Follow them! #23

“Right,” grins Dagan, drool flowing down his chin. He staggers to the bar. Slapping his palm down on the counter, he shouts “Goat Root!”
“Oh, you little devil,” chuckles Dorbane, slapping the young Kutollum on the back.
Egerton shakes his head, seemingly disgusted and lifts a small box onto the counter. Opening it reveals what looks a lot like small, curly, shredded…weeds? You have no clue what it is—but Dagan and Dorbane each take a pinch and put in in their mouths.
Dorbane then takes a pinch and forces his fat fingers in your mouth. Your mouth instantly burns.
“CHEW!” he snaps, and yanks you towards the front door. You follow, though your eyes are already watering.
Your mouth fills with saliva, almost uncontrollably. There’s a numbing sensation along your tongue and cheeks.
“Leave the girl in the booth,” you yell back at Egerton, “…we’ll be right back!”
The three of you get outside just in time to see the two men from the booth. They turn the corner at the far end of the tavern. You start running as fast as you can. Ok, it’s closer to aggressive stumbling.
“What is this garbage!??” you complain, “It’s disgusting…and it burns!”
“Don’t spit it out,” warns Dorbane, “just swallow your spit as it forms. It’s Goat Root—a rare herb Kutollum use to detoxify animals who get into the Black Lilies we use to make Rum. Our soldiers use it so they can sober up in an emergency. It burns the alcohol from your stomach and blood.”
“ARGH!” you wince, grabbing your gut.
“If it doesn’t eat a hole in yer stomach first!” says Dagan, who sounds a little too enthusiastic.
Though it’s a challenge, the three of you manage to follow Corey and Julian through the maze of structures and up to the outer wall of Castle Andilain. Orderly rows of blue and red tents line the field immediately outside the great walls.
“There!” whispers Dagan, pointing. The Captains tent, identified by its size and the two flags posted at it’s opening.
“I was right,” you snarl, “look who our mystery man, Julian is!”
Ducking into the tent flap is Corey and the young farm boy you let go.
“Lying little goat-nut,” spits Dorbane.
“Come on,” you urge, and work your way around to the horse stables. Several horses are in a roped off area, which is next to the Captains tent. There’s a hay cart between the tent and the water troff.

Use the hay cart to hide behind, while you listen at the tent wall. Go to page #24
“Let’s give those boys a surprise…” Go to page #115