‘Do you have awife and children or perhaps partners and apprentices in yourshop?’ asked Chantalot.
‘Last time Ican remember, I worked in the shop with my brother and anapprentice. I was courting a woman. By the Powers, I might bemarried. If I am I will have forgotten all about my marriage and mywife. I’ll have to try to get my memory back. Is there any way LordGranwell?’
‘There is onlyone certain way that I know that would probably do it… a wish, andas you’re probably aware they’re somewhat difficult to come by, asthey cause the wizard who casts the power to lose some of his ownmemory. I guess you could also go off world and find a powerfulpriest and pay for a miracle. That sometimes works, I’m been told.’replied Granwell.
‘It’s alsopossible that a wizard or healer specializing in mind magic mightbe able to help if you can find one.’ said Granwell lookingpointedly at Aquitain.
‘I think weshould go and visit the shop in Templegate before chasing wishesand miracles and the like.’ suggested Chantalot.
‘We need tofind out about the original buyer as they are the most likely toknow about the ring.
‘I agree. Let’sgo to Garret’s shop and see what we can find out from there.’ saidAquitain.
‘Right, and Isuppose you want me to teleport you all to Templewood?’ statedGranwell.
‘Well we couldtake the commercial teleporter but it would take a while to arrangepermits and the like. Time is of the essence if we wish to catchthe thieves.‘ said Chantalot. ‘I can supply the blindfolds.’
‘A wizard’swork is never done!’ sighed Granwell muttering to himself.
Chantalotpulled a black velvet bag over Garret’s head and one over the headof Aquitain. They were shepherded to Granwell’s transport circleand transported to Templegate.
They arrived inthe basement of a building. An alarm went off, and shortlythereafter they were led up three flights of stairs and out a doorinto a waiting coach. As they entered the coach Garret sighed
‘Ah. It’s greatto be home again.’
‘How do youknow where you are?’ asked Chantalot.
‘I knowTemplegate; I don’t have to see it. It’s got a smell all of itsown.’
The coach drovearound for about half an hour then pulled up. They got out of thecoach and it drove away. Only then were they allowed to take offthe hoods and see that they were standing in an alley off a mainstreet in the trade district. Garret immediately recognized thestreet and started walking in a hurry towards his shop.
‘This way, comethis way.’ he said urgently. ‘I must find out what has happenedsince I’ve been away.’
They walkeddown the main street about two blocks and into a shop displaying avariety of minor magic items in the front window. The sign over theshop front read AxeGrinder’s Quality Magical Supplies, Enter atyour own risk.
Aquitain andChantalot followed Garret as he stormed into the shop marched overto his brother and said
‘Hello Wolfram,how long have I been gone?’
His brother wasa bit younger than Garret but the family resemblance was quiteapparent. Surprised at this unusual greeting he said
‘A few days.Why? What’s happened?’
‘I’ve had mymemory stolen. You’re going to have to fill it in for me.’
‘Oh ! That’sbad.‘ replied Wolfram. ‘How much did you lose?’
‘About sixmonths I think.’
‘That’s verybad.’ said Wolfram.
‘You marriedBettina about three months ago. I don’t think she will be happyabout this.’
‘Who’s Bettina?I was courting Selina.’
‘That’s what Imean. Selina wouldn’t marry you. Then you met Bettina, her cousin,you fell madly in love with her and now you’re married to her … andyou probably won’t even recognize her.’
Garret appearedstunned. Aquitain could clearly see what this meant. Garret wouldbe ready to try almost anything to get his memory back.
Wolfram lookedangrily at Chantalot and Aquitain the gnome and said.
‘Who are youtwo? Are you responsible for my brother losing his memory? If soyou’re in big trouble.’
Garret came outof his shocked state and quickly explained.
‘No. They’renot responsible. They have helped me. You won’t believe whathappened to me. It’s probably all my fault but I can’t rememberwhat I did.’
Just then anattractive looking Newman woman came from the back of the shop andwhen she saw Garret she hurried over to him to give him a welcomehome kiss.
‘Googy, you’reback again.’ she said with a warm smile, then noticing his coolresponse and strange look she quickly asked what had happened.’
‘You must beBettina,’ queried Chantalot.
‘I’m afraidyour husband has been through a horrible experience. He probablywon’t be himself for a while. He’s forgotten a few things, so we’vebrought him here to help jog his memory. Can we go somewhere wherewe won’t be disturbed and we’ll tell you what we know?’
Wolfram noddedand yelled for the apprentice, Bertram, to come and mind theshop.
‘Come upstairswe can talk in private there and I’ll get us a hot drink.’ offeredBettina with a worried look on her face.
When they wereall seated, Aquitain introduced Chantalot and himself as residentsof Twin Towers and said
‘Why don’t Itell you what has happened to Garret and then maybe you can fill usin on what happened before Garret left.’
After tellingthe tale Bettina was terribly shocked as it hit home that her Googydidn’t know her. She excused herself and went off to their bedroomand sobbed. Wolfram was a bit cautious about saying what hadhappened prior to Garret leaving but Garret was less patient.
‘Tell themWolfram. They want to get the bloody sceptre back. I need to knowwhat foolishness I got up to as well, if I’m going to fix thissituation with Bettina.’
‘Well there’snot that much to tell. Two men of Elendari appearance came into theshop two days ago and asked to speak to you. You spoke to them andafter a while came to me and told me they wanted to find that fancysceptre granddaddy made years ago and you had agreed to help themfor a generous fee.’
‘They seemed toknow roughly where it was but needed help to locate it as it hadbeen misplaced. You left with them and didn’t return until now.Bettina and I were terribly worried when you
