Retirement Plans

He stood at the window looking out over the rooftops of Camelot, his brows knitted in a concerned frown. Though all had gone according to the plan thus far, he knew he was walking a fine line. He glanced down at his scarred hand and gave a small, rueful smirk. The diversion certainly worked - the fire most definitely drew the lookout's attention to the courtyard.

But the scout's report on his desk showed that there was still at least one witness to the caravan's passage. But the report was from a low-ranking scout - and an Inconnu at that - sweeping it under the rug would prove to be little problem. Turning to his desk, he picked up the report and casually dropped it in the fireplace, watching it burn to ensure nothing readable was left of it. Turning back to the window, he continued to make plans for his "retirement".

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. "Enter" he called out.

"Lord Malcomn, I realize that certain precautions must be taken in light of the current suspicions, but I really must protest this new order of regular inspections of my home!"

Malcomn turned from the window with a gracious smile. "Please, Gareth, calm down and have a seat. I'm certain we can work something out."

Continuing the Search

(by Issic)

It was late into the night when the boy reached the pub. He was tired and hungry, his horse exhausted from the trips that were made. The boy climbed off his horse and took it to the stables then walked into the pub. It was a busy night, lots of people having a good time as they ate and drank. The music in the background was cheerful. Silas always keeping an eye on Caelynn as she made her rounds from the tables. One man causing a bit of a ruckus at one of the far tables, being a little louder then the rest, a little more friendly towards Caelynn then he should have been. Silas filled another mug of ale and then reached slowly under the counter and grabbed a pinch of white dust like powder and sprinkled it into the mug and then wiped his fingers clean.

"Here Caety girl. Here's a fresh mug for your boyfriend of the night." He smirked at her as she gave him a disgusted glance. He enjoyed messing with her every now and then, teasing her about her new boyfriends which happen to be the ones that he would normally have to save her from later in the night because they were trying to get too friendly.

She took the mug over to him and grabbed the empty one, quickly side stepping the guys hand as he tried to slap her butt. Within minutes the powder ran it's course through the man who had fallen forward upon the table in a deep sleep. Caelynn looked back at Silas who just winked at her and continued on with his work. He noticed a tired and ragged boy stumble through the doorway. Caelynn saw Silas's head quickly turn in the direction of the door and her head spun as well hoping to see a familiar face. Saddened when she saw it was the same boy who had delivered a message from Issic earlier that day. Something wasn't right, why was he back so soon. She walked over to the boy and gently placed her hand on his shoulder.

"I... I bring a message..." The boy yawned tiredly.

"Come with me." She lead the boy to Silas to whom the boy gave the scroll. He noticed the seal of The Shadows and placed it in his pocket.

"Perhaps the lad could use something warm to eat and perhaps a glass of juice. A bed to rest in as well for the night." Silas spoke softly.

Caelynn nodded softly and lead the boy to her room and grabbed him a hot bowl of stew with a piece of bread and a cold glass of orange juice. It wasn't long at all before the boy had fallen asleep.

Caelynn knew that Silas wouldn't open the scroll until the pub closed and didn't say anything about it but just kept going about her duties. She wondered what he was doing, where he was. If there was something wrong. Emotions ran through her body and mind for the rest of the night.

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Issic looked over the surroundings of the ruined village. He knew there was a valley that was that they could use to get past Krondon.

"The sea is directly in front of us, however so is Krondon as you can see. If we go past Diogel we can get to the valley and should have safe travel until we get to the shore. From there we can search around. My question is that this area is full of Ogers, why would the Ogers of Krondon allow passage through their kingdom for Draks, and if they didn't go that way, someone in Diogel would have had to seen them. There is no other way to get from where we are to the shore without passing one of those two areas..."

O'honat looked at him and nodded in agreement. "Issic, I do not get distracted from the questions I wish answered that easily. Why, I ask again, does The Guild of Shadows show interest in this matter?"

"Damn you're persistent aren't you... The Shadows has reason to believe of wrong doing, I'm here to check into it. It just so happens that the wrong doings are one in the same as that which you've come across. Hopefully we can find out just where these damn draks went to, and what they are up to. If the Draks and the Ogers banded together, there has to be a reason as to why they would do it, and who they are doing it for. If we find nothing at the shore perhaps we should sneak into Krondon and scout their kindom of anything strange."

Retracing the Steps

They set out early the next day, returning to the ruins and then heading along the west side of Avalon Isle, keeping clear of the drakoran camps between Avalon city and Wearyall.

