In reply to Lisa Rufbin (msg # 18):

Giles looked up at Lisa while making his assessments and nodded "Aye, I'd have guessed without any aid from you Sajaa may well of lost the leg. Injuries outdoors, especially ones that penetrate deeply have a way of catching filth and festering. he hadn't fully assessed the damage, but he knew deeply that wounds could take months to heal properly and even the lightest of wounds in battle could leave a man sweating in fever while his flesh turned to death and began to stink with rot.

The thoughts brought back stark memories of him laying in the bed of the hospital at the Fort, on the bring of death and constantly in pain of the body and spirit. He had lost his faith while struggling to do anything by himself and wracked with pain and the torment he still suffered was that he could recall every conscious moment of it with precise detail.


"Are you injured Lisa?" he asked.

Lisa looks down and there is a long pause before she looks at Sajaa and then back to Giles. "Not in here," she  replies with a sweeping hand that suggests her body, before pointing with one finger at her head.. "..but in here. Sajaa, my sister-friend, has been helping me heal. To learn to trust again."

Lisa swallows, eyes full of sadness. "I know that's not what you meant, but it's true. And the loss of our friends, for me, Terri in paricular, for that, Norrla has to pay."

Once she is helped to her feet, Sajaa pulls away from Giles, both because old fears of men return to her in such close confines with him, and to show she is not as frail as he thinks. "It is all but healed and only stiff from the long ride," she says.

She turns and nods at Lisa's words. "Yes. Norla must pay for the murders of our comrades – Gustav, Rolf, and Terri," she says solemnly. "She and her Archer. And the traitorous boy, Runt, who once traveled with us, whom she has taken under her wing." She turns back to Giles. "We need your aid to smuggle us into the village unseen, Sir Giles, so that word does not spread of our coming. Major Brashear tells us the Witch has taken up residence in the chapel."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:40, Sun 04 June 2023.

Giles pulled his hands back and  lifted them to show the palms as he stood. "Sorry Sajaa, I didn't think... he offered gently, before taking a moment to address Lisa's comments.

"Aye, not all wounds are visible, and some aren't even physical. But as with all, it takes time"

He took hold of the reins of the dark mare and gestured for Sajaa to get back into the saddle. He then said "Lets walk this way" he said gesturing the opposite way of the village. "We can then talk away from eyes and ears" he wanted to move them all away from the village so that they could talk freely, and without being spied upon. Similarly, any of the villagers would make note of Sajaa and Lisa's presence and likely report it to people that would come to investigate.

He set off at a walk, brisk so that he could keep time with the horses and purposely positioned himself between the women, on the horses. "We can find somewhere to sit, or rest in the trees" he offered but then continued.

"Rolf, Gustav and Terri? All of them? Can you tell me the story, with all detail? And the boy? The little runt? he wanted to help, of course and knew some things but asked for the girls to fill in the gaps of his knowledge so that he could have a full understanding of their situation.

"I warn now though, friends we are but traitor, murderer, or no I'll not help putting down a child. I also want to be clear that justice is the virtuous side of the coin and the other, dark side is revenge. We all have to answer to someone in the end he said implying the divine, but leaving enough interpretation to leave others potentially in the picture so consider your plan carefully. But while we walk, fill me in and tell me all of what happened. his tone was still friendly and casual, and even when touching on the edge of preaching to the women he was self-aware enough to colour his words with enough levelness to avoid being judgemental.

He wanted to know more of the details or Norla, was she a threat to the community? An enemy of the people, or an implant who could undermine Megalos in some way. He'd always tried to do his killing without emotion, even though it could not always be avoided. To him, it just had to be for the right reason.

Lisa calmly relates how she was captured, anything of value taken from her, and then held in the dark behind bars. "It was there in the darkness that I subsequently encounted Terri. She was bruised and badly battered but I did what I could to heal her unobtrusively as I had previously done to another in the cave. I think the other, a young lad, would surely have died otherwise. I wish I was able to do more with severe injuries beyong 'just' knitting flesh back together. I hope the boy survived. Anyway, then the guard swere shouting about a fearsome beast. That was your friend, the minotaur. Terri scared the guards well and good by shouting that he liked eating the flesh of guards that opposed him. Then there was a big fight with a wolf or somesuch; it was dark.." She trails off, hand inviting Sajaa to pick up the tale.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:01, Sun 04 June 2023.

