His Swift Boots, a Killer Keeps Coveted.

The temple of Fredaine was in an uproar. Walisra had been missing for several days.

Verien was livid with anger. "How could she abandon her post, and me?" He said to himself.

"Do not trouble yourself, Verien. She will be found. Before then, we must find the girl whom Fredaine has chosen as her replacement."

"Kharlos, you can not be serious."

"Very serious." The old Vhaeraun priest grumbled. "If she is gone, then she has fallen out of favor with the Dark Concubine. As soon as she is found, she will be sacrificed to honor Fredaine. That is the way. It matters not how much you lust after her. After all, she is your sister."

"Half-sister."

"No matter. I am certain the new high priestess will serve your manhood as well as Walisra did, if not better. "

"I am going to the promenade to resume my duties. I may find a clue there."

"Remember to find out if any saw who killed Anga. Ty'Aero is upset because the keys to the foundry were taken. Without those keys, Ty'Aero can not collect the slaves he needs to run his machines."

"Damn his machines."

"Temper, Verien. Without those eyeless slaves, the spy screens on the guard golems would cease to work properly. You do not want to have him ask us to police the entire city, without pay?"

"I suppose not."

Verien smiled. He knew that Walisra preferred to take a bath in healing waters once a week. If he could catch her in the bathhouse, He would save face.

##########

"Well, I am off to the Grande Promenade to plant these keys on some unsuspecting slaver. " Korko said as he handed the copies to Lodo.

"Are you certain that these will work?" Lodo said as he carefully examined each key.

"Oh yes. Last night, after I finished the copies, I managed to aviod the oozes in the streets and test them on the main door, and on Fat Black's private door. They worked perfectly. There should be no reason why the others should not."

"You are a very brave man, Korko."

"I pride myself on it, as much as my deftness for picking pockets."

Lodo reached inside one of his pockets. A bag of coin was missing.

Korko smiled and handed Lodo back his purse. "No harm, just showing you my abilities."

"Please refrain from doing that again."

"I will." Korko said as he whistled and made his way out of the room.

##########

Ty'Aero made his way through the winding halls of the Jagged Palace. He never understood why Emperor Narashal IV found it necessary to build such a monstrosity. The palace was maddening. There were stairways that led nowhere, doors that opened into walls, windows that opened into hallways, and other such oddities.

The Jagged Palace was aptly named. From the outside it looked like floors were piled haphazardly atop each other at odd angles. Some days, Ty'Aero wondered if he pressed a finger against it, it might completely topple over.

The Palace was a ghost or spirit trap. Narashal believed if the souls of those who lived in Myth Fredaine went to some other place in the afterlife, heaven or hell, the gods would rain terror down on his head. There was a secret room, called a blue room, where the souls of all those that passed away within the wards of Myth Fredaine were trapped for all eternity.

Ty'Aero thought it was an extravagant nuisance. He stomped through the Kirisatt's harem and into the Emperor's secluded throne room.

"Well, advisor, have you found out about that annoying spell?"

"We have more urgent problems, Your Majesty. Anga Norsa is dead and Walisra has disappeared. I suspect he and Walisra were plotting to overthrow you, but I am not sure. I can know nothing for sure until I have located the whore. It seems the odd spell, and the disappearances are related."

"Well you had best find out soon! I have been impotent since yesterday!"

"Perhaps things will be better today at the spectacle in the arena. Perhaps once you beat the Ancient Captive, your virility will return. Unless, one of the city gods has done this to you in order to force you to lie with a woman and get an heir. One will do, Kirisatt. You are getting up in years. The whelp will be unable to kill you for the throne for at least a hundred years, so relax."

"Oh, you tell me to relax when a crazy spell is bouncing off the wards of the city and making me miserable. I should put you against the Supreme Slayer today."

"He would loose."

"You are overconfident, Ty'Aero." Kirisatt said as his servants dressed him in a flamboyant outfit for the days' activities. "Beware, Ty'Aero. Death comes from where you least expect it."

"Take your own advice, Emperor."

##########

Korko's face was white and ashen as he returned to the Safe house. He walked slowly, carrying a second copy of the keys to the Billowing Towers.

"What is the matter, Korko?" Katla asked as the trickster sat heavily on the bench at the table.

"Katla, when Lodo said that you killed six mind flayers and came out without a scratch, was it the truth?"

