The Vintner's Woe

"... refused to sell us the wine, my Lord!" said the junior priest standing before him.
"Refused?? Why, in Olidamarra's name?!" exclaimed Aranon.
"..and has apparently converted."
"Converted? CONVERTED!??"

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"..so, so, em, you see Lord Aranon, urm, I can no longer sell you the wine..urm" said Grodlick, somewhat apprehensively.
Aranon shook his head. "I understood, dear Grodlick, that we had an arrangement. Every week, we have for the last ..."
The junior priest, who glanced at scroll "4 years, my Lord"
"..4 years we have purchased fifteen barrels of wine, at the agreed price. Now,I appreciate that there are times when you could get a better price, but on the whole I believed that given the quantitites and guaranteed order, this arrangement was satisfactory to all parties."
The Lord High Priest raised one eyebrow.
"Well, yes, urm, that is, ....eh, no, My Lord." said the unfortunate vintner, looking over at the door behind him. "That is, I have to make ends meet, its an orc eat orc world out there, and the Temple just has to stake its claim in the, err, um, that is, the market place like everyone else."
"I see. And this wouldn't have anything to do with your recent marriage to a disciple of Cuthbert of the Cudgel, would it? We aren't witnessing a sudden and dramatic re-alignment of one's faith?" asked Aranon, smiling as a said it
"Aha, well, you see, urm, yes,...that is no..."
"In fact, Priest Dervis has not seen you at the services for nearly a month now. And why, I myself saw someone most like you leaving Cuthbert's temple the other day. Now this is a big city, of course, but I would be most surprised if such a doppelganger existed" said Aranon, still smiling.
""Urm, that's Saint Cuthbert, my Lord" muttered the poor man.
Aranon stopped smiling.
"Do we have our wine for tomorrow's ceremony?"
Grodlik wrung is hands, and all in all looked thoroughly miserable, and stole another glance at the door.
"No. Lord Aranon"
Aranon stood up.
"How unfortunate. One trusts that our Lord is indeed a forgiving god. Good day."
He turned towards the closed door.
"And to you too, Mistress Grodlick"

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Aranon sat back in his chair.
"Right - you two. I want you to take a covered cart to that dwarven artificer over in the Nordgate. He will give you a number of items, keep them well covered from view and bring them back. You other two - over to the Cooper by Strand Vennel. Pick up 15 empty barrels. And finally, you, young man, deliver this to the Thieves Guild. The normal route will suffice, but the message is urgent. All to Brother Valiach's yard next to Grodlik's, after nightfall, wear civilian clothes, ensure your visage is not quite its usual self, and say nothing to anyone. Go."
As they left, Aranon shook his head in dismay. Running the Rustic Hostel of Fax was becoming more of a task and less of a pleasure.

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The priests stood in the yard, shivering slightly in the cold, waiting. A
shape emerged from the gloom, and walked towards them.
"Are you ready?", hissed the thief.
One priest, the youngest, threw a small pouch at the thief.
"We are that, let us hurry and be done with this".
Father Illya cast the silence spells, covering the courtyard, and motioned to the others.
Quickly the thief disappeared over the wall.
The Priests unfurled the long hoses, and began passing it over. Then, carefully, they carried out the tarpaulin-clad package, about 4 foot long by two foot high and the same broad. Unwrapping it, they attached the handles at each end. and waited.
After a few minutes the Thief reappeared and, taking the end of the hose over the wall, dissappeared again. There was a tug on the hose.
The four priest began to push and pull the handles. Quickly the hoses began to inflate.
Ilya smiled, and gave a nod to the others.
Two hours later the end of the hose was moved to pump and sump at one end of the yard. A tug followed. Then, the four carefully began to pump in the other direction.

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Aranon looked up.
"Come!"
The young priest entered.
"My lord, you were indeed correct. Grodlick, and wife, were at this evening's service.
"Thank you, brother Dervis. You may go."
As he left, Aranon looked again at the recently delivered scroll.
'His Lordship, the most holy servant of St.Cuthbert, most cordially invites his brother, Lord High Priest Aranon of Olidimarra, to his residence this evening to take dinner, and discuss the happy occassion of his Olord's most recent "miracle".
Truly do dieties work in mysterious ways.'
And then he laughed. For quite some time.

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