Sajaa is silent but attentive as she limps along, leading her horse by the reins, listening to Lisa tell her tale.  Since rescuing Lisa from captivity in the Caves, Sajaa has heard the woman’s account of the events leading up to their meeting many times, but always enjoys Lisa’s animated story telling.

When Lisa indicates that it is Sajaa’s turn to speak, Sajaa begins in her heavily accented Anglish:

”Shortly after returning to the village from our first foray into the Caves in which you participated, a small group of us – Gustav, Rolf, Terri, Lisa and I turned around and headed back. There we encountered more in those grim tunnels than monsters and vermin – and found that the bandits had claimed the area as their lair.  Gustav and Rolf feared the bandits would be a plague on Three Corners, so we decided to go back and eradicate or drive them out, once and for all.”

Her golden eyes take on a far-away look and she shakes her black-haired head regretfully.  ”We found the bandits, soon enough, but learned the hard way that we’d … what is that expression you Northerners use?  Bit off more than we could chew.”

She brushes a strand of hair from her face and continues walking alongside her horse.

”We discovered that the band's leader was a woman – Norla – priestess, sorceress, witch –  who knows?  We thought we'd wiped out more of her men in our first foray into the Caves, but it turns out there were many more than we anticipated.  We parlayed with Norla and reached a tentative truce, I even paying her tribute with my own silver to gain her favor. She ordered us out of the Caves, and we intended to oblige.  But things changed when she showed her true colors by murdering the hostage we’d bartered for.  Too, we learned Norla had a hostage of her own -- the child Runt, who had slunk out of the village on his own on some fool’s errand and managed to get himself caught. And so, once our party was out of bowshot range, we changed our position and decided to break the truce and circle back to find a way into the Caves to assault them.  But …  but …”  Her voice cracks.

She clears her throat.  ”But, when Gustav and Rolf charged me with scouting out the upper caves, I stupidly decided to launch the attack, instead.  I … alerted the enemy that we’d returned and they struck back in a coordinated counterattack. And … and …”  She bows her head and sniffs, tears spilling from her eyes.

”Gustav and Rolf, in their valor, rushed to my aid, and gave up their lives to save mine.” She wipes her nose with a shirtsleeve.  ”They both fell that day.  And Terri, too.  If not for Lisa’s bravery and skill, I, too would have been added to the list of dead, and, by Allah, I wish I had.”

She is quiet for a dozen strides, and then adds:  ”During the fight, it appeared to me Runt – who took the name Daniel – had joined Norla’s forces.  And yes, he is but a child – but is a unique one – crafty and cunning beyond his ears.  He ignored my pleas for aid when it mattered most, and so secured his spot in the Vow I made to God, to avenge the dead.”

She turns again to Giles and fixes her gaze on him.  ”And this is why you must help us, Sir Giles.  Out of loyalty to your former comrades… And a service to the good folk of Three Corners by cleansing it of Norla’s infestation.  I will not ask for your sword in this conflict, Sir – though it would be a boon to our cause if you offered it.  I ask only that you help us get into the village in secret.”

It occurs to Sajaa, as she trudges along on her lame leg, that this is the most Anglish words she has ever spoken at one time in her life.

”What say you, Man?”

OOC: Sorry for any incongruity my switching up the scene has. Giles wrote that Sajaa got back on her horse.  I had had her dismount, as she intended to remain on foot for the time being, even if her walking is a little painful.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:50, Sun 04 June 2023.

When Sajaa starts crying it wrings Lisa's heart but she does her best to remain impassive, merely extending in arm to squeeze Sajaa's shoulder by way of comfort. She then has to pull away to avoid losing the horse, Lilly.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:26, Sun 04 June 2023.

Giles listened carefully to what had been said, the revelations of Lisa. He had remembered she was a prisoner when he'd fought along side the others to free them. Slavers, and as such not those to suffer lightly near his Fort. He nodded along with her account of the battle that had taken place. Caves were awful places to Giles's mind but it was a good cause.

Norla being the mind behind the bandits and slavers was new to him, though "Honest word?" he said reacting to Norla being the ring leader but otherwise keeping silent and listening fully until both women had spoken their part.

