Tempers Ball

It was dark when he awoke. Elise was cradled next him, her arms about him, cuddling. Her breathing was slow and regular, as if she were asleep, but somehow he knew she was awake. He lay savoring the moment before he figured out how he knew that she was not asleep. Every so often she would blink and, at the moment, his skin was sensitive enough that he could feel her eyelashes move. It was a very nice feeling, if a bit ticklish.

Issilk ran his thick fingers through her hair. Or rather, he tried to run his fingers through her hair. As her hair had become tangled during their lovemaking all he really managed to do was pull her hair, causing an involuntary squeek of suprise from Elise.

Oh, sorry my love. I, uh, didn't mean to hurt you. Just didn't realized how tangled you hair would be.

The serving girl was right as dinner really wasn't very good. Somewhat soft potatos with a hunk of unknown stringy meat was served along with some hard dark bread. The wine was good though and both he and Nightfall drank quite a bit of it. After eating they moved closer to the fire place and sat and talked as they drank more wine. By the bottom of the third bottle Elise and Issilk still had not come downstairs.

Well my love, it looks like our friends shall not be joining us. Perhaps we should call it an early evening and go back upstairs.

Elise felt Issilk stir as she snuggled close to him. Then she suddenly felt a painful tugging in her hair. She gave a squeak of pain mixed with surprise as she pulled away from him. He hurried to apologize to her, and she worked to dislodge his fingers from her tangled tresses, as she smiled at him. Her voice was gently chiding as she joked with him.

I would think you would have realized how tangled my hair would be, since you are the one responsible for it darling. I'm not sure, but I don't think that people can do what we did without something becoming tangled.

As she'd spoken, she'd gazed at him with such seriousness, that he could not help but chuckle fondly at her chiding. Elise smiled, eyes twinkling, as she leaned forward to plant a deep kiss upon his lips. She pulled away before it became too passionate, and spoke softly.

I don't know about you darling, but I'm fairly famished, and I could do with a glass of wine as well. Do you think it would be possible to get a late platter sent to us from the kitchen? Maybe they could find some bread, cheese and fruit? That should be enough to tide us over until we meet with Nightfall and Previn for breakfast, don't you think?

Issilk lay there for a moment before swinging his legs off the bed. Most certainly he didn't want to leave this room, but he was hungry as was his lady. Since it was already quite late there really was no alternative to him getting dressed and heading down the stairs and looking for food. Pulling on some underclothes and headed out the door.

My darling, I promise that I shall return triumphant in my quest for our dinner.

Being that it was so late the common room of the inn was deserted. Seeing light and hearing conversation coming from the kitchen Issilk made his way there. As he entered the innkeep was sitting, facing away him, obviously engaged in conversation with someone standing out of sight to Issilk's left. By the time the gray man had taken one step into the room he heard the back door fly open and saw the innkeep whirl in his chair.

When the fat man took sight of Issilk his eyes flew wide and he dumped his chair over backward standing so quickly.

Uh, umm, sir! Dear guest. Uh, what can I do for you?

Looking down at himself Issilk put the innkeep's distressed expression down to his appearance. After all, a six and a half foot tall grey skinned man was not an every day occurance no matter where one lived.

My good man, if it is at all possible I should like to procure a meal for myself and my lady friend. Nothing fancy, perhaps just a cold roast fowl, some bread and a bottle of wine? Might could this be possible?

Indeed it was possible and in no short time Issilk made his way back to their room, dinner in hand.

When it had grown what Torkan had judged to be sufficiently late, he made his way round to the back door of the inn. Silently he slipped inside and stood before the innkeeper. The rotund man seemed nervous at his appearance, however, and for a brief moment Torkan began to suspect that all had not gone as planned.

Just as he was about to threaten the man into telling him what was going on, footsteps warned him that they were not alone, and he turned and fled out the back door, leaving it open in his haste to flee without being seen. He ran far enough away, that nobody could connect him with the figure who'd fled the inn moments ago. He did, however, stay close enough that he could see the portly figure of the innkeeper when he walked out the back door several long moments later, and stood there looking about to try and locate Torkan.

Softly cursing the man's foolishness, he slipped through the shadows until he'd made his way next to the innkeeper. He reached out and shoved the man back into the inn, and quickly followed behind, pulling the door shut behind them. He then motioned to the man to remain silent, until he'd looked around and satisfied himself that they were quite alone. He pulled the door shut to the kitchen, in which they were ensconced, and pulled the man close to him. His voice was low but unmistakeably deadly as he spoke.

