Author's Notes are in my Profile!
"But first, we must find someplace safe," Pilineth interjected.
"I agree," said Fawks, "I'm tired."
"Aye, an' I'm ready fer a coupl' pints of ale," added Hans.
"Then shall we get rid of the body?" Ember asked, pointing to the dead goblin wizard.
"Nah, leave him. No one's going to find him anytime soon," Tsel said lazily with a flick of the wrist. Ember shrugged and began walking to the covered opening they came through.
"We probably shouldn't leave through that opening Ember. If we got caught by the Nightwatchmen, we'll seem suspicious," Sondosa warned.
"Oh," Ember said stupidly, "right."
"There's a trapdoor around here that leads to this cellar," Tsel said. "Ah! Here is it!" He moved his hand over a piece of cobblestone that swung open as if on a hinge. Inside the hollow the stone left, there was a rusty iron handle. "There doesn't seem to be any traps attached to the door either," Tsel said somewhat distractedly as he examined the cracks on and around the door.
"Let me at it," Hans said, placing a hand on the handle. He tugged at the door, but it didn't open. "Huh," Hans said, a little baffled.
"It's probably stuck," Fawks said.
"Wait, there's a key hole here," Tsel said pointing to a small brass plate under the handle with a tiny hole in it.
"You can pick it right?" Sondossa asked a little anxiously. "This cellar is getting to me. I mean, why would a cellar have a hidden handle on the inside of the room?"
"Do you doubt my skills?" Tsel asked in fake hurt.
"No, of course not, just hurry up," Sondossa said, "please."
Tsel spent a few minutes wiggling his lock-picking tools inside the tiny key hole. "Ha!" Tsel said triumphantly as the door swug inward.
"All right," Fawks said, gesturing for Ember to lead the way, "let us get out of here."
"Indeed," Pilineth said with a small smile, "but let Tsel go first. He can scout out the building."
"Right," Tsel said, then dissapeared through the cellar doorway.
"Everything's clear," Tsel said, peering his head through the doorway.
The group followed Tsel through the stairway up to an almost empty room except for a rotting wooden chair and a carven square table. The next room they were taken to was the front room, where there was a small stool by the staircase, which was in dangerous disrepair. There was a closed door and an open one, the latter leading into the streets of greyhawk.
Suddenly, a dark figure appeared within the threshold of the open door.
"Raskalin," Sondossa said with a tinge of annoyance.
"My dear Sondossa," Raskalin said, bowing slightly in her direction with a mischevious smile.
"Would you like to join us on our way back to the Blue Dragon Inn?" Sondossa asked with ill concealed distaste.
"I would be happy too."
The party walked in the dimly lit streets of the Artisan's Quarter toward the Inn in the Foreign Quarter. There were many people still bustling about this section of the City of Greyhawk, most ignored the party and plowed right through or just walked around them.
"So find out any clues about the where-abouts of the item?" Raskalin asked seriously.
"Yes," Pilineth said. "Here is something I feel you'll find interesting." She handed over the Braesier note.
Raskalin skimmed the note, then handed it back. "Interesting."
"We can think of what we're going to do next after we hear about our cleric's relationship with your master," Tsel said accusingly toward Raskalin.
"Oh that's nothing but a trivial matter," Raskalin said reassuringly. "She and have been friends since they were small children."
"Oh aye?" Hans asked, incredulous. "An' ya didn't think ta mention that before?"
"Oh I will tell you my relationship with Selia, alright! Just wait until we get somewhere where we can sit down and relax," Sondossa's voice sounded hoarse. "That's all I want," she added in a mumble.
Do they trust you yet?" He asked with a whisper.
"Not all of them. The one girl is being difficult."
"Then get on it!"
"I will. You shouldn't worry," the second voice said calmly. "Have I ever failed you?"
"No," the first said grudgingly.
"Good. You'll have your hero. I guarentee it."
"Then leave," the first pointed away from him. "The time is coming soon."
Tsel nodded his head and walked steadily out of the dark alley, as if he was on an afternoon stroll.
Sorry this is late. I've been soooooooo busy! The next chapter won't be up until Monday the 7th since I'm going to be SWAMPED over the weekend of the 4th.
I will go back to updating on Saturdays before 12:00pm EST after the 7th.
Thank you for reading!