~ The Quest for the Ring of Fire Command: [Home] [Previous Turn] [Next Turn] ~

Elloharin follows the others into the study. Despite the closed in atmosphere in the darkened room, is mood is sincerely heightened by the books in the study. While he waits for everyone to settle down, he pours through the titles, looking for something of interest. He finds mostly old, dusty tomes of lyrics and poetry, a few treatises on Hathean philosophy, and one small pamphlet on "The Artful Use of Magic."

During the time alone and waiting, Storm paces back and forth nervously in the small chamber. He is anxious to do something, never being much of a patient one. He picks at one of his daggers as usually, though his pacing and anxious adrenaline causes him to actually nick himself once or twice. Every once in a while he stops in front of the fire and peers closely at it, wondering just what is going on, though every time he comes away from it shaking his head. One time, as an experiment, he switches to his infravision, his heat sensing vision, just to see what this magical fire would look like. Snickering to himself as his results are gathered, he continues pacing.

Hannibal looks to Storm with mild interest but says nothing. There was no telling what the stout may be thinking right now, and if Hannibal knew his friend right, it was probably something mischievous.

Looking at everyone, sitting, pacing, or standing nervously, Elloharin decides to ask about something that has been troubling him. "So who is this Wade fellow? Why are you all terrified of him? Under what circumstances did you meet before?"

The paladin closes his mouth abruptly, as he was about to ask the very same thing. This one person had definitely had an effect on the older members of the Six, so he was quite curious indeed to see what sort of person this "Wade" character was. Like Elloharin, Skandor waits patiently and intently for a response.

Emma provides the answer. "He is the son of Robert Wade the Third, Baron General of Caerloon, the leader of the armed forces which crossed our border and attacked Forts Mitchend and Dillend, and the mastermind behind the plot to assassinate the Knights of Rinder at their annual meeting in the Duchy of Seden," Emma explains as succinctly as possible, "Robert the Younger, on the other hand, is an officer and a nobleman, quite unlike his father and the Red Dragon renegades that plot and scheme to steal away the Ring of Fire. He is loyal to a fault, unable or unwilling to see the evil that twists his father's soul and guides the wizards that advise him.

"And you misinterpret our reactions, I think," Emma lies, a tremor betraying her voice, "We are not terrified of Robert Wade the Younger...but rather those that he serves, and the Red Dragons that he has surely brought with him. We met him once before...in the very encampment of his father just across the Caerloon border...prior to our victory in retaking Fort Dillend. He and his father mistook me for Lady Hannah of Seden, the daughter of the Duke of Seden, to whom they had extended an offer of safe harbor if she and her family would facilitate the death of the Knights of Rinder. I...I...lied to them...and let them believe I was Lady Hannah so I could learn more about their plans...in order to foil them!"

The last part is said is little more forcefully, almost as if trying to convince herself. Of course, She carefully leaves unsaid the fact that she also purposefully distracted Robert the Younger so Crayne and the others could steal away the Baron General's documents. 'No one needs to know about that,' she tells herself. But, of course, Emma still forgets that Storm had been present in the very tent where it all happened.

As Emma informs the newer members of the group about her and Robert the Younger's first encounter, Storm stops his pacing and his head snaps up toward Emma. A small smile, probably unnoticeable through his thick dwarven beard, cracks his lips and he slowly makes his way to one of the walls. He crosses his arms in front of him and leans his shoulder on the wall, his eyes on Emma the whole time as she talks. He's curious as to how much she will divulge about their previous infiltration mission, and he wonders if she even remembers about his presence there. He thinks back to that day...he didn't really think too much of the event, for he was really just watching her back. Whatever she did was her choice, as was it her choice to inform the party of only as much of it as she chooses. Apparently, she didn't choose to divulge too much.

Storm's smile grows a bit larger in realizing this fact. 'Maybe our priestess be gettin' a little more free with her thinkin'...it be about time,' he thinks to himself, letting out a small chuckle. Then, as Emma finishes he stands there staring at her for a moment, waiting for a moment of eye contact. When that happens, Storm does nothing; he doesn't give her any kind of look that would say "I know something they don't" or "isn't there more to tell?" but rather he simply looks back, then slowly nods out of respect for her ability to finally keep a secret of her own.