"It's not much further," O'honat spoke softly as they crossed into Aldland. They reached a small, abandoned village. "Here is where I was jumped. I think the lizard was looting one of the houses and saw me pass by. The caravan continued on - it looked like they were heading between Krondon and Diogel."

"I was able to kill the drak, but blacked out when I was trying to pick up the trail again. I couldn't pick it up again after I came to, so I returned to Diogel and filed my report."

She stopped and turned to look at Issic. "But you still haven't told me why the Guild of Shadows is interested in this."

A Few More Days

(by Issic)

He thought about what she said for a bit and continued to write down on the parchment. He wrote down everything that she said. Everything about the Lord Malcomn, everything about what he told her, about the draks taking hostages instead of killing everything which they were known to do. What they weren't known for was taking prisoners. What were the draks after for a trade anyway. And the coast. It all was a familiar mystery. What could the enemy offer the draks to make them form an alliance to either escort a traitor or made a traitor out of a slave. He wrote down that perhaps Silas should close down the pub for a night or two and check this Lord Malcomn out. And that he may be a bit longer then what his last letter had said he would as he found the lead he was looking for.

He began to roll up the parchment and then sealed it with wax of the insignia for The Shadows.

"That's the covert language of the Infiltrator isn't it."

Issic nodded to her without speaking a word and got to his feet. A hint of pain shot through his body from his shoulder but he pressed on and got to his feet. He walked over to the edge of the stable where he happen to see the boy that he sent off the other day coming back. He whistled to the boy to catch his attention and then tossed him a small sack with five pieces of gold in it and then the scroll. The boy sighed softly and nodded then turned his horse back around and began to gallop off towards Goth Harbor. Issic slowly walked back to his chair.

"Tomorrow how do you feel about taking me to where you last saw the draks just before you were jumped." Issic's eyes looked directly into hers.

O'honat's Observations

She wasn't sure if she should trust the infiltrator. But she was the one to approach him, and he had admitted that he was looking for something that could be related to what she'd seen. Turning back, she took a seat and began explaining in detail.

"My report went to Gothwaite - a Lord Malcomn who was in charge of the defense of the area. I reported that three men had been captured by the Drakorans - a wizard, an armsman, and a knight - looked like they were the best fighters the defenders had, too. I can't be certain, but it looked like the Drakorans came into the fight with the intent to capture them.
They would ruthlessly mow down the others, but try not to harm the three."

"I crept closer to try and free them, but was unable to get near enough.
Still, I overheard one of the Drakorans make mention of a trade and soon they were heading for the coast. I lost the trail after I'd been jumped from behind."

"About a week after I filed my report I got word that it had been looked into but there was no evidence of missing soldiers. They said all bodies were accounted for and the loss was complete. A week later, Lord Malcomn moved to Camelot to serve as an advisor regarding the Drakorans."

She grew silent, indicating there was no more to tell.

An Alliance Request

(by Issic)

Issic thought about what she said to him. She seemed to be explaining everything in detail and holding nothing back. There were too many similarities with his mission and the story she was speaking of to not look into it further. Even Issic knew that a scouts' tracking skills are matched by none other. They normally had the sharpest eyes throughout the land.

"Wait." He looked at her carefully as she looked back at him. "Perhaps I haven't been exactly honest with you. But I needed to know what you knew about this subject. The reason I'm here is very similar to what you had just explained to me. It would help me greatly in my quest for you to tell me EXACTLY what you put in your report, and to whom it was reported to. The Shadows don't let something rest without being looked into. We just may be able to help each other out here from the looks of it. That is if you are up to it."

Issic took out a fresh piece of parchment and began to write a letter in the a secret unknown language only known to those that followed the same path as he.

"Begin whenever you're ready, just a few notes I must take and send to my supervisor per say."

The Missing

"Not even a full day" she responded. "You were only out for the night after you made it back here."

She looked a bit disappointed. "I'd hoped that when I saw you by the ruins that it meant someone had actually paid attention to my reports." She shrugged slightly and went on to explain. "When the drakorans first attacked this area a group of soldiers - peasants and farmers, mostly - tried to stop them. They were no match for the draks and were quickly decimated. But not all were wiped out. Three were kept alive - captured. I heard mention of a trade and I followed as best as I could as they took the men towards the shore. But then I was jumped from behind by another lizard."

She clenched her fists. "I put it all in a report, but never heard any more about it. Then I heard the news that the loss was deemed a total massacre - nobody left alive. When I asked about my report I was quietly told to let the dead rest - not to stir up trouble."

She cleared her throat as she turned to go. "If you aren't here about that, then I'm sorry for wasting your time. Safe journeys, infiltrator."