He considered carefully, and had fallen into step, setting the pace to be a slow march, a habitual reaction to thinking about things deeply while walking. He had to correct himself a number of times to avoid one-twoing into the distance. While listening, the man couldn't help feel guilty for the relief he felt at being able to simply talk freely, to people who didn't hide beyind veiled threats and secrets and who could show emotion. He felt for the girl, for both of them for the losses they had suffered. Indeed, losing men like Gustav and Rolf - his supposed mentor - and Terri was a wound that they all took.

"They were good people, all of them. I'm sorry that they fell" he offered gently. Giles looked solemn as he said it, and deep down knew the loss was a bad one but after a lifetime of soldiering he'd learned to put such things somewhere in the back of his mind so that it didn't consume him. It was a skill he'd learned early in his life for which he was greatly thankful. Giles could see the pain in the women and it was punctuated with each drop of a tear.

"Let man that dies in valour forever walk in the light of God" he said in Anglish so that both could understand. It was a quote he'd pointedly remembered from the Wazifi religious book. He himself was not particular pious, he'd seen too much death at the whim of fools to have had much time for it. But he knew that both those from Al-Haz, and Al-Wazif were particularly religious, and he'd also found his compatriots in Megalos to be such.

Words that hold true for all. Pious or no. Those that will die in defence of others and to protect others will always be remembered well. I would not speak for the fallen three, but hope that it would give them some satisfaction to go to the dirt in noble cause - and give those who celebrated their life some peace.

He let the words flow out, hoping that some of his experience could possibly break out into something Lisa and Sajaa would resonate with. After a moment the soldier checked himself, and kicked the floor in a gesture of self-awareness to make him appear less like a preaching holy man. For that he was not.

Step, one, two, step. He fell into thinking again for a moment and then stopped and turned to face both women.

"I will help but not out of loyalty to the dead but out of duty to the living. I will do this because I will not suffer bandits or slavers in my world. he paused again to let the comment percolate before continuing.

I have two conditions. The boy you leave, give him chance for redemption; he's too young to be gone beyond it so. At the end he'd decided and began to fall back into habits of being an officer in the army. Speaking with the same cadence that he did with his own men.

He turned and walked again towards a near copse of trees, and away form the village. "The second condition is you fix that leg. If you have blade work in mind, then hobbling into a fight is going to do nobody any favours.


OOC:

Giles will recall everything he knows about Norla, her interactions with the village folk and her position within the town hierarchy.

Similarly, he will go through his memory to identify any behaviours he's seen over the past period of time he's been with Brsokow that might indicate any involvement any of the townsfolk with Norla, banditry of slaving.

Lisa looks grim but determined. It's clear this is a good man. She nods at intervals before realising the depth of it. Heavy justice, aright. Suicidal revenge, pull back. After only the shortest of talks, mostly not directly with her, Lisa found herself liking this man that her sister named 'Sir Giles'.

Hearing his conditions Lisa interjects, "Do you remember, Sajaa, when we first encoutered Norrla in our search for Runt, what I suggested? That Norrla, although I don't think I knew her name then, that she may have enspelled Runt. Not much attention was paid to that, really, but it was, and still is, a possibility. For that alone we must test, to allow the young boy a chance, as the knight here stipulates.

For his second condition I totally agree. In fact if you try to limp away without allowing him to try and fix that leg of yours then I'll push you over and sit on you. So there!" She looks meaningful looks at Sajaa, almost daring her to not agree.

Giles had noted the title given him by Lisa and SAjaa, but had not corrected them at the time because he didn't want to interrupt their stories and descriptions of events that had taken place, but he gently raised his hand.

"Ladies, you do me an honour that I haven't earned. I've never taken vows to any warrior or holy order and not once proclaimed a knight. Any deference I've been granted by people you've seen has been a result of either my father being an Earl or  my commission from the army. Out here it counts for little though." he said, appreciating the words from each woman but not wanting to accept an honour he didn't deserve.

If the boy was bewitched then that gives me some hope

At Lisa's suggestion of sitting on Sajaa Giles laughed out loud, feeling a deep rumble in his belly as all the seriousness and tension of the past weeks left him in an instant. It was a glorious feeling and he embraced the lightness.

Lisa beams at Giles, embracing the moment. She can't but smile too at her sister-friend.

