Manset gradually came awake, opening his eyes to stare groggily around him.
At first he felt a bit odd, as if he was off-balance, but he hadn't had
anything particularly potent to drink the night before. Those thoughts
trailed off as he instinctively grabbed for the pouch at his waist. It was
gone... He howled in rage, and stomped over to his apprentice, who was just
then stirring. "Queraska!" He yelled aloud, "Where are my stones?!"
The girl sat up, rubbing her eyes, "Master, what do you mean, 'Where are my
stones', aren't they on your belt?" She inquired, before seeing herself
that they were absent with a gasp of horror. "Master, where did your
stones go?!" She exclaimed.
Manset scowled, "You daft girl, that's what I just asked you! Bah, at
least I still have this." He said, fingering a ruby button on his sleeve.
Then, he lifted his eyes towards his apprentice questioningly, "What about
the Geltor?" He inquired, casting a sidelong glance towards Dravidan.
She shrugged, "Only one way to find out, right?" She asked, and though it
was rhetorical, Manset nodded in reply. So the two silently slid across
the dry dust, towards the massive form lying on the ground in a few
bearskins. The form shifted slightly as they approached, but bolted
straight upright when Queraska issued a couple of sharp kicks into his
ribs. "Wake up you! Where are Master Manset's stones?! We know that you
took them! There was nobody else around!" She yelled angrily.
"That's not entirely accurate." Came a voice from the shadows. Immediately, the companions tensed, unable to see where the voice had come from. Dravidan even, jumped to his feet with scimitars in hand. "Put your weapons down. I have no wish to harm you, else your body would be littering the rocks by now." Hissed the voice.
The companions hesitantly lowered their guard a little, as a seemingly lanky man, wearing loose fitting clothing, walked out from the air by all appearances. Manset couldn't help his perpetual scowl as he saw wisps of shadow following the man's movements. "He's a worshipper of Vhareun, watch your backs." He whispered to the other two under his breath.
Both knew of the reputation that the priests of Vhareun had. They really were not so much priests as they were assassins. The best in the world really, mused Queraska, for she had some experience with them in her past, before she was turned to the forgiving light of her goddess, Kolynia. In fact, the stones she used most often, were those that resembled the natural powers of a worshipper of Vhareun.
As the girl contemplated theology, the assassin bowed low, "Drydan Tentor at your service, great Gem Knight Manset." He said, with a flourish of his rapier. "Warrior extraordinaire, equaled only by perhaps a champion of Redaign." He finished, eyeing Dravidan with a look that yearned for bloodshed. Drydan took his eyes off of the Geltor, and hesitantly returned his gaze to Manset, "I have a bit of useful information regarding where your gems are, and who had the audacity to take them. It comes with a price of course, but I'm sure that one of your stature can afford it." He said with a smile.
Manset shook his head, "Tell me now, I'll decide if it's worth anything. Then maybe you can keep your life."
The assassin scowled, "How about we discuss this over tea?" He asked, fingering the handle of a crossbow concealed under his cloak.
The Gem Knight shook his head once more, "Tell me now, or I'll stop wasting my time by letting the giant on you." He said, with a grating edge to his voice.
Drydan subtly moved a fold of his cloak behind him, revealing the small hand crossbow that he was fingering. "I'll ask you again, how about it, that we discuss this over tea?" He asked, making sure that Manset got a clear view of the weapon.
Catching the gesture, Manset hardly had a choice, "Very well noble warrior. Come, have tea with my companions and I. I'm sure that we are all eager to hear what wise words you have to lend." He finished, gesturing to the campfire, as he painfully forced the words from his mouth.
The assassin smiled in triumph, "Wise choice mage." He said, walking into the camp, "I'm sure that this will well be worth your while, as well as mine...
"That's not entirely accurate." Came a voice from the shadows. Immediately, the companions tensed, unable to see where the voice had come from. Dravidan even, jumped to his feet with scimitars in hand. "Put your weapons down. I have no wish to harm you, else your body would be littering the rocks by now." Hissed the voice.
The companions hesitantly lowered their guard a little, as a seemingly lanky man, wearing loose fitting clothing, walked out from the air by all appearances. Manset couldn't help his perpetual scowl as he saw wisps of shadow following the man's movements. "He's a worshipper of Vhareun, watch your backs." He whispered to the other two under his breath.
Both knew of the reputation that the priests of Vhareun had. They really were not so much priests as they were assassins. The best in the world really, mused Queraska, for she had some experience with them in her past, before she was turned to the forgiving light of her goddess, Kolynia. In fact, the stones she used most often, were those that resembled the natural powers of a worshipper of Vhareun.
As the girl contemplated theology, the assassin bowed low, "Drydan Tentor at your service, great Gem Knight Manset." He said, with a flourish of his rapier. "Warrior extraordinaire, equaled only by perhaps a champion of Redaign." He finished, eyeing Dravidan with a look that yearned for bloodshed. Drydan took his eyes off of the Geltor, and hesitantly returned his gaze to Manset, "I have a bit of useful information regarding where your gems are, and who had the audacity to take them. It comes with a price of course, but I'm sure that one of your stature can afford it." He said with a smile.
Manset shook his head, "Tell me now, I'll decide if it's worth anything. Then maybe you can keep your life."
The assassin scowled, "How about we discuss this over tea?" He asked, fingering the handle of a crossbow concealed under his cloak.
The Gem Knight shook his head once more, "Tell me now, or I'll stop wasting my time by letting the giant on you." He said, with a grating edge to his voice.
Drydan subtly moved a fold of his cloak behind him, revealing the small hand crossbow that he was fingering. "I'll ask you again, how about it, that we discuss this over tea?" He asked, making sure that Manset got a clear view of the weapon.
Catching the gesture, Manset hardly had a choice, "Very well noble warrior. Come, have tea with my companions and I. I'm sure that we are all eager to hear what wise words you have to lend." He finished, gesturing to the campfire, as he painfully forced the words from his mouth.
The assassin smiled in triumph, "Wise choice mage." He said, walking into the camp, "I'm sure that this will well be worth your while, as well as mine...