"An accident as you are well aware. I had never intended to incur a wrath from any power," said Bourne almost absently as he stared distantly into his tea. Looking up at the sympathetic faces he continued, "A series of accidents, actually. I have inadvertently slaughtered many of the Lord's servants on a few separate occasions but I had never intended war. If I had known that my livelihood would be compromised and the possibility of me ever building something that would not be torn down in vengeance was to be waylaid, then I would have chosen my quests more wisely when I was younger."
Beneth smiled, "Younger.... all of that happened a scant three years ago and less."
"Is that all? Yes, it seems so much longer to me though," Bourne replied sadly as if coming out of a bad dream. "Pray, Master Abreret, continue your lesson. What of this Wereguard Mace?"
"It was, and still is, a large, black weapon which had five enchanted stones fused to its facets. Each stone had its own set of powers, but together they made the weapon's wielder nearly invulnerable. It was such a dreadful weapon, in fact, that the order of Royal Paladins hired a great and famous thief to steal the weapon from its master."
"Famous? You mean infamous I hope. A famous thief is a useless thief," said Strom.
Abreret replied, "Infamous thief then, if it please you, Master Theissen. The thief, whose name is still unknown to me, had five replacement stones created that were duplicate to the original gemstones in look but not in power. He is known to have snuck into the very lair of Shora-diun and to have successfully replaced four of the five stones before he was forced to flee for his life.
"One or possibly two of the stones were destroyed by the Paladins. However, the loss of life associated with that endeavor convinced them to hide the remaining stones. I believe you have uncovered one of them."
A look of disbelief spread to each person's face at the table. Strom spoke first and said, "Why would it have been put in that citadel? I know that a hundred years ago or so it was held by a prominent mage but not since. When exactly were the stones hidden?"
Abreret paused for a moment with his brow furrowed. "I cannot be sure. The records regarding this object have been left intentionally vague but between one hundred and two hundred years. Also, the gemstone may have been moved around a bit eventually even by people who were uneducated as to its true nature. I am led to believe that such things happen all the time."
"Well," said Bourne, "I think my circumstances might help attest to that."
"Yes, quite true," replied the Sage. "But, and here is the sticky part of this business, despite all of the Paladins' precautions, an order of dark Clerics managed to get back at least one of the gemstones. Add this one here to the mace as well and the weapon would become a thing to be feared once again. Also, once the stones were removed from the mace, they became cursed and a bane to anyone who tried to use them. Fortunately, you did not."
Then, everyone looked slowly towards Strom. A puzzled look crossed his face and then he said angrily, "Do not cast your gazes up me! I was the one who wanted to sell it, not use it!"
At this, Bourne started laughing and asked the Sage to continue. "What of this irony you first spoke of? Please tell us of it."
Abreret continued, "The irony, old friends, is that if this gemstone returned to its rightful owners, it would undoubtedly be initially used as a weapon against your primary antagonist... and, no doubt, most of the rest of Humanity and Elfdom in time."
Beneth said, "So, we can neither sell this Talisman, for what trustworthy soul would buy a cursed gem, nor can we cannot give it away, nor can it be used by us. What then can be done with it?"
"Perhaps," said Strom with a smile, "we should leave it on an enemy's doorstep. That might be satisfying, presuming that we could, in some way, see the end results of our gift."
After a moment's pause, Ornam stood up and put his hand on Bourne's shoulder. "I have watched you fight the good fight for years now, my lad. When I first met you, you were but a boy in a large, unfriendly city earnestly trying to become the hero you had always dreamed of being. I have watched you grow hard and cynical instead of more noble. You sometimes include me in your dealings because you respect my experience and wisdom, such as it is. Be that the case, then listen to me now. I have the answer to your dilemma."
Ornam went on to tell them of the only course of action open to them. How to maximize the return of such an act was where his experience was most valuable. When he had finished, all were taken aback but could not argue with his reasoning for he had prescribed a plan to rid themselves of the Talisman as well as cure Bourne of his troubles. The only thing left to discuss was who was going to make the first bold move of the plan.
Chapter 3 - Lolth
The wide, rolling plains that surrounded fair Norec were host to several other cities and townships. They also housed and hide other buildings, towers, and fortresses for the crossroads to and from the chief cities in the clan-state were ever bustling with trade and best watched over by all powers concerned. The powerful did not stay so long without being ever mindful of what people desire and need above all else; food, wine, and fresh gold.
In a dale not far outside of Norec amongst a small grove of poplar and elms, a monastery sat unassuming which tended to fall pleasant on men's eyes. A stranger passing nearby would not immediately guess that the Clerics therein were aligned with a non-holy order and bid to the tidings of a dark, unforgiving master or that devils from other viscous planes frequented it on the darkest of nights.
The headmaster of the monastery, Druces, had spent many years here before assuming the role of master-cleric. She had not yet reached the pinnacle of her power and still had more than one echelon of spells to master, but nonetheless, she was not to be trifled with. She could stare down any but the strongest Devils that she had dealings with and was generally considered to be without any weaknesses.
