I spent the next two hours riding around the outskirts of the city on a horse named Horatio, while Tibbs gave me pointers on riding.  He explained how the horse I had originally picked out to be my mount, Murgatroid had been severely mauled by a badger around the same time we had journeyed into the rift and the doctors still weren’t sure whether they would have to put him down or not.  He told me that Revlis and Namgibel had gone missing around the same time.  He could see the concern on my face, so he told me not to worry; they had returned last night, during the feast accompanied by a dwarven Paladin of Olu named Wixerand.

 

“Everyone was curious about him.” Said Tibbs. “But he left on the road to Torlynn, his hometown just before sunrise.  I saddled a horse for him myself.”

 

I was curious about him too.  Could it be coincidence that a Paladin of Olu would show up at the Temple just after we found the Olunese sigils all over the spire?  I would have liked to have a chance to talk to him.

 

“Speaking of Torlynn.”  I changed the subject.  “What do you know about Lord Gunrink’s involvement with this Captain Colran character?”

 

“Not much but I can tell you that Panril has been very concerned.  It just doesn’t seem like something the Lord Gunrink we’ve always heard about would engage in.”

 

“Certainly not if it has anything to do with kidnapping orphans.”

 

We pulled into the main gate of the city and I happened to spot Grizzlegar; he seemed distracted, but I couldn’t see what he was looking at.  I dismounted and told Tibbs I would try to come by and check on Murgatroid later.  I gave him Horatio’s reins and he lead both horses away, while I caught up with Grizzle.

 

“Good Morning Grizzle.  What’s so interesting over there?”  I followed Grizzlegar’s line of sight.  “Oh…”

 

Several scantily clad women were cavorting on a raised platform.  Their movements seemed weirdly hypnotic; so much so that I barely noticed when Jerro ran up to us.

 

“Hey guys.  Look, I just won a feather and a piece of string…Oh…”

 

I don’t know how long the three of us stood there transfixed, but the next thing I remember was hearing Pax’s voice.

 

“Can you believe it guys?  I just won a chicken and a basket of fruit…Oh…”

 

I believe that’s when Pax slapped her husband.

 

“Oh, Hi Honey.”  Said the gnome.  “How are things?”

 

“Pretty lady? Pretty lady?”  A boy of about eight was tugging at Pax’s skirt.  “Can I have an apple?”

 

“Sure I guess.”  And she handed him an apple from the basket.

 

“Thanx.”

 

“What’s your name kid?”  Asked Grizzle.

 

“Gemi.”  Said the boy and ran off into the crowd.

 

“Must be shy.”  I offered.

 

“Glad to see you finally decided to join us in the land of the living…So to speak.”  Said the cleric to Grizzle.  “And where have you been?”  She asked, turning to me.

 

Pax went on to explain that she had actually won the fruit basket by bidding on it at an auction that Valet and several other Paladin’s were holding at the Sarcastic Goat to benefit the orphans of the city.  Serina had been in attendance and had asked Pax for a progress report on Captain Colran.  Pax had relayed the information Larmy had given us.

 

“There’s something else we might want to look into.”  Said Jerro.  “I visited a tent set up on the far Northeast corner of the square.  There were several attractions there being held in cages.  One of them was a desmodes, and I was able to speak to him.  He said he was being held against his will.”

 

That was all Grizzle needed to hear.  He wanted us to go at once to free the poor creature, and we would have, if not for the turkey leg vendor who was passing by at that very moment.  We all realized we were famished, but when it came time to pay for the food, Grizzle, Jerro and I found that someone had cut our purses.  Pax ended up having to pay for all of us.

 

“That boy.”  I said.  “I bet he was working with those dancing girls.  Now that I think about it; they disappeared about the same time he did.”

 

“You think this Larmy character you were talking about had something to do with this?”

 

“Menolly and I have known him for years, but I’m sorry to say I can’t put it past him.”

 

“OK, here’s what we’re going to do.”  Said the gnome.  “You and Jessica will go and free the desmodes, while Pax and I go have a word with your old friend Larmy.  We’ll all meet up later at Malek’s house.”

 

 

 

The woman in charge of the tent in question called herself Lady Gahgah.  She stood out front, with her pet panther.

 

“You’re going to have to distract her while I sneak around back and free the creature.”  I told Jerro.

 

Once inside the tent I went right to work on the lock of the desmodes’ cage.

 

“Whatcha doin’?”  Asked the tipsy bugbear in the next cage.

 

“I’m trying to free your friend here.”  I told him.  “I could do the same for you if you’d like.”

 

“He’s not my friend!”  Slurred the bugbear a little too loudly.”No, he certainly is not!  And why would I want you to free me?!”

 

“Please keep it down.”  I implored him.

 

“Oh, sorry.  Now what was I sayin’?  Oh yeah, I get everything I need here:  Three square meals and all the uh hem…nectar I can drink.”

 

“But you’re locked in a cage.”

 

“Ain’t no skin off my nose, pal.”

 

I simply shook my head and continued to work on the lock, which popped open.  Slipping into the cage, I could see that the desmodes was asleep.  I gently nudged him and he groggily opened his eyes.  He said something I didn’t understand, and I suddenly wished Jerro could be in two places, so he could translate for me.

 

Using rudimentary sign language I was able to make the creature understand I was there to set him free and he nodded appreciatively.

 

Outside I did my best to convey to the creature where to hide while I went to the front of the tent and tried to get Jerro’s attention without alerting Gahgah.  A few minutes later the wizard joined us where we were concealed.

 

“She thinks we have a date tonight at the Sarcastic Goat.  Won’t she be surprised when I don’t show up?”  Said the wizard gleefully.

 

“She’s going to be even more surprised when she finds his empty cage.”  I indicated the desmodes.  “We need to get out of here now.”

 

 

Grizzle and Pax, who were already there when we arrived at Malek’s house, told us that with a little ‘friendly’ persuasion, Larmy advised them that the dancing girls worked with a rival thieves guild who traveled with the carnival.  Larmy also believed they were associated with Captain Colran.

 

“I only had to twist his arm a little more to get him to spill the location of the group’s hideout.”  Said Grizzlegar.

 

“It was a library.”  Pax continued the story.  “And it was obvious that the librarian had had her mind wiped by some kind of magic user.  We were confronted by some of the guild when we went in the library’s back room, but we trounced them of course.”

 

“We found many of the city’s street urchins, including Gemi locked in another back room.  They were being forced to steal for the guild.  We took them to Valet at the Sarcastic Goat, and he promised to train the boys as Paladins.”  Said Grizzle.

 

“Serina was still there and she agreed to take the girls to Mage Isle.”  Finished Pax.

 

When Jerro was able to talk to the desmodes he found out his name was Chavis and as he described his home island, Jerro recognized it as Crag Island, the place where the Crimson Hawk run aground and we were marooned all those months ago.

 

Chavis very much wanted us to help him get back home.

 

“He also said that Gahgah had taken away a patch he had with his family’s sigil on it.”  Explained Jerro.  He says he can’t go home without it.”

 

“Well it looks like we’ll just have to go back and find it for him.”  Said Grizzle.  “Gerard are you up for the job?”

 

“Sure.” I said,  “But this means Jerro will have to keep his date with Lady Gahgah.”

 

The wizard was crestfallen.