It's hard for Storm to actually make eye-contact with Emma. Her own personal feelings of guilt continue to make her feel uneasy and she avoids looking at anyone for too long. But, eventually she does of course look his way. The dwarf's expression seems neutral enough to her at first, but then he nods slowly at her as if respecting what she has said...or rather, chosen not to say. And that makes her feel even more guilty. 'I find approval in his eyes for lying...' she thinks to herself, 'Or worse, for deceiving not only Robert, but Rinder's Six as well.' She turns away, choosing to ignore Storm, and focus inward once again.

Then Storm recalls a saying of Nightshade's: "Keep yer own secrets, dwarf. Yer secrets are what makes you you." Storm finds it ironic how a saying like that could apply to a priestess of Anhur, especially coming from a man like Nightshade...a man who's secrets had driven Storm to heights of anger he might never be driven to experience again.

He shakes away those disturbing memories of his past, knowing that his time with Nightshade will come, and he will be avenged. As his attention returns to the problem at hand, he finds the group discussing what to do next.

El nods to Emma, thanking her for the answer to his question. "Fifty soldiers...hmm. Do you think Captain Parst is too far away to reach? If perhaps one of us were dispatched in his direction? Of course, a pitched battle in a temple of a god isn't exactly a preferred manner of battlefield, but as a last resort... What about Wade himself? Is it legal for him to be here? Do you think that were he in the hands of the Duke--excuse me, King--we might be able to avoid any further conflict?"

El stops there, feeling everyone's eye on him. He runs a hand through his messy black hair, and readjusts his posture nonchalantly. For a moment, he wonders if he has gone too far. Then he shrugs to himself in apathy and awaits their responses, thinking, 'What do I care what they think of me?'

"Capturing Robert Wade the Younger?" Emma scoffs, not so much out of disrespect for the elf, but rather because she's still reluctant to face the nobleman again, "Highly unlikely, Elloharin. Captain Parst is probably much too far away to be of any assistance to us...and by the time we found him, the Red Dragon wizards could have already discovered the path to the Ring of Fire...or even have claimed it for their very own. In that event, Captain Parst's men would only be riding to their doom if they came here.

"And, even if we did capture Robert," she continues, "Would we cancel our quest in order to return him to King Bryant? If it would mean the end of the war, I'd be tempted to agree with you, but I think his father would be more likely to accept the loss of his son in order to gain what he perceives to be a greater glory. Such is his pride. Such is his folly. Besides, the Baron General intends to march upon Merriam itself before he's finished. If he succeeds and the capitol falls, he could very easily win his son back."

The young priestess brushes a few strands of strawberry-blond hair away from her eyes, while slowly scanning those in the room once again. She notes the dwarf, the mage with the staff, the Sword Bearer and his Shield Maiden, and the two with elven blood. "Are you'n...are...you'n...warriors of Rinder or..." her eyes look once again to the two tabards of Anhur, "...of the warrior's caste? Will you'n save us?"

When the little girl comes and delivers her message, Storm is, surprisingly, the first to chime in. "Heh, those damn Caerloon...well, whatever it is we be doin', let's be doin' it quick. I be gettin' mighty bored down here. We be fightin' or we be sneakin'?" he asks, looking to Crayne and Emma, with a glance to Hannibal as well.

Hannibal shrugs noncommittally, a thoughtful look on his face however showed he was considering the options carefully. "I'm not too crazy about another stand up fight. Maybe if we can grab Wade we can find out why he's here and what he's up to. We could also figure out how many Dragon mages are here, maybe take them out of the picture early too. This may come to a fight inevitably and I'd rather not have to contend with those fellas at full strength!"

"Both," Emma answers the girl's original question, then glances toward Crayne, "But, not all of us follow...Anhur. Even so, we all serve Rinder, as best we can." She comes closer toward the girl, but remains standing near Alara for now. "As for saving you and your fellow priests, obviously we're willing," she says, indicating Hannibal and Storm, "But, we're somewhat at a loss for how we can accomplish that without needlessly risking the life of the Coreognate. Where are the Caerloon soldiers holding him? Perhaps if we know that, we might formulate a plan to free him and rally your priesthood against these invaders..."

