/ooc This is all taken from a chat log in game of the events that follow. It has been edited into sequence and into a narrative format. I hope you enjoy.
Azi sat in the Academy. Scrolls where stacked next to her, indexed and catalogued. The message from Mirashta was still fresh in her mind and she knew now was a time to act. Rising, she marked the place she had been at and smoothed her robes. The Defenders of Albion guildhouse was a place she knew of, but was not fully comfortable with, but if that was where she might find Tannir, that is where she would go.
The number of people on the streets gave her some anonymity as she walked toward the stone buildings that made up the complex for the Defenders. Stepping inside, she let her eyes adjust to the dimmer light and looked about. She wandered the complex for a few minutes, hoping to catch sight of someone in the League cloak, but she saw no one.
Finally, out of desperation more than want, she approached a man seated in a large room. She curtseyed.
â€Excuse me, sir, but I am looking for a young man named Tannir,†she said quietly.
Captian Rion looked up from his notes with a scowl. "Tannir?" he said, pursing his lips. "Oh, yes, the squire lad. I think he is off on some errands. What did you neeed him for?"
Azi thought of what she could reveal to this man, and decided to reveal as little as possible. "I seek the Lord Crispian," she said, watching Rion with keen attention.
Rion snorted and made a wry face. "
ou would be best to seek out a tavern to find that one. He is turning into quite the drinker, enough to rival a friar." He turned back to his work, wanting no more of one seeking the warruir he now thought of as a great failure to the Defenders.
Azi nodded, biting back a reort and headed out from the Guild hall. Her face burned with her want to say something, but she thought better and just left. Standing in the east gate square, she realized that for all her living in Camelot these years, she knew little of the city. Turnng left, she head down the cobbled street. As she went, she heard comments made quietly between some of a knight, in plate, drunkenly careening through the streets last night like a man possessed.
The Stone, as it was called, was not overly busy, but still Azi drew some raised eyebrows and considerations from the male patrons within. The place was half empty with stools about, a large bar with a surly looking barkeep beind it. Azi mused that his dispostion explained why he was working now rather than in the evening when more people would be about.
Dwerrav looked at the young girl and smiled, his manner changing immediately. "Help ye, miss?" he says, noting her grimace at the din from the loud and rowdy patrons, few tho they were.
Azi drew herself up and tried to look calmer than she felt. "I am looking for a man named Crispian, a young Lord and knight," she said, trying for her most commanding tone, but she heard the quaver in her voice.
Dwerrav smriked, "
oung lady, tis a tavern. Many lords and knights find there way here. Might ye describe him?"
Azi blushed, feeling silly. "
es, he is a smaller man, but thick of shoulders, with blond hair and wearing high burnished plate," she said, indicating what she thought was about the right height for Crispian.
Dwerrev nodded as she spoke. "He wears a towered cloak, aye?" When Azi nodded, he made a glum face. "He was here, a'right, and drank many ales, rather quickly. Rude man, he was. Surly, even, then he stomred out into the night, almost to tears, he was." The barkeep looked about for some privacy. "He seemed to not care for the praise given him for taking Benowyc or Hurbury"
Nodding her head, Azi thanked him and, amid calls from the men of the bar, headed into the street. Not looking up, she almost walked right into a patrolling guardsmen.
He grabbed her shoulders, at first thinking to just move the inattentive lass aside, then he caught glimpse of her face. This was Judan's girl! "Little Azi, what is the rush?" he asks.
Color rose to Azi cheeks. Silly girl, she thought, look where you are walking! She looked up to the guardsman, as she had to do to many of them, and smiled shyly. Another friend of her father's, no doubt.
"I'm searching for a friend, sir." she answered shyly.
The guard smiled widely "
ou have many friends little one!""
Azi looked down, trying not to blush, "Not too many. Perhaps you've seen him, his name is Crispian?""
The guard snorted loudly and shook his head "That one is bad news, Azi." He looks about to make sure you are unobserved. "He's gone to the drink""
Azi nodded, "
es, I know. I've heard it isn't like him, and I'm searching for him in order to help. Have you seen him?""
The guard shook his head, "No, Azi, but he was at Ye Mug, drinking tea some say," he laughs, "but I think not""
Azi siezed the name. "
e Mug? Can ye poiint me to it, please?"
"Tis near the round table gate, but Azi, that is a warriors tavern!" he said, a note of concern coming into his voice.
Trying to hide her uneasiness at hearing this, she nods. "
es, well, I'll be careful sir. Thank you," she said, and moved off after a quick curtsey.
He watched her go and smiled. "So much like her mother," he muttered and resumed his rounds.
