Chapter 6 - Secrets of the Brotherhood

[itches]

Taking the state of Blarth and Cadrius respectively, Nicos tells his tale - quickly and cutting the details down to make it short.

"Moving on was the idea. It rubs me the wrong way to be sent out as a messenger boy, but I was sent out here to lead you to the Citadel. It's only short walk away, and you people look like you could use a rest," Nicos said some concern showing on his face.

Turning and leading them up along the path he and Shade had previously descended, the bard sets an easy pace for ten minutes, until he veered off the path suddenly, heading towards a cliff face.

"The path continues on for a while yet," he says absently. "But it leads to a dead end. The entrance is this way - I'm told it's not the main entrance, rather just a side one."

They walk for several more minutes in silence, progressing easily for the ground is surprisingly free of derbies, until they reach the bottom of a cliff. Ignoring the cliff itself, Nicos walks up to a large bolder, and motioning for the others to stick close behind him, slips between it and the rock face. Once everyone is inside, the Bard reaches over to the wall, and depresses a natural looking outcrop of rock before turning to the other and grinning, his teeth reflecting the light from behind them and giving him a slight inhuman cast.

"I wasn't told what would happen if we entered the cave without disabling the trap, but I got the impression it would be nasty. Follow closely now, it will reactive in a few minutes."

Entering the cave, the companions only travel for a few feet before they become aware of a light source around an approaching corner. Following it the small group find themselves passing through an open Iron wrought door, and into what is unmistakably a paved and empty room.

Looking at the multiple doors that lead away to places unknown, Nicos frowns.

"Well with no official welcoming party, I'll take it upon myself to welcome you. Welcome to the Hidden Citadel of the Brotherhood."

Turning and facing the other, a serious look covering the face, Nicos speaks slowly, as if he is carefully choosing his words.

"While we have a chance, and are inside, allow me to give you a word of warning. As far as I understand it, the Brotherhood isn't a united force. They have what are almost political factions, and it seems that one of these objects to having non-members, and more importantly non-mages entering their sanctum. They were debating over it, and challenging the people who invited us here, who it seems represent and entirely different factions. Just remember, most people here welcome us, or are at least indifferent to our presence. However a small amount are hostile to us."

[Cadrius]

"However a small amount are hostile to us."

"Then we tread in dangerous territory, but these mages should not fear. There is a faction among us that would rather not intrude."

He speaks in a gentle, almost jesting tone, but there's some truth to it. He had been uneasy enough to accept their indirect invitation but knowing there will be a number of wizards who actively want them gone has the hairs on the back of his neck rising. He doesn't like spellwielders.

Wizards and paladins typically experience the closest thing you can get to a feud, without quite resorting to open violence. Each finds the other as borderline insane and disrespectful. The paladins typically view the wizards are openly abusing power that could not be wielded without the gods. They believe respect should be given and acknowledgement paid to the higher powers at work. Moreover they fancied themselves better as they knew what was really going on. Wizards, on the other hand, think paladins are idiots. But then, they tend to think that of anyone who doesn't wear robes, a pointy hat, and play with bat guano. This feeling was expressed to the paladins and things haven't been the same since.

So it is with Cadrius and while he might no longer be a paladin, old habits die hard. He can't help but be inherently distrustful of arcanists, particularly when he learns that some of them might harbor mutual feelings. He'll accept the chance to rest and see Cadogan, but they should be moving as soon as everyone is hale and their foodstuffs restocked.

"So be it. As long as those wizards are not violent, I see no reason why we should worry. I do not expect to stay long. I would not wish to wear out our welcome," his says, his face touched by a slight smile.

[Black Plauge]

Politics never was a very interesting subject for Blarth, so at the first possible moment he interjects into Nicos and Cadrius' conversation, "How about disscussing this over dinner? I'm famished."

[Gralhruk]

"Hostile?"

Tired as she is, the idea that Nicos had led them into a lion's den sparks her quick anger. The others seem unperturbed by the fact that sorcery might well be used against them but it makes her skin crawl. Shade is weary, though, and what would normally be a scathing retort comes out as a half-hearted protest.

"Better we camp in the hills and you bring Cadogan out to meet us on the morrow."

[itches]

"I don't mean to sound all ominous," Nicos says waving away their objections. "Like I said most wont even care if we are here, but maybe a dozen people might try to antagonise you. As to dinner ... "

Turning to look once again at the doors, the bard hesitates before rushing on.

"I don't exactly know my way around. I was expecting someone to meet us here and guide us through the lower levels."

[Cadrius]

"They did suffer his presence," he says, looking to Shade, trying to gauge her inner thoughts. "And I imagine the hills are likely little safer than the depths of this tower. At the very least we know our enemy here. I could do with a bath, a hot meal, and a soft bed. I would wager you could as well."

He looks to the room beyond and frowns. It hardly looks natural, the floor is too well paved to think otherwise, but the walls are strange. They're perfectly imperfect, looking as if a giant hand had swept through and created this room in its wake. Cadrius shakes his head and is reminded of the cool relations paladins and mages have. Fortunately for him, he doesn't need to worry about that anymore. It's one of the few upsides of having fallen out of favor with a deity. However, the thought of wandering about the tower unguided sets his nerves on edge.

"Then let us wait a while in this room. The wizards should notice us eventually."

[Black Plauge]

"Wait!" Blarth exclaims, "But I'm hungry!"

Fortunately for the impatient half-orc it is this moment that one of their hosts decides to make an appearence.

"I'm sorry I wasn't here when you go here," a voice says from behind the four companions, "One of my students waylaid me on the way here with a question."

Turning around they are greeted with the sight of the same man who exteneded the invitation that they come search out Cadogan here back in Krakas.

"If you like, I'll show you to your rooms where you can wash up before eating. It is not yet dinner time, but there are fruits and bread in the refactory that should hold you until then."

Walking through the somewhat startled group, the wizard leads the way down the tunnel they had been facing, leaving them little choice but to follow.

[Cadrius]

Cadrius hates it when someone sneaks up on him, partly because it happens so often, and partly because it's just damned unnerving. The fact that it's a wizard, who seemingly came from the cavern behind them only heightens the irritation he feels. One of them should have heard him coming. True they had been debating their course of action, but how sneaky can a wizard be? The answer is a bit unnerving.

"Hold for a moment."

The man halts and turns, gray eyes observing them with a detached air. He keeps his hands hidden, folded within the large sleeves on a robe that matches his eyes. A simple dark blue belt with a few small pouches is cinched at the waist, suggesting a slim frame. Cadrius suddenly feels uncomfortable, almost ashamed as if a child who has been chastized for interrupting a conversation between adults.

"I would at least have our host's name," he says, trying to shake the disconcerting feelings.

"Aldritch," he says simply and turns again, moving smoothly through the paved room and up a set of well-cut granite stairs. Determined that he won't have a wizard's dispassionate stare unnerve him, Cadrius follows.

The stairs climb only briefly before emerging in a slightly more lavish room, likely designated for receiving visitors of some importance; those that don't require walking through tunnels in order to reach their destination. A thick, immaculately clean, woven carpet stretches across the center of the room. All sorts of patterns and colors were weaved in its creation. At one angle there look to be fantastic beasts dancing across the rug, and at another stately castles and brooding manors occupy a landscape. Cadrius is hard pressed to say if it's a work of art, or magic, or if there's a difference between the two.

Tapestries rest on the walls, showing wizards and sorcerers although their importance and names are not known. Aldrich pauses briefly, allowing the others to assemble in the room before moving through a doorway and down a stone corridor. Relatively unadorned wooden doors pass them on alternating sides of the hall. He stops, looking at small rune carved in top of the doorway and slightly inclines his head.

"These four are your rooms. Should you require a bath simply ring the bell within. The refactory is located down the hall and through the door on the opposite side of the greeting room."

Turning on his heel, Aldrich flows back down to the hall and is out of sight within a few moments.

Cadrius draws a deep breath and pushes it out, exhaling slowly and looking at his companions. They each display a different emotion; Shade is wary, apprehensive, Nicos looks rather unaffected by the surroundings, and Blarth, well, he simply looks hungry.

"I suppose it could be worse," he says, surprised by his optimism. Moving to the door he turns the handle and steps inside.

[Gralhruk]

Shade follows the others, falling a few steps behind. Beneath the midnight mantle of her silken cloak, her back itches with unknown dread. As they leave the caverns for more habited areas, it almost feels as though they are being led deeper into the bowels of the mountain instead of the other way around. She can feel the immense weight of stone all around her; everything is massive and solid yet the whole feels somehow curiously fragile, as if it might simply collapse under it's own weight.

Their guide is in stark opposition to these observations: fragile on the outside, yet seeming made of steel stronger than her blades on the inside. His grey eyed gaze is the edge on that steel, and though his words are polite enough Shade cannot find it in herself to trust him at all. It seems odd that Cadogan is part of this group, tied to them by something stronger and more sinister than blood.

"I suppose it could be worse"

Her grey eyes find Cadrius' blue ones from across the hall. For a long moment she stares at him, as if trying to tell him something but her face is impassive. Behind her the room yawns like a stone dragon.

"It always gets worse."

She closes the door to her room with a click.

[Black Plauge]

For Blarth the appearence of their wizardly host is certianly startling, and he nearly jumps out of his skin. However, he meekly follows as the group is guided to their rooms.

The forboding talk of Cadrius and Shade means nothing to him as he stands idly looking at the doors.

When are we going to eat? Oh! Wow! Those things on the door are neat.

His gaze arrested by the runes on the doors Blarth watches as they seem to shift and change. One moment they appear to be strange scribbles, but not stable ones. They are constantly changing shape, first they are elegant curves, then blockly lines and angles, then a seeming random mix of the two. Finally the squiggles over one of the doors settle into a form Blarth can recognize, a picture; the large single eye of Gruumsh with the three eyes of the seer on top. Looking at the other doors, Blarth sees a sword over the door Cadrius had gone through, its blade pointed downwards, but unsheathed; a sign of indeterminant purpose. Behind the sword the lines continue to move, at one moment forming a fist of lightning bolts and at others seemingly random configurations. The rune above Shade's door bear's two crossed swords, both pointing upwards, with a veil coverin their handles. The rune above Nicos's door is the most cofusing of all. It switches wildly from a harp to a fist and back again with other random sybmbols interspersed, seemingly unable to make up its mind.

In his distraction, Blarth doesn't notice as the others disappear into their rooms, until he is alone in the hall.

"But I'm still hungry," he says, to no one in particular. Well, the man had said that there would be fruits and bread in the refactory and he had pointed that room out, so Blarth figures its okay to go satisfy his hunger.

Making his way back down the hall, Blarth manages to find what he assumes in the refactory. The room contains two long tables, set with the plates and eating implements so common among humans. Near the back of the room another table, set back against the wall, has a bowl of fruit, on it. As he gets closer, Blarth also notices a loaf of bread and a block of cheese, both of which have a slice lying next to them along with a knife. His mouth watering at the sight of the food, Blarth grabs the slice of bread and cheese and quickly devours them. Going after an apple next, Blarth's hand freezes halfway to the bowl as he stares at a strange sight. The knives, which had been lying innocently on the table, have, of their own volition, begun moving, cutting another slice of bread and cheese to replace the ones Blarth had eaten. His eyes wide with shock, Blarth watches as the knives finish their respective cuts and return to their former positions. For a moment, Blarth can only stand in stunned silence, but then his faculties come back to him and he rushes back towards the rooms that had been assigned to the rooms, his hunger forgotten. Pounding on each door in turn, Blarth tries to explain what he saw to his compatriots, but his faculty of speach escapes him.

[itches]

Caught as off guard as the others at the wizard's approach, Nicos mutters quietly to himself as the others take the leave.

"What is it with people and sneaking up on others?"

Shaking his head and considering the possibility that the regular surprises had jarred his sanity to the point where he was now speaking to himself, the bard remains silent for the rest of the short journey until they arrive at their quarters. Entering the room that is differentiated from the others by the timber of music that the portal emits when the bard fixes his attention upon it, Nicos pauses once inside to consider the strange method used to identify the quarters.

Sitting down in front of the mirror provided, the former monk gives himself a long hard look.

Well old boy, you are well and truly committed now. Companions you barely know, and whom seem to bring violence to anywhere they go like it's a curse, and a hidden fortress. A strange hidden fortress inhabited by a secret brotherhood. This has got to be one of the strangest situations you've found yourself in ... and I'm talking to myself again.

Looking absently in the mirror, the bard wonders through memories of the past, as he absently doffs himself of the weapons that girt him. Only once the sword, and daggers are discarded on the tabletop, is he roused from his musing by an almost frantic banging at the door. Arsing and opening the wooden entryway only to be confronted by a slightly flustered and shocked Blarth.

Eventually coming grasping what the half-orc was trying to communicate with half-sentences and gestures, Nicos almost laughs.

”It sounds like they have charmed utensils. How arrogant, and yet fitting for this rather strange place.” His grin widening, the bard adds wryly, “Well either charmed utensils, or there are some rather friendly spirits haunting the refectory.”

[Gralhruk]

Inside her room, Shade stares at the items layed out upon her bed, her eyes wide with something between horror and apathy. She hadn't paid attention to the symbols on the door, hadn't even realized that she had walked into a room prepared specifically for her. The garments on the bed were obviously made for her, though, and she didn't need to lift them up to know that they would fit her as well as if she'd been measured for them.

After several long moments where nothing attacks her unexpectedly, she crosses to the bed and carefully lifts the cloak and veil. Both were made of the heavy silk she loved for it's durability and comfort, both were dyed the midnight blue of her own cloak, though in much better condition than what she was wearing. She drops it back on the bed and glares around the room, wondering if there are hidden eyes on this chamber even now.

When did I get so timid?

The thought presses her lips together with a hint of her old anger, and suddenly deciding that the wizards could all go to hell, she shrugs out of her old cloak and veil and picks up the new one. As she suspected, it fit her well. The lining on this one was black, not grey, and it wasn't reversible but that didn't bother her too much. She'd take what they offered and damn the consequences. She cautiously eyes the other clothes laid out for her but makes no move towards them. That would require the removal of her armor, and she wasn't ready for that admission of security yet.

The commotion in the hall brings her around in an instant, half expecting to find the door locked when she tries to leave. It isn't, and her blade leads the way into the corridor. Blarth is there, gesticulating wildly, and her eyes scan the passage for enemies. Nicos' words penetrate her activity and she shakes her head. Her eyes find Blarth and for some reason she decides to join him.

"Charmed silver, is it? I'll come with you and protect you from the cutlery if you'll show me where the food is."

[Cadrius]

Cadrius frowns at the sigil appearing on his door, but opens it nonetheless and enters the guest room. He wasn't certain what to expect; magically floating beds, windows to other worlds, or perhaps a water nymph in the bath. Yet what he gets is nothing more than a simple set of living quarters for whatever guests might frequent the tower. A bed sits in the corner, looking comfortable but not magically so. No windows adorn the walls, but he isn't certain whether or not they're above ground. A set of drawers rests against the far wall while a small table with a chair sits to his right bearing an inkwell complete with quill and parchment. Past the dresser, in the corner, lies a simple, albeit well-crafted, copper bathtub.

He drops his backpack onto the bed and goes over to the drawers, beginning to unfasten his vambraces. One drawer opens to reveal several fine silk shirts, each of a dark color. Pulling one out Cadrius' brow furrows and he attempts to discern whether these were left by a former guest or if they had been placed here for him. Unfolding one such shirt reveals that it is indeed tailored to someone his size. He can't imagine there are many wizards in the tower as broad at the shoulder as he. Clearly they had been expecting them. At the very least he acknowledges the courtesy of providing guests clean clothes to change into. Opening the other drawers reveals several sets of pants and breeches as well as a pair of soft leather boots and a pair of cloaks; one white with a gray lining, the other a mirror image, a grey cloak with white lining.

The armor comes off rather quickly while he considers the generosity of their hosts. There may be some that do not welcome their presence, but at the very least they know how to make their guests feel comfortable, if not accepted.

A banging from outside interrupts his thoughts and he moves swiftly to the door and stumbles into the latter half of Blarth's confusion. The thought of magical utensils doesn't exactly sit well with him, but he's unwilling to rule anything out while in this tower, nor make any hasty judgements. He might not like wizards, but they had yet to do anything to give him cause for quarrel. The least he can do is be a good guest.

"I think I will stay behind. Perhaps I can find some water for a bath."

[Black Plauge]

Suddenly feeling quite foolish at his reaction to the charmed cutlery, Blarth says, "This way," and meekly leads Shade to the refactory. Everything at the table in the back is exactly as Blarth found it originally, albeit the loaf of bread and the block of cheese are each one slice shorter.

"Watch," Blarth says, picking up the pre-made slices of bread and cheese. Immediatly the knives spring back into action and procede to cut another slice of bread and cheese, before returning to their original positions on the table.

The demonstration over, the food in his hand reminds Blarth that he's still hungry and he begins to eat the bread and cheese.

[itches]

Watching as Shade and Blarth move off to eat, Nicos nods at Cadrius's comment.

"No offence, but you look like you could do with one. I'm going to go explore the complex."

Retrieving a dagger from his room, and securing it in his boot, the bard wonders off down the hall, walking passed several people and hoping he doesn't appear too out of place. Taking random passages, and cutting across a courtyard, he eventually finds himself at the entrance to a library. Smiling to himself as his good fortune, the young man enters.

The Library is a spacious area, a large hall packed with bookshelves stretches out for what seems forever, and various side doors lead to other rooms. Some of these doors are open, and inside some Nicos can see more book shelves, while inside others are tables with what he assumes are students studying, or quietly talking amongst themselves.

Standing at the entrance as he takes it in, the bard's attention is broken as an attractive young red headed woman approaches him with a smile on her face. Standing a few inches shorter then the bard, and bearing a pair of startling blue eyes, she smiles and hold's out her hand.

"Hi there, you must be Nicos. My name is Gemoud."

[red_dr4g0n94]

Farther into the main hallway of the library library, within one of the chairs that resided therin, sat a man. Though this was hardly uncommon, his attire and looks made him stand out against the rest of the room. He wore a chain shirt, unlike most of those around here who seemed content in their robes and dresses, and his skin was heavily tanned and his body rugged. He wears a pair of dusty leather breeches, and through the links of chains the color of a grayish shirt. He wore a pair of leather boots who were quite worn, and a wide-brim hat constantly cast a shadow over his eyes.

Propped up against the chair was a shield, with an image depicting a massive battle between dwarfs and and ancient creature from the depths whose name is now long forgotten. Behind the shield, the hilt of a blade sticks out, but the blade itself is hidden behind the shield.

In his hands a book was open, and the man was flipping thorugh it, looking at the pages briefly before going onto the next. He looked up as the newcomer with only one arm walked in, but he soon returned to the book. Or perhaps, tome was more appropriate as it was nearly as big as the man's chest.

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

A one armed wizard. Interesting, and here I thought that a spell-caster needed to use both his hands generally for a spell to work. Or maybe Johnathan only did that becuase it helped him cast the spell faster. Turning to the next page, Ben frowned. Hmm...this sounds sort of what I'm looking for...but not quite. The man sighed and closed the tome, getting up and placing it back on the shelf near the entrance to the library.

