A Living Dungeon's Madness

by Allan Joyal

  “And he used the money to purchase a place on the council here?” Dared asked.

  “I think he pulled a few more scams over the years. Honestly, I’m surprised the others on the council aren’t looking into why he isn’t moving troops to the southwest where the raids are occurring. You’d expect him to want to protect the people of Fairview, but I’m sure he’s more worried about the loss of profits that merchants would see if taxes were increased to pay for more troops,” Roquel said.

  “So, they try to intimidate me into paying more, or into just becoming their tax collector. And that despite the fact that they haven’t done anything to help support Montgar,” Dared said with a nod. “So are all your errands run and messages sent.”

  “Every one I could send,” Roquel said. “I did hear that one of my grandchildren passed away six months ago.”

  “I’m sorry,” Dared said.

  Roquel looked at him. She seemed surprised, but then she nodded. “She had lived a full life. And her daughter might come and join us in Montgar. She makes musical instruments.”

  “There won’t be a huge market for that in Montgar,” Dared answered carefully.

  “Oh, she knows. She isn’t really all that interested in becoming a pet of some noble. She would rather teach children how to play a simple tune than have gold showered on her. Montgar will be just right for her. I’m sure the farmers will appreciate a few simple instruments and the adventurers will love having music. It will also be another way to attract bards. They will want to stop by to purchase new instruments,” Roquel said.

  “We won’t have a building for her until some time next year,” Dared said. “Jerisa and I won’t have our manor until late summer. We’ll have to sleep in the inn.”

  “The inn is well made and should stay warm all winter,” Roquel said with a smile. “Now, have the councilors told you anything useful?”

  “No,” Dared said. “I had hoped they would be interested in establishing some method of regular trading, but they have been argumentative. I’ll have to visit Cattleman’s square tomorrow and find an honest merchant I can hire to help set up our spring purchases.”

  “What will you be seeking?” Roquel asked.

  “Not much,” Dared said. “We’ll want a spring shipment of grain, just to help people out. I also expect we’ll be looking for furniture and raw iron. We don’t have any mines that I know of and furniture should be crafted by someone with experience.”

  “You might also want to think about glass for windows and cured hides for leather. People are going to want clothing,” Roquel said.

  “I am hoping that some of the adventurers will do some trapping during the winter. I’m not sure we have any experts in tanning, but I’m sure they can cure furs so that they last a couple of years. By then the sheep herders are hoping to be supplying wool thread that can clothe the whole valley,” Dared said.

  “Not unless their herd grows quite a bit,” Roquel said with a snort. Dared nodded remembering the small flock they had passed during their journey to Fairview.

  “I think that was only part of the herd. They likely break them up to make it easier to control each group,” Dared said.

  “Excuse me!” Lorgan said icily. “Its clear you two know each other.”

  Roquel looked right at the merchant. She stared until the man took a step backwards.

  “Yes, I do know him,” Roquel said. “I visited Montgar after a group recruited me to help them reach the heart of the dungeon. I didn’t enter after the adventurers who had already arrived talked to me about what was going on. After that I’ve stayed in the growing town. Dared asked me to stay to help control the adventurers and to represent them in meetings of the town elders.”

  “Not that the town really has elders at the moment,” Dared said with a smile.

  “No, they just have you, that old fossil of an alchemist that fathered your wife and the always worried Sergeant Koltiss. Where did you find him?” Roquel said in reply.

  “Koltiss was the poor private who was always assigned to watch my mother and make sure she didn’t fall in with any nobles who would use me,” Dared said with a shrug. “He’s about four years older than me and over time we became friends.”

  Roquel paused for a moment. “I shouldn’t ask, but I just had a thought. Why is your mother not in Montgar? I mean from what you’ve said its clear your father is dying and I doubt she’ll survive long once your half-brother takes the throne.”

  “My half-brother had her poisoned,” Dared said in a hostile snarl. “At least I think It was him. There are a number of factions that might have believed they could gain by killing her. Her death last winter was a huge part of why I was looking to leave Rockgar. I just got lucky and heard the rumors that the Kindred had cheated a dungeon.”

