Black Hart

Gradsul by Twilight

Chapter 18 - Let Sleeping Dogs Talk

There had been no such rooms at the courthouse so they had retired to the 'Sleeping Dog' tavern, just a few hundred yards from the Umberdtine.
With the party now gathered together in the tavern, Akhan stated, "I'm not prepared to let our friend get sent to the gallows. And I say we need him all the more after our most recent brush with death. We've got to spring him somehow. What I want to know first though, before we discuss how to do it, is who's in on this? Because I'll do it on my own if I have to but I'd like your support." Akhan looked carefully round his colleagues, watching to see their response.
Eloi looked at Akhan and laughed. "Well, I was working on our friendsrelease before I was so rudely interupted. My plan was to be allowed to visit Kyros then spirit him from the Gaol in my underpants."
He rummaged in his pants and pulled out the Doors of Drawmji. "Akhan, you are familiar with these. The others are not. Basically, if I unfurl and utter magic words this scroll it turns into a set of magical doors. Inside the doors is another place which has been  tailored to my tastes."
He shrugged. "I do not know if a living person can survive inside the Doors when they are rolled up. However, Kyros is dead in a few hours anyways, so I am willing to take the chance. He will need to spend the rest of our mission in disguise, but it is a better option than the gallows."
"Our only other option is a direct assault and given the nature of our mission here that would not be a good idea. Has anyone else got any suggestions." He looked around the group diverting eye contact when he came to Akhan.
Cinion shook his head, muttering, "Not a chance."
He downed a gulp of his apple juice, making Eloi grimace at the thought of the sickly-sweet non-alcoholic drink, then cleared his throat.
"Think about it, both of you. No matter what happens, if Kyros doesn't make it to execution then who are their prime suspects for the dastardly deed? Perhaps the irate Baron and his cohorts who threw a mental outside the courtroom he was sentenced in. Now I'm all for team loyalty, but in the end it seems to me that there are higher powers working here - I ain't no expert on Keoish law but I think you'll find something like this is unprecedented here."
"Kyros is being punished for what he did before - there's nothing any of us can do to change that. Now unless you can suggest a plot that ends with them thinking Kyros is dead and us having nothing to do with it, count me out and I'll leave immediately. Have you not any way of contacting our boss, Eloi?"
Cinion produced a shiny red apple as he awaited the others' opinions, and bit deeply into it, with sheer delight evident to all.
Eloi grimaced at Cinion's suggestion. "Your own ideas are most certainly correct, but I am loathe to lose another team member. Even though it is due to his own heavy handedness."
"I could get a message to my dad through Mrs Byellok at the guesthouse I am staying at. However, with only a few hours to Kyros' death I do not think there would be enough time for him to act. Even if there was enough time I am not sure that even he could do anything to help. The local law enforcement here seem intent on killing Kyros."
Eloi paced up and down. "I want further comments. Is there any way we could free Kyros without pointing the finger of suspicion on our party."
Smokelight had been a bit shocked at Eloi's outburst and threatening behavior. He wasn't sure what the political pecking order was in Keoish aristocracy, but surely a Baron outranked a Mareschal! In any case, the old mage was relieved when Akhan had persuaded them to retreat to the relative calm and seclusion of the Sleeping Dog Tavern.
Smokelight listened to the others' comments, eyebrows raising at Eloi's description of the Doors of Drawmij, and nodding reluctantly at the level headed comments given by the hobniz Cinion.
"I have to weigh in with Cinion on this one. It is almost as if a higher power were speaking through this little halfling - so much sense does he make. Brute force alone won't avail us here. We need tact and trickery... but how to create the illusion that Kyros dies? Illusion indeed..."
Smokelight brooded, with arms folded.
"Let me think on that. Magic could do it - I just don't know that I have enough of the right spells - or enough luck in the casting. Those fancy Doors of Drawmij you have may just help though..."
Adder had to agree with the half-pint. "Let me add my two cents for what it's worth. My opinion is that even though it's regrettable, we cannot risk putting ourselves on the opposite side of those we work for. After all, we're on the side of the law here, and have enough problems already with our adversary. Although I admit I don't know all the facts regarding his case, I admit it is unusual that this case has been so expediently tried and finished. There does seem to be something amiss here."
