Chapter 11: Calling on the Blacksmith!
-----It is close to midnight as the trio makes it back to the main room of the guild house. They are thoroughly soaked from the unforgiving rain that pours outside.
-----As they emerge from the tunnel, they see all the members of the guild sitting around the center table except for Wain. All of the thieves turn to face them. Books smiles brightly as Seth approaches the circle of light cast by the lantern. The Fly sits with his legs drawn up. He cackles softly, muttering the words "pig fat" over and over again.
-----Dora May stands up and walks over to the Dread Pirate examining his scratched cheek and swollen jaw. "Get them something to dry off with," comes the low voice of the Guildmaster. With that, Wain’s dark form steps from the shadows. Picks jumps down from his chair and opening a cabinet, pulls out some fine looking linens. He tosses each of the newly arrived thieves one to dry off on. Dora crushes some herbs and applies it to Gimplefwick’s face.
-----Wain looks at Kazel and somehow his manner seems not as threatening. "Books has told me you have located and have been following the ones who attacked you. What have you learned?"
-----Kazel brushes her hair out of her face and squeezes the water onto the floor beside her as she speaks. "It looks like these assassins are working for someone who worships a Dark Lady, can raise the dead, and generally wants to undo the economy of our town." She unpacks the black book from the bag and hands it to Gimplefwick for Wain. "Here, it's all in this incriminating 'captain's log' that Gimplefwick heroically retrieved from the living dead. Like I was saying, I think they might be just a little upset that a head fell off during the exchange..."
-----Kazel then leaves the Guildmaster to read the book while she takes the linen and dries off herself.
-----While Kazel relates the events of the past night, Seth dries himself. He smiles at Books and locates his harp. He smiles at the Fly as he continues to mutter pig fat. Seth plays some background music to sooth everyone’s feelings and sits on the floor near Books' chair.
-----Gimplefwick chimes in when Kazel is finished with her rendition of the events, "Aye, I think we might be better off trying to contact the town guards or Lotley the paladin. These folk are up to some devilish work that seems to go beyond just counterfeiting coins." Gimplefwick hands over the black book to Wain.
-----Wain looks the book over and then hands it to Books. She leans across the table opening the book so she can read it in the lamplight. With a perk nasal quality, she begins to read aloud the passages contained within. . . .
-----Silence prevails over the room as the plain-looking woman finishes. The guildmaster is the first to speak, but before he does, he tosses three gold pieces, one at each of the trio. His whispered voice disturbs the still and dark room. "You have done - - very well."
-----A hint of alarm enters his voice as he asks Kazel, "Where did you last see this - - Nodeus? Did he see you? Did you in any way have contact with him?"
-----Kazel snatches the coin out of the air and looks at it rather critically before shrugging and putting it away. "No, Wain, I hadn't make any contact with him, if that was even him. All I saw was that Woder and a cloaked old man meeting the blacksmith, shortly before we found this book."
-----The guildmaster then turns toward Gimplefwick and asks in a sly way, "You know a paladin at the temple? Would you be interested in seeing that the paladin gets this book and lead him to Nodeus?"
-----Gimplefwick's face dons a slight grin at the thought of Lotley the paladin, "Arrr, ye might be sayin that we know a paladin at the temple. I'm not too sure how happy he'll be to see us, but he might listen to us. Whether he'll believe us or not is a different matter altogether. We weren't entirely truthful last time we met him, but I'm sure he won't be holdin that against us." Gimplefwick shrugs and continues, "I don't see how it could hurt us to talk to him though."
-----"The rest of us will watch your back from the shadows," Wain begins, "unless you other two wish to accompany the pirate." He looks momentarily at Kazel and Seth.
-----Turning back to Gimplefwick, he says, "You could lead the paladin to the blacksmith’s shop. I’m guessing that’s where the counterfeiting is taking place."
-----Picking up the book again, Wain holds it out to the Dread Pirate. "Whoever wrote this book will be anxious to leave town or change his hideout when he finds it’s gone. He may be doing so now. That’s why it’s best if we get started now."
-----The guildmaster looks at Kazel, Seth, and Gimplefwick. "What do you say? Are you up for it?"
-----Gimplefwick sighs and stuffs the book back in a pouch. Then, looking at Kazel and Seth, he says, "Shiver me timbers, if ye two are ready to go, let’s go visit with Lotley."
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