[Email the Game Master]
The five left Narwell, heading back towards Lowick. Along the way they passed the usual peddlers, farmers, lone riders, all of whom showed them a smile, a respectful nod, usually after looking at the Scarlet Cloaks.
After a night in Chatwin, the five continued on their return to Lowick. By late afternoon, they found themselves on the outskirts of the small village. They stop at the `T' where they were snagged by Snags some days ago.
O'Dwyer looked about. "Well, Lassies, guess we best decide on a move. Can't put it off much longerrr, now can we?" His left hand guided the reins of his mount as he scanned the countryside, his right held the hilt of his broadsword.
BB spurred up her horse with a yell and rode a little ways ahead, her red cloak flying behind her. "Come on, friends! Let's bring the bastard to justice!" She cried, with a gleam of excitement in her crimson eyes.
O'Dwyer, his steed willing, spurred off after Black Blade, riding on towards what he guessed was Rander's official house?
Daltonne spurred her horse along. "Since we don't exactly know where Rander lives maybe we should go see the Mayor and ask 'im. Also, I was thinnin' maybe we shouldn't ride into town wearing this here cloak as it will surely alert Rander & his cronies that somethin' is up." With that said Daltonne stopped to remove her cloak for now.
"Not so fast," cried O'Dwyer, "I'd keep that cloak upon yerrrself. Ferrr, therrre, to our rrright, a fine mansion I do see. It fits the description given us by that wee lad Jennison."
And, indeed, [indubitably] the Five spied with their little eyes, through the trees a fine mansion, down a side road. Their Scarlet Cloaks billowing in the breeze, they spurred their mounts onward towards said mansion. The path, an entry way, cut through a thin woods, and exited unto a open field. There, a wooden fence set off the official grounds from the surrounding area. There was but one entrance through the fence, across a small drawbridge, some 100' away, the manor house another 400' beyond. Next to the bridge was a small building with a horse tethered in some way. A man emerged, drawn by the hoof beats of the charging horses. He looked in their general direction. He was a tall man, maybe 6' 2", wearing black leathers, with an extra chest vest. A long sword dangled from his belt, a gnocked cross bow in his hand. He drew a bead on the lead rider, Black Blade, took careful aim, then, ...., hesitated, as a realization dawned on him. His eyes widened as if in recognition. He lips moved, "Blast," he cried. Spinning quickly, as if in one motion, he leapt upon the horse, and spurred it. A bleating sound seemed to be coming from him, some metallic object appeared to be in his mouth as he glanced backwards.
As his horse began to gallop off, the Five noticed that the drawbridge seemed to be beginning to rise! Jessa cursed. "He must be one of Rander�s cronies. Rander knows we're coming." Making an instantaneous decision, she put Schkar into a dead run and when they reached the rising drawbridge, she attempted to jump to the other side before it got too high. She feared that they would be unable to reach Rander without an army once he was securely locked in his manor!
Black Blade grinned as battle frenzy welled up inside her, spurring her horse as fast as the beast could go. Crazy as she was, she attempted to jump the drawbridge! Drawing Fear half-way as a warning, she galloped toward the bridge with a furious battle cry.
Daltonne also gave chase, shouting above the beating hooves of the horses, "Serena, O'Dywer hav' you got a spell to stop 'im?"
O'Dwyer spurred his mount onward, calling to Daltonne, "Sorrrry Lass, but me spells arrre limited." Pushing his horse onward, he invoked the name of Trithereon, as he attempted the leap the gap.
Serena spurred Sashone onward and snapped the lead to her faithful mule Crusty. Eyeing the bridge she attempted to judge the rate at which it's raising. Holding Crusty's lead loosely in her hand, she prepared for the animal to balk.
Jessa and Black Blade had no problem gaining access to the drawbridge. O'Dwyer, aided by his deity, managed to leap onto the rising platform. He was followed by Daltonne, who is perhaps equally blessed. Serena closed in on the bridge. Calculating the rate of ascension, and relating it to her knowledge of animal handling and training, and figuring the various permutations, she concluded that she and Sashone could make the leap, but trusty Crusty would be balky, no walky. Allowing the mule to remain on this side, she spurred Shashone across.
Safely across, Serena called out to her companions, "Caution my friends! We don't know what lies ahead!" Slowing down, she scanned the path ahead for danger and looked toward the mansion for signs of activity. She also looked for other exits from the fenced in area.
The speed with which the Five had arrived and reacted allowed them to gain on the fleeing gate guard. Their horses lost a little momentum, but since the guard started from a dead stop, they were a mere 30' behind him. The areas from here to the manor was a light woods with this entry road cutting a curving swath through it. There did not seem to be anyone else in sight. Serena, with Sashone slowed, began an incantation, casting a charm upon the fleeing rider. Unfortunately, he seemed unaffected by her charms. (Now if only he could see her beauty, but that is another story.) She hastened to catch up with her companions. "What are we doing? Do we have a plan?" Two of her companions apparently did, and they put it into action.
