"We already know," Caledan said matter-of-factly, enjoy-'ng the startled look on Cormik's face. The owner of the Prince and Pauper wasn't used to others learning things before he did.
Caledan and Mari spent the rest of the evening deep in conversation with Cormik. Estah brought them a plate of good but simple fare-bread, cheese, and a jug of pale wine. Cormik eyed everything with a sense of novelty.
"So this is how the masses live," he remarked, picking up his earthenware cup and studying it carefully. "How interesting. How peculiar." He sniffed the wine, and his bulbous nose wrinkled. He quickly set it back down. "How revolting."
Not possessed of such delicate palates, Caledan and Mari enjoyed the repast while Cormik talked. The efforts to try to wear Ravendas down and, more importantly, to discover her weaknesses were going well. A few small opposition bands under the direction of some of Cormik's agents had scored several hits against Lord Cutter's city guard.
"We've been a thorn in her side, to be sure," Cormik said, "but we have a long way to go. We still need to find more people who are willing to fight the Zhentarim. And then we have to arm them. You two came away from the countinghouse with a fair sum in jewels, but I can't simply sell them openly on the market here. Ravendas is bound to notice. Besides, she has a lock on the weapons trade, and there isn't a blacksmith in a dozen leagues that isn't firing up his forges to arm her men. However, agents of mine are currently making deals in Berdusk and Elversult, though it's going to be a slow process smuggling weapons into the city."
Mari sighed deeply. "Let's hope she moves even slower than we do."
Cormik chuckled deeply. "Don't despair, Mari Al'maren. I have ways of sowing problems among Cutter's men." His one good eye gleamed wickedly. "As a matter of fact, I suspect that even as we talk new reports are making their way to the tower, telling how the leaders behind the insurrection are in truth captains of Ravendas's own city guards. More than a few of Cutter's men who don't swear their complete loyalty quite fast enough will be swinging by their necks before morning."
Caledan shook his head. "You're a devious man, Cormik. Remind me never to get on your bad side."
Cormik stared at Caledan flatly. "You are on my bad side, Caledan."
Mari laughed after Cormik had left. "You know, I'm really beginning to like that man," she commented.
"You would," Caledan replied sourly.
It was late. The inn had closed for the night. Its shutters were drawn, giving Mari and Caledan the freedom to sit in the glow of the fire in the common room with Estah. Jolle was upstairs. He said he wanted to check on a leak in the roof. Mari didn't remind him there hadn't been a drop of rain in days. She knew the halfling was keeping watch.
"Despite Cormik's deceptions, it's still only a matter of time before Ravendas discovers us," Caledan said in a low voice, gazing into the flames. He twirled a dagger absently in his hands.
Mari started to reply, but just then two pairs of small feet came thundering down the stairs. Pog and Nog burst into the common room and dashed to Estah, clinging to her desperately.
"My bonnies, what is it?" Estah asked them, hugging the two tightly. "You should be long abed." Nog tried to explain in whatever language it was that he spoke, but Pog interrupted.
"It's the shadows, Mother," she said gravely, her brown eyes wide in her small, round face. "The ones in the closet. I woke up and saw them moving, and Nog did, too. They want to eat us!"
Estah laughed, hugging her two children tightly. "Why, that's nonsense! Even if the shadows could move, how in the world could they step off the wall to eat you? And if they did eat you, where in the world would they put you? Shadows are awfully thin, you know." Pog's little forehead wrinkled a bit as she considered this information. She didn't seem entirely convinced.
"Well, if you're still worried," Estah said, "perhaps I could have your Uncle Caledan here speak with the shadows. He's a friend of theirs, you know."
"You can talk to shadows, Uncle Caledan?" Pog asked. Mari looked at Caledan, raising an eyebrow. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
"It's just an old trick, nothing more," he explained. "I haven't done it in years."
"An old trick?" Mari asked curiously.
"Oh, a bit more than that, I'd say," Estah said, her brown eyes twinkling. "Why, with the music of his reed pipes, Caledan can make the very shadows dance upon the wall."
Pog's eyes lit up then, and Nog squealed in glee. "Oh, please, Uncle Caledan. Make the shadows dance on the wall for us! Please?"
Caledan shook his head. "I don't suppose I even remember how." He turned to Mari in explanation. "It was just an old parlor game-an odd talent that ran in the family." He looked at Pog and Nog and grinned, tousling their straw-colored hair. He picked them up, one in each arm, much to their squeals of terror and delight, and headed up the stairs. "I may not make them dance on the wall, but I will talk with them. Maybe I can convince them not to eat all of you. Perhaps just a few bites…" Pog and Nog squealed in horror and delight.
"Can he really do that, Estah?" Mari asked when they were alone. "The trick with the shadows, I mean."
"Indeed he can. Shadow magic, I always called it. He could make the shadows on the wall move and act as he pleased with the music of his reed pipes. Of course, he put little stock in it. He regarded it simply as a minor talent that ran in his family. But however small a thing it was, it was magic." Estah's eyes glimmered in the firelight, then she sighed. "Now, of course, he won't play a note of music at all, not for any reason."
"Why, Estah? Why did Caledan forsake his music, and the Harpers?"
"You don't know, lass?" Estah asked softly. "I thought you knew about Ravendas."
Mari shrugged. "Only that Caledan had met her before. That's all I know."
Estah sighed deeply. "It's a long tale, but I think it's one you should hear. I suppose I should start by telling you about the Fellowship of the Dreaming Dragon." She poured a cup of fragrant tea, scented with mint and camomile, for each of them. Mari leaned forward, listening intently.
"I'll never forget the first time I met Caledan." Estah smiled with the memory. "It must be more than a dozen years ago by now. He was a young man then, on his first mission for the Harpers. As it happened, his travels brought him to Iriaebor, to this very inn, which I had only just bought. Over the next year or so his journeys frequently brought him to the Dreaming Dragon, and we became friends. And then one day, before I really had a chance to consider what I was doing, he told me he had need of a healer, and the next thing I knew I was off on one of his missions with him!"
Estah shook her head and laughed. "If I had known what adventuring was like, I doubt I would have ever left the warm comforts of the inn. But once enlisted, I knew I could never let Caledan go off on his journeys alone again. They were simply too dangerous. He needed a healer with him."
"But you weren't the only one to journey with him, were you?" Man asked.
Estah nodded, sipping her tea. "That's right. One by one, others that we met on our journeys joined the Fellowship to help Caledan. The first was Morhion, a mage of considerable power. After him came Ferret, who was always more rogue than hero. And then there was Tyveris, a great warrior but also a gentle soul. Over the years, and through our travels, we became almost like a family." Estah smiled fondly. "No, I think we were a family." Her broad face grew solemn.