A Three Ring Quest - 7/5/2020
Belief is what defines us, not truth. As proof, consider this piece of experience: deception isn’t about someone telling you a lie; its about you believing what is said is true. Even the most outlandish statement, if it is a falsehood, will always be one. But all it takes to make it true, is for someone to believe in it. If you don’t believe that, then ask yourself, what’s going on when you tell yourself a lie?
The answer is simple: you believe because you want to, even if it is patently false.
That makes belief the most important thing in the multiverse.
“Ok, so we’re in the cart now…who are you?” Iesa demanded as the cart started down the path at what seemed to be too fast of a pace. So fast, that Mo hiding in the trees barely had a chance to bound into the cart and clutch onto Iesa, panting heavily. The horses were at a gallop, lathering, pulling the cart behind as it bounced over rock and ruts, while Gossamer and Foggle flew swiftly behind. It was a painful ride, my leg was still bleeding, and breathing was problematic with a broken rib. But I couldn’t focus enough to have the strand heal me, even with a simple word. Every bump and divot caused me to take involuntary sharp short breaths to stave off the pain.
“A friend of Pachook’s,” he said.
“Right. Sure. Why the rush?” Iesa asked confused.
“Because a company of mercenaries were on their way to kill you,” He responded, barely turning his head as he drove the horses onwards. “Our mutual ‘friend’ doesn’t like to lose, and we only found out about the company this evening. We arranged to have them delayed.”
Iesa looked around. “We’re cutting across the Moonwood, and not heading to the gate,” he noted.
“Correct,” the elf acknowledged. “The company is coming from the Hunter’s Gate; no sense in running into them on the road. So, we are heading for the Moongate on the west side. I have a friend there who will let us in. You can call me Nelian by the way.”
Iesa nodded silently, and Daneath said nothing. Beepu sat there in the corner of the cart, dead eyed, looking at his feet.
“Beepu,” I started. “I…have her. This might sound strange, but did you want to…hold her?”
Beepu looked up slowly his mouth open slightly, as if words were lost to him.
“It’s alright…its family, and you care. I just wouldn’t look,” I gently offered the sack to him. After a moment, he took it from me gingerly, and cradled her in his arms. His eyes looked at the brown burlap with a pained look, as his face quivered in emotion.
“I…always knew I would bury my parents. But…this…this…was not…should not have…” he said in a whisper barely over the clatter of the wheels on random stones embedded in the trail.
I placed a hand on Beepu’s arm as he cradled the sack. “It never is. But I can help prepare her once we stop somewhere. Send her off properly.” I said tearing up.
“That’s Helsa I take it?” Nelian said, glancing at our exchange. “Our condolences and our apologies. We were surprised she was taken at all, but we underestimated the Kershak's desperation. When we did hear…it was too late. Quiet now; we are approaching the gate.” And the horses began to slow to a reasonable trot.
Looking up at the elf, I watched him tug and pull out a metal cloak pin, which he then held up for the guards to see. I could hear guardsmen say “Make way! He can pass!” and the cart didn’t even stop. As I watched, he fastened the onto his cloak, a pin in the shape of a harp. The cart continued and turned left and followed the main thoroughfare. After some time, the buildings disappeared, indicating we had entered the market grounds. After a while longer and some turns, the cart stopped in an open square, with a small grove of trees.
“We’re here. Come inside quickly,” Nelian said, pulling out a lantern and opening the shutter. Having no other clear ideas on where to go, I think we were just happy to be led anywhere. Climbing out, I saw we were in front what appeared to have been a three-story building. But the door and windows were stained with soot and ash, as the building seemed to be a victim of a great fire. From the ruin, another man appeared, and ran to the cart, climbing into the seat and drove the cart away from the ruin.
“Watch your head; the upper floors aren’t stable, but in the catacombs below, we will be safe.” Nelian said, waving at us to follow him.
“What was this place?” Daneath asked looking around him.