  “What?” Bertrand squawked. “How can anyone cheat a collection of caves?”

  Roquel looked over at Bertrand. “How could anyone believe you wouldn’t try it if you thought it would work? As for the cheating. I’ve heard a similar rumor, but I haven’t asked Faestari what exactly happened. I do know that she forbids entry to anyone associated with the Kindred.”

  “And how can she do that?” Bertrand asked.

  “Since I’ve seen her create a giant crab out of granite and had it fight for her. And I know that there are poisonous spiders in her domain that can kill with a single bite. I’m sure that Faestari can stop someone if she puts her mind to it. I know she wiped out Thumas and his group,” Roquel said.

  “We’ll have to do something about this dungeon,” Lorgan said. “It sounds like she could try to conquer all of Fairview.”

  “She has no reason to,” Dared said. “And I don’t think she can project her powers that far. There are limits.”

  “But she’s a danger,” Lorgan said again. His voice dripped with mock sincerity as he smirked at Dared.

  Roquel put a hand on Dared’s arm. “Let’s leave it. The council is now looking for an excuse to act. We are far better off just leaving. I do worry about the raids. They sound organized, but that area is right against the mountains, so I wonder what or who is doing the raiding. There are no known towns or old outposts available to shelter a band of bandits.”

  Dared nodded. He and Roquel turned and started walking towards a wide road leading northward out of the courtyard.

  “If you leave now, you’ll never receive trade rights in Fairview!” Bertrand threatened.

  “We’ll find ways to trade with other cities,” Dared said calmly. “We could always turn north before we reach Oersteglen and trade with Rockgar’s merchants at the old Stone Fall Bridge. It might actually be closer.”

  “They don’t have access to the goods we do,” Bertrand shouted back as Dared and Roquel left the courtyard. The walls of the buildings caused the voice to echo strangely.

  “Don’t you worry about that?” Roquel asked.

  “Not really,” Dared said. “I traded with Fairview because my father placed money for me with the dwarven bankers here. He knew that my brothers would try to claim any money left with the Noble Bank of Rockgar. But since my plan is to remove all the money when we return to Montgar, I’ll have no issues with trade. And remember there are barges that navigate down river from the Stone Fall Bridge. They pass close to Shattered Keep and the Mist Moors, so they should be interested in potions.”

  “Shattered Keep would. I’m not sure how interested people entering the Mist Moors will be. Rumor has it that it has been a source of healing herbs for some time,” Roquel said.

  “Then we find other places to trade with,” Dared said as they turned a corner and left the road leading to the courtyard. “Meanwhile, let’s return to my wife. I know she wants to shop the markets tomorrow.”

  Chapter 13: A Day Spent Trading

  The inn had been very full when Dared and Roquel returned. The innkeeper hovered over the group, constantly trying to get them talking. It seemed that whenever he had a break from serving customers, he came over with a n
ew question about who they were and what they knew of the lands outside Fairview.

  Dared tried to tell very little. He was helped by Jerisa who quickly turned answering the innkeeper’s questions into a game. She would give partial answers or pretend to have been asked a completely different question. At the same time, she dropped enough hints about Faestari to keep the innkeeper returning.

  By the time Dared and Jerisa decided to retire, the innkeeper’s face seemed to have turned permanently red with repressed annoyance. The man scowled at the duo as they climbed the stairs up to the sleeping chambers.

  However, the next morning the innkeeper was waiting down on the ground floor. He had a huge smile on his face and spread his arms wide in welcome as Dared and Jerisa walked down the stairs.

  “My guests!” the man roared happily. “The great bard Heick is in town and I hear he plans to stop by my humble establishment for the evening meal. You will be well entertained tonight!”

  “Who?” Jerisa asked.

  “You haven’t heard of him?” the innkeeper asked.

