The great marshes of the Mentine, just west of the city of Mazirin, have long been the place for skulkers and outcasts of all kinds. There are broad pools of stagnant water, clumps of reedgrass as tall as a Tobon, and gnarled, dwarflike trees clinging to the landscape. At night, the Mentine takes on a sinister air, reputed as the haunt of Vorghol and other demons of the night. Sensible people don't go here, which may explain why Rhyll and his men lurk about.
The marshes are cloaked in a clinging, sticky fog as you gather near the white stone bridge where you've arranged the rendezvous. If all has gone according to plan, your message has been passed to the highest levels of Mazirin, and here, on this moonless night, you will exchange the Lady Izmeralda for a sack of dragons. You're on your guard as the midnight hour approaches.You stand on the south bank of the sludgy creek that the short bridge spans.
The road that you stand near is cobbled with close-set black stones. It curves north and south through the Mentine Marshes. Across the bridge, then around a bend, it vanishes.
Two shapes loom out of the mist to the south. Rhyll waits to see if the figures will approach, he hopes these are the two he's been waiting patiently for.
Candra, the Urag warrior, and the Lady Izmeralda herself shuffle into view from the mist.
Rhyll bows deeply and says, "Ah, ladies so good of you to join us. I trust your stay here was pleasant?"
Candra grins, showing her fangs. "Aye, my Captain, an Urag could get at home in this place. All the tasty grubs we could eat, and plenty of places to hide."
Rhyll nods then turns to the Lady Izmeralda and says, "And you, my lady?"
Izmeralda looks appalled, and bedraggled after her day in the swamps. "The sooner this interlude is over, the better."
Rhyll replies to the lady, "Yes this is a hope we all share. Hopefully the lord governor abliges us all."
Izmeralda says, "He will, I assure you." She brushes her dark hair to one side. Her composure as a fine lady of the city is wilting, and now she just seems like a black cat that's been out in the rain. "I should have never listened to that old pirate..."
Dacien crouches down next to a tree, sitting on his heels and muttering, "I hate this kinda stuff, Dees, hidin' in shadows is no business fer honest thieves like us."
Deeshon sneezes. "I'm not a thief, I'm a robber, Dace."
Dacien chuckles softly, "Yer an admirable man to make the distinction, mate, an admirable man."
Deeshon says, "My nuncle was an admirable, you know, Dace. In the navy."
Rhyll says, "Still on about these tales of dragons? Lady, why do you still bother?"
Izmeralda says, "You saw the Dragha, Captain, to your loss. But perhaps you're right. Pirates are well-known as liars and braggarts."
Rhyll gives this some thought. "We've time to kill, so why don't you tell me your tale one more time, for old times sake?"
Izmeralda says, "Since it is unlikely that anyone will seek it out, then why not? Another legend of Galin's loot. Very well...An old pirate in the Governor's prison hulk had a date with the noose. He bargained for his life with a convincing tale that he had seen the distant isle where Galin's treasure had been hidden long ago by the Dragha who took it. All of it. Piles of coin, jewelry fit for a queen, the Sunsword of King Brannais...all of it. One had only to find the right isle, under a twin peak, overcome the guardian, and one could be a new Galin."
Rhyll says, "And where is this island supposed to lie? I've sailed these seas many years, and I have not come across this loot, although I must admit I have heard the tale."
A nightbird caws raucously in the night.
Izmeralda says, "As you know, there are hundreds, maybe thousands of isles in the Yandar chain, Captain. According to old Raven, the Dragha's isle was under a twin mountain peak whose summit was capped by fog. So it cannot be spotted from a distance. You may well have sailed past without realizing it..."
Rhyll says, "Men having been searching for that hoard for years. What makes you think this particular pirate had it right?"
Izmeralda says, "Raven wouldn't have lied to me..."
Benning seats himself nearby to listen to the tale.
Rhyll says, "And why is that, if I may be so bold to ask?"
Benning interjects, "Because he's her father. I can see the resemblance."
Izmeralda gapes at the old priest. "You know him?"
Rhyll says with a smile, "Ah, the plot thickens!"
Benning says, as if recalling an old memory, "It has taken me this long to recognize him in you, but after you spoke his name, I saw it...it has been many years since I sailed with him. It seems like a former life now. And I was a different man."