Arriving at Ye Mug, Azi pasued in the doorway and took a deep breath. Peering in, she entered. Many of the patrons took notice of her. She saw Salor, a friar friend and greeted him quietly.
"Hail, Salor. How are you this day?" she asked, as Salor again moevd his mug toward the barkeep.
"Refusing a friar a drink?" he said, sighing wistfully. With a sneer, the day man filled the mug again.
Azi made her way sheepishly to the bar as Salor snatched back his mug, turning his attention to the pretty face of Azi. A plate-clad warrior eyed Azi appreciatively as she smoothed her robes and looked to the barkeep.
Twist-lip, as he was called due to a scar, nodded to the young lady. "Hail young lady. Some wine for ya?" he asked, wiping his hands on his apron.
Azi leaned into the bar, whispering quietly, "No, thank you, sir. Have you seen Crispian?" she asked.
Twist-lip guffawed loudly. "The young drunk? he asked, voice loud enough to carry through the entire bar room.
Azi blushed a deep crimson and stared at her hands, not noticing Salor beside her at the bar. Salor, noticing her nervousness, said in a stage-whisper "I was getting worried, being the only one in a dress here," he joked, plucking the front of his friar's robes.
Twist-lip, misreading her reaction, adopted a kinder tone. "Lass, you could get better men anywhere," he said kingly, "and I've heard he cares not for the fair sex, if ye catch my meaning."
Salor, a bit into his cups, nudged the lookout next to him. "Aye, I saw his (cough) friend by the Vault earlier. Looked like he had just learned to ride a horse!" The lookout chuckled, knowing the way of some in the city.
Azi gasped at the barkeep and ignored Salor. Her color drained, face becoming serious as her best spell. "How dare you! I'm merely asking if you've seen him. If you are not going to answer, then fine!" Her gaze was dead stern at Twist-lip.
Shocked a the sudden change, he drew back. "Aye, lass, he was here last eve," he said much subdued, being caught off-guard by the sudden manner of this young woman.
Salor banged his tankard on the bar again, widening his eyse slightly, as if to ask "Why is this not full?" Twist-lip scowled and refilled it.
Recalling Salor's casually remark about Crispian's "friend" Azi turned to him, pointedly ignoring the barkeep's reaction. "Thank you, sir," she said and rose to leave quickly.
Salor called "Thank you, pretty face who's name I never caught!" even as Twist-Lip called "MISS!"
Azi turned from the door, looking back in. Twist-lip motioned her back in.
The lookout nudged Salor and leaned in, "That is little Azi."
Salor turned to him, a mild surprise on his face, "Oh my," he commented dryly.
"Her father," he continued, "was a great paladin, now gone mad."
Azi stepped back to the bar and Twist-lip offered a steaming mug of tea, which she merely looked at as she leaned in toward him. "There was something sore wrong with him last night, Miss," he said quietly.
Salor moved fluidly around the bar, appearing next to Azi and uncapping a falsk, poising it over the tea. "A little something to spice it up?" he offered.
As Azi sat, shaking her head at Salor's offer, the lookout moved nearer to Salor, the hushed manner of the whole exchange pulling him in. "Are ye not allied with the League?" he asked Salor, who gave him a look of disdain, even as he shrugged at Azi.
Azi leaned toward the barkeep and whispered, "What do you mean?"
The bar man looked about a moment, his eyebrows nettling together. "I'll tell ye, he was fine for a bit. A perfect knight of the Realm, then all of a sudden, he acted, well, forgive me for saying, like a birthin' woman, all bent up in pain." At Azi's nod, he continued. "Then, all a sudden, he gets all weird like and deamnded ale." He paused. "He was drinkin' 'em down as fast I could fill 'em, I swear!"
Azi looked sternly at the barkeep again. "How long ago did it start?" she asked in her best voice, firm and clear.
Salor was nodding in agreement to the tale, a slight twinge of jealousy at the speed of service told flashed on his face.
Twist-lip considered. "Oh, must have been about midnight last night.
The lookout again nudged Salor. "Are ye their allies?"
"If this be 'little' Azi, then aye, and Lord Crispian." Salor muttered, annoyed at the inrruption.
"Aye, tis both," the lookout whispered and stopped as Salor fixed him a look reserved for the sinful.
Azi sighed, "Thank you for the information, I must be going now," she said, standing to leave.
"Miss!" Twist-lip said, grabbing Azi's wrist, which she jerked back quickly.
"I am right here," she said archly.
Twist-lip lowered his voice, "He was not in his right mind, I tell ye! He was cried like a wee girl and ran out!"
"Really?" Azi said as she frowned. "Well, let's hope something can be done to help him."
