Chapter 2
It took Dorm and Jaina an hour to convince Roxi to let them keep the Goblet of Maridoc and take it out of the city. After Jaina had explained her situation once more, the ranger told Roxi that she could take some of Timber's winnings and donate them to the temple of Kiri-Jolith. Roxi didn't like the idea of stealing an item that belonged to a church and taking it to an evil wizard, but in th eyes of Mishakal, helping Jaina getting her friend back safely was more important.
Getting the rogue to part with some of his winnings was pretty easy. All Dorm had to do was ask Timber while he was passed out drunk. "Yeah Dorm sure whatever," the elf had replied when the ranger asked him if he could borrow his coin bag.
After buying a cart and two horses with some of his own money, Dorm, Jaina, Roxi, and Timber (who was still passed out) left the town of Luinstat in the middle of the night.
Roxi looked up into the bright sky, her eyes fixed on the infinity constellation. "The stars are burning brightly tonight."
Jaina nodded as she found the constellation of the blue phoenix. Dorm nodded, also spotting the same group of stars while he drove the cart. They were the celestial symbol of Habbakuk. He then looked over at Timber, who was snoring loudly. "Is he going to be all right Roxi?"
"Oh he'll be fine," Roxi answered, turning her attention to the rogue. "When I got back to the tavern, he was doing a horrible rendition of the Song of Huma, and drinking with two gorgeous woman. When he saw me, he started singing," Roxilan I wuv you." Jaina giggled and Dorm laughed. The cleric reached behind her back and grabbed her Eagle Headed Staff for Jaina to see. "So I hit him with my staff a couple of times and then picked him up over my shoulder. I then casted a locate object spell to find you."
Jaina looked back at Timber. "I thought elves were honorable and graceful."
"Timber is only like that when he wants to be," Roxi answered with a sigh.
"He is also a good friend," Dorm remarked as he turned back to look at Jaina. "We've all been on the road together for quite sometime now. We all met while we joined up with the Legion of Steel years ago. By the way Jaina, I couldn't help but notice that you have some elven heritage as well.
Jaina nodded. "My father was an elf, and was a part of the Legion of Steel. My mother had died shortly after giving birth to me. When I was only a few months old, my father left me with my aunt Sinistra, and gave me something to remember him. He then left Two Creek and was never seen again.
"I'm sorry," whispered Roxi. Jaina shook her head and patted the half kender on the shoulder.
"Growing up wasn't too rough," Jaina continued. "I did make some friends, but being a half elf, I was afraid of getting too close to many of the children."
Dorm nodded. "You shouldn't be afraid of getting close with someone. You should live life to the fullest and make as many friends as possible. At least that's what my mother always used to tell me."
"Looks like Timber doesn't need help in that area," the half kender priestess of Mishakal chuckled as they rode into the night.
Dorm walked inside the room just as Timber woke up. The elf let out a painful groan as he sat up. Despite the rapid throbbing of his skull, the rogue noticed that he was in a different place. He expected to see the girls he had bought drinks with laying next to him, but instead he found Dorm standing at the end of the bed. "What happened? Dorm where are we?"
Dorm quickly brought the half elf up to speed on the events that happened in the last few hours. The ranger finished by telling him that they had failed to get a teleport to the City of Lost Names. Timber noticed the bags under the ranger's eyes and the cuts and blusters on his hands. "What have you been up to Dorm?"
The ranger blushed slightly. "I have been sparring with Jaina while you and Roxi were sleeping." The elf suddenly remembered the images of Roxi holding her staff and swinging it at him. His head began to throb harder.
Timber reached in his pocket and found only a few steel pieces, then remembered that Dorm had just told that Roxi had donated his money to the church. "The City of Lost Names. Thats located in the Northern Wastes," he remarked in attempt to take his mind off losing the money.
"Yep, and if I remember correctly, the City of Lost Names is pretty old, and probably full of treasure," Dorm replied softly.
Timber grinned while Dorm scratched his chin. They both looked at the door where Roxi and Jaina stood. Roxi smiled slyly at the elf, then walked away. Jaina looked at Dorm and said," Its time to go."
Timber nodded, then stood up. "All right I'll drive. But don't you two fall asleep on me. The last thing I need is to listen to that robbing half kender talk about religeon all the way to the City of Lost Names.
"I heard that!" Roxi shouted from the hallway.