Aebbe's Story

It was late by the time we get back to the Miner’s Folly. We all first seek a warm bath and dry clothes. We ordered some food for us in Boyln’s room, since he had a corner room larger than most to look through our collective loot. We browsed the books and I quickly lost interest in them. They were very technical journals and calculations of astronomical movements of planets and comets, specifically the legendary falling star, called the Burning Star. The piece of rock (the star?) was beautiful in the firelight and even I could sense some magical qualities to it. The equipment consisted of three sextants and two spyglasses with tripods. They were of excellent quality.

Boyln wanted to keep a sextant. Emmon and I each kept a spyglass. Meig asked to keep the dagger. We decided that the money and the sale of the other sextants we will split equally. We figured we would all head to town tomorrow to the Gilded Swan to give Annui her books and the rock. We also have to return the shield we found to it’s unlucky owner. Perhaps more importantly, I needed to buy a new pair of boots!

The rain clouds had moved out overnight leaving a pleasant sunny day for us to go into town the next morning. We went first to the Annui’s inn. Although we cleaned up from our adventure, people eyed us a bit oddly as they are clearly a much more well-to-do clientele that what we are used to at the Miner’s Folly.

When we ask for Annui, the reluctant bartender sends a boy to message her. Instead of meeting her in the common room, we are ushered upstairs into a sitting room where she received us looking as radiant and powerful as ever. Her face was flushed with excitement as we produced the 6 volumes and uncover the large, round rock.

“Oh, good people! You did it! I had my doubts, but, so quickly… I am most impressed. Most impressed. I will give you each a hundred Kronars and should you ever wish to visit the Alshir Research Tower, you have but to say my name!” She took the time to shake each of our hands and thank us personally while her scribe doled out our payment into fine leather pouches.

When she got to me, I mumbled about the cold water under my breath and she whispered the incantation in my ear. I smiled broadly. “That’s brilliant!” I said wondering I hadn’t thought of it before. We each put our earnings into our packs and happily headed into town.

We agreed to meet at a pub we passed in a few hours. Boyln and Emmon went off to do some research on the shield and to sell the remaining sextants while Meig and I grab a snack and I get a new pair of boots. The proprietors of the boot store were not too happy to let Aelfie in, but when I promise to buy her a rawhide ball, they relent and I tossed the ball around for her. Meig found her antics greatly amusing while I tried on and found the perfect pair of waterproof boots that are thick, but supple and cover up to just below my knees. Since I’d always made do with my brothers’ hand me downs or other shoes patched up from young men, I thought they were the most marvelous pair I had ever worn. I am also given some linseed oil to clean them and keep the leather in good repair.

“I am never wearing slippers again!” I declared and Meig laughed with me. We left the store to find the pub, me proudly in my new boots and Aelfie proudly carrying her new ball in her mouth.

The others were already seated with a round of ales when we got there.

“We took the liberty of ordering for you,” said Boyln with a wink. “There’s only the special,” he shrugged.

“Smells good to me,” I said and Meig agreed.

Over the meal, the men tell us they got a good price for the sextants and found the shield belonged to the Knights of Saint Layan. They have a large shrine and barracks in the northwest corner of Holdstone.

“Yeah, you’re right,” said Pency, out of context as usual. “What if they think we stole it?”

“We’ll just explain where we found it. If we stole it, why would we bring it back?” I argued.

“They’ll want to know about it,” reasoned Boyln.

“What does Baldric think?” I asked him.

“Shut up!” said Pency and we all looked at him frowning.

“You don’t have to come if it makes you uncomfortable,” said Meig searching for a middle ground.

“And let you take the reward?!” he stammered. I rolled my eyes.

“Enough! We all go then. Let’s fill our bellies first,” I said and discussion ended with the arrival of our stew and a couple loaves of bread.

Our stomachs well satisfied, we headed to Temple of Saint Layan. It was an imposing rock building with tall ceilings and matching large oak doors.

A monk with shaved head looked at us dubiously when we asked to see someone in charge. A small shrine was open to the public for worship at the entrance, but there was clearly much more to the temple than this small space. When we showed him the shield, he finally relented and led us up some stairs into a large office where we were met by another frowning monk.

“What is this?” he said, raising his eyebrows. Emmon handed over the shield with their emblem on the front. He took it easily from him, his arms clearly stronger than his small, humble stature would suggest. “Oh, my,” he said finally sitting down. “Please, sit. Yes.”

“We found this in a fire pit at Bleak Manor. It looked recent, so we thought we’d bring it by in case you didn’t have word about the men who would have been with this shield,” said Boyln.

“Indeed, we have not had word. We feared the worst and with this, well, I suppose it is confirmed,” he said. He looked at us each in turn. “You went into the ruins below Bleak Manor and escaped with your lives?” he asked with a little too much surprise for my liking.

“Yes, just yesterday,” confirmed Boyln. “There was an evil entity there we were able to kill.”

“Hmm. Well done. We do appreciate this. We do. Perhaps you are available for another job? We have interests in a mine north of here. There are rumors that the miners that work there go insane and the mine is cursed by demons. I don’t suppose you would consider such a dangerous mission?” he said, raising his eyebrows.

“What’s it worth to you?” asked Emmon. Perhaps victory was so fresh upon us we thought ourselves somewhat invincible because I had the same question in my mind.

“50 Kronars each, plus supplies for the journey. Then, perhaps you can escort a contingent of miners back to the mine and remain with them for a week to reassure them it’s safe. You’ll get 250 Kronars each if the miners remain working at the mine a full month,” he said sensing our eagerness. He didn’t wait for our answer before continuing.

“Regardless, here is an amulet of healing as a token of our appreciation from our temple for bringing the shield back to us,” he continued. “Come back tomorrow if you are interested and we can see you well equipped for your journey.” He handed it to Boyln who smiled and handed it over to me. I guess that made me official healer of the group. I felt put on the spot a bit, after all, I wasn’t really trained as a healer. I did know a few things, though. I nodded and put it into my pack.

We thanked him and left feeling good of our prospects. The group split up to meander back to the tavern to do some shopping and to get to know the town. I thought maybe I should find an apothecary to see if I could replenish my supply of healing herbs and bandages.

Meig tagged along with me throwing Aelfie’s ball for her occasionally. She would glance behind her from time to time, like she expected someone to be following. I wanted to ask her about it, but decided against it. After all, we didn’t know each other very well yet and I didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable.

It felt nice to have a woman friend I could relate to. For all I knew she was an excellent embroiderer, but after seeing her wield a dagger, I knew she had some combat training or experience. You could just tell by how someone held a weapon in combat. There was a familiarity there that you only get from regular training.

We passed Boyln who was trying out some sturdy staves at a stall. And I saw Pency go into a very shady looking establishment that I had to assume was for mage spell components. I smiled thinking he and Baldric would fit right in there.

When Meig and I got back to the Miner’s Folly, Emmon was already deep into his cups boasting about his single-handed killing of a black demon. Meig and I just grinned at each other. We ordered our own ale and joined him at the table, our backs to the wall, facing the door where I knew Meig would feel comfortable. I tossed Aelfie’s ball around causing some minor amusement by the other patrons.

I sighed thinking I had made the right choice and maybe I was were I was meant to be. Even the ale tasted better here. Maybe it was just that it was not from my familiar brewery and because I had purchased it with money I had earned for myself. I smiled and allowed myself to relax.

<Temple of Saint Layan>