From alt.pub.dragons-inn Mon Jun 20 17:28:29 1994
Xref: netcom.com alt.pub.dragons-inn:7416
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Organization: Central Michigan University
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 1994 17:54:49 EDT
From: Mike Sander <344LWKC@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU>
Message-ID: <94168.175449344LWKC@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU>
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [Kidnap] A Change in Plans
Lines: 176

I entered the Spitting Cobra and gave a casual look around the place.
Several pairs of eyes met my own, but most people just chose to ignore
me.  There were a few guards here, but none seemed to recognize me,
or even care that I existed.  Good -- this was exactly the way I wanted
things to be.

I approached the bar and took a seat.  After a few seconds Trawm
wandered over to me, just like I was any other customer.  Which I was,
sort of, though I had other reasons for being here.  Namely, for the
meeting, to plan the kidnapping of Demmy Chi.

"Dere ya are," Trawm said in a gruff tone.  "Finally."

For a second I wondered if he was being sarcasic, but then I realized
that just wasn't his style.  "What are you talking about?  I got here
early," I said, a bit of surprise in my voice.

"Yeah, I know.  But Kim showed up a while back.  He's been talkin' bout
doin' da kidnap tanight."

"Tonight?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.  From Trawm's tone I had
expected a rush, but not quite this much of one.  "And how does he plan
to do that?"

"I dunno.  He said ta wait 'til you came, an' den we'd talk."

I nodded.  It made sense, and I wasn't about to argue with Trawm.
Instead, I waited until he left, then casually made my way to the back
room where I knew he and Kim would be waiting.

I found Kim sitting with his feet propped up on the table, rubbing his
nails against a file.  I couldn't help but smile; that instrument was
normally used for sharpening weapons.

I wanted to avoid weapons as much as possible.  I knew how to handle my
sword, as I have used it more times than I wish to count.  But I prefer
to use my brains rather than brawn, and I didn't want anyone unnecessarily
hurt.  As those thoughts flashed through my mind, I realized it was time
to get down to business.

"So, what's all this about doing the kidnapping tonight, Kim?" I asked,
trying to sound angry.  Actually, I was sort of glad to see this get in
motion; it might lead me to the people behind the kidnapping sooner.

"We'll get to that," Kim replied calmly.  "But I think we should all share
what we have learned first.  Trawm, you go first."

I shrugged, and sat down on a small pile of crates.  It was strange,
though: I had thought Kim was rather sky and laid-back, but here he was
leading things.  Not that I had exactly given the right first impression
either.  Besides, I had other things to think about, like what information
Trawm might have picked up.

"Well, I checked out da sewers, like I said.  Dere was a pipe ta da Chi
houz, an' a course I found da best way dere an' back, an' all da places
we can hide, if we hafta.  Da guards ain't gonna give us no hassle
neither.  Dere been some high sewer levels dis year an' da t-crocs been
a problem for 'em."  Trawm grabbed a mug of brown ale with the
consistency of mud, and took a healthy gulp.

I had to admire his passion for the sewers, but I also had to grumble
at his choice.  The thief in me was familiar with the sewers, but these
two knew me only as a guard.  "I still don't like the idea of going in the
sewers," I groaned.

"You'll just have to like it if it's our only choice," said Kim.  "But it
may not be necessary to use that route.  Did you find anything else, Trawm?"

Again, Kim surprised me.  He certainly didn't seem like the same boy who
was here before.  In some way he was more mature, and certainly more cunning.

"Yeah," Trawm said.  "I found out dat Mrs. Chi knows some majik.  It's not
much, an' I'm glad a dat, but it's more den any a us can do.  I think she
been learnin' from dis elf, Luthor Anside.  Dat guy caused me trouble
before by doin' his majik in her, an' makin' people think dat it was a
holy place or sumthin'.  Killed my bizness fer weeks," he snarled and
downed the last of his ale.

"Hmm.  Maybe that who I saw, then." I said thoughtfully.

"What did you see, Brent?" Kim asked.  "And where?"

