Back in the barracks, all had fallen asleep with bellies more or less full of wine and food.  And all save Sandros slept well.  He tossed and turned fitfully, his dreams full of images dripping with dark, red blood.

In the morning, the adventurers awake one at a time, ready to do 'whatever' in the capital city.  Sometime in the hours near dawn, some kind soul enters the barracks room and lays out fresh breads, fruits and cheeses.  There are savory meats, both warm and cold, and water, wine and some of the strong, dark drink recently introduced by the halfling traders: kafe.  

Bracht finds ready companionship in the company of the soldiers in the barracks, and in late afternoon comes to his new friends and announces that he's joined the army.  "It's a good cause, and the pay is good.  I'm starting as an officer in the horse troops.  So I'm off!  I hope we shall meet again."

Tav's up fairly early, eager to get on with what he wants to get done in Squarento.  He chats with Veneron and Daggda, also early risers.

"Well, I figure somebody's going to have to keep an eye on Avon.  We just can't walk in to the Dwarven Bank and walk out with some big sacks full of gold.  Don't you think it would be a good idea if we could keep it quiet that WE were the rescuers.  The Mark's Arm is going to come looking for us one of these days... and later would be better than sooner.  As for dividing it up... well there are still 4 of us who started this adventure, plus Daggda and Andrew, who I think deserve a full share each.  What do you think?"

"Ven, I'm going to be trying to find Princess Talis.  Kalban gave me a ring to give to her, and he said she would teach me a spell.  I'm hoping, also, to get her permission to use the Royal Library for some research.  Who knows? Maybe she'll let you have some of the spell components you need at a bargain price? Or maybe she'll let you use her laboratory ... We are heros, you know."  He laughs.

He looks over at Avon and Sandros.  Neither is resting easily.  Sandros is muttering in his sleep and is all twisted in the blankets -- it does not look like he's had an easy night.  "It'd be nice if we could find someone to get that charm spell off of Avon -- maybe before he heads out for that bank?  That would be nice.  And we should DEFINITELY not let him wander around alone until then.  Who knows what he'll decide is "fair" if he's still charmed?  .... I wonder what happened to Andrew?  His bed is untouched, and I haven't seen him this morning at all."

'"I dont know how long we want to stay in town ... but if we could spend a whole week, I'd like to work out with the ArmsMaster here.  I think I could really improve my agility if I had a coach.  I hope Sandros would be OK if we delayed that long... who knows?  It was supposed to take 3 months for him to get really... well.. you know.  And it's been less than a week.  Maybe one of the healers at the Temple of Illuvitar could cure him, and then we wouldn't have to go at all."

"I feel like I want to be in 3 places at once!"

[Ven]
"Are you kidding, Tav? I'd love to go with you. I was going to head over to the public library, do a little research, maybe check out an Anne Rice novel for Sandros . . . but, searching for a Princess in the guise of a hero is a good bit better. Just let me know when you'll be off on that adventure and I'll come along. I would just stick with you the whole day, but if you're going to go get pounded on by an arms master for several hours, I think I might want to find other diversions."

Sandros tossed and turned.

Sandros awoke, his covers drenched with sweat. His fought a long moment with his breathing, trying to calm down. Finally, he let out a long sigh, and he crawled slowly out of bed.  He had to do something, and soon. Before it was too late.


Avon is ready to go to the bank when he wakes, only to find Daggda and Sandros waiting for him.  "We'll all go together," announces the Dwarf.   

"Best of luck, shield-brothers," she says to the departing Tavarak and Veneron.  " I will see you when you return here, or in the morn," she chuckles. She turns to Sandros, who looks sickeningly pale, and pats him on the cheek in a strange show of gruff affection. "You're a good man, Sandros Bloodworth, and you have kept your promise. Do not think I have forgotten mine. I will go with you to find Sssathius," she stumbles over the strange name, "as soon as you are ready. You have acted with good faith, and risked both name and blood to save Prince Geodon." She pauses, wondering whether mentioning the word "blood" is such a good idea. "But first, perhaps you'd like to accompany me on a couple of errands. Perhaps we won't have to go crawling into that swamp to cure you. So let's go." Daggda stands up abruptly, and buckles on her still-dirty chainmail, and fastens the pin around her neck to secure her equally muddy cloak of red and brown.

