Chapter Seven: Xzar and Montaron

They had been wandering the wilderness to days, and things weren't going as planned. And now they were under attack.

Charname brought down his sword as the gibberling lunged. With one stroke he cleaved the violet-skinned creature's skull. It fell backward with a shriek; it's black hair soaked with blood. An arrow shot over his shoulder and struck another in the heart. Charname saw the blood spill over the grass and smiled.

"Got it!" said Imoen.

Charname wiped off his blade on the grass and stopped his smile. He turned as Imoen approached, frowning again. "Charname, are you sure we should be going off the beaten path like this?"

"Of course," said Charname. "We can handle the odd gibberling attack. But it's on the road that we might face someone who we can't take out."

"Alright, but it's not just gibberlings out here, is it?" asked Imoen. "What about wolves."

"Wolves?" asked Charname. "Don't pretend to be stupid, Imoen. Wolves don't attack humans."

And then a wolf leaped out of the underbrush and bowled him over. Charname struggled to keep the snapping jaws off him. Grabbing it by the throat, he struggled to keep it off as its claws scraped at his armor.

Then a sphere of light shot out of nowhere and caught the wolf in the eye. It whined and fell back, spasming. Rising up, Charname raised his sword and plunged it into the beast. It's whimpering stopped, and now it was dead.

"Charname, are you alright?" said Imoen.

"Yes, thank you, Imoen," said Charname. "What was that?"

Imoen raised a yellow want with a red feather on end. "Oh, this? It's a Wand of Magic Missile I nabbed from the storage rooms. You're lucky you've got Imoen the Wise looking out for you."

"Imoen the Wise?" asked Charname. "It doesn't really suit you."

"I guess not," said Imoen.

"Alright, as long as we can avoid any more wolves we should-" began Charname.

And then there was a long howl throughout the land. Char name looked up and peered through the trees. Then he saw a dozen wolves rushing out of the trees toward them. They were slathering and looked hungry.

"Quick, up to the trees!" said Imoen.

And she scrambled up one of them. Charname rushed after her and tried to pull himself up. But the armor was too heavy. As he did, Imoen fired another magic missile that struck one of the wolves, which whimpered. Turning around, Charname readied his sword as the wolves surged toward him. One leaped at him, and he brought around his sword to knock it aside. Another took an arrow.

The other wolves halted, snarling at them. Charname roared as the wolves sized him up. He noted that they were very thin. Finally, they turned and rushed off, some of them limping from their injuries.

Imoen scaled back down the tree. "Why'd they run off?"

"Wolves aren't stupid, Imoen," said Charname. "They don't attack big animals like humans for no reason. Not unless they're desperate. These ones' must be starving."

"I heard from Puffgutts, "Well, Old Puffguts told me something a week ago," said Imoen. "A lot more people have taken to hunting with the iron shortage ruining their livelihoods."

Charname sighed. "Let's head south toward the road. Cutting across the country isn't doing any good."

"Told you it was a bad idea," said Imoen.

So they began to walk. As they did, Charname looked to Imoen. "How much food have we got left?"

Imoen sighed. "A couple of days, I think. I brought a lot more than you. Assuming we can find the road we might be able to make it to the Friendly Arm before we run out."

"Maybe," said Charname. "Ugh, I can't stand these trail rations. I wish we could catch some rabbits or something."

On they walked until at last, tired, beaten down and bored. Finally, they came to the road and began walking it again. What a complete waste this had all been.

Then they saw someone. It was a big, chubby man with a bald head. He was walking toward them, wearing a red vest and brown pants. He raised a hand as they approached. "Hello there.

"Well, a busy day for me today, indeed. Strange noises throughout the night, and now a plethora of people strolling about the wood. You do look a touch more hospitable than the last two I met though."

"They must have been flesh-eating zombies then," said Imoen tiredly. "I'm Imoen, and this is Charname."

"Well met, stranger. I am called Kolssed." said the man.

"Why are you in the woods?" asked Charname. "I have heard nothing but how dangerous they are."

"Yeah, does seem a bit odd," said Imoen.

The man sighed. "Me? Oh, I'm a hermit. Well, I'm rather new at it, actually, and I haven't quite gotten the isolation bit down yet."

"What's the trouble?" asked Imoen.

He shrugged. "Too much of a people person, I suppose. Used to be a merchant in Nashkel I did but lost everything due to the iron shortage. Been wandering the woods for a while now and it's been rather relaxing I must say. Aside from eluding the occasional bandit that is. I'm generally left alone because I have nothing of value."

"What of the two people you saw?" asked Charname. "I was to seek friends at the Friendly Arm Inn. Perhaps they were them?"

Kolssed shook his head. "I doubt there were the ones you seek. They do not seek the friendly type and are far afield of the inn. If you wish to meet them, I left them not a moment ago just up ahead. You will have to pass them anyway if you wish to go to the Friendly Arm. There is a crossroads a ways to the east, and the Inn is north of that."

"Well, I'm sure we can cut across-" began Charname. Then he caught Imoen's look. "Thanks for your time. I shall be on my way."

"Fare thee well, as they say," said Kolssed.

