Realms of Enlightenment: The Grey Companions (final update posted 02.14.10)

[Burningspear]

With the insane diety near saving and the demi-plane ready to expel the survivors. I'm left wondering do we see some reincarnations from the nature goddess or do we see ?

Alhear - Well, he has a dry sense of humor (very dry, almost dessicated ) so he'd likely view it as another chance to prove to nature it can be circumvented.

ah well, just the observations and opinions of a raving madman.

Interesting you think a Druid would show nature it could be circumvented,
Heh, but anyway, have a nice read .

 

[Jon Potter]

Interesting you think a Druid would show nature it could be circumvented,

Umm... Ahlear is the guy who returned from death as a mummy. That's pretty much the definition of circumventing nature.

 

[Jon Potter]

[Realms #461] Something Divine

"Great... swallowed by a cloud!!" Noxin grumbled as he turned in a circle, greathammer at the ready, searching the area all around for some clue as to what was happening. There was little to see apart from the clouds rolling ever closer.

"Perhaps the sword knows something?" Saelus suggested and Morier raised the sabre in his hand. It was just a sword now, he sensed; whatever spark of life it had possessed before freeing the Heart had been spent in the process leaving just unthinking metal behind.

"No," he said, his eyes never leaving the floating gemstone as he absently dropped the weapon at his side. "Its intelligence is gone."

"Well we sure started somethin' here," Noxin said, anxiously. "Let's grab the gem and start thinkin' about finding a way out before we get swallowed up!" He started for the glowing ruby, but Morier was closer and the albino stepped forward and clutched it in two hands before the half-giant could take a second step.

Time then seemed to stop for the eldritch warrior. The instant of contact with the gem stretched out impossibly, and in that dilated moment, every second that had passed since he'd entered the Grove of Renewal was played out before him in the heart of the stone. It was like he had been born that day, as if nothing he had done before then was important.

What had previously seemed a random set of encounters with a constantly chaging cast of characters suddenly became a clear picture. Every second organized, planned, and carried out with meticulous efficiency. Madness was replaced with clarity. Every soul had been sent to do his or her part, each marking a moment that allowed the next step to be taken. The roles could well have been reversed. It could just as easily have been he who had sacrificed to put someone else in this moment... at this place and this time.

Images of people from the past streamed across the stone's roseate surface now, some nameless faces, some far more familiar. Even those that seemed strangers at first were quickly connected now to names he had heard spoken; Kirnoth, Finian, Soriah... all had passed on before he joined the group, but somehow they all looked familiar and provided him a somewhat unexpected sense of comfort at this moment. Transient faces like Windstryder, Bisayo, and Grisham who had been with the group for what seemed like an instant before disappearing, now smiled and greeted him like old friends. Vade, Feln, Lela, Ixin... none of this would have happened, he knew, without their sacrifice.

Ledare now stood before him and he lowered his head in reverence. It was her devotion to this cause that had made him come along with the group in the first place. Their paths had intersected more than once in this lifetime, maybe for a reason. He lifted his head and her image was at once replaced by the figures of Shamalin, Ayremac, and Karak. They had been among the tiny handful of people he would have called friends. Then the old Ahlear that he remembered from Hillville Junction appeared... not the strange, petrified, cloth wrapped stranger that he seemed to have become in the end... and that image faded just as quickly. Huzair then turned to face him, cigar jutting from his clenched teeth. His was the only image to speak.

"I was always going to be the hero, my friend. You knew that, didn't you? Come on, it was inevitable," the wizard chuckled. "Nominate me for sainthood or something, would ya? It's the least you could do. And, hey, remember me fondly to the old man next time you see him. Tell him I did good."

And then they vanished. He felt small... physically... emotionally... spiritually.

"I am with you," a woman said and time lurched back into motion.

The gem was gone!

But at the same time, it wasn't. Morier touched his chest, feeling the shape of the gemstone beneath his chain shirt... half-embedded in his chest. Oddly, this did not bring any feeling of alarm to the albino. In fact it brought him a sense of comfort and warmth - "I am with you" - that he couldn't quite explain.

"Come on, Morier!" Noxin urged. "This place is goin' fast!"