Jessa gripped Schkar's girth tightly with her legs and wrapped the reins loosely around the pommel of the saddle. She pulled her short bow out of its holder on the saddle. In one fluid motion she notches an arrow and fired at the fleeing lackey.
The man had done little to help his cause; he had driven his mount straight away. Perhaps if he had taken to the woods, his fate would have been different. But, on this day, Jessa's arrow flew true to its mark, landing in the fleeing coward's left shoulder . While not and overly damaging wound, it caused him to flinch, pulling on the reins, and slowing his mount�s progress. Just as ....
Black Blade spurred her horse to full speed, then, with the reins wrapped loosely around her right hand, and Fear's hilt in her left, she began to compensate for the distance to try to tackle the man off his horse. Acrobatically, she planted her knees on the saddle, then rose onto her feet. Holding the reins loosely, she released Fear for the moment and leapt at the fleeing man in attempt to pull him to the ground.
Black Blade's aim proved as good as Jessa's. Extending her body she hit the man where he sat, and the both of them flew over his mount, which, glad to be rid of him, continued onward. Black Blade and her captive tumbled to the ground. The force of the crash. however, loosened her grip on him, and the arrow in his shoulder. The two rolled some ten feet, another few alone, before he stopped, righted himself, and took a fighter's crouch with his long sword in hand. He moved menacingly towards Black Blade, who was up to one knee.
The others were still on the roadway, some 15-20' away.
"Give up while you still breathe!" She shouted, issuing a hand gesture of warning toward her comrades.
He seemed singularly unimpressed as he strode forward, malice aforethought in his eyes!
Serena pulled her horse up short, giving the fighters wide berth. She knew interference would not be welcome so she choose to keep watch out for Rander�s goons. She readied a sleep spell.
O'Dwyer did his best to calmly catch up with the horse belonging to Black Blade.
An equally malicious grin flashed across Black Blade's face as she drew Fear. "Don't say I didn't warn you!" She taunted as the sword slid effortlessly out of the scabbard.
The man took a few more steps, then began to shiver, then shake, then quiver, then quake. He dropped his own weapon and fell to the ground in a humble heap.
Daltonne reached the two fighters and dismounted, with sword in hand. She witnessed the apparent collapse of the man, and stood rather surprised, at Black Blade's side.
O'Dwyer managed to corral Black Blade's mount and waited with it back on the road. Neither he nor Serena saw anyone else at the present time.
Quickly sheathing the blade, BB seemed more calm now.
"Nice!" She grinned. "That worked rather well, though I had some hope that he wouldn't collapse..." She poked him with the toe of her foot to see if he passed out or just laying there, curled up in a ball. "Q & A time, if he's awake..."
Though the chap was a prisoner, he was not foaming at the mouth with information. Quickly ascertained from him was his name, "Davrick", that he was in the employ of Rander; the house was well guarded, "another ten of me inside;" and that Rander's magic was a sight better than "that blasted sword `a yours. Shoulda shot ya when I had the chance."
Black Blade laughed shortly. "Daverick," she chortled, grabbing his collar. "I seriously doubt it."
Serena was momentarily speechless at the sight of the huddled mass of fierce fighter. "Well. Looks like this'll be easier than I thought. But, still I think we should formulate some sort of plan. It could save us some trouble," Serena stated. "It's possible we could bluff our way in, rather than kill all who stand against us. Remember our commission! We are to bring him in alive. It may not be too late avoid a battle." Speaking quickly Serena delivered her proposal: "We lasso this chap and then we then ride casually to the mansion and announce ourselves. We express our anger at this commoner firing upon the Baron's deputies in the commission of their duty. Then we request Rander accompany us to Lowick or Narwell for some reason or another. Oh course we'll need to be sure braveheart there doesn't squeal. If we can get Rander away from his house, he could face Fear, if you know what I mean..."
Daltonne thought Serena's plan was good. "Or we can put BB in front with Fear and iffin everyone reacts to Fear like this guy, well what's the problem?" She stared at Serena with a cock-eyed grin.
"Only catch is, I don't think you can look directly at me when Fear's drawn. You may end up like Nerves-of-Steel Daverick here." She looked around "Anyone else comin'?" She took out her rope and tied the guy up. "Any other ideas? Let's go."
Davrick was tied up and forced to walk ahead of the party as they proceeded along the roadway to the end of the woods. There the road cut across a grassy field to the front of the manor, some fifty feet away. The house was two stories and made of stone. There were no windows on the ground floor. A lone door, with a lone man, long bow with arrow notched and readied, long sword at his side, was at ground level before the door. The curtains of the front windows did seem to be moving, shadowy faces were evident at them.
