Laurent is patching up Valliere. When he is done, I'm sure he'll make his rounds. Pietro. Brave Pietro is unconscious. He is very nearly dead. We are all very nearly dead. Reynaldo. Typical of his style, he fought well and was nearly cut to pieces. He is leaning against a tree now, alive but barely conscious. Lia fared best of us all, and that is probably because the Vesten didn't want to kill her. She fought as well as could be expected. Unfortunately for James, it was not good enough.

We had just left Montegue's camp, having completed our task for Princess Dominique. The general had given his gratitude and a letter allowing us "safe passage" through Montaigne. What he didn't tell us, but what we already know is that the letter is only good if we run into troops loyal to Montegue, which is to say, most of the conscripts and lower level echelons, but many of the officers may not be. Grateful for our service to his lady, Montegue had given us the other compass as a reward so we have both, or rather had both of the compasses. Shortly after we left his camp, a porte portal opened, a hand reached through, and took my compass, the one given to me by Princess Dominique. Vallierre still has the other compass, but what he intends to do with it I can not begin to fathom.

After leaving the camp, we arrived at an Ussuran coastal town, where William procured us some transportation. A ship, or rather a longboat. While drinking at a local tavern William got into a brawl with this huge Vesten warrior and in typical William fashion made friends with the man afterwards. We drank away the rest of the night. These Vesten are certainly hearty drinkers.

On the morrow we set sail on their vessel. We will of course be expected to serve as seamen. This in repayment for passage to Eisen. I remember stories of Vesten raiders while I was a member of the Brotherhood of the Coast. Those stories have been causing me a little tension and stress. William does not seem concerned and he is normally a good judge of character, so we shall see what happens. I am looking forward to watching Vallierre man the oars. The dog is still too arrogant. This may help to humble him. He thinks he will be a passenger, ohhh, this will be good.

So much for William's judge of character. We just got done watching our new "friends" pillage and burn an Eisen town. Pietro, eager beaver that he is, even helped them. Foolish dog. I couldn't, wouldn't participate. Yet I did nothing to prevent it. I simply stared in horror as the Vesten slaughtered those people. I watched them strike down men, and women alike, without a second thought. The Vesten are animals. Demons, just like the stories I remember. So if they are demons, what does that make me? Tonight I will not sleep well. Why did I not act? Why? I am dead. I am no better now than the "Butcher of San Juan," or the men who serve him. All my lofty ideals and arrogance that I am better than the Montaigne. I am not. I cowered on the ship and now I will have to live with that guilt for the rest of my life. May Legion take my soul for that is what I deserve.

When the Vesten returned from the raid, they brought with them four women from the village. "Prizes" I suppose. I know in my heart why they have them, yet I still do nothing. Why? I shame my grandfather's memory today. I look around, my companions are silent, all of them. I glare at Pietro. Dog. Lia, what could be going through her mind now, I wonder? She has been silent through it all. I see fire burning in her eyes. Shudder. I have seen that look on another woman once before. An itch. A scar on my shoulder itches. I can not meet her gaze. Lia, while a lovely woman, she seems so hideous now. I am ashamed. By not acting I have let her down.

At night the captain orders the ship to shore. They want to celebrate it seems. All of the Vesten except for the drummer, a grisly old warrior, and a whelp, one who has not yet earned the "right" to celebrate, disembark. With their captives tied, a big bonfire is constructed and the merry making commences. We watch from the ship. Even Pietro, does not join in. Redemption for himself. Silence. Suddenly the Vesten stop singing. A scream, I look over and see that they are stripping the women, preparing them for what I feared, yet knew was to happen. Movement. William is disembarking and heading towards the captain. Reynaldo is close on his heels. Lia and James soon disembark as well.

An argument ensues. I can't hear the exchange, but their body language says it all. William seems apprehensive. He doesn't want to fight, but I know that he will. The others stand nearby. Only Pietro and I remain on the ship. Shaking. I am shaking. I look at the old Vesten timekeeper. He seems not to notice the actions on the shore. I move to the hold to make ready the horses. We will be leaving soon.

A shout and curses. I look up to see the old man rushing to attack Pietro. I swing into action. Years of training take over as I lose myself in the fight. The old man is dead. Killed before he knew what hit him. I look around and see that Pietro has finished off the young one. Looking to the shore I see a pitched battle. We are outnumbered nearly three to one. This will be bad. Pietro rushes down the ramp while I continue to prep the horses.

A shout in Vodacce. Pietro. I look over and see him fighting six Vesten. Forgetting the horses I quickly rush to his aid. Blood. He has already be cut several time, but he is still fighting valiantly. Rushing in I kill a Vesten in one strike. Back to back we now stand. My blade flies through the air, a flurry of strikes and parries. I feel a weight fall against me. Pietro is down. I fight on my own now. There are still two more Vesten facing me. Arrgh, one of them buries his battle axe into my ribs. Pain shoots through my body and I almost collapse. Anger courses through my veins. Only sheer force of will and a sudden burst of adrenaline allow me to act. I grin as I see the Vesten's eager smile suddenly fade to shock and then pain as he realizes that I sank my rapier up to its hilt in his belly. Using him as a shield I avoid a strike by his companion. Freeing my blade I finish him off quickly enough.

Carnage. Reynaldo is down. Laurent and Vallierre are nowhere to be seen. James is down and Lia is hard pressed. William is still fighting Valiantly trading blows. Incredible, he fights both the first mate and the captain. All three are badly wounded. We have lost. I jump on one of the horses I managed to get off the ship and go racing towards Lia.

Trampling a Vesten underneath as I ride by, I scoop Lia up and lift her onto the back of the horse. I look back to see two Vesten rushing towards the ship, presumably to get horses and come after us. We ride a little further and stop. We can't leave the others. Turning the horse we await the two riders. I hear the pounding of hooves and spur the horse forward, charging them. We round a bend and run straight into them. Not stopping, I cut one down as Lia kills the other.

Gunshots. We arrive just in time to see Vallierre shoot down the last of the underlings. Surveying the scene I see William and the first mate are the only two still fighting. They exchange words in Avalon. A strike and William slays the last Vesten. It is over.

Lia's voice brings me back to the present. She and Laurent want to tend my wounds. Looking around I am the last to receive aid. I see William digging a grave for James. We lost one member of our party to the raiders. We beat them, but at what cost. Will I ever be able to atone for my earlier actions, or lack thereof.

"William." You made friends with these men and then fought them to stop the rape of some helpless women. Tell me my friend, did you intervene because it was the right thing to do, or because your pride had been wounded. Once upon a time, I thought I knew the answer to that.

"Vallierre." I still despise you, but you fought bravely and did not abandon us.

"Laurent." Always faithful. How many times have we dragged your old soul into battle. Too many I'm afraid.

"Reynaldo." You are still a Vodacce dog my friend, but a valiant dog at that. I will fight with you anytime.

"Pietro." You fight bravely but your actions sometimes are misguided.

"Lia." Can you ever forgive my lapse. I hope so but I do not expect you to. I'm not sure that I can forgive myself. The screams of those villagers add to my nightmares.

"James." I didn't really know you, but I must wish you well on your journey. May Theus take and guard your soul for eternity. Rest in peace my friend.