Eldrin was first to react, raising his bow and firing a swift arrow. The Baron, with a lazy smile, raised his staff and muttered a quick incantation that made the air go cold, instantly disintegrating the arrow in mid-air. Lila threw her knives, only for them to slow and pause just short of reaching the Baron. They clattered to the floor harmlessly. Kargan, who had no attacking moves, simply created a Ward of Aegis, followed by a shield of sacrificial armor, standing between the party and further harm.

Justin, uselessly, just stared in shock.

The sudden eruption of conflict sent a ripple of shock through the crowd. Gasps and murmurs filled the grand hall as the guests recoiled, some stepping back in fear while others craned their necks to get a better view. The nobility, accustomed to polite conversations and subtle power plays, were unprepared for such violence.

A few of the nobles instinctively activated their own defensive skills, casting quick glances at each other as if to confirm that what they were witnessing was indeed real. The musicians had abruptly stopped playing, their instruments still in hand, as they exchanged bewildered looks. Servants, caught in the middle of their tasks, froze in place, unsure whether to flee or continue with their duties.

All eyes were now fixed on the Baron, whose calm demeanor only heightened the unease. The guests now found themselves on the edge of panic, uncertain of what would happen next.

That was when the Baron laughed heartily, the sound rich, as if he were genuinely amused by the whole spectacle. His laughter echoed through the hall, causing the tension in the room to falter, the fearful murmurs dying down as the guests tried to make sense of the situation.

“Oh, come now!” the Baron exclaimed, a playful glint in his eyes. “Is this how you treat an old friend? A bit of fun is all it is! You should know by now that arrows and daggers aren’t enough to stop me!” He waved his hand dismissively, as if the whole incident were nothing more than a harmless prank.

The Baron turned to the crowd, his smile charming. “Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize for the little spectacle. Friendly banter among comrades-in-arms, you see. No need for alarm. We’re all on the same side here.” He winked at a nearby guest, who nervously returned a faint smile.

All Justin could feel was sick. He knew by now there was no chance of running, but from the Baron’s reaction, the odds of dying immediately were remote. There was safety in a crowd, and using that cover was the only viable way to escape this situation.

Escape? Who was he kidding? The Baron had him. Like a cat who’d caught the mouse, he just wanted to torture the prey a bit before dining.

Valdrik spread his arms wide, as if to embrace the entire room with his jovial mood. “Mr. Talemaker—or is it Caroway? I’m not sure anymore, you old trickster! I know you have a penchant for pranks, but let’s not ruin a perfectly good celebration, shall we?”

At that very moment, the Baron’s gaze fell upon him, and without a word, Justin knew what he wanted. Join the act or regret it.

Justin forced a smile, his mind racing as he tried to find the right words to defuse the situation. He knew the Baron had him cornered, but he also knew that if he played his cards right, he might just buy time.

“Oh, you know me too well, Baron Valdrik,” Justin said, his tone light and playful, masking the fear churning inside him. “Always up to some mischief, aren’t I? But as you say, let’s not spoil the fun for everyone else. I’ve been known to mix a bit of theatrics into my adventures—keeps things interesting! But I assure you, no harm was done here tonight. Just a little jest among friends.”

He turned to the crowd, widening his smile as he spread his arms in a gesture of good-natured apology, even twirling his cane a bit. “I do apologize for the sudden excitement. You know how it is—old friends, old rivalries, and a touch of showmanship. We were just testing each other’s reflexes, keeping our wits sharp! But let’s not let that interrupt this wonderful celebration. I, for one, could use a drink after all that excitement. What do you say we all raise a glass to peace, good company, and the fine art of diplomacy?”

The tension in the room eased as murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd. Some guests even chuckled, reassured by Justin’s lighthearted explanation, especially as Baron Valdrik nodded gracefully, his expression so convincing that even Justin was tempted to believe this entire thing had been just an unfortunate misunderstanding.

He might believe that, had it not been for Alistair’s death.

The musicians played again, and the festive atmosphere slowly returned, albeit with an undercurrent of unease.

Justin could feel the Baron’s gaze on him, a silent warning that this was far from over. But for now, at least, he had bought them some time—and with Valdrik, every second counted.

“Justin…” Eldrin said. “What are you doing?”

“He’s won, Eldrin,” Justin said. “We’ve been outplayed. It’s only me he wants. If you three slip out, there’s a chance you can get out of this alive.”

Justin’s words were caught short as the Baron made his way toward Justin and his friends, taking his time about it with a few amiable greetings along the way. How could he be here, of all places? Obviously, all this was some elaborate trap, one so subtle that even Eldrin’s Ranger’s Intuition hadn’t caught it in time. Had the Baron been responsible for closing the tunnel gate? Maybe Harrington’s invitation hadn’t been so random after all; perhaps Valdrik had put him up to it.

Justin had a million questions, and he wasn’t sure if any of them would matter, since he was most likely dead soon.

