"This architecture is most impressive," Kirnoth said. He was looking up at the shadows collected on the vaulted ceiling of the King's antechamber. "A trifle on the ugly side, but impressive nonetheless."
"I'll have to take your word for it, Kirnoth," Ruze said with a sad smile. "The world is only shades of gray to me."
"And, Kirnoth," Ledare said in order to get the mage's attention. "It might be a good idea not to tell the King that his castle's ugly."
The elf looked embarrassed.
"I didn't mean it as a reflection on the King," he said quickly. "It's just that, compared to elven castles-"
Ledare held up a silencing hand.
"I know what you meant," she said. "But just the same, it might be a good idea for me to do the talking."
Finian tugged irritably at the collar of the embroidered doublet he'd hastily donned to meet the King. It was frilly and ill-fitting, and clearly chafed on the Archer in more ways than one.
"What's taking the others so long?" he grumbled.
Sergeants Rumboyle and Griffith had already been summoned to court, disappearing into the audience hall with the Seneschal almost as soon as they had arrived in the castle. Since then, the Companions had waited alone in the antechamber wondering what was transpiring in the room beyond. The suspense was doing nothing for anyone's nerves, but Finian seemed the worst off; he paced and grumbled in his uncomfortable jacket.
Grmnmral just huddled in the shadows beside one of the larger tapestries, smoking his hobbit pipe and whimpering occasionally.
At last, the weaving that showed Balderdash in flight over Hasding Bay stirred and a page boy appeared from the servant's door behind the great tapestry.
"Are you the members of The Grey Company?" he asked, looking at them expectantly.
"We are," Ledare said and the boy nodded and cleared his throat.
He turned and pulled open the doors to the audience chamber with a grunt.
"Your Highness, Haermond VI, King of Elcaden!" the boy said in a loud clear voice. "May I humbly present The Grey Company."
Ledare hesitated long enough to hiss, "Let me handle this," in Finian's direction before she walked purposefully forward. Dropping to one knee she added, "Your Highness, how may I serve you?"
"According to the report given me by the Watch Sergeants, Janissary, you already have," the King's voice rang out. "Arise and add your own tales to those spun for me by Rumboyle and Griffith. You may speak freely."
The King sat on his elaborately carved throne, flanked by twice the number of guards that had escorted them from Grey House. A pair of black dogs rested easily at his feet, their eyes fixed on the Companions. A retinue of advisors was clustered about the throne, trying to look important.
Ledare eloquently recounted the group's exploits, including the petrifaction of Finian and Ruze, the capture of Kirnoth by the Bane Midges, the involvement of the Skaven, and of Selejian's unhealthy desire to attain immortality through his 'art'. The King listened intently, but did not interrupt her tale until she had finished.
"So in the end, your suspicion of Romero Selejian was well founded," the King admitted with a thoughtful nod of his head. "Well done, Janissary. It is good that the man hadn't yet begun work on Li Hon's statue."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Ledare agreed. "Had Selejian gotten the opportunity to replace the royal statue of your great grandmother, some innocent woman may have been doomed to a life of fountains and bird droppings."
"A fate no living woman deserves, to be sure," Haermond VI told her. "But you found no proof of a slave ring operating in Barnacus. Is that true?"
Ledare frowned and took a deep breath.
"I have to admit that we have found no further leads or proof to sustain that theory," she told him and saw the King's shoulders visibly relax. She went on, "But Selejian did, in fact, have connections to evil darker than his own ambition. He was working for lycanthropes or possibly fiends, which - at the very end - had no more use for him. Indeed, Selejian met his demise at their disposal."
"And this Glove of Stoning went with him to the afterlife?" the King asked.
"Not precisely," the Janissary admitted. "Selejian is dead, that much is true. But the glove has... disappeared."
"Explain," the King demanded and Ledare cleared her throat.
"Sergeant Griffith explained how Selejian died?" she asked.
"Eaten alive by rats," Haermond said flatly.
"Rats under the command of the Skaven," Ledare explained. "Unfortunately, they have managed to escape back into the sewers of the city. Among them, a rat man Rudivan, and a leader named Magnus. I fear that the rats took the glove with them when they retreated, along with Selejian's hand."
The King's brow furrowed.
"This is indeed troubling news, Janissary," the King said. "Not only has a magical object of no small power fallen into evil hands, but an infestation of lycanthropes has taken up residence beneath the very streets of Barnacus. This latter is perhaps the worse news since lycanthropy is spread from one victim to the next like a plague."
"I should also mention that at one point one of the creatures said something to the effect that, 'only the Janissary must die'," Ledare added. "That seems suspicious to me."
"And to me," the King agreed and leaned back in his throne with his hands pressed together at his chin. For a time all was quite within the great hall until the King at last broke the silence by saying, "It seems that you have found yourselves a new assignment."
