The Dragons Bane

Once we have returned to the Blood Moon, we all have a seat in a corner. Teela comes over and asks if we need anything.

“Drinks all around,” orders Seldor.

“The usual?”

“Yes, please.”

As soon as she leaves, Mizdar gets down to business. “Well, what you each did with your money is your own business, but I do need to know what you each have left of your 5000 gold pieces so we can get each of you your own vouchers.”

Mizdar then takes out a quill and a piece of parchment, writing down what each person claims to have left. Teela returns with their drinks, but noticing that they are in the middle of something, she quietly leaves them to their business after depositing the drinks on the table.

“Well, it looks like Dimlar has the most money left, that means supper will be on him, tonight.”

After we finish our drinks, Nordok heads upstairs briefly, returning in a few minutes with his bride.

“Since we are going to see about getting our money transferred from the party voucher to our own vouchers, I want to bring Timora along so I can get a voucher with both of our names on it.”

“That is a wise precaution,” comments Clandistra, before Seldor can say anything sarcastic.

“Well, we better get going, I have an appointment at 4 bells that I can’t be late for,” says Mizdar.

We have to go into the main keep to get to the castle’s coffers. As we walk up to the four guards at the gate, they demand to know what our business is. Mizdar shows them the voucher, “we wish to see the clerk at the coffer, we have business there.”

“Very well, come with me.”

The guard motions for the gate to be opened. He then leads us inside, where he speaks quietly to another guard before returning to his post. “Please follow me,” instructs one of the guards just inside the gate.

The guard leads us into a secured room with a small opening in one wall at about chest level.

“What can I do for you today?” asks a clerk form the other side of the wall.

“We need to have our voucher updated. We have spent some money today. We also wish to have some new vouchers made out to each of us for these amounts in these names.” Mizdar hands the clerk the voucher and a slip of parchment with our names and the amounts that we are each entitled to.

The clerk disappears from our sight, reappearing after a few minutes with new vouchers. “If you will each step up and state your name, I will give you your voucher.”

Once we have all gotten our vouchers, the clerk hands another voucher through the small opening. “This is what is left of the original voucher, who wants it?”

“I will hold onto it,” says Mizdar.

“Is there anything else that I can do for anyone?”

“No, thankyou, we are all set. It is time to go, I must hurry if I am to be early for my appointment.”

The guard escorts us back to the gate, closing it behind us.

“I must leave you now, it is almost 4 bells,” says Mizdar as he hurries off to his meeting at the tower.

“Me brother an’ me being thinking them last beers be tastin’ pretty good, but not as good as a few more be tastin’.” So the dwarves return to the Blood Moon for some drinking.

“I think I should check on our horses,” claims Seldor, although it is obvious that he really wants to see Boy.

“And I have some personal matters to attend to, so I must leave, as well,” says Mintock.

“We have prayers to attend to, right Clernon?”

“Yes, I guess we do,” replies Clernon, catching her hint that Nordok and Timora need to be left alone. The two clerics go off to their church.

“Well, it seems that we are alone at last. What would my beautiful wife like to do?”

“Go shopping.”

This causes Nordok to laugh. “I was thinking the same thing. I want to get you a wedding ring.”

“Really?”

“Yes, although I doubt that we can find one as pretty as you.”

“I know just where we can go.”

Like all young women, she has never visited the bazaar without a stop at the jewelers to gaze at the beautifully worked jewelry.

Mizdar arrives at the tower for his appointment with Elrod with five minutes to spare. Entering the tower, he greets the clerk. “I’m here for my appointment with Elrod.”

“Let me summon someone to escort you.”

A moment later, a young student of the school comes to show Mizdar to Elrod’s laboratory. “This way, sir.”

This time, they have to go through many rooms and doors before reaching a small room outside of the senior wizard’s workroom.

“Please wait here for the master, I’m sure he will be with you shortly.”

A few minutes later the door opens and a very old man comes out. A slight motion of his hand causes two chairs to appear. “Have a seat, make yourself comfortable.” The two mages each take a chair.

“I have a question regarding a magical wall that we found while in the dungeon under the ruins of Myth Dranor.”

“Yes, I know. The wall has not been seen for many a year now. It is called the Wall of Wonder. Would you mind telling me where exactly you came across it?”

“It was in a room off the main corridor in the south-east corner of the first floor of the dungeon, but it is gone now.”

