The Towers
Copyright (C) 1997 by Charles Tryon
10: The Golden Road
A slight breeze rustled the broad grasslands of the Sespech as they stretched out before them, extending from where they stood at the outskirts of the city, all the way to Innarlith and the Firesteap Pass. After that was the Shaar. It was through this vast sea of grass that the Golden Road passed, the main thoroughfare to the lands of the South, ending at last at the Shining Sea and the great city Sheirtalar. Even in the heat of mid-morning, the road was crowded with travelers entering and exiting the city. They gave Sucaba and the dragon a wide berth as they passed. Sucaba appeared to take great delight in the attention as he stood proudly at the dragon's side. "I guess we know which direction to head," Trouble said with a wave of his hand towards the road before them. "You learn quickly," Sucaba replied with a smirk. "We are to follow the road south from here. I will fly on ahead and meet you again some time before sunset, in time to find a suitable camp for the night." Without a further word, the two took to the air ahead of them. The air was already hot and stuffy, and GreyEagle shifted uncomfortably in her leather armor. She was already feeling tired. She had not noticed the heat so much before, while they had been on the open water, but now that they were in the plains, the heat was a rude reminder of how far south they had traveled. She noticed that Marianne had pulled a wide brimmed hat from her things and now wore it to protect her lead and neck from the burning effect of the sun. She pulled out the map Schimray had given her. They had covered a great many miles by ship, but they still had a long journey ahead of them. The Golden Road was well patrolled, and as safe a route as one could expect to travel, but it was still a long distance to cover, and they would eventually have to leave the safety of the road to travel into the wilds of the South lands. "Let's go," GreyEagle said quietly, rolling up the map and returning it to its tube. They fell into a rough line, with GreyEagle at the head, while Coyle moved to cover the rear. Recuahc trotted up next to her. GreyEagle thought he cut a handsome figure as he sat high in his saddle. His stallion pranced along, looking like it would not take much to encourage it to full speed. "You look like you did well at the stables philosopher," she said with a smile. "I think so," he said. "I can tell a fine beast when I see one. Do you like him?" GreyEagle nodded. "He looks fast. Do you think the rest of us will be able to keep up with you?" "Shall we see?" Recuahc suddenly dug in his heels and the stallion shot forward like an arrow out of a bow. Unfortunately, this close to the city, the road was still crowded with heavy, lumbering wagons, and he had little room to let the horse have its head. One driver shouted angrily as his startled team stumbled off the side of the path and threatened to give Recuahc a taste of his lash, but he was too occupied trying to control his own beasts to follow through. Recuahc quickly slowed and pulled a short distance off the road to wait for the others to catch up. GreyEagle could feel her hands itch, wanting to follow Recuahc, but she still had Krifel in tow, and he was in no condition for speed yet. "With all due respect young man," Ormec scolded when they reached him, "I believe that I should be taking the front line with GreyEagle. You, on the other hand, might do well to learn patience from the second row." Recuahc began to protest, but the look in Ormec's eye quickly quieted him. With a wink at GreyEagle, he meekly fell back to the second row next to the silent mage. "It's good to be back on the road again," Conrad said as they trotted along. "I believe that I have had enough travel by sea to satisfy my curiosity for a long time." "We will see," Trouble laughed, "when you start to complain about saddle sores and stiff legs." "Harumph!" Conrad snorted. "At least here I can get down and walk for a while. On the ship there was no end to that infernal pitching and rocking." "So long as your boots fit," Trouble muttered. Conrad gave the mage a sour look, but said no more. The road was broad and well kept, and they traveled quickly. The other travelers on the road ignored them for the most part, looking straight ahead and intent on their business. Now and then they were passed by riders either singly or in small groups, traveling at a frantic pace, but mostly the traffic was slow and even. There was not much to see. The grasslands extended on almost as far as the eye could see. Far to the East, GreyEagle thought she could see hints of the Northernmost reaches of the Chandelwood forest, and she pulled out her Eyes of Eagles to see if she could get a better look. From this point, she could see the green edge of the forest, but she could make out no details. It struck her that she might be able to leave the magical lenses in place as they rode. It would be an advantage to have the better eyesight all the time, so rather than returning the lenses to their pouch when she was finished, she left them in. It was a little disorienting at first, but she found after a while that she could operate normally. The sun finally began to sink into the West, bringing a welcome relief from the relentless heat. The heat was not as bad as it had been at the edge of the Anauroch, but it still made the group uncomfortable and irritable. Mostly they had been traveling in silence, punctuated by short arguments. GreyEagle had tried to keep in an cheerful mood, but it seemed to have little effect on the others. As the air began to cool, she began to watch for a suitable place to set up camp, and as twilight set in, she finally saw a spot a short distance off the road with a small stream near by. They pulled off the road and quickly set up camp. GreyEagle led the horses to the water and rubbed them down, splashing water over them to help cool them. It felt good to wade in the stream. Coyle came over to help her and between the two of them, they soon had the horses brushed down and settled. When they were done, she stripped off her leather armor and slid into the cool water, letting it wash away the sweat and grime of the day. She found a small pool where the stream flowed around a large rock and ducked her head under. Coyle took off his boots and sank down on the bank with his feet dangling in the water, watching her. "Would you care to join me?" GreyEagle coaxed. "No," Coyle said with a sigh, "I am still tired from the day." "The water would help you feel better." "Perhaps," he agreed halfheartedly. He didn't move though. Suddenly, GreyEagle's hand hit the water with a plop, sending a small shower of spray in Coyle's direction. and he quickly rolled to avoid getting wet. "You'll have me covered with mud if you aren't careful," he said with an irritated tone, but there was still a twinkle in his eyes. "I might make you wash my clothes for me then." "And if I didn't?" "I would ride without them. Might be cooler that way." "If you didn't burn to ash in the sun." "That is what Marianne's hat is for." "Well," GreyEagle said with a sigh, "In the mean time, I am enjoying the water." She could have stayed longer but she knew that there was work to do, so she reluctantly climbed out of the water and dried off. Recuahc was already helping Marianne with preparations for dinner while the others were busy with various other duties around camp. They had just sat down to eat when Sucaba and Horton glided in. Sucaba slid down from the dragon's back and Horton headed off to the stream for a drink. They had plenty of questions for the mage, but he refused to say anything until he had sat down and eaten at least three helpings. "We are making excellent time," he said when he finally had been satisfied, "but we still have a long way to go." "What is the road like up ahead?" Recuahc asked. "What have you seen of creatures or other threats?" Trouble added. "How far is it to the next city?" Conrad added right on his heels. Sucaba held up his hands. "One thing at a time. Horton and I have flown past Ormpetarr, which is to the south of us. The area is mostly as we see it here - endless grassland with scattered farms. I saw no signs of any threatening creatures. We should be able to make good time along the road, for it is in good condition and well traveled well past Ormpetarr." "Good," GreyEagle said. "I would like to be able to return to Arabel before Winter arrives in the North." "I would not get my hopes up too early," Sucaba cautioned. "As you can see by Schimray's map, the towers are a long way south of here, and we yet have many days ahead of us. There may yet be unforeseen delays." "What about