“What is the meaning of this!?” Yelled Lord Desentes. At the same time several guards in the room drew there weapons as Wotan stepped in front of the Minister of the Interior. At this point no one was still seated as the Deep Dweller contingent started brandishing weapons. Shadow Typhus appeared next to Daskus relaying a message.

  “I’ve had enough of this, guards! Take the champion into custody at once. Your behavior is completely absurd. You’ll complete your travel to the capitol in chains.” Hollard Lord Pentecost.

   “Well that’s a fine how do you do. I just saved all your lives, and this is how you treat me?” Deacon said scooting off the table toward the Daskus. Several of Lord Pentecost’s knights were rounding the table ready to seize Deacon and take him into custody. That’s when Daskus signaled his men to circle around Deacon in defensive positions.

  “Now everyone stop,” Screamed Lord Desentes, his hands were balled into fists, and he was seething with anger, “There will be no more violence in my house. Everyone sit down and let’s hear what the champion has to say for himself. Deacon, why did you interrupt our meal with such flagrant display of power?”

  “Thank you, Lord Desentes. We discovered upon arrival that an assassin had poisoned the food. There was little time to prevent everyone from eating as the cook noted the stew was just served. Considering the time constraints, the only thing I could do is move the food away from everyone. I did not know if it was just the stew, so I threw everything. That about sums it up.” Deacon said staring daggers at the Minister.

  “Preposterous. He just wants to wants to disrupt these proceedings so he can go play in the forest some more.” Replied Lord Pentecost. All while Wotan had made his way over to the wrapped tablecloth mess that was leaking all over the rug in the corner of the room. He stuck one finger in the sludge and swirled it into a vial in his other hand.

  “Vespers blood. Looks like a great deal was used or all the doses are running together. I’d say the Champion just saved all our lives. Nasty stuff. If memory serves it puts the body into a state of shock, then you choke to death on your own fluids.” Said Wotan with little to no emotion in his voice. Just as he finished Armand burst through the door followed by the others.

  “Don’t eat the…oh looks like you made it in time Deacon.” Armand said taking stock of the people arrayed around the room.

  “Did you capture the assassin, son?” Asked Lord Desentes.

  “Yes father, I’ve sent for Fenris.” Replied Armand.

  “No need. You two, take the assassin into our custody. He’ll be tried in council once we reach the capitol. It is a capitol offense to attempt to kill one of his majesty’s counselors.” Lord Pentecost said. That last part was said directly to Deacon. To his credit, Deacon just held his hands in the air open palmed and gestured to the ring of Deep Dwellers around him.

  “Is Amanda, ok?” Deacon asked Armand who gave him a short nod.

  “It seems your mage friend kept her health up before she was just miraculously fine. Stood up and wiped her face off like nothing ever happened. I’d be wary of that one Deacon.” Armand answered but Deacon noticed Wotan was listening to Armand with interest.

  “Well with that out of the way, can we get back to the matter at hand?” Said Lord Desentes seating himself at the head of the now bare table. Everyone else followed suit. The next few hours of arguments amounted to challenges of authority between an order from the Griffin King and expectations that the Stone Council would have some answers to a society changing question. At some point a detailed map of the region between Iron Mountain Plateau, the Crystal Cascade, and the Shattered Sky was placed on the table.

  Deacon took this opportunity to update anything missing between the new atlas updates for his slate map and what was shown on the map. Two things jumped out at him. The map on the table had showed a couple forts and a town that did not appear in his updated map. That and it showed the center of what must be Mobius Lake. Mobius lake was mentioned in passing by Typhus. The map on the table depicted a temple in the center of the lake. His slate update only showed the lake.

Stolen novel; please report.

  “What is that?” Deacon asked interrupting the conversation.

  “If you must know, that is the old temple of Vatten, God of Sailing and Water. I swear, peasants are taught nothing these days.” Answered Lord Pentecost.

  “He’s not a peasant. Deacon actually has a noble title in New Mulvaria.” Lord Desentes replied between gritted teeth.

  “You mean that vasal kingdom of mole men? I guess anyone could be a noble there.” Lord Pentecost remarked flippantly.

