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<blockquote data-quote="Greenfield" data-source="post: 5934175" data-attributes="member: 6669384"><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">***</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Penn ended his spell. He had what he needed, or at least a place to start.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"Seeburn, do you know a man named Copernicus?", he asked his friend.</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">The warrior looked up from his efforts, thought a moment and nodded. "He's one of the kitchen help. His family has served ours for generations."</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"Well, he's currently serving your family secrets up to the enemy. The question is, what do we do about it?"</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"My father will kill him.", Seeburn said flatly. </span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"And we need to know who he's working for. I doubt that he's the only spy in the house, and if he's killed then his master will simply bribe someone else to take his place. For the moment, we know our enemy. Kill him and we won't."</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Nedel leaned his chair back against the wall, eyes lost in thought. "Do you have any of that honey mead with you?", he asked.</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"I can arrange for some."</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"Good. I have an idea."</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">*** </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Copernicus was banking the kitchen fire so it would last the night without having to be fed when the tall man in black entered the kitchens.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"Dyou have a ppproper tankard?", the Sorcerer slurred as he staggered to a bench and sat down. "These ssskinsss won't give more than a piss-tinkle. A man can't get a good swallow from piss-tinkle!" He gave one of the wineskins a squeeze to illustrate his point, spraying a thin stream of amber into his mouth.</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"Where did you get that, friend?", the servant asked, moving to support the sagging Sorcerer.</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"It'sh good shtuff!", insisted Nedel, pressing the skin into the servant's hands. "Have a drink with me and you'll shee. Where's a tankard?"</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Copernicus sighed and, putting his shoulder to the job, managed to lever the drunken guest about so he was draped across the table instead of sagging to the floor. He scarcely heard the muttered words, and wouldn't have recognized them if he did. Neither did he see the clarity and focus in Nedel's eyes as the spell took effect.</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">*** </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">A pair of footmen carried the unconscious form up the narrow stairs, muttering curses as they went. "Foolish wriggle-finger can't handle a man's drink.", one of them swore. "Feels like he drank a gallon of it.", complained the other as he shifted his grip. "It'd serve him right if we dropped him in the stables."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Once at the landing they walked across the common room and deposited the slack form on a bench, then turned and left.</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"Damn!", swore the Sorcerer once they'd left. "I tried that blasted charm over and over again. He either has an iron will, or else he has no mind to affect."</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"Didn't the mead help?"</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"He never tasted it.", the nobleman swore as he pulled himself to a sitting position.</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"I could have told you he wouldn't.", said Seeburn. "The folk here don't like sweet drink. The land doesn't grow grapes, and the bees don't make much honey. Bees like flowers, and flowers like the sun, and, well, there hasn't been much sun. That leaves barley. Barley beer, barley ale, and barley liquor."</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"A proper mead isn't sweet. It tastes no more like honey than a good wine tastes like the grape."</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"Enough, Penn, we know. Blessings of Bacchus and all that. It didn't help."</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"Then that leaves little but blackmail."</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">*** </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">The winter sun sleeps late in the northern lands, a luxury not afforded to the companions. The castle was alive and moving well before the pale dawn, and the company was up and ready when the call to breakfast came.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Barley water and barley porridge made up the bulk of the morning's fare, accompanied by coarse brown bread and slices from a wheel of hard goat's cheese.</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">" </span><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><em>That's Copernicus who just served you</em>", came the quiet whisper in the ears of Penn and Marcus. Both looked up in surprise, but a meaningful look from Seeburn at the head table quickly told them the source of the voice.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Marcus made a sour face at the taste of the morning beverage, pushing it away. "Penn, do you have any of that mead left?", he asked.</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"I think so. I'll go check." Rising, he turned towards the kitchens, beckoning Copernicus to follow. "Come, we'll find something to his taste."</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Once alone in a corridor, Penn stopped.</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"Copernicus is it? We need to talk."</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">The servant looked confused rather than guilty, a point that didn't escape Penn's attention.</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"I happen to know that you've been reporting on us and our business. And not to the King." He paused for effect, to see how the man reacted. "Tell me who hired you, and I won't be reporting to the King either."</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">The man wilted visibly. "Kill me then. It doesn't matter. I'm dead no matter what."</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"I never said anything about killing you.", Penn replied in mock surprise, for he knew that reporting him to the King meant exactly that.