food and water?" Ormec spoke up. "I would rather not find ourselves in the same situation we had when we traveled through the desert." Horton chuckled from where he lay a short distance from the others. "Have no fear Dwarf, for there is plenty of game along this route, and we will eat well. I will not even have to resort to raiding the surrounding farms... yet." "There are also plenty of small streams along the way like the one we are here by now," Sucaba added, "so water should not be a problem." The mage slowly stood to his feet. "We will speak more in the morning." He then turned and walked over to the dragon where he plunked himself down to sit with his back leaning against Horton's side. He silently gazed out into the blackness, motionless except for the flutter of his robes in the light breeze. For a time, they were silent, each caught up in their own thoughts, the quiet broken only by the light singing of the silent make's sword against the stone as he carefully oiled and sharpened the blades. The night was clear and the stars poked out overhead. The light of the fire flickered on the faces of those gathered around it, playing tricks on their eyes as they gazed into it. GreyEagle looked over at Coyle as he sat next to her and wondered again why he had joined them on this journey. In a sense, Sucaba had been right -- he and Marianne had no idea of what they were facing, and GreyEagle felt terribly guilty about dragging them into this whole affair. It was not their quest, and they did not have to face the dangers that she had chosen to face. She got up and moved to sit next to him. "Would you like an explanation of where we are going on this little outing of ours," she asked quietly. Coyle looked around at the others. "I suppose it is a little late to back out now," he said with a chuckle, "but yes, it would be nice to know what exactly we are up against." "You know already that we have been sent by Schimray on this quest." GreyEagle began. Coyle nodded and looked over at Marianne who returned his look uncertainly. GreyEagle cleared her throat and glanced over at Sucaba. He had been so insistent about the secrecy of their quest that she was unsure now if he would object to her laying out the details of their journey for Coyle and Marianne. However, the mage showed no reaction, nor for that matter, any indication that he had even heard her. She decided to go on. "We seek an ancient tower," she continued quietly, "one of a group of twelve. Many ages ago, the towers were the strongholds of a powerful coven of twelve mages, but the mages themselves have long since passed away, leaving only the towers as silent testimonies of their failed glory. Even the towers themselves faded from memory, however Schimray's master has discovered a number of them, and seeks to locate the remainder. What their exact significance is, Schimray has not told us." GreyEagle hesitated. Up to now, she had been so wrapped up in the details of reaching the towers that she had forgotten the larger issue of what their purpose was, or what Schimray's master hoped to do with them. The first tower had seemed no different from any number of other minor fortifications that she had encountered in her travels, but yet someone was expending a great deal of effort sending them all this way, just to clean them out and return a map of the floor plan. They had visited the first tower as they had said they would, but they now knew no more about Schimray and his master than they had that first night. Not even she had any real solid knowledge of who Schimray was, or what his purpose was in securing the towers, in spite of whatever she had told herself on that last night before they had left Arabel again. There were only her emotions now, and even they had been clouded by the events of the past few weeks. "There is one tower which is of particular interest to us, or at least to me." She looked around at the others and wondered how many actually remembered the demon. "Schimray has told us that there is a powerful demon who has taken a woman captive in one of the towers. She was a mage herself, and trying to unlock the secrets of the towers, but she underestimated the power of the demon and was ensnared by it. Now it has forced her to bear a son, and plans to sacrifice the child to Orcus on its second birthday. The child is almost a year old already, so we do not have much time to find the tower where the demon hides itself and defeat it." "A demon?" Marianne sputtered. She looked quickly around at the others in the camp. "Do you know what you are saying?" she said in a harsh whisper. GreyEagle swallowed hard. "Our hope is that, between now and when we reach that tower, we may discover some secret which might give us a hope of overpowering it." She knew she was clutching at straws though. How could they hope to defeat a demon? She looked at Coyle and Marianne and silently hoped that they would be able to help somehow. Marianne was about to speak again, but Coyle put his hand in her shoulder to calm her. "Schimray is no fool," he said in carefully measured tones. "I do not say that I trust him, or even understand him, but I suspect that there is more to this group than meets the eye." He bit his lip sharply. "Still, it is not a battle to be undertaken lightly." "We have already been to the first tower," GreyEagle went on. "It stands in the mountains at the edge of the Great Desert to the North of Arabel. We found nothing much of interest there, save a twelve pointed star of pure platinum. We could tell that it was a magical key used to teleport between the towers, but we could not unlock the secret of its power. We gave it to Schimray when we returned. He said that we might find other stars like it in the other towers, but they may have been lost or born away over the ages." Coyle shifted uncomfortably and looked into the flickering fire. "I should have guessed that Schimray would be up to something of this magnitude. He was never one to muddle in the trivial. Do you know anything more?" GreyEagle shrugged. "That is about what we know. The second tower lies to the South of us, in the mountains near the river Talar. After that, we travel to the Great Rift where Schimray tells us that the third tower is hidden." He shook his head slowly. Then, he turned towards her and carefully looked her in the eye. His gaze cut through her, and his look was steady. "Tell me," he whispered, "Why are you here?" GreyEagle tried to look away but found that she could not. "I... I do not know," she said finally. "I could only think of the maiden and her son, and the terrible fate which awaited them." "Are you not afraid that you are simply throwing your life away for them?" Coyle pressed. "Perhaps, but it is my fate. I have dedicated my life to defending the weak. Besides, I am not alone in this quest." Coyle's eyes flickered momentarily towards where Sucaba sat by himself. "You are willing to trust yourself into the hands of others such as... these?" "What choice do I have?" "You do have a choice," Coyle answered quickly. "But..." Coyle held up his hand quickly to stop her. "You are brave, GreyEagle. I will not call you foolish, even though I can tell by your eyes that you do not face this quest without fear. I do not wish to turn you from your decision, for the fact is, I have made the same decision as you - to follow this quest through to the end. However, you must know your heart and what it is that drives you to this end. A blind acceptance of fate will not be sufficient to hold you up when the final trial comes. You must know in your heart of hearts that you are here because you decided to be here." Coyle leaned over and gave her hand a squeeze. "Do not look so somber though," he said lightly. "The future always looks darker at night. There is much to be discovered between now and the time we are to face the dark powers of the tower, and be assured that we will face it together. There is more hidden under that fair skin of yours than you dare to admit, and I have every confidence that, when the time comes, you will not fail." He stood up and helped Marianne to her feet. "In the mean time," he chuckled, "I believe that night passes quickly, and I need my beauty sleep." He rose with a wink at GreyEagle and moved over to where he had laid out his blanket. The others turned in to bed one by one, but GreyEagle sat for a while staring into the fire. After a while, only she and Recuahc were left sitting, both silently regarding the quietly flickering flames which licked and nibbled at the sticks there. The silent mage and Trouble had taken the first guard shift of the night, but they were out walking the perimeter of the camp. She poked at the glowing embers with