Black Hart

To Kill A King

Chapter 16 - King's Park and the Moonlit Rose

Warmed and dried now, with a change of clothing, the four sat in Mordekei's living room, which like the rest of the house was cluttered with books, and various odds and ends of a magical nature.
"The only thing I would ask you," Mordekei said, "Is not to move anything about. It is hard enough as it is for me to find things in here."
The others smiled, finding it easy from the clutter to understand why.
"So where should we start then," Hamman asked.
The others smiled, finding it easy from the clutter to understand why.
Mordekei began thinking aloud.
"As to the task at hand, well, there was no sign of Lominstrall on the way here, so if Redemption got him then we're too late'. But let's assume he's somehow made it into the city. Does he know that this Ariall has headed here and can perhaps identify him?"
Hamman shook his head.
"Perhaps. If he had any contact with Thoggin and his men, or if he listened to the rumours going about I guess he would have heard of this Ariall. They've only been here a full day, but perhaps the others have found out something. But where they are, that's another thing? Who else could help us?"
"Perhaps Kro," Mordekei suggested. "Although his house looked empty on the way in - perhaps he is still lying low. Or that Lareng fellow?"
Jean-Paul seemed to take it upon himself to be authoritative.
"We should first peruse this Kro's house and then go and see Lareng. One of them will surely know the whereabouts of the others. I hope Eloi is treating Friederikson with respect. I can just see visions of him horse-whipping the poor soul for being to neat, tidy and efficient."
They all laughed at the image of a frustrated Eloi driven mad by Friederikson's meticulous manners.

************************

Bermen and Eloi passed on to the Merkling without incident, where it appeared a junior officer of the City Guard intended to search and question the Baron until his enthusiasm was halted by an army officer of Bermen's acquaintance.
The heavy cloaks they had borrowed from Lareng kept off most of the rain, but still it was uncomfortably damp as they drew nearer to the park. The rain and darkness had cut their visibility, which did nothing too put them at ease. The gates were locked fast, but a few minutes saw them open with Eloi's nimble talents.
Eloi stared around in the gloom.
"I don't like the look of this," he told the ranger. "Too much cover, too much room for attack."
Both men jumped, their hands going to their weapons as they heard a snap from a nearby bush. Wakes stood up, looking remarkably dry. Eloi thought to himself that this was typical. He seemed the type who would walk out of a Dorakaan Mud-Wrestling match spotless.
Wakes walked over to them, crunching a few twigs on the way, and gestured to Eloi.
"Just you," he said, barely audible above the rain. As Eloi made to protest, Wakes shook his head. The rain was dripping off his wide-brimmed hat as he did so.
"Just you - she's waiting, we must hurry," he said in a demanding tone.
Wakes started to walk away. Eloi looked at the ranger's bow strung across his back.
"Why don't you check around, make sure we're covered," Eloi suggested. "I'll handle the girl."
Bermen unstrung his bow, notched an arrow, and walked off to the left.
Eloi quickly caught up with Wakes.
He noticed the thief was limping slightly, then saw he was bleeding from a wound on his left leg. Wakes saw his glance there.
"Ran into trouble, I'll tell you later," he said.
They walked through the park, Eloi seeing the boat pond with the pier. The boathouse sat nearby, and there was a faint light coming from it. They walked on to it, Eloi noticing the person hiding in the bushes nearby whom Wakes signalled as they approached, although he was using some sign other than Thieves Cant.
Wakes stopped ten feet from the boathouse, pointing to the door.
"On you go, Baron," he said. "I will join the others, you have ten minutes before we must go." Wakes turned back to the bushes and started to walk away.
Eloi peered into the bushes in the hope that his infravision might be able to pick up whether there were more than Wakes and his companion in the bushes. Once he was satisfied that he was truly alone he walked up to the boat house, opened the door and stepped inside.

************************

The trees to the left were quite thick, although Bermen could see little in the rain anyway. After a while he almost tripped over something lying on the ground by a small bush.
A body!
The man was dressed like a thief, with his throat cut, and still quite warm. Although the light was poor, Bermen was sure he recognised him, but from where he could not say. Quickly he searched the ground nearby, and found a thick, strange footprint of odd proportions nearby. He made off, as quickly as the poor light and muddy ground would let him, following the odd-shaped prints. Soon he was back on the path leading to the gate they had entered.
Searching the other side, he soon rediscovered the prints, following them back almost to the gate. Then they returned back to where he had walked from Eloi. As he stood there pondering, he heard a groan from the bushes where Wakes had been.
Bow ready, he stalked over to the groaning bush - with his foot, he brushed aside the foliage, seeing the barely moving form in front of him, face down to the mud. Even in the failing light he saw the blood pouring from him, the nasty cut to the back of his head.
With his left hand, Bermen cautiously turned him over, and stepped back in shock.
The man was barely breathing, his face battered in a vicious attack. But still, mostly by his faded dandy clothing, Bermen recognised him.
It was Wakes!

