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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Nonlethal Force" data-source="post: 2813873" data-attributes="member: 35788">Ischarus pulled Elistra to a halt just outside the local inn that they were accustomed to staying at before heading into Quehalost.  Rhema and Shauvry pulled up along side of Ischarus and he nodded to Rhema as she pulled up the hood of her cloak.  “Go and tell Rapheus that he’ll need to send out Mardak.  His boy is going to need to raise the jailor.  Tell him we’ve got two highwaymen captured and they’ll need a night’s stay behind bars and a special examination to follow.”Rhema nodded under the hood of her cloak and stood up in her stirrups.  She swung her right leg over the back of Shauvry and brought her right foot to the ground.  As she did, Ischarus turned to locate Semeion.  He spoke freely this night, and given the hour he felt comfortable giving orders to Semeion.  “Stay back in the street and watch these highwaymen.  After the walk they’ve just finished I doubt they’ve got the energy to escape.  But if anyone comes along this road before the jailor comes it’ll be your job to steer them clear.  We don’t need any trouble from people up late.  We also don’t know the connections these hobgoblins have here in town.”Not wanting to say too much in his tired condition, Semeion merely smiled.  Ischarus continued his instructions.  “And pull up the hood of your cloak.  This close to Quehalost we cannot be sure about anyone being friend or foe.  They might know us by our cloaks, they might not.  But I guarantee our enemies know us by our faces.”Semeion’s face turned emotionless at the serious tone taken by Ischarus’ voice.  His hands instinctively rose to his shoulders and slid his hood up and over his head.  The front edge of the hood hung just above the level of his eyes.  He turned Thana in a half circle and faced the direction of the road that they had just come.Rhema slipped into inn without cracking the door too far.  Only a sliver of light spilled out into the dark night as the thin woman slipped between the door and its frame.  Inside, Rhema saw the familiar small lobby that ended in a desk opposite the door through which she had entered.  Behind the desk stood a man who looked as though to have some elf-blood somewhere back in his heritage.  The man smiled as he saw Rhema, his eyes recognizing the cloak immediately as a long time patron.“Once more headed back into Quehalost, milady?”“Aye, Rapheus.  We’ll go in once more and then keep it up until justice has come to that land.  It’s a difficult task to try and accomplish one person at a time, but each time we go in there is once more person free when we leave.”Rapheus smiled in response to Rhema’s words.  “I’ll get the regular room ready for you then, ma’am.  And you’ll have no worry that I’ll have the other room ready and waiting for your return whenever you show up.”Rhema replied, “You’re very kind, Rapheus.  But we’ve business to take care of this night before we retire.  Ischarus has caught a few highwaymen along the road.  Hobgoblins, by the look of ‘em.  I don’t think they were working as part of a more organized force – just independents trying to get a few gold coins from a passerby I think.  But if you wouldn’t mind sending Mardak to raise the jailor this late, I’d appreciate it.”Rapheus’ face paled slightly at the mention of the highwaymen.  “Certainly, milady.”  He turned to the archway that rose behind his desk.  “Mardak!”  He turned back to Rhema as the sound of small feet could be heard scampering above them.  “You were not injured, were you?”Rhema smiled with an easy expression.  “Nothing to note, but thank you for your concern.”The sound of footsteps could be heard descending the stairs behind Rapheus.  A young boy of about twelve years of age appeared, his head only barely above the level of the desk where Rapheus stood.  Rapheus smiled at the boy’s quick response and said, “I need you to run to the jailor, Mardak.  You remember Miss Rhema?  She and her friends have caught a few hobgoblins attempting to steal from travelers along the road.  The hobgoblins will need to be put in jail for an examination tomorrow.  Can you go and bring the jailor?”The boy smiled broadly, happy to do any favor this late at night.  “Sure, papa.  I can run to the jailor and back.  I’ll make sure that the Mr. Jairdaans is awakened and aware of the need before he comes to collect the goblins.”Rapheus smiled at his boy but corrected him.  “Hobgoblins, Mardak.  There is a difference.”“I know, papa.  I was just saying that to save some time.”Mardak turned and ducked under the desk and smiled as he walked past Rhema.  As he passed by the traveling woman, he turned his body so that he could watch her as he went by.  