What a lovely day. What a lovely day, indeed, Furley mused, as he looked at the fountain outside the Prancing Pony. Truth be told, he'd felt rather pleased with himself. He'd managed to contact Deorla, and together they'd hatched out a plan. He was tired of them being threatened and hunted, and now, something had snapped in him. And the fire side that he had worked so hard to suppress had begun to seep through again, and he almost licked his lips as he thought upon what he'd planned.
Baraque was stood there. Furley had greeted him, and he'd started to wind him up again. He needed a reaction. Needed him angry. Needed him to do something stupid. And then, he could spring the trap upon the great hulk of a man.
"Well, now we're face to face, and I cannot hide behind my Company. What would you really like to say? Perhaps then, I'll tell you what the feather meant".
Baraque smirked lightly. "Truth be told, part of me would like to kill you. No point in lying about that. One should not threaten Ristiinna like that and live to talk about it, if you ask me." He reaches down and closed his book that he had been scrawling in. "But since I can not do that... I think I have said enough with that, do you not agree?"
Furley smiled, then shook his head. "Perhaps you'll get your opportunity, in time. But regarding your question... I merely wanted to meet you face to face once more. When there's too much already in the pot on the table, one cannot fold so easily".
Inside, Furley felt delight. He had begun to enjoy weaving a web of silken-wrapped words around a person. Although, whether they were as silken as he gave them credit for, remained to be seen. He looked at Baraque, deadpan serious, so that he knew how serious he was.
"What you fail to realise, is that you started this. You went after one of my own. That is not easily forgiven. So let me explain to you how this works. When you put one of our members on the table, you gambled. And despite attempts, you refuse to work with me in a peaceful resolution. So... the question is. How badly do you want that shot at killing me? Hmm?"
Baraque kept his stare, and went silent for quite some time. "You are bluffing. You would not agree to anything that would put you at risk. Not with how much you have shown to hide behind others. It is a trap."
Furley cocked his head slightly. "It depends how badly you want to end this. How are things going with the barmaid, eh? Because if you won't take the gamble, I may raise your stakes"
Baraque grit his teeth at that. "Shut your mouth if you know what is best for you." He said, clenching his fist hard.
Furley took a step closer, and smiled. Bingo. "You see... here's your problem. When I haven't got the Company to hide behind... I don't have to cage myself either!" he cackled. "So. There's no way back, then. Have you realised yet that the only way through a collapsed mine shaft is through?"
Baraque sighed and nodded slowly, speaking in a much more calm and collected voice "So how do we do this?"
Furley grinned. Time to set the bait. "Well, perhaps you'd better meet her again in person. And by the end of it, you will no longer have an issue with her. And there's more than one way to achieve that aim" he said, slyly.
Baraque frowned at him, then almost smiled. "Her? My issue is no longer with Deorla. It is completely with you. The two of us will finish this, not her." He looked around and lowered his voice. "Give me a place and time, and we shall finish this."
Furley didn't look away, but that cocky streak of his dissipated somewhat. He hadn't planned for this.
F**k, he thought to himself. The terms had changed, and the target had changed. And that target was now him. It'd take all of his skill to resolve this one in his favour.