"Y-your highness?" the Janissary sputtered.
"I want these Skaven rooted out and brought to justice," Haermond said and his voice took on a commanding, threatening tone. "If that justice is meted out at the point of a sword, so be it. That is The Grey Company's next assignment."
"Your Majesty, we are ill equipped to handle creatures of this sort," Ledare said. "Without the weapons gifted to me in our last audience, I fear our past efforts against these rat men would have been in vain. There are several of these Skaven, and with but one such weapon amongst us, I fear we would fail you."
"You will have the weapons you require," the King said. "And I will have this cancer in the heart of Elcaden cut out."
He gestured and one of the advisors at his side bowed and trotted off through a door on the King's left.
"My armourer will have suitable weaponry delivered to The Grey House in the morning," Haermond added. "And I see from your faces that there are questions amongst you. Ask them now, for you will not stand before me again until these rat men are no more."
The King looked at them all and then nodded to Ledare.
"Why don't you begin, Janissary?" he suggested.
Ledare thought for a moment and then began.
"The elder members of Grey House have been called away to duties beyond the city," she told him. "There are but four of us who remain. And one suffers blindness from the stoning."
She paused, collecting her thoughts before adding, "Four against an evil that spreads like the plague..."
"I share your concerns, Janissary," the King said, nodding gravely. "But I have several reasons for entrusting this mission to The Grey Company, not least among them being the fact that you have already had experience with these creatures. Not to mention the fact that my forces are stretched dangerously thin with all the troubles on the Borderlands. I just can't spare any men to ferret out this internal problem."
Ledare nodded her understanding and continued, "If we are to pursue this end, there are questions I have which may concern royal business not directly relative to the matter at hand."
"Oh," the King said, sitting up straight and tall on the throne.
"Yet I feel compelled to ask in order that we might rule out all possible leads," Ledare said and the King gestured for her to go on. She did, choosing her words very carefully as she went. "Is there any information which may be released to us regarding ships docked at Hasding Island in the last fortnight? The harbormaster had no information on one particular ship of which I am thinking. It was a light merchant ship and it rested in the royal dock. No cargo was unloaded, but two men were carried into this castle on stretchers from the ship."
"The harbormaster told you this?" the King asked and Ledare nodded. "I see that there is precious little going on in Barnacus that may be kept entirely secret even when it is the King's will that it remain so."
Haermond VI grimaced at his advisors and none of the crones met his gaze. At last he said, "The ship and its passengers are all part of the problems we've been having on the Borderlands. The ship came here from the port of Gree in Hule. The two men who were carried in on stretchers were representatives of the raja who controls the land that adjoins the Borderlands. They were Brahmins, holy men forbidden to set foot on unhallowed ground. Hule has been suffering attacks across the Borderlands - attacks led by what they describe as insect warriors."
The King sighed.
"Their description matches the one you described fighting when you recounted your encounter with the wizard, Andamacles," he said. "I fear that this madman may have instructed his creations to instigate a war with Hule so that his dream of transmogrified soldiers could be realized. I did my best to explain to the raja's representatives that these attacks were not the work of the Realms and sent along a squad of Janissaries to help them deal with the situation. They left for Hule this morning at dawn. Is that explanation enough, Janissary."
"It is," she conceded. "There is also the matter of money recovered from Selejian's living quarters. We have need of 1,305 nobles for Identification of certain magical items. It is my hope that the results of an Identification may have significant bearing on these present circumstances."
"I am surprised at you, Janissary. You sound like a common mercenary," the King said with a scowl. "The money recovered from Selejian will go toward the cost of returning to flesh all those he has petrified. And the ledger we found within a locked strongbox indicates that there were a great many more than the artisans I sent you after."
"Much of the money is gone, no doubt taken by these Skaven," he went on. "But there are still recompenses to be made. The money is not yours to take nor mine to give."
His expression softened then and he made a dismissive gesture with his hand.
"As to the Identification of your magical objects: my staff of wizards will be happy to reveal the items' secrets to you," he said and clapped his hands together twice. A servant boy rushed forward with an overstuffed velvet pillow in his arms. "Place your objects upon the pillow and I will see that they are looked at."
"The items we would have Identified may prove instrumental in this new mission," Ledare cautioned. "I feel, therefore, a reluctance to part with them for any great length of time. May I be so bold as to ask how long would we be required to leave them here?"
"They will be returned to you at first light when the weapons I promised you are delivered," Haermond said and Ledare nodded.
"That will be fine," she said, reached into her pouch for the coral and moonstone ring and placed it on the maroon pillow.
Finian did the same with his mace. As he placed it on the pillow, he asked, "I was wondering if we would receive permission to carry weapons in the city to fight this plague."
"I already gave that permission to Janissary Ledare," the King said. "She still has my decree, so the restriction remains lifted."