************************

As he opened the door Eloi realised there were footsteps behind him, moving closer. Instinctively drawing his flail, he turned to meet the person, but left it half-drawn when he saw his would-be assailant.
Standing before Eloi was himself - perfect in every detail, save one.
The Eloi who was facing him had his flail drawn, with a well-aimed blow flying at him as he gawped helplessly in surprise!
At the last moment Eloi dodged sidewards, but still caught almost the whole blow on his shoulder. Immediately, the shock over, he managed to draw his flail and adopt a defensive stance. Eloi was sure there was someone, or something, behind in the boathouse, but dared not take his eyes off this double for fear of being hit.
Wakes was nowhere to be seen.

************************

Bermen looked around again, anxiously scanning the near vicinity for anything lurking in cover. Moving with practised skill and speed he then swapped the bow he was carrying for his sword and knelt by Wakes side.
"Wakes!," he hissed, "Wakes! Can you hear me? Which way did Eloi go?"
Bermen quickly improvised a field bandage for the cut on Wakes head all the while thinking to himself:
"I don't give you much chance thief without a cleric soon. But I can't sit here playing nursemaid
while whatever beast or bastard creeps up on me or does away with Eloi. Damnit I'll do what I can for you but then I'll have to try and find some tracks to follow."
Bermen came slowly to his feet, all the while listening for any clues as to where the attacker lurked or was sneaking off. His mind started to go back to the figure in the woods at the palace and he wondered.
"More of this magical disappearing trickery? Well, we'll see if we can follow any tracks from this point."
Bermen made a thorough search of the ground around where Wakes lay.
"If I don't find anything after this search then I'll have to go get the others. There's no sense wandering around in the dark wondering where Eloi's gotten to. Now where has this attacker moved to?"
Bermen made his way off into the park to search for the attacker and hopefully Eloi too.

************************

Eloi shrugged his shoulders.
"If this is some kind of test, may as well get a good grade," he thought. "If not then I may as well clobber this shapeshifter and meet whoever is in the boathouse."
He was conscious that this may be some kind of test of his resolve, so did not call for Bermen's help. If things looked to be going badly, though, he wouldn't hesitate in calling in the big-man.
Eloi advanced on himself, flail flailing.
Despite his smarting wound, Eloi toyed with the creature, swiftly returning his blow, striking it harshly on the arm. Perhaps he was being too light with it, as he carelessly let in its next clumsy blow, another painful check to his shoulder.
The double grinned.
"A tad easier than our cowardly ways looting with the Hordes, I think," the double said.
"How could he know about that?" Eloi wondered.
A might more serious, he returned to the fray, but as he stepped forward his double pulled down his flail, this time much faster, again striking his shoulder - Eloi smarted as the blow connected He was either very strong or using magic, for that was no ordinary blow.
With the pain overcoming his senses, Eloi was lucky to land his next strike, barely catching the double's leg as they circled before the boathouse.
Again they clashed, but this time Eloi, knowing his opponent better, blocked the inevitable shoulder blow and caught the double firmly on the chest, a satisfying rib-cracking noise as it landed.
The creature pushed him back, and it seemed to Eloi at least to be as badly injured as he was. The double twisted, and unexpectedly spun, and it was all Eloi could do to block the next swing, their flails entangling with a clatter as the two grappled for control.
"I sense your fear," the double snarled.
Eloi was suddenly aware of someone running down toward the boathouse.
"Like when that ogre mage crushed our throat in the forest - your life is draining again, 'Scout'!"