Morier looked around and saw that the clouds were closing in on all sides. The three of them stood in the middle of a circle that was maybe fifty feet across and shrinking fast. This didn't really concern him too much.

"Don't worry," the eldritch warrior said, grinning slightly as the clouds closed in.

"Don't worry!?" Noxin yelled, brandishing his hammer as if he might smite the clouds into retreat. "I'd say this was a damned fine time to start worryin'!"

"If you're going to pull a miracle out of the air, now would be a good time to do so," the Colonel admitted, sparing a glance at Morier.

The elf just smiled as the clouds closed in.



And then they were floating in a void.

No... not quite a void, there were monumental cloud formations in the silvery distance and multi-colored lights twinkled here and there like stars. But it was quite empty nonetheless.

"What the-?" Noxin said, dumbfounded. Colonel Saelus looked around and made an assessment.

"We're on the Astral Plane," he said.

 

[Jon Potter]

Well, it's been two weeks since my computer died and I was able to I post an update! But I've got a new hard drive with most of my old data so things should settle back into the regular once-a-week schedule.

But... for now let's drop a couple of updates to make up for the last couple f weeks, shall we?

 

[Jon Potter]

[Interlude #1] Reconnect at the Wedding

"The bride looks beautiful," Del assured his friend and mentor as the father of the groom stole a moment from the social necessities of his son's wedding to stop at their table. They were in one of the larger banquet rooms at the Janissary Guildhall. Colorful tapestries hung from the ceiling and all of the wall sconces were lit. It was a warm and festive feeling… a reprieve from the recent troubles Barnacus had experienced.

It still seemed strange to Del that the festivities were not taking place at the castle, but with the city in the state it was of late few people got near the King. Hasding Island was completely blockaded by Elcadian naval vessels making sure that no one could bring plague to His Majesty again. It was a sound strategy, he knew, but it was causing rumors to spread. In the short time he'd been back in the capital he'd personally heard a human commoner assert that King Haermond had gone mad from his sickness and had locked himself in his own dungeon!

Cadeus Thurgood settled into the chair, fidgeting with his finery. "She does at that." Then he added in a conspiratorial whisper, "But her mother has us all fit to be tied! If that's any indication of what's in store for Geoff… the gods save him!" The men chuckled and Del excused himself to fetch a round of drinks for the group.

Cade’s gaze followed the man he had raised as a son as Del wove his way through the crowds. The compliment had been sincere enough, but Cade knew the effort it must be taking for Del to participate in the celebration. It hadn’t yet been two full moondances since word had reached the janissary guild of Ledare Eelsof’faw’s untimely death. The news had hit Del particularly hard, and was evidenced in his face even now. Cade looked away and toward a handsome, middle-aged elf seated at the table. "I see you two have reconnected?"

The elf smiled warmly and inclined his head. Long, thick, dark hair was pulled stylishly back, leaving a widow’s peak in the middle of his forehead. His clothes were exquisite, from his family's finest collection Cadeus would guess, although he was sure that Deandra would know at a glance. His wife had an eye for fabrics that Cadeus couldn't match. Still, he thought it a fair assumption to make; Maleko Maltalia always seemed to be superbly dressed with not a wrinkle in his clothes or a hair out of place.

"Yes it’s great to see Del again," the elf explained. "The janissaries of Barnacus have provided excellent service to my family, and we owe them a great deal. I owe them my life.” Cade nodded. Frequent caravan attacks had always plagued the kingdom's border. Over the past few years the Home Legion's efforts had curbed some of the violence. Since the plague, however, road bandits were once again wreaking havoc on an already fragile trade industry. And the Legion was stretched far too thin to do much more than occasionally stanch the flow of gold from the merchant guild's coffers. It was not a good situation.

It surprised Cade a little that the wedding was going as well as it was. Many of the local burghers had closed up shop and fled the city weeks ago. And those that remained in town were ill-tempered at best. The Maltalias, it seemed, were one of the few families who seemed to harbor no ill will toward the king and his janissaries these days.

Maleko continued, “When Del approached me and wanted to speak, I sensed something was troubling him. I would do anything that I could to help him. Not only am I indebted to him, but I consider him to be one of the most honorable men I have ever encountered… a credit to his training and to you. Is there trouble with his family?"

