Chap 1 continued - An Evenings Entertainment

They didn’t have long to wait. An ample man in bright blue pants, a tunic the color of buttercups and a floppy hat sprouting a variety of feathers from its’ top began to tune his lute. He lured the crowd back to cheerfulness with some of the old favorites about “sailors and serving wenches” and soon several joined in the songs. They were clinking glasses and calling for more. And it was no time before the minstrel’s cup was full of coins and it was growing late. Then someone asked for an elf song. The bard’s face grew sad and he re-tuned his strings to a minor key. He began to sing.

“Tis west they went to setting sun.”

It was the “Lay of Pyrus and Madeling,” and it told of the first time the elves left for the Western shore and the Isle of the Silver Woods/Leaves. Some were saying they were going away again. It was true that fewer and fewer had been seen in the eastern cities. Others were saying the elves were just in their homeland forests to the north avoiding the exceptional heat of this summer. Rhu didn’t know what to think. But Jaynor had left in the fall and had promised to return by spring. It had been the beginning of summer when he and Fur had set out and Jaynor had not returned.

Rhu’s birthplace was in the North and bordered on elf lands and the two had been fast friends since boyhood. So unalike physically, but such kindred spirits in their hearts. They spent summer after summer walking the deep woods, cooling their tired feet in crystal springs. The spent winters curled up before hearth fires planning adventures and getting under foot. It was spring when Rhu found Furtom and Jaynor found Tufts, named for the long hairs sprouting from the ends of his elegant ears. From the same litter, they were and each race blamed the other for the unnatural pairing.

“No one pairs with felines. Too difficult, too independent, bound to get you into trouble.”

And they did get into trouble. Everyone said so, and everyone smiled.

The curiosity of kittens and the fearlessness of young boys, “what else could happen?” they asked. And they threw up their hands. “You know how they are,” they nodded to each other. Children were indulged by both of their peoples and these two more than most.

Fur leaned into his friend, rubbing his head on Rhu’s shoulder. “You miss them, too, huh Fur? I wonder if they are back at our summer place by now. Wish we were there with them, instead of going through hundreds of ancient books looking for Heaven only knows what!” Anguish pinched his face, “Oh Fur! What are we doing here?”

“I wish I had the answers. I only know we have to try. You have the stone?”

Rhu put his hand in his pocket. Fur knew it was there, just as Rhu did before he touched it. It was the reason they had come.



“Sit back Master Apprentice and do not call attention to yourself.”

Rhu never saw the man sit down near him. He just appeared out of the shadows. The light from the fire barely reached them and it was difficult to see his face. “And who are you, sir, to tell me what to do?”

“Just a friend who is trying to help you.”

The man had startled him and Rhu somehow felt he must defend himself. “I can take care of myself.”

“Perhaps you can but this is not the time to prove it.” He spoke in a low but authoritative voice. “I was looking through your books today. It seems we have a common interest but that discussion will have to wait.” With that he sat back in his chair and melted into the anonymous shadows.

Rhu was ready to rise and move away from the mysterious figure but Fur moved next to him and put a paw his companion’s leg. “I think he is right and that we should wait,” he mindspoke without looking up. “Folks will be leaving soon, let’s see what happens. I don’t fancy walking past those two,” his whiskers twitching in the direction of the cloaked men.

The bard was ending his lament and the crowd was getting ready to head for their beds. One of the strangers stood up and began flipping a gold coin in the air and asking questions of those patrons who were leaving the inn. He did not seem to get the response that was needed to release the gold piece into anyone’s hand. The second man positioned himself by the front door while the revolving coin moved toward the companions.

“It’s time to move,” the long legged man behind Rhu spoke in a low voice. “If you and you long tailed friend will quietly leave by the back door, I will delay our coin twirling mercenary. There is a saddled pony in the stable, I suggest you take him and ride for the Mage School. I will catch up with you there.” And with that the man raised to his considerable height and approached the coin.

Rhu and Fur had intended to leave by the back door just as they had been told to do but there was a commotion on the staircase leading up to the guest rooms. As he looked past the cluster of people trying to ascend the stairs, a third cloaked figure appeared in the back hall blocking their way out.

Rhu glanced at the two figures in the center of the room. A glint of steel flashed and blades whooshed through the air. A clang rang out! Rhu dove for the near end of the bar. As he ducked behind it, he could see the bartender’s feet leave the ground as he vaulted the bar top to stop the fray. Rhu stayed low and ran for the far end.

“Hey, stop that! No fighting in here!” the barkeep yelled to no avail.

A flash of bright light erupted from the fireplace. Rhu ran for the end of the bar. A massive hand gripped his shoulder and pulled him along through the archway that lead to the innkeepers private quarters. He began to twist in the powerful grip.

“Easy now.” It was the innkeeper who had grabbed him. Rhu’s feet again touched the floor.

“Follow me!” The big man turned and pounded down the hallway toward the cellar stairs. Rhu could hear the clash of swords coming closer and ran after him. Instead of going down the stairs to the wine cellar, the innkeeper made a left and took the stairs upward two at a time. The halflings short legs struggled to keep up and when he reached the landing the ale man had pulled a wooden box away from the wall. He quickly pushed up a square door cut in the ceiling. With one motion he swung the surprised Rhu up and through the opening and slammed the door back into place. He then kicked the crate aside and pounded back down the stairs.

Rhu’s mind flooded with panic. “Fur!” his mind called out.

He could hear the shouts and swordplay coming closer. It sounded as if several dwarves had joined the fight. Tables and chairs were being hurled and were splintering against heads and walls.

“Fur! Where are you?”

“Hallway” was the breathless answer. “Can’t get up.”

“Run, Fur!” The cat turned in midair and landed with his claws digging into the wooden floor. He flung himself back in the direction from which he had come.

Rhu was kneeling on the floor of the attic. Cobwebs were brushing his face and the grim under his hands and knees had to be thicker than a wool blanket. The air was rank and the dim shapes of boxes and discarded items loomed on the edge of sight. He stayed perfectly still. He was afraid to move. What was going on? Why would those cloaked strangers be interested in him? And who was the light-haired man that warned him? Was he really to be trusted? What did he mean by calling him master apprentice?

Suddenly he could feel part of his mind explode in pain and go blank. “Furtom!” he screamed and crawled toward the square in the floor. Bracing himself he grabbed the ring to pull up the door. The door wouldn’t budge. He was trapped.

An oath escaped from his lips.

Fur went back through the archway, into the common room, like a shot! His target had lifted his sword over his head, two handed, preparing to deliver a fatal blow to a man who had his back toward him. Fur hit him solid in the center of the chest and clawed his was upward.

Screaming and flailing his arms to protect his face, the cloaked fighter, backed away swinging his sword wildly. One of the dwarves, who had returned upon hearing the uproar, felled him with a blow from his ax. The jar dislodged the cat and sent him sprawling into a barrel that had been sent rolling on the tavern floor. Momentarily dazed, the feline blinked and focused just in time to avoid being crushed by another falling Graycloak.

The room seemed filled with flashing swords and swirling axes. Barrels were picked up and smashed down, chairs were thrown and tables leapt upon, as two new Graycloaks seemed to appear for each one fallen.

The tall stranger and the bartender were barely holding them off, preventing them from entering the passageway to the staircase while the dwarves slowly closed in from behind. When suddenly, as if one person, the Greycloaks seem to shimmer and then become transparent, before flowing through the open doors and out into the night. The ones who had fallen seemed to whither before the onlookers and then fade into nothingness. They were gone.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” the innkeeper blinked and scratched his head.