Salor, taking advantage of the barkeep's attention being diverted, snuck around the side of the bar and snatched the 'good' stuff, leaving a few gold pieces where it sat.
Azi, seeing Salor, surpressed a giggle.
Twist-lip continued in a low voice, "I dinnae know what ye know, but word is he has been to the Shadow quarter, for - ah - relief if you know what I mean," he said as color rose in his cheeks.
Salor's glance is momentarily diverted to the Round Table.
Azi frowned deeply at the barkeep. "Do you take pleasure in sharing the personal misgivings of your patrons?" she asked, slapping a silver coin down on the bar and leaving.
Salor, happily filling the astonishing number of flasks from his robers, looked up. "Hmm, I suppose I should go.
The barkeep scowled at Salor. "She be your ally, Monk. Tell her it was her concern and not mine own."
Tossing a few golds on the bar, Salor nodded. "Tomorrow, barkeep?" He said smiling and left, heading toward the Round Table.
Twist-lip snorted as the friar left, but added the coin to his purse just the same.
Azi walked with a fury into the street, but dismissed the barkeep as she turned toward the Vault. She wasn't sure exactly what Salor met by Crispian's friend, but her concern drove her on. The balcony area over the Round Table was sparsely used today, she noted with some relief.
Azi saw him then, a young lad wearing light leather armors. His badge was the League's, but marked with Crispian symbol. She walked up to him and he bowed in answer to her curtsey. He obviously had some courtly training. Salor sidled up the staris and took up a spot a respectful distance from Azi and the young man.
"Greetings, sir," Azi said.
The lad blushed a pleasant, youthful blush. "I am nae a sir, but thank ye the same," he said, his voice rich with the aceent of country peasanthood.
Azi smiled and motioned him away from the vault area. The two of them walked down the balconey from the Vault as Salor busied himself with a transparent pretense of doing an exchange at the vault.
The lad stopped, turniing to her, "What can I do for ye, Lady?" he asked respectfully.
Azi, lowering her voice to a whisper, introduced herself, "Azi Icemistress, High Council of Guardians of Albion. Do you know Lord Crispian?"
Blushing, the young nodded. "I am his Squire, Lady," he said, a mix of pride and concern tinging his voice.
"Oh, you are?" Azi said in a pleased voice. Perhaps Mirashta was right that he could help, she thought.
Nodding again, the lad continued. "Aye, I attened Lord Crispian when he is in Camelot."
Salor, overhearing this, while pointing at items with his staff, wiped his beard to cover a smirk.
"Well," Azi interrupted, "then you must know where he is? I've been asked to find him."
The lad glacned about. "I ah I heard he was last seen in the Shadow quarter, Lady, but please tell no one." Concern entered his voice. "Last heard, he was there and quite drunk," he concluded with some unease.
Azi smiled gently at him. "I assure you, I won't tell anyone," she said, covering her own worry over hearing the Shadow quater, for she did not like the sound of it.
On instinct, for this Lady Azi seemed goodly and Tannir was greatly worried, he lowered his voice to a bare whisper. "Word has it, Lady, that he," pausing to looko nervously about,"has a lad there," he said.
Salor, somewhat bored, and somewhat drunk, launches into a stroy of his battle prowess to a disdainful vault keeper.
Azi covered a mild surprise. "At the Shdaow Guild?" she asked gently.
The boy nodded, "Or there about."
"How long ago was he seen there?" Azi asked.
The boy whispered, "I heard he went there last night, lady, but tell him not!"
Noticing the look of shame and worry on his face, Azi reached out and touched his arm. "I'll find him and we'll set things right, but I have to go quickly."
The boy's face lit with some hope. "Please , lady, for I fear for him!" he said.
Azi smiled at that. "
ou and many others." She paused, realisig she did not know the lad's name. He bowed to her.
"I thank ye Lady," he murmured as he striaghtened.
"Thank you," she said. "What is your name, lad?"
"I am Tannir, Lady," he said.
Azi curtseyed to him again. Salor moved down the balcony, out of earshot, but keeping the wizard in sight.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Tannir looked to Azi. "Please find him, Lady Azi."
"I shall Tannir. We'll set things right. Farewell!" she said, and left the Vault, heading for the Guild of Shadows and the unsavory part of town which suorrounded it.
Tannir watched her go, then silently said a prayer to the Alimgith that she might succeed.
Salor, unversed in the ways of stealth, trod behind her at a distance.
Azi hurried down the street toward the Guild of Shadows, worrying about how exactly she was going to find out what she need to know there. Salor, employing a bit of logic and inferring Azi's destination, beat her there and sat against a wall, patiently waitiing.
Mirilaloth, an infiltrator by trade, was in the Shadow Guild and scratched his head as he saw Azi running toward hi, "What's the rush, Azi?" he asked.
