Chapter 15 - Oakwood Secured!
-----Maime proves to be a godsend with putting Kazel and the Dread Pirate in their own separate comfortable rooms. She accommodates the guards pairing Marast and Runik in a room next to Kazel’s while Brandel and Krord’s room is located across from Seth’s. She then makes arrangements for the two horses and the pony to be stabled in the inn’s stable.
-----She next sends a very hesitant serving girl with a breakfast tray up to the Dread Pirate’s room. The young maiden soon hurriedly returns down the stairs as if escaping from a harrowing experience.
-----A grand breakfast is brought into Seth’s room where Kazel and the four guards also are. Albert suddenly flutters onto the windowsill. The musician picks up an apple and motions to the bird. Albert then alights on the back of a chair in the room awaiting Seth to feed him.
-----As the others eat, Brandel asks Seth, "Sir, it would do good for all of us to rest. How would you like us to arrange our shifts so that we can guard your room while you rest?"
-----Seth absentmindedly cuts some more apple for Albert as he considers Brandel's question. "Well Dread definitely needs some rest, what about you Kazel? I think I can stay awake for about four more hours before I need to rest. Maybe if Runik and you, Brandel, can stay awake with me for four hours while Krord and Marast rest, then they can take over for the next four hours. After that, everyone should have had some rest, then we can work out a more permanent roster." He gives a conspiratorial wink. "While I may have a fine eye for certain merchandise, the Dread Pirate led his scurvy crew all over the seven seas and he would know better how to organize the watch best."
-----The Dread Pirate stumbles into Seth's room and glances about at everyone, "Well, I think I'll be goin to the market and see if'n they have anythin worth lookin at there. Maybe I'll take one o' those black swords and have it checked out while I'm there. We should also think about gettin those bows fer Seth's friends. I'll see if'n I can find a reputable tracker while I'm there, too."
-----The Dread Pirate looks at Seth's bodyguards, "Unless one o' you can track through the woods and such."
-----"Marast know the way of the forest," the elf quickly replies to the Dread Pirate. He stands suddenly and although a frown remains on his face, his manner reflects one of excitement.
-----Seth nods at Dread's shopping list and adds, "Our new friends here will require horses as well. Maybe you should inquire at the same time."
-----Kazel waves after Gimplefwick. "Wait, wait, I'm coming too." She then hurriedly stuffs the last bit of breakfast into her mouth, picks up her weapons and trots along after the elf and halfling.
-----"A heavy crossbow fer me, if’n ye can, Cap’n!" Runik calls after the departing trio. Brandel turns to Krord and instructs the guard to get some sleep until it’s time for his watch. The huge guard downs the rest of his breakfast and goes back to his room.
-----Seth decides to study some spells before resting. He absently feeds Albert apple as he studies his spell book, and contemplates, before resting.
-----Out on the streets, Kazel, Marast, and the Dread Pirate make their way toward the Market place. As they walk, the streets become busy with the normal daily activity. A detail of the Town Watch passes by drawing some cautious stares from some beggars sitting to one side of the thoroughfare. Most of the other citizens that the small roguish group passes seem like tradesmen and merchants.
-----As they trod along, Marast goes forward with an almost stalking motion. The elf maintains his frowning disposition, grumbling occasionally when he sees a town’s person get in his way or commit something the elf considers foolish. Even though he maneuvers around the general populace with a graceful strength, it is apparent that the elf feels totally out of place in the town.
-----As they reach the Market place, they come across a weaponsmith dealing weapons from a good-sized stand. When the Dread Pirate talks to him and shows him the weapon obtained from the evil ones, the weaponsmith seems hesitant to even touch it.
-----As the balding man looks at the black blade with dull eyes in his aged wrinkled face, he inquires of the Dread Pirate, "Whar ye come a’cross a sword like this? I be worried it be hexed!"
-----The Dread Pirate answers the smith, "Well, ye see, there were these evil wizards in service to the goddess of the night here in town, makin all sorts o' mayhem and generally makin a mess o' things. Each of 'em had one of these swords. So we cut the wizards' heads off and threw 'em into a garbage heap, then confiscated their gear, since they didn't really need it anymore, bein headless as they were and all. So I ended up with a few o' these things and I was just wonderin if they were tainted with evil or not. By the way, do ye have any bows and crossbows?" The Dread Pirate gazes at the smith levelly the whole while through his story about decapitating evil wizards.
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