Black Bard
First Post
Great writing, Express!!!
Just one note: a familiar named "Corvo"?? Does warforged speak Portuguese??
Just one note: a familiar named "Corvo"?? Does warforged speak Portuguese??
House Medani Detection Office:The Lady in Blue (Updated 12-03-05)
- Thread starter Express
- Start date
Off On the Road to Zilargo (con't)
We arrived at the Hub on time. By we I of course mean Honora and myself. Like so many things so far, my best laid plans went awry.
The Hub is actually an exchange, where the Houses Orien and Lyrandar have booking agents, shipping clerks and various other representatives to assist persons seeking transport. Anvil, Bynara, and Dorbo were all there. They seemed surprised when we arrived.
Bynara stared for a moment. “I booked passage on a Lyrandar galleon, the Swiftsure. We were fortunate, the ship was delayed taking on cargo. It leaves in an hour.” She fell silent, then exploded. “By The Traveller, Calib what is she doing here?"
The answer was simple. Honora was stubborn. I learned several things in my meeting with her earlier that day. First, Onaan is her maiden name. Her married name is ‘ir Balel, and she is the widow of a Brelish noble. Her favorite color was blue; even today she was wearing a light blue dress. And she was very self possessed, formidable even.
My interview had begun well enough. Honora had looked quite beautiful despite the early hour. She looked more elven than last I saw her, more than I had first noticed. I again asked her several of the questions I had the day she came to our office. The answers were the same.
No idea of her brothers private life. What he did. Who he knew except for the two at Morgrave. Goblins? No. Gambling? Certainly not.
Did she contact anyone before coming to us? She had arrived in Sharn three days before coming to us. She had sent messages to the City Watch and Morgrave, following up unanswered correspondance she had begun in New Cyre. As usual we werent the first choice.
That didnt sound good to me. Voren could have found out and told Koba. In theory of course.
I informed her she was possibly in danger. And that we were following a lead out of the country about Hennet. She took the danger part quite well, considering. She was concerned for Hennet. And she demanded to accompany us, not return home.
She made a convincing case, too. She held the purse strings. My charm was of little avail; she refused to consider any other alternative. I chalk this up to the fact that I hadn’t had much sleep.
“Master d’Medani formulated a most delightful plan of action,” Honora explained to Bynara as the others looked on. She liked to be called Honora. Turns out she was just a farm girl from the Brelish countryside. Well maybe not a farmgirl but a commoner. She didnt act like a nobleman’s widow that was for sure.
Honroa continued.” My servant Marta and I switched clothes. We are close in age, and wearing cloaks, the illusion is quite convincing .” She was smiling as if she was enjoying herself. I felt weak in the knees. “He made a large show at the Blackstone of insuring that ‘I' received proper escort to First Tower and the lightning rail station there.”
I did make a big deal. The attempted break in had occurred on Honora's floor. Marta had heard something at their lock. Turns out Marta was a light sleeper and literally opened the door on the burglars. Her screams had brought the Blackstone staff running. So much for coincidence.
Blackstone Towers was so worried about receiving more bad press they acquiesced to my loud demands. I had earlier noticed the hotel had actually brought in Kundarak specialists, no doubt to help increase their security. After all they hadn't had any incidents of this kind for a decade. To say the Towers was in a quiet state of crisis would be an accurate description.
I made sure Honora/Marta made quite a public show of departing. Blackstone offered the use of Kundarak guards, all eight of her trunks were loaded slowly into a large carriage. Hopefully that would indicate 'Honora’s' lack of interest in Sharn or her brother to anyone who bothered to notice. Marta was quite brave; she had volunteered to help her mistress. Without her the plan would not have worked.
While this happened , I slipped out a service entrance with a female servant in a cloak, and made my twisting way to the Hub.
Honora was beaming. I was blushing and tired. My associates listened and viewed our new travelling companion with polite bemusement.
Together, we five boarded the Swiftsure at the appointed hour. I watched the docks for a long while as it faded out of view, but there wasnt a goblin in sight.
