"Aye, we been through Carroburg, chief," Billy tells Admund. "You got friends there? Ain't nothing bad happening there, as far as we saw. Docks were good and busy."
Billy looks happy as Julian praises him. "Like I said, chief, I just done my best. You gave me a chance when no one else would, and that means a lot. I ain't sorry to miss some of that crazy stuff you gets up to though! That bloody castle..." He shivers, remembering the horrific Castle Wittgenstein.
"Young Tommy here does the books," he says, indicating the halfling with bushy sideburns, "coz I ain't learned to read, and ain't plannin' to. Tommy, fetch the books for the chief here!"
"Aye, captain," Tommy says. He scurries onto the boat, and returns with the Hound's ledgers. They do indeed show that Billy has made an excellent profit with the funds Julian and the others invested.
[I'd work out the numbers, but it doesn't seem important!]
"We're planning to leave soon," Billy says, "the cargo's near loaded, and the tide's just about right. But we got time for a quick drink. Got some good beer aboard that'll do the trick." He goes aboard, and returns with a small keg of beer and some mugs. "Got this from the Pelican's Perch, just over the water there," he points south, to the other side of Suiddock. "Ain't a bad brew at all."
When everyone has a full mug of beer, Max gives a toast. "To Heinrich, who's saved my life more times than I remember! Good luck in Altdorf, and may all the gods watch over you! And to Billy, the best captain on the river!"
Ragni cheers raucously, and downs his beer. Some of it sloshes onto his chin.
