Back to the previous chapter: Petitions

First Draft

The journey to Londoun was tedious, Bilbus concluded. Previously, he had traveled by sea, using the Aquasition to cover the distance from Portsdale to Londoun in a manner of days. Before that, he had been traveling with his friends, trying to save the world. Despite the seriousness of the circumstances, Bilbus had fun.

Now, he was riding with Baronet del Giero and Lord del Rozen, stooges of the two factions of the Inner Circle. The two were utterly suspicious of one another, but they were united in trying to keep Bilbus in check. It was common knowledge that Bilbus had supported Baron del Bartholo's power play a few years back, and that made him dangerous. Del Bartholo did not clearly support either of the Dales Council factions.

Bilbus tired of the small talk between the two men. He decided to steer the conversation towards something interesting. "Baronet del Giero. You're from Yewsdale, right?"

"Yes," del Giero replied guardedly.

"Good wood in Yewsdale, I understand."

The baronet straightened in his coach seat. "It is the finest wood in the Dales, and all of Avillonia. The best of the Dalesian longbows are crafted in Yewsdale."

"Indeed," Bilbus said pensively. "Bows are popular in Portsdale."

"I don't see why," Lord del Rozen smugly barked. "There's nothing but fishing boats and fruit trees."

Bilbus turned to the lord. Dismissively, he said, "With a company of Elven Archers, along with woodsland orcs, there's a great demand for fine bows in Portsdale."

Lord del Rozen shrunk into his seat. Sultz the orc walked a few paces away from the coach, occasionally glancing in at Bilbus and his two co-travelers.

"My wife is quite the archer, as well," Bilbus added. "She competes in our archery competitions, and she usually places well, or wins."

Baronet del Giero sat forward. "I've heard stories of the Portsdale archery contests. I've even heard that some of my townsfolk traveled there to compete. The best men facing against orc warriors and elves? It must be a spectacle."

"It certainly is," Bilbus admitted. "Why haven't you attended it? I gather you are an archer."

"I'm from Yewsdale. Of course I'm an archer. I just didn't think, well. Typically, Council members do not tend to visit one another."

"Why not?"

"It's just not done."

"That sounds foolish. You should come to the games in the fall. Bring your best archers. There's no reason Portsdale should have all of the fun."

"Of course, Baron del Cartach."

"It's not an order. It's an invitation. Besides, I would like to get some good yew in Portsdale. The elven bows come from Phaeree, but the orcs make their own. They make some good bows with the wood they have, but I'd like to see an orc siege bow made with Yewsdale wood."

"Siege bows?" Lord del Rozen blurted.

"An orc siege bow makes a Dalesian long bow look like a child's toy," Bilbus explained. "I've seen it outshoot a longbow. The orcs like them when they're defending a city. When they travel, they'll use our longbows, since they're lighter and easier to carry."

Baronet del Giero offered, "Perhaps I can bring some Yewsdale wood to the competitions. And, perhaps, some Portsdale apples could find their way back to Yewsdale."

"I would hope so," Bilbus agreed. "It would be a pity if Portsdale was the only one to benefit."

With del Giero now amenable to talking, Bilbus found the last day to Londoun much more tolerable. Lord del Rozen was clearly upset once he realized that Bilbus and his opponent had found much in common. Bilbus even had the audacity to make governance recommendations to del Giero.

Once in Londoun, Bilbus directed the caravan to the Noble's Quarter, where he got apartments for himself and his two escorting nobles. Once he oversaw getting his rooms settled, he pulled his servant aside.

In a hushed tone, he ordered, "Send a contact to Twitchy. I want to know what's going on in town. Tell him to meet at Eric's apartment."

"Yes, Baron del Cartach," the servant agreed.

"I am going to take a walk around the district to see what's changed. I'll be back later."

"Of course, my Baron."

Bilbus and the servant left the apartment, heading in opposite directions. Bilbus wandered past several blocks of fancy apartments and homes for lesser nobles and well-to-do merchants before he found the Ithell apartment. It had been a present to Eric and Breanna at their wedding. It was well intended, but utterly useless, since Eric and Breanna had moved south to their free town shortly thereafter.

At the door to the Ithell apartment, Bilbus listened quietly for noises within. A few quiet steps assured him that someone was present. With a small surge of Heka, Bilbus unlocked the door and silently let himself in. Whoever was in the apartment was in a back room, so Bilbus took a seat on the couch.

"Gods!" a man shouted from the doorway to the bedroom. "I didn't hear you enter, Lord Ithell!"

Of course I'm Lord Ithell, Bilbus smirked to himself. How else did I get in here?

The servant bowed slightly to Bilbus. "I did not get word that you were coming here, or I would have prepared the apartment for your arrival. I'm sorry, Lord Ithell."

"I did not have warning that I would be here, myself. It was unexpected. I am here for the Crown Prince's wedding."

