From: pcalvert@economics.adelaide.edu.au
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [R] Karl : A talk with Hazy, and an introduction to Amaan
Message-ID: <1992Sep3.124358.1@economics.adelaide.edu.au>
Date: 3 Sep 92 03:13:58 GMT

Posted on behalf of Dennis Brennan
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As the two continued to pace down the avenue Karl chuckled heartily
at Hazy Drifters barrage of questions.  "Rituals, my dear.  Old practices
are not lightly abandoned by old men."  He smiled.  "The Gentlemen
Apothecaries are a lodge, a brotherhood you might say, of men working
to improve the lot and livelihood of all.  Some of us are Practicing
Apothecaries- druggists, healers and alchemists.  Others of us, me for
instance, are just people who try to help out where we cann.  One of our
little projects is the study of the legend of the Philosophers' Stone.  SOme
Apothecaries dabble in astrology or fortune-telling.
Why all the secrecy?  Well, even do-gooders tend to make enemies.  Quite
a few mages are members of the society, but a lot of the others see
us as meddlers or even as competition.  A lot of kings and nobles
also dread the brotherhood because of the meddling we do in their schemes."

Karl stopped for a moment to catch his breath.  "I introduced myself
as En Cariol to the other men.  It means 'Son of Karol,' which was
my father's name, in an anacient dead language.  Back in the old
days the other brothers wouldn't know my true name, nor would
I have removed that hood.  But how could you have known that unless..."
Karl feigned a frown but Hazy's expression of childlike innocence was
irrepressable.  "...Aww, I don't mind that you peeked."

Hazy was about to drift kupwards to glimpse over the heads of the crowd
in the street, but Karl signaled for her to stay down.  "Don't want
to attract too much attention."  But it was too late.  Another
blowgun dart had been aimed at Karl and let loose.  It sped
through the air...

           ... and was caught by a lightning-fast grab by a man in
the crowd near Karl.  Indeed, Karl did not notice that he had been
a target at all as Artifice crushed the missile in his hand and fired
a dart of his own at Karl's attacker.  The unknown would-be assassin
was struck in the forehead by Artifice's bolt and was thrown back
against the wall of the alley by its force.  He then slumped forward,
revealing a black burn-like mark on the wall.  His body and
effects, no doubt, were quickly rifled through by street children and
beggars.

Coming through a high, ornamented arch Karl re-entered the grounds of THe
Court.  THis was an elaborately landscaped atrium, with walls on four sides
and high windows with balconies overlooking the scene.  Karl attempted
to find the doorway which led back towards his quarters when his train of
thought was interrupted by a voice speaking his name.  Karl turned
to face the speaker, instantly despising the haughtiness and arrogance in its
tone.  It was a youngish-looking man, wearing an undecorated but obviously
expensive cloak which covered his other garments.  HE spoke again now that
he had Karl's attention:

"You are Karl, the man from Generica sent to bring me to the city.  I
am Amaan.  I trust you have made departure arrangements.  Have a report
sent to my home where my man will collect it.  We shall depart tonight."

Karl glared back.  He drew in a deep breath.  He rolled his eyes.
He studied the slaves who appeared to be accompanying Amaan.  He
rubbed his beard.  At last, he replied, "Amaan,"  but stopped lest his
anger cause him to speak undiplomatically.  He swallowed his
apoplexy and began again, "Amaan, tonight is not possible.  I still have
to arrange for a ship."  Not to mention the matter of Artifice or the
other schemers who seemed to want to interfere.

"You have not pre-arranged your ship?  THis is unacceptable.  You are
incompetent,"  answered Amaan in the disdaining tone of a Rameshander mage
speaking to a commoner multiplied by the contempt of a Rameshander for
a Northerner.  "I will expect this abominable mishandling to be corrected
by sundown tomorrow."  Amaan sneered.  "Good day, quartermaster."

Once Amaan was out of earshot, Karl swore rather vehemently and loudly,
speculating Amaan's ancestry and his carnal habits.  Hazy seemed
puzzled by Karl's outburst.

Meanwhile, Artifice headed northward to the harbour, where he made
arrangements and paid a considerable sum to hire a passage to Generica
in Karl's name.  After accomplishing this end, Artifice returned to
his shady and hidden office in The Court and, using tools not often
seen in the Known Lands, replaced his right leg and removed the
prosthetic mask of Karl's face from his own....

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