Chapter 5

"We leave town now," declared Groshlak while he and Niclash walked in Flotsam's streets toward the city gate.

The priest silently acknowledged his partner, lost in his private thoughts.

When they got to the gate, a guard hailed them: "Dark Priest, I have an important message for you."

Niclash nodded to the guard, encouraging him to continue.

"The city's guard captain would like you to go and see a prisoner he just transferred at the jail," continued the guard.

"Why?" asked the priest.

"The prisoner is an Elf. He thinks he is a Magic User or a cleric," informed the guard.

Niclash looked at the guard with renewed interest but before he could reply, the guard finished his message: "the captive is unconscious but alive. He doesn't know what to do with him."

"Hang him and leave us alone!" Groshlak didn't want to stay any longer in the city; that delay was removing whatever patience left he had.

But the priest was visibly intrigued by that discovery. Ignoring the guard, he talked with the Ogre leader: "I will go take a look at this prisoner."

With a loud grunt, Groshlak said: "hang him like the others and be done!"

"Calm down, I know you want to get out of here. Take your troops and leave the town. Wait for me outside the camps, on the road, west; I'll catch up with you." Without waiting for a reply, the priest turned around and dove back into the buzzing city and its jail.

There was a lot of activity in the city. Many troops coming to reinforce the invasion forces were freshly disembarking from huge roaring galleys. Sea fearing minotaur, taking a day or two to replenish their supply before going back to sea for another assignment, were adding to the already overfilled inns and bars of the town.

Evading the main streets and using mainly the back alleys and small streets, the priest made a fast trip to the town jail. He had nothing to risk in this city. Nobody, be it a cut-purse or a cut-throat, would be foolish enough to attack a representative of the Black Queen. It was easy to evade the justice of the mortals but impossible to evade a goddess' wrath.

Niclash knew that all too well and used his privileges on a daily basis. But the Dark Priest was no fool. He knew that such privileges came with a high price. He had to do as he was commended. He also knew that his Queen would take his life if needed to achieve her goals. He was just fortunate enough that Takhisis found him more useful alive then dead, for now, so better take the opportunities while they last.

The priest knew he was getting close to the detention area even before he could see the decrepitated building just from the cries, the mooning and pleading coming from the torture chambers.

One of the city's oldest buildings, the jail was basically a large square with only one story high. All the administrative tasks were conducted on the main level. Most of the prisoners were located in its three basement levels. The building was surrounded by a high wall forming a courtyard around the building. An empty stable was located right next to the main entrance to the courtyard. A guard was positioned at the courtyard entrance and two others at the entrance of the building. All of them looked very bored and were probably looking forward to the end of their watch for various personal reasons.

Arriving at the front door of the courtyard, the guard hastily opened the gate for the Dark Priest with a small bow.

"Master, what can I do for you?" asked the nervous guard.

"Take me to the new prisoner," replied the priest.

"Yes, of course Master." The guard motioned to one of the guards at the building to come over. The newcomer took the lead and brought Niclash into the building and down to the last level of the detention cells.

The place was overcrowded with all sorts of prisoners. There were almost as many enemies as allies right now in the cells. Most of the later still drunk from whatever drink hole they have been arrested for causing trouble. The prisoners of war waited their interrogation and execution. Normally the second wasn't far behind the first, if not at the same time.

The smell inside the detention levels was almost unbearable. Even for the priest who was used to interrogation chambers.

Arriving in front of the last cell, the priest had a look inside. There was only one occupant inside it. An adult Elf was laying on the floor, immobile. He looked like an ordinary folk being dressed as the average mercenary. But on close inspection, Niclash noticed that he was wearing a scroll case and several spell components were attached to his belt. Components like feathers of different sorts, small bag containing unidentifiable powders, a strip of fur, etc…

"Where did you find him?" asked the Dark Priest.

"A patrol found him on the shore, east of the town, with some wood debris and other corps. They searched the bodies for any information and discovered he was still alive. Being a Magic User, they handled him with great care," informed the guard.

The priest looked at the jail keeper intently, knowing very well what kind of "information" the patrol was looking for on the dead bodies. The kind that shines in the sun and could be traded for services found inside an inn.

"Good. I see you have used the magical collar I gave you the last time I was here." Looking at the guard directly in the eyes, the priest added: "I will include you in my prayers to the Dark Lady tonight for your good work."

"Thank you, Master." The guard was not entirely sure if it was a favour or a menace.

"I must leave for a couple of days. I ask of you to remove his spell components and make sure the restraining necklace stays on him. This is a very dangerous prisoner. I will take a look at him when I'm back."

Niclash was very happy about that prisoner. Maybe he could extract important information from him. Magic Users were also well informed and so, very valuable. But the meeting with the Dark Lady was more urgent. The magic necklace would keep him in a sleeping-like state for as long as it would remain on him. A black mage had made the collar and Niclash had traded it for a very high price, knowing it would be very useful. The necklace was black and an inscription ran along its length in silver.

"Use this lock on the necklace to make sure nobody removes it." Niclash produced a small lock from a hidden pocket inside his robe and gave it to the guard. Though very small, the lock was of very good quality and looked to be very strong. Probably Elven made, thought the jail keeper. The lock alone was probably worth more than a year's pay for the guard. But it never, even remotely, occurred to him to steal it.

"Yes master."

"I'll see you in a couple of days than." The priest turned around and was soon lost in the shadow.

Opening the cell door, the guard moved carefully toward the Magic User. Even if he trusted the priest's necklace, one was never too cautious when the time came to deal with arcane users. Very slowly, as not to awake the Elf, the guardian put the lock on the small necklace. As soon as he heard the click from the lock, the guardian darted out of the cell and locked the door behind him. Once that was done, and behind the safety of the door, he felt silly for being afraid of the Elf.

Nevertheless, he safely put the necklace key inside his pocket and went back to his post, near the entrance.

Back in the Black Army's camp, Groshlak didn't waste a second. As soon as he was with his group, he kicked awake the other Ogres and Goblins and after some yelling, the raiding party was moving again.

With replenished water and food reserves, they would be good to cross the desert. The beasts of burden had been fed and watered also.

After some more shoving, grunting and yelling, the group was finally out of the town of Flotsam. By the time they reached the exit of the encampments, it was the priest who waited for them there.

Climbing in front of the cage, on a small bench, the priest said to his companion who was walking beside: "We have luck my friend. After we are done with the Kenders, we will come back to question that prisoner. The future holds many possibilities!"

And with a smile, Niclash felt into a dreaming state seeing himself as the head of the Dark Priesthood; his Ogre bodyguard beside him…