"No trouble," Del interrupted depositing several overflowing tankards of ale on the table. "Let's not distract from the proud father’s momentous occasion." He handed Cade a drink and then gave Maleko a look that the cleric immediately understood.

“Of course… to the bride and groom!” Maleko toasted. The men drank heartily, each one noticing as Del drained his tankard and reached immediately for another.



Later that night as Maleko returned home, he heard footsteps approaching swiftly behind him and a jolt of fear shot through his body. Quickly he turned, glancing over his shoulder only to be relieved to see it was only Del.

“Maleko, I wish to speak with you,” Dell boomed as he trotted to catch up to the elf. Maleko did not mind having an escort walking at night. He had reason to be nervous.

In the time since his first abduction he had grown much more cautious. After the second abduction he had learned of the cruelty of men. That time he had used his magic to “disappear” from the caravan and had hoped to escape. Only the fact that a bandit had seen him vanish allowed them to catch him. The man had threatened, yelling into the dark, “I will kill one of your merchants each minute you do not show yourself.” Unfortunately, it took one minute for Maleko to see that the brigand was not bluffing, so he had little choice. He could not bear to see another of his employees die because of his inaction. That life would forever weigh on his conscience, he feared.

“Your company is always welcome, Del. What words do you wish to share with me?” Maleko inquired.

“I heard from Cadeus that you were no longer working for your family; that Grey House had employed you,” Del spoke carefully.

“That is true. I would not want everyone to know this, but I trust you may already know Grey House is in disarray. All the senior members are missing. Abernathy, who looks after the estate, has given me this,” Maleko said and unveiled a bracelet, encrusted with eight gems. He offered it to the janissary and Del saw that one of the gems was aglow with a feint orange light. As the circlet moved in his fingers, the glow seemed to shift from gem to gem, always glowing brightest toward the southwest.

“All of the members of Grey House have disappeared," Maleko said as Del returned the bracelet to his thin hands. "Several unfortunately have met their demise, but many have an uncertain location. This is the assignment I have accepted. I am to discern what has happened to the members.” Maleko had a look of uncertainty that he quickly tried to cover with a thin smile.

Del nodded, taking it in. He knew that Ledare, too, had been working for the Grey Company. But whether or not she had still been under their service at the time of her death he did not know. The fact that the entire Grey House had uncertainty surrounding it was startling news. And Del suddenly found himself needing to find out more.

“One of my comrades who participated in your rescue worked for the Grey. She spoke very highly of them. Ledare Eelsof’faw … You may recall her.”

“Indeed I do. When you were rescuing me, she jumped a mile when I cast Web on the baddies who were escaping,” remarked Maleko. He kept the feeling that she had been more than just Del’s comrade to himself adding only, “My sympathies.”

Del looked off into the darkness. “I left Awad to become a janissary. And I’ve spent years stamping out small evils.” He paused, searching for the words. “I was good at it. Better, even, than I might have been at home working the shipyard. It was the life I thought I was meant for… making a difference.” He was quiet.

“Suddenly it all seems meaningless…” he said at last and his words trailed off, dragged down by the weight of emotion in them. Maleko waited a moment to see if he would continue, but his companion seemed lost in his own thoughts. The elf sighed.

“As you may know life for an elf is long, and we generally pursue many interests. My father has his business and his human wives to keep him busy. My life has... well, not been quite as fulfilling," Maleko said. "Being an elf... well, mostly elven at any rate... with an extended life span when compared to humans or even half-elves... our interests often change over time.” Del still seemed wrapped in his own thoughts as he looked off down the street toward the sea. Light was spilling out of the Needle and Thread Tavern some blocks away, but that was the only sign of life along the route.

"I have worked at being a merchant with my family, which made me a good fortune. It allowed me to explore my gifts as a sorcerer… until I fell in love. Her name was Alana. She worshiped Nethlar and my love for her drew me to him as well. I so admired her and the followers of Nethlar’s desire for knowledge and truth." for a moment, Maleko's own voice thickened with memory, but he'd reconciled himself with his wife's death years ago. He went on, "Well, as mixed marriages go it was great, but not meant to last forever. She passed on decades ago. I then wished to adventure after her death seeking escape. Father thought me naïve and foolish. He was right.” Maleko smiled in the darkness.

