Chapter 14
The Halfling takes the mug of ale from Hame with a smile. She throws her head back and gulps the whole cup down. "My friends and I couldn't help overhearing you. I'm Rosinden Rumblefoot but everyone calls me Rosie. We're merchant guards out of Delzimmer."
She motions back to her companions, two Humans and a Gold Dwarf. The two Humans are deeply contrasting. One is a Durpari with light brown skin and short neatly trimmed black hair parted down the center. He studies Hame with an unlit pipe between his lips and unconsciously twirling his mustache. Although his arm rests on the table, he sits straight and proper. His clothes are elaborate blues and greens, save for the tan leather jerkin. A wicker shield leans against the table leg nearby and a scimitar hangs on his hip.
Her second companion is a light-skinned and burly Heartlander, topped by shaggy brown hair. Hard blue eyes peer from an oval face with a tapering but strong jaw. His beard is ragged but short. He's obviously the tallest one at the table even hunched over his meal. His breastplate is complimented by mail on his arms and legs. A full helm rests on the table next to his dish. A heavy dagger and a mace hang on his hip but it's the halberd leaning against his chair that draws Hame's gaze. The polearm is a fine mix of a longspear, ax, and spike intended for dismounting horsemen. The warrior pins it between his back and the chair to keep it from falling.
Their third companion, is sharp-eyed and fit Gold Dwarf, with short brown hair swept back and a neatly trimmed beard barely a finger's length. He wears a plain dark blue trousers and shirt, with a black vest with silvery steel buttons. Hame's eyes linger on him a moment longer than the rest. Hame studies his rough hands, lack of clan emblems, and leans over to glance at the Dwarf's muddy boots. Then Hame fixes a smile on his face.
"We wondered if you were looking for work," the Halfling notices his scrutiny. "This is our new friend Durn Leatherscraper. He's a local merchant that we might be working for soon."
"How do you know I don't have work for you?" Hame says playfully. Instantly the look in her eyes fills with interest, without the slightest dip in her smile. A smile appears on the Dupari's face and the Heartlander sits up, only Durn remains unmoved. "My name is Hame."
She motions, "My swarthy friend is Hukir Nalarathi and that is Roan Staghorn."
Hame stands up and reaches out to shake Hukir's hand. His handshake is soft but firm, "What part of Estagund are you from Hukir? I haven't visited in…decades at least."
He smiles, "I'm from Zabbasz but my family lives in the capital now."
Hame turns to Roan, whose grip is powerful and his hands are leathery, "Are you from Tethyr or Amn Roan? My guess is Tethyr."
The large man blinks. He's soft spoken but direct, "Hmm. Tethyr, how'd you know?"
"There are some light skinned men here but they're sailors and your armor is too heavy. Your hair and height says Heartlander but no bow so you're no Dalesman and no greatsword so not likely from north. I see no symbols of Torm, so not likely from Elturgard. Heavy cavalry is unheard of nn the Shaar, so you never see halberdiers, or any polearms. Finally, you're a bit too shaggy for the cosmopolitan people of Amn."
Roan looks thoughtful for a moment with a hint of a smile; nodding, before he withdraws behind his hard visage. Finally Hame reaches out and shakes Durn Leatherscraper's roughly calloused hands. Then he returns to his seat and motions to his new companions, "I've just met Thullund and Kanti but they're good fellows."
There's a mutual look between them as they acknowledge each other. Then the door is thrown open with a bang. The chatter ends although the bard is too disciplined to allow anything to interrupt her music. Her only response is a shocked look. Movement from behind Hame draws his gaze. Roan is on his feet with halberd in hand before anyone else can react.
"Can I help you?!" Three Dwarves storm in ignoring Kelmara's demand.
They enter the common room wearing plain brown clothing, cloaks, and boots. Sewn into the breast of their cloaks is crossed grey tongs on a white field. They search until they see Hame.
"They're here for you," Thullund whispers darkly.
"The second group isn't," he replies. Behind the Dwarves several tribesmen creep in. In the excitement and surprise of the trio's arrival, they're easily missed as they join the crowd. Their eyes harden as they stare at Kanti. "They're here for your friend."
Kanti's eyes are torn from the Dwarves to look at Hame, then to the Tribesmen pushing their way through the crowd. Instantly her eyes widen with surprise, Thullund's hand lays on her shoulder as she reaches for her spear. "Easy, don't be the first to attack, or cast spells."
The lead dwarf shouts, "You think we don't know who you are! What you did?! You're-"
A screech erupts from Hame's chair as he forces it back, scraping the feet on the floorboards. The sound cuts off the speaker and ends the bard's song. Hame rises slowly. He draws it out before he opens his cloak, revealing his fluted plate, by placing his fists on his hips. He stares the speaker down before he says, "If you know me. Than you know I'm not to be trifled with. Walk out of this inn with your health and thank Moradin for it."