Eventually he was walking backwards toward the door while looking to Rhema.  He misjudged his approach to the door and struck the wall about a foot to the left of the door.  Rhema chuckled as she watched the boy strike the wall and then turn away with an embarrassed expression upon his face.“I think my boy has a crush on you, milady.”“I am only flattered by his purity of heart, Rapheus.  The admiration of a child is such a simple thing, but given with such honesty and sincerity.  He is a good boy, you’ve done well to raise him.”Rapheus nodded in approval of Rhema’s words regarding his boy.  “It’s been hard since Tasha’s death.  But the business keeps him honest and has helped him grow.”Rhema looked to the side as Rapheus mentioned his deceased wife.  She knew she had died only a few years back and the adjustment was still hard at times.  Tasha had succumbed to an illness that brought on a severe fever and as a result she seemed largely out of her mind for the last day before she died.  Other than the fever, though, Rhema knew that Tasha did not suffer much pain.  Even after Rapheus finished speaking Rhema continued to look to the wall to the right.  She replied, “You’ll need to meet our new associate, Rapheus.  We picked him up in Reignsburg and I think he’ll be a welcome addition.  He’s currently outside waiting with Ischarus and the horses.”Rapheus nodded and lifted the part of the desk that Mardak had crawled under.  Once the hinged desktop was lifted on one side it allowed Rapheus to pass from behind the desk into the small lobby where Rhema stood.  He had noticed her discomfort when Tasha had been mentioned and Rapheus placed his hand upon Rhema’s shoulder.  “I know that you still mourn for my wife, Rhema.  Feel free to mourn for her sake, but please do not mourn for me or for Mardak.  We’ve finally begun to move past the pain and into life.  She lived well and taught us many things about happiness.”Rhema turned her head and caught Rapheus’ gaze.  “I know.  It is still difficult to imagine this place without her, though.  She brought such life to everything that she touched.”Rapheus smiled broadly.  “Then how about we go out there and meet this new acquaintance of yours.  As usual, I’ll avoid using names in public.  We can wait for the jailor to come outside and then I’ll send Mardak in to show you your rooms while I stable your horses.”  Rapheus motioned with one hand toward the door as he wrapped his other arm around Rhema in a slight hug.  Rhema lingered in his embrace for a second before opening the door and spilling a small amount of light into the street.Outside, Rhema could just make out the small form of a young boy hurriedly retreating from her two companions.  Ischarus and Semeion had obviously been talking quietly to the curious boy.  It seemed, however, that the boy didn’t want to be caught by his father as he delayed from raising the jailor.  Rhema smiled a bit as she stopped for a moment in the doorway.  “You know …” she began and then stopped.  She paused for another moment until she was sure the boy was out of sight.  “Oh, never mind.  It is nothing that can’t be handled once we are all inside.”Rhema finished passing through the doorway and quickly stepped out of the light, drawing the hood of her cloak tightly around her face in the darkness of the street.  Rapheus also stepped out onto the street and allowed the door to close tightly.  He nodded at Ischarus and added, “Good to see you again, sir.  We have a room waiting for you and your companions once the jailor arrives.”Ischarus nodded in reply but said nothing.  A very slight smile could be seen as Rapheus looked in under the hood of Ischarus as best he could.  Rapheus could tell that Ischarus wanted to greet the man much more openly, but the openness of the street and proximity to the border of Quehalost would not be an appropriate place to have such a greeting.  Rapheus looked to Semeion and nodded in greeting.  Semeion lifted his hand in a simple gesture and lightly uttered a few magical words.  “Par Ah-sahn.”  Semeion lowered his hand to his side and Rapheus looked down to his own hand.  Rapheus felt a slight pressure on his hand as well as the presence of faint warmth.  The pressure and the warmth were as though he had shaken Semeion’s own hand.  As quickly as the effect came, it vanished.  Rapheus looked up to Semeion, but the gray cloaked horseman had turned his horse to allow him to watch the street once more.After a long five minute wait in silence, Mardak returned in the midst of a brisk jog.  He turned the final corner and smiled as he saw his father standing in the street waiting for him.  As though trained not to make too many noises Mardak approached the small gathering outside the inn before speaking.  Rapheus could tell that Mardak had run hard as he approached; he seemed to have some difficulty catching his breath as he began to speak.  “Papa,” Mardak began with a whisper to his father, “I have alerted Mr. Jairdaans and he has sent for a jail guard to meet him.  Together they will come and take the highwaymen into custody.”“That is good, son.  Now go inside and up to bed.” Rapheus answered.  Mardak looked immensely disappointed at his father’s pronouncement.  Rapheus gave Mardak a stern look that demanded obedience.  Mardak started for the door but turned around as his hand reached for the doorknob.“Papa, can I at least stay until the jailor and the guard come?”Before Rapheus could speak, Rhema smiled and knelt to the level of the boy.  “I’ll watch him, Rapheus.  No harm will come to him.  After all, he has had a part to play in their arrest.  It is a good lesson to teach the youth to see things through to their completion.”Rapheus looked to Rhema and smiled.  It appeared that Rapheus did not desire to make this a personal issue and his lips parted in a near laugh as he added, “Is it any wonder that the boy admires you?  You pamper him ever time you are around.”Rhema only smiled in return, looking up to Ischarus.  Her cloaked friend peered out from under his hood and shook his head slowly from side to side with a wide grin on his face.A few minutes later the armor of the jail guard could be heard as the jailor and his escort marched to the front of the inn.  They approached much like Mardak had, refraining to talk until they closed the distance completely.  Once they were at a casual conversational distance Mr. Jairdaans spoke first.“Good eve, Rapheus.  I understand these hobgoblins have caused your travelers some difficulty on the road from Reignsburg to Scarhaus?”Rapheus replied, “Indeed they have.  I understand that the highwaymen we interested in killing them and taking their possessions.  It is only on account of the good faith of my friends that the lives of the highwaymen were spared at all.  Fortunately for the hobliglins my friends prefer to refrain from taking life if they can avoid it.”Mr. Jairdaans looked up to Ischarus, who had drawn his cloak even more around his face to make it impossible to make out any features in what little shadowy light made it past the edge of the hood.  The jailor addressed Ischarus by saying, “And who may I list as making the capture in case we discover anything from them during their interrogation?”Ischarus kept the silent vigil and Rapheus answered for him.  “You may list the capturing party as myself.  Or at the very least you may note that it is one of my patrons who would prefer to not be named.  Any information that comes from these may be passed through me.”Mr. Jairdaans breathed in deeply.  “The count will not approve of such an arrangement, Rapheus.”Rapheus smirked.  “I have given Count Ahistrom no reason to doubt me in the past.  He has no reason to question my loyalty to his rule.  If the count has a problem with this arrangement then he can summon me to his quarters and we’ll discuss the issue there.  But until such a time as the count informs me of a new policy, I seek to protect the anonymity of my associates.  I take responsibility for their capture.  That is how it always has been, Mr. Jairdaans.  This is not the first time that this arrangement has been used.”The jailor nodded for the guard to put the city chains and shackles on the hobgoblins and then to remove the ropes used by Ischarus.  He did motion for them to retain the gags that had been put in place to keep them from disturbing the town at night.  The guard set to work about the task as Mr. Jairdaans turned once more to look at Rapheus.  As the jailor turned, his dark eyes almost seemed to gleam for an instant with a crimson fire.  “Your friends must pay you well for your trouble, innkeeper.”Rapheus smiled into the jailor’s glare.  “My pay is of little concern to you, Mr. Jairdaans.  You know that I appreciate your services and I had hoped I need not remind you that I do remember your services as well.  These are simple matters, really.  I continue to believe that the extra effort on your behalf to accept my name in place of the names of my associate would be easily enough forgotten under the proper considerations.  I am assuming that is still correct?”Mr. Jairdaans smiled, backing away from the party.  “If you should find it necessary to ensure the documentation appears as you would like; well, that is certainly your decision to make.”Rapheus nodded in what could be presumed as a dismissal of the jailor.  The jailor paused just long enough to insinuate that Rapheus’ gesture had gone unnoticed before he turned and made his own gesture toward the jailor to move the bound and gagged hobgoblins down the street.  Before long, they were gone.Rapheus turned to his son and a stern looked come upon his face once more.  “Boy, you’ve seen enough for one day.  