  Jerisa shook her head. “I’m from Ridnek. If you’ve heard about that evil kingdom, women are kept in the home at all times. I barely knew that bards existed until just over a year ago. And I’m afraid that Montgar hasn’t received any bardic visitors since we founded the town.”

  “Honestly, I’d say that Faestari founded everything around the mountain,” Dared said. “If she had not opened the dungeon and then welcomed the adventurers the way she did, Montgar couldn’t have succeeded.”

  “And you’re all about making it a true success,” Jerisa said. “Let’s hurry and eat. The sun is already above the horizon to the east and I want to have time in the weavers’ district. Wool and leather might be fine for you and the adventurers, but I want to see if there are softer fabrics for my own clothing.”

  “Fine,” Dared said with a fond smile. “Innkeep, what is available for breakfast?”

  “I’ve been keeping some of the mutton stew warm overnight. It might be a bit on the spicy side as the gravy renders down overnight, but it’s very popular. I also have some rolls left. I could use them as bowls for the stew,” the innkeeper responded.

  “That and a light ale?” Dared asked his wife.

  “Perfect,” she said. “I’d ask Varia and Pauly if they want to join, but last night they indicated that they want to take today to pack up everything since Narhert will be arriving tomorrow.”

  “In the morning probably,” Dared agreed. “I expect he’ll decide to just change mules in Eastfair and then keep moving through the night.”

  “It will be nice to return home,” Jerisa said. “I find I miss father and I miss spending time in our little store. Do you think we’ve had many customers?”

  “I think only Gee’if’s group and the Impaled Cats were planning any delves and Gee’if’s group might be planning on halting for the winter soon. The store and workshop will almost certainly be quiet,” Dared said.

  “You just don’t want me flirting with Gee’if,” Jerisa said saucily.

  Dared laughed. “He only has eyes for Betrixy.”

  “True,” Jerisa replied as they sat down at a table. “Oh, how did the meeting with the council go. You were silent about that last night.”

  “They make my father seem reasonable,” Dared said. “Heck, they make some of my brothers seem reasonable. But they can’t do much to us. They have limited power even in the city.”

  “But couldn’t they arrest you or charge you with illegal trades?” Jerisa asked worriedly.

  “I’m not a resident and nothing I purchase from a merchant would be sold within their lands,” Dared said carefully. “I’m also not selling anything. Narhert will be selling the potions, but I expect he’ll handle that by stopping by the caravansary and trading with one of the merchants there. We already know the potions have limited value in peaceful Fairview.”

  “I’m sorry,” Jerisa said. “I do worry.”

  “You have reason to worry,” Dared said. “Your father has told me many tales about the tyranny that is Ridnek. The fact that you survived there and have grown up to be such a caring woman surprises me.”

  Jerisa smiled as the innkeeper set a platter between the couple. He looked around the otherwise empty dining area. “My regulars have already headed out to the fields.”

  “Sorry,” Jerisa said. “Do you want us to hurry?”

  “No,” the innkeeper said with a shake of his head. “You are just the last to come down to eat. Your friends were down when the sun had just started to rise up over the horizon. Its more that every time you talk, I hear tales that I’m sure my regulars would love to hear.”

  “Perhaps tonight,” Dared said as he claimed one of the two large rolls sitting on the platter. The top of the roll had been cut off and the bread pulled out to create a bowl. Still steaming stew sat in the roll.

  The innkeeper’s eyes appeared to glow. “Wonderful,” he said.

  The man waited for Jerisa to claim the other roll and then picked up the platter and scurried out of the dining hall. The couple ate in silence, enjoying the spicy stew.

  Finally, Jerisa carefully licked her fingers. “I should ask what spices he uses. Perhaps we can find a way to grow them.”

  “Unless you can convince Faestari to set something up, you wouldn’t be able to grow anything until next spring,” Dared said.

  “I should wonder if I could try. I hear she visited the gatehouse you set up at the edge of the path up to the dungeon,” Jerisa said.

