This adventure is, at this time, for Minto and Brodda.
Leaving Garic's City by the west gate, Daron Haldar (on Justice) leads Minto (on Big Ivan) and Brodda (on Crimechaser) towards the salt mines.
The tall human is silent and grim, his eyes constantly scanning the area around them.
He has assured his traveling companions that this will be no more than four days, each direction.
"Are you looking for something?"
"Or are you just trying to press the memory of the city into your mind in case we are gone for an extended peroid."
"Gone? Ferr an extended perriod? The thoought neverr enterred my mind."
She smiles.
"Ah'd just like meh moount teh have an elegant name is all."
"Maybe you should hold off on naming him until we get Hermy Sr. back... And then you can name him after the deed."
"Rescuer, perhaps? But in elvish."
"Elvish? Ah doon't mind the elves, but theirr tongue is soo... flowerrrrry. Therre's no strrength in an Elvish name."
She smiles.
"But its a good suggestion teh choose the name afterr the deed. Rrescuerr in dwarrvish perrhaps..."
She studies their surroundings as they get further away from the city and clutches her cloak about her.
"Seems like its been winterr forreverr. When will sprrring arrive, ah wonderr."
[Equipment list, sorry for not posting earlier]
"Just don't name him anything in halfling or gnome."
"Not if you want to be taken seriously. I imagine a lot of people will find a dwarf on a pony humourous enough without the pony being called Bellbottom or Awandaroorinney."
Minto wraps his cloak around him when Brodda mentions the weather.
"I don't think winter will last much longer."
"We'll know for sure when they start setting up the spring festival."
"Hey Daron! If you're thinking of entering again I'd better warn you... Hermy and Major have learned a few new tricks. They'll be the ones to beat this time!"
Minto winks at Brodda.
adventuring gear (above average, 300 gp value), lute (MW, 100 gp value), +1 longsword, short sword, +1 cloak of resistance, and dust of dryness
"Yeh've got a pooint therre, heh heh."
She looks up at the cold, grey sky as it brightens a notch for the day.
"The Sprrring Festival? Ayye! Ah'm lookin' forrwarrd t'that! Festivals arre grreat places ferr barrds!" :D
"But I think this spring nobody will be enjoying the festival more then Hermy Sr."
"Gah, I can't even imagine how terrible it must have been to spend twenty years in the salt mines."
"I wouldn't be surprised at all if he goes spice free for the rest of his life."
"Twenty yearrs imprrisoned in a salt mine is a long time. How arre yeh so surre he's still... well, Ah mean, salt mines arre terrible."
"And Father Camrun didn't appear to doubt the news either."
"Besides, halflings are a lot tougher then we look."
"An Woodhomes even more so."
"Ah'll trrust yeh'rre judgement on that, Minto Newberrry."
With a mischevious look in her eye, she winks to Minto before she looks ahead and calls out to Daron --
"Arre we therrre yet?" ;)
"No. Not there yet. Not even to the branch in the road where I'll be leaving you. Another three days, as I said."
.oO(Well, therre's hoope ferr him yet. Ah coould neverr get along with a man who didn'a smile.)
Then she blinks.
"Wherre ye'll be leavin' us? Ah thoough yeh werre escorrtin' us t'the mines."
"All the way."
"I don't recall saying I would take you the whole way. Just that I was heading in that direction and would guide you as far as possible.
I have matters that require my attention elsewhere."
"I don't suspect our Hermy will be back for a few days, and I doubt Hermy Sr. would mind helping out someone that has helped him."
Daron sounds quite firm on that point.
"Something's been raiding farms, and I intend to ferret it out before there are any more deaths."
"Do you know what is attacking the farm?"
Minto sighs again.
"I doubt either Hermy would appreciate us not helping those in need just to save a few days of hard work."
.o0(As terrible as hard work is.)
"Brodda? Do you think there is time to help out a few helpless farmers?"
.oO(Yet Misterr Woodhome's situation isn't likely teh change if his rrescue is delayed a few days. If what Darrron says is trrue, therre arre innocent people dyin' at the hands of an unknoown soomethin'.)
She sighs deeply, then smiles to Minto, the creases in her face disappearing.
"Aye, Ah think we kin afforrrd teh take a detourr."
She turns to Daron.
"Um, what sorrt of thing? Ah mean, is it a big sorrt of thing? We'd like teh have soome idea of what we might be dealin' with."
Daron raises an eyebrow.
"As it happens, he's the foreman of the mine. The farms supply food to the miners, so he's pretty anxious to have this resolved before the spring planting starts.
I'll be able to guide you the rest of the way to the mines after we kill... whatever it is... since I'll have to talk to him then."
A determined look settles onto Brodda's face.
"Let's do it then. Lead the way, Misterr Haldarr."
Sure enough, three days' travel brings the trio to a branch road. Daron looks around, then points out a wooden pillar with writing carved on it.
"There's our landmark. See? Straight on the main road to the salt mine, or this road to the farms."
"Off t'the farrms then. Me an' Minto arre rright behind yeh."
.oO(And mebbe if Ah'm lucky, they'll have a bit'o tobacco Ah coould buy... oorrr... soomethin')
She shudders at the thought of another whole day without puffing away on her pipe.
.oO(Ah just might lose meh mind if'n Ah doon't find soomethin' teh smooke soon.)
"As well as doing a good deed."
Minto notices Brodda's shudder.
"Is something wrong?"
"Noo, Ah'm fine. It was just a... chill. Ah'm lookin' forrwarrd teh warrmerr days."
She looks down the road to the farms.
"Shall we keep gooin'?"
"And the sooner we can kill it, the sooner we can get to the mines."
"And the sooner we can get to the mines, the sooner we can free Hermy Sr."
"And... I'm rambling aren't I?"
"Sorry about that, I thought there might be a song in there somewhere."
.oO(Ah may need a new pipe beforre this is overr.)
"Who did hire you for this job Daron?"
"No offence to you, especially since you are the man behind the guild, but this seems like a job for the Silver Sword."
.oO(That's a good idea. It oought teh take meh mind off... eh, things, and keep meh frrom chewin' me pipe teh pieces.)
She pulls her recorder from its place in her pack and begins to play it softly. The sound starts out weak and wobbly as her fingers tremble over the air holes, but soon she gets into the swing of it and plays a lilting tune, soft enough that the men can talk.
He's from Garic's originally, but he's been at Salt Springs for, oh, decades now..."
Daron continues scanning the area around them as they ride, ever-vigilant.
"Don't want to get anything wrong by accident."
Minto looks around as they ride.
"You know something I just realised? Well, not just. I've known it for awhile, I just never thought how strange it was before."
"You're very popular among the halfling communities Daron."
Minto winks. "Yet you still keep your girlish figure."
"So obviously its not just for the cooking."
"Is it just the halfling luck thing? Or is there another reason you're friends with so many halflings?"
"Not that I'm complaining. I'm just curious."
.o0(And trying to make small talk to lighten your mood. Sheesh, what made you so grumpy.)
He points to an open area, and Brodda sees the ground looks torn up. Daron spurs Justice towards the area, sword out.
"What in blue blazes could have done this?"
"This is where having on of the guilds rangers around might be nice."
"I'm not to good at disciphering tracks."
"Umm, it looks like it the grounds been ripped apart."
"Could it be one of those things we encountered in that cave where Aria knocked the wall down on us?"
"What was that? An Umberhulk? It ripped up the ground pretty good. Not like this though... Hmmm, now that I think of whats coming out of my mouth it probably isn't one of those after all is it?"
"Umberrrhulk? That soounds unpleasant enough. Glad t'knoow it isn't one of those."
She looks up to wink at Minto.
"In yeh'rre experrt opinion."
She directs her pony around the torn area, examing it, trying to find some clue as to what might have done it.
He looks uncomfortable.
"The question is, what will we find on the other end?"
"Well? We'rre neverr gooin' teh knoow until we follow them, now, will we? This is what we'rre herre forr. Let's go."
"How do you think a well trained dog will do following the trail?"
Minto looks towards where the trail is leading.
"Brodda is right, we won't know tell we get there."
"And waiting isn't going to magically transform it into something less dangerous."
"Well probably not."
"We should still be cautious though."
"Okay, follow me, be cautious, and let's see what we've got."
Moving slowly, Daron follows the trail.
He glances back at Brodda and follows the human.
In a nearby copse of trees, something very big has shifted position, and it's only about seventy feet away...
"Spread out," Daron orders in a low voice. He sheathes his sword, and switches to his lance, carefully bracing it.
Bursting from the cover of the trees, a terrifyingly huge monster charges full tilt at Daron. It is some twelve feet tall, and twice that in length. It's striped hide must have helped it in blending into the trees, despite its size.
Reaching the mounted human, it slashes into him, though Daron's lance pierces it badly.
Initiative & HP:
Daron 64/52 + 8 subdual
Big Scary Thing -- Injured
Minto 34/34
Brodda 34/34
.oO(Now's not the time teh be wishin' Ah had meh axe, but Ah wish Ah had meh axe.)
With an old warcry, she swings her hammer at the creature.
"Oooooh... Hermy's father was sent away for a time.
Sentanced to hard labor for his sonKirbys crime.
But now, three heroes are set to the task.
Of bringing Hermys father back!"
Minto begins singing as he climbs off his dog and carefully approaches the beast.
"Along the way trouble reared its head.
But never fear it will will soon be dead.
Daron and Brodda shall easily slay the strange beast.
For we need to prepare for a homecoming feast."
Inspire courage. (+2 to attack/damage)
Though she regrets not learning to use her hammer with true efficiency, she still manages to land a solid blow to the beast.
Daron guides Justice with his knees, stabbing into the monster with his lance, just before it attacks him again.
It kicks at him with a hind foot but misses, then whips around, clawing with its forefeet, jaws snapping inches from his head.
