Chapter 4

The Fortune Telling Fire

We came into the square. In the square was a fountain with a half-orc warrior statue, what looked like a wizard casting a spell, an Elven fighter and another human fighting with a long sword. There was water coming out of all their mouths. One of the buildings on the north side of the square had a sign with a red Dragon on it. I walked towards the sign.

As I entered the Red Dragon Inn, I noticed many things. First, was that there was a fire. Second, there were four bald men wearing brown robes sitting at a table, several other men, mostly townspeople were having a drink. Third, Cynwyd was sitting at a table.

I walked over to Cynwyd.

Cynwyd had gotten a plate of food and drink. As soon as I sat down a waitress came to us and asked, "What can I get you."

"Some chicken soup, and do you have any elvish drinks? I have not had any in a long while." My tongue itched for something elvish in my mouth. In a city with elf-inspired architecture, it was only fitting that I satisfied myself with elvish drink.

"Yes, I believe we have some Elvish Wine in the back. Would you like that?"

"Yes please." She walked away just as Adamis sat down.

"Why are you following me?" I asked Adamis.

"You had a knife up your cloak sleeve. It seemed suspicious."

"What is wrong with an old man protecting himself with a knife?"

"Nothing, its just that you have a staff and bow."

"I need things for close range as well, don't I? I need weapons in case someone attacks me on the road, don't I?" I inquired.

I could tell the Vlacus was weighing what I said in his head. I took the time to talk to Cynwyd, "What rooms did you get?"

"I got three rooms. Very nice rooms compared to some of the other places I have been. Small and cozy." She said.

I looked around the room, and saw a man sitting by the fireplace. He was staring at us. When I looked at him he looked away. I walked over to him and asked, "Why are you staring at us?"

"I need some people to come adventuring with me." He said.

"Where to?" I asked.

He looked right into my eyes, which was surprising, and said "The Caves of Chaos."

"What is your name?" I asked him.

"My name is Thoros."

"I am Irigorn."

He then looked away and stared into the fire for a while.

He was staring into the fire for so long I asked, "Why are you staring into the fire?"

"I see fates."

"What?"

"I see people's fates. I see objects. I see adventurers and adventures. I see the future, the past and the present. It sees much. My god Pelor, is the god of light and fire." He explained to me. "And Pelor sometimes gifts me with foresight."

"What god do you worship?"

"I really don't worship any god. But if I must answer, I suppose I do send the occasional prayer to Corellon Larethian." I told him.

At that moment Adamis came over and asked, "What you talking about?"

Thoros asked, "Is he with you?"

Adamis answered, "Sort of."

"What is your name?" Thoros inquired of Adamis.

"Adamis Theodore." Once again, he was proud to say it, as if the words would stir something in the man. But the man did not react as Adamis might have expected. I saw in Adamis' eyes when the man brushed it aside. They shook hands.

Adamis closed his eyes, touched his right middle and index finger to his right temple and stuck out his hand towards Thoros.

"What are you doing? Trying to cast a spell at me?" He looked frightened. He grabbed his staff and held over Adamis.

Adamis stopped and said, "I am a paladin, I can sense evil. I was just sensing whether or not your evil. Now if you will just let me do my job."

"Malgoreal Vlacus! I do not think he is evil."

"A stranger asks you to go on an adventure with you? And you don't find that odd?" Adamis asked.

"You Vlacus, the first thing you said to Cynwyd and I was 'Hello. Would you like to go on an adventure with me?'"

Thoros asked Adamis, "Would you like to go adventuring as well?"

"Sure. Where to?" he asked.

"The Caves of Chaos," I said.

"The Caves of Chaos?" Someone asked. "I've heard of that place. I hear no one comes back from there. I also hear that in the higher caves there is a bugbear. A friend of mine told me he went up into a higher cave with some adventurers, and he said the bugbear ate everyone, but he ran away. Of course the man is a compulsive liar. So you can't always trust what he says, but half the time he lies his right eye twitches. This time he had a real serious look on his face, and his right eye twitched."

At that moment the waitress came over and said, "Would you like your soup and elvish wine here or at your table?"

"At the table," I said.

"You know," the waitress said, "if you are going to the Caves of Chaos, I heard there are lizardmen in there. I also here that a party of elves once disappeared in the marsh beside the road. I hear there is also a tribe of lizardmen at the marsh. I hear they cooked the elves and ate 'em."

Adamis stood up and went to innkeeper.

"So what time are we going to leave?" I asked Thoros.

"Sunrise. I have the Adventurer's Special set up."

With my keen ears I could hear Adamis start arguing with someone. "Hold on one second." I walked over to Cynwyd and said, "We are going on an adventure tomorrow."

"I thought we were getting horses." She asked me.

"What gave you that idea? I've been traveling for 189 years, and I have only owned a horse three times. Each horse lasted ten years. So out of 189 years, I have been walking, riding in a wagon, and stowing away on vessels for 156 years. I have run from roadside bandits, killed dozens of monsters, met up with adventurers much like Thoros, and how long have you been away from the elves, Cynwyd?" I asked her. I looked straight into her sea green eyes.

