Eyes rolling back in his head, Lord Tolan keeled over and dropped to the ground in a dead faint."Oh, dear," Kirriam said, her hand flying to her mouth in surprise. "That wasn't what I expected him to do at all."
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE!?!" yelled the Swordsman as most of his men looked anywhere but directly at him. Not even noticing the fact that Lord Tolan had fainted, Sterling took a few seconds to piece things together and figured out what his men were up to before their untimely arrival. "Don't tell me you guys were playing 'Strip Swordfighting' again!?!"
"We were working our way up to it, sir!" admitted one Drow in the group. "You have to admit, she's got a nice body!"
"Aye, and a great arse too, sir!' added another one with a devilish grin.
"Be that as it may, you don't treat a lady--Oh my God, YOU'RE LADY KIRRIAM, AREN'T YOU!?!" cried Sterling in complete shock as the realization of who she was finally hit home!
The young woman just nodded her head wordlessly.
"GOOD GRIEF!" said the Swordsman in almost total disbelief.
"Uh sir, what's his problem?" Pointed Hickory to the unconscious Lord Tolan lying face down on the ground. "He looks like he just passed out, sir!"
Sterling had to think quick, he did not under any circumstances want his men to think that the de facto military leader of the Yarfellians was weak, lest his men would lose respect for their employer and their cause. So, behind the gaze of an infectious grin, the Swordsman came up with a convenient lie.
"The poor Human couldn't hold his Cannard, Hickory!" replied the Drow Captain calmly, "One can say that our finest wine got the better of him!"
A few of the men laughed at Sterling's little joke as a cry went up from the far side of the camp. It was Doc and he said, "PAY DAY! IT'S TIME TO GET PAID!"
The men were ready to bolt and run, but stood at attention as the Swordsman eagerly said, "Dismissed!"
With that, they took off like rabbits flushed from a warren heading in the direction of Doc's voice and leaving only Lady Kirriam, Sterling, the Lieutenant, and the unconscious Lord Tolan behind.
Taking off his travelling cloak and wrapping it around Lady Kirriam, the Swordsman asked in a kind voice, "Are you all right, my lady?"
A Point To Ponder