Black Blade contemplated the situation. "Man with bow and arrow..." she bit her lip. "Movement inside...My suggestion is we surround the place."
When they reached the house, Jessa rode to the front of the group and, with a mannerism that revealed her decades as a member of a royal court, she addressed the gate-guard. "We are the Official Deputies of his Lordship the Baron. Announce us to lord Rander immediately."
O'Dwyer stayed behind with the others, allowing Jessa to command the attention. He was eyeing those in the upper windows, his lowered right hand clutching his spear, just in case.
Daltonne waited to see what answer Jessa got, ready for anything at this point.
Daltonne did not have to wait long. The `doorman' called out, "Already informed him, Missy, and here's his answer," promptly letting fly with his arrow directly at Jessa. The flight whistled by; he readied another.
O'Dwyer flung his spear at the bowman, but came up well shot. The shadows in the upper windows became men; men with bows who rained down arrows. Both Jessa and O'Dwyer were wounded by them; the elf took one in the thigh, the cleric in the left side of his abdomen.
"Dammit!" Black Blade cried, examining her friends' wounds quickly as she rushed by. "Serena, I hope you have a healing spell! Daltonne, can you circle around the back for another way in? Be careful! I'll take the frontal approach!" "Resisting arrest and wounding the Baron's deputies are crimes punishable by Fear," she snarled at the archer. And, with that as a warning, she drew Fear a second time.
Laying low in the saddle Serena kicked Sashone violently, charging straight for the house.
Daltonne complied with Black Blade's request and spurred her horse around the manor, heading off to the left. The bowmen in the upper windows found her an appealing target and sent a volley of flights towards her. One of the arrows caught her in the lower right leg, but the other whizzed by. Daltonne continued around the manor, seeing other windows with no one at them, but no other doors.
With that, Black Blade rushed the building, with a battle cry, her red cloak billowing from behind her. The man guarding the door took careful aim and let the arrow fly. It caught Black Blade right in the center of the chest, knocking form her saddle. She hit the ground hard, very hard indeed.
O'Dwyer broke the arrow shaft off, and stanched the blood for now. Then, he spurred his mount on, following Black Blade. Seeing her hit the ground, the arrow protruding from her chest, his natural clerical urges took over. Pulling `Ulysses' up, he rushed to his fallen comrade, administering aid in the form of a cure. "Good thing it's me, and not Serrrena `ou can currre, eh Lassie?"
Jessa rode back for cover. Once there she broke the shaft of the arrow and tied a tourniquet around her leg above the wound. Realizing she was in bow range, she attempted to pick off some off the attackers. Fixated as they were on Daltonne, she was able to hit one of the men in the upper window. He drew back inside. While her other arrow hit the wall next to the other window, he too, ducked away.
Serena reached the house and sprung from her mount some 20' to the right from the man at the door, taking cover against the wall. Her first impulse was to draw her dagger, but, seeing the doorman preparing another arrow, this one with her name on it, she though her magical charm would be more appropriate. He withdrew his arrow from the bow and smiled at her. "Yes, m'Lady?" he asked.
It was moments later that Daltonne finished her tour round the house. �N'other entrances could I find. This here's de only one. Who's yer friend, Serena.?"
Serena waved frantically for her new friend. "Come here, help me," she says only loud enough for those close by to hear. "I am in grave danger." The man was quickly at her side. Sticking close to the face of the building, Serena looked up to assure she was not standing directly beneath a window. Seeing she was safe from falling objects, she handed the warrior her potion of speed. "I need you to protect me!" she whispered, "this potion will help you do that!"
"I will use it wisely," he assured her.
Constantly Serena's gaze darted between her comrades and the door. She demonstrated to O'Dwyer and Black Blade that the man was under her control by resting a kind hand on his shoulder. "How many people are inside? " Serena asked.
"There are three men inside, Miss. Rander, and two like meself."
Leaning close to his ear Serena whispered, "Is there another way in?"
He shook his head, "No, this door is the only way."
Serena whispered to the charmed man: "Rander seeks to harm me! Don't let him do that!"
"Not to worry, Miss. I, Crabbin, will protect you."
Serena was very relieved to hear his assurance, as she realized that her memory was devoid of spells for this day.
Jessa gasped as she saw her friend go down, the arrow protruding from her chest. She quickly tethered her horse behind the treeline, and sparing a searching glance for empty appearing windows, she slung her bow over her shoulder and made her way to BB's side as quickly as her injured leg would allow. She held her shield up to help block any missiles that might be shot at her from the building.
Once Jessa arrived, O'Dwyer said, "Let's get ourselves ta cooverrr, over ta nearr the house, wherrre the otherrrs are." He helped Black Blade up, with Jessa on one side and him on the other, and tried to make it to the manor before they start firing again.
