An Enemy Among Friends

Quick Note: Conversation between Drog and Sir Garland takes place after the groups departure from the Yin-Sloth Jungles.  The conversation will be a lot more understandable (and cooler also) if you first read the backgrounds of Drog, Sir Garland, Rashidi, and you know that Coren is the only 17 and might have something going with Sir Garland.  Enjoy!

Drog stuck out his hand. That was his way of telling Sir Garland that he needed the knife. Sir Garland handed it to him and Drog began gutting the deer. It had been a nice shot that killed it. Garland hit it in the shoulder from 200 yards, through brush. The animal had taken half a dozen steps before it collapsed.

Even though Drog didn't eat meat he was an excellent deer skinner. Garland had Drog do the skinning and gutting of his kills often.

But Sir Garland often felt uncomfortable when alone with Drog. He had made a few struggling attempts at a conversation today, but to no avail. But Garland had never been a quitter.

"I woke up last night and noticed you were awake" he said while holding the deer steady.

"I was keeping watch" Drog replied, not looking up from his work.

"That's what we have Rashidi for" Garland said jokingly.

"No" Drog said seriously.

"What?" Garland responded quietly with a confused look.

"No I don't trust him"

"But he always seems to watch our backs for us."

"Looking for a good place to stick those swords no doubt."

"Are you sure? I mean..."

"Listen boy." Drog interrupted, looking Garland in the eyes. "I have been around the world and back many times. I was fighting in the Eastern border wars before your father could walk. I have known people you could never dream of. I pride myself in my ability to read a man and this one is not worthy of my trust."

"I know he practices the dark arts, but their is a good man inside, I can feel it. I have to try to turn him around if it kills me."

Drog gave a soft chuckle. "I envy your optimism boy, but you are too trusting. And your statement has truth. Men don't just turn around and if you try to turn him around you WILL die. And maybe we will too."

Garland stood, thinking for a moment and then began dragging the deer back to camp while Drog stayed to clean up. Garland respected Drog, and respected his opinion. Garland was given everything when he was little from his rich father. But nobody had ever given Drog anything, people hated him because of his appearance but it never really seemed to bother him. He had always had to take care of himself, and probably wouldn't know what to do if someone gave him something now.

And Drog liked the boy, and his strangely positive outlook on life even though he never had said it outloud. The boy was good to him. He had helped him back in the Yin-Sloth when he was being hunted, and he could have easily abandoned him, and Drog would not forget that easily. Friends were not so common when you are a hulking 8' tall giant, but the boy was his friend.

"Garland you be sure to watch out for yourself" Drog called after him. He worried about the boy.

"You don't think he would hurt Coren, do you?" Garland said turning around. Drog shrugged.

"Do me a favor and watch out for her, will you?" Garland said worriedly. Drog gave an understanding nod. The two stared at each other, somehow bonded, in a strange unlikely friendship.

Then they went back to work.

- Thanks goes to Ash and Ihsan for submitting the great conversation -