"Great," Finian said with a grin. "That will make things much easier."
"Do you have any other questions, Archer Talteppe?" Haermond asked.
Finian thought for a moment and then said, "What do you know of these lycanthorpes? Do your scholars know of any weaknesses they have or ways to defeat them? Any information would be helpful since I know many tales, not all of which are true."
"I personally know little on the subject," the King chuckled. "My advisors, however, will surely have some information that will help you in your task. I will have that information sent to you in the morning. Is there anything else?"
Kirnoth cleared his throat and the King nodded at him.
"May we have privileges to use your library as needed during our investigation?" the mage asked.
"None of Janissary Ledare's rights and privileges have been revoked," he replied. "As a Janissary she has full access to the College of Heralds and the Hall of Records. If you are thinking more of a library such as exists at Mageholme, then the most I can do is exert some pressure to get you access. I will see what I can do in that regard."
"Thank you, Your Highness," Kirnoth replied with a slight bow of his head.
"Anything else?" Haermond VI asked again.
"Your Majesty," Ruze spoke up, taking one blind, halting step forward. "I am only a simple Battleguard who serves the Queen, Shaharizod. Forgive me if I be too bold and know not the proper manners of thy Court..."
The King opened his mouth to say something and Ruze went on.
"For in Shaharizod's Court we are instructed that when asked by our superiors we answer simply and directly. As you know I am servant to none other than to my Queen; however, I owe allegiance to all who follow her path."
Ruze lowered himself to his knees and raised his face in the direction of the King of Elcaden.
"Therefore... as I know little of your Janissary - though I know enough, that she is pure of heart and spirit - as she is your servant so am I." He bowed his head then before adding. "I will do as you command so long as I am not countermanded by my Queen. I know you know this, but I wish to speak it none the less."
Again the King's mouth opened, and again the blind Battleguard continued on before a word could pass the monarch's lips.
"However, I feel I must admit my failings for I do not wish your mission or these companions to fail in your Quest but for me," Ruse explained. "I am not a member of Grey Company, having been sent on a small mission by my Queen. This mission is now accomplished. I am also serving a well deserved penance for failure. As you can see my Lord, I am blind."
To illustrate this point, the cleric waved his hand in front of his own face several times and shrugged.
"Being thus blind, I can only serve to slow the group in travel, hinder them in combat, and cause one to always look after me. I do not fear this blindness to be permanent as I already see shades of gray where yesterday I saw only black. None the less, I cannot see."
"I... see," the King had time to say during a pause. He wore a confused expression on his face.
"If I may be so bold, I require a special weapon that I have heard of and trained with a wooden one once, but never seen a true one. I believe a metal long pole that measures as tall as a man and is as thick as a maiden's wrist. It magically can be broken down in three pieces with chains in between and become a fighting implement in three sections or can be used as a fighting staff in one section," Ruze explained. "I believe I can use this as walking staff to guide my feet, defend myself in a radius, lean on it when I become tired, (for as you see Milord I do enjoy a good feast and drink), and otherwise be of some use to your group without too much hindrance. Being metal and magical it should defend against most metal weapons rather than being cut in two at the first swing of a blade. This I ask of you as your servant."
"I will do as I am able," the King said after a pause. "The weapon you describe seems like the sa tjat koen used sometimes by the people of the Island Kingdoms. But I have never seen one made of steel, nor one that bore an enchantment allowing it to be turned into a normal staff. We shall see what my armourer can find."
"Thank you, Milord," Ruze said and got to his feet. "Again forgive my boldness in asking, but that is our way."
"And now, I must send you on your way," the King said. "I have other business to which I must attend, and I am sure that you will wish to rest before you begin your new task in the morning."
Once they had returned from the King's castle, they ate dinner and spent the evening relaxing. That is, most of them did. Ledare spent the evening spying on Abernathy, and she found that the manservant spent a good deal of his time in the Study sitting at Afendemar's desk. He read, organized and reread the papers that were rapidly overtaking the desktop. As he did so, his face became more and more fretful.
At last, he read one particularly disturbing note and actually began to get tears in his eyes. He stood up and shook his head in frustration. He rushed out of the Study and breezed by Ledare without seeing her lurking in the shadows.
Quietly, she sneaked into the Study and looked at the papers on the desk. They were all requests for The Grey Company's assistance with one matter or another: a marauding giant had been raiding villages southwest of Elcaden, pirate attacks had been increasing between Awad and Barnacus, a wealthy merchant who was 'owed a favor' required guards for his daughter's wedding. The request that had sent Abernathy over the top was fairly brief. It came from a Baron Brevudd and said simply:
"For the last seventy years, the Burning Sage has come to us at the Festival of Fire to choose a new apprentice. The Festival was two weeks ago and neither he nor his previous apprentice has been seen. It is known to us that the Burning Sage was once called Kaliel Firehand and that he once was a member of your Grey Company. It is hoped that you will help us determine what has become of our protector."