Show these good folk to their room while I take their horses around to the stables.”Mardak’s face erupted in a large beaming grin.  “Sure, papa.  You can count on me!”Ischarus and Semeion finally dismounted once the jailor was gone.  They handed the reigns over to Rapheus, who also collected the reigns of Shauvry before leading the horses around to the side of the building.  The three adventurers entered into the lobby of the inn and followed Mardak up the stairs.As the boy walked under the desk and through the door, he wordlessly motioned for them to join him in ascending the stairs.  At the top of the stairs it appeared as though the family’s quarters were to the right, placing it above the lobby.  The boy turned to the left and added, “I know you know the way, ma’am.  But I’ll show you to the door like papa told me.”When they reached the door Mardak opened it and stepped back into the hallway.  Rhema patted Mardak on the head and knelt down before him once more.  “You are a good lad, Mardak.  You keep listening to your father and growing up and soon you’ll be a healthy young man.  You already show such promise!”  Rhema leaned in and kissed the boy on the cheek while ruffling the hair on the top of his head.  Mardak instinctively kissed Rhema back on the cheek before she could pull away.  As Rhema stood, the rest of the party could see that Mardak was blushing considerably.The boy watched as the rest of the party entered the room.  Of course Rhema caught Mardak’s attention, but the boy also noted the other two as they entered as well.  Mardak stared at Ischarus’ waist as he passed him by, noting that the sword hanging from Ischarus’ belt was nearly as long as the boy was tall.  He also noted Semeion’s apparent lack of weaponry.  Mardak did notice that Semeion’s hands were thin and frail, although the fingers seemed to be held stiffly and at attention.  Mardak looked up to Semeion as Semeion turned to close the door behind him.  For the first time, the boy could see under Semeion’s hood and the boy returned the smile that Semeion gave him.  Just before the door closed, Semeion gave the boy a wink and added, “Now you should say goodnight and go to bed, young one.  The only way you’ll grow is if you sleep.”Mardak smiled and replied, “G’night, sir.”  Semeion watched through the slightly ajar door until the boy entered the private rooms for his family.  Silently, he closed the door.The night passed uneventfully in the small in on the edge of Scarhaus.  Semeion knew that tomorrow would be the day he entered the malevolent land of Quehalost for the first time.[Sblock=Color Free Speech Section]Ischarus pulled Elistra to a halt just outside the local inn that they were accustomed to staying at before heading into Quehalost. Rhema and Shauvry pulled up along side of Ischarus and he nodded to Rhema as she pulled up the hood of her cloak. “Go and tell Rapheus that he’ll need to send out Mardak. His boy is going to need to raise the jailor. Tell him we’ve got two highwaymen captured and they’ll need a night’s stay behind bars and a special examination to follow.”Rhema nodded under the hood of her cloak and stood up in her stirrups. She swung her right leg over the back of Shauvry and brought her right foot to the ground. As she did, Ischarus turned to locate Semeion. He spoke freely this night, and given the hour he felt comfortable giving orders to Semeion. “Stay back in the street and watch these highwaymen. After the walk they’ve just finished I doubt they’ve got the energy to escape. But if anyone comes along this road before the jailor comes it’ll be your job to steer them clear. We don’t need any trouble from people up late. We also don’t know the connections these hobgoblins have here in town.”Not wanting to say too much in his tired condition, Semeion merely smiled. Ischarus continued his instructions. “And pull up the hood of your cloak. This close to Quehalost we cannot be sure about anyone being friend or foe. They might know us by our cloaks, they might not. But I guarantee our enemies know us by our faces.”Semeion’s face turned emotionless at the serious tone taken by Ischarus’ voice. His hands instinctively rose to his shoulders and slid his hood up and over his head. The front edge of the hood hung just above the level of his eyes. He turned Thana in a half circle and faced the direction of the road that they had just come.Rhema slipped into inn without cracking the door too far. Only a sliver of light spilled out into the dark night as the thin woman slipped between the door and its frame. Inside, Rhema saw the familiar small lobby that ended in a desk opposite the door through which she had entered. Behind the desk stood a man who looked as though to have some elf-blood somewhere back in his heritage. The man smiled as he saw Rhema, his eyes recognizing the cloak immediately as a long time patron.