[Steel/M'Tago]

The hike up the cleft and into the canyon was grueling. Rockslides had left much of the terrain broken and slippery, covered in slick gravel with little in the way of handholds. Steel's surefootedness served him well, but he noticed that M'Tago had a much harder time. More than once, the artificer was forced to resort to the use of his cloak to make it over a difficult spot. Steel sneered at such use of magic. He admitted that magic had its place, but he scorned those who had to use it to make up for their own deficiencies.

When they reached the top of the rise, Steel paused to let M'Tago catch his breath. He used the time to survey the canyon. The noonday sun shone down brightly and highlighted the intrinsic beauty of the scene. The canyon itself was boxy in shape. The surrounding rock had a deep orange hue, giving the appearance that the mountains were on fire. Birch trees, aspens and scrub pine grew thickly about the canyon floor, obscuring most everything from view. Everything but the small, wispy smoke tail of a fire that wafted from somewhere near the center of the valley floor.

He pointed it out to his employer.

M'Tago nodded. "Yes, that's where we're headed."

Without another word, Steel started the descent into the canyon. The fire was quite a ways off and if they didn't hurry, it would be dark before they arrived.

[Shane]

Shane sat down near the river's edge while the horses drank. He allowed them to wander a little and eat some of the tender grass that grew near the river's edge. The day was peaceful. It was the kind Lenorae loved... Pain welled, for a moment it was uncontrollable. It ebbed and waned.

He looked up to see his horse before him as if concerned for it's master. He smile at his steed, the closest thing to a friend he's had for a while. He had turned him loose when she died, but the horse refused to leave.

Once the horses seemed to have been sated, he led them back to camp. He expected to be challenged and was surprised when he returned to camp to find nothing readied. Their tents and gear were laying around the fire pit they had been working on, and a half prepared meal was waiting near.

There were no discernable signs of trouble. It was as if they had simply vanished. Shane scouted around the camp and decided it would be better if he made camp and waited for his employer to come back before he did any more exploring. He readied everything as well as he could and settled in to wait for everyone to return.

[M'Tago/Steel]

The sun was just kissing the canyon walls when M'Tago and Steel reached the source of the smoke. The trees opened up on a large clearing. Long shadows from the birch and aspen fell across a well tended garden. An abundance of corn stalks, tomato plants and drying potato greens showed that the harvest had been a bounteous one. The garden was fed by a small meandering stream which cut the clearing at an angle. A small wooden bridge spanned the stream and led to a small cottage. The cottage was built of rough hewn planks and sported a thatched roof, but it looked sturdy enough. A stone chimney was the source of the gentle smoke plume.

"A cottage in the middle of nowhere," Steel commented, eyeing the forest warily. The deepening shadows made it hard to see well and with the likelihood of others about, he was concerned for his employer's safety. "I supposed you knew this was here."

"I had a good idea," M'Tago returned dryly. "Let's see if the Master of the house is receiving visitors."

They made their way across the bridge to the front door of the house. M'Tago raised a hand to knock, when a voice from inside called out brusquely.

"Go away!"

The hand paused, then dropped back to M'Tago's side.

"We just need a moment of your time."

"I didn't come out here so I could be pestered by the passersby. Now get, afore I sic Fluffy on you!"

M'Tago smiled. What a typical response from a hermit. Fortunately, they rarely had the muscle to back up such a threat.

"You have some information I need, sir. It will only take a moment and then we'll be out of your hair."

"Ain't got no hair. Leave that to Fluffy. Now GET OFF MY PROPERTY!" A shrill whistle sounded from inside the cabin. "Sic 'em, Fluffy!"

M'Tago was starting to get annoyed.

"Now look here, you..."

M'Tago stopped as Steel put a hand on his arm. He looked to where the mercenary was pointing.

From around the corner of the house a form had appeared. It took a moment for his eyes to focus on it in the failing light, but when they did his stomach dropped. Not ten feet from them stood the largest dog M'Tago had ever seen. Black as night, the beast stood four feet tall at the shoulder. Its massive muzzle parted revealing a row of sharp white teeth. Corded muscle in its chest flexed as it took a step forward, fixing its glowing red eyes on the two trespassers. A strong scent of sulfur hit the artificer's nose.

M'Tago revised his opinion. This was no dog.

It was a hellhound.

Steel slowly dropped his hand to his blade. As he touched the hilt a low rumbling growl escaped the hound's maw and it crouched - a loaded spring ready to pounce. Steel calmly removed his hand from the sword and raised both arms slowly into the air.

M'Tago was at a loss as to what to do. The ring on his right hand that had been so effective in the last two battles would do nothing against a hellhound - they were immune to fire. He though about reaching for his brooch and activating his force shield, but the monstrous beast moved first. It stalked right up to Steel and stuck its muzzle in his face.

To his credit, the mercenary didn't even flinch.

The hound sniffed at Steel, snorted a small gout of flame, then sniffed again. M'Tago's fingers inched their way towards the brooch. The few seconds it would take the beast to finish Steel should be enough for him to activate the magic.

Suddenly, with a great, sulphurous sigh, the hellhound stuck out its tongue and licked Steel in the face. It then shoved its head under one of the fighter's hands in the manner of a dog begging to be scratched.

Steel warily complied. "Looks like we pass the test," he said, wiping odorous yellow spittle from his face.

"Indeed," M'Tago replied, more confidence showing in his voice than on his face.

The door opened then and a short, squat man with an abundant beard and bald head came tromping out of the cabin.

"You no good excuse for a watchdog! You were supposed to fry these trespassers, not invite 'em in for dinner!"

Fluffy eyed the man then seated herself as Steel continued to scratch behind her ears.