We arrived at the Hub on time. By we I of course mean Honora and myself. Like so many things so far, my best laid plans went awry.
The Hub is actually an exchange, where the Houses Orien and Lyrandar have booking agents, shipping clerks and various other representatives to assist persons seeking transport. Anvil, Bynara, and Dorbo were all there. They seemed surprised when we arrived.
Bynara stared for a moment. “I booked passage on a Lyrandar galleon, the Swiftsure. We were fortunate, the ship was delayed taking on cargo. It leaves in an hour.” She fell silent, then exploded. “By The Traveller, Calib what is she doing here?"
The answer was simple. Honora was stubborn. I learned several things in my meeting with her earlier that day. First, Onaan is her maiden name. Her married name is ‘ir Balel, and she is the widow of a Brelish noble. Her favorite color was blue; even today she was wearing a light blue dress. And she was very self possessed, formidable even.
My interview had begun well enough. Honora had looked quite beautiful despite the early hour. She looked more elven than last I saw her, more than I had first noticed. I again asked her several of the questions I had the day she came to our office. The answers were the same.
No idea of her brothers private life. What he did. Who he knew except for the two at Morgrave. Goblins? No. Gambling? Certainly not.
Did she contact anyone before coming to us? She had arrived in Sharn three days before coming to us. She had sent messages to the City Watch and Morgrave, following up unanswered correspondance she had begun in New Cyre. As usual we werent the first choice.
That didnt sound good to me. Voren could have found out and told Koba. In theory of course.
I informed her she was possibly in danger. And that we were following a lead out of the country about Hennet. She took the danger part quite well, considering. She was concerned for Hennet. And she demanded to accompany us, not return home.
She made a convincing case, too. She held the purse strings. My charm was of little avail; she refused to consider any other alternative. I chalk this up to the fact that I hadn’t had much sleep.
“Master d’Medani formulated a most delightful plan of action,” Honora explained to Bynara as the others looked on. She liked to be called Honora. Turns out she was just a farm girl from the Brelish countryside. Well maybe not a farmgirl but a commoner. She didnt act like a nobleman’s widow that was for sure.
Honroa continued.” My servant Marta and I switched clothes. We are close in age, and wearing cloaks, the illusion is quite convincing .” She was smiling as if she was enjoying herself. I felt weak in the knees. “He made a large show at the Blackstone of insuring that ‘I' received proper escort to First Tower and the lightning rail station there.”
I did make a big deal. The attempted break in had occurred on Honora's floor. Marta had heard something at their lock. Turns out Marta was a light sleeper and literally opened the door on the burglars. Her screams had brought the Blackstone staff running. So much for coincidence.
Blackstone Towers was so worried about receiving more bad press they acquiesced to my loud demands. I had earlier noticed the hotel had actually brought in Kundarak specialists, no doubt to help increase their security. After all they hadn't had any incidents of this kind for a decade. To say the Towers was in a quiet state of crisis would be an accurate description.
I made sure Honora/Marta made quite a public show of departing. Blackstone offered the use of Kundarak guards, all eight of her trunks were loaded slowly into a large carriage. Hopefully that would indicate 'Honora’s' lack of interest in Sharn or her brother to anyone who bothered to notice. Marta was quite brave; she had volunteered to help her mistress. Without her the plan would not have worked.
While this happened , I slipped out a service entrance with a female servant in a cloak, and made my twisting way to the Hub.
Honora was beaming. I was blushing and tired. My associates listened and viewed our new travelling companion with polite bemusement.
Together, we five boarded the Swiftsure at the appointed hour. I watched the docks for a long while as it faded out of view, but there wasnt a goblin in sight.
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Broccli_Head
Explorer
Express said:
I know why Byrna is so miffed. NPCs are such a liablity [And they steal XP
]
Puppy Kicker
First Post
Very fun and fast-paced writing, Express! I hadn't given Eberron a second glance, but now I may just have to check it out. It seems to have a lot of potential for investigating and mystery instead of non-stop dungeon crawls. Keep up the good work and keep the timely updates coming!