“I had a run in with unscrupulous adventurers and well…. was only saved when my father paid my ransom. I lost any trust I had for humankind there and then." His mouth twisted as if he'd bitten down on something bitter. "Well, I then moved on to the safe profession of teaching and working for father only occasionally. Teaching was rewarding for a while, but after a score of years… I find myself yearning for more out of life. With the recent closing of the school due to the plague, this latest opportunity seemed a logical and serendipitous choice."

"I do wonder myself why I was approached for this job and questioned Abernathy thoroughly on the matter. Poor man lost everything: his masters, his family, everything except that sweet, but ill mannered dog that follows him around incessantly. I-" Maleko stopped in mid-sentence, feeling suddenly that he'd given Del more of an ear-full than the janissary wished for. The half-elf was too diplomatic to say anything, of course, but Maleko sensed something in Del's demeanor nonetheless.

"Forgive me. I ramble so. It must be the wine," the elf said, stifling back a feigned yawn. "We shall continue tomorrow? Breakfast tomorrow at the Five Elements? Considerably after the rooster crows.”



“This gift from Abernathy, how will it help you locate the Grey Members?” Del asked the next morning after the serving wench, Maggie, had brought him another tankard of ale. They sat in the common room of the Five Elements Inn. The early morning crowd had cleared out, and only a handful of patrons were lingering. Maleko thought that Maggie had been especially attentive to them at first, trying, it seemed, to catch Del's eye, but had eventually given up when he gave her no notice and now she virtually ignored them. The two men had spoken lightly of other things during the breakfast meal, but Maleko sensed that it was all leading up to this.

“The glow indicates the direction of the closest coin. The strength of the glow indicates how close we are.” He demonstrated, turning the bracelet in his hands. As it had last night, the glow remained steadily pointing to the southwest no matter what direction the object was turned. The glow seemed rather weak in the light of day, however. “We are nowhere near where this coin is. I asked the Abernathy to accompany me, but he insisted he is too old and grief stricken to be of any good in the field. He takes the loss of each member of the Company very seriously and had felt a connection to some of the new members who had perished. He said they were really a good, eager bunch overall and feared that their inexperience may have led to their deaths.” Del's face darkened at that and Maleko thought perhaps that he spied wetness in the half-elf's eyes, but then they hardened again.

"I worry for Abernathy and have asked father to look in on him from time to time," Maleko added and Del took a long draught from his mug. Maleko wondered, fleetingly, if the man was drinking to bolster his nerves or if this was always his way.

“What would you say to some company on your quest?” Del asked suddenly. He didn’t give time for an answer before continuing. “I’m a fairly experienced tracker, and I’ve some skill with a sword.” He suddenly felt foolish and smiled. “The truth is, I’d be abandoning my post, which is a serious offense. That could make things… difficult down the line.”

“I would be honored Del, but what about your career, your family name? Why not just ask for a leave of absence?” Maleko asked belatedly realizing by the look on Del’s face that he needed to lower his voice. Del shook his head in response.

“Given all the recent trouble, the king has restricted any extended leaves. Cade pulled all the strings he had just to get me home for Geoffrey's wedding," the half-elf said sullenly. "No. If I'm to join you it will be outside the scope of my duties. But whatever Ledare was pursuing for the Grey Company, it was with a passion that went beyond even her janissary duty. She was involved with something really big - bigger than anyone knew, and she believed in it wholeheartedly. And if I can carry that banner now, then I have to do it. Even if it means leaving one cause to take up another." Then his voice dipped lower and he said into his mug, "I owe her that."

Maleko nodded, his mind racing ahead. “I fear traveling alone could be dangerous, but I have ways we can avoid much trouble if necessary. I think your sword and my sorcery will be a good team," the elf said eagerly. "We can endure the elements through my magic, or hide from trouble if we choose not to fight it.” Maleko secretly hoped he could avoid such conflict. “I can also heal wounds when I pray, although I fear Nethlar may have forgotten about me in the years since I left the clergy.”

“You seem to have served his cause well in other capacities. The priests of Nethlar value the truths of history which you have taught,” Del suggested and Maleko nodded.

