Branhilde Gerberherd's page

Good, Branhilde and Nickels say at the same time, then look at each other and smile.

Branhilde moves from behind the table in the center of the room toward the door.

I’ll get started on what I need to do right away. All of you should rest up, take care of any last minute business you need here in town, and then report at one hour after sunrise tomorrow ready to go. I’ll have the contract ready, and the first half of your fee.

She opens the door, which leads out into the open courtyard in the center of the hall property.

I’m excited to hear what you plan is.

Branhilde says with a smile

Branhilde gestures to the ring on the table, Technically, though cursed, and a danger to anyone, the ring is still the legal property of Uri Darvonovik. He will be handed over to the Sheriff of Pawkatukit, and she will take his statements, and then he will be brought before a judge of the Baron’s courts. His confession to aiding in the kidnapping of people of Pawkatukit, as well as those traveling the legal highways of the baron’s lands has been keep secret, for now. We don’t want a panic on our hands before we have a chance to bring all this information to the Baron properly. At that point, if the slave traders are still holed up in Castle Caldwell, I believe the baron will most likely send a troop of soldiers from his estate and attack the place directly, but there is a chance he will not. You see, Caldwell did legally purchase the castle estate, and that would mean that the baron would be responsible for any damages his own troops did to the grounds in an assault. I’ve had some experience with nobles, and how they treat each other in matters of property and debts, it can get very complicated, and very painful. We will keep the ring here, under lock and key.

She turns away from the table, and says over her shoulder, Unless he agrees to sell or trade the ring to another before we turn him over, say a for the promise of testimony on his behalf by anyone with firsthand knowledge of these brothers who are responsible for forcing young Uri into a life of crime in the first place. I’ve put Uri in one of our small cells, in the north wing. Anyone interested in bargaining with him, for the ring, had better hurry. I told the Sheriff we would hand him over at sundown.

Oh, and once last thing, the only one I know powerful enough to remove the curse on the ring is Gardoh Donelizze, the high priest of the Aladoan Shrine across the park to the north from our hall. He is a cold man, serious and passionate about his responsibilities in keeping the temple her in Pawkatukit. He may have a way to remove the curse, or that might be beyond his abilities. I don’t really know. We don’t get along all the time, but he is fair, and reasonable, once you convince him you mean well, and are willing to give the temple the proper respect. If you end up in possession of the ring, go see him before you try anything else.

Branhilde lets out a long sigh, and after raising and lowering her shoulders clears her throat and says

Well, that’s were things really break down. Contrary to popular rumors the Society is not just a band of well-wishing do-gooders. Some might say the society are heroes, but make no mistake, we are heroes-for-hire, and without the payments coming in for our services we can’t offer rewards to our members for tackling these sorts of problems. It has turned out that the real Clifton Caldwell is not interested in paying anyone to have the grounds of the castle cleared out of squatters, or criminals. We’ve sent information to Baron Thornton, who is responsible for keeping the peace in this part of Harrispania. The Barony of Thornton encompasses Seaport and all lands west to Deer Creek Springs, fourteen miles west of us. If the Baron, who I know is busy with matters in Seaport, wants to clear the property he can send his own retainers, or he can hire the Society, like anyone else, and its likely he’ll hire the Hall in Seaport.

She looks away, staring off into nothing for a moment, and then turns back

I suppose it’s my fault that things in this Hall have been going downhill for so long. It was my first posting as a captain of a hall and I took the job without really understanding it is more of a job for a bean counter than a seasoned adventurer. I paid out rewards on the promise of payments from clients far too many times, and now we’re almost broke. The Office in Seaport knows the mistakes I’ve made. Hell, they’re the ones who named our team the Wreaking Crew.

I’m sorry to have to say this but, no, the situation at Castle Caldwell is no longer a concern of this Hall. I can’t, won’t authorize or pay anyone to try and arrest the individuals down there who are accused of these crimes. I’ve got practically no funds left, but I believe that if I approach the town council with the news of Caitriann’s disappearance I might get a commitment from them. The only thing I can suggest is that you take a risk and handle those slavers at your own expense and hope the Hall in Seaport will back you up if you cross any lines. Let me remind you that the Lords and Ladies of the Senate of Harrispania have the responsibility of keeping the peace and enforcing the law, and without the contracts agreed upon by those members and the agents of the Solution Society you can be arrested for taking any acts of violence against any citizen of the Empire even if they are accused of crimes. It’s not always easy to do the right thing, but it can be done. You just have to be sure your ducks are all in a row before you take any chances.

