Chapter 4-1

Chapter 4: The Hunt Begins

“It is one of the great difficulties in life that we never have certainty. While we often see clearer in hindsight than foresight, yet even in looking back we all too often have unanswered questions. Would things have been better if I had chosen differently in some thing or another? If I had just spoken in less haste, would I have been able to convince someone of the dangers of their chosen path?”

“There is some value to such considerations, as we may well be able to learn from our own past. But there is a danger also, for it is all too easy to turn from useful self-examination to useless self-incrimination in such thoughts. We must always remember that our knowledge was not perfect in the past... nor is it in the present. It may well be that actions we thought turned out for ill may have been better than what we think now would have been best.”

“We should be able to track the box, or the amulet if they've removed it from its box,” Maritha said thoughtfully after Garkhen told their story.

“'Nd if someone here's passing information along?” Almonihah's arms were folded in front of his chest, and his gaze said he was as suspicious of Maritha as anyone else. 

If she noticed his gaze, she showed no sign. “While I hate to think that anyone in my team would be insane enough to let something like that fall into the wrong hands, I suppose I can't dismiss the possibility, given the evidence at hand. Which leaves the dilemma of what to do about it...”

She pursed her lips. “Well... we could at least make sure you get accurate information... if I have two teams work on it and keep in contact with you, you should have something to go off of. I might be willing to doubt a single member of my team, but I can't imagine that four or five of them are bad. And if someone's passing information along to these thieves, well, I'll figure something out.”

Almonihah grunted, clearly less than pleased, but did not object.

“Thank you, Archivist Maritha,” Garkhen said, his calm voice seeming almost a rebuke to Almonihah, “I think that should be reasonable. If we find something suspicious in what is passed along to us, we shall tell you. Now, how long do you estimate it will take to give us an initial direction of travel?” 

“No more than an hour,” she said after a moment's thought. “And of course, as we refine our estimates, we can communicate further with you.”

“Very well, then,” Garkhen replied. “Please, let us know as soon as you may. Almonihah and I shall prepare ourselves to go—we do have one small issue we must handle first.”

****************************

Ah, Almonihah. Always the suspicious type.

--Somehow I missed posting this here last week...

Chapter 4-2

“You mean th' fact that we're not allowed t' leave town,” Almonihah said after they had left.

Garkhen nodded. “Yes, we shall have to speak with the Captian of the Watch.” He hesitated a moment, then added, “I do not believe we ever got his name.”

Almonihah shrugged, uncaring. “Let's go talk to 'im. Tired 'f walls around me all th' time.”

The Warder seemed a little surprised. “You truly dislike cities that much, Almonihah?”

The Ranger snorted derisively, but offered no explanation. After a long moment of silence Garkhen sighed.

“Please, whatever your opinion, do not be... abrasive when we speak with him. Much may well depend upon our swiftly recovering the artifact before it is used for ill purpose.”

Almonihah's only response was a grunt. After a few more quiet minutes, Garkhen gave up on getting more of a response.

It was not hard for them to find the Watch Captain once they reached the city's barracks. He didn't look particularly happy to see the two half-dragons, but neither did he seem angry. 

 

“I'd rather hoped to have a bit more time to work on your case,” he said, once they'd exchanged greetings. “But I assume since you're here that I don't have much more time.”

Garkhen nodded. “We hope to be able to leave within the next hour, or perhaps two. Archivist Maritha did not think it would take them long to give us a direction in which to search for the amulet.”

The Captain sighed. “Well, if it's as important as you're all saying, I suppose that's a good thing. But it does leave me with thinking of what to do with you...”

Almonihah fidgeted as he waited for the man to think, shifting from one foot to another, slightly spreading and then closing his wings, and so forth. Garkhen, however, was perfectly calm, standing still and steady as he awaited a decision.

“While I believe you to be honest, er, people,” the human finally said, “I cannot simply let you leave on your word to come back for trial. However, there are ways of magically binding you to your words. I believe one of the Priests of Mashano here is capable of such magic. Would you be willing to submit yourselves to such a thing? If you are, I will allow you to leave the city's walls with the assurance that you will return.”

“Of course,” Garkhen replied without hesitation. 

 

There was a long pause, but at last Almonihah grudgingly growled, “Yeah.” 

 

“Very well, then,” The Watch Captain said, standing. “I will arrange for the spell at once. I would not want to delay your quest any further.” 

**********************************************************

So this hasn't ended up being a huge problem... yet. >: D 

Chapter 3-5

“That's quite the tale.” The Watch Captain sat back, pondering on what the two half-dragons had told him. Garkhen (and especially Almonihah) hadn't told him everything about the amulet—just that it was a powerful and dangerous artifact—but they had told him everything else. “On the one hand, you have essentially admitted to murder in the city bounds. On the other hand, it was in self-defense, while in pursuit of stolen property that is, by your own admission, dangerous. The fact that Archivist Maritha backs you up on that last point is a point in your favor.”

He sighed. “To be honest, I should arrest you. Legally, you'd have to go to trial to have your names cleared of the death of those two men.”

