Chapter 2

Marpenoth 22 1369, Year of the Gauntlet

"I'm telling you Bowie, you can't trust a man like this Artemis Entreri," Rouric said in a quiet voice as he and Bowie walked several paces behind the assassin.

They had left the Glowing Helm in the afternoon and traveled along the eastern road that went from Voohlar to the small town of Yulash. While the air on this particular day was cool, the sun and blue sky were covered by thick gray clouds.

"He was a ruthless assassin banished from Vassa by King Gareth Dragonsbane himself," continued the dwarf. "Then there are his many deeds along the Sword Coast."

Bowie Butterball looked forward at Entreri, who had taken on the duty of scouting ahead. Though the assassin showed no obvious reaction to Rouric's accusations, he had a feeling Entreri was walking with a smile on his lips, and his hands on the handles of his bladed weapons.

"This isn't Vassa, or the Sword Coast, Rouric," Bowie argued in a stern voice," and I'm sure Entreri feels the same about us, given the wonderful reputations of the Harpers."

"All I'm just saying is that you can't trust assassins." The dwarf stopped his speaking, seeing the irritation in his friend's eyes. "Bowie, I didn't mean it."

Ahead, Entreri looked back at Bowie, who walked forward while the dwarf continued to banter on about the assassin's more notable exploits. "Curse the Harpers and their ability to find information about a person."

"You forgot about our constant meddling," Bowie remarked as he stepped next to Entreri. Upon seeing the halfling, Entreri looked back at the dwarf, who appeared to be in a conversation with himself."

"He's going over a ballad about Florin Falconhand that he's in the process of writing," said the halfling as he folded his cloak around him. "I am sorry about his outbursts."

"One can not deny the things they have done in the past," Entreri replied in a cold voice. "I should just knife him."

Bowie lifted his chin at the thought. "Now that might not be a bad idea."

Entreri eyes looked upon the halfling once more, this time letting out a soft laugh. He then looked don the road, noticing a tower-like structure in the distance. "It seems like we have found your chapel Bowie."

The bard narrowed his eyes, noticing the tower. "I say we check it. At the very least, the one who resides in the tower may have some knowledge about where the Black Chapel is located."

The oval shaped tower seemed to extend to sixty feet into the air. Its ash colored stone exterior, featured many images of animals, drawn in white paint.

"Do we just knock?" Rouric asked his two companions. After hearing the sound of thunder rumbling in the distance, both Entreri and Bowie were hesitant to use the gold horse-shoe shaped knocker that hung in the middle of the wooden door.

It was then the door opened. Standing in the doorway was a small blond haired halfling child, dressed in brown vestments and leather breeches.

"Good afternoon sirs and welcome to Oster's tower. I am Oster's apprentice, Jarnadin Bucklesprouts, and I am to bring you to Oster. Follow me please."

The gray orbs in Entreri's face studied the small child, wondering exactly what kind of person the boy was apprenticing to. Rouric and Bowie exchanged glances, both guessing this Oster was some kind of wizard.

"Come now," Jarnadin said to them," the master does not like to be kept waiting."

"This isn't anything like I expected," Bowie said as they stepped into Oster's tower.

Scattered all over the tower were trees with thick branches and leaves. On the corners and walls were bushes and vines; some of which rose from the floor and extended to the ceiling. Animals of all shapes and sizes were running around the tower, as if they were outside.

"He must be a druid," Rouric said as a red furred fox and a gray haired dire wolf walked past him. A shiver went through the dwarf's skin when he noticed the wolf's hungry eyes look in his direction.

"A tasty dwarf snack before dinner," Entreri whispered in Rouric's ear.

Rouric shook his head. "Nah, the wolf would be spitting out yellow hairs for weeks." When he saw the dire wolf walk over to Bowie and lick the halfling's fingers, the dwarf added," He'd probably enjoy some halfling cutlets instead."

Ignoring the taunts of his dwarf companion, Bowie watched as a tall human with skin as dark as charcoal, descend from the stair case opposite of the door. His head was clean shaven. He had wide brown eyes, and a thick gray beard. Covering his thin figure were vestments that matched Jarnadin's.

"I see you gentlemen have met my fellow tenants," the man said in his deep voice. "I am Oster Berilak, a druid in service to Eldath."

The halfling bowed as the dire wolf walked over to the staircase to greet his master. "I am Bowie Butterball. The dwarf is Rouric Balderk and the man is Artemis Entreri. If I may ask, do you have any knowledge of the Black Chapel, or a man dressed in green silks that might pass here from time to time?"

Bending down to pet the dire wolf, Oster thought about the halfling's question. "I think there is a chapel that lies up the road, but I have never seen a man dressed in green come from that direction.

"It looks like we continue down the road then," Entreri said coldly.

The druid shook his head. "You can not walk out in the road, not while there is a storm coming. Stay here in my tower for the evening. If you walk quickly enough, you could reach the tower by the afternoon. In fact I could have Gawain here show you the way." The dire wolf raised his head at the sound of his name.

Bowie and Entreri looked at each other, both of them questioning whether or not the druid's kindness was in actuality some sort of diversion.

Rouric, whose eyes had been following a deer while he listened to the conversation between Oster and Bowie, noticed a large round shield mounted on the fireplace. The shield appeared to be made of iron, and in the middle of the shield was an image of an upright gauntlet with an eye in the middle. "It is rare to find a treasure made of metal, in the home of a druid," the dwarf said, pointing to the shield.

Oster smiled as he looked up at the shield. "The shield you see belonged to my friend Veradess Barrelin, a warrior in service of the god Helm. He left it with me before he went to fight an evil Banite priest many years ago. Sadly he never came back for it."

Making his decision, Bowie looked at his two companions, then at the druid. "We welcome your hospitality and would be honored to stay in your tower on this long night."

The druid flashed a wide smile. "Splendid. Perhaps you three will join me and Jarnadin in the dining hall, where a feast of vegetables and herbs is waiting for us."

Bowie and Entreri exchanged glances once more, while a sour look washed over Rouric's face. "No meat?"

Oster shook his head. "No meat."

The dwarf sighed, looking up at the vines that hung from the ceiling. "This is going to be a long night."