Part 13 (1/2)

”But of course! You and he are both welcome. Is this halffing a priestly sort as well?”

BUT sprang from the too-large chair with alacrity. ”Allow me to introduce myself and my a.s.sociate. You are addressing His Faithfulness Poztif, Gleam of Pholtus. I. n.o.ble sir, am Biff, a humble gem merchant and pilgrim now, accompanying His Faithfulness to a distant shrine according to a holy vow I made.”

Poztif dismissed the Importance inferred by the halfling's introduction. ”I am a lowly cleric seeking greater understanding and piety. This good fellow has been so kind as to agree to accompany me and a.s.sist me In giving instruction and learning patience. Let us join the two of you now. Perhaps the matter can be resolved without undue discourse.”

The three debated the question at length In an attempt to create an illusion for anyone who might suspect their purpose, and for the benefit of one patron In particular. As a pilgrim Biff” had no part in the talk, so he merely sat there, sipped his stout.

174.

and considered the circ.u.mstances that had brought him to the inn.

Melf had been elsewhere on business when a message from his cousin, Silverthom,69 arrived In the city of Fax while the halfllng was there awaiting his master's return. Silverthom had written that Melf must come home to Greyhawk at once if he wished to protect some property he had left in her charge. That posed a real dilemma for Biff. Frankly, his master seldom explained his activities to the halfllng. BUT was dissatisfied with having to remain Inactive and virtually penniless In Fax, cooling his heels as he considered it, while Melf had exciting adventures elsewhere that for reasons the halfllng could not fathom, failed to Include a halfllng with warrior skills and a thief s nimble fingers.

Biff had decided to respond to SUverthom's urgent missive at once. There was no property of significance to guard in, Fax, merely the small villa that Melf had leased. No objection could be made, the halfllng reasoned, for wasn't the need of his cousin and the threat of loss of things Melf had left in her care a sufficient reason for the halfiing to leave his a.s.signed post and hasten to Greyhawk as a surrogate for his absent master? Certainty! Without wasting any more time. Biff had gone northward to the great free city, happy for the opportunity to travel and do something that held the prospect of both danger and reward.

Silverthom had been surprised to see him, but under the circ.u.mstances she was pleased enough to have someone on hand to help. The situation, as told by her. was complicated, to say the least.

”You see. Biff, my clever halfllng friend, it all Started when I went out to seek a little amus.e.m.e.nt in this dreary city. I met a good-looking fellow - he had elvish blood, of course - who told me that he 175.

was also a dweomercraefter, and that he was the trusted henchman of a n.o.ble wizard who would happily have me as apprentice until mine own instructor returned.” The tale went on and on until Silver-thorn finally related how she had been tricked Into furnis.h.i.+ng a surety to this wizard. It was supposedly proof of her good nature and honesty. Instead, the ring - one that granted Invisibility and one of Melf s favorite possessions - had been stolen by the wily trickster, and she was left without recourse.

SUverthom told Biff how, while searching to locate the one who had so foully duped her, she had eventually met a holy priest who had offered not only to restore the ring or to give her one of like sort, but to provide other payment as well, if she could enlist the services of her master In a small and righteous undertaking the cleric had need to accomplish. She asked Biff If he could somehow manage to fill in for Melf.

”I am a faithful and obedient va.s.sal,” the halfling had a.s.sured the frantic young Sitverthorn. ”If I can restore Melfs property, uphold his name, and a.s.sist you, fair lady, all at the same time, how can I do else but agree to take up the challenge?”

”How can I ever, ever repay you. Biff?”

”It is nothing for a bold adventurer such as I. SUverthom. We will find some way.

I'm confident. . . .”

Convincing the humorless and sober cleric was another matter. How he finally managed it. Biff was still not sure, but he had eventually brought the doubtful chap around to accepting him as the surrogate magic-user Poztif had actually sought Without a lie, without actually making claims that were false. Biff had managed to put across the notion that Melf had a.s.signed him the task of responding to Silverthorn's need.

The elf. Biff said truthfully, was on a mission from which he could not be recalled.

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After all, was not Tenser, the liege lord of Poztif. likewise so engaged that he had appointed the cleric as agent In the matter? Agreement was unavoidable, and BUT was accepted. Thus he and the priest of Pholtus had come to the Silver Tower to work their stratagem.

”Who are these two who will a.s.sist us?” Biff had queried.

”Lord Tenser merely told me that a huge and doughty warrior and a swordsman of great athletic and acrobatic prowess would meet me and give all a.s.sistance,” Poztif had told the halfling. ”The good arch-mage had used a favor owed him by a monarch I shall not reveal, for reasons you surety understand, to a.s.sure that I would have all the aid I would need in accomplis.h.i.+ng the duty he bestowed upon me.”

What an unlikely pair the two were! Biff eyed the small human. His experienced gaze detected that which made him think that this Gord was a pract.i.tioner of the same70 craft Biff himself followed. The small man's huge companion was a rough and ready barbarian masquerading In fas.h.i.+onable apparel, no question of that. So, a stout fighter and a skilled pair of thieves to back up this straight-laced priest In the quest. It should be easyt He would swear Sil-verthorn to secrecy in return for gaining a ring such as the one she had stupidly lost, keep the balance of the payment given for services to himself, relieve his boredom in the process, and none would be the wiser.