"Gentlemen," Rosie's voice is all charm accompanying her bright smile. She appears behind Hame along with Hukir and Durn. Rosie places a hand on Hame's shoulder, throwing him a sharp look, as she steps around him. "We're all guests in The Dancing Lady. None of us want any trouble; Come, join me for a drink."
With a second look at them Hame blocks her from passing, then shakes his head. "They're Irontongs. This is not a chance meeting."
The Dwarves charge. Hame blocks a punch and his uppercut slams the Dwarf's jaw, tearing flesh and leaving him wobbly. Blood stains Hame's gauntlets as the warlord shoves the Dwarf into one of his companions. The third Dwarf rushes Hame, charging headlong into a straight punch that breaks his nose. Hame throws a hook that knocks him flat.
"Prauh!" Kelmara screams towards the front door. "Prauh!"
"Knife!" Rosie screams and Hame glances over his shoulder. Durn is poised to stab him, the blade racing towards him, when Rosie knocks it away with her mug. The blade flies from his hand. Her backswing smacks him across his face with the mug. Durn spins with the blow as another dagger appears in his hands. Hukir draws his scimitar and has his shield ready. Durn spins and flees for the stairs. Rosie's hand shoots out and a dart pierces the back of Durn's knee. The Dwarf screams as he stumbles, falling to the ground. Hukir and Rosie are on him in an instant. She twists his arm and breaks his hold on the knife. Hukir steps on his other arm.
"By Adama I swear," Hukir places his blade on Durn's neck. "I will kill you, if need be my friend."
Hame looks at the final Dwarf, dragging himself free of his comrade's stunned body, before fleeing for the door. He nearly makes it as a massively fat Half-Orc enters. Shirtless and sweaty, the half breed towers well over six feet and is nearly as wide. He can barely make it through the door, turning sideways with his gargantuan gut. In spite of his weight, his arms are thickly muscled, and seemingly he has no neck. The Dwarf mistakenly looks over his shoulder, smashing headfirst into Prauh's gut. His legs fly out from under him and he hits the ground hard.
Kelmara runs out from behind her counter with a cudgel in hand. Staring at the Dwarf, the Half-Orc sighs, "Sorry miss Kel."
"Grab him Prauh!" Kelmara commands. The Half-Orc leans over and grabs his shirt, lifting him as if he's no more than a sack of potatoes.
Hame turns to the next threat and looks at the Tribeman, finding everyone frozen. Kanti is reaching for her spear. Thullund has his ax half-drawn. The tribesmen have daggers but the third is clumsily flinching back with a spear inches from his throat. They all stare at Roan, six feet away with his Halberd leveled. The Lion finds his nerve, "You've no right outlander!"
"Yeah," Roan grumbles, completely unimpressed. "I still won't after you're dead. Then I'll kill your friend. You…I'll cripple so they can ask you what they want to know."
The last tribesman swallows difficultly, his face sickly beneath Roan's stare. The last Lion drops his dagger first, quickly followed by the rest. Kelmara walks over to Hame and whispers, "Should I call the Steelshields?"
"No, put them in three rooms and we'll question them separately. Their lies will conflict with the other's lies and we will get the truth." Hame immediately turns to the crowd. "Good people; first, I'd like to apologize for the trouble I've brought you and The Dancing Lady. In return I've authorized Kelmara to buy a round on my bill. Second, for everyone that helps us put these rogues in quarters until the Steelshields arrive, I've authorized a second round."
A rousing cheer erupts from the crowd and instantly dozens of Dwarves seize the interlopers. Hame turns to the bard and snaps his fingers to get her attention, and then he motions for her to continue. After a heartbeat of shock, she forces a smile and sings, "We're off! We're off! We're off to the mine!"
The jovial work song is quickly picked up by the Dwarves in the crowd and lifts the mood. A tribesman protests his seizure only to get punched in the face before three Dwarves drag him to the rooms Kelmara indicates. They disarm the Tribesman and Durn as each is placed in a separate room. Prauh lifts all three of the Irontong Dwarves singlehandedly and tosses them into their temporary cell. In moments the common room is back to normal as the bard follows the mining song with a second just a joyful. Hame searches the floor and snatches up the dagger the assassin failed to use on him. The blade is moist with a colorless liquid. Then Hame leaves the common room to join the group gathered at the storage rooms converted to cells.
"Hame," Thullund calls before he taps his chest with a meaningful look at the warlord. Hame looks down and discovers that his golden mask is outside of his cloak. At some point during the fight, it had swung free. He immediately tucks it in with a nod and thanks.
"Why would a merchant try to kill you Hame?" Rosie asks pointedly.
"You haven't been completely honest with us," Thullund adds.
"You're guests under my roof," Kelmara reminds them. "All of my guests are allowed whatever anonymity they desire. I'll remind you that he's under no obligation to answer you."