"Yes, what is your point." Katla wondered if this was just another insult.

"I went into the Billowing Towers again. I saw something I did not expect to see, and it frightened me. Believe me, I do not frighten easily."

"What did you see?"

"Mind flayers, dozens of them. There was also a big vat with something that looked like a brain inside. I think we have done a bad thing. I wondered why more people from the slums have disappeared in the last few days. Without Fat Black to keep them at bay, the Mind Flayers can be more open with their abductions.

Tessirak, who had mainly kept to himself while Lodo and the others worked on their plans, suddenly stood up and pushed back his hood. The circlet, which kept him disguised as an elf, haphazardly flew across the room, revealing the Githzerai's true form.

Tessirak was nearly six feet tall with gaunt features and yellowish freckled skin. His fingers and toes were meticulously manicured to resemble claws.

Korko jumped back saying, "monster!" under his breath.

"I am no monster. I am Githzerai Zerth. I am a hunter and killer of Illithids. My only purpose is to kill as many Illithids as there were in my Rrakkma. Katla may have killed several Illithids as she traveled below the surface of this land, but I have killed hundreds, by myself. "

A tear brimmed in Korko's eye. "The gods have truly smiled on me. My youngest daughter disappeared two months ago. I saw her inside. She and several others, which I can only assume were clerics, were in one of several large rooms. Sea water was fed into large vats. The clerics were purifying the water. I had no idea that is where the fresh water came from. I don't think anyone outside of the towers knows."

"I will prepare."

"We should wait until Lodo and Tharros get back. Is Solonund still asleep?"

"The tawny one is still asleep. The bard is out with Master Lodo. The courtesan is spending time alone."

Korko sighed and smiled.

##########

After Solonund woke from his extended reverie, he sat down with Korko, Katla and Tessirak to devise a plan before Lodo could naysay it.

"Perhaps that stuck up wizard will have more respect for me if I have a solid plan before he gets back." He said as he sauntered around the main room of the safe house with a cocky smirk on his face.

"You mean if we have a solid plan, Solonund. Remember, you have still not fulfilled the bargain with my father. It means you are still my servant."

"This is not a matter of oaths and politics, Lady Katla. This is a matter of people's lives. If Solonund wants his ego fed, let him have it." Korko said.

"We should be ready when the master returns. Quarreling over Solonund's lack of personal responsibility will slow the process." Tessirak said as he went over and stood in Solonund's path. "Nevertheless, a servant bound by oath should know his place. Your pacing makes my blood boil. Please sit at the table while we discuss the plan." Tessirak said as he bent down to catch Solonund's gaze.

Solonund shuddered as he looked deep into Tessirak's cold, steel gray eyes. Tessirak's permanent scowl and cool, unemotional, demeanor frightened Solonund. His eyes were the only part of Tessirak's body that showed any emotion. That Emotion usually was a seething hate, rimmed with despair.

"Uh, yes, uh, of course. How silly of me to think it was only my plan. Heh, heh."

"You are a waste of flesh." Tessirak said as he made his way back to the table.

##########

Walisra stretched as she walked into the main room. Although she was not used to wearing clothing, she found that the leather breeches, soft boots, and billowy shirt felt nice to wear. She wondered to herself why she ever tolerated being naked all of the time.

"Ah! How was your rest, my lovely." Solonund piped up as soon as she stepped into the room.

"The best I have had in many years. Although, I rather desperately need a bath. It is the first time I have ever gone without a bath for more than a day. I was wondering if Katla would like to go with me to the bathhouse. Actually, I was wondering if several of you could accompany me."

Solonund got a twinkle in his eye.

"Do not give me that look, Solonund. It is not perversion I want, but protection. Verien knows that I like to keep clean. I have no doubt he has been eyeing all of the bathhouses in the city, waiting for me to show up."

"Well, with all of the time you have been draping over Kunne in the last few days, you probably should have a bath." Korko snorted out with disgust.

"Kunne and I have done nothing but talk for the past few days. He knows I have had my fill of intercourse for the time being and he is willing to give me time. Kunne loves me and I love him. So, keep your mind out of your breeches, Korko."

"Sorry."

"Verien is a swift, cold-blooded killer. Without more than one to guard my person, I would be too easy of a target."

