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From: tolsen@leland.Stanford.EDU (Tanya Ann Olsen)
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [CB][Rath] Last Minute Preparations...
Date: 13 May 1995 20:55:23 -0700
Organization: Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
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		   #15 Last Minute Preparations...

     Gyles and Mi'cha had cleaned up and appeared to have been
patiently waiting for Cernborn and Athorbalo to return.  Cernborn
summarized, "I have informed the innkeeper to not let anyone in here
until I get the poison cleaned up.  I had also hoped to employ someone
to find this Azurecon but the one I had in mind appears to not be
interested.  

     "For now, I think we had best be preparing for this ball;
I do not believe this assassin will try again so soon and certainly
not in such a public place as the ball.  I trust you have suitable
attire?" he asked.

     "By all the cunning of Kali, I have nothing more than the
clothes on my back.  None the less, I think that the good innkeep
could direct us to a suitable tailor." answered Gyles.

     Mi'cha shook her head.  "No, I don't have anything.  Simple
farm girls are rarely invited to affairs like that."

     "What about thee, Athorbalo?" asked Cernborn.

     A pained expression crossed her face. "I believe I have
something;  I'll return in a few minutes."  She left the room, almost
in a trance as she appeared to re-live past events.  The others
watched her go, not sure if they should try to accompany her or not.

     "Very well.  I am sure that Master Littefair knows of a talented
and speedy tailor you can employ."  Cernborn gave Mi'cha and Gyles
each a small pouch with several gold pieces inside.

     Mi'cha meekly accepted the offered pouch while Gyles refused.  He
looked at Cernborn and the extended money pouch.  "I have no need of
your coin Lord Captain.  I am your companion in this matter, not a
hireling.  Thank you for the gracious offer, but I have my own monies
and would spend them for this affair.  As Kuffu would say 'Accept not
the generosity of others; it will make you weak of the flesh and
destroy your desire to achieve your own worth.' "  Gyles inclined his
head to Cernborn and touched his fingers to his forehead.

     Cernborn returned the head nod.  "I simply did not want lack of
coin on anyone's part to prevent their participation in this matter.
I will await your speedy return."

     The others nodded, now understanding his reluctance to leave the
inn.  They closed the door quietly behind them as Mi'cha informed
Gyles of several tailor shops she was aware of.

     Cernborn laid down on the bed; subterfuge was a new concept for
him and it was very hard for him to play the game as circumstances now
demanded.  Rathan Barbar looked to be a good ally, even if he had no
respect for the gods and talked almost as if the gods themselves were
relatives.  But then again, he did have abilities he had never heard
of before.  And how had this Azurecon caught on to his trail so quickly?
Marque must have tipped him off the moment he realized he too was in
Generica.  That was the only explanation.  He felt like a candle's
flame in a gusty room, appearing strong at one moment, weak the
next, and always in danger of being blown out.  He lay there quite a
while trying to piece together various events.  

     A knock came on the door.  Cernborn got up to answer it when he
realized that it was much to soon to be his companions.  He
hesitated, then raised his voiced asking, "What is it?"

    A voice that sounded familiar answered, "Sir?  It's Bob.  I've got
a message for you."

    Cernborn opened the door, "Oh?"  

    Bob handed him a sealed scroll.  "This just arrived for you
downstairs." 

    Cernborn tipped him a silver piece and closed the door.  He broke
open the seal.  Inside, it stated that there was someone in
the bar who knew all there was to know about the assassin.  It was
marked with a royal Elven crest and was signed Diana Bluerock.  

    There was another message beneath it.  It carried the smaller
crest of a well-known mercenary group known as the Brigade.  Under the
crest was an invitation for Cernborn to meet Diana Bluerock down in
the tavern for a very late dinner.  

    Upon closer inspection of the Brigade seal, he discovered that it
appeared genuine.  On further inspection of the first crest, he
determined that it belonged to a family of Elven nobles.  He somehow
knew this was simply a lure to get him someplace for Azurecon's
benefit, but how could the seals be counterfeit?  They appeared quite
legitimate.

