Rain: Moonday Night, Fireseek 3, 591 Common Year

Rain stops for a few seconds to make sure that nobody notices her exit of the hall or is otherwise watching her. She then heads after Ragnbjorn and Jankin who are walking towards the guest wing. She follows softly and keeps to the shadows, not taking any real overt risks, but looking for a nice handy alcove to be able to listen in on any conversation. She is most cautious of Ragnbjorn.

Rain follows them up a flight of stairs and then down a hall on the third floor of the east wing of the palace. They do not seem to notice her as she softly pads behind them in the shadows cast by the everburning torches set at intervals throughout the palace.

“Yes Sir Jankin, what did you want to speak to me about?” asks Ragnbjorn.

“I wanted to talk to you and to Sir Indranil about Father Gar. I think Sir Indranil has gravely misjudged him, though Father Gar’s words were more than open to misunderstanding. If I had not been with him myself I would be as suspicious as Sir Indranil – maybe more. It happens, however, that I have been with him and Sir Fingol today, and what I observed speaks very well of his true character despite his nettlesome words. There is more, but I will wait until we are with Indranil to speak of it.”

Ragnbjorn smiles at Jankin and clasps him on the shoulder. “You are a good man Sir Jankin. Let us see if we can mediate a peace here between my headstrong ranger Sir Indranil and this most undiplomatic of diplomats, Father Gar. Hopefully we can do it before the rest of them arrive. There are things they will need to know about what we found in the marshes.”

They come to Indranil’s door and knock, and after a few words with Indranil they enter.

Rain smiles to herself as she realizes that she is not the only one who questions Gar’s odd musings. I think Gar lacks the gods given natural ability to filter ones thoughts before they exit his mouth. Well, I can’t really come up with a good enough explanation if I’m caught outside of that door so best I return. Besides, any more time on this and
everyone will think I have an issue with the food, being so long at the garderobe.

When Rain turns around however, she is startled to find that Lady Sedara is standing right behind her. Her arms are crossed and her head is cocked. With a twinkle in her eye and a grin at Rain she asks, “Hear anything interesting?”

Rain recovers quickly and replies with a smile, “Heh, well at least if somebody was going to catch me, I’m glad it was you.”

Sedara puts her finger to her lips to indicate silence. Smiling, she motions for Rain to follow her back to the dining halls. When they reach the stairwell, she says, “You did very well. Not many could boast of sneaking up on Ragnbjorn. Usually he is more alert. Perhaps the ale and a sense of being safe here in the palace gave him a false sense of security. I would not try that again. But I do commend you. So what did you hear?”

Rain answers, “Sounds like Gar really put his foot in it this time, looked like he shocked pretty much everyone by something he said right before everybody entered for dinner, and he really pissed off Indranil. Sir Jankin spent the day with Gar and a few others trying to track down Parwyn’s thief, and only angering the Locksmiths in the process.”

Rain gives away nothing but a slight smirk at the mention of the thief, then continues, “So he was speaking good of Gar to Ragnbjorn, trying to smooth things over it would seem. They entered Indranil’s room and I lost the conversation. I thought it better not to continue my eavesdropping, not having a good story prepared should I be caught outside the door. Fingol’s father also commented about finding something in the marshes, I would love to hear more about that.”

Sedara says, “Well let me tell you what you missed. First of all it was not Gar that said something shocking. Sir Fingol was trying to say something in Draconian, the language of the dragons and also the lizardfolk, and apparently it didn’t come out as he suspected. I don’t know what he said, but apparently Sir Ragnbjorn and the two half-elven brothers understood it. I pray Sir Fingol learns more or at least trusts to his father to translate and does not attempt to speak directly to the lizardfolk. If he does try… you may need to kill him.”

Rain stops dead. I’m no assassin, and never will be! Regardless of the fact that she likes Fingol and regards him well, this has little to do with her reaction. I’m not a hired killer, and if this is where this relationship is going then I need to get out – now! Her thoughts trip over themselves. She’s kidding right? No really… she has to be kidding. If she is not… Oh crap, is she kidding?

Sedara pauses to observe Rain’s expression, and then laughs, “I’m just kidding! I am sure Sir Fingol has more sense than that, and anyway Sir Ragnbjorn will look after him. I just wanted to see the expression on your face.”

Rain visibly stands more at ease after Sedara laughs and admits to kidding her. Rain smiles and says, “Nice.”

Sedara then says, “Anyway, I can also tell you what Sir Ragnbjorn found in the swamps. Ghouls attacked them. Paragon Muire identified one of the heads that was brought back. Ghouls are a form of corporeal undead and apparently they were haunting a mass grave left by the Scarlet Brotherhood about a day away from here. Sir Ragnbjorn plans on leading an expedition there later to fully purify it. But there may be more such sites and creatures out there. This is something you should know as your squad has been assigned to accompany Sir Ragnbjorn, Sir Fingol, and Father Gar on a diplomatic mission to the lizardfolk that will leave as soon as it can be organized.

“You have done well Rain, but I must ask you to refrain from spying on people within the palace. There are very dangerous forces here, and only Prince Prospero and Captain Bodwyn know that you are working with me. There are things in this palace that could turn you to ash before you even knew they were there.

“Now, tonight, I want you and Aramek to be pulled for guard duty. At that time, I am going to bring you in to meet Sir Ragnbjorn. I want him, at least, to know that you are my agent. We will also discuss the contents of the journal I took last night with the prince. Aramek may be brought in at some point as well, but he is not yet to be privy to our arrangement.

“Now hurry, get back to the dining hall before you are missed, and make sure to answer Captain Bodwyn’s call for volunteers.”

“Thanks, and I look forward to meeting Fingol’s father. Till later my Lady,” Rain says as she bows very slightly then makes her way back.