EPISODE 43:
WAYWARD WAYFARERS
“Gods, this just keeps getting worse.” Vash muttered as they left the Lodge.
Wayfarers streamed around them in a near-constant flow. Most of them wore better gear than Vash had seen outside of one of the Grand Orders. Ornate armors, weapons with gold or silver accents and filigree on scabbards and weapons belts. There were exceptions, though, down on their heels adventurers covered in travel stains carrying plain, but well-maintained weapons. A few spared them curious glances as they passed. Coming to the Lodge in everyday clothes seemed to be an oddity.
“We’re not beaten yet,” Corwin said, firmly. “But we have some work to do.”
“I wish I had your confidence,” Vash said. “I just don’t see this working out. Glauch has made me his pet project, it seems. Add to the fact that he’s now a Knight of the Hidden Star…it just doesn’t look good.”
“I’ve heard of the Order of the Hidden Star, but just in terms of ‘give them a wide berth, boy’ advice from Jabez.” Corwin said.
“They’re fanatics.” Vash said, following Corwin as they crossed the village square, leaving the bustle of the Lodge behind. “Absolutely obsessed with rooting out the shadow and those that they see as allies of Draenos.”
Corwin snorted. “Then they’d be of better use up at the Palisade Pass. Plenty of shadow servants to fight up there.”
“Their motto is; apparently, that means unseen things pose the greatest threat. So they go looking for these ‘hidden stars’. They are especially suspicious of any organization that holds to the Old Gods.” Vash said, trying not to let his scowl become too obvious. “One of their leaders, Baron Ulric Claedes, takes special pride in wiping out elven worshipers of Kyrinos. He was the one that killed my friends back in Sathsholm.”
Corwin took in this information with a slow nod. Vash could tell that he was itching to ask more, to pry into all the hows and whys of the Eth Mitaan. Instead, Corwin simply let it go. It reminded Vash of how they used to talk back in Durron’s Ford. Vash would rant about his clashes with Brother Enrick or troubles with other villagers, and Corwin would just take it all in, letting Vash work his way through his feelings before making any comments.
Vash thought.
“So long as he’s in Amical Falls, he has to play by Guild rules.” Corwin said, finally. He gestured for Vash to follow him as he crossed to a small building tucked into the corner of the square. “So that means we have a chance. We just have to make a good impression on the Masters of the five Schools.”
Vash glanced at the small, plain, wood and plaster building they were heading towards. “Are they in there?”
Corwin looked confused, then laughed. “Gods no, that’s she makes the best sandwiches in town. We need to work on our strategy, and I’m hungry.”
“Can we afford to eat out?” Vash asked. He remembered seeing something in the Gideon’s Guide about the Lodges providing meals to adventurers who were passing through.
“It’s just a sandwich.” Corwin said. “Besides, Phaella gives me a discount.”
Corwin pushed open the door to the small sandwich shop, setting the little bell to tinkling as he did. The shop was about half the size of a common tavern, with a small kitchenette behind a long counter. A few two-top and four-top tables stood against the wall beneath a brightly painted mural of halfling travelers in colorful jackets. A white-haired halfling woman popped up from beneath the counter and hopped up onto something to bring herself to just about shoulder height, rather than only coming to Vash’s breastbone.
The woman — Phaella, Vash guessed — gave Corwin a wide smile. “If it isn’t Corwin Walker, come wandering through my door again looking for scraps!”
“Hi Phaella.” Corwin said, giving his best lopsided grin.
“Don’t ‘hi Phaella’ me, lean down so I can give you a hug, you damn giant!” Phaella said with mock severity.
Corwin laughed and did as she asked, letting the halfling woman throw her arms around his neck and give him a fierce hug and peck on the cheek. “It’s good to see you again.”
“You and Jabez didn’t stop in the last time you came south.” Phaella said, reaching for a small loaf of bread as Corwin straightened up. She deftly sliced the bread in half and set it down on the cutting board before pulling a few pots and trays closer to her work surface. “Don’t know if I should be offended.”
Corwin shook his head, watching her work. “We bypassed Amical Falls on the way down. Had some urgent business in Sathsholm.”
“I heard about that,” Phaella said, looking up at Vash. “This one part of that business?”