"It's ok Mara," Hame nods to her. "No I have not but what I swore is true. It is for your own protection. Rosie, it is a rare Eartheart merchant that has the calloused hands of a laborer. Even in the middle of the summer it is freezing at night on the Shaar. Yet Durn has no cloak and no beard. He has no clan signets and his clothes don't match. No merchant worth his coin would go out for a drink without proper attire. Worse, his boots are muddy. What is the one district in Eartheart that has neither brick nor cobblestone streets?"
"Hightown," both Thullund and Kelmara answer they look at everyone else. Thullund continues, "Our ghetto is Hightown. So you think the assassin is from one of the guilds?"
"I don't think he's an assassin, his disguise is horrible. I think he's a rogue that was offered a job and saw a chance for advancement."
"I may not know much about Eartheart's merchants," Rosie says sternly. "But I do know what that golden mask means."
"Indeed," Hame smiles at her before he turns to the Dwarves. "Thullund I want you to question the tribesmen, take Kanti with you. They're not trained to keep their mouths shut and she may make them mad enough to speak before they think. Kelmara, we're going to need your sister, and then I want you to question the Dwarves. Take Roan with you in case they feel bold."
"I can take care of myself," she taps the cudgel into her palm.
"I know but we need them talking not battered," Hame replies. "If they give you any trouble, remind them that they're co-conspirators in the attempted assassination of a lord."
She nods, "Prauh, I want you to go over to the Sharindlar temple. You're going to ask for my sister the high priestess and tell her, 'Your room is not ready'. I don't care how long it takes, but you're not to leave without her. Do you understand?"
"Yes Miss Kel. Ask for the high priestess and tell her, 'Your room is not ready'." The huge Half-Orc leaves, his bare feet thumping on the floorboards.
"Why should we listen to you? Why not call the Steelshields?" Thullund demands. He is the only one that's openly hostile towards Hame. Kanti is indifferent as she cradles her spear and continues eating from a plate. Rosie is indifferent but dubious. Roan is an unreadable statue or maybe he could care less. Hukir sees opportunity and is back to twirling his mustache. Kelmara is unquestionably on his side.
"If we call the Steelshields, we'll be lucky to get an answer in a month. All the Dwarves will stall by calling for legal advocates. I plan to be gone by then and I need answers now."
"Come on big man," Kelmara smacks Roan on the rump. "Let's get this over with."
The shocked Human blinks before he follows her into the storage room. Thullund huffs but waves for Kanti to follow. "Leave that here, you can eat later."
"It's so good!" She replies as she stuffs a couple more bites in her mouth before she leaves the plate behind.
That leaves Hame with Hukir and Rosie. She glares at him and demands, "Ok, who are you? I'm serious; I want to know right now."
"Do you lead your band?"
Rosie blinks before she replies a bit more softly, "We don't have a leader per se. I'm usually our spokesmen and we discuss what we do together. Roan doesn't talk much but he's smarter than he looks. Your turn my lord."
"The short version is I am a powerful lord. Recently I survived an assassination attempt and through a series of events I was banished from Eartheart. The only reason I am not disclosing more, is to protect you and myself from further danger. This I swear. On the other hand, I am looking for an adventuring party. If that interests you, all of you, than I will reveal everything. Until then, you have to trust that this is for the best."
She doesn't like it but she nods, "We'll have to speak with Roan. We're not really adventurers we're just caravan guards." She pauses with a look at Hukir.
He nods, "That is not a no."
Kelmara and Roan return first, after only a short time. She begins, "You were right, they tried to keep mum but once I repeated what you said they broke. They claim they're from Irontongs, sworn to Amplewrought. They heard from a clan ally that you were staying here and came in looking to 'knock your block' off. They never intended to kill you or harm anyone. I asked for a description and they described every Gold Dwarf in Eartheart."
Thullund and Kanti arrive only a moment after Kelmara began. "That's just about what the tribesman said. They heard from an Ankeg Tribal ally that Kanti was staying here. They only intended to grab her and return her to the Lion Tribe. I asked who told them and they described a Tribesman with yellow skin and a spear. That's it, nothing to go on."
"Do you think they're telling the truth?"
"Yes," Kelmara replies without hesitation. "I had the Dwarves swear on Moradin and their clan. No one would break that vow."
"Some would, the desperate and vile. But I think it's the truth." Thullund shrugs. "There's no guile in the tribesmen. They're little more than boys and the story is too similar."
Prauh and Kelmoro arrive soon after. The high priestess visits both groups and confirms what was said to be true.
"Are you certain?" She gives Hame a sharp look, so he reminds her. "This is no time for pride."
"I'm absolutely certain," she answers sternly. "If the spell had not worked, I would know, and if they had lied the Goddess would have informed me of their deception."
"This was a lot of moving parts timed perfectly. Our rogue is the only hope to find an origin of this attack."