The next week, we did little more than prepare our shop. Ogleby was on board and the boy, Willem, seemed pretty eager to help out as well. We had not begun to sell things yet at this point, but no doubt would have a good bit of business due to the sprawling refugee camp that had taken over Fellhaven. Monolith must be empty now except for soldiers and the proud dwarves who stayed behind to defend their city.
On one particular morning, long before sunrise, a knock at the door woke me from my sleep.
“Who is it?”
“Messenger. Herrick sent me.” I opened the door to see a middle aged, yet very fit man waiting in the hall, “I’m sorry to bother you, but this is of urgent notice…”
“Of course, of course. What news?”
The messenger presented a stone with some runes carved into the surface, “I am not aware of the news the the ritual our order performs merely works as a tunnel between thoughts and memories. Everything Herrick wants to share is in this stone.”
I took the stone and as I deciphered the runes they seemed to come alive. Suddenly, I’m wasn’t in the inn, but a much nicer place with bookshelves and a familiar chromatic face before me. “Tock, I’m glad you received this message…”
At this point my nose was tingling uncontrollably and I took a brief second to sneeze before responding. “Herrick? Hello…I wasn’t aware these things had such a tingling effect.”
“I’m sorry to communicate this way, but it was the only way I felt safe. The Akashic’s work is guaranteed you get the message, and only you can decipher. I’m afraid anything we speak of here is only pertaining to my memory at the time of the ritual, specifically for the news I must give you…”
“And what news is this?”
“Word of your group’s deeds has spread far, even talked about in the halls of the Empress’s court,” he explained as I listened on in awe. “And in light of the recent attacks on Monolith, and the brave action you and your comrades have performed in dispatching one of the dragons, it has been said that the Empress’s own daughter has been dispatched to overlook the situation in Fellhaven, and to report back her findings on the circumstances of the Cult, the Dragon, the Heroes and the Refugees….”
“Word travels fast!”
“Between the Akashics and the Watchers, we have a fast network set up for correspondence. Speaking of which, though, is a problem. I have been notified by some of the Watchers keeping an ear out in Monolith that there is some reports that the Cults still have an insider in Fellhaven; and the insider has dispatched a request for an assassination,” Herrick continued. “I’m afraid by the time you receive this message, the Princess is already a day or so’s travel from Fellhaven, and chances are the Assassin has already had a meeting with the insider….”
“Any information on this insider? You seem to know his orders, do you know anything else about him?”
“I’m afraid as of the time of this ritual, all I know is the insider is someone who has probably stayed in the town since before your crew arrived, and was involved with the Cult….”
“A town guard perhaps?”
There is a brief shift and stutter in the surroundings, “I’m afraid as of the time of this ritual, all I know is the insider is someone who has probably stayed in the town since before your crew arrived, and was involved with the Cult….” I nod at the repeated sentence.
“I apologize, Tock, for the stones only transfer what I know at the time of the Ritual….”
“How can I communicate back to you once we find the assassin? And how is the progress on the eggs?”
There is another stutter, “I’m afraid as of the time of this ritual, all I know is the insider is someone who has probably stayed in the town since before your crew arrived, and was involved with the Cult….” I sigh, “If you need to get in touch with me, the Akashic order is probably the safest bet….”
I agreed to inform my party as soon as possible and Herrick reminded me not to let word of this spread outside the party. The scenery shifted and I am back in my room. I tipped the messenger and asked if he needed the stone back.
“I’m afraid so,” he reached into his pocket, “If you’re ever in need of my assistance, I pass through this area often. Leave this up at the local inn’s bulletin board, and I will come find you.”
He handed me a note with a simple symbol on it. I nodded again and he left. It would be a little while before the others were up or even thinking clearly enough to understand the message, so I laid back down to catch a quick nap. I heard stirring in the hall a bit later and put my clothes on to prepare for the task ahead. I met my friends for breakfast and informed them quietly about the message.
Before we could make any plans, Corbin, the priest of Pelor, hurried through the door searching for us. He tells us there is a riot going on outside the temple and the guards are nowhere to be found. Kriv and Iceborn decide to handle the riot while Cherry and I scout the streets for shady types who may know something about the assassination attempt.