"However, Cinion is correct here. The only way to successfully rescue that priest is to create the illusion that sentence has been served. The only other option in my opinion is quite a bit more draconian, and I'm not sure about the laws regarding that." Adder looked thoughtfully. "And that of course would be to let him be executed and get him raised by fellow members of his clergy. I don't know about down here in the Sheldomar, but this has happened more than once in the lands of the northwest."
Eloi nodded at Adder's comments. "A resurrection may be the best idea. However, how do we even know that they will turn his body over to us. Perhaps the Nyrondese will want it? Do they have rights as far as that is concerned. We are probably the closest thing he has to kin here. We should petition for his body if he is killed."
Cinion shook his head, saying, "I don't see it. If anyone rescues him then we're guilty, that's all they'll see. It'd be fine if we rescued him from the Nyrondese, but to become outlaws in the country we work for..? As for Father, if he's at Elysium he's not too far, and remember they have these heliographs along the Caisteallweg."
Eloi banged his fist on the table in frustration. "Whilst all this goes on I would remind everyone that our real business here is passing by. Perhaps we should be using the time until Kyros' execution to better use. I think we are all agreed that his death is unavoidable. Let's discuss the way forward as far as O'Shad and his accomplices are concerned. If anyone has any information, no matter how trivial it may seem, let's have it."

Akhan had sat brooding while the others discussed their reasons for not trying to intervene to free Kyros. Truthfully, he could see no obvious way to perform such a snatch at such short notice, but in his current mood he was not about to give up so easily. The rest of the party were obviously decided however, and there was no point wasting his time trying to convince them.
As Eloi finished, Akhan hunched himself forward on the table and said in a flat voice, "So be it." 
Rummaging quickly inside his cloak he drew forth something concealed within a pouch of rough material.
"This is what we took from the ship. I have no idea what it is, but given that we barely escaped with our lives and that the ship is now kindling, it's got to be fairly important. Akhan shrugged, scowling at the object in his hand and then (careful not to be overseen by any of the other denizens of the tavern) opened the pouch. He was especially delicate in his movements and decided he wasn't going to touch it with his bare hands just yet.
Looking still at the stone, Akhan commented, "This is just part of their design here in Gradsul. As Zeb says however, every piece of knowledge is important. This thing here," he hefted the stone in his hand, "is just the latest. So, unless any one of you knows what it is, or can divine it's nature, I'll put it away and we can start at the beginning and add up all we know."
Smokelight's eyebrows lifted at the sight of the stone Akhan had produced. The mage extended a hand towards the stone.
"If I may?" he asked.
Akhan let the mage take the stone off him. He figured the mage would know better than him what it might be. Turning to Cinion he stared at him for a moment almost absent-mindedly before he recalled himself.
"Mmm, alright. We discovered you were missing on Godsday morning." Akhan laughed humourlessly. "Yesterday in fact. Seems ages ago..."
"What happened after that? The other two crates we found on the Shelliak were unloaded and delivered to Halykk Mandrennin's warehouse. Apparently it's customary to store cargo in such a warehouse before it's released to its owner. Halykk told us O'Shad had paid to be able to collect his cargo straight away, which indicated a certain eagerness. When they arrived to pick the crates up we followed. One was taken towards Gelders neck of the woods - Smokelight can tell you what he saw there cos he followed that one. Zeb, myself and our condemned friend followed the other. Kyros got snatched by his pursuer Halstus at that point; unknown to us at the time of course. Zeb and I watched the crate being delivered to an arena in the Garrifurn area of the city." 
Akhan leaned back and rubbed at his scalp wearily, trying to massage some life back into himself. We overheard O'Shad talking to another Brotherhood agent - who we suspect is another wererat- about the cargo. Apparently they're going to use it to purchase quantities of jade and jet with the aim of building some sort of gate. Part of the reason I suspect O'Shad is a wererat too is the discarded clothes we saw in the arena. The whole place was crawling with wererats. It occurred to me that you had lost track of O'Shad when he went to Red Hannay's and all you could find were his discarded clothes. So, it looks pretty convincing to me that this bugger is one too."
"What else have we found? Dunstin and our new friend here," Akhan motioned towards Adder, "had a last rummage through the Shelliak last night after the city was attacked by a whole horde of sea-zombies. Inadvertently I triggered a trap which was set on a barrel of oil in the galley. The stone there was at the bottom of the barrel and I managed to filch it before the whole boat erupted around our ears. I don't know if it *is* the objest which the trap was set to protect. I hope so. Cos that way it should inconveience our adversaries at the least. And whatever else might have been on the boat is definitle not in any usable state now!"