"I see. Will the Lady Breanna be joining you, as well? She hasn't been here for some time."

"She was here?" Bilbus asked, surprised.

The servant appeared embarrassed. "Lord Ithell, I thought you knew. She stayed here while she studied for her mastery in the apothecary's arts."

"Oh, yes. That. It was some time ago."

"Lord Ithell, may I fetch you some tea? Lady Ithell says you like teas."

"Ummm. Yes, tea would be good."

The servant returned a few minutes later with a dark, bitter tea. Bilbus sipped at it a few times until the servant left. Yuck.

Late in the afternoon, someone rapped softly at the door to the apartment. The servant had busied himself with preparing the bedchamber, so Bilbus quietly answered the door. His servant was there.

"Baron del Cartach, Twitchy must postpone his meeting with you until the official reception tomorrow. He will explain then."

Bilbus sighed. He had wasted the afternoon here for no good reason. "Okay. Let's go back to our apartments."

Bilbus notified the Ithell apartment's servant that he was leaving for an evening meal, and he would return later.

Back at his apartment, Bilbus changed into his preferred, common clothing. He went to Baronet del Giero's apartment and rapped at the door.

Del Giero answered the door. "Baron del Cartach," he greeted Bilbus.

"I'm going out to see the town, away from the Noble's Quarter. Interested in going?

Del Giero smiled. "I've heard stories about your past, and I must admit I'm curious to see whether those stories are true. Yes, I'll go. Knowing a potential ally is always worthwhile, and I have a feeling we are allies."

"You'll need to dress appropriately. In some districts, looking like nobility is a good way to get hurt. We're going to one of those districts."

"Give me a minute to change," the baronet said. He shut the door.

Once del Giero was ready to leave, Bilbus went back to his room to get a pace-long bundle wrapped in canvas.

"What's that?" del Giero asked, pointing at the bundle.

"Some things I need to put in safe keeping," Bilbus replied. "I don't trust the town watch to keep thieves away from my apartment." And I don't want any thieves getting their hands on a darkblade.

"Why not?"

"They didn't keep me away."

"What?"

"Nothing. Come on. I'll show you my favorite tavern in town."

"What's it called?"

"The Salty Anchor."

Bilbus and Baronet del Giero returned late that evening. Once del Giero had returned to his apartment, Bilbus went to the Ithell apartment.

Bilbus had stored the two darkblades in one of the Salty Anchor's sea chests, where they would be safe. No thief would rob that tavern, for it was a popular place for most of the Thieves' Guild.

Bilbus spent the night in Ithell apartment. The following morning, while the servant brought his breakfast.

"I have a confession," Bilbus said as he took a spoonful of porridge. "I'm not actually Lord Ithell."

"What?" the servant asked worriedly.

"I am Baron Bilbus del Cartach. Perhaps you've heard of me?" Bilbus grinned to himself.

"Of course, Baron del Cartach. Lady Ithell speaks well of you." The servant blushed. "Well, mostly she speaks well of you."

"Eric and Bree offered the apartment should I need it. Since they weren't here, I did not think they'd mind."

"Lady Ithell had mentioned that, I do believe."

"My own apartment should be ready for me this morning," Bilbus lied. He just wanted to avoid having Twitchy stopping by his apartment while the Dalesian nobles were nearby. "I will be returning to it. Thank Eric and Bree for their hospitality."

"Of course, Baron del Cartach."

Bilbus finished his breakfast. He set out for his own apartment afterwards to prepare for the afternoon's festivities at the King's Castle.

Breanna climbed down from her horse. "Gods. It's been too long since I've ridden that far."

"We could have taken a carriage," Eric reminded her.

"We never used to take a carriage. Besides, Star needed some exercise."

Rishala dismounted from his horse. "Aye, well, a week on the road is quite a bit of exercise. This is your apartment?"

"Yes," Breanna said. "It's nice. It is a little small, though. It's like Adria's apartment was when she lived here." Breanna sighed loudly. "I miss her. I wonder what she's doing."

Eric climbed down from his horse. Servants collected the horses to take them to the stables behind the apartment. "We can wonder later. We're already going to be late to the reception."

"Wait!" Breanna exclaimed. "I need to take a bath and get this road dust off of me!"

She rushed up the stairs and into her apartment. The servant leaped in surprise as Breanna burst into the place.

"Lady Ithell!"

"Hi!" Breanna said in surprise. She stopped. "Sorry. We're running late for the wedding reception. I need a bath drawn."

"Of course, Lady Ithell. Oh. A Baron del Cartach sends his regards."

"Baron del Cartach? Bilbus? When did you get this message?"

"Perhaps fifteen minutes ago, m'Lady, when he departed. He spent the night."

Breanna ran back to the door of the apartment, nearly running into her husband. "Eric! Bilbus is in town, and he's a baron!"

"Really?" Eric paused. Bilbus is a baron? What is going on in the Dales?