”Now that I have had the opportunity to study things firsthand, halfling.” Poztif had said as Biff had been convincing him of things, ”the need for a capable caster of magic is great. How can one of your sort a.s.sist in such a need?”

”Your Faithfulness,” the halfling had said earnestly and sincerely. ”I am no mean fellow when it 177.

CORD THE ROGUE.

comes to dweomere.” He had patted his staff confidently, nodded solemnly, and had risen straight up to the low celling of the cleric's chamber. Returning as slowly, BUT had said. ”The dweomer Is but one of many that I can call upon In time of need.

My services In this quest are Indispensable!” Not suspecting that he used magical boots to levitate thus, the somber priest had finally agreed to accept Biff as a member of the group sent to accomplish his liege lord's desire.

”. . . and 1 believe this strongly attests to the absolute superiority of East over West and the irrefutability of the position that the five sorts of evil dragons represent but four elements. To hold that the Western view of five elements Is proven by dragons is a complete fallacy!”

This loud challenge was no easy task for the huge barbarian. Cord had spent several hours helping the poorly educated hlUman memorize the speeches he would have to make. To Chert and Cord's surprise and satisfaction, the hlllman had pulled off this presentation without so much as a stammer.

Chert did not understand many of the words he used in his argument, but he was convincing nonetheless - so much so that Poztif followed up by saying, ”Indeedl” and nodding his head In agreement BjjQT. drawn out of his reminiscing, watched with keen-eyed Interest as Gord offered his reb.u.t.tal ”What force or merit does this a.s.sertion have, my friends?” he said, addressing both the barbarian and the cleric. ”In all due respect, yours is more a scholarly argument than one of theological sort. What say you, pilgrim?”

Biff took the cue easily. ”I cannot fault my spiritual guide's learned and pious opinion, yet I find myself supposing that five elements are possible.”

”Exactly!” Gord said with forceful delight heavy 178.

' in his tone. ”Red is fire, blue is metal, green wood, black earth, and white air!”

Tour pardon, sirs, but I must suggest that both sides are wrong and right at the same time.”

All heads turned at this. A lean and cadaverous man at a nearby table had been the speaker. As the four turned in response to his interjection, the man arose, smiled eerily, and made a stiff bow. ”Allow me to introduce myself. Sirs. I am Maegus Yeo, a dealer in antiques and rarities. If I may be so bold, I am also a scholar of some repute on the Far West and Its metaphysical teachings. My honored father actually came from the Suhfang Kingdom - a place virtually unknown to the Flanaess, but a veritable wonder amongst all lands, I a.s.sure you.”

”Your Interjection Is no offense, honorable scholar.” Poztif said with a pious tone.

His three companions murmured agreement and Gord added, ”Your knowledge must be exceptional. Scholar Yeo, and I thank you for enlightening us. Will you tell us how it could be that we are right and wrong at the same time?”

The sallow-skinned man gave his superior smile once again, causing his thin, drawn features to appear more skull-like than living. ”I am always delighted to share my humble learning with those of inquiring Intellect,” he replied.

Chert stood up and drew a nearby chair to the table where the four sat, hoisting the heavy seat as easily as If it was a flimsy stool. ”Pray join us then. Master Yeo, and we will learn,” he said.

”Actually it's Venerable Prince Yeo, if t.i.tles are to be used,” the man said with a haughty gesture. ”Some refer to me as a savant, others as a sage, but I am a simple man, so Scholar Yeo Is sufficient. And whom do I have the honor of addressing?”71 After proper introductions and the ordering of a 179.

special tea for the strange fellow, Maegus Yeo told them the truth of the whole matter. ”You, Master Gord, and the little hairy fellow for that matter, are correct In stating that Western metaphysical perceptions are the only conceivable expressions of truth. Five elements there are and always shall be. That was long ago proven by Scholar Thu Kin Boh.”

Gord smiled and began to preen. ”Then my argument prevails . . . ?”

”Not so, young fellow,” Yeo corrected him sharply. ”Dragons of the East have no connection with the elements. Only those of true sort, the Imperial Dragons of Suhiang, are born of the elements.”

”There are dragons that stem from the very planes of the four - sorry, five, you say - elements?” Poztif said this with a doubting expression.

Yeo seemed offended. ”Pious cleric of the East, I do not speak of what I do not know. I a.s.sure you that there are five elements and five Imperial Dragons that are born and dwell within them, visiting the world conglomerate only when they so choose - or are summoned.”

”Most enlightening. Scholar Yeo. Will you please tell me of these marvelous creatures?” Gord nearly pleaded. ”And I am most anxious to learn how each is distinguished from the other.”

”Of course, and I shall oblige In a small way. Golden is the color of the Fire Dragon, green that of Water, while blue is certainly of Air. The Imperial Dragon of silvery hue Is of Metal, and the one of .violet shade is a.s.sociated with Wood.”

The four others at the table began an animated discussion of the matter then, getting Immersed in their quarrel over elements and colors and the possibility of different sorts of dragons existing at all. In the process they apparently virtually forgot that the scholarly Yeo was present. Although not one of the 180.

four seemed to notice it, being ignored like this made the scholar frown and grow irritated. After tensely fidgeting for several minutes and alternately picking up and then putting down his cup of tea. the man could no longer restrain himself.

”My honorable progenitor often remarked that the ignorance of your sort Is monumental. You four, however, give even greater meaning to his words, and for this I must thank you. In return for such a favor, may I demonstrate the truth?”