When a message came to her than a magician desired her council on a matter of great import, she decided to play it safe and have the Elf meet her in her own chambers. He agreed without reluctance. "That," she thought, "might tend to worry some people." Once inside she was pleasant and gracious. Unusual guests were not rare in these times but usually not a good omen.
The person that came into her rather bland and cold office was wearing Mage's robes but seemed unarmed besides that. She wondered at the Wood Elf having a concealed item or two somewhere on his person but could think of nothing that the protective spells on this room could not defeat (at least long enough for her to conjure up something of her own).
"What can I do for you, master Elf?" she said to him while motioning for him to take a seat across from her impressive if unimaginative desk.
"Beneth, please. I'll not take up any more of your time than I must, Lady Druces. I will hasten to the marrow of my intent without delay for I know that you are in a position to commune directly with your Lord and ask for his advice when need arises. I believe you will come to feel that would be something to be done for our mutual best interest, my lady," replied Beneth.
She was far less impressed with the Mage than she had hoped she would be. An artful dodger looking to strike up a deal with The Dark Lord whom she served was not only a waste of her time but something of an insult. You simply do not ask the head of a monastery to be a mindless go-between; not with Lolth and not with her.
Before she could reply, Beneth placed a scrap of paper in front of her. On it was a rubbing of some object with each side represented equally. "If you will look at the writing on the symbol's underside you will see why I have brought its existence to your attention. This gemstone was recently found and may be of interest to the lord whom you serve."
She looked the coal lines of the rubbing over carefully and, suddenly, her face lit up with recognition. "You have this item?" she asked excitedly.
"All but. It can be in my possession within a few days.... if we can make a certain arrangement," he replied.
She stared at his face intently for a long moment an
d then said, "Ah, I remember you now; Beneth of Bordic Sual. You are known to us and we have been keeping an eye on you. I must warn you, you are not trusted. You may have had a very public falling out with the scoundrel Bourne some time ago. But still, for you to come here.... "
"Shows my earnest at least," interrupted Beneth. "He and I have reconciled our differences it is true. In fact, I have come here on the account of Bourne. We came across the item I have shown you and he proposed that it be given to your order."
Druces stood up and started pacing behind her desk. "So you and he have been in league all this time! This bodes ill for you, I am afraid. You walk a narrow path between aiding a companion and sharing the vengeance decreed on him."
"Perhaps, lady, but after I convinced Bourne to let me deliver his message for him (which took some doing I can assure you), he has gone even further into hiding and awaits my unfettered return. Now, will you hear me out or not?"
At this Druces sat back down and listened to his proposal; that the talisman be surrendered to her order in exchange for atonement from the wrath placed against Bourne. He also explained the circumstances behind Bourne earning the wrath and the series of events he had taken to avoid further collision with The Dark Lord's forces. Cleric Druces was not particularly convinced of anything the Elf had said but did finally agree to commune with her lord on the matter. Placing a gem from the Wereguard Mace into her lord's hand personally would certainly help her to become, at the very least, more recognizable to him and, possibly, put her into his future plans.
While Druces was communing, Beneth was asked to wait in an anti-chamber furnished solely with two hard chairs. He spent this time casually slipping on and off an intricately carved platinum ring onto his left index finger, going over a few incantations in his mind, and generally being on his guard. When Druces came into the room at last, her expression was fatigued and her manner rather downtrodden. Communing with The Dark Lord, thought Beneth, must not be a very pleasant experience.
Druces sighed and said, "The scoundrel Bourne has never been anything more than a slight irritation to my lord, hence he has been allowed to live for such a time with little more than a price on his head. Therefore, my lord has agreed to retract his rightful anger from him. However, reparations must be made for his wrong doings. Besides the immediate turning over of the gemstone to me, Bourne must perform a task to prove his true intentions."
"And, what task does your lord have in mind, Lady?" asked Beneth. At this, the cleric leaned forward slightly and slowly explained what her master had instructor her to say. All the while Beneth tried to not cringe at the thought of the task that now lay before him and his companions.
Sunset came early to some streets in Norec where the sun was blocked by tall buildings in the mid-afternoon. These dark paths were treaded upon gently by the fair folk of the city even at the noon hour but were found absent of the respectable by dusk. If rent had not been so cheap there, that section of the town might have been a veritable ghost town. As it was, it was the perfect haven for the less human peoples of the city.
Emerging from a dim boarding house was an obviously half-Orcen soldier and what might have been her mate or, at the least, companion. Here, no one would pay them any notice. After they had walked around a corner from their rooms and into a dim alley, five burly men surrounded them with knives and maces brandished.
The two figures stood back to back with one another but did not draw their weapons. "A bit early for petty thievery, isn't it?" said Moornam.
The lead rogue stepped towards her and said, "You know the rules, Huntress. You do all the bounty hunting you like but you have to pay the Guild first. Ten rilks a piece per day."
Moornam had paid off these rascals for years and she had always hated it. Once she had severely beaten one of the guild's henchman and wound up regretting it (via lightning bolts cast from a Guild Mage). Since she spied a wand of some kind in one of the rogue's off-hands, she thought that maybe another dose of lightning, or worse, might be at hand. She slowly withdrew a money pouch from her belt as threw it on the ground in front of the lead man. "That holds forty rilks; enough for he and I for tonight and tomorrow. If the town guard harasses us, I will come to regain those rilks from you myself," the huntress looming over the man.