She nods toward Hannibal, saying, "Regardless, I'm with Hannibal. A stand-up fight against fifty battle-hardened Caerloon soldiers backed by the magic of Red Dragon mages is a bit much for us to face, despite the assistance of the Hathean priesthood. It might be better for us to locate this Ring of Fire Command, or at least gather our information first. Doing so, insures that Robert...or perhaps more accurately, his Red Dragon advisor...won't discover it first. And, in the unlikely event the ring actually lies within these Ancient Chambers, it might prove the perfect weapon to face these insurmountable odds. Therefore, our mission should probably focus upon that immediate goal for now. Once we have the information...or the ring...we can concentrate on how best to rout the Caerloon.

"Highbrow? Skandor?" she asks, looking to include their thoughts on the strategy, "What do you suggest?"

Skandor sighs, the picture of the situation before them vague and cloudy. It was frustrating to say the least: ten to one odds, unknown forces, unknown allies...so many unknowns. "'To know the situation, to know your enemy, is to know victory,'" he recites softly to himself from the Scrolls of Anhur.

He turns to look at the girl. "Young one, do you happen to know why they are here in the first place? Are they looking for something? If they are holding one of your important persons hostage, surely they do that for a reason...what reason have they given? What is it they seek?"

The young priestess looks up to Skandor, his frame towering over her as she clings to Alara. Then, brushing her hair aside and behind her ear, Alara notices something: this was no ordinary human girl--this one had elven blood!

The girl responds to Skandor. "I...I don't know why they'n are here. They'n came fast, three days ago. There was a short fight, and they'n killed the Coreognate and took the High Director. Amos had us all gather in the sanctuary, especially us'n young. Then he and this man came in, walking together, and Amos told us to stay calm and cooperate. There were a few of them in long dark robes...like priests...but not. After Amos told us, some of the robed ones turned and left. The fighting ones took up in the sleeping quarters, and we'n had to move to the stables. But there aren't many of us'n left... And I...I don't know why there'n are here. I just want them to go so I can sleep in my bed again."

"I would be very surprised, Skandor, if what they are after isn't the very same thing we seek," Emma interjects, "After all, it's quite clear these rings are being sought by the Red Dragon renegades. And, we also know that they are the true masterminds behind the conflict. The Baron General, and indeed Robert the Younger as well, are simply puppets dancing upon the strings of these manipulative wizards. Wish that I could cut those strings by ending the life of every last Red Dragon. For in playing G-d with people's lives, they have put the souls of innocents in danger."

She completely ignores any discomfort Crayne might have with her announcement. She continues to solemnly regard the Sword Bearer, but her thoughts once again turn to Robert the Younger as she almost seems to stare through him, too. For Robert is the innocent of which she speaks. The others are really only in the back of her mind. A simple gesture thrown into her declaration to make it sound more noble than her true motivations.

Skandor listens to Emma, but then turns his attention back to his companions. "I am with you...fifty? Perhaps ten or fifteen, but fifty? And we know not their disposition, their experience--and if there be mages with them--we could be in dire straits, indeed."

"Amos indicated that they have at least one mage with them," Emma reminds everyone. She places one hand upon the hilt of her broadsword, tightening the grip as she imagines finding that wizard and ending his evil influence once and for all. The concept of giving him or her a chance to recant their evil couldn't be further from her mind. If anyone deserved that chance, it would be Robert, as far as she is concerned, not an evil wizard.

Skandor pauses, looking towards Crayne, then Hannibal, then Storm. His eyes finally settle on Emma, and he notices the unease with which she stands. This man, this "Wade"...he has definitely unsettled her. "Perhaps one, or two among us might scout around the complex, hidden, secluded by magic, or the shadows. We should know better what we face before we act blindly. Or, perhaps Emma and I might scout in the open. We are followers of Anhur, and we would of course have our own 'religious' reasons for journeying this far, should anyone inquire as to our reason for being here."

Emma is taken aback by Skandor's suggestion that they go openly about the temple. The thought of encountering Robert again and the shame of having deceived him so maliciously in his father's encampment weaken her resolve to join the Sword-Bearer in such a mission. "Magical seclusion, invisibility, or our friends who are capable of slipping unseen about the darkened hallways would be a better option," Emma suggests, though she obviously doesn't put much rationalization behind it.

A part of her would like to see Robert again, just not quite under these circumstances. But if she could just see him from afar...for a short time...and without him knowing...would that be so bad? "But, if you think it can work," she says, "We could venture out among the Hathean priests in order to speak with them. I just hope the presence of an Anhurian tabard doesn't attract too much interest, though. The Caerloon will certainly recognize that we are warriors, and we'll draw the lion's share of their attention because of it. Perhaps we should hide our allegiance...like...like I did when we first met the Wade's in their Caerloon encampment." The last part is an accidental admission which Emma regrets suggesting almost immediately after having uttered the words. What would the Sword Bearer think of such a strategy? Edryd had accepted it, but Skandor is from a different temple and his views might vary.