“It was the old music conservatory before it was moved to the south bank. Afterwards a lighting strike set the place aflame and it has been abandoned.” Nelian answered, as he led us through the broken interior, now covered with a scattering of leaves from trees outside. After a while, he came to an old burned bookcase. He pulled it aside, as it pivoted on a well-oiled hinge, revealing an oaken door, only somewhat charred. He knocked twice quickly, and then again once with a solid thump. And after a moment the door opened, revealing a human man in a hooded cloak, and behind him were a set of stairs leading down. He nodded at Nelian, and waved us all in.
We descended, and came to a large chamber, with tables, benches and stools. On the table were some cheese, breads and fruits, along with a jug and some mugs.
“Here, please eat and rest. I will find our leader who can explain what’s going on,” Nelian said as he made for a hallway nearby.
“Wait a moment,” I said snippily. “We just came out of a fight and we are supposed to trust you just like that?”
“Myr…they’re Harpers,” Daneath said quietly. “We can trust them.”
“Who?” I said confused. “What’s a sodding Harper?” I realized I was missing something important and felt out of my depth.
“They are a semi-secret organization that…help. Against bad men and support good folk.” Iesa continued.
“Meddlers some would call them,” Beepu said barely looking up.
“Well, I say. Perhaps you would prefer an old friend?” a familiar voice called to us from the hallway. Looking in that direction I saw a man, with salt and pepper hair, and a grey moustache and mutton chops. He was in a simple tunic with a sword at his side. He also was a bit rounder from the last time I laid eyes on him.
“Kingsley!” I said excitedly. I limped over and embraced and kissed the man on the cheek. “I am so happy you are alive! You’ve put on weight it seems?” I chided impishly.
“Hurm, yes. Helsa is…was an excellent cook as it turned out,” and with that he moved over to Beepu, still holding the remains of his mother in the dirty sack. “Nelian told me. I am sorry. She was a wonderful, wonderful woman. She helped me as you said she would…and I never had a chance to fully repay her.”
Beepu nodded and I hobbled back over to Beepu’s side while fishing a strip of cloth out of my pouch.
“Well, I don’t recommend opening the sack but if you can put her on the table, I can prepare a last rite,” I said as I used a strand to clean the cloth back to a nearly pure white. “Can each of you give me a greenie…a copper piece?” Both Beepu and Kingsley nodded, and each searched their coin purses, and both handed me a coin.
I kissed each coin, and I reached my hands into the sack, searching for the head of his mother. Once my fingers found her skull, I turned it by feel to have it face the ceiling, and then placed in each eye socket a coin. And then blindly, I tied the cloth around her eyes tightly. I then withdrew my hands and quickly used a white strand to clean them.
Then guessing where her chest was, I pulled Beepu and Kingsley hands and set them upon her chest and placed my hand upon theirs. I then prayed aloud:
No one should be alone, in life or death,
Death is a part of life, not an ending but a beginning
Death is without deceit and has meaning,
May your soul find its way to the Golden Hills,
And travel to each of the seven, and rest beneath the great oak,
May your kin guide you on the next step of your journey,
Because Death is never an end, but a waypost,
A Destination and a Journey one and the same,
The memory of your deeds will live forever in us,
So be the will of my Lord, and my desire in faith
May Death grant you peace.
I sighed and looked at Beepu. “If I remember, gnomes preferred cremation. Is that still your—”
Beepu nodded curtly, saying nothing, his eyes full of tears.
“Ahem, sorry to interrupt,” Nelian said, re-entering the room with two men in monks’ robes, and a third man close behind. “They can inter her ashes into the local graveyard here.”
“Please,” Beepu’s voice choked. “I will say my words in private.” The two robed men nodded, and gingerly lifted the sack and with care, withdrew from the room. I touched both Beepu and Kingsley on the shoulders, gently caressing each of them.
Nelian spoke again and gestured to the last newcomer, “Let me introduce our leader of this band here, Fortin Jenerret. He gestured to a mid-aged man, thin as a rail, but with twinkling eyes that saw everything, and through you. His smile was warm and disarming, while his hair was receding and thinning at the top of his head.