For a dwarf, Daggda is positively locquaicious today. She explains the itinerary to Sandros. "First, we go to the Dwarven embassy to call on a debt. Then to the Temple of Illuvitar."

Just then the door bursts open and in hurries a halfling in a tunic of dark gold, pushing Tav and Ven back into the room.  He closes the door behind him, and leans back against it as if blocking the door.   He wears a golden medallion around his neck on a leather thong.  "I am Fosco Bracegirdle at your service, honorables, which you most certainly are, even tho because of the war there will be no public celebration in honor of your service to the kingdom, but I am sure that King Basalt will eventually have you to dine with him at a private ceremony, which is a treat indeed because the variety of food that he offers is fine indeed, or so they say because I have never had the opportunity to dine with that particular Royal gentleman despite my Lady's position, which I cannot say more about because she has bid me be silent, but I do know that you should change your plans, of which I heard at the door before I came in, which was not eavesdropping I assure you, but was only common courtesy, as I did not want to interrupt while you were talking, so when you said that you wanted to do something before going to the Temple of Illuvitar, I knew I could help, because that would not work out, on account of the priests would not be available later this morning because of the big Ceremony of Return they have scheduled for noon, which would be the 24 hour time after the going of the Gods, but you could go there if you went there right away?"  Unbelievably, he finished up making it some sort of question.

He takes a quick breath and continues.  "It is my pleasure to welcome your honorable selves to the Imperial Palace which is a fine place indeed, with many wonders and useful places, of which I am completely familiar on account of the long time which I have spent exploring -- all of which information I lay at your feet, for you are the rescuers of the Royal Dwarven Prince, which is no mean feat since there were so many   others who were trying to do that very thing and did not succeed and you did, and who some say will do more wonderous things that are not even known yet, and besides have brought him back alive as well, which most feared he would not be because of the length of time he was gone and knowing that he was taken by the Arm of Mark Twain which all know is most dangerous and......"

He claps his hands over his mouth quickly.  But it does not stem the river of words for long. "PLEASE, good honorables, you must not remember that I mentioned the Arm of the Mark, for my Lady has expressly forbid me to mention it to any, and now I have mentioned it, which is one of the many problems she has warned me about, that I speak too freely and too much, which is most certainly not true because I only talk about things which are important and need to be known and not things I am not supposed to say, and how can I explain of the many things which I could help you with unless you knew some of the things that I could do if I didn't tell you, which I did, except that this time I made just one tiny slip and mentioned something that I was not supposed to mention and I will be in terrible trouble if you mention it to others, which I am truly, truly, truly hoping that you will not."  [gasp for air] "If there is some small trifling service I may provide during your stay, you need only ask, because I can tell you where everything is and other things as well."

He looks at them hopefully, his back to the door, eyes flashing from one startled face to another.

[JessJazza]

JessJazza finished her breakfast quickly and stood up, intending to go to the temple fairly early to meditate. "So, I'll see you there?" she said to Moongloom.

The young Illuvitarian Acolyte gathers her pack, settles Sabertooth on her hip and, after paying her bill with the innkeeper, makes ready to return to the Temple.  "Well," she thought, "if this is a fun night on the town in Squarento, I might as well save my silver and stay with the priests."

The street traffic seems less concerned with normal business today, than with gossip.  The headline on the Squarento Gazette screams in large bold letters:
Dwarf Prince Returns, story page 2

Priests Announce Ceremony of Return at Noon

Intrigued by the story of the prince, she spends a copper to buy the newspaper.  The front page story about the Ceremony of Return she knew.

The Priest Lord of Illuvitar, Gantris,  and the High Daughter of Deltara,  Bridan, announced a joint ceremony for Tuesday, June 11, at noon.  "This is traditional," said Priest Lord Gantris, "exactly 24 hours after the Darkness at Midday."

