying some sort of lotion, not that a dead man would care. In fact he should be happy. After having enough, Bob rubbed the res on to the glyph while willing it to get off his own skin and stay on the corpse's. Then except for the innermost core Bob kept thinking of fire, heat and hot thoughts until the res ignited into fre with him immediately willing the res and the fire it controlled to head into the glyph. The job was done. "Jinsen. We have to leave. Now!" he said sternly to suggest a sense of urgency to the dog before grabbing his loot and walking off.

Jinsen did not follow until Bob already going to turn into the main street said sharply "Jinsen!" for it to rush over to him. Bob continued, never looking back at the bridge until he was able to reach the kennels again to take the hot bath he needed and appraise the loot he had gotten. The next day, whatever he did not want he would try to sell. Hopefully someone will not try to force him into an unfavorable deal like Ravash has tried to the whole day today.