At last, the Baron stood before him, a malevolent presence despite his plastered-on smile. “Come now,” he said, clapping Justin on the back with a bit too much force to be entirely friendly. “Let’s enjoy the festival together, as friends should.” His tone was light, but there was a subtle edge to his words, a reminder of the power he held—and the danger that lurked just beneath his surface charm. “Let’s grab a drink, shall we? Just you and me.” He winked at his companions. “Don’t worry. I’ll return him in one piece.”

He led Justin away. With a look, Justin warned the others not to follow. What chance did they have against whatever level Valdrik was? Just like Valdrik, they could do nothing with so many eyes on them.

“I’m sure you have questions,” Valdrik said, as they weaved together through the crowd. “Many questions! Rest assured, Mr. Talemaker, every single one shall be answered to your full satisfaction.”

Justin frowned in confusion. “Why answer questions when you intend to kill me?”

Valdrik laughed lightly, not seeming to care if they were overheard. “Kill you? No, my good man. This is the beginning of the rest of your days on Eyrth.”

Justin threw a look over his shoulder, but his friends were lost in the crowd. Would Valdrik really let them escape so easily?

“I must apologize,” Valdrik said. “It would seem we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot. This meeting is far more roundabout than I would have liked, but I will not be denied, in the end! What I must tell you is far too important.”

Valdrik paused before the banquet table, grabbing a haunch of meat from a strange creature reminiscent of an oversized bat. He ate with relish.

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“Healthy appetite for not being alive,” Justin observed.

Valdrik chuckled. “Oh, I’m very much alive. And my appetites are greater than most men. All of this has been an unfortunate misunderstanding, I’m afraid.”

“Alistair is dead because of you. That’s hardly a misunderstanding.”

“Oh, him? Yes, sad business, that! I wish the Templars would keep their noses where they belong. I don’t enjoy killing them, but he was a loose end, and the Templars could complicate my plans.”

Justin looked around, but no one was paying attention to their conversation. For someone who operated from the shadows, the Baron was being forthright. Surprisingly so. It seemed the surrounding nobles were giving them plenty of space, while the din of conversation was enough to cover their words.

“He was a good man,” Justin said. “And now, because of you, he’s dead.”

“Well, Alistair was never supposed to be part of this,” Valdrik said. “I had hoped we could discuss these things more thoroughly in the safety of my Silverton Manse, but I suppose this frozen hellhole will have to suffice.”

A beautiful woman walked by, with raven-black hair and near-perfect features, batting her eyes at the Baron while fanning herself. He gave her a genial smile.

“Now, where was I?” he asked. “Oh, yes. We never got to finish our conversation from last time. How would you feel about being employed by me? I see you have more experience under your belt now. The wage I offered before was low, but in keeping with one for your abilities. How does a salary of one gold crown a month sound? There is room for advancement in my organization, and I could use someone of your skills.”

It was becoming increasingly difficult for Justin to keep his cool. Valdrik was acting as if nothing at all had even happened.

“I’m…beyond confused,” Justin asked. “First, how did you track us here?”

“Track you?” He laughed lightly. “It wasn’t difficult. Of course, you took the Umber Pass out of Silverton. Most don’t go that way, owing to the difficulty, but with Mr. Thornwood at the helm, you had an advantage. Of course, it wasn’t enough of an advantage. It took you two nights to reach Highcliff, where if you had taken the Silver Road, it would have taken just one. I was in constant communication with Lieutenant Gareth, of course. As my undead thrall, that’s simple enough. When you got to the Guardians’ Pass, there was nowhere else for you to go but Highcliff. I had Gareth surround the city and had his mages place wards on all the catacomb exits we could find. Luckily, the High Cleric at the cathedral was most accommodating.”

“You killed him?”

Valdrin made a mask of affront. “Kill? Why would I do that? No, a simple Cant of Compulsion was enough for one of my wizards to get what he wanted, followed by a Cant of Amnesia to make sure he didn’t remember the interaction. I try not to mess with the Church, though of course, sometimes death becomes unavoidable.”

“Speaking of death, someone tried to kill me in the stairwell at the Silver Stag.”

“That wasn’t me; far too crude! My men did a bit of asking around while you and your companions were puttering about the Highcliff Catacombs. You’d crossed a Snow Goblin by the name of Gribble, and there was quite a tussle regarding a cane. Reading your reaction, it would seem this story is true.”

Justin could only stare in shock. Did the man know every step of their journey?

“Point being, that was Gribble’s doing, not mine. You just mistakenly assumed I had a hand in that. Alistair, unfortunately, could not be allowed to live. Too Life-blinded, that one! However, depending on this conversation, I hope that you and your friends might be convinced to stand down.”

“Well, those wards explain how you found us leaving Highcliff,” Justin said. “But it doesn’t explain why you weren’t at Highcliff yourself to intercept us. After all, you said it was easy to figure out that was where we were going.”

“I’m far too careful to have done that, Justin.”

At first, Justin didn’t understand what he meant. It could have ended the chase at once. But then, he thought about the Baron and his long-term goals. If Alistair was to be believed, the man was gathering an undead force right in Silverton. If the Baron got involved with a Paladin, things could get messy, and he might lose control of the narrative. In Aranthia, fighting Paladins and the Templars wasn’t a good look, and at best, would lead to investigation, and at worst, would lead to the toppling of everything he’d worked so hard to build. Despite his level, the Baron’s standing was precarious.