"We remind all," said Lady Deltara, " that there is absolutely nothing unusual about this and no one should be alarmed by yesterday's events." ...

followed by more lies for public consumption.  JessJazaaz knew that Illuvitar --and judging from the rumors she'd heard, the other Gods as well -- had been gone for over a day now, and that it was somehow connected to the sudden, and apparently unexpected darkening yesterday at midday.  The Senior Cleric who dealt with "visiting priests" was named Thaert, and, if he knew anything, he wasn't talking.  He'd just repeated that all the clerics were to reassure the people that all was well, and that everyone was to be back before noon today to participate in the Ceremony of Return.  Apparently, someone had gotten to the old books, and found one other time when the Gods of Men had disappeared -- some centuries ago -- but they'd come back 24 hours after the eclipse that had happened then.  JessJazza hoped it was true, for Illuvitar had been a strong, stable part of her life for over 50 years...and she missed His presence terribly. 

She covers the 200 yards to the Temple with hurried strides and went to the priest's common prayer room.  There she sees almost a dozen clerics, many of much higher station that she, deep in meditation.  Quietly she joins them -- but only to be frustrated by the silent, lonely feeling she'd had since yesterday.  She tries to clear her mind ... but over an hour later, she rises, dejected, and goes to the small, plain cell that had been assigned to her when she came to the Temple a few days ago.

Opening the Gazette she reads the story about the return of Prince Geodon:

Crown Prince Geodon was returned to the Palace last night in the company of a band of mercenaries.  Unofficial sources inside the Court told the Gazette that he was found in a "lovenest" cottage with a female human and several female half-orcs.  For reasons of propriety, no further information will be released.  The identities of the mercenaries has not been revealed, but there are reports that several elves and dwarves were in the group that returned the Prince to the court of his father, King Basalt.  Sources at the Dwarven Court, when asked for comment, said only that the Prince was on full time duty with the Dwarven army and would be unavailable for interview.   The gazette is offering 5 gold pieces to any citizen who will discover and reveal the identity of the rescuers, or the Dwarven Prince's female companions.

She puts the paper aside, and closes her eyes, trying to focus on what she knows of the Ceremony that will take place at noon.  Thaert comes to interrupt her silence.  "Excuse me," his voice is oily, "but all our normal priests are preparing for the great Ceremony.  And there are more than normal visitors in the Public Chapel.  Perhaps you could help out there?"


[Moongloom]

Moongloom's ever-present smile gleams in the morning light filtering into the Inn. "Of course. Beautiful ladies dancing, and a chance to rub noses with some deitific beings is always a good way to start the day." He downs his kafe and heads for his room to gather his stuff...

The blue mage shoulders his pack and settles his bill for the night with the innkeeper.  Out in the street he pauses, trying to decide if he could make better use of his time by going to the College of Mages, but, as he hears more and more of the gossip in the street, he decides he might as well just head for the Temple.

[Andrew]

Not really prepared for the answer given by the guards (about Paula) Andrew is a little taken aback. Walking in the cool night Andrew can't relax and knows full well he won't sleep, so running into Bartriba is a blessing. Managing a weak smile at the comment about his state Andrew laughs out loud when he hears her mission and follows along in her wake anxious to discuss a number of things and to watch the show.

Far too stressed for small talk yet, and once they reach the walls and deliver the plague of insects Andrew asks directly, "The Goddess seems to be getting farthur and furthur away how do you handle it? Is there nothing we can do? How is old Featherbrain doing? That wanted poster and the actions of the duke must have him raving mad."

Bartriba turns with a soft smile.  "Andrew, I know you trust Bubbles as I do.  He says we are not to be worried, for the presence of the Goddess is still with us.  You saw the swarm of insects just now.  Cast your own spell to bring another swarm."  She waits and Andrew casts the spell -- apprehensive, yet feeling a little better at seeing how calm Bartriba is.  It works!  "You know," she continues, "that those bees could not have come without the touch of the Goddess.  She is here.  Bubbles says she has never left.  Here is what he told me about it... but you must be careful to whom you tell this.  Very careful."

"You know that the eclipse yesterday..." the Druids knew  it for what it was -- a shadow that passed over the land, blocking the sun for a few moments "... was unanticipated.  Or rather, the exact date of it was unanticipated.  It was not a normal eclipse, which would be the shadow of the moon.  It was something large and unnatural.  All the Arch Druids knew of its coming, but not its timing.  It was the spirit of the Dark God, Silindur.  Yesterday, at midday, he was reborn."