This officially catches me up with events in our game. Next session this weekend. More to follow.
5. Out to Sea
As the cliffs and towers of Sharn faded from view, we located our berths. Bynara still shot me an evil look from time to time to make me aware of her displeasure over Honora. Dorbo, however was happy, obviously pleased with the idea of heading home. He and Anvil dispappeared as we hit open sea, an arcane cabal of two, off to study the canvas.
All our rooms were separated from a main gangawy belowdecks by a door, constituting a “suite” of sorts of five individual berths and a privy. The Swiftsure was primarily a cargo vessel, although many passengers had booked aboard the ship. After seeing Honora off to her room, I found my bunk. I was tired and a litle seasick, and soon feel asleep.
A rap upon my door awakened me. Dorbos’ prominent nose and red hair emerged through the portal before I could mumble a disoriented response. He literally bounced inside my cabin, with Anvil in tow.
“We’ve got it. We’ve got it m’boy!” he sang.
I gazed at him groggily. What time was it?
Dorbo sat heavily upon my bed, balancing several books and the rolled up canvas in his arms. Anvil loomed large over me,Corvo on his shoulder. In my small cabin, I felt surrounded. Dorbo thrust the small notebook of Voren’s at me, which I fumbled with.
“This, look here, look!” he said excitedly. I thumbed through the hand sized tome. It was dogeared and dirty. Several pages were torn out. It was blank save for the last dozen pages which contained numerous small marks, like runes almost, and writing.
“So what? A dictionary?” I offered.
“No, but close however.” Dorbo was in a state of bookish gnome ecstasy. “We searched Voren's home. It had nothing magical in it, but many books. Voren was quite the polygot. In fact.....”
My eyes glazed over, "The point Dorbo?”
Anvil stepped forward. “Voren had nothing that seemed pertinent to our situation. In the fireplace we found remnants of papers and books, which Voren was in the process of destroying apparently. We found this.” He handed me part of a book.
Inside were similar rune marks with writing , alot of writing. Anvil pointed to a mark. “This is a dictionary. It appears to be a form of pictograph or glyph mark. Quite ancient. Perhaps one of the earliest forms of writing. Dhakkan goblin in origin. The runes represent not just sounds; but concepts, phrases.”
I shrugged.
Dorbo sighed at my lack of enthusiasm, and unrolled the portrait canvas. “When we read th’ canvas writing before we saw it was Draconic. Anvil used comprehend languages ta make sure. Its Draconic no doubt, but seemed ta be gibberish.” He squinted and read:
Gold riverbank Sivis darkwood swordarm...
I shrugged again.
The small notebook is not a dictionary,” Anvil replied smiling in his own peculiar way, “Rather it is a catalog. Whoever recorded those runemarks named them, but gave them names in Draconic. Names incidentally that have nothing to do with their defintion. He pointed at the tiny marks and read the tiny text next to them, “ Silver,mountain2, Cannith..”
Dorbo chimed in. “For whatever reason, eccentricity, secrecy, he coded th’ runes. Whoever wrote on the canvas knew the system and recorded in Draconic the runemark names. And’ I ain't convinced it twas Voren who recorded the runemarks, either. The writing in th’ notebook don't match th’ papers we found in his home.”
Anvil continued, “In essence it is a code that is safe against magic means of translation. If one did not know Draconic magic would reveal just a random set of words.”
I held up the canvas; I was awake now. Why code it? “What about the map at the bottom?”
Anvil placed Corvo on the bed. “It is not a map,rather a drawing.When I used comprehend languages I was able to read it. Hidden within the drawing there is a rune configuration, which we were only able to find after I cast my spell on it, with the help of the dictionary. It says :” From your loyal student to my teacher.
“Can you translate the text, or codenames or whatever?” I asked.
Dorbo stood up proudly, and produced a paper. “I’ve already transcribed the runemarks from the Draconic names on the canvas, when Anvil gains th’ use of his spell again, we can read it.”