a stick, sending showers of sparks curling up into the night air. "Recuahc," she said quietly, "the other day, after we were attacked by the goblins outside of Hilp, I saw a long scar across your chest. How did you come to bear such a cruel mark?" Recuahc did not answer right away. He looked up at GreyEagle and eyed her carefully before returning his gaze to the embers of the fire before him. "Ah yes, my scar," he said quietly. "Is looks like I will have another lesser one to go with it now. The first one happened when I was small, about ten years old. I don't remember exactly -- it seems like it was such a long time ago." He paused to watch the end of the stick he was holding flair up. He lifted it up away from the fire and watched until the tiny flame flickered out again. "We had a few goats and sheep," he continued suddenly, his voice strained. "Not much, but enough to keep us in food and clothing. One night, there was a commotion outside the house. We thought it might be a pack of wolves that had wandered down from the high peaks, come after our flocks. We never expected Ogres. There were caves high in the mountains where that might have been hiding. They came to the house and my father tried to stop them, but there were too many. I had never before known such fear and rage, boiling like a pot left over too hot a fire. I did what I could to protect my mother and sister, but..." He fell silent again and poked aimlessly at the coals. After a time, he pulled out the dagger he carried. "This was my father's. I was clutching it when they found me later. I was wandering the streets of the town, with no memory of how I had come to be there. Someone recognized me and went back to our house to see what was the matter, but they never told me much about what they found there. I was too sick to even make it when they buried what remained of my family." "I went back later," continued after another pause, "but found nothing more than the burned out remains of the house, and the markers where they had buried my family. I was too angry to even cry. I searched the hills around there off and on for a time, but I never found what I was looking for. Some day I know I will though." He looked up and forced a smile at GreyEagle. "In the mean time, here I am, looking for a tower and a Demon." GreyEagle silently pulled out the long black dagger from its hiding place in her boot and began to idly trace designs in the dirt at her feet. Suddenly she angrily jammed its point into the dirt. She lay back with a sigh and looked up at the stars. Schimray, Recuahc, Marianne, herself - they all had their demons to face. What stories hid behind the faces of the others, carefully covered over by smiles painted there over the dreary years? What little event waited to tear away the facade and let the bile and filth spill out into the open? She sat up again and gently touched Recuahc's arm. "If ever you return to those hills, I will go with you." Recuahc smiled weakly at her, but said nothing. Sleep was tugging at GreyEagle's eyes, and she knew that she would have to get up later for guard duty, so she rolled over and pulled up her blankets to try to sleep. She groaned as she remembered how hard the ground was. On the ship, the bunks had not exactly been plush, but they were better than cold hard dirt. She removed her sword and carefully placed it on the ground next to her. With some effort, she finally managed to find a position comfortable enough to get to sleep. They rose at dawn. "We should be able to reach Ormpetarr by late afternoon if we can get out of here," Sucaba said gruffly as he went around rousing the others. "I don't know how quickly I am going to travel today," Recuahc groaned, stretching painfully. "Between yesterday's ride and last night's lumpy bed, my back feels like it just aged a few hundred years." GreyEagle looked up from where she was packing her things, "Would it help if I massaged it?" Recuahc flashed a boyish smile. "I would be quite pleased if you would, though just for a little bit anyway, since we have things to attend to." GreyEagle knelt behind where Recuahc sat and began to work out the stiffness in his cramped muscles. As the did, she noticed a glint of silver on a small pouch which lay on the ground next to him. "What is it you have attached to your pouch there, philosopher?" Recuahc did not answer right away. "It's just a small pin that someone gave to me." he answered finally. He reached down, carefully removed it, and handed it to GreyEagle. It was a silver broach, made in the shape of a horseshoe, with a small "M" engraved at the bottom. As GreyEagle was admiring it, Recuahc chuckled. "And what is this in your hair?" "A gift," she replied with a smile, "from a dear friend." She handed the pin back. "It seems that this has been a time for giving and receiving of gifts." Recuahc nodded. "Yes, I suppose it has..." GreyEagle reached up, and as she touched the silver comb in her hair, she glanced over at Coyle. It was funny how things had not turned out at all like she had expected. She shook her head. It was like when she had tended sheep at home -- just when you thought you had everything under control, and all the sheep in one spot, one of them would wander off again and you had to go track it down. She thought back to her last night with Schimray, and wondered now what hat happened. In some ways, it might have been easier if Coyle had simply walked out of her like back in Arrabar, but he hadn't, and now she had a feeling that she would some day have to confront her feelings. Right now, there were too many things to attend to. Sucaba was anxious to move on. Marianne had prepared breakfast, and the smells of cooking food reminded her how hungry it was. The air was still cool from the night, but the temperature was already beginning to rise. The sky was clear above them, and the ground hard and dry. She wondered how anything grew in this heat and dust. They ate quickly, and little was said as Sucaba paced back and forth by the fire. When they were ready to leave, GreyEagle checked on Krifel. He was regaining his strength quickly, and would soon be ready to ride. The morning dragged on as the road quickly became hot again. The dust rose to great them again, and the waves of heat rose off the planes around them. They had traveled for some time when GreyEagle pulled off the side of the road. They had crested a small rise, hardly a blip in the endless sea of grass, but GreyEagle wanted to take advantage of it to scan the horizon. She had put in the magical "eyes" that morning in hope of being able to spot any hazards on the road ahead of them, but she was greeted only by more miles of grass. In the distance she saw what might be the city of Ormpetarr, but she could not tell for sure. The waves of heat which rose from the plains around them clouded even her magically enhanced vision. With a sigh, she settled back into her saddle and spurred her horse forward to catch up with the others. They were able to reach Ormpetarr just as the sun was starting to dip towards the horizon. Sucaba had arrived at the city ahead of them and swooped down to join them as they approached the gates. "Has anyone been to this city before?" he asked as the dragon touched down. The others looked back and forth among themselves with blank expressions. "Fine," Sucaba said with a shrug when no one answered. "I care not what the rest of you do, but I will remain outside of the city with Horton for the night." "I imagine that some of us would like to find a comfortable bed to sleep in tonight," GreyEagle said, winking at Recuahc. "That," Recuahc said with a laugh, "sounds wonderful to me." "Why not just get one room for all of us," Sucaba snorted. "What have you to hide that most of us have not already seen before?" He suddenly laughed loudly and patted Horton on the back. GreyEagle tensed, but she bit her tongue. "There are still some things you have not seen," she said, trying her best to sound sweet. "Well, that's one of us," the Sumatran muttered. GreyEagle could feel the blood rising in her face. "Women, who needs them, eh friend?" Sucaba chuckled, patting Horton's shoulder. "How about we find someplace close by where we can camp together? "I dare say you'd be pretty hard up without them," GreyEagle shot back. Sucaba dismissed her with a wave of his hand. "I will meet you all in the early morning on the road headed out." GreyEagle stared after the two of them as they left. Again, Sucaba had dismissed her as worthless baggage, a woman and therefore of no consequence. Once again she had tried to defend her honor, only to fall flat on her face. She bit her lip. Sooner or later her time to prove herself would come. "Come, Marianne," she