************************

As Aranon watched the others leave he was almost glad they went without them. He closed the door on the downpour and went back to Lareng, the warm fire and his brandy. He found himself wondering if it was blowing a storm on the Wild Coast that night also.
Lareng said, "Lominstrall has land to the south, somewhere in the Royal County of Rivermeet. The King's own land, ironically! I doubt it from Bermen's tale, but perhaps he was passing through here to return home."
"Where is this land?" Tumbry asked.
He had cleaned his lute as they spoke, and was now picking at the strings, tuning it. He motioned towards Aranon's pack and the covered lute that sat upon it.
"I wouldn't know, he has not ever come to my attention as a major player," Lareng replied. "Until now!"
Aranon took his lute from its cover, and joined the bard in tuning his own instrument. Lareng was looking apprehensively at the pair. He topped up their glasses with the Keoish Blue brandy, the finest in the Flanaess. Aranon wondered if it was in dread of the forthcoming medley.
"Perhaps the Baron could find out, from the Lendskurt," he suggested.
Tumbry plucked out the first four notes of a tune. Aranon shook his head, not knowing the song.
He replied with the beginning to one of his favourites, "One Green Hill" - a Bisselite folk song that reminded him of his days in Thornward studying under Maffyn.
Tumbry joined in, playing clear and crisp - to his trained ear, Tumbry's skill was putting him to shame, but he doubted Lareng would notice. By the second verse, Aranon was glad to see Lareng's foot tapping.
Friederikson had arisen to go upstairs, quietly excusing himself, although Aranon was sure it was to perform some task in his routine rather than to escape the cacophony.