“Yes, it would be. The wall never stays in any one place for very long, particularly once someone has found it and it has imparted its powers unto them. I find it interesting that it chose the first floor of the dungeon to appear on, almost as interesting as the fact that your party happened to find it. It seems to me that the Wall of Wonder may have wanted your party to find it.”

“But why would it want us to find it?”

“I do not know. But I do know that the powers bestowed by it on the members of your party are permanent, and they are of such power that only a god can give their equal or better.”

“Interesting.”

“Very. Unfortunately, little else is known of the wall or its workings. Would you mind telling me what creatures were engraved upon the wall and what powers were bestowed by each and how they were imparted?”

“Yes, I can do that.”

Mizdar then tells the wise old wizard exactly what happened to each of them and how, as well as what creatures were engraved upon the wall. When he is through, and anticipating that the master of the tower will dismiss him, the senior wizard asks about another matter.

“I have a favor to ask of you. It concerns Clandistra.”

“What about her?”

“How much do you know of her past?”

“I know some of her history.”

“Do you know of her parentage?”

“No, she seldom discusses anything about her homeland or her past. Why?”

“She has a power in her voice that is found but once every ten generations among the elves. And when you consider the number of years that they live, you will realize just how rare that makes her.”

“I have only heard her sing twice so far, the first time was on the way back from the dungeon this trip, after we came around the bend in the river. The only other time was at the party last night.”

“Yes, that was when I heard her and realized the great gift that she possesses. Her gift must be protected at all costs. I feel that she is destined to do great things with it. I have asked the head of her church to give her a word of return, but the lady Sheela is doubtful whether she will accept it. And even if she does, there are doubts that she will use it to save herself in an emergency. It is thought by some that she would rather perish. So I must ask you your feelings on the matter.”

Mizdar, remembering her words of that night when she first sang, takes a moment to consider. “I cannot tell you if she will accept the word of return, but if she does, her use of it would depend on the circumstances and her mood at the time. If she were alone, and in deadly peril, she would probably use it. But she would not use it to save herself if it meant leaving us to face certain death without her.”

“That is understandable. But I would like you to try to convince her to accept the word of return, if you can.”

“I will do my best.”

“That is all any of us can do. Thankyou.” Realizing that he has been dismissed, Mizdar rises to leave.

“One last word of advice, do not go to the second floor of the dungeons on your next trip, I have foreseen that death will take several members of your party if you do.” The wizard then returns to his workroom, closing the door behind him. The young student returns to escort Mizdar back.

----------

Seldor goes to the stables to check on the horses and what’s left of the wagon. Smitty has already dismantled Delgar’s skids, and is examining the rear end of the wagon where the new axle will have to be reattached. Boy is watching his father intently.

“Hello, how are we doing today?”

“Uncle Seldor!” yells Boy, running to him and jumping into Seldor’s outstretched arms.

“Have you been taking good care of our mounts?”

“Yes, Uncle Seldor, they have been fed and I even brushed them today.”

“That’s a good lad. I can tell that you have been going to school, too.”

“Yes, I have. So has father, we are learning the right way to talk.”

“I can tell, you are both doing very well. As soon as I have finished talking with your father, I will give you the present I promised you last night.”

“What is it?”

“I can’t tell you, you will just have to wait and see. But I want you to go and get some warm clothes on and get a piece of rope about twenty feet long, ok?”

“Ok! I’ll be right back!”

As soon as Boy leaves, Seldor looks at the wagon where Smitty has it propped up on some wooden horses. “Can the wagon be repaired?”

“Yes. I was checking on what I will be needing. So, what is this present, if you don’t mind my asking?”

“As a matter of fact, I wanted to talk with you about it first. I would like to take Boy flying with me.”

“Flying?”

“Yes, I can now fly like an eagle. I promise you he will be safe. That’s why I told him to get the rope, I want to tie him securely to me so he can’t fall off. Is it ok with you?”

“Well, as long as I have your promise that he won’t get hurt, I guess it would be alright. Besides, as excited as he is, I doubt I could stop him.”

“I promise no harm will come to him. If you want, why don’t you come and watch?”

“I just might at that, it will probably be one of best times of his life.”

Just then, Boy comes running back. “Am I dressed warm enough?”

“Yes, you are. Where is the rope I asks you to get?”