Akhan let out a long sigh. "But what does it all add up to? Well, we know there are a lot more Scarlet ones than just O'Shad kicking about so this must be something major. They're trying to set up some kind of gate. Why? Well, let's assume they're hoping to transport something or someone or lots of things over here. Why not in the same way as O'Shad and the others made their way? Maybe because the Gate would make it easier? One particular nightmare scenario would be to have them transport an entire army into our very midst. Let's face it, the King's been throwing lots of manpower into the campaign against them in the Dreadwood. A doorway right behind his lines into one of his most important cities would be devastating."
Drumming his fingers on the table Akhan continued to muse. "And what about our charming friend in black? The one who's got it on for you Cinion? He fillets Meyrit after he's interrogated her about us. He's definitely bad news. He very nearly killed the whole of our party on his own. What connection does he have to the Brotherhood? Come on, there's got to be some sort of explanation here..."
As Akhan finished, Smokelight took the stone and lightly tossed it into the air.
As soon as he threw the small stone into the air, it began spinning around, orbiting the mage's head at a distance.
"Oh yes," the mage added, looking at the stone orbiting his head. "The
enchanted stone seems to be an Ioun stone. I'm not sure what this one does. According to one legend, Ioun stones are harvested from the cores of dead stars. They can be quite useful."
"Nice!" Cinion said. "Now wererats, on the other hand - not nice! I don't know why I never thought of that but it seems to make sense. As Papa Whitewillow used to say, "Many hands mean countless fingers." Mayhap that is how O'Shad escaped the last ones who followed him here."
"The arena's in the Garrisfurd area, Akhan. I visited it once, long ago -never liked it much. There was this strange odour, and now I know why. As for your stone," he said, nodding at it whirling about Smokelight's head, "Maybe that was just the bait to get yo uto set off your trap. How did the trap work?"
"So, magey," he asked, "What happened at this Gelder's warehouse? And what do we think the other crate, plus the two they removed before, are for? And how do we stop them?"
"This gate," Cinion continued. "I don't like what I'm hearing. Do we know if they've started building it yet, or anything more about it. I'd echo Akhan's concern - a gate into Gradsul is not going to be a new trade link, it can only be used for one thing - invasion. We must find out where it is."
"The trap on the Shelliak," Akhan replied, "appeared to be set off when I rested my hands on the edge of the barrel. Some sort of glowing rune formed in the air and I got fried along with quite a lot of the rest of the galley. Shortly after that there were some very ominous rumbinmgs from below-decks and we all decided to take our leave."
Akhan scratched the surface of the table in front of him and immediately regretted it. Starting to pick at the crud which was now embedded under his fingernail he said, "The suspicion has to be that they're planning to build this gate in the arena. I heard O'Shad say that the jade would be easy to obtain and that he would deliver it to this other 'Brother' of his at the arena. And I guess it'd make sense to build something like that there. If they are intending to bring some sort of armed force through, they might just need some room to move around in and the arena would provide a good marshalling yard."
Akhan paused, another detail coming back to him now that he had time to casthis mind back to O'Shad's conversation with his accomplice.
"And another thing - O'Shad said that they ought to have the gate finished within a month."
Akhan's lip curled in frustration at the crap which he couldn't dislodge and his hand drifted automatically to one of his daggers.
Setting the tip of the blade to work he continued, "Of course none ofthis proves they're going to build or are building this gate at the arena. It could be in the basement of Gelder's house for all we know. But I saw wererats popping out from a hole in the floor of the arena to help unload the cart so they must have some sort of cache or bolthole there."
Eloi stopped pacing and sat at a chair. He lowered his voice. "Okay let's review the facts."
"One, the main players. We have O'Shad whom we know very little and only that he isn't going anywhere fast as his boats sunk. The black stranger that murdered Meyrit and hassled Cinion. Gelders who may be an unwitting partner in all of this. Red Hannay who's whorehouse may be a safe haven for the Scarlet Brotherhood. The friend of O'Shad's that Akhan was to follow last night from the arena, probably a  Scarlet Brotherhood agent."
"Two, the main locations. O'Shad's boat now sunk. The arena which they have probably abandoned now. Gelder's house and warehouse. Red Hannay's whorehouse."
