“My-re! You’re late for your shift!” General Pol the proprietor of the Broken Sword Tavern yelled from across the room over the din of conversations and tinkering plates and glasses.
“I overslept, but at least I’m here,” My-re responded and went into a stretch as Pol approached.
“Too much relaxation on your fishing trip?” Pol snorted. “Some were-cat furball has been asking for you. She claims she’s your friend and hasn’t ordered anything in the past hour.”
My-re looked over and recognized Ssskah. “She has a name.” Leaving, she then added a phrase in the Rirorni native language of Rathiri that roughly translated as “the holes on donkeys’ backsides”.
“I understand the Khan’s tongue,” Pol responded in Rathiri.
“I’m taking a break,” My-re said.
“You just got here!”
My-re ignored him and joined Ssskah at her table.
“How ya holding up?” Ssskah asked. “You look pale.”
“I’m fine. Haven’t eaten much. Stomach too upset. There’s a horrible, slimy taste in my mouth from the Elkarish’s purge,” My-re said.
“By the nine hells that thing was disgusting,” Ssskah remarked. “What do you remember?”
“Not much. It all feels like a dream. Everything is starting to fade and hard to recall,” My-re said.
“Really? Since that is the case, there were a few people asking, but I don’t want to impose.”
“What?”
“Considering everything you’ve gone through, I wasn’t sure how to ask?”
“What is it?”
“You were in possession of the Grey Wand for some time.”
“Yes.”
“Longer than anyone I can recall, other than Lady Greywand.”
“What’s the question?” My-re asked.
Ssskha leaned in and asked, “There’s a rumor there is a sentient being bound, trapped, or living within the Grey Wand. Did you see or hear anything while you held it?”
My-re sighed and leaned back and tapped her fingers on the table.
“Do you remember anything?”
“No, I didn’t see or hear any presence other than the Elkarish. I think it’s just a powerful wand,” My-re said.
“Ah, that’s an abysmal shame.”
“Why’s that?”
“Oh, nothing. Seems I just lost a sizable bet with Captain Phetmolgue,” Ssskah sighed. “I’ll just say the jury is still out.”
“Oh, sorry.”
“No worries. Why is General Pol watching us?” Ssskah asked pointing with her chin.
“Don’t worry about him. He’s not happy unless people are ordering.”
“Ah, in that case, I’ll take a Dolyak milk and a bowl of whatever is cooking in the stew pot. It smells meaty and good,” Ssskah said.
As My-re left and gave Ssskah’s order to General Pol, he said, “Get to work and no more visitors.”
***
A few hours later.
“As ordered, another round of Mushroom Meads,” My-re said and delivered the drinks to the Shewish giant Gromp, and his two sizable companions. “It’s good to see you in person once again.”
“Gromp, no see human female.”
“I was on a fishing trip,” My-re said.
“Gromp no like water. No like fishing.”
“Me either,” My-re replied.
Retrieving their empty glasses, My-re glanced at the patrons. The tavern was about half full. It would keep her busy, but not swamped, so the rest of the evening should go by quickly. Checking the status of her customers, the commotion in the tavern went still.
In walked a woman in an elegantly decorated flowing gown. At almost six feet tall, she had had straight, raven black hair and brown eyes. Her olive skin covered wide cheekbones, a strong jaw, and a long nose, a feature that made her more striking than beautiful.
“Lady Sheila Greywand,” came murmurs from the patrons. Chairs scooted across the stone floor. They all stood as she passed.
From the back of the tavern General Pol hurriedly moved across the room and escorted her to the cleanest and most visible table.
My-re watched as Sheila spoke to Pol in a soft tone. He nodded several times, then said, “Right away.”
Approaching My-re, General Pol said, “Lady Greywand has asked to see the Hero of the Mist.”
“Who?”
“You.”
“I didn’t think you wanted any more visitors,” My-re quipped.
“Not in this case. It’s a rare thing for Lady Greywand to visit the local bars. This is an exception, go.”
Wiping her hands on a rag, My-re headed over to Sheila’s table. She hear Pol say excitedly under his breath, “This should be good for business!”
Approaching, Sheila said, “Please, be seated.”
My-re looked to the dozens of eyes staring at her and sat. She felt heat race to her face at the uncomfortable attention.
“You’re my hero Lady Greywand!” A male patron shouted.
“Thank you.”
“She talked to me, she talked to me!” he responded with glee before sitting back down and spoke excitedly with his companions. “I want my daughter to grow up and be just like her.”