Azi paues, noticing the friar seeing the red-robed friar from the bar. Wasn't he at the Vault, too? she thought. Then she spied Mirilaloth.
"Miril!" she exalimed, grabbing him and pulling into an alley, out of site of the friar.
Miril winced. "Oww, why so rough?"
"Shh!" She said, holding a finger to her lips and looking back for the red-robed friar. Salor was crossing the courtyard and starting a conversation
with a guard.
Mirilaloth looked at Azi curiously.
Azi stared at where she thought her friend was. "Miril, would you please show yourself. I hate talking to air, sir!" Azi said a little testy.
As the guard chuckled at something Salor was saying, Mirilaloth said "Ohh, you mean unstealth? You know I am uncomfortable with people seeing me. I just forget that I am stealthed. he said. As Azi smiled, he unstealthed a little further down the alley and waved.
"Miril," Azi almost hissed in a whisper, "I need your help. I'm looking for someone who is inside the Guild of Sadows." She could not repress a shiver as she finished.
The guard nudged Salor, and looked toward the alleyway. "She's a fine lass, aye?" With nod and an "aye," Salor agreed, even as he muttered under his breath about ungrateful hussies. The guardsman nudged Salor and winked, "Vows, eh friend?"
Miril grinned at Azi, "Who?" he asked.
"Taty's friend, Crispian" Azi said, quite serios.
"Where is he in there?" Miril asked. Although the Guild of Shadows had formal buildings, there was also a large expanse of structures loosely associated with the publically unsavored association.
Azi looked around. "I was told he's insiide, but I don't want to in alone," she said quietly, fear of being overheard fill her with a dread.
Miril laughed at her. "Still afraid of the dark?" He shook his head. "Sure, Sure. I can go in there with ya." he dark"
Salor threw a look at the guard and moved around again to get the wizard within range of sight, and healing magics.
Azi sighed as she saw the friar take up his post nearby. "What here a minute, Miril." She walked over to the friar.
Salor, tucking newly purchased arrows under his robe, did not move.
Azi walked up to him directly, even as Miril faded into the shadows. "Hail Salor," she greeted him. "Might I ask why you've been following me all over the city?"
Salor shrugged, not noticing Miril moving close enough to listen. "
ou seemed somewhat hesitant to continue your search for Lord Crispian alone," he explained.
"Well, you could offer your help instead of following me around, you know," Azi said archly.
The guard laughed. "She's got you there, boy-o!" he called.
Salor nodded. "The thought had occured to me! But, I'm drunk and you left. I didn't really want to interrupt you."
Even as Azi glared at the firar, Miril had to laugh a tthe thought of a friar ever being sober. "Drunk. Perhaps you should go home and sleep it off. Worthless adiction!" she snapped.
The guard laughed again. "Got ye agian, Boy-o!" he called to the friar.
Azi sighed, and turned back into the alley to Miril.
Salor frowned. "No need to be cruel, missy!" he snapped back. Twirling his staff demonstratively, he continued "I can still handle myself well!"
"Miril?" Azi called into the empty alley. He waved, still stealthed. Azi looked around. "Blast it, Miril! I am losing my patience!"
Miril, busy admiring Sara Fletcher, had not been paying attention. "What? What? What?" he yelped out and favored Azi with a smile.
Azi shook her head in exaspeation, but smiled at Miril just the same, and gestured toward Salor.
Salor muttered to himself about having two burly men to protect her, even if one isn't wanted.
Miril looked toward Salor and nodded his head toward Sara. "Oh, the drunken friar?"
Azi included Salor with a gesture. "This is Salor. He seeks to help. Can you show us inside perhaps?"
Miril leaned toward Azi and whispered, "I think he kinda likes ya." Louder, he said "Sure, sure. Just this way gents and lady."
Azi almost kicked him, but whispered, "
ou know I'm not interested."
Miril smiled. "Welcoem to the Guild of Shadows, home sweet home!" He gestured vaguely at the compound.
"Murky," Salor commented as Azi shivered.
"Let me show, uh, Salor," Miril quickly filled in, "where the ale is kept up top."
Azi scowled. "He does not need to know that. We need to find Crispian," she reminded Miril, eyes getting the stubborn look he knew so well.
Salor smiled. "Aye, I've plenty enogh," he quipped as he produced a flask.
Miril took a draw off the flask. "Mmm. This is good ale. What brand be it?" he asked Salor.
"From Ye Mug, friend," he said.
Miril smiled, too. "Ohh, right right! Let's check down stairs."
As Azi peered around cautiously, Miril nudged the fiar, "Can I have some?" he asked, and Salor silently produced a second flask and passed it over.