Though injured, Daron is far from downed, as his armor absorbs the bulk of the onslaught.
[dwarven]"Ah doon't knoow what yeh want herre, monsterrr, but y'arren't wanted in these parrts!"[/dwarven]
"Singing our weapons erft and right,
Thn monster won't put up much of a fight.
It will be dead soon, but we won't be,
For we've still got to recue the elder Hermy!"
Daron drops his lance to the ground, drawing Esteran instead. He takes a swing at the beast, slicing so deeply and cleanly that blood gushes forth and the monster roars in a near-scream.
It backs away, shaking its head, and turns to flee, running as fast as it did when charging Daron to attack.
"The creature knew it was beat,
But fast on its feet.
And it tried to run away.
But Darons horse was to fast,
Its retreat would not llast,
It would not see another day."
"HOOOUFF!"
The air whooshes from her lungs as she is struck from her mount and lands with a thud onto the ground.
Immobilized for a moment by the lack of air, Brodda finally manages to catch her breath and get to her feet in time to hear the creature cry and turn to flee.
[Dwarven]"Oh no yeh doon't!"[/Dwarven]
"Go afterr it! Find oout wherre its coome frrom!"
She climbs back into the saddle on her pony and gives chase.
"Keep up as best you can!" Daron yells back at Brodda and Minto, "There may be more of these things!"
Daron pulls alongside the creature, swinging, and managing to hamstring it. As it falls, he plunges Esteran into it again, and the monster does not rise.
"Looks like yeh got 'im."
She rides around the body of the creature, getting a good look at it.
"Ah was hoopin' yeh might trrail it teh its nest."
"What d'yeh suppose it is?"
She rubs her chest where the creature struck her, and looks at Daron.
"My money would be on something created by magic."
"Things like this don't occur naturally."
"I don't think our work here is done yet."
"I have absolutely no idea what it is," he confesses. "It's huge. And it smells bad."
After removing two oversized talons from the beast, he shakes his head and gets back in the saddle.
"Wouldn't want to meet it in a dark alley.
Say, Minto, do you think your dog could follow its trail back to the nest?"
"Frankly, as bad as this thing smells, I could probably track it back to it's lair."
"But lets see how well Big Ivan does."
Minto tries to get his dog to sniff out a trail.
"Well, yeh said yeh thoought yeh might be able teh trrack it."
She smiles and winks at the halfling.
Turning serious, she looks back the way they came.
"Maybe if we went back teh wherre it attacked yeh, Darrron, we might have betterr luck find its trrail frrom therre."
"I just need to encourage him a bit more and show him what we want him to do."
"For some reason he doesn't seem to understand simple commands very well."
Minto gets next to his dog and then drops to all fours and starts sniffing the air loudily and then points at the corpse and then in a random direction.
"I've seen Hermy do this a few times with Major."
She stands, arms folded, and adopts a bemused expression as she watches her friend on the ground.
"Um... right."
Big Ivan wags his tail and whines, then pounces at Minto and bounces away, lowering his forelegs to whine again and spring to one side.
"Well I guess that didn't work. I guess that was the command for time to play, not time to track."
"Ummm, and thats really the only non riding thing I've learned."
"I think we'll have to try tracking ourselves."
Minto gets up and brushes himself off and then looks at Big Ivan again.
"Anyone have a stick I can borrow?"
"Of courrse he's not gooin' teh beat the dog with it!"
Her expression softens, but is confused, as she turns to Minto.
"A stick, darrlin'? I doon't underrstand."
"Has it been so long since you've had any fun that you don't know what playing looks like? I'm going to throw a stick for the dog to fetch."
"He did what I commanded him to do.. I think... so he shouldn't not be rewarded just because I gave him the wrong command... again I think."
"Like I said, I don't know much about dogs other then how to ride them."
"And Ah still think we shoould go back teh the site of the attack."
She turns the pony and rides him back.
"Well, throw the stick in the direction we came. If nothing else, I need to pick up my lance."
Mounting up, Daron starts Justice back the way they came at an easy walk.
"Fetch boy!"
Once there, Minto is able to convince the dog to sniff out the trail. Perhaps the corpse of the monster was simply too redolent for the dog to pick out the comparatively faint trail, before.
The monster evidently ripped even the doors from the hinges, attempting to eat anything -- or anyone -- it could catch. Whether any of the animals fled to safety, they can't tell, but in searching the grounds they hear sobbing from the root cellar.
She gasps, seeing the dwarf and halfling, and asks in a shaky voice, "You-- you got away from it, too?"
"If by it, you mean that striped beast then no."
"We did not escape from it. But more importantly, it did not escape from us."
"Its dead."
"Arre yeh alrright?"
Brodda does not see any visible injuries.
The minstrel, however, is quite dead. The floor of the root cellar will need some digging out and resurfacing to remove the blood-soaked earth.
Brodda's sharp eyes spy a flute case hanging from his belt.
"Yeh'll surrvive, love. Yeh'rre alive noow, and yeh'll surrvive this."
She steps away from the woman and joins Minto at the body of the minstrel. She picks up his flute case and takes a good look at it.
Of similar type to the one she plays, it is made of wood smooth as silk, with delicate bits of silver inlay and fittings. On closer examination, the dwarfess realizes the silver is actually mithral.
[whisper]"Minto, this is an incrrredible flute! Ah've not seen anythin' like it!"[/whisper]
She tears her eyes away from the instrument to have a long study of the minstrel who would own such a wondrous thing!
"You won't ever be the same again, Miss."
"But I wouldn't go as far to say that you'll never be allright again."
"Things can get better, but it won't be easy. And while things will never be the same for you, they can become similiar."
"Or better."
"The Mother works in mysterious ways."
He turns and gives Brodda a quick smile as well.
"Oh! Darrron! Therre's a woman down herre... the ownerr of the farrm. She dooesn't appearr teh be injurred. Howeverr, therre's a minstrrel herre who wasn't so forrtunate."
She looks down at the poor dead chap.
"A survivor!"
Minto looks at the woman and gives her a reassuring smile.
"You survived that beast, you'll survive whatever comes next."
"If you'd like we can take you with us."
Daron calls back down, "I don't want to leave our mounts up here unprotected.
We need to make sure there aren't any more of those big... lizardy... things."
"We'll help yeh. C'mon, let's go up."
Minto looks at the dead minstrels body and sighs before moving to help the woman up.
"How many of those things were there? And how many more people did you lose?"
"We'll want to bury them, but first we need to make sure its safe."
When she straightens up, she answers in a hoarse voice, "I only saw one. Praise Thalos, I only saw one! I can't even imagine more of those things!"
A sob wracks her body once more.
"I can't imagine it either."
"But its better to be safe then sorry."
He moves a few steps away and looks back at where they came from.
"Besides the minstrel, was there any one else killed?"
.oO(We'll have teh coome doown laterr and brring this poorr lad up ferr his burrial.)
I don't think any of them survived."
"This is Sir Daron Haldar. Hes the one who slew the beast. You'll be safe with him."
Minto moves next to Brodda. "Brodda and I will search for your family."
.o0(Or their bodies if it comes to that.)
Minto takes Broddas hand and leads her towards one of the other buildings.
"I don't expect we'll find much."
"But it looks like you've gotten yourself a nice new recorder. I doubt the minstrel will mind you taking it. He won't be needing it. And if he was a bard, he'd want his music to carry on. I know I would."
"It looks like a good recorder. I hope it sounds as good as it looks."
Minto smiles at Brodda.
"Aye, we'll find'em."
She walks out with Minto, looking all around between buildings for signs of survivors or bodies.
When he mentions the recorder, she frowns.
"D'yeh think he woon't mind?"
She opens the case and takes the recorder out, holding it so the two of them can look at it.
"It's beautiful and well taken carre of. Maybe it shoould be burried with him."
Minto can see she wants to do the right thing, but is fighting with herself over it.
"Musical instruments were made to be heard by the living. The dead tend to be tone deaf."
Minto smiles and motions for Brodda to try and play it.
"Play something fitting for the departed."
Then she looks at Minto. He nods his encouragement to her. She lifts the mouthpiece tenatively to her lips, almost as if she expects it to bite her. When it doesn't, she gives it a few test notes -- beautiful, smooth notes.
She smiles at Minto and plays a soft tune to accompany the spirit of the departed to the Mother.
"Go now, be at peace.
Your sleep is well earned my child.
A new dawn awaits awaits you,
We will join you in awhile.
Your troubles are over,
Your toiling and worries too.
You are gone but in our hearts,
We will never forget you."
As he sings Minto looks around for any signs of the womans family.
"Yeh'rre rrright, Minto. The soound frrom this rrecorrderr is too lovely teh keep it burried in the grround. It's smooth, like, like, Zan's ale."
She respectfully puts it back in its case and tucks it into her pack.
"Shall we find this poorr woman's family now?"
She walks along with Minto, the pair looking all over the property for anyone else.
She and Minto search the other buildings, all of which are damaged, and are astonished to find a man hiding in the hayloft of the barn.
"I got up here while it was eatin' one of the cows. Saw that minstrel fella head for the root cellar while it ate his horse. Miz Parli was already there, mebbe she stopped him bleedin'?"
"No lad. Unforrtunately he didn'a make it."
She smiles a little.
"But the crreaturre that attacked this farrm woon't be attackin' anyone else, eitherr. C'mon doown. Arre yeh hurrt at all? What say yeh help us find Ms. Parrrli's family, eh? D'yeh feel up to it?"
She puts some encouragement into her smile.
"Are you hurt ? I might be able to help if you are."
He has a nasty scrape down one arm, and explains he tried to hide in a shed but the monster knocked it down, and falling wood hit him.
His wound is only 1hp, unlike, say Daron's injuries. ;)
"Come on, we'll take you back to the man who slew it while we look for the other survivors."
