Stefano's eyes were trained on the duel when he heard Lala's indignant yells above even the roar of combat. He turned and witnessed the exchange between her and the knight and he smiled to himself.
"Well... I don't think we can count on him to play along." Stefano said to himself as he turned his attention back to the duel.
He was just in time to see Silas knocked to his knees. Stefano reached for his arqubus and began raising it to his eye,
"Sorry friend. Looks like my plans weren't in..." before he could finish his train of thought he heard from his kneeling commander "Checkmate". And then a flurry of motion as in a few short moments he completely turned the course of the duel. Stefano cheered and threw his hands in the air in celebration. He shouldered his weapon and watched as his champion threw the orc's head to the assembled masses.
"Excellent showmanship!" he shouted trying to stand on Ojan's shoulders. The large man struggled to maintain balance for the both of them and barely managed to keep it, "Hey! Watch it! Don't spend all our winnings on a new neck!" Stefano found his balance and shouted to the locally gathered soldiers,
"Hah! Haahhhah! Pay up all you faithless! And join us in rejoining! For fortune has made even the penniless winners!" and dispute some of them losing a purse of gold the gamblers cheered, at the victory or their winnings it didn't matter. And at that Stefano lost his balance and came crashing down to the earth. He dusted himself off and winches in pain as winnings were handed out and and losses and buy ins were pooled, Stefano and chuckled warmly to himself. Part of his ecstatic joy was of course akin to the pile of gold he earned, but far more important to him was the conclusion of a successful hunt, and the flavorful taste of victory.
The twins had pooled the take away and with a stick had separated the pile into three even looking piles. Stefano smiled as he took out a large rod used to clean his gun and rework the coins into four even piles.
"Boys, boys, boys! The portions are wrong! You've left out a vital partner in this business venture." Ulri rolled his eyes and responded exasperated, "First things first Stefano, me and Ojan are six years your senior. Quit calling us boys. Also no cheating us! Even splits remember?" Stefano didn't miss a beat as he responded,
"Older yes. But you lack ambition and initiative, not to worry though as I'll be providing enough for all of us. Making you my boys. On to the next order of business. The manager is nothing without his..." just at that moment Lala showed up with Silas asking about music.
Stefano continued speaking more upbeat than he had been when talking to the twins.
"Champion! You sir have never ceased to amaze me! And my most beautiful Lala, I will play the Lyre and lute until my fingers bleed tonight! Hell I'll sing dwarven opera if you wish!" Stefano took off his beret and bowed low to the fourth pile of gold.
"Humble as it is, here is my contribution to your skill, Silas Rose."@13org@Arthanus
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