Sajaa's eyes narrow as she catches Lisa's not-so-subtle threat of physical harm. She raises an eyebrow, her voice laced with suspicion.

"...Sit on me...?" she questions, her tone dripping with skepticism.

It takes a moment for Sajaa to grasp the subtleties of Lisa's sarcasm. She shakes her head in self-reproach, realizing her misinterpretation. Her gaze shifts to Giles.

"Recovery of my leg won't be hastened by anything short of Allah's healing touch," she asserts. "It has come a long way after two moons of rest and recuperation. I'm able to walk adequately now, and if necessary, I can even manage short sprints. But if it means avoiding Mistress Rufbin sitting on me, Sir, I'll gladly allow you to do what you will to mend me."

Lisa mouths at Sajaa, "Thank you!"

Giles caught the glee from Lisa, and the stern look that passed over Sajaa, but it took him longer to give up the laughter he so desperately needed. Eventually it did pass though.

Lisa, could you hold the reins and keep watch please?" he said offering Sajaa's horse lead to the lady still mounted.

"You're both tough, and have taken a lot of punishment. And your grit, Sajaa, is commendable, but you cannot to to battle like this for fear of a gentle wind taking your legs and laying you in the mud for anyone to skewer. He reached down into a satchel, bulky with load and then pulled out a thick, leatherbound book. "Battlefield Medicine" it was titled.

<red>"Look in there for pictures of plants that can be used. Some of them are quite surprising" he said, offering a distraction while he knelt again and then started prodding her wounded leg. "I need to see what damage there is, and figure out what I can use to fix, or maybe even just numb the ache" he offered her a book to distract, and continued talking, explaining everything he was doing so as to not startle her again.

"Lisa, what assessment did you make of the damage? he asked and then starting pressing the palm flat against the outside of the leg and slowly increased pressure, still in assessment. He reached down to the grass and pulled up some of the plants nearby his feet, and then reached into his satchel again and appeared to be mixing the plants with something from inside. Upon bringing out the plants, he'd mixed the plants with an oily substance.

"Sajaa, I have to raise your pants to apply this to the damaged area. It will help alleviate the pain and speed the healing" he said, gesturing her with his hands to move the material.

Lisa nods, reaching out to take the reins. The two horses to get on well enougth.

She keeps watch diligently, silent until Giles asks about her medical assessment. "Honestly, my medical skills are patchy at best. I know some spells of healing but my learning has been unstructured at best and I would happliy learn more. That said, I think it's deep damage within the joint."

When he starts mixing plants she strains an eye trying to figure out what's being done but to no avail.

Giles cocked an eyebrow at Lisa "You're a mage?" he asked quizzically. Then back to the injured leg. "If you tried magic, then I may not be able to help further... but it's worth a shot.

The reality was such that Lisa might notice his subterfuge, but he wasn't sure. He was using the oil and plants he'd collected as a stand in to obscure the spell he'd cast. It was a trick that made him feel slightly uncomfortable, but one that he'd practiced many times in his life. It was best that people around him didn't know his capacity for magic. Indeed he had always been told from a boy - first by his father, and then by the masters at the magic academy.. and then even from the strategists treatise on war: Show not your real strength and let those around not have a full measure of you or your ability it was something that leant itself to the mission he'd had of late but still grated on him. It felt dishonest, but after years of practising, the act came easily.

"How did you learn magic he asked Lisa, while mending Sajaa.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:44, Mon 05 June 2023.

"I've been hiding it for a long time. Sajaa convinced me it was totally safe to share the fact with her close friends and seems you're amongst them," answers Lisa. "Over time. A spell here and a spell there. The most recent, and probably my best spell, was from Magnus. Seems I'm quite good at it, albeit a very long way to go. So, how about you? "

Sajaa lies back in the grass, bared from waist to shins, a camp blanket covering her nudity. She is initially cautious of Giles' intentions when he orders her to strip, but she knows he cannot access the irregular knot of scar tissue on her leg without removing her leathers and trousers. Yet, she sees no signs of danger in his eyes. To Giles, Sajaa is simply a wounded comrade in need of healing. Nothing more, nothing less. And so, she relaxes.