"What did you just say?" Katla said as she quickly went over to Walisra."

"I would be an easy target?"

"No, no, before that. The part about Verien."

"He is a swift, cold-blooded killer."

Katla mumbled something under her breath. "Walisra, does Verien have a favorite pair of boots?" Katla said as she caught Walisra's hands in hers and squeezed them tight.

"Well, yes. He never takes them off, except when he is in the bath."

Katla pulled Walisra into her arms and kissed her once on each cheek. "That has to be it! Solonund, you Korko will come with me to the bathhouse later this afternoon. I will go make arrangements for a bath for Walisra and myself. I hope you do not mind being the bait, Walisra."

"What are you talking about , Katla?"

"A trap. We are going to kill Verien and take his boots. Those boots do not belong to him. It is high time they be put in keeping to be given to their proper owner, don't you think?"

Walisra gasped, knowing exactly whom Katla meant.

##########

Lodo returned carrying the day's allotment of drinking water.

"Stradivarius, we have seen your daughter and the next group of women and children through the ancient gate. Thanks to Kunne shaking his near naked body around on that stage, I am certain that no one noticed them going."

"Selune be praised. With more and more being stolen from the slums, especially clerics, I am glad to have her out of danger for now."

Tharros went to the closet where the icon of Selune was kept, opened it and got on his knees. He made no sound other than fervent prayer.

"Lodo, what is the matter with Tharros?"

"Isn't it obvious, Katla? He is in love. He is praying for Corrina's safety."

"Oh." Katla replied as her mind recalled the face of Iasa. As she found a chair and mused over the memory, the face she saw slowly changed. The male's hair became fairer, with a tinge of red. The stars began to dance in the figure's eyes. It was the face of Corellon. This face in her thoughts was not of a lifeless icon or statue. The vision of Corellon in her mind was fierce, alive, strong and virile. Her heart skipped a beat and her face started to gain a rosy hue.

"Katla! I am getting very tired of you drifting off like that when I am trying to talk to you."

Katla shook her head a couple of times.

Lodo stood over her like a hungry vulture. "Are you listening now?"

"Sorry, Lodo. I haven't had much rest lately. What were you saying?"

"Walisra told me that you two have found out where Lokteruost's boots are." Lodo said, preferring to use the Ancient Captive's name. "She said you have already put the plan into motion, without my approval first."

"My blood is just as noble as yours, and my mind is just as sharp. Besides, Korko came up with most of the details of the plan. He knows Myth Fredaine well, and I trust his judgment as much as I do yours. You are no longer King of Brenvar, and you are certainly no king here. Quit trying to rule over me."

"Your father will have my head on a pike if anything happens to you. I am worried about my own head. I am not trying to be a ruler."

Kunne let out a stifled snicker. Everyone in the room listening to Lodo berate Katla turned away or shook their heads. Lodo was born to be a king. No matter how much Lodo fought it, everyone knew it was too ingrained in his being.

"A king can give up his throne, but the throne does not make him king. Admit it, Lodo, you are still a king deep down."

"Enough about my sovereignty, Katla. Tell me exactly what you have planned."

Lodo had Walisra write a note to Verien, asking him to meet her in one of the larger baths in the most luxurious bathhouse in the city, The Wellspring.

"Are you certain he will come without others? There is a price on your head after all."

"Yes, Lodo. He is very proud. He would consider it an insult if he did not come alone. Above that, he is obsessed with me. His own jealousy will work to our advantage."

"Good. Are we all ready?" Lodo shouted to those in the room putting on disguises in order to complete the trap.

A plethora of 'readys' came back.

"Lets get this over with then."

##########

Lodo cast his spell, creating a magic room behind the curtain, near the entrance to the chamber containing the large fragrant bath.

Warm water flowed from a false waterfall into a shallow pool which made up the bath.

Katla and Walisra lounged naked in the water and waited. Solonund and Kunne were disguised as their personal bath servants. Kunne rubbed fragrant oil into Walisra's shoulders as Solonund scrubbed Katla's back.

Solonund let out low groans as he tried to keep his thoughts under control. He loved Katla. He had bee in love with her since before Katla had married Iasa and before he had married his wife. He had constantly compared his late wife, Anaiys, to Katla. Katla had never returned the feelings, and Solonund did not want to push her. He cared about her too much.