I inquired as to the time.
“Tha time?” Dorbo answered distractedly, “O umm third hour I believe.”
I ejected the both of them and the squawking Corvo and went back to sleep.
5. Out to Sea
As the cliffs and towers of Sharn faded from view, we located our berths. Bynara still shot me an evil look from time to time to make me aware of her displeasure over Honora. Dorbo, however was happy, obviously pleased with the idea of heading home. He and Anvil dispappeared as we hit open sea, an arcane cabal of two, off to study the canvas.
All our rooms were separated from a main gangawy belowdecks by a door, constituting a “suite” of sorts of five individual berths and a privy. The Swiftsure was primarily a cargo vessel, although many passengers had booked aboard the ship. After seeing Honora off to her room, I found my bunk. I was tired and a litle seasick, and soon feel asleep.
A rap upon my door awakened me. Dorbos’ prominent nose and red hair emerged through the portal before I could mumble a disoriented response. He literally bounced inside my cabin, with Anvil in tow.
“We’ve got it. We’ve got it m’boy!” he sang.
I gazed at him groggily. What time was it?
Dorbo sat heavily upon my bed, balancing several books and the rolled up canvas in his arms. Anvil loomed large over me,Corvo on his shoulder. In my small cabin, I felt surrounded. Dorbo thrust the small notebook of Voren’s at me, which I fumbled with.
“This, look here, look!” he said excitedly. I thumbed through the hand sized tome. It was dogeared and dirty. Several pages were torn out. It was blank save for the last dozen pages which contained numerous small marks, like runes almost, and writing.
“So what? A dictionary?” I offered.
“No, but close however.” Dorbo was in a state of bookish gnome ecstasy. “We searched Voren's home. It had nothing magical in it, but many books. Voren was quite the polygot. In fact.....”
My eyes glazed over, "The point Dorbo?”
Anvil stepped forward. “Voren had nothing that seemed pertinent to our situation. In the fireplace we found remnants of papers and books, which Voren was in the process of destroying apparently. We found this.” He handed me part of a book.
Inside were similar rune marks with writing , alot of writing. Anvil pointed to a mark. “This is a dictionary. It appears to be a form of pictograph or glyph mark. Quite ancient. Perhaps one of the earliest forms of writing. Dhakkan goblin in origin. The runes represent not just sounds; but concepts, phrases.”
I shrugged.
Dorbo sighed at my lack of enthusiasm, and unrolled the portrait canvas. “When we read th’ canvas writing before we saw it was Draconic. Anvil used comprehend languages ta make sure. Its Draconic no doubt, but seemed ta be gibberish.” He squinted and read:
Gold riverbank Sivis darkwood swordarm...
I shrugged again.
The small notebook is not a dictionary,” Anvil replied smiling in his own peculiar way, “Rather it is a catalog. Whoever recorded those runemarks named them, but gave them names in Draconic. Names incidentally that have nothing to do with their defintion. He pointed at the tiny marks and read the tiny text next to them, “ Silver,mountain2, Cannith..”
Dorbo chimed in. “For whatever reason, eccentricity, secrecy, he coded th’ runes. Whoever wrote on the canvas knew the system and recorded in Draconic the runemark names. And’ I ain't convinced it twas Voren who recorded the runemarks, either. The writing in th’ notebook don't match th’ papers we found in his home.”
Anvil continued, “In essence it is a code that is safe against magic means of translation. If one did not know Draconic magic would reveal just a random set of words.”
I held up the canvas; I was awake now. Why code it? “What about the map at the bottom?”
Anvil placed Corvo on the bed. “It is not a map,rather a drawing.When I used comprehend languages I was able to read it. Hidden within the drawing there is a rune configuration, which we were only able to find after I cast my spell on it, with the help of the dictionary. It says :” From your loyal student to my teacher.
“Can you translate the text, or codenames or whatever?” I asked.