  Dared smiled as he stood up. He held out a hand for Jerisa to take. “I did that mostly to ensure that Mordlew wasn’t going to try to sneak up to the entrance. Have you noticed that there are sheer cliff faces on the north and south sides of the mountain? I’d hate to have to climb it anywhere but the path Faestari created.”

  Jerisa took the hand and stood up. She looked at the stairs for a moment. “Dared? Do we need anyone to carry items for us?”

  “Most of the merchants will have someone who can deliver, or will be willing to pay one of the many urchins in the marketplace. We should be fine,” Dared said. “Now wench, let’s go!”

  Jerisa giggled. “Fine. But we start at the weaver’s lane. I really need that cloth.”

  “Let’s go,” Dared said calmly. “The sooner we start the better things will be.”

  The duo walked out the front door. As they did Jerisa looked back and then whispered in Dared’s ear. “I tried to talk to the innkeeper about Coulette leaving with us, but the man refuses to even consider the possibility. So, I talked to Chosti. He admitted that Coulette is not the man’s daughter and promised to help her pack up tonight so that she can join us for the journey back to Montgar.”

  “I don’t like the idea of her sneaking out with us,” Dared said.

  “Chosti said that she should have been turned over to the Sisters of Perpetual Mercy over a year ago and everyone on the street knows about it. However, the innkeeper doesn’t hurt her, so…”

  Dared clenched his teeth. With tightened lips he growled. “I really hate how some rich people treat others.”

  “She’ll come with us when we leave,” Jerisa said. “Even if we have to meet her at the gates. Meanwhile, where can we find some weavers?”

  Dared guided Jerisa to the market district and then turned right down a narrow street. The buildings on this street all had racks outside. The racks contained several bolts of cloth. Most were dyed bright colors.

  “Oh Dared,” Jerisa said as she released his arm and rushed forward to look at one of the racks. She examined the cloth, but turned away to head deeper down the street before Dared could catch up to her.

  Dared peeked at the cloth trying to figure out why Jerisa had rejected the weaver. By the time he looked back towards her she had passed two more racks. She was now intently examining some pale green cloth in front of a run-down storefront.

  A very young woman, perhaps not out of her teens, opened the door to the storefront
and stepped out. “That is a special cloth. Mother takes threads provided by the spider ranchers of old Lanheim with some of the local flax.”

  “Is it warm?” Jerisa asked.

  “I wouldn’t try to wear a dress made from it out into a storm without a good fur or wool cloak, but it is very durable and comfortable,” the girl said. “It also doesn’t stain easily.”

  “It sounds like its very expensive,” Jerisa said worriedly. She looked up at Dared as he arrived at the storefront.

  “Hey! We’ve told you that your mother is here on sufferance. Don’t accost the public!” someone shouted from a doorway.

  Jerisa turned to look towards the voice. It was from a doorway she had not arrived at yet. The rack in front appeared to have scraps of what have once been fine bolts of silk cloth. “I was about to enter the store. The cloth looks to be exactly what I’m looking for. Silk is nice, but it won’t be warm enough to wear in winter.”

  Dared touched her shoulder. “Head inside. I’d recommend a bolt or two of the green. See what else they have,” he told Jerisa.

  Jerisa headed inside with the girl. The merchant from the other store rushed over and grabbed Dared before he could follow. “I just lost a sale!” he complained.

  Dared shook his head. “How could you lose a sale when Jerisa had not shown any interest on the silk scraps you have on display.”

  “I have more than that. I even have full bolts of silk cloth,” the merchant said.

  “You should have some on display then,” Dared said. “Without seeing it how is someone to know that its worth entering your store.”

  “Quality silk shouldn’t be handled by someone just looking. I use scraps of bolts to show the colors and quality available. And that woman would have looked amazing in a gown made out of silk,” the merchant said.

  “Dared!” Jerisa called out. “Do I have a spending limit?”

  Dared turned to look at the door to the store front. “Remember where we are going to live. We aren’t going to need dozens of gowns and robes. Get enough to have a few changes of clothing, but I don’t think you need more than five or six bolts.”