“We can take two of my father’s horses and leave tomorrow. It is best he not know that you are accompanying me, of course. I do not wish to have my family involved in any conspiracy. No offense,” Maleko kindly inserted.

“Of course. None taken,” Del replied, his face showing the conflict he felt between choosing his personal needs over his sworn duty. This was not a decision he had come to easily. He had run away from one life long ago, in pursuit of something. And here he was about to run again. But what else could he do?

“It’s done then. I will meet you before sunup tomorrow,” he announced firmly, clunking his tankard down on the tabletop loud enough to draw curious glances from the other patrons. “I have a few things to take care of before that.”

 

[Jon Potter]

[Interludes #2] Day One

The next morning Del arrived at Maleko's home shortly before sunrise. It was a small, but exquisite house in the wealthier section of town. Maleko opened the door even before Del could dismount. "I should have known you would bring your own steed. Father can pick up Mister Billy when he stops by to pick up my pets this morning," Maleko said, referring to the horse he had intended to bring along for Del. "Please come in."

Del followed Maleko into one of the most elegant homes he had seen. His boots echoed off the polished floors. Artifacts of obvious value were tastefully displayed. The prosperity of the Maltalia family was apparent in every aspect of the place. "Can I get you anything?" Maleko asked, reflexively. Del declined and Maleko continued with schoolboy enthusiasm, "I have trail rations, my sleeping bag, and a tent. I have connections in most of the major cities and towns in Elcaden. My family name carries weight in some circles." There was not the slightest hint of a boast in the tone; Maleko was merely stating the truth. As he spoke, he fingered a beautifully decorated long sword that hung at his waist.

"I did not want to carry this since I know I will never use it," he admitted, "but father said if people see it, they are more likely to leave you alone. Image is everything, he always says."

Del suddenly became acutely aware of his own image reflected in one of the mammoth gold-gilded mirrors that hung on the wall. He almost didn't recognize the man looking back at him - errant strands of brown hair already escaping the tie at the base of his neck, several days growth of beard shadowing his face, weather-worn travel clothes…all that was the same. However, without his janissary insignia, he seemed a stranger to himself.

As Maleko continued to point out his preparations, a gnawing concern began to grow in the back of Del's mind. It appeared his companion had no experience traveling or camping except at the finest of inns. Maleko, being perceptive, addressed that fact immediately. "I can take care of myself and even you, if needed, by other means. I'll admit that I do enjoy the finer things in life, but can 'rough' it if I must." He smiled disarmingly, "I just prefer not to."

"I'm not worried." Dell insisted, although in the back of his mind, he was.

His concerns, however, did not last long. And as Del relaxed that evening in the soft bed of the Frog Hair Tavern he began to think that for years, perhaps, he had been going about it all wrong. Certainly this was preferable to the discomfort of a hard dirt floor. A flame crackled in the firepit, the scent of seasoned meat still hung in the air from dinner, and the ale had formed a warm feeling in the pit of his stomach. It would be easy to grow accustomed to such luxury, he decided, if that was the path you found yourself upon.

As his thoughts turned to Ledare, as they often did in the last waking moments of the day, Del wondered exactly what kind of path he was now on.

Elsewhere...
​

"You know those texts by rote, my boy," Justiciar Galmache said from behind him. "And the answers you seek do not lie in The Writ of Umba."

"I never thought that I would hear you say those words, Justiciar," Ayremac answered without turning. "How many times did you send me to the The Writ during my training?"

"As many times as was necessary for you to understand the words of the Soul Judge well enough to act as Her agent in the world," Galmache told him and eased up to the holy warrior's side. He splayed a hand out over the text of the illuminated manuscript and continued, "But that time is years passed. Any clarity The Writ holds for you is already in your heart. Your answers are not here." Ayremac sighed.

"Then where are they, Justiciar?" Ayremac asked, turning his emerald eyes to the cleric. There was confusion in the holy warrior's face and no small measure of grief there as well. Galmache smiled at him.

"In the one place you've been avoiding these last few weeks, Ayremac," the man explained, placing a hand on the Officer's arm. "Out in the world."

The holy warrior sagged as if a great, invisible hand were pressing on his shoulders.