said finally, trying to force a smile. "What do you say we leave these beasts of the field to fend for themselves and find an inn and some entertainment in this place? My feet feel like they could do some dancing tonight." Marianne smiled and nodded her agreement. It was still mid afternoon, so they had some time to look around. In order to get an early start in the morning, they decided to look for an inn on the south side of the city. Recuahc stopped in a couple of the small shops crowded in along the main road to pick up supplies for the road ahead. There were extra water containers, as well as broad brimmed hats like the one Marianne had used to protect from the relentless pounding of the sun. Horton and Sucaba did not join them for the evening, preferring to pass straight over the city. GreyEagle wondered at his behavior, remembering how the dragon had acted in Arabel. There he had welcomed the attention of the crowds in the city. Now it seemed that he shunned the cities, comfortable only when he was with Sucaba. They had no difficulty finding a large inn. GreyEagle asked Recuahc to check into getting rooms while she attended to the horses. The stables were clean and well kept, and she gave the attendant a few extra silver pieces to get oats for the horses in addition to the standard feed. She spent a couple extra minutes with Krifel to see how he was doing. Satisfied that he was growing stronger, she gave him a carrot that one of the stable hands offered her and gently rubbed his nose. By the time she joined the others in the commons room of the inn, Recuahc was just returning from speaking with the owner of the establishment. "I have secured four rooms," he told them. Then he grinned mischievously. "I also took the liberty of ordering a private bath," he added, "thinking that some of us might enjoy a chance to soak away some of the miles." GreyEagle smiled and patted his cheek lightly. "You are as thoughtful as you are handsome, young philosopher, and I appreciate your work." It was nice to have someone treat her with some consideration after all the insults she had taken at Sucaba's hands. "Now, you will be sure to let me know if you need a guard or something," Recuahc offered, looking hopeful, "or someone to scrub your back." "I thought you and I were going to explore the city," Conrad interrupted. Recuahc thought a moment before he shrugged. "True. I would like to take a look around. I have never been this far south, and I would like to see what strange new customs they practice here." "Good," Conrad added quickly. "Then we will be back before dinner," The gnome headed for the door. Recuahc hesitated for a moment, his mouth open, but then he turned and headed towards the door after the gnome. "Well, looks like he just blew his chance," GreyEagle said in mock disgust, her hands on her hips. Marianne laughed. Recuahc stopped suddenly and did a full turn on one toe. "I still know where your room is," he said, still grinning. With a flourish, he turned again and ducked out the door. GreyEagle shrugged. She was tired and did not particularly feel like wandering around the city, so she returned to the room with Marianne. She felt hot and grimy, and the idea of a long bath sounded lovely. After washing up she put on her dress and tied up her hair. There was some time yet before dinner, so she took a seat by the open window and just relaxed while she watched the people in the street below. The city was built on the edge of a large lake, and there was a cool breeze blowing in off the water. The sun was setting, and it cast a golden glow on the waves in the distance. For a little while, GreyEagle forgot about towers and demons and the dangers of the road ahead of them. The fighter in her was tucked away with her sword in her pack and stuffed under the bed, though she had still taken the precaution of strapping the black dagger to her thigh under her dress. The memory of the fight which had broken out in the tavern in Westgate were too fresh in her mind to be completely forgotten. Still, tonight she wanted to be a woman. She thought of Sucaba and bristled. No matter what she did, or how much she told herself that she didn't care what he thought of her, he still somehow managed to always make her angry. She knew that she would never be able to change his jaded view of the women in the group, but she still found herself trying to defend her honor. She tried to shrug it off. There were others in the group who saw her as more than an object. Some day perhaps, she thought... She looked down out of the window and saw the hurrying forms of Conrad and Recuahc heading back to the inn. She could catch the smells of food being prepared in the kitchen at the back of the inn and knew that dinner would soon be ready. She got up and was about to leave the room when she remembered the small vial of perfume which she had purchased as they were leaving Arrabar. She had bathed and put on her best clothes. A dash of perfume seemed like the perfect finishing touch. Marianne was in the room too, brushing out her hair, and she smiled as she saw GreyEagle pull out the tiny crystal vial. When she broke the seal on it, the sweet sent quickly filled the room. "You going fishing tonight?" Marianne laughed. "Perhaps," GreyEagle smiled back. "What do you think of my chances of landing a prize one tonight?" Marianne stood back and looked her over from head to toe. "Pretty good, I would say," she replied, "though I have no doubt that there will be plenty of other bait floating around." GreyEagle applied a small dash of the perfume, and after securing the vial again, the two women headed out the door to the commons room below. Recuahc and Conrad were already there. Recuahc looked like he was slightly out of breath and Conrad was teasing him about being too slow. The silent one entered shortly after the other two, a couple of packages under his arm, and headed straight for the stairs. One by one, the others filtered into the room, clean and dressed for a comfortable evening. The air was still stuffy from the heat of the afternoon, but the clear night sky gave a promise of cooling temperatures. It was evident that this was the time of day when the town came awake, after the sun had set and taken its stifling heat with it. The inn would be busy tonight. GreyEagle made a point of walking around behind Coyle as she selected a seat at the table. He looked up as she passed and smiled at her. "You smell delightful," he said, drawing in a long breath. "A definite improvement over essence of horse." "Is that anything to say to a woman?" GreyEagle teased, putting on a hurt look. "What, the part about smelling delightful or the part about the horse?" Coyle teased right back. GreyEagle stuck her nose in the air and began to walk away, almost running into Recuahc as he moved to take a seat next to Marianne. "Hummm..." he said thoughtfully, "something is different here." He sniffed carefully before a gleam appeared in his eye. "I'll have to ask you about that scent some time later." He took his seat, but continued to talk quietly to himself. "Yes... I like that." A quick glance was exchanged between him and Marianne, but then he turned his attention back to the others around the table. Dinner was served and quickly consumed. As soon as they were done, Conrad rose to leave, giving Recuahc a wink and assuring them that he would be right back. The gnome was never one to sit still for long, GreyEagle mused. He was fascinated by the new sights and sounds of each city they entered, and always exploring. When the tables had been cleared, the musicians brought out their instruments and began to play. An area at the center of the room was cleared and the dancing began. The music had an infectious beat, and GreyEagle jumped up quickly, snatching up Coyle by the hand and pulling him into the already forming circle. As soon as he was tired, she found Recuahc, taking a breather from dancing with Marianne, and pulled him into the madly shifting swirl of color. It was not long though before word had somehow got to the musicians that Recuahc was an accomplished singer, and his services were soon in demand. He happily obliged, catching on quickly to the local melodies as well as teaching them a few songs of his own. GreyEagle was not sure how many of the songs Recuahc was singing from memory and how many he was making up as he went, but in either case, they were happy or silly or downright ludicrous, and always performed with an infectious smile. As usual, the silent one had no lack of partners to choose from. He was always polite and graceful, but it was as if there was magic in his eyes. The grace of his step, the lightness of his touch when GreyEagle