</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"You don't understand, they have my family. If I talk, they're dead. If I'm killed though..."</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"They're still dead.", Penn finished for him. "They'd have no reason to let them live. And if they returned with the tale, the King would cast them out. Dispossessed, in this season? Starvation and the frozen sleep. We need to do you better than that."</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">The man looked at the Half-Satyr desperately, looking for a way out.</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"If we caught the man who you report to, and you weren't mentioned or involved..."</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"Do you know how many spies there are in these halls?", Copernicus said bitterly. "We spy on each other spying on each other. Fifty seats at that grand table, fifty war leaders, Lairds and Clan Chiefs, each one looking for an advantage over the others. Some of us sell information to both sides. Stopping me, or the man who hired me? That won't stop anything."</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"Well, you must have something to trade. Tell the King of a spy and he'll call the headsman. Tell him of an opportunity though..."</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Copernicus shook his head. "Do you want to know who's purse strings bind the headsman?" Then he thought, long and hard. "I do have something to trade. If you make the arrangements, I'll speak to the King. But no one can know!"</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"I'll see what I can do, but really, you're closer to the King's ear than I am."</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"Yes, but if this fails his anger will be leveled at you too, so I know you'll want this to succeed."</span> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">***</span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">[FONT=&quot]"What's this?", demanded the King, looking at the sealed parchment in confusion. The servant who had delivered it nodded towards a slender man in robes of shimmering silk who stood in the doorway.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">The King unsealed it, saw that it held writing, and in irritation flung it at Seeburn. "Make yourself useful, dolt.", he commanded.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Seeburn flushed red, but read the words his father could not. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"It's a message, an important one, but one better discussed in private.", he informed the King. "Too many ears here."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">The King looked unhappy, but nodded his assent.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">***</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"Your majesty, may I have a word?", Penn asked politely.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">The King's look made it clear how little regard he held for the Bard, but he agreed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"Let's walk the grounds, shall we? I have some of the southern wines for you to sample, and they're best enjoyed in a quiet place." Penn looked around and gestured to a servant, apparently at random, and directed him to bring the pitchers and goblets.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"Where did these come from?", demanded the King. "You had no casks in your gear, and there are no vines in these valleys."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"It's a gift of my people that wherever we go, good food and drink are always available."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"And here I thought you a useless poppinjay.", snorted the King in derision.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"Ah no, I always endeavor to be a useful poppinjay.", joked the Bard. Seeing the look on the King's face he decided to let his efforts at humor lapse.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"There is a spy in your court, as we discussed earlier. That's why I wanted to leave the halls. Spies seldom find excuses to be wandering outside their assigned duties." The Bard lead the King on a random route through the wood, staying on the path but avoiding well traveled areas.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"There are exceptions though.", Penn continued. "When one is commanded to stray... Like this man, for example." Turning, he indicated Copernicus. "Let me take your burden, friend, while you tell the King what you must."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"Your Majesty. I've been in your service my whole life. I've been in the service of the Masque for the last three moons, since the night they took my family. But they've promised they'll be returned once you are gone. I think that will be this very night, if they have their way."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">The King stopped dead in his tracks, his hand going to his sword. He looked around, eyes wary, expecting an ambush that never came.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"I am not their only agent.", the man said, pressing as a man possessed. "Other serve willingly, for gold or promises. And they have been warned to keep their families clear of the north end of town tonight."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"Why?", demanded the King.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"A small party plans to burn as much of the town as they can, just after sunset. That will draw the fire brigade and the guard to them, to fight the fires. Soon after a small fleet of ships, four or five in all, will land troops. They'll take the town, and if possible the castle as well."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">The King looked aghast. "Four or five ships?", the King asked in disbelief. "Across the Irish sea in winter? They're mad!"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"Mercenaries, your majesty. If they die the Masque need not pay them, so they're free to hire more. But if they succeed..."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">The King looked grim. "That will be nearly a thousand troops, in the city. I couldn't hold against that if I had a month to make ready."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"Then the best solution would be not to let them land.", Penn interjected. "Or at least, not all at once. A soldier on the field is a dangerous foe. A soldier on a ship, on the other hand, is just a man. I'm told your wife is a Druid, as is your daughter. Sunset comes early here at this time of year. Scarcely three hours past mid day, in fact. The tides will be coming in, but still low. I wonder what that root-binding spell would do if four or five ships tried to navigate through when the water was low and the seaweed was high?"