"Three, the clues. The two boxes, one containing fake gold, the other who knows what? I assume the one containing the gold was the crate taken to the arena and I assume the other one was the crate taken to Gelder's warehouse. The mention of obtaining jet and jade by O'Shad at the arena, for what purpose? The mention of O'Shad's 'brother' distributing the fake gold, but to whom and why? The mention of the gate by O'Shad at he arena and the timescale for its expected completion - one month, what is the purpose of the gate and is the jet and jade building materials? The strange stone Akhan forun on O'Shad's ship, what is it?"
He looked around the table. "Come on guys, let's get our thinking caps on. Am I missing any details? Has anyone any ideas?"
"The symbol in the Shelliak was a fire glyph," Smokelight added to Akhan's
account. "I recognized it right away... er, that's why I got a head start running out of the boat, I suppose, ahem. As far as what I saw earlier when I followed that cart - not much! I followed the cart to the warehouse or storage building. The cart was briefly left unguarded, but then guards returned. The doors to the cargo area were left open. A bit later, a carriage showed up, and a man in black disembarked and went inside. And still later, Our Munificent Baron showed up. We were about to investigate for a closer look together - just when the screams from the docks could be heard, as the sea zombies began their attack."
"Very nice," Cinion said, his eyes following the stone that continued to whizz about Smokelight's head for a moment.
He then motioned towards some of the other patrons of the inn who seemed unsettled by the spectacle before them. Smokelight quickly snatched the stone from the air and handed it back to Akhan.
"So what next, illustrious leader?" Cinion asked. "For my part I have little to add to what I have already told. Shortly after I got here the Shelliak docked. Meyrit followed Vellip O'Shad to Hannay's home, but she was seen by him, I overheard them as I dangled outside her window. Then he did the disappearing act in the kitchen - pah, lycanthropes."
Cinion made out as though shivering in horror at the thought.
"Meyrit disappeared some time soon after, then O'Shad went to Meyrit's and arranged to meet Gelders at 'the usual place' on Sunday eve at ninebells.
He took another gulp of apple juice to wet his dry mouth.
"A few days in gaol, reunited with you all, then onto the Shelliak. The whole place was one giant trap, and the crates held gold, which I'm now informed was all fake. Went to bed that night, woke up drugged and in some dingy place I can't quite remember. Then later on I think the killer moved me to Meyrit's house, and in his hurry forgot to drug me again. I regained some senses, saw enough of his features to nkow he's Suel, then you guys came in."
"This killer really concerns me," Cinion continued. "He picks us off one by one when we part company, but I don't think he's with O'Shad and Gelders - I think they still seem oblivious to our attentions. Who on Oerth is he? Why does he want us not to interfere with Gelders? Is he Brotherhood?"
Almost as an afterthought he added, "Oh and what are we going to do about Kyros? Its getting close to the time, you know?"
Akhan stared hard at Cinion. "You don't think he's part of O'Shad's group?" Akhan chewed on his lip furiously. "I hadn't even thought of that. So what would this joker be up to? You said you recognised his interrogation techniques as similar to those the Brotherhood used on you and that he's a Suel. So one explanation could be that there's some sort of faction or offshoot from within the Brotherhood which is also poking its nose into this gate business..." Akhan trailed off uncertainly, still thinking.
"But which of these Scarlet ones were involved in trying to kill the King? Which side was Shabass T'Lan on? I got a bad feeling when we met that bastard at Meyrit's house. I wondered whether it wasn't T'Lan come back to haunt us. It's bugged me ever since I heard his body had disappeared." Akhan shook his head in frustration.
"You're right about the time though. Firstly I reckon we need to pass all this information on to Father now. It's important we keep him up to speed - you never know, he might have something to add. And if anything happens to us then at least they're forewarned. Just think what would have happened if we had all copped it this morning."
Recalling the knife and stone in his hands, Akhan pocketed both. Nudging Smokelight he asked, "Could you identify this Ioun thing then if you got the chance?"
"Sure, no problem," the mage replied. "When we are not in public you may want to leave it 'in orbit' around you for a time -- you may feel its effect on you in some way. At night in your room at an inn, try this for a while before you turn in, and tell me if you notice anything."
"If this killer is part of O'Shad's mob," Cinion replied, "The I would have expected a whole lot more attention by now, or that they would be even more cautious than they are. Seems to me this killer is not communicating with Gelders, but seems to be protecting his interests in some way. Don't you think?"