danced with him, the mystery of his silence, all served to put him in a class somehow different from the others. GreyEagle found herself lost gazing into his eyes, and it was with difficulty that she pulled away at last, to make room for yet another of his stream of partners. She sat for a while by herself, trying to break the spell. Finally, she shook her head and looked over at Coyle. He was standing alone by the table, watching her. GreyEagle stood and smiled in return. He raised his hand in invitation, and she stepped into his arms. His hand on her waist was comfortable, and once again they swept out on to the floor to dance. After a while, the musicians took a short break. GreyEagle, though she was almost out of breath, was disappointed when they stopped, and tossed each of them, including Recuahc, a gold piece in the hope that they would return quickly. When she sat down, she discovered that Conrad had returned. He had already put down a couple of drinks, and it was apparent from his jolly mood that the ill effects of the sea had worn off. He related the tale of his friend Eddie who had crept into the mayor's wife's boudoir and took her undergarments to hang in place of the flag at the center of the town. Alas for poor Eddie, he could not keep his secret and was soundly flogged for his acts. Conrad's story drew a great deal of laughter, of the kind which accompanies a little too much drink. The music went on into the night, and after a while, GreyEagle found herself to be one of the last to leave the room. The musicians had left, and there were only small groups of patrons remaining, small groups in scattered corners of the room, either chatting or too drunk to know that everyone else was gone. The serving girls had cleaned up the last of the mugs, and the light had grown dim as one by one, candles and lanterns were extinguished. GreyEagle was exhausted, but sleep seemed far away. She could still hear the melodies in her head and feel the sway of the dance. "Time for sleep, my lady," the whisper came in her ear. She jumped at the sound and spun around to find Coyle leaning over her. "Marianne has long since retired, and I am afraid that the morning will come all too soon as it is for you." He smiled, and GreyEagle nodded. She stood slowly and stretched. They had many miles ahead of them, and she knew that she should take advantage of a soft bed while she had the chance. There would be plenty of nights out on the hard ground. She hooked her hand through Coyle's elbow to steady her steps and the two of them headed up the stairs to the rooms above. She hardly remembered crawling into bed when the sun awoke her the next morning. Ormec had provided breakfast, and it was a hearty one! "After all, don't know when we'll have a decent meal again," he grumbled. When they were done, he slipped a few extra silver pieces to a serving girl who then produced a large basket. "Just a snack for the road," he muttered as he stuffed it full of leftovers. As they left the city, GreyEagle once again put in the magical Eyes. She scanned the road ahead of them to see if she could spot Sucaba waiting for them. He was already there, about a half mile outside of the city, but as she looked, she noticed someone else with him. "Sucaba is waiting for us up ahead," she told the others, "but he does not appear to be alone. There is a woman with him, though I cannot tell who it might be." GreyEagle watched the woman carefully as they approached. She was dressed simply, with high riding boots and a hooded cloak, and looked like she was no older than GreyEagle. Out of the corner of her eye, GreyEagle caught Trouble ogling her, with a hungry look in his eyes. The silent mage just shook his head slowly covered his mouth in an attempt to cover an amused smile. "This is Laurel," Horton proudly announced once they were gathered. "She will be traveling with us for a while." "Oh, she will?" Trouble noted, sounding a little surprised, and more than a little interested. He gave the dragon a curious look. GreyEagle followed Trouble's look to the dragon. She couldn't tell at this point who had invited Laurel along on the quest, or what their hidden motivations might be. It was very possible that Sucaba was up to his tricks again, but she was not ready yet to write off his lady-friend as a simple slut, or a spy, but she wasn't quite ready to trust her yet. Trouble stepped forward, still keeping a watchful eye on Horton. "My name is Trouble, and I am happy to have you travel with us." "Trouble?" Laurel asked, giving the mage a curious look. "That is an interesting name. An indication of what is to come?" Trouble laughed. "Not for you, my lady, but perhaps for others." "I will be careful then," Laurel answered. Recuahc had been standing there with his mouth open, but he now recovered sufficiently to take Laurel's hand and give it a light kiss. As he did, Laurel's sleeve slipped back slightly and GreyEagle caught the glint of a fine metal bracer around her wrist. It reflected the sun brightly, and GreyEagle subconsciously reached down to touch the bracer on her own arm. She wondered if it were merely decorative, or if it served a purpose, magical or otherwise. Just then, Raal popped out of the saddlebag where he had been sleeping and climbed up on the back of the silent one's horse. "Ah! Well met fair maiden! I am Raal." Laurel took a step back and let out a surprised squeak. "What is that?" "An excellent question!" Recuahc said with a laugh. "It seems to be harmless though, and a friend of the mage here who never speaks," he added, indicating the silent one. "Oh," Laurel said, still not sounding quite convinced. "Harmless!" Raal squeaked, drawing his tiny sword and waving it in Recuahc's direction. "Let me at him! I'll show you!" Recuahc began to dance about in response, waving an imaginary sword back at the rat. Raal laughed and returned his sword to its scabbard. Removing his hat, and giving Laurel a sweeping bow, he announced, "I too am a mighty warrior, as well as a student of the Magic!" Laurel looked closer at the rat, and apparently convinced that it was not going to bite, added, "then I am please to meet you, Raal, as well as your quiet companion." She looked around at the others in the group and then smiled. "This certainly seems to be an interesting group. I can hardly wait to get to know all of you better." "It gets stranger yet," GreyEagle whispered, covering her mouth to suppress a giggle. The other raised an eyebrow questioningly, but didn't say anything. Horton grumbled and glared at those crowded around Laurel. "Give the poor girl some breathing room." Laurel flashed a bright smile and patted the dragon on the nose. "Thank you Horton, but I am sure they are just curious. It is true that I more or less appeared out of nowhere." "Well, it is nice that you travel with us," Raal said. "Perhaps you will tell us about yourself and where you go to as we ride?" "All in due time," Sucaba interrupted. "In due time indeed," Conrad snorted from where he stood a short distance from the others. His arms were firmly folded across his chest, and his brows were knit in a frown. "Would you mind filling us in on our latest addition Sucaba," he said quietly. Sucaba smiled broadly and chuckled. "As Horton has said," he said, indicating Laurel with a sweep of his cloak, "we have a new companion for a time. In our... ah... activities yesterday, Horton and I met someone who was once an adventurer much like ourselves. Years ago however, her party was ambushed and surrounded by a swarm of vile and ruthless creatures. It was a desperate struggle, and only she and two others managed to escape with their lives, though not before each of them had been horribly disfigured and crippled. Since then she has suffered under the curse of these scars. She has learned however, that there is a powerful talesman which may be able to cure her and return her strength and youth." He looked once again at Laurel and smiled. "Our new friend Laurel is her apprentice, and she has been tasked with finding this talesman. After some consideration, I decided to offer our services, in return for Laurel serving our cause as she travels with us. I believe that there is some chance that we may be able to help her in her search. She asks nothing more than to be allowed to travel with us in her own quest, and to return to her master once she has found what she searches for." "Our new friend?" Conrad asked with a growl, "we will see about that. All in due time, as you say." "Sounds simple enough to me," Ormec said with a shrug. "So long as she has no intent of asking for a portion of our treasure, it is fine with me." "I thank you for your great generosity," Sucaba added. The