Obsidian Ridge - Jess Lebow [69]
"This is an outrage!" shouted Lady Herrin before she was even inside the palace.
The king looked to the Magistrate captain who was on duty at the portcullis, then he pointed to the cadre of merchants.
Lady Herrin and her horde were surrounded by soldiers and forced to stop, just outside of the great hall.
Being stopped by armed guards didn't seem to bother her, and she continued to shout at the king.
"Get your men out of our marketplace!" she demanded. "The Magistrates are making people nervous, and our businesses are suffering."
"The Magistrates are there for your protection!" replied King Korox, shouting at her as she shouted at him, not bothering to close the distance. "If you haven't noticed, the kingdom is under attack."
"How are we supposed to operate with your thugs roaming between the stalls, looking into every alleyway, and scaring our customers?"
"Your customers have nothing to fear from the Magistrates, and neither do you. That is, unless what you are selling is illegal. Tell me Lady Herrin. Are you trying to sell illegal goods? Elixir perhaps?"
"You listen to me, Korox. You need us, and you-know it. And we won't stand for you telling us what we can and cannot sell. So you just keep your Magistrates out of our marketplace, or you will get no favors from us." She turned her horse around. "Keep your nose out of our business, or you will be sorry."
She gave her mount a nudge. "We're leaving," she said to the other merchants. Each member of her contingent took their turn riding up to the wall of soldiers, glaring at the king, then riding off.
+++++
"Rumor is that Clusterfang was an ally of the Twisted Rune," explained Evelyne, crawling along in the tunnel behind the Claw. "There should be an opening to your right. Check first to make sure nothing's there before you go in."
"That thing? In with the most secretive organization in all of Faerыn?" Ahead and to his right, just as the half-elf had said, was an opening. Palm first, he poked his head inside and looked around. "All clear," he said, and he pulled himself into a small chamber with nothing in it except a heavy wooden door.
"That's the rumor I heard," said Evelyne, coming out of the tunnel into the cramped room. "Then again, I suppose information in this place is not the most reliable."
"Where did you hear this rumor?"
"A little gnome told me."
"A gnome?"
"Yeah, a gnome," she said, stretching her limbs. "He showed up here a few months ago." "And where is this gnome now?" Evelyne shrugged. "Dead."
He'd only known her for a short time, but the Claw was already realizing that Evelyne had a bad habit of leaving out the tantalizing details from her stories.
Finishing her stretches and dusting herself off, Evelyne said, "Well, it's been a pleasure. See you around some time, if you don't get killed."
"Wait," said the Claw. "I need your help."
"Uh, no thanks." Slapping him on the arm, she turned and headed for the door.
"No really," pleaded the Claw. "I need to find something, and you're my only hope."
"Now why would I want to go and do a fool thing like help you?"
The Claw was at a loss for reasons. "Well… because I asked?"
"Yeah, right." She pulled on the door.
"Wait. Wait. What is it you want?"
Evelyne stopped, the door cracked open. "You mean other than to get out?" She thought for a moment. "I guess that's it really. Just get out. And as long as we're day-dreaming, I don't ever want to get sent back here. Never ever."
"How did you get put here? The king doesn't hand out sentences to the Cellar lightly."
Evelyne shifted her weight. "That's no business of yours. Let's just say I deserved it."
"How long have you been here?"
"A year," she said. "Give or take a few months. It's