At the mention of Shabass T'Lan he added, "Didn't you say he was a monk, from his fighting style. This guy is more like an assassin in my book - he's a killer, not an artist. But if it was him, your thoughts are interesting - factions within the Brotherhood. I suppose its inevitable to some degree, but how far does it go? Are we talking mild differences or are their wide rifts amongst the red ones?"
Eloi suddenly turned white - an impressive feat as his face was caked inseveral weeks dirt. He muttered something inaudible under his breath.
He looked round the table then raised his voice slightly. "The Black Heart".
He looked squarely at Akhan. "Remember Lominstrall's dying words. Something to do with the master of the hunt being the only thing that could defeat the Black Heart. Could this dark stranger be the Black Heart?"
Adder raised an eyebrow at Eloi's remark, since he had never heard of this Black Heart or the Master of the Hunt. He felt he had had little to contribute to this discussion to this point, as the only events he'd been involved in by himself seemed more of an unrelated and unnecessary distraction.
"If I might interrupt here..." Adder said. "I have to agree with our apple-eater here.." indicating Cinion. "Evidence I have listened to at this table would lead me to believe this black figure is not directly involved with O'Shad. The question is what is he up to?" Adder paused reflectively, pursing his lips."I would be inclined to believe that he could indeed be an agent of the Brotherhood, maintaining surveillance on O'Shads group. Have we even thought of the possibility that O'Shad may indeed not even work for the Brotherhood, even indirectly? I have never tangled with agents of the Scarlet Sign, but for an organization that espouses racial purity, having a bunch of lycanthropes as agents seems odd. Another possibility is the figure in black is a rogue operative with a vendetta against O'Shad"
Adder shook his head, "But I think that's highly unlikely."
"The fake gold is also puzzling. You must all agree that if its purpose was to act as a decoy either for something deeper in the crate, or to lure us onto that trapped boat, it was very ingenious. Certainly the possibility of economic warfare exists, by making the gold in at least southern Keoland worthless by flooding the market. Certainly, somebody went through the trouble to make those coins look authentic. It just seems to me that if you want to give Gradsul more trouble than it can handle, why not start an epidemic or poison the water supply? Certainly the Brotherhood could find some deadly disease down in the Amedio jungles."
"And I definitely agree with the fact that we need to get in touch with Father as soon as possible and make him aware of all the facts.....Oh, and why would something as valuable as an ioun stone be left on that ship? The only thing I can think of is that such a stone would be unique enough to serve as an easy way to find the new owner with divination magic." Adder lowered his face at Akhan.
Akhan looked uncomfortable at the thought of someone tracking him down using the Ioun stone, but followed Adder up quickly on the points he had made. "The fake gold coins seemed to annoy O'Shad and the other brother when they were talking. But he said that their masters had decided it that way so they had to go along with it. O'Shad also said Gelders had refused to have anything to do with the forgeries as it would be too easily traced back to him. My impression was that they weren't using the fakes to cause trouble but needed to make a return of three fourths of the face value in order to purchace the other materials for this gate. Maybe they're short of cash but have access to plenty of lead and magical sources."
"Cinion reckons this man in black is an assassin." Akhan looked over at Eloi. "I suppose he could be this Black Heart but it doesn't explain anything else about this plot. But Cinion is right to point out that these lycanthropes are a mystery. Maybe O'Shad is the faction member and the assassin is the real Brotherhood agent sent to watch and find out more."
Akhan's eyebrows narrowed as if something unpleasant had just occurred to him and this time it was his (infinitely cleaner) face and not Eloi's that turned a paler shade. "I don't know how much you were told of our earlier meeting with these ratmen," Akhan said urgently to Adder, "but bear with me for a moment. When we searched the ratman we found in the grounds of Axewood palace, a mummified hand was found on a thong around its neck. We were told this was a holy symbol to the god," Akhan lowered his voice anxiously and whispered, "Tharizdun, 'He Who Sleeps'. The last worshippers were supposed to have died at the end of the Suel Imperium. What if these loonies are attempting to use this gate to knock on his bedroom door?"
Cinion screwed his face up in mock horror.
"Talk about going from bad to worse!"
He looked back, towards the doors although no-one else could see what he was looking at. The halfling then looked back to them.
"That's the temple bells ringing out three o'clock," he declared. "Our friend dangles in an hour, so what are we going to do?"