Miril stepped into a near-hidden stairwel. "This is the secret way of the Guild of Shadows." he said. Azi's nose wrinkled a the musky smell as they headed down the staris.
Miril smiled and waved at a figure in the shadows, his old master Edric. "Hail, Captain!"
Azi paused as they made their way across the basement. "I don't like this at all."
Miril headed to the staris and led them down. Azi looked around the tunnel, seeing some chest, the shadows of Edric, but no Crispian.
"C'mon up, Azi!" Miril called. "No one down there. I just owed the Captain some money." He laughed.
Azi continued up as Miril and Salor turned off, and went down a second flight of steps. Azi looked about and realized she had lost her companions.
Salor paued, not seeing Azi and yelled back up, "C'mon down, milady!"
Miril laughed. "Even a drunken friar can follow me better than you!"
Azi yelled down the stairs, "
ou just told me to go up!" and stomped down there staris. Miril was taking another swig of ale from the flask as she yelled, "STOP!" and took the ale from Miril, handing it back to Salor with a glare. "One drunken companion is more that enough. Let's go."
Miril turned a corner and saw Crispian lying prone on the floor, naked and bleeding. He walked toward him, and nudged him with his boot. To his surprise, the young lord grabbed it weakly and began to sob and kiss it "Crispian?" he hissed out, shocked. "Azi! Salor! Down here!"
Azi heard the voice, but was unsure where it came from. "Miril?" she called.
Mirill ran up the stairs to find them, leaving a weeping Crispian behind him. Salor entered the room even as the infiltrator left it.
Crispian looked up, eyes hollow and empty. "Please, no more!" he cried out. Salor produced an extra robe from his pack and helped Crispian pull it on. "Thank you, thank you," he cried patheticall, grasping to Salor's legs.
Salor shrugged, never one to appeciate a sobbing drunk, "Of course, mi'lord."
Just as Azi felt panic closing in on her, Miril appearred and dragged her down to the chamber. Miril knelt next to Crispian and took out a flask, which Azi grabbed away.
"
ou look like hell, Crispian," Miril said.
Looking up at the infiltrator, eyes showing no reason or thought, "Take me home, please," he gasped out.
Salor, feeling the situation to serious, quiped, "But he is wearing a stylish robe."
Azi knelt by Crispian, even as Miril was slinging the knight's right arm around his neck to lift him.
"Miril, stop it!" Azi blurted out. What are you doing?"
Crispian leaned into the infiltrator, almost clinging to him.
"I'm going to take him to the healers," he replied.
"Please, no pain, sir" Crispian sobbed.
"Let the clerics helped him" Miril continued, even as Salor coughed discreetly behind him. "Some ale could ease his pains."
Azi shook her head. "We have to let his Aunt know that we've found him," she said, watching Crispian's fawning and pawing at Miril, who fught to keep the knight's arm abou his neck.
"That can wait," Miril hissed. "He need healing!"
Crispian stroked Miril's armor jerkin. Don't hurt me, master, please," he begged. The nights terrors washed over his mind.
Miril looked down at Crispian in concern. "I'm not your master," he said quietly, eyes reflecting his growing alarm. "Who did this to you, mate?"
Azi nodded, "
es, he does need healing. Crispian?" she called softly.
Recoiling more against the infiltrator, Crispian sagged toward the floor as Azi said his name. "Please, master," he whimpered, remembering cruel blows for hours at as his name was said, "no pain, please."
Salor regarded the man in front of him. "Stylish, and he seems well enough physically. Perhaps we should take him to his aunt."
"Miril," Azi asked, "why does he keep calling you 'master'?"
Miril shrugged as Crispian collapsed to the floor again. "I guess I have that kind of presences about me."
Face hear to the ground, Cirspian pawed and fawned over Miril's boots, his lips against them as he continued to mutter, "don't hurt me Master," quietly, over and over.
"I think it's because I kicked him when I first came down," Miril concluded, looking at Azi. "He looked dead."
Azi shouted, "Crispian! What happened to you? Why are you here?"
Crispian cired out, grasping tighter to Miril's leg, "Pleae, master, plesae!" he croaked out, "don't let her touch me!" A vision of D'Vena filled his mind's eye.
Salor muttered "banshee," as he tugged his ear.
Azi looked at Miril. "
ou have to talk to him, Miril. He won't even asnwer me."
Miril looked down at Crispian. "What's my name, Crispian?" he asked in a carefully nuetral tone.
Crispian shuddered. He cringed and puled further back into himself. He looked up at the towering man. How often had he been asked that last night? "Master," he croaked out.
"Hmm," Miril paused. "What should I ask him, Azi?" he asked quietly.
