After reading Numbilung’s letter from the gold merchant, Padrius, more closely, I became even more certain that it referred to the statue of Kord.  Not surprisingly it also proved that the goblin had lied to Refrus and me.  Somehow he let the statue fall through his fingers, and he used us to get it back.

 

I decided I would show the letter to Regdar.

 

I found Apemantus asleep in the hallway, using his backpack for a pillow.  Now that the bugbear was safe he deserved a fitful rest.  Everyone else was still in the bed chamber.  Coincidentally, the first voice I heard was the bugbear’s:

 

“I understand the confusion Captain, believe me, I do.  Gortuck, Grotnuck.  Honestly, most of my men refer to me as Bertuck.  The original Bertuck was my grandfather.  I would be honored if you would call me by his name as well.”

 

I showed the Captain the letter and once Begdemagus had verified that it was as old as I said it was, he still had some questions for me.   Chief among them was why I had waited so long to seek the statue.  I realized there was still so much of my story I hadn’t told them.  How could I ever tell them about Refrus and Miranda?  Regdar accepted what explanations I did give him enough to finally let me in on the mission the Bloody Blades had undertaken.  They were in search of five rings and if they didn’t find them in time, it would have world shaking consequences.

 

“Let’s say we help you find the statue.”  Begdemagus was saying.  “What will you do?”

 

“I would want to return it to the Temple of Kord.”

 

“No I mean, after that.”

 

“I suppose I would go on my way.”

 

“Or….”  And I could tell how hard it was for the fire mage to say his next words.  “You could join us.”

 

I heard myself saying that I would like to do just that.

 

“Wait, wait.”  Dani piped up.  “OK maybe I can see Revlis, but I draw the line at Apemantus.  That’s not for you to decide anyway.”

 

“Actually it would fall to the Captain.  How about it Regdar?”  I couldn’t believe Begdemagus was standing up for me.

 

“Once Revlis completes his mission and if he’s willing to help us with ours; then I would say he would have earned his place among us.  But we can talk about that when the time comes.”

 

The truth was I still held on to the hope that once the statue was back where it belonged, Kord might smile on me and show me a way to bring my friends back.  But the monks had never promised me that.  I had a lot to think about.

 

Regdar had turned his attention back to Bertuck.

 

“What’s the last thing you remember before you were charmed?”

 

“First, let me back up a bit.  Fraudrick was little more than a charlatan when he first came to court.  But somehow he gained the King’s ear.  Then one day he relayed an order to me that he claimed came straight from the King.  I refused to carry it out until I had talked to the King myself.  He brought me before Grotnuck, who gave me the same order, but I could tell that something was wrong with him.  I turned to go warn my men and that’s the last thing I remember.  I’m sure Fraudrick thought it was a great joke to turn me into a glorified guard dog.

 

We began to hear the clattering of plates.

 

“That’s the sound of the kitchen staff.”  Said Bertuck.  “It must be lunchtime.

 

“Wait. Where are we?”  Asked Regdar.

 

“I thought you knew.”  Said Bertuck.  “Once we passed through the locked door and went up those steps we left the forge complex and are now deep in the heart of Goblin Mountain.  You can look out that window if you don’t believe me.”

 

Regdar took out his map and went to the window.  “This is Goblin Mountain.”  He confirmed.

 

“Whose bed chamber is this?”  Asked Dani I thought it was Fraudrick’s.”

 

“Oh no.  He’s not at all this…flamboyant.”  Said Bertuck.  This is the King’s bed chamber.” 

 

“But I thought you were loyal to the King?  Why would you stand by and  let us loot his chamber?”  Asked Begdemagus.

 

“I am loyal to the King he was, and hope he will be again.  But if I find out that he has truly taken Fraudrick’s side; I will be the first to slit both their throats!”  Swore the bugbear.

 

“Well, let’s assume he IS charmed for now; does anyone have a way we can restrain him until we can determine for sure?”  Asked Regdar.

 

“I suppose I could use Ensnaring Smite on him like I did on Bertuck.”  I suggested.

 

“Let’s go with that.   So, what’s the best way to get to the throne room?”

 

“Go down one level and then we can cut through the dining area.  The throne room is just on the other side.”

 

We strategized for another five minutes or so.  Iva was to take point; then Bertuck and Apemantus and me with our crossbows.  We went down the stairs and stopped just outside the dining area.  We went in one by one and tried to blend in, but when Bertuck entered his men recognized him and wanted to know where he had been.  They still seemed loyal to him so he ordered them to go back and secure the forge area..  As soon as they were gone we scanned the hallway and saw two guards at the throne room door.

 

“Halt, you shall not pass!”  They cried.  We quickly took them down with our arrows and crossbow bolts. 

 

Regdar took up a covering position, and to help him he had brought in his elephant. Iva flung open the door and we all rushed in, taking everyone in the throne room by complete surprise.  I must confess here that from this point on I knew little of the specifics of battle (although I seem to remember hearing Begdemagus hurling insults at Lloth as Tessia was taking fire from the goblins). 

 

From the moment I ran through the door my eyes were locked on one creature.  Numbilung stood in the far corner of the room and Apemantus and I bore down on him as quickly as we could.  I was preparing Ensnaring Smite in my mind when I realized I was supposed to save it for restraining the King.  By the time I had another prayer ready, the goblin had vanished and I wasn’t even able to put my mark on him.

 

Numbilung reappeared close to the throne where Lord Gunthor was ineffectively fighting with Fraudrick.  I saw that Iva had drawn on Numbilung and shouted for him not to fire.  It didn’t matter the goblin vanished before he could take the full impact on the shot.  This time he did not rematerialize.  Iva turned his attention to Fraudrick who vanished but had the misfortune of reappearing right next to Bertuck who wrestled him to ground.  The sorcerer almost slipped out of his grasp but the bugbear was tenacious and held on to Fraudrick’s heel long enough for Iva tocome up and put an arrow through his heart.

 

That effectively ended he battle. 

 

At some point Dani had been able to turn King Grotnuck into a turtle so it turned out I wouldn’t have had to use Ensnaring Smite after all.  I sat crestfallen on the chest Fraudrick had been using to hold his ill gotten coffers.  Regdar was negotiating with the newly uncharmed  King to re-open trade with Lufkin (he also gladly handed over his ring to the Captain).  I was happy for these outcomes but I wondered when I would see any progress on my mission.