AGE OF THE LOST OMENS – BOOK 1

RISE OF THE RUNELORDS

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Welcome back to my novelization of Rise of the Runelords! First off, I must thank all those who were kind enough to leave a review. This should be a quiet enough chapter as our heroes unwind a bit at the most popular inn in Sandpoint. But as you can see, action, adventure and danger are never far...

I hope you'll like my takes on some canon characters... and above all, I hope you'll enjoy the new chapter.

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Chapter 3 – At the Rusty Dragon Inn

Only a few hours had gone by since the goblin attack on Sandpoint had been thwarted. Despite the shock, most citizens had been able to return to the previous festive mood, even though it was not dampened by fear. Several of them had seen the victory as sign of Desna's favor, as if the goddess of dreams was protecting them; and overall, despite a few losses, the people of Sandpoint could console themselves by thinking it could have gone a lot worse.

But for Major Deverin, Father Zantus and sheriff Hemlock, the victory had been soured by a disquieting element – the theft of Father Ezakien's remains from the graveyard. Especially for Father Zantus, who already had an inkling as to what that might have meant, that had been a shocking development.

"Indeed, that is quite worrying." The sheriff admitted as he was sitting at his desk, in his simply-furnished office. Kendra and Zantus were sitting in front of him, talking in dim candlelight. "Of course, I doubt the goblins have thought up such a plan by themselves. They don't exactly have the attention span for something this elaborate."

"True. Had that been a simple goblin raid, they would have contented themselves with doing some damage, steal some stuff and kill a few dogs and horses." Kendra affirmed. She nervously scratched the desk's surface before looking up at the tough-looking sheriff. "The fact that several goblins were used as a distraction, while others stole the body in the chaos… well, that implies that this plan was thought up by someone controlling them. But then the question comes up… who could that be, and for what reason?"

"Normally, it is necromancers who need corpses… in order to reanimate them as skeletons or zombies." Father Zantus answered, repressing a shiver of horror at the thought of such an outrage to a person's body. "But were that the case… it'd make me wonder why they only stole one corpse. A single skeleton or zombie would not make a great difference. Even just the town militia would be enough to deal with it."

"Then… what do they need that single corpse for? For some kind of malefic ritual, perhaps?" Hemlock asked.

Kendra wanted to add something. "And why did they take Father Ezakien, anyway?" she asked. "Did they just pick at random, or were they actually aiming for that body? And if the latter… what's the reason?"

Zantus thought about it for a few moments. "Truth be told, there are several unholy rituals that require a corpse to be carried out. And I can think of a few of them right now. But I'm afraid we don't have enough information to say that for sure. Not at the moment, at least."

"So we might need someone to investigate and discover what links the goblins to this theft." Kendra answered with a nod. "Possibly, without our citizens knowing about it, at least for now."

Hemlock nodded grimly. "Yes, I see your point. Everyone is on edge for this unexpected raid already, and to actually discover what happened might cause a panic. It is not what we need right now. Rather… I believe we should contact someone competent to carry out this investigation. For example, those adventurers who distinguished themselves during the raid."

"That sounds like a good plan." The major admitted, her spirit somewhat lifted. "They may not be as experienced as our Shalelu, but they can surely lend a hand. I think they're staying at the Rusty Dragon. It is our most popular inn, after all."

Hemlock and Father Zantus nodded, with the sheriff thinking how it was a bit of a shame that Ameiko had retired as an adventurer. She surely could have helped thanks to her skills… but then again, after what happened with the Vhiskis, he couldn't blame her for her choice. After all, one could easily say that Ameiko, in her own way, was still fighting to make sure the people of Sandpoint wouldn't lose heart. Of all the inhabitants of their beloved city, she was one of those who best exemplified their sense of community.

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That evening, at the Rusty Dragon Inn…

"Hahahaaa" Really, now? You girls are from Magnimar?" A customer asked, having more beer in his body than what would probably be called prudent. "The City of Monuments! Damn, I'd love to be able to see it, one day! And what got you to our cozy little town?"