"I be likin' the idea of tryin' ta nab Wade." Storm smiles as he speaks. "If anyone be knowin' what we need ta know, it be him. I can go get 'im, maybe, with Hannibal. I be doin' stuff like that before." He opens his mouth to continue, but decides to leave the last comment as it stands. "I can probably go grab him without makin' too much noise and make it back here. We can hide him here with that there strange fire, too. The Caerloon scum..." He crosses his arms waiting to hear the others' responses.

Storm's suggestion of 'nabbing Wade' echoes the earlier words of Elloharin the Dimmed, and Emma despairs once more. 'Must we?' she asks herself, 'Can't we get what we need and be gone from here before he even suspects our presence?' "What do we accomplish by capturing Robert and bringing him here? Our goals seem clear to me, and none of them involve interrogating him. We must find the clues to the Ring of Fire Command's location...whether it be here or far away on an island to the south of us. And, we must do what we can to free the High Director and these priests of Hathe. As...as a...servant of Anhur, it is my...duty...to see to their protection. We can drive away these Caerloon soldiers by uniting the priesthood against them...but only after we've rescued the High Director, so they can't threaten his life any longer."

She looks around at everyone else, mentally trying to convince them and herself that the Caerloon soldiers--and especially Robert--don't need to be slain to the last man, but simply forced out of the temple. Of course, whatever Red Dragon wizards might still be left behind could certainly be targeted as far as she's concerned. 'And to defeat them, the Ring of Fire Command might come in handy,' she thinks to herself, 'If fortune smiles upon us, maybe it lies in the Ancient Chambers below...and hopefully Amos will lead us there soon.'

Elloharin listens carefully to Emma. He is shocked to hear that the 'enemy' is within arms reach. Shocked and suddenly very eager to see the man again. He notes Emma's trepidation in discussing the younger Wade. 'What game is she playing? Why is she trying to defend the enemy?' When El hears that the Baron could sacrifice his own son, he growls and grinds his teeth. "Bah! I cannot believe that! Maybe you have peered into the older Wade's soul, but I have not, and I cannot believe a man would sacrifice his own son for such a war. His son is a general! Men love him, men follow him! If Wade allows him to be taken, he might well lose his regime!"

El swallows heavily, as he realizes the other implication of what he said. If the Six were to capture Wade, bring him to Merriam and have the King hold him for ransom, that might well become the fine new cause for war. It would be unlikely that his soldiers would desert, on the contrary, they would probably become zealously fanatic, much more willing to plunge into the atrocities of war.

During Elloharin's pause, Emma quickly jumps back into the conversation. "But Robert isn't a general...," she explains, "His father is...but, Robert...he's only a high-ranking officer in his father's personal army. I'm sure his men still love him, though. I'm not as certain about his father. The Baron General's ambition is incredible...and his evil knows no bounds. I looked into that soul and cringed, El. But Robert isn't evil...only misguided by his loyalty to his Wade the Third. It's his father we should fear. Him and the Red Dragon mages that stand behind him."

The priestess looks at everyone, trying to put some of her other ideas into words. She has been thinking a lot about their situation and the motivations of their adversaries lately, and now seems like a good time to lay some more cards on the table.

"Look...," she says to them, "From what we could tell from the documents we stole from the Baron General's tent, his own King doesn't necessarily seem inclined to back him. History teaches us that Caerloon has always been expansion-minded, so I'm sure the King of Caerloon is willing to play out this scenario and see how far his general can take the Caerloon banner into Rinder's territory. But beyond that, he hasn't committed the bulk of his army...only the Northern Army under Baron General Wade's command has taken this initiative. And, what's more, I think Wade is doing it primarily under the direction of these Red Dragon renegades. They're playing upon his pride and ambition...using him to achieve their real objective: the Four Rings of Damacht. There's a spark of loyalty in Wade's heart to his King, but the wizards can easily push him across that line and convince him of the greater glory of seizing Rinder for himself--the conquering hero--and possibly even the future king of a united Rinder and Caerloon. Such is Wade's ambition that I think he'll believe them, and loyalty to his King and even his own son will fall by wayside."