"I- I don't think I can," Ayremac said, his voice barely a whisper. "Everything I thought I was fighting for-"

"Is still out there," the Justiciar assured him. "You were called as an Officer of Umba. You are Her sword in the world. You are meant to bring Her justice to the people, not wither away in the dark beneath a mountain of dusty tomes."

"My allies are gone," Ayremac argued. "I am but one man." Galmache patted the holy warrior's cheek.

"Even a single candle may banish the darkness, my boy. You know that!" the cleric smiled. "And anyway, you have an ally. Ixin is eager to re-enter the fight." Ayremac looked surprised.

"Ixin?" he asked. "Surely she isn't well enough to-"

"You underestimate her resilience, I think," the priest answered. "Twice now she has returned from the Walk of 100 Days. It has made her strong in unexpected ways. She has taken to the secrets of The Writ and is anxious to return to the field. To be sure, her training is not complete, but I can think of no better teacher than the one who released her from her imprisonment." The Officer smiled weakly.

"You overstate my involvement in that. All I did was bring in the sword," he said. "And I don't know if I'm ready to take on a student. Even Ixin." The priest nodded.

"All I ask is that you think about it," Justiciar Galmache answered. "Think about it and I will pray to Umba for guidance."

 

[WetWombat]

YAY! Ixin's back!

 

[Jon Potter]

YAY! Ixin's back!

My wife will be happy to hear about your enthusiasm toward Ixin. Although this time around, she's strictly an NPC.

And for those of you playing along at home - this is the third distinct version of Ixin.

Originally she was a Drakeling (from Green Ronin's Arcana: Societies of Magic) aristocrat/sorcerer.

After her death in the Grove of Renewal and her subsequent rebirth she was re-imagined as a half-dragon sorcerer (variant from Unearthed Arcana).

This last time she's straight human, straight sorcerer with a bunch of draconic feats and a couple of levels of Dragonheart Mage from Races of the Dragon.

 

[WetWombat]

What's not to like about ANY of the Protaganisti? Or the author of the story, for that matter? I've thoroughly enjoyed following along on the adventures of the Grey Company, Jon, and thank you for taking the time and effort to share with us!

THE Wombat! (Mildly Damp)

 

[Jon Potter]

[Interlude #2] Meeting Cerrakean

"We're very close," Maleko said, his voice an excited whisper at Del's shoulder. He held a silencing finger to his lips, but spared a glance over at the glowing bracelet on the elf's wrist. It was shedding as much light as a torch now and the janissary was concerned that the device was becoming a liability rather than an asset at the moment.

Still, after so many weeks on the trail, it was hard not to be a little excited. Remembering that an illegal army was massing in the area helped a little in that regard, of course. They'd managed to avoid detection so far, thanks in no small part to the information that they'd been able to secure about Miller's Pond when they stopped to resupply at the Wayward Fool in Bereford. Or what was left of the Wayward Fool; the inn had sustained obvious heavy damage recently and the owner, Lodar Manford, asserted that the only reason there was anything at all left of the outpost was because of the Wyverneye Militia.

Del knew there was no Wyverneye Militia sanctioned by the Realms Council, which made them an unknown quantity. And an illegal one to boot. Del felt certain that an eyre court would agree with his assessment and bring the full weight of Pellham's legions down on this-

He stopped suddenly, extending an arm to halt Maleko's progress as well. He could hear the sounds of steel on steel. There was battle up ahead and-

Maleko jerked backward, letting out a startled shriek that Del felt certain would alert anyone nearby to their presence. The half-elf turned, sword raised defensively and nearly let out a cry of alarm himself. Maleko was held fast, suspended amidst a tangle of elongated limbs that either gripped the elf or held blades to his body. His copper-colored eyes stared fearfully from above a long-fingered hand that was clamped across his mouth. A misshapen face stared at Del from over the mage's shoulder, its eyes big and black, its teeth sharp and pointed.

Del had never seen such a horror before, but he'd heard them described enough times by Ledare that he didn't have any trouble identifying it. "Chagmat!" he hissed, setting his feet into a combat stance.

"Half-chagmat, actually," a gravely voice said behind him. He turned and saw two figures amidst the trees there. One was a large hobgoblin with brick-red skin carrying a pair of black scimitars at the ready. Her mouth was spread in a toothsome grin. The other was an unkempt human with black hair and beard. He carried a longsword in one hand and a handaxe in the other; the latter was drawn back and ready to fly. Blood oozed from a diagonal cut on his right cheek.