Grimacing in pain, BB gritted her teeth and bared with the antagonizing pain shooting through her system. "I can't believe," she gasped, "I did something that stupid..." Then she remembered `Fear'. The weapon was lying a few feet away where it had fallen as had its owner. She somehow managed to sheath the weapon, as the other two were loath to touch it.
Under less pressing circumstances, the three of them would have made a comical sight. O'Dwyer supporting Black Blade under the left arm, holding his left side as he went, Jessa favoring her wounded right side. "Too bad we have neitherrr fife norrr drrrum." Jessa somehow managed to keep her shield high, as they limped towards the manor. The only sounds were those of the shutters on the upper floor slamming shut.
Daltonne waited with Serena and her new friend Crabbin, her weapons at the ready. Having overheard much of the conversation between the mage and the guard, she suggested Serena ask him if he has a key to the front door.
Once asked, Crabbin replied, "Of course I do, Miss, I am the doorman after all.
The limping threesome reached the side of the manor.
Once apprised of the information gained from Crabbin, Jessa frowned. " Why doesn't he have more guards? You'd think a man with his reputation would want more protection in case of angry mobs."
The elf, through Serena, questioned the doorman. "Davrick said that Rander knows magic. Is that true?"
Crabbin looked perplexed. "Magic? Rander? He knows no magic. He needs few guards because he has fear on his side."
Black Blade seemed a little relieved at the thought of not dealing with magical forces. "So then what's the trouble?" She grinned, still a little pained. "Let's bring the bastard out from hiding and interrogate him. Arrest him. Of course, it would be a shame if he did try to fight us..."
O'Dwyer said, "Well if he's got no magic, and relies only on fearrr, I think this lassie's `Fearrrr,'" pointing to Black Blade, "is a farrr sight better.."
Jessa nodded in agreement. "We certainly don't fear him, so his defense is a bit weak, I'd say."
O'Dwyer continued, "Maybe this Rrrander has no magic, but I've a few spells at my disposal. What say I'll bless us all beforrrre we let the doorrrman let us in? From what he says, we've got `em ootnumberred now."
The elf frowned. "Actually, with four of us injured, it might be a fair fight."
O'Dwyer slapped his hand to his forehead. "Where arrre my mannerrrs. I've one cure remaining. What say I cast it on one of you ladies, Black Blade perhaps. With our fighting team at reasonable strength, we should be able to survive. Blessed and currred, that's me motto." Though he would not admit it, O'Dwyer felt a bit guilty about being the one who had begun the rush on the manor when he first spotted it.
Serena asked those assembled: "What do you propose we do? I fear time is on Rander�s side and we must act quickly."
"Please protect me when we enter the house," Serena asked her new friend, Crabbin.
"Have no fear, Miss, my blade will protect you."
Daltonne looked around, "All right O'Dwyer, do yer stuff and let's be goin', Serena's right -- no time to waste."
The cleric complied. Black Blade felt fully recovered.
Daltonne asked, "Well, is everyone ready?"
Jessa drew her sword. "Let's get going!"
Serena told Crabbin to unlock the door. Under her charms, he quickly complied. His sword drawn, he led the way. Followed by Daltonne, Black Blade, and Jessa. O'Dwyer and Serena, her dagger drawn and at the ready, entered last.
Giving everyone the blessing of Trithereon, O'Dwyer cautioned, "We must move swiftly lest it wearrr of beforrre it duss any goood."
The party found themselves in a hallway, broad and well lit, with flagstone floors and tapestries on the walls. Moving along some 20', they came to two side passages, left and right. The main hall continued straight ahead, where, some 15' further from where they stood, they could see a large pair of double doors. They appeared to be tightly shut, but a flickering glow did wash out through the cracks.
Looking down the left and right hallways, there appear to be doors, left and right, about 9' feet away down each. The left one continued for another nine feet and ended in a wall. The right passage also continued nine feet where stairs led to the upper level. Sounds could be heard on the stairs.
In moments, two men, armed with swords, had reached the bottom and were advancing on the party. They checked momentarily when they recognized Crabbin. This gave him the advantage. Imagine their surprise when he, in protecting Serena, slashed out with his bastard sword at one of them, but missed the mark.
One exclaimed, "Crabbin's turned on us." He swung back hitting Crabbin in the arm. Black Blade instinctively drew ~Fear~. Its aura began to take effect. This time, in the close quarters of the hallway, all saw the effects the sword had on its owner. Black Blade's appearance turned ghastly. Her eyes blazed red, her face seemed more shallower, her hair quite unkempt. Her hands seemed to be more like talons, and fangs emerged from her mouth.
The man fighting Crabbin began to be repulsed. The other was non pulsed. He took the fight to Daltonne and Jessa. Both next to ~Fear~ and the made over Black Blade had momentary panics. Daltonne was able to meet her attacker; Jessa began to look around in a panic. She started to retreat, moving quickly to the rear. O'Dwyer, who with Serena was still back at the crossed hallways, managed to catch her. "Therrre, therrrre, Lassie, it's just a big old sword. We'rrre going to have ta do soomthing about it."