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">The King began to smile. "I'll rally the town. We'll be ready with bows and fire arrows. We'll man the scorpion at the head of the bay. We'll gut them like fish."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">"And their spies will warn them off.", Penn pointed out. "No, we need a pretext for such a gathering. Say, an archery tournament, to welcome your new guests? I'm told that Centaur are excellent archers. I'll gift a hogshead of fine mead for the winner, and wine for the celebration."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">And the King's smile grew wider.</span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span>[/FONT]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Greenfield, post: 5934175, member: 6669384"] [FONT=Arial]*** Penn ended his spell. He had what he needed, or at least a place to start. "Seeburn, do you know a man named Copernicus?", he asked his friend.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] The warrior looked up from his efforts, thought a moment and nodded. "He's one of the kitchen help. His family has served ours for generations."[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] "Well, he's currently serving your family secrets up to the enemy. The question is, what do we do about it?"[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] "My father will kill him.", Seeburn said flatly. [/FONT] [FONT=Arial] "And we need to know who he's working for. I doubt that he's the only spy in the house, and if he's killed then his master will simply bribe someone else to take his place. For the moment, we know our enemy. Kill him and we won't."[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] Nedel leaned his chair back against the wall, eyes lost in thought. "Do you have any of that honey mead with you?", he asked.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] "I can arrange for some."[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] "Good. I have an idea."[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] *** Copernicus was banking the kitchen fire so it would last the night without having to be fed when the tall man in black entered the kitchens. "Dyou have a ppproper tankard?", the Sorcerer slurred as he staggered to a bench and sat down. "These ssskinsss won't give more than a piss-tinkle. A man can't get a good swallow from piss-tinkle!" He gave one of the wineskins a squeeze to illustrate his point, spraying a thin stream of amber into his mouth.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] "Where did you get that, friend?", the servant asked, moving to support the sagging Sorcerer.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] "It'sh good shtuff!", insisted Nedel, pressing the skin into the servant's hands. "Have a drink with me and you'll shee. Where's a tankard?"[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] Copernicus sighed and, putting his shoulder to the job, managed to lever the drunken guest about so he was draped across the table instead of sagging to the floor. He scarcely heard the muttered words, and wouldn't have recognized them if he did. Neither did he see the clarity and focus in Nedel's eyes as the spell took effect.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] *** A pair of footmen carried the unconscious form up the narrow stairs, muttering curses as they went. "Foolish wriggle-finger can't handle a man's drink.", one of them swore. "Feels like he drank a gallon of it.", complained the other as he shifted his grip. "It'd serve him right if we dropped him in the stables." Once at the landing they walked across the common room and deposited the slack form on a bench, then turned and left.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] "Damn!", swore the Sorcerer once they'd left. "I tried that blasted charm over and over again. He either has an iron will, or else he has no mind to affect."[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] "Didn't the mead help?"[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] "He never tasted it.", the nobleman swore as he pulled himself to a sitting position.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] "I could have told you he wouldn't.", said Seeburn. "The folk here don't like sweet drink. The land doesn't grow grapes, and the bees don't make much honey. Bees like flowers, and flowers like the sun, and, well, there hasn't been much sun. That leaves barley. Barley beer, barley ale, and barley liquor."[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] "A proper mead isn't sweet. It tastes no more like honey than a good wine tastes like the grape."[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] "Enough, Penn, we know. Blessings of Bacchus and all that. It didn't help."[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] "Then that leaves little but blackmail."[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] *** The winter sun sleeps late in the northern lands, a luxury not afforded to the companions. The castle was alive and moving well before the pale dawn, and the company was up and ready when the call to breakfast came. Barley water and barley porridge made up the bulk of the morning's fare, accompanied by coarse brown bread and slices from a wheel of hard goat's cheese.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] " [/FONT][FONT=Arial][I]That's Copernicus who just served you[/I]", came the quiet whisper in the ears of Penn and Marcus. Both looked up in surprise, but a meaningful look from Seeburn at the head table quickly told them the source of the voice. Marcus made a sour face at the taste of the morning beverage, pushing it away. "Penn, do you have any of that mead left?", he asked.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] "I think so. I'll go check." Rising, he turned towards the kitchens, beckoning Copernicus to follow. "Come, we'll find something to his taste."[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] Once alone in a corridor, Penn stopped.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] "Copernicus is it? We need to talk."[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] The servant looked confused rather than guilty, a point that didn't escape Penn's attention.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] "I happen to know that you've been reporting on us and our business. And not to the King." He paused for effect, to see how the man reacted. "Tell me who hired you, and I won't be reporting to the King either."