"Of course," he replied he said as he picking up the bag. "As always, my lovely, a pleasure." The five backed away from the pair cautiously.
Maeven smirked his usual smirk and said to them loudly, "None of you had better ever leave Norec. You wouldn't want to find us outside these walls." After they were alone in the alleyway, he said to Moornam much more civilly, "Can't the guild at least get some decent collectors? You know, ones that you don't automatically feel like killing just to hear them scream?" At this, Moornam actually laughed. And then, they were back on their way to find Bourne and his companions for their trail had lead all but directly to Norec's lesser gates.
Bourne and Strom were sitting below an outcropping of rock just above a dale a few leagues from Norec. They had been there most of the day and were warily awaiting Beneth's return. After much debate, he had finally been able to convince Bourne that he should be the one to deliver the message about the proposed bargain to the Master-Cleric that ran the local monastery. He kept telling Bourne that he had "an assured way out of any spot" and that his presence at the monastery might arouse more suspicion but less open hostility than Bourne's would.
To pass the time they spent waiting, Bourne and Strom talked about fairly trivial things. Bourne was sitting under the shade of the outcropping so that his armor would not become too uncomfortably hot. His bastard sword was drawn and in hand. He had particular topic on his mind and so he tried to steer the conversation towards more serious issues. After listening to his companion complain about bad tavern songs for a period of time that he thought was entirely too long, Bourne finally said, "Beneth tells me that he is happy being on the run with me. I wonder at that and at your own state of mind. What think you of the last years we have been together skulking and hiding?"
Strom looked thoughtful for a moment and then replied, "We have done much more than skulk about these past years. We have been involved in many high adventures and done many wondrous things. No doubt, Beneth is a happier Elf for it all. When he started adventuring it was to become a mage with enough power to be reckoned with. Before you met him, he had lived with his clan for two hundred years in the forests of his homeland merrily enjoying the worry free life of a Wood Elf in the wild. He learned to cast a few spells, mostly to amuse his friends, but when that marauding band of Ogre mages attacked his people, he found he could do little to protect them. Many of his kith and kin perished or were injured. Knowing that not even his homeland was truly safe, he left his clan vowing to return not without the means to protect them. His present happiness comes from the rapid increase to his conjuring prowess that being around you and your constant danger has afforded him."
"He has become quite powerful," replied Bourne. "I know that in the year or two preceding our meeting, his skill at arcane casting had improved very little. The time he spent on quests was absurdly perilous for him but not very beneficial. Now, it is he that regularly saves our lives instead of the reverse. Such was not true not so long ago. But what of you? You seek wealth and yet we have amassed none!"
Strom shook his head said, "Wealth is all around us for the taking. We have earned our share of gold but like any ongoing enterprise, it often takes gold to produce more gold. The weapons we have bought, the potions, the spells; they all benefit our status though we have no pile of gems or coin. Would you have that wondrous sword at your side or me my rings and picks had we been living in constant safety?
"I often consider where I might rather be than by your side and I can figure naught of another place. My skills, too, have improved immensely and so have our means. And, now that you may be free to become a lord over a kingdom, I believe our fortune is nigh at hand."
Bourne sighed, "You speak of the drago
n I would slay in order to gain his horde! Yes, I believe that what was impossible for us but a year ago is now possible. But, know you not that I have already made a deal with that possible fortune to secure men-at-arms to free a besieged kingdom? The chaos that returned to the lands to the far north might be driven out and the lordship laid open for me to take... with one hundred mercenaries at my side."
"These plans I know only too well, my lord," said Strom bowing. "Having my own tower inside the castle walls to recline in is part of my dream as well, since I cannot see myself living in any one city for more than a month or two at a time. With you as lord, I could come and go as I wished and still have a home in this newly won kingdom. Such a fine dream it is: you a king with Leena at your side."
"With Leena at my side Yes, you know my plans well, my friend." Bourne replied. "I do care greatly for her, so much so that until this wrath is lifted, I will not endanger her with my presence any more than I must."
Suddenly and without warning, Beneth appeared in front of them with a puff of wind. "Ah, here we are then," he said. "I dismounted that nag we purchased just outside of the city's gate and teleported here without incident. I really do not think I was followed from the monastery, but I am certain I was not followed here."
"How did the meeting go?" asked Bourne sheathing his sword and showing himself to be quite anxious for the news.
Beneth sat down on an old stump by the overhanging rock and told the tale of his meeting with Druces. He told it as descriptively and yet as quickly as he could. Bourne listened intently and Strom listened as well, though while reclining in the dry grass under the afternoon sun. Since the meeting had been short and consisted mostly of him waiting while the Cleric communed with her master, there was little embellishment to be given the story. When Beneth came to the part about the task to be performed, he slowed his speech down and tried to not have dread in his voice. "To atone for your sins, I am afraid that you (and therefore we) must slay Tentalous, the Spider god who is presently held up in his lair."
Tales of Fantasy, Fables, and Fiction Page 13
