Difficult but possible

The Lumberjacks kept their distance, though Gizol could sense the hostility and suspicion emanating from them. Gizol recast Stoneskin on himself and kept a fireball at the ready. But the men seemed content to just watch them darkly.

That is until they realized that their only fuck-hole was departing as well.

"HEY HEY STOP! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" One of the bigger ones shouted, taking a step forward.

Gizol stopped and turned. The man definitely filled the rough'n'ready stereotype. He glanced at Ingund, who stood her ground firmly, though she kept her eyes tightly on Gizol.

"Well, the little lady expressed her continued unhappiness among your camp, lacking as it is of the little luxuries of life that the gentle sex appreciates", Gizol glibly announced.

The men looked at each other, conversing in surprisingly loud whispers. Then the original speaker took another step:

"I don't know what game you're playing, gnome, but you ain't stealing our cook!" The other men nodded as a group.

"A pox on your little cock, you shit-eating bastard! I'm sick to my stomach of being passed around you filthy-smelling piss-lickers! And of washing your wretched tunics! I hope he burns you all to cinders!" Ingund exploded, her face red with anger. Gizol chuckled, he hadn't expected that outburst. Even the lumberjacks seemed to have been taken aback.

But only for a moment. A handaxe twirled through the air and struck the oversized gnome head. Harmlessly, thanks to his protection spell. Gizol wasn't happy.

"Well, looks like my new maid will have her wish fulfilled", the gnome stated and leveled both arms toward the group, now advancing at them.

"Ahoi skipper looks like the camp is burning!"

The shout from the lookout turret turned all heads on the deck of the 200-foot Flaming Dragon. Sure enough, a large pillar of smoke was rising from the lumber camp that was their destination.

"All hands! Prepare the pumps!" Captain Alsvartr ordered as he steered the ship to the pier. His two small pumps could not cope with a fire that large, but perhaps they could save some of the locals.

But as the pier came to sight, another surprise was waiting. A gnome, a she-orc, and a human girl were standing on the edge, with six skeletons standing guard behind them. Alsvartr was tempted to keep going or to turn around but his veteran engine crew had already released the steam pressure, meaning that it was impossible to avoid stopping.

As the river barge slowly came to a halt near the pier, the gnome stepped up:

"My dear captain. I would like to purchase tickets for my entourage to the capital of the Star Republic", it stated, calmly as if there wasn't a massive inferno raging few hundred feet behind them.

"Uh", Captain Alsvartr answered.

"Uh", he tried again. "I mean, we're supposed to load lumber-"

"There is no need for that. As you can see, there has been a minor incident. Dry wood and sparks, I'm sure you understand. Now, please pass the boarding plank so that we may come aboard", the gnome cut him off.

"Unless you, of course, desire to have your boat and crew burned while I bind your immortal soul on a rock that I'll toss to the bottom of the river", he continued.

Captain Alsvartr shook his head and gave the order.

Once he got over the initial shock, the captain turned out to be very efficient, Gizol noted. A patch of the empty deck was shown for them and two of the sailors erected a piece of canvas tarp to give them cover from the sun. The crew kept staring at them while they worked but at least they worked. Soon enough, the barge was being turned around by strong-armed pikemen as the steam engine built more pressure.

Gizol was very interested in the gleaming bronze smokestack that belched smoke. He had never seen anything like it before and was certain that it was somehow connected to the two large wheels that spun water on both sides of the vessel. But at the same time, he was also interested in the promising mounds under Ingunds dress.