Breanna went back to the bathing room.

"You know him?" Ian the Money asked.

"He's a friend of ours. One of the ones who fought the Dark One."

"Oh, him. I remember the stories."

"I would hope so, considering Bree was telling them to you all the way up here from Ithell's Town. Now. Once Bree is done bathing, I suggest you do the same. And you'll need to get your finest dress. We're going to a royal party." Eric paused. "By the way, I've been calling you Ian. I'm sure 'Ian the Money' is not your real name."

"No. It's Ingaborgen."

"Okay, Ingaborgen. Let's get ready for this reception."

Eric and Breanna, as well as Ingaborgen and Rishala, waited in the line at the entrance to the grand ball room. Several couples and a few individuals were ahead of them, each awaiting their turn to be introduced by the caller at the door.

A lone man several ahead of them was being announced: "Lord Twitcheoneous del Ratistude, of the Dales."

Eric looked over his shoulder at Rishala. "Twitcheoneous?"

"Twitchy the Rat?" Rishala replied in question.

"That's no coincidence. Let's follow him. He's got to be here to meet with Bilbus."

Rishala followed the Twitcheoneous through the crowd. He lost track of Eric and the rest, but he was sure they would meet again soon enough. Rishala caught Twitcheoneous at a bar on the side of the ballroom.

"Hey, I recognize you," Twitchy said. "You're Bilbus's friend, right? Rishiliu?"

"Rishala. And you're Twitchy. This doesn't strike me as your kind of party."

"Bilbus was in town for the wedding, and I heard that the nobles get a free bar. How could I resist crashing a party like this?" Twitchy took a long drink from the glass of wine he now held.

Rishala ordered a whiskey. "Have you seen Bilbus?"

Twitchy shook his head. "No, not yet. But I see his orc buddy. Over there." He pointed off through the crowd.

Rishala shifted until he could see past a group of nobles. Sure enough, Sultz towered over the crowd of people in the ball room. "I'll go say hi," Rishala said.

"Go on. I need a couple more drinks, first," Twitchy said as he set his empty wine glass on the bar.

Rishala worked his way through the crowd until he reached Sultz. The crowd was much thinner near the orc, as people tended to avoid the towering porcine beast in his blood red Karasimian robes. Standing near Sultz was Bilbus, Eric, and Breanna.

Bilbus smiled at Rishala. "Eric said you were here." He glanced at the whiskey glass. "I see you visited the bar, first."

"Aye. Free drinks, as Twitchy said."

"I heard his entrance." Bilbus laughed. "He's going to get his neck stretched if he doesn't stop those sorts of games."

"Well, here we are," Breanna said happily. "Most of us, at least."

"No knights," Bilbus observed. "But we got an orc." He looked back at Rishala, the smile on his face slipping. "I suspect you weren't invited to this party, and you would not have come along for no reason."

Rishala nodded. "Aye. Royal weddings here are not as much fun as they are in Caledonia." He looked around. There were few people nearby, other than his friends, and there was plenty of noise. He lowered his voice. "When the thirteen mages sealed the Dark One in his prison, they missed some things. The prison was not supposed to be kept around this long. They were using an ancient tome, the Codex, to create the prison until they could find the right magicks to destroy the Dark One completely." He noted that Breanna paled at the mention of the Codex, and her grip on Eric's arm tightened.

"What do you mean?" Eric asked.

"The mages botched the job, and they ran away. We need to go north."

"They were traveling with Sun Knights," Bilbus snorted.

"Why do we need to go north?" Eric asked.

"The Salty Anchor," Bilbus said.

"What?" Eric asked.

"Remember the Salty Anchor?"

"The tavern?"

"Yes, Eric. The tavern. It has a big salty anchor hanging on the wall. The crystals of salt are huge. That anchor is from a ship that sailed the Vasmar."

"The Vasmar is fresh water, Bilbus."

"Except in the middle. The Middle of the Vasmar is an evil place."

"I know the stories."

"Not all of them. It's also the only place in the Vasmar where you will find salty water. It's very, very salty water."

"Perhaps we should not discuss this at a wedding celebration?" Rishala suggested.

Eric nodded. "Let's go back to my apartment. Some unusual things happened in Ithell's Town just before we came here."

Twitchy the Rat arrived unsteadily, holding two more wineglasses. "Hey, Bilbus. I mean Baronet del Cartach."

"Baron del Cartach," Bilbus corrected.

"Oh? Who'd you bump off?"

"No one. Come on. We're going to Eric's for some talking."

"But I'm not done with my wine."

"Bring it," Bilbus suggested. "No one will miss two glasses."

In Eric's apartment, the party took seats in the sitting room. Twitchy had sobered sufficiently to give his report.

"You wanted to know what's going on in town. Londoun is like Londoun always is," Twitchy said. "Although there have been people disappearing, mostly around the docks areas."

"Again," Bilbus said.