"And he's a friend of ours," the man said, grinning sardonically. "So why don't you drop the sword and maybe Grimbor'll think about lettin' the tree-hugger loose."

"We are not your enemy," Del said levelly, lowering but keeping a firm grip on his sword. His eyes flicked to the chagmat and he saw that it was watching him with too-human eyes. In everything that Ledare had ever told him, the chagmat had been the enemy and he imagined again the horror she must have felt as a child spirited away by monsters such as this. He could sense Maleko's panic at being held by the creature, but the elf's demeanor was outwardly calm.

"I ain't gonna ask again," the black-haired human growled, adjusting his grip on the handaxe. Instinctively, Del gauged the distance for his crossbow. But in the next instant he was forced to violently launch himself out of the path of the whirling handaxe. Having come remarkably close to his left ear, it stuck threateningly in a tree trunk not far from his head.

"Grisham, stand down," the hobgoblin barked.

"Don't get your knickers in a twist!" the man laughed. "I put it right where I aimed to."

Del straightened, eyeing Grisham. He stared back at Del defiantly, the shadow of a beard he wore doing little to hide the muscles that bunched anxiously along his jaw. There was, somehow, another axe already in his hand. Del allowed his sword to drop.

"See, now," Grisham said stepping close enough to kick Del's sword aside before darting lightly back once more out of reach. "That wasn't so hard now was it?"

"I truly hope that you are Cerreakan. If not we may be in greater trouble than I fear," Maleko told the hobgobblin with blunt honesty. His voice was even, but Del could sense the underlying strain to maintain that facade of calm. His tension ratcheted up even more when the hobgoblin glided forward, scimitar-first as if she were a kite and the curved blade were pulling her.

"How do you know my name, elf." the hobgoblin replied angrily guiding the sword ever closer to Maleko. With a sudden subtle motion of her wrist, she punctured a hole in his fine tunic.

"You fit the description Abernathy gave you to the exact detail," Maleko expressed as calmly as possible. He did a good job given the circumstances. In his best immitation of the caretaker Maleko added, "She is an impatient gal for any shenanigans and takes no guff." Grisham guffawed.

"That's one way to describe her, alright!" the man said his eyes twinkling with mischief. "But I can think of a couple others that get to the point a whole lot quicker!" Cerrakean sighed at the man but kept her eyes and swords trained on Maleko.

"Of course, elf, you could just be playing me for a fool," she hissed, baring pointed teeth. "You could have picked that description based on what you've just seen here." Maleko swallowed and forced a smile.

"If you move your sword about six inches to the left you might find something of interest," he said and the hobgoblin narrowed her yellow eyes suspiciously. Then, in one fluid motion she sheathed the scimitar in her left hand and then turned to reach that same hand inside his shirt. Her fingers curved around a familiar object and she let out a bemused snort.

"Let him down, Grimbor," she said her posture easing into calm at once. "He is not a threat."

"Are you sure, lady?" Grimbor asked, hesitantly. His voice was human and youthful, and full of adolescent uncertainty. Cerrakean removed the coin from Maleko's shirt and displayed it to her comrades.

"He's Grey Company," she said simply and let the coin drop. "Let's get them back to the manor house. I want to hear how they came to be in possession of that coin." Grimbor let Maleko drop immediately and then scuttled back up into the trees above. He disappeared almost at once among the branches.

Grisham leaned in to Cerrakean. "Demetrius is gonna want to meet these two," he whispered loudly and the hobgoblin nodded.

"He'll get his chance," she said and Grisham shrugged and stowed his throwing axe. After a brief pause she asked Maleko, "So how is our beloved Abernathy? Any news from Barnacus?"

The elf dusted and smoothed and tucked his finery back into some semblance of the style he preferred. As Grisham pulled his axe from the tree behind him, Del stooped and retrieved his sword. Sheathing it he answered, "The capital is in disarray but the crown is consolidating power to maintain the peace we have. Some ranking members of the Legion have resigned their commissions as a result."

Cerrekean paused and said. "Pah! You can tell me later. We need to get back to the manor. Follow me."