Misia chuckled and took a swig of her beer. "Well, it's pretty obvious! Rumor about the Swallowtail Festival has spread till the other side of the Irespan!" she explained. "I couldn't miss that for anything! Besides which… Eli here wanted to take a look around and see if she could find some nice little trinket from ancient Thassilon! She's got a real passion for history, you know?"

"Let's just say that this was the excuse you came up with to persuade me, Misia…" the half-elven woman answered wth a sigh. "Still, I don't regret coming, and I don't regret helping out against those goblins. I have all the time in the world to seek out sites of historical interest. I hear there are quite a few of those, near Sandpoint."

Jolan, sitting some distance away, slipped into the conversation as he took a breath in-between bites. "Still, I don't think you should seek them out on your own, ladies." He stated. "Aside from the goblins you've seen, there are a lot of nasty beasts around here, and they'd love to make a snack of you. I believe a guide could be of much help to you! So, what do you say, ladies? Might I fit the bill?"

"Nothing like some self promotion, huh, Jolan?" another halfling joked.

Jolan shrugged. "Hey, these days, one needs to know how to get some publicity!" he calmly answered. "In fact, I'd say it would be even better if we were to find a couple more companions. Like the two who helped us fight off the greenskins!"

Eli and Misia turned to Yan and Reji, who were sitting in front of them, enjoying quite a bit of attention. The fact that they had been joined by Aldern Foxglove, the nobleman they had saved from the goblins, was obviously a factor in their popularity.

"Hey, is it just me, or you're asking us to form… what do they call it these days? Oh, right… an adventuring party?" Yan asked. Reji had just turned her full attention to the halfling's proposal.

"Well…why not?" Eli answered, after thinking about it a little. "Not that I like to admit it, but though I'm quite proud of my magic, I'm still a bit green as a wizard. Up until a few days ago, I've mostly concentrated on studying the history of Varisia. To have two people willing to do the hard work when magic doesn't cuti t could be a good idea, right?"

The whole table laughed at that, and Reji let out a nervous chuckle. "You make it sound like we're going to be hired muscle or something…" the brunette answered.

"I apologize on my friend's behalf. She didn't mean to disrespect, it's just that… well, sometimes her way of saying things might give people the wrong idea." Misia answered, before sending Eli a cursory glance. The half-elven woman shrugged nonchalantly. "What she did mean is, a team composed of mages, healers and fighters stands a better chance, and there will be a chance for all of us to gain from it."

"Well, yeah, that's what I meant." Eli answered, fixing her glasses in a gesture that was probably meant to hide some embarrasment. "Then, perhaps, before we get back to Magnimar, we might organize an expedition in the proximities of Sandpoint. And were you to accompany us, gentlemen… you'd get a fair part of our gains."

"Well, I'm not really going to say no to a chance for gain." Yan answered. "I'm in for it. What about you, Reji?"

The black-haired martial artist shrugged. "Well, as long as Miss Four-Eyes here doesn't get too uppity about it. She's a bit too proud for my tastes." She thought to herself.

The Tian girl absent-mindedly chewed on a piece of bread. "If the job is worth it, why not?"

"If I may suggest, I'd say it would be convenient to take this opportunity." Aldern answered. "After all, an adventurer needs to start somewhere building up a favorable reputation for himself, and I believe that it would only be all the more convenient for Sir Yan to start in his own hometown. Certainly, it is not a life devoid of risks, but you would have the advantage of counting on a community who would be willing to support you, within reasonable terms."

"Oh, that's for sure! You have no idea how many people started out as local heroes and then became famed adventurers!" A musical voice, belonging to the innkeeper Ameiko Kaijitsu, intervened. The young woman with dual-colored hair was arriving just then, bringing a hot, smoking dish of roasted prawns covered in spicy sauce. "And if luck is on your side, adventuring can pay well… and that means you can stay at the Rusty Dragon for longer! That way, everyone wins. Including me."

"You always did have a discerning eye for good business, Miss Ameiko." Aldern noted jovially as he took a sip of wine.