"Five years."

"Not to mention you're only a child. Then again, I too was a child when I left. Except, perhaps I was slightly older than you. Plus, an adventure is good for the soul. My whole life has been an adventure." I sat back and relaxed. I looked towards Adamis and saw him arguing with a man. I decided to go investigate.

The man was drunk, I noticed a bag full of coins n his right side. I noticed people were beginning to look so I couldn't pick pocket this drunk fellow, which was too bad, his bag looked like it was full of fifty coins. "Why in Pelor's name would you leave behind your hammer and your two-handed sword?" He was now yelling. Everyone looked towards him now. "Your saying that you are going to come back from those dreadful caves, alive. Well! You need your weapons for that, don't you?"

"I have four weapons," Malgoreal Vlacus was saying, "I do not need four weapons to fight whatever creatures are in those caves! I only need a long range weapon and a sword. I am only saying that if I come back, you give me two silvers,"

I slapped my head. Two silvers? He was being a total Vlacus. He truly Blessed Idot! He has his swords, his cross bow and his hammer. Why would he leave behind his hammer and his two handed sword? And if he came back, all this man would give him was two silvers? TWO SILVERS for surviving a cave full of twenty lizardmen, or a bugbear or perhaps a tribe of kobolds or orcs? I'd say ten gold pieces! "Adamis you Vlacus!" I raised my voice. "Don't make such a bet. It is highly idiotic, not to mention you bet two silvers if you came back. I'd say coming back from orc infested caves is worth ten or more gold pieces."

Apparently my argument wasn't heard, the Adamis gave the innkeeper his weapons. "Are you sure Mister? You'll need these to fight." The innkeeper said.

"I have four weapons already. Carrying a heavy hammer and a fifty pound sword will lighten my load considerably."

"Malgoreal Vlacus, stop this nonsense." I ordered.

"All the stuff you leave behind if you don't come back!" The man was yelling, "And I only give you two silvers if you do come back! That's a bet I'll take any day!" He opened his bag, a few gold and electrum coins fell out. I bent down and picked them up off of the floor. Five gold and four electrum fell out. I handed him three gold back and two electrum. He gave me a nod, rummaged around in his bag and pulled out two silver. He slammed then down on the counter and yelled, "You are all my witnesses!"

"Now!" Adamis said, "If I don't come back by…" I pulled him away, which was surprisingly easy considering he was two hundred pounds and I was a one hundred pound elf.

"Do not make a time bet as well. You are being an idiot."

Thoros came up to us and asked, "What was that about?"

"He just bet a drunk that if he doesn't come back from the Caves of Chaos," I began, "that he everything left in his room, his hammer and his two handed sword would go to the drunk. Whereas if he comes back the man will only give him two silvers. Is that not idiotic?"

"Indeed. Not many come back alive from those caves, and all the tales are either people pulling legs, or greatly exaggerated tales. I have heard that there is a wizard's wand lost in those caves."

"It is possible," I said, "since so many have gone in, and not many have come out. It is possible that a great many magic items have been lost in those caves." I changed the subject. "Thoros, have you ever had Elven Wine?"

"I have not, nor do I wish to for now. Perhaps we shall have a drink when we come back from those caves. If we come back, that is. I look into the flames and never see my future. But yours, Irigorn, I saw quite clearly. I saw a house on fire, an evil man, and a dragon. And all around these things I saw your face, and your name." He had a very serious expression, which he then changed abruptly to a smile, "Kidding about the fire, the evil and and the dragon. But I was serious about seeing your face in the flames. What that has to do with anything I am not certain. I gave up pondering these visions long ago. Good night." He began walking towards the stairs.

Adamis read him and when he was finished reading him, he whispered, "I sense no evil."

"I told you so." I said, walking away from him. I sat down at the table, ate my now cold soup, drank my wine, which was fantastic, and I relaxed for a bit.

Eventually Cynwyd went to bed. Then I said I was going to bed, but I hid in the shadows at the end of the hall; after a few minutes, when Adamis came up and entered his room. I silently walked down the hall, down the stairs and went to the innkeeper. The lights were mostly off, a candle lit the counter. The innkeeper was washing a glass. "How may I help you Sir Elf?"

"Forgive my idiotic acquaintance," I said in a regal manor, using as best an elven accent I still could make. "He was being an idiot. Now, if you would, could you give them back to me so I may give them to him?"

"No, not to you. I will only give them to the Paladin. He is young and inexperienced, not as adventured as you Sir Elf. I would give them back to him only because he young and his mind is clouded." At that moment Adamis came down the stairs, the steps creaking underneath his feet. He walked up to us and said, "I have had second thoughts. Can you give me my weapons back?"

"Certainly." He gave me an evil eye then said, "Your friend here was trying to get it back for you."

"I am not his friend. We have only just met, but as far as I see it, I will help a few idiots here and there." I began walking up the stairs. I went up into my room, unpacked my things, took off my cloak, my armor and changed my clothes. I lay down in bed and got six hours of trance