expeditions. In the end, the old mage had selected Baylee over Serellia, but no explanations were offered. The event had left both of them wondering. Though Serellia apparently had no ill will toward either Golsway or Baylee, the ranger recognized that both of them were uncomfortable with the situation.
'I see.' Aymric stroked his chin, obviously knowing there was more to the story. 'Would you care to see some of the birds I brought for show at the concourse?'
A wave of relief washed through Baylee. He drained the dregs of his wine cup as Serellia asked the elf about the birds.
'Baylee.'
The ranger looked up and spotted old Karg the Thunderer approaching.
Karg was a massive man, shoulders a full axe handle and more across. His arms were as thick as most men's thighs, and his thighs were strong enough to lift a table often men over his head. Baylee had also seen him crush small rocks in his callused bare hands, dropping nuggets and dust to the ground. The head of a huge, double-bitted dwarven axe poked up over his shoulders, incredibly nearly as wide across as his shoulders.
'Well met, Karg,' Baylee called. 'And how are you?'
The big man's face split into a grin. 'There's a few less stone giants roving these lands than there were last year, thank the Lady. I trust you've had an eventful year.'
'I've had better,' Baylee replied, curious about why Karg would seek him out. Usually they only talked in groups. Giant killers were notorious boasters, and at best only made good company for a limited time.
'Have you been to Waterdeep lately?' Karg peered back across the concourse.
'Not in months.'
'Did you leave trouble there?'
Even more curious now, Baylee asked, 'What's wrong, Karg?'
'Interlopers,' the giant killer snorted. 'We end up getting a few of them every year. Usually give 'em the bum's rush if they start interfering with the festivities. Most of them pretend to be rangers, but they've never really had the calling. Or the talent. But we've a group here now that's downright interesting.'
'Why?' Baylee asked.
'You know Tryklyss?' Karg asked.
'Known as the Quick-Handed,' Aymric said.
'The very same.' Karg nodded without enthusiasm. 'Of course, he doesn't do any stealing here, but after some of us got suspicious about this new group, we found Tryklyss and suggested he take a peek in their things.'
Baylee was intrigued, wondering how all of this had sent the giant killer looking for him. His limited contact with Waterdeep had been only inquiries about Golsway. The last he'd heard, months ago, the old mage had been well.
'Tryklyss didn't get very far,' Karg said. 'Their personal belongings are heavily warded. At least one of the group possesses extensive training in magic. What he did find out, though, was that this group is traveling under orders from the Waterdeep Watch.'
'What are they doing here?' Serellia asked. 'The Watch is concerned only with what goes on inside the walls. They'd have no power out here.'
'What they want has yet to be determined,' Karg answered. 'However, they have been asking questions about young Baylee. It seems they've come all this way to find you.'
9
'Baylee Arnvold? Yes, I believe I saw him only a short time ago. He was deep in his cups, wandering, you know, so I don't really know where he might be at this moment. But you might try over at the axe throwing contest. That's always been a favorite of his.'
Cordyan Tsald listened to the explanation from the woman ranger with increasing irritation. She and her watch group had been led in circles for the last hour. 'Thank you for your time,' she said politely.
The ranger, a woman in her late fifties dressed all in forest green and touching the head of the great panther at her side, shook her head. 'And why would you be thanking me? This is a party, isn't it? Not some functionary in a noble's court.' She turned and walked away. The panther hesitated only a moment, its tail twitching reflexively as it covered the ranger's back. Its deep green eyes regarded Cordyan steadily. Then it turned and padded away.
Cordyan let out a sigh of relief. Personally, she loved animals. But the abundance of them at the concourse was staggering. She glanced around to get her bearings again, and spotted the axe throwing contest. Cinching her sword over her hip more comfortably, she looked to her left and saw the two members of the watch who worked in tandem with her.
Signaling her intent, she indicated where they were going and to remain back away from her. She had already drawn more attention than she wanted to with all of her questions about Baylee Arnvold.
She walked toward the axe throwing competition, guessing that she wouldn't find the ranger there, either. The rangers were hiding Baylee because he was one of their own, she understood that, but if he was somehow responsible for what had happened to Fannt Golsway more than a tenday ago, she didn't think that would be so. Granted, there were outlaws among the rangers, but none who were outright.
As she passed through the concourse grounds, she was aware of the men's heads who turned to watch her pass. Five and a half feet tall and slender, not having seen twenty-five winters yet, she carried herself well. Her chestnut colored hair ended at her shoulders and flipped in toward her neck, a proud mane that caught the firelight and burned copper. Her traveling leathers were worn but serviceable. She wore riding leathers over her breeches, and left her arms bare with the patched leather tunic. Her boots had low-cut heels so she could navigate broken terrain better. Her left hand closed automatically around the long sword at her side to hold it in place. Secreted in a number of pouches throughout all her traveling clothes, she carried a number of leaf-bladed darts. Dagger handles thrust up from her boots.
Find Baylee Arnvold and bring him back to Waterdeep for questioning.
That had been Captain Tirdan Closl's orders to her. Cordyan had been greatly surprised that the Watch was being empowered to go so far to bring someone back. It was no secret that the Watch extended their reach from the city upon occasion, but coming to the forgathering was the farthest she had ever heard of.
Nearly thirty men and women ringed the competition area. Lanterns hung from trees along a path nearly twenty feet long. Competitors stood at one end of the twenty foot distance and threw their favorite axes at the target at the other end, a tree trunk hewn and laying on its side. The target was almost three feet across. Innumerable scars cut into the tree trunk already. A silver piece gleamed in the center of the target, but no one had hit it yet.
The current ranger at the line drew back and let fly with a camp axe. The axe flipped end over end, then smacked into the target with a loud, meaty thunk. The handle quivered for a moment from the force.
A ragged cheer went up from a handful of the watchers, while others groaned. It had come closest to the small target.
Approaching one of the cheerers, thinking the man might be more inclined to answer favorably while winning, Cordyan said, 'I'm looking for Baylee Arnvold.'
'When you find him,' the man said, 'tell him Rasnip says 'well met,' and he owes me a drink.' He turned back to the competition, clapping as the next contestant stepped to the line.
Cordyan looked up at the trees and curbed her anger. A host of birds and climbing things stared back at her from the branches, their eyes amber, orange, and red from the lantern light. Senior Civilar Closl should have known this would be a fruitless mission. However, after hearing how Golsway's body had been found, she supposed there was no choice. Baylee Arnvold was the only lead the Watch had. She sighed. 'What does it take to step to the line and compete?' she asked.
Rasnip looked at her and cocked an eyebrow. 'You've evidently got a willing heart. Have you a keen eye and a strong arm to go with it?'
'There's only one way to find out.'
