"It's a daytrip! It'll be good to have two lovely girls along, I get to show off! I'll handle the boat and traps. Don't bring metal armor, it clanks."

"I can manage that. Where'll we be going? I've no camping supplies..."

"Oh, it's just a day trip. We have to be back tomorrow anyway, right? I guess having survival supplies is a good idea just in case. Maybe we can borrow stuff from the warehouse here."

"I'd want to be prepared, just in case. And I mean I don't even have a backpack. I'm... running a bit close to the bone, right now."

"I'll figure it out, one way or another! Meet back here in an hour?"

"You could borrow mine," Lucille says. "I don't have to come..."

"Nonsense, nonsense! I'll figure it out."

"Meet back here in an hour, and we'll see if your solution holds up."

An hour later he has gotten canteens, backpacks, and waterproof ponchos for three, plus two survival knives and a 'beacon stone' that will signal that they need help, though he's been strongly cautioned not to use it unless they REALLY need help.

Seems fine to her! She'll come along.

Once the three are outside the walls, Varrin has a little boat to use, and starts navigating it around the lakes and streams of flooded Liscor. He assures them he knows exactly where he's going.

"And anyway there's something more important... Our little golem friend. Don't you think she's acting a little suspicious?"

"How so? I would assume she's taking the time to do extra training. She has a lot she's striving for."

"If she wanted extra training she'd stick around and hit the dummies! Or ask someone to spar! Instead she vanishes into Liscor somewhere. And you know, I heard something funny... I heard they were having issues with the foundations and tunnels in the old quarter of the city. Did you know she has rock powers? Not as great as my waterbending of course, but she does! Suspicious."

"Interesting, but I'm not sure I'd go so far as to accuse her. She seems decent, if a bit driven. I can relate."

"I- I agree." Lucille says. "I don't think it's right to accuse her just because she goes somewhere else? I mean, if we saw her talking to criminals or something maybe, but with just what you said..."

"Fine, fine. I guess I was too hasty. I'll just get back to rowing along then."

"That would be appreciated, yes." She looks around at the surrounding water. "What are we hunting here anyway?"

"Rockbadger. We're heading to the hills over there." He points to a forested slope. "They disguise themselves as rocks and eat fruit and stuff."

She nods. "I see! I'll take a turn at rowing if you want."

"Oh, good. I wasn't getting tired but it gets boring!"

"What do you think it will be like when we're done training?" Lucille asks. "I've never been in a real fight before."

"I have. It's terrifying and awesome. They're usually over fast one way or another."

Liath takes the oars and starts pulling. "I hope never to be in a fight that isn't slanted my way. But if it comes down to it..."

"If it comes down to it, make sure you're the one walking away," Varrin says, nodding.

She nods back, and keeps rowing. "I agree completely."

Varrin changes the subject and keeps up light chatter about things that amaze him about Liscor until they reach the hills. He hauls the boat high onto the grass so it won't drift away.

"Okay! You two want to learn the tracking skill?"

"Definitely!"

He teaches them tracking. They hunt rockbadgers, and catch two, then he sees the tracks of an Eater Goat and hurries them back to the boat. They do not want to fight Eater Goats.

The training regimen continues. They bring out the mining town defense exercise again and slowly refine it. By now they have a plan for building defensive works and scouting the surrounding area, so the bandits can't easily sneak up on the town.

Liath plods away at her studies. She's engaged, but... the theoretical stuff is a little dry.

"We could set something on fire in the middle of the road as part of the defensive works, so they can't get in close with horses...?"

"Setting it on fire will last only a few minutes, and the fire could spread. We have to be really careful about fire, I know it's your thing, but it's so easy to do more harm than good," Varrin replies.

"What you want against horses is just a ring of stakes pointed outward," W comments. "They can break them down with time but they still slow people down."