"You know how our Arch Druid, Featherbrain, likes his jokes.  I was with him when it happened, and we both felt the absence of the Goddess' touch.  'Well of course, says Featherbrain.  Could the Mother of all Gods be anywhere else when one of Her sons is being born?'  She never left -- and neither did any of the other Gods of Men.  It is just that a change of such magnitude forced them all to attend to nothing else.  Bubbles says that all will return to normal soon, for Silindur is reborn now, altho he is very weak."

"One thing that the Arch Druid was very certain about, however, is that this is a good thing.  For is it not the teaching of the Goddess that all forces -- good and evil, law and chaos -- are necessary and good?  The coin of "good" must have an opposite side, else it loses value."  Her voice becomes very intense.  "Featherbrain was very worried that we not discuss this particular aspect -- especially with those who may be priests of Illuvitar or Deltara, nor their ally of old, Moradin -- for fear that they would see Druids as traitors to their cause.  We do not necessarily support their goals if they intend to slay Silindur -- for when would a Mother seek the death of one of her children at the hands of another?"

"As for the Duke and his bounty hunters... well that has given Bubbles much cause for mirth.  It all started when the Duke's allies the Lizard folk of the marshes attacked a mated pair of hexapumas.  Naturally the lizardmen were badly beaten and called on the Duke for aid.  Well, of course, they had no more success, and blamed their failure on bad luck.  And *that* meant the Pixies had to be the cause, so they put a price on the pixies.  Featherbrain sent a messge to the Duke, asking him to refrain from trying to attack the pixie-folk, and so Velluth named the Arch Druid himself as traitor."

"So far as we know, no hexapuma and no pixie has been captured.  And Featherbrain has been quite comfortable here, and has made common cause with Princess Talis and Rast against the Mark and his puppet Velluth."

"Now it is your turn... tell me of your adventure with the rescue of the Prince.  He is a hopeless imbecile is he not?"

It takes a little while, but Andrew begins to feel better in the presence of Bartriba's relentless good humor and positive attitude.  He tells her the whole story.  Kalban's departure, the Prince's actions, the killing of the orcs and Wairith.

"So," she says at the end of his tale, "you travel with the Son of Autumnleaf as seen in the boy's vision.  What is it all about?   What key does he have?  And what is it the key TO?  No one here knows... except perhaps Rast, and he keeps his own council as always."


[The Barracks]

Veneron, mouth hanging open in amazement at Fosco Bracegirdle's incredible ability to speak, looks to Tav and asks, "Did you follow all of that? I think perhaps he may be able to facilitate our access to the libraries and laboratories and so forth." Ven looks questioningly at the halfling, half afraid of what might come out of the little fellow's mouth.

Daggda grimly stares at Fosco, turns to hear Veneron's bewildered response, and then sternly faces the halfling to hear his repsonse.

She then startles everyone, Fosco included, by letting out a hearty, rather-unladylike burst of laughter.  "Oh, you halflings are the wicked glint in Moradin's eye, to be sure!" she blurts out, catching her breath. "Well met, Fosco Bracegirdle. Although you cannot reveal your lady's name, I think we can count on your trustworthiness. Although we are interested in the libraries and such that Veneron has mentioned, our friend here is ill. If what you have said is true, we would like to take him to the Temple of Illuvitar with no further delay. Will you accompany us?" she asks politely, a slight smile still on her face.

Tavarak, in a quick burst in the Dwarven language, says to Daggda, "See also if Avon can get uncharmed for if not, I fear we shall wake some day with one or more of us dead -- for having killed his beloved."

Then the bard turns to the halfling, returning to common.  "And pray, Master Bracegirdle, what else have you heard of our plans?  How might you propose to be of aid?"

The halfling brings himself to his full height.  At nearly 3 and one-half feet tall, it doesnt take a long time, but he takes a full breath, and Veneron braces for a torrent of words and almost breaks into laughter at the stunned expression on Sandros' face.

"Well, Master Dwarf, if we halflings are the evil glint in Moradin's eye, then you dwarves must be the sour lemons of yesterdays lunch, I am sure!"

