Chapter 12
'You must leave now,' said the cleric to the elf. 'Time works against you.'
Melf shook his head. 'I have but three others with me,' he countered. 'If there is to be a chance of overcoming more than a score of the most savage brigands in a decade, the party must be augmented — a good cleric, at least!'
'I can offer no assistance there,' came the reply, 'for this temple houses only myself and a handful of underpriests. None are suitable for such an undertaking, Melf. May I suggest to you that you underestimate your own prowess?'
'Venerable Halomew, you subtly seek to influence me by flattery. I seek only to complete my mission.'
The balding high priest of Celestian smiled benignly, took the elf by his mail-clad arm, and steered him toward the rear exit of the chamber. 'Let us walk to the stables as we converse,' he said. 'Although you serve Mordenkainen, Veluna's interests are at stake here also, I assure you. All that I can do has been done, and it is now up to you and your associates, but you are not alone. Honor and glory to the first who stop these rogues and gain the prize.'
'Are you certain that this intelligence is correct?' Melf asked, tapping the small roll of parchment the high priest had given him earlier.
'The facts are as given, and divination has revealed that if you speed due east the foe will be met,' the high priest reassured him.
The elven warrior-mage shrugged. 'Then we four bear a heavy burden — but bear it we must. We will leave immediately, for all is in readiness.'
'The stars guide you and the heavens watch over you,' Venerable Halomew said in benediction. Then, smiling and clasping the gray elfs hand, he said, ''Melf… good luck! Before you go, there is a question I must ask.”
Melf was puzzled, but he liked the old cleric, and nodded m him. 'You may ask.'
'Why do you use this name Melf? Prince Brightflame…'
'Cease!' Melf commanded without regard for Halomew's station. 'It is recorded that I gave up all titles and claims, so name not these bygone things to me. As for Melf, it is a simple name, as good as any.' Then he unbent a little and admitted, 'This art of dweomercrafting is a perilous one, good cleric, and one must protect one's true name as carefully as a miser hoards his treasured gold.'
'My blessings upon you and the others, then… Melf,' said the priest, and he took his leave of the elven fighter-mage as they reached the stables.
Four armored riders cantered eastward on swift destriers. In the lead was the gray elf fighter and spell- caster, Melf. Next to him rode his friend and henchman, Biff. This halfling certainly had another name also, but as a swordsman and thief, one of his sort wished to avoid notoriety, to say the least. Behind these small figures came a pair of large men. The larger by far was Chert, a barbarian axeman wearing chainmail shirt and a plain helmet. Leather leggings and heavy boots protected his legs, but he disdained a shield. Beside him rode a hard-eyed crossbowman who called himself Lizard. This worthy was clad in scale mail, which did lend a semblance of reptilian nature to him. Tall and lean-muscled, Lizard prided himself in his accuracy with his chosen weapon, the arbalest.
'There is a fire under the elfs saddle,' Lizard commented as he and Chert moved their steeds from canter to gallop following Melfs lead.
'Aye,' agreed Chert, laughing. 'When I signed on for this expedition, I thought to escape the dull routine of soldiering in Veluna. Now we might as well be warding some caravan!'
'Better the merchant train than this,' the leathery-skinned crossbowman called back. 'Caravans move at a more dignified pace, offer comfortable ease at night, and often have comely lasses amidst their baggage!' Further conversation was withheld, for they needed their attention and wind for the journey.
'There is the Velverdyva!' Melf shouted as he reined in his sweating steed. They had ridden hard for two days to arrive at this place on the great river that formed the boundary between Veluna and the Kingdom of Furyondy. There was a collection of buildings near the pier that marked the ferry here. 'We will spend the night at Shanscross and take the first ferry tomorrow,' said the leader.
All were pleased to find a small but well-kept inn in the thorp. Lizard, Biff, and Chert retired immediately after supping, but Melf stayed late in the common room, sipping wine and listening to the crackle of the fire and the idle chatter of barman and a pair of local patrons.
'Bring me a cold meat pie, Okelard cheese of the smoked sort, fruit, and your best wine!' a whining voice demanded.
This woke Melf from his doze, and he turned to see what the commotion was about. He noted that the order had come from a tall, skinny elf. As he looked, the lanky fellow returned his gaze with a smiling face but cold, cold eyes. The barman hurried to comply, going into the kitchen to fetch the viands, while a young wench, probably his daughter, drew a beaker of wine from a large cask behind the counter. The girl was well-formed, and the mop of auburn ringlets that framed her delicate face was most fetching.
'Draw two goblets extra, my pretty!' the thin elf called to her as she finished filling the container he had ordered. 'One for me, one for you,' he said with a rising cackle. 'Then you can help me Carry the lot upstairs,' he concluded with a suggestive giggle.
The wench flushed and shook her curls. 'My father does not permit me to drink with patrons,' she said with a tone of disgust that could be taken as discontent with either the for-biddance or the offer. The expression on her pretty face, however, left little doubt as to the cause of her revulsion.
'Eh? We'll see about that, my saucy little trollop. Barman! Come here at once!' Although the fellow was still laughing as he called, there was cruelty and threat in the cackling.
Melf arose from his chair and strode to a place near the unsavory elf. 'Allow me to buy those two flagons you mentioned, sir elf, and to introduce myself to a fellow demi-human. I am Melf of the Arrow. And you, sir?'
The skinny elf stared unblinkingly at Melf, assessing him carefully. It was evident that he cared for neither the intrusion nor the offer of wine. But Melfs steel-clad form and the easy bearing he maintained under the scrutiny disconcerted the other elf, and he cackled to break the tension he felt within. 'Yes, of course,' he said. 'I am Keak, and I will accept offer of a drink.'
'Keak, then. A native of these parts?'
'Nay, a stranger like yourself — merely passing through,' the odd elf giggled in reply.
'Crossing the Velverdyva?'
'No, my comrade and I are taking… goods… from his home in the Kron Hills to my own. Do you know Highfolk?' Keak's laughter rang with a happy yet mocking note as he asked Melf the question. 'It is a lovely, lovely place, you know.'
Melf could not help concluding that this elf was imbalanced. From a half-wit, such constant giggling and laughing could be expected, but Keak was certainly in possession of all normal faculties — except that they were awry. 'I have been there once or twice, both town and valley,' Melf responded. 'Is your companion elvish too?'
'Ahahahh, ha, ha, heehee! That squatty little fellow elvish? Never! Some call us an odd pair, traveling alone together as we always do — my friend is most interested in rocks and soils, while I collect butterflies and other insects — but it works out well enough,' said Keak with a rollicking giggle and a wild eye.
Any further conversation was cut off by the arrival of the innkeeper's daughter with a great tray of food. Without comment she placed it firmly down upon the counter and looked expectantly at the skinny elf. Keak tittered, shrugged, plunked down a few coins, and turned again to Melf.
'My companion will be rooting about in his haversack for interesting rocks, so if you'd care to join us in a midnight repast, Melf of the Arrow, you are welcome. Heh, heh, ha, tee hee! Elvish talk would please me much.'
Feigning regret he certainly did not feel, Melf declined. 'The invitation is most kind, but the hour is late. On the morrow I must hasten east. Good night and safe journey to you, Keak.'
'Farewell then yourself, and may your passage carry you speedily to the lands beyond the broad