"Yes. There were people disappearing four years ago, but the king did nothing about it. This time, the king is worried."

"Why?" Breanna asked.

"Because it's not just us lowlifes that are disappearing. Patrols have disappeared. Some nobles are missing."

"What happened to them?" Breanna prompted.

"No one knows. I have heard stories, though. Some people witnessed things attacking people."

"What sort of things?" Rishala asked.

"They looked like giant frog-men. They would take people off the streets at night."

"Deep Ones," Rishala whispered.

"Deep what?" Breanna asked.

"Remember the giant statue in the caves?"

"The one that watched me?"

"Aye, that one. There was something behind it that ran away down a tunnel. It was a Deep One, a frog-man."

"Why are they taking people?"

"I have a guess," Eric said. "Before we left for Londoun, I was attacked by drow. One of them had a new sword. It was like a dark blade, but something was different about it."

"I have some of those," Bilbus commented.

"You what?" Eric blurted.

"Pete recovered them from a ship. There were six blades and a letter on the ship. I brought two of the swords with me. They're in the sea chest storage at the Salty Anchor."

Eric regained his composure. He's a baron, and he has darkblades. Something is definitely odd in the Dales. To Bilbus, he asked, "There was a letter as well?"

"Yes." Bilbus unfolded the letter and gave it to Eric. "It looks like Adria's dad was in contact with these people."

"Begging pardon, lords and all," Twitchy said. "While this is of utmost interest, I really need to get back home and get to work. And get out of these noble threads before someone notices that they're missing. Good evening to you all. Bilbus, I'll check in in a couple of days." Twitchy left the apartment.

After Twitchy left, Eric read through the letter. "Josacal the Younger. Look at what happened last time we found a letter from him."

"Yeah," Bilbus smirked. "I ended up a lord. And now I'm a Baron. Maybe this means I'll be King!"

Breanna giggled. "You already think you're a king. I've seen you singing to yourself."

"I didn't!" Bilbus protested. "Not that song, at least."

"Sure, Bilbus."

While Eric and Bilbus discussed the letter, Rishala took Breanna aside. "Lass, I saw your expression when I mentioned the Codex." She paled again. "Aye, that's what I thought. I'm surprised you would have heard of it. It took me months in the Caliph's Library to find that name."

Breanna glanced about nervously. The servant had busied himself elsewhere, and Ingaborgen was listening to Eric and Bilbus. "I had a dream about it."

Rishala raised his eyebrows. "Oh?"

"Well, it was in the dream. I had a dream we were outside the Dark One's Palace. You and I were there, on a hilltop, with Bilbus's son and daughter."

"He doesn't have a son."

"I know," Breanna said. "But he was talking to me, and I knew he was Bilbus's son. But he was a teenager, about twenty, maybe. There was a storm overhead, and Bilbus and Eric were commanding an army, attacking the Dark One's Palace so that Junior could cast a spell out of this big book he had. And I knew it was the Codex. It felt evil. And the castings felt old."

"You said Junior talked to you?"

"Yes. He told me someone would try to take the book away from us, but we couldn't let them, because he needed the book to stop the Dark One. I felt the magicks in that book, Rishala. I don't want to keep it."

"But he will need it to stop the Dark One."

"That's what he said." Breanna's voice shook. "How could he talk to me? He hasn't been born yet. And this wasn't the first time he talked to me."

"Before the battle at as-Tikat. I remember you telling Father Gillifin about it. The magicks in the Codex are very powerful. It could be that they let him send those messages to you, to make sure the right things happened for him to do battle with the Dark One."

"Why me, though?"

"For that I do nae have an answer, Lady Breanna."

Shouts came from outside the apartment, on the street below. "You! Stop!"

Bilbus ran to the window and opened the heavy curtains to peer outside.

A night patrol of four men had stopped a lone pedestrian. From the looks of the lone man, he did not belong in the Nobles' Quarter - he had rough clothing and a tattered Captain's jacket.

"State your business," one of the watchmen demanded of the ruffian.

In a Francian accented voice, the man replied, "To distract you."

Bilbus shouted as he saw a sewer cover in the road slide open. A deformed figure crawled out of the round opening, followed by another. Two more followed quickly, grasping long poles with a pair of large, curved pincers on the end. The four creatures were familiar. They were tall, frog-like beasts.

"Deep Ones!" Bilbus shouted as he ran for the door of the apartment. He could feel a surge of Heka from out on the street.

By the time he reached the road, two of the guards were on the ground, clutching smoking wounds. The Deep Ones were attacking the other two guards, using the long-poled mancatchers to restrain their victims.

The lone man in the captain's jacket ordered, "Take them to the ship. It looks like you have some other prey, as well."

Bilbus glanced over his shoulder to see Eric joining him. The window to Eric's apartment opened, and a pair of magickal bolts shot from the opening. Rishala and Breanna were attacking the Deep Ones from the apartment. Bilbus charged into the fight as Eric placed expert shots from his longbow into the batrachian attackers. The Francian man fled down an alleyway as Bilbus closed, sword in hand.

