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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Whizbang Dustyboots" data-source="post: 3543530" data-attributes="member: 11760">Previously, back at the Way Inn ...A small boy with bright orange hair dressed all in wool shows the fugitives to a well-appointed room. The room has shutters that lock on the inside and a stout lock on the door. Tock barely notices the boy and quickly moves to open the window to get a good look outside.The boy hands the room key to Katadid, his other hand levitating upwards, palm outstretched."Just let me know if y'all need anything, sirs. Just ask for Dieter.""In fact, maybe there is, Dieter," Tock smiles.Dieter looks alarmed as Tock begins chanting, but it isn't long before the boy's face is pleased and relaxed and looking up toward Tock with admiration."Dieter," Tock says, handing over a silver piece. "Been practicing your alchemy? How would you like to make that silver into a gold?"Dieter nods eagerly."I did that spell last week," Renraw mutters to Katadid. "It was simple."Tock ignores the others and begins his instructions."First, grab us a bottle of brandy. Here's the gold for that to give the lovely lady up front. Second, be quiet about it, but get us some food, enough for a few days. A backpack or two would help also, but try to be slick about it, which I just bet you are. But the biggest favor you can do for me is to get those stable hands out of there for a few minutes. Tell them whatever you need to. I'll see you soon, pal."Dieter nods and darts out of the room, grinning wildly.Tock spins and begins pointing and barking orders."Right. Renraw? Kat? Exchange clothes. We need that fresh mud. You'll be sneaking out the window. We're too high: Tie the bed sheets in knots and shimmy down on them. Can't hurt to cast an alarm spell on the door, after the kid gets back. We'll be too far away to hear it but we may as well let them think we were expecting company."After you're out, Kem, you cast that running spell you have and run through the forest southeast. Your tracks, along with the mud, should provide a decent trail to throw any trackers from Maidensbridge off. When the spell's about halfway done, run back northeast to the road, where Kat and I will meet you. We'll ride on then. And grab the bed sheets before you go. Kat might be getting naked before we hit town."Katadid, leg it out that window in about 10 minutes. You'll know for sure when to go when you hear the laughter from the tavern. We'll join up at the road."OK, get going with the clothes-switching. I'll be right back."And with that, Tock stamps out of the room, leaving a bewildered pair of wizards to stare at each other."I'm confused as to why his plans always require someone or multiple someones to remove their clothing," Renraw sighs as he begins stripping. "And I'm not too keen on being told which spells to cast and when to cast them. When did we put your cousin in charge again?""Well, he knows ... he's always ..." Katadid mumbles, trailing off as he begins unbuttoning his shirt.The sound of Dieter's argument with the stable hands cuts off Renraw's next complaint. It sounds as though the boy eventually wins.Downstairs, Tock heads out of the Way Inn past the guards and nods his head pleasantly. He walks to the cart and grabs the items left by Scimitar Kem and takes them back to the room. He takes the still-dressing Renraw aside and whispers to him."Listen," he murmurs, "My cousin couldn't lie if he were on fire. We'll both need to keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't say anything for the duration."Now finish up with the sheets. We gotta go soon And remember to lock this door and put an alarm on it. And Kat, laughter in the tavern, then bring our things and meet me at the road."He shuts the door behind him.Renraw makes a face and minces around the room in what is meant to be a parody of Tock. He then joins Katadid at the window and begins turning the woolen bedsheets into a makeshift rope.A minute later, Tock returns to the stable, now missing the stablehands. Spotting Dieter outside, he calls him over and hands him the reins."Hey, kid, good job with the stable hands. How would you like to have a little adventure? Walk these horses up behind those trees and wait for us. You've got our food and all that? Bring it over there. May even be some more fun later. And it'll earn you some decent gold at that."Eager as a puppy dog, Dieter takes the reins and horses.Exchanging pleasantries with the bored and chilly guards, Tock makes quickly for the room, having changed his mind."Never mind on the laughter, Kat," he says, flinging the door open. "They must share the sticks Bridger and Gallaway have inside them."He snatches the sheet rope from the two wizards."Who tied these? I swear, you two ..."Renraw, muttering darkly, casts his spell on the room's door as Tock opens the window and drops the sheets out.The room is only on the second floor, but a high cellar and a brambly hedge line make for a bit of a drop. Katadid is the first out, examining the re-tied knots closely before pushing off the wall and hitting the soft ground. Tock comes next with the group's belongings and moves quickly, beckoning Renraw to do so as well. Renraw throws his leg over the windowsill and begins climbing, but stops above the hedges and looks down at Tock only a few feet away."What is that on your boot?" he demands in a loud whisper."What?" Tock asks, taking a quick look at his feet. "It's hay from the stable, why?""Oh, hay," Renraw repeats, frozen on the windowsill. "Nothing, no reason.""Come down now," Tock pleads, visibly restraining himself from screaming at Renraw."I'll just need a moment," Renraw hisses, shutting his eyes tight.An infuriated Tock makes a short jump into the air and lays his hands on Renraw's shoulders, yanking him down into the hedges and right on top of him. The bed sheets tear off in Renraw's hands. The pair roll a bit, a tangle of limbs and bed sheets and curse words, before both immediately stand and straighten their clothes. Renraw starts to dust himself off before Tock slaps his hands away, leaving the mud on as a disguise. Conveniently, they both note, the scuffle has knocked the offending hay off Tock's boots and out of sight."Now," Tock says impatiently, "Into the woods. Idiot.""Yes," Renraw says slowly, "About that.""Go, gods damn you! Cast the spell and go!" Tock waves his arms with urgency. "We need you to throw them off! We'll meet you on the road, I swear!""It's not that," Renraw continues, "It's the woods. There are grizzlies around here. Grizzlies that will do ... things ... to a person."Tock opens his mouth in surprise, shutting it when he realizes he's told Renraw some of those stories himself."Oh, yes. Well, you cast that spell and you should be able to run clear of any of that stuff. Boy, I know what you mean, though. Listen, I'm sorry about that. But we need you now, man. Run fast and you probably won't get raped by a bull grizzly. Probably," he says, relishing the way Renraw's face drains of color.But the wizard stands, casts his spell and, with a last furious glare at the bard, races off into the Tulgey Wood."Finally, now, Katadid -- Katadid?" Tock whips his head back and forth, but Katadid is gone. "Weirdbird! Katadid Leach!"Just as panic threatens to overtake him, Tock thinks he can hear voices in the distance. He bolts in their direction and finds himself running to the secluded knot of trees where he asked Dieter to wait. The voices grow louder."I see. Very good," Katadid says, nodding as he scrutinizes the horses' shoes. "And were you able to procure any satchels?""Kat, w-what are you ... ?" Tock starts."Ah, there you are," Katadid says without looking up. "It's time to mount up and ride now. We've undoubtedly aroused suspicion in the local authorities."Tock suppresses the desire to scream and flings himself onto the saddle of one horse. Katadid, more calmly but even less gracefully, does the same a moment later. They look down and see an expectant Dieter looking up at them."We'll use him at least until the charm wears out," Kat says, signaling with a rigid finger for Dieter to jump on Tock's mount. "He rides with you, along with our things. When Kem rejoins, our weight will be more evenly distributed. Hi-ya, Applesauce.""You know that horse's name?" Tock asks, when he can finally choke out another question.Katadid rides motionless and upright, but Applesauce seems to sashay past as Tock and Dieter look on. Kat simply smiles before tapping the top of the saddle three times.</blockquote>

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