Dorbo stood up proudly, and produced a paper. “I’ve already transcribed the runemarks from the Draconic names on the canvas, when Anvil gains th’ use of his spell again, we can read it.”
I inquired as to the time.
“Tha time?” Dorbo answered distractedly, “O umm third hour I believe.”
I ejected the both of them and the squawking Corvo and went back to sleep.
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Out to Sea (con't)
The following day I awoke rather late. I still felt seasick. I changed and had every intention of locating the galley and getting something to eat. But I opened my door and ran into Bynara. “Come on", she growled at me, “Anvil’s got the canvas translated. Your girlfriend’s with him and the gnome.”
I began to defend myself against the 'girlfriend' remark but decided it wasn’t worth it and followed her to Dorbo’s room. I was barely able to get into the cabin with everyone there. Dorbo was scribbling on another piece of paper.
“Honora has confirmed that the writing on the canvas is indeed Hennet’s.” Anvil informed me. I crowded past him and stood near the bunk. It would have been nice if they had asked my opinion about how much we share with Honora.
Honora smiled radiantly. She was dressed in a gown of deep cobalt. ”Master Fodderwig also showed me the notebook and other materials. The writing there is not in Hennet’s hand.”
I could see Bynara, rolling her eyes.
Dorbo began to read the translation. The words were somewhat formal, which Anvil atttributed to the slightly honorific style of the pictograph/runes:
Forgive my obliqueness, master. I have of late feared for my safety. I am unable to gain contact with your expedition, so I hope you may quickly find the notes I have left for your return.
I must flee the kingdom. I fear your assistant has stolen from our work. He is reconstituting the Maal’volar Duurgh’lum...
Bynara exclaimed something unintelligable, interrupting the reading. "Maal’valor Dur-whatever! That’s the name of the Codex Koba and Voren were talking about at the warehouse!”
Dorbo wrinkled his nose in irritation and continued: ..I also fear he has contacted one or more parties interested in the old Dhakkani tales about the Dragoneye and the Culling. I have been suspicious for some time, and I fear he now knows I am suspicious. Already one attack has been attempted on my person, but I have been able to successfully hide myself. The city is no longer safe for me. Seek me in the Land of the Shield in the East.
That was it. Bynara clucked her tongue, "Land of the Shield in the East?”
I had questions too, but couldn’t think; it was like I couldn’t breathe in the cabin; my stomach was jumping. I suggested we adjourn to the deck. The others followed me.
Topside, Anvil noticed first. "Why have we stopped?"
The Swiftsure was not elementally powered, however the skill of the Lyrandar windwrights had kept the vessel flying on at a high and steady rate of speed since we had embarked. But now, we were at a dead stop.
The deck was a blur of activity. There was movement in the rigging and near the bow as the crew worked to tie lines and furl sails.Several crewmen were laboring to pull a small boat to the side of the Swiftsure. We also noticed a small knot of sailors on the starboard side of the ship. Then we saw what all the fuss was about.
Several hundred yards away there was another galleon. Its rigging was in disorder, its sails sagged and the ship looked adrift. A blue pennent flew from the top of the central mast.
Bynara pulled aside one of the crew, a ruddy skinned halfling who was looking through a spyglass.“Its one of our galleons,” he explained curtly, obviously unaccustomed to being man handled by a shifter. “The Zephyr from the look of it. No sign of the crew. We’re sending a party over to investigate. Sorry about the delay, but House rules and the Galifar Code of Maritime Law requires that we stop.”
I squinted but couldn't make out any detail. We were out of sight of land, and there was nothing on the horizon. Just two small ships alone on the sea. It was warm and the sun shone bright overhead. My stomach tumbled and churned as the ocean rose and fell beneath my feet.
I turned to Anvil. “I remember now how much I hate sea travel.”
The following day I awoke rather late. I still felt seasick. I changed and had every intention of locating the galley and getting something to eat. But I opened my door and ran into Bynara. “Come on", she growled at me, “Anvil’s got the canvas translated. Your girlfriend’s with him and the gnome.”