Lodo looked at Solonund with thorough disgust. Solonund was the male that had stolen Lodo's precious Anaiys from him. Although Lodo fell in love again, married, and had children, he could never find it in his heart to forgive Solonund for stealing Anaiys away. He could not forgive Solonund for the way Solonund treated Anaiys. Solonund did those terrible things to Lodo's beloved, because of Katla.

"Quit glaring at me and get into your secret closet, Lodo, before you ruin Lady Katla's plan."

Lodo made a sound to show his livid disgust and disappeared into the magic room.

##########

Katla and Walisra made idle chit chat as Verien burst in the room.

"Ah. I knew you could not live without my touch for long. And who do you have with you?"

"Who the hell are you! And why do you address my slave so casually before you speak to me first!" Katla bellowed, "Naurailoki gave her to me as a present. He is wooing me after all. I will not have some stupid male usurping my authority!"

"What?!" Verien said as he stopped in his tracks in front of the pool. "I know nothing of this! And how do you know Ty'Aero's given name!"

"It is true, Verien. Ty'Aero gave me to his intended." Walisra said as she lowered her eyes.

Katla stood in the shallow pool and looked Verien up and down. She licked her lips. "Well, you are not so bad to look at. If I ask Naurailoki, I wonder if he will give you to me too. Take off your clothes. J oin me here in the bath. I doubt your body is as beautiful as Naurailoki's, but, he is so often busy, and my appetites are voracious."

Verien gasped. He had not recognized the beautiful sun elf without her clothing. This was indeed the female that Ty'Aero had his sights upon, and it was no wonder. She was as ruthless as she was beautiful. He found himself obeying her command without a thought.

"Oh, but you are a beauty." Katla crooned. "I will definitely have to add you to my other two male slaves here."

Verien's eyes strayed to Walisra and then back to Katla. Katla sat in the pool and ordered Walisra to rub her with fragrant oils.

"Don't look at her, slave, look at me. I am your mistress."

Katla motioned for Solonund and Kunne to attend her. Just the light fondling from the two the males on Katla kept Verien focused on her.

Verien was so involved in dallying with the two females that he did not notice Lodo, Tharros, Thelvin, Korko and Tessirak step out of their magically contrived hiding place. Thelvin threw Verien's cloak over the boots in order to pick them up.

Lodo stood in the doorway.

Tharros, Tessirak and Korko made their way to surround the pool.

"You are certainly more self assured than Walisra ever was. It must be true of females of noble birth."

Katla made a wicked smile, "Would you expect anything less of the Emperor's cousin?"

"That is not possible."

"Oh but it is. I was kept hidden away. I am a female, and can not take the throne, but, I can produce an heir. The Emperor counted on that."

"Very clever of him."

"Walisra, and you two, I am tired. Come towel me off."

Verien looked up at the group of men that had the pool surrounded. "Your bodyguards?"

"Yes."

"Milady, may I challenge this rouge? May I take his ring that signifies his position in the Veiled Knights?" Korko asked slyly.

"Yes. He is pretty, but he is insolent. I have no need for his kind. Kill him if you want." Katla said as she, Walisra, Solonund and Kunne put on robes and left the room. Tessirak and Thelvin followed closely behind them.

Verien's eyes went wide. It was a trap. He knew that one day Ty'Aero would kill him, but Verien did not suspect the wizard would use his paramour to do it.

Verien leapt from the bath and grabbed his breeches. From inside a secret pocket, he took out a leaf and swallowed it. He grabbed a dagger and fought the three remaining in the room before the poison took its effect, hoping to kill at least one of them before he died himself.

Without his boots, Verien was slow and clumsy. Lodo and Tharros did not engage in the fight. They stood by to keep Verien from escaping.

Korko plunged his dagger easily through Verien's chest. "I have avenged my wife, whom you raped and killed." As Verien slipped into death, Korko took Verien's signet and slipped it on his own finger. "I am now the master of the Veiled Knights, Lodo. We should be able to have full use of their secret tunnels now."

"What a waste." Lodo said as he spit on Verien's body.

##########

Lokteroust watched as the sky turned pale. He blinked as another vision flooded into his mind. he remembered the scent of the flowers in his garden and how much he loved tending them.

"Demadin'amin." He whispered. "Named for she whose name could never be spoken, but could never be forgotten."

##########

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