Minto motions for the man to follow the two bards back to where Daron is.
Once there Minto waves to Daron.
"Will you tell him the beast is dead? I can give him the epic version of the story a bit later once we are sure everyone is safe."
"Speaking of which... Do you need your wounds looked at or are you just going to grin and bare it?"
"If you can help me with the wounds, I'd appreciate it. The rush from the fight wore off, and they hurt pretty badly now."
He turns to the survivor and assures him, "The beast is quite dead."
Once he is done he looks to the two survivors.
"Where might have the others gone? Good hiding places and such? The well perhaps?"
"Tghat beast was too big to get down a well, it might have offered some protection."
She gets it out again, takes the instrument out of its case, and puts the case in her pack, then studies the lovely intracasies of the recorder again.
She takes her familiar, plain recorder in her other hand and looks at it. She reminisces over when the recorder was given to her -- a gift from a mentor -- and various important moments that she shared with the recorder.
With almost a sad heart, she whispered an apology to her old recorder and packed it away in her pack. Then she took another look at the new one and settled it into the holster on her belt where the old one used to rest.
With that settled, she focuses once again on the task at hand -- finding further survivors of the attack. She looks around.
"Aye, what otherr places might ye trry teh hide frrom such a monsterr?"
"At least we did not find any bodies. There is still hope."
"I'd wager they found somewhere safer to hide."
.o0(Of course theres a reason I don't keep my money for very long, I always pick the wrong horse... Hermy excluded of course.)
"We could do a search of the area for them... or for more of those monsters."
"Aye. We shoould definitely find oout wherre this one came frroom and see if therre arre moorre."
She smiles weakly at Ms. Parli.
"Minto's rrright. Since no bodies werre foound, therre's hoope that they'rre alive..."
Despite her brave face, its clear that Brodda doesn't believe it.
"Ms. Parrli, is therre somewherre we might burry the minstrrel?"
Ms. Parli points towards a tall cypress. "We have a little family graveyard by that cypress. The minstrel can go there. It's just too bad we don't have a name to put on the marker."
"And we will."
Minto looks at Mrs. Parrli and the farm hand.
"We'll move the minstrel out first of course but burial might have to wait unless you do it yourself."
"We'd best not delay to long if we want to find the rest of your family."
"Thank yeh. Ah'll... go get him."
She returns to the cellar and looks again at the fellow as she crouches beside him.
"So who werre yeh, lad? What brroought yeh all the way herre? And what name do we put on yeh'rre grrave?"
She begins to search the minstrel's clothing for any clues to who he might have been. A brief search reveals a notebook of what appears to be song ideas, scraps of poetry, and other such notes. Inscribed on the cover are the initials "V.R."
Brodda almost smiles.
"Well, its a pleasurre teh meetcha, Veeahhrrr. Too bad it coouldn'a be a bit soonerr, eh? C'mon, its time teh lay yeh teh rrest."
He's a bit heavy, but she manages to pull him to the steps of the cellar. She looks up and calls for some assistance.
"Darrron? He's a bit larrgerr than meh. Woould yeh help meh oout please?"
"Whoever heard of a dwarf that couldn't lift half a building by himself? That's like... a dog that doesn't bark!"
Daron hoists up the corpse and carries it out.
.oO(Well now who everrr hearrd of a dwarrrf that coould lift half a buildin' by himself?)
Then she smiles as she follows him back up the steps.
"And whoeverr hearrd of a dwarrrf who sings loove soongs?" :D
Daron sounds genuinely curious.
"That is a storry Ah'll not get into t'day." ;)
She follows him outside and waits beside Minto as Daron finds a place to keep the body until the time can be found to bury him in the small graveyard.
She takes Minto's hand, still chuckling over Daron's question of her lineage.
"Shall we go then? I can try to get Big Ivan to pick up the scent, but it might be quicker... and cleaner... to try and find footprints to follow."
"A thing that big is sure to have left big tracks."
"Aye."
She nods in agreement.
"A think like that shoould have left soome easy trracks teh follow. Let's go."
She checks that Ms. Parli and her hired help are safe, then goes with Minto and Daron and their mounts in search of more tracks.
Following the tracks. they find themselves at the mouth of a ravine.
"Well, meh frriend. It looks like we may be dooin' a bit o' climbin'."
She scans the depths of the ravine to be sure the creature's trail continues down into it.
Brodda is shocked to see stone in such condition, as though it had melted and cooled, perhaps. It certainly seems tall enough to have accomodated the monster they fought, and the ground in front of the deformity is torn up in a manner similar to the other clawed up areas they've seen.
"Ah doon't underrstand..."
She steps forward and gingerly touches it, almost as if she expects it to bite her.
She hears Minto take a hesitant step towards her, then stop.
As could be expected, she finds the wall cool and smooth, and she slides her hand to where the stone becomes rough again. Then she takes a step back and looks at the wall.
"Well..."
She turns and looks at Daron questioningly.
"Woould yeh think it might be a firre-brreatherr?"
She frowns.
"But that doesn't make sense. Teh brreathe firre hot enough teh melt rrock..."
She looks back at the wall, puzzled -- and a bit more concerned about finding more of these creatures than she was this morning.
"It doesn't look natural. Like the beast didn't look natural."
"Something strange is affot."
Daron sighs, and says, "Well, unless something else happens, I think we should go on to the mine."
"No! We toold 'em they'd be safe... that we'd find oout if therre werre moorre and destrroy 'em!"
She turns thoughtful, in a determined way.
"Therre's got teh be soomethin' else we can do."
"Are these the only tracks in the ravine?"
"Perhaps there is another way passed this wall?"
"Maybe we shoould head forr the salt mines afterr all. We can coome back t'this arrea afterrwarrds and see if therre's been moorrre attacks."
"How long had that thing been terrorizing the area? If it was more then a few days I'd guess it spent sometime in what evers beyond that wall."
"Which means either the wall moves, or it was recently put up."
"And if it was recently put up, we need to know by who."
"Or what?""
Minto looks at the wall again, and starts to humm. a tune and then sings out the words to his detect magic spell.
.oO(Find soomethin'...)
"Minto! It's... it's the side of a ravine! Who knows why the stone looks like it melted?
That beast was terrorizing the area for probably a week before we took it out. Our chances of finding out how it got here aren't so good, I think. Unless another one shows up..."
He kicks the wall of the ravine, hard, then contorts his face to try to pretend it didn't hurt.
Minto tries to sense magical auras, but finds none.
"We know this is where the beasts tracks start."
"so either there is a way through this wall, or something teleported the creature to this spot."
"And either way it could be bad."
"Unless that was the only one of it's kind, another could come out the same way."
"Or there is a deranged wizard trying to terrorize the area."
"I'd love for this to be over so we can get Hermys father and return to the city where proper baths are easy to get, but there might be peoples lives at stake."
"Thats worth a few more minutes of delay don't you think?"
Minto checks the sides of the smooth wall where it meets the more natural wall, and then where it meets the ground.
Minto is unable to find any clues.
"Theres got to be something we are missing... Theres goit ta ba!"
"There's something there. I know it."
"But I can't figure out what it is. We're going to need to bring Hermy, our Hermy, back here. He'll be able to figure out what it is."
Swinging up onto Justice's back, he looks to Brodda for her reaction.
"Yeh'rre rright. If we can't find anythin', we'll have teh brring soomeone who can.
She mounts her pony and settles herself into the saddle. Then she looks at the boys.
"Lead on."
He leads the way back to Ms. Parli's farm, where he explains they seem to have found where the monster came from, and that there were no signs of more.
"That's good to hear. I've enough to worry over as it is -- only the hired hand to help me, repairs to be made to the house and barn, trampled fences and fields, the animals gone, and spring plowing and planting coming soon. I don't know what to do."
"You're a strong and resourceful woman. You have to have been to have survived that beasts attack."
"And you can always hire a few more hands if you needed to. Though I suspect money will be tight for you for awhile."
After apologizing for being unable to offer them any hospitality, under the circumstances, she returns to her work of rebuilding her farm. Daron leads the little group back to the main road, heading them towards the salt mine.
.oO(Therre's not enoough flavorr coomin' oouta therre. Must need teh pack moorre...)
Then it comes to her, and she sighs.
.oO(That's rright. Ah doon't have moorre.)
She continues chewing on the stem.
.o0(Would Hermy have left them there at the farm when we aren't sure the danger is passed? Would his father? Is getting him out a few days earlier really worth the risk?)
"Minto? Everrythin' alrright?"
As she says this, she sees on the other side of the road a weed that looks an awful lot like a wild plant she used to dry and smoke that grew near her home.
She smiles and halts her pony, leaping out of the saddle and examines the plant.
.oO(This isn't the exact same plant, but it looks similarr...)
She snaps off enough of the plant for one smoke. Grinning, she climbs back into the saddle and looks at her comrades, who have stopped and watched her with wonder in their eyes. Minto's is curious wonder. Daron's is irritated wonder.
"What? Ah'm doone. Let's go."
She urges CrimeChaser forward.
"Everything's fine. I was just thinking about that farm."
"We need to check back there on the way back... Maybe we could even recommend some help be sent by the people at the mine."
"It wouldn';t surprise me if they got a lot of their food from there so it would be in there best interest."
"Daron? What do you know about the mines? Is it just convicts and guards or is there more to it then just that?"
The guards and supervisors have families, after all. Sometimes a convict's family will pack up and move to Salt Springs to be near him. There's an inn, and a few shops. A couple of clerics.
Miz Parli's farm isn't the only one to supply the mine. That monster terrorized several. Burrberry got word to me as quickly as he could..."
"We didn'a complete the job therre. It's unfinished, and Ah doon't like leavin' things unfinished. A rreturrn woould definitely be in orrderr."
She's tucked her weed under her belt so it will dry, and impatiently checks on it periodically.
Brodda perks.
