" How long?" Hallia asks."Maybe an hour, maybe two."Esmerelda frowned. "The defensive spells cast upon the battalions will hold for two more hours." W... can hope." They are too closely engaged for any long distance magicks." Esmerelda spoke.In the far distance the lone battalions fought. The irregulars formed a loose front line of pike companies, while the cannon and bombard companies held back and loosed death from afar. However mass of undead, orks, and humans threatened to overrun the small. “Here, I’ve poured you another glass.”I took the wine and took a sip, looking for a bit of Dutch courage from the alcohol to help me handle this unusual situation. I was definitely feeling more relaxed with her easy and accepting manner, so I did a playful twirl, trying to move with as feminine a bearing as possible, then looked at her expectantly.“Nice. Do it again but slower. And take off the robe. I want to see all of you.”I took another mouthful of wine and put the glass on the island, then. I add a nice short staff to my weapons from those Joe has here. He hadn’t mentioned it before, but I like it as soon as I see it. It’s the perfect height for a hanbō: just up to my waist, as thick as my thumb, and made from a hardwood. Also, we all add good crossbows and bolts to our pile of weapons.Joe has a nice room in the house while I elect to sleep on the loose hay in the barn. I’d seen their beds earlier and I know I’ll be better off in the barn. I fall asleep as soon as I ’hit the hay:’. Then she tells me all else that is agreed. I can only shake my head in wonder that Irving will give so much.“Without you I receive none of this,” I say. “I should know this when Irving first speaks, I know one does not ever accept first...” I cannot think of right word.“First offer,” she helps me.“Offer, yes. Always make better offer in return, is right way of bargaining. But in this place I do not know what may be bargained. In store you do not bargain for things, and I think at first this is.