"Well that's understandable," Volo agreed, still trying to figure out what all of this had to do with him.
"And when I heard about a certain travel author exposing an entire ring of murderous doppelgangers in Waterdeep, well, I knew I had to meet him."
"Who did that?" Passepout inquired.
"Why, Volo, of course," she replied.
"You did?" Passepout inquired of his shocked master.
"Well, I, uh… " Volo fumbled.
"Of course he did," insisted the company leader, who began to relate this tale of bravery previously unknown to Volo himself. "You see," she persisted, "there was a conspiracy in Waterdeep led by an evil doppelganger by the name of Hlaavin, His group called itself the Unseen. They were a consortium of shapechangers, thieves, illusionists, and assassins who had originally come from the Rat Hills to Waterdeep with a plan to gain control of the city by supplanting all of the most powerful people within Waterdeep society. At first their infiltration began slowly, taking more than ten years to maneuver impostors of a few minor functionaries in place, and then Hlaavin hatched an ingenious plan of setting up a high-class festhall to cater to just the types of society members that they wanted to supplant."
Volo finally saw where she was headed, and stated, "The Hanging Lantern."
"The Hanging Lantern?" Passepout questioned.
"Of course, the Hanging Lantern," Cat assured, "and you exposed it seven years ago."
"You did?" Passepout asked of his master incredulously.
"All I did was to say in my guide to Waterdeep that the Hanging Lantern was a festhall run by doppelgangers," Volo offered, trying to put his alleged heroic deed into the proper perspective.
Cat would not hear of it. "Oh, you are much too modest," she insisted. "That subtle little entry brought down the entire villainous plot without panicking the entire city. You were a genius."
"Well, I…"
"Unfortunately, they never caught Hlaavin," she continued, bringing the tale to an end, "but the Hanging Lantern was shut down, and you can't have everything, I guess… but anyway, any enemy of a doppelganger is a friend of mine."
Volo, glad that the story was over, changed the subject. "But that was seven years ago. We have new, more pressing matters at hand."
"Oh," said Cat with a gleam in her eye, "you're after the Bleth reward, too."
"The Bleth reward?" Passepout inquired, his eyes immediately seeing gold pieces.
Cat turned to Volo and, indicating the thespian at his side, stated, "I take it he's not too bright."
"I'm afraid that neither of us are," Volo replied. "This is the first I've ever heard of the Bleth reward."
"Oh, well, I guess I'm one up on you then," Cat conceded. "Lord Gruen Bleth of the Seven Suns Trading Company has offered a huge reward for the safe return of his daughter, who was part of a caravan that was abducted while she was traveling through Thay. That's where we're bound, as a sort of general objective. Of course, if we don't find her, well find something to keep us busy. Still, the reward would be nice. Care to join us?"
Volo considered the offer carefully and graciously declined.
"Thank you, my fair lady, but I'm afraid we will have to decline due to prior commitments."
"Prior commitments can usually wait," Cat offered flirtatiously.
"If only they could," Volo countered, "but my word is my bond, and the matter is completely out of my control."
Cat sighed. "A man of bravery, and a man of honor," she said wistfully. "I had hoped to share your company longer, but I respect your commitments. Perhaps we can travel together for a few days-say, until the road that leads to your destination diverges from the one that leads to ours. Which reminds me, if I might be so bold as to inquire, where are you and your roly-poly actor heading?"
"Shadowdale," Volo stated.
"Shadowdale?" Passepout questioned.
"Why Shadowdale?" the gracious hostess pressed.
"Because something has gone wrong with my magics, and I must have it corrected as soon as possible," he answered.
"Well, toward the Dalelands it shall he then," she stated, adding, "and then on to Thay. The hour is late, digestion complete, and time for sleep. Tomorrow, Shadowdale bound so shall we be."
A few hours later, still in the dead of night, Volo heard footsteps approaching, and mindful of their earlier midnight encounter, he quickly braced himself, dagger in hand beneath his blanket, and inquired, "Who goes there?"
A sheepish voice broke through the silence of the darkness.
"It is only I, Master Volo," said Passepout.
"Is everything all right?" Volo inquired.
"Sure," the thespian replied with all the enthusiasm of a slave bound for the block.
"All right, then," Volo answered, adding, "Get some sleep. The open road beckons us for an early departure."
"Great," said Passepout, with his usual lack of zeal.
Rosy-fingered dawn saw the Company of the Catlash, and their two new companions, ready for the road.
Volo noticed the auburn-haired staff bearer telling her comrades a story that invoked reams of laughter, which they quickly suppressed once they noticed his presence. His curiosity at the reason for their joviality and for Passepout's late-night stirrings was soon satisfied, when he saw the thespian at breakfast. Somehow during the night, his rotund bond servant had acquired a black eye, and a proclivity toward blushing whenever the redhead was around.
Oh, well, thought the traveler, such are the risks of the inept Casanova.
Vowing to himself never to mention what might have transpired, Volo helped his companion with his pack, keeping pace with him as they journeyed toward Shadowdale, subtly massaging the thespian's fragile, damaged ego.
By lunch, the embarrassment of less than twelve hours ago seemed to be forgotten, and the thespian's earlier braggadocio had returned, much to the chagrin of the rest of the company.
Chapter 7
"I will miss your company, master traveler," sighed Catlindra Serpentar.
"And I yours," replied Volothamp Geddarm.
"I hope you solve your problem," she added.
"In matters of magic, Elminster knows all," replied the departing traveler.
"You mean we're going to see Elminster" interrupted Passepout, destroying the poignancy of the friends' farewell.
Cat kissed Volo on the forehead and with a dry wink rejoined her company along the road that would bypass Shadowdale.
Volo sighed for a moment and started down the road to Shadowdale proper.
"But, Master Volo," Passepout persisted, "I've always heard that Elminster is a bit of a curmudgeon and not really fond of unexpected visitors. And given the way we didn't exactly hit it off with Khelben, I don't think we can afford to get on the wrong side of another archmage."
Volo just shook his head.
"You can't believe everything you hear," he replied. "I'm sure he'll be glad to see us."
The sign read, Trespassers May Be Polymorphed.
"We're not trespassers… I mean… you've been here before," said the very concerned Passepout, who had no desire to pursue his acting career as a trained seal or some such other animal.
"Afraid not," Volo replied.
"But you have met Elminster before, haven't you?" the thespian persisted.
"Sort of."
"What do you mean, sort of?"
"He wrote introductions to some of my guides."
"Like Volo's Guide to All Things Magical?"
"Well, no," Volo hedged. "Now that you mention it, he was slightly miffed at me for that one."
"But that was a long time ago," the thespian demanded. "Right?"
"Sure was," Volo agreed, paused for a moment, and continued, "Now that you mention it, that was probably the last time we had business together. I hope he doesn't hold a grudge."