************************

Bermen was standing in shock at the sight before him.
Two Eloi's fighting each other in front of the boathouse!
Bermen, help me!" the Eloi to the left shouted as he swung a blow.
The other ducked and side-stepped the swing, making a feeble counter-strike that the one to the right easily dodged.
"For fuck sake Major Zladek, finish this monster!" the one to the right cried.
Bermen's mouth gaped in a fair imitation of the town gate before his face dissolved into a malicious grin. Thinking quietly aloud, he muttered to himself
"Well, well, Eloi - what a choice to have to make. Whichever one of you is the impostor has certainly got that authentically ugly face of yours."
Bermen gave his sword a good couple of practice before resuming his former head-scratching observation.
"How in the name of Kelanen, do you separate such a horrible pair?"
The two Eloi's continued their battle, the one on the left assuming a more defensive posture, obviously attempting to minimise further damage. The one to the left harshly turned to Bermen and barked at him.
"Bermen, you saved my life once before in Niole Dra when we fought the Suel Assassin. I bid you to help me once more or I ain't going to be too pleased."
Nice try," Eloi to the right shouted. "But I was not in so much danger from the poisoned blade of Shabass T'Lan's killer as Kro. And I repaid the favour in the forest near Oakhart by killing that Minotaur and saving the lot of you! Finish this impostor now Bermen!"
Bermen stood, momentarily watching the two Eloi's who circle each other, trying to keep track of who was who. He looked as though he may just decide to attack both of them!
The one on the right turned to the other, appearing somewhat bemused.
"How come you know so fucking much about me? There is some dark sorcery about this! Bermen , just make up your mind and kill one of us. Hopefully you'll kill the right one, if not your going to be in a lot of trouble. Anyways I've had enough of this, its down to business."
That Eloi crouched into a attacking stance and launches himself at his duplicate in an attempt to grapple the flail from his opponent and wrestle him to the ground.
The other Eloi shouted to Bermen during his frenzied attack.
"That would be a very good idea, Bermen. It would save you from a damn good kicking, once I get out of this mess. Hurry up and make your fucking mind up. Oh, and I'd like to see how your going to explain this to the city guards. They'll probably burn both of me at the stake due to the despicable witchcraft involved. I'll enjoy that immensely."
The other Eloi was swinging wildly at his attacker, and in that instant, Bermen realised that this one was the impostor, having far less skill than the composed Eloi he had practised with near to Oakhart.
Before he could act, however, Eloi brought his flail down on the other, cracking open its skull and it fell lifeless to the ground.
Both watched in awe as its shape changed into a skeletal form, its appearance of Eloi, clothes and all, turning to a hideous grey-brown skin without any clothes.
A doppelganger!
Eloi stood facing Bermen and was about to make a suitable remark when the first missile, an arrow or quarrel of some sort, went whizzing past them. It had come from the trees to Eloi's right, and with his infravision he could make out a figure, small and slight, possibly Olven, pointing a hand crossbow at them.
Bermen clocked another figure approaching from the boathouse and began to get itchy feet.
Turning quickly back the way they had come in, Bermen said to Eloi, "I'd like to stay and congratulate you on your skill Eloi but I think we ought to continue our lover's tiff elsewhere - I think we'll be toast if we don't bugger off now before we're surrounded!"
Not waiting too long to see if Eloi was going to follow him or argue, he started to run back towards the entrance ready to chop down the first creature stupid enough to try and stop him.
As he began to move off the thought crossed his mind: "I hope I don't find myself facing an army of Zladeks!"
Eloi grabbed him by the scruff of the neck before he could make off.
"Don't be so hasty big man, as far as I can tell there is only one assailant, an elf in the trees, I say take him out and let's discover the truth behind this conspiracy!"
With that he started swinging his flail and made his way towards the elf's hiding place.
"First sign of big trouble and I am going to do a runner," thought Eloi.
The ranger paused as the half-orc charged at the shadowed stranger. Yeeaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrgggghhhh!" Eloi screamed, his sophisticated war-cry piercing the night air.
Calmly, the figure in the shadow of the tree was reloading what appeared to be a hand crossbow. The figure raised its loaded hand crossbow, and pointed it at Eloi as he swung back his flail to strike. Suddenly Eloi dropped like a brick and was tumbling to the ground.
To the right Bermen could see the other figure, now broken cover to save his comrade, who had shot Eloi in the back with a hand crossbow. It was a male Drow!
Eloi lay on his back, not moving as the figure to the left stepped over to him, with an evil grin, pointing the hand crossbow at his unprotected head.
His mind racing, Bermen unleashed the spell he had prepared to trap the Eloi's. The Drow paused, glancing at his feet, as the very grass about them was growing up to entangle both Eloi and the Drow, holding them fast.
Turning to the male Drow, Bermen saw he was drawing his shortsword from his belt. Bermen hefted Gottflinder to his shoulder, stood in a receiving stance and awaited his charge.
As the Drow ran at him, Bermen suddenly shouted, "Rett" - Drow for 'stop'.
The male Drow slowed then stopped, in a mixture of confusion and surprise. His sword still pointed menacingly at Bermen.
"Who is it that tells me to stop?" the male Drow said in his own language.
"I have no fight with you, brother," Bermen told him. "I will not let you kill my friend there, or I would lose my station."
Bermen knew that to a Drow the loss of station was more important than anything.
"We will fight, and one of us will not leave here. Or we may both leave, and take our comrades with us!"
It had been a long time, but the system of emphasis and pauses Eldrave had taught him were now flowing from his tongue as though he was born to the tongue. Bermen saw that this Drow had no clan badge displayed, and became conscious of the badge Eldrave had given him - if they were from a rival House then perhaps his talking would be in vain after all.
But he did not know how badly hurt Eloi was, assuming he was still alive.
The Drow thought for a moment. Then he resheathed his sword, and leaned forward. Bermen recognised the beginning of the Drow greeting ritual and did likewise. Both placed their left foot forward, knee slightly bent, reaching out with their left hand pointing at the other.
"Khin Kh'aarka, of the House Tormtor," the Drow declared.
An enemy House! Yet Bermen was sure the Drow had already seen his house badge.
"Bermen Zladek," he said. "Of the Velveldrin!"
A look of shock came over the Drow's face. Bermen had used the name of the Eilserv's feared assassins, and it had the desired effect. The Drow was speechless.
Bermen could almost read his mind - 'How could an outsider such as he be a Velveldrin?'
Then again, with his knowledge, skill and House badge, how could he not.
Bermen was first to ease back in acceptance of the other, saying, "Well, Khin Kh'aarka of House Noquar, I propose we go our separate ways after I recover my friend from over there. Your companion is unhurt."
Bermen had seen the Drow's house badge, a bronze nightmare's head of House Noquar, and knew it was not of Tormtor, knew the Drow was testing him. The Drow nodded, and Bermen walked cautiously off toward where Eloi lay, unconscious before the struggling female Drow he had captured with his spell.
With a few hand signals, Bermen indicated to her that he meant her no harm, and she momentarily stopped trying to get free, perhaps more in surprise than in acceptance.
With a long sword stroke, Bermen freed Eloi and hefted him over his shoulder, keeping the sword in his other hand.
He made off as quickly as Eloi's bulk would allow him, heading for the safety of the streets, passing Wakes at the gate. A quick check showed the thief was now dead.
As he reached the street, Bermen began to think of the dangers - he would likely be stopped by the guard and have much explaining to do, and would never get Eloi past the guards at the Merkstaff. Then it dawned on him - Kro and Mordekei's houses were just around the corner!
Bermen checked the street was clear, then sprinted for the side-street. As he turned the corner a carriage passed, and he almost had to drop Eloi to avoid being seen. The half-orc let out a groan.
The hand-crossbow bolt did not appear to have done too much damage and the wound had stopped bleeding. Looking across the street, Kro's house appeared to be boarded up, although there were a few lights on at Mordekei's house.
He sprinted across the empty road, almost losing his footing on the wet cobblestones as the rain began to lash down again. As he reached the front door he began pounding it with his boot until he heard someone within unlocking the inner then the outer door.