So far, that one wizard hadn't come back yet. He had told Ben that he would inform those above him of Ben's purpose for being here, then he would return with their answer. Ben wasn't too comfortable with it, as he had intended on revealing the information himself to those whom it concerned, but he understood that this wasn't his sanctuary and his presence here was probably redundant, since these spell-flingers probably already knew they were dead anyways.

Hmm... Lets see History of the Dwarfs... Already tried that one. History of the Underdark Was it even called the Underdark then? Ooooh, here we go! Ben reaches out and picks up a book labeled The Beginnings of the first Dwarf Nation Opening the book, he started thumbing through the much smaller book, not even bothering to go back to his seat, his back to the newcomer and the woman.

[itches]

Taking in the sight of the woman before him appreciatively, Nicos reaches out and grasps the outstretched hand firmly.

"I didn't know my fame had reached so far," he says with a smile that seemed to turn on automatically.

With a small laugh the woman shakes her head. "I'm afraid to tell you, but it hasn't. I knew you by your arm."

Letting go of her hand, Nicos holds up his arm, as if appraising it by sight. "Well I must admit it is a fine looking arm. A rare specimen indeed, though I didn't know its fame had spread so far."

Her smile widening into a grin, Gemoud replies in the same vein of humour. "Oh yes, I've been a fan of it since I was a little girl. We used to gather around the fire at night, while tales of The Arm were told." Eyeing to bard mock-contemplatively. "I never did hear any about you though."

Laughing loudly, and momentarily disturbing the room, Nicos gives the woman a small bow. "Well said. 'Tis rare that you meet someone as quick of wit and humour out in the world these days. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I must confess I have an ulterior motive. I was sent out to find you and guide you around the Citadel if you so desired, and see to any of your needs. You did surprise me though, I was about to head over to your rooms to seek for you, when I find that you had already discovered me!" Reaching out and touching his arm she finishes, "Well we've found each other now, and you saved me a trip. So what can I do for you? A tour of the Citadel? Or around the Library perhaps, it would take just as long, as we have a extensive selection of books."

Loosing his smile for a moment, the bard looks at the woman as if considering something. Passing almost before it began, the man's smile is back on his face. "Truthfully I was just idling wondering around when I encroached upon this place of learning. Now however, I regret leaving the refectory behind so hastily. I find that I’ve grown rather hungry. Will you do me the honour of escorting me back?"

[Gralhruk]

The enchanted silverware performs it's duty under Blarth's entranced gaze. Shade watches with a bit less enthusiasm, though her stomach is certainly attentive.

"Fascinating."

She tries to keep the sarcasm out of her voice and is mostly successful. The half-orc is already hungrily eating the results of his experiment and Shade takes a moment to look around the room retrieving a plate and adding some bread, cheese, and fruit to it. The knives once again do their dance and she glances towards Blarth before taking a seat at one of the tables. Two decanters sit in front of her - one with water, the other wine - and she pours from the second as Blarth sits down.

The wine isn't bad, and she downs half a glass before nibbling at her bread, her eyes continuing to scan the room. They are the only ones present at the moment, and she wonders if they are early or late for dinner. The sound of amused voices accompanied by laughter pricks her ears up, and she recognizes the man's rich tone before he enters. It is, of course, Nicos though she doesn't know the red-headed woman he is with.

"We have company, though I'm not sure they'll be too happy about it."

[itches]

Making pointless and amusing small talk on the trip back, Nicos enters the refectory and spies Shade and Blarth across the other side of the room. Leading Gemoud over, Nicos gives the pair a small nod.

"Gemoud, allow me to introduce my companions, Blarth and Shade. Shade, Blarth, this is Gemoud, one of the people who live here."

Pausing as if something just occurred to him, Nicos looks over at Shade. "Ah Shade, a thought just struck me, may I steal a moment of your time?"

Letting go of Gemoud's arm and reaching over for Shade, Nicos grasps the woman in what looks to be a casual hold, but is firm enough to brook no disobedience.

"If you will excuse us for a moment."

Before anyone objects, Nicos draws Shade out of the Refectory and towards their rooms. Sparing only a quick glance at the woman, and trusting to her usual taciturn nature to hold, Nicos freezes the smile on his face until both are inside the quarters assigned to him, and the door is safely shut.

Cutting off anything Shade might be about to say with an insistent gesture for silence, Nicos quickly goes through his gear until he retrieves a sheet of parchment, and some writing charcoal. Laying the parchment out on the table provided, the bard quickly scrawls a simple question.

'Have you checked your room for listening devices?'

[Cadrius]

Cadrius stands in front of the bathtub, looking a bit uncertain. Eyes move from the copper bath and roam to the rest of the room, searching for some place to draw water from. He walks to the door and opens it, sticking his head out into the hall. Blarth, Nicos, and Shade have are all out of sight. The door closes again and he turns back to his foe. All he wants is for some hot water to bathe and a mirror to shave with. Several days in the wilderness have left his face rough with black stubble; he can feel it each time he touches his face.

Sighing he walks over to the bed and sits on it --the mattress proving to be pleasantly soft-- and watches the bathtub, as if it might suddenly fill with water or scamper away on its copper feet. A minute passes, then two, and Cadrius pushes himself off the bed.

"Hot water and a mirror, is that so much to ask?" he mutters.

A noise comes from the top drawer of the bureau, distracting Cadrius from the bathtub. He slowly moves toward it, one foot placed cautiously in front of the other. One hand reaches out tentatively, brushing the wood of the drawer once. Neither electric death nor firey explosion greet his touch. Frowning, he opens the drawer only to find a fair sized hand mirror resting there. He pulls it out and looks at it in wonder. He turns back to the tub only to find it full of water, steam trailing off the surface.

Cadrius turns back to the bureau and closes the drawer. He tilts his head to the side and regards it.

"A thousand gold crowns, is that so much to ask?" he asks and opens the drawer. Nothing. He shrugs; it was worth a try.

Quickly undressing, the fallen paladin eases himself into the hot bath, finding the temperature to be almost perfect. It's neither scalding nor luke warm. He looks down at his body distored slightly beneath the surface of the water. Muscles look smaller, and his frame seems slight, almost twisted. The scars of a dozen skirmishes mark his skin and he runs a finger along them remembering each wound, some with pride, others with sorrow. He hskaes his head, weary from the ordeal of the past week. The warmth permeates more than just his muscles, it works its way into his psyche, his soul. He leans his head back against the side of the bathtub, closes his eyes and smiles.

[Gralhruk]

Shade stares expressionlessly at the pair, her steel grey eyes betraying a hint of curiousity. She merely nods her head curtly at the introduction, draining the rest of her glass afterward. She is in the midst of pouring when she feels Nicos' hand on her shoulder, his fingers like talons. The glass pauses on it's way back to the table but only for an instant; she supresses her intstinctive retort and pretends that nothing is amiss.

"If you will excuse us for a moment."

She resists the urge to shake his hand off and instead waits for him to withdraw before she rises, setting her glass down untouched, and glances at Gemoud.

"Excuse me for a moment. Blarth will keep you company."

She turns away and follows Nicos.

"Damn bards."

Her irritation rises as he enters his room, motioning her to follow. She does and he quickly closes the door. For a moment, she is reminded of her suspicion when she found him in the wastes and beneath her cloak she lays a hand on a well worn hilt. She opens her mouth to vent but the bard cuts her off silently and with such urgency that she complies. Her eyes alternate between roving the room and watching his frantic scribbling. When he's done, she reads the message and looks at him gratingly. She merely shakes her head no. Her eyes bore into his own and she lifts her shoulders as if to say what the hell is all of this about?

[itches]

A look a frustration crosses the bard's face as he turns back to the parchment, and hesitates over it. Quickly writing a few lines he shows it to her.

Be on guard. Warn the others. Need talk without being over heard. Gemoud is a lure. Find Cadogan'

Holding the paper long enough to make sure that Shade has read and understood the message, Nicos crumples it up in his hand and starts to sing a song in what is almost a whisper. In his hand, the parchment first reddens, and then turns to ash. Shattering the ashes in the fireplace so the contents of the parchment can't be retrieved, Nicos then turns and faces Shade, pointing to the other sheets of parchment, and tilting his head as if to enquire if she wants to use it.

[Gralhruk]

The fury inside her swells until she is sure that her body will simply explode and shower the bard in her dripping red anger. Vision clouds as the overwhelming tide sweeps her under; she squeezes her eyes shut and waits. The crimson waters recede, leaving her with clenched teeth and a white knuckled grip on her sword. She snatches the charcoal from Nicos with uncanny speed and precision and for a moment the bard thinks she might simply ball her fist around it and crush it into dust. She swiftly scrawls a few words and then thrusts the parchment before his eyes.

'Where can we speak freely?'

[itches]

Reading the message, Nicos shuts his eyes and tries to think.

Our rooms are out of the question, as it is the most likely place for them to spy on us. No we need somewhere in an open public place, yet where we can have some measure of privacy. Maybe a park or some sort of garden or ...

Snapping open his eyes, Nicos reaches for the parchment and writes a single word.

'Library.'

Stoping to think for a few more moments, he adds more.

'Get Cadrius, meet me in refectory. Eat, then go there. I'll get rid of Gemoud once there. Be nice.'

Shooting Shade a warning look, and underlining the last sentence, Nicos then destroys the sheet of parchment like the last one.

[Gralhruk]

Be nice indeed.

Resisting the urge to throttle the bard as she reads his message. Silently fuming, she nevertheless waits until he is done destroying it before indicating the door. He opens it and she exits, moving without immediately to Cadrius' room. Her hand pauses as she is about to knock, her eyes refusing to speculate on the symbols flashing before her. What was she going to say? Whatever. The sooner they were out of here the better. She raps on the door sharply.

"Cadrius? Can I come in for a moment?"

[red_dr4g0n94]

Wow. This book looks like it has an incredible amount of knowledge about how the Dwarfs got started! I could probably find what I was looking for in here. Now if I could only read what was in front of me. Ben sighed as he tried to discern the strange symbols written in the book open before him. He closed it and put the book back on the shelf with the others before going back over to the chair that he had been sitting in before. He grabbed the shield and held it in front of him.

I just wish I knew what this symbolized. Or at least why Dorndrum was so possessive of it. God, how I wish the lot of them could be here now. Placing the shield back against the chair, Ben sat down and closed his eyes. He'd been traveling to this citadel for nearly 10 years now. Along the way he had fought orcs and goblins, kobolds and hobgoblins, not to mention the occasional man or woman bent on conquering this or destroying that. And through it all, he had always stopped off and told the families of those whom he had traveled with of the news of their loved ones demise.

It was always so hard. He had thought that maybe he would have gotten used to it, and the years had slightly dulled the pain of his actions, but whenever he told the family, one of his friends’ faces would always appear before him. Sometimes, he could even see his friends in the faces of their family. And they were never the face of them smiling, or of them laughing, but always that one last look they had before...

Ben's eyes flew open. He'd lost his train of thought again. He reached up and took of the wide-brimmed hat he wore on his head. It had been Rocky's favorite, and Ben could still smell the after-effects of his friends "potions" on it. He smiled at the memory of his friend's face when he realized that the dealer who had sold them too him had lied and the potions didn't make him irresistible to women.

But this place...this place was utterly alien to Ben. He could find nothing here to relate to his three friends whom had been a part of this "Brotherhood". Though from time to time one of them would mention it, Ben got the distinct impression that even Jonathan had felt caged within these walls and wanted to be out and about finding new and exciting things, even at his advanced age of 69. But even worse, Ben couldn't even imagine Lisa being anywhere near people like this. They seemed so...reclusive and were more interested in their books and magics and not the people who their knowledge and power would actually affect.

Lisa hadn't been anything like that. Maybe that was why she had left along with Jonathan and Turmahult. She had always told Ben that she would gladly be beaten half-to death and lose all her powers even if it would only save one person. She had always had other's needs before her own, probably the reason she had taken in the young lad who had foolishly tried to take Jonathan's book. Maybe that was why she had taught him about her own morals, and why they were so important, even though most of whom received them didn't seem to need it.

Maybe that was why Ben thought of her as the closest thing to a mother he had ever had.

[Cadrius]

He just barely hears it, his mind and body slowly drifting off to rest by the soothing heat. The copper has grown warm itself, radiating the heat shared by the bath. Something nags at his mind, a very faint noise and then a murmur. Is he dreaming? He thinks so and smiles, any dreams without dead lovers and infinite voids are a welcome change. He lies there, his knees poking up out of the water and his arms draped across the sides of the tub, hands resting gently on the edge. Again the noise comes, this time louder, more insistant. It sounds like knocking.

Cadrius jerks awake, water splashing to the stone floor. He looks around, his eyes a bit bleary. How long had he been asleep? The door, someone's knocking on the door. He climbs quickly out of the bathtub and yanks open one of the drawers. Finding a soft, white towel he wraps it around his waist and opens the door. He sees Shade, blinks, and then closes it again, hurying over to the clothes left for him in the bureau. Forgoing any attempt at drying off, he clumsily pulls on enough articles to make him decent and the moves back to the door, opening it and nodding his head.

"Shade, what is it?" he asks, but eyeing her consternation he quickly adds, "Yes. Please, come in."

[Gralhruk]

The door practically flies open, revealing a semi-naked ex-paladin in all his unheroic splendor. Despite her urgent message, Shade is momentarily taken aback by the sight. The lean muscles of his shoulders and chest are fuller and more sharply defined than she would have guessed, his abdomen is a study in rib and sinew; a wave of heat courses through her that -for once- has nothing to do with anger. Her mouth opens in surprise, but before she can get a word out she is once again staring at the impervious door, the flashing symbols somehow mocking her.

Foolishness, and you know it.

When he opens the door again her eyes are cooler but more doubtful than before, drawn back to the realities of their situation. There hasn't been much time to consider what Nicos had divulged, but it stood to reason that if his room wasn't secure then this one wasn't either. The thought of eyes and ears on them made the skin of her back itch. Telling him outright was impossible, but she had to somehow let him know. With an effort she keeps her voice normal but her bearing remains tense, urgent even.

"Sorry to interrupt you, but I think you've had enough time to rest. After all we've been through, the least you could do is show your companions the respect of dining with them."

Shade shakes her head no as she speaks, and half-draws one of her blades, trying to indicate danger. She mouths the word spies, and then puts a finger to her lips.

"Well?"

[Black Plauge]

Having finished his thrid helping of bread and cheese, Blarth heads back to the food table to get an orange.

I wonder if the knives would cut the orange?

Pushing the loaf of bread aside, Blarth places the orange on the cutting board in its place and waits.

When nothing happens, Blarth is at first confused but so comes to the conclusion that he also needs to pick up the slice of bread as well and does so. Immediately the knife springs into action, trying to cut the orange as if it were a loaf of bread. An apple is not a loaf of bread however, and the sawing motion of the knife combined with the round shape of the apple leads to the apple begining to roll and the knife splashing juice all over the place.

"Having fun?" Gemoud asks as Blarth shields his face from the splatter. Startled, Blarth lowers his hand for a moment only to raise it again as a squirt of juice catches him in the eye.

"I... uh... uh... uh..."

Chuckling at Blarth's confusion, Gemoud continues, "Its quite alright. Everyone wants to experiment with the silver wear when the first get here. Most however, are to timid to try."

Grabbing the bread knife by the handle, she pulls off the orange and waves her hand over the knife and cutting board, cleaning them off with a simple incantation. Gemoud then replaces the bread in its position and lays the knife down where it lies still.

"Here, the knife for the fruit is back here," she says, pulling a cutting board and knife down from their hanging place on the wall. Putting the orange on the cutting board the knife procedes to quarter it before wiping itself on a nearby towel and lying still.

"Would you still like your orange?" she asks.

[Cadrius]

"Sorry to interrupt you, but I think you've had enough time to rest. After all we've been through, the least you could do is show your companions the respect of dining with them."

Stunned would be the most accurate way of describing Cadrius at this very moment. Stunned, confused, a perhaps a bit taken aback by the woman's words. She has an acrid tongue, to be sure, but he hasn't recovered from his embarassment of answering the door half-naked. As a result she has the fallen paladin mentally back peddaling in an attempt to regain ground. His first instinct is to become defensive, and his eyes grow hard but he falters at a gentle shake of Shade's head. Her eyes lack the usual flare of anger, indeed, they bear an almost-warm quality that Cadrius cannot discern. He does not have time to ponder it though as she mouths a word to him while partially drawing a blade from its scabbard. The uncertainty, the anger, the defensiveness; they all pause while he watches her. The word she mutters causes his hackles to rise.

Spies.

He opens his mouth to speak, but a finger to her lips gives him pause. Her eyes shift from one one wall behind him to another and he nods slowly, eyes still on her. Ordinary spies is one thing, magical spies is another subject altogether and one that Cadrius is loath to deal with.

"Yes," he says at last, nodding, "I have been remiss in my etiquette. Thank you for correcting me."

Fetching the gray cloak with white trim, Cadrius settles it about his shoulders and grabs his sword, one hand loosely holding the scabbard. It would be an affront to their hosts for him to carry a bare blade, but there's no reason why he should go unarmed. Sweeping back into the corridor, Cadrius closes the door behind him and moves down the corridor with Shade, measuring his longer strides to match her shorter ones.

"I trust you found food?" He asks, keeping his voice as casual as he can manage. Silently he berates himself for dismissing the potential danger in favor of the luxury of a bath. Still, there's little to be done about it now. Hopefully things are not as bad as they seem.

[itches]

Watching Shade as she moves to the door of Cadrius' room, Nicos settles a gentle smile on his face as he returns to Blarth and Gemoud.

"Would you still like your orange?"

Hearing the question, the bard doesn't miss a beat but launches right into his act.

"I've walked into many a room heaving a converstion already in play, but 'Would you still like your orange?' has to be one of the strangest comments I've heard when taken out of context."

Sitting down at the table, making sure he is sitting next to the redhead, Nicos reaches for some bread and fruit.

"Fitting though, as I find myself overcome by a growing hunger." Tossing a sidewas glance at the attractive young woman next to him as he says the last, the bard finished peeling the fruit and places it in the bread.

((OOC: I down't hav a spillchekker at tha prescient tyme, sew Unlesss Gral waants too go thrfough and edite my poest, evereeone will have ta sufer my spoelling.))

[Gralhruk]

"Yes, food enough."

She continues towards the refectory, wondering if they were safe to speak in the hall. Probably not. Gritting her teeth, she decides there is little choice but to trust Nicos to find a safe place for conversation. In the meantime, she needed to find a way to tell Cadrius what she knew without telling him.

"Actually, there is even more than food. It seems Nicos found a guide - a woman by the name of Gemoud. She reminds me a little bit of Skerf; you remember, the guide who helped me find that dwarf."

Hopefully Cadrius would indeed remember the story she had told him a few weeks back, about the treacherous ranger that had nearly killed her. She keeps her voice upbeat and conversational in an effort to throw off any who might be listening.

"This place is much more hospitable than I expected. I'd like to see Cadogan before we go, but I suppose he's probably busy. You shared a room with him once, does he spend alot of time studying arcane lore?"

The only room they had shared - so far as Shade knew - was in the dungeons of the Gnoll encampment. If she understood Nicos correctly, Cadogan was likely in the same kind of trouble now. The refectory appears up ahead and she steers towards it. Inside, she can see Nicos sitting next to Gemoud and the germ of an idea forms in her head about how to get rid of the woman.