As Cinion turned to look at the doors a strange voice floated into Eloi's head.
"I can help you," it said. "Meet me in an hours time - take the Caisteallweg out of town, to where it crosses the Maldurnan stream. Then follow the north bank until we meet - come alone or I will not show."
Eloi looked quickly about as the halfling spoke to them, only half paying attention as he searched the busy tavern for whoever had spoken to him. He had no idea who it was.
"Zeb, Father should at least know that one of his men is going to go down. He may be able to help us. But at any rate, we need to fill him in with the stuff we've found. Cinion, where do we go to use these heliograph?"
Eloi coughed and spluttered then rose from the table. "Err, I 'ave to besomewhere. I'm afraid I will have to miss Kyros' execution. These kind of things aren't much to my taste anyways and perhaps I should be avoiding Veshper."
"We shall meet up at the Golden Anchor later to discuss our next move."
Before anyone could challenge him further Eloi swiftly left the Inn.

Eloi was glad that he had set off immediately - it gave him the luxury of a winding route, and he felt sure that nobody at all was following him.
Quickly making his way from the Hillgate, and its ward full of Amedians and Hepmon folk, lest he end up the main course of some cannibal's dinner, he found the smells of Little Molvar strangely enticing - he could not say as he had ever tasted Ketish food, but the aroma of the spices drifting across the roadway made his mouth water. He made a point of remembering to return this way and purchase a strange delicacy called a 'Q'bab' from the vendor who had offered one to him for a mere ten Pfennigs.
For a moment he spooked himself in the Garrisfurd ward as he turned the corner and was confronted by the arena they had visited the previous night, looming in front of him. He managed to keep his paranoia under control as he walked past it - he could see from the many and varied citizens wandering nearby that it was a busy day. Bookmakers were shouting the odds from the stalls outside, gamblers fixing their bets, then they all seemed drawn inside as though by an unheard cue, as the next race set off. The next street along took him directly on to the Caisteallweg and away from the city.
He passed by the Ulgrad district on his right, where the fugitives from the border wars of the Ulek states, mainly Dwerfolk from the east which had been conquered by Turrosh Mak and his Pomarj horde, resided. On the left was Bellfurd, where people of the Hold that chose to flee the Scarlet Ones had come to. As he passed the last house of Bellfurd on his right, he was across the bridge over the Maldurnan, little more than a wide stream.
There was a faint path through the undergrowth on the banks, and Eloi started off along it in a cautious mood. he did not know who he was coming to meet or why. For all he knew it could be the dark killer setting him up to be the next recipient of his unwanted attentions. If so, Eloi had a flail with his name on it!
Soon he had entered the woods and was climbing up the footpath, towards Durnan Hill. Although it was still very light, the woods made it dark and there was an eerie feel about the place - he had been in the city for several days, the silence which he had grown used to at Amarr now made him jumpy.
"Baron Eloi!" the voice said, not loud or harsh enough to make him jump.
He turned to his right, looking into the darkened trees and making out a hooded form. Immediately, his hand went to his flail.

Cinion looked puzzled as Eloi walked off in a determined manner.
"What in Hades was that all about?" he asked, looking to the others. "I guess we've decided against rescuing the one-gloved wonder then?!"
Smokelight winced inwardly at Cinion's declaration of the three o'clock bell - one hour until Kyros' execution. And Eloi taking off! Then again, what was the point of staying around to watch Kyros get killed, if they weren't going to do anything about it. Smokelight felt a bit of a chill inside at the idea of so callously leaving a friend to his doom. He knew that a rescue attempt was suicidal, and there was no real alternative. He didn't know Kyros well, but he despised abandoning the poor priest to an unjust death...
The mage had listened to the others comments with a thoughtful silence, rubbing his scraggly beard. He could offer nothing as to their speculations about the evil Scarlet Brother, Shabass T'Lan (who was evidently dead but perhaps not for good), or the "Black Hart" they referred to. And the idea of a magical Gate opened to Tharizdun was certainly frightening, but to Smokelight seemed somehow unlikely. Perhaps they were attempting to summon some minion of his, however...
"The Ioun stone," he interjected, "could have been a plant, a means to track some unwitting person grabbing it - actually, that's quite clever of you to think of," the mage said to Adder. "Even if the Ioun stone wasn't intended for this purpose, some astute magician may think of trying to scry the stone, if he wants to recover it badly enough..."