“Right here. Is it long enough?”

“Well, let’s find out, grab him.” Smitty then grabs Boy and the two of them pretend to tie the squirming boy up. Laughing, they untie Boy, but then fasten the rope around him, fashioning a harness that will hold him tight.

“Are you gonna turn me into a mule or something?” asks the confused boy.

“Nope, I’m going to take you outside the castle walls and swing you around until you can’t see straight,” teases Seldor.

“Really?”

“Nope, but I’m not going to tell you what we’re doing until we do it. Ready to go, Smitty?”

“Aye.”

The three of them then go to the western gate and approach the guards. Seldor has a quiet conversation with the lead guard, telling him what he plans to do and asking that the three of them be allowed outside the gate for a short time. “Only if I can watch!” replies the guard, smiling.

After the guard passes them through the gate, he calls some of the other guards, letting them know what Seldor has planned for the boy so that they, too, can watch. Seldor, with Smitty’s help, ties Boy onto his back.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes,” replies Boy, unsure what will happen next.

Seldor then leaps into the air, flying as high as the mage’s tower before circling the castle’s outer walls.

“ARE YOU HAVING FUN?” he yells back to Boy.

Boy, having just overcome his initial surprise and fear, yells back “YES!”

Seldor then begins to do some aerobatics, looping and diving amid squeals of delight from Boy. Smitty, watching from the ground along with several guards, is cheering them on.

----------

Mintock, unsure of who he would see regarding the purchase of property outside the castle, decides the best course of action would be to ask one of the guards at the south gate. Oddly enough, they tell him that he was just there, that the clerk at the castle’s coffer handles such matters. Once more he is escorted to the castle’s coffers.

“Welcome back. What can I do for you?” asks the clerk.

“Well, I was wondering how I would go about buying a house and a small parcel of property just outside the castle.”

“Well, that depends. Do you want a farm?”

“No, just a house that I can give someone as a wedding present.”

“Well, there are mostly farms outside, and no houses are built within a certain distance from the castle walls by decree. Also, it’s not very safe to live outside the castle walls. But you may be in luck, because rumor has it that a house is going up for sale in the north section soon. The current owner is moving south, seems the cold weather doesn’t agree with his old bones anymore.”

“And what would a house inside the walls cost, roughly?”

”That depends on the house, but this one costs about 10000 gold pieces. If you are interested, I will pass the word along to the owner, but he won’t be leaving until the end of the summer. He has plans to go south on the last caravan of the summer.”

“Well, that gives me plenty of time to raise the money, at least.”

“Ok, but you don’t have to pay for it all at once. Lord Muldoon will be buying it when the current occupant leaves, and I’m sure he would be willing to sell it on a time plan, that is how most of the houses are sold.”

“Well then, it sounds like I am definitely interested. Contact the current owner and get back to me, I’m staying at the Blood Moon Inn. But I don’t want anyone else to know, so keep it confidential, please.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell Timora or her husband, assuming that is who it is for,” smiles the clerk knowingly.

“Well, I want it to be a surprise.”

“Don’t worry, I know how to keep a secret.”

“Thanks, I guess I better be going, I’ve lots to do yet.”

“Come again soon.”

----------

Timora shows Nordok where the jeweler’s tent is, and the two of them ask to look at the rings.

“What type of ring are you looking for?”

“A wedding ring for my beautiful bride,” responds Nordok.

“Well, young lady, I have rings decorated with animals as well as fancy design ones. Do you have a favorite animal?”

“I like birds, do you have any rings with bird designs on them?”

“Yes, I do. Give me a moment and I’ll get them.”

“I didn’t know you liked birds. I’m glad though, because I have a surprise for you.”

“And what might that be?”

“Well, when we were in the dungeon, we found this ring. It was a ring of flying. And while Mintock actually got it as his pick of the magical stuff we found, he gave it to me. So now I can fly, and I have a potion that will let you fly, too.”

A sparkle lights up Timora’s eyes at the thought of flying like the birds she has so often admired.

----------

As suppertime approaches, we all meet back at the Blood Moon. The dwarves are having a cherry-faced good time. The newlyweds are happily showing off her wedding ring to anyone and everyone.

“So, what did that pretty bauble set you back?” asks Seldor.

“It was only 200 gold pieces. I like the way the eagles are carved into it, they remind me of the one on the wall that gave you the power to fly.”

