Chapter Four
The Friendly Arm Inn had been a stronghold of the evil god Bhaals, now it served as a halfway house to merchants, travellers and vagabonds. It was run by two gnomes Bentley Mirrowshade and his wife Gellana. If a traveller needed rest, supplies or even just some juicy gossip Friendly Arm Inn was the place to go... and it was heavily guarded. This last fact was what made Kat most comfortable.
The sight of the stone fortress made her feel warm. They had been walking for three days, it took longer as the party originally had been heading the wrong way and it was only when they got to a sign saying Candlekeep that Xzar thought he should mention that they were on the wrong path. The prospect of a soft bed and hot meal that wasn't 'whatever we caught or fought' sounded most appealing. The diseased gibberling stew had been a low point of the trip.
Do you think Jaheira and Khalid are still waiting?
"We can only hope... or else it's just us" Kat gazed at her companions, Imoen skipping down the road, Xzar arguing... with himself and Montaron picking his nose.
That's a disturbing thought Kat felt the small dragon shiver in her cloak.
"Still talking to that reptilian rat? People will start thinking you're crazy, if you don't stop talking to yourself" Imoen grinned. She had never understood the wizard familiar concept and she had only a few months ago given up asking Kat to make her one...
I'll Reptilian rat her... I am a part of a distinguished race, proud and mighty.
Kat struggled to keep a straight face just nodding towards her friend.
The fortress draw bridge hanged down, two guards stood guard or rather one stood erect while the other one had his helmet down over his eyes, leaning back against the wall.
"Bernick, Bernick, we have travellers"
A small grunt escaped from under the helmet.
"Shouldn't we ask them to state their business?"
"No"
"...Right... what about telling them the rules of the Arm? How we will be keeping an eye on them"
"Listen Rookie, Do you know how many people come through here? I don't and I don't care. Our job is to stand here." Bernick replied gruffly still he hadn't moved.
"I thought it was to serve and protect" The young guard muttered disappointed.
"... Blast the pantheon, why did I end up partnered with this tool"
The party wondered through the gate, obviously the books Kat had read over exaggerated the security; she smiled slightly towards the rookie who blushed.
"Bernick, Bernick did you see her! She was an elf, an actual Elf!" He exclaimed.
"By the gods Tomas shut up"
The Friendly Arm was very different from Candlekeep where the majority of its residences were scholars... she was unprepared for all the noise, between merchants selling their wares and drunken louts.
"Do we have any money Kat?" Imoen asked excited.
Don't give her any do you remember when you allowed her to be in charge of the money from the magic shows... worst idea ever
Kat shook her head.
"What about the 30g we found?"
"We need that money" Kat stated firmly leaving Imoen to her sulk.
She wondered idly what Jaheira and Khalid would be like? She had only met a couple of Gorion's friends and whenever they had spoke about interesting topics she was always given a errand that simply couldn't wait... but here she had a chance to find out more about her foster father.
She was nervous about meeting his friends, and wondered if they would blame her for his death. She had stood by and watched... regardless of the 'hold' spell there should have been something she could do right...
Montaron gently tucked away a couple of pouches of coins, watching the crowd suspiciously, in his left hand tightly clasped and hidden was a curved dagger.
Kat nervously glances towards the guards making her way quickly towards the Inn and far from Montaron. The Inn was the centre of the grounds.
In the middle of the stairs stood a robed man, a staff clasped tightly stopping customers as they entered the Inn. His eyes met Katriel's.
I don't like this
"Don't be so suspicious... maybe his lost" Kat muttered as the man strolled up to her, he intently staring at her face.
"By any chance are you the one I have been looking for?" He asked.
Lie, this mage doesn't smell right Tiryns hissed, disappearing from vie
"That would depend on who you are looking for."
"Kat! Kat!... Katriel" Imoen yelled out trying to get her attention.
The mages eyes glinted.
"Katriel from Candlekeep, foster child of Gorion... I have been waiting for you" The mages figures started to create complicated designs... the air around Kat changed as she could feel the tingling of the mage drawing in the magical energy.
Before spell could be caste Kat stuck her staff into the man's knees. He stumbled as she ran off into the street. A fireball hit a close by hay bundle... turning to face her attacker. She was tired of running, anger boiled within her.
"Tiryns shield" She commanded. As she started to chant, drawing the power from the world around her. The mage started to laugh. Casting a spell, that slammed into Tiryns' shield which glowed on impact.
Imoen ran to get the guards including the surly guard and his young charge who was grinning from ear to ear. Coming to Katriel's defence their swords falling on the mage, who burned an unknown guard, his team mates dragging him away while he screamed hysterically.
Kat released a magic missile towards the mage. As Tiryns' shield took another hit breaking the force field. Katriel collapsed to her knees. Imoen rushed to her side trying to aid her to her feet.
Finding an opening Tomas' sword sliced though the mages defences. The mage collapsed to the ground as another guard swiftly executed him.
