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Hand of the Master - Part 2a: Shadows in the Night
It seemed like an eternity before they were able to speak again. Beldin ushered them into Alsef’s abode.
Kham took his usual position in the corner of the room while the others stood around Bijoux and Beldin.
“I know what I heard,” said Bijoux. “Or didn’t hear. Jarel was not chanting.”
Beldin gazed at the ground. “I hardly know where to begin. I took an oath not to speak of this, but in light of recent revelations…I think perhaps there is a danger to Master Elabac. If my suspicions are correct, I must speak, regardless of promises made.”
“What?” asked Sebastian. “You knew something and didn’t tell me?”
Beldin couldn’t look Sebastian in the eye. “I swore an oath,” he said. “And I stood by it, but Bijoux’s suspicions have confirmed my worst fears. Jarel has been gifting Elabac with his gems, but there is one, his finest, that is still in Encali. He said he would retrieve it tonight and meet Elabac and Alsef in the tunnels between Solanos Mor and Encali to deliver it.”
Kham jolted out of his chair. “He’s doing that for me,” said Kham. He looked around at the others, a little sheepish. “I need that gem.”
“I can’t believe you would not share this with me!” said Sebastian. The dark-kin’s hands curled into fists.
“Jarel asked that it be kept secret, for the dwarves of Encali would be furious if he knew their plans,” said Beldin. “Alas I fear…I am afraid…perhaps his intentions were not so honorable.”
“No kidding,” said Kham. “If you lie, you cheat. If you cheat, you steal.”
“By now, Elabac and Alsef must be nearly there,” said Vlad. “Do you know where the meeting is?”
“I do,” said Beldin. “Come with me!”
It seemed like an eternity before they were able to speak again. Beldin ushered them into Alsef’s abode.
Kham took his usual position in the corner of the room while the others stood around Bijoux and Beldin.
“I know what I heard,” said Bijoux. “Or didn’t hear. Jarel was not chanting.”
Beldin gazed at the ground. “I hardly know where to begin. I took an oath not to speak of this, but in light of recent revelations…I think perhaps there is a danger to Master Elabac. If my suspicions are correct, I must speak, regardless of promises made.”
“What?” asked Sebastian. “You knew something and didn’t tell me?”
Beldin couldn’t look Sebastian in the eye. “I swore an oath,” he said. “And I stood by it, but Bijoux’s suspicions have confirmed my worst fears. Jarel has been gifting Elabac with his gems, but there is one, his finest, that is still in Encali. He said he would retrieve it tonight and meet Elabac and Alsef in the tunnels between Solanos Mor and Encali to deliver it.”
Kham jolted out of his chair. “He’s doing that for me,” said Kham. He looked around at the others, a little sheepish. “I need that gem.”
“I can’t believe you would not share this with me!” said Sebastian. The dark-kin’s hands curled into fists.
“Jarel asked that it be kept secret, for the dwarves of Encali would be furious if he knew their plans,” said Beldin. “Alas I fear…I am afraid…perhaps his intentions were not so honorable.”
“No kidding,” said Kham. “If you lie, you cheat. If you cheat, you steal.”
“By now, Elabac and Alsef must be nearly there,” said Vlad. “Do you know where the meeting is?”
“I do,” said Beldin. “Come with me!”