8th Day of Fireseek, 565 CY
The Brass Dragon Inn, Furyondy

Caroline Bigfellow tossed and turned under the woolen sheet. She was restless. She knew it was due to her husband not being here, but that knowledge didn't make it any easier to endure. The bed she was in was of very high quality, but not having Argo next to her felt so unnatural, she might as well have been trying to sleep outside on the cold earth in a blizzard.

She sat up in bed, frowning. Argo was in all likelihood going to be gone at least a week, if not more. It was going to be a very long week indeed if she couldn't quiet the thoughts running through her head. Caroline glanced over to Grock, who was curled up at the foot of her bed, looking at her.

"Keeping you up?" she asked, with a grim smile on her face.

The wardog yawned at her, then laid his head down again.

Caroline rested her head on her knees. "We need to find you a mate, Grock. Just make sure that neither of you ever has to train up." She looked towards the door, debating about whether anyone might still be awake at the inn that she could talk to.

As odd as it seemed, she really didn't have a deep enough friendship with any of the other people she lived with. It was strange, Caroline thought. She'd probably die in combat for any one of them without a second thought, yet she couldn't see herself baring her soul to any one of them, even Talass the priestess.

Especially Talass the priestess. Despite their common gender, Talass was second only to Aslan in being the individual most likely to get Caroline's dander up. Although Talass would on occasion speak informally to Caroline about her problems, the younger woman had never felt like she could reciprocate in kind. Still, she had on occasion seen behind their masks and knew the good, kind hearts that lay behind them. Caroline just wasn't used to talking out her problems. Of course, she still wasn't exactly sure what her problems were.

Was it her frustration at still not being able to conceive a child after two years of trying?

Was it her resentment at being forced to retire" from a career that she had never had?

Or was it something else?

There had been certain nights. Not many, but a few, starting several weeks ago. She would be lying in bed with Argo, her head resting on her sleeping husband's chest, listening and feeling the deep, regular pattern of his breathing. Usually if she couldn't sleep, this would help her drift quickly off, but on these nights, nameless images and thoughts which had no words would collide in her mind, clamoring for her attention. She would try to concentrate on them, try to sort them out into something understandable, but they remained elusive.

It wouldn't last long of course, and eventually she would be fast asleep, molding into her husband's form as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Still, it bothered her when this would happen. The only thing she would ever take away from those nights was a sense of incompleteness.

A crucial task- left unfinished.

Something absolutely vital- left undone.

Maybe Monsrek would know, she thought. He may not have been a priest of Zeus, but he seemed to be a warm, understanding man, with a twinkle in his eye and an easy laugh. She imagined Argo being much like him in about twenty years or so. She was uncertain whether he would still be up at this late hour and debated whether it would be worth the effort of getting dressed and going out into the cold to find out.

Grock suddenly picked up his head and looked towards the door. Soon, Caroline could hear the sound of someone approaching the door. It was one person, but that was about all she could determine. The wardog didn't bark, so it was someone he knew.

There came the expected knocking, and then Aslan's voice. "Caroline? Are you awake? I'm sorry to disturb you, but may I speak with you?"

Caroline was mildly surprised. She had certainly been expecting Aslan to update her on Argo's status, but not until tomorrow. One of the paladin's better features was that he was loath to disturb other members of the party. In general, Aslan went to bed earlier and woke up later than any of the others. Caroline knew it had something to do with him "mindresting" and his Talent, although she didn't know exactly how that worked.

"A moment please, Aslan. I'll be right there." She started scrambling to get dressed. Caroline did not own a night robe and had no intention of appearing before Aslan wrapped in a sheet. As she was giving herself a quick once-over, she suddenly stopped cold.

What if it was Nodyath? She glanced over at Grock. Could he smell the difference between them, or not? Her heart started to pound, but then she realized she was being foolish. Nodyath would simply teleport in. Stone walls couldn't stop his Talent, any more than they could stop Aslan's. Sometimes, Mrs. Bigfellow, you can be a real idiot, she thought ruefully to herself. Nodyath is dead. We've got enough problems as it is. She took a deep breath, unlocked the door (those locks had cost a pretty copper, but she was very glad for them) and opened the door, Grock now at her heels.

The paladin was standing there, his hands clasped in front of him, a carefully neutral expression on his face. Caroline knew she was at a disadvantage here. As her husband had often told her, she had no bluffing face. Caroline always wore her emotions on her sleeve. Argo did too, but he could conceal them when he had to. That was why he was a much better diplomat and gambler than she was.

She smiled as best she could at him and asked, "Yes, Aslan?"