Serena continued to direct Crabbin. He quickly subdued his shaking opponent. Meanwhile Daltonne and Black Blade had the upper hand with their attacker, each getting in some telling blows, while he flailed away without doing any damage. Bleeding from wounds, and seeing Crabbin now joining the fray against him, he dropped his weapon. "Not worth dyeing for." He sat next to his shaking and subdued companion.
Keeping Fear out in a relaxed but ready position, Black Blade demanded of the two men sitting on the floor, "Where's Rander?"
The shaken one, still shaking, was unable to make a sensible response. His companion pointed to the opposite end of the hallway, "The door there, on the right. That ones Rander's all right."
To O'Dywer and Jessa Black Blade instructed, "Keep an eye out for any movement. I don't want the bastard to sneak out behind us!"
Jessa almost bolted at the sight of her still hideous friend. It was only O'Dwyer's blessing that held her in check. Realizing his spell was running out, he pulled the shaken female around the corner towards the front door where she began to relax. Serena looked down this hall where the fighter had pointed. She could see the door was shut; she heard no sounds.
Daltonne said, "All right we're goin' to tie you up. You are under arrest as ordered by Lord Blaine. Now where is Randar? We hav' business with 'im too?"
"I'm tellin you what I told `old ugly' here. That there is `is room. If he's still in the house, he'd be there."
The two villains were quickly trussed up, and .....
Black Blade headed to the door, checking it quickly for any likelihood of traps. "Keep an eye out in case he bolts," she ordered her companions. Black Blade found nothing amiss about the door. She tried to open it. While the knob did turn, it appeared to be held in some way from the inside. "Barred," she declared
Serena whispered to Crabbin: "Is there any other entrances to this room?"
Crabbin said, "Not that I know of."
Having waved the others back from the door, lest Randar be listening, Serena spoke to her companions in hushed tones. "I doubt he is trapped in that room. Likely he has an escape route should we force our way in." She stole a glance at the door and continued. "We should consider guarding the drawbridge lowering mechanism, because its likely the first place he'll go. That is assuming the drawbridge is the only way out of here..." She looked questioningly at Crabbin. "Is it?"
Crabbin said, "Could probably run off to the woods to the east. The drawbridge is more of a nuisance than a true guard."
Daltonne thought for a moment. "Run off? Wait, when I made me round a' the house, there's a barn, or a stables, some kinda outcroppin' around the back."
"Perhaps we could set the door on fire?" Serena suggested. "There's sure to be oil around here somewhere."
O`Dwyer suggested the old shoulder approach, "If you'll put that blade away, so's the rrrest of us can join you, I says we brrrake that suckerrr down." Then he added, "Surrre therre's oil aplenty, but wouldn't the whole house go up with it?"
Black Blade nodded at the cleric's suggestion and sheathed ~Fear~...for the moment... Most of her returned to a normal appearance.
Jessa looked up at the sound of Black Blade's sword being sheathed. Seeing that her friend had returned to relative normality, she breathed an inaudible sigh of relief.
At Serena's caution to be silent she nodded. "Yes, we should do something about the door so that Rander can not escape by that route." she whispered.
Those with the muscles, Black Blade, Jessa, and Crabbin, began the arduous task of breaking down this door. Between the three of them, the door shattered down around the metal bar, allowing them access to the room. As the noise of the crash subsided, they heard an audible `slam!' from within.
Looking into the room, however, they found it seemingly empty. Taking a moment to gather their wits, they found themselves looking into a 20 x 20 bedroom. In the near left corner sat a chair flanked by a small table. The corner to the right contained a large chest. Against the far wall, to the right side of the room, a large canopied bed dominated the scene, with a changing partition to its right against the wall. The far wall to the left of the bed seemed bare.
"All right, this guy can't hav' disappeared. Let's look for a trap door under the bed or a secret passage out of this here room. Someone look out the window to see iffin our man is out there and someone watch out the door. He's not gonn git away iffin I can help it. BB giv me a hand at movin' this here bed."
But, Black Blade had her eyes already on the chest, wondering if it was big enough to fit a man inside it. "Let me take a quick look here first." The lid to the chest was not fully closed, some cloth stuck out. Opening it carefully, she found it half full of good quality men's clothing, somewhat tossed about; but no one was inside. She and Daltonne proceeded to move the bed, but the floor underneath seemed flat and solid. As this attempted move took place, Jessa carefully scanned the room with her eyes. She then approached the far wall and knocked gently, looking for a hollow sounding spot.
"Crabbin, do you know where Rander could have escaped through?" The elf asked as she continued her search.
"Can't say that I do, Miss. We were never allowed in here."