************************

The discussion continued for a while, as the party became comfortable in Mordekei's home.
"If he does, Akhan, then she is in the utmost danger. Hopefully the others will have secured her safety by now." Hamman said. "I suppose if they have not, we could always take the hunt to him, and hope to find her along the way - one way or another! Do we know of any property Lominstrall has here in the capital, or nearby?"
Everyone suddenly jumped as there was a pounding from the front door - almost, but not quite, as though someone were trying to kick the door in. Mordekei raised a hand to stop his apprentice from answering it, and went to the door himself, with Jean-Paul behind him.
"In the name of common decency, what is this commotion at th..."
As he opened the door, Mordekei's voice trailed off.
Suddenly Bermen, with a limp and unconscious Eloi slung across his shoulder, pushed into the sitting room. Akhan and Hamman scattered as he threw Eloi to the couch where they had been sitting. Eloi looked badly injured, with several deep cuts, but appeared to be stable as the bleeding had stopped.
"What on Oerth happened?"
Bermen moved over towards the fire and pointed his rear end towards it.
"I'll try to explain what's going on in a minute Jean-Paul but we have to see to Eloi first."
Turning to Mordekei he continued.
"Mordekei, at the present moment Aranon and Frederikson are at the house of Lareng. Could you send someone to tell them that Eloi has been injured and that they are to come here immediately. Afterwards we can all find out what we've all been doing and why you lot are now in Niole Dra."
Bermen took out a cloth and began to wipe the rain off his sword.
"As for what's happened to Eloi..."
He smiled and looked at the floor.
"Where do I start? Well, let's start with why there's blood pouring out of him. He and I had a meeting with a man called Wakes who had arranged to put Eloi in contact with the serving girl Ariall. We arrived at the King's Park over the road and Wakes went off with Eloi to meet the girl while I scouted around. However, you can perhaps imagine my surprise when I stumble across a dying Wakes."
"Trying to catch up with Eloi again I find him apparently fighting himself."
Bermen grinned at the recollection.
"As I told Eloi at the time, it wasn't much of a choice to have to shoot one of them. Anyway, the real Eloi killed what turned out to be a doppelganger, only by then the rest of whoever was trying to kill us decided to attack. Eloi decided to go for the death or glory option and copped a crossbow bolt in the back from one of the two Drow who were out there."
"After that I only just managed to trap the female one of them with an Entangle spell and face off the other male. This one obviously appreciated the stalemate - getting involved in a lengthy fight to the death would have been no good to him as the sound of the battle could have brought the city guards down on him."
"So, I got Eloi, what a prize, and he got his companion."
Taking off the more sodden items of his clothing Bermen looked imploringly at Mordekei.
"Mord, you couldn't get me a Brandy could you? It's been a long day and I've already been shot and nearly drowned already. I think I need a seat and a good sleep."
Mordekei sent off his apprentice to fetch Aranon and Frederikson, but his news disappointed the cold and weary Bermen.
"Unfortunately, I do not keep alcohol in my house. Could I interest you in some herbal tea?" he enquired, pointing to his own steaming cup.
Hamman seemed puzzled.
"So this Ariall - are we any closer to finding her? We know about Lominstrall, but there is no proof against him unless we find her. And if you were ambushed, is it possible he now has her?"
Bermen moved to one of the chairs and stretching his feet out began rub his wound from earlier on.
"I guess," Bermen continued, "that we have to assume that our amorous Ariall is now beyond our reach. It's not the end of the trail however. Earlier I had the dubious honour of spying the King's Chamberlain wandering the streets of Niole Dra in disguise."
"Some rough-looking characters were tracking him and I followed them all onto a ferry. I decided to make an attempt to contact him just in case the thugs were trying to kidnap him, and besides, I was sure we'd all have some searching questions as to what the bloody hell he thought he was doing in Niole Dra."
"Anyhow, no sooner had I went up to him than all hell broke loose. The heavies attacked, Lominstrall went into the water, and I copped a crossbow bolt and followed him rather less gracefully into that foul muck. Next thing I know there's Aranon and Eloi hustling me away to Lareng's house."
"I hope you're all following this..."
Bermen began to massage his aching head.
"Mmmmph. Right, so it appears that Aranon has just arrived from Fax and bumped in to Eloi, who was waiting for the ferry that I just happened to be on, luckily for me. We buggered off to Lareng's house where they are now, but Eloi informed us all that he had arranged that meeting with his contact Wakes."
"So, we went off to that and now you see us."
As Jean-Paul put his sword away, Eloi's eyes flickered open. He muttered something about 'a few more minutes', then drifted back to sleep.
Jean-Paul shook him vigorously.
"Wake up man! Wake up!"
Eloi woke with a start, terrified at first. Then he looked past the paladin to see the others. He breathed out heavily and his relief was evident.
"By Grazz't's tail, I thought I'd died and gone to the Heavens! Where am I?"
Akhan chuckled.
"Don't worry," the rogue said. "It's worse - Mordekei's house and not a drop to drink!"
Bermen quickly explained to him what had happened, and could see he was in some discomfort from his injuries.
Jean-Paul hurried to Eloi's side after hearing Akhan's tale.
"Stand aside and let me examine him."
Jean-Paul examined Eloi's battered body, trying to establish the extent of his wounds. Once finished his initial examination he stood and drew his sword. He held the sword by its hilt and passed the blade of the sword over Eloi's body. As he passed the across Eloi's battered body, Jean-Paul could feel the poison within him - not strong, not deadly, but poison all the same.
From Eloi's dream-ridden state, he imagined it must be some sort of sleep poison, and he could feel it slowly wearing off through the sword. Apart from that, Eloi had also taken considerable damage in the fight and his wounds were in need of healing. Jean-Paul placed his hands on Eloi's body and muttered a few words under his breath.
He called to Friederikson, who returned carrying a small potion bottle He unscrewed the top and then lifted Eloi to a sitting position. He then held the bottle to Eloi's mouth and poured the contents down his friend's throat.
As Eloi swallowed the potion, the colour seemed to come back to his cheeks. His wounds seemed partly healed now and he felt altogether much better for it.
"Thanks," he croaked to Jean-Paul.
The words sounded painful, although it was unclear whether it was the injuries or the fact that he had to be grateful that caused most pain.