Well, has everything gone as we discussed? Did they all drink the wine that you drugged? I warn you little man, if you even think of double-crossing me, you'll beg for the sweet mercy of death! Come now, speak, there is little time.

Torkan listened with growing impatience as the innkeeper explained that only one of the couples had thus far imbibed the drugged wine, and that the other couple had just now received a bottle of the same. The innkeeper explained that after retiring to their room, the first couple had not been seen nor heard from and were surely sleeping as planned. He went on to explain that the earlier interruption had been created by the man from the second couple, who'd come down to fetch a late dinner for himself and the other woman....complete with bottle of previously drugged wine.

Torkan remained ominously silent for a long moment, and then smiled evilly. By the time he went to round up a couple of other men, the second couple would be sound asleep and both women would be his for the taking.....and delivering to his employer. Yes, it would all work out just fine. He reached into a pouch at his waist and pulled a gold piece from it and placed it in the innkeeper's hand. When Torkan had finished giving the man the rest of his instructions for the evening, he left out the back door once more, whistling softly as he went.

Torkan had walked through the streets until he had come to the seedier part of town. He entered a tavern, and walked to the stairway at the back of the room. Without hesitating, he walked up to the second door on the right, and knocked one time, briefly before entering. Within the private room were three rather unsavory looking characters. None of them looked as if they'd seen bath water in the better part of three months at least. Still, as filthy and unkempt as they were, Torkan knew that they could be trusted to do what needed to be done....for a modest fee, of course. That same fee, when paid in full would also purchase their loyalty....to the extent that if anyone asked them any questions, they would reveal nothing about their employer. Many said there was no honor among thieves, but Torkan knew that was not entirely true....these three men were prime examples.

They gazed at him with wary interest as he made his way into their midst. When he tossed a small pouch down upon the table in the center of the room, and it landed with a jingling thud, their interest became more intense. The leader picked up the pouch by it's string with his dagger, and brought it closer to him so that he could open it. That done, he dumped out the contents onto the table and swore softly when those contents proved to be more gold coin than they usually saw in three months. The leader looked at the gold for a long moment, before he pushed the pile of coins back towards Torkan. As he did this, the other two in the room began to yell and argue. The gold had spoken to their inner greed and they were reluctant to let it go. The leader silenced them by raising one hand, palm open. His expression was very wary as he spoke to them, but watched Torkan.

Here now laddies, you're right, this is a lot of gold. However, I'm thinking that the job may not be worth our necks if we're caught, for surely that's what it would be. Isn't that right friend?

What I ask you to do is not all that different than what you have done in the past for me. I don't ask you to kill or even harm anyone. All that I require of you will take two hours at the very most. My employer wishes two certain women to be brought to him. I've already taken care of their willingness, what I need from the three of you is help removing them from the inn at which they're staying, and transporting them to a specific location. I'll then need you to follow their men in the upcoming days, to watch them. Make certain that they do not find out anything which will help them get the women back. If they prove to be too much trouble, well, then that will be another job altogether, with separate, yet generous pay if you agree.

Torkan watched as the leader seemed to think the situation over very carefully. Three months pay for the physical labor of a couple of hours and then tailing a pair of travellers until they grow weary of looking for their women and leave town? It seemed far too easy for such gold. Their had to be a catch, he was thinking. But then his greed eventually got the better of him and he finally agreed. All of them left the room in the tavern, and walked towards the back door. Outside the back door waited a wagon. The men all climbed into the wagon and headed back towards the inn where the women were located.

By the time they reached the inn, it was the hour of the night when everything was still. Even the harlots who walked the street in the evening had gone to bed for the night. The sky resembled an indigo blanket studded with diamonds and the moon shone down brightly upon the town, bathing everything in it's silvery glow. The men slipped in the back door of the inn, leaving one of their kind to watch over the wagon, and crept silently up the stairs to where the rooms were located. Torkan signalled one man to the room which housed Previn and Nightfall, and another to the room where Elise slept with Issilk. He stood in the hallway and kept watch, sword in hand in case any trouble arose. The men who carried the women crept silently back down the stairs and out the back door with their burdens, as Torkan carefully shut the door to both rooms. He did not bother to relock them, for he wanted the men to think that the women had gone off on their own, and to that effect, he'd instructed his helpers to gather their discarded clothing with them. The men would believe that the women had gone off shopping or some such thing, and so their presence would not be missed until they were impossible to track.