Ledare reread the note and scratched her head, unsure of what this all meant, and how it reflected on Abernathy's strange behavior.
In the morning, while they were enjoying breakfast, the King's men came to deliver their weapons as promised. A man dressed in a chain hauberk and steel breastplate lead a team of six Armsmen dressed in studded leather. Two of the men pulled a small two-wheeled cart from which the leader produced the weapons
Among the weaponry were two finely-tooled longswords, two shortswords, and two daggers. Each of the weapons' pommels was cast with the symbol of The Realms and their blades reflected light like a mirror.
"Who is it what requested this 'ere sat-jat-kowen?" the man asked as he unwrapped another bundle. None of the Companions spoke up until he'd unwrapped the item fully and they could see that it consisted of three wooden rods linked by short lengths of chain.
"I believe that belongs to the Battleguard," Ledare said, indicating Ruze.
"Aright," the man said and pressed the weapon into the blind cleric's hand. "She ain't magic, nor is she steel, but I took it from the Borkson Handlers' arsenal, so I reckon tha' if'n one o' them lot can use it an' no' break it, then so can you. I had it 'specially shod with silver for you as well."
"The same goes for these darts," he said as he turned back to the cart and produced another bundle. He unwrapped it and displayed a cloth bandoleer with twenty silver-tipped darts affixed along it at regular intervals. "They ain't magic, but I reckon they'll get the job done. That's what it takes to 'urt one o' these 'ere lycanthropes: magic or silver. Which reminds me..."
He turned back to his cart then and produced a small sack tied with twine. He handed it to Ledare before continuing.
"That there's belladonna," he explained. "It's poisonous, so don't go sprinklin' it on your eggs. But it's also th' only sure cure you got fer lycanthrope. If'n one o' you three" - he pointed at Ruze, Finian and Ledare - "gets bit, try eatin' some o' this jus' as quick as you can. If it don't kill you, it'll get rid o' the lycanthrope."
"Excuse me, sir," Kirnoth asked. "What happens if I get bit by one of these things?"
"Well, sir, if'n that happens I reckon you'd best hope that it don't take," he said, looking a little ashamed of what he was saying. "Lycanthropy's lethal to Elves, Dwarves and Gnomes. There ain't no way 'round it."
"Oh," Kirnoth said, taking a step back.
"And lastly, there's the matter of two magical objects - a mace and a ring," he removed them from the wagon and offered them to Ledare and Finian. He then reached into a satchel that hung at his waist and handed them each a scroll sealed with the royal crest. "I reckon that's everythin'. The swords and daggers you can return when the mission's over. You can keep the darts and the sat-jat-kowen."
After the men had gone, the group took their booty to the Morning Room and looked it over. Finian picked up one of the longswords and its blade began to glow with cold blue light, perhaps half as bright as a torch.
"Wow," the Archer said, grinning as he swung it about in the air. It was very light, feeling almost as if it were made of wood rather than steel.
Ledare picked up one of the daggers and it too began to glow, although its radiance was little brighter than a candle.
"Impressive," she said.
"What's impressive?" Ruze asked. He was struggling to handle his new weapon without eyesight.
"What do the scrolls say about the mace and the ring?" Kirnoth asked.
Ledare put down the dagger she was examining and cracked the seal on her scroll.
At the top of the page it said: "Ring of Magical Beast Command"
Below that was written a description of the ring.
"Based on its material make-up, the ring was likely crafted by one of the unscrupulous jewelers in the Freeport of Farmin who are quite fond of working with red coral. Andamacles himself undoubtedly enchanted it, however, since it bears his symbol magically etched within the central moonstone.
"The ring prevents Magical Beasts from attacking the wearer, and moreover prevents such creatures from approaching within five feet. The wearer can forego such protection and instead attempt to Charm the Magical Beast. If this attempt fails, however, the ward of protection is lost and no further attempt at Charming can be made.
"Magical Beasts include (but are not limited to): basilisks, chimera, cockatrices, displacer beasts, manticores, pegasi, sphinxes, and unicorns."
"What about yours, Finian?" Kirnoth asked.
The Archer already had his scroll out and he began reading it aloud:
"Leafbasher
"Created by hands unknown, Leafbasher was first mentioned in the histories of the Kingdom of Erlacor. While it has never been confirmed, it seems likely that the weapon was created by a native of that most foul nation since the cedarwood shaft is etched with designs that show the High King's castle on the edge of the Icy Sea. Sustained by magicks, the etchings have never worn down in the centuries since its crafting. The head of Leafbasher is reputedly made from magically-depleted warpstone embedded with spikes of black marble, but whether the weapon is indeed composed of warpstone is unknown. Certainly, the chaotic effects normally associated with that fabled substance have never been associated with the weapon's use.