  “Fuck you.” Deacon said. He met the ministers eyes refusing to flinch.

  “You know I could have you flogged for speaking to me that way. I have a sneaking suspicion that is what you want. Conflict. You sup from the teat of Chaos after all. No I’ll take your disrespectful hide back to the capitol. Let that forked tongue of yours speak to the King and watch as he throws you into the dungeon without me ever lifting a finger. You don’t want to be here fine. We’ll decide your fate without you. You can go.” Lord Pentecost said as he stood up and slammed his hands on the table. Armand hurriedly stopped Deacon before he could speak again. He ushered him out of the room to prevent a further incident.

  “That was reckless. The Minister of the Interior is very powerful in the courts of the cascade. I would recommend just steering clear of him. Best for everyone. I’ll take you to where your party is waiting.” Armand said as the doors closed behind him.

  “Wait for it.” Deacon said trying to slow their pace. They then heard a thud and Lord Pentecost screeching at the top of his lungs.

  “Again! My boots again!”

  Back in the waiting room where Amanda, Ralph, and Tantus were waiting, a fresh batch of sweet breads had just arrived. Elle made an appearance to check on everyone after coming back from the forest. Typhus’s real body was steadily drinking from a mug having had a large cask placed on the bar. The tap was in almost constant use between him and Ralph.

  “Yea so I tried it out earlier today. I think I can get a sword slash about eighty-five yards away from me and still keep the full strength of the blow. I really have to practice with it more.” Ralph said only slightly slurring his words.

  “That’s pretty good. You know I think I’ve seen Mr. Clean do something like that.” Typhus said equally inebriated.

  “That guy puts me off my game. He’s strangely creepy. Can’t put my finger on why.” Ralph said.

  “I know what you mean. I know it’s a pseudonym, but I have never seen a spec of dirt on him.” Typhus replied.

  “Here comes Deacon.” Tantus said perking up.

  “What?” Amanda asked looking at Tantus.

  “I can hear him.” Tantus said looking confused.

  “Some kind of listening magic?” Amanda asked.

  “No, I can just hear him. It’s weird. My hearing has been getting increasingly better. He’s snickering in the hallway about something.” Tantus said.

  “That is odd. Your people are not known for keen hearing.” Elle chimed in.

  “Everything’s been odd since I met him.” Tantus said.

  “You can say that again. Of course now I can make Vespers Blood poison. This subclass is amazing.” Amanda said with a little too much glee in her voice. It made the whole room turn and look at her. Then Deacon and Armand came in the room.

  “Well Deacon’s just made an enemy out of the Minister of the Interior. Raise your hand if you’re surprised.” Armand said. No hands went up.

  “I thought that already happened?” Tantus asked.

  “No he was just a nuisance before, now he’s threated him directly. Well the threat itself was indirect but it was still a threat. Deacon needs to avoid being in that mans presence as much as possible.” Armand said.

  “Wait, is that an option?” Typhus asked.

  “Not for you big guy. We have miles to go before you can rest.” Deacon shot back.

  “So here is the tentative plan. We will be coming with you to the capital and then the Shattered Sky. I’m sure that’s the way the conversation is going to go. The minister will have to burn some political cache to ensure the King gets his way first. That will put the Stone Council in the drivers seat during the next negation. At least that is the way I see it going.” Armand said.

  “This is great. My two favorite groups of people are coming with me.” Deacon said grinning ear to ear.

  “Not so fast. We have other business in the capitol besides you. We need to log our new specializations with main guild hall there. Right now only people in the plateau can learn these specializations. Once we hit the main hall it will be disseminated to the other guild masters' slates. That’s what Molok told me anyway.” Armand relayed.

  “Screw him.” Typhus belched.

  “Just get him any bread. You are the one prolonging this and he’s never going to let it go.” Elle said.

  “I didn’t take it in the first place. Damn high-leveled gnome. Always giving me crap.” Typhus muttered.

  “What’s this about bread?” Tantus asked.

  “Never mind that, it’s stupid. Now the real question is, how many more times do you think I can tie that assholes shoes together and get away with it?” Deacon asked letting out a chuckle