Garkhen noted the number—did that mean the one he had struck had survived?

The Captain continued, “However, if this amulet is as dangerous as you've said, and it's now in the hand of proven law-breakers... keeping you in jail instead of chasing after it would be detrimental to the city, or even all of Ferdunan. So let me ask you, what are you planning to do next in chasing down these thieves?”

Garkhen sighed. “Unfortunately, at this point I believe our hope lies with the mages. The artifact and its containment box are both powerful magical items, which they may well be able to detect.”

“'cept it was after telling them about 't that th' robbers came,” Almonihah grumbled.

The half-blue dragon shook his head slightly. “We cannot assume there is a connection, and we have little other choice.”

“That does make my choice easier, though,” The Watch Captain interrupted, before the discussion could grow heated. “I won't arrest you, but I will order the Watch to make certain you do not leave the walls of Elifort. If the time comes that you must leave to continue your mission before such a time that we can try your case properly, come speak with me. And with that, gentle...dragon-men, I will take my leave. I wish you well in your efforts to recover this amulet, and I will send word when circumstances change.”

“Thank you, Captain,” Garkhen said. Almonihah settled for a sullen nod as the Captain walked away. 

 

The Warder looked over at his friend. “This is about the best we could hope for, Almonihah.”

Almonihah growled. “'nd what about Zakhin'Dakh? 'm just leaving him out there without him knowing what's going on.”

“Ah.” Garkhen hadn't thought much about the griffon since reaching the city. “I... suppose that could be a problem. Would it be possible to ask someone else to speak with him? Perhaps the Archivist might suggest someone with magical means of communication?”

If anything, the half-bronze dragon seemed more annoyed. “'nd so we're just supposed t' stay in th' city. Like those people can order us around...”

“We are in their city, Almonihah, and that means we are subject to their laws.”

Almonihah snorted, but said nothing. Garkhen sighed again. “Let us go talk to Archivist Maritha.” 

***************************

Sorry this is late. I was distracted yesterday. 

Chapter 3-4

Almonihah looked at Garkhen quizzically. “What?”

“I doubt the deaths of those men will long remain unknown,” the Warder pointed out, “Even if we were to try to hide it.”

The half-bronze dragon snorted. “Think they'll actually talk to th' Watch?”

“Why should they not? If they remain silent, the deaths become all the more suspicious when they come to light. And I would rather suspect that the families of those men are also citizens of the city.”

Almonihah grunted, but said nothing further. After a moment, Garkhen sighed.

“Come, we should return. There will be much to do.”

They walked in silence for a little while, until the Ranger suddenly asked in Draconic, Just what are you planning to do? You're going to tell them about them, aren't you?

Garkhen nodded. It is best we tell the truth, and quickly. If we are the first to speak, it should help our case.

Still don't think it's necessary, Almonihah mumbled, but he didn't meet Garkhen's eyes. 

 

The scene back at the inn was just as chaotic as Garkhen had suspected. There were several members of the city's Watch scattered about, keeping a wary eye on the area or speaking with inn patrons or the innkeeper. One of them noticed the two half-dragons coming.

“There they are!” He shouted to his companions, then turned back to the pair. He gave the half-blue dragon a slight nod. “Garkhen and... companion, (Almonihah snorted in amusement) we've been hoping you would return. The reports we've gotten have been rather... jumbled, and since it seems you were the intended victims, we hoped you might clarify matters.” 

 

“Indeed,” Garkhen said, marshaling his thoughts. “Shall we begin?”

At the Watchman's nod, Garkhen launched into a retelling of the night's events. He started with being awakened by the intruders triggering his alarm spell, the struggle in his room, the discovery of the theft, tracking them, and breaking into the location they found.

“When we went down the indicated stairway... there were three men waiting in ambush for us. They attacked us, and we... responded in kind. I believe we killed at least two of them.”

“I... see.” The man was clearly still processing their story. “Could I ask you to repeat your story in the morning? I think the Watch Captain will need to hear this.”

Garkhen nodded. “I would also ask that Archivist Maritha and her colleagues be notified of the theft of this amulet. It is... a magical item of some power, which we had shown to them, and they will likely wish to know of these events.”

Sure that's a good idea? Almonihah growled in Draconic.

Garkhen glanced back at him, then returned his gaze to the Watchman. “My friend is expressing some concern about this.” He turned again to Almonihah. “We have already shown it to them, and they will likely learn of the theft shortly through other means. It would be best to see if some assistance could be rendered in its discovery.”

Grudgingly the half-bronze dragon nodded. Once he was certain Almonihah was in agreement, Garkhen turned back to the other man. “We did not recover the amulet, for when we fought past the ambush, it was clear others had escaped, but we had no further way to track them, and could find no sign of them. Once we had exhausted our options we returned here.”

The Watchman nodded. After a moment's thought he said, “If you could show me and a few others here the place you went to, I think that will be all we need from you tonight. Then you can rest, and be ready to speak to the Captain in the morning.” 

************************

Well, so far things aren't as bad with the law as Garkhen feared... but we'll see what the morning brings, hm?