"Leafbasher behaves primarily as a normal mace, although its enchantment makes it both more likely to hit its target and also more likely to cause grievous injury. It was created for use against the group of nature worshippers who would one day become the druids. It earned its name because of its secondary ability to triple its threat against plants and plant-based opponents. When a particularly well-placed blow is landed against such an adversary, the weapon infects the target with a rotting disease. The effect is not unlike the fabled Swords of Wounding - the unfortunate victim will continue to suffer damage long after the blow has been struck until they decay into a putrefying mass.
"The weapon has never displayed either an intelligence of its own or a predisposition toward any one alignment.
"It was lost after the Erlacorian Empire was crushed, during the mass exodus from that dying nation by all the blackhearted followers of Zagaroth. It has not been seen or heard of since and was presumed either destroyed or sealed up in some long-forgotten tomb. Certainly, the druidic Cult of Dridanis would look favorably upon anyone bringing Leafbasher to them for destruction."
"Wow," Finian said again, looking at his mace as if for the first time.
"Well, we've got everything we were promised and I want to start planning our attack on the Skaven," Kirnoth changed the subject. "I think we should try again to enlist Roach's help. Does anyone else have any other ideas on how we could proceed?"
"I think a good place to start looking could be in The Five Elements Inn since we have been there before and know that there is bane midge activity there," Finian suggested. As he spoke, he put his mace carefully on the table and took a single step away from it. "We should go right for their headquarters if we know where it is."
"We don't," Ledare told him.
"Roach may know," Kirnoth said. "He seems to have the most information thus far. Certainly more than us, and he's been a big enough thorn in the side of the skaven that they know him and wish they had killed him."
Ledare nodded.
"I think Roach could be a strong ally, if we can convince him to help us," Ledare admitted. "Unfortunately, he has already proven that he cares little for anyone but you, Kirnoth. Still, even that much help would be welcome."
"We should definitely go talk to him," the mage suggested.
"Actually, I think that you should go back to his lair and speak to him about this matter alone," the Janissary said. "I don't think the rest of us could convince him as effectively, and our presence may even hinder the request."
"I see your point, but I am leery about getting near the sewers without backup," Kirnoth countered. "What if I run into bane midges or skaven before I get to Roach?"
"The access hatch in the well leads directly to his lair, doesn't it?" Finian asked, recalling what they had told him about Kirnoth's last trip to talk with the mysterious Roach.
"That's right," Ledare told him and then looked at Kirnoth. "I could join you as far as the well and wait there for you so that you'll be within shouting distance. But I think that if we accompany you the whole way, Roach will never agree."
"And while you two are doing that, I go alone to The Five Elements?" Finian asked. "Considering what happened last time, I don't think that's a very good idea."
"Actually, I was thinking," Ledare began, "if you want to visit a tavern so badly, perhaps you and Ruze could visit The Surly Satyr."
"The what?" Finian asked.
"The Surly Satyr. It's a tavern off Plaza West by the arena," Ledare explained. "You can't miss it, and I believe that it's where Nunzio was hanging his hat on the night before last, when we broke into Selejian's. There may be some useful information to be gathered there."
"I can do that," Finian said. "But I'm not sure what use Ruze will have considering that he's blind."
The Battleguard nodded his head sadly.
"If it comes to battle, I'm afraid I won't be of much help," he admitted. "But if given a staff, I feel confident that I can at least walk on my own. The loss of my sight hasn't adversely affected my hearing, Finian. I can eavesdrop as well as you. And I certainly will not seem like a threat to anyone who might have information that we can use."
"So that's the plan?" Finian asked. "Ruze and I check out the Surly Satyr while Ledare and Kirnoth try to enlist Roach's help."
"More or less," Ledare told him. "I think that Kirnoth should the map of the sewers to Roach and ask him to mark every spot where he's have encountered the skaven. He will certainly have more information in that regard than we do and that will help to narrow our search considerably."
"That's a good idea," Kirnoth said with a smile.
"But before you and I head out, Kirnoth, I have to send a message to the King," Ledare said, stuffing both the Ring of Magical Beast Command and its description scroll into her belt pouch.
"Ledare, I was thinking, perhaps I should write a letter to the King and ask if his scholars could research the information I could give them about the tomb where I got the mace," the Archer suggested. "That could prove to be very valuable information."
"Good idea," she replied. "Write down what you can remember and I'll send it off with my own query."
All save Ruze prepared to leave the room and the Battleguard raised his hand.
"Excuse me," he said. "Could one of you show me the way to the Training Room? I want to practice with the sa tjat koen a bit before we head out to the tavern."
