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[howandwhy99]

Ignoring the scene around him, Ben casually reached down and picked up the glove that had fallen from the chest. When his hand touched it, the glove came alive and molded itself onto his right hand. Then it returned to normal as if Ben had put it on himself. It was made of smooth white goatskin and finely stitched. The glove was so soft and light it felt like wearing nothing at all. “Can you still hear me?” he thought to it.
”GIVE ME TO THE WOMAN” Ben looked around for Kayla and saw the rest of his team crouching down and picking up coins. They was mostly silver, but a good smattering of gold and even small white gems were strewn across the roadway.

“It is worthless,” Houshang was telling Darius. “It is trash that no one would ever buy.” The stranger held the gold statue in one hand and several coins in another. “I would be doing you a favor in getting rid of it for you. Please, let me sell it to someone for twice its price and we can split the profits, yes?”
Darius disagreed. He took the statuette away from Houshang. It was far too heavy to be anything but solid gold, hardly worthless. The figure resembled a human warrior with its hands thrust outward. “It resembles the jade statuette,” he thought to himself. “Perhaps it’s a twin?” To Houshang he said, “We’ll be keeping it until we know what it is for certain... until then, hand over the coin. We have yet to come to terms on how you will be paid or even what you’ll be doing.”
Houshang pocketed the silver coins defiantly. “They are mine. I found them on the road. They had no owner until they reached my palm.” Darius decided to let the incident pass for now.

Kayla looked at Ben who was standing in the pile of coins and whispering to himself. “What have you found? Ben! Are you still with us?” Bizarrely, a severed hand floated out from the back of the wagon.
“WE ARE THE GUARDIAN OF KEEP ALDERWEEG” Ben repeated back what he just heard to Kayla. ”GIVE ME TO THE WOMAN” Ben closed his mouth. He had known for months now Kayla was a witch, but one who used her sorcery for his benefit and the others. Still, he did not know how long her good intentions might continue. Unexpectedly he felt a rock in his right hand and he grasped it.
“Rose’s spiralstone? What’s this?” said Ben. Still invisible, Rose giggled from behind Kayla.
“Well at least she’s rid of it,” said Kayla. “The glove must have something to do with the Earl. What are you hearing? Can it answer questions?”
Ben nodded. “It’s been slow to speak. Quick! Get me some of your parchment and a quill and ink. Remember the skinny man? I just had an idea.”

Ben picked out the writing utensils he used for letters to Father Stauk-Flezr while Kayla retrieved her books. The rest of the team finished brushing the fallen coin into the cloakhole now placed in middle of the road. Out of the corners of their eyes they studied Ben and the glove he now wore. Gwenna and her two mercenaries directed the other caravan’s wagons past the congregation in the road. When all was ready Ben set his inked quill to the page and the glove began to write:

IT IS OUR DUTY TO FREE THE KEEP ALDERWEEG FROM THE OPPRESSORS THAT NOW HOLD THE PASS TO ALL FREE LANDS

“Which side are the free lands!” called out Diedre. She, Kayla, and Darius had gathered close to the book. They were the only others who could read. Houshang the stranger watched over Darius’s shoulder intent on watching anyways. Ben repeated the question in his mind.

NEITHER NOW UNTIL WE FREE THE KEEP OF ALDERWEEG.

“Well then, which side was free?” grumbled Darius. Ben tried to repeat the question his head, but the answer came before he began.

THIS SIDE WAS FREE

“What’s it saying? shouted Dalin. Kayla started reading the answers aloud.
“Ask it what it can do!” spoke Rose’s voice.

I CAN OPEN ANY DOOR WITHIN THE KEEP.
I CHASE THOSE WHO ARE EVIL AWAY.
I EMBOLDEN THE GUARDIAN AND THOSE WITH MAGIC I STRENGTHEN.
I ALSO COMMAND WITHIN THE KEEP AND I KNOW THE AURAS OF THOSE WHO ENTER WITHIN

Ben immediately tried to use the last power. Calling on the glove like he did the Gods’ power he scanned for auras. It did not work. “Perhaps it means the powers work only within the Keep?” he said aloud.
“Ask it how often it strengthens the guardian with magic,” said Kayla.
Ben was a little put off. He suddenly realized what the glove had written. Dropping the quill he asked in his mind, “Is it sorcerous magic you command?”
“YES”

Ben screeched. “I don’t want it! Get it off me! It’s sorcery! Likely a trapped demon!”
“GIVE ME TO THE WOMAN” it said in his mind again. Ben’s distrust was all that stopped him.
“Pray tell, what exactly are the gloves powers?” asked Houshang. “Perhaps it needs a magician to properly control the forces within?” The strange man with the funny hat held his hand forth as if to touch the glove. Ben hastily jerked it away.
”GIVE ME TO THE MAN” the voice said.
Ben was confused. He knew virtually nothing about the stranger Whoshang, but he suspected he may be some kind of wizard-in-training like Kayla. Closing his eyes he whispered a little prayer asking for guidance on what to do.
“GIVE ME TO THE MAN” The voice would not shut up.