M'Tago watched in some amusement until his eye caught on a small piece of rock hanging as a pendant from a leather cord about the man's neck. It was black as coal with a certain metallic sheen.

A Starstone!

The artificer's eyes grew wide with desire. He had come here for information and had stumbled upon the very thing he was searching for.

He cleared his throat.

"Well, then. If we're invited for dinner, let's get to it."

He stepped into the cottage, ignoring the spluttered protests of the hermit.

"Stiele, you stay out here and keep - Fluffy - entertained. Our business shouldn't take long."

The hermit frowned then followed M'Tago inside, mumbling about trespassers and unwanted guests.

"The sooner we get started, the sooner we'll be gone," M'Tago said calmly and he shut the door.

About thirty minutes later M'Tago stepped out of the cottage. He closed the door firmly behind him, the light from within cutting off sharply.

"Where's, Fluffy?" he asked.

Steel stood up straight from where he leaned against the house. "She got tired a few minutes after you left and made her way to her bed at the rear of the cottage. Last I saw, she was sleeping."

"Good. I've gotten everything I can from the old man. Let's get back to the others."

Steel nodded and took the lead back to the cleft.

M'Tago reached a hand into a hidden pocket and fingered the Starstone pendant.

"Everything I expected and more," he said to himself, then moved to catch up with his bodyguard.

[Sephyr]

The willowy elf watched the human in the camp for some time. By all reports, there should be three guards here, not just the one. Her scouting of the immediate area had shown that M'Tago and Steel had headed up into the mountains much earlier in the day, leaving the other three here to guard the entrance to the canyon. She saw signs that the gnome's wagon and the larger human had left not long after, but surely they were out on some mission and would return shortly. It never happened.

Maybe they're gone for good, she mused to herself.

Shrugging a dainty shoulder, Sephyr decided she could wait no longer. She had no way of knowing when M'Tago and Steel might return and she wanted this human fully under her sway when that occurred. Arturo was still a ways behind and Sephyr sensed that M'Tago's quest was nearing its end. She would need all the help she could get if they hoped to stop the traitorous artificer before he obtained the stones. Especially if Steel had betrayed them....

She pushed the thought from her mind. Steel would never betray them. It wasn't in his character. Unlike most other human, he couldn't be bought by gold or power. At least, that's what she had always believed.

Gathering her sky blue taffeta cloak about her and pulling up the hood, the aeromancer took a deep breath and stepped noiselessly from the shadows into the flickering light of the human's campfire.

"Excuse me, sir," she said in her most innocent tone. "Might I share the warmth of your fire?"

[Shane]

The day grew on as he waited for his companions to return to camp. When they hadn't shown up at dark he prepared a fire and fixed a simple meal. He had the feeling he was being watched for several hours now. The "thing" had been searching around the camp, for a while. Most likely it was trying to find out what kind of strength was in the group.

He was not greatly surprised when it finally showed itself. He was surprised by what it was.

"Quel undome," he answered in reply, "Tula, hama neva i'naur."

[Sephyr]

The reply in elvish was unexpected. This man must be very perceptive, he had probably heard her investigating and been waiting for her to make an appearance. Though she had covered her features, Sephyr had no real desire to hide what she was - especially if she was to convert this human to her cause. She pulled the hood back from her head and shook out her long white hair. Some of the silken strands were pulled about by a small breeze, playing gently about her face. She turned her ice blue eyes on the man and smiled warmly, then accepted his polite invitation to sit by the fire.

"Thank you," she replied in common. Her words were spoken clearly, yet there was a definite accent that marked her as from somewhere far from here. She sat across from the man - Shane was he called? Yes, this one matched the description of the one named Shane by those in Riverbend.

"I appreciate your hospitality. It is a cold night. My name is Sephyr. I believe you are called, Shane. Am I right?"

[Shane]

~ Sephyr ~ "So, you evidently aren't just looking for a warm fire if you know my name so readily. You must be wanting something from me." He was wary of strangers who knew his name. It had been a while since his reputation preceded him. As far as he knew no one in this part of the world knew who he was, except... ...now she was dead.

"Sephyr, that a beautiful name for a beautiful creature. Your race has always fascinated, and bewitched me. I have this as a token from earlier dealings with your people," he pulled out a pendant that seemed to glimmer. "It helps me to know when I'm near elvish settlements and has some small healing powers. It has the side affect of letting me know when an elf is near. I was told it's very old."

"So, Sephyr, I assume I have eased some of your curiosity about me, What do you want? Why have you followed me here?"

[Sephyr]

Ah, an amulet. One that detects elves. Arturo would be most interested in that! Sephyr relaxed a bit, more secure now that she knew how Shane was able to detect her. She thought she had been stealthy enough to avoid most mortal senses.

His last question made her laugh. It was a musical sound that played almost magically across the clearing, like sleigh bells on a snowy evening.

"Followed you? My dear Shane, how wonderfully egotistical of you - and presumptuous."

The words were not flattering, but Sephyr's tone was light and her eyes smiled. It was clear that she meant no offense.

[Shane]

Her smile and laugh caught him off guard. ~It was so like... NO!~ He wouldn't be distract by that now. Even though she had been dead, the thought still haunted him: maybe he could have done more... At least her family wasn't trying to exact revenge, yet.

He cleared his head and covered his momentary discomfort with a cough. "So, what is it you _are_ interested in?"

Waiting for her answer he began to stir the stew that was on the fire.

[Sephyr]

Was he...embarrassed? No, the strain about his eyes spoke of something else, something in the past. Rather than alienate this potential ally, she decided to get to the point.

"I have come to enlist your aid...in capturing you employer."

(to be continued...)