"Shops?"
She smiles and hums at the good news.
"We'll likely reach Salt Springs tomorrow, around midday."
"We shoould set up a watch too. Ah shoould take the darrkest parrt of the night, with meh good night vision and all." ;)
She sets out her bedroll, and takes out her beautiful new recorder. She spends a few moment letting her fingers just roam over the instrument, then she lifts it to her mouth and begins to play -- a soft, lilting, evening tune.
"I think you'd rather face a dragon then face me when I get waken up too early."
"A dragon will kill you andthrn be on its way, if I get upo to early you'll have to put up with hours of complaining."
"It's your choice Daron."
He finishes off his dinner, wraps up in his cloak, and falls instantly asleep.
Listening to Brodda play, Minto is certain she is playing better than ever before.
"Minto, dooes it seem...?"
She shakes her head.
"Neverrmind."
.oO(It must be the ooutdoorr livin' and the battlin' of monsterrs that's got meh blood booilin' and makin' meh play betterr than norrmal.)
She has a few bites of her rations then walks to Minto with a smile and kisses him on the cheek.
"Doon't ferrget teh wake meh ferr meh watch." ;)
She climbs into her bedroll and settles in for some sleep.
Daron allows Minto and Brodda to stay asleep until the water is hot enough for their morning tea.
He grumbles more as he pours his tea, and then stop grumbling as soon as it hits his lips.
"Ah... It doesn't get much better then this does it? Nothing like fresh air and fresh tea to get a morning started right."
.oO(It dooesn't get betterr than this, indeed.)
She takes a deep breath and feigns a smile. When Minto isn't looking she tosses the tea and fills her cup with some of the ale she brought with her.
When the halfling turns back to her with his happy smile, her own smile is genuine as she drinks from her cup.
"No indeed, therre's almost no betterr way teh starrt a good day."
Draining his mug, he grooms and saddles Justice, occasionally popping a chunk of jerky into his mouth from a pouch at his belt.
"Give a girrl a minute, eh?"
She drains her cup and tucks it back into her pack, rolls up her blankets, packing them on the pony, then, looking around, decides she's now ready to go.
She climbs into the saddle and smiles at Daron.
"Aye, noow Ah'm rreaddy teh go." :D
"If we don't run into any unatural beasts, bandits, roving goblinoids, the stray troll or what not we should probably reach the mines by the end of the day."
"Right?"
"It would be nice to sleep in a bed tonight.
"And to see Hermys father too of course."
"It must have slipped my mind with all the excitment yesterday."
"I'm not the best at remebering little details unless they are in lyrical form."
"Hmmm, what rhymes with midday?"
Minto begins trying to compose a song about what he will do when he reaches the mines.
"I really should learn to listen,
To what Sir Haldar has to say.
We'll reach the mines this afternoon,
We'll free Hermy Sr. today.
We'll have a few drinks at the inn,
And fill him in on the deeds of his son.
His first free night in twenty years,
And he'll sleep in a bed when its done.
But first we need to get there,
Theres hours still to go.
And if we stand around talking,
The trip will be rather slow."
Minto mountsa up and starts riding forward.
Daron listens to the song, and comments, "You're awfully optimistic."
"Why shouldn't I be?"
"It was the Mother who lead us to where we are now. It's to balance out for all the bad things that have happened to the Woodhomes recently. "
"The Mother is all about balance. I'm sure Natala must have mentioned that too you a time or two."
"When she throws so many bad things at someone she'll throw just as many good things."
"And theres no denying Hermys had his share of bad things is there?"
"And Hermy Sr. has had twenty years of bad things."
"It's time for a little good don't you think?"
"Besides, we still have to talk to the mine foreman, and you catch more flies with honey then with vinegar as the saying goes."
-------------------------------
As promised, at midday they come within sight of Salt Springs.
A single street of shops and the promised inn, some houses scattered behind them, there is little to see.
***********************
When they finally reach the village Minto casts a longing glance at the inn, and then shrugs away the thought.
"We should talk to the foreman first thing."
"No sense in having Hermy Sr. miss a good meal at the inn is there."
"We can tell him about the beast you defeated as well while we are at it, and see if he can spare a few men to help out at the farm."
.oO(It's a minin' toown. Surrely Ah'll be able teh get soome good pipe-packin' weed herre.)
She tears her mind away from her troubles to nod in agreement with Minto.
"Aye. The soonerr we finish with this and brring Misterr Woodhome home, the betterr."
Brodda discovers the dry goods store, the sole vendor of tobacco in this town. Prices are high, and the tobacco not of the quality she prefers.
.oO(Ah canna smooke this! Meh moouth woould taste like ashes ferr days! This is terrible grrade tobacco!)
She turns away, vowing to survive until she gets back to town or finds something suitable on the way.
.oO(That weed Ah foound on the way herre may have looked like soomethin' familiarr frrom home, but it surre didn'a taste like it.)
She goes off to reunite with Daron and Minto, hoping they've had a bit of luck with the foreman.
"I think it might be best if we mention the situation at the farm first. It might help our case if he knows that we are a helpful bunch."
"And then we can tell him about Hermy Jr.'s situation, and then explain the situation of mistaken iconvivtion on Hermy Sr's part. Dropping a few names won't hurt there."
"Father Camrun, Lord Malifaeyr, any higher ups in the guards you can think of Daron",
Near the mine entrance is a small official-looking building. Over the door is a sign saying Salt Springs Mining Concern.
Daron swings off of Justice and hitches his horse, then pulls the bag of monster claws from the saddlebags. He waits patiently for his companions to dismount.
"The foreman is a halfling right? That should make things a bit easier for our side once he learns who he has in his mines."
"I'll fill him in on our Hermy's exploits. We don't have that many great heroes, he should be impressed."
"And if he isn't I'll appeal to his sense of fairness. It's the rare halfling that doesn't want to see the right thing be done."
"And if that still doesn't work. Well... theres always pie."
She hitches her pony, fluffs her hair (not that fluffing is really needed), tucks her pipe in her pack, and rests her hand on her recorder, assuring herself that its still there.
She stands beside Minto and turns to look at Daron harshly.
"Herrmy's frriend, arre yeh? How is frreein' Misterrr Woodhome not yeh'rre concerrn, eh?"
"No need to take that kind of attitude. Daron is Hermy's friend."
"What he isn't is a skilled negotiater. I'm sure he'll be there to add in any details we need, but its best to leave the talking to the professionals don't you think?"
"It's not like Daron is going to toss the claws on the table and walk out. He wouldn't have bothered putting up with our slow mounts if that was his plan."
Minto looks to Daron to try and gauge wether he is making the right assumption.
Then she puts on her friendly smile and turns toward the office.
"Shall we go then?"
She hooks her arm around Minto's elbow.
Minto follows Daron in.
Several clerks toil busily at the desks, and one looks up and says, "Yes? Oh! You're the mercenary that was here before! I'll tell Mister Burrberry you're here."
He jumps up and trots into the back office, and soon an older-looking halfling strides out, followed by the clerk.
"Daron. Good to see you back. Did you find out what was going on?"
Daron leans down and forward to clasp the proffered hand, and nods, saying, "Yep. Found it and killed it, with the help of my companions, here. Eldan, this is Minto Newberry, and Brodda..."
He clears his throat, then continues, "It was big and ugly, but just a monster when you got right down to it. Here, have a look at these claws."
He dumps the bag out on the floor, and Eldan hunkers down to examine the trophies.
"Sir Haldar managed to slay the beast. Unfortenately it wasn't before it had a chance to savage poor Ms. Parlis farm. She lost her whole family."
"If you are counting on getting anything from her come fall you might want to recommend helping her out to any of the miners who are finishing their sentances."
"And that can be trusted."
"I doubt it will pay much, but its good HONEST hard work."
"There are a few of your miners that fit that qualification arten't there?".
"Just "Brrodda", if yeh please. And a pleasurre it is teh meetcha, Misterr Burrrberrry."
She looks very concerned for Ms. Parli, which doesn't take any effort.
"Aye, poorrr Ms. Parrli... she's a strrong woman, but rrunnin' a farrm is too much forr one perrson. She'll need all the help she can get frrom good, honest, harrrd-worrkin' people with a good hearrt!"
"I'm afraid Miz Parli's farm wasn't the only one to suffer. I can't think of anyone that could help right off, but I'll keep it in mind.
Newberry, eh? You from the Brannon's Run Newberrys? Wouldn't be any relation of Dahlia Newberry, would you?"
"I'm related to everybody in Brannon's Run one way or another."
"But Cousin Dahlia, I can tell you exactly how I'm related."
"My father's uncle's oldest daughter."
"She used to babysit for my sister and I when we were young."
"And she's quite the cook too. Her roasted chestnut cassorole is too die for."
"How do you know her?"
Hm, hm, doesn't that bring back memories, heh, well, so, ah, what brings you to this neck of the woods, now, eh?"
Eldan looks just a bit flustered.
"Oh, ah, Daron, you'll be wanting your pay, yes..."
Yes, but it can wait. They're actually here on a matter of some interest to me.
Daron turns an expectant eye on Minto.
.oO(These halflings arre hot blooded all, arren't they?) :D
Daron:
Yes, but it can wait. They're actually here on a matter of some interest to me.
Brodda arches a brow and smiles at Daron, then turns back to Eldan.
"But as to what I'm doing out in this neck of the woods... Well that's a long story."
"Do you get much news hear about Garic's city?"
"About the Night of the Shadows perhaps? Or the goblin warlord Kahn? Or the disaster at Hent Manvellin?"
"I can't imagine you haven't. You aren't that far away. You've probably even gotten a few of my songs up here. I'm quite the noted songwriter these days."
"Have any of the tales of Hermy the Hero reached up here yet?"
"The Saga of Hermy the Giant Killer, or the epic of Hermy the Dragon Slayer? The Saga of Hermy and the Night of the Shadows perhaps?"