Izmeralda says, "Raven claimed it was far out in the Sunrise Sea, far past all the other isles. Let us say...he was most convincing...We had two ships and two possible candidates for the island. The other ship never came back, so we were headed back to port. But the Dragha must have learned of us from the other ship, which it destroyed, and took off after us, to destroy all traces of the expedition, with the results you know." She sighs. "I was raised an orphan in Port Arjuri. I never knew my family, and that pirate is little to me, but I had hoped he was right in this."
Rhyll shakes his head and says, "I have a score to settle with that Dragha. There is nothing I'd like better then to get him where it would hurt most. Alas, stealing from their kind is not a wise thing, so they say."
Hoofbeats, muffled by the fog, approach from the north, on the far side of the bridge.
Dacien stands and clears his throat, "Cap'n, riders approachin'."
Rhyll says, "Perhaps this is your escort, my lady. No tricks this time love, and all will go well, ok?"
Indistinct shapes materialize in the fog about thirty yards to the north. Ten men on horseback, metal armor and gear clinking and jingling, one carrying a blue banner with the ensign of the City. They canter slowly towards the bridge.
Rhyll says, "Look sharp, lads."
Dacien taps Deeshon on the shoulder and fades into the shadows off the shoulder of the road. Deeshon ducks after him.
The crew of the Reckoning take up spots in the tall grass on the side of the road, weapons ready.
Rhyll takes hold of the lady's arm to keep her from bolting, and he signals Candra to stand behind her.
Candra steps into place behind the lady. "Easy now, missy..." the Urag warns.
A tall man in front dismounts his horse. "Your message was received...Captain..?" The man wears the livery of one of Rothryn's deputies, the Governor's brother and reeve of the city.
Dacien silently makes his way to a position flanking the road and takes a position in the tall grass.
Rhyll bows slightly. "I have the pleasure of returning safely the Lord Governor's lady. We do hope his lordship has decided to show his appreciation."
The Mazirines halt at the far side of the white stone bridge. Two more dismount.
The bearded deputy nods. "And who shall we tell his Lordship to be grateful to?"
Rhyll says, "Ah, his Lordship's thanks and what ever reward he deems fit is enough. I look for no further recognition, if you catch my drift, sir."
Benning mutters, "That's not Rothryn, Captain. Some underling of his."
A tall, bearded, dark-haired man walks out on to the bridge, his booted feet clattering on the wooden planks. He rests a hand on one of the white stone rails. "The price we were told was three thousand dragons." A handsome sum, even split among the entire crew.
Deeshon mutters to Dacien, "Won't be the first time someone's paid cash for her flesh, eh?"
Dacien shushes Deeshon with a wave of his hand, alert for any trickery.
Rhyll strides forward a bit, "Ah his lordship is too generous."
The deputy looks over his shoulder. "We've the money right here." He gestures and the two men behind him bear a large chest forward. The three approach the midpoint of the bridge, the seven riders behind them cantering up slowly behind them. No one has reached for any weapons or shown any hostile intent.
"Good evenin', your Ladyship, the Governor sends his greetin's.." the deputy says. "I hope these ruffians've treated you well..."
Dacien slips loose his chain and holds it ready.
Rhyll replies, "You stay there with the chest, deputy, then have your men move back. I will meet you at the midpoint."
The deputy nods to his men, who move back to the end of the bridge. He waits by the heavy chest at the midpoint of the bridge, as the slow creek grinds past underneath.
Izmeralda mutters, "Why didn't he send his brother? Am I so unimportant to him?"
Benning says, "The Governor's brother is well-known for his honorable temperment...perhaps he didn't wish to treat with scum like us..."
The deputy says, "Well, Captain? My men are cold and tired. And the lady waits..."
Rhyll turns to Izmeralda and says, "Though it pains me, it looks like our time together is at an end. Shall we go meet the kind deputy?"
Izmeralda says, "I will look forward to being in the city again..."
Rhyll looks around to his men then says to Candra, "Wait here, if any funny business occurs, I'll expect you as my backup. Have the rest of this lot hang back, but not too far."
Candra nods, grim as usual, then squints at the deputy.
The shapes at the far end of the bridge are hard to see, with Reith or Tobon eyes. Hard to tell what they are up to, but then again, the same mist cloaks you as well.
