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Back to Empire on the HPe3000
... and ...
Telenstil coughed, he'd wrapped a wet cloth around his nose and
mouth to help keep out the smoke, but the wind had turned and the thick
clouds blew south across the packs lying on the roof. The last pack he had
to drag, what was light to Harald was heavy to any normal man or elf.
The map still floated near the chimney top. The rain beat down,
Telenstil was loathe to bring the map out from its safe, dry, place
beneath the covering stone, but it would not float forever. He could cast
another spell, but to use so many within such a short space of time,
it bothered him. He left it where it was and used his ring, the last such
use till another day at least had passed, and dropped down slow to the
chimney hearth.
"Telenstil!" Talberth called. He rushed over to greet the elven
mage.
"Is all well, everyone ready," said Telenstil. "we should depart
in haste."
"Harold is wounded, but Gytha healed the worst of it." reported
Talberth.
"I'm fine." the halfling said. "Telenstil, there is treasure
below, maybe more of what you search for..."
"You've seen such." the mage asked and looked the halfling in the
eye.
"Well...no, but I have seen the glint of gold, and a trap beyond
what these giants are likely to have set. Put both together and it spells
some other hand then Nosnra's. Protecting what, I ask." Harold said, he
spoke quick and with an excited rising voice. "That wall of yours will
hold, give me another chance...and a little help to slay the
manticores..."
"Manticores." Telenstil almost laughed but the thief was serious
and the elf respected his skill.
"Just a few, and iron bars, heavy but nothing more." Harold
explained. "There is something there that we should find."
"No, we will return but this map, it is too important to be lost."
Telenstil said loud for all to hear. " I have bad news. The wards that I
have set are gone, the giants must have found the cave."
"What!" came a shout, the mercenary scouts both exclaimed as one.
"My horse!" Gytha cried.
The ranger shook his head and Ivo frowned. Henri stepped back and
cleared his head. He took a moment to commune with his jealous god.
"I set a ward as well," said Talberth "and a trap among my
things."
"They are all gone off, I do not doubt." said Telenstil. "Another
reason for us to leave as quick as we can."
"No, no, " Harold spoke up. "We should stay and find this
treasure. We can hide. Will they search for us here, or think we have
fled once more. Telenstil, you have means to return this map, some spell,
I have seen such in Greyhawk that the city wizards use. Tell me you do."
The elf stood silent for a moment. "Yes, but it is not a spell
that I have mastered. I can send the map back, and one or two of us if
any would like to go, but it will cost us our means of talking to our
leaders, and an item of great power that I have been only loaned."
"Come, come," the halfling cajoled, "isn't the map worth the
sacrifice?"
"What say you all?" asked Telenstil. "Shall we stay? Do any wish
to go? Harold's points are true, this map is what I came to find, what
those who sent us hoped to see. Our supplies are gone, it will be a hard
trek down these hills," he paused and no one spoke. "I think we need to
send the map back, our job here is not quite done, and I see no other
way to keep it safe. But tell me what you think."
* * *