Chapter 40: Information Hunt
Everyone looked at Tellis, holding the bag of gold. The informant stared at them for a moment, then everyone leapt into action, and the little man found himself in Corias's iron grip. The swashbuckler had somehow sheathed his sword and pulled the dagger from his boot in less than a second, and the blade was now threatening the soft skin of Tellis's neck. "Give me one reason," the thief whispered viciously, so low that only the littler man could heard him, "why I shouldn't slit your throat here and now."
Tellis gave the little chuckle of his, and closed his eyes. "I didn't know he was going to do that," he croaked. "He's been her for months on end… when Yoshimo and the Helmite came in here a few days ago, he saw them and knew that they were travelling with the druid… all he wanted me to do was to draw you all here… I promise, I didn't even know his name or what he wanted to do…"
"So you don't know where he might be? Anything about the mages that helped him? A single thing that could be of use in tracking Ployer down?" Harrian murmured. Tellis shook his head fearfully. Corias shrugged. "Too bad," he whispered, and the informant felt the pressure of the blade in his neck increase… then stop.
Harrian looked at the gauntleted hand that stopped him from slitting the informant's throat, and looked up to see Anomen's soft brown eyes fixed on his own. The cleric pulled the dagger from his leader's hand and slipped it inside his armour easily, before pushing Harrian away and holding Tellis in his own hard grip. "And what of my sister and her murderers? Do you have information, or did you just want to draw the Lady Jaheira here?"
Tellis grimaced. "I… I have no information," he admitted, his eyes still closed tight. "But I can get it. I can find out; it won't be hard. Free of charge! As… as my favour to you! I can get information to get whoever it was in jail, I promise you!"
Anomen regarded him for a long moment, then released the informant. "See that you do. If you do not, I shall hunt you down and…" He paused a moment, considering a suitable threat. "And allow my friend Mr Corias here to deal with you," he decided at last.
Tellis looked at Harrian, who still had a murderous look in his eyes, then gulped before running faster than he ever had had to up the stairs.
Harrian hurried to Jaheira's side. The druid was resting against a tabletop, taking deep breaths to try and steady herself. She looked up at him to see the concern in his eyes, and shook her head. "By the horns of Silvanus, I'll plant him beneath the Stones of Aisath if I...if I..." Her voice trailed off, and she lowered her head again.
He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, and she steadied herself against him. "Are you alright?" Harrian asked quietly, feeling a small panic bubble up inside his stomach. What had this Ployer done?
Jaheira shook her head. "No, I...I'm fine. I just felt a little strange for a moment." She paused for a moment, then anger flashed in her eyes. "That...that fat excuse for a slaver, he's cursed me! Damn him!" she swore.
Yoshimo shifted behind them. "What can be done?" the Kara-Turan asked lightly, frowning somewhat. He evidently felt highly irritated and maybe a little responsible that it was his informant who had lead them here for Ployer to curse Jaheira.
"We can track him down and force him to remove it, that's what," Harrian murmured, his brow furrowed.
Jaheira nodded at last. "That may be my only option. If it was tailored to me it might resist removal by normal means. I doubt Ployer would have done this if the solution were simple," the druid pointed out.
"Then we should find this Ployer immediately. Any thoughts on where to look?" Anomen piped up, seemingly calmer. Harrian looked pointedly at him, and the cleric sighed, then returned the dagger to the thief.
Jaheira thought for a moment. "I have a few options. Ployer mentioned that he lived in squalor, suggesting he may be in the poor section of the city." She shrugged. "Not likely to find him quick though."
Yoshimo looked up. "The mages with him wore odd colours that might be traceable. Ask at the Government Building, as all magic is regulated in Athkatla. If they will talk..." The bounty hunter shrugged as all eyes turned to him.
Jaheira nodded, then continued. "He also mentioned Belgrade, a… merchant that helped expose Ployer. He frequents the Copper Coronet, and the bartender Bernard might know his whereabouts."
Harrian frowned at the tone the druid used for the word 'merchant', but made no comment. This was clearly Harper business. "To the government district then. Some clerk will know these mages," he said firmly.
