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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 1127752" data-attributes="member: 143">Chapter 43“To be honest, we thought we were all dead,” Mole said, the relief still clear in her voice as she chattered on.“I’m sorry that we could not get there sooner,” Jenya said.  Three men clad in the uniforms of the City Watch passed by, nodding to the cleric in respect before continuing into the building behind them.  Around them, the city of Cauldron slept, the city engulfed in a night deepened with the thick cover of clouds above them.  In front of Ghelve’s Locks, however, a half-dozen torches and lamps burned brightly, and a number of curious townsfolk had gathered, kept back by the watchful cordon of guardsmen that had secured the area.  Zenna, Mole, Fario, and Jenya stood in a close knot some distance back, the torchlight casting long shadows behind them on the street.“Well, better you than a squad of hobgoblin warriors,” Fario said.  The half-elf had been healed, and looked well, although he seemed distracted.  “Are you sure Arun will be all right?” Mole asked.  Jenya nodded.  “He was grievously injured, and very close to death when we found you, but he will be all right.  My arts could not restore him fully after such a close brush with death, but we will be able to treat him, and the other freed captives, once Morgan and the others can get them to the temple.”Mole nodded, and glanced up at Zenna.  The young woman looked like a shadow, shrouded in her dark cloak, her face lost in the shadows of her cowl.  She had said almost nothing since Jenya, Morgan, and the forces of the other churches, along with a full platoon of the City Watch, had burst into the slave bazaar within the Malachite Fortress a few hours before.  The forces from the city had taken control of the rest of the fortress, liberating the remaining slaves from the few remaining hobgoblins in Kazmojen’s garrison.  Mole, whose sharp eyes could penetrate the shadows to see her friend’s face, read the deep sadness etched therein, a sadness that she felt herself at the loss of Ruphos.  The gnome, however, was concerned that her friend would not be able to handle what she had seen, once the full force of her emotions broke through the fragile shell of control that she’d put up around herself. “Ruphos gave his life so that others could live,” Jenya said, as if reading the gnome’s mind.  She focused her warm blue eyes on Zenna, and touched the taller woman on the shoulder.  “Do not forget, he made the choice freely, Zenna.  He did what he had to do.”There was a silence then, one that Fario finally broke by clearing his throat.  “I am sorry, I must depart.  I have to see to my companion.”  Mole frowned—that was one mystery that had not yet been solved to her satisfaction—but Jenya nodded and took his hand.  “We are thankful for your aid,” she said.  “I hope that we will have the chance to speak further, at a later time.”Fario nodded, and turned to Mole and Zenna.  “I am sure we will meet again,” the half-elf said, and before they could respond, he turned and vanished into the darkness. “Well, that was rude,” Mole said.  “After all we’ve been through, that’s the good-bye we get?”“He has his own secrets,” Zenna said, softly.  “You have had a difficult night,” Jenya said.  “For some of us, I suspect it will go on for some time, but you have earned your rest.  The children and the other captives, and your friend, are being seen to.  I was going to return to the church myself; come, and we’ll see that you’ve someplace safe to rest.”The two women went with the cleric, walking down Lava Street, while above them the first glimmers of the coming dawn began to brighten the far horizon.    THE END OF “LIFE’S BAZAAR”COMING SOON: FLOOD SEASON* * * * * I'm at a Commission meeting for the rest of the week, so I'll start "Flood Season" sometime next week. These meetings are dull... but the good news is that a lot of plot notes for these stories end up making their way back in the margins of my notepads.Have a great weekend!</blockquote>

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