Chapter Two - A Fugitive from Justice
Khetrik felt a rhythmic thrumming in his head that told him
he hadn’t been unconscious long. The party was still going strong after his
little disruption. He wasn’t looking forward to having to explain to Lyrian and
Sophie what was happening. However, at the moment he had bigger problems to
worry about. As his vision cleared, Khetrik could see that Inquisitor Nox was
still unconscious and seated opposite of the ornate Elderwood desk of the
Guildmaster.
Even though Galen had made a show of throwing out the
inquisitor to keep up appearances, he was a pragmatic and fair man, and not one
to cast out a legitimate lawman without cause. No, Galen would listen to what
Nox would have to say about Khetrik’s crimes, and then he would come to a fair
compromise. Unless, of course, Nox becomes totally unreasonable. An
unreasonable Nox is definitely possible of course, as his volatility isn’t to
be underestimated, but it also wasn’t likely. Nox can be overzealous and
stubborn to a fault, but he is still practiced in etiquette and doesn’t do
anything that isn’t measured and calculated to lead to the best result in his
mind.
“Ahh, I see your tough hide continues to serve you well,
Khetrik!” Galen was smiling at him from his seat behind the cluttered desk.
“Awake already! Too bad your enthusiastic friend doesn’t appear to share your
stamina. Though, if I was to believe the stories of Lyrian and Sophie, not many
do!”
“Well, he’s more of a sprinter, that one, but what he lacks
in stamina he makes up for in determination!”
Nox stirred at the sound of their jokes.
“You know, it’s not nice to talk about people behind their
backs, Khetrik!”
“Well, Nox, it isn’t my fault that you are sitting with your
back to me! I’d gladly say all of these things to your face, although, the view
back here is much better!”
Khetrik could feel Nox begin to tense up again.
“Khetrik, don’t aggravate our guest.”
“My apologies, Guildmaster.”
“Guest! Do you typically knock out your guests and tie them
up?”
“Usually only when they ask me to, which is surprisingly
often!”
Galen waived his hand over a small ruby gemstone on his desk
and the manacles around Nox’s hands vanished with a loud pop!
“There, is that more to your liking, Inquisitor?”
“Much better indeed, thank you, Guildmaster.”
“Now, would you be so kind as to explain to me exactly why
you disrupted our revelry tonight?”
“It is a simple matter, Guildmaster. I have been hunting
this fugitive across Bhakaras for more than three years!”
“Fugitive, you say? Dangerous, I presume?”
“Extremely. He murdered his foster father in cold blood, and
in an act of treason, obliterated his shop and stole the remaining contents.
The Dragon’s Cauldron was a staple of Jolithrian commerce for more than half a
century!”
“That sounds terrible! Khetrik, does this man speak the
truth?”
“While it is true that my master was killed, and his life’s
work was destroyed, it is categorically untrue that I committed that atrocity.
As much as I might have wanted to on occasion, it wouldn’t have made logical
sense to me to destroy my own future.”
“Interesting, but not surprising. Most people would claim
innocence in the face of such charges. I assume, Inquisitor Nox, that you have
evidence to present which links Khetrik to the crime?”
“I do. The crime scene was made to appear to be a standard
robbery. The building had been damaged to make it appear as though the wizard
had been surprised by a burglar. However, upon further inspection it was very
clear that no break in was possible due to the wards the old man had in place.
Someone who was intimately familiar with the business obviously staged the
break in. The only person other than the wizard himself that could have done
it, was Khetrik!”
“I see. Is that all you have?”
“It is enough, guild master.”
“Perhaps to you, Inquisitor Nox, but not to the Delvers! I’m
afraid our rules of extradition are quite clear. Only irrefutable evidence will
be accepted as valid, and your evidence is circumstantial at best.”
“Circumstantial! It is the most likely scenario given the
facts!”
Khetrik couldn’t help but grin.
“Most likely, perhaps,” the guild master replied, “but not
the only explanation that would fit the facts, and thus it doesn’t qualify as
irrefutable evidence.”
Nox shifted uncomfortably in his seat, and Khetrik again
grinned.