Bernick tipped his head towards Katriel before returning to his post while Tomas bragged constantly about taking the mage down, on his first day on the job.
Imoan aided Katriel up onto her feet.
"I leave you for a few minutes and you already get yourself in trouble, yesh" Imoen rolled her eyes.
"Thanks" Kat muttered. How had they found her? More important why, searching through the dead mages robes
Imoen gasped quickly grabbing the mages spell book.
"Imagine what I could do with this!"
"Nothing, Imoen you're a thief not a mage" Kat stated still rampaging through the dead mans belongings.
"I bet I could still caste some of these, come on let me caste a cleansing spell on Montaron"
"Imoen, we do not caste spells on companions... How many time do I have to say that! Anyway it makes better sense that a mage has the spell books"
"That's hardly fair now"
"Fine, why don't we share it... and I will teach you a few simple spells" Kat smiled.
"No way, I know what you are like with your spells" Imoen made a face grabbing the book and flipping through the pages.
"That's because I am a wild mage! It's not easy you know, there are a lot of variables to take into account and I have never had to caste spells in life or death situations... it takes a lot of concentration" Kat justified but Imoen just waved her off and made her way towards the Friendly Arm Inn.
"I hope she never becomes a mage, I will never hear the end of it"
Here it is, my, my I might just hand you in myself
Tiryns handed across an unrolled scroll.
To all those of evil intent
The sum of 200 g for any who bring proof of the demise of Katriel of Candlekeep, foster child of Gorion the mage last seen fleeing candle keep. The target is an elven youth in appearance with curly red brown hair.
"Is that it? What about who put this sum on my head? Or why? I already knew I had assassins coming after me"
But at least you know it's not personal, the assassins just want the gold
"It's personal that someone hated me enough to place a bounty on my head... I didn't even realize I had enemies... can someone have enemies without realizing. What would make you hate someone so much that you would want them dead? Sure I hate cleaning out old - store of rats but I don't wish him dead" Kat rambled on.
I think you need a drink, I could use one as well
"Fairy dragons drink?"
What! Why shouldn't I? You don't think I deserve a break, I am stressed as well... or is it you are too cheap to buy your servant a beverage
"I didn't mean that. You know you're more to me than just a familiar but we can't afford to spend pointlessly, we have to travel towards Nashkel in the morning" Kat blinked.
Humph. The little dragon sat on her shoulder swishing his tail.
"I'll buy you, your own supper, they might have leg of lamb, or beef stew" Katriel smiled as the ears of the dragon perked up.
And desert... hmmm cake
"Naturally"
Tiryns snuggled his head against her skin creating an almost purr.
The tavern always had someone around as it was still daylight only the truly dedicated drunks were sitting around the common room with their mugs filled with ale, those that would be passed out before the locals and entertainment truly began. Fitting in with the dedicated drunks was Montaron chugging down his pint as quickly as he could while another pint was prepared for him to constantly drink. Creating a mental note to self to make sure she booked two rooms and not to tell Xzar or Montaron about the bounty on her head, she had a feeling they would have no qualms of claiming the gold.
"Kat, over here" Imoen called out waving her arms. She stood with two well armed warriors a female and male. The tanned male stood a few steps behind his female companion who had features similar to Kat's on appearance, her ears were not quite as pointed and her build bigger.
"You must be the child of Gorion, we share your loss. We knew your father for many years." The woman smiled briefly.
Kat frowned. Gorion's letter had been the first time she had heard of Jaheira and Khalid. But they could recognize her on sight; she wondered what else they knew about her and her father. Was he a good man? As soon as they question crossed her mind she shook it out. Of course he was a good man... she knew him didn't she?
"... I...I hope, he didn't su...suffer" Khalid stuttered.
"Since the worst has happened you will be my charge," Jaheira stated mutter of fact her head held high.
"Charge?"
"You are inexperienced and hunted, a deadly combination. We will be travelling to Nashkal we have duties to perform there"
" We actually..."
"I will take on your training, I'm a druid our magic differs but it should suffice."
"Well we actually al..."
"There is much work to do if you are to have any chance of survival on your own" Jahiera continued., Imoen was standing behind Jahiera imitating the stern woman actions while Kat had to bite her lip in order to cut off the laughter. She was going to kill Imoen.
"You will need to be well rested, early start tomorrow... What are you waiting for?"
"Of course Auntie J" Imoen grinned.
Jahiera raised an eyebrow towards the youth. "Adventures don't call one another Auntie, Imoen"
The two girls jumped slightly before rushing away towards the innkeeper. Kat briefly stole a gaze back towards her new companions.
"Shh, don't look back, she might turn you to stone." Imoen joked as they quickly booked a room. "Why didn't you tell them we were already going to Nashkel and about the guys?"
"Why didn't you? Regardless she didn't give me a chance before sending us off to bed like children" Kat grumbled. She wasn't in charge of her, she was an adult now... well kind of.
"On an important note..." Imoen grinned blocking the stairwell. "I get the first dibs on the bath"