dwarf smiled back and nodded. Sucaba looked around at the rest of the group. The others made no objections. The silent one did not move, but his face still wore a smirk. Coyle was busy smiling at Laurel, and GreyEagle was tempted to give him a sharp jab in the ribs with her elbow, but he was not close enough. "It is decided then," Sucaba said with a note of finality. "Laurel will need a horse. I will provide the gold pieces if someone will go with her into town to purchase one." "I can go with her," GreyEagle quickly volunteered. She thought that it might give her an opportunity to talk with Laurel. "I have a few things I need to get in town," Trouble added, squinting up at the sun. "I could use one of those wide brimmed hats like Marianne has. Perhaps Laurel can help me pick one out," he added with a quick smile. "If we have the time, of course I would be glad to help you," Laurel answered, returning Trouble's smile. Coyle, having caught GreyEagle's quick glare, tactfully held his tongue. "Well, as long as you all are going back, I might as well too," Recuahc added. He avoided looking at Marianne. Laurel turned to remove her cloak. She carefully folded it and placed it with the other things that Sucaba had already stowed on the pack horse. When she turned back to face them, GreyEagle was surprised by how beautiful she actually was. Out from under the dark folds of her hooded cloak, Laurel's hair was long and fair, with highlights of silver running through it. It was tied up with an emerald colored ribbon which matched her eyes. Her cheeks were high and now that GreyEagle could see them, her ears had the characteristic point of an elven heritage. Her smile was infectious, and her face seemed to catch the sun and reflect it warmly. The four of them headed back into Ormpetarr, with Laurel riding on the back of Trouble's horse - a situation which he seemed eminently pleased with. "I can't tell you how grateful I am for allowing me to travel with you." Laurel said as they rode. "I have not often had the opportunity to travel with others. It is much more dangerous to go by myself, I know, but often the critical nature of my mission has none the less forced me to do so." "So, can you tell us more of your adventures and those of your mistress?" Recuahc asked. "What foul beast could she have encountered that would wreck such havoc on her and her party? How did they escape? When did this all happen?" Laurel held up her hand with a laugh. "Perhaps I should wait on those questions," she said, "at least until we are back with the others. I am sure they too will want to hear the story. It is a dark tale," she added quietly, as a shadow passed across her bright features, "and not one which is told lightly." They rode on in silence for a while, each absorbed in his or her own memories. It was Laurel who finally broke the silence with a laugh. "I am afraid that this riding will take some getting used to," she said. "I am more used to using my own feet." "It is a lot easier than riding on the back of a dragon I would think," Trouble chuckled. "Oh yes!" Laurel answered, her eyes wide. "I was not at all sure about that when Sucaba first offered to take me, but he assured me that it was even safer than a horse." She laughed again brightly. "I am sorry that I cannot tell you what it was like flying - I had my eyes closed the whole time we were in the air. Before I knew it, we were back on the ground." "So," GreyEagle asked, "how is it that you met Sucaba, or Horton?" "He had some business with my mistress," Laurel answered, "though I do not know what it was, or even how long the two of them have known each other. I spend much time away from here - in fact, I had just come back from another errand when I found the two of them speaking. When Sucaba spoke of your travels to the South, I offered my help." "And Sucaba accepted, just like that?" GreyEagle asked. "Why does that surprise you?" Trouble chuckled. Recuahc laughed. "Perhaps the mage's heart is not so cold as it might seem." GreyEagle shrugged. "In any event, we welcome your help. I have no doubt that we will need it in time." They entered the city and quickly picked out a mount for Laurel, as well as a hat for Trouble. Laurel was clearly at home with the clothing merchants and hat makers, and quickly picked out something for Trouble. As they passed by one small shop in the market, GreyEagle spotted a beautiful silk blouse. It shimmered softly in the breeze. "It's green matches your eyes," Laurel whispered to her when she noticed GreyEagle gazing longingly at it. "I think Coyle would like it." GreyEagle spun around to look at her, and caught her knowing smile. "How..." she sputtered, her eyes narrowing sharply. Laurel said nothing, but the sparkle in her eyes spoke volumes. "You are quick to observe," GreyEagle said with a sudden laugh, "and you speak the truth." She counted out the gold coins for the blouse and had the shopkeeper wrap it. On the way back, GreyEagle could tell that Laurel was uncomfortable on her horse. She tried to give laurel some pointers on how to control the animal, and the girl quickly grasped the basics. By the time they reached the others, her skill was at least passable. "We are at least three days from Innarlith," Sucaba said as soon as they arrived. He had already climbed up on Horton's back. "As before, Horton and I will scout ahead. We will select a suitable camp and meet you on the road at sunset." The dragon sprang into the air and the two quickly shrank into the distance. The day went quickly. Laurel rode along side different members of the group, chatting with each in turn, even stopping for a while to speak with Raal. She looked questioningly at the silent one, but made no attempt to speak with him. Shortly before dark, they found Sucaba and Horton waiting for them at the side of the road. Laurel got down stiffly, and moaned painfully as she limped around trying to return the feeling to her legs. "I are sure this is worth it?" she asked GreyEagle with a pained expression. "It will be easier with time," GreyEagle tried to reassure her. Laurel shook her head. "If it does not kill me first." Marianne offered her some soothing save, saying that it would help the stiffness, and that she would be glad of it in the morning. They ate a quick meal, and as the air cooled and the fire died down to a soft glow, Laurel stood to tell her story. "I met Aerie almost four years ago," she began. "She had come to my village with some of her friends to chase off and destroy a band of ogres that were harassing us." Suddenly, as Laurel spoke of the ogres, Recuahc snapped his head up to look at her, and his eyes hardened. He turned once again to gaze into the fire, but GreyEagle could see the tension which lined his clenched jaw and burning eyes. "They were successful and prepared to leave," Laurel continued. "I was awed by the powers she possessed, and I decided I wanted to be like her. My father had been killed by the ogres, and my mother couldn't support us all, so she allowed me to go. Aerie must have seen some potential in me, so she took me home with her. After that I often traveled with Aerie and her friends, learning from them, and helping when I could." "There came a time though when she would not allow me to go with them. She told me it would be much too dangerous for me with my limited skills. Though I was not happy with being left behind, I relented and stayed to watch over things at home. When she returned home I was appalled at what had happened to her." "She told me that a band of drow had been discovered and that they were stealing children at night, probably to use as slaves or sacrifices. It had long been suspected that drow lived in that area, but as long as they kept to themselves and didn't bother anyone, they were left alone. Once they started marauding though, a call went out quickly for someone to stop them. A reward of 20,000 gold pieces was offered for the destruction of the drow lair and the return of whatever children were still alive, so my mistress and the others decided that they would help. It didn't take them long to find the drow and soon they had slaughtered many of them. Then they discovered the first of the children. Something had been done to them, something more deadly than they could have possibly imagined. Their eyes burned with fierce hatred and they attacked the party. They were able to restrain then with little difficulty, but as soon as they returned them to the surface, the children began to scream and cry out in pain. It was as if the very sunlight which had once nurtured them was now killing them! This last evil was more than my mistress and the others could bear, and in a fit of passion and rage, they