I can draw up a contract for the investigation of the situation of the Black Temple, if it exists or not, what it is and if it is a threat to the people of Woodbridge, and including the search for Caitriann and present it to the Town Council tonight. I’ll call for a special meeting. If it is approved, you’ll have this Hall’s full backing and even if it closes the contract will be valid in defense of your actions, it just might be that you’ll have to go to the town directly to get the rest of your fee, if we are shut down.

I can pay half the sum in advance, but by rules, which we will follow until we are charterless, I cannot pay the rest until you return with some news of the maetaur’s situation, and by the time you return it could turn out the hall is already closed, and no other hall is likely to honor the contract, unless I get the Area Warden’s signature, and that is unlikely.

She then explains who Marolyn is

Oh, Marolyn Galoolee, yes. I know her. She is one of the Limecraker Kobolds. They have a hovel in the woods, near a creek bed below a hill, probably halfway between here and Caldwell Castle, on the other side of the river. They have had some problems dealing with the red goblins lately. The red goblins are a collection of goblin tribes who live further south, in the forests between Harrispania and the City States of Tarule. You will have to travel all the way to the bridge, east of Castel Caldwell to cross the river, unless you can pay one of the locals to ferry you across to a safe landing on the southern banks of the river, which are no closer than four miles east of the town.

Yes, quickly. Let’s see if we can find his or “its” location before word spreads that the impersonation has been found out.

Well, I’m convinced this man is the real Clifton Caldwell. He was able to answer some very specific questions about members of his family that I took the liberty of checking in on. If I was a betting woman I would say the man who hired the Society to clean out the castle was a shapeshifter of one kind or another. Mister Caldwell says that he did purchase the castle legally, from the Duke of Thistle Crown, at Seaport. But when he visited the castle, now we know this was five weeks ago, he was captured by a pair of wizards and a strange woman with elven features. He had no idea the castle was overrun with squatters and in such a rundown condition. He is still interested in the castle, but it might be a while before he is willing to venture there again, unless it is with a large party of well-armed guards.

It seems like we have a dilemma on our hands with a few sticky threads that need to be cleaned up. Branhilde says tapping her chin with one finger.

There is no guarantee the hall will be able to stay open, once Dolmar returns he could be determined to shut us down. But, we might have at least one good fighting chance to prove our worth to the District Hall in Seaport. If you three are interested, I can offer you a small assignment, not full membership, as it would only be disputed if Dolmar shuts us down after all, but here’s what I think I can put together. I have four hundred gold pieces left in the Hall’s coffers. I can offer the three of you fifty gold pieces each if you can track down this other person claiming to be Clifton Caldwell. I am pretty sure he is still here in Pawkatukit, and that means he could be staying at one of the inns, or he might even be a guest, maybe even in cahoots, with one of the local residents. If you could quickly find his whereabouts and report it back to me today, I’ll pay you each the fifty. I don’t think there is any reason to confront the imposter. He might be more dangerous than we realize. I just want to know where he is. There is no reason for the society to keep working on clearing out the castle, Castle Caldwell, but at the same time you are free to return there for your own interests. Meanwhile, I’ve promised the real Caldwell he can stay here, in our hall, under our protection.

Yes, the book is destroyed, now take me back to the Watcher. I will remain behind to assist your friends. Should they need to flee this building there is a secret passage that exits into a garden shed on the property on the other side of the hill. Good luck Stella.

It is the language of the Beholder Lords, Deborah answers, I would be concerned greatly if you did. I can try to speak to the watcher on your behalf, if you would like. I will tell the watcher who you are. The words spoken are difficult, even for me to understand, as I was only a minor servant in my master's house. I think the watcher has said, "You should not be here, there is no reason, um, no reason at all, for you to be here without supervision," or something like that. What shall I say is your intention?

Well then, when there is a better time, perhaps you can assist me with a few questions

That seems reasonable, reasonable indeed. Tell me, Stella, where are you carrying the book of It'Dupree, I understand that it can only communicate when it is open, and through words that appear on its pages. I would dearly like to speak to the book, and see if it can get the attention of its master. My master would very much desire to know what It'Dupree thinks of the current situation. Where is the book now? Where is Oscar, the Book of It'Dupree?