Sleep took them quickly, it's silent embrace pulling them into oblivion as soon as they became prone. Throughout the night Previn slept a dreamless sleep, his body not moving except for the gentle rise and fall caused by his breathing. When he finally awoke it was late morning and his mind was still foggy and quite muddled.

Seeing that his beloved was already up and away he pulled on his clothing and tramped his feet into his well worn boots. Making his way down the hall to the room Issilk and Elise were sharing he knocked lightly only to have the door swing open to his touch. Inside he found Issilk sitting on the edge of the bed, feet on floor and head in hands. Alone.

Morning good friend. It looks like you had a late night as well. Any sign of our ladies?

Lifting his head he stared at Previn for an uncomfortably long moment before responding.

They are gone.

Previn's reply was the typical male response that perhaps they had gone shopping. Issilk cut him off mid-sentence.

No. They are gone. Elise and Nightfall have not gone shopping. Something is wrong.

The look that Previn game Issilk was one of pure skepticism. Truly he didn't believe that anything untoward could have happend to either of their ladies without at least one of them knowing.

Don't you get it? Something bad has happened to them. Want proof? Look there. Elise's sword. Do you honestly think for even one moment that she would go anywhere, even downstairs to breakfast, without it?

Previn get dressed.

The gray man spoke in a low voice that seemed unnaturally calm. Quietly and methodically he began strapping on his armor. When Previn protested that he was, in fact, dressed Issilk silenced him without looking up.

You know what I mean. Get yourself properly dressed. Be quick about it.

It was with this admonishment that Previn ran back to the room that he had been sharing with Nightfall. In quite a short bit of time he returned to find Issilk standing, fully armored, holding Elise's sword.

Here. Hold this and keep it safe for my lady. When we find her she will want to know that it has been kept in the best condition. Follow me.

Down the stairs they went, silent except for the creak of the big mans armor. Through the empty common room and into the inns kitchen. When the innkeep spotted them he jumped from where he had been sitting with his feet on the table. A tankard of ale went flying as did his chair. Turning he tried to make it to the alley door. He managed one step before Issilk overtook him and grabbed him by the hair on his head. After slamming the man against the wall he adjusted his grip, placing a mailed hand about his throat.

You ran. Must mean that you are afraid of me and have something to hide. What is it?

Sir! Sir! Fine sir! I hide nothing! Uh, umm. I only ran because I forgot that I had an errand that I must attend.

Using his right hand, the one about the innkeep's throat, Issilk lifted him until his toes dangled about a foot off the floor. Making a fist with his left hand he struck the man's right elbow, shattering it.

That was a lie. You will be punished when you lie. I would strongly advise you not to lie again. Now tell the truth. Obviously you know something of what happened to our ladies. Tell me.

The acrid stench of fresh urine filled the air as the innkeeps bladder voided itself. His eyes grew ever wider as he gasped for enough air to respond to the question.

Ah, so sorry. Let me loosen my grip just a bit. Realize though that should you try to escape or fight back I shall crush your windpipe and leave you to die in a heap on the floor. Have you ever considered what it would be to die that way? Imagine if you will, not being able to draw a breath yet the entire time feeling cool clean air cross your nostrils. Life there for the taking yet unable to grasp it. Slowly watching the world grow dim and being helpless to change the inexorable fact that death is riding to claim you. Tell me what I need to know and ye shall live.

With fist loosened from his throat the innkeep gushed words, telling of the whole evil event. His recount included everything that Issilk could have hoped except the name of the man behind it. The innkeep swore that he didn't know who paid him and gave him the vials. Even after having his right knee crushed he still could not come up with a name.

You know, I believe you. Truly if you knew his name you would tell me. Now before I take my leave I have a simple admonishment for you. I realize that at this moment you are thinking that as soon as we leave you will summon the guards and have them arrest us. Fair enough. Summon them if you will. Realize though, that while they may end up capturing me, I will come back and break your spine into multiple parts before they are able to do so. Think on that before you make your decision.

It was then that Issilk finally let the man fall to a battered heap on the floor. Turning he walked out of the kitchen and back into the common room leaving Previn staring silently in shock.

What had happened finally began to sink in as Previn got dressed. Finally, with his leather armor on and all of his toys in their proper place, realized that something untoward had happened to Nightfall and Elise. He didn't want to beleive it, but nothing else made sense. After all, Issilk was right, Elise would not have left without her sword. And Nightfall certainly would not have left without kissing him goodbye, not even to go shopping. It was something that they always did, and no matter how sleepy the other was they always woke up just enough to know what was going on. Yes, something had happened, the only question was what.