Smokelight looked to Akhan. "Perhaps for now, you'd better keep it under wraps, and in the dark."
Smokelight's further comments about the Ioun stone discomfited Akhan; he knew he was imagining it but the stone seemed to get heavier and seemed to jab into him more than he had noticed before. He decided that he'd try to get the Mareschal Veshper to look after it.
However, he didn't spare much thought about Eloi's departure. Right at that moment he was glad he was gone. He turned to Cinion. "It seems that we're not going to do anything about stopping the execution. However, if there's a chance we can bring him back from beyond the grave then we should make some arrangements now. I've never had anything to do with it, but I do know it can be done. In the past Aranon himself was brought back, and even that bastard Fimuth was returned to the living. Although I'd be more than happy to rectify that little oversight."
Akhan looked questioningly around his remaining companions. "Do any of you know which Temple in Gradsul would be able and willing to accomplish such a thing? And what does it entail? Do we need to do it within hours or days?" Akhan sat racking his brains, trying to remember everything he could about Aranon's brush with death.
Cinion shook his head.
"I don't see it Akhan," he said with a hint of sadness in his voice.
"They're not stupid - they're bound to know if we get his body he'll be alive within the day. I'd wager the Nyrondese will want his corpse - I only hope that monster with a grudge against him doesn't think like we do and raise him so that he can try him again."
Cinion shivered again - there were too many bad thoughts going around for his liking today.
"Maybe we'd be better talking of this once we have hold of our friend."
Adder just shook his head. "We'll just have to see what happens, I suppose" he said. "Anyway, I plan on attending this execution. I'll be more interested in seeing who else shows up."

"Please Baron, this is not what it seems," the figure said. "I cannot reveal myself, but I am here to help you. I am a friend of Berran and Lareng."
Eloi relaxed somewhat at the mention of these two men, but he was not going to be caught and trussed up like the halfwit halfling, so he maintained his guard.
"What do you want?" Eloi asked, glancing around.
"To help," the figure replied. "My secrecy is a necessity - even my friends do not know my identity. I am known as the Beholder to them. I bring you a warning."
Eloi now wished that he had spoken to Lareng before leaving the capital, perhaps he would have told him of this acquaintance.
"How can you help me?" he demanded.
"I do not know why you are here in Gradsul," the Beholder told him. "But I know of your involvements with the Scarlet Ones from Lareng and Berran. I saw you in the court today, and it cannot be a coincidence."
"A source," he said, emphasising that word, letting Eloi know that no more would be forthcoming, "has let me know of a newcomer to Gradsul. The Brotherhood have sent an assassin here - one of their best. He has someone to kill, Baron Eloi, a noble man who is visiting the town. Of the target I know no more."
There was a pause from the Beholder, as if he were trying to phrase the rest of his information.
"The assassin is known only as 'Whisper' - that really says it all, Baron. But something has gone awry - this man has not gone against his masters, but they are aware of some unsanctioned kills he has made. They do not know why - if it is madness or some unknown agenda - but he is beyond their control. All they can do is wait for his return to their lands to find out - they will not send another after him."
"I do not know what help this is to you, if any," the Beholder surmised. "But if he is who you seek, perhaps I may have helped you. If you could discover who he plans to kill, his sanctioned assassination, perhaps you might stop him. But beware - he is good at what he does, so my source tells me."

As they approached the Umberdtine, Cinion stopped dead in his tracks.
"I do not really know the priest," he said. "I'm sorry, but I find it hard enough to go in there, I will not be going in to watch one of our team murdered."
With that the halfling turned and headed back towards the dock.
When they entered Olff Veshper's office, the Mareschal, seated behind his dark wood desk, looked haggard and drawn. He feigned a greeting as they trooped in.
"There was nothing to be done," he said, sighing as though resigned to matters also. "It seems that Kyros was as good as dead the moment Halstus left Nyrond. Apparently this is all political - a Nyrondese ambassador, a Lord Wolff, is coming to Gradsul in a few days and they did not feel it conducive to proper talks that this problem should go against Nyrondese desires."
Veshper shook his head.
"I understand Baron Brandt's outburst in many ways, really I do," he declared. "It seems that we have some fledgeling alliance between Nyrond and Keoland in the offing, and they will let nothing stand in its way. I cannot even allow you access to your friend in his last moments, and beg you not to try anything stupid. It would not succeed."