Sheila smiled at the comment and asked My-re, “Ssskah indicated you have not been eating?” She then shifted uncomfortably in her seat. A frown of annoyance crinkled her brow. She pulled the Grey Wand from her belt and placed it on the table.
“Yes, that Elkarish left a horrible taste in my mouth,” My-re replied, as her eyes went from the wand to Sheila.
“It will pass. Now, after you have taken some time to rest and recovered your strength, I have a proposition I would like you to hear,” Sheila said.
“What’s that?”
“There have been reports a dragon is…unaccounted for. I would like you to be part of an expedition to unravel the mystery,” Sheila said.
“That would be wonderful! I’ve always wanted to go looking for a missing dragon!” My-re exclaimed. She then noticed the firm and unmoving expression of Sheila. “Oh, you’re serious?”
“Yes, my network has informed me that-“
My-re interrupted, “Lady Greywand, I’m flattered you would think I would be great on this ‘expedition’, but my only desire is to train as a Lady Protector, make some extra coin at the Broken Sword, and eventually pay onto a caravan traveling to Rocanis. There are others far more qualified than I for this task.”
“Perhaps, but the way you outwitted the Elkarish--”
“That was complete luck,” My-re interrupted again. “I didn’t know what I was doing the entire time and going with my gut.”
“Never, let that come to light,” Sheila replied, her tone quiet, but stern.
“Why?”
“You are a hero My-re.”
“No, I’m not. I barely made it out alive.”
Sheila sat back and breathed out heavily. “In my youth, a teacher asked us to name our heroes. The girls called out several mighty male champions of Alastari’s past, a few female heroes were called too. Then the boys also called out their idols. All mighty brave men of lore. Except one boy. He called out Araminth, a sort of wonder woman in her own right. The boys snickered, a few laughed, and the instructor, a man, tried to steer him towards some of the other male heroes. It was then, I raised my hand.”
“What did you ask?” My-re questioned.
Sheila leaned in towards My-re and said, “Why can not men’s heroes be women?”
My-re sat back and thought about the question for serval heartbeats. “What was his reply?”
“He seemed taken back by my question. He thought about it for a few moments, then replied. Why not?”
My-re looked to the Grey Wand on the table and then back to Sheila.
“There is a grave shortage of female heroes in this world. I want to change that,” Sheila said. “You can not teach talent. Besides, the protection of the Grey Wand would accompany the party.”
“The Grey Wand? So, you really don’t want me to go?” My-re snorted and looked at General Pol. He was grinning ear-to-ear and his face beamed with giddy excitement. “I need to get back to work. I’d like to forget the Lake of Mist monster incident. So, is there anything I can bring you? I can probably get it on the house.”
“Yes, I do want you to go, but take some time. In the interim, your encounter with the Lake of Mist monster must be documented. But first, a fine ale,” Sheila said.
***
Later, after leaving the Broken Sword Tavern.
“Lady Sheila Greywand, these interviews grow tiresome. What news of my daughter, Araminth?” a deep voice spoke, but as if from a great distance.
The insects and other noises of life ceased. Even the fresh smell of seaweed dissipated. Sheila looked down to the Grey Wand tucked through her belt. Touching it lightly, she stopped on a darkening streets of Willow Bay on the Isle of the Eye. Lantern lads, young boys and girls, were starting their routine of igniting the oil-filled street lights around the various buildings.
“Preparations are still underway.”
“We also grow weary of these ‘preparations’.”
“An undertaking of this magnitude takes time,” Sheila replied.
“Time is something we have. You do not.”
“The current requirements would necessitate a lifetime.”
“Twenty years? We think not.” There was silence from the voice for several heartbeats. “Five years. Including, these preparations.”
“Understood. I have not forgotten the pact.”
There was the sound of a great creature drawing in breath. The voice spoke, “Of course you have not forgotten the pact Lady Greywand.”
Shelia then notice a previously unseen shade of a large creature surrounding her move slightly. It was as if reality itself distorted for a mere moment. The shadows then shifted back to normalcy. Breathing out heavily, she took a step, but silence continued to encompass the area. “Something else, Yrioth?”
The deep voice of Yrioth spoke. “That female outwitted an Elkarish? We like her as a candidate.”
Shelia glanced at the Broken Sword Tavern over her shoulder. Turning back, the sounds of insects and other nightlife returned. She looked up at Alastari’s full moon and the multitude of stars without number in the heavens. Breathing in smell of fresh seaweed, she said out loud, “I like her as a candidate too.”