But his lack of knowledge was render moot, as Jessa's tap hit a spot and ~Presto!~ a part of the rear wall, to the far left near the side wall, popped open. "Yes, the ever popular secret door," she noted.
Serena grabbed Crabbin's arm. "He may be headed for the stable! Could you best Rander with the sword should he attack us?"
Crabbin replied, "In your defense, Miss, I could best him with me fist" The two made their way out through the hallway, heading for the stables. Calling to the others as she went, "We'll watch outside! Come after us if you find him."
Rather than enter the room, O'Dwyer stayed in the hallway, moving back to where the hallways crossed, so as to see as much of the interior, and potential escape routes, as possible. He also kept an eye on the subdued captives. He was prepared to scrrream should he see anyone larger than a mouse. As he stood watch, he became aware of Serena and Crabbin rushing by.
Jessa, Black Blade, and Daltonne looked into the newly found area. This small room, 6' wide and 10' deep, was meagerly illuminated by the light from a single torch. The left, right, and far walls were lined with shelves. Gold and jewelry glittered from small bins and cubbyholes set in them, and a few coins and gems were spilled on the floor. Several rich tapestries and canvasses stood rolled in the far left corner. Save for the fabulous riches, the chamber seemed empty.
Upon seeing Serena and Crabbin, O'Dwyer screamed, not in surprise, but "Serrrena wherrre is it ye be gooing?" Learning of their plan, he rushed after them
----------- Jessa stared wide-eyed at the piles of wealth for a moment, then smirked, "Too bad we can't claim this as compensation for injuries rendered. I bet more than half of it is from that Protection Tax." Then she asked, "Should we try looking for any doors behind these shelves or try somewhere else?"
Daltonne said, "Surin he's here. Maybe he turned invisible. I'm goin' to check in here waving my sword around to see iffin I hit something or someone invisible. Let's look behind those tapestries too and fer another trap or hidden door before we be leavin this place."
Daltonne allowed the two elves to get near the walls, never leaving the door unguarded. Then she began a methodical swinging of her sword, "jest in case we cain't see him, my blade can feel him." But her blade could not. The other `Blade' had better luck. "Here," she said, "if I pull on this, I think, yes, ..., there she goes," and the center part of the rear shelves moved away from the wall.
They found themselves staring into a hallway. "In fer a copper, in fer a gold, les go!" said Daltonne as she forged ahead. The hallway headed left, then right, then back on itself down some stairs, then back again to a solid wall. "Where the heck?" But they all knew the tricks of this manor by now. It took moments to find yet another secret door and get it open. Up some more stairs they went. The warmth and the smell of the place told them they were in the stables. They heard the soft whinny of horses, "At a girl," then the creaking sound of a door opening.
-------- Serena and Crabbin, followed by O'Dwyer, raced outside the front of the manor and around the back, where they found the barn. Crabbin open the creaking barn door. The warmth and the smell of the stables hit them like a wall. Through misty eyes they saw him.
"Rander," said Crabbin.
"Rander?" asked Serena as if to confirm.
"RRranderrr"
A somewhat short, fairly stout, balding, red faced man faced them. He stood beside a fine roan horse; his hands reaching into saddle bags loading sacs of coins into them. The pockets of his brown trousers bulged with jewelry, some of which dangled down the sides. He opened his mouth to speak when from behind him.
"Rander," noted Black Blade.
"Rander," Jessa said softly.
"E's Rander? This little fatso is what's all the fuss `s been about."
His bald pate turned quickly to see the three women behind him. Then he turned back to the two men and one woman who stood between him and freedom. His voice was calmly authoritarian. There was a `no big deal' to his tone. "Ah, so you are the fine and lovely damsels who've been asking questions about me. A pleasure to meet you, I'm sure. Now, I'd like to stay and chat, and even entertain you all, but I do have a pressing engagement, yes, a very pressing engagement. So, if you'll just open that door a little bit wider, now there's a good chap, Crabbin. Er, Crabbin? The door?"
Naturally Crabbin did not move.
"Oh, so that's how it is." He seemed genuinely depressed. "OH, how I hoped it would not come to this. Oh well, then I guess I'll just have to kill you all. Yes, the six of you. Pity really, you being such attractive women. Oh well," and so saying he proceeded to swiftly pull from beneath his cloak a weapon-a knife. Not just any knife. This knife had a blade-at least two, maybe three inches in length. "OK, who wants to be the first to be slain. Come on now. You weren't so shy when you ransacked my house. ?Come now, one of you must go first. I promise I'll be quick about it. One little slice with this," he waved his mighty knife about, "and sweet death will be yours. Come now, line up. Then I really must be going."
"You have the nerve to call that a knife?" Black Blade laughed heartily. Giving a silent warning to her friends by placing a hand on Fear's hilt, she waited a few seconds, then drew the runesword fully and held it in a ready position.
"Now this is a knife," she grinned evilly.