The Surly Satyr was not, as Ledare had indicated, bordering the wide plaza around the arena. In fact, it was located down a twisting alley that smelled more and more of dried urine and week-old vomit the farther from the plaza itself that the two Companions traveled. At night, it would have been an excellent place for an ambush, but now, with Orin's Shield blazing high overhead, there was more than enough light to reveal would be attackers. And the foot traffic along the alley was light, but constant, easing Finian's mind as he walked along beside the slow-moving Battleguard.
The tavern itself was utterly non-descript - two stories tall and made of weathered wood with a simple sign above the door declaring it to be The Surly Satyr. A leering satyr lounged beside the words with a foamy mug of beer in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other.
Finian stopped short as he approached the front door. Set into the ground nearby, not twenty feet from the tavern, was a sewer grate. Ruze collided with the Archer and dropped his staff.
"Sorry," the Battleguard said quickly. "Sorry. Didn't see you there."
Finian stooped down and picked up the man's staff. Handing it back to him he said, "That's what you told me the last three times."
There was a woman drawing water from the well behind the Crossroads Inn when Kirnoth and Ledare entered the moss-cloaked courtyard. With the sun directly overhead, it was the only time of day when the area wasn't cloaked with shadows, but they were still caught off-guard finding someone at the well.
The weather was pleasant, but the woman was dressed in a full-length gray robe with a heavy veil of white silk across her face. Only her eyes looked out at the two Companions as they approached and from that they could see that she wasn't human. Judging by the yellow eyes and gray-brown skin, it was a hobgoblin woman beneath those robes.
"Greeting, Janissary," the woman said as she hauled her full jug of water up onto her shoulder. "Well met."
She moved away from the well, and headed for the alley that led out onto Festival Street.
"Well met," Ledare called in reply.
The well, itself was as they had last seen it, and as before, the opening looked very dark and very cramped to Kirnoth. He swallowed nervously as he looked at it.
"Now remember," Ledare reassured him. "I'll be right here, so if you run into trouble, give a holler."
"I'll have the mutton chops with black currant sauce, the leek and split pea flan, and the apple and orange crumble for desert," Ruze told the waitress.
"Ye've a right fine appetite, goodman," she told the Battleguard and Ruze smiled appreciatively.
"It's one of the things I do best," he told her.
"I'll just have one of the stilton steaks," Finian said. "And a spiced mead, if you have it."
"Aye," the waitress replied, doing some quick calculations. "That'll be two-and-six, goodmen."
Finian started to reach for his pouch, but Ruze already had his ready. He reached out to give the waitress the coins, and his hand pressed into her full bosom. He jerked his hand back immediately, color rising into his cheeks.
"So sorry," he apologized. "Didn't mean to touch that."
The waitress laughed and took the nobles and crowns from his hand.
"If that there's the last time I get me tits handled tonight, then I'm trollborn," she said with the air of someone who'd suffered many indignities in her life. "I'll be right back with yer drinks."
After she was out of earshot, Finian elbowed Ruze and hissed sarcastically, "Good job! Way to make us blend it."
"Hey," Ruze scowled. "I am blind you know."
The decent to Roach's lair was the same as last time, and Kirnoth encountered no skaven or bane midges along the way. He shown his light tube around the empty room beyond the access hatch. As the light played over the ratty curtain hanging at the far end, Kirnoth heard the sound of a wardog growling.
"Put out that light!" Roach's voice resolved itself out of the growl. "It hurts me!"
Kirnoth screwed the cap back onto the light tube, filling the chamber instantly with darkness. Only the daylight filtering down through the well allowed the mage to see at all. He blinked.
"Sorry," he said. "I didn't know..."
"Hmmmm," Roach intoned. "Why have you come here again, Kirnoth of Galerideleli?"
"Hello my friend," the mage said. "I have come to thank you for saving my life. Surely all would be lost had you not stepped in at Selejian's."
"I warned you not to face the skaven," Roach said. "But I knew that you would not heed me."
"How could I when my friends' lives were at risk?" Kirnoth replied. "They would have done the same for me."
Roach chuckled softly.
"The same friends who left you naked in the sewer?" he asked. "The same friends who let you come here now all alone?"
"Actually, my friends are close by to help guard me from skaven and bane midges," the elf explained. "I do not want you to think they are lurking because of you. But I know you are more comfortable with one individual than with a group."
"In that you speak truly," Roach said from behind the curtain. "I have suffered much at the hands of 'groups'."
Kirnoth swallowed, unsure of how to proceed. At last he said, "I know you have told me that you keep to yourself, but my friends and I are now on a mission from the King to stop the skaven and the bane midges."
"Indeed?" Roach's voice sounded mildly surprised. "The King of the overworld takes notice at last of the goings on beneath his feet? I am well and truly surprised."
