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OOC: Part 7a (I noticed it was getting much too long to post part 7 in one part, but it really is supposed to be one post so this is 7a [img]tongue.gif[/img] ) of Andrion's history.
Sitting in the dockside inn Andrion mused how fast the two years had passed since he last saw Tunninni. The cool breeze moved the leaves on the trees outside making their long shadows cast by the setting sun seem to be alive. Some would have called the scene idillic. But for Andrion it was just another sunset as the last fifteen he had seen, sitting at the same table.
Tunninni should have arrived more than two weeks ago. Andrion knew that travel over longer distances could suffer delays, so he was not overly worried, but still the thought that Tunninni had never before missed a meeting did trouble him slightly.
Andrion watched the unloading of a cargo ship. Crates and barrels were being unloaded by a small crane and by men walking up and down the gangplank. Then suddenly Andrion saw a dark shape move at the aft section of the ship. He blinked, but when he looked again the figure was gone.
Could it be that he had made himself see what he wanted to see? The figure had strangely resembled Tunninni. Chasing away the thoughts Andrion ordered food and another flagon of wine.
When two hours later Andrion went up to his room he found a plain dagger on his bed. Anyone else would have gotten scared senseless, but Andrion actually was happy to at last have heard of Tunninni. He picked up the dagger and was just about to put it on the small table when he heard a noise from behind him.
You're losing practice. You didn't check under the bed. I could have easily killed you."
Andrion turned smiling to see Tunninni just climbing out from under the bed.
"Nice to see you too."
Tunninni returned the smile and then sat down on the bed.
"Kergan's dead. His brother killed him over a year ago. He has now set up a group of his own operating a smuggling group, who also attack other ships."
Andrion nodded gravely.
"Straight to business as you always did Tunninni. Although Kergan's departure does not make me overly sad, we need to find someone to replace him for the mission we had in mind."
Tunninni smiled his almost characteristic smile at Andrion and stood up from the bedside. He opened the door and checked to see whether there was anyone outside. Satisfied he closed the door.
"Kergan's brother had captured me while I travelled the seas. The only way he wanted to let me go was if I let him in on the job. He wants us to work with him on this."
"If you're thinking what I'm thinking then this shall actually work for us."
"Indeed."
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"Welcome aboard Andrion. Nice to see you again Tunninni."
Kergan's brother, Huti seemed to have gotten fatter and much better off since they had rescued him.
It had taken Andrion and Tunninni two weeks before their ship got "captured" by Huti's pirates. Now they were on the third ship of a four ship large convoy moving on the seas towards the northern lands, where the dragon lived.
Huti had recruited a crew of three hundred to combat the dragon. Although at first this would have seemed to be overkill, both Andrion and Tunninni and even Huti himself knew that most of his pirates and smugglers would be of no use against the dragon.
After a four month long journey they made landfall in the frosty north. They still had to combat the frosty plains and treacherous mountain passes before getting near the dragon.
By the time they reached the Pass of the Frozen Warrior already fifty of Huti's men had died due to the cold.
On the way down Andrion slipped on the icy path and nearly fell off the path, only barely managing to hold on to a frozen rock. As he tried to gain a foothold he looked up to see Tunninni standing above him. His eyes seemed cold and measured, but then to Andrion's surprise he extended his hand towards him and pulled Andrion up.
Shaking the ice and snow off himself Andrion looked at Tunninni.
"I owe you one Tunninni."
"Just consider me repaying you for the two times you saved my life over three years ago."
That night they camped for the last time before reaching the dragon's cave.
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