Dropping my parchment and pen after scribbling that last
entry, and standing to face the new threat while Connie was healing Kiril, I loosed
two fireballs fast on the heels of Al’s lightning bolts and between us we fried
the Gnolls and the hyena’s they were riding in on, leaving only an undetermined
number of the rag-tag group on the hill in the distance.
Kiril, itching to be done with these infernal creatures
dashed madly toward them, while Al dropped more lightning on them and my own
fireballs rained liquid lava on their bodies (in the form of butterflies with sparkly-glittery
trails!)
Kiril worked his sinewy body around and slashed the
creatures nearest him, making short work of their smelly hides. A contemptuous
struggle, where there was only one outcome that was acceptable to us: their
deaths. Badly injured and exhausted we dispatched the last of these evil beings,
before looting their bodies, adding them to the first massive pile and flaming
them, the thick black smoke rising like a chimney into the night sky, the
flames a beacon to any for miles around.
After checking our employer and finding him safe, Al
assisted in calming the camels and getting them corralled in a small roped off
pen under some cool Palms. Connie created water and nourishment for them as the
rest of us busied ourselves setting up camp.
In incident around the fire caused our employer to become
annoyed with us. We refused to acknowledge he had the scroll that he insisted
Alma told him about. It was clear he did not believe us when we denied any
knowledge of it and he took to sulking.
We wondered at how we could ease the tension that had sprung
up among the party, but Kiril insisted it was his problem; we were hired to do
a job, not to become friendly. It was a tense night with each of us taking
watch, uneasily.
An alarm was raised in the early morning when it was
discovered that our employer had either been abducted, along with his camels
and goods, during the night, or he had simply been to angry with us and simply
left on his own.
Well, as Connie said, “He hasn’t paid us yet!”
We followed the clear prints in the sand and soon saw the
circling of vultures in the distance. Connie’s spyglass told us what we feared:
Our employer and his belongings had met with a terrible fate. We rode to where
the carnage was strewn.
Connie, finding our employer, bent to check him, shocked to
find he was still alive! She immediately used a small healing spell on him,
giving him a thread of life to cling to and he repaid her by trying to strangle
her!
A few spells and smacks later, we learned that he was a
member of the One Trade Traders or something like that, in the excitement, I
forgot to write it down, but I do recall visiting the establishment while
searching for Haleen in Katapesh. A shady, but respectable looking company that
promised they could obtain anything, for a price. We learned little else of
value that I recall. Instead of dispatching him to his gawds, we chose to tie
him up and bring him along with us to see what else we could learn.
Kiril was very pleased with himself as he repeatedly
mumbled, “I knew it! I knew there wasn’t something right about him.”
We choose to rest again at the Oasis before setting off to
the city. I can hardly wait to visit the bustling, colourful, smelly,
overcrowded… OH! I am looking forward to our visit! That is unless we decide to
turn around, the reason for our travel non-existent now…
As we lay, entwined, the afterglow of our lovemaking still
warming our hearts I can’t help but think of the rudeness we showed our employer.
It was obvious he knew Kiril was fibbing, and he seemed quite …hurt. I was
going to say angry, but I think he was hurt. I don’t – didn’t – trust him any
more than Kiril. I can’ place my finger on it, but he just seemed too …convenient?
Bending my head I press my lips to Kiril’s; enough of that
man. I’m sure there will be more trouble as we move ahead. Besides, I smile
twitching my figure down Kiril’s, I have more important things to do right here…
o0o