He was almost in a daze as Issilk led him down the stairs and into the kitchen. Quickly the haze in his mind lifted as his friend questioned the innkeep. Never had he seen Issilk so ruthlessly cold. Finally when Issilk had gleaned all the information he could he turned and stalked out of the room leaving Previn staring in disbelief as the innkeep fell into an unconscious heap on the floor.

A brief flash of bright cloth caught his the corner of his eye. There. Hiding just inside the larder was someone. Drawing his sword he crossed the room to where the person was hiding in three quick strides. Blade at the ready he stepped around the corner. There, huddled on the floor weeping silently in fear, was the same sweet serving girl that had brought Nightfall and Previn their dinner the night before. Seeing his naked sword changed her silent crying to an audible wail.

Seeing the effect he was having Previn quickly sheathed his blade and knelt on the floor next to her.

There there, it'll be alright. No one is going to hurt you. Everything will be okay. Your boss just crossed the wrong person and suffered for it. Nothing will happen to you.

After several minutes of kind and honeyed words they young woman finally calmed herself to the point of being able to speak.

Oh sir! I'm sorry for what happened to your missus. Yours and that big guys. I'm so sorry. Twasn't anything I could do. He made me.

It was with a point and a spat that she indicated the innkeep.

It was him and that evil bastage that was in cahoots. Not me sir! Not me! I didn't do nuffin! Leastaways nuffin I wasn't made ta do.

It'll be okay. Everything will be okay. We just have to find out who he was working with. Once we find that bastard we will be able to make everything alright.

Torkan's his name. He's a right bastage he is. Yes sir, he most certainly is. I've heard tell that he likes ta beat his women. Yup. I sure have. If'n you are looking for him try across town at the Drunken Monkey. I hear tell he is there most nights, drinking and whoring to all hours of the morn.

It was with a handfull of silver that Previn left the scared young woman and ran to catch up with his coldly enraged friend.

Torkan saw to the delivery of the females into what passed as a dungeon. When the bolts were slid home on the doors of their cells, he exited the dungeon and went in search of Lord Bleda himself. He found the fat, greasy little man waiting for him in his library, dressed in an evening jacket over a starched white shirt which did nothing to conceal his enormous belly.

Torkan entered the library and sat himself down in a chair before Bleda's desk. The disgusting little man paid him no heed until in a fit of ire, Torkan placed his boot heels up on the corner of the highly polished desk. Bleda looked up momentarily from his papers, a calculating look upon his face. It almost seemed as if Bleda were contemplating whether or not he could get away with not keeping his end of the bargain in regards to payment. The decision must have been reached quickly for the speculating gleam left his eyes soon enough and he tossed a small pouch of coins at Torkan.

Torkan picked it up and knew at once that it was not the amount which had been previously agreed upon. He said nothing, but raised a questioning brow at his employer. Bleda rose from behind his desk and walked towards him, and as he did so, he spoke.

You'll receive the rest of your money once the women have been safely sold and I have determined that their men will not create difficulty. For now, I suggest that you get some rest and then see about shadowing the men. It would prove to be most troublesome if they showed up here for some reason, and it would go badly for you if they did. You can see yourself out. For now, I am going to go and inspect my merchandise.

Anger burned in his veins as the coldest fire of hell. He had known Elise for such a short time but he would be damned if anyone would take her and not feel his wrath. After spending so long entombed as a stone statue his values and emotions had become "adjusted". Simply put anyone that he did not care about had become irrelevent.

He had not always been this way. In his younger years, before the wizard had worked his curse on him, Issilk had been a caring compassionate person. Always fighting the good fight. Ever helping those who needed assistance. No longer. At this moment right now there were only three people that he cared anything for. Elise, Previn, and Nightfall. Two of them had been taken and the grey man was nearly blinded by cold rage.

When Previn caught up to him and relayed what he learned from the serving girl Issilk's response was simple.

Then we go the Drunken Monkey. If he is there we beat him until he tells us where Elise is. If he is not there we find someone who knows him and make them tell us where he is.

It took many quick words for Previn to convince Issilk to let him go in first and scope out The Drunken Monkey. As the grey skinned warrior waited impatiently in a nearby alley Previn altered his appearance through changes in posture, gait, and several other hard learned techniques.