"Gemoud, this is Cadrius, the fourth member of our company."

[Cadrius]

"Yes, I remember Skirf. He was a good man," Cadrius says, attempting to give the opposite description of Shade's treacherous, former companion, but adds almost as an afterthought, "one I would not mind running across one day."

Their footfalls echo softly off the stone floor, walls, and ceiling. Cadrius remains alert, as if expecting to see a robed spy lurking in a doorway or corner. For all he knows they could be inside the walls themselves, listening to every word, watching each exchange. If so, they'd already know of what Shade suspects. Cadrius briefly wonders if staying in the hills might have been a wiser decision. He looks over to Shade, a determined look blanketed across her face making her features unreadable.

"He did a fair amount of reading, for a blind man," he says, recalling his first encounter with the wizard. They had been captured by gnolls and were bound in a lightless cell within a set of caves. Cadogan had proved more useful than the fallen paladin, and since setting them free Cadrius had felt as if he owed the man a debt. It looks like he repaid him in Karkas by slaying those that had besmirched Cadogan's honor. Cadrius wonders if the blind man ever knew of what happened, of what transpired in the fallen paladin's efforts to repay his debt. More importantly, would he agree? Would he care? Or would he be horrified at the loss of three lives, unintentional as it had originally been.

Cadrius' eyes fall on Gemoud and he wonders if Shade's suspisions might be off. Sorceress or not she seems harmless enough; pretty with luxrious red hair, and wide, attentive eyes. Of course her robe is fitted to subtly annunciate her sexuality. It's that facet that sets off a warning within his mind; Cadrius realizes that she would make for a perfect spy. Who better to use in a party of men than an attractive, disarming, young woman? Someone who they would foolishly let their guard down around; who they would lust after.

Regardless of supposed position as a spy, Cadrius still grants her an appropriately deep bow. As he straightens his eyes roam over to Nicos, trying to see if the one-armed bard might have fallen under her spell. In return she nods her head in acceptance of the courtesy.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Gemoud," he says, smiling at the young woman, "and I must thank you and your kin here for this hospitality extended to us. It was a hard road to travel, but I do believe it was worth it."

Once the pleasantries are aside, Cadrius removes the cloak that he hastily threw about his shoulders and straps his sword across his back. Satisfied at having the feeling of the blade resting across one shoulder, Cadrius replaces the cloak.

"I do not mean to offend, Gemoud," he says, straightening the woolen cloak, "I do not fear trouble, but instead fear a bit...naked without its presence."

[Gralhruk]

Shade smiles at him, at the same time laying a hand on Nicos' shoulder and leaning slightly against the bard. She tilts her head at Cadrius.

"Always the warrior - a fighter, not a lover like Nicos here."

Her laugh sounds easy enough but her stomach clenches. The hand on the bard's shoulder looks casual but she returns the stern grip he'd given her earlier. For once, she hopes that Blarth's simplemindedness will work to her advantage and he won't realize her sudden change in attitude. They needed to get rid of Gemoud and it was better if it wasn't Nicos who rebuffed her.

[itches]

Almost wincing at Shade's iron grip on his shoulder, Nicos is perplexed at her comments. Although he had made more then one pass in her direction, Shade had always rebuffed him, and seemed to have her sights set firmly on Cadrius. And a deep soulfull pair of eyes or no, he wasn't one to interfere with a buddin romance. Still the line was said, and the bard took her bone cracking grip as an indication to play along to whatever ends she was aiming for.

"Well we each stick to our strengths, as they may be. Some of us just have more pleaseing talents then others."

[Black Plauge]

Saved from having to answer Gemoud's question by the return of first Nicos, and then Shade and Cadrius, Blarth is soon lost in the flurry of conversation that follows and contents himself by eating his orange, skins and all.

Getting up, Blarth heads back to the table to grab another fruit; an apple this time, and he bites into it without even thinking of having the knife cut it up for him.

"Are you hungry Cadrius? They have these really neat knives that cut things for you."

[Cadrius]

Cadrius shakes his head ruefully and affects a wounded pride. He holds his arms over his chest and gives the couple, Nicos and Shade, a long, hard look. He isn't certain what Shade intends, but he's finding it difficult to maintain the facade. He does his best, however, and scowls. Looking to the half-orc, Cadrius nods and walks over to him.

"Indeed I am, Blarth," he says, eyeing the magical cutlery before casting a glance back at Nicos, "I suppose my talent would let me cut this apple, if I so desired. Nicos would need togive it a few ales, sing a song or two, and then take it into the stables."

Feigned or not, the barb feels good to deliver to the man. Nicos and he have yet to get along and Cadrius doesn't forsee it happening in the near future. Yet four out of five times, he'd take this one-armed bard over a wizard that wanted him dead. Reaching down he takes one of the sliced pieces of apple and puts it in his mouth. It's good, likely freshly picked, although where it came from is beyond him.

"It is quite good. You may need to give this one more than a couple ales."

[Maeko]

“Agatha, stop it!”
Half hidden in laughter, the Southern wizard’s scolding doesn’t seem to restrain the mule from her determined searching for anything edible in the woman’s clothing.

“ Wait a minute, you, glutton, I’ll be back with something for you”.

Maryam turns and goes, followed by Agatha’s mournful stare.
With quick strides she reaches the refectory; the sound of unknown voices stops her in her tracks.

New guests? That’s quite unusual she thinks, rapidly passing her fingers through her close cropped curls to check for bits of hay.
Then, curious, the black woman gets in.

A few heads turn towards the door and silence greets her.

“ I’m sorry”, she says, flustered. “ I did not mean to intrude, I will come back later”.

[Gralhruk]

Shade can sense Cadrius' confusion beneath his affected anger but the ex-paladin stubbornly clings to his sense of duty and plays along. Though she expected no less, a twinge of regret buds in her chest that his emotion isn't genuine. She ignores his jab at Nicos with a pretty smile before turning her eyes to Gemoud.

"The citadel is most hospitable to send a guide for us. Nicos must be regarded quite highly, that they would take you away from your other duties."

Gemoud's eyes flicker over to the doorway and she follows them to the exotic looking woman who is standing somewhat confusedly by the entrance to the refectory.

“I did not mean to intrude, I will come back later”.

The red head shakes her head and, ignoring Shade's question, raises her voice slightly to speak to Maryam.

"No intrusion at all. We were just about to eat, would you join us?"

Shade is rapidly becoming irritated with this game, quite certain that Gemoud is stalling instead of answering her. She holds her tongue and waits for the introductions to be completed before repeating her question.

"So, you were telling us how you came to be our escort."

[itches]

Taking a grape, and plopping it into her mouth, Gemoud gives a small shrug as if it isn't really important.

"I suspect that it has more to do with chance then any sort of divine plan. You're new here, and as you discovered." A motion towards the magical utensils. "It catches you off guard at times. It did when I first arrived here. As to why me in particular? I was between projects, so the council asked me if I would be interested. I accepted."

[Black Plauge]

"Ale?" Blarth asks, confused. Looking around he spies a small keg sitting on the other end of the table with a few mugs next to it. "There's some over there if you want it," he says, pointing.

"Speaking of which, don't mind if I do," he adds, heading over to pour himself a mug, after popping what remains of the apple into his mouth.

"This bread, cheese, and fruit is good and all, but how long until dinner?" Blarth asks between swigs, "I could use some meat."

[Gralhruk]

Gemoud smiles at the half-orc, shaking her red locks slowly.

"Dinner won't be served for another hour, at the least."

Shade rises, a hand still on the bard's shoulder.

"An hour is plenty of time for some exploration. Nicos mentioned there is a sizable library here. I'd like to have a look."

At this, Nicos stands as well looking quite smug as he puts an arm around Shade's waist.

"Ah, yes. The library: a most fascinating place. It surpasses any I have seen in my considerable travels."

The scraping of chairs is the only sound, and the Gemoud is uncharacteristally silent as she observes the others. Shade watches her closely without seeming to do so, inwardly seething at this game of cat and mouse. The group starts towards the door and Shade falls back, putting an hand on the red heads arm as Gemoud passes by her. She waves away Nicos' enquiring glance.

"You go on ahead. I have a question for our hostess."

[itches]

"You go on ahead. I have a question for our hostess."

Nodding to her wave away, Nicos turns and leads everyone towards the Library.

I hope she doesn't do anything foolish.

"Mages are little without their books," Nicos speaks to the others behind him as they near their destination. "And as this is the headquarters for a group of mages, you would expect that their collection of tomes to be extensive."

Rounding a corner and entering the foyer of the library, the large aisles of books stretching out before them, Nicos speaks quietly.

"They do not disappoint."

[Gralhruk]

The others file out of the refectory, leaving Shade momentarily alone with the taller Gemoud. The redhead stares at her with a half smile and delicately raises one eyebrow, the friendliness of her expression never reaching her startling blue eyes.

"What can I help you with?"

Shade regards her evenly, her own grey eyes hooded, arms folded.

"I think you know."

Neither woman moves for several seconds. Gemoud's smile widens slightly, which somehow manages to increase the tension.

"Do I? Perhaps you would like to know the location of the bath house. You seem quite travel worn. The land hereabouts is harsh on one's skin."

"Stay away from him. And the rest of us."

"My, you are certainly the insecure one. I am merely here to help."

Gemoud looks smug, superior; statuesque and beautiful, she is quite sure of how to handle this street rabble. Shade takes a step forward and very carefully brushes an imaginary speck of dust from the taller woman's shoulder. Quick as a snake, her hand seizes a handful of coppery hair and drags Gemoud's face level with her own. The redhead grabs at Shade's hand, but years of swordplay have given her strength beyond what her slight frame would indicate.

"I said stay- " her hand twists sharply, bringing a pained expression to the others face "-away."

She realeases her grip and deliberately turns her back and exits the room. Gemoud runs a hand through her hair and adjusts her cloak, her burning blue eyes never leaving Shade's back.

[red_dr4g0n94]

Sensing someone enter the library, Ben shakes himself out of his revere and looks over at the new comer. It was that one-armed wizard again, apparently showing the library to the group that was following him. It seemed to consist of a Human male, and a half-orc. The human obviously didn't fit in, what with the sword at his side and the muscles Ben could see, he was obviously a warrior of some kind. The half-orc was something else entirely, not carrying himself like most of the other ones that Ben had seen, though that number could be counted on one of his hands still, so Ben guessed he wasn't much of an expert on their kind. There were more people behind these three, but Ben couldn't make anything out.

Ben wasn't sure what to make of their entrance together. Maybe they were friends of the one-armed wizard, perhaps something else. Either way, it wasn't any of Ben's concern at the moment. He found the wizards in this keep both haughty and unnerving in their reliance on magic. The sooner he was out of this place, the better.

It just didn't make sense to Ben. Why would you train your mind to cast all this magic, learn all this knowledge, when it takes half the time and effort to accomplish the same thing with a blade? True, Ben recalled Jonathan and Lisa both sling balls of flaming death around, but a wizard ran out of energy eventually. A sword was always there, never being depleted with each attack.

[Cadrius]

Cadrius isn't certain he wants to leave Shade alone with the amiable Gemoud. Knowing her temper and her methods, he wonders if they might suddenly have to flee the tower after the mysterious disappearance of one of its members. He mentally shakes his head. She's smart enough to avoid killing in a place where her every move could be watched from afar. Still, he doesn't envy Gemoud, not at all.

The library itself is of passing interest to Cadrius. His family had kept a library at their estate, although it wasn't nearly so grand as the one present. Indeed, he wagers there was a good deal more about warfare and mercantilism in his home than here. Or at least, there was less regarding demon resurrection and arcane theory.

"No, it does not," Cadrius replies, nodding at the bard. His gaze passes across several apprentices or acolytes, he isn't certain what novice wizards are called. They wear unadorned robes of a brown color as they scurry about, shelving books from large push-carts. Seeing them move about makes him wonder why wizards wear robes all the time. Certainly it would be much easier --not to mention less conspicuous-- to simply don pants and a shirt. Perhaps it's tradition that guides their fashions. And yet Gemoud dressed somewhat normally. Perhaps sorceresses are allowed more leeway given their rather uncommon nature.

"So what are we to do here? Educate ourselves?"

[itches]

"Well," Says Nicos looking around. "I was hoping to have Shade here for this, but I won’t waste the opportunity. Come, there is something you must see, which I think you will find entertaining."

Leading his companions into the Library, Nicos makes for an isolated section. Taking down a random book, and glancing at it to find that is a text on the mating habits of shell fish. Nicos grins until he sees the looks his companions are giving him, then the grin fades from his face to be replaced by a look of determination.

"We need to be on guard here. Gemoud is a spy."

[Black Plauge]

"A spy?" replies Blarth increduously, "What makes you say that?"

[itches]

"She is either a spy, or the gods have decided to send me the woman of my dreams. She's smart, sophisticated, charming, beautiful, willing to flirt."

An ugly look crosses the bard's face.

"They must think me a fool. She is too well able to put me at ease, and not arouse my suspicious. That in itself was enough to put me on guard, but I've also developed a sixth sense about woman over the years. This one isn't all she appears to be."

[Cadrius]

"Well, yes," he says, eyeing Nicos with the lightest touch of disdain. Still, he acknowledges the bard's ability to avoid Gemoud's snares. Even the mightiest of kings can be distracted by a pretty lass. So it is to his credit that he isn't enthralled.

"Very well, you avoided the trap. Good. Now what? Do we try to flee the tower with Cadogan? Or would he even wish to leave? I am interested in your counsel here as I fear we have very few options."

[itches]

"Why," Says the bard with a growing smile. "We do nothing. We pretend that they have ensnared us, and that we remain ignorant of the fact. Then we find out why they set the trap and what they want."

Looking around, and seeing that no on seems to be paying much attention to the group huddled together and speaking in low tones, and that they aren't alone in that endeavour, Nicos returns his attention to his companions.

"There is a good chance that they are listening in on us in our quarters, so we'll have to maintain the charade at most times. More public and random places such as this should be fine."

[red_dr4g0n94]

Ben watched as the one-armed wizard took his two companions to a table in a more isolated part of the Library, apparently to show them something about a book he pulled out. Ben couldn't make out what he was saying, but he didn’t have Aaron's talent for reading lips either...

Just then Ben's stomach grumbled. Realizing that he hadn't eaten in a while, and not feeling like eating any more trail rations if he could help it, he decided to check out what kind of food this place had. Getting up, he grabbed his shield and slung it over his back.

He picked up his blade, which had been forged for Rocky as a gift from somewhere, though Ben had never gotten around to asking. The blade was exquisitely made, seeming to hum with lethal power whenever it was picked up. Too, it had various figures of famous heroes of legends etched into its sides. Ben was awe struck with the blade, for it seemed more like a work of art than a mundane weapon, and at the same time, he despised it for it could only kill and bring death. Sheathing the blade in the loop on his belt, the sword hung at his side completely bare, held only by the strong leather loop that held it to Ben's waist.

Walking out of the library, Ben tried to remember the directions that one wizard had told him to get to the Refectory. Thinking he remembered correctly, he turned down a hall and started walking, left hand resting on the hilt of his blade so as to control the swinging of it to not harm anyone or anything.

Turning down another hall, he nearly was run over by another figure. He sidestepped it only barely, realizing it was a smaller woman of some sort. He didn't get a look at her face but he saw a good portion of her cloak as she didn't even slow down for him. Blinking a bit in confusion, Ben shrugged and headed for the door at the end of the hall.

Opening the door, he saw another woman there, with coppery-blonde hair and blue eyes like his, except more striking and with a bit of hardness tinged around them. She looked up at him with a bit of confusion on her face, apparently wondering who he was. Ben didn't recognize her, though she seemed faintly familiar. There was a moment of ackward silence as the two looked at each other, broken when Ben's stomach let out a ferocious growl. Smiling, she reached over and took an apple from the table. "Hungry?" she asked with a smile.

"Uh...yeah actually. Thank you," taking the apple from her, Ben bit into it, but found himself unable to tear his eyes from the woman in front of him. Something about her was nagging at his mind, tugging at his memories. He KNEW this woman, but where, and when, and why?

[Gralhruk]

Shade could feel the other's eyes on her back as she strode from the refectory, but she kept her eyes straight ahead, blatantly ignoring Gemoud's fury, almost defying her to try something. Then she is through the doors and alone in the hall, adrenalaine still running through her veins like wildfire. This place was a nest of adders, and the cold blooded creatures were stirring restlessly. The less time they spent here the better.

After a short time, she begins to notice her surroundings: hallways dressed in stone that opened unexpectedly into atriums, junction boxes of sorts for the various passages. The place was huge, and it occurs to her that she has no idea where the library is, though she is fairly certain she can make it back to her own chamber. After a time of random, ineffective searching her frustration starts to build. Finally deciding she needs directions, she takes a seat on the stone ledge of a fountain, positioned in the center of what looks to be a major intersection. There is nobody else apparent, though there are various noises - the slam of a door, the distant sound of chanting, the clang of a bell.

Staring at her reflection in the water, she wonders if Cadogan is free or a prisoner in this place, and if they can do anything about it in any case. A Citadel full of haughty wizards was bad enough, but with they way things were going it could get outright hostile. Nicos had said they weren't all bad - after all, Cadogan was a worthy companion. Lost in thought, she closes her eyes and listens to the sound of cascading water, some absent thought tugging at the corners of her mind then dissipating as quickly as a ripple on a pond.

"Can I help you?"

Her eyes open with a start at the voice. The woman is standing almost at her shoulder; close enough that Shade silently berates herself for inattentiveness. She is perhaps the same height as Shade, with straight gold-blond hair and light brown eyes, dressed in a loose silk gown of deep red and accented with gold ornaments. The unassuming woman puts the normally defensive Shade at ease; something about her manner reminds the rogue of Cadogan.

"I was looking for the library, but this place is bigger then I thought."

"Yes, the layout can be quite confusing if you are new here, though it gets easier with time."

She smiles brightly at Shade and then extends a hand.

"I'm Ysene. I can show you there if you'd like; today is my free day, and I have some research I could do."

"You can call me Shade, and that would be a great help."

Ysene frowns thoughtfully for a moment, then continues.

"Although, now that I think on it, they will be closing the library for senior study at the start of the hour. Those who have mastered more difficult magics enjoy a less crowded atmosphere for their research. You seem to have recently come from a journey - perhaps you would like something to eat while we wait?"

"I just came from the refectory, thanks. Why don't you show me where it is, and I can go there later."

"If you'd like. Still, you look tired. My own chambers are close by and the library will not be closed for long. You can wait there and I can tell you about the Citadel."

Shade considers the suggestion. It made sense; she'd been wandering around for quite some time. It would take time to get back to her room and then she'd need to leave again. Besides, any information she could get from Ysene would likely help them.

"That sounds like a good idea."

Rising, Shade starts off after the apprentice sorceress, feeling optimistic about their situation for the first time in a week.

[Black Plauge]

Completely confused by the talk of spies and subterfuge, Blarth seems about to ask a question when an elderly wizard walks past the end of the row and does a double take on the group.

"What are you doing here? Didn't you hear the chime? The library is closed to visitors now. Out, out, out, out!"

Pointing to the door, its obvious that the mage will broker no argument, so Blarth, after one last glance at Nicos and Cadrius, dutifully heads towards the library exit.