The young innkeeper shrugged. "Hey, I did get to own the most popular inn in Sandpoint!" she answered. "Anyway, don't hold back! We're celebrating now, so… help yourselves! In fact, I guess I should clear out a few dishes…"

Ameiko made a quick gesture, and a faint magical aura lit up around her. A second later, many of the dirty plates began floating in midair and towards Ameiko, held aloft by an invisible force. The innkeeper waved and began walking back to the kitchen, still with the platesfloating weightlessly near her.

"Miss Ameiko seems to know a fair bit about professional adventurers…" Yan commented before tasting a spicy shrimp. The strong flavor almost caused him to sneeze, and he felt his face flushing.

"True. I heard that she used to be an adventurer herself." Jolan answered, seemingly more informed about the dealings of Sandpoint. "That was, a little more than one year ago, if I recall right. I have no idea why she decided to call it quits, but… I do know that she spent her entire savings from her adventuring life to open this inn. And she made it clear that her adventuring days are behind her, now."

"She' so young…" Eli mused. "To have taken such a decision, something really big must have gone down…"

Reji shook her head. It was really none of her business, but she had to admit she felt some morbid curiosity as to what might have happened in Ameiko's life. Chiding herself for her lack of discretion, she put those thoughts aside and decided to focus on the roasted skewered meat still smoking on her plate.

The celebrations went on for quite a while. Eli and Misia found themselves peppered with questions about their hometown, Magnimar, while Yan and Reji kept being asked about what they had seen in their travels, and what kind of adventures they had gone through before they ended up back in Sandpoint.

"Well, alright… my friend and I were trying to cross that river, you see?" Reji was narrating one of her and Yan's escapades, with several customers raptly listening. "So, we had tied ourselves with ropes, because the current was really strong there… and when we're halfway through, and we find some riverbed on which to plant our feet… BAM! Here comes a freaking black dragon, right outta the blue! It was hovering right above us, and we thought we were done for!"

"It wasn't an old one, mind you." Yan continued. "But it was still one hell of a beast! About as big as a draft horse, with these damn huge wings, and this scary ashell half-rotted face… and by Cayden, the smell of acid! If he had wanted, he would have killed us in two seconds flat!"

"That's crazy! How did you escape?" a young woman asked.

"Yeah, I was getting to it." Reji readily answered. "See, the fact is…"

Reji stopped herself when the inn's entrance door was thrown open, and an angry voice, clearly belonging to a mature man and speaking in a language that Yan and his friends failed to recognize, shouted something. Several customers muttered something when they saw the newcomer boorishly enter the inn, slamming the door shut behind him as he repeated the previous question. His appearence definitely stood out among the people of Sandpoint, especially for his clothes – a long, yellow and purple silken robe, with a pair of light black shoes and an oddly-shaped hat on a greying head, slit-shaped eyes in a wrinkled face – a dead giveaway about his Tian heritage – and a mouth pressed shut in anger. Even though he had to lean on a walking stick, he still went about with cocksure affectation.

Having still not gotten an answer, the man placed himself near a table and slammed his walking stick on the floor. "Where the Hell is my daughter?" he exclaimed, finally deigning to speak the same language as the people. A few clients muttered some insults and went back to their meal, whereas Aldern frowned in disapproval.

"Well, that's just great. That's the last person we needed." Jolan muttered.

"That guy?" Misia asked, stealing a glance at the man, who was glancing around with barely contained anger. "Jolan, you mean that guy is…"

"Yep, that's him. Lonjiku Kaijitsu, Ameiko's father." The halfling answered. "He's the owner of Sandpoint's glassblowing factory, and he's quite a notorious figure in town. Although, not exactly for the right reasons."

"Mister Kaijitsu never quite agreed with anything his daughter ever did. It is no surprise that the relationships between the two of them are tense, to say the least." Aldern commented. "It would hardly be surprising if he had come here to try and coerce Miss Ameiko into abandoning her job."

"Yeah, right. Never gonna happen." Yan answered, before standing up from his place. "Say, guys, should we go and try to talk him down?"

Reji sighed and stood up as well. "I'm coming too, Yan. I can speak his language."

"If you need a Charm Person spell to persuade him to leave, just give the word." Eli answered, standing up herself.