Justin needed to remember that. It was a weak spot that might be exploited. But before the Baron could realize that Justin had figured that out, he needed to distract him. “So, how did you know we were going to Windfall?”

“Ah. I suppose from your perspective, it might seem confusing. I’ll explain, if only as a courtesy. I must admit, the Ranger gave us a bit more trouble than I initially thought. His abilities are obviously quite honed, even though his level is middling at best. Your Bard companion proved herself quite plucky, too. As for the Orc, I must admit I know little about him, but his level is low, and his involvement with your group seems circumstantial. Anyway, even if Eldrin was successful in leading Gareth astray, there were few options for you in the wilds west of the Marin. You did the smart thing, heading north into the Darkwood. A risky maneuver, to be sure, but one that paid off. When Gareth arrived at Darkstream, a bit of questioning was all it took to determine you hadn’t been there. So, that only left one goal for you: Windfall. We considered that you might try to cross the Umbers west, but that would take you too far from your eventual goal of Mont Elea, and the Orcish Clans can be hostile to strangers. And coming east again, across the Marin while avoiding Darkstream, was far too risky. Those lands are opener, and it wouldn’t have been hard for us to sight you, either in the field or on the road itself. No. Windfall was your goal, and I had to assume you—or Eldrin—would correctly deduce that Gareth couldn’t get there as fast as you. However, in all of Eldrin’s careful plans, he forgot about one thing.”

“You, right?”

“Very good! You see, I was the missing piece of the puzzle. With Alistair dispatched, I could at last get more involved. I came to Highcliff shortly after you began your escape north along the Marin. Once Lieutenant Gareth realized he’d been fooled, he returned to Highcliff. I ordered him to Darkstream Crossing, telling him to not purchase horses until he got there. Why, might you ask? Because of the Ranger’s damnable bird! If it had noted Gareth on horseback too soon, it would have changed Eldrin’s plans to turn west rather than go to Windfall. And I wanted you to go to Windfall! So, while Gareth walked to Darkstream Crossing, I traveled by carriage to Windfall with all speed. I arrived early this morning, in fact, well ahead of Gareth and his retinue. Well, I would say it all worked out, in the end. Thankfully, I’d noticed rumors that Thalgar’s Tunnel was open, so I made all haste to the mayor’s home. I have a good relationship with Mayor Carlisle. He ensured the gate was closed as a personal favor. You were just a few minutes too late, but even this would have done you no good; I would have simply followed you so closely that you’d have no chance of ever escaping. It’s far better for both of us this way, don’t you think? It keeps things tidy.”

All Justin could feel was a mounting sickness. He felt like such a fool. Even Eldrin, the wise Ranger, had been completely played. And now he, and all his friends, were most likely going to die, unless he could find some way to turn this around.

He hoped they were well on their way out of town. Not that it would matter. All three were loose ends, as they knew the Baron’s plans, or at least part of them. That was not something the Baron could just leave alone, despite his words. Yet, he seemed completely certain that Justin’s companions presented no danger to him.

“I suppose Lord Harrington is one of your contacts?” Justin asked. “It’s only with his invitation that we could get inside this manor.”

“I know him, but your chance meeting was just that: a chance, however unlikely it seems. Of course, once I was in town, I could sense you, and I was simply seeking the right opportunity to make contact. It’s not like you had anywhere to go at this point. When you headed up to the manor, I knew your goal was to get the tunnel open. So, it was simply a matter of following you. I’d rather confront you here and allow you to see my side of things.”

“Well, you have me,” Justin said. “And you claim you don’t want to kill me. If that’s the case, then what do you really want, and more importantly, why should I trust you?”

“I’ve already said what I want,” the Baron said. “I would like you to work for me.”

“I don’t understand,” Justin said. “Why go through all this trouble just to give me a job? What’s so special about me?” He frowned. “How is it I’m the one to have grabbed that parcel to deliver to you, anyway? And what was in it? What does it have to do with me?”

“Ah! Now you’re finally asking the important questions, Mr. Talemaker. September 21. Does the date ring a bell?”

“Of course. It’s the day I came to Eyrth.”

Justin figured there was no point in hiding that from him. Eldrin had mentioned one of the Baron's agents was almost certainly listening to him at the Moonlit Alehouse. And the Baron wouldn't have picked that date out of the air unless he already knew the truth.

“Yes," the Baron said. "I imagine you must have felt terrified, hmm?”

Justin frowned. What was he getting at? How did he know the very day he arrived? “Could you just get to the point?”

The Baron extended his hand, and Justin blinked as he muttered a strange incantation, and a parcel appeared. But not just any parcel. It was the same one he had delivered to the Baron all those days ago.

“Why don’t you open it and see for yourself?”

Justin looked at the parcel, unbelieving. “How…how did you do that?”

“A Cant of Repository. It can be bothersome having to carry things around! This handy spell makes it so you can store many things within the Ether of Eyrth itself.” He offered the package. “Would you do the honors?”

Justin could not help his curiosity. His hands shaking, he opened the parcel and couldn’t believe what he found inside.