She looks back to Elloharin and notes that his eyes are closed. Unsure of what he's thinking about, she waits for him to make up his mind.

El closes his eyes for a moment and hears the shouts and screams that so often fill his mind. He sways on his feet, looking like he might collapse. After a moment he regains his composure, clearing his throat and beginning hoarsely: "Skandor is right. The odds are not in our favor, and the priests of Hathe are craftsmen and artists, not warriors like your Caste. Even if we could raise them, we take an awful risk--with their very lives. We, at least, can defend ourselves."

El pauses for a moment. "I still think Wade can be useful to us though. If he is, as you say he is, then I have no doubt that his men love him. I imagine they would be at a loss if we were to hold a knife to his neck. A loss that could free the High Director, find us our play, and see us safely away. As to the mage, between Crayne and myself, we ought to be able to take them if they cause trouble." El watches Emma very carefully in this last. If he is right in his suspicions, she will not take kindly to the idea of holding Wade at knifepoint.

Indeed Emma is immediately taken aback by the idea of threatening what she perceives to an innocent man in need of enlightenment as to the wrongdoings of his father. Her mouth opens but no words come out as she struggles to say something against such a plan.

Looking at Emma now, El continues softly. "If Wade is the man you suspect, and not the man you merely hope, then we might even consider taking him with us. I imagine he could be a useful ally, if he could be made to see his father's 'evil' ways."

Emma's mouth immediately snaps shut. This sounds much more agreeable to her, though still...how can she face the man she deceived so completely...not simply with her disguise, but with her...feigned interest in him? 'Or was it feigned,' she wonders? Her thoughts along those lines are brought to a halt with Elloharin's continues speaking.

"One thing more, I think there might be another way. Though Captain Parst may be to far to help in fact, his good name might be a help to us. Perhaps a bluff is in order. Large forces of men, often send out emissaries and scouts before the main force. Perhaps we could make them believe that we are just such a force. Provided you stay hidden, Lady Emmalya. This could provide us the protection we need. We might be able to leave without conflict at all. If the threat sounds real enough. Perhaps Crayne could provide us with an illusion on the horizon, some campfires and tents."

"Yes," Emma nods quietly in agreement, still listening to the elf. Truly, she hasn't heard this much positive thinking out of Elloharin since she first met him. And it feels good to find some common ground with someone that has seemed so distant.

"However," El hedges, "if it turns out that none of these options seems tasteful, I suggest we simply take what we're looking for and run. If we involve the priesthood it could mean their deaths. If there is nothing here to find, they will probably give up and go elsewhere." El finishes with a sigh. He squats down with his arms dangling between his legs and waits.

"We could take a different approach than usual," Hannibal interjects, his eyes never falling from Emma. "Why not bring Wade here, to this very room, and let Emma speak with him. I don't recall him being the instigator of these wars, rather simply carrying out the word of his father. He could prove to be a powerful ally if we could at least seed thoughts of doubt in his mind."

Giving it a little extra thought, and seeing how Emma had been reacting of late, Hannibal throws in one last comment for shock value only. "And if that doesn't work we can always just kill him."

Storm nods in approval of Hannibal's words. "Ya. An' if anyone be knowin' where stuff is around this place, aside from that Amos feller, it be him. An' he'd be knowin' of how many Caerloon scum are here with him, and where they are and stuff. He be a good bet. An' if ye think he ain't evil, too, maybe the elf's idea (referring to maybe convincing him of his father's evil motivations) be a good one."

"No!" Emma says turning her eyes immediately on Hannibal, and ignoring Storm's point-of-view for a second to answer the thief's last idea, "You would kill an innocent man simply because of his unfortunate birth and a misguided father?" Her eyes flash at the thief. "If we were to follow such a philosophy then sure'n we would have slain you the moment we learned of your past!"

She exhales loudly, quite a bit angry with the thought of simply killing Robert out of convenience. But then she realizes her outburst is a little strong...and perhaps she goes too far with condemning Hannibal. "Look," she says, her voice much softer, "Putting Bernigan to death...although not in the manner I or my priesthood would have favored...was just. Crude, perhaps, but still warranted by his actions. He knowingly performed his evil deeds and reveled in them.