He cleared his throat. "Again, my apologies for disturbing you, Caroline. I thought it was best if I told you tonight what was going on with your husband."

Uh-oh, Caroline thought. When he says, 'your husband' instead of 'Argo', he's miffed. Argo must have really needled him or something. That wasn't too smart of him, considering he wanted Aslan to take him to Willip in the first place. Well, maybe it won't be that bad. She continued to smile at the paladin, thinking she was probably looking like the proverbial village idiot.

Aslan continued. "Argo is going to the church of Zeus tomorrow to request a religious quest from the High Priest. Of course, he has no way of knowing yet how long this will take, so at this point there is no way of knowing when Argo will be back."

Caroline frowned at him in puzzlement. "A religious quest?" she asked.

"Apparently, the money he had with which he was going to pay for his training, wasn't enough" the paladin replied, now looking hard into Caroline's eyes.

Despite herself, the young woman's eyes flickered down. Aslan saw it, and she knew that he had seen it.

Aslan sighed. You too, Caroline? I had hoped that Argo had deceived you as he did me, but... ah, well.

Caroline stared at the floor as she listened to the paladin continue. "Argo attempted to make up the shortfall by gambling. He lost it all."

There was a long silence.

Well, what in Hades is he waiting for? thought Caroline as she studied the top of Grock's head. We all know what the story is now. Why is he rubbing it in like this? Dammit, Argo was doing this for all of our sakes! Can't you see that, you son of a-

She looked back up at Aslan and put on what was probably the weakest attempt at a smile she had ever done, even for her.

"Well, thank you very much, Aslan, for letting me know."

He gave a curt nod with his eyes. "You're quite welcome." The paladin hesitated. "There is more."

I can't wait to hear it. Trembling just slightly now, Caroline asked, "Yes?"

Aslan nodded briefly in the direction of the inn. "I've just spoken to Elrohir. Since Bellicose is now dead, he's decided that it would be more efficient for a small group to simply teleport to Sandcats' old lair and search it, since we now need not be worrying about encountering her there. Therefore, tomorrow I will be taking Elrohir and Tojo to the lair."

Caroline shrugged. "Okay."

"In addition, Sir Dorbin and his party will be leaving tomorrow for Willip. Sir Dorbin wishes to speak with Lancoastes, the High Priest of Heironeous there, about finding a possible way back home to Aarde for them."

Caroline really didn't give a fig about Sir Dorbin, but it did give her an opportunity to keep the conversation on safer subjects. "I thought they were going to skin the dragon first. Wasn't that going to take weeks?"

Now it was Aslan's turn to shrug. "Apparently, Sir Dorbin has neither the skills nor the equipment for that task. He is taking several sections of hide to sell in Willip, and his wizards, along with Cygnus, have been taking blood samples and- other things, which they claim to be able to either use themselves or sell there." His tone made it clear that he considered the whole thing slightly distasteful. "Cygnus will be escorting them there, so we will be without his services for a few days, as well."

"All right," Caroline said. Now she really did feel like going back to bed.

Aslan gave a tight smile. "Just keeping the lines of communication open." He turned to leave. "Good night."

A sudden upwelling of anger surged all through Caroline's body. Does he even care about Argo, or does he just see our supposed weaknesses? she wondered. "You know," she said loudly.

Aslan turned back to look at her.

Caroline cleared her throat. "Those religious quests can be very dangerous. I hope that Argo will be all right."

Aslan's face lost its smile. He didn't like being baited.

"I'm sure your husband will be fine, Caroline," he said tersely. "He is a big boy, you know." He paused. "Physically, anyway."

Caroline stared at Aslan, open-mouthed. Her face flushed red, and then she slammed the door in his face.

Aslan chewed his lip, considering. That was stupid. It was way over the line. I just get so frustrated sometimes with these people! Why do they insist on hiding everything? Does that help any one of us? I wish they'd stop thinking of me as the enemy- I'm not! I'd give my life for any one of them! Can't they see that?

Caroline is right though, he considered. I know what those quests can be like. Maybe I should...

The paladin shook his head and headed towards his house.

"Mirage!" he called out. His faithful wardog came running to his side. As Aslan was unlocking the door to his house, he saw Cygnus, Torlina and Flond heading towards the Brass Dragon. "Cygnus!" he yelled.

The mage turned to look at him. "Yes?" he shouted.

"Is everything all set for tomorrow?"

The wizard nodded. "Yes." Something about the tone of Aslan's voice unsettled him. "Is everything all right, Aslan?" he called out. "Is there anything I can do?"

The paladin regarded him grimly. "Yes, Cygnus, there is something you can do. You can add all of our names to that Enemies List of yours. It'll be a blessed miracle if we all don't wind up killing each other before they do."