Just as Ven was beginning to hope there was a chance for a normal talk, the halfling begins again.  "About your plans and such, I am sure that I know very little, for I was not really listening at the door with any purpose of hearing, but, as I said, just to be polite and not interrupt while you were all so busy, talking about the Princess and a ring for her and going to the Dwarven bank and such, which is not any of my business, so I have already forgotten about it, in fact."  [breath]  "But if you are going to try and get to Princess Talis, or in fact to any of her court, you must please make sure not to mention that you spoke with me or even that you saw me for otherwise there will be the most terrible trouble for my Mistress, which, being such fine gentlemen as you are, I am sure you would not want at all, for I tell you truly that she is the most wonderful Mistress that any one could possible have, being fair and treating such as me with courtesy, which she need not do but she does anyway."

He pauses for only a fraction of a second, looking at the faces of the 5 adventurers, then plunges ahead.  "Now the Princess herself is easy to find but hard to see, as she is always busy and has an army of courtiers to guard her front door, but which is no matter to one who knows what I know, which is the right person to talk to with any special thing in mind, as you seem to have, which makes sense to me, as I am one who respects all things, but most especially magical rings, which you did not say you had but I can guess pretty well." 

He seems to have stopped with that expectant expression on his face again.  Sandros, this time, is about to say something, when Fosco bounds into talk again.  "Captain Dennar, it is that you need to see, which should not be so hard at all because he is always near the front door when the Princess is inside the court room, which you may not know where it is, but I do, like most of the other things that are around here, which I may not have mentioned before, but I do."  [breath] "So just find him straight across the courtyard and by the large door beneath the large flag and tell him what your special  message is and he will make sure that the Princess will hear about it without any funny business, because he is the Captain of her personal guard, but more importantly because he is in love with her and will see that she hears of anything that is important whether her courtiers think it is important enough or not, but if he thinks it will harm her he will probably throw you in the bay with a rock tied to your feet, which would not be a good thing at all... no indeed, not at all."

And now it is Daggda who is about to repeat her request to go to the Temple, but once again Fosco bursts into speech.  "Master Dwarf, now you want to go to the Temple, which did I mention will be very very busy later today, but if you want to go, you have to go now, but I cannot go with you because someone might see you with me and then there might be trouble for my Lady, which I cannot have because I have already said too much and have to trust you to remember  not to remember that I mentioned the you-know-who." [breath]  "The Temple is easy to find tho, so even a dwarf can find it, even tho it is above ground and not in a smelly old tunnel, which I am sure is what you might like, but it isnt and instead is just outside the western gate of the Palace grounds itself, and when you get done there, I will find you to see if you need anymore help, if you are able to come out before the big Ceremony, which I dont think is such a big deal if you ask me, which nobody did in the first place, but of course, the Dwarven bank will be open all day, Ceremony or no, which is one sensible thing that dwarves might be doing today, and I will meet you there, so you can decide what else you might want to ask me about because as I may have mentioned I know practically everything that goes on because of me being able to explore lots of places without anyone paying attention to little me, which is a big mistake, let me tell you, but maybe you already know it?"

Fosco walks away from the door, having noticed the array of breakfast treats on the table.  "You dont mind if I...."  And without waiting for an answer, he sits down and begins to build a meal for himself.

[Tavarak/Veneron]

Tav and Ven, nearly swept away in the flood of words, nevertheless manage to pick out a few bits of useful flotsam: "Capt. Dennar.. Big door across the courtyard..

And that is where they go.  It is indeed easy to find.  The largest door visible has a knight standing in front of it.  He wears gleaming parade-ground chain armor, and a sword at his hip.  The Royal coat of arms on his chest matches that on the large banner floating above the door.  As they approach, he turns his attention to Tav and Ven, asking, "May I help you?"

[Daggda/Avon/Sandros/Moongloom]

The former slave and the dwarven priestess override Avon's desire to head immediately to the bank and lay hands on large piles of gold.  Leaving Fosco alone in the empty barracks room, they easily find the western exit from the courtyard.  The Temple of Illuvitar is visible as they walk down the street.

There is a cleric at the front door talking with a man with powdery blue skin.  "You understand," says the robed cleric, "that the Ceremony does not start for several hours yet.  But all are always welcome within.  The public chapel is to the left."