"But Robert is different," she tries to convince everyone, "He doesn't realize the powers that are at work behind this conflict. He sees only a small part of the picture: an honorable father seeking to conquer a neighboring kingdom for the glory of Caerloon. He believes they are absorbing a barbaric kingdom that needs enlightenment which only Caerloon society can provide. The Kings of Rinder have undertaken similar objectives and found the blessings of Anhur upon them, when circumstances warranted their action. I cannot fault Robert for that. And neither should the rest of you.

"His death is unwarranted," she finishes, "It does nothing to further our goals...and I believe it would stain our very souls to contemplate such an action. I'm more willing to do as Elloharin suggests...or your earlier idea, Hannibal. Let us try to sway Robert to our cause. To accomplish such a thing, we must present him with proof of the cruelty perpetrated by the Red Dragon wizards. Is he even aware of the Coreognate's murder? I'm certain he would never be party to such a crime. Most probably, the wizards told him the man resisted them and attempted to flee...so they had to kill him. More likely, they slew him when they were finished interrogating him. If you bring Robert and the Coreognate's body to me, perhaps I can summon the priest's spirit so he may explain the situation more clearly to all of us? That alone should let us know what information the Red Dragon wizards obtained before they left this place...and it might also allow us to discover the location of the play without Amos finding us again.

"What say you to that idea?" she asks.

"It will be a challenge," Canter says, responding to Emma's idea and entering the conversation, "but we might be able to do it. We must find the Coreognate's body--" he looks to the young priestess on the floor with Alara, "--might you know where it is?"

"I...I could find out for you'n," she responds with a shy smile.

"Good," Canter smiles at her in return, running his fingers through her strawberry-blonde half-elven hair. "That may be the easier piece of the puzzle. The harder one will be 'nabbing' Robert Wade IV..." Canter's voice trails off as he thinks, his mind beginning to organize their tasks and assign people to accomplish them. "Okay. Storm, Hannibal, El, and Crayne, your task is Robert Wade," he looks askance to Emma, but continues to instruct Storm, Hannibal, El, and Crayne, "do not harm him! In fact, getting him in such a fashion that the other officers will not know he is missing would be best, though I'm not sure how you might do that.

"Emma, Skandor, Alara, and I will go with you (Canter looks to the young priestess, his hand resting on her shoulder) and find the Coreognate's body. We should meet back here."

"Canter," Crayne interrupts, "how will we get down here again?"

"You used that Knock spell in the Raimead Mine, can't you do that again to open the stone doorway?"

"No, I can't--the Knock spell is used on locking mechanisms and wizard-locks. The stone doorway in the sanctuary has no mechanism, as far as I could tell. There must be another magic behind it."

"I can open it," the girl says, stepping forward.

Alara smiles, rising to her feet and guiding a strand of her own hair behind her half-elven ear. "Brilliant."

After casting himself invisible, Crayne joins the two thieves of the party and the elf Elloharin, creeping up the long and narrow staircase to the sanctuary above. Their objective: the capture of Robert Wade IV. They reach the top of the stair and to their surprise, notice the secret stone doorway begin to open as they draw near. In no time they are back in the sanctuary, hiding in the shadows and reacquainting themselves with their surroundings. It is now late into night, perhaps midnight, and aside from two sleepy men (soldiers? priests?) on the far side of the sanctuary, all is still.

"To the sleeping quarters!" Hannibal whispers as he moves quietly across the stone floor of the Hathean temple toward the door. The others follow, moving quietly as well. Crayne tries especially hard to stay silent, for he knows that although his spell will afford him a high level of cover due to its rendering of his image invisible, it does not eliminate any sounds he makes!

In a few minutes, the four are outside, standing in front of the temple with their backs to the door. In front of them, across the courtyard, is the main gate of El-Balans, through which they came hours before. Off to their right are the two buildings of sleeping quarters. There are dim lights shining from beneath the doors, but the place is quiet. To the left are the stables, the kitchen, and other storage areas. Pacing through the courtyard are two men--definitely soldiers--standing watch for the night.

"There are probably two more in the tower atop the temple," El whispers to the others. Crayne nods in reply, then realizes that the nod is lost as he is invisible! Stifling a chuckle, he follows the others toward the sleeping quarters. Staying within the shadows is not overly difficult, since the night sky above is obscured by clouds and the buildings around provide ample cover. Moreover the cool wind sweeping across the priestly compound--though warmer than the wintry gusts of the rest of Rinder--provide a low howl to cover the sound of the steps.