I began to defend myself against the 'girlfriend' remark but decided it wasn’t worth it and followed her to Dorbo’s room. I was barely able to get into the cabin with everyone there. Dorbo was scribbling on another piece of paper.
“Honora has confirmed that the writing on the canvas is indeed Hennet’s.” Anvil informed me. I crowded past him and stood near the bunk. It would have been nice if they had asked my opinion about how much we share with Honora.
Honora smiled radiantly. She was dressed in a gown of deep cobalt. ”Master Fodderwig also showed me the notebook and other materials. The writing there is not in Hennet’s hand.”
I could see Bynara, rolling her eyes.
Dorbo began to read the translation. The words were somewhat formal, which Anvil atttributed to the slightly honorific style of the pictograph/runes:
Forgive my obliqueness, master. I have of late feared for my safety. I am unable to gain contact with your expedition, so I hope you may quickly find the notes I have left for your return.
I must flee the kingdom. I fear your assistant has stolen from our work. He is reconstituting the Maal’volar Duurgh’lum...
Bynara exclaimed something unintelligable, interrupting the reading. "Maal’valor Dur-whatever! That’s the name of the Codex Koba and Voren were talking about at the warehouse!”
Dorbo wrinkled his nose in irritation and continued: ..I also fear he has contacted one or more parties interested in the old Dhakkani tales about the Dragoneye and the Culling. I have been suspicious for some time, and I fear he now knows I am suspicious. Already one attack has been attempted on my person, but I have been able to successfully hide myself. The city is no longer safe for me. Seek me in the Land of the Shield in the East.
That was it. Bynara clucked her tongue, "Land of the Shield in the East?”
I had questions too, but couldn’t think; it was like I couldn’t breathe in the cabin; my stomach was jumping. I suggested we adjourn to the deck. The others followed me.
Topside, Anvil noticed first. "Why have we stopped?"
The Swiftsure was not elementally powered, however the skill of the Lyrandar windwrights had kept the vessel flying on at a high and steady rate of speed since we had embarked. But now, we were at a dead stop.
The deck was a blur of activity. There was movement in the rigging and near the bow as the crew worked to tie lines and furl sails.Several crewmen were laboring to pull a small boat to the side of the Swiftsure. We also noticed a small knot of sailors on the starboard side of the ship. Then we saw what all the fuss was about.
Several hundred yards away there was another galleon. Its rigging was in disorder, its sails sagged and the ship looked adrift. A blue pennent flew from the top of the central mast.
Bynara pulled aside one of the crew, a ruddy skinned halfling who was looking through a spyglass.“Its one of our galleons,” he explained curtly, obviously unaccustomed to being man handled by a shifter. “The Zephyr from the look of it. No sign of the crew. We’re sending a party over to investigate. Sorry about the delay, but House rules and the Galifar Code of Maritime Law requires that we stop.”
I squinted but couldn't make out any detail. We were out of sight of land, and there was nothing on the horizon. Just two small ships alone on the sea. It was warm and the sun shone bright overhead. My stomach tumbled and churned as the ocean rose and fell beneath my feet.
I turned to Anvil. “I remember now how much I hate sea travel.”
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Out to Sea (con't)
We watched the small boat travel over to the Zephyr. Nothing happened for half an hour till the boat returned. One of the sailors scrambled out the small boat, climbed aboard the Swiftsure and hurried to the castle of the ship to speak to an officer.
We decided to eat, so Anvil released Corvo. For a moment I thought the raven would make a break for freedom but the bird simply soared above the ship, eventually lighting in the rigging.
Over lunch, the group mulled over everything we knew. Hennet had obviously fled; to Zilargo according to Redblock. He knew Voren. And he left a hidden message for a friend. But who? Could it have been Guttman? or someone else? Could we even trust Redblock? And what was the Dragoneye? We didnt come to many satisfactory conclusions.