“Once more headed back into Quehalost, milady?”“Aye, Rapheus. We’ll go in once more and then keep it up until justice has come to that land. It’s a difficult task to try and accomplish one person at a time, but each time we go in there is once more person free when we leave.”Rapheus smiled in response to Rhema’s words. “I’ll get the regular room ready for you then, ma’am. And you’ll have no worry that I’ll have the other room ready and waiting for your return whenever you show up.”Rhema replied, “You’re very kind, Rapheus. But we’ve business to take care of this night before we retire. Ischarus has caught a few highwaymen along the road. Hobgoblins, by the look of ‘em. I don’t think they were working as part of a more organized force – just independents trying to get a few gold coins from a passerby I think. But if you wouldn’t mind sending Mardak to raise the jailor this late, I’d appreciate it.”Rapheus’ face paled slightly at the mention of the highwaymen. “Certainly, milady.” He turned to the archway that rose behind his desk. “Mardak!” He turned back to Rhema as the sound of small feet could be heard scampering above them. “You were not injured, were you?”Rhema smiled with an easy expression. “Nothing to note, but thank you for your concern.”The sound of footsteps could be heard descending the stairs behind Rapheus. A young boy of about twelve years of age appeared, his head only barely above the level of the desk where Rapheus stood. Rapheus smiled at the boy’s quick response and said, “I need you to run to the jailor, Mardak. You remember Miss Rhema? She and her friends have caught a few hobgoblins attempting to steal from travelers along the road. The hobgoblins will need to be put in jail for an examination tomorrow. Can you go and bring the jailor?”The boy smiled broadly, happy to do any favor this late at night. “Sure, papa. I can run to the jailor and back. I’ll make sure that the Mr. Jairdaans is awakened and aware of the need before he comes to collect the goblins.”Rapheus smiled at his boy but corrected him. “Hobgoblins, Mardak. There is a difference.”“I know, papa. I was just saying that to save some time.”Mardak turned and ducked under the desk and smiled as he walked past Rhema. As he passed by the traveling woman, he turned his body so that he could watch her as he went by. Eventually he was walking backwards toward the door while looking to Rhema. He misjudged his approach to the door and struck the wall about a foot to the left of the door. Rhema chuckled as she watched the boy strike the wall and then turn away with an embarrassed expression upon his face.“I think my boy has a crush on you, milady.”“I am only flattered by his purity of heart, Rapheus. The admiration of a child is such a simple thing, but given with such honesty and sincerity. He is a good boy, you’ve done well to raise him.”Rapheus nodded in approval of Rhema’s words regarding his boy. “It’s been hard since Tasha’s death. But the business keeps him honest and has helped him grow.”Rhema looked to the side as Rapheus mentioned his deceased wife. She knew she had died only a few years back and the adjustment was still hard at times. Tasha had succumbed to an illness that brought on a severe fever and as a result she seemed largely out of her mind for the last day before she died. Other than the fever, though, Rhema knew that Tasha did not suffer much pain. Even after Rapheus finished speaking Rhema continued to look to the wall to the right. She replied, “You’ll need to meet our new associate, Rapheus. We picked him up in Reignsburg and I think he’ll be a welcome addition. He’s currently outside waiting with Ischarus and the horses.”Rapheus nodded and lifted the part of the desk that Mardak had crawled under. Once the hinged desktop was lifted on one side it allowed Rapheus to pass from behind the desk into the small lobby where Rhema stood. He had noticed her discomfort when Tasha had been mentioned and Rapheus placed his hand upon Rhema’s shoulder. “I know that you still mourn for my wife, Rhema. Feel free to mourn for her sake, but please do not mourn for me or for Mardak. We’ve finally begun to move past the pain and into life. She lived well and taught us many things about happiness.”Rhema turned her head and caught Rapheus’ gaze. “I know. It is still difficult to imagine this place without her, though. She brought such life to everything that she touched.”Rapheus smiled broadly. “Then how about we go out there and meet this new acquaintance of yours. As usual, I’ll avoid using names in public. We can wait for the jailor to come outside and then I’ll send Mardak in to show you your rooms while I stable your horses.” Rapheus motioned with one hand toward the door as he wrapped his other arm around Rhema in a slight hug. Rhema lingered in his embrace for a second before opening the