“Speaking of the wall, I met with Elrod, the master of the mage’s tower, a short while ago to learn more about the wall.”

“Oh, and what did you learn?” asks Mintock.

Just then, Teela comes over to get our orders. “What are you gentlemen and ladies going to have tonight?”

“Well, since Dimlar is paying, I think we should have steaks all around,” says Seldor.

“Aye, be orderin’ whatever ye be wantin’. The sky’s the limit, tonight! Just keep them beers comin’, ‘cause tonight we be havin’ our own party.”

“Well, you just remember that tomorrow you start training with Maximar bright and early,” cautions Seldor.

“An’ I be ready fer him, me an’ me brother both!”

“Aye, I be drinkin’ ta that!” It is obvious that both dwarves are already very drunk, and will soon be off to bed.

“I’ll tell Freedar to only get seven steaks on. I don’t think those two will be wanting anything for dinner tonight,” smiles Teela, as she heads for the kitchen.

“So, what did you find out about the wall,” prompts Mintock.

“Well, apparently it hasn’t appeared anywhere that he has heard of in a very, very long time. It is called the Wall of Wonder. And it moves all around the world, never staying in any one place for very long, particularly once someone has stumbled across it and been given its powers. The powers that we received are permanent, by the way. And they are of such power that only a god can give better, according to Elrod, anyway. Beyond that, he really didn’t have much to tell me.”

“Then you weren’t able to find out what my power is, then?” asks Clernon.

“Sorry Clernon, but he didn’t know.”

“Well, at least now I know that I won’t fall from the sky suddenly because my power to fly ran out.”

“No, that won’t happen.”

“Speaking of flying, Timora and I saw the strangest bird either of us has ever seen today while we were shopping for her ring. It was acting all crazy, swooping and diving all over the place. Did you happen to see it when you were checking on the horses, Seldor?”

“No, as a matter of fact I didn’t.”

“That’s funny, because it had two heads, one that looked just like yours, and one that looked the smith’s son, Boy.”

Finally, a slightly embarrassed Seldor admits to taking Boy flying.

----------

The next morning dawns bright and cloud-free. The newlyweds have risen early, intent on taking an early morning flight so they can watch the sunrise together.

“It is a truly beautiful land, I never dreamed that I would see it so. The way the sun peaks out between the mountains, spreading its yellow light slowly across the valley. And I never before realized how beautiful the castle is, especially the way the morning light hits it, making one side glow golden like that.”

“But it will never be as beautiful as thee, my wife. I still can’t believe I have a wife as beautiful as you, I do believe I am the luckiest man alive.”

“And I am the luckiest woman alive, because I have you.”

The two continue flying and talking about all the beautiful things they see for another hour or so, before returning to the Blood Moon for breakfast with the others.

----------

“Clandistra, can I have a word with you?”

“Sure, Mizdar, what is it?”

“There was one other thing that Elrod and I discussed.”

“What was that?”

“You, and your beautiful singing voice. But if the topic is too sensitive for you, I’ll let it drop.”

“No, I guess if I can’t share some of myself with you, who has shared so much of yourself with me, then who can I share with? I know he wants me to take a word of return from Lady Sheela, but I really don’t know why.”

“Well, I can tell you that much. He told me that your voice is an extremely rare gift, and that he feels that you are destined to do great things with it, assuming you aren’t killed in the dungeon, that is. And after hearing you, I think he might be right.”

“Unfortunately, he is right. But so far, my voice has been more of a curse than a blessing. It may be a rare gift, but it has also caused an equally rare curse to be bestowed upon me. Do you know how rare it is for an elf to be banished? And I am the first cleric of my kind ever to be banished. And it is all due to this great gift,” she replies with anger clearly evident in her voice.

“But that is only one bad event. How much good has your voice done? Think of all the times that you have sung, and what your singing has done for people. Then ask yourself if it is a curse instead of a blessing.”

“I will try.”

“And I really do urge you to take the word of return. It may not only save you, it may save the rest of us as well.”

“I had thought to refuse, trusting to the Mother Tree to watch over me. But if you think there can be some possible benefit to the party if I take it, then I will.”

“Who can know, but there may come a time when it may save someone’s life, not just your own.”

“Then I will tell Lady Sheela that I will accept her gift before we leave.”