When the group is about 100ft away from the wizard, he calls out after them, "And make sure that half-orc of yours takes a bath before dinner! He stinks like a pig!"

With a 'bang', Blarth has turned and covered the distance between the group and the wizard, grabbing him by the throat, Blarth lifts the frail man off the gound and pushes his back up against one of the bookshelves.

"Did I ask for your opinion?" Blarth demands.

[itches]

Hearing the taunt and turning to gauge Blarth's reaction, Nicos is surprised to find him already grappling the old man.

Hell in cone, that boy moves fast.

Throwing an alarmed look Cadrius' way, the bard warily approaches the enraged half-orc, relived to see the few patrons still about show no desire to intervene on their collages behalf.

"Woah, easy there Blarth," Nicos says as he nears his companion. "Some of those scrolls could actually be worth something, and nothing is more annoying then trying to get blood out of a thousand year manuscript."

Reaching out and pulling down a scroll, and idling smoothing it, thew bard continues.

"Lack or manners or not, you have to admit he does have a point my friend. You look and smell like you could do with a good long soak in a bath, and a clean set of clothing."

Sniffing himself, Nicos grins then adds.

"Come to think of it, you're not the only one in the need of a bath."

"Let me guess, he said something to insult him," a voice cuts through the tension before anyone can react to Nicos' banter. "Now why doesn't that surprise me," Gemoud continues as she strides across to the confrontation still taking place. "Tefikicalop, you're a fool, did I ever tell you that?"

Taking this opportunity, the offending wizard - Tefikicalop presumably - begins to plead.

"Yes, I'm sorry, I'm a fool, I didn't mean it like that, please don't hurt me."

[Cadrius]

Cadrius curses under his breath at Blarth's hot-temper. Although he recognizes a little of himself in the enraged half-orc. It appears preserving one's honor isn't limited to humans. He might not like the action, but Cadrius gives Blarth a moment or two of satisfaction before laying his hand on the half-orc's tensed shoulder.

Speaking quietly, he says, "That is quite enough, Blarth. I am certain he meant no harm" --his eyes shift to the man grasping at Blarth's wrist-- "right?"

"Yes! No...hurk...offense."

Cadrius' eyes shift across the library and sees a dozen pairs looking back at him. Any hope of keeping this quiet was gone the moment Blarth stormed across the library. Chances are this event will only add weight to their opposition's case. He almost chuckles at the thought. He and his companions have a way of taking a tenative situation and making it a thousand times worse.

"Blarth, please put the man down before he suffocates. I doubt any of us has the fortitude for another incident like Karkas."

[Black Plauge]

Pushing the wizard up higher against the bookshelf, it looks for a moment like Blarth is going to continue the confrontation despite his friends requests for calm. Instead, however, he suddenly lets go of the wizard, allowing him to fall to the floor. Looking first at Nicos and then at Cadrius, Blarth turns and heads back towards his room.

They were right, after all. In a citadel full of wizards, some of whom didn't even want them there, it would do no good to aggravate their hosts. Still, something about the way that wizard had said 'half-orc' still riled Blarth. It had sounded, to Blarth's ears at least, as if the man considered the term itself to be an insult. As for the comment about needing a bath, well that was the result of life on the road. Indeed, his clothes still had blood stains from his battle with those strange cave dwellers, and while Blarth himself didn't mind them so much, having long since worked out the stiffness from the stains, he knew that most humans did.

Getting back to his room, Blarth is suprised to find a clean set of clothing and a hot bath already waiting for him. Obviously there was more than one person in this citadel that thought he needed a bath, but hot water? Obviously these wizards were made of the same weak stock as most humans, but did they really think that he was made of the same?

Opening his door, Blarth sticks his head back into the corridor. Whoever had filled the tub must still be somewhere near by.

"Who's the weakling that filled my tub with hot water?" he demands loudly. When no one appears he calls out again, "Come on! Show yourself! Do you think me weak like you that I need to bathe in hot water?"

After a few minutes of waiting, it seems obvious that whoever filled the tub has either left, or isn't going to come out until Blarth is gone. Slamming the door behind him, Blarth heads back into his room. To his suprise, the water in the tub is no longer hot. Perplexed as to how it could have cooled off so fast, Blarth checks the windows and fireplace for drafts, but can find none.

"Hmm... It must not have been as hot as I thought," he concludes before stripping and proceding to wash himself.

[Gralhruk]

It is a huge painting, vibrant and skillfully rendered. At the far end, far enough away that she needs to turn her head to see it, is a mythic clearing where a Satyr plays his pipes to an audience of dreamy eyed sylvan females. Closer still is a vast stretch of impenetrable forest, peopled with all manner of beasts - lion, tiger, serpent along with a bevy of a tribal folk who's physical perfection is rivaled only by the scantiness of their attire. The jungle gives way to beach, with the section directly above her an undersea paradise with tritons, mermaids, nixie and others that she could not name engaged in ways that only buoyancy will allow.

Shade's head is resting on the edge of the tub as she stares up at the painted ceiling, wisps of steam curling around her face, quite certain that the bath had been located intentionally in this precise spot. Shortly after they arrived, Ysene had said she had an engagement she must attend and suggested Shade refresh herself. It seemed a wise idea, particularly when the sorceress explained the value of appearances within the Citadel. Warriors, vagabonds, and travellers were ill favored here; most of the elders would not bother with such folk. After helping Shade select something suitable from her own wardrobe and showing her the bath, Ysene had left with a promise to be back shortly and to have Shade's old clothes cleaned and mended.

That had been some time ago, and she was starting to wonder what had happened to the sorceress. Drying herself with thick towels conveniently located nearby and then wrapping one around herself, she inspects the items in the dressing chamber adjacent to the bath. She gingerly picks up the brocaded gown and inspects it anew, suddenly doubtful.

In this place a display of arms has the opposite effect - it makes you appear weak.

They were Ysene's words, but they help quiet her doubts. Besides, she didn't have anything else to wear. Without another thought on the matter, she proceeds to dress.

[red_dr4g0n94]

The uncomfortable silence continued in the Refectory. Ben, silently munching on the apple handed to him by the redhead and staring at her, the red-head standing there with her arms crossed and staring right back at him. Ben wasn't an expert on women, not by a long shot, but his instincts were usually pretty good with people in general. Right now, they were screaming at him not to make any sudden movements, like a prey silently watching his hunter.

So the awkward silence continued for several moments. Finally the woman simply walked out of the Refectory, back the way Ben had come, without even saying a word. Ben didn't make any motion to follow her, not wanting to possibly trigger whatever it was that had mad him feel uneasy. Finishing what was left of the apple, he tossed it into a container that he could only assume was a trash can, and made his way back to the library.

He stopped just outside the entrance. That woman was standing in the entrance, apparently reacting to the scene inside. Ben could see the half-orc from earlier holding a robed, elderly man up above the ground, his hand around the man's neck, and apparently the one-armed wizard and his warrior companion both trying to convince the half-orc to release the poor man. Before Ben can act any further, the half-orc releases the man, and quickly storms out of the library, Ben letting him pass without any trouble.

[Cadrius]

"Right, well, let us retire to our quarters then," Cadrius says, disliking the way the wizards and apprentices are looking at both he and Nicos. Actually, he couldn't care less how they feel about the one-armed bard, but the man travels with them and thus reflects on the party as a whole.

Walking briskly but not too quickly, the fallen paladin and the bard make a dignified, if hasty, exit. He doesn't speak until they're close to their own chambers. Spies be damned, Blarth just made their situation a whole lot worse.

"He needs to reign in that temper of his," Cadrius says, passing through the chamber that lies between their rooms and the refectory, "or it will get us killed in here."

He draws in a long, slow breath before exhaling. Cadrius knows what it's like to be blinded by fury. Perhaps he should speak to Blarth, make certain the half-orc is all right. He hadn't paid attention to whatever words had been exchanged prior to confrontation. Chances are, there was a good reason for the explosive reaction. Hell, Cadrius has probably killed over less.

Stopping at his door, he nods to the bard.

"Come get me should they decide to lynch us."

[itches]

"It'll be the first thing on my 'to-do' list," Nicos replies as Cadrius closes his door.

Looking at the glyph hovering on the wood, Nicos muses outload. "I wonder what happened to Shade."

[Gralhruk]

She turns left, then right, observing the flow of the gown as she does so. It is a delicious red fabric, patterned with flowing golden branches and leaves. The sleeves are narrow up high arms and flair wide near her wrists; their full length hides the gaunt muscularity of her arms. The bodice clings to her torso, tied at the neck and leaving her entire back bare. The heavy skirt is slit high on each side, alternately displaying her smoothly muscled legs as she walks.

Oddly enough she is inordinately pleased by her attractive reflection. Normally she would have disdained these trappings, but she finds herself enjoying the change. A small frown appears as she notes the white line of the scar that runs across her face, and suddenly she isn't interested in mirrors anymore. Returning to the main room, she sits to wait for Ysene. After a few minutes of waiting for the other to return her patience begins to wane; she gets up and heads for the door. It won't budge.

Warning bells go off in her mind and she pulls harder, but to no avail. The door is definitely locked, though she can see no mechanism whatsoever. Fuming, she stalks around the chamber looking for something to use as a prybar.

She freezes when she hears footsteps in the hall. They are approaching; she siezes a heavy candleholder from the table and with her customary stealth and drive she slides next to the door. When it opens, she'll be hidden behind it. Ysene enters and Shade grabs the door before it closes, brandishing her makeshift club.

"Don't move."

Ysene freezes, though her blond head turns until her eyes meet Shade's. She holds her hands up to show they are empty.

"You really are jumpy. What's wrong?"

"What's wrong? You lock me up and disappear and you want to know what's wrong. Give me a good reason I shouldn't knock you senseless."

"I locked the door for your own good - to keep you from getting out and to keep them from getting in. Gemoud's people would be only too happy if they found you wandering the halls unattended."

"You know about Gemoud?"

"News in the Citadel travels quickly. It wasn't merely luck that I stumbled upon you. Cadogan sent me. It seems that some of his activities have interested a number of people around here - some who would help him, and others who would thwart him."

"And you are a friend of Cadogan's?"

"I most certainly am. Now, if you don't feel like bashing my head in, perhaps you'd like to have a seat while you hear what I have to say."

Shade stares into the blue pools of Ysene's eyes and all doubt about her intention slips away. The door slides from her fingertips, and she follow the other woman inside.

[itches]

Looking around and seeing no answer making itself known, Nicos ambles over to the refractory. A quick glance around shows no sign of Shade, so the bard making his way back to his room speaking to himself softly.

"Well if she isn't there she's either in her room, or lost trying to find the library. Ofcourse I have to consider whether I'm willing to risk intruding into the mystery lady's sanctum. Maybe I should find Gemoud and ask her if she knows what happened to Shade."

Pausing before Shade's door, Nicos casts a look up and down the hall as a sudden realisation hits him.

"Speaking of the red haired beauty, I wonder what happened to Gemoud. She doesn't have the excuse of getting lost on the way to the Library. Also amazing, I'm speaking to myself again, must try to stop that."

Rasing his hand, Nicos brings it down on the door to Shade's room in 2 sharp knocks.

[Black Plauge]

Refreshed by his cold scrub down, Blarth opens his window and chucks the dirty bath water out the window. As he closes the window an angry scream floats up from somewhere below.

Damn fool wizards should know better than to stand under a window.

After replacing the tub, Blarth turns back to the bed to find a new set of clothing laid out for him and his old ones missing.

"By Gruumsh! I wish they would ask before doing things around here!"

Angrily grabbing the new clothes, Blarth puts them on and is supprised to find that they fit quite well. Whoever it was that had picked them out certianly had an eye for body types and sizes. They were overly ornate, but they'd probably fit in here better than his regular clothes, and as long as he didn't have to wear them out of this place, Blarth supposed that he could tolerate them here within the Citadel.

As he finishes dressing, a bell rings from somewhere in the Citadel. Wondering what it signifies, Blarth opens his door and looks out into the hallway...

[Gralhruk]

Shade sits back in her chair, digesting Ysene's words. It seemed unlikely, but then again, wizards were an odd bunch. From what the sorceress had said, Cadogan was in possession of a dangerous arcane item - a stone cube. Shade remembered the item; they had retrieved it from the gnoll stronghold and Cadogan had been rather anxious to get it back, though he claimed it was merely a children's toy. She hadn't believed him - Cadogan wasn't the best liar - but it hadn't seemed very important to learn the truth.

Ysene had asked her a good deal about it, but that was pretty much all she knew about the thing. Cadogan had never mentioned it since, and Shade hadn't seen it since the mage had taken it back.

"You say this cube is dangerous. How so?"

"It is a key to unlock the prison of a powerful demon."

"Why would Cadogan have such a thing in his possession?"

"He discovered it and sent word back here. We can't very well have such items floating around for anyone to come across, so it was imperative that he return it here where it can be properly disposed of."

"You'll destroy it?"

"It isn't that simple. There are wards on the cube, and it is strong beyond what it's physical appearance would imply. Plus, we need the catalyst."

"What catalyst?"

"A special runestone that will fit into the carvings on one face of the cube. It will permit us to perform the ritual of destruction."

"I am glad he made it back here then, and that the situation is in hand."

At that Ysene frowns and shakes her head slightly. She leans forward, resting her arms on the table and steepling her fingers.

"Perhaps, but only barely. This Citadel is home to a great number of wizards. Some do not see the danger in this thing; others see the danger but believe they can master it. Not everyone here wants to see this item destroyed. Those of us that do are being watched carefully. Should I or my compatriots depart to retrive the runestone it would be noted. We need someone else to bring it back to us."

Shade folds her arms and shifts slightly, unused to the feel of her new clothing. It is obvious where this is headed, and she doesn't like it.

"Well, you seem to be a resourceful lot. Good luck."

"Your group seems quite capable."

"We have other engagements that want attending."

"Plus, it will not be suspicious if you depart soon."

"If Cadogan wanted our help he would have asked."

"He didn't know the full extent of the danger."

"It's not up to me. And even if it was, I'd tell you no."

"As you say. But promise me you'll discuss it with the others."

Ysene was convincing. Deep down, Shade could feel the doubt gnawing at her adamant refusal. What would Cadogan want them to do?

"Alright, I'll talk to them. But I think you are going to need to find someone else."

"We'll have to wait and see."

Smiling, Ysene stands and Shade follows suit.

"I need to be going. Perhaps you'd like to return to your room? It is easy enough to find from here."

She gives Shade some brief direction and before she knows it, Shade is on her way back to her room, the long skirt swishing with each step.

[itches]

Staring at the stained wood of the door to Shade’s chamber, Nicos stands unnoticed, as his knocks go unheeded. Conceding Shade’s likely absence, the bard turns and finds himself beholding a pair of brilliant blue eyes.

“Damn it Gemoud,” Nicos exclaims as he steps back startled. “Didn’t anyone every teach you not to sneak up on good-looking, talented, yet modest one-armed-Bards?”

Half grinning at having startled him, Gemoud replies. “My teachers must have missed that portion of my education, I shall give them a stern talking to next time I see them.”

“Well I’ll forgive you this once,” Nicos says back with mock gruffness. “But only because I was on my way to look for you.”

“Oh?” Gemoud replies in mock shock. “To what do I owe the pleasure of having such an august persons searching for my humble self?”

“Shade”

At the name of the woman, the smile that had been dancing around Gemoud’s face drops from sight.

“She isn’t in her quarters, and the last I saw her was when she called you back to speak to you when we left for the library. Do you know where she is?”

Frowning, Gemoud shakes her head. “No, I last saw her was when she left the refectory – alone. I thought she was going after you lot, but if she has been gone for this long she might be lost. It’s easy to loose your way in some of the areas if you’re not familiar with them. I - ah.” She hesitates. “Shade warned me, in a threatening manner, to stay away from you. Tell me, is she unstable at all?”

Grinning at the question of Shade’s sanity, shakes his head as he makes his way to Cadrius’ door, knocking. “She has a few issues is all, I wouldn’t take it to heart. She probably won’t kill you for talking to me despite her warning”

Leaning on the wall and giving the bard an appraising look as they wait for an answer, Gemoud coyly states, “You know, when I first saw you I would have sworn that I had seen you somewhere before.”

“Oh,” Nicos replies absently. “I thought you claimed that you weren’t one of my adoring fans?”

Giving something that is half smile/half smirk, Gemoud shoots back. “No, I’m not a fan of your music, this is something else. Something that every time I thought I had a grip on it, it slipped away. There is more to you then meets the eye Nicos Ysieson.”

Feeling an involuntary tick build at the back of his neck, Nicos turns towards her and takes a step forward. “Well I am a man of mystery. They say that the dark types always get the girl.”

“Oh is that so?” Gemoud responds, matching the man’s move. “While you were at the library I did a little research, and put some thought into the matter.”

“Did you manage to reach any conclusions?” Nicos asks, taking another step forward and bringing Gemoud and himself mere inches apart. “Should I start preparing for you to pull the cloak from me, baring all my secrets?”

Reaching out and tracing a finger down the Nicos’ shoulder, the red head mage gives a sly smile. “Oh you might want to consider the possibility. I have a few theories, but they need time to develop before they come into play. I should warn you though, I can’t resist a secret.”

Leaning towards Gemoud so that there eyes are a mere fraction of an inch, Nicos gives a knowing smile of his own and half whispers. “Secrets are compelling, and we all have our secrets Gemoud.”

Pressing her hand against the bard’s chest, Gemoud breaths softly, “We both want something, you show me yours, and I’ll show you mine.” Moving so her lips barely touch Nicos’. “What is your secret?”

Holding still and breathing in Gemoud’s scent, mingled with her warm breath against his, it is a long moment before Nicos responds.

“I don’t think Cadrius is going to answer.”

Pulling back from the alluring woman, Nicos turns his back on her and knocks on Blarth’s door, struggling to regain his breath and composure.

Behind him, Gemoud bites her lip and represses a shudder and she looks at the back of the man called Nicos.

[Black Plauge]

...only to find Nicos about to knock on it.

"Did you hear that bell?" Blarth asks the startled bard, "Any idea what it might mean?"

Noticing the strange look on Nicos' face, Blarth begins to formulate a question, but then notices Geomund behind him. Mindful of what Nicos said earlier, even if he didn't quite understand it, Blarth bites his tounge and forces himself to stick to the more harmless topic of the bell.

"The bell, what was it for?" Blarth asks again, this time addressing Geomund.

Still flustered by her encounter with Nicos, it takes a moment for Geomund to gather her senses and realize just what Blarth is talking about.

"It signals the end of the afternoon work period," she replies when she regains control of herself. "People need a chance to stop what they are doing and clean up before heading to dinner. The first bell gives them that chance, while the second, which will ring in a few minutes, will let them know that dinner is served."

[Cadrius]

Cadrius kneels on the floor his feet tucked beneath him. The slate floor is hardly kind on his legs, but he would rather not become too comfortable on the feather bed. Perhaps there's a glamour set to force him to remain asleep until the wizards desire otherwise. He would rather not have that.

And so he sits on the floor, armor arrayed around him. Each piece is well forged; gorget, vambraces, greaves, breastplate, they were all truly well-done, but then again, they hadn't really been tested yet. They could use some polishing. Yet he must tend his weapons first.