Flipping through the pages of Giles's book, Sajaa remains oblivious to the words but admires the artful illustrations depicting shrubs, flowers, and grasses. She listens to Giles and Lisa engaged in an animated conversation about the magical arts. Does Sajaa notice a slight change in Lisa's voice? More easy laughter? A tendency to play with her hair? A pang of jealousy stirs within her as she observes their easy rapport and Lisa's alluring, voluptuous beauty, far surpassing her own. Sajaa believes they consider her an ignorant barbarian who has nothing in common with them -- lacking knowledge of reading or casting spells. She remains silent, not wanting to divert Giles' attention away from Lisa, who seems pleased and relieved to finally converse with someone like herself, someone who speaks Anglish fluently and has something interesting to say.

At some point, Giles smears his hands with a fragrant, earthy paste and massages it into Sajaa's wound. Then, using his finger, he begins drawing runic symbols in the emollient. Instantly, a profound warmth tingles up and down her leg, causing her to startle and set down the book. Sajaa has received treatment from herbalists before and is familiar with the healing properties of certain plants. However, whatever Giles is applying is exquisite and reminiscent of the sensations she felt in the Caves when Rolf cast his magic upon her.

As Giles withdraws his hands from her leg, Sajaa tests it, cautiously bending at the knee, expecting the usual electric shock of pain. But for the first time in months, she feels nothing—no pain, just minimal stiffness.

"Iinah jayid ya mulay. Laqad talashaa al'almu." she says softly, her voice tinged with satisfaction. "'Ant muealij 'aeshabi! Wayabdu li 'anak wajadt nafsak tlmydhan mthmsan." She adds with a smirk, pleased with herself.
This message was last updated by the player at 22:30, Fri 09 June 2023.

Giles nodded listening to Lisa while running contemplating the level of healing that would be required for the knot of a scar in Sajaa's leg. He cocked an eyebrow at the mention of Magnus and then shook his head and laughed. "Aye, I think there's wisdom in not revealing such things. Never giving an enemy a full picture of you to observe is a good way to always have something extra when you need it. he said as he felt the magic pulse into the wound.

Her words implied she knew him to be using magic, and then the arabic that came from Sajaa re solidified that. "It's a habit I've had too... I went to the Megalan battle mage academy.  he said, helping Sajaa to her feet. "What was the spell? he asked casually, not entirely sure if she'd reveal its purpose. He wouldn't take offence if she didn't share the details, as his own utterances and stance on such things were cautious to say the least but learning new magics was always something not far from his own mind.


"Right that should be better. Walk around a bit more and bend it, see how you're able to jump around<red> he said before turning to Lisa <red>"I'd happily show you what I know about healing. Though I think if you already know some spells for it, then there may not be much I can teach . I'd certainly try to help, I don't think the world can ever get worse with more ability to heal the wounded and sick..

"al-haq yikal ، anna afdal fe al-qattal" he said with a cocked and somewhat sheepish grin that hang to one side.

Giles then spoke with both SAjaa and Lisa <red>"Might need it if you're planning this thing anyway. You're lucky that the village has had a lot of new people of late. It wouldn't be unusual to see someone  you didn't recognise - but nighttime would still be better. I dare say you'd both draw attention, though so best to avoid people as best as possible.
<red> he started on the idea.

"Well, I can heal, both major and minor efforts, but that's about it, truly," replies Lisa. "Look, Giles, anything you'd be prepared to teach me, I'd me happy to try and assimilate. As you say, there can never be too much healing in the world. And, yes, prior to bonding with Sajaa," she adds with a caring smile at her sister, "I hid what i can do. Still would in public, to be honest. Can i ask, what would you tell me about the  Megalan battle mage academy? I don't really know anything reliable about it. For example, is it men only?"

As Sajaa and Giles talk a little in Arabic, Lisa looks on. "Hey, you two, I wish I could join with the pair of you in speaking Arabic. I'd be interested to learn if you'd be prepared to teach me. It makes one feel a little, left out." She focuses on Saja, "Look, sister, I caught a look from you while I was talking about spells and such with Giles. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to leave you out. You mean the world to me, you know that?" Unsure but pressing on nontheless, she treis to give her sister a big, soft, warm hug.

Giles nodded and then said "Perhaps you can already heal better than me. I told Sajaa, that throughout my life I've been more able to put people into the mud than be anything close to proficient healer. My own scars are a testament to that. Perhaps we could help each other though. he offered gently.