************************

Showing off somewhat, Tumbry now played in harmony, his fingers plucking out complimentary notes to Aranon's chords. All three were smiling, although Aranon was forming a bead of seat at this work.
Suddenly Tumbry began singing - Aranon almost stopped playing in shock. He had known the tune since before Maffyn taught him his first chords and had never known there were lyrics.
"And on that mound we fought and died/
And on that rise our captain lied/
To us he told the greatest tale/
How Kord's great knights would take the vale/
One green hill he said/
One Green Hill me lads/
One Green Hill and we'll all be heading home/"
Aranon was finding it hard, concentrating on the tune and listening so intently to the enthralling words - it was a war song, and he had never even realised.
"With Ferrond to the right of us/
The Voll stood to the left/
Behind the Kordic knights we stood/
As they led us to our death/
Charging up on Mesfer's Drift/
They left us far behind/
Charging up to blood and slaughter/
Madness on their mind/
Now its One Red Hill ye've made/
One red open grave/
One quick death and..."
Aranon had played three chords before he realised Tumbry had stopped, and was staring over his shoulder at the door.
Looking round, he saw the boy who had led them to the ferry, soaking wet, being shown in by the maidservant. Lareng rose to fetch the boy a drink and a blanket.
"Ikkar, where have you been?"
The boy grimaced as he sipped the strong drink.
"The man who fell in the water. The mark."
Aranon knew the word was the thieves' word for a person who was their target, but it was strange to hear it come so easily from the mouth of one so young.
"Lominstrall?" Tumbry asked.
Lareng nodded.
The boy continued.
"Well I follows him, see. He swam fast through the waters, magical fast like, but I ran up with him. To the dock. To that big ship with the golden dome."
"Big ship with a go..." Aranon muttered, the realisation slowly coming to him.
Only a fool, and an eccentric one at that, would gold plate the dome of a ship. And he knew the ship and he knew the fool.
Fimuth!
Fimuth's flagship, the Moonlit Rose, on which Aranon had been many times, had an extravagant golden dome at the rear, to his mind a bold example of his friend's insanity. The ship sailed, when Fimuth was not using it, between Niole Dra, via the southern port of Gradsul, to Fim-Sular.
"Could Lominstrall be trying to flee?" he thought.
"Tumbry, quick, get ready, we must go now!" Aranon said. "I think Lominstrall is trying to leave Keoland!"
Quickly they packed their belongings, and were standing at the door with Lareng when the stranger arrived. He looked like a mage's apprentice.
"Lord Aranon," the apprentice addressed him directly. He was getting soaked standing there in the pouring rain. "My master, Mordekei the mage, he sent me for you urgently. The Baron Eloi, he is mortally wounded and needs your help."
Aranon took a deep breath.
"Damn that fool!" he thought.
Pulling his cloak fast about him, Aranon followed the apprentice into the heavy rain, with Tumbry and Frederikson close behind.
As they left, Lareng shouted after him.
"Keep me informed, Aranon - I can help with many things!"