“Beepu, Iesa, Daneath, and…Myrai correct?” he said with a slight smile. “I am sorry to intrude on your grief, but I suspect you have a lot of questions.”
“An understatement,” Iesa said blandly.
“Well, I suppose we should sit and discuss. I think we each have a part of a story, and we may be able to help each other,” Fortin said as he started pouring what appeared to be mead from the pitcher into mugs on the table. “That includes you Kingsley,” to the former guardsmen’s surprise. “I suspect it will take all of us to untangle this skein.”
“Excuse me,” I said a little sheepishly. “I am probably the least informed here, but what is the Kershak to you?”
“A fair question and a good place to start,” Fortin said as he handed me a mug. “In one respect the Kershak is a mystery. Some who have interacted with them say they are heroes, and others villains. I would say the former are simply beneficiaries of luck; the Kershak helped, because it helped
the Kershak. But I think you seen more of the other side of the coin. But what we do know is that the Kershak and his direct agents are not to be trifled with, as he has managed to tap into a wellspring of power. We thought he was perhaps another wayward Bhaalspawn, but alas he seems to be something else entirely.”
“A Bhaalspawn? What is that?” I asked, still confused.
“That’s a long topic Myr,” Daneath said pointedly as he took a mug from the man. “And that didn’t answer anything,”
“I am afraid not; what he isn’t is understood,” Fortin continued. “But he does have access to some kind of magical might. Resistant to the Weave, able to call upon it, and long life at least.”
The man took a sip from his mug and continued. “He seems driven by nothing more than personal gain. He likes to manipulate things, so that he has control. He wants power in the manner of the Zhentarim of old. And he doesn’t let anything stand in his way.
“But more interesting, is that he can extend his power to his associates, his so called ‘children.’ Assistants to spread his influence and cover…more ground. You met some of them tonight, yes?”
“Killed two of them…I think,” Iesa said, looking at Daneath doubtfully.
“Seemed dead to me, a dwarf and a halfling we met before,” Daneath responded.
“That would have been Tanar and Poran, both were key men to the Kershak, with a long history, along with Umbra of course.
“What about Paradros?” I asked.
“No…or least not yet,” Fortin replied shaking his head. “I think his still trying to prove himself to the Kershak. But with Tanar and Poran dead, he might normally be inclined to induct him. Fortunately, he cannot.”
“Why is that?” Beepu asked starting to snap out of his emotional pit of despair.
“Because his power is stretched. While we are not sure on its nature, we do know the more tools he creates, his power becomes diluted. And until Umbra, none contested his edicts.”
“What edicts? Iesa asked.
“No children, and no creation of magical devices. Which means, that the sword and dagger, and yourselves are now a collection of that power. It weakens him in essence. That is because killing his associates has split their power between your weapons and yourselves. Because of this, he no longer has a majority under his control.
“So what? We can just kill him, right?” Daneath asked with a hopeful tone.
“I am afraid not; like some of the undead, he cannot be slain. It was tried once and he just…reappeared.”
“How do you know that?” Daneath asked.
“Oh, Umbra told me…after he killed him. It didn’t last. But the same cannot be said for his children. They
can be killed.”
“Umbra tried to kill him…and failed?” I questioned.
“No, he succeeded, the Kershak just failed to stay dead. That was about…what…eighteen years ago? And when he failed, Umbra started a gambit to end the Kershak.”
“Why? Why did he turn against him?” I asked confused.
“Umbra didn’t tell me. All he said was that he saw something he regretted. But he did tell me his plan. The short version is that he attempted to dilute the Kershak’s power. He first tried making weapons; the sword and dagger you now wear if my guess is correct,” at which Daneath and Iesa exchanged glances. “But they weren’t enough, so he…sorry to be crude, had you both.”
“Wait,” Iesa said with an angry look. “You mean the only reason I am here is because he wanted me to kill the Kershak?”