"Or maybe one of my earlier ones. Hermy and the Lady Amberhawk?"
"I've heard its spread out as far as Reise."
Minto blushes briefly.
""I'm the personal bard to Sir Hermy Woodhome. Noted Hero. And trusted advisor to Lord Malifaeyr."
"And its recently come to light thanks to the Mother's Temple that his father was sent here by mistake twenty years ago. And that he still lives. His son Kirby confessed to the crime that sent him here. You've heard of him haven't you."
"He's as evil as Hermy is good."
"And I've come here to see if that wrong can be righted."
"Sorry, I haven't heard about any of that, and we really don't get troupers up here. But I remember Hermy Woodhome. He was a good scribe.
You say he's been proved innocent? You have a writ freeing him?"
"Ah'm sorrry, did yeh say was a good scrribe? Ah'm surre yeh meant teh say is a good scrribe, eh?"
She takes another step foward as she softens her smile and relaxes her brow.
"Kirrby confessed teh the crrime with a prriest of the Motherr as a witness."
She laughs softly.
"Therre rreally isn't much morre prroof needed, now, is therre? If yeh can't trrust the worrd of one of the Motherr's devoted serrvants, who can yeh trrust?" ;)
I'd love to help, of course..."
Eldan glances across at the scribes listening avidly from their desks, and looks distinctly uncomfortable.
Daron shifts his weight on his feet, and quietly says, I've been on horseback for days, it'd be nice to sit on something that isn't moving... D'you think a cup of tea might be possible?
"Oh! Of course, right this way..."
Eldan gestures them into his private office, shuts the door securely behind them, and moves the teakettle on its swing arm to a position over the fire.
"Ah... I appreciate your helping Daron with that monster. Presumably he's paying you for the aid?"
"He was guiding us here."
Minto pauses and takes a deep breath.
"Getting a writ never occured to me. I'd just figured that a confession from the real killer would be enough. Especially in a case like this."
"Actually I'm surprised that due to Kirby's reputation as an infamous assassin, that someone would have come earlier to free Hermy Sr."
"Hermy Jr. would have for sure if he had known his father was alive."
"And now that he does I'm sure he'll get a writ as soon as he gets back from leading Lord Malifaeyrs troops on a mission."
"It would make a better song anyhow if they met again in sight of the place where Hermy Sr. toiled away for most of his sons life. But I hate to leave the poor man a prisioner for any longer then nessasary. They have both suffered enough."
"I understand you just can't release prisioners to just anyone. Even if those anyones happen to be former guards captains, and certified heroes." Minto gives Brodda a quock look and an equally quick side comment. "I was offered a knightship for my help in defeating Kahn, but turned it down for modesty's sake."
Minto returns his smiling gaze to Eldan. "Like I was saying, I understand you can't just release him to any person that comes in off the street. But is it possible we could have it arranged for him to be taken back to Garics for a new trial."
"If you can't spare the guards for such a trip, I think no one would question you for having Sir Daron deputized for the task."
Minto sighs.
"Or barring that, would it at least be possible to have Hermy Sr. brought out of the mines and given some kind of light duty until his son can come for him."
"There should be no question about wether he can get the writ or not. He is one of the Jackal Commanders at the moment and has long had Lord Malifaeyrs ear and friendship."
"The fact that he's saved the city more then a few times certainly can't hurt either if you know what I mean."
""I'd think as long as there is doubt (which I shoould think isn't the case here, there should be no doubt) about a man's innocence, working them too hard would not only be wrong legally, but more important morally."
"Naturally I'd think setting him free would be the right choice, but I know you don't make the laws. You're just a man trying to earn an honest living doing a good service for the city."
"So if you can't bend the rules a bit for a man whose spent the last twenty years paying a debt for something he never did, could you at least let him work off the remaining week or two doing something more fitting of a decent man."
"Gardening perhaps?"
Minto looks to Eldan and bites the top of his lip waiting for an answer.
"As it happens, Minto, Hermy never went into the mines. He was a skilled scribe -- I had him working right here in my office. Much more valuable to me than a common laborer.
His health was much too frail for mining, anyway. I always wondered how such a skinny fellow could kill a mouse, much less a man!"
Eldan clears his throat, and bustles around adding a tray of crackers to the table.
"Ah, I'm afraid I couldn't release him to you even if you did have a writ.
Because I don't have him anymore. You see, I sold his contract."
"Sold his contract?"
"What?"
"How?"
"Um, why?"
"To who?"
Minto tries to get his composure back. "And when?"
Occasionally I sell a convicts contract, it helps keeps costs down, but only when the convict has maintained a good record. Wouldn't want to sell the contract on someone who might try to escape, or attack the purchaser, after all.
Who? Hm, let's see... Donald? No... Well, I have a record of it in the files if you really want to know."
"Of course we really want to know."
Minto looks to Daron and to Brodda before continuing.
"I want to know to who you sold him. And for how much."
Visions of the wall paintings of the mummy's tomb scrawl through Mintos mind.
"And then I'd like to know what made you think selling a man's life was a good idea."
"I hope the people you sold him too had a writ, or at least promised to clean out his kennel everyonce in awhile."
Minto crosses his hands in front of his chest.
.oO(Tea... again... grrreat.)
She accepts the beverage with grace and listens to Minto's long speech, pushing down the urge to take his hand and squeeze... hard.
.oO(He might talk himself rright outta helpin Misterr Woodhome beforre he's done anythin' at all.)
Then her jaw nearly hits the floor.
"Sold his..."
"He's not herre?"
"Wherre...?"
She lets Minto finish the questions, but hears the edge rising in his voice. This time she does take his hand and squeezes, but gently.
"Please, Misterr Burrrberrrry. We rreally woould verry much like teh find oout wherre he is. He needs teh coome home."
"I'm sure Hermy will go home when he's completed his contract. There would only be another, oh, ten or so years on it, after all."
"Misterr Burrrrberrrry, yeh said yeh'rreself that he was a frrail one. What arre the chances he'll surrvive anotherr ten yearrs? And wherre's the justice in that? Afterr all, isn't that what we'rre interrested in? Justice? He's alrready paid twenty yearrs of his life ferr a crrime he didn'a commit."
She takes a breath.
"We'll worry aboout gettin' a wrrit. Please just tell us who yeh soold his contrract to."
"Yes, please tell us who you sold him too."
"I'd rather not have to waste the time getting an official querry into. It's less hassle for all of us if you just tell us."
"Less hassle for us in having to get it, less hassle for you in having to explain your actions, and less hassle for Hermy Sr. in having to wait fot the beurictarts before he gets his much deserved freedom."
"I'm sure his chances of survival scribing for that merchant are just as good as his chances back in Garic's. But, dear me, I'm not at all sure I could possibly remember his name or where he was from."
Daron winces, and shakes his head at Minto.
"Let me underrstand, and please correct meh wherre Ah've misunderrstood, because Ah'm surre that's what's happened."
"Soomeone passed by, said he was lookin' teh buy a contrract, and yeh just sold him one? Withoout knoowin' who he was, wherre he came frrom, orr what he wanted such a serrvice forr? Therre arre no rrecorrds yeh've kept of sellin' a man's life???"
The timbre in Brodda's voice raises as she continues.
"And a man who yeh've said was a grreat help to yeh? Soomeone yeh seemed t'have been fond of? He's just gone, and withoout a second thoought?"
Her grasp on Minto's hand is now, unconciously, rather tight.
"Is it in your records? It would be much appreciated if you could help us out here."
"Hermy Woodhome Jr. really needs the chance to get his father back."
"He recently lost his wife, and before that was forced to kill his brother."
"His father is the only kinsman he knows about. And only just found out about him."
"From a vision while meditating in the Mothers Temple."
I've run this salt mine for over twenty years, run it well, and always within the law.
But if you want me to go digging through those records and letting you go off to harass honest merchants, well, there'd better be some reason other than 'it's the nice thing to do.'"
Daron clears his throat and interjects, Well, Eldan, they did help me with that monster.
"Yes, Daron, I know, and that's why I told them as much as I have. I certainly wasn't obliged to tell them anything at all."
"I think we were just stunned to find out that selling a person's life was legal."
Minto unfolds his arms and drops them to his side.
"I'm sure we've blown it all out of perportion too. I apologize for that."
"He probably is better off working for as a scribe somewhere.... safer then he would be slaving away in the mines."
Minto sighs.
"It's been a long uncomfortable, and dangerous journey here. We probably should have rested before bargining in and making demands of you. To give our nerves a chance to settle."
"But I'm afraid our desire to reunite two of Garics most highly thought of halflings got the better of us."
"I've got some experiance as a scribe myself, and I'm not to shabby at going through paperwork."
"If you could forgive our impolsivness, I'd be happy to help you search through your records."
"And treat you to an apology meal at the inn."
"I don't know what else we could offer you without trying to bribe you, or something that comes out as a threat."
"And I don't think youd appreciate either."
Minto flashes a quick smile.
"I could put in a good word for you with my cousin, if that would help repair the damage we've already done."
.oO(Negotiate... yes, that's rrright. Betterr let Minto handle this one.)
She looks around the room as Minto tries to soothe Eldan.
And when his sentence is over, he's free to go home."
Eldan glares at Minto while drinking his tea.
"And you're not going through my records."
He hrrumphs again, then looks sidelong at Minto. "Dahlia's not married?"
.oO(Sellin' a convicts contrract is exactly like sellin' a man's life. As a convict, that contrrract is his life.)
She glares at Eldan from behind her teacup.
.oO(And sellin' a good scrribe teh save a few coins? And not lettin' concerrned frriends knoow wherre he's at noow... Ah neverr thoought Ah'd meet a halflin' Ah didn'a like.)
.oO(And noow he wants Minto teh help him git t'getherr with his old flame?)