Azi sighed. "We're wasting time. You're right," she looked up at Mirl. "He needs healing and we need to let his Aunt know we have him. If he thinks your his master, play along. It may help us get him out of here."
Miril gave Azi a look. "Help me, Azi. We'll get him there, but you'll have to lead the way. Salot, help me carry him."
Crispian gazed up at Miril, fearing the next question, the next blow, but unable to surpress an almost physical want to please him.
Miril struggled to get Crispian to his feet. "Azi, lead the way. My guess is that an infiltrator must have been him up. Is his aunt a cleric?"
Azi shook her head. "No. Where do you think we should take him?"
Salor shrugged, fastening his staff across his back.
"Salor," Miril asked as he settled Crispian's arm across his shoulders, "Can you heal him?" Azi words were right on the end of Miril's "Salor, can't you fix him up a little?" "
ou are a friar," Miril reminded.
Salor nodded, "Why thank you for noticing!" he said a bit crossly, having listened to the debate over clerics for the past few minutes.
Crispian clung to Miril's arm, head agains the infiltrator's chest. Was the kindness going to continue? he wondered.
"Crispian, stand up. Everything will be all right." He extracted the armsman from his grasp, setting him on his own feet.
"
es, master," Crispian whispered, steadying himself on his feet.
Salor mustered a bit of energy to heal. Maybe he had had a tab too much to drink, as it seemed to be a little difficult.
Azi shook her head at the friar. "I told you!" she hissed.
Miril saw that Crispian was none-to steady. "Put your arm around me, Crispian, and put your weight on me," he said, keeping his tone as gentle as he could.
Salor fixed Azi with an icy stare. "Hey! Healing is difficult. I have to remember where everything is attached!"
Azi looked at Miril. "Where should we take him? He keeps saying to take him home, and as fas as I know, that is the Defender's Guild."
Crispian leaned into Miril, who shifted to balance batter. "Come on. Let's take him there than."
Azi nodded. "We can take him there and send for his Aunt."
As the healing power from the Friar washed over Crispian, Miril shouldered his weight up. Miril set him on his own feet again. "Follow me," he told Crispian, clear and firm.
The knight recoiled, "Please, master," he sobbed, sure the blows would start now, "no more pain!"
Miril started up the stairs, and Salor took up a position behind them all to ensure nothing happned.
At the first turn, Crispian lost sight of Miril, and sank to the stones. "MASTER!" he called like a lost child.
Miril turned, calling "Come up the stairs!"
Cripsian crawled the remaining steps, "
es, Master," he eked out.
Seeing him weaving in exhaustion, Miril again shouldered his arm. "Help me carry him, Salor," he said as the friar nudged Crispian from behind.
"Wait!" Azi called, "Wait!" and paused in thought. Seeing the mid-day sky, Crispian shuddered. Hadn't that hateful little man said he would never see the sky again?
Azi shook her head. "Nevermind, let's go!" And the little troop set off, making their way out of the guild of shadows and into the city. The streets were still crowded as they passed toward the Defender's Guild. Few people even noticed their cloaked and robed burden.
They entered into the building. "We should find the beds," Miril said, setting Crispian down. He headed upstaors, looking for the sleeping chambers.
"We should find him a bed," Azi said to Miril, thinking of the broken man sitting at the bottom of the staris.
"Aye, let's find him a bed," Miril said even as a near paniced scream of "Master, where are you?" drifted up the stairs.
Miril sighed. "Come up the stairs, Crispian," he called down. A scowl crossed his face as he thought of what had to be done to reduce a man so,
Azi and Miril had reached an area obviously for training and discussion. "Must be in the other building," Miril said as they headed through an archway.
They headed back down the stairs and collected Crispian and Salor. Then, they started the trudge up the three flights of stairs to the let-out rooms in the Guild house.
Crispian paused, looking at all the familiar sights. He KNEW this place. He hurried to catch up and nearly bumped into Azi. Terror flooded through him, and he cried out. "Keep her away from me, master," in a broken sob.
Miril spun to see what was happening and barked out, "Crispian, come here!" In horror he watched as the young man scuttled over to him, Azi looked at Crispian sadly, but kept her distance as they continued on. Again, Crispian paused, examining a shield with a tower on a gold field, and a blue stripe beneath it. It was familiar, something nagging that he should know it.
Miril stopped when he saw Tannir and looked about, "We lost him," he said looking around, then seeing Crispian at the end of the hallway. "There he is."
Crispian turned to follow again and saw Azi. "MASTER?" he cried out desperately.
Miril grabbed him, pushing Crispian behind him. "Stay close to me and I will protect you from her," he said, throwing Azi a puzzled look.