The fight ended with the four Deep Ones slain and all the town watchmen wounded. Breanna ran down from the apartment to tend to the injured men. Rishala followed her. Eric approached to check the wounded and inspect the dead Deep Ones.

Bilbus climbed down the metal rungs set into the side of the sewer access. In the rancid, pitch darkness, he could neither see nor hear any signs of other Deep Ones. He quickly climbed back to the surface.

"I didn't hear anything," he reported. "And it's dark down there."

"Is that where they came from?" Rishala asked.

"I saw them climb out myself."

"How did they get into the sewers?" Breanna wondered.

Bilbus shrugged. "What I want to know is, how many more are down there?"

Eric peered into the dark manhole. "There's one way to find out."

"Not dressed like this," Bilbus retorted. "I'm not ruining my finery in the sewers of Londoun."

Rishala nodded. "He has a point." He started walking back to the apartment. "We need to change clothes."

After Breanna finished healing her charges, Eric talked to them. "You should report back to your commander that you were attacked by the creatures that have been kidnapping people. There could be more of them. Perhaps you should also be more wary when confronting a lone person on the dark streets. You never know when they have friends."

The lead watchman nodded nervously before ordering his men to move out.

"I love the Londoun watch," Bilbus smirked after the watchmen had disappeared down the road. "Finest, most inept guards money can buy."

"Sure, Bilbus," Eric said. "Let's get changed for the sewers."

A short time later, they had returned to the manhole, with Ingaborgen in tow. Rishala had changed from his usual kilt to pants. The rest were in the armor they had worn so often during their adventures two years ago.

"Pants, Rishala?" Eric asked bemusedly.

"They're special pants," Bilbus answered for his friend.

"Nae, Bilbus," Rishala sighed. "They have no special powers. They're just pants."

"Then why have you never worn them before?" Bilbus asked.

"Because we haven't gone walking around in a sewer before, Bilbus."

The party climbed into the sewer. Bilbus drew an adamantine dagger that glowed, and Rishala weaved strands of Heka into a dim sphere of light.

"This way," Bilbus announced as he led the way down the tunnel.

"How do you know?" Rishala asked.

"I flipped a coin."

Rishala sighed loudly. Eric took a chunk of chalk and made a marking on the wall before following his friends into the damp tunnel.

An hour into their slow trek through the dank sewers, Eric broke the silence. "Bilbus, have you seen any signs of the Deep Ones?"

Bilbus shook his head, a motion barely visible in the pale glow of his dagger. "Not yet. Wait. What's this?"

Bilbus slipped up against one of the curving walls of the sewer. He carefully avoided pressing against the slick, ancient stonework, but he stayed as close as he could. The rest of the party followed his lead, getting out of the middle of the arched tunnel.

"What?" Eric whispered.

"There's a break in the wall ahead. I can see some rubble. It may be a side passage that someone carved."

"The Deep One lair?" Eric speculated.

"It may be," Bilbus admitted as he quietly stepped forward.

Bilbus inspected the opening. It was narrow, wide enough for a person to walk through, but there was not enough room for a second person to pass him. Kasey might have trouble squeezing through here, he noted.

The floor of the tunnel was packed dirt, and the walls were tightly packed as well, supported by a few timbers that showed signs of water rot. It was not a new tunnel, but it was still maintained. There was no way the timbers could have held for more than a few years. The faint signs of steps in the dirt flooring looked like human footwear, not the webbed feet of giant frogs.

"I think it's a sewer rat hideout," Bilbus whispered to his comrades.

"Rats?" Breanna asked in a pinched whisper.

"People," Bilbus corrected. "They're called 'sewer rats' because they live in Londoun Below, not on the surface. They may be able to help us. Sewer rats tend to know what's going on in their sewers."

Bilbus padded into the tunnel. His friends followed, single file, through the tunnel as it turned sharply a couple of times. Ahead, the tunnel brightened.

Bilbus sheathed his dagger. "Wait here," he whispered. "Let me talk to them first. They tend to be unhappy about visitors."

He walked forward, around the last corner of the twisting access tunnel. Ahead was a surprisingly large cave. Near the entrance of the cave was a low wooden palisade that blocked most of the entrance, leaving a small doorway to one side. A pair of men stood on a platform behind the wall, looking into the dark tunnel for signs of an intruder. The dark leather Bilbus wore blended with the pitch of the tunnel, hiding him. Beyond the palisade, Bilbus saw a small village of ramshackle huts. Several lanterns and torches lit the cave, giving it an almost cheery twilight in contrast with the darkness beyond.

Bilbus put a tabac stick in his mouth and lit it with a flow of Heka. The flare of light caught the guards' attentions.

"Slavers!" one of them shouted. "Slavers at the gate!"