     He was debating whether or not he should meet this Diana Bluerock
when he realized a blond, tabby cat was sniffing about the room.  Now
how did that cat get in here?  he wondered.  The cat was headed
toward the pile of clothes which still had traces of poison in them.
Cernborn intercepted the cat and was about to pick him up to put him
out of the room, when the cat became a hissing fur ball of fury.
Completely startled, Cernborn backed up and fell backward into the
tub.

     Suddenly, he heard Rathan's voice in his ear, "Sorry, I thought
you were going to step on my tail.  Here let me get you out of that
tub and dry you off."  He was invisibly lifted out of the tub.  While
hanging in mid air, heat crawled over his body as feeling similar to a
blush or sunburn.  

     "Would you please stop that and let me down?" grated Cernborn.

     Rathan suddenly realized that not only was Cernborn dry, he had
not even been wetted by the water in the bath.  The heat seemed to be
bothering him quite a bit more than it should, though he was not sure
why.  "I see you're getting smarter."  Cernborn was finally set back
onto his feet, and the blond cat jumped into his arms.  

    "If you are going to hold me then scratch my ears.  So what does
the note say?  Mmm.  While I usually feel foolish stating the obvious,
I feel it necessary to point out that it looks like a trap.  If you 
want I could impersonate you.  Diana sounds like quite an interesting
woman."  Rathan the cat looks up at Cernborn with a not quite so
innocent look.

     "No.  If anyone is to meet this woman, it will be me.  You are
hired to find out information, not fight my battles for me," Cernborn
replied.  "I know it looks like a trap and feels like a trap, and
therefore must be a trap, but I feel that there is something more to
this.  But, we can deal with this later.  Have you found out anything
about this so-called assassin?" he asked.

     Rathan replied, "Oh, definitely.  Azurecon is a psychopath that
should be put out of his misery.  He is also an overconfident fool
lacking in style.  He could at least devise something clever like
leave his victims with a simile frozen on their faces.  Or maybe turn
them purple.  Just leaving them dead is so tacky.  And watch you think
about my cloak and kilt.  It is no less tacky than to be cliche by
wearing a dark cloak in a dark corner.  Besides I didn't pick my
father's colors."

     The blond cat stretched and leapt out of Cernborn's arms.  Rathan 
casually examined the tray and clothing.  When Cernborn glanced back 
at the poison stained items, he was stunned to find the items gone.  "I
thought you might appreciate it if I removed the offending items.  I 
think I can have an antidote prepared by tonight or tomorrow," Rath 
replied to Cernborn's questioning look.  'Looks like Ah will be 
missing the party tonight,' Rathan chuckled quietly to himself.

     The cat walked silently to the window and leapt gracefully onto the 
sill.  Rathan turned to face the merman and with that eerie voice from
midair asked him, "Are you sure you don't want to clue in your
companions?  It is going to be difficult to keep up this facade around
Gyles.  And your 'Lady Friend' seems to be a bit miffed at being left
in the dark about your plans."

     "I will deal with them.  For now, report to me when I am alone or
Gyles is not around.  Do you have any leads on what Azurecon plans to
do next or where he might be?"

     "No.  That's why I'm off.  Athorbalo's coming back.  I'll let you
know when I find out anything new."  The cat that was Rathan
disappeared from view as it appeared to simply jump off the ledge into
nothing. 

     "What're you looking at?"  Cernborn spun around at Athorbalo's
voice.   She was carrying a large package that appeared somewhat old
and dusty.

     "Nothing.  I was just thinking," he replied.

     "You know, windows aren't the best place for someone who has a
price on his head to be standing.  You really should be more careful."

     Cernborn moved away from the window.  "What dost thou have
there?"

     "My ball gown, if the moths haven't eaten it away," she replied
and headed toward the bath room.

     Athorbalo entered the bath room carrying the ball gown with her
and closed the door behind her.  She filled the bath, then inspected
the dress, verifying that a year in storage had not done it any
harm. Her thoughts raced back to the previous year, she leaned up
against the door and closed her eyes, remembering.

