Part 14 (2/2)
There was no reply.
”Good cleric, where are you?” Chert demanded.
No answer still.
”Dancing devas!” Biff exclaimed, ”Do you think he returned to the place below to finish Yeo?”
”We'd better find out quick!” Gord replied.
As they started toward the rear of the place, how- 194.
ever, the sound of footfalls on the stairs leading up caught their attention. Down the steps came the cleric, bearing a bundle of cloth in his arms.
”WhereVe you been?” Chert demanded.
”What'd you get?” Biff asked hopefully.
Poztif gave a beatific smile and managed to raise an enc.u.mbered hand sufficiently to wave them into silence. ”Peace, dear brothers. I ventured above to find some old cloak or garment in which to wrap the scant quant.i.ty I took for the poor. While in the chambers of the deceased Yeo, I happened to find a goodly quant.i.ty of used clothing to supply to poor folk for their needs, and I also found” - he smiled and produced a fat sack full of clinking things - ”this small fortune hidden among Yeo's things. I thought it would be a shame to leave it to future looters.”
”Attaboy, Poztlf!” Biff exclaimed happily.
The others crowded around the cleric, patting him on the back and congratulating him on his fortuitous find.
”We shall divide the money in equal shares, of course, after withdrawing a t.i.the for my temple. Agreed?”
The others, although appreciative of Poztif s offer to share the money, tried nonetheless to talk him out of the large amount he intended to extract for the t.i.the. The cleric, however, would not bend and threatened to give the entire amount to the poor if there was any more argument. At that his three companions quickly turned mute and let Poztif handle the splitting of Yeo's former stash. After a few additional matters were attended to. the four were ready to depart.
”By the by,” Biff said. ”I am so chagrined at my display of cowardice when the dragon thrust its claws forth that I am unable to face the shame.”
195.
The others rea.s.sured him. stating bluntly that he had performed most heroically.
”Nonetheless,” the somewhat sheepish halfllng said, ”I am not proud. Do I have your oaths that this whole adventure will never be related to my master?” When the others readily accepted Biffs proposed vow, the little fellow's face was adorned with a smile. ”Now I feel happy,” he told them.
The party went quickly away, avoiding the area around the inn where they had met a few hours earlier. In a dim lane they split up, each taking his own path. Poztif, clothing enwrapping the Five Dragon Bowl, bid the errant halfling adieu and left immediately. Obviously Biffs conversion would have to wait. Gord and Biff chatted for a moment, then Chert grew too weary of dawdling and went off alone.
”I want my share of that fifth gem!” Biff said as the barbarian disappeared into the black mouth of an alley.
”Come to my place tomorrow night. I'll have that much in coin ready for you then,”
Gord replied in a casual tone.
Biff set his lips firmly. ”In an afanc's a.s.s!”
”You may arrive via any mode of transportation you like!” Gord responded sarcastically.
”IVe got a good idea!” Biff said urgently. ”Ill give you my two stones, and you give me that dagger of yours!”
”Up your hairy nose, shorty!”
”Okay, how about if I kick in all the rest of the ju- er, stuff I got tonight?”
”No way!” Gord said with haughty disdain. 'Not even with your blade tossed in!”
”If it comes to it, I'm telling you I'm ready to fight for my due,” Biff told the young man defiantly.78 ”Okay then, how about a contest - or, better yet, a bet?” Gord suggested.
196.
”Like what?”
”How's this? I'll bet you your half of the emerald against my half that I can jump higher than that building across the lane!”
”With or without the load of loot in your arms?” Biff asked thoughtfully.
”Okay. . . . Even with all this loot weighing me down, I can jump higher than that building.”
”That's a crock of c.o.c.katrice c.r.a.p! I'll be happy to take the bet.” the halfling said in a gloating tone. The building is forty feet tall or I'm a goblin!”
”I'm willing to try. Is it a deal?”
”Sure! Let's shake on it.”
Each took the hand of the other and shook it vigorously, after which Gord hopped a few inches off the ground and landed in the same spot where he had been standing moments earlier.
”Okay, pay up! I won!” Gord said.
”Whaaaat? Are you trying to tell me, after that unimpressive little display, that you just jumped higher than that building?”
”Of course - and it wasn't hard, considering that buildings don't jump at all,” Gord cried happily, laughing and hopping around like a crazy man. Then he gave his opponent a hearty clap on the back and began to walk away. ”The stone's mine, Biffo-buddy. See you around.”
After a while, when Biff finally managed to close his mouth, he busied himself by kicking at everything small in sight as he wended his way back to Silverthorn's place through the back streets and dark byways of Greyhawk. He'd been had by that miserable human, but he wasn't actually too bad off. What he'd taken from the shop was worth a fair sum, and the pair of huge gems in his belt's secret pouch would supply him with all the cash he could spend for some time.
197.
CORD THE ROGUE.
In fact since Gord had been the first to discover that a large replica of a gem appeared in the bottom of the bowl when the correct stone was placed in the claw of a certain color of dragon, he had to admit that the human actually did deserve the odd, fifth gem. Biff giggled softly as he thought about the magic of the bowl. Would it work again to produce another set of fantastic stones? He doubted it, and at the same time wondered why Yeo had been apparently unaware of the treasure he possessed.
”Old Melf won't ever know about any of this,” he chortled to himself as he hurried along. ”Now let's see Just how grateful Silverthorn can be for my services. . . .”
198.
Twistbuck's Game THE LAST TIME IT HAD HAPPENED Gord had run for his life, laughing all the while.
This time the reaction was the same.
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