Part the Forty-Fifth
In which: Kettenek’s Justice is served.
Steadfast speaks very slowly and carefully. The vein to one side of his forehead is beginning to throb.
“You are absolutely sure that these letters are authentic?”
The monk to whom Steadfast has brought the strangers’ letters of introduction nods. “Quite sure, Justicar. The invitations are all clearly sealed with King Orrin’s signet… Do you see that engraving below the crest? Now, most forgers would assume it’s the royal motto: From all the hand of fellowship, To all the light of knowledge, but actually it’s the creed of the Darine Confederacy: Together for Peace, Together for Prosperity.” The monk pulls out another letter, “And this is clearly his signet again, and signature.” And another letter, “And you can see for yourself that Bastion the Just’s signature matches perfectly with this—”
Steadfast cuts him off. “Enough!”
Behind him, Anvil, who had insisted in being present while the letters were examined, allows himself a small smirk. “Are you satisfied?” he asks.
Steadfast merely glares at him. It is a look Anvil recognizes. A look that says, “I’m going to be on market duty again tomorrow.”
###
Meanwhile, back in their cell…
“No, no, no…” Eva shakes her head and begins reshuffling the pack of cards. “A straight beats a flush. I told you that.”
Thatch shakes his head. “Good thing we aren’t playing for money.”
Eva and Dennis both freeze and look at the young fighter. “Says who?”
“Umm…”
It’s probably best for all concerned that the discussion is ended by the sound of a key scraping in the lock of their cell door. Steadfast and Anvil have returned.
Steadfast wastes no time on preliminaries. “Having confirmed your accounting for your presence in this city I am prepared to clear you of accusations of instigating violence and disturbing the peace.” He turns to Anvil. “Although I would advise you, Brother, to be more judicious with your use of magic in the future. Your motives were laudable, but the results could have been most unfortunate.”
There is a pause, and Reyu speaks up. “Are we… free to go then?”
Steadfast clears his throat grudgingly. “You are. However,” he indicates Lira and Eva, “the two of you are each found guilty of leaving the scene of a crime. The fine levied is twenty-five gold pieces.” Although Steadfast’s tone was almost certainly intended as arch, he comes across as more than a little petulant.
“But—”
“You may pay the bailiff on your way out. May Kettenek’s Justice be upon you.”
And without even waiting for Anvil’s, “And upon you,” Steadfast turns on his heel and leaves.
The party members stand for a moment, a bit stunned by their abrupt reversal of fortune.
“But I didn’t go anywhere!” Lira protests.
###
Out on the streets of Noran again, Moira clears her throat with some trepidation. “I sort of hate to bring this up, but we still need to talk to Benedic.”
This is met with a more or less collective groan, but since they have no other leads for a possible guide, and no other idea where they can find him, the party turns back, once again, to the Thirsty Watchman.
“Umm… What if he’s not there?” Thatch asks as they make their way through the quiet streets.
“We will leave a message for him to seek us out at the Way-Post,” Anvil announces.
“It is possible,” Reyu points out, “that he will not follow up on the message.”
By this time, the party has reached the tavern in question once again. It has reopened and warm light spills out from the open doorway onto the street where the party waits, still reluctant to re-enter.
Lira lets out a loud sigh. “Moira and I will go in and leave a message with the barman that we want to see this ‘Benedic’ and that he should come find us at the Way-Post. Something tells me he’ll come find us,” she adds dryly. “But,” she turns to Anvil, “if I get charged 25 gold to walk out of this bar again, I’m telling them you’re good for it.”
And with that, the two redheads walk into the bar together.
###
“Hello.”
The bartender looks up from his work, blinks. Nope, he hasn’t had that many tonight. There must actually be two of them. “Hello, ladies… “ Then, he recognizes them. “I don’t want any more trouble tonight.”
The shorter of the pair smiles in response. “Believe us, neither do we. We were actually just wondering if you could pass along a message for us, to a man named Benedic. He’s a Water-Walker?”
“Well, I can give him a message, sure… or you could just talk to him yourselves.” The bartender indicates a man with his back to them, sitting at a table near the fire.
Lira and Moira thank the man, and make their way over.
When they arrive, they find Benedic in the middle of telling a story to his companion at the table. “And then, out of nowhere, this huge bird comes soaring over me…” He turns, noticing for the first time the two women waiting patiently at his elbow.
Benedic cuts quite the dashing figure himself. He is dressed in greens and browns, a perfect match for his sparkling eyes and charmingly untidy hair. He wears a leather jerkin, open halfway down his chest and—one cannot help but notice—he fills it in admirably. His friend, seeing that no one at the table is at all interested in him, raises his beer in friendly salute, and moves to join another table.
“Can I help you, ladies?”
Lira swallows, mouth suddenly dry. Moira leans down to whisper in her ear. “I’ll go get the others.”
“Um… My companions and I, we’re going to be doing some traveling, into Miyen lands, and then the Ketkath Mountains. We’re um, looking for a guide.”
“Well, I’ve been known to do some of that work. What sort of companions do you travel with?”
“Er… them.” Lira points over her shoulder to the rest of the group, now rapidly approaching.
Benedic gives them a bit of a once-over. He clears his throat “These are wild lands you’re talking about going into. None rougher in the Halmae. If you don’t mind my asking, why?”
Anvil clears his throat. “We are on a mission from King Orrin of Dar Pykos to seek out the four most powerful wizards of the Halmae.”
“Uh huh.”
Lira speaks up again. “We’ve heard rumors that one of them might be found among the Miyen elves, and another in the Kuio Valley of the Ketkath. Have you been there?”
“Well, I can’t say as I’ve been in Miyen lands, but there aren’t many outside the Miyen who have. Generally they let you know when you’re getting close and if you’re smart you leave them alone and they’ll return the favor. As for the Ketkath, you won’t find a better guide for those parts outside the Sovereignty.”
The party gathers for a moment of close discussion. When they turn back to Benedic, Reyu asks, “What would you charge for your… services.”
The man pauses for a moment, considering. “Group your size, for where you want to go, let’s say ten gold a week. It’s a little less than my usual rate, but…” he smiles slightly. Lira thinks she catches a wink, but she’s not sure. “I’ll cut you a deal.”
The offer seems reasonable enough, and with that agreed, the party arranges to meet Benedic again the next morning to purchase any supplies and equipment they might need for wilderness travel, and then to depart the city.
They make their farewells, and depart.
Lira glances over her shoulder as she’s leaving, but when someone asks her why, she insists it was to make sure Steadfast wasn’t lurking in the shadows.
