Hon Yin sees the waving shadow and smiles, nudging Chen Wu in the side. "You worry too much. I told you the village would be safe. Sai knows diplomacy as well as you know alchemy. He's a sure bet." Still smiling cleric strides towards the shadow, waving back as he approaches, and heads towards the town gate.

"That remains to be seen..." Says Chen Wu while he walks besides Hon Yin with his hands inside his own pockets.

"Good evening", says Chen Wu, drily. "Is there really need for all this? I thought the people in this side of the country were more hospitable."

"I don't think they will budge on this. I think we simply need to take our coin elsewhere," Sai says.

Chen Wu answers Sai "And I thought people that don't like money was an impossible sight. Living and learning, as they say..."

Sai says, "I would not disrespect your house by entering it and not complying with your requests. That said, our day has not been peaceful and for that reason, I am reluctant to be without my blades, as I am sure my companions would agree.

"Our intentions were to find a bed, nothing more. It was our business I wished to conceal, not our intent, and for the same reason you greet strangers with steel: there are violent men out and one cannot be too cautious.

"If you are concerned that a group of travellers is going to make an armed assault on you after entering you hall and giving you coin, in between taking turns sleeping, then I surely will not try to change your mind further.

"If you would give us a moment to decide?"

Hon Yin stands, a deep frown set upon his features. Clearing his throat he turns to the guards. "I understand your concern my friends. This is your home and we are indeed strangers here. We mean you no ill will but you must understand that, to us, many of these weapons are far more then tools of war. My friends firearm is the pinnacle of his life's work. I know that, given the chance, he would part with his hands before he turn over his weapon.

But this is, as you say, your home and these people you family. You wish only to keep them safe. I will not insult you by going against your wishes. I ask only a single compromise; allow my friend to keep his firearm. He will turn over his shot and his powder - the thing will be no weapon without them and a danger to no one else. In return we will hand over all other weapons and comply fully with all other rules you have or decision you make. In this you have my word as a warrior, a priest and a man."

Chen Wu grumbles. "I'm not giving them anything besides the fair coins they will deserve for housing us if they decide to drop those silly requests. You do not understand my science, so don't make any guesses about it. The ammunition is as important as the gun." He says looking to Hon Yin.

Hon Yin sighs heavily and shrugs to no-one in particular. "Well I tried. Fields it is then."

Sai says, "I think that may be best."

He looks around at the mercenaries and then says to the guards, "We must decline your hospitality. May you continue to enjoy your peace."

He turns around and starts looking for likely places to find shelter outside.

Sai says, "I am not afraid to camp in the rough, but I think our best bet is to head towards the houses with barns. I think our coin might buy us a place in the straw, assuming that we find someone up at this hour to accept the offer."

As they leave, Chen Wu speaks, to no one in particular. "I hope our persuers burn down their hospitality alongside their goddamn Town."



"I actually think we should retreat to the forest and try to stay hidden tonight. Those stupid simpletons in the Town already know about us and where we intend to spend the night. If our enemies reach the Town today, they will open their mouths, and we wont be able to hide in the open fields."

Sai nods. "Works for me.

"I wouldn't be too hard on them," he says when they're out of earshot of the guard. "We are, in fact, the kind of the people they're afraid of. I won't swing steel for any cause that I think is wrong, but I have no illusions that we're soldiers of fortune. They're being stupid, but people have done worse in fairer times.

"That said, are we in agreement about the woods?"

Sai says, "This looks good to me. If there are no objections, I'll see if I can find us a spot to camp. I will admit, however, that I'm much more used to finding squatting space in urban environments."