Brodda stands and sets the teacup on Eldan's desk.
"Ah'm sorrrry, we arren't obliged teh help yeh with that."
"Excuse meh."
She walks out of the office and out of the building.
.oO(Frrresh airrr...)
She inhales deeply, goes to her pony, and gets out one of the waterskins, drinking the ale deeply from it.
She straightens her outfit, her hand brushing across the head of her hammer. Resting her hand there, she turns and considers, however briefly, smashing Eldan's desk.
"Nah." She says to herself. "That woouldn'a serrve any purrpose."
She repacks the waterskin and looks about the little "town".
.oO(What options does that leave us with? Burrrrberrrrry isn't gooin' teh look thrroough his rrecorrds ferr Misterr Woodhome's inforrrmation unless he has to... orr forr soome rreason suddenly wants to.)
She smiles and nods to a shopkeeper, sweeping clean the front of the store. She continues on.
.oO(Hoow do we make him want teh find the inforrmation?)
She considers again smashing the halfling's desk, and shakes her head again.
.oO(Noo, that cerrtainly wooldn'a make him want'a do anything forr us -- except maybe teh have us arrested forr destrruction of his prroperrty.)
She slowly meanders.
"She's a dwarf, and a woman, if you know what I mean. Not always the most sensible combination. But she means well.."
Minto quickily tries to change the subject.
"Dahlia was single last time I was home. When Hermy Jr. and I went there to save Brannon's Run from the goblin army."
"And just as lovely as ever. I'd swear she must have found some kind of magic foutain to perserve her youth and good looks. She doesn't seem to have aged much in the last ten years at all."
Minto takes a sip of his tea.
"If you won't allow me to help you sort through your records, is there anything else I could do to help you find out where Hermy Sr. was sent too?"
"It's very important that we find out where he is. For his family's sake."
"You'd have the gratitude of most if not all of the halfling community of Garic's if you could help reunite the Woodhomes."
"And most of Brannon's Run as well."
"Including Dahlia."
Minto takes another sip.
"I promise you we won't go seeking him out without a writ, but it would make things a bit easier for everyone if we didn't have to come back here first once we get it."
Minto drains the last bit of tea from his cup and sets it down.
"If you'll pardon the pun, dwarves always seem to think labour in the salt mine is beneath them. I always say, 'then why did they get convicted?'"
Eldan sighs and drains his cup when Minto finishes talking.
"The merchant that bought Hermy's contract was traveling a fair distance on a trading route. The voyage was going to take years, three I think. For some reason his own scribe didn't want to go... And then his home is north east of Garic's.
I suppose I might remember a few more details... maybe, if you and your dwarf were to write a song for my dwarven convicts, to keep their spirits up. Remind them that if they work hard and stay out of trouble, they'll be free again when they've served their time."
"Hmmm we'd best do it both ways."
[
"How long will it take you to remember more do you think Master Burrberry?
Minto starts moving towards the door.
"I'll find Brodda and we'll have your song by tomorrow morning."
"And your workers whistling it ny tomorrow noon."
"Daron? I'd best go find Brodda now, if Master Burrberrry needs anything else would you be so kind as to let us know?"
Minto slips out the door, and then seconds later pops his head back in."We'll most likely be at the inn. Inn's are good places for songwriting."
.o0(Ok, let's start with a simple rhyme. Go, no, flow...)
Minto hurries out to find Brodda.
After Minto leaves, Eldan pays Daron, and they sit and visit for a while.
.o0(Hopefully she'll have calmed down a bit after a few ales. That foreman may be a bit of a git, but its his rules we have to play by. At least until we get back to town and have a few words with Lord Malifaeyr.)
Minto enters the inn and looks around for Brodda.
.oO(The food prrobably woon't be that good in this place, but it'll be a change frrom trrail rrations.)
Entering, she sees Minto waiting. She smiles and joins him.
"Wherre's Darrron? Do we head back t'night orr wait until morrnin'?"
She orders up a couple of ales and dinner for them both.
Did you get us rooms yet? No? Well, I've stabled the mounts, anyway.
He gestures to the server to bring him an ale, and drinks deeply once he has it.
Guess we'll be here tonight and tomorrow night as well, then, Minto?
"A second night? Why?"
A light goes on in her mind and she looks at Daron knowingly.
"What did yeh agrree teh do forr'im that makes 'im want teh go thrrough his rrecorrds?"
Not me! You and Minto!
"It figurres if it wasn't yeh it was..."
"WHAT?!?"
She turns a baleful eye upon Minto.
"Minto and me, eh?"
He bats his eyelashes at her knowing she can't resist that.
She sighs.
"What is it yeh've gotten meh into?"
"A chance to brighten a few lives actually."
Minto looks around the inn at the folks gathered there.
"If we write a song to keep the miners motivated, the dwarven miners in particular, Burrberry will give us the information we want."
Mintos smile turns a birt mischevious.
"I think we should write two though, one for if he tells us what we want, and one for if he doesn't."
"Keep them motivated."
"The prrisonerrs."
"Especially the dwarrves?"
She contemplates that.
"Any dwarrf woould chafe at bein' slave-labourr. Especially one who's ill-mannerred enough t'end up herre."
She gives a resigned sigh.
"Alrrright. Ah'll help. Have yeh starrted yet?"
"I've been fooling around with some rhymes for salt, mine, and pick."
"And hard work, but all I can come up for with that is fork."
She goes over with Minto some dwarven words that might work and shows how they might be incorporated.
"And it needs a heavy beat. If it doesn't have that, the dwarrves won't be interrested."
" Mention ale... auraun... right."
"And empathisize strength, gek, no dek, got it."
"And their homes, drukar, and their dwarkar, clans."
"And karglos, tomorrow."
"All to a strong beat."
"Got it."
"How does this sound for an opening line,
Be dek, for Karglos, there will be auraun for all,
When you return to drukar an dwarkar at last.
But today, today you must mine the earth and the time will pass real fast?
Minto shakes his head.
"I think it might be best to do it all in dwarven or all in common. Mixing laungages doesn't sound right. It has a bad flow."
"Aye, yeh'rre rrright. Betterrr go all Common, then. But keep that beat! It was grreat!"
"A tourr?"
"Of the mines?"
"Wherre its dirrrty?"
"It's a good thing Ah've got that little spell."
A dwarf who's afraid of dirt? In a mine?!
"Mind yeh'rre mannerrs please."
"And Ah'm not afrrraid of dirrt. Ah just prreferr not teh get dirrrty."
She eyes him cooly.
"I can visulize mining gold or gems, but I can't seem to get my brain around mining salt."
"Do they put it straight in a shaker or do they just make sure their buckets don't have any holes in them?"
Minto, this is a dry mine. Ah, nevermind, you'll see.
He works on getting the soup out of his nose.
"Darrron!"
She blushes and grabs her own napkin, dabbing at various spots on her clothing and, ugh, face.
"I guess that means I'll need to come up with a different rhyme for be. Deep blue dirt doesn't sound right."
Sorry about that, Brodda.
I'll set up the tour for tomorrow morning, unless you'd rather go tonight. They don't really have a day or a night down there, so it's up to you.
"Blue dirrt?"
She thinks about it.
"Dirrt makes meh blue..."
She smiles and looks at Daron.
"Tonight is betterr. Will give us morre time teh worrk."
She turns to Minto.
"Unless yeh'rre too tirred, love."
"I'd rather have tonight to work on the song then try to put something together at the last moment."
He stuffs the last of his bread in his mouth, washes it down with the rest of his ale, and then puts his fist to his mouth as he belches loudly.
'Scuse me, Brodda, he says innocently, then stalks out of the inn.
"I think he's been away from Volos for too long."
Minto shrugs and follows after Daron.
She grins and nods as if to say, "I'll get you back."
Then she turns back to Minto and pats his hand.
"Indeed." ;)
She drinks the last of her ale and follows the boys.
"Alright, sure, you can have a look-see. C'mon, follow me."
He sets off at a brisk pace up the road.
"So how exactly does one mine salt. Isn't it hard to separate the salt from the sand. A sifter wouldn't work. Salts just as fine as sand isn't it?"
"Do you have to have men go through and pick all the salt grains out by hand? I can't imagine much more tedious work then that."
"It makes scribing look like an adventure."
You'll see."
After a walk that leaves Brodda and Minto breathless, they arrive at the mine entrance. It is an imposing cavern, and Eldan waves over the foreman on duty.
The gloomy-looking elf stalks over, and Eldan gestures at the visitors. "Ed, this here's Minto Newberry, and Brodda. You remember Daron. They want a tour of the mine. Those two are bards, and they're gonna write a working song to keep the dwarves from getting all grumbly again."
'Ed' raises an eyebrow, but just nods and gestures to them to follow.
"I always thought all salt came from the ocean."
"I had no idea it came from the dirt too."
"How did it get here?"
"Is it different then ocean salt?"
He leads them inside the cavern and over to a staircase, where they begin the descent.
They pass many workers toiling in the tunnels and caves, hewing blocks of solid salt from the walls. Walking down tunnels and stairs, eventually Brodda guesses they are a good 210' belowground.
Astonishingly, the walls and even the ceiling have been carved in decorative fashion by the miners.
When he reaches the bottom he points up at the ceiiling.
"That's most interesting work... Did the conscripts do that?"
"I imagine it is probably good for them to let out their artistic expressions every once in awhile, though I'd have thought its not the most productive use of assessets."
"Is it dwarven work? Or elvish?"
"Convict. They get rest time, and some of them get creative. So long as it's not offensive, we let them do it."
He gestures the group along.
Minto follows after the elf again.
"Are most of your miners dwarven, or just the troublesome ones?" He winks at Brodda before continuing. "I'd think this close to Garics you'd have more humans then anything else."
"And maybe gnomes. They seem to get in more then their fair share of trouble."