He went into his house, Mirage slipping in with him. The door closed behind him.

Well, if she couldn't sleep before, she sure as hell wasn't going to get any sleep now! Caroline alternated between pounding her pillow with her fists and stalking about the cabin. Grock whimpered and retreated to a far corner. His mistress was in a full-blown rage. Caroline kept picturing Aslan with Sir Dorbin at the inn, laughing and mocking Argo and her. Calling them selfish, chaotic, unpredictable, foolish. She swore at the four walls, telling them what a fool she'd been to think that Aslan was a kindly person underneath his mask.

"That's all he is!" she shouted at Grock. "A mask! A pompous, hypocritical blowhard of a..." she uttered an inarticulate sound of strangled fury and sat back down heavily on her bed, sweating and breathing hard. Slowly, she lowered her face into her hands. She really wished Argo were here now.

There was another knock at the door. Caroline picked her face up. She wasn't sure, but she thought only about five or ten minutes had elapsed. She glanced over at Grock, who was again looking at the door without barking.

Maybe it's Aslan come to apologize, she thought. She composed herself as best she could and slowly walked over to the door. Well, maybe I'll accept it, and maybe I'll just run him through with my sword. What else can you expect from us 'impulsive' people? With her very best self-control, she asked, "Who is it?"

"It's Talass, Caroline. May I come in?"

Caroline rolled her eyes. Almighty Zeus, what did I do to deserve this? Scowling, she unlocked the door again and went back to her bed and sat down upon it.

The cleric slowly entered and stood in the entranceway to the bedroom area. "Good evening, Caroline."

Caroline made no attempt to hide her feelings. "Upon all that's holy Talass, if you've come here to lecture-"

Talass held up her hand. "Wait a minute. Stop. What are you talking about?"

The young woman eyed the priestess suspiciously.

"Didn't Aslan tell you? Didn't he tell everyone about Argo? And me?"

Talass seemed genuinely puzzled. "No. What about Argo and you?'

Caroline let out a deep breath. She hadn't expected Aslan not to spill the beans about this, and now she'd put herself into a tight spot. "Nothing, actually. Well, er, Argo went to Willip to train up, and he's going to ask for a religious quest tomorrow in exchange for it."

Talass nodded slowly. It was painfully obvious that Caroline was holding something back, but she felt this was certainly the wrong time to probe. "I see," she said carefully. "Well, I hope he comes back to us safe and sound, and as soon as possible."

Argo's wife nodded slowly. She could feel the beginnings of tears in her eyes. "So do I," she whispered. She blinked them clear, and then looked up at the cleric. "I'm sorry, Talass, what is it you wanted again?"

Talass' expression was grim, even for her. "As you may know, Cygnus will be leaving with the Sir Dorbin party for Willip tomorrow."

Caroline nodded slowly.

"And as you also know, my sister Talat was put on trial two days ago." Talass' voice sounded unsteady to Caroline's ears. "She has probably been executed by now."

Caroline stood up. "But she didn't participate in Nodyath and Mendoleer's crimes. She may not even have known about them! Would the laws of this kingdom allow-"

Talass cut her off. "She is a priestess of Hextor in the greatest kingdom of Heironeous in the Flanaess. Unless she had a dramatic conversion right there in front of Baron Chartrain himself, she would have no chance. What I would like, if it is at all possible, is for you to accompany Cygnus and the others to Willip."

She received a questioning look. "To ascertain whether or not Talat has indeed been executed," Talass continued, with a deep breath. "And, if so, to see if it would be possible for us to obtain her body. I would like to return it home to the Fruztii." She swallowed hard. "I know it would be more forthright to go myself, but her blasphemy could taint us all if our relationship became widely known, and we cannot afford ill rumors circulating about us. Not at this time."

Caroline slowly walked over to Talass. Now, it seemed to her as if it was the priestess who was trying to hold back tears. Caroline awkwardly gave Talass' shoulder a quick squeeze. "Of course, Talass," she replied. "I'd be happy to go to Willip for you."

"Thank you Caroline," she said softly. For the first time that Caroline could remember, Talass seemed to be at a loss for words. The cleric smiled weakly at her while gesturing helplessly with her hands. "She- she was my little sister."

She quickly turned around and left, closing the door quietly behind her.

Very slowly, Caroline Bigfellow sat back down on her bed, and rested her chin in her palm. She took a deep breath and let it out, and then glanced over at Grock, who was once again curled up at the foot of the bed.

"So," she smiled grimly at him. "Keeping you up?"

The wardog yawned at her.