Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn From: bricmk@ciba-geigy.ch (Blue Ice) Subject: [inn] Blue Ice meets Mardan and Dremara Message-ID: <1993Dec9.131432.6050@ciba-geigy.ch> Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1993 13:14:32 GMT Having checked on Klinge, and given him his morning hay, I went back into the Inn. The note was still on the board, and the more I looked at it, the more it intrigued me. Why would someone kidnap the Duke's son? What could Pharzon hope to gain ? Wealth...Power...Enemies ? A question indeed. A quick glance around the fairly empty Inn, showed one warrior who fit the description given on the board. However, he seemed to be deep in conversation with the woman, I had seen last night at the stables. I couldn't quite hear what they were saying, but I thought I'd watch them a while and see what happens. Suddenly, there was a flash of metal at the table, and the woman had a knife. The warrior appeared to be stunned, and unable to defend himself. I thought a quick message to Klinge telling him to forget his meal and prepare for trouble. But followed it a second later with a cancellation message, when I saw the woman had the hilt of the blade towards the warrior. "Well, well. Strange things abound in the Dragon's Inn." I said to no-one in particular. The warrior had now grasped the blade, and was examining it, yet he still seemed a little shocked. The pair at the table talked some more, and then shook hands. I guess she's going to be in the party too then I thought. "She also has a rather stable companion." said Klinge in my head and we both smiled a little. Oh well. No time like the present. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Walking over to the table, they noticed his presence and both heads swung towards him. Their testing glances travelled up and down him, and he wondered at what they were thinking. "Are you the warrior, seeking the Duke's son ?" Blue Ice asked. "Indeed I am." replied Mardan, his grey gaze meeting Blue's own for only a second before looking back to the table in boredom. "My name is Blue Ice and I'd like to join your quest if I may." Blue said. The man stared up at him fully now. He looked Blue up and down and thought a bit. Blue was, in turn, busy examining Mardan. The jet black hair over grey eyes and the black fatigues lent him a slightly shadowy image, which belied his youthfulness. The only patch of colour on him, was the blood red insignia on his chest pocket. He was well muscled though and his fluid movements, what few there were, said to all and sundry, that here was a warrior. "Are you the one the people in this Inn have been gossiping about ?" enquired Mardan. "Unfortunately yes." replied Blue. This gave Mardan pause for thought, for indeed he had heard some strange tales about this one. Although the man infront of him, was not physically very imposing, his eyes were a striking feature. Pure blue, you could not move your gaze from them. Mardan had heard tales about these eyes. Of course he scoffed when being told that an angry stare from them could stun you. However, now he was here and looking into them, he wasn't quite so sure. "So, what can you offer my group?" asked Mardan. "Well, I am by nature, like yourself, a warrior." said Blue, showing Mardan the sword at his side. "I also have one or two other talents." "Hmmm...." said Mardan sceptically. "I've heard the drunkards in here talk about you a bit. But what they say is surely just rumour." "Indeed, some of it is." replied Blue. "Ha! I like a man who doesn't give too much away. Pull up a stool Blue Ice and we'll drink together." Dremara had watched the whole exchange silently. She wondered about this Blue Ice character, for she had heard the rumours also. She wasn't as skeptical as Mardan when it came to magic, for she had a little of her own; and if half what she had heard was true, then he would be very interesting to watch for a longer period of time. I wonder what he dreams of ? she thought to herself. Mardan and Blue Ice seemed to be getting on quite well now, and she gradually worked her way into the conversation. They all chatted amiably for an hour or so, about current events in Generica and other things. Dremara decided that she was less worried about this Blue Ice person now. He seemed reasonable, although his eyes were a bit freaky. However, she had seen him at the stables, several times, and he always took very good care of his horse. A horse that nice wouldn't stay with him if he were a bad character she reasoned, and most men wouldn't take the time to look after the horse. Interrupting her musings, Mardan stood up. "I have to go now, as I have some things to sort out." Turning, he addressed Blue Ice. "Blue, I would gladly have you as part of my team to rescue the Duke's son. Dremara, is already on the team, she has some useful skills, as I'm sure you'll find out." "I will meet you back here later tonight then. Hopefully some more likely candidates will show up and we can be off. " Mardan finished to both of them. Blue smiled. "I thank both of you, and now I must go, as Klinge, my horse, needs feeding. Come to mention it so do I (grin). Till later then." Dremara stayed at the table a while longer thinking before heading back to her room, to catch up on some sleep before this evenings entertainments. Outside, Blue spoke silently to Klinge as he prepared his friends hay. "Well, I've got something to do now, at least. It'll get me out of the Dragon's Inn for a while. If nothing else." "Yes, it seems ages since we've done anything exciting Blue. I'm about ready for a bit of action. Besides this Inn hay is really bland." "Don't worry, you'll have real grass to graze on soon. And not only that, you'll also get to ride with the nice lady in the stable next to you." "" replied Klinge. With a grin on his face and a twinkle in his eyes, Blue headed back to the Inn and his dirty laundry. He still had to try and salvage that tunic that had gotten slightly "dirtied" the night before. Blue Ice (bricmk@ciba-geigy.ch) --I apologize for any spelling errors, character assasinations, design flaws or just inconsistencies. But I've just sat straight down and wrote this. In future I will have more time. I hope ...... 8) Mark. Well, at least it will get me out of the D I for a while he thought. Starting to wash his old tunic in the bowl.