************************

Ten minutes later, after being checked by guards at the Merkstaff gate to the Keisling, the apprentice, Zakanieth, showed the trio into a small townhouse.
In the lounge, Mordekei stood before the rest of the party. There, seated on the couch, badly wounded but awake and apparently recovering, was Eloi. As if to insult him, Akhan's mutt wandered over and began to sniff Aranon's crotch.
Aranon examined Eloi, who Jean-Paul had just administered with his healing potion.
"Stupid bugger. And the poison? A waste of a potion, you should have waited until I got here"
"Anyway," Aranon declared, as though proclaiming Eloi unworthy of more attention. "There is no time for delay. Our man is aboard a ship in the harbour and I want us to be there before it sails. I trust none of you get seasick!"
With that he turned towards the door and shouted back
"Lets get a move on!"
Starting to gather up his gear, Akhan said to Aranon, "Nice to see you too Aranon. Mind telling us how you know this as we go along?"
Finishing his preparations Akhan started to throw to Bermen the wet clothes he'd discarded around the room, not taking too much care if they hit him in the face.
"And be careful as you go out the door Aranon, as it appears that we've got a couple of Drow trying to use us for target practice. Wouldn't want you getting hit in the eye or anything."
Akhan looked across the room at Ash who was now enthusiastically getting in the way of everyone's preparations in his excitement.
"Ash! Here lad - heel. You can annoy the others when we're all on the boat."
Akhan and Ash waited for the rest to sort out their gear before they all left following Aranon's lea. Akhan was determined to walk at the head of the party to scan their way with his Eye and let Ash have a clear sniff at any concealed attackers. Bermen groaned at the anticipated exertion of having to rush off again so shortly. He was about to make a half-hearted protest when his suddenly airborne, and very wet, cloak wrapped itself around his face.
"Mmmmmphhh. Cheers Akhan, y' horse's arse!" he said scraping the offending article off his face.
With that he shrugged and started to grab his scattered belongings and leave with the others.
"You up for this then Eloi?" he said to the visibly disgruntled half-orc, deciding to keep close to him just in case he had trouble keeping up with the party after his poisoning.
"Hell, who do I think I'm kidding," he thought. "I got drowned as well as shot. If I can keep up then so can bloody he."
Nevertheless, Bermen moved off with Eloi, thinking it best for the temporarily weaker members of the company to take it easy out of the firing line.
Eloi spoke to Friederikson and asked him to get his equipment together. Somewhat shaken by Aranon's attitude, Eloi piped up.
"What, where, how? I for one ain't going anywhere's until someone tells me why? I assume our friend Lominstrall is on the boat? If that is the case I am sure he will be delighted to let us on board!"
In a mad and wet flurry, the reassembled party drew their belongings together.
They were tired, wet, hungry, but they seemed to get a collective buzz from the prospect of what was to come. Ash span around chasing his tail in excitement, sensing there was fun at hand. Within ten minutes they were out the door and heading toward the Merkstaff.