     ... "You look wonderful!", he said, "Everyone is going to wonder
how I was able to talk someone as beautiful as you into going
with me. " Athorbalo blushed and looked at her shoes, then she
looked at the Viking sitting in the corner. "You look ... ",
she paused, "uncomfortable." Wonko grinned from ear to ear. "Yes,
but I am glad indeed to be making this fashion statement," he
replied. The fashion statement he referred to seemed to be more
like a fashion scream to Athorbalo, but she didn't mind, she
didn't love him for his fashion sense.  Wonko stood up in his 
plaid tuxedo and offered his arm to her, "Shall we go?" 
Athorbalo nodded and took his arm...

     Athorbalo opened her eyes and looked into the mirror. The 
wetness on her cheeks reminded her that she hadn't entirely 
recovered from Wonko's death. Her newfound feelings for Lord
Captain Cernborn made her wonder if she was being fair to him.
She was unsure of Cernborn's feelings however, and his obvious 
deceptions made her wonder where his true path lay.

     She shook her head, and began preparing for her bath; the tub was
already full. Athorbalo shed her clothes and slipped into the
nearly scalding water. She settled back and closed her eyes 
again. The hot water and her lack of rest worked deeply on her
and in minutes she was asleep.  

     As she slept, she dreamt that she was flying; the cold air of
the night surrounded her body.  A vortex made up of whirling
stars opened up in the sky before her. She felt no fear as she was
drawn towards it.  She got closer and saw that Wonko's pendant was
the center of the vortex.  Suddenly, she saw a yellow-white flash to
her left.  She turned towards the source as an invisible wave crashed
into her and knocked her spinning.  She righted her flight and
continued to seek the source of the explosion.  As she scanned, she
saw a monstrous black form rocketing towards her.

    She looked back into the vortex, and the glowing blue light 
coming from Wonko's pendant.  Athorbalo knew she'd be safe if she
could get back to the light, to the pendant.  Plummeting through the
vortex, she tried desperately to reach the pendant before the beast
got to her. 

    The light from the pendant got more intense as she got closer to it,
and the glow nearly blinded her. When she turned to see if she was
safe, she only saw the beast's horns and outstretched wings outlined
by the light.  She looked to Wonko's pendant and the vortex again,
struggling to reach it.  She screamed as the beast grabbed her just
as she touched the pendant.

    Athorbalo awoke in a cold sweat that the warm bath did nothing to
temper.  She heard the door open and then Cernborn call from the door.
"Art thou all right; I heard thee scream," he asked, concern wrinkling
his brow.

    Athorbalo shivered, "Yes.  I'm quite all right.  I'll be fine.  If
you'll excuse me so I can finish dressing."

    "Of course, my lady."  He closed the door.

    Athorbalo came out of the bathroom several minutes later.  She was
dressed in a formal gown, made entirely of black satin with silver and
pearl buttons and accents.

    Cernborn smiled and spoke, "My lady, thou art most beautiful.  I
did not think that anyone else would have fancy dress.  Thy dress is
stunning."  She blinked twice and looked at Cernborn again.  She
noticed that he was now dressed in his formal blue and gray silk
robes.  *At least he doesn't dress as loudly as Wonko does*, she
thought.  She inhaled sharply.  When was she ever going to get over
the fact that Wonko was not coming back?

     "My lady?  Art thou all right?", he said.  She nodded and smiled,
having recovered her composure, she looked to the door.  There was a
strange merging of events.  She could almost see Wonko standing there,
in that horrid plaid tuxedo.

    Suddenly, Cernborn was talking again, "Shall we depart, my lady,
and wait for the others below?"  He offered her his arm, just as Wonko
had.  She nodded and took the arm, no longer sure to whom the arm
belonged.

--------------
Lord Captain Cernborn    tolsen@leland.stanford.edu
Athorbalo                hilanse@wkuvx1.wku.edu
Gyles Dormani            virtuesr@gps1.laafb.af.mil
Mi'cha Ning'ra           jmc@ataxia.confusion.net
Rathan Barbar            swv3752@ritvax.isc.rit.edu
Azurecon                 jimmoore@eden.rutgers.edu