He holds the long, bastard sword in his left hand and a whetstone in his right. Metal slides against stone with a rough whisk-whisk sound. He pulls the blade, sharpening one side and then the other. He prides himself on keeping his sword at the ready. Although in a place of such arcane power he wonders what good steel will do him.

A knock at his door interrupts his caretaking and Cadrius pushes himself to his feet, grateful for the reprieve from the floor. He's expecting Shade, indeed, it has been a while since he last saw her. Perhaps she found her way to the library too late.

Or perhaps a sorcerer has her under a spell, his mind taunts. No, not Shade. She's too clever by half to fall for any simple enchantment.

Cadrius opens the door and blinks. A greeting that had been half-formed, dies. Gemoud stands, looking away from the fallen paladin, and bears a rather displeased expression. However, it passes from her face quickly and she smiles coyly. In the background he can hear Blarth and Nicos speaking.

"Good evening? Is it evening? I cannot tell in this tower. Good day, or night, depending on which it is, Lady Gemoud. Is there something I can help you three with? I heard the knock at the door. My apologies for not answering it immediately. I was attending my arms and armor."

He smiles politely, but his mind sharply reminds him that this woman is a spy and not to be trusted, no matter how charming her damnable smile might be.

[itches]

Still off balance from the exchange with Gemoud, Nicos uses the few moments as the lady in question and Blarth exchange comments, to regain his equilibrium. Opening his mouth to speak, the bard quickly shuts it again as he hears Cadrius' baritone behind him.

Looking behind him, and seeing Cadrius speaking to Gemoud, but too far away to hear the words, Nicos raises his voice just enough to be heard over the distance.

"Cadrius, I thought you weren't going to answer your door. As I was about to tell Blarth, Shade seems to have disappeared. There is a chance that she got lost or," dropping a slight emphasis on his voice. "Something."

Looking from Man to Half-Orc.

"I was about to ask you two if you wanted to come with, as we took a look to see if she can be found. However, as the evening meal is here, perhaps someone should stay to see if turns up on her own."

Looking from Half-Orc to Man.

"What do you two think?"

[Gralhruk]

Shade slows her pace as she turns the corner and sees the group congregating outside of their rooms. It wasn't Blarth, Nicos, or Cadrius that made her feet drag. It was the fact that copper-haired Gemoud was with them. Anger returns and she reaches unconsciously for the hilt of a sword that isn't there, suddenly missing her veil. She unclenches her fist and steps forward, catching the last part of the bard's words.

"You needn't look for me, I'm right here."

[Black Plauge]

Blarth opens his mouth to reply to Nicos, when a familiar voice interjects, removing the need to respond. When he turns to look at Shade, however, Blarth is more than suprised to see her dressed in a dress easily equal to the one Geomund wears.

Suddenly concious that he's been staring for several seconds and that his mouth is still open, Blarth hastily shuts it and looks towards the refectory.

"How long did you say until the bell announcing dinner?" Blarth asks Geomund.

Also caught off guard by Shade's unusual appearence, Geomund is nevertheless faster at recovering than Blarth. By the time Blarth has formulated his question, her usual expression of confidence (mixed with tinge of haugtiness) is firmly back in place and she wastes no time in replying.

"Just a few minutes. Merely enough time for everyone to put away what they are doing and wash up. We could go into the refectory now if you want though."

[red_dr4g0n94]

Ben watched as the one-armed wizard and his warrior friend follow the Half-orc's example and make a clean escape. His attention isn't on them however; it is on the woman in the library entrance, the one from the Refectory. He almost had the memory she was from, the one that made her face something resembling familiar. She looked at the wizard that had been nearly throttled by the half-orc, and in that moment, he saw her face as he recognized it, saw her as he had once seen her.

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

"Ben, I want you to be a good boy and meet someone special to me." Ben, only 7 then, looked up at Lisa, the woman who had so recently adopted him, until then a small street urchin, into her life. He felt differently towards this woman, felt an attachment he had never felt to anything or anybody.

Just like so many times since it had happened, Ben wondered if this was what love was supposed to feel like. Lisa was the woman he loved he was sure. I'll ask her to marry me when I'm older...

"Ben? Are you listening to me?" Blinking out of his thoughts, Ben realized that he'd spaced out and quickly nodded. "Uh-huh, sorry Lisa. I was only thinking, that's all." She looked at him with a face of concern, sending another wash of warmth through him, then she smiled at him and said, "Well, I want you to meet someone very special to me." She looked up at the entrance of the massive tower she had brought him too. Two people were walking out of it, both women, one obviously younger than the other.

Lisa gestured at the younger of the two and said, "Ben. I want you to meet my niece, Gemound. Gemound, this is Ben, he's traveling with my mercenary company at the moment. You remember, he was in the letter I sent to you." Gemound was a lot taller than Ben; he had to bend his neck almost to his back to see her face. She was a red-head, like Lisa, but something about the smile she gave him seemed false, her eyes seemed to glint with a hatred Ben had become all too familiar with.

That said, Ben was still familiar with what a niece was, even if he hadn't actually been raised in a family, so he knew this woman was related to Lisa. While he took an immediate dislike for her, he knew that he should be nice to her, if only for Lisa's sake. He gave a half-hearted wave and mumbled a small "hello", but he mostly hid behind Lisa, not wanting to bear the full brunt of Gemound's eyes.

He didn't think he would ever forget this Gemound, she was pretty scary.

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

Ben wondered at his next action. He should really just leave her alone, as he didn't want to have anything to do with her. But she was Lisa's niece, and deserved to know her fate, and Ben didn't think he could trust these wizards to deliver it.

His manners overrode his good judgment, and he went up behind her, tapped her shoulder and asked, "Gemound?" She turned at looked at who had tapped her, and again Ben felt that jolt go through his spine at seeing her blue eyes, so much like his own. She smiled, but he could tell she didn't recognize him. "You work pretty fast, if you've gotten my name already."

Ben was more than a little nervous, but decided to press on. "Um, actually I uh...I remember you from a few years ago. I was with Lisa, and she introduced us, it was about 15 years ago? Do you remember me...?" She got that look all people get when they dredge through their memories, then a face of recollection appeared.

"It's...Ben isn't it?" Ben nodded and she smiled. "Well, you've certainly grown, you weren't up to my thigh when I last saw you. How is Lisa, is she here?" She looks around as if expecting Lisa to turn a corner or something.

Ben's face fell as he speaks the words that he has spoken so many times these past years. "Lisa is," he lost his voice and trailed off, but found the courage to go on, "Lisa's dead, Gemound. She died a little over 8 years ago, along with the rest of the company. I'm all that's left." He lowered his eyes to the ground as he spoke, unwilling to see the look of disbelief he had seen on so many others' faces.

He wasn't entirely disappointed when she simply said, "Oh, I'm sorry," and placed a hand on his shoulder. It took all his willpower to not pull away from the touch. It was like being stroked by a poisonous snake, he simply wanted to get away, but he simply stood there, head hanging, silent.

After a bit he felt her take her hand away, and saw her feet walk farther down the hall. Looking up with a tear in his eye, Ben heard a bell ring, and saw most of the Library occupants start to clear out. He remembered the one wizard say that the bell would signify that Dinner was about to begin.

Ben simply stood there, left to his thoughts, as wizards and sorcerers and apprentices passed him by. Left to his thoughts, and his memories.

[itches]

Turning at the sound of Shade's voice, and taking in her dress, Nicos promptly suffers from a coughing fit. So caught up in it is he, that he doesn't notice Gemoud's look, nor the words spoken.

[Cadrius]

Footfalls echo in the stone corridor and he hears Shade's voice, but the person standing before him only faintly resembles the woman he's spent the last several months with. She's always been the same Shade: bitter, cynical, hot tempered, sharp tongued, and always, always garbed as a person who spends her time in the wilderness. She certainly never dressed like, well, a woman. He would have bet his family's lands that Shade wouldn't even wear so much as a simple gown unless under duress. So seeing her now, in a backless gown with a skirt with high slits on both sides is cause for complete and total shock.

The fallen paladin stands there, on the verge of gaping, while his mind futilely attempts to grasp the situation.

[Gralhruk]

Shade's cheeks color as the others stare at her like she's just grown a new head. Back at Ysene's, dressing the part had seemed like such a grand idea and she had been quite pleased with her reflection in the woman's many mirrors. Now, however, she was feeling more than a little self-conscious and no longer at all glamorous. Had they been alone, she might well have fled for the company of shadows to nurse her insecurities. Gemoud's presence changed that; she'd be damned before she'd show weakness in front of that one. And so, instead of the tenderness one might have expected in light of her new raiment, what they get is the same old Shade.

"What are you gawking at?" she snaps at Blarth. His mouth closes with an audible click and he suddenly finds something else to look at. She smacks Nicos between the shoulder blades with enough force to rattle his teeth, "Swallow a fly?" she asks. Finally, inevitably, she rounds on Cadrius. She isn't sure which part of his gaze hurts more: the disbelief, the shock, or the fact that he doesn't seem to find her attractive. "Forgotten me already? I'll bet it would jog your memory if I dragged you through a sewer."

Gemoud's smug look only fuels her anger. When the red haired magician suggests the refectory she meets her gaze. She is tempted to threaten her once again, but with the others looking on and with her suddenly feeling of exposure, she just isn't up to the task.

"We'll need a few minutes."

[Cadrius]

Harsh words have a way of launching one's mind into motion. Shade's, as usual, do the trick quite well. He finds himself mentally retreating from her and stifles a wince at the mention of the sewers. Karkas had been a disaster and she had risked her neck, as she had in the past, to help save him. And what has he done for her? An awkward kiss in the middle of the night? Scorn for her supposed profession as an assassin? He's kept her safe through strength of arms to be true, but he's done little for her. So he finds it curious that the words and emotion sting so much.

"Yes, I...apologize, Shade" --he tips his head in a bow-- "please, let us use my room."

Extending one muscled arm, Cadrius opens the door and ushers the three others inside.

Gemoud is a spy, remember that.

"If you'll excuse us for but a moment, Lady Gemoud," he says, all smile and courtesy. His time as a squire had served him well in the ways of etiquette. However the look on the woman's face is unexpected. It lasts for but a second, but the fallen paladin notices a bit of trepidation on Gemoud's face as she watches Shade walk past.

Smiling once more, the fallen paladin steps into his room and closes the door. A jest springs to the normally dour man's mind, but he suspects Shade is not in an agreeable mood, although to be fair, she never is.

"That was certainly...pleasant."

[Gralhruk]

There were unfriendly ears on them in these rooms. At least, that's what Nicos had said.

Damn all of these wizards!

"Why is she still with you?"

The question is directed at nobody in particular, in a neutral tone, but her steel grey eyes have an edge on them. Obviously, she's talking about Gemoud. Her face is somewhat flushed as she regards them, arms crossed, legs braced wide. Before they can answer she is talking again.

"Forget it. Have you seen Cadogan?"

[itches]

How am I meant to get close to her, with sudden and conspicuous private gatherings?

"No, and no I won't forget it." Nicos says, sounding angrier then he had intended.

"I think I'm old enough to decide for myself who I associate myself with. If I choose to spend time with someone you wouldn't see if me, at least give me enough credit to know how to look after myself."

Taking a deep breath, and attempting to blow out the frustration that seemed to have sprung upon him unknowns, Nicos glares at the ceiling, absently noting the strange pattens depicted there.

"If you really are so concerned about my safety, just remember the old saying.’Keep you friends close ...'"

And your adversaries closer.

[Black Plauge]

Puzzled by the turn of the conversation, Blarth can only manage a simple, "Who?"

[red_dr4g0n94]

Ben decided he'd brooded long enough. That apple only went so far to sastifying a hungry stomach, and it would be rude if he, a guest, didn't show up for dinner. And besides, he wanted to be there when they announced...the news. He always wanted to be there, to share in the grief. He didn't think he could ever forget what he had done, and even if he could, he didn't want to. As much as he hated the memory, ultimately he knew he would never get rid of it...

Dammit! I did it again! snapping out of his reviere, he turned around and headed back towards the Refectory. I was daydreaming again! They're going to be the death of me, no doubt about it.

After going down several halls, and making several wrong turns, Ben finally got back on the right track. But as he turned the corner down the hallway just before the Refectory, he came to a stop.

Gemound.

She was looking at a door, and Ben recalled hearing a door close just before he turned the corner. But that didn't matter, becuase Gemound was here, in the Hallway, and not behind a door. Ben really didn't want to deal with her, not after he had just broken the news of her Aunt's death. Ben wasn't sure if she was totally unaffected by it, or if she was devestated and just very good at hiding it. In truth, he didn't want to know, he had his own problems to deal with.

Too late, she was turning around, he couldn't get away now. She looked behind her, saw Ben, and gave that same smile as before, the one that Ben felt revolted by. She was the same as when he had first seen her, quite pretty, but Ben knew that it was a farce, a wolf in sheep's clothing. But that didn't change the fact that she was very cute. And Ben felt a certain clenching in his gut whenever he saw her. Probably just scared out of his wits whenever she spoke to him.

"Oh Ben! It seems we just keep bumping into each other today." Ben didn't feel as happy about it as she seemed to be. Then again, she was also a master of disguise, so that really wasn't saying much.

"Yeah, it seems that way. So, why were you just standing here?" He said, tipping his hat at her like Lisa had taught him, even if he didn't want to. She looked a little uncomfortable, but Ben wasn't sure if it was becuase of the hat or the question. She answered his question anyways, "Well, I'm kinda being the host to some other guests we have."

THIS is news. "Really? You mean besides me?" He grinned at the last part. She returned the smile but replied, "Yes, they are friends to one of the members who was injured. He had a...certain item that we needed, so we went out and got him. They're just here to check up on him."

Interesting. They have other visitors besides me. Then Ben caught up with himself. Why should I care? So they have some other visitors? Why should it concern me so? "Oh. I hope he gets better soon." "Thank you." "So you're playing hostess to these people?" "Mm-hmm."

I need to get out of here! She's too damned nice! I can't stand it! "Umm, well I have to get to dinner. Can you tell me how to get there?" "Yes actually, go into the refectory and when the second bell rings, you can get your food. Then sit at the table with a regular looking chair." She smiles maliciously at the next part. "Those are the guest chairs, you probably won't be looked very kindly upon if you sit in on of the other chairs."

This woman scares me. And that was a threat if I ever heard one. "Um, thanks. I'll see you at dinner." Great, just what I didn't want to happen...he tipped his hat to her again as he turned to leave. He saw her nod and heard her say as he walked down the hall, "It'll be good catching up with you. I'd love to hear what you've been doing these past few years."

Yeah. I bet you would.

[Cadrius]

"I have not seen Cadogan, no."

He turns to the half-orc and briefly describes the blind wizard and his mysterious disappearance from the tavern in Karkas. The fact that Cadrius unintentionally ended up killing three men is left out of the story. His hands are drenched in blood, but there are some deaths he'd rather not remember.

"Do we even have proof that he is here?"

[Black Plauge]

"Oh..." Blarth replies, "you mean the man that was floated out of the inn. Well, assuming the men who took him weren't lying then I would assume this is the right place. I can't imagine anyone else living in a place like this."

His stomach growling again, Blarth asks, "Can we go to dinner now? That snack earlier only took the edge off."

[Gralhruk]

"Dinner? Is that what you are concerned about?"

Her steely eyes find Nicos.

"Or is it the women who are at dinner? Rut and gut, that's all that matters isn't it. Go, if you want. I'm done with this."

To hell with all of them.

She storms out of the room in a swirl of red and gold brocade, slamming the door behind her. Two short steps and she is across the hall and through the door to her room, wrenching the door shut after her. Immediately she begins ripping open the closets and drawers, looking for her old equipment. Anything to put on other than this damned dress!

[Black Plauge]

Confused, yet again, by the sudden turn the conversation has taken, Blarth stares at the closed door through which Shade had disappeared and asks, "What's got into her?"

[Cadrius]

"If you should solve that riddle, Blarth, do be sure to tell the rest of the world. I am certain it would like to know why she is angry at it."

Shade is usually characterized by her sharp tongue and quick temper, but the explosion seems off, even for her. Could something have happened since they had last seen her? Besides the costume change...and what a change it was with slits and--

Keep your mind on task. Keep your mind on task. Discipline, Diligence, Duty.

He repeats his family's credo, the alliteration helping to free his mind of the memory of Shade.

"Right, well, let us give her a few moments to calm herself before going to dinner. Perhaps we shall discuss things further there."

Or even see Cadogan.

[itches]

"At least we know it's her," Nicos replies, looking at the door that Shade had just stormed out of. "When I first saw her in the dress, the thought occurred that she had been replaced by a look alike."

Rubbing his neck with his only hand, Nicos looks to the others. "I think I'm might be getting paranoid in my old age. Food sounds good, I'll go speak to Gemoud and make sure she's eating somewhere that Shade isn't."

[Black Plauge]

Look alike???

Pusing the thought aside, Blarth focuses on the suggestion that they head for dinner, and eagerly perks up at the thought.

"Surely Shade doesn't need an escort to the refectory," he comments, "Maybe, we should just go on ahead and let her come in her own time, when she's cooled off a bit... er... da... something..."

[itches]

"You're right," Nicos says, moving towards the door. "Besides, if we're late for food, I doubt that they will wait for us."

Opening the door, the bard sees no sign of Shade, but the red haired devil is waiting right where they had left here.

"You guys go ahead," Nicos says behind him. "I want to speak to Gemoud for a moment."

[Black Plauge]

"Okay," Blarth replies, and makes for the refectory at a barely contained walk.

[Cadrius]

"Woe to the mummer or doppleganger that attempts to mimic Shade. I fear they would not be long for this world," he says, musing to himself.

Looking to Blarth and Nicos, Cadrius shrugs and steps into the hall. Blarth hastens down the hall, clearly interested in nothing but eating. Meanwhile Nicos looks somewhat uncomfortable as he moves to speak with Gemoud. Not wishing to disturb their privacy, Cadrius follows the half-orc. He could use a good meal, provided it wasn't magical, or poisoned, or both.

[itches]

Watching Cadrius and Blarth make their way towards the food, Nicos waits until they are gone, then turns back to Gemoud only to find her examining him.

"Why the long face?” she asks. "If I didn't know better I would say that you've got something serious to say."

"Stranger things have happened," Nicos responds, thinking of a way to approach the subject without offended the woman.

Inclining her towards a door to her left, Gemoud raises an eyebrow in question. "Shade?"

Rubbing his eyes, and nodding before looking at her again, Nicos replies. "Aye. I know that this is rather rude, and that I have no right to ask it of you, but is it necessary to eat at the same refectory as us?"

Looking at the door again, it is a moment before the sorceress speaks. "She did seem rather angry when she came out, though from what I have seen of her that isn't exactly far from the norm." Looking back. "I usually dine at an eatery closer to my sleeping quarters, and if you think that you and your companions can survive the rest of the night without my guidance, I will retire there. I don't practically want to force a confrontation with her."

"Thank you," the bard says, sounding relieved. "I wouldn't want anything to happen in the fit of the moment that I would come to regret."

"Why Nicos," Gemoud quickly replies, smiling for the first time in the exchange. "I didn't know you were so concerned about my wellbeing."

"You're well being?" He says in mock surprise. "It's not you that I'm worrying about getting hurt."