Upon entering The Drunken Monkey he found it be mostly deserted. The innkeep, or at least one who seemed to be in charge slept with his enormous backside wedged firmly in a chair, feet on the table closest to the opening in the battered and scarred bar. Two old ragged looking men sat in chairs near the grimy window arguing. They didn't seem overly emotional about their disagreement. It was as if this was just a hobby to them.

Taking a seat in a somewhat level chair at a table towards the center of the room Previn did not have to wait long before a server showed to attend him. She wasn't the prettiest thing. Actually she was nowhere near the the prettiest thing. To be honest she was downright ugly. It wasn't just the missing and broken teeth, or the uneven eyes, or the scraggly hair and missing ear. No, even though that was bad enough her attitude was far worse.

Yah, wha'cha wan?

Her voice was thick with flem, her tone gutteral. With each mangled word she radiated a hatred for life, both hers and everyone elses. Using his best acting skills Previn managed to keep his feelings of revulsion from his voice.

Just a mug of beer please. He said as he tossed a silver on the table near her.

As she ambled off to fill his request he thought to himself that this could to prove to be a tougher task than he first thought.

As he stood and waited in the alley Issilk's anger grew even deeper, his muscles so tightened with rage that is bones ached. Only a sliver of rational thought kept him from going on a blind rampage killing and destroying everything in sight.

Oft times one cannot point to the exact moment that they fell in love. Normally there is an attraction that grows over time before blossoming into the truth that is love. This isn't to say that there are not cases of instantaneous passion. There are. In fact they number to numberous to count. But it is not all that often that love strikes one as a thunderbold despite what poets would have us believe.

Issilk knew. He understood the exact moment that his heart was taken from him. Though to be honest taken is not the appropriate word. For Issilk freely gave his heart. The first moment that he met Elise's gaze he soul was not his own. That she did not know the depth of his feelings was a matter of mere protection for them both.

He was standing, rationale fighting rage, powerless to help his love when a part of the wall three paces to his left opened spilling light and a snippet of conversation into the alley along with a man in a brown cloak.

'Ere, dun worry 'bout it. Ya does yer job and ya gets yer pay. Watch dem two as dey is gonna cause trouble wat wit der women being gone an all.

The door shut behind him and the man in the cloak stumbled a bit as his eyes worked at adjusting to the dimness of the alley. His stumble was cut short as Issilk's arm shot out and lifted his feet from the ground. His hand tight around his throat the grey skinned man ever so slowly brought "brown cloak" close so that they were staring eye to eye. They held this position long enough that the brown cloaked man's ineffectual flailings ceased. When Issilk finally spoke the alley stank of fear and piss.

You are going to tell me what I want to know.

Thirty two minutes later his drink arrived. He knew this because he counted. After all, considering who was in the bar and his mission there was nothing else to do. Somehow the serving wench even managed to spill some of the drink. This was impressive when one considers that the mug was barely more than half full. If possible the beer was even worse than the service. It was all he could do to not spit it all over the table.

After managing to choke down the first sip of his drink Previn turned back towards the server in an attempt to begin to develop a rapport which he hoped would lead to his learning of the desired information. Surpisingly enough she was gone having waddled back behind the bar.

Leaning back in his chair he pretended to sip his beer as he waited for some other potential source of information to come in.

Making his way into the Drunken Monkey Issilk paused and stared at Previn in disbelief. There he sat, drink in hand, feet propped on a chair, looking totally relaxed as he stared into the fire. Making his way across the mostly empty room Issilk only stopped when he kicked the chair out from under Previn's feet.

Damn slacker. Is this what you find time to do when Elise is missing? Don't worry, at least one of us has been busy and learned something.

His mind was nearly numb as he sat in the bar listening to the pointless chatter of the other patrons and the serving hag. So far his foray here had been next to worthless. The only thing that had provided a glimmer of hope was when he overheard the owner mutter something under his breath to the serving wench that some Alfus beer would be needed before Torkan came back as that she had better have it ready as Torkan was a mean bastard.

He was nearly asleep when his feet were so rudely removed from their place of rest. Looking up through blurry eyes he saw his grey skinned man towering over him. The mention of Elise but not Nightfall did not go unnoticed by Previn, only uncommented on.

Well my friend, what little I have learned has now been rendered mostly useless because of your tirade. Before you blurt out and share your knowledge I would suggest that we leave here and find a more secure location for our talk.