"Well, I told you that I'd be patrolling around the Chi house, to see
what it looked like.  I did, but I hit a streak of luck; I got to view
the Chis, and even part of the inside of their home.  With them was this
elf with golden skin and a cloak that seemed to blend in with the
shadows." I smiled.

"Yes, that matches the description I have of him, too," Kim replied.
"But as fortunate as we are that you were able to get that
information, we may not need it."

"What?" I asked, startled.  "You don't want the layout of the house?  I
though we were striking tonight."

Kim turned to me and smiled confidently, "We are striking tonight.  But
not at the Chi house.  You see, this Luthor Anside we talked about is
holding a party tonight.  I think it's for some anniversary of
Generica; I don't know and I don't really care.  But what I _do_ care
about is that the Chis will be there, and Demmy will be barely guarded
compared to when he's at home."

"Okay, I'll agree with that.  But there will be a lot of people there, so
we can't exactly snatch him and run.  So, do you expect him to simply run
into our arms?"

"Yes, sort of," Kim said with a wicked grin.  "I'm surprised you have to
ask, though.  I had heard that you had a bit of brains."

I don't know what hurt more: the idea that Kim knew more about me than I did
he, or his implication about my intellegence.  I had been playing dumb before,
but I decided it was time to give Kim a taste of exactly what he had asked
for, as long as I kept to my role.  "I do.  I had enough sense not to turn
down a job like this, after all."

"True.  But Trawm and I are doing it too, and we're not purely in it for
the money."

Trawm perked up.  "We ain't?"

Kim turned to him.  "No, you promised that you'd do it for your
cuddlegirl, didn't you?  I'm sure there will be some money coming our
way, though."

"Okay den.  I ain't gonna argue.  I'll do what it's gonna take."  Trawm
stared into his empty mug and frowned.

"Fine then, Kim.  You be the brains, and Mr. Brick Wall here can be the
brawn.  I'll just be the guy that keeps the town guard away from both you
and him."  I was feeling more than a little left out of the planning.

"Ah, but I thought that was when we were invading the Chi house.  I'm not
so sure we'll need you now."

I didn't like what Kim was hinting at.  "You need me.  After all, you
don't think I'm the only one who knows about this kidnapping, and who
will spill that information if something... ahem, unexpected happens, do
you?"  Part of that was a lie, but how were they to know that?  "Besides,
of the three of us, who do you think the Chis will trust the most near
their child?" I said with an innocent grin.

Kim thought for a moment and then nodded.  "Good.  You do that.  If you
can get Demmy outside the house, the rest should be easy.  And if you
can at least get him away from his parents, I can set up a distraction
that will allow Trawm to -- as you put it -- 'snatch and run'."

"A distraction?" I asked.  "Like what?"

"I'll come up with something," Kim said, though his look suggested he
already had something in mind.  "But first, I'll see if I can't talk to
this Luthor, and find out as much about him as I can.  Meanwhile, Trawm
can go talk to someone else, like maybe the cooks.  I heard the party's
going to be a 'luau' -- whatever that is -- and it would be perfectly
reasonable for him to look for some new dishes to serve there."

After Trawm nodded, I stated, "Great.  We'll go then, separately again.
I'll leave first, since I have to change into my guard uniform again,
and to give me time to do what I have to.  I'll see you there."

"Maybe, but I'm going to try to keep out of sight.  I'll let you know if I
need your help, but otherwise, I don't think it would be wise for us to be
seen together."

I barely suppressed a laugh as I went out the door.  The only ways I
wouldn't see Kim would be for him to not show up, or if he had some magic
way to hide himself that I didn't know about.  And what was the chance
of either of those things happening?

------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADMIN: Copyright 1994 by Mike Sander.  Distribution to netnews servers
       permitted, all other rights reserved.  Brent belongs to Mike
       Sander, Trawm and Kim used by permission from The Dreamer.

Love and Peace and Parties,
Mike Sander
344lwkc@cmuvm.csv.cmich.edu