-8- Sleight of Hand (Pt. 2)

A small lantern hung from the center support pole of the tent. A tall man with a pointed moustache sat across from Dagon, who crouched to meet him eye to socket. Bosch took a seat on the small crate which was nearby, watching as the man began to set up his table. "Branam must think highly of you two to offer you admittance. I am Suglios the game leader, and I am here for your amusement" he said as he dusted off the table and smiled. Reaching from beneath the table, he pulled out three tortoise shells and a small ball of string which he placed in front of them. "The game is simple: I will shuffle the ball beneath one of the shells, and when I am done, you tell me where it is. If you guess correctly, I will offer you my help. If not, then you will offer me your platinum." Suglios smiled and covered the ball with one of the shells. "And despite our hospitality, we do not take kindly to those who try to skip out on a deal. So what do you guys say?" Bosch stood up, but Dagon quickly pulled him back down. "I can do this Bosch," he said. Though Bosch knew this was a scam, he also wanted to trust Dagon, and reluctantly agreed to the terms. "Very well gentlemen!" Suglios said as he began to shuffle the shells about. "Watch the ball carefully as it moves from one end of the table to another..." Suglios began to ramble as Dagon watched his movements intently. Bosch paid little attention as he sat there rather unimpressed at the display. After what seemed like a long time, Suglios stopped moving the shells and leaned back proclaiming, "Now tell me which shell the ball is hiding." "The middle shell," Bosch whispered to Dagon. "I saw him put it under the shell with that chip at the bottom." Dagon shook his head. "No, the middle is too obvious. It is not the middle shell." Bosch sighed. "How much platinum do you have on you Dagon?" he asked. "Just a few platinum bearings in my waist. Why do you ask?" "Well, I sure as hell am not paying for your wrong guess. You had better not need those bearings." Dagon let out a puff of smoke. "Well gentlemen? Have you made a decision?" Suglios asked. "Yes. I would like to tell you where your ball is." Dagon replied. Bosch covered his face. "Go on then my metal friend." "The middle shell would be too obvious a choice, so I would then guess it is either to your left or right. Seeing as how you are left handed, I can assume you would pull the heavier shell, and thus the shell with the ball, towards your strong arm, but you made twice as many moves to the right as you did to the left. That leaves the right shell. But on the other hand, is your left hand, which was too busy holding the ball to pull the shells any more than necessary to keep the ball hidden." "I beg your pardon?" Suglios asked in astonishment. "Your left hand, where the ball of string is conveniently tied. You pulled it right out from beneath the shell in the first move to the right. That is where your ball is located." Dagon proclaimed with satisfaction. Bosch looked up to see the troubled face of Suglios searching the face of the podrikev which had no expression to give. With a sigh, the man opened his left hand to reveal the ball of string. Bosch could do nothing but laugh. "You two are the first to beat me in seven months. I am humbled to say the least." Suglios cleared the table and leaned forward with his hands folded together. "As I am a man of my word, tell me what you need of me and it will be done." Dagon began to explain their situation and how they needed to reach Mirabar within a few days--something that both knew was near impossible. Suglios nodded with a smile, "Say no more, for I have the answer you need." Reaching over, Suglios produced a jewel-encrusted box. He placed it on the table and unlatched it, turning it towards them. "There is your answer," he said as Bosch pulled forth a golden horn from within the box. "What is this," he asked. "It is a unicorn's horn. Wizards such as yourselves would know what to do with such a rare and valuable thing. Cast your gate spell while holding it and you will not fail." Bosch and Dagon thanked Suglios and Branam for their hospitality and entertainment. With the unicorn's horn, they would reach their destination before the coming of the next day, bringing the Keepers that much closer to finding a place for their cause.

