The corner table around which Tanaka, Fuji and Glorm sat was littered with empty flagons and tankards. Glorm had to admit that for humans the two Kanday fighters could hold their liqueur. Glorm had tried to teach Tanaka how to smoke a pipe, but unfortunately his common was even worse than that of Tanaka's and he some how had forgotten to tell the fighter not to inhale the smoke into his lungs. Tanaka ended up on the floor in a coughing fit. His half brother joined him on the floor in a fit of laughter at the sight Tanaka tried a swift kick to Fuji's groin, but this time Fuji was too quick and he avoided the booted foot. Of course, three pints of brandy generally had this kind of affect on humans. After Tanaka had regained his seat and downed a pint of ale to ease his throat, Glorm asked him a favor. "Well now that we are to be brothers you must teach me your language, so that when we visit your home I will not sound like a boorish Kethemer." This last line put Fuji back on the floor laughing uncontrollably. "Also " he said "you must tell me what our mission is in Pranan? and where we must begin..."
El Sid, trailed by the Dom, appeared at the door to the common room where the party was breaking their fast and Fuji was loudly breaking wind (to the disgust of the other guests in the Mongoose, who wisely held their tongues) before Tanaka can answer. The Dom curtly waved away the serving lad who approached them with a platter filled with oatmeal, eggs, fruit and meat pies. Tanaka drew breath to assail the Sid, planning to take up the subject of Sa Kajok again. One glance at the Sid's face and his diatribe became stillborn. El Sid's eyes burned with an oddly inward fire. A cold fire of controlled, calculating hatred.
El Sid walked the length of the table and stopped before Krinn. "Lady," he quietly said with a small, courteous bow, "Would you do me the honor of escorting me to Prenanala?" Krinn stiffened and prepared a retort, still annoyed from the previous day, but bit her lip as the Sid's eyes bore into hers; whatever the cause of his disposition, she sensed it was not her or the Elves. Delrin started to join her as she rose. He was refrained by a hand of the Dom on his shoulder. Glorm and Tristan exchanged glances. Aron inclined his head in wariness. The three left the inn without another word.
-----------------------------BREAK, PERSONAL FOR BARRY
The two men and the half-elf approached the Elven embassy. Again, a wave of her hand stilled the human on guard. Krinn exchanged words with a functionary, nodding her head towards the humans. In the hour it took Prenanala to arrive, El Sid slowly walked the room in a metered pace that was disturbing in its precision. The Dom remained motionless, standing off to one side. Neither spoke. Krinn definitely felt spooked. The Elf came through the door, a puzzled look on his face.
"Goodelf," El Sid began, "The Lady has named you not ... inimical... to my race." Prenanala smiled gracefully, but glanced at Krinn out of the corner of his eye. "The elves wish nothing but peace and prosperity for all races" he replied cautiously. El Sid strode up to the Elf until only inches separated them. He removed a scroll from his pouch. "I travel a long and dangerous road. I bear the Elves no love, but also no ill will. You can do what I cannot. Keep THIS safe." his voice measured and neutral, thrusting the scroll forward, "It bears the future of my House." The elf looked down at the scroll, then up into the Sid's eyes. A minute passed. Two. Prenanala turned his head slightly, all the while eyes locked with El Sid's, "Krinn, could I prevail upon you to leave us for a moment?"
The half-elf silently departed the room. "Anything else you wish to ask of us?" Prenanala continued without inflection, the easy grin and disarming manner he normally displayed vanishing as if it had never been. His eyes were drawn to a small stone disc slowly produced by the Sid. An eyebrow arched. "Indeed," mused the ambassador eyeing first the scroll, then the stone, "Indeed... the moonstone. A most unusual request, my lord. Would it be appropriate to ask why you need to leave an irreplaceable object like that here?"
"There are... problems for my hold in Salta."
"Yes, your Uncle's mysterious demise. I have heard."
El Sid looked at him, frowning slightly. "News travels fast."
Prenanala smiled mirthlessly. "Krinn will tell you that we... try to stay up with current events. My lord, I will be happy to hold these items for you, but you must understand that the Elves are studiously neutral in internal politics. As long as this remains a personal matter, you have my word that these will be kept as safe as I can make them. If it becomes a pawn in a larger game... well, I will do what I can."
El Sid nodded. "I cannot ask for more. With any luck, no one will even suspect I would leave such a thing here. Hold Borgia owes you a debt."
Prenanala nodded in turn. "I wish you luck in your endeavors, whatever they may be. It would more than likely be best for both of us if I did not know much about them."
Ed Sid recognized the sense in that, and turned to leave. Behind him, Prenanala spoke softly. "And, as a final question, my lord, if you do not return?"
El Sid stopped, but did not look back. He said quietly "If more than a year goes by, or you hear of my death, burn the scroll. The moonstone you may do with as you will, for it will be the only payment I can make for your help."
Outside, he waited patiently in the sun until Krinn joined him, and they began the long walk back to the Inn without speaking.
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