Crispian pawed at Miril. "Thank you, master," he said, images of the pain, the woman, the hurt, welling in his mind.
Miril walked up the short flight to the room rented by the League. "Come up these stairs," he instructed Crispian.
Salor muttered "
our charge is a little slow in the head."
Azi threw him a glare. "He is obviously very agitated. You two put him to bed and watch him close. I"ll get his aunt."
Salor looked abuut. "How strainge, I recall sleeping here."
Miril shook his cloak out against a wall. "Lay down here," he told Crispian.
Tannir, coming into the area, saw them. "M'Lord!" he called in shock as he saw Crispian. Crispian started to get up, and Miril pushed him down. "Lay down, Crispian," he said gently.
Tannir looked about at these two men. "What is wrong?" he asked. Miril settled an extra cloak over Crispian for a blanket, ignoring the squire.
"We will watch him," he told Azi. "Go find his aunt."
Crispian lay on the floor, curled on his side, clnging to one of Mirl's boots. That young voice. Who? Did he hurt Crispian? Fear welled up. "Master?" he gazed at Miril.
Azi closed her eyes, reaching for the mind of Mirashta. "We've found Crispian. Come to the Defender's Guild as soon as possible!" she pressed the message through.
Miril looked down at Crispian, smoothing his hair. "Shh," he said, as though to a child, "go to sleep." He c;eared his throat and sang softly.
"Close your eyes; The night is here; The stars light the Way; The Moon is bright tonight; Protecting us from darkness;" and continued to watch until Crispian quieted into sleep, and then extracted himself from the hold on his boot.
Taniir looked at the two men, and asked much quieter. "What happened to him?"
Salor readied his staff again and shrugged. "No clue," he said, detached in thought.
Tannir's eyes filled with rage at the strangers before him. "Tell me," he said, his voice rising.
Miril raised a hand to the squire. "We do not know. Shh. He is sleeping."
Taniir turned, fixing a stare at Miril. "LIAR!" he barked.
Azi touched his arm gently. "Tannir, we found him, battered in the cellar of the Guild of Shadows. He insists on calling Miril 'master' and recoils from my touch." Her eyes spoke much of the sadness she felt.
Miril looked at the young squire. "Tannir, go watch the door and cool off. Tell us if someone is coming."
Salor, watching the swing in moods, wondered to himself if anyone in Crispian's League was sane.
Tannir glared at Miril, still unsure what to think. "I hold you responsible for my lord!" he snapped.
Azi felt a tendril of thought brush her mind and focused on the sending. "Milady!" she thought, a relief sweeping her. "After a long search, we found Crispian in the basement of the Guild of Shadows. He is in terrible shape. I didn't know what else to do with him but to bring him to the Defender's Guild."
The reply was swift. "A moment dear" filled with vauge images of fighting.
Azi turned to Tannir. "Please be calm. Remember what I told you at the Vault. We want to help. Now, can you show us a place where we can make him a but more comfortable?"
Mirashta's thought-reply came at the end of her sentence and Azi split her attention for a moment. "
e've found him? What kind of terrible shape?" Mirashta's thought asked.
Tannir fixed Azi with a dread gaze, "I can care for him better than you!" he snapped, his young chin trembling in rage.
Azi threw the fast thougth back to Mirshta, " Bruised and bloodied, incoherent," but could not stop Salor from flaring in temper.
"Wow, an ungrateful sout," the friar said flatlly.
Tannir turned to Salor, "Shut up, Monk!" he snapped.
Azi looked at Tannir, "I'm sure you can. I never presumed to care for him. I wouldn't know where to begin, but sometimes things happen that are beyong one person's ability to help."
Mirashta's thought stopped her from saying more "For now, make him comfortable. I'm on my way back to Lethantis now."
Miril glared at Tannir. "Calm down, or I shall render you unconscious," he said flatly. "
our anger does not help us here. Silence, and the stairs," he griipped his sword hilt menacingly.
Azi gave Miril a stern look. "Leave the boy alone. Be nice." Salor, thinking this could go badly, began to gather the power for a heal...or twelve,
Tannir spat out "Dare!" to Miril as he glowered and stalked from the room.
Azi looked at her friend in surprise and ran after the squire, calling "Tannir!" She found him a tthe top of the stairs.
Tannir stood against the railing "What?" he said, his face full of misery.
Azi looked at him in understanding. "Miril can be gruff sometimes," she said gentlye, "but we are just trying to help. I'm sorry."
Tannir sighed heavily. "He is my heart and soul, Lady. Aid him if you can." His eyes welled to almost tears, but he did not let one roll down his cheek.
