At The Spider’s Tower

Chapter X
Denny and the princess were chatting about their unexpectedly long stay. “…and anyway, I don’t think this girl’s the best reader, but she seems very observ-”

She stopped cold when she saw that The Spider was not alone in the meeting chamber as was his custom.

Speaking with the Spider were three magic users – at least, she assumed they were magic users. The dragonborn was closest, speaking in low tones and looking as nervous as his kind could. A human with singed, loose-fitting clothes was nearby, speaking with a bipedal horse wearing a pointed hat. It was only the wands in their belts and the supreme confidence radiating from the singed one that made Denny second guess their… unusual appearance.

“The man wearing the horse face keeps looking askance at the princess,” Sulien noticed in Elvish, confident the mages wouldn’t understand. “Which is a feat, since the eyes on it don’t even point the same way! And the dragonborn seems quite enamored of you, Denny,” he said, stepping out of the shadows into the room.

“Me, or my dagger?” Denny replied, amused.

“My friends!” exclaimed Varys, waiting the appropriate amount of time to seem surprised at their early arrival, though everyone present knew that he was aware of every movement in his tower. “Come, sit! We have serious matters before us, and I know you’re dying to meet these fine fellows here,” he said, indicating the magic users. “Why don’t we start the introductions with you, Miss Belacqua?”

Denny was still quite suspicious of the wizards, hesitating just long enough for Sariel to take the reins and make the introductions for the whole group. “This is Denny Belacqua, half-elven daughter and heiress of a prosperous merchant family. To my left is Sulien, a man of simple yet practical means, and well-learned in the arts of keeping hidden. Myself, I am Sariel, a simple refugee found by these kind travelers floating in the sea, moments from drowning.” At this, the dragonborn and the horse-man exchanged a knowing glance. “We travel together to end the oppression caused by the one they call the Raven Queen.”

The human at the center of the companions spoke up at this point. “Well met! Varys has told us many things about your adventures, and he believes we can be of some use on your quest. I am Steev, this scaly fellow here is Steiv, and the chap in the mask is Steve. We are… something like mercenaries.” With that, Steev sat back, arms folded, daring anyone to challenge these bizarre pronouncements. Steve appeared to be attempting the same, but the effect was lost when his hat slipped over one of his mask’s eye holes. Steiv was staring at the princess the entire time, occasionally licking his teeth and muttering to himself.

Seeing this display Denny stood angrily, shouting, “These men are fools! Spider, explain why these, these…peculiar ‘mages’ have been invited to this meeting!”

Without standing, Sariel voiced her concerns as well. “It is obvious they are no more than simpletons. How you feel they can assist with our mission is beyond me!” Sulien nodded his agreement at this. Below the table he reached for his trusted dagger, should things heat up.

The Spider merely looked at Steev, who nodded and stood to face Denny. His voice took on a darkened tone as he responded, “You question our usefulness?! We are mages – I have seen Steiv bring an entire squadron of gnomish sappers back from the brink of death with a single prayer! Steve may be somewhat soft-spoken, but he brought the mighty Goliath Warlord Meavoi to justice with a single phrase of power! I have personally travelled the burning lands in the south, and now feel the Sun’s own flames within me!” At this he spoke a single word of magic, and gestured grandly as what could have been a very impressive flame failed to spring from his hand. Instead, a few sputtering candles-worth of pitiful fire coughed from his palm, barely singeing the tablecloth they landed on.

“Okay, so maybe I exaggerated a little, but we’re still good people to have on your side in a fight. Plus, we have horses and a cart filled to the brim with supplies for a trip down south.” Steev looked right into Sariel’s eyes, “We’ll do whatever we can to ensure your journey goes smoothly, princess.”

Denny’s outrage redoubled, but now directed at the Spider, “You told them?! And how is it they know where we’re going before we do?”

The Spider only smiled knowingly, motioning for Denny to be calm. “I told them what they needed to know, and what is widely known – the elven princess is missing at sea, presumed dead. Her vengeful spirit has been sighted on Crescent Island, burning it to the ground, and liberating a number of soon-to-be-slaves. If you intend to follow the Raven Queen and seek vengeance, the three of you will need help! When word of the Burning Crescent reached the Wizards Steev here, they were more than willing to lend a hand to a ‘kindred spirit,’ so to speak…”

“You have no idea how many burns I’ve had to heal over the years,” Steiv added. “It never gets old.”

Sulien spoke up at this point. “How do we know that you do now follow the Raven Queen? You could be spies, sent to find and dispatch us!”

“You don’t,” replied Steev. “But if I were a demi-goddess intent on finding a hidden elven princess, I think I could come up with a better plan than this.”

“Enough!” cried Sariel. “I believe these ‘Steves’ and their story are honest enough, though they obviously have many secrets. They say they will accompany us and help in every way – what do they ask in return?”

“Only a share in any riches we may find along the way,” said Steev.

“Yes, the shinier, the better!” The dragonborn cleric perked up at the mention of treasure.

Denny looked amused. “Very well - if my princess wishes it, you may accompany us. We offer ten percent of any plunder we find in exchange for your aid.”

At this, Steev spoke softly with his companions in a rough language that Denny and Sariel could barely stand to listen to, but Sulien recognized as Draconic. He only caught a few phrases from Steiv, mostly about how the princess’s hair was quite shiny. Steve nodded in agreement at everything.

“Fifteen percent for me, ten each for my companions, and you may choose two of our three riding horses as steeds during the journey,” countered Steev, with the air of one used to negotiating.

“Wait, ten each?” asked Steve. “That makes a lot more sense…”

Denny was simultaneously amused and suspicious, but accepted quickly. The terms were far better than they could have been. She had been loath to admit it, but her days poring over books with Lyra had convinced her that this quest they were on would not be as simple as she once thought. She had her reservations about these “Wizards Steve” but would hold out for now, at her princess’s request.

She could always convince Sulien to slit their throats as they slept later.

“A bargain is struck!” said Sariel. She unsheathed her enchanted dagger, and drew it across her palm, offering it across the table. Steev hesitated, but pulled his own dagger, cut his hand, wincing at the sharp blade, and grasped the princess’s outstretched hand.

After releasing, he quietly asked Steiv in Draconic for a quick prayer of healing, holding his bloodied hand close, unable to take his eyes off of the wound.

The Spider again took control. “Now that we’ve settled that, let us turn to the map, and discuss what young Lyra and Miss Belacqua have determined about the next stage of your mission…”

Read More
Previous Chapter -

Next Chapter - Detours on the Road to Brüke