The druid nodded again. "Very well, though I should like to try and find Belgrade eventually. It has been..." She stopped and coughed before continuing, "...it has been some time since we talked."
"We shall… but we shall have to be very careful when we return to the Copper Coronet," Harrian pointed out, frowning a little. Haer'Dalis looked confused whilst Anomen grimaced, Yoshimo smiled tightly, and Minsc nodded firmly.
* *
Corneil looked aghast as they entered the Council of Six building and approached him. "It has not been three days, you impatient beasts!" he snapped at them. "I told you that we would come to you when we had your Imoen, and you –"
Harrian held up a hand to forestall any further comments. "This is nothing about Imoen. We are here in on almost-official business. I'm looking for a mage, or a group of mages. They may wear green and black robes as a uniform?"
Corneil glared at him and straightened up to gaze the thief in the eyes. "I know of no such robes, though it would not be your business if I did. The Cowled Wizards will deal with such people. Leave, and ask me no more of such things," he insisted and, before Harrian could say more, strode off.
Haer'Dalis stood next to the rogue as their leader watched Corneil walk off. "That did not seem particularly… effective, my raven," the tiefling mused, and met Harrian's scathing expression easily.
Corias paused a long moment before striding off and out of the building. "Fine," he mumbled, grimacing. "We'll go to the Copper Coronet. I'd just rather avoid getting into a fight with some unknown mages if possible," he continued, knowing his bad mood stemmed from a feeling of ineffectiveness against Jaheira's curse.
So lost in his thoughts was he almost walked into a man in mages robes… of green and black. "Excuse me..." the man started, and Harrian almost jumped at the sound of his voice. "You may call me Terrece. I know of whom you seek, the mages in black and green? What is your business with my fellows?" Terrece glanced around briefly, then continued surreptitiously. "We are...available for hire."
Harrian examined the tall mage for a second before folding his arms across his chest. "That Corneil inside seemed to know nothing about such things," he replied slowly, a frown deep on his face.
"It is not his business to know, or perhaps he just pretends to not know." Terrece shrugged nonchalantly. "I am not he. I know of them, and would relay your words if you wish?" he offered lightly.
Harrian groaned. "You speak in circles like a halfling! Tell me plain if you have something to say!" he ordered.
The other man smiled thinly, then nodded. "As you wish. Our group was directed to harm one of your number, though it was just business. I am here to speak an offer of… counter-employment. We performed a service for your enemy, but that contract has expired... though we have been asked to perform another task in the future."
Terrece paused a moment, gathering his thoughts, and Harrian was about to prompt him when he continued. "We find Mister Ployer distasteful, even in comparison to others of his ilk. It would not disturb us to...make other arrangements around that task in the future. You will find him eventually, and we are to be there. Or perhaps we are not. That is the offer I make today."
Harrian nodded firmly. This was sounding better and better. He had enough respect for mages to not want to go head to head with the power of an unknown trio. "An interesting offer. Might I inquire as to what your absence might cost?" This was the city of coin, after all.
Terrece considered this a moment. "For not participating in Ployer's little exercise we might charge... oh... one thousand gold pieces. This is a much lower figure than the original service cost," he pointed out. "You may ask what guarantees you have that we will not turn on you in a likewise fashion... there is no guarantee but our dislike for Ployer."
Harrian smiled. "I can understand that, and I like those odds, but would five hundred be enough?" He looked into his bag of gold meaningfully, and realised with a start that they were running exceedingly low on funds.
Terrece gave a quick bow as Corias handed over the gold. "It will serve adequately. I look forward to...not...working with you or Mister Ployer again. Good day." With that, the mage glanced around surreptitiously then headed off, clearly not dull enough to use a dimension door in plain daylight in magic-fearing Athkatla.
Harrian turned to his friends, a most predatory grin on his face. "I like this much more now," he admitted, then smiled genuinely at Jaheira. "And now, on to the Copper Coronet. Let us see if we can find this Belgrade of yours."