"Psst, dis way!" Storm says, signaling to move around the side of the sleeping quarters nearest the temple. The others follow along the outside of the building, staying very close to the wooden walls and as quiet as possible. Storm smiles, remembering creeping around like this in episodes of his past, and reveling in the chance to do it again. Crayne nervously tags along, not wanting to accidentally wake the Caerloon soldiers--or a Red Dragon mage!

Soon they come upon a small window. Though boarded up for the winter, there is a large enough gap between two boards for people to see inside. Peering through this gap, the four can see the interior: the walls are lined with bunks, stacked three high. In the center are some tables and benches, as well as a small stove. The door to the stove is open, and the low-burning fire inside is casting an amber glow about the darkened room. There are packs, swords, shields, bows, arrows, and the like strewn all about. It is surely true--this is where the soldiers are staying. In fact, nearly all of the bunks are occupied. Unfortunately, none of the bunks appears to contain Robert Wade IV.

Then suddenly they hear a low mumbling. Perking up, El and Hannibal immediately locate the source of the sound: a quiet conversation out in front of the sleeping quarters, in the courtyard. Making their way to the corner of the building, the four peek around and see it. There he stands, in front of the other sleeping quarters, Robert Wade IV and two other men, perhaps two other officers. They stand just in front of the door, in a tight circle, discussing something quietly. Their words are too soft to be made out, but there they are.

Then Crayne stumbles, nearly falling down on top of El. He struggles for a moment to find his balance, and in the process kicks around a few pebbles. Instantly Storm, El, and Hannibal whip back around to the side of the building and flatten their backs against it. Hannibal reaches out into the darkness, and feeling for Crayne's arm, grabs it and yanks him back. The conversation in the courtyard stops, and footsteps are heard--two pair.

"Quiet," El cautions Crayne.

The footsteps stop for a moment, and Crayne breathes a sigh of relief. Then they begin again, slowly, growing closer. The distinctive sound of blades--short ones--being drawn is heard. Tightening his jaw, Storm reaches for the handle of one of his daggers, ready to jump as soon as a head rounds the corner. He looks to El and Hannibal--should he?

Hannibal's eyes widen in response to Storm's silent question. 'We don't know who is coming! It might not be Robert!,' he thinks quickly. 'And if it is, we must not hurt him, but we also mustn't raise any alarms!'

El's eyes dart between Storm and Hannibal. These two were, of course, the more experienced thieves in the party. And to boot, he was no thief at all. Hoping for a clue as to their next move, he waits, but is determined not to wait too long, lest they blow their surprise.

"Come," the young priestess says to Alara, Canter, Emma, and Skandor, "I will show you'n to the others in the stable. They'n will know more than I do."

"Priestess," Alara asks kindly, using her own fingers to place a few stray stands of hair behind the young girl's half-elven ears. Now, upon a new examination, the young girl's delicate features become clearer. Why hadn't she noticed before? Alara suddenly feels a stronger sense of attachment to this young priestess--a sense of responsibility, of identification. If only her own past had been a little more like this girl's, taken in by a kind order of priests, raised in a wholesome atmosphere, not on the run. Snapping out of her thoughts, Alara continues, "what is your name?"

"My name...is Illena."

"Illena," Alara repeats quietly. "We will follow you, Illena."

And follow they do. Up the stairs to the sanctuary, and quietly (though not quite as quietly as the the first group) they make their way out of the sanctuary, standing in the shadows on the steps in front. Off to the left stands the stable, with two soldiers out in front. Guards.

Making their way along the sides of buildings (the kitchen, a shed, etc) the two fighters, the two priestesses, and the paladin find their way to the stable. Kneeling on the side of a stack of hay, keeping the hay between them and the barn and guards, they consider their options.

"Illena," Emma asks quietly, "is there no other way in?"

"I'm afraid not, Shield Maiden," Illena replies. "Those guards weren't there last night..." her voice trails off as she hears the two guards speak.

"So why're we stuck out here tonight 'n not sleepin' like the rest?" the first asks.

The second answers, "somethin' about some new folk, come to talk to that prayerleader what's-his-name."

"That Amos feller?"

"That's the one. Lord Wade wasn't so sure about 'em, and Amos didn't give him too many answers. So we're here, just in case somethin' happens."

"Well, nothin's happenin'."

"Just as well, then..."

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