returned to finish off what was left of the drow." "In their furry, they quickly drove the remnants if the drow before them, routing them as they went. It seemed that nothing could stand before their wrath, until, far below the surface of the earth, they reached the great pit." Laurel stopped, unable to go on for some time. Trouble stepped over next to her and silently placed his hand on her shoulder. Laurel put her hand on his for a moment and smiled up at him. "There was a vast chamber," she went on, "lit by the searing glow of a pit of lava at its center. Suspended over the center of the pit was a thing which turned their blood cold. In form, it looked like a great black spider, with eyes as black as night circling its head. They could feel the intensity of its hatred even as they stepped into the room. They had gone no more than a couple of steps when a fine stream of bile issued from its mouth, striking the man in the lead full in the face. He fell instantly to the ground. His screams of pain only lasted only a few seconds before he lay still. Then the drow turned on them again, and it was immediately evident to Aerie and the others that they had been lured into a trap. Fortunately, the drow's timing was off by just the tiniest fraction, and they failed to completely cut off their retreat. Still, the shier numbers of drow were staggering as they rushed down on the small band. My mistress and her companions fled the room, but not before the spider creature was able to take another shot at them. This time it was my mistress who was hit, though it was only in her leg. She screamed in pain as the poison burned through clothing and flesh, but somehow she was able to go on. At first they thought that the wound was slight, until they reached the surface. As soon as her leg was exposed to the light of the sun, it began to blacken and shrivel. They pressed on, but by the time they reached shelter that night, they discovered to their horror that the poison had spread to the rest of her system, and was causing her to age at an incredible rate." Laurel shook her head. "Since that day, she has hidden from the light of the sun," she said sadly, "only venturing out after it has safely gone down. We have spent many sleepless nights pouring over old tomes of knowledge in search of a cure. We would find hints and fragments here and there, but never enough to actually help. We tried all the conventional healing spells, but nothing seemed to be strong enough to turn back the poison in her body. The head priest from our temple was finally found something -- he would not tell us where -- and was able to stop the unnatural aging. However, he told us that, in order to actually reverse the damage already done, we would have bring him both a staff of curing and a staff of withering. Somehow, the combined powers of these two staffs would be channeled to bring healing to my mistress. I only hope that he is correct." "Since then, I have been able to find a staff of withering, which I brought back to him, but I have yet to find a staff of curing, though I have searched long and hard." She looked up at those around her. "I am deeply grateful to you for allowing me to accompany you on this quest. I trust that I will not disappoint you." "I have heard stories of the drow," GreyEagle said softly, poking at the fire with a stick, "dark stories, told in whispers in the night. It was said that they worship a goddess who sometimes takes the form of a great spider. Could this have been her, or one of her children?" "It must have been one of her foul children, otherwise there would have been no escape." "What became of the children they rescued?" GreyEagle asked, not sure she wanted to know the answer. "Were they able to remove the curse on them?" Laurel looked away from the others. "No," she said softly, "several were dead by the end of the next day. The others disappeared quickly, a few at a time, and never when we were watching. No doubt, they returned to the darkness which had claimed their souls." Suddenly, she flung the stick she had been holding into the fire with such force that it scattered sparks in a wide circle. Her eyes reflected the flames brightly. "The drow are a cursed blot," she hissed, "a blot to be wiped from the face of the earth, to the last man, woman, and child. Some day," she said carefully, "some day I vow I will help make that happen." A sudden cold shiver went down GreyEagle's spine and she closed her eyes. She could almost see the faces of the children in her mind, pale and drawn, screaming at the pain caused by the sunlight. She knew little of the drow elves, but she could feel the fire of Laurel's passionate hatred of them. "I can not say that I have heard of these drow before," Recuahc replied. "Perhaps we should pay them a little visit though -- once we are finished with this quest. Are they still there, or were you able to go back to destroy them?" "Oh, I am sure that they still exist," Laurel replied quickly. "My mistress and some others destroyed the one entrance to their lair that they had found, but there are sure to be others. Many of the local villagers simply packed up their belongings and left rather than risk further attacks by the drow." Laurel's expression softened and she leaned back. "I would be grateful for your help Recuahc," she said, "but I am afraid that it will be a long time before I am ready to attack the drow in their very lair. My mistress controls many powers that I only vaguely understand, and even she was not prepared for the task. Do not fear though, for I will be ready some day, and I will take you up on your offer, if it still stands." Recuahc smiled. "I will be ready for you." Laurel laughed lightly. "I wish I had your confidence in the future." "This is all well and good," Raal spoke up from his place by the fire, "but how are you going to recognize the staff once you find it? For all we know, it could be one of these sticks here piled by the fire." "I have learned a few useful things," Laurel replied with a smile. "I have learned how to identify magical items, though it requires a great of rest and preparation. This skill has already helped me many times in my quest." Sucaba looked up suddenly when he heard this. He eyed Laurel carefully, but said nothing. "That is an interesting story," Sucaba said slowly, rubbing his chin. "I must admit that I have not had much of an opportunity to tell you about what brings us here." "Yes," Laurel added quickly, looking around at those gathered. "I am sure that it is quite a tale which brings such a group as this together!" Sucaba hesitated. "It is, but I am not much of one to weave tales, though not for want of interesting experiences." Then, he looked at GreyEagle and smiled. "However, GreyEagle here is much better at words. Perhaps you could relate the story told to us by Schimray, and our adventures on the way to the first tower." "Ah, yes," GreyEagle began slowly. "It seems like such a long time ago that Schimray told us the tale of the towers, but I still remember it well." She settled back and thought for a moment before going on. "Many years ago, perhaps hundreds or even thousands of years ago...", she began. She told once again the story which Schimray had spun for them, just as she had earlier for Coyle and Marianne. "We have found and regained the first tower," she went on once she had finished Schimray's part of the tale. "It had been overrun by a band or orcs, and they had taken some human prisoners. We rescued those that we could, though not before they had slaughtered some of them, and brought back to Arabel with us when we returned. Other than that, we found little other than a twelve pointed star, apparently used in transporting back and forth between the towers. We were not however, able to unlock its secret, and we returned it to Schimray to keep as part of the tower." GreyEagle paused a moment to look around at the others before she continued. "We are now traveling into the South to seek the second and third towers, around the area of the Great Rift. We have no idea how much magic remains in those towers, or what may have long since been looted and removed. I do not know if we will be able to find anything which will help you on your quest, but we can try." "The Great Rift is many miles east of here," Laurel replied, looking puzzled. "You have traveled a great deal out of your way if that is your destination." GreyEagle shook her head. "We travel first to the region near Kormul to find the first tower. From there we head east to the Rift where the third tower is hidden." GreyEagle looked at Laurel again and hesitated. "Do you have any knowledge of the Rift? We have heard only rumors and wild tales, but we