Bilbus walked forward slowly, hands stretched away from his sides, until he was in the light of the cave.

"Do I look like a slaver?" he asked. "Do you see frog legs, or man-catchers? Do you hear croaking?"

"How do we know you're not working with them?" a frightened voice demanded from behind the palisade. The two men had ducked behind the barricade, but Bilbus could see the top of one of their heads in a gap between two of the logs.

"Don't you think I wouldn't want to warn you we're coming? Now that you know I'm here, shouldn't I be running away, or shouldn't a bunch of frogs be rushing the place? I'm no slaver."

"What do you want from us, then?"

"I want to talk to the head rat. I need some information?"

"Like what?"

"I'm looking for the frog men."

"I told you he was a slaver," the other man behind the palisade blurted.

Bilbus rolled his eyes. "Have you considered that maybe I'm trying to stop the slavers? Get the head rat. I just want to talk. I'll stay right here. I won't walk into your cave. What harm is there in talking?"

After a hushed discussion between the two men, Bilbus could hear one of them running away. A couple of minutes later, there were more footsteps.

A new voice called out, "Who are you? What do you want?"

Bilbus lowered his hands. Smirking, he said, "I'm Bilbus the Great. Perhaps you've heard of me?"

"Bilbus the Great? I heard he was dead."

"I'm not dead. I've been out of town for a while. Look for yourself."

A man cautiously peered over the top of the palisade. A moment later, he stepped around the edge of the palisade. He inspected Bilbus warily.

"What do you want, Bilbus the Great?"

"Just some information. Nothing more. My friends and I are trying to stop the frog-men and the slavers. We know they operate out of the sewers, so who better to help us find them than a sewer rat?"

"We've been lucky," the sewer rat admitted. "They have not bothered us yet. Maybe they're too fat to squeeze through our tunnel."

"Do you know where their base is?"

"Yes. We've been able to follow them back to their lair." The sewer rat rapidly rattled out directions, including improbable twists and turns through the sewers.

"For someone who's not a sewer rat, how do I find it?" Bilbus asked when the man finished his recitation.

"From the surface? Go to Falagos Square. Take the north road from the square, to the first manhole cover. Go south. That's a main sewer tunnel. Follow it to the drainage into the Deeps. They come from there. We haven't followed them into the Deeps. Sewer rats don't go there."

"Thank you," Bilbus said. He grinned. "The night's still young. Maybe we can stop these Deep Ones and get a better afterlife." Bilbus bowed to the sewer rat, turned, and walked back into the darkness.

His friends stumbled their way back into the sewer tunnel. Once Bilbus joined them, Eric asked, "Since when do you worry about the afterlife, or religion for that matter?"

Bilbus took a puff from his tabac stick before flicking it into the damp muck. "When you meet your god, you find religion. Let's go." He led his friends to the nearest manhole ladder.

I've missed this place, Bilbus realized as he strolled into Falagos Square. Even in the dark of the night - perhaps especially in the dark of the night - the open square had a comforting familiarity. Bilbus looked about, picking out the friendly landmarks of the square. The statue of Lord Falagos himself towered over a round fountain and pond. The merchant's shingle of the True Point Tavern, with the rapier carved into it, hung over one of the stout wooden doors on the north side of the square. The tavern was closed, leading Bilbus to wonder, How late is it?

The baker's home was likewise dark, but Bilbus salivated anyway about the sweetbreads that he had eaten so many times after a night of roof-crawling. I wonder if the baker is renting my old apartment to someone.

"This way," Bilbus said quietly as he led his friends towards the north road out of the square.

A few minutes later, they located the manhole cover. Bilbus pried it aside and led the party into the darkness. Once he reached the stone flooring of the sewer, he drew his dagger.

This sewer tunnel was larger than the other one they had followed. The ladder led to a landing, and there was a raised walkway on this side of the tunnel. A small stream of sewage washed its way southwards.

"I guess we follow the sewage," Rishala noted.

"To the drainage," Bilbus agreed.

Bilbus took the lead once more, walking quietly along the walkway. As they walked, he noticed that the center of the sewer tunnel was getting noticeably lower. After a quarter mile, the sewer tunnel was three paces below the walkway, where it had been a pace below it at the ladder well. The sewage emptied noisily into a large, dark hole in the middle of the tunnel. The south side of the hole was dry, so Bilbus scrambled down the sloped side of the sewer to inspect the opening.

"The Deeps?" Breanna wondered.

Eric explained, "There are tunnels below the land. Sometimes, they get close to the surface. The tunnel we found in Arabel Cinlu is one of those. It led deep below the surface to Erelhei Cinlu. That hole is another of those tunnels. The larger cities use them as sewage drains, so they don't have to dump the waste into the harbor, or let it pile up on the streets."

"Where do the tunnels go?"

