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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Aust Meliamne" data-source="post: 793" data-attributes="member: 95">Vallia #24th day of Leaffall, 1372 DRThis morning began rather well, until I got downstairs. It would appear that, unfortunately, someone saw fit to teach Misha the elven language, and he finds it amusing to converse with me in this way. He has also picked up a habit of calling me Highness……it makes me grind my teeth just thinking about it. Mornings are not my best time, I tend to prefer night to day anyway. I actually found myself apologizing for snapping at him. I don’t know what on earth possessed me to do THAT.As I sat down to breakfast, I noticed that Karanaj was a little, well, undressed. When I inquired, he said something about not being used to traveling with a group. Men. Of course, Kay and Misha took the opportunity to have some fun at our expense. Kay seems very fond of Misha, playing with the beads in his hair this morning. That grated on my nerves as well, though I’m not really sure why. Perhaps it is just the beads. How ridiculous. Apparently Gruush is not impressed with Kay either, he plucked her out of her seat and took it, then sat her on the floor. It was all I could do not to laugh. Suprisingly, Misha jumped up and offered her his seat. Maybe there is something between them after all, as disgusting as that may be. Later, when we told Misha he had apparently made a friend, he replied that he had no friends. Not suprising, really.After some pointless discussion of last night’s prophecy, we finally left for the Platinum Quill, where we found a very uncooperative fellow called Catellion. Something about him bothered me, maybe his glib denial of knowing Galliad. When threatened, as we always seem to be doing, he shouted for Anteashara, who came running in the door. Being the coward that he apparently was, he left her to fight, and fled. It did not take us long to subdue Anteashara, and Misha, looking out the door, quickly dispatched two thugs Catellion must have sent to help her. He is good, I will give him that, although I think perhaps he has something magical which enhances his ability. Misha bade me heal Anteashara, and though I thought she would be in a better position to answer our questions as she was, I complied, to see how he would handle the situation. In hindsight, I know now that was a mistake.The others threatened her, but she was uncooperative. Karanaj threatened her life, but I do not think he was serious. He did, however, manage to goad Misha into killing her, the fool. She was obviously important to Catellion, and would have been a valuable bargaining chip, but he killed her, while she was helpless and tied up! I was furious. Kay, surprisingly, took my side, and has not been cordial to Misha since.Misha found nothing in the shop, and I goaded him a little, asking what we should do now that he had killed our only source of information. All the while, I couldn’t get that picture of him on the Path of Silk Flowers out of my mind. Suddenly, it struck me what a fool I’d been. The riddle. I should have realized. The place where smell meets sight and sound. The Path of Silk Flowers, surely a place of sight. And it intersects a well known district, the Avenue of Chimes, the place of sound. All I needed to find was the smell, and we had the contracts.I led the others down the Avenue of Chimes, but did not see fit to fill them in. To my surprise, the halfling was the first one to understand. As we stood at the intersection, I noticed that the garden on the corner emitted a powerful aroma, and decided that its manor was obviously our destination. Kay decided to knock. While not my choice, I allowed her to do so. No one answered, and she had Gruush lift her so she could look through the window. She saw two men guarding double doors, but nothing else. While Kay was spying, Misha whined about my not liking him. I explained to him, of course, that I did not dislike HIM per se, I just did not like his methods, ie. acting stupid, which he seems to do with frightening regularity. But I am getting off the subject, I am chronicling the events of my quest, not writing a Misha story.It was decided that Kay would scout the side of the house, being the best at sneaking around. Misha, in his infinite wisdom, could not wait, and took it upon himself to scout the other side. He was not quiet, either, any idiot could have heard him coming. In fact, I rather enjoyed what happened next. Kay returned, having found an entrance through the garden on the side. We had decided to enter that way, when suddenly a patch of darkness began to move around the side of the house. Of course it was Misha and he had a ‘problem’. He IS one big problem. He just doesn’t think. Apparently someone in the house heard him coming as well, and cast a nice darkness spell over him. Being unable to counter the spell, we determined that Misha should remain where he was, which left us with one big problem: he was helpless. To my utter surprise, I found myself saying I would stay with him. The others continued on, though Karanaj appeared to want to stay. Misha remarked that I seemed to be enjoying his predicament, I asked if he could blame me. He did apologize for killing Anteashara, he said he didn’t want to kill her. I told him I would not leave him helpless and he asked why I cared. To tell the truth, I’m not sure myself.We actually began to have a real conversation. He seemed to be under the mistaken impression that there was something between Karanaj and myself, which I corrected. Of course, Misha lets his mouth get him in trouble once more and comments “Lucky him.” I’m afraid I let my anger get the best of me, and I kicked him with as much force as I could muster. Someone needed to teach this arrogant boy a lesson. In his apology, he managed to call me an ice queen, earning himself another kick. He apologized and admitted that he had underestimated me. My temper cooled, and I even found myself telling him of my father’s nickname for me: Wildcat. After a few moments silence, he grudgingly thanked me for staying. I could tell he was in some pain, I had forgotten how well I can kick. I reached into the darkness and took his hands, as I prayed for healing. It was the least I could do. I felt a little guilty about indulging my anger, but…..he deserved it.We spoke of friendships, which Misha apparently feels he cannot afford. How sad for him. I told him that perhaps I would have need of his services, after this affair was finished, to protect my life. He immediately offered to do so, free of charge. The shock alone almost killed me, but he claimed it was a favor for a friend. I agreed, but I told him I would not promise not to kick him again. I spoke with Karanaj through my mind, and learned that Gruush had been badly injured in a battle. Misha and I slowly found our way to them, and I healed Gruush as best I could. Misha whined to them about my kicking him, and Karanaj sympathized with him. When I had finished, I noticed that I could see Misha again. We commenced searching the house, and finally found our way to the study. While Karanaj and I looked at the books, a dire rat appeared in our mist, and Catellion attacked us from a side room. Misha quickly impaled the dire rat, but Catellion managed to graze Karanaj. While the rest of us made short work of Catellion, Kay landing the final blow by launching a magical stone that turned into a boulder, which pretty well crushed him., the mage, Mantatlus appeared and attacked Karanaj from behind. The crossbow bolt lodged in Karanaj, as we all concentrated our attacks on the mage. He managed to drink a potion, and promptly disappeared, although he did leave behind a pouch containing his important documents, including the contracts. He laughed at our confusion, and Karanaj claims he used a teleport spell to leave. We grabbed the pouch and left quickly.The watch arrived more quickly than I had thought possible, and I had to think quick. Misha being the closest, I pulled him close, and began to kiss him. We began pretending to be in love, and the watch let us pass. At the sight of Gruush, however, the Watch began to mutter among themselves. Fortunately, Misha thought quickly, and was able to pass him off as his servant. While this was happening, I told Karanaj to go quickly the other way, a bloody man would quickly raise suspicions. He managed to slip away, and the Watch let us pass. Misha held me close until we made it back to the inn, and I have to admit I was a little disappointed when we arrived. We did not look at the contents of the pouch, being worn out from the battles. Kay went to bed, and Gruush helped Karanaj to his room. I felt so guilty, had I not kicked Misha and then had to heal him, I would have had enough healing spells to heal Karanaj. It is my fault he had to spend a night in pain……Misha and I talked for a while, I think, but I do not remember much. I remember being on the stairs and then darkness………………</blockquote>

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