Nicolas is moping along the road, kicking rocks along the wagon ruts.

Drawn in pencil, inked, colored in GIMP, then reworked in GIMP.

The first several were inked with a fine point Sharpie because I kept forgetting to buy drawing pens when I was in town.

In the Den of Luxury

Cheese, salty sausage, and wine can make one thirsty for water.

The story continues in my Adults Only section.

Or there's the alternative version here in my general directory.

Some suggested I do a rated-G version of the story, so starting with this page it splits in two.

Criminal influence

Back in the den, still the first day they met.

Nicolas has lots of ideas, but little decision.

He keeps arguing with himself: Will he stay away? Will he return for good? If he goes back for just a bit before running off, how will he explain his absence to a worried family? If he comes and goes between farm and thicket, how will he explain it? And so on...

The "I got married" scheme is one among several more or less bad ideas about how to proceed.

At that comment, Nicolas thinks mischeviously of pulling Val's tail. But then he thinks better of it.

Overlooking the Target

Val has brought Nico to a the edge of the ravine where Duravin's castle is.

Numbers 46-50 haven't gone beyond the idea stage. No promises when I'll post them.

After scouting Duravin's castle, Nicolas and Val return to the den. Nico pokes around more than he has before.

Yes, Nico is afraid of the dark - now that he knows that the dark extends further than is known.

I have two other versions of this scene.

It changes from frightening thing to treasure as fast as it takes to light a candle.