“As a Delver, Khetrik is under our protection as long as he
is within our walls. That being said, once he has left our halls, you’re
welcome to continue your pursuit unimpeded. Does that sound fair?”
“As fair as I could hope for, I suppose, given my less than
appropriate introduction to you all.”
“Excellent! Well then, no one is going anywhere until the
morning, so please enjoy our hospitality Inquisitor Nox. It is legendary.”
Galen smiled at his remark.
“If you don’t mind; however, I’d like to speak to my charge
alone regarding this matter before he returns to his celebration!”
“Who am I to argue?”
“Well said, who indeed. Please, enjoy the party!”
Khetrik was starting to feel more confident.
“Drink a toast to my success, Nox! Put it on my tab!”
Nox’s thin veneer of composure cracked ever so slightly at
Khetrik’s prodding, and he turned to glare at Khetrik. Without pausing, he
stepped toward his prey and placed his leather clad hand upon his shoulder,
squeezing tightly.
“You’ll be mine soon enough, Khetrik!”
Khetrik was genuinely concerned, but as was often the case
he was compelled to laugh in the face of danger.
“You know Nox, it is phrasing like that which causes me such
confusion about your intentions. I should have you know I’m happily engaged
with a pair of beautiful people right now and I couldn’t be happier.”
If Khetrik didn’t know better, he almost though Nox might be
becoming immune to his inappropriate jabs. Without giving him the satisfaction
of a blush, Nox turned on his heels and moved toward the door, stopping short.
Nox turned one more time to look at him and gave him a small salute bringing
his fingers into the shape of a winking eye.
“Be seeing you!”
Nox smiled and left with a slight slamming of the door.
Galen’s attitude immediately softened.
“Khetrik, that man has it out for you. Can you handle this
once you’ve left?”
“I’ve handled worse, but if I’m not being flip, I’m not sure
how I’m going to handle this yet.”
“That might be the most honest thing I’ve ever heard you
say, Khetrik! Thank you for that.”
“You’re making me regret it immediately.”
“Well then, let me offer a suggestion. What do you know
about Gnumeria?”
“It’s a wasteland, inhospitable to all except the
greenskins, and long since burnt out and destroyed. Why do you ask?”
“We’ve received a tip, about lost artifacts of Osiris.”
Khetrik had heard the name before. Osiris was one of the old
gods, and one that had fascinated him for years. Osiris was born of seraph and
daemon, and was cast out of both heaven and hell, forced to wander Bhakaras and
find his purpose. He was said to have once been shattered into one hundred
fragments and had to be rebuilt by his beloved. The journey granted him his
deific powers over life and death and made him a legend in the ancient lore.
“Osiris, hmm. Definitely intriguing, and not a common name
even amongst our lore. I only know of him because I liked to research stories
about people who are outcasts.”
“Indeed. It is believed that there is an artifact lost in
the ruins of the Port City of Gnumerono that would provide definitive proof of
the existence of Osiris. Not to mention it is rumored to carry the secret of
immortality.”
“Immortality. An overrated pursuit. Forever is a long time.”
“Always the practical one, Khetrik, but I don’t disagree.
However, regardless of how you feel about the prize, the knowledge alone is
worth the attempt.”
Khetrik knew Galen wasn’t mentioning the bigger benefit to taking on this new expedition. Gnumeria was covered in a magical miasma that would quickly kill nearly any living being that wasn’t part of the greenskin hordes. It was a fact that meant that Khetrik was one of the only people who could take on the expedition, and it would take him somewhere Nox couldn’t follow.
“When does the expedition leave, Galen?”
“It’s scheduled for the morning, but I’ve convinced the
captain to depart during the witching hours. By the time Nox wakes up in the
morning, you’ll be long gone.”
“Well then, it looks like it is settled. By the morning,
I’ll be on my way to the lands of my ancestors in search of lost treasure!”
As Khetrik was convincing himself of the craftiness of his
planned escape, a small blue gem left stuck to his shoulder, just out of sight, pulsed with a faint glow. Outside, in the throng of celebratory revelers,
Inquisitor Nox listened intently as a smile crossed his stern face.