door and spilling a small amount of light into the street.Outside, Rhema could just make out the small form of a young boy hurriedly retreating from her two companions. Ischarus and Semeion had obviously been talking quietly to the curious boy. It seemed, however, that the boy didn’t want to be caught by his father as he delayed from raising the jailor. Rhema smiled a bit as she stopped for a moment in the doorway. “You know …” she began and then stopped. She paused for another moment until she was sure the boy was out of sight. “Oh, never mind. It is nothing that can’t be handled once we are all inside.”Rhema finished passing through the doorway and quickly stepped out of the light, drawing the hood of her cloak tightly around her face in the darkness of the street. Rapheus also stepped out onto the street and allowed the door to close tightly. He nodded at Ischarus and added, “Good to see you again, sir. We have a room waiting for you and your companions once the jailor arrives.”Ischarus nodded in reply but said nothing. A very slight smile could be seen as Rapheus looked in under the hood of Ischarus as best he could. Rapheus could tell that Ischarus wanted to greet the man much more openly, but the openness of the street and proximity to the border of Quehalost would not be an appropriate place to have such a greeting. Rapheus looked to Semeion and nodded in greeting. Semeion lifted his hand in a simple gesture and lightly uttered a few magical words. “Par Ah-sahn.” Semeion lowered his hand to his side and Rapheus looked down to his own hand. Rapheus felt a slight pressure on his hand as well as the presence of faint warmth. The pressure and the warmth were as though he had shaken Semeion’s own hand. As quickly as the effect came, it vanished. Rapheus looked up to Semeion, but the gray cloaked horseman had turned his horse to allow him to watch the street once more.After a long five minute wait in silence, Mardak returned in the midst of a brisk jog. He turned the final corner and smiled as he saw his father standing in the street waiting for him. As though trained not to make too many noises Mardak approached the small gathering outside the inn before speaking. Rapheus could tell that Mardak had run hard as he approached; he seemed to have some difficulty catching his breath as he began to speak. “Papa,” Mardak began with a whisper to his father, “I have alerted Mr. Jairdaans and he has sent for a jail guard to meet him. Together they will come and take the highwaymen into custody.”“That is good, son. Now go inside and up to bed.” Rapheus answered. Mardak looked immensely disappointed at his father’s pronouncement. Rapheus gave Mardak a stern look that demanded obedience. Mardak started for the door but turned around as his hand reached for the doorknob.“Papa, can I at least stay until the jailor and the guard come?”Before Rapheus could speak, Rhema smiled and knelt to the level of the boy. “I’ll watch him, Rapheus. No harm will come to him. After all, he has had a part to play in their arrest. It is a good lesson to teach the youth to see things through to their completion.”Rapheus looked to Rhema and smiled. It appeared that Rapheus did not desire to make this a personal issue and his lips parted in a near laugh as he added, “Is it any wonder that the boy admires you? You pamper him ever time you are around.”Rhema only smiled in return, looking up to Ischarus. Her cloaked friend peered out from under his hood and shook his head slowly from side to side with a wide grin on his face.A few minutes later the armor of the jail guard could be heard as the jailor and his escort marched to the front of the inn. They approached much like Mardak had, refraining to talk until they closed the distance completely. Once they were at a casual conversational distance Mr. Jairdaans spoke first.“Good eve, Rapheus. I understand these hobgoblins have caused your travelers some difficulty on the road from Reignsburg to Scarhaus?”Rapheus replied, “Indeed they have. I understand that the highwaymen we interested in killing them and taking their possessions. It is only on account of the good faith of my friends that the lives of the highwaymen were spared at all. Fortunately for the hobliglins my friends prefer to refrain from taking life if they can avoid it.”Mr. Jairdaans looked up to Ischarus, who had drawn his cloak even more around his face to make it impossible to make out any features in what little shadowy light made it past the edge of the hood. The jailor addressed Ischarus by saying, “And who may I list as making the capture in case we discover anything from them during their interrogation?”Ischarus kept the silent vigil and Rapheus answered for him. “You may list the capturing party as myself. Or at the very least you may note that it is one of my patrons who would prefer to not be