Laughing quietly, Gemoud reaches out and grasp Nicos' hand in her own. "I'll retire to my meal then, and see you later." Dragging a nail across the back of his hand as she lets go, the woman walks away, leaving the bard watching her retreating back.

There is something about her, you have to admit that.

Lingering until she disappears around a corner, Nicos turns and makes his way towards to awaiting food.

"I suddenly find myself hungry," he says to the echo of his footsteps.

[Cadrius]

Cadrius finds dinner to be surprisingly elaborate. Each of the long tables is well stocked, carrying butter-drenched quail, carrot and potato stew, loaves of bread, and even some steamed asparagus. He almost wants to ask how they managed to find any sort of vegetable out here, but figures he doesn't need to hear that it was magically culvivated by a genie trapped within an enclosed garden patch for a thousand years. Flagons of ale and goblets of hot, spiced wine dispensed by transluscent servants who resemble humans only in the most basic of shapes.

He shakes his head and decides for once that it's better to simply accept the bizarre events that he seems invariably drawn to. The food is hot and the ale is cold, and for now, it's enough. Dropping his worries of traitors and spies for a while, Cadrius enjoys the meal as best as he can. Tomorrow he may be back to dried fruit and cheese.

So when a spirit, illusion, nymph, or whatever kind of creature the wizards have in their employ exchanges his empty flagon for a full one, he simply smiles his thanks and fetches another bowl of stew.

[Black Plauge]

The strange servants draw Blarth's curious stare when he first walks into the refectory, but the prospect of a hearty dinner soon shoves everything else out of his mind. Finding a place to sit down, Blarth quickly dives into a plate piled high with quail.

"You know," the wizard on Blarth's left remarks, "that was supposed to be the serving dish."

Staring blankly in reply, Blarth shrugs his shoulders and resumes eating. There was barely enough food on the plate for a hearty first helping, let alone serve other people.

Two or three quails later (or was it four), Blarth moves on to some of the other dishes, slowing down enough to take stock of the wizards around him.

[red_dr4g0n94]

Ben walked into the refectory and saw it had become a different place in the several minutes since he had left. Spirits and elementals, illusions and conjured ghosts, and many other supernatural creatures were bustling about preparing food, plates, and generally acting as servants should.

Ben had never met that many supernatural creatures that didn't want to kill him or take his belongings or just be generally friendly towards him. Even in his time with the mercenary company, spirits and ghosts had always seemed to harbor some sort of dislike for him. So Ben was not entirely comfortable with all of these things around him. But they continued to bustle about not even sparing him a glance. Ben walked over to one of the un-adorned seats and took of his hat, placing it on the back of the chair.

Sitting down, Ben wonders if these other guests will be arriving soon. He wondered about why they might be here, or if prisoners were a more accurate term for them. But then why would the wizards let them eat with them? Though the servants could probably act as defenders, Ben didn't think wizards and sorcerers were the type to take risks like that. Then again, Ben didn't think practicing with your mind was actually all that better than practicing with your body, so he probably wasn't the best person to ask why the people here did things.

Though Ben felt hungry, he didn't eat much. He could barely identify most of the food in front of him, but he had never been much of a cook so had never brushed up on his culinary skills. He was mostly content with his trail rations while on the road and the food from the inn while in a town. Besides, Ben didn't particularly care what his food was at the moment.

Ben was remembering why he'd come here now, and why he'd stayed for dinner. He picked at his food for the most part, knowing that this was the last moment of the life he'd been leading for nearly 8 years now. Oh sure, he'd done things on his own every now and then, but it had always been to inform this family or that spouse or the next of kin in the next town. He'd always been traveling with a destination in mind and now he was at the end. This was the last place, the place he had been avoiding for 8 long years. After he finished here, he would be done and no longer be obliged to do anything for his now dead friends.

The prospect of freedom wasn't as appealing as some people made it sound.

Sitting there, his sword at the side of his chair and his wide-brimmed hat still hanging on the back of the chair, Ben doesn't even hear the bell ring for dinner to start, or the flood of wizards that occupy the table, or even the half-orc that sits across from him and the warrior from earlier that sits beside him. Ben was lost in the memories of his past and in the realities of his future.

[Black Plauge]

In taking in the wizards around him, Blarth doesn't see Cadogan among them, but then again, he only saw the blind wizard once and can be sure that he knows what he looks like.

On the other hand, the other guest right across from Blarth is kind of hard to miss. He seemed absorbed in thought, and possibly a little down on his luck. The sword leaning against his chair indicated that he was a warrior of some fashion, though why he might be here, at a citadel of wizards was beyong Blarth.

Shrugging his shoulders, Blarth goes back to eating for a while, but his curiosity eventually gets the better of him and he asks, "So what brings you here?"

[red_dr4g0n94]

Ben ignores the general din of the conversations happening around him. He wasn't a part of any of them, and he wasn't particularly eager to join any of them. But then one voice cut through the background noise.

"So what brings you here?"

Ben looked up with a face that suggested Ben wasn't fully aware of his surroundings, as if he had just woken up. After several seconds of looking, Ben saw the voice had come from the orc - correction Half-orc - sitting across from him. He looked vaguely familiar but Ben couldn't place where he had seen him.

Ben wasn't sure why the Half-orc had taken a sudden interest to Ben, but it probably had something to do with his obvious state as a warrior, definitely making him stand out from the present wizards. But why him? Certainly this guy had someone else he could talk to? Was he some sort of information gatherer?

No, the wizards already knew why he was here. Why would they send someone out to figure out something they already knew?

Realizing he had been staring dumbly at the Half-orc for several seconds. He shook his head as if to shake out the demons in his head that always made him daydream and looked at the Half-orc with a gaze suggesting curiosity instead of anger at the Half-orc's question.

"Me? Why am I here?" Ben repeated the question as if he had just been asked a question from a schoolteacher and didn't know the answer. He finally responded after pondering the question for several seconds, "Well, I would sort of like to know that myself sometimes friend. If you happen across the answer friend, give me the answer would you?" He gave a small smile then continued, "What about yourself? Why is one such as yourself here?"

[itches]

Arriving with the feast having already started, Nicos quietly slips into a vacant seat, situated well away from anyone he knows. Looking over the selection of food-stuff's in front of him, the bard eyes a tender looking roasted lamb, still on the bone. Sighing inwardly starts to reach out for the stew. Being one armed makes it near impossible to cut food, which leaves the dinning options severely limited.

Halting mid-reach, the bard watched in surprise as the enchanted cutlery carves off several slices of the meat, and layers his plate with it. Smiling, the one armed man attracts the food with a relish.

Sitting back once his meal is finished, Nicos let's out a satisfied sigh. It isn't often that the bard manages to have a meal like that, without giving up a significant amount of dignity by having someone aid him. Without really thinking about it, the bard slips into the habits of his profession, and begins to sing. The song is a simple one, often sung during the harvest. The song tells of a farmer returning from a hard day's work, and proclaiming the simple pleasures of life.

[Black Plauge]

"I'm here mostly because some friends of mine came looking for a friend of theirs," Blarth replies.

"Plus the food's good," he adds, grinning at his wit.

[red_dr4g0n94]

Ben smiled at the Half-orcs remark. It wasn't really all that funny to Ben, but he wasn't prone to frowning all day. Still, his curiosity was aroused. Ben wondered if these were the guests Gemound had been talking about.

"Friends? Are there others with you?" Speaking of Gemound, where is she? Ben looked around, both for this orc's friends and Gemound.

[Gralhruk]

To her dismay, the room contained little in the way of clothing. Or at least, little in the way of the clothing she was looking for. Oddly enough, this place seemed to have suddenly forgotten the type of raiment she desired. Of gowns, dresses, and silken finery there was plenty. Of her sturdy travelling gear - or even a serviceable pair of breeches - there were none. She pulls a deep blue garment from one of the closets and holds it up by it's heavy wooden hanger, fuming. It was silk, but thin rather than rugged and scandalously cut; she is more certain than ever that the wizards of this place are mocking her.

Her eyes restlessly scan the room until they spot a woman staring at her, face flushed, eyes like silver fire. It takes a moment to recognize herself and her eyes soften for a second before the anger returns, fiercer than before, and she hurls the gown at it. The hanger strikes the mirror and it explodes in a shower of razor edged crystals.

The anger disintegrates as quickly as it had appeared and she finds two decanters on a tray by the door. The first held water, the second wine. She chooses the latter and then seats herself on the bed and takes a drink. A heavy red, with strong oaks. She closes her eyes, thinking.

[Black Plauge]

"One is in a bit of a snit," Blarth replies, "but maybe she'll show up for dinner."

"Cadrius here is another," he continues gesturing to the where Cadrius sits eating on his right.

"And the third is that one armed bard who just started singing."

Noticing Ben looking around, Blarth asks, "Are you expecting some one?"

[Cadrius]

At his mention, Cadrius gives the man a cursory glance, nodding his head once in greeting. He's surprised at Blarth's charisma as the half-orc, while possessing a good heart, doesn't strike him as being gifted with a silver tongue. Yet he seems to get on well enough with the other one, lame jests aside.

"It would appear all the warriors are gathered in one place," he says, noting the longsword leaning against the man's chair before glancing at his own blade.

He wonders how well the bastard sword would serve him in a room full of sorcerers. Idly he looks at the nearest wizards and apprentices. He'd likely get one, maybe two, before their magics could descend on him. Then again, with so many of their own, they might be afraid to do much for fear of killing their kin. Yet not every spell in their repetoire would cause an explosion. Like as not one would turn him into something unnatural and that would be the end. He frowns.

Cadrius brushes the thought of fighting a banquet full of wizards aside. It was merely a thought, a mental exercise taught to him by the master at arms long ago.

Yes, who is he waiting for?

His guard reappears, walling off his persona from the potentially dangerous outside world. This "Ben" could be working for anyone here. Warriors aren't exactly welcome in an arcane academy. Perhaps he has some magical gift, or perhaps he's in with Gemoud.

"'Ben,'" he says, "what is that short for? Benjen?"

He asks the question, keeping the attention on the man. Perhaps he'll slip and tell them something useful.

[red_dr4g0n94]

Nodding as the Half-orc introduces his companions, not really paying attention to who he waves at, Ben continues looking for Gemound. He doesn't see her present at the table anywhere, so Ben guesses she must not have come to this particular refectory. Ben didn't actually know if there where any other refectories here, but it made sense that there were since they couldn't possibly fit everyone into this one room.

Still Ben didn't feel as happy about it as he thought he would have. He wouldn't have to deal with her at least, but he still felt a tad bit sad that she hadn't come, almost as if he felt slightly betrayed. He shrugged it off as a bit of nervousness about being in the company of so many magic-users.

Ben finally gave the two persons the Half-orc had indicated a good look. The first was a man with a muscular build and a sword beside him, much like Ben except...older, more mature somehow. He also looked a little familiar, though as with the Half-orc Ben couldn't remember from where. It wasn't until he looked over at the second person that he realized who it was he was talking to.

Farther down the long table, just starting to sing a song that felt both familiar and alien to Ben, was the one-armed wizard he had been seeing off and on all day. But the Half-orc had called him a bard, and his voice and song seemed to confirm that. So he ISN'T a wizard. That explains a few things.

That was when Ben realized where he recognized the half-orc and warrior. In the library, they had been the ones following the one-armed man around. He looked at the warrior just as he started speaking to him.

"It would appear all the warriors are gathered in one place"

Ben grins at the comment and responded, "Well birds of a feather DO stick together, no?" Then the warrior asks him about his name. At that Ben's grin faded, and his eyes glazed over slightly as he remembered things about his past.

"I don't think it's short for anything. I...never really knew the people who named me. I've just always known my name as Ben, so that's all anyone has ever called me." The bolts of lightning in his eyes have faded slightly, and he doesn't look at anything in particular. His normally piercing gaze is lost, and where once there was a man with the look of years of hardship and toil, now there was simply a child who had tried so hard to survive.

[itches]

Drawing to the closing note of the song, Nicos opens his eyes and glances around the room. Most of the occupants were concentrating on their own affairs, a minority were paying minimal attention to the bard - signified by the occasional glance, and only a small handful had focused entirely upon the impromptu performance. Noting that none of those focusing on him were his type, Nicos silently gives up in resignation.

Pushing back his plate, which the enchanted cutlery had endeavoured to continue filling with meat after he had finished, Nicos makes his way over to Cadrius and Blarth - noting as he goes that Shade hasn't of yet turned up. Dropping his hand on the former paladin's shoulder, the one armed man interrupts.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I suspect I'll fail to find any amusement here tonight, so I'm going to retire early. You know her better then I, but if Shade doesn't turn up, it might be an idea if you took her some food. You all needed a hot meal, especially after the troubles you weathered to get here."

Clapping the man on the shoulder, giving Blarth a succinct farewell, and a nod to the darkhaired stranger they have been conversing with, Nicos makes his way out of the hall softly humming a tune to himself. Still humming when he reaches the door to his room, the bard opens it, steps through and then comes to an abrupt halt.

On the small table provided lays the remains of an eaten meal and a mostly full bottle of wine. At the edge of the table closest to the bed rests a lone candle, illuminating the room in a soft flickering light. All of this however, passes unnoticed as the bards attentions centres on the bed.

Reclining on the stuffed mattress, reading from a tome, and clad in a night-gown, is the red haired beauty named Gemoud.

"You have quite the voice," the woman says, looking up and closing her tome.

"If I had known I had company waiting, I would have selected a shorter song from my repertoire," the man replies, stepping fully into the room, and shutting the door behind him.

"No need to put yourself out for me," the woman smiling at the playful slight.

"Well I am a creature of habit," the bard says, walking over to the table, and hovering near the candle.

The smile opening to one of invitation. "So, Mister Creature-of-Habit. What do bards do after their performance?"

Returning the smile, Nicos picks up the song he was humming, accompanying it by a few swift gestures at the solitary candle. From a distant corner of the room, an unnatural puff of wind darts towards the flame, quenching it, leaving the darkness to embrace the lovers.

[Cadrius]

It's strange how simple contact, a pat on the back, a hand on the shoulder, can seem warm and cold at the same time. Nicos's hand is at once familiar and alien. It's the hand of a comrade; it's the hand of a stranger. Cadrius looks over his shoulder at the one-armed bard and gives him a simple nod. Boon companion or unknown traveller, his advice is sound enough. Shade is as unpredictable as a squall and her fury twice as fearsome.

Yet she can wait a spell. Her rage has not likely abated, and perhaps an hour or two will do some good, or perhaps it will only blacken her mood. He's willing to take the chance.

Looking at his dining companions Cadrius resists the urge to chuckle. Of all the places he might visit, he never expected to be breaking bread with a half-orc and a warrior named Ben while surrounded by wizards, sorcerers, and enchanters.

"It is said that the gods have a strange sense of humor," he says, casting a glance up the table at several robed men. "I believe I am beginning to appreciate it."

[Black Plauge]

Put off by Ben's sudden change in attitude, Blarth isn't quite sure what to say next. The interuption by Nicos saves him for a little bit, but all too soon Nicos is gone and, with the exception of Cadrius's semi-humorous comment, an akward silence begins to develop.

Uncomfortable with the silence, Blarth goes back to eating.

[red_dr4g0n94]

Ben jumps a bit when the Bard slaps Cadrius on the back. The noise had shot him out of his daydreaming and brought him back to the real world. He nodded to the Bard, and then watched as he left. A bard huh? Must be hard to play instruments with only one arm. Guess that's why he sings so well.

He smiled a bit at Cadrius' comment, though he didn't know why. The Half-orc was off eating again, probably a good idea but Ben still wasn't all that hungry. Any second now they shou--

Ben's thoughts are interrupted when the wizard at the head of the table stood up and clasped his hands. Suddenly, everything becomes silent. No mumble can be heard of conversations, no clattering can be heard from glasses and plates, and not even the silent beating of hearts can be heard. Everyone turned to look at the standing wizard; they obviously knew he was about to speak because of the silence.

Unclasping his hands, the silence ends and an air of anticipation takes its place. The elderly wizard begins to speak, "My friends and colleagues, and yes even our dear guests," he says this gesturing towards Ben and the two others near him. "I am sad to inform you all about the loss of several important members of the Brotherhood. In my time, they were perhaps the greatest influence upon the outside world upon our behalf, and their loss though suspected, could not be confirmed until now, 8 years after their deaths."

The silence is solemn in the refectory. Ben knows what is coming, but in his mind he secretly wishes that what he knows to be true wasn't, that it was all a bad dream and that this man was going to say other names besides the three Ben knew. He could feel himself holding his breath in anxious suspense, knowing the outcome but wishing desperately it wasn't set in stone, it wasn't guaranteed.

"Thus, it saddens me to offer a toast. A toast in honor to the lives of Jonathan, Turmahult, and Lisa, whom have now been confirmed as dead." The elderly wizard raises his glass, though a sad expression covers his face. The face of every other wizard and sorcerer present is a mix of shock, disbelief, and horror. Apparently, whoever these three were, they were quite well known throughout the Brotherhood. Everyone raises his or her glass to the toast though, and each one drinks it down to the last drop.

Then the buzz of conversation returns, but it is obvious that it no longer concerns the newest spell invented or the latest wonder created, but of the three names just mentioned.

Ben also raises his glass in toast, but afterwards he does not turn to either Cadrius or the Half-orc to discuss this sudden announcement. Instead, his face falls and his eyes begin to shimmer with the wetness that had suddenly appeared in them. He gets up out of his chair, grabs his sword, shield, and backpack and puts them on. He lifts the hat off the chair last, pausing just for a moment to look at the hat, before placing it on his head, shrouding his blue eyes in shadows. He turned towards the door of the refectory and began walking towards it.

He had done what he had come to do. He didn't want to stay here any longer, not in the presence of all these wizards, not with them talking about his friends and family like they were some sort of legends. He could feel tears streaking down his cheeks, but he held himself from sobbing.

Without either a good-bye or a nod to either Cadrius or the half-orc, he opens the door and leaves.

[Cadrius]

The eulogic toast signals the end of dinner and once glasses and mugs have been raised the wizards and apprentices disperse. They leave in groups or alone, speaking quietly or silent, but they all slowly leave. Cadrius notes the young man shoulder his belongings and depart as well with not a word of farewell. Perhaps it's his way. The lad seems to carry the weight of the gods on his shoulders.

Seems we share a common burden.

"We should leave, Blarth. They have grieving to do and do not need to see outsiders milling about."

Fetching a plate, Cadrius quickly gathers up a quail, a loaf of bread, some asparagus, and a small bowl of stew. He balances it uncertainly on the palm of one broad hand while the other hesitates. Spiced wine or ale? He grabs a flagon. Shade always seemed to prefer ale, didn't she? He wracks his brain trying to recall what she drinks, but fails. If she doesn't like the ale it won't be wasted.

He moves back through the winding corridors as quickly as he's able, but the food slows him down. The plate nearly slides out of his hand and he bites his lip trying to keep it steady.

The sight of the cold, stone hall that marks their section of the tower never looked as good as it does now. He doesn't know how servants manage to carry foods and other precious goods about all the time without dropping them. Unwilling to drop it at the last moment, he carefully makes his way down the hall. Stopping at Shade's door he quietly taps it with one foot.

"Shade? Dinner is over but I brought you some a plate and some ale."

