Kolya and Pietr took their earnings and quickly found a Smith who purchased their old armor and weapons for a modest sum. They used that money plus some of their take from the slaver and purchased new pieces. They each took a steel Shishak helmet with mail zabralom, a kol'chuga steel ringed hauberk, Nakol'nok for the shoulders, burutlik for the shins and calves, naurch for the forearms, rukavitsa for the hands, zarukava for the upper arms, a kite shield, and a 45" broad sword with cross spar and pommel. They decided to retain their daggers to remember what they did on the plains, as trophies. The Shishak helmet is a round conical shaped helmet with 12" shaft protruding at the top center. 18" of black horse hair cascaded off the back of the helmet. The face of the helm has a flared nose strap and the mail zabralom wrapped around the lower portion of the helmet protecting the soldier's neck and face. It is attached by a hook at the top of the open face. The steel kol'chuga is a tight fitting shirt with short sleeves ending just above the elbow. The shirt length extends to just above the knees. The shirt is made up of large steel rings that look more like flat washers than the standard ring mail found in other areas. The Nakol'nok consists of steel plates wrapped around the top of the Kol'chuga mail shirt to protect the shoulders. Some call these parts, spaulders. The burutlik are steel plated shin guards that wrap around the leg to protect the shins and calves. The naurch is similar to the burutlik, but for the forearms. The rukavitsa are protective gauntlets or mittens made of leather padding with a series of flexible plates on the upper side. The zarukava are a set of metal plates covering the upper arm fastened with leather straps. Nikolai's kite shield is crafted of wood and steel, with steel bands and steel rivets. The face of the sheet is painted red.<br/><br/>When Nikolai and Pietr completed their purchases, they had enough to buy some food and maybe a few coins extra. They decided it was best to rejoin Katerina who was heading to see the mercenary company at the tavern.<br/><br/>They entered the dark tavern behind Katerina and listened to her conversation with a gentleman they later learn named, Stanislav. The man smiled when he saw Katerina, Nikolai and Pietr. He looked toward another gentleman, seated named Captain Livinko. This must be the Captain of the company, Nikolai considered. Captain Livinko appeared to be a veteran of many battles. His grotesque eye socket gave him a bit more intimidating appearance than he should have otherwise received.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Alright. I'll take the men," he said with a wave to Kolya and Pietr. "As for the women, we always need someone for the cleaning and cooking."</span><br/><br/>Katerina obviously did not take kindly to his dismissive tone, suggesting that women were incapable of hand to hand combat or wielding a weapon in battle. Kolya knew better. While the Captain and the others in the room laughed at Katerina's aggressive demeanor, Nikolai and Pietr remained stoic, smiling only because they knew of her other talents as what Baichu called,<span style="font-style: italic">'Magic-Flinger'</span>.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"We leave tomorrow dawn," Livinko said. "It's a long march to the desert lands. Count Sachkov, our employer, has set his sights on the border fortress of Al-Ribat. This may be the last drink he get before you face Bakh armies. So enjoy it, Red Scorpion, make it last."</span><br/><br/>When Nikolai heard the name, Count Sachkov his face went pale. Sachkov was the man who sold both Nikolai and Pietr into slavery after the battle against General Zolnerowicz. Always the reluctant warrior, again serving a potentate he did not want to serve, someone he would prefer to kill than fight for. It was not the time to have a conversation with anyone, including Pietr regarding the virtues of Count Sachkov and decided he would learn what he could about his new employer before either killing him or making his way back to Khoszul Lands. For now he would simply wait and see, then collect his earnings in due time.<br/><br/>It was then that Nikolai and Pietr finally had the opportunity to sample the meats and ale of this fine establishment. That above all else, made him happy. He was content, for now. Tomorrow he would begin the march to Al-Ribat, wherever that was and eventually meet his new employer. For he only ever saw Count Sachkov at a distance, he knew the man would never recognize him as being one of the soldiers he defeated that day over two months ago. This is a secret, he and Pietr will keep, otherwise end up dead.