The thoughts of your companions are easy to read. It is obvious that they are young, excited, and afraid, all that is except for your sister, who is wondering if you are safe, but telling herself that she doesn’t care. Then there are five others, the teacher among them is certain you are deluded and have convinced yourself that you are some kind of hero and that you are most likely going to end up dead on the end of a goblin spear. Of the other four, two of them seem lost in memories, and worries that their loved ones are already dead, they seem unimportant to your success. But the last two, a young female, and a young male, they are arguing. The female seems taken with the book of It’Dupree, her mind is even conjuring images of an idealized lover, which seems odd, even for a human, to fall in love with a book and imagine it is a person, while the male is impressed with your determination. The two are simply arguing back and forth as to the reason why you would be doing what you are doing. The male believes you are trying to find a magical way to teleport out of the city, while the female believes your claim that you are searching for a way to save the city.

Well, Stella, Manny, and …Oscar? This is extraordinary. I was defeated by It’Dupree, and Oscar, along with their associates many many years ago. I was told that Oscar along with the other lovers of it’Dupree, were all turned into Books. The books were sentient, and could communicate with It’Dupree. She placed the books in various parts of the city in order that she could stay in touch with the people she controlled. I am to understand that you are carrying one of the Books of it’Dupree? That would certainly be something.

But now, let’s get down to business. What you see before you is a machine. A machine that through the equal parts of advanced technology recovered from a distant world, and magic allows me to continue to exist in the prime material plane, though I should have passed into another realm of existence many decades ago. I was, in life, a Beholder, a creature of some significant power, and I served a King, by the name of Algorgaroth. It’Dupree, while she still lived, dared to confront my king in the hope of destroying him, and she very nearly succeeded. In the end, however, a bargain was struck between it’Dupree and King Algorgaroth that ensured both would continue to exist long after their mortal bodies were beyond hope of survival, and at the same time, a balance was preserved in the order of things in the Kingdoms of those who dwell on the surface of the world and those who dwell below it.

Part of this bargain involved a precious object belonging to each of them, it’Dupree and King Algorogaroth. No one was ever able to discover exactly what the precious objects were, but they are said to be immensely powerful, and can only be controlled by individuals of great strength and courage. Each of them, It’Dupree and Algogaroth, agreed to exchange their precious objects, as each could not control the object of the other, and for safe keeping each would protect the other’s precious object for all time, keeping them out of danger of being abused by anyone.

It’Dupree and King Algogaroth each became a lich, after a fashion, and their exact whereabouts is almost impossible to find. However, should King Algogaroth or it’Dupree ever come into possession of their original precious object, it is said, that then they would be able to find the other one of them, but this would only ever happen in the situation that the material world was in such great peril that the power of these two beings would be needed to save the world.

If It’Dupree sent you here with one of her books, then it must be that she needs to contact others like me, watchers and guardians of special machines in the city that can locate the other three books. Principal Carroll used one such machine to keep watch on her students. I will show you to the machine, and we will see if the book knows what to do once we are in the presence of one of the machines.

I suspect, that one of the Books must know the secret location of King Algogaroth’s precious object, and once you have obtained it, It’Dupree expects that I will take you to my King, the Lich-King of all Eye-Tyrants himself, King Algogaroth, so that he may help you find where it’Dupree has hidden herself away. But I must say, that this is an unusually foolish and dangerous beyond belief endeavor, for I am certain that if It’Dupree and Algogaroth are brought together, the potential for the situation to escalate into utter obliteration of all life on this world is not beyond a reasonable probability.

Pick me up, and I will tell you where to go to take us to the watcher.

There is silence. A very dim red light pulses on the small round object, and then the voice says

No.

You stand for a moment wondering how the information you were given could have been wrong, and then unexpectedly the voice speaks again, when it does, it changes in tone slightly from an effeminate masculine, to a deep and husky feminine, up and down it changes as it speaks.

Wait, I have told you that I am the one you are looking for. I can take you to the machine, the machine that Carroll used to keep track of his students. This is the machine, the watcher, you are looking for I imagine. But you, you have not told me who you are. In this body, I do not see things the way people do. I cannot see you, or know what you are, if you are alone, or if you are even one of the things you claim to be her to find a way to stop. I can sense your presence, your life force, but I do not know you.

After a pause, the voice, continuing to change in tone, up and down, goes on

I sense the evil that has come to this place, yes. I can sense many things, near and far. Above us, your friends, some of them are thinking things that make me curious as to the probability of your future, and others are thinking things that mark them as less than important to the struggle. But, why should I help you?

Who, are, you?

There is a long silence, finally the voice, now somewhat less masculine sounding, speaks very slowly, and you sense some fear in the hesitation

I...am...Deborah. Who are you? Who told you about the watcher, and where did you learn my name