[Gralhruk]

There is a long pause, which lengthens, during which nothing happens. Cadrius begins to wonder is the room is empty but just as he shifts to knock once again the door opens a crack. A silver eye appraises him for a moment before the door opens; she is already walking away and then sits sideways, facing him, at a desk situated at the far end of the room. A half empty glass of red rests near her hand.

The room is a disaster, looking much like it has been ransacked by a group of malicious barbarians. Clothing is strewn about the room, drawers and doors are half open. Even the matress on the bed is askew. Shards of silvery glass are scattered across a dresser and the floor to the left of the door.

For a change, Shade doesn't look angry. Or determined. Or fierce. Or certain. She just looks numb, her eyes empty. Her voice, when she finally speaks, is likewise devoid of any emotion.

"Come in."

[Cadrius]

To see Shade in a state that doesn't involve cool anger, without the promise of violence ensuing, is beyond surreal to Cadrius. It's frightening. He takes a hesitant step into the mess that was her room. Spotting a small section of clear bureau, he brushes aside some of the glass slivers and places the food upon the wood. Cadrius keeps his back to Shade, allowing the inevitable frown and look of worry to play across his face. When he turns, the stoic, dependable Cadrius has returned.

"Did you dislike the decor? Or has something else happened here?"

That empty, defeated look bothers him far more than any arcane intrigue that may or may not be floating about this academy. He watches her carefully, looking for a note of some sort of emotion, but finds none. The gray eyes that are so often blazing have been snuffed. Dull as they are, Cadrius is reminded of the thick fog banks that occasionally rolled over his home as a boy. There was something about them he never liked and still doesn't. Perhaps it's the fog's ability to mask the surroundings, dampen the sounds, until he felt as if he were alone in the world. Shade looks to be in a similar pasture.

"I do not know if our hosts will appreciate the chaos, but I rather like it."

[Gralhruk]

"Do you? You always seemed to prefer things more orderly. More defined."

She draws her knees up to her chest, her dead eyes travelling around the room slowly before finding Cadrius once again. One hand idly fingers the wine glass upon the desk.

"We do not belong in this place."

[Cadrius]

"Y-yes, I suppose I do," he says, noting the lack of fire and her unwillingness to recognize his weak jape. Nearby the food no longer steams; its heat is drawn into the stone wall. Shade's distant nature coupled with the disarray of the room magnify the dreamlike feeling.

"Do not belong?" he asks, leaning against the wall. He almost jumps back when he feels it warm within moments of his touch. Shaking his head he continues, "Three of us are not magicians, and the fourth barely qualifies as I understand it. There is a faction of wizards here who want nothing more than to see us gone. Worse, they just learned that several long-missing colleagues were murdered, undoubtedly by outsiders. We did not have much of a welcome when we arrived, and I doubt there is much left. I shudder to think what it will be in the morning."

Brow furrowing, his mind reconsiders her words, searches in them for another meaning, another possibility.

"But what gives you cause to say such a thing? What passed between you and Gemoud?"

[Gralhruk]

Gemoud.

The woman's name alone ought to be enough to stir her anger. Instead she takes another swallow of wine. Nothing had really happened between them, but Shade suspected alot. Not that it mattered, since all she had was guesswork. Of course, there were things that Cadrius didn't know. Things he probably should know.

She considers silently for a few more moments, before making a decision.

"Maybe we should walk a bit. I could use some air."

[Black Plauge]

Having finished his third piece of what looks like apple pie but tastes like a cross between strawberries and apricots, Blarth looks up to find himself alone at his table.

"I guess they weren't hungry," he comments to no one in particular.

Getting up from the table, Blarth heads into the hall and begins to wander aimlessly. After such a hearty dinner a good walk outside for a breath of fresh air would certianly be refreshing, but Blarth can't seem to find an exterior door.

Eventually deciding to try a door at random, Blarth finds himself in some sort of lab. Small creatures in liquid filled jars, stone statues of others, and various books dot the shelves. Taking down one of the stone statues, Blarth looks at it curiously. It appears to be some sort of lizard, but with strange horns spouting from its head and tails. What really suprises Blarth though, is the level of detail put into the carving. The statue is no more than an inch or so tall (counting the horns) but it seems that every scale has been intricately carved into its surface. The time and effort required to make this carving must have been tremendous.

"What are you doing in here?" a voice calls out, startling Blarth into dropping the statue. Recovering quickly, he makes a grab for it, but is too late to prevent it from shattering on the floor.

Turning to the door, Blarth is faced with a very angry wizard.

"I'm sorry about the lizard," Blarth begins to stammer out, "I was just looking at it and you startled me and..."

"A lizard you say," the woman replies, her features softening. Quickly she scans the shelf where Blarth had removed the statue. "Ah! A shocker lizard. Not much harm done then. I still have a few more stashed away in case of just such an accident."

"However," she continues, her voice hardening again, "you shouldn't be in here. You could have easily killed a unique specimine."

[red_dr4g0n94]

Ben quickly fled from the refectory as soon as he was out the door. He moved through the corridors of the citadel in a brisk walk, not quite running but being a little faster than he had to be. He could feel the warm wetness still running down his cheeks, knew that they were tears caused by the wound that always reopened itself whenever he did this. This was how it had always been. He would go to the family or associates inform them what had happened, and leave so as not to share in the grief.

Some of them hadn't recognized him, almost all the others had never seen or heard of him before. Rocky's family had simply told him they had never had a son. Gemound was the only person he'd met in many years that could actually remember his name, much less attach it to his face. He managed to get down the corridors to the side-entrance he'd come through originally. In the back of his mind, he knew that he was lucky he hadn't gotten lost, but it was little comfort.

Alone in the caves, just outside the citadel, Ben finally stopped and collapsed. He leaned on the craggy stone wall and slid down it, letting his backpack and shield fall off his back. The chain links of his shirt made a tinkle sound as he slid down, the physical manifestation of his tears falling into the pool of sadness around him. Finally sitting down again, he felt his sword - no. Rocky's sword - hit the ground and slid itself out of the loop on Ben's belt. It fell down beside the shield of the Dwarven race battling the underground terror. Rocky's sword and Dorndrum's shield, with Lisa's backpack to support them. Together in death like they were in life.

That thought of his friends, no his family, came to Ben unbidden and unwanted. It itself was not entirely unexpected though. What was unexpected was the images of the faces of them to come to his mind. Lisa's kind and smiling face, Rocky's award-winning if somewhat goofy grin, Dorndrum's gruff and usually drunken face, made comical because of his beard.

His back to the cavern wall, surrounded by the ghosts of his past, Ben's composure and resolve broke. He felt the wave of sadness come out of the well he had buried it in and overwhelm him, breaking free thanks to the crack that had formed in his defenses by the images of his dead friends. Placing his head in his arms h began to sob.

His wracking sobs echoed down the cavern, but Ben didn't notice or care. All he could see was the faces, all of their faces. Vincent, Jonathan, Turmahult, Aaron, so many others whose faces he could all remember, whose smiles and deaths were all fresh in his mind as if it was yesterday. He could still feel the warmth on his hands and legs, that sticky substance that was familiar but oh so strange at the same time.

"Are you alright?"

The voice, piercing through the images and sounds of his past, made Ben look up. The voice was strangely familiar, and looking up, Ben expected to see Rocky standing over him, his blonde hair and concerned smile still full of warmth. He also expected to see the redness on his hands, sticky from becoming dry and mixed with the ichors of other races.

He found neither. His hands were as clean as they had been, without a single splotch of red on them. Nor did he see Rocky's reassuring face, but the confused and concerned face of a younger man, blonde, with straw like, wavy hair and brown eyes. Blinking away the tears in his eyes, Ben recognized him as the mage he had first talked too, the one who had told him to wait in the library until dinner. He recalled him saying his name was Olyl. He was basically the equivalent of a trainee if Ben had sifted through the brief explanation Olyl had given him correctly.

Recognition dawned on the younger man's face as he saw Ben, and only then did Ben notice the man's robes. They were white for the most part, except for the seams the seams, which were red. Whether they had been dyed or stitched that way Ben wasn't sure. The robes were soaked through however, and the boy's hair was also sopping wet, his bangs hanging a few centimeters in front of his eyes.

"Say, I recognize you. You're that warrior who delivered that...message..." The boy's face fell, as he seemed to recall the message Ben had delivered. He stood there for a few seconds, then seemed to remember why he was here. "Anyways, I was kinda supposed to show you to your room for the night after dinner. Unfortunately, you sort of ran off before I could tell you. I almost thought I wasn't going to catch you, until I heard you crying down here..."

"So, um...yeah, do you think you could follow me?" Ben looked up and the young mage, who had extended his hand to him. Ben debated taking it. He hadn't really been planning on staying here, he felt more comfortable leaving as soon as he could. But this man had gone out of his way to be kind to Ben, or so it would seem. And he hadn't really gotten a chance to think about what he was going to do next. And sleeping outside wasn't really a good idea.

That and Gemound was still here. And she probably wanted to pump Ben for info. Still though, it had been a while since Ben had had a warm bed to sleep in, or a shave, or even a bath of some sort. All of those sounded really nice, plus Ben could always just leave early in the morning.

Reaching out and grabbing the young blonde's hand, Ben got back up to his feet. "Alright then, lead the way." He rubbed his eyes to get the last of his tears away, then began following Olyl to his chambers for the night.

[Cadrius]

"Some air?" he asks, uncertain of her intent but he nods. "Allow me to retrieve a few things."

He steps half-way through the door before turning and saying, "And do try some of the food. It was very well prepared."

Back in his room Cadrius begins grabbing assorted pieces of his armor. He hasn't the time to suit up entirely, but he can at least grab the important parts: breastplate, pauldrons, greaves, shield, torch. He'll never fight unarmored again, not if he has a choice. He still bears the scars from the last time and they faintly ache each time it rains.

A few minutes later he reenters Shade's room, partially armored and bearing his bastard sword across his back. He sweeps one arm to the side, gesturing for Shade to pass and she does, but Cadrius notices she still carries that odd expression. Troubled, he follows her through the corridor and back outside.

The air is cold tonight and the stars shine magnificently overhead. He draws in the chill, letting it sit in his lungs for a moment before expelling it and watching the gout of steam spiral away. He pauses and lights the torch before they step into the night.

They walk in silence for a time, but do not stray too far from the citadel. Cadrius would like nothing more than to escape the wizards and their spies, but he dare not for fear of what stalks the badlands. Finding an outcrop of rocks, he leans against the granite and regards the woman he once believed to be an assassin. He doesn't speak, doesn't question her new eccentricities, instead he waits for Shade to find her voice.

[Gralhruk]

Shade had always loved the night, the moon, the stars. Even now, after all that had happened, after all the pain and all of the loss, despite all the indecision and the mountain of unwanted obligation, the stars still shone with the promise of beautiful, elegant simplicity. To say it was all she ever wanted was a lie, because truly she had never really known what she wanted. In a way, her life had been defined by the things she didn't want. And, in a stranger way, by her own misguided sense of loyalty.

That Cadrius came armed and armored made sense; two hours ago she would have felt naked without her own martial accoutrements. Now they seemed like small solace given the dearth of options they had. It was like holding up your cloak to protect you from a tidal wave.

"Nicos said our rooms had ears. Maybe he was right. If so, maybe we are safer speaking out here. Then again, maybe not. I don't know."

She looks down, her face lost in shadow. One toe idly traces in the dirt.

"But I guess I don't care anymore. I've seen all of this place that I want to. I'm tired . . ."

Her grey eyes look up to the stars once more, still troubled, but searching now as if she can read something there.

"Gemoud isn't the only one interested in us. Another wizard - a woman called Ysene - spoke to me at length. She claims to be a friend of Cadogan. She wants us to find something for him - some runestone, to help them destroy an evil artifact Cadogan found. A cube of some sort. It's why they took him back here, and it's why Gemoud is interested in us. Gemoud wants to use the cube to gain power for herself."

[Black Plauge]

"Killed?" Blarth asks in confusion, looking around for a cage or container that might contain a live creature. Unable to find one, Blarth looks at the lady wizard as if she has two heads.

Taking down one of the stone statues, the lady shows it to Blarth and says, "These specimines, they are alive. Shattering them, like you did to the one you dropped, is the equivalent of killing them."

"But, they're nothing more than stone sculptures," Blarth protests, "Very good ones, I'll grant you, but stone nonetheless."

"You simple half-orc," the lady sighs, shaking her head. "They are stone now, but that was not always the case. Each of these specimines was carefully collected in the wild. A flesh to stone spell and a variant of the shrink item spell rendered them as you see them now. I can, with a couple of other spells, return them to their original state in order to study them. However, for storage purposes, it is easier to keep them as you see them now."

Seeing the Blarth doesn't believe her, the wizard takes down another lizard much like the one Blarth already broke and begins casting a couple of spells. At first nothing happens to the statue, although Blarth does feel a slight tingling feeling. Then the statue grows rather quickly, becoming a little more than a foot in size. Then as he watches with widening eyes, the stone statue takes on a softer appearence and its color changes from gray to blue.

When the transformation is complete, Blarth hesitantly reaches out with his hand to verify that what he's seeing is real.

"Careful," the wizard says as Blarth pulls his hand back quickly and shakes it, trying to restore feeling to his numb fingers. "The shocker lizard is aptly named. It can generate electrical discharges capable of rendering its prey insesible."

Casting a few more spells, the wizard restored the lizard to its tiny statuesque form and places it back on the shelf.

"So, Blarth, what were you looking for when you wandered in here?"

"Well, I was looking for a way outside. I wanted to get a bit of fresh air before turning in for the nigth," Blarth replies, not realizing that he never told the woman his name.

"Well, this obviously wasn't what you're looking for, let me show you to the courtyard."

Leading the way through the hallways, the lady takes a few turns before opening a door that leads out into a beutiful garden.

"Remember where the door is," the woman says to Blarth, "its hidden by an illusion so that those in the courtyard can forget they are in the middle of the citadel for a while."

Turning around to look at the door, Blarth is suprised to see a large oak tree where the door should be. Reaching out to touch it, Blarth is suprised to feel his hand pass through the bark and land on the smooth planking of the door.

"This is a very strange place," Blarth comments.

"Only for those who don't live here, I imagine," the woman replies, "Well, I must reitre. When your ready to turn in go back through the door and take a left. Then follow the corridor until you find your room."

Blarth watches the wizard go as she opens the 'tree' and disappears from sight, before wandering around for a bit.

***

"Well, Ysene? Did you manage to spell them all?"

"I was able to get to the woman and the half-orc while they were isolated but the half-orc proved to be abnormally resistant to the spell. Another go at it might work, but if he realizes what is going on the gig will be up."

"And the bard and the man?"

"Neither have been alone yet. They have been in the company of either one of their companions or Geomund thus far. I dare not take the chance that one would realize I was trying to spell their friend and Geomund... Well, we have enough problems with her without further complicating things."

"True. We will just have to hope that the woman is enough to drive the group to what we want. However, should the opportunity arise, you are still tasked to spell the man or the bard. The more of them we are able to spell the more likely they will do what we want as a group."

[red_dr4g0n94]

Following Olyl through a maze of corridors, Ben quickly loses his sense of direction. After several minutes though, Olyl stops in front of a series of doors and points to one. "That one's yours. These are a set of guest rooms for any group or party that happens to come by here. At the moment though, they aren't occupied by anyone, so we'll give you this one. There is a refectory down the hallway and to the right, and the room should provide most of the rest of your needs."

THAT wasn't something you heard every day, but Ben wasn't in any mood or condition to really be asking questions. He didn't want to do anything but be alone. So he simply nodded and walked towards the door the younger man had indicated. He vaguely noticed as he opened the door the runes on the front changing to show a shield with the hilt of a sword appearing behind and above it, the tip of a blade poking out past the bottom of the shield. Then he closed the door.

The room wasn't much, but then again it wasn't something you ran away from either. Ben had slept in a few of those. Sleeping out in the forest surrounded by bugbears would be better than sleeping in one of those rooms again. A copper tub lay over in one corner of the room; a bed with sheets, pillows, and an actual wool blanket lay in the corner beside it. A mirror was placed next to the tub, probably so the room’s occupant could shave if needed. There was a wardrobe in the corner to the left of the door, and a chair and small table was situated in the opposite corner.

Setting his shield and sword in a chair, he began to take off the chain shirt. Now only in the clothes of a peasant or farmer, he looked at himself in the mirror. He had a beard forming, several weeks of growth from his traveling without a real shave. His dark brown hair was disheveled and quite oily looking, and his blue eyes were streaked with red from him crying earlier.

I look like I just walked up from the Ninth Circle of Hell itself to here. Kinda feel like it too. Maybe I should take a bath before I go to bed. Looking around for the bucket to go out and get water with, his attention falls on the tub, sitting there with steaming hot water inside it. Standing there in wide-eyed shock, Ben hesitantly reaches to touch the water. When his hand tentively touched the water, he jerked back. By the might of Tempest...it's warm! But...there wasn't any water in there before. Where did it...?

Staring at the water for several more seconds, Ben finally decided that since someone was kind enough to fill his tub with hot water, he might as well bathe. Shedding the rest of his clothes, he eased himself into the tub, letting the warmth surround him. He let out a sigh as he felt the warmth ease his muscles and give him some sliver of peace.

He sat there with his eyes open though, his neck craned back, staring at the ceiling. It had been painted on, making an epic picture of several heroes fighting a Red Dragon. A spellcaster was just finishing her spell, sending a blue bolt of something towards the Dragon. A woman clad in a shining suit of full-plate was in the clutches of the Dragon, using her shield to block the fiery breath of the Dragon, the shield starting to glow red from the heat. An Elf was perched atop the Dragon's head, desperately trying to use his icicle-covered sword to pierce the tough scales of the Dragon's skull. A dwarf was at the base of the dragon's feet, leaping aside as the Dragon's other claw came smashing down where the dwarf had been. A paladin of Heironeous was about to thrust his sword, which glowed with a holy light, into the stomach of the giant Dragon.

The painting was incredibly detailed, he could make out the details of the shield started melting, see the rocks and debris fly from the Dragon's claw slamming down into the ground, even make out the individual hairs on the spellcaster's head, accentuated by the blue light from her spell. As he continued to stare at the painting, the spellcaster's face seemed to resemble that of Lisa's, the dwarf's rugged features sharing similarities to Dorndrum's. As the similarities became to sure to mistake, Ben closed his eyes.

Vaguely, in the back of his mind, Ben wondered what that other man, Cadrius, was doing.

[Cadrius]

"And what of Cadogan?" he asks, folding his arms over his chest. "Has anyone actually spoken to him? Asked him what he thinks of these supposed friends? I did not see him at dinner tonight."

He shakes his head and turns his eyes to the stars again. The vague, fist shaped constellation of his former god sits near the eastern horizon. Cadrius scowls at it. There was once a day where a simple prayer to a normally silent deity would've helped him answer his questions. Now the burden of choice lay solely on his shoulders.

"What would Ysene have us do? Risk our lives while braving some mad wizard's dungeon?"

It's what heroes do, right? Risk their lives to find eldritch objects of power, but almost never for themselves. They always retrieve it for someone smarter, wiser, more powerful. Cadrius isn't certain he likes the idea of fetching an artifact for anyone, regardless of whether it might be able to destroy an evil item.