"Somewhere. No one knows. There have been a few people who tried exploring the Deeps, but those who returned gave up within a few days. It is difficult to pack for a long trek when there are few supplies available along the way, and it is very difficult to find your way out of twisting caves."

"Those who returned? Some haven't?"

"Many haven't," Eric confirmed. "There are stories that the Deeps are home to all sorts of creatures. We've encountered drow and Deep Ones," he reminded Breanna. "Some stories say there's worse."

"And we're going down there?"

"This close to the surface, we're still in the shallow caves. The worst things are said to be in the deep dark."

Bilbus called out, "Over here. I found a rope."

The rest of the party scrambled down from the walkway to join him.

"How deep is it?" Eric wondered.

Rishala found a small rock. He weaved Heka into the stone until it glowed. He tossed the rock into the opening and watched it until it hit the ground beneath. "Ten paces."

Bilbus snorted. "I'm not climbing a rope into a sewer drain. I'll fly down, thanks." He started a weave of Heka.

Eric donned gloves. "I'll climb down." He sat on the edge of the pit and grabbed the rope. He slipped over the edge and climbed down the rope. The rope was slick, despite the lack of sewage pouring over the edge. Several paces down, Eric realized that he was losing his grip. With a shout, he fell several paces, landing on his back with an offensive squish.

As he looked up in the dim glow of the rock Rishala had thrown, he realized that something was moving. He picked out the definite shape of a tentacle moving overhead. Keeping still, Eric watched it move over his face for several moments. It ignored him, never brushing near him. Eric carefully rolled onto his knees and looked about.

He was in a spacious cave, with several exits barely visible in the faint Heka light. Sewage covered most of the floor of the cave, with a large mound near the middle. Several tentacles originated in that mound, each a long, serpentine shape that terminated in a flat paddle. The tentacles methodically reached out to the muck, scooping offal and carrying it back to the central mound, where an opening Eric assumed had to be a mouth waited.

"There's something down here," he warned his comrades. "But it is ignoring me."

Bilbus landed next to Eric, with Rishala hanging on to him.

"That's repulsive," Rishala noted.

Breanna landed a moment later. "Ewww."

"Where's Ingaborgen?" Eric asked.

"On the rope," came her accented reply.

Bilbus drew his dagger and held it near the muck on the ground. "There are tracks. Frog tracks." He pointed with his glowing dagger. "This way."

Once more, he led the party through the cave. The muck quickly thinned out, until they were walking on stone. With the trail no longer visible, Bilbus looked around. A faint light, little more than the hint of a lantern, glowed ahead. Bilbus sheathed his dagger.

"I'm going to check out that light. Wait here."

Bilbus disappeared towards the tunnel. The cave was quiet, beyond the continual slop of the sewage and the thing devouring it. When he returned a few minutes later, he reported what he saw.

"There are a dozen Deep Ones in there. Some of them look like they're sleeping, and some others are gathered around a table. There are also manacles and cages, but those are all empty." He grinned in the darkness. "We can get the drop on them easily. I'll do something to keep them confused. Come on."

He led the party to the cave entrance. He mentally reached for the strands of Heka in the room, shaping them into a convoluted web around the Deep Ones. Bilbus chuckled to himself as he finished the weave.

One of the frog men reached across the table for a bowl. Clumsily, he bumped another frog-man's bowl, spilling its contents. The second Deep One shouted, the maniacal shriek of a tropical amphibian, and punched the first. Other frog men joined in the melee. Bilbus drew his sword and flew towards the Deep Ones, staying a pace and a half above the floor.

"Bilbus, wait," Rishala hissed too late.

Bilbus flew over the table, laughing insanely. He swung his sword half-heartedly at one of the Deep Ones, but he lost his grip. The sword clattered to the ground, but Bilbus circled around to fly over the Deep Ones again. One of the batrachian monsters grabbed a man-catcher and stabbed it at the flying menace. The two curved arms of the pole-arm sprung around Bilbus' midsection. With a sharp pull, the Deep One brought Bilbus crashing into the ground.

Eric and Rishala loosed arrows into the confusing bedlam of frog-monsters. Several quick, deadly shots soon ended the chaos. Eric started to walk towards his trapped friend, but Rishala halted him.

"Bilbus's casting is still active. If you go in there, you'll go insane as well."

Bilbus had picked himself up from the ground, and he had struggled his way free of the spiked tongs of the man-catcher. He danced over the dead Deep Ones, babbling incoherently.

"Can you do something about it?" Eric asked.

"Aye," Rishala admitted. "But I'm having fun watching Bilbus be an idiot."

"He doesn't need Heka for that," Breanna chortled from behind the two men.

"True," Rishala agreed. He surged Heka into Bilbus's magickal casting, shredding the weave readily.

Bilbus stopped dancing and looked around. "What happened?"

"Bilbus, ye idiot," Rishala scolded. "That casting affects everyone who goes close to it, not just those who are there when it is woven."