“You may be a means to an end, yes,” Fortin said with a frown. “But I think there was more to it. I think that the Kershak may have killed his love or his wife. I never got a clean answer to which, but after her death he found solace and planted the seeds of his revenge as it were.” This earned Fortin a dirty look from Iesa but he continued. “But once he had you both, he made sure you were concealed. With the two of you and the two weapons now in existence, the Kershak discovered he could not empower more ‘children.’ Umbra, still alive and on the loose was the obvious suspect.”
“Leaving my mother to rot,” Iesa snarled.
“At least you knew yours,” Daneath pointed out. “And I only knew him as a master later in life as he trained me. Not as a father.”
“Is that so?” Fortin asked. “That might be one piece of the puzzle. You see, he was running for nearly two decades. During this time, we had met and talked. He told us he had a plan, but it would take time. He was a bitter man when I first met him. When I saw him again a little over a year ago, he was beyond that. He was fury and hate, in a dead man’s body. I suspect that he tried to find both of you and train you, but he lost you Iesa. He was clearly upset at that. He simply, hid you too well.”
“Cold comfort,” Iesa said frowning.
“Yes, I suppose so. But let us keep going. When I last saw him, he was as I said, a nearly dead man; a revenant that was out of time. But with assistance, he had finally found you. And then he set the last piece of his plan in motion to have you and your brother and Beepu meet.”
“What?” Daneath said. “How?”
“All I know is that you were nearly of age, and that in a year that he had a trusted friend ensure you all three would be led to a place to find the weapons. Now it is clear that, the weapons were only one part of that puzzle; he hid them, and he wanted you to find them, and more.”
“But how do I fit into this?” Beepu asked.
“I know that Umbra had made friends with Pachook, and there was a deal struck between them. The reason was simple; the Kershak had asked your father to build a device for planar travel. But with the power of the Kershak, it would have been much more. Too late did your father discover that his family was at risk, to keep the device a secret.”
“My…my family?” Beepu stuttered.
“Yes, he wanted to keep the device a secret, so he planned to kill Pachook…and Helsa…and you as well, just in case. I know this, because Umbra told me. He had found out about the death sentence from Poran, who was going to do it. Umbra revealed this to your father, and naturally he was desperate to keep you and Helsa safe. And per Pachook, he kept it a secret…his only secret he kept from her.”
“Why would the Kershak worry about Beepur or Helsa?” I asked. “They didn’t have anything to do with it.”
“But he didn’t know that. What he did know, is that Helsa is…er was a very good engineer herself. And so, he suspected that Pachook would have engaged his family to help construct the device.”
I looked at Beepu, “Was that true?”
“My…my mother was a very good engineer…its why they loved each other,” the gnome said sadly. “I don’t know if she did help him or not. I know that I did…” he said looking down at his feet. “While at Candlekeep, he asked me to look into some questions on arcana, and I replied with the answers. So, In hindsight, I probably was helping…but that wasn’t clear at the time. It’s only now that it makes sense.”
“Indeed,” said Fortin. “So over two years ago, it seemed that Umbra and Pachook went somewhere, and only came back to Silverymoon a year ago. Somewhere along the way, Umbra was killed, but somehow he crawled back to the living undeterred; wanting to kill the Kershak and protect you.”
“But Umbra, failed and died. That’s not a help at all.” Iesa complained.
“Not exactly. Umbra died here in Silverymoon. But his spirit did not pass on. Pachook, with the help of a necromancer that aids us on occasion, bound his soul into his heart, and Pachook put that heart into a…part…or something. I was not present when it happened. With his soul bound this way, the Kershak still cannot create other ‘children.’ It was at this time, he set the final part of his plan in motion.”
We sat on the edges of our seats as he filled in missing pieces. “First, he had an assistant. He knew where Daneath was, and he was the one that found Iesa after a long search. He then was told to get you both to somewhere at a particular point in time. Pachook, left a note to be delivered to Helsa to have delivered to you Beepu, to meet in that same place. But he never told us where.”