"As for the magic academy, yes there were women there when I studied. Almost everything I studied there was orientated towards supporting the Legion He then added, "Sorry, it was ill-mannered to speak in a tongue that not everyone understands. My arabic is passing at best, I just learned it so I could communicate with Wazifi people should the need arise.

She shakes her head, "No, not ill-mannered of you at all, Giles. It's my ignorance; spaeking just one language. But I'd like to address that and learn. Learn to speak Arabic." She smile at Sajaa.

Sajaa uses Giles' distraction, engaging in conversation with Lisa, to surreptitiously hike up her trousers. With swift and practiced movements, she retrieves her leather greaves, carefully fastening and securing them in place. The now-familiar sensation of the snug armor against her legs brings her a sense of reassurance.

Rolling up her blanket, her limp noticeably diminished, she strides over to the saddle bag and stows it away.

As she gazes upon the two engrossed in banter, Sajaa releases a sigh of impatience. It's time to refocus on the task at hand.

"So, Sir Giles," she begins, her tone serious. "Do you suspect Norla is in league with Broskow? If so, it would suggest that he has a hand in the banditry and kidnappings taking place at the Caves." Sajaa affectionately strokes Black Lady's cheek.

"Furthermore," she continues, her voice unwavering, "How formidable is Broskow's force, and what assets do you have who are loyal to you?"

The three take some time talking of healing, referencing Giles's large manual and seeing what they can make of Sajaa's two month old injury.  Though the discussion is long and the methods applied various, Sajaa isn't sure by the end of the whole situation that she actually feels any better.  In the end she decides that she does, if only because it allows her to be gracious in a more natural way.

In short order, the conversation switches to Broskow.  Sajaa asks of the Governor, of his relationship with Norla, and of any possibilities of getting them all within the small town.  As for the governor, Giles relays that the man is at least in name in control of the whole town, which would include over a score of fighters, not to mention a handful of slaves, various farmers and laborers, and a dozen miners or more who shift in and out of the town at intervals.  However, in practice, Giles finds it hard to believe that any of those people would risk much on his behalf.  Save for his retainer, the man Kempei, who seems loyal to a fault as a personal trait, if Broskow were in danger, Giles imagines the rest of the town would be happy to see him gone.

As for Norla, Giles cannot recall even a single time that the witch has been within Broskow's complex.  She spends all of her time in the church, or else out in the town.  However, Giles does admit that another of Broskow's advisors, Leonitus, spends a good deal of time at the church, and there easily could be a connection there.

However, on the good news side, Giles isn't sure that sneaking the women in would be entirely necessary.  While there are a pair of watch towers to see all those who come and go, Giles does not believe that their purpose is to stop small parties from approaching.  Even Magnus, a minotaur in mail armor had no difficulty in gaining access to the village...  However, he does admit that most within the village seem to harbor a streak of anti-muslim racism that is frankly bizarre for the region.  In the end, he resolves that it might not be a bad idea for Sajaa to cover herself after all.

OOC:  I went ahead and made a few rolls for you Giles and opted to just post the answers I would have given you rather than sending them in private.  As a note, your roll against first aid would have told you that there isn't really any damage to heal on Sajaa's leg.  In fact, you aren't sure what her deeper issue is, though you are certain it is quite beyond your capabilities to help.  The good news is that she seems well on her way to healing on her own.

Giles lead the horses around while talking about things as he recalled them. He'd taken options available, erring on the side of caution.

"If I'm honest, I can't see Broskow having involvement in the banditry here. I think he's using this place to establish himself into a stronger position and would likely think the bandits are undermining his efforts. It wouldn't surprise me in fact to think that hey may suspect someone else is involved though, and honestly, maybe they are. He's not keeping the best company of late, to say it mildly.

Numbers-wise, he has way more than we do. We'd never be able to put anything to them if they joined up against our efforts. But the reality is, I dont think they give much to him. He's not winning an favour from anyone here, except some of those closer to him. he said, considering thoughtfully whike pushing hair out of his eyes.

"Lots of religious folk here though, I think Lisa would do alright, but I can't imagine a muslim girl would find many welcoming smiles he said before continuing might want to not draw too much attention to yourself.

I could teach you a bit of Arabic, but Sajaa here would be best