Rhyll takes a firm hold of the ladies arm and starts moving forward.
Izmeralda pauses and hisses to Rhyll, as they approach the deputy, "Wait, Captain. Something is wrong."
Rhyll halts for a second then whispers back, "And what would that be?"
Izmeralda says, "I am not sure..."
Rhyll and Izmeralda are now about halfway out on the bridge. Candra calls to Rhyll, "My Captain? Is anything amiss?"
The deputy hasn't moved. He is armored in scale mail, with a blue overtunic.
Rhyll whispers, "We've come this far, lets see what they have in store, eh? If anything shall go afoul, I promise I won't leave you behind."
Deeshon whispers to Dacien, seeing clearly even in this fog, "He's talking to her. She looks worried."
Izmeralda says, "Very well. Proceed."
Rhyll starts to approach again.
Dacien nods and whispers back, "Stay ready, I ain't liking this much, Dees."
The deputy is about Rhyll's size. He holds up his empty hands and gestures for Rhyll to do the same. "Are you armed, Captain?"
Rhyll replies, "Ah yes, in fact I have two, but no weapons." He raises the arm that is not holding Izmeralda.
The deputy says, "Both arms, please, Captain..."
Izmeralda says, "It's Captain Rhyll, deputy. Show him the proper respect."
The deputy bows. "Of course, my lady." He gestures to the bag between you. "Did you want to count it, Captain Rhyll?"
Rhyll gives Izmeralda a dirty look then switches his raised hand to Izmeralda's arm, and raises the other arm,
Dacien leans close to Deeshon, "D'ya see anything in the woods around us, Dees?"
Deeshon says, "Nope. Woods're clear, Dace."
Dacien nods and frowns, "Cap'n's nervous about somethin', an' that makes me nervous."
Candra gestures to Farlan to stand ready by her.
Rhyll cautiously approaches the deputy.
The deputy says to Rhyll, "Well, Captain? I assure you, it's all there. Now can we have the lady?"
Rhyll turns to Izmeralda and says, "Izmeralda?"
Izmeralda doesn't spare a glance for Rhyll. She tosses her hair over her shoulder and sidles forward.
Rhyll watches as the lady goes, looking for any signs of treachery.
One of the deputies hurries forward to help her mount a spare horse, then wraps a blanket about her shoulders.
Rhyll motions for Candra to join him.
The deputy waits until Izmeralda is safely on horseback, and then turns to Rhyll. "All yours, Captain Rhyll." he says, gesturing to the chest at his feet. The deputy lifts the lid of the chest to show Rhyll the contents. A pile of Sarrik dragons, some bearing the likeness of King Lucard, gleam out in the misty night.
Deeshon claps Dacien on the shoulder. "Easy money!"
Candra hurries to Rhyll's side.
Dacien moves forward slowly, getting as close as possible to Rhyll in case of trouble, but trying to stay hidden.
Rhyll nods and smiles."Good evening to you deputy, give his lordship our regards."
The deputy kicks the lid closed, and Candra hurries forward to lift the chest and bear it off. She looks towards the Captain.
Rhyll nods for her to take it away.
Candra backs off, bearing the chest in her strong arms, going slowly to give Rhyll a chance to accompany her.
Rhyll florishes a bow and says, "My lady, deputy, I bid you farwell." Then starts to back up over the bridge.
As Rhyll and Candra return to the others, there is jubilation among the pirates at the sight of the chest. "Sweet, sweet dragons!" Deeshon says. Even Benning seems gladdened.
Rhyll says, "Easy fellows, we're not back to the ship yet. Keep your watch."
From the far end of the bridge, there's a shriek. Izmeralda's form drops heavily from horseback and tumbles with a thud to the roadway. She crawls desperately away from her attackers, her silken clothes stained with blood.
Deeshon says, incredulous, "Cap'n...they stabbed her!"
Rhyll says, "Damn, damn, and damn!"
The deputies kick their horses to the gallop. The leader yells, "Cut 'em all down, boys!" as they charge across the bridge, horses' hooves clattering on the wooden planks.
Rhyll draws his cutlass and shouts, "Have to men! Let's show them how we deal with treacherous dogs!"
With a roar, the pirates draw their weapons and swarm into battle.