Jessa beat a hasty retreat into the passage, so as not to view Black Blade's transformation.
Daltonne was non-pulsed by Rander's `bravado.' "Surin you jes' Randar. You cannot hope to take us all. Giv' it up now. We are appointed by Lord Blaine and it is with 'im you mus' plead yur case. Now put that toy away afore my friend here gets annoyed. We's all goin' fer a little ride."
Black Blade moved forward confidently, hoping to quickly disarm her opponent. In her mind she thought, * I will aim to disarm...disarm what? Now that's the question.*
Rander, too, was not bothered by Black Blade's fearful side.
"So, brought denizens of the depths to get me, eh? Well, I have the cutting edge answer." As Black Blade circled, looking for an opening, so too did Rander. The albino's desires were hampered by certain realities: the Baron's order that Rander be taken alive, and by, well, that seemingly innocent little dagger. She found herself doing everything to avoid being stuck by the paring knife...*who knows, it might be poisoned?*
The two circled, but neither gave, nor gained, quarter. .....
O'Dwyer moved in such a way as to get into Rander's line of vision and hearing, while not near the blade. "OK, Rrrander, I've been suumooned here by Trithereon with a special message fer you. By the powerrr of my god, I command you to sleep."
Jessa took out her bow and tried to find an angle from which she could injure Rander, without having to look at Black Blade. But before she had a chance to find one, ...
Rander feel to the ground, seemingly asleep.
"He'll only be out for a minute, Lassies, best act quickly."
Daltonne pulled out her rope and said to BB, "Come on let's tie 'im up before he wakes up. Then we gits the treasure as proof of his extortion, we gits his men and wes can git back to Lord Blaine. Anything else?"
Jessa waited until Black Blade had sheathed "that damn sword," as she called it, then walked out and joined the group. "We need to get rid of that knife first, but we probably shouldn't touch the blade just in case it's poisoned. Also, is there any way we can tie him up?" Seeing that Daltonne was already in the process of the latter, she looked about for a way to deal with the knife.
Serena was suspicious of Rander�s confidence. Fearing he may have an ace up his sleeve she backed to the door and barred it from the inside to delay an escape attempt. Then she rejoined the group. By now, she could see that Rander had been asleep, but as per O'Dwyer's warning, the clerical version did not last long. Rander was awake, but tied up.
She suggested caution in dealing with his weapon, which now lay in the straw covered ground, having fallen from his hands. Serena and Jessa spied a pitchfork and used it to move, then lift the blade, placing it in a sac which O'Dwyer had found. "It shoould be safe in herrre," he assured them.
Rander was thoroughly bound and gagged, to stop him from continuing to offer, "half of what's in the treasure room," if he be let go.
"What do ya take us fer? Greedy bunch a men?" Daltonne asked him just before shutting him up. "No, offense OD," she added.
"None taken Lassie. Many of my kind arrre swayed by the coin and not by the crrross."
The cur was dragged, and none too lightly, back into the manor. The ladies spent the better part of what was left of the day in gathering up the riches which they had found in that little room behind his bedroom. Some ten large sacs full of various forms of wealth, gold coins, gems, jewels, jewelry, almost bursting at their seams sat on the floor, as nightfall, er, um, fell.
Figuring they were still on the Baron's clock, so to speak, they found the kitchen, with a well stocked larder, and prepared an incredibly delicious evening repast, allowing Rander and his men to smell the savory aromas, then making them settle for porridge. O'Dwyer sniffed his way to the wine cellar, and selected a few vintage bottles.
As they neared the end of the meal, O'Dwyer took stock of the situation. "As I see it, Lassies, we've got to get this cur back ta Narrrwell, and we'll be bringing all this loot ta boot. We also got two of his men trussed up in the hallway. Now we also know one of his cronies is still out there somewhere. And, I know that therrre be a grroup whut calls themselves the Welkwood Bandits. Now how do you propose we do all this, and still have sumthin ta show the Baron? And, while werrre at it, Serrrena, what da you intend ta do with yer charmin friend therrre?" Crabbin had been busy doing the dishes.
"Bandits?" BB raised an eyebrow. "Hmm...I knew this was going too easy...well, we could just take one bag and tell the Baron to come with a caravan to collect the rest...though we'd have to lock up the place, or leave someone to guard the place..."
She leaned toward Serena and whispered , "how trustworthy is your friend here?" She flips a thumb toward Crabbin. "And how long will your spell last?
Serena responded, "Depends on how smart he is. I figure it will be good for a week or more. Of course, if we leave him behind, alone, the chance of him snapping out of it is greater. If we bring him along, as a body guard, then I can reinforce it as we go."
"If we just take one bag-full, divvy up the goods between our saddlebags, we could just tell the Baron this was all we could carry. He would have to come back with his guards mind you to pick up the rest. Right?"