“He was, now he’s one of us,” Corwin said with a proud grin. “Phaella, meet Vash Ballard, Jabez’s newest apprentice, and an old friend of mine.”
Phaella gave Vash an appraising look while she spread a dark yellow mustard over the bread. “Nice to meet you, Vash. Any friend of this walking mountain is welcome in my shop.”
Vash nodded back, politely. “Thank you, ma’am.”
“Isn’t he polite!” Phaella said, giving Vash a wry smile. “You could teach this one a few manners.”
Vash couldn’t help but let slip a small smile. “That may be a lost cause, ma’am.”
Phaella laughed, a high giggle that belonged on a girl, not a white-haired older woman. Vash found it delightful. With a few deft movements, Phaella assembled a monstrosity of a sandwich, piled high with at least three different meats, slices of cheese, onions, peppers, lettuce, and bright red tomato. With a flourish, she combined the two halves of the sandwich and then sliced it across the middle before placing the whole thing on a wooden plate and shoving it across to Corwin.
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“There you go,” Phaella said with a note of pride. “Now, am I making one for Vash, or are you boys going to split it?”
“He can have his own.” Corwin said with a contemptuous snort. “This is barely enough for me.”
Behind him, Vash heard the tinkle of the door’s bell. He resisted the urge to spin around and cover his back, not wanting to be rude to Phaella.
“Coin or Task, love?” Phaella asked in Corwin’s direction, reaching for another loaf.
Corwin winced. “Task?”
Phaella gave him a gentle smile and patted his hand. “Well, you can take care of the rats in the cellar. We always have the rats in the cellar.”
Corwin took a seat at the counter, pausing as he lifted his sandwich. “How big are they this time?”
Phaella held her hands about two feet apart. “Roughly this big.”
“There’s got to be something down there pulling them in, or warping regular rats.” Corwin said, shaking his head.
“If you figure it out, let me know.” Phaella said, slicing the bread for Vash’s sandwich.
There was a sharp bark of laughter behind Vash. “Asking Corwin Walker something about Dungeoncraft is like trying to teach mathematics to a pig. A damn waste of time!”
This elicited a few laughs from the people standing behind Vash. He turned and looked over his shoulder. Behind him stood a group of three Wayfarers. The one who had spoken was a tall man, muscular, with the bright blonde hair and pale blue eyes common to Noldren. He wore a shirt of well-oiled chain-mail and leather cuirass. The hilt of a great sword rose above his right shoulder, and he seemed like the type that would have the strength to wield it. A copper-haired Vanan elf stood just behind the Noldren. Her eyes glowed a dim blue in the muted light indoors. She wore soft green leathers and carried a longbow of gleaming dark wood slung over one shoulder. Rounding out the trio was an olive-skinned man with coloring more akin to Corwin’s. He had curly black hair that he kept cut into a short cap. He wore a loose dark blue shirt, and a finely tailored gray vest with tassets that fell to mid-thigh. In one hand, he carried a walking stick made from a glossy, dark wood. The stick reached mid-chest and had several strange runes etched into it, with the runes then filled with gold.
The trio had the look of professionals, and well-paid professionals at that. Vash glanced back at Corwin, who had gone still, eyes fixed on the blonde warrior who lead this little group.
Vash thought.
“Kurt.” Corwin nodded. “I didn’t know you were in town.”
“Just passing through.” The blonde one, Kurt, said. “Heading north to check out the Obrun River Valley, just like everyone else. Heard there were some prime opportunities along the way, though just in case the Valley turns out to be not worth our time. Had to stop in for one of Phaella’s specialties, though.”
Kurt gave Phaella a wide smile, which Phaella returned, politely. Vash noticed that neither of their smiles reached their eyes. He turned back to Phaella, watching her make his sandwich.
The halfling woman nodded, like she was done with the interruption. “Now, you, my friend, don’t strike me as having anywhere near the appetite of our Corwin here.”
“I usually make do with less.” Vash conceded.
“A good way to live.” Phaella nodded, assembling a leaner version of the sandwich she had fixed Corwin.
Kurt made a derisive noise. “Just an excuse for not working hard enough. Or being too foolish to recognize opportunities.”
Phaella shot Kurt a warning glance. “Moderation isn’t a vice, in my experience.”