“Triboar,” Daneath said. “I was told by a man, with waving grey hair to look for someone to the path to Flint Rock. And that he would have a map—"
“And I had a note from my mother, delivered to me at Candlekeep. That to find him and his works, I needed to find a man with a map to Flint Rock,” Beepu said looking at each of us.
“I don’t believe it. Mo just found the map; it’s a coincidence. It has to be.” Iesa said in disbelief.
“Wait a moment…take Mo out of your pack,” I asked. I touched the
Apocrypha and started to work on a pair of white strands. Slowly I pulled and made a lattice that I stretched between myself, and the monkey.
“Hey Mo,” I said leaning forward to look at Iesa’s constant companion.
Mo looked at me in surprise. “We not talk in some time,”
“You’ve been busy,” I said smiling. “I have to ask you a question. Do you remember giving your dad a big piece of rolled up paper.”
Mo thought a moment, “Do I get a snack?”
“Of course,” I said reaching for some cheese on the table and offering it to the monkey.
Mo grabbed it and bit into it quickly and swallowed. He then looked at me and said. “That one was funny. Funny person gave it to me. Told me to give to dad. Spoke to me like you.”
“Really…do you remember anything about the man?”
“Hair was like fat mans face hair. But it moved like wind in hair. But no wind. Tall and thin. Long time don’t remember much.”
“That’s fine. Have some more when you are done,” I smiled.
“I can’t believe you are actually trying to talk to Mo and—” Iesa complained.
“An air dancer,” I said leaning back in my chair thinking.
“A…what?” Daneath asked.
“Sorry…what’s the word…genasi! He was an air genasi,” I replied. “Its why his hair moves…an ever-blowing wind, even if there is no breeze.”
“That’s right,” Fortin said. “Umbra’s friend was one. So, he got you the map, and you all started moving.”
“That seemed to be a bit of luck,” Iesa muttered.
“Or skill…his friend seemed to know his trade. Now, let me ask a question; did you find all the pieces? Pachook said he had scattered them all, but he didn’t say what they were.”
Beepu sighed, “The starting pieces I have; but I am missing three parts. The wedding rings of my parents and the heart of Umbra, or at least that is what he called it. But the rings are gone.”
“Well…after what happened, I’m sure the Kershak has them now---”
“—He doesn’t,” I said. “Remember that’s what he wanted from us.”
Beepu frowned, “That is right…he did. But they were not in the workshop.”
“Why would wedding rings be in the workshop?” Daneath asked.
“My parents did not wear them often, so they would not catch on tools or things they were building. And so, they kept them there in the workshop, in plain sight.”
“How?” I asked. “I thought they weren’t there.”
“They were not. I searched while waited for that wretched scum Paradros arrived.” Beepu replied thinking, clearly trying to think of something he overlooked.
“Um…Beepu,” Kingsley spoke up for the first time. “Before the Kershak came to the shop, she…she pushed me out the back door. But before she did so, she gave me a box of…what I thought was junk parts. She said keep it safe.”
Beepu sat up, “Where? Where is it?”
“I’ll get it,” Kingsley said, and he got up and retreated down the hallway. It wasn’t long before he came back with a small wooden box, about a hand width square. He handed it to Beepu, who quickly opened the lid. Inside were gears and cogs of all shapes, sizes and designs. Beepu quickly started taking parts out one at a time, when he stopped, gave a slight smile, and reached inside. He then withdrew two gears, with a smooth interior and a beveled set of teeth on the outside.
“My mother made these…they are supposed to look like spur gears. And these are unique as you can only fit these two together based on the spacing. Easy to hide in a box of parts. It was what they were; tinkerers and arcane engineers.” Beepu said with a sad smile and tears in his eyes.
“I’m glad you have them, and the Kershak doesn’t” I said.
“That means only our father’s heart is missing…so what would have it been?” Iesa asked.