have met no one who has actually been there." Laurel swallowed hard and looked quickly around at the others. "I have never actually been there, but I have heard many tales - of dark spirits which roam the rift, things which can steal your body and leave your spirit stranded there. I have not been anxious to test the truth of these tales, but if that is where you venture, then I will follow." "This is not what I like to hear," GreyEagle said. She looked around at the others. The mages showed no sign that they were worried by stories of spirits stealing their bodies away, but the others did not look like they shared their confidence. Marianne's face was white, and the looked nervously back and forth between GreyEagle and Laurel. "We will need powerful protection there, of a type that simple steel will not bring." She reached up and touched her breast where the amulet hung under her tunic. Schimray had told her that it would provide some protection against un-dead creatures, but she wondered if it might turn spirits such as these. She would not know until she tried. "It would be good to have a priest along, since they know more about how to deal with these, but it looks as though we are without their skills. We shall have to do the best we can with steel and magic." They woke the next morning to find that the weather had turned cloudy and sullen. Conrad's mood had turned dark, and he took extra pains checking his equipment and weapons. Sucaba told them that he believed that they were at least two days from the town of Kurrsh. The city of Innarlith was a short distance beyond that. From there, they would pass through the Firesteap Pass and into the lands known as the Shaar. Once through the Shaar, the would have to decide on their final route to the second tower, either following the Golden Road to Sheirtalar and then backtracking along the river Talar, or cutting across country along the outskirts of the Talar Woods. Either way, they would eventually end up in a mountain range known simply as the Cliffs of Talar. They arrived at Kurrsh on the evening of the second day. Conrad laughed as they saw the city gates in the distance. "I think I have had enough of rocks for pillows. We might as well take advantage of the local hospitality here." Trouble snorted, "I will agree to that. I could use a good night's sleep, as well as a tall ale, though not in that order." "Just so long as you really get some sleep, rather than spending the entire night running all over the town," Recuahc laughed. Trouble raised his eyebrows in mock surprise. "What would ever put such an idea in your mind, young man?" Trouble winked at Laurel before he turned to the other mages. "What are your plans Sucaba?" Sucaba looked at the black dragon. After a moment's hesitation, he shook his head. "No, I believe that Horton and I will be fine camping just outside the city gates." Trouble shrugged. "Suit yourself. I would like to know if you think we will need to have any special equipment for the road ahead. We know nothing of this region, and I would like to be prepared." "We still have good roads ahead of us for some time, and Schimray has supplied us well for whatever rough terrain we may encounter ahead. Of course, some of us can just fly," he added with a wink in Horton's direction. "We will travel through the hills of the Firesteap Pass, but the roads should make this easy. From there we travel to Shaarmid, then to Kormul. From Kormul, we will need to examine the terrain and discuss the map before proceeding." After telling them that they would meet with them on the far side of the city in the morning, Sucaba and Horton took off to fly over the city. The others entered through the main gate and quickly found an inn near the center of the business district. The others gave no sign of being ready for sleep, but GreyEagle was tired enough that she headed up to her room shortly after they had eaten dinner. It was indeed a welcome change to sit down on a real bed. The sun was just setting and the air was still uncomfortably warm, but the window was open, and a slight breeze had kicked up, which was at least moving the air about some. She undressed, but it was still to warm to get under the blankets, so she just lay back on top of them. She awoke some time later to the sound of a gentle knock on the door. GreyEagle had no idea how long she had slept, but the sun had gone out in the West, and the room was dark. "Who is there?" she asked. "It is us, Marianne and Laurel," the voice came back. "May we come in for a while?" GreyEagle rubbed her eyes. "Yes." She got up and opened the door a crack. In the hall, she saw the light of a small candle reflecting in the green eyes of Laurel. Marianne stood behind her. GreyEagle let them in and motioned towards the bed. She pulled up the chair. "The others were busy drinking and telling tall tales," Marianne laughed, "so we thought we would come up and join you. I hope that we are not disturbing you..." she quickly added. "No," GreyEagle quickly replied, though she was still struggling to clear the cobwebs from her mind. Laurel sat silently on the bed and fiddled with a strand of hair. GreyEagle thought that she looked troubled, though she could not tell why. "Laurel," she said softly, "you look uneasy. Tell us what is on your mind." "The Rift," she said simply. "It does not seem wise to venture into that dark place. I fear that it is more than this group is prepared for." GreyEagle sat silently for a while. It was true that they were ready for known dangers, like orcs and other mortal creatures, but spirits that floated unseen, and stole away the very soul, she did not know what they would do against such an enemy. Unconsciously, she reached up to touch the amulet which still hung at her neck, still hidden under her gown. She had told no one about it, as Schimray had warned her, but suddenly she was filled with a sense of urgency. She had to tell someone. "I do not know for sure," she began softly, "but I have something which I believe may help us when we reach the Rift." She pulled out the amulet so that the others could see it. The polished metal of the talesman glittered brightly in the light of the candle, and the stones caught and reflected the light around the room. Both of the other women caught their breath. "Where ever did you get that?" Marianne breathed. "It is certainly beautiful!" "From Schimray," GreyEagle replied. Marianne suddenly gave her a strange look, but did not comment on her benefactor. GreyEagle paused when she saw Marianne's reaction. It still troubled her to see how her friend had such doubts about Schimray, but there was nothing she could do about it. She would have to find out for herself what Schimray's true nature was. It was her responsibility, and Marianne could not make her decisions for her. She sighed and went on. "He said that it would provide some protection against creatures which are dead, yet live. It should provide some small help too against the demon when we finally face it." She smiled again faintly. "He warned me that I should not show it to the others until I needed to for fear that they might try to take it, but I feel I can trust you two." Laurel rased her eyebrows. but did not comment. Marianne immediately picked up on the look though. "There are many strong personalities in the group," she said, "and great ambitions. Up to this point, Sucaba has managed to hold the group together by strength of will and, and dedication to the task, but I cannot say that he is a leader I look up to. Watch yourself carefully." Laurel leaned back it the chair she was sitting in and carefully examined the other two. Her eyes were keen and penetrating, and GreyEagle began to fidget nervously. Suddenly Laurel laughed brightly. "You, of course, have just violated your own rule and told me about this broach GreyEagle; me, who you know only from my own words and a night or two by the campfire." She smiled at GreyEagle, and her smile was infectious. "Have no fear though, for your treasure is safe." GreyEagle sighed and relaxed her shoulders. "For the time being, it is safe, but I believe that I will have to use it sooner or later. I only hope that it works." They met Sucaba at the edge of the town the next morning and continued on South. The sun was just dipping below the horizon as they reached Innarlith. As they had the night before, they spent the night the night in one of the inns while Sucaba and Horton camped in the fields which surrounded the city. They were up again early the next day as Sucaba was anxious to keep moving. GreyEagle would have liked to linger in the city longer, but she was afraid to irritate the mage, and she quickly joined the others as they headed out.