A memory sparks within his mind. Hadn't Cadogan mentioned something about a cube? He thought so, but nothing else comes. He wishes he had a better mind for such little details for such things. For a moment he almost remembers associating it with some sort of child's toy, but the connection falters and then breaks. Perhaps he was wrong.

"Do you think we shall survive the night? Is there any reason to believe our lives are in danger?"

[Gralhruk]

As Cadrius asks her about the blind wizard, she shakes her head.

"That's just it. Now that we're here we don't know where to look for Cadogan. We could stay here for months and never hear a word from him."

Shade didn't know what she had been thinking when they set out from Karkus. It should have been clear that those who spirited Cadogan away were more than capable enough to keep him away from unwanted visitors. Which they most definitely were, as Nicos had been quick to point out. Though the bard himself seemed to be having an easy time of it here. A hint of her old anger returns, quickly extinguished.

"I'm sure that's exactly what Ysene wants us to do: run off and do the dangerous stuff, with a rival group of wizards itching to slay us if we're discovered. I told her 'no', but she made me promise to mention it. So I have."

Still, something in Ysene's words had rung true to her. Shade had come here out of loyalty to a friend. She hadn't found him, but if there was something she could do to help him shouldn't she do it?

"Are we in danger? Probably. Nicos said as much when we got here, and based on the rivalry between Ysene and Gemoud . . . well, who knows. According to Ysene they don't know much about us yet, but that could likely change for the worse at any time."

[Cadrius]

"And what little protection afforded by Ysene and her friends wil likely be snatched away should we refuse the offer."

He shakes his head. Cadrius has never had a mind for the intricacies of the political game played by the nobles, so it is little wonder that the academy, quite likely a magocracy, confounds him as well. He should've known better than to enter their domain and freely accept their hospitality; it's quite likely a pledge of service. They've housed them, fed them, and kept them from being rended by angry wizards. If the roles were reversed, wouldn't he expect some sort of exchange?

"We may very well be damned no matter what our choice. The least we could do is learn the details of Ysene's task."

[Gralhruk]

"You're much better at swinging that sword than you are at comforting people, you know?"

A hint of tired amusement comes into her eyes, and for a moment it reminds Cadrius of a time not very long ago. They stood beside a river, looking at the stars, and she had been almost merry. Until the gnolls attacked, of course.

"Damned we are, though. You know if we listen to her you'll want to go."

[Cadrius]

Cadrius smiles at the remark and shrugs. His life has become markedly more simple since leaving his faith, and grace, behind on a bloody courtyard. Now there's only his sword and his next opponent. The rest can be brushed aside. Perhaps things are now too simple.

"Yes, and if I do not listen to her I will end up as a toad, newt, or some other creature that is in capable of swinging a sword...you wouldn't want to deny me that simple pleasure, would you?"

His humor isn't particularly refined, or clever, but then again, squires and pages never spent much time honing their jests. Most of the time they were carrying heavy things and praying, there was always a lot of praying. Even as a paladin he hadn't had much occasion for causing laughter. It's what fools and bards were for, not warriors, not Cadrius.

"Very well. Say that the wizards have no wish to turn us into lizards should we decline, where will we go from here? We came a long way to rescue Cadogan, but he hardly seems to need it. Where do we turn next? Karkas? Beyond?"

The entire world should be open before them, but Cadrius feels just as imprisoned as during his stay in the temple's dungeon. They couldn't return to his homeland, or any civilized area for fear of a Tracker coming across his trail. Kulper would return to power somehow, despite the claims against him, and he would seek revenge. Where could they go but another border town? Another place where danger and death would find them sooner rather than later. His only other option is to turn himself in. Perhaps it's for the best, or perhaps it's simply the easiest choice to make.

"Do we go live with the orcs? I do not think Blarth's people would accept us as readily as we have him."

[Gralhruk]

"I'm not going back to Karkas. And neither are you, if I have to club you over that thick head and drag you elsewhere."

Shade looks at the stars once more, wishing the omniscient heavens would open up and point the way. Not likely.

"Blarth is looking for Paladin. We aren't."

At least, Shade didn't want to go looking for him. Paladin had managed to send some bizarre message to her, though, asking for help.

More demands.

He had been a companion, true, but he hadn't been her friend. And she didn't like what his presence did to Cadrius. Was that reason enough to let him rot in whatever hell had been prepared for him?

"There are places we could go where nobody's ever even heard of Karkas. Out of the way towns won't care who we are. We could even go to some big cities - you are never so alone as when you are surrounded by people."

[itches]

The soft moonlight baths the intimate pair, a heady mixture of wine and the night's activities making each relax more then they normally would around the other. The male lies on his stomach, the haze making his thoughts a blur, and the drink his speech slurred. The female is sprawled over his back, absently tracing the barely visible tattoo on his left shoulder.

"What is this anyway?" Her voice is soft and intimate. "A bird’s foot?"

"Raven's Claw," comes the response, words slightly muffled by the pillow he is speaking though. "It's the sign of the monasterial order I was a part of."

"Nicos the monk?" Pushing her red locks from her eyes, Gemoud stretches out beside the man and playfully bites him on the shoulder. "A monk is about a far as you get from a bard, how did you manage that?"

The haze of alcohol disinhibits the one-armed-man enough to speak of the subject, but not to block out the remembered pain. "I was still a monk when I lost my arm." His hand moves to the scaring on his shoulder unconsciously. "Technically still a monk I suppose, though at that point it was just a technicality. I was a ah- a slave and had been for I don't know how long, when a new group of people had who had been captured arrived. They managed to escape, and tried to set everyone else free. There was fighting, but as the slaves only had makeshift weapons and were nearly staved to death, nearly all died in the conflict."

Taking a deep breath, Nicos is quite for a long moment before continuing the tale, his voice thick with pain. "Better that they died free, then prisoners. I was probably the most able unarmed fighter there, and I knew it - so I threw myself into the worst of the combat. I ah ... my arm ended up getting wounded, and I passed out. They dragged me clear, and I regained consciousness before they decided what to do about what was left of my arm. It was fairly badly damaged, and they didn't have a lot of options. So they amputated, and cauterised the shoulder. I didn't pass out that time."

The bard is silent again, lost in the past. Gemoud wraps her arms around him, content to listen to his ragged breaths, and let him find his own way back to the present. It is several minutes before he continues, once more in control of his voice. "One of the group that escaped was an elf called Saelyn. She took it on herself to nurse me back to health. I was done with being a monk by then, and she was a bard so she taught me the profession."

The silence falls again, but it is Gemoud who breaks it this time. “I for one think you made the right choice. Bards have much more fun then monks.” Dragging her nails down Nicos’ back almost painfully, she gives a playful laugh at his cry of protest. Shaking free of her hand, a mock struggle begins between the pair, ending only once the bard had the red-haired woman pinned.

“Bards have more fun did you say?” he says, looking down at her.

“Like I said,” she replies, pulling him down into her embrace.

[Cadrius]

The threat makes him smile, just as it was intended, but the mirth falters as the image of a dead gnoll and a greatclub rolls into memory. It had been no more than a few weeks since that fight, but it feels as if a lifetime from all the events that have happened since then. The gnolls, the big one had wielded Cadrius's own sword while he took up Paladin's greatsword. Shade had fought another, killing it neatly in under a minute. Had he ever thanked her for that? For saving him then and so many other times?

Would it matter?

"Yes, there are other places. Yet I worry about the reputation my name carries now. You, and the others, would be safer without me, at least in a city. The clergy can reach very far, especially when chasing one of their own. I..." he trails off, remember that he's had this conversation with Shade before. He already knows her response; his offer will be met with a stern glance and some barbed words.

"...think we should be cautious should we travel to a city. But what of Ysene and her ilk? Will we be safe should we reject their offer? What do you make of her? And how is it we know Gemoud is a spy?"

[Gralhruk]

Who cares about the others?

They didn't need to use his name, and she had left hers behind long before. If it was one thing Shade knew, it was how to disappear. Cities had clergy and guards, pious men and noble; they also have less savory parts, where people didn't want to know who you were or what you had done. Those on top seldom looked beneath them. Anonymity was easy.

Who cares?

Cadrius, of course. He would never want to lead that kind of life.

He is cut from a different cloth.

Why would he want to follow the same path she had chosen? No reason at all. Not for her, that was certain.

"I don't know anything any more. There was a time when I would have said to hell with this whole thing and left by myself. I don't know what to do."

[Cadrius]

"Then we can only do what we think is right. Failing that we will do what we think will keep us breathing. I for one think helping this woman would suit the latter if not the former."

He shrugs, glad to be out under the open sky even if the conversation is less than pleasant. Cadrius almost finds it amusing how non-chalant they've become about potentially life-threatening situations. Perhaps they've grown too accustomed to walking on the edge of a knife. To be honest, the fallen paladin hadn't expected to live past Karkas. Maybe in cheating death he earned a certain liberty, or perhaps he's nothing more than a fool.

"If they truly want us to do this, they likely could force it. Use an enchantment, or glamor, or whatever it is they do. It might be easier for us if we simply cooperate. I do not imagine our flight would go unnoticed, particularly if we returned for Blarth and our possessions."

[Gralhruk]

It should come as no surprise that he lists doing the right thing higher than staying alive. Hadn't he proven time and again that he valued his ideals more than his own life? It was out there like a club: how many times did she need to get hit before she'd acknowledge it's presence?

She frowns at his last remark, wondering just how much power these wizards had. Maybe they could do what he said. Maybe not, or maybe they wouldn't care enough to bother. Shade knows what she would do, if the decision were hers alone: run, and take her chances.

Arms folded, a slim finger taps against her elbow - once, twice, three times - while she considers his words. It is like the prisoner and the giant all over again. His words tell her he's going, even though he hasn't admitted it to himself yet. For the prisoner she could almost understand - after all, she didn't want to see them suffer or die any more than he did. It's just that she was more practical. Getting dead wouldn't help anyone, and dying for an ideal didn't seem more appealing than dying any other way.

She shakes her head, but just like that, she knows she is going with him.

"Why, though? Can you at least tell me why you are willing to do this? It's more than just protecting your back, I know you well enough to know that."

[Cadrius]

The question gives him pause. His motives had managed to slide by, unquestioned by the pragmatic part of him. Yet why was he agreeing to do this? Certainly it would curry favor with the faction and could keep them safe. And yet having a powerful enemy wouldn't be reason alone; after all he had a branch of the church seeking him. The best he can offer her is a shrug. He genuinely isn't certain why.

"I would tell you that it is the right thing to do, but we both know that is not the cause. I cannot say why I think we should, only that we should. Who knows? Perhaps these wizards can start us on a brighter path. Or perhaps not. Either way I would rather risk searching for an artifact over traversing the Kingdoms."

[Gralhruk]

You must learn to accept the life of a fugitive.

She sighs, looking once more at the icy, bright stars. Shade can feel the goose bumps prickling on her skin in the chill, her long fingers cold. When was the last time she had felt truly warm?

Even if he wouldn't accept the realities of his situation, at least he wasn't so eager to turn himself in again. For that she was grateful; his escape had been more luck than engineering last time, and next time . . . she didn't want to think about it. If for no other reason than to buy time for him to wrap his mind around things, Shade decides not to press the issue.

"All right. It's safer your way, and maybe Cadogan will thank us. I'd like to think we didn't trek all the way out here and risk our lives for nothing."

[itches]

Dawn comes as the sun awakes and casts it’s light over the land. The shadows of the night are driven before the brilliant light, taking with it the fears, doubts and secrets created by darkness. On a mountain top citadel, buried in the wastelands, life starts to stir when the first stars begin to fade. Men and woman of the arcane arts rise to begin the mundane tasks all large communities must perform, the cleaning, washing, cooking, and administrating duties.

In the guest quarters of the citadel, a bedraggled and blurry eyed man awakes after the sun has long hung in the sky, and all trace of the night’s gentleness has been pushed away. Pulling a blanket from his head, Nicos lets out an audible groan as the sunlight assaults his tender eyes. Burying his face in the pillow for several long moments, the bard looks about once his eyes had adjusted to the daylight. The first thing his sight rests upon is his companion of the night before, already composed, wearing a short night-robe, and reading a book at the near-by desk. Letting out an oath in a voice horse from a night’s abuse, he proclaims: "Fiol woman, don’t you ever sleep?"

Looking back at her companion, Gemoud assembles her face into a look of contemplation before answering with even tone and serious face. "No."

Letting out another groan, Nicos drops prone on the bed. "I think I’m dieing. I regret nothing!"

Closing her book and fastening it shut, Gemoud rises and makes her way to the bed, planting a finger on the back of the bard’s head. "Don’t you complain to me, if you can’t handle your drink.”

“Can’t handle my drink?” He replies in indignation. “I’ll have you know that I can take it with the best of them. What was that stuff?”

Giving a smile that can only be called evil, the sorceress settles on the bed and firmly rubs the shoulders of the indisposed man. “It’s called Tarisan wine. One of my friends here created it, it possesses all the flavour of quality wine, but has a punch that would knock a dragon out cold.”

“Oh you evil creature, that’s just not playing fair.” Grimacing and attempting to move, the bard gives up the endeavour for the moment. “It seems to have worked, I feel like I’ve been beaten by a dragon.”

Ignoring Gemoud’s good natured laughter, Nicos heaves himself out of bed with what seems a heroic effort. Going to the wash basin on stumbling feet, the bard misses the calculating look in Gemoud’s eyes as she tracks his movement across the room. Similarly, Nicos is oblivious to the softly spoken words and quick gestures made as he plunges his head into the cold water.

Turning around when his face is clean, now more awake, composed, and looking much better for it, Gemoud is once more sitting cross-legged on the bed, observing the bard with an intrigued look. “I didn’t notice it last night in the dark, but you have a lot of scars for a man your age.”

Looking down at his bare chest, and touching one of the many marks, Nicos gives a nonchalant shrug. “There have been an abnormal number of angry fathers, brothers and husbands in my life. It’s the curse of being as devastatingly handsome as I am.”

Letting herself be gathered into the bard’s arm, Gemoud ignores the joke. “I wasn’t necessarily talking about physical scars.”

Looking into the woman’s brilliant blue eyes, Nicos feels a twinge of emotion deep within him. Angrily pushing the feeling aside, Nicos ignores both it and Gemoud’s comment, instead pinning her beneath him and kissing his way down her body. Making his way down one arm, the bard softly kisses the inside of her wrist, frowning at something, kissing once more then pulling away.

“Tease,” Gemoud pouts, as the man moves up to rest beside her.

“After you fed me that poison last night, you’re should consider yourself lucky that I’m still capable of teasing,” Nicos retorts. “Are you doing anything today?”

“I hardly forced you to drink it,” Gemoud says, snuggling close to her Bardic companion.

“Alright, I’ll accept partial responsibility, but I maintain my innocence of how strong it was.” He frowned once more. “And quit changing the subject, are you doing anything today?”

“Yes,” she says, making a face, squirming out of Nicos’ grasp and out of bed. “I have a day’s worth of meetings right after breakfast, and on top of that some study to catch up on from yesterday.”

Grinning, Nicos stretches out on the bed. “Meetings; the bane of any large organisation. Now me, I’m free to lie here for hours yet if I want.”

Leaning down to give the bard a quick kiss, the woman once more smiles evilly. “You might be able to lie there for hours still, but only if you are prepared to miss breakfast.”

Giving the sorceress a mock glare, Nicos once more pulls himself out of bed and starts to search for his clothing. “You and your evil empire win this round.”

The next several minutes were spent dressing and freshening, with Nicos casually humming a tune. Seemingly almost mid-note, the bard breaks out into a semi-song, turning to face Gemoud as he does.

‘On behalf of her love, she no longer sleeps’

Looking startled, the redhead hesitantly replies. ‘Life no longer had meaning. Nothing to make her stay.’

‘She sold her soul away,’ the one armed man finishes, frowning deep furrows into his brow. “So you’re a Mooner then?”

Still looking startled, the woman just nods. After a pregnant pause she asks, “How did you know?”

“I saw the mark,” Nicos says simple, still not letting up the frown, holding forth his arm, palm outwards. On his inner wrist rest a small scar, obviously made by a fine blade, and very carefully. It depicts a crescent moon surrounding a small 5 rayed star. “I didn’t know there were any members who weren’t bards.”

“I – I’ve got to go or I’ll be late,” Gemoud says, looking away from the man and picking up her book. “I’ll talk to you tonight, okay.”

Not waiting for a reply, the woman hurriedly leaves the room, leaving the perplexed bard behind her. Still frowning, Nicos watches her retreating back until she steps out of sight, unable to see the satisfied smile that replacing the feigned look of uncertainty.

[Black Plauge]

Stretching as the sun shines through his window and into his eyes. Blarth takes only a few moments to wake up and orient himself before realizing where he is. Looking about he finds his clothes freshly cleaned hanging on a rack that he's sure wasn't there the night before. However disconcerting it is, however, Blarth is getting used to the servants doing things behind his back. It seems to be the way that things are done around here and there is nothing he can do about it.

"Thank you," he says to the air, as he gets dressed, assuming that what ever servant has been tasked with seeing to his needs can hear him.

After dressing, Blarth carefully runs through a morning routine that he hasn't performed in a while, flexing every muscle in his body in turn. That done, he heads for the refactory, looking for breakfast.

[Gralhruk]

A funny thing happened on the way to the refectory . . .

Everyone woke up as usual; blissful or mournful, hungry or angry, maybe even introspective. At some point in the course of their various morning routines, they made their way towards the one place most familiar to them in the Citadel: the Refectory. Had they travelled there together, they might have remarked that things seemed a little strange - distances seemed a little different, hallways seemed occaisionally a little smaller than they had been, doorways not quite in the same place. But they were separate, and they knew the way to the refectory, and they had become more and more used to the oddities that surrounded them .

Ysene had been up early, awaiting word from Olyl that Gemoud had left the vicinity of the newcomer's chambers. When that word finally came, the blond sorceress sent word to the others stationed along the way, and a series of illusions were hastily cast in place. The way to the refectory, though it seemed the same, wasn't really the way to the refectory anymore . . .

It was a large chamber, close in size to the place it imitated, buy lying near the thick northern wall of the Citadel. Normally it was used as a meeting hall, but it was seldom used. Ysene closed her eyes and completed her casting, making it appear to be the refectory that the group thought they were moving towards.

When they finally found themselves there, they noticed that there seemed rather less food than normal, and rather less magical servants and devices. Empty, too, save for these strangers to the Citadel: Nicos, Cadrius, Shade, Blarth - and, interestingly enough, Ben. Conversation was the last thing on everyone's mind, be they contemplating amorous endeavors, lost opportunities, or just plain focused on the task of eating.

Talk finally turned to the matter of Ysene's request, and what they should do about it. Before any decisions were reached, the group finally had visitors. One of them might be termed the Visitor, as it was someone they had all been waiting to see - well, almost all of them. It was none other than Cadogan Trahem himself, blind as ever and looking considerably better than the last time they had seen him.

With Ysene at his side, the sightless seer quickly greeted them all - a tad impatiently perhaps - before launching into a tale that quickly confirmed all Ysene had told Shade about the cube, and more. By the time he finished, they had decided to accept the responsibility of finding the Runestone. Ysene produced their gear from one of the closets lining the hall, everything packed and ready to go. Cadogan wished them well, and wished he could go with them but he needed to stay here to help guard the artifact he had brought back. So it is that the four who entered depart in a group of five . . .