“Another spur gear. But it would have been bigger…two hands and a half in diameter.” Beepu replied.
“Ah…wait, who’s hand?” Iesa asked.
“Mine of course!” Beepu glared at Iesa.
“It’s a reasonable question!” Iesa said defensively.
“Wait,” Fortin said. “What would it have been made of?”
“A copper alloy, on the outside, but an adamantite core. Why?” Beepu asked.
Fortin’s eyes grew wide, “The genasi has it! It makes sense now, Pachook, must have given it to Umbra’s assistant.”
“Back up!” I said. “I’m confused…how did Kingsley get involved here?”
Fortin responded, “We agreed to watch your mother in case the Kershak came looking for her. When Kingsley arrived unannounced, we were suspicious, and we…”
“Interrogated me, hurm,” Kingsley said indignantly.
“We had cause for concern…but once he mentioned the four of you, we realized that the plan was moving ahead as Umbra intended,” Fortin said defensively. “We didn’t know exactly what parts or pieces were needed, all we knew is that you would eventually end up here, and we were told to…to…of course! That’s why!”
“What?” I asked still feeling lost.
“Well…let me back up. Once Kingsley told us what he knew, we decided to use him as a man on the job; we paid him to stay and watch out for any sign of trouble.”
“I got paid by your mother and the Harpers here. But she figured it out.” Kingsley said sheepishly.
“You spent more than she paid, and she noticed.” Beepu guessed.
Kingsley nodded. “Yes, and I told her about the Harpers…but she seemed to already know about them. So, when the Kershak came, she was already prepared and pushed me out with the box. And she told me it was to…keep her son safe.” He said as he looked at Beepu sadly.
Fortin sighed, “I guess she knew more than Pachook knew she did. He tried to keep her out of it, and she in turn tried to shield Beepu,” the man shook his head. “A remarkable woman. A brave one. This is beyond unfortunate.”
“Well, at least my father is still out there,” Beepu said. “If we follow the trail, we’ll find him.”
Fortin looked uncomfortable suddenly and let out his breath in a deep sigh. “I’m sorry but—”
“—Wait! But? What do you mean but?”
“A year ago, or so, he came here, worked with Umbra and the genasi for a while. Umbra died of course, the genasi left to give you messages at the proper time. But Pachook…he…was caught by the Kershak’s forces outside of the city. He…didn’t survive. In fact, he…he…”
“What?” Beepu asked, his face grey.
“He created some magic to just explode himself and everyone else in fifty paces of him. There wasn’t anything left to even bury. But we were told that if that happened, not to…not to…tell your mother. I wish I hadn’t of made that promise.”
“Wh…wh…why?” Beepu asked, the pain on his face evident.
“Because Beepu,” I said sadly. “You can even ask the dead questions if you have a skull. He was trying to protect you and your mother. I’m…sorry.”
“Fine, where is he now?” Daneath asked pointedly.
“Pachook? We had a small shrined commissi—”
“No! The genasi…and what was his name anyway?”
“Eridan…Eridan bin Ahoone. However, we don’t know where he is…we thought you would know.” Fortin replied holding his hands up apologetically.
“Why?” I asked. “Why would we know?”
“He…he used a teleportation circle to go…somewhere.” Fortin replied.
“I’ve seen several of those; they have a rune sequence. What were the runes?” I asked, as I recalled the circles in the Misty Forest and the High Forest.
“He didn’t tell us! He had a scroll and he used it. He never told us where he was going. But he did say, you would be able to follow him,” Fortin explained.
“That makes no sense…we never even met him,” Daneath said glumly. “Would you have them in your plans Beepu?”
“Hmm?” Beepu was distracted now, “No…it’s a five-rune sequence…. Each would be distinctive like a mage’s own sigil. I have never seen anything like that in the plans.” He said dejectedly.
We stared at each other for a moment.
“It can’t be that hard,” Daneath muttered. “He got us all going to Flint Rock, he would have made sure we had a way.”
I sat there thinking when it hit me.