"But I didn't figure you'd have that many dwarves in here. Though I suspect they are your hardest workers. I guess you would want to keep them more satisfied then the others."
"Real friendly guy isn't he?"
Minto calls out to Ed again.
"So how did you get a job here? I'd think an elf would prefer something more, um, above ground."
"Life sentence. My dietary preferences caused... problems, in the city."
"I have that problem too when I eat beans. But I haven't been convicted of disrurbing the peace yet."
"But it's just a atter of time."
He winks at his friends again.
All told, they are underground for a couple of hours.
At the end of the tour, Mintro smiles at Ed but doesn't offer his hand for a thank you shake.
"Well that was a nice tour. I learned a lot."
"I think I might have a few ideas for the song now."
"Anything I can put in it for you Ed?"
Minto realizes what he just said and quickily adds.
"That isn't about dinner?"
Yes, thank you, erm, Ed.
Daron grabs Minto's shoulder, hustling him away.
We really must be going now.
"They let him be a foreman? I'd really hate to see what kind of person they force to clean out the outhouses."
Minto surpresses a shudder and then smiles at Brodda.
"I did get a few more ideas for the song though."
"I think we can have it done before tomorrow with little problem."
"We should get back to the inn to work on iit. I could use a drink."
"And a bath."
"I'd work a lot harder too if I knew I was on the menu if I slacked."
"But I doubt thats the kind of motivation Burrberry is looking for. Otherwise he'd have asked us to make a song about Ed the Cannibal Elf."
"Ah'm gooin' the have nightmarrres aboout those teeth forr days."
She shudders again, this time appearing to shake it off, then turns to Minto.
"Well, shall we get starrted? Vast amoounts of ale shoould help in the wrritin' prrocess." ;)
Minto , Brodda, and Daron head to the inn and proceed to drink and sing.
************************
Minto slams an empty ale mug down on the counter and grins.
"Ok, so we've got the chourus done.
"Pick into rock, hammer into stone
We've got to mine the salt.
Until our sentance is over
We'll work and never halt.
Daytime, nightime, it's all the same
When your hundreds of feet under ground.
Working the hammer and pick
Keeping the beat while we pound...
Pick into rock, hammer into stone
We've got to mine the salt.
Until our sentance is over
We'll work and never halt."
Now we just need a few versus, Hey Daron? Do you think Burrberry will notice if we take a few shots at him in the song? It'll be good for morale?"
Minto chuckles and takes a fresh mug of ale from the bartender.
"Makin' a few shots at Burrrberrrrry is a good idea. Ah'm surre the convicts will derrive a lot of enterrtainment frrom it."
She looks innocently at Minto.
"We'll that is why we were asked to make the song wasn't it? To keep the convicts happy."
Minto humms a bit and then blurts out a line.
"It's better to let the boss beat you,
Then to let the foreman eat you.
When you're working in the mine.
With his little arms
He can't do much harm
It'll hurt less then a fine."
"That's perrfect. The music needs soome kinks worrked oout of it, though."
She pulls out her recorder and works on the dwarven rythm.
.oO(Ah knoow Ah'm good...)
She stands on her chair to get a better look at the crowd.
.oO(Good Motherrr! Look at them! It must've been a while since anyone of any talent has coome thrroough herre!)
She finishes the tune, bows to her audience, then sits and looks at Minto and Daron, grinning.
"Soomethin' like that shoould worrk." :D
"Play some more!"
"Hey, you know any other songs?"
"Can you play a jig?"
The crowd clamors for more...
"Meh public calls." ;)
"Yeh doon't mind, d'yeh?"
She winks at Minto.
"Want teh jooin meh?"
Minto nods and they both stand on their chairs -- Minto with his lute and Brodda with her recorder. They agree on a song and the two play for the crowd.
Brodda is amazed by how easy her new recorder is to play. Her fingers dance along the instrument, and even the trickiest passages are negotiated with ease. In fact, she begins to feel as though something were helping her play.
Experimentally, she lowers the recorder, letting Minto play a few measures alone, then joins in with words, keeping an eye on the crowd.
.oO(Maybe Ah've just rrun thrroough that passage enoough that its easierr noow.)
She continues singing, finishing the song, and excusing herself and her conspirator.
"Ah'm sorrry folks. That's all forr noow."
Halfling and dwarf smile and bow and sit down again.
"Well, that was excitin'."
Daron grins, and says I think after you play your new song for Eldan and the miners, you won't have any trouble getting the information you want.
"What do yeh think of gooin' on the rroad? You and Ah playin' and singin', and Darrron herre can be ourr prrotectorr frrom unrruly crrowds." ;)
She looks at Daron in all seriousness and waits for a reply. Then she laughs.
"Ah'm kiddin', of courrse. What woould meh fans in Garrric's do if Ah went on tourr?"
Minto swigs down the ale, and then smiles.
"One more round and then we should call it a night."
"We've got an important performance tomorrow."
"Aye! Garrric's has its quirrks, but Ah like it."
She swigs down her ale, calling for the last round.
With that finished, she heads to the bar.
"We need two rrooms, if'n yeh have'em, cash up frront."
She winks to the man behind the bar.
"And a tip in the morrnin' if'n they'rre comforrtable." ;)
Daron raises an eyebrow at Minto, Oh? You sleeping in the stable?
"Have two beds in the gentlemen's rrroom. They can decide on theirr arrangements as they will." ;)
She digs a couple of gold coins out of her purse.
"Will this coverr two nights?"
Minto sighs as he listens to Brodda talk to the barman, and then looks to Daron. "You wouldn't mind if I cast a little spell on you would you?"
"You know, to make up for you not getting a bath today?"
"Don't worry, I'm sure it won't have any long term effects on the unkept image you've been cultivating."
Minto manages to keep a serious expresion for several seconds before smiling.
Daron snorts at Minto's humor. Don't worry, I fully intend to have a bath tonight.
He points at Daron, "I'll be paying for his bath as well."
"I'll let you get first crack at which bed you want. iI just remembered something I need to talk to Brodda about."
Minto hurries after her.
"Wait up Brodda. I think we should run through the song one more time tonight . I'm still not sure if I'm getting the beat right."
"I need a refreaher in dwarven rhythem."
"Yeh'd betterr hurrry. Thy rrrythm of meh people can be quite... fast paced." ;)
She locates her room with ease and enters, but leaves the door open slightly for Minto to follow...
...fade to morning
"Ah, barkeep. I need two plates of your finest whatevers left."
He places a few gold coins on the counter and looks around, grinning, as he waits for the food.
After he leaves, she attempts to straighten the bedding from her position in the bed. Then propping herself on one elbow, she looks out the window at the sky, thinking.
.oO(Betterr find a way teh tolerrate little Burrrrberrry. It woould be verry counterrrprrroductive teh set him off again. Maybe if Ah just smile and play, he'll get rrright on the searrch forr Misterrr Woodhome's file.)
She almost chuckles aloud.
.oO(Rrright. Meh be quiet, letting the men do all the talkin'. Betterr make anotherr plan, lass.)
"I didn't see Daron out there."
"Hopefully he's out buttering up Burrberry, instead of sleeping off a hangover.'
"But I wouldn't count on it."
"We'll go check on him after breakfast."
Minto holds up piece of fruit..
"Peach?"
"Mmmm. Aye, yeh arre." ;)
She opens her mouth, allowing him to drop the bit of fruit in.
"Darrron's a heavy drrinkerr, is he? What's his storry? He harrdly seems the type teh have enoough patience teh become Herrrmy's frriend."
She reaches out and feeds Minto a bit of fruit.
"I don't think he was always this broody. I think it was the time he spent in hell that did that to him."
"Yes, literal hell."
"He died and Gamis and Natala had to go to one of the hell dementions to bring his soul back."
"Though I don't think that was the start of his drinking problem. Just something thats made it a bit more prominant."
"I think the stress of being the guard captain is what started him drinking. And then the stress of being the guild leader."
"And I suppose his problems with Natala didn't help much either."
Minto hands Brodda some more fruit, and then eats some more himself.
"Daron isn't much of a ladies man, as I'm sure you've noticed."
Minto brushes the crumbs off of himself and quickily cast predigitation.
"Shall we go find him? The quicker we get this over with, the quicker it's over."
She gives Minto the last bit of food and smiles.
"Give meh a few minutes teh clean up and get drressed."
She gets out of bed, unrolling herself from the sheets.
.oO(Ah'll neverr figurre oout how Ah do that in meh sleep.)
She cleans up at the washbasin, dresses, and casts Prestidigitation. Then she brushes out her hair, braids it, and places her circlet on her head.
"Let's go."
He knocks on the door.
"Time to get up sleepy head."
Inside, he is dressed, boots on, and putting the final edge on a dagger.
You two ready to see Eldan, or haven't you had breakfast yet?
"Aye, we've brreakfasted and arre rready teh be pleasant with Misterrr Burrrrrrberrrrry."
She glances about the room, seeing it all neat and tidy.
.oO(All packed up and rready teh go at a moment's notice, by the looks of it. Ah hoope he dooesn't always live that way.)
Her fingers play idly with Minto's fingers.
"I think Burrberry will be very impressed."
"Lead the way Daron."
Minto tickles the tips of Broddas fingers and then follows Daron. Humming out the tune of the new song as they go.
"Yeh've gotten verry good with dwarrven rrythm. Good thing we prracticed." ;)
Sheathing the dagger, he grabs his cloak and leads the way to Burrberry's office.
"Well, it's showtime."
"We worked long and hard all night on the song you requested. I'm sure you'll be impressed."
"We based it off a dwarven rhythem, but the lyrics will be suitable for all your ... employess."
"Of course it won't sound exactly like Brodda and I are about to play it. It's unlikely you' have any master bards in your employment. But thanks to the strong beat of the words, it should still work even without the instruments."