"Well that sounds like a good plan. Or one of us could go to Lord Blaine and tell 'im what we hav' and ask 'im to send some guards."
O'Dwyer put the two ideas together. "What you said therre, Black Blade, about leaving a guard. Arrren't we just a stones throw from Lowick? What about Shepton? Surely he can be trusted ta watch overrr everything, or most of it, while we escort this rrrascal ta Narrrwel. Then the Barrron can see to the final collection. If you wish, first thing in tha morrrning, I'll quick ride into the village and speak with the Mayor, or one a youse can, if ya preferrr. Any other idees?"
"Are we taking the two of his cronies that are tied up as well?" Jessa asked, still holding the bag with the knife in it.
"I volunteer to alert Lord Blaine to our situation; if no one objects to that?" Jessa questioned.
"Well, I'll go tie up those two shaggers in the other room, not a problem," BB nodded. "And yeah, Jessa, I'd think I'd like to take my chances with the bandits rather than hang out with the Mayor doing boring diplomatic work..."
"I think you've about got it O'Dwyer. There's no reason for us to be carrying the peoples' money around," Serena said. "That's just asking for trouble. Our instructions were to arrest Rander, and that's what we've done. Best we place the mayor in charge of the situation here, supposing he'll agree." Then she added, "As for my good friend Mr. Crabbin, he should accompany us. The Baron may have a question or two for him," raising an eyebrow.
"We should take some precautions against that thug returning tonight," Serena suggested. "No telling what mischief he could cause. I'll ask Crabbin to sleep in the stable and guard over our mounts. We'll just drag a mattress and some bedding over so he'll be comfortable. Then we should lock the mansion tightly; maybe set up a watch..."
A rotating guard system was set up, the barn watched by Crabbin and the manor secured. And a good sleep was had by all. Serena had a particularly peaceful slumber, as Chisim to stayed nearby, she rubbing the Siamese cat behind the ears, enjoying its presence till she drifted off to sleep.
In the morning, O'Dwyer set about notifying Shepton while the others took inventory of the treasure. Serena popped outside and found her trusty mule still out by the drawbridge.
By mid-morning O'Dwyer, sans the cloak for now, had returned with a very excited Shepton, who had brought along Lagus, Anord, and Snags.
"I trrried to stop `em, but," explained the helpless cleric.
At the sight of the trussed up Rander, Shepton beamed, "Justice, my good Lord, justice. Snags, you picked yourself a fine set of heroes."
The lad smiled broadly, "I knew it! I knew they were heroes!" He continued dancing and singing in spite of any and all efforts to contain him.
Lagus and Anord were more reserved, "The Baron will probably replace this cheater with another of his ilk. Too bad old Lunt had to die."
As per the plan, the Femmes Fatales adorned in the Scarlet Cloaks of the Baron of Narwell, took with them Rander and a selection of the wealth, some of which was identified by Shepton as belonging to specific villagers. The rest was carefully bagged and the Mayor gave the woman a receipt for what he would hold for safe keeping, "Till the Baron sends for it, or sees to its disposition." It was also decided that the two captives would remain behind, "seeing as how the Barrron only asked us ta fetch Rrrander," reminded O'Dwyer.
The Femmes Fatales arrived at the gates of Narwell with their prisoner in tow. A light rain being the only hitch in the trip.
"Like this town begets rain," noted Jessa.
O'Dwyer looked about for the `lad,' Jennison, but he was nowhere to be seen. "Guess he's retirred from `is sluumin."
The Femmes headed straight for the Baron�s castle, and thanks to the Scarlet Cloaks, gained an immediate audience.
The Baron seemed happy, yet reserved. Gavriel stood at his side as the Baron proclaimed, "This is indeed a bright yet cloudy day. Perhaps the weather is a fitting tribute. The brightness is in the successful capture of this official. The darkness is that he was of my appointment. I will make sure that the next representative to Narwell will be fit for the job."
"Thanks, but no thanks, yerrr Barrronship," quipped O'Dwyer with a lilting glint in his eyes. But the Baron chose to ignore him entirely.
"While my appointments are limited by lineage, surely there must be someone I can trust?" he looked wistfully to Gavriel.
"I will see to it , M'Lord."
"Now as to him," pointing to a sitting, shaking Rander, "he will be taken into custody, and held for trail, till his date of hanging comes up."
At this moment, Gavriel opened the door, four soldiers entered, and dragged Rander out of the room.
"I will send discreet emissaries to Lowick to pick up the others, and to see that all the money gets back to its rightful owners. Gavriel, put some from the Order of St. Cuthbert on it. They are grating preachers, but completely trustworthy."
"Right away, M'Lord."
The Baron turned his full attention to the five who sat before him. "You have done Narwell, this region, and me personally, a great and lasting service. You will be well rewarded. Well rewarded, indeed."
All knew that he meant it.
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