"I know we would be a lot more successful with you as part of our team," Kirnoth suggested. "I heard their leader talking about killing you, so certainly you are at some risk here alone. Won't you come with us and help us rid Barnacus of this vermin?"
Roach made no response, and if not for the fact that Kirnoth could dimly see the curtain at the end of the room moving, he would have guessed that the creature had disappeared again.
The mage frowned.
"And even if you won't join us, I would be grateful for any advice on how to fight them," Kirnoth said after a pause. "I am also very interested in the history of you and them."
A low menacing growl came then from behind the curtain and the elf hastily added, "Of course, I do not want to pry and will respect your privacy."
Kirnoth fished out of his pack the heavy scroll tube given them by the King.
"I also brought the map of the sewers," he said. "I had hoped you might show mw where you have encountered both groups before, especially the skaven. And do you know anything about where they gather, worship and live?"
There was no response, and this time, Kirnoth didn't even see the curtain move.
"My friend?" the elf called.
"I would not be so quick as to call me friend, Kirnoth of Galerideleli," Roach's voice spoke out of the shadows. "You don't care for Roach. You only wish to help YOUR party."
Kirnoth's mouth opened, snapped shut and then opened again. At last he said, "That isn't true. Surely your life would be better with the skaven and bane midges gone."
"Again you speak truly," Roach said. "And for that reason, I will help you. I will lead you to where I fought the skaven. I will also tell you what I know of their lairs, but Roach will not stay and fight."
"Can you show me on the map?" Kirnoth asked, holding out the scroll tube.
"No," Roach said flatly. "Meet me above at the well, tonight after sundown. Then I will take you to the skaven."
"Ayuh," Theridus said downing the last of his ale and licking his lips. "I know th' one's ye're a lookin' fer. Course tale tellin's thirsty work."
He rattled his tankard on the table top and Finian flagged down the waitress.
"Another round," he told her and she hurried off.
Theridus looked at Finian and smiled.
"Yer friend 'ere's really blind?" he asked and waved his hand in front of Ruze's face.
"Yes. I'm really blind," the Battleguard answered. "But stop waving your hand in front of my face. It smell's like you've been scratching your ass."
Theridus pulled his hand away, sniffed his fingers and let out a loud guffaw. He punched Ruze good-naturedly in the arm.
"Ye're awright," he laughed. "But it ain't me arse ye be smellin'. I'm a cheese merchant by trade. The only importer o' Emerald Moon cheeses in Barnacus, don't ye know."
"Really?" Ruze asked, surprise blooming on his face. "From Relfren?"
"Ayuh. The very same," Theridus admitted. "I see that th' Emerald Moon's reputation's preceded it ag'in. That be the same reason yer friends Nunzio an' what all were a talkin' to me."
"They're not our friends," Finian said coldly, remembering the look of disgust on Nunzio's face as he looked into Finian's eyes and waited for Selejian to turn the Archer to stone.
"Whate'er, lad," Theridus said. "They was right excited to hear 'bout Relfren an' th' Emerald Moon factory."
The waitress arrived with the drinks and handed them out. Finian paid and after a good long pull on his tankard, Theridus nodded his head and began his tale.
"I seen the three of 'em in 'ere from time to time," he explained. "Not what ye'd call regulars, to be sure, but in 'ere enough so's I knew to say, 'Goodday'. They ain't the nicest buncha fellers, what I e'er talked with, but they bought me a round, much as ye are and we talked 'bout cheese. They loved their cheese, don't ye know."
"I'm not surprised," Finian told him and took a sip of mead.
"Now that be th' only time I actually sat an' talked with 'em, but it ain't th' only time I HEARD 'em talkin', if ye take my meanin'," Theridus said after another gulp of ale. "Far as I can tell, they was religious types - always goin' on t'each other 'bout the temple. The temple this an' the temple that. Ye know the type."
"Indeed," the cleric said coldly.
"Well, this last time Nunzio was in 'ere - oh, it musta been night 'fore last - it was jus' him an' Rudivan an' they was a talkin' 'bout leavin' Barnacus now that some out o' town muckity-muck by the name o' Elgoth's showed up at th' temple," Theridus concluded. "I sorta got the feelin' that Elgoth was somebody what they had a lotta respect for, but passed that, I couldn't tell ye nothin' more 'bout it."
"Surely Roach doesn't suggest that you accompany him to these places alone?" Ledare said to her Companion once Kirnoth had recounted the conversation he'd had with his mysterious benefactor in the sewer.
The elf shrugged.
"I really feel like this needs to be a team effort," he said. "If Roach's not willing to play it that way, I think we should proceed without him."
"It would be a pity to lose his help," the Janissary told Kirnoth. "What can be done to assure him we fight the same cause against these skaven?"
"I want to meet him at the well tonight, like he said," the mage replied. "But I think we should all go, introduce ourselves, and tell him we work together."
