'Well,' the thespian replied. 'Doesn't Khelben come from here?'
'Quite,' Volo agreed.
'And isn't he the reason you and I have had to go on this gods-forsaken trip to begin with?'
'But our journey is almost at an end,' the master traveler replied, 'isn't it?'
'Well, we still have to get to Suzail.'
'Child's play,' Volo answered, dismissing the thespian's concerns. 'I'm sure that old Khelben was just suffering from some fit of pique. He's probably not even home, off on another meeting of the War Wizards or something. Heck, he's probably even forgotten the trial he's been putting us through. I'm sure that we have nothing to worry about.'
'Sure?' inquired the skeptical thespian.
'Positive,' the master traveler insisted. 'Besides, this is Waterdeep. I have no enemies here.'
'Not even the recipients of a few bad reviews?' the thespian countered, still concerned that the master traveler was taking too much for granted.
'Pish tosh,' Volo replied. 'Everyone loves Volo. We're almost home free. Nothing can go wrong now!'
The master traveler and the other members of his party failed to notice the chain of whispered messages that took place on the streets as they passed.
Soon, someone very well-informed and well-connected would know that the master traveler had returned to Waterdeep, and would be ready and waiting for him.
Volo managed to get accommodations for himself and his friends at the Shipmaster's Hall, a private inn and supper club not too far from the docks. It was usually reserved for captains, first mates, and ship owners and their escorts, though in Volo's case they of course made an exception.
'We would be honored to serve you and your friends, Mister Volo,' the maitre d' fawned, 'provided you don't mind private accommodations.'
'Not at all,' the master traveler replied.
'Wonderful!' the maitre d' answered, obviously relieved, then adding, 'and perhaps if you should revise that little guide hook of yours, you might he able to give us a little better play. Believe it or not, there are some gentlemen sailing the Sword Coast, who haven't heard of us.'
'Gentlemen on the Sword Coast?' Volo replied. 'Why, I can't imagine such a thing.'
Both men laughed. A deal had obviously been struck.
Volo returned to his group and led them to the private area upstairs where enough food even for Passepout had been quickly laid out for them.
'Enjoy, my friends,' Volo invited. 'The meal and the beds are on the house.' The group began to dig in, only to hear the master traveler add one more thing. 'Enjoy!' he repeated, but this time adding, 'Tomorrow we are Suzail bound!'
Shurleen put down her food and pouted.
'But we just got here,' she whined. 'I heard that tomorrow night there was going to be a battle of the bards over at the bard college, and it has been rumored that both Danilo Thann and Olive Ruskettle are going to show up.'
Passepout bit his tongue. He of course would normally have jumped at the opportunity to reacquaint himself with the famed halfling bard, but thought better of it, realizing the need to bring their traveling obligations to an end.
The battle of the bards always attracted a great crowd. Musicians, singers, and the like traveled from all over Faerun to attend. Only the best of the best (and those too well connected to safely turn away) were allowed to compete for the annual title of Best Bard. Volo had attended last year's competition and could well understand Shurleen's desire to attend.
'Tell you what I'm gonna do,' Volo propositioned. 'After lunch, Curtis and Passepout can restock our supplies for the journey farther east, and I will take you to this little tavern I know where all of the best bards hang out-in broad daylight, no less.'
'Well…' she answered, wavering.
'C'mon,' Passepout urged. 'You want to get home, don't you?'
'Well, yeah,' she replied.
'I know I do,' Curtis agreed.
Yeah, to her home, Passepout thought. Well, just remember if you get the girl, then I get the reward.
'Okay?' the master traveler asked.
'Okay,' she replied, adding, 'Wow! Famous bards just hanging out.'
'That's right,' the master traveler said, adding, 'I promise.'
The party of hungry travelers ate for a good two hours straight.
By the time they were finished, even Passepout relished the opportunity to walk off some of the meal, though Volo suspected that both he and Curtis would have preferred the company that he, Volo, was keeping rather than each other.
Volo took out a street map of the city, and showed Passepout a route whereby they would never be too far separated from each other, nor would they jeopardize closing themselves off from their necessary exit route out of town.
Both concurred that they would be glad when such measures were no longer necessary.
With an agreement to be back by nightfall, the groups split up to go about their appointed assignments.
'Eo, they were wonderful!' Shurleen exclaimed. 'And imagine Danilo Thann kissing my hand!'
'I'm glad you enjoyed it,' Volo replied, switching his pack bag from one shoulder to the other, and happy to see that even a spoiled, pampered child such as Shurleen could enjoy some of the simpler things in life. He noticed that when she wasn't being strident, demanding or pompous, she was actually quite cute.
'And he was just a regular guy, with regular concerns. He even mentioned that he was a little concerned about a decrease in his popularity during his last tour of Tantras. The crowds were more interested in some dwarf flying through the air on a winged lizard than sitting around a tavern and listening to good music.'
Grumby, Volo remembered. Oh, well, no reason to hold a grudge. I'm glad he got what he wanted.
Shurleen went to go back the way they came, but Volo redirected her down a different alley.
'No, this way,' he instructed, thinking to himself, Lucky for us there are four entrances to the Shipmaster's Hall. I'd hate to bollix things up this late in the game.
They ducked in and out of alleys a few more times until the master traveler said, 'Now just down the next alley, and voila, we're there.'
He didn't even see the rogue with the sap who came up behind them, nor feel its blow when it struck. The last thing he remembered was Shurleen starting to scream, and everything going black.
Chapter 23
Volo woke up with a splitting headache that he recognized as the type of borderline concussion you sometimes get from being bludgeoned upon entering someplace where you really aren't welcome.
He could feel that he was tied up but not blindfolded or gagged. He decided to act unconscious for a while until he got bin bearings.
'Hey, boss!' a gruff voice called. 'I think he's coming around!'
'Hasten the process,' another voice answered. 'Now!'
Ooooooofffffff!
Volo felt a kick to his ribs from an exceptionally pointy shoe and opened his eyes with a grimace.
'Boss, he's awake.'
The speaker of the gruff and tough tones was a lovely young lady attired in an elegant festhall lounging frock. She was carefully made up to accentuate her beauty, a creature of loveliness, a beauty to behold…
'Boss!'