named. Any information that comes from these may be passed through me.”Mr. Jairdaans breathed in deeply. “The count will not approve of such an arrangement, Rapheus.”Rapheus smirked. “I have given Count Ahistrom no reason to doubt me in the past. He has no reason to question my loyalty to his rule. If the count has a problem with this arrangement then he can summon me to his quarters and we’ll discuss the issue there. But until such a time as the count informs me of a new policy, I seek to protect the anonymity of my associates. I take responsibility for their capture. That is how it always has been, Mr. Jairdaans. This is not the first time that this arrangement has been used.”The jailor nodded for the guard to put the city chains and shackles on the hobgoblins and then to remove the ropes used by Ischarus. He did motion for them to retain the gags that had been put in place to keep them from disturbing the town at night. The guard set to work about the task as Mr. Jairdaans turned once more to look at Rapheus. As the jailor turned, his dark eyes almost seemed to gleam for an instant with a crimson fire. “Your friends must pay you well for your trouble, innkeeper.”Rapheus smiled into the jailor’s glare. “My pay is of little concern to you, Mr. Jairdaans. You know that I appreciate your services and I had hoped I need not remind you that I do remember your services as well. These are simple matters, really. I continue to believe that the extra effort on your behalf to accept my name in place of the names of my associate would be easily enough forgotten under the proper considerations. I am assuming that is still correct?”Mr. Jairdaans smiled, backing away from the party. “If you should find it necessary to ensure the documentation appears as you would like; well, that is certainly your decision to make.”Rapheus nodded in what could be presumed as a dismissal of the jailor. The jailor paused just long enough to insinuate that Rapheus’ gesture had gone unnoticed before he turned and made his own gesture toward the jailor to move the bound and gagged hobgoblins down the street. Before long, they were gone.Rapheus turned to his son and a stern looked come upon his face once more. “Boy, you’ve seen enough for one day. Show these good folk to their room while I take their horses around to the stables.”Mardak’s face erupted in a large beaming grin. “Sure, papa. You can count on me!”Ischarus and Semeion finally dismounted once the jailor was gone. They handed the reigns over to Rapheus, who also collected the reigns of Shauvry before leading the horses around to the side of the building. The three adventurers entered into the lobby of the inn and followed Mardak up the stairs.As the boy walked under the desk and through the door, he wordlessly motioned for them to join him in ascending the stairs. At the top of the stairs it appeared as though the family’s quarters were to the right, placing it above the lobby. The boy turned to the left and added, “I know you know the way, ma’am. But I’ll show you to the door like papa told me.”When they reached the door Mardak opened it and stepped back into the hallway. Rhema patted Mardak on the head and knelt down before him once more. “You are a good lad, Mardak. You keep listening to your father and growing up and soon you’ll be a healthy young man. You already show such promise!” Rhema leaned in and kissed the boy on the cheek while ruffling the hair on the top of his head. Mardak instinctively kissed Rhema back on the cheek before she could pull away. As Rhema stood, the rest of the party could see that Mardak was blushing considerably.The boy watched as the rest of the party entered the room. Of course Rhema caught Mardak’s attention, but the boy also noted the other two as they entered as well. Mardak stared at Ischarus’ waist as he passed him by, noting that the sword hanging from Ischarus’ belt was nearly as long as the boy was tall. He also noted Semeion’s apparent lack of weaponry. Mardak did notice that Semeion’s hands were thin and frail, although the fingers seemed to be held stiffly and at attention. Mardak looked up to Semeion as Semeion turned to close the door behind him. For the first time, the boy could see under Semeion’s hood and the boy returned the smile that Semeion gave him. Just before the door closed, Semeion gave the boy a wink and added, “Now you should say goodnight and go to bed, young one. The only way you’ll grow is if you sleep.”Mardak smiled and replied, “G’night, sir.” Semeion watched through the slightly ajar door until the boy entered the private rooms for his family. Silently, he closed the door.The night passed uneventfully in the small in on the edge of Scarhaus. Semeion knew that tomorrow would be the day he entered the malevolent land of Quehalost for the first time.[/Sblock]</blockquote>

Verification