Again, if you're a little disappointed... this is a slow part of the story. Next chapter may not be perfect, but after that I have some solid and hopefully entertaining plans which should make things interesting again!!

Chapter 18: One Step Closer

Harrian had wanted to go straight to the Government Building, but Jaheira had pointed out how they were all tired. Tactfully, she had failed to bring into account how shaken up he was after his encounter with Bodhi. Nothing had happened, but Corias was only comfortable dealing with the undead in one way: violence.

He had slept deeply, and rose bright and rested, albeit in the early afternoon. Upon making an appearance in the Five Flagons' tavern area, he realised that, in his slumber, he had missed out on a large part of the day.

The other five members of the party seemed to be settling down for lunch, which reminded Harrian of how hungry he was (for he had not eaten in over twelve hours). His attention was distracted from food as he noticed the sixth person sitting at the table, a small, mousy-looking man with a dark receding hairline and casting furtive glances around the tavern. Corias sighed. What other pathetic denizen of this city had they come across?

Yoshimo spotted him first, which was just as well seeing as he was the only one who seemed to be fully aware of what was going on. The Bounty Hunter waved Harrian over to a seat opposite their mousy visitor, ignoring everyone else's wary glances.

There was a long silence, during which everyone turned questioning glances towards Yoshimo and the visitor. Eventually, the latter gave a slow sigh, and took a deep breath. "My name is Tellis," he started slowly. At the raised eyebrows, he continued, nodding a little more furtively than necessary. "Yes, just Tellis. That's all you'll need to know of me. Heh heh."

Harrian sighed deeply. "Alright," he muttered, resignation heavy in his voice. "I take it you're another person who wants to help us for reasons unknown and probably just wants us to give you a favour in return?"

Tellis and Yoshimo frowned, and the bounty hunter shook his head. "No… this is an informant I know. He knows about this mysterious scroll, and can help us." The Kara-Turan shifted a little. "For a price."

"This is the City of Coin," Corias muttered under his breath. "How much do you want for your information?"

Tellis didn't get a chance to reply as Anomen butted into the conversation. "What… you're just going to pay this man for information where the only verification as to how correct it is will be his word?" He threw the informant a distasteful glance. "As if that is enough," he added in a mutter.

Harrian evaluated them both coolly. Despite Delryn's reservations that had probably sparked up the comment, their squire spoke the truth indeed. He wasn't too happy about the idea of handing money over to someone who was almost certainly working for the Shadow Thieves, at least part time.

"How much money do you want for the information?" the swashbuckler continued, ignoring Anomen's disgusted expression. He knew that worms like this informant worked solely on money and greed. He could use that against him.

"Five thousand gold pieces." Tellis smiled toothily, a smile that lit up his mousy expressions and made him appear most sinister. "All in advance. Heh heh."

Anomen started to scoff, but Harrian silenced him with a look and a small wink. "We pay you three thousand now," he said levelly. Tellis grimaced, and was about to protest as Corias continued. "Then another three thousand when the scroll is in our hands."

A hushed silence fell across the table, and the informant gave a look which amused Harrian when he imagined Tellis was trying to work out the maths in his head. "Six thousand?" the mousy man finished at last, his expression one of awe. "That's a lot of gold, heh heh…"

"If you tell us where this scroll is," Corias nodded evenly. "We shall acquire it as soon as possible, then all you need to do is find us and we'll pay you the rest." At Tellis's hesitant expression, the thief smiled belligerently. "We'll be here in the Five Flagons. If not, you can get your Shadow Thief contacts to find us."

"Heh." The informant nodded furtively again. "I like that," he decided at last. "Okay, okay… I tell you, then you go give me the money… okay?" They nodded, and the small man grinned and chuckled a little. "Heh heh…The scroll, right. The Cowled Wizards have it. I don't know what it is or what it does – nobody does, I'm not even sure they do. Heh, fancy that… the Cowled Ones not knowing what this big magic thingummy is…"

He grinned hopefully at Harrian, and the thief indulged him by smiling, albeit a little tightly. "We need this scroll."

Tellis nodded rapidly. "Heh, right, okay. It's in the office of the Grandmaster of the Cowled Wizards. I don't know what tricks or traps he'll have in place, but I doubt many… to get there, you have to get through all of the mages hanging around the building. And who'd steal from a wizard? Heh heh." He passed them a small scroll. "Here's a plan of the building. It'll direct you to where you want to go. Now… money? Heh…"

The informant was clearly desperate to get out of there. Harrian assumed that the Shadow Thieves wouldn't take kindly to his giving them information which discouraged them from going to Gaelan Bayle for the help he had offered.

Corias nodded briefly, and dug in his purse from out of his jerkin. He stuck his hand in, fished out a few coins, did some brief counting, then threw the purse to the informant. "Come back this time tomorrow, and we should be ready for you," he told Tellis.

The informant nodded, and started for the door. Yoshimo also stood and walked with him towards the Five Flagon's exit. They spoke in hushed tones, the other unable to make out what they were saying, then Tellis nodded nervously and fairly ran out.

All threw the bounty hunter questioning glances as he returned to the table. "I simply told him that if he had lied to us, he would be left unable to enjoy the three thousand he has in hand. He seemed to get the point."

Anomen muttered something that sounded distinctly like 'scum', then eyed the Kara-Turan. "Honestly, Yoshimo, where do you find these dregs of society? Why do we have to keep associating with such unsavoury characters?"

Yoshimo shrugged. "Tellis has a reputation for reliability. He's an independent operator, which I thought might be better for us. He can't afford to give incorrect information, not if he wants to stay alive."

Haer'Dalis glanced over at Harrian, who was scrutinising the scroll. "Your thoughts, my raven?" he asked brightly.

Corias looked up, a little blankly. "Hmm? Oh… ah, yes. This. I don't see it being much of a challenge to get this scroll. I believe the Cowled Wizards were relying on people not knowing about the scroll as a defence."

"Or not being stupid enough to openly defy the Cowled Wizards," Jaheira murmured dryly, and ignored the looks everyone threw her. She smiled wryly. "Well, fearless leader, what thoughts do you have on the matter?"

Harrian grinned at her, taking her manner all in stride. "This is very possible. I know we're turning into creatures of the night, but if this works… then it'll all be over in a few days. We get this scroll, and see what it does… see if it has any power we can use. If it doesn't, we do an exchange with the Cowled Wizards – the scroll for Imoen."