On they walked.

Every step was tiring. Charname had never walked this much in his entire life. At times he'd left Candlekeep for brief points. But he'd been working harder than ever before.

They turned the bend and came before those Kolssed had spoken of. There were two of them. One was a tall man with wild hair and unchecked stubble. He wore a green robe and held a dagger. He seemed to be arguing with a halfing in filthy brown leather, wearing a short sword at his side. The halfing was scowling and moving his fist violently.

As they approached, both looked at Charname and approached.

"Hold, Montaron, this young wayfarer is in need." said the man. "Someone has set about thee, stranger, and you have barely escaped with your life."

"I don't like these guys, Charname," whispered Imoen. "Let's pass them on by."

"Aye, Xzar, looks to have been roughed up quite well," said Montaron. The halfling was Montaron, or so Charname guessed. The statement seemed more a professional appraisal than said out of pity.

"Indeed, I can offer you healing potions, if you wish, as a token of goodwill," said Xzar.

"I'd be grateful for any assistance," said Charname. Best not to provoke them.

Xzar reached into his bag and brought out several blue potions. "Nothing to fear from these simple potions. I'll not hold you in debt, though your conscience says otherwise."

"Just like all good people," said Montaron.

"Here we go," said Imoen under her breath.

"Perhaps as payment, you will go with us to Nashkel," said Xzar. "It is a troubled area, and we mean to investigate some disturbing rumors surrounding the local mines. Some acquaintances are very concerned about the iron shortage. Specifically, where to lay blame in the matter. You would be useful, though I'll not hold you to it. We are to meet the mayor of the town, a man named Berrun Ghastkill, I believe."

"Your conscience be your guide," said Mantaron, fingering his sword.

Charname considered things. These two looked like they might decide to kill them and take the potions back. But if they wanted help, it wasn't as if he had anywhere better to be. And there was safety in numbers. "I would join you, but I must meet someone first. Perhaps you will go with me?"

"We've precious little time," said Xzar. "But it's best to travel accompanied."

"Aye, we'll go wit' ye," said Montaron. "Ye owe us for our time, though."

And so the two joined up and began to travel together. As they did, Imoen took Charname to one side. "This isn't smart Charname. I wouldn't trust these guys as far as I can throw em."

"Imoen, we need all the help we can get," said Charname. "We're being hunted. Besides, what's the worst that can happen?" He looked to Xzar as they began to walk. He decided he'd best learn a bit more about these.

Moving over to Xzar, he noted the mage gave him a wild look. "Tell me something Xzar, if you're heading to Nashkel, what are you doing all the way out here. You're a bit off your right road."

"Nashkel is only a small part of the crisis," said Xzar in a calm tone. "We were tracking a large group of ogres and other bandits into this region. Montaron was hoping for some sport, I gather."

"Don't put words in my mouth, Wizard!" snapped Montaron. "I wasn't looking to put a dagger in the ogres, just seeing what they was up to.

"Moot point now, though. The whole lot of them were fried."

"Not all of them, Montaron," said Xzar. "Remember those tracks we saw breaking off. The group came from the east, but the hobgoblins broke off in the direction of the Friendly Arm Inn. There was an ogre with them."

So the creatures were spreading throughout the land. Charname decided he'd best do something about all this.

"There were xvarts with them, by the tracks," said Montaron.

"Oh yes, stupid little blue men," said Xvar. "Well, it hardly matters. We'll ponder such matters while we solve the iron shortage."

"That reminds me," said Charname. "Why are you investigating the iron crisis?"

"Our employers desire it," said Xzar. "They don't like having their good name, slandered."

"But who are your employers?" asked Charname.

"A powerful force," said Xzar. "One with eyes and ears everywhere. Watching. Waiting and looking for the smallest betrayal. Mustn't speak of them. Wouldn't be good for business, would it? No, no it would on." Then he whirled to the halfling. "Montaron! You are so aggravating!" "Watch your mouth wizard, or I might put a sword down your gullet!" snarled Montaron.

"Insufferable halfling, were you not my counterpart I'd turn the blood to fire within your veins!" cried Xzar. "And were you not my partner I'd cut out yer eyes and leave ye to starve in the wilderness!" roared Montaron in response.

Xzar halted suddenly and turned to Charname, calm again. "Oh, I apologize, we do sometimes get into disagreements."

"Is it a problem?" asked Montaron.

Charname considered his answer carefully. "…Of course not."

"Good," said Montaron. "If ye want to know more about who we're working for ye ought to talk to me. I'm much more of a conversationalist than the mage.

"Best ye sleep with one eye open if ye ask too much, though."

Charname nodded and walked over to Imoen quickly. "Alright Imoen, you were right. We've got to break off from them, and we've got to do it now."

"How, though?" asked Imoen. "I doubt they'll just let us break off."

"We'll wait and keep a sharp eye," said Charname. "If we're careful we'll find an opening."

One disaster after another. If things went any less planned, all plans everywhere would cease to exist. Charname just hoped they'd be able to break off from Xzar and Montaron soon. Or they might have to kill them.

Though killing them might be doing the realms a service.