[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] The man wilted visibly. "Kill me then. It doesn't matter. I'm dead no matter what."[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] "I never said anything about killing you.", Penn replied in mock surprise, for he knew that reporting him to the King meant exactly that.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] "You don't understand, they have my family. If I talk, they're dead. If I'm killed though..."[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] "They're still dead.", Penn finished for him. "They'd have no reason to let them live. And if they returned with the tale, the King would cast them out. Dispossessed, in this season? Starvation and the frozen sleep. We need to do you better than that."[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] The man looked at the Half-Satyr desperately, looking for a way out.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] "If we caught the man who you report to, and you weren't mentioned or involved..."[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] "Do you know how many spies there are in these halls?", Copernicus said bitterly. "We spy on each other spying on each other. Fifty seats at that grand table, fifty war leaders, Lairds and Clan Chiefs, each one looking for an advantage over the others. Some of us sell information to both sides. Stopping me, or the man who hired me? That won't stop anything."[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] "Well, you must have something to trade. Tell the King of a spy and he'll call the headsman. Tell him of an opportunity though..."[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] Copernicus shook his head. "Do you want to know who's purse strings bind the headsman?" Then he thought, long and hard. "I do have something to trade. If you make the arrangements, I'll speak to the King. But no one can know!"[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] "I'll see what I can do, but really, you're closer to the King's ear than I am."[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] "Yes, but if this fails his anger will be leveled at you too, so I know you'll want this to succeed."[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] ***[/FONT] [FONT=Arial][FONT="]"What's this?", demanded the King, looking at the sealed parchment in confusion. The servant who had delivered it nodded towards a slender man in robes of shimmering silk who stood in the doorway. The King unsealed it, saw that it held writing, and in irritation flung it at Seeburn. "Make yourself useful, dolt.", he commanded. Seeburn flushed red, but read the words his father could not. "It's a message, an important one, but one better discussed in private.", he informed the King. "Too many ears here." The King looked unhappy, but nodded his assent. *** "Your majesty, may I have a word?", Penn asked politely. The King's look made it clear how little regard he held for the Bard, but he agreed. "Let's walk the grounds, shall we? I have some of the southern wines for you to sample, and they're best enjoyed in a quiet place." Penn looked around and gestured to a servant, apparently at random, and directed him to bring the pitchers and goblets. "Where did these come from?", demanded the King. "You had no casks in your gear, and there are no vines in these valleys." "It's a gift of my people that wherever we go, good food and drink are always available." "And here I thought you a useless poppinjay.", snorted the King in derision. "Ah no, I always endeavor to be a useful poppinjay.", joked the Bard. Seeing the look on the King's face he decided to let his efforts at humor lapse. "There is a spy in your court, as we discussed earlier. That's why I wanted to leave the halls. Spies seldom find excuses to be wandering outside their assigned duties." The Bard lead the King on a random route through the wood, staying on the path but avoiding well traveled areas. "There are exceptions though.", Penn continued. "When one is commanded to stray... Like this man, for example." Turning, he indicated Copernicus. "Let me take your burden, friend, while you tell the King what you must." "Your Majesty. I've been in your service my whole life. I've been in the service of the Masque for the last three moons, since the night they took my family. But they've promised they'll be returned once you are gone. I think that will be this very night, if they have their way." The King stopped dead in his tracks, his hand going to his sword. He looked around, eyes wary, expecting an ambush that never came. "I am not their only agent.", the man said, pressing as a man possessed. "Other serve willingly, for gold or promises. And they have been warned to keep their families clear of the north end of town tonight." "Why?", demanded the King. "A small party plans to burn as much of the town as they can, just after sunset. That will draw the fire brigade and the guard to them, to fight the fires. Soon after a small fleet of ships, four or five in all, will land troops. They'll take the town, and if possible the castle as well." The King looked aghast. "Four or five ships?", the King asked in disbelief. "Across the Irish sea in winter? They're mad!" "Mercenaries, your majesty. If they die the Masque need not pay them, so they're free to hire more. But if they succeed..." The King looked grim. "That will be nearly a thousand troops, in the city. I couldn't hold against that if I had a month to make ready." "Then the best solution would be not to let them land.", Penn interjected. "Or at least, not all at once. A soldier on the field is a dangerous foe. A soldier on a ship, on the other hand, is just a man. I'm told your wife is a Druid, as is your daughter. Sunset comes early here at this time of year. Scarcely three hours past mid day, in fact. The tides will be coming in, but still low. I wonder what that root-binding spell would do if four or five ships tried to navigate through when the water was low and the seaweed was high?" The King began to smile. "I'll rally the town. We'll be ready with bows and fire arrows. We'll man the scorpion at the head of the bay. We'll gut them like fish." "And their spies will warn them off.", Penn pointed out. "No, we need a pretext for such a gathering. Say, an archery tournament, to welcome your new guests? I'm told that Centaur are excellent archers. I'll gift a hogshead of fine mead for the winner, and wine for the celebration." And the King's smile grew wider. [/FONT][/FONT] [/QUOTE]
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Curse of Darkness VII - Britania
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