"Fair enough," Ledare said. "If he balks, maybe you could ask him if there is something we might do for him, as a pledge of good faith."
"Good idea," Kirnoth replied and looked up at the sky. "There's still a few hours until sundown. I want to go over my spells again before we go against the skaven tonight."
They headed for the alley that led from the secluded courtyard back out onto Festival Street. They could hear the sounds of laughter and merriment coming from the Crossroads Inn as they went.
It was good to hear some happy sounds in light of the grim work that lay ahead.
"I'm surprised you haven't heard of Emerald Moon cheese," Ruze said as he and Finian made their way slowly down the alley toward Plaza West. "Theridus wasn't exaggerating when he said that it was the best cheese on Oerune. It's incredibly rare, only made in the one factory in Relfren."
"Where's that?" the Archer asked.
"South of here," Ruze told him. "It's a little place in the mountains at the tip of Olven Vale on the way to Pellham. But it's the cheese itself that's so wonderful: green as an emerald and shot through with holes. It's almost as much a delight to the eyes as it is to the pallet."
The Battleguard smiled and patted his belly.
"I wish I had a piece right now," he concluded.
"Wouldn't it be interesting to bring some cheese with us?" Finian replied, a sly smile creeping onto his face. "We could use it as bait."
But Ruze blanched.
"Emerald Moon cheese?! Bait?" he protested. "By Azril's tail, man, that would be sacrilege!"
"Whatever. It doesn't have to be Emerald Moon cheese," Finian replied and started to lead the Battleguard through the shadow of the arena toward Plaza South. "I want to stop by the marketplace before we head back to Grey House. I need to pick up some herbs."
"Okay," the cleric replied. "It'll give me a chance to work up an appetite before Alyllyra serves another of her fabulous meals."
Finian rolled his eyes. He'd eaten half as much as Ruze and still felt full.
"How many of those platinum Royals do we have left?" he asked.
They arranged for dinner to be served early so that they could have full bellies before they headed into the field. The seafood chowder that she served, especially, delighted Ruze. As they ate, they each shared the information that they had acquired during the day.
"Nunzio's interest in Relfren cheese and the Emerald Moon factory seems curious," Ledare said as she tore her bread into bit-sized chunks. "Perhaps the involvement runs beneath the surface, like smuggling something on the ships that transport the cheese?"
"Well, Relfren is land-locked," Ruze replied. "I don't think it would come in by ship, but maybe a halfling river barge."
"Okay," Ledare relented. "on river barges then. Or maybe the cheese cover would be a way to launder money they really make in whatever kind of evil business they do run. Either way, it sounds as if they were still in the stages of inquiring, not operating."
"My first thought about the cheese factory was of course they'd be interested," Kirnoth shrugged. "They're rats."
The Janissary returned the mage's shrug.
"Yes," she said. "There's always the chance that they just like to eat cheese."
They ate for a few moments in silence until Finian asked, "So we're just going to blindly follow this Roach, character?"
"Some of us more blindly than others," the Battleguard mused.
"If he is willing to work with us, then I suggest we listen to Roach's advice and experience in terms of attack, yes," Ledare told him. "I won't walk unprepared into a blood bath, however. My suggestion would be to take a surveillance-type approach this first time. We get as close as we can to their temple to determine numbers and position, then decide our next move."
"Um," Ruze said, raising his hand to attract attention. "I have no idea who Roach is or what skaven you are talking about. I basically have no clue as to what is going on."
"I am so sorry," Kirnoth said at once. "We have all been so focused on our next move, we'd forgotten about you."
"I am not complaining," the cleric assured the others. "I am just mentioning why I am not offering suggestions."
"Well, you should be updated," the elf explained. "We had quite a bit of adventure while you were... er... petrified."
Kirnoth and Ledare filled in both Finian and Ruze on their struggle to both rescue them from Selejian's studio and locate the four missing artisans. The tale was long, and the thread of the story passed freely between the two tellers. By the time they were finished, Alyllyra and Gwaedry had returned to gather up the plates and Abernathy was lighting the oil lamps set along the wall of the Dining Room.
"Abernathy?" Kirnoth asked to get the manservant's attention.
"Sir?" the man replied, standing tall.
"Have you ever heard the name Elgoth?" the mage asked and Abernathy just shook his head.
"We should go," Finian said, pushing away from the table. "It's getting on towards twilight."
"Already?" Ruze asked. "No time for one of the goodwife's fine deserts?"
"Not if we're to make our appointment with Roach," Kirnoth told him as he got to his feet.
"Make certain that everyone has everything they need," Finian said once he was sure that Gwaedry was nowhere within earshot. "Because we should be expecting combat and this could get nasty."
"I'll fetch you that package you requested, Archer Talteppe," Abernathy said as he hurried off toward the kitchen.