"Oh," Bilbus mumbled. "It worked, though."

"Aye, it kept them busy, and it kept you in our way."

Bilbus ignored the jibe. He picked up his adamantine sword and returned it to its scabbard. He then cleared the bowls from the table. There was a large sheet of paper underneath the bowls.

"It's a map," he announced.

"A map of what?" Breanna asked as she walked over to him.

"The Deeps, I think." Bilbus pointed at several features. "I think this is where we are, under Londoun. This is where they must have come from," he guessed as he pointed at another blob on the map. "See how the only route is from there to here? I see a lot of branches off of that route, but none of them go very far."

Eric stood next to Bilbus, studying the map. "I think you're right. There's a lot of writing. Maybe it's providing landmarks? I wonder how far away their home is."

Bilbus shrugged. "I'm guessing it's not close, or there would be more people in Londoun who would have seen these things. We're not exactly equipped for a cave expedition."

"No, we're not," Eric agreed. "I don't know if that's what we want to do, anyway. The Deep Ones were catching people to take to a ship. We would probably do well to go find that ship."

"Not yet," Bilbus said. "There may be more of these things here, out collecting victims of their own. We should wait here for them. They won't expect an ambush."

"How long do you propose we sit in this sewer?" Eric asked. "The king is going to be expecting us at his parties this afternoon and evening."

Bilbus nodded. "We can wait a couple of hours. It'll be dawn soon enough."

Bilbus took one of the chairs the Deep Ones had been using and slid it near to the cave wall. He sat down and leaned it back.

Rishala, Eric, and Breanna each took seats where they could watch the cave entrance. Ingaborgen rolled the map up and set it aside, then lay down on the table.

"It's late, and I'm tired," she announced to no one. Soon, her breathing had slowed down.

Three quiet hours passed.

"That's long enough, Bilbus," Eric decided. "No one has returned. Maybe we caught their only expedition."

Bilbus sat forward. "I think you're right. Let's get some breakfast and head to the docks."

Eric woke Ingaborgen as the party made ready to leave. They gathered the map, then set out for the sewer entrance. Bilbus, Rishala, and Breanna used Heka weaves to fly out, with Bilbus and Rishala carrying Ingaborgen and Eric, respectively.

Several minutes later, the five stood on the broad avenue next to the manhole. Numerous people and wagons were already on the streets as the sky above turned to blue. Bilbus pushed the cover back in place, then quickly surged a weave of Heka through his clothes. The drying muck slid off, landing in a ring around his feet. Bilbus glanced about. None of the morning travelers were paying attention to him, so he repeated the magickal weaves on each of his friends. Now clean, Bilbus led his friends back to Falagos Square.

"The True Point Tavern is open," Breanna noted as she turned towards it. "They have the best sweetbreads."

Eric, Rishala, and Ingaborgen followed her to the tavern, while Bilbus strode directly to the baker's shop.

The former con-man stepped into the shop, breathing deeply of the warm scents of the bakery.

"Bilbus? Is that you?" the baker blurted from behind the counter.

Bilbus smiled. "You still remember me?"

"It's only been two years since you left, Bilbus. You were my best tenant. You paid on time."

"Is my room for rent?"

"Are you returning to Londoun? Your room is available. The last men left three months ago for Ithell's Town."

Bilbus glanced over his shoulder as Rishala entered the bakery.

"The tavern doesn't have any sweetbreads yet," the Caledonian told Bilbus.

"Yes, because I've been talking to my old friend," the baker said. He furrowed his brows. "You were staying with Bilbus, yes? I don't remember your name."

"Rishala."

"Of course. Were you two just stopping in for old time's sake?"

Bilbus grinned. "Yes. I haven't had good sweet breads in too long. We both need breakfast."

The baker smiled. He went to a table behind the counter, where a tray covered in steaming breads waited. He plucked two of the large rolls from the tray and handed them to Bilbus and Rishala. Bilbus slid some coins across the counter and thanked the baker.

"We'll see you again?" the baker asked.

"As long as there are breads like this in Londoun, you will see me again," Bilbus assured the man.

Bilbus led Rishala towards the True Point Tavern. His friends were just leaving the tavern.

"Where are you going?" he asked Breanna.

"We're going to get some sweet breads. The baker didn't deliver them yet."

"We'll be here," Bilbus told her as he stepped into the tavern.

Bilbus collected a pair of plates from the barkeeper and took a seat at one of the tables. He set his hot roll onto the table, then went to get some butter. By the time his friends had returned with their own breakfast, he had finished half of his sweet roll. Once they had all finished their morning meal, they set out for the harbor.

Back to the previous chapter: Petitions

Continue to the next chapter: Docks

Back to the Book V Index.

Back to the Dark Mysteries Campaign Chapter Index.

Original Draft 7 December 2005

Contact for this page: JourneyMaster@BabylonByCandlelight.com

Legal Notices