As we finished eating, a young half elf officer in the livery of Lyrandar circulated amongst us. “I apologize, but there will be a slight delay before we get underway.” he announced in an empathic tone. “We are undertaking a recovery of our sister ship. After some minor repairs are completed, we shall place a skelton crew aboard her. We hope to be back under sail quickly, hopefully by sunset.”
Well great. More time at sea. My stomach began dancing again.
Time crawled by. Several of us passed the day watching the crew at work. The Swiftsure was brought alongside the Zephyr. Sailors passed between the two vessels; equipment and tools were loaded and unloaded. But we didn’t see any of the crew from the Zephyr. This struck us as odd, to say the least.
Bynara attempted to get some information about the situation, but the crew was immunue to her charm. No one spoke about the Zephyr, and we were asked politely but firmly to remain out of the way. The work continued past sunset; by the twentieth hour it was going on by lantern light. So much for embarking quickly.
Honora grew tired. I offered to accompany her to her room; the others remained to watch the activity. It was the only show in town, so to speak.
At her door, Honora paused. “I appreciate being allowing to travel with your party.” As if I had a choice. “I am sure your associates are less than thrilled with my presence. But I could not bear being left behind if there was danger to Hennet. I hope you understand.”
I shrugged; I still couldn't look her in the eye. And I guess I could understand. But I still had questions about what was going on. “Tell me Honora, has Hennet ever been to Zilargo before?”
Honora thought, then nodded. “Why yes I believe so, during the war he..”
She was interrupted as Dorbo came careening into the corridor, red faced from exertion. “Quickly, come quickly!” Dorbo sputtered, as he disappeared in to his room; he emerged seconds later with his crossbow. “Anvil’s bird’s seen somethin in the water.”
We watched the small boat travel over to the Zephyr. Nothing happened for half an hour till the boat returned. One of the sailors scrambled out the small boat, climbed aboard the Swiftsure and hurried to the castle of the ship to speak to an officer.
We decided to eat, so Anvil released Corvo. For a moment I thought the raven would make a break for freedom but the bird simply soared above the ship, eventually lighting in the rigging.
Over lunch, the group mulled over everything we knew. Hennet had obviously fled; to Zilargo according to Redblock. He knew Voren. And he left a hidden message for a friend. But who? Could it have been Guttman? or someone else? Could we even trust Redblock? And what was the Dragoneye? We didnt come to many satisfactory conclusions.
As we finished eating, a young half elf officer in the livery of Lyrandar circulated amongst us. “I apologize, but there will be a slight delay before we get underway.” he announced in an empathic tone. “We are undertaking a recovery of our sister ship. After some minor repairs are completed, we shall place a skelton crew aboard her. We hope to be back under sail quickly, hopefully by sunset.”
Well great. More time at sea. My stomach began dancing again.
Time crawled by. Several of us passed the day watching the crew at work. The Swiftsure was brought alongside the Zephyr. Sailors passed between the two vessels; equipment and tools were loaded and unloaded. But we didn’t see any of the crew from the Zephyr. This struck us as odd, to say the least.
Bynara attempted to get some information about the situation, but the crew was immunue to her charm. No one spoke about the Zephyr, and we were asked politely but firmly to remain out of the way. The work continued past sunset; by the twentieth hour it was going on by lantern light. So much for embarking quickly.
Honora grew tired. I offered to accompany her to her room; the others remained to watch the activity. It was the only show in town, so to speak.
At her door, Honora paused. “I appreciate being allowing to travel with your party.” As if I had a choice. “I am sure your associates are less than thrilled with my presence. But I could not bear being left behind if there was danger to Hennet. I hope you understand.”
I shrugged; I still couldn't look her in the eye. And I guess I could understand. But I still had questions about what was going on. “Tell me Honora, has Hennet ever been to Zilargo before?”
Honora thought, then nodded. “Why yes I believe so, during the war he..”
She was interrupted as Dorbo came careening into the corridor, red faced from exertion. “Quickly, come quickly!” Dorbo sputtered, as he disappeared in to his room; he emerged seconds later with his crossbow. “Anvil’s bird’s seen somethin in the water.”
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