15th Day of Goodmonth, 565 CY
Suderham, The Pomarj
The two polymorphed individuals regarded each other.
There's no barrier between you and your enemy this time, Aslan. The paladin's thoughts raced. You can't afford to let a single thing slip.
He put on an officious smile. "Only you can answer that question, good sir."
"Indeed," the gaunt humanoid admitted, tilting his head to allow his sunken eyes to sweep over Aslan's face again.
The paladin used this opportunity to take a quick look at the rest of Blackthorn. The patrol leader still wore his ill-fitting chain shirt under his new brown tabard, although his right hand grasped the shaft of an ordinary spear and not his naginata. If Aslan had harbored any doubt about the ogre mage's regenerative abilities, they were put to rest now.
Even with my Talent, I couldn't reattach my own arm, he realized.
Then he started to gasp, and only half-managed to choke it off. Alomovar's brown eyes took in the two sheathed swords now resting on Blackthorn's hip.
The daisho! Aslan mentally screamed to himself. That's Icar's katana and wakizashi! By all that's holy, if Tojo sees that, he'll go berserk! Everything will be lost- thank the Aesir I came here alone!
Blackthorn hadn't missed the paladin's new expression. "Something wrong?"
Aslan tried to recover. "I'd be less than honest if I wouldn't admit that your appearance… could give one pause, my good sir."
The ogre mage's brow furrowed. He was frowning now.
He's not buying it, thought Aslan. I could just teleport away and create a new identity, but he'd make the connection for sure.
For whatever reason, at this point the moneylender seemed determined to contribute to the conversation. He cleared his throat and began. "This is Alomovar, captain. He negotiates contracts for the largest merchant houses in kingdoms all around the Wooly Bay area. This is his second or third visit here, I think." He finished with a questioning gaze at Aslan, who was all too happy to nod in confirmation.
So that's who I am, Aslan thought wryly. He let his body relax just a notch as Blackthorn seemed to accept this information.
The exchanger then held up a wheatshaff. "Hell, the man's even been to Furyondy!"
Blackthorn took the gold piece from the lender and examined it closely, and then returned to his study of Alomovar's face. "Indeed?" he repeated, more curious than ever.
Thank you so much for mentioning that, you weasel. Aslan fought to suppress snarling at the moneylender and instead put his smile back on to meet the little man's gaze. "Wherever potential people of interest reside, that's where you'll find me."
The paladin turned back to look Blackthorn straight in the eye. "Forgive me," he said calmly. "I believe our mutual friend here was introducing us, captain, but I didn't quite catch your name."
Blackthorn still seemed to be trying to make up his mind about the situation, so the exchanger jumped in again. "This is Captain Blackthorn. He joined us only about two weeks ago at the personal behest of the Slave Lords." The man puffed up, sounding like he was trying to make the town rulers' reputation rub off on his own.
Aslan's forced smile abruptly became genuine. By Odin, they demoted you, didn't they, Blackthorn? Punishment for letting the stockade fall?
Realizing he was getting into still-deeper waters, the paladin suddenly turned off his smile. Blackthorn's own smile was clearly the false one now.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Alomovar. We welcome those who can contribute to our way of life here. Tell me," the ogre mage continued in a tone that seemed too casual to Aslan, "what do you think of that earth tremor we had this morning? What do you think it portends?" He again peered keenly at Alomovar's face, looking more for visual clues than listening to whatever his reply might be.
The moneylender however, jumped in first again.
"I heard a crier a few hours ago with a pronouncement from High Priest Mordrammo. He said it was due to enemies of the Earth Dragon being among us."
Blackthorn had turned to eye the little man for this, but now he turned back to Aslan. His smile was again genuine.
"A wise man, Mordrammo. Wouldn't you agree, Alomovar?"
Aslan kept his return smile just as intense.
"The gods choose carefully whom they pick as their servants."
Blackthorn nodded in agreement. "As should we all. Stay well and healthy, gentlemen." And with that, the tall humanoid left the shop. Aslan watched but could not overhear as the captain conferred with his men, and then they all continued north up the street.
Aslan waited until he had received his Suderham money in exchange, minus fifteen percent- ten for the town and a paltry five for an honest moneylender trying hard to support his family. The paladin nodded curtly to the exchanger's complaints as he replaced the money in his belt pouch and then left the shop himself.
I've got to get over to the White Knight and warn the others, he thought. Tell them not to let Blackthorn catch sight of any of them.
Another thought, uninvited, thrust itself to the forefront of Aslan's mind even as he began to head southwards.
And above all else, I can't let Tojo know Blackthorn is carrying those swords. I can't even tell anyone who might tell him. Damn it- once again we're keeping secrets from those that we care about.
The paladin shook his head in frustration even as he picked up his pace.
One of these days that's going to be the death of us all.