Murder in Cormyr - Chet Williamson [61]
I thought I had misheard him and asked to him to repeat what he had said.
"Ale today, Jasper. If you are thirsty, drink only ale. Don't ask why. Just humor an old man."
Though it was one of my master's more eccentric requests, I nodded acceptance and rode toward Ghars, wondering if the great man's mental faculties had been temporarily dulled by a Mirtul-Eleint infatuation with Kendra, or by a constant and deep concentration on the solution to the murders.
But in retrospect, I thought his command an easy and even fun one to obey. Rare is the master who tells his man, "Go and drink ale, my boy!" So I decided to consider myself lucky, and rode happily toward Ghars.
28
I heard the humming in the town while I was still a quarter mile south. If yesterday's flurry of preparation had been busy, then today's was a cyclone of activity. Although supposedly everything had been long prepared, there were apparently half a hundred unexpected occurrences that had to be taken care of.
I found Captain Flim on his horse in the town square. Behind him were a dozen Purple Dragons watching the scene, ready, no doubt, to lay waste to any Zhentarim spy bold enough to announce his intentions. In truth, they were there to preserve order, although such a task at that time was well nigh impossible.
I told Captain Flim that Benelaius had had a communication from Suzail that both he and Tobald should be aware of. He nodded brusquely and led the way to the Sheaf of Wheat, where Tobald and Barthelm were overseeing the final arrangements for the arrival of the guild leaders. The captain and I dismounted, and he beckoned Tobald over.
When Flim beckoned, even the mayor reacted quickly, albeit with a hasty limp. His gout, I could see, had worsened.
We miraculously found a quiet room in the inn, and I closed the door behind us as we entered. Then I read Vangerdahast's directive to them, and showed them the missive itself.
"Excellent!" Tobald said. "As much as I dislike violence, only such an extreme act can restore honor to our town. Captain Flim, are you ready to follow these orders?"
Flim's expression didn't change a jot. "I am. What comes from Vangerdahast is as good as from the king himself. A Purple Dragon follows his king's orders, and I've not a man in the garrison who wouldn't cut down his own mother if Benelaius would say she was the murderer."
"Oh, my," Tobald said, shaking his head. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."
"I doubt it," I said lightly. "I don't think any of the Dragons' mothers are under suspicion. By the by, Captain, Benelaius wanted you to take possession of that letter, and this is also for you from my master." I handed him the letter, and he looked at his name on it.
"Shall I read it now?" he asked, as though it made no difference to him, now or later.
I shrugged, and he broke the seal and read. His face underwent no change. "Tell Benelaius I'll do as he asks," Captain Flim said, and walked out the door, leaving me alone with Tobald.
"Lord Mayor," I said, "before you return to your preparations, I have something for you from my master as well," and I handed him the bottle of pills.
He beamed in relief. "Thank the gods," he said, and opened the top and swallowed one down without water, making a face as he did so. "And thank your master," he said. "I've been so anxious for these."
Then he was off again into the fray. I think I worked less hard as a slop boy.
Finding myself alone in the small meeting room at the Sheaf of Wheat, I decided to indulge myself by merely sitting and luxuriating in sloth at the place where I used to work so diligently and for such low pay. Sitting in one of the comfy chairs near the dead fireplace, I took out Benelaius's letter and opened it.
It was brief, and instructed me to remain in Ghars and place myself at the service of Captain Flim, who would be leading a party to Benelaius's cottage late that evening. I should return home then. It