"Where is my daughter?" Lonjiku demanded, irritated that he had not received an answer yet. "I have had enough of this dishonorable behavior of hers! I demand to speak to her!"

"Please, Mr. Kaijitsu, there is no need to get so angry." An eldelry halfling woman, dressed in simple but well-kept clothes, tried to assuage the man. "If… If you would but take a seat, I would personally call for Miss Ameiko and…"

"I will not mingle with such rabble! I have an honor to maintain!" an indignant Lonjiku snapped at the elderly lady. Before he could speak further, however, Yan had gotten close enough to him to speak.

"Excuse me, sir… I take it that you are Mr. Lonjiku Kaijitsu, am I correct?" the young swordsman inquired, trying to be as accomodating as possible. "It seems to me that there are some problems. Might we help with that?"

The man contemptuously stared at Yan, Reji and Eli, and further squinted his eyes. "Oh, right, you're that bunch of irresponsible fools who tried to play hero against those goblins, right?" he exclaimed. "You've put Sandpoint and its people at even further risk with your antics! You should leave it to the militia or to actual professionals to defend our town!"

Eli's expression did not waver, but she felt herself burn with rage on the inside. "What? Who does this doddering old fool think he is, anyway?" she thought to herself. "Is this how he thanks us, after we've put our necks on the line for Sandpoint?"

Yan felt a surge of anger himself, and had to take a moment to calm down and not blurt out a rude answer. "With… all due respect, Mr. Kaijitsu…" he affirmed. "We may not be experts, but we are adventurers, not beginners! My friend Reji is a martial artist, Eli is a wizard, and I am a swordsman. Besides, Misia and Jolan themselves were instrumental in neutralizing the threat."

Lonjiku sneered and rolled his eyes. "Yes, of course. Just what Sandpoint needed – a bunch of no-name vagrants coming to attract further misfortune on us!" he exclaimed. His patience starting to wear thin, Yan was about to insult him back, when Ameiko emerged from the kitchen, a ladle dripping with hot soup still in her left hand, and looking somewhat irritated at the disturbance.

"Say, what's with all the commotion? What's going on?" the young innkeeper asked, just before she realized that her father was there. Ameiko's mood, which had until then been happy and jovial, took a sudden plunge. The young woman stared coldly at ther father, sustaining his disgusted glance as she decided to face him head-on. "What have you come here for, father? If you haven't realized, we're celebrating these people who saved us from the goblins, and we don't need you to come and spoil the mood."

Lonjiku advanced towards his daughter and pointed his finger at her, speaking in an harsh tone, in the same unknown language as before. Ameiko had to take a step back, but she was not intimidated, and stood up to her father's nasty attitude. The rest of the team stood back, looking at the dramatic father-daughter confrontation. For a while, the back-and-forth between father and daughter only kept on getting more and more heated.

Finally, Lonjiku took another step forward and blurted out something that caused Ameiko to gasp in disbelief and outrage… and a split second later, Ameiko answered back with even greater anger, and started to push her father towards the exit. Whatever it was they were quarreling about, Yan thought to himself, it must have been a pretty huge deal…

"Reji, do you understand what they're saying?" Eli whispered to the young monk. "I speak quite a few languages, but Tian-Min is not one of them, I'm afraid…"

Reji nodded an affermative. "Lonjiku wants to leave Sandpoint and transfer to Magnimar." She answered. "He's come to give Ameiko an ultimatum – either she goes with him or she gets disowned."

"Ameiko isn't going to take this laying down." Yan whispered. "Girls, we need to be ready to intervene if necessary."

The back-and-forth between father and daughter was only escalating now, and Ameiko had had enough of her father's attempts to interfere in her life. Shouting out a series of swear words in Minkaian that had Reji blush in embarrassment, the young innkeeper began pushing her father towards the exit. But Lonjiku had no intention of going without getting what he wanted.

The man extended a hand and brutally grabbed his own daughter by the hair, before pulling her along, much to the customers' outrage. Ameiko shrieked in pain and surprise, and tried to wriggle her way free of her father's grasp.

Yan widened his eyes in alarm, stepping forward to intervene. But he was denied the chance. Ameiko reacted decisively and lashed out at her father, striking him in the face with her soup-dripping ladle, and forcing him to let go.

