The Un-Rescued Princess; Chapter 9

by Maryam in A Land Of Desert And Sun

As Jolinda was busy sawing at Jeffery's ropes with a knife Adair had handed her, she couldn't help smirking at the way the Dimwits' conversation was going. It had started out with:
'Oi? Cheif?' This was from the slightly chubbier one of the two, and Jolinda had to stifle a grin when she saw him hesitantly shake him, then, glancing at Adair from where they were on top of the wagon (it was a skill she had mastered by now to not make the wagon lurch when you got on it) they rolled their eyes at one another.
Below them , under the corner of the wagon, Jeffery sat, looking up impatiently. He had insisted that before they even touch his ropes, they go and check up on how the Dimwits (newly christened) were doing.
Cheif, as Chubby called him, wasn't up yet, fortunately, and Adair communicated without opening his mouth to Jolinda that he'd stay up here. She nodded and slipped down, carrying Adair's knife with her.
And this was where she sat, listening intently while sawing, for any signs of Cheif's awakening.
But that blow with the pan seemed to do a lot of good, because it was some time before she saw Adair motioning to her from on top of the wagon, and she quickly finished the last strands of the ropes around Jeffery's wrists before cautiously standing up, bent over still, still listening.
'Augh, moi 'ead, moi 'ead....' 'Come on, Chayf' - (It wasn't Chubby this time - the other one who Jolinda had decided Crow for the decidedly beaky appearance about him)- 'Up yew go. You've 'ad a nasty bump on vi 'ead' -
'Oi KNAAW vat, Crinkens. Oi've got a lump on me 'ead to prove it. Naaw' - his voice became dangerously soft. 'Would yew moind answering a specific questin?' 'Uh, anytoime, cheif. Jist say the word' - 'Keep yer voice down, yer idjiit.' 'Sorry, Cheif.'
'Now,' he sounded as though he was beckoning them close,
'WHY DIDN'T YOU CAPTURE THE PRISONERS, YOU BLITHERING HALF-WITS! YOU IMBECILIC BLOCKHEADS! OI DOAN'T EVEN BAH-LIVE' - 'We're so sorry cheif, we never meant for this to happen' (Crowey) - 'OI CAHN'T BELIEVE OI EVEN TRUSTED YEW ON FIS MISSION' 'Oi, cheif, really, we'll make it up (Chubby)' 'IDJIITS, DIMWITS,' - 'But cheif, can;t we just go after them?'
'That's wot Oi meant, Crinkens,' said Cheif, apparently calming down,
'We go after 'em.'