"Of course, the hammering of the workers should provide it's own brand of music."
"So are you ready to be blown away Mister Burrberry?"
"I'm surprised you've finished it already. Go ahead, I'm all ears."
The dwarfess' green eyes twinkle as she plays, her attention on Eldan.
"Here I am doing time
Working in a salt mine,
Paying for my crime,
One day out of this pit I will climb,
But for now, Its...
Pick into rock, hammer into stone
We've got to mine the salt.
Until our sentance is over
We'll work and never halt.
Daytime, nightime, it's all the same
When your hundreds of feet under ground.
Working the hammer and pick
Keeping the beat while we pound...
Pick into rock, hammer into stone
We've got to mine the salt.
Until our sentance is over
We'll work and never halt.
The work is hard, but not as hard as me
I'll mine more salt then there is in the sea.
I'lve got plenty of time.
It's better to let the boss beat you,
Then to let the foreman eat you.
When you're working in the mine.
With his little arms
He can't do much harm
It'll hurt less then a fine...."
Minto continues singing and playing, his eyes alternating between trying to gauge Eldans reaction, andwatching Brodda as she plays.
She grins at Eldan, dancing with a dwarvish stomp as she moves closer to him, her eyes never leaving him.
When the song ends he nods happily, "Yes, that should do just fine! Once you've taught it to the miners, and given me a written copy to file, I'll have your information for you."
"Of courrse. When will they be available teh learrn it?"
"Are we suppose to teach it to all of them, or just the dwarves?"
"I can't really see Ed singing... Not sure I want to as a matter of fact."
Heh, no, I can't imagine Ed singing, either. But don't worry about him. He knows that if he misbehaves, he'll lose his comfortable job and get put to hard labor -- or worse."
"I'd hate to lose a potential fan because they got released or escaped while we stand around talking."
Minto chuckles, and then looks to Brodda and Daron. "What do you think?'
Sooner you're done, sooner we can go home.
"One can neverr have too many fans." ;)
"Let's go then. Just... keep an eye on Ed."
Soon, the bards are ensconced with an appreciative audience.
And he even teaches them the verse they left out when performing the song for Eldan Burrberry.
Daron leads them back to the mining office when their voices start to go, and Eldan takes them into his private office.
"Now, according to my records, Hermy will only have four years left on his sentence. It would've been more, but the way the sale of the contract worked out, it ended up shortening his time.
The merchant that bought the contract was Master Artos Shellnut, a grower and trader of walnuts. He lives northeast of here, in Sylvandell."
"Thank yeh, Misterr Burrberrry."
"Sylvandell? I don't think I've ever heard of there?"
"Is it an elven village? Or a woodsmans town?"
Eldan unrolls the map he has sitting on a table, and points out the town. It's not at all a detailed map, but they get the impression the town is a nine to ten day ride northeast of Garic's City, and west of a pass through the mountains.
"We'll have teh go back teh toown and get morre supplies."
She looks at Minto.
"And Ah doon't knoow that just the two of us gooin' is the best of plans. Ah kin handle mehself in a fight, but bandits arre terribly sneaky and trry t'avooid a fight."
"He can out sneak anyone we're likely to meet. Or outfight them. Andhis influence with the Lords of the City will help as well."
"Hermy Sr. still has time on his sentance, so I think we'll need a bit of influence to get the sentace rescinded."
"We'll head back to Garics, Iand wait for Hermy to get back from his training mission with the Jackals."
"And Ah'll check with the lawyerr's guild and see if we have any legal standing teh get a wrrrit orr a dismissal, orr soomethin'."
She takes a few steps back from the table and announces its time for a round of drinks, then she leaves the office and heads for the inn.
Minto follows after Brodda.
"It's a good job we've done herre."
She takes a drink then frowns when a thought strikes her.
"What if this Shellnut has, in turrn, sold Misterr Woodhome's contrract teh soomeone else?"
She takes another drink and rests her chin in the palm of her hand, elbow on the table, as she ponders that thought.
"You know the old saying about no rest for the wicked don't you?"
"Well that's because they don't do aything to tire them out."
"Doing the right thing is a lot more exhausting work."
"You're always having to run around to try and fix the problems caused by those evil doers who are up well past their bedtime."
Minto takes another drink.
"We'll do whatever we have to do to reunite the Hermys."
"Of coourrse we will. Whateverr it takes."
She takes another drink of her ale and looks quite content.
That barely-discernible twinkle is back in Daron's eye. He drains his mug, grabs a chunk of bread and cheese from the platter, and adds, I'm going to pick up a few supplies before the general store closes. Be ready at dawn if you want to ride back to the city with me.
Daron swings out of his chair and strides briskly from the inn.
"Dawn , eh?"
"Well that still gives us time to celebrate."
"What do you say we see how many drinks we can get bought for us before we turn in for the night?"
Minto starts to tune his lute.
"Indeed! A fine game!" :D
She kisses Minto on the lips.
"Teh warrm'em up." ;)
Then she warms up her fingers.
Standing on her chair, she begins to play a joyful tune.
Drinks and food appear on their table, and the barkeep is kept hopping by the ever-swelling crowd.
He takes a few breaks to watch Brodda play and wets his throat with some of the profered ale.
She thoroughly enjoys being the center of this much attention and finds she likes sharing it with Minto.
As the crowd swells, and many ales later, Brodda indicates that she wants the table in front of her cleared off, and hurriedly it is, the food and drinks moved to nearby tables.
Stepping onto the now-empty table, she begins to sing a dwarven love song (yes, they do have them) which includes an instrumental interlude. The song ends with a loud, rousing, blood-pounding conclusion, and she manages to fumble down from the table without landing on her face.
She smiles at Minto, grinning from ear to ear.
"Ah haven't had the hearrt teh sing that in... well, a long time."
"You should try that one at the Last Lich sometime. The crowd here is great, but not as wealthy as back in Garics."
"Though it would almost be a shame to use a song that lovely ffor simple monetary gain."
"Ah doon't sing it often. Too many..."
She pauses and blushes slightly.
"Ahem. Well, neverrmind that. Therre arre otherrs, though." ;)
She wets her lips with another ale and plays her favorite tune about the blooming of spring.
.o0(We all have something in our pasts don't we?)
Once she finishes her song, Minto jumps up on the table and pulls Brodda up next to him.
"We've got a long journey ahead of us tomorrow, and we'l need some rest,""
"But I'd like to leave you people feeling good. So I'll play one song for a friend of mine who isn't here, and then I think we can squeeze in one or two requests."
"Not much more then that though. Theres a few things Brodda and I need to do before we go to sleep."
"And its going to be a long trip. So we can't play for you all night as much as I'd love too."
"So try and come up with a request or two while I play "Little Brown Puppy."
Minto starts playing.
.oO(Things teh do indeed, heh heh)
She plays a countermelody to Minto's favorite puppy song.
He plays the love song first, and then pauses to build some suspence and pretends to retune his lute. He smiles at the crowd and then shouts out. "One... two.. three... four!"
And then he strumms the opening chord to the jig and then tears into it, nodding his head at Brodda to play it faster.
With each verse he speeds up the song.
She speaks to the crowd.
"Thank yeh! Yeh've been a wonderrrful audience! As we must get up so earrrly in the morrnin', we bid yeh a verrry good night!"
With a last, long swig of ale, Brodda grabs Minto by the hand and pulls him upstairs.
"Time to get up. I think Daron will wait for us, but I'd rather not get on his bad side."
"He might drag out the journey home just to get even."
Minto searches around for his clothes, and eventually finds them.
"Yeh'rre rright. And, he might just go withoout us as he said. Not that we coouldn'a find ourr way home frrom herre."
She sighs, almost disappointed when he finds his clothes and puts them on. She gets out of bed and does the same, taking the time to fiddle with her hair.
She packs her things and searches the room to be sure they've not left anything behind. Then she grabs her cloak and goes to the common room with Minto.
"Mr. Haldar said you slept too late and you have to eat your breakfast on the road. He paid for the mugs -- take them with you. He's waiting outside."
Daron is pacing outside, all three mounts saddled and ready to go.
Minto takes a sip of his drink and then mounts up on his dog.
"Let's get moving. Might as well try to get as far as we can before I wake completely up."
She looks at Daron.
"Yeh'rre a man trrrue teh yeh'rre worrd, arren't yeh? Whateverr the worrrd is, yeh mean everry syllable of it."
Then she chuckles and sets CrimeChaser walking down the road as she takes a sip from the mug.
She looks back.
"Well? Let's go then." ;)
A stop at Miz Parli's farm reassures them that Eldan has sent a team of convicts, with a foreman, to rebuild some of the damage left by the monster. They overnight with her, then continue on home.
"Hermy most likely won't be back for a few more days. The village he was leading the scouts to was a lot further away then the mines."
"I think we should wait for him, before going to get his father."
"It wouldn't hurt to get things straightened out as much as possible first though. We'll need to get a writ to get his sentance finished early."
"I think Hermy should be the one to approach Lord Malifaeyr, but that doesn't mean we can't speak to your lawyer friend Brodda."
"Or any connections you might have from your time as the Captain of the Guard Daron."
"But, like I said. We have a few days."
"I think I'll spend a few of them in the tub. Even my spell hasn't been able to get the smell of salt out of my hair."
"We can hook up in a few days at Nobody's. Marroc might have a few connections we can use as well."
Minto waves goodbye and heads for the Silver Sword.
"Same. Ah've got teh get into a bath just as soon as Ah can get one drrrawn up. Ah'll visit Doctorr Chandl tomorrow."
She smiles at Minto as he heads for the guild. Then she turns to Daron.
"Well, lad. It's been an experrience trravelin' with yeh. Ah do hope yeh might be available teh go with us when we head off teh find the elderr Misterr Woodhome."
She nods to the large man in parting and heads for home.
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