************************

The rain had slowed to a steady shower now, but the cold morning breeze made even that instantly uncomfortable.
Akhan and Ash sprinted on ahead, scouting the way, Akhan undoubtedly hoping for a rematch with Bermen's Drow. In the main party, spirits were mixed, although Eloi was determined to hear more details from Aranon..
"So tell us exactly where we're headed and why, Aranon. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm getting a bit annoyed at never knowing what's going on until we're knee deep in battle."
Aranon turned and smiled as they continued on.
"No problem, lads - its either a stroke of luck or a particularly cunning plan. The young lad we met earlier followed our friend after his hasty departure from the ferry. To a boat in the harbour. And, as you say Eloi, I'm sure he will be simply delighted to see us."
"Once we get there we'll try and find a position from where we can work out how we're going to get on, in the meantime lets keep moving - and watch out for anything that might indicate an ambush."
Aranon turned forwards again, watching the side alleys and roads as they continued.
As the party continued, Mordekei turned the Jean-Paul.
"Are you feeling alright, my friend? You seem a little down in the mouth."
Jean-Paul replied to Mordekei, "I am fine! I just have reservations with regards to Aranon's tactics here. With what has gone before I do not consider it wise to simply walk up to the ship gangplank and ask to see Lominstrall."
Eloi listened to Mordekei and Jean-Paul's conversation.
"I agree with Jean-Paul, perhaps a visit to the harbourmaster and the passing of some currency might delay the ships departure. This would give us time to prepare a more rational plan."
Mordekei shook his head.
"I doubt if Aranon was thinking of quite such a direct approach, J-P, although I'm not sure if he actually has a plan at all yet. But Eloi, your suggestion seems to make sense. Aranon!"
Mordekei speeded up for a second, catching up with Aranon, and filled him in on Eloi's idea. With caution the party advanced through the streets of the Keisling.
When they arrived at the Merkstaff, they found Akhan being searched thoroughly by a group of guardsmen, who did not seem at all amused to find his thieves' tools and many other items in his belongings. Akhan's banter was obviously not working, and it was lucky for him that Bermen knew the army Captain in charge of the gate, or they might have had to leave him there.
As they walked along the narrow streets entering the Weyrkling area, headed to the docks, the temple bells again rang out, indicating it was now one o'clock in the morning. The dock area was still busy, although all save the most drunk stayed off the street to avoid the unusually cold rain. Soon they were at the docks which, although not quite so busy as during the day, were still in use as men loaded and unloaded cargoes from the ships there.
"So what exactly are we looking for?" Eloi asked Aranon.
Aranon smiled, saying, "It shouldn't be too hard to find - a large sea-going ship with three masts, and a golden dome."
"Fimuth's ship!" Eloi and Hamman exclaimed almost simultaneously.
Aranon seemed surprised that they knew of it.
"Why yes," he said.
"There was a price on it a few years ago, from the Prince of Monmurg after the Fim-Sular debacle where we lost a few ships to him," Hamman said.
"I hate to bother you Aranon," Eloi said, "But I saw it this afternoon."
Eloi pointed across to the harbour where two larger sea-going ships were moored. "Right there where that four-mast ship is. Your ship, and probably our Chamberlain, is gone!"
There was a mischievous air to Eloi's declaration.
As Ash sniffed something interesting in the gutter, Akhan volunteered to check with the Harbour Master, and was soon returned with the bad news.
"Apparently it loaded early and decided to leave tonight, do they told him," Akhan told the others. "Bound for Gradsul, then on to Fim-Sular."
"Again the trail goes cold," Jean-Paul said, sighing a great sigh of despair. "It seems no matter where we turn in this tangled web we get caught up."
"Very poetic, sir knight," Tumbry said. "I may use your words in a ditty of mine if you do not mind. However I suspect all is not lost. Lareng mentioned an estate of Lominstrall's to the south, did he not Aranon?"
Aranon nodded as he was reminded, saying, "Somewhere in the Royal County of Rivermeet. He suggested Eloi find out from the Lendskurt tomorrow."
"Lendskurt?" Eloi asked, puzzled, as he had never before heard of such a thing.
"The nobles' assembly," Mordekei explained. "It is held here in the capital. I doubt it is in session at the moment, with the war and all, but they are responsible for the Registry of Lands and Titles. With your position you could undoubtedly get the Clerk of the Courts to discover where he may be."
"With haste though," Bermen said. "For I doubt he will remain there longer than to gather his possessions and a fast horse, before fleeing to exile."
"If he does even that," Aranon said. "Fim-Sular would be an ideal place itself for him to hide, or find a ship to where he wished to go. Question is, is he allied to the Drow, or the Brotherhood in some way, or both?"
"Or neither," Akhan suggested.
"You will have to pardon my ignorance, not being of these parts," Jean-Paul stated, "But what is Fim-Sular?"
"It was a trading post of the Sea Princes on the northern tip of the Amedio peninsula," Hamman explained. "We used it for trade in the Amedio jungle, timber and such-like."
"Not to mention the odd thousand slave or thereabouts," Aranon added.
Hamman nodded.
"A practice I disagreed with, and part of the reason I am here."
Aranon continued.
"Fimuth took it over, and established a thriving town there. He had a bit of trouble with the Brotherhood and Hamman's people for a while, but nothing a bit of gold couldn't sort out. Now it is something of a free port, although technically a Keoish protectorate. Un-technically, it is Fimuth through and through!"
"Let us go back to my home." Mordekei suggested. "We all need rest, then we will talk in the morning and decide what we are going to do. A fast horse should let us catch up with the golden-domed ship."
"The Moonlit Rose," Aranon stated.
"Not forgetting, of course," Bermen said to Eloi, "that we have left some of our belongings at the Painted Man, and may get something of a warm reception when they find Wakes' body!"
Eloi nodded grimly.
As another downpour started, they headed off back to the Keisling, to Mordekei's home and a good, warm night's rest.

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