Akhan put on his most sincere face and nodded.
"Will we be allowed to bury him once he is gone?" he asked.
Again, the Mareschal shook his head.
"With priests' ability to bring back the dead, no-one who is executed is released like that," he said.
Smokelight glared at Veshper. Utter disgust was evident on the mage's face.
"Well isn't that the height of justice," he said. "Sacrifice Kyros to a possible treaty with a kingdom that is too far away to ever help or hurt Keoland. Even the political reasoning doesn't make sense. But you just lay down and do as your told, Veshper, don't worry about justice."
The look on the Mareschal's face changed instantly, and it was plain to see more than a hint of anger there.
"You know, I am getting pretty fucking sick of your high and mighty bunch," he said to Smokelight. "First Eloi's attack, now your comment - I am sick enough about all this, and have spent the day trying to find a way to save your friend. And all this despite the fact that, to the letter of the law, your friend caused the death of a man, and has admitted to the heinous crimes he was charged with by the Nyrondese - because in the end I like and trusted Kyros. But if you lot think you are going to parade about here in my territory, acting as though you should have everything your own way just because you want it then think again."
He stormed off towards the door, then stopped, turning back and addressing them all.
"I will not be spoken to like that, not from you or anyone, even if you are Thoggin's men! You are not above the law!"
Veshper opened the door and stood, ushering them out.
Smokelight wasn't intimidated by Veshper's offended stance. The Mareschal's anger seemed more defensive, more like frustration, than anything else. Yet, he was thinking that now Veshper had changed his tune: Now he was saying Kyros did get what he deserved - to the letter of the law, and because of the law - not because of the anticipation of political
consequences. "Well, which was it?" he thought. He decided against pressing the point - there was nothing constructive in aggravating the Mareschal any further, and the mage realized his own bitter comments were driven by his own frustration.
As they walked to the execution, Smokelight reflected on how tangled up right and wrong could get. "Glad I'm not a paladin," he murmured.
How loyal should one be to friends? How far should people be punished for their past? When is one penitent enough to be forgiven and absolved? Smokelight didn't know the answers to these questions. Perhaps Istus did, but Smokelight secretly doubted even that.

The Beholder was silent, waiting for Eloi to take in what he had said. Eloi took a long deep gulp. Unless there was another noble in Gradsul then he assumed the target was himself. But why? Revenge for saving the King?
He regained his composure and smiled at the Beholder. "I thank you for your information. I think have met this 'Whisper' and am aware of his misdeeds. In fact I very nearly fell foul of his hands when investigating the disappearance of a member of my group. Perhaps I am his target, do you think?"
"There are probably more than a few nobles in, or passing through, Gradsul, Baron," the Beholder declared. "If your own arrival was not known for some time, I fail to see how the Brotherhood would know of it. And I would think that it would be someone of importance - perhaps even a foreign dignitary, something that would be worth the effort of sending one of their top men to do the job. I will keep an ear out for such an event."
His expression changed too and his lips curled. He shook his head. "This is fecking bad news whatever. As if my task here wasn't difficult enough. One of my party gutted, one of my party in Gaol and probably hanging from a noose by now and now a fecking Scarlet Brotherhood assassin running around up to who knows what?"
"Still..." the man added, "Best be careful! Perhaps one of your own sources here might help you discern the possible targets - I noticed you in the Mareschal's company at the court."
Eloi kept silent about that encounter, feeling it was better left unmentioned.
"Another thing I have heard may interest you," he added just before Eloi bid his farewells. "Your adversaries-in-brief, the Redemptionists. It would seem, rumour has it, that they have come in the way of some monies - a few of their dumber and less scrupulous members have been bragging how they will be 'bringing the Royalists to their knees' with the arms and all they will buy with their knew money, although none of them are dumb enough to say where it came from. A few of them have been sporting bruises and black eyes - I think Shebbedd O'Harle has been disciplining his men on loose talk."
After thanking the mysterious Beholder, Eloi left his company, and had reached the outskirts of Bellfurd when he heard the bells ring out four times. He knew then that he would not make it in time for the execution.
Eloi shrugged his shoulders. "Poor Kyros," he asid to no-one in particular. "He seemed a good man."
He saw little point in returning to the gaol, so headed off towards the Golden Anchor in the hope that the others would have gathered there as planned.

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