Unexpected News

Markus looked carefully at the sketch the adventurers had left in his care. He had in fact been staring at the parchment in the dim candle light for quite some time. When his frustration grew too great, he would switch his attention to the symbol from the defaced altar, or to the papers that had been recovered from the bugbear lair. Somewhere in these documents was the clue he was missing, the clue that would reveal the truth of the goblinoid threat.

“You seem troubled, my friend,” Mamadou Dreng said as he took a seat at the priest’s small table. The common room of he Black Kraken was quiet this evening, which was not unusual for a cold, rainy night in early spring.

“It’s this goblinoid business,” he mumbled, gesturing at the papers spread out on the table. “No matter how hard I consider these things, I have not been able to ascertain their purpose.”

Dreng laughed. “They are goblins, Markus! What other purpose do they need but to burn or to kill?”

“Yes, but I have not seen goblins acting in concert like this before. Each of the three of their wretched races are cooperating. It does not make sense.”

“Well, I do know what makes sense, we eat and we drink!” Dreng declared as Old Cobb’s daughter arrived at their table to take their order for supper.

After a hearty meal of chowder and fresh baked bread, they settled back to continue their discussion. After a while, Dreng thought he had stumbled upon a revelation.

“We should take to the field,” he suggested. “Perhaps the answers you seek still remain in the Black Edifice.”

Markus thought about Dreng’s plan for a few moments. “Maybe you’re right, my friend. We should set out as soon as possible. I have not been on an adventure since my days as a mendicant!”

“I am not sure I would call rummaging around in an empty cave an ‘adventure,’ but I am game, if you are.”

“Excellent! We shall set out at first light.”

A loud knocking at the chapel doors broke him from his thoughts. He rose from his chair by the fire and crossed from his small study into the main room of the chapel. It was getting late, and soon he would have turn in before leaving on his the journey early the next morning. When he opened the doors, he was surprised to see Magda Vyrlich, and that she had brought guests.

“Magda!” he said to her warmly in greeting, receiving a slight curtsy in return. “and visitors… Dame Astrid, is that you? And? . . . your daughter, Abigail. I apologize, I’ve not seen her in years and did not recognize her!”

The two knights nodded their heads briefly in response. Markus always appreciated the boldness of the warrior women of the north. He also noticed that Abby had reached adulthood, perhaps letting his gaze linger a moment too long.

“Priest..” her mother growled.

“Of course, of course, where are my manners?! Please, come in.”

The group passed quickly through the chapel and into Markus’ small, warmly lit study. He pulled three more chairs close to the hearth, and placed more wood onto the fire.

“Magda usually drinks brandy on cold nights such as this,” he said as he worked. “Care for a glass? Or perhaps wine, if you prefer?”

“Ale, if you have it,” Dame Astrid replied, pulling her chair closer to the flames.

“I will have brandy, m’lord,” Abby chimed in.

“You are very kind, my lady, but I am no lord, just a humble servant of the Whispering Wind.” Markus bowed to his guests and left to bring their refreshments.

“The priest is a forward sort,” Astrid grumbled.

“He is still young,” Magda replied, rubbing her hands vigorously before the hearth to work out the last of the evening chill. “And yet, he has a wisdom beyond his years.”

“And a reputation, or so the lovari say.”

Magda laughed out loud. “Why, Dame Astrid, I think the caravans must be visiting your lands far too often for you to entertain such salacious gossip! Certainly you know Markus has taken both the ministerial and monastic orders.”

The priest returned just then with a bottle of brandy and a tall mug of stout.

“What did I miss?” he asked.

“We were just discussing the lovari,” Magda replied, stifling a smile “They seem to be visiting Hillsreach quite frequently these days.”

Astrid flashed a dark look at Magda’s jest. Markus continued on, oblivious.

“Well, that may be very fortunate, indeed. The lovari are known for their affinity for the unknown. We may have need their counsel, right now.”

“How so?” Magda asked, as Markus handed her a filled glass.

“I’ve been studying the strange documents the adventurers brought back. I have reached a dead end, little more than fragments and guesses right now. In the morning, Mamadou and I will go to the Black Edifice to further investigate. Perhaps the gypsy mystics may also provide some insight into these strange markings.”

“The lovari are not a trusting sort, not with outsiders,” Astrid stated. “Who is to say they would entertain your request?”

“That is true,” he replied. After considering for a moment, he continued, “Brother Donaghast is part lovari. And a Redeemer. Which means he is also a diplomat. I think he might speak with them, if we asked, and if he and his friends accepted, of course.”

“They are good men,” Magda nodded approvingly. “They have been at the forefront in these goblin matters, and they helped Mamadou break his curse.”

Astrid also nodded in agreement. “Very well, send them to me in a week, if they will come. Another lovari caravan will have arrived at Hillsreach by then.”

“Well, then, on to the purpose for Dame Astrid’s visit to Hannsport,” Magda segued. She refilled her glass, took a sip, and began. “I wanted to discuss this with you before Dame Astrid sees Lord Kell tomorrow.”

“I must say, Magda, you certainly have my full attention.”

“We have been contacted by an emissary of the Valinesti,” the aging knight stated flatly.

It took a moment for the implication to sink in.

“The elves? Wonderful! But, how strange… the clans of the deep wood have not been seen nor heard from in a generation, at least. Why have they come? Why now?”

“I do not know. But I bring a written message to my liege lord, which is to be delivered to him directly.”

“And so the reason why we are here,” Magda followed. “You have been following these events closely-- you know goblin activity at least as far south as Dark Oaks, and now the elves have emerged. What if these things are related?”

“If you are suggesting Lord Kell be made aware of the recent activity, well, I am not sure it rises to that level. At least not yet,” he replied. “The goblin raids have stopped and we have cleansed their outposts. And the elves have not reached out to Sir Rollin, whose demesne lies nearer to theirs than Dame Astrid's. Nevertheless, I see no harm in informing him of recent events should the issue arise.”

“We are all in agreement, then,” Magda confirmed. As the purpose for their meeting had resolved, the visitors rose to take their leave.