“It is when you use it as an excuse for your failures.” Kurt said, the tone of his voice making his distaste of the idea clear. “Take this one’s master as an example. Master Jabez isn’t poor because he only takes jobs that help the common folk and avoids more lucrative dungeon delves for some higher moral purpose. No, he avoids dungeon delves because he’s afraid. Everyone knows about Drakestone Keep, and everyone knows to avoid Jabez Ironbiter when a dungeon quest comes up on the board.”
Corwin slowly put his sandwich back down on his plate, then rose from his seat. Corwin stood eye to eye with Kurt. They were nearly a match in height.
“Apologize.” Corwin said, in a calm, firm voice.
“I think he means it, Kurt.” The Vanan woman said, a tinge of mocking laughter in her voice. “Watch out, he may be angry.”
“You know what, Valys? I think you’re right.” Kurt said, a dangerous gleam in his eyes. “Are you angry, little Vagabond?”
“If you’ve got a problem, Baumkanf,” Phaella said from where she was putting the finishing touches on Vash’s sandwich. “Then you can take it outside. I don’t want any fighting in here.”
Kurt gave the halfling a derisive look. “Or what?”
Phaella didn’t even look up, simply reached into one of the many boxes on her counter and withdrew a small metal cube, roughly four inches on a side. She placed the cube in front of her. Vash could see that it was actually a series of cubes fit together in a cunning, intricate configuration. Unfamiliar runes decorated the sides of the cubes. Vash could feel a low thrum of mana radiating from it, like a coil ready to spring.
“A tinker’s toy?” Kurt asked, still full of bravado, but Phaella’s calm demeanor obviously unsettled him.
Kurt’s other companion, the curly-haired youth with the walking stick, blinked and took a sudden step back. “Ah…Kurt?”
“What, Ollie?” Kurt snapped, irritable.
“I think we should respect Mistress Phaella’s wishes.” Ollie said, not taking his eyes off the cube.
“What, why?” Kurt asked, confused.
“That’s an evocation cube.” Ollie said.
Phaella looked up and smiled. She pressed on one rune. The cube made a soft , then whirred as unseen gears started spinning. The smaller cubes shifted position and reconfigured the structure of the object into something completely different. Vash felt the temperature drop noticeably.
“I usually use it for refrigeration.” Phaella said, conversationally. Then she took a thick slice of beef and touched it to one side of the cube’s new configuration. The meat froze solid within the space of a heartbeat. Phaella then dropped the slice to the counter. It shattered like glass. “But it has other settings.”
Kurt looked at the device, then back up at Corwin. “On second thought, I’m not all that hungry.”
“That’s a shame.” Phaella said, handing the finished sandwich to Vash. “Come back anytime.”
“No, that won’t be necessary.” Kurt said, lifting his chin. “We’ll be heading out sometime tomorrow, anyway. Riding up to Greenstone Crossing with the Knights of the Hidden Star. Protecting an important caravan, from what I hear.”
“That’s nice.” Phaella said, pleasant as always.
Annoyed that his casual bragging did not get the response he wanted, Kurt turned on his heel and headed towards the door. He paused just before leaving. “I heard that Master Jabez took some injuries, that there’s doubt that he will recover. Master Logan wanted me to tell you that his offer still stands, and that you know his price.”
“You can tell that he can go to hell.” Corwin said, face flushed with anger.
Kurt flashed a satisfied grin over his shoulder, then swept out dramatically. Valys and Ollie followed with no further dramatics.
Phaella muttered a command word, and the cube reshaped itself back to its base state. The cold ceased and the room quickly warmed again.
“What was that all about?” Vash asked, confused.
“Kurt and I have a history.” Corwin said, gathering up his sandwich and moving towards the door. “Phaella, can I owe you that rat duty?”
The halfling waved him away. “I’ll put it on your tab.”
“Thanks,” Corwin said. “C’mon Vash, grab what you want and let’s get going.”
Vash grabbed his sandwich, confused. “Where are we going?”
“No time for strategy.” Corwin said. “If Logan Lackhand is in town, then we need to go see the Master of the Blades and plead our case before he muddies the waters.”
“Who is he?”
Corwin paused, hand on the doorknob. “He’s trouble.”