-8- Sleight of Hand (Pt. 1)

Bosch and Dagon traveled the Long Road on foot, as neither was very fond of horses. It was five days since the two left Rassalantar, and their journey had taken them through two more towns and out of the protection of Waterdeep, where the land was lawless. To the east, the Hills of Jundar rolled into the horizon and to the west the edge of the Sword Mountains gave way to long stretches of plains and forest. This was one of the longest stretches of the road, where two days were required just to reach the next town of Triboar. They were aiming to be at the gates by morning. "Do you think the Keepers can help me?" Dagon asked as they walked. "I think if anyone can help you, they can," Bosch replied. "Some years ago we found a wizard's text in the Ruined City of Myth Drannor that detailed spell formulae for golem magics. I spent the better part of a year deciphering them with little success, but the text along with my notes should still be at the archives. If we can finish the work, then I know we can help you out." Dagon smiled as podrikevs do in the most peculiar manner. "Then I will do my best to help the Keepers and their cause. If we keep on this road and at this pace, we will reach Mirabar in another week, and there you will see these mines I speak of." The dwarf swore at Dagon's assessment of the situation. "We don't have a week to get there, much less get there and back. We are going to need some help." "Maybe Branam can help us," Dagon replied. Bosch stopped and turned back to see the podrikev reading a wooden sign. On the sign was painted the words 'Branam's Traveling Show' and it pointed to a small path down to a group of tents in the distance. Before Bosch could consider it any longer, he turned to see Dagon halfway towards the tents, talking to someone. "Well do consider my offer metal fellow," the man said as Bosch sprinted towards the two. "I will pass Branam, but thank you. Me and my friend need transportation to Mirabar. Do you know where we can find such a thing?" The man laughed as he swirled his cane. "Well, I can tell you to try hitching a ride with one of the caravans that run the trade route from Waterdeep, but without platinum, you have about as much of a chance getting them to agree as you would have if you were a troll." Bosch glared at Branam, who stood a good foot taller than him. "C'mon Dagon. We're wasting our time here." "Whoa, now wait there fellows. I never said I couldn't help you. Step into the booth of chance, and my friend Suglios will make you a deal you cannot resist." Branam pulled back the opening to the nearest tent which sat beneath a battered, wooden sign that read 'Suglios' House of Chance'. Before Bosch could reply, Dagon was already inside sitting across from a tall man in a black coat. Reluctantly, Bosch joined him.

Inconsistency

"Well that is certainly strange..." /What is?/ Tundra looked over at Icehawk as he spoke. Icehawk scratched his chin and turned in the chair toward Tundra. The two were sitting in the cockpit of the FreonIIC. Icehawk had just completed a telepathic conversation using his crystal with yet another Apostle of Sune. "Tundra, do you remember that gnome I made that crystal for?" /Rhea? Sure, you nearly knocked yourself out in the process. If not for-/ "I can't find her anywhere." Icehawk cut off Tundra's bragging. /What do you mean?/ Tundra blinked as he looked at Icehawk. "Ive made inquiries everywhere. Even the members of her order dont know where she is and no ones seen her recently. I meant to see how the crystal was working out for her, so I started asking around casually, but no ones seen her." Icehawk puzzled for awhile. It was true. He had asked Tenchi, Hravngud, and Gazrielle, but in fact every Sunite he spoke to was at a loss to know where she was. Hed been asking around for a couple days. Why would she go somewhere without telling even her fellows? Strange happenings indeed. He stood, stretching his legs, then left the cockpit, walking further aft in the ship. /Where we going?/ Tundra asked, nonchalantly following. "Well as I do with all my inventions, I imbue a magical essence, a signature if you will, that marks it as mine. The crystal I gave her is no different. Maybe I can scrye the crystal's location." Icehawk entered the field lab, walking to a silver bowl filled with a strange liquid. Carefully bringing it off the shelf, he set it lightly to counter-top. /Well it's worth a shot... Are you worried?/ "The situation smacks of something dark. I am not particularly worried, just curious." He took his spellbook from bag he had dropped in the room earlier. Opening it to the spell he needed, he gestured over the bowl. He chanted the spidery words of magic, letting the Weave carry his spell. Completing the chant, he stared into the bowl, concentrating on the specific crystal, willing to know its location. Tundra hopped up, his front paws on the countertop, and looked into the bowl as well. "Well let's see..."