“Flint Rock! That’s it!” I said jumping up, and then wincing at my unfixed wounds. “Ow!”
“Flint Rock? We have to go back?” Daneath asked in horror.
“No! The map to Flint Rock!” I said excitedly.
Iesa’s eyes opened. “That’s right, there were other things—” and he started to dig in his pack, looking for the long-forgotten paper. “—On that map! We didn’t pay attention because they seemed random.”
Iesa spread the map on the table, and he and I started to parse the map looking for something out of place. As I looked at the map, I saw Flint Rock, and I saw where the canyon we passed through, the rivers and even Yartar. Everywhere there were little sigils in clusters of fives, each with a phrase in the thieves cant. But they were scattered randomly it appeared. But one caught my eye, near were Triboar would have been, and something looked different about it.
“Iesa…what does that phrase say?” and I pointed to the spot on the map.
Iesa squinted, “’Here is the start and here is the end?’” he said slowly.
“Those are it,” I said as I looked at the sigils closely. “I think the other ones are artistic license. These…these are real ones. I’m sure of it.”
“Great! So, we find Eridan and then…what?” Iesa said confused.
Fortin unexpectedly replied. “That…that Pachook told us. You have to turn on the device…and both you,” he pointed at Daneath and then Iesa, “with your weapons in hand must hold it. At that point, the machine will draw out the Kershak’s essence to you and…end him I suppose.”
“That sound’s gruesome,” Daneath commented.
“I do not care. We should end this.” Beepu muttered, halfheartedly.
“Can we rest here Fortin?” I asked. “And let Beepu have a final moment with his parents?”
“Of course. I will summon a mage that can cast the teleportation spell as well. But you will need to leave soon.”
“What? Why?” I asked.
“The Kershak will have discovered you had survived. He also does know about the Harpers of course. I would normally say this place is safe, but we should not assume that. You need to leave, with that map today!”
“But the rune sequence?” I protested.
“We have a technique that will cause the mage to forget the sequence; you will not be followed I assure you.”
I nodded. I sat there and then remembered my injuries. “I need to heal my---”
“Well If you only would drink what you are served! That mead has been mixed with a healing potion.”
“We clearly talk too much,” I said and gulped down some of the liquid. I could feel the pain in my leg and ribs disappear. I finally could breathe easily. I noticed that Daneath and Iesa had done the same, as did Beepu with very little enthusiasm.
“Can we get some supplies?” Iesa asked.
“Yes…Kingsley can you lead them to the stores? And they show Beepu where the…the shrine is”
“Of course,…gentlefolk?” and Iesa, Daneath, and Beepu, although much slower than the other two, followed Kingsley down the hall.
Gos…go with Beepu and watch him.
--Ew…that means being near Foggle.
Your own fault for stalking him.
--Fine! You owe me.
Add it to my tab.
I watched the tressym follow Beepu and Foggle as they left, leaving me alone with Fortin.
Fortin looked at me oddly but said nothing. Finally, I couldn’t take the silence.
"The hair and eyes are--"
"No…I know you are an aasimar. It’s just remarkable how that everything fits.”
“I don’t see how.” I said looking at the elderly man.
“Well, when we heard about you from Kingsley we thought you might have been a Kershak agent.” He said still staring at me.
“I’m not that for certain,” I said a bit testily.
“No. But after a while I remembered something that Eridan said before he left via the teleportation circle.”
I looked up at the man questioningly.
“He said that…his prayers had been answered.”
I must have look very confused for a moment. “Prayers?” I said slowly.
“Yes…he said he prayed to a deity for help. Clearly you are that help.” Fortin said nodding.
“I doubt that…I don’t think the powers care quite so…intimately. Besides, I’m…I’m no one.”
“I would have agreed with you, except for one thing. Eridan told me who he prayed for succor.”
My head snapped up and I looked at the man. As I did so I realized that he wasn’t looking at me…but instead what I wore.
“It was on behalf of Umbra. He was praying to Kelemvor.”