Azi looked at Tannir, realising how much they had in common, "We shall, Tannir. I promise." With that, she turned to head back to her companions. Pausing, she thought to Mirashta, What should we do in the meantime?"
Mirashta:replied "Make sure he still has the talisman he was wearing around his neck. I'll be working on a solution, I hope, with the mages at Lethantis, shortly"
On the roof top where all had happened, Miril pulled his own cloak tighter and looked down at Crispian. "Even in the rain he sleeps. He must be exsausted"
Azi, rushed to Crispian, and looked for the talisman without touching him. It gleamed upon his chest. She sighed in relief. As she looked up, she just caught Salor arching an eyebow at her. She returned his ;ppled/ "His aunt is on her way to Lethantis and then coming here. She said to make sure he still has the talisman around his neck, and he does."
Salor nodded slowly, accepting the wizardly means of communication. "The talisman?" he asked, clearly wanting to know more.
Azi shook her head. "I don't know, she just said to make sure he has it." Her look was confused but resigned to these things.
Salor shrugged and nodded accepctence. He looked out on the sky as the earlly moon rose, passing from the Hiberian horizon into Albion. The sphere gave a slight glow, and Salor looked down as Azi gasped and pointed. "Look!" she exclaimed.
Slowly, Crispian opened his eyes, looking up. The glaze was gone and they were agin claer and gray. "Azi?" he croaked out in a dry voice.
"I want one that does that," Salor quipped.
Azi dropped to her knees, calling "Tannir! Come here!"
Crispian's head moved about, taking in the faces of these three allies, and his squire.
"Salor?" he asked, for he did not know the red friar himself.
Salor inclined his head, 'Milord.'"
Crispian let out a small gasp and ginned sickly, "I am no Lord."
Azi recoled, "Crispian?" she asked again.
He smiled at her weakly, "Azi?"
Salor flashed a brief smile, "
ou look like hell," he deadpanned.
Crispian grimaced, "Well, I feel like shit," he said weakly.
Miril looked about, feeling slighhtly out of place. "Well, looks like everything is better i must be on my way. Hope you get to feeling better, Crisp." He clapped the armsman on the shoulder.
Crispian looked at his new friend. "My thanks, and I hope so as well," he said, even as Miril faded away into the shadows, and disappered.
Azi nodded, "Thank you Miril," she said as her friend faded, then turned to Crispian. "What happened?"
Crispian shuddered and pushed down a feeling of naseau. "Let it be for now," he said, meeting the young wizard's gaze as she nodded solemnly.
Crispian looked to Salor,."Brother, I beg foreveness," his serious tone let the firar know what he meant.
Sakir nodded, "Of course, it is given, without stipulation. But confession, they say, clears the soul." He fixed the young lord with a firm stare.
Crispian closed his eyes. "Brother, can I spare the details for the moment?" he asked in a slightly pained voice.
Saklor nodded again. "It is yours to tell, as you want it, friend," he said kindly.
"At a later time, brother," Crispian said, "But for now, your blessings please."
"Given," Salor said as he made a holy sign over Crispian.
WIth a great sigh, Crispian leaned back. "My thanks, brother."
Azi put a hand on Crispian's shoulder, cautiously, as she knelt beside him. "Sir, I hope you remain quite yourself. Tannir is here now. He shall care for you. I must go. I've negelected my own affairs too long tongiht," she said with a shy smile.
Tannir, stepping forward, offered Crispian a wan smile, "I have your armor, Lord."
Crispian smiled at Azi. "Good Lady, you have given much for me!"
Azi smiled back. "Nothing more than what you deserve, as friend to my guild and myself."
Salor arched an eyebrow. "If the Lady Azi is no longer in danger, I shall be off for a bit. My head seems to have exploded."
Still looking at Azi, Crispian grabbed her hand and kissed it. "I shall never forget. But leave me plesae with Tannir, until Auntie returns. You have my thanks."
Salor, rising, bowed to Crispian and he returned a saltue to the friar.
"Good day, mi'lord," Salor said as he departed.
Azi blushed violently and took her hand away. "Call on me again. I shall be happy to help you."
Crispian nodded gravely. "Thank you, Lady Azi. I shall repay the favor, and the deed!" he said solemnly.
Azi stood and curtseyed, then turned to Tannir, pattying him upon the arm. "
ou're in good hands, Crispian."
Recalling the horrors of the past night, Crispian nodded. "Aye, to your thanks, Azi."
Azi blushed again and turned, gradually making her way down the stairs, and back out into the city.
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Crispian Pontiff, Seneschal, St. Crispin's League
Council member, Omnia Patricius, General, Defenders
Http://www.warlordcentral.com - Omnia Patricius's home site
http://Writing.Com/authors/crispian My writing site