"Ameiko!" Eli exclaimed, rushing to hold the innkeeper. Ameiko caught her breath and fixed her hair, glaring back at her father with tears of anger in her eyes, while Lonjiku stood in place, seething in rage. He brushed a hand on his cheek, where Ameiko had struck him, then stared at his own hand, looking just as disgusted as if he had been dirtied with manure instead of soup.

After standing in place for a moment, Lonjiku muttered something in his native tongue again – and Reji shuddered in indignation, while Ameiko stepped back in shock. The young monk glared furiously at the man while he marched out of the inn, under the jeers and insults of the customers.

Yan gulped nervously. "I think I might regret this question, but… what did he say?"

Reji kept glaring at the place where Lonjiku had been standing. "He said…" she muttered. "He said, 'you are as dead as your mother to me'. That's what he said."

Yan was so thunderstruck he couldn't even get angry. All he could think at that moment was, how horrible it was that a father could say such awful things to his own daughter. But after a few moments spent seething, the young man remembered Ameiko, still standing a few steps away from him, stiff and frozen like a statue in the midst of the main hall. He approached her, in an attempt to comfort her…

"I'm… sorry about that, Miss Ameiko." The young man ventured.

Ameiko quickly wiped her eyes with her free hand, then carefully inspected her ladle, removed a hair for its soup-covered surface… and finally smiled at her customers. "Say, who's gonna fetch me a clean ladle?" she asked. "There is no jackass stew on today's menu!"

The customers burst into liberating laughter and cheered at the joke, which served to raise everyone's good mood. Even Yan and Reji shared a brief laugh, as Ameiko turned to them to thank them with a friendly nod.

"Thanks a lot! For you, there free room for a whole week!" she said, ended her phrase with a wink.

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Lonjiku Kaijitsu was at his wits' end as he stormed into his own room, slamming his hands onto his desk and cursing in his native language in an attempt to vent his frustration.

He was not in a bad mood over what he and Ameiko had said to each other. That ingrate had chosen to keep living among those peasants. She had made her bed, and now she was going to sleep in it. And he had to admit, he was actually glad to finally be able to wash his hands of her – Ameiko had already dishonored him enough, first by becoming an adventurer, and then by setting up that filthy, smelly inn.

No, what really stoked his ire was something else.

"Curses! CURSES! How did it end like this? How could I end up alone, abandoned in this hostile land, surrounded by rabble who couldn't care less about honor and dignity!" he exclaimed, desperately trying to understand what it was that had so messed up his life and everything he had built until then.

And no matter how hard he thought about it, it all boiled down to one issue.

Truly, there couldn't be any other explanation. That was what had started it all. It was all that bastard's fault. That, and because of that harlot betraying him and sullying his honor. And maybe, he bitterly reasoned, he was to blame in part for that…

No, that couldn't be. It was all the fault of that diabolical Cheliax wench who had taken a hold of his reasoning. A man of honor like Lonjiku Kaijitsu certainly couldn't have surrendered so easily to the base pleasures of the flesh, not if that woman hadn't worked her wiles on him.

Lonjiku began walking back and forth, his mind still trying to rationalize what had happened more than two decades ago. He told himself that he should have been more drastic, more decisive...if he had not allowed pity to stay is hand so long ago, perhaps he would not be in such a compromising situation now...

The man walked over to his lacquered wooden desk...and with an unsteady hand, opened a drawer from which he took a curved dagger, forged in a manner that resembled no cutting weapon created in Varisia. It was a thin blade, both elegant and terribly sharp, and it seemed to reflect the dim candlelight.

Yes, Lonjiku thought to himself. There was no changing the past. But at least he could make sure that the cause of his dishonor disappeared from this world once and for all.

His gaze fell upon a torn-up paper sheet on a corner of his desk, upon which a message had been written in Tian-Min language. Lonjiku took the sheet and re-read it once more, then crumpled it into a ball and contemptuously tossed it into a dustbin.

He had waited too long now. This matter needed to be solved decisively, once and for all.

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TO BE CONTINUED…