Brand sprang nimbly over the small gap that lay between the Butcher Block Docks and the ship that was leaving to Freeport. Kel flew across the opening and leaded perfectly next to the half-elf. The boat moved further away from the docks as Mirk and his son, Slith, hurtled over the larger gap. The four laughed lightly before handing the stunned captain of the ship a couple of pieces of gold.

"I hate boatsss." Slith sat against the railing and held his head in his hands. "I love water, but hate boatsss." He moaned.

"We've barely left the docks and you're already sick?" Brand placed his packs, along with everyone else's in a small pile.

"Ssshove it, pointy earsss, before I tossssss you over the ssside." Slith threatened.

"Ressst alwaysss helpsss, my ssson." Mirk patted Slith's shoulder.

"How can I ressst with all of you pessstering me?" Slith raised his head and glared.

"Don't give me that look." Mirk growled.

"Thisss isss going to be an excellent rrride." Kel sat his large feathery rump down and smiled.

"I'm going below deck to drown my worries in ale.and so I don't have to hear those two arguing." Brand ran down the steps leading to the small bar that the ship offered.

Kel turned back to the bickering iksars; his smile grew wider each time one of the lizardmen shouted an insult to the other. He watched Mirk raise his clawed hand as if to smack his son's head, but the iksar put it down before anything happened. The griffin laughed and laid his great mass on the wooden floorboards to watch in a more comfortable position.

*****

Papsworth hovered over Lielay as he stared and smiled. "It was very nice of that druid to port us here so we didn't have to take a ship." He said to Lielay who was tied up and gagged.

Lielay started saying insolent remarks, but the cloth in her mouth only allowed her to mumble. Vinx stroked his chin as he put his arm around Victoria's shoulders. "What do you want us to tell our friend at the arena?"

"Tell him to prepare some fighters for a couple of duels. Tell him that he will have three or four days to practice since the boat should dock within those days." Papsworth smoothed his red vest and stood. "Victoria, stay here while Vinx and I go to report this information." He eyed the female dark elf.

"Why do you have to go?" Victoria sneered.

"I have to tell these moronic humans the next clue to where to find Lielay if her rescuers are successful in the duels." Papsworth pushed Vinx and the two began their way.

"Intolerable bastard." Victoria said under her breath.

"Mmmm hmmm." Lielay nodded her head in agreement before sighing heavily and closing her eyes to rest.

*****

After three days of nerve-racking days of sailing, the four; Kel, Slith, Mirk, and Brand pushed their way through the busy, crowded streets of Freeport. Mirk had told them that an old and loyal friend of his and Lielay's lived in Freeport and would most likely help them on their quest. That was where their first stop was; to this mysterious friend of the iksar's.

Leading his companions down abandoned, dirty back alleys and streets, Mirk stopped outside an ordinary house and knocked promptly. Nothing happened. Mirk rapped his knuckles on the door again, only this time he shouted if any one was home. The shuffling of feet was heard from behind the door and Mirk stepped back. The human that answered yawned loudly and shielded his dim blue eyes from the late morning light.

"I just got to sleep a few hours ago. Who and what do you want?" the human ran his fingers through his light brown hair that was streaked with gray.

"Aubrey Bressskin. I've got a quessstion to asssk of you." Mirk shook his friend's hand.

"Well, Mirk, you were always the one to bombard me with questions. Fire away." Aubrey opened is door wider and allowed the others to file in.

"Lielay's been kidnapped by Papsworth." Brand said before Mirk even opened his mouth to talk.

"Papsworth!" Aubrey growled. "Yes, I will help. Don't look at me like that, I knew you were going to ask for some sort of help." Aubrey threw open a cabinet and pulled out a dusty sword.

"Good. We're going to the arena now. That's where we were instructed to go." Brand walked out the door.

Arriving at the Freeport Arena fifteen minutes later, the five stepped down the poorly lit corridor until they came to the room where the Master of the Arena sat. The man already knew who they were and without a word, he motioned them to follow him. Stopping at a thick wooden door, the man grabbed Slith and his staff and pushed him into the sand covered arena. He did the same with the remaining four as well, except Kel, because Kel was too big to be pushed, the griffin just walked onto the arena after his friends.

Already waiting for them, were six gladiator-like warriors. There were two ogres, two humans, a troll, and a dark elf. The Master of the Arena appeared on a high ledge and shouted for the duels to begin. Immediately, Slith charged one of the ogres and bashed it with his staff. The balding monster let out a war cry and swung his large mace around, trying to smash it against Slith.

Brand jabbed his sword into one of the human's thighs, but the warrior barely flinched as he jumped forward to attack the half-elf. He thrusted his hilt of his weapon into Brand's jaw. The bard crumpled on the ground.

Screeching, Kel tackled the human and ripped at the armor on his neck and chest. Brand rolled over and plucked the metal neckband off of the warrior. Kel dug his beak into the pathetic man's neck and killed him.

Meanwhile, Mirk lashed out his tail and swiped the dark elf's head with it. Leaping into the air, Mirk kicked the unaware elf into the arena wall where his head hit and split in the back. A trail of blood stained the wall as the dark elf slid down. Mirk hissed and then jumped onto the troll's back that was attacking his son.

"These are supposed to be warriors?" Aubrey yelled up at the master. "They're just everyday ruffians you find on the streets." He laughed as he pulled his sword out of the second ogre's neck.

Slith and Brand slammed the second human between them before both of them brought down their weapons. The human blocked Brand's blade with his own, but was hit by Slith's staff in the ribcage. The man grunted as his lower ribs broke. As more anger swelled up in his heart, Brand held his sword with two hands and pushed it through the human's exposed head.

Bucking up on his hind legs, Kel waved his front talons in the face of the troll to scare him back into Mirk and Aubrey's deadly weapons. The troll screamed menacingly and pushed the griffin to the ground. Kel's belly lay bare to the troll as he tried to turn over off his back. Kel gulped as the troll started to bring his nasty looking club down. Brand, Slith, Mirk, and Aubrey all pulled the troll back by his disgusting loincloth allowing Kel to roll away unharmed. The four quickly worked together and disposed of the unworthy creature. So ended the duels with only minor wounds, except Brand's broken jaw that they would get a healer to fix.

"Was that the best you could send us Papsworth!" Aubrey shouted as loud as he could.

"Very impressing." The Master of the Arena stood before them. "The high elf told me to give you, if you succeeded in killing my men, this letter that will explain where you have to go next." He handed Aubrey the paper and left the bloody arena.

"Doesss that elf think we'rrre playing a game of chassse?" Kel barked.

Aubrey began to read the letter a loud: "Well done on beating your first task. How did you enjoy it? Anyway, your next clue lies at the bottom of the small lake in Riverdale. One of you must swim to the bottom, somehow unlock a small chest buried in the sand, and bring the clue to the surface. It's quite an easy task; it won't take you that long. Farewell, until you receive my next clue." Aubrey sighed and passed the letter to Mirk.

"I alwaysss knew Papsssworth was mentally ill, thisss jussst provesss it more." Mirk stated.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Slith said to his group.

"Nothing." Brand held his jaw as he ushered them off the arena, grabbed their supplies, and hurried out onto Freeport's streets.