From: andrea@cm.deakin.OZ.AU (Andrea Todkill)
Date: 20 Jul 92 00:07:28 GMT
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: Kadrys receives Lancos' gear and hears SunStorm's riddles

Lancos returns to the inn just on sunset, distributing the items
he had obtained. Though he is heavily burdened with provisions of
all kinds, he hands Kadrys only a large roll of some black material.
Kadrys shakes it out, revealing a long cloak with a cavernous hood,
whose folds would hide the wearer's face effectively. Instead of
the usual fabric, it is made of soft leather. Kadrys holds a fold
up to the rays of the westering sun, peering intently at it. At
last he nods smilingly toward Lancos. "Quite lightproof. You have
done well indeed." He re-rolls the cloak and stashes it under his
chair as Lancos heads upstairs for a night's sleep.

At dawn, Lancos returns to the main room downstairs, surprised to
see 'Raelf still eating.  "How do you do that?"  he asked, shaking
his head askance.  "What?"  'Raelf looked up, finishing the last
of the noodles he had ordered.  "Eat like that.  If I ate like that
I'd be too fat to move." "Oh.  Magic is hard work.  Also is work
to keep pump."  'Raelf grinned and flexed a bicep.  "Not ready
competing, but ok for wimply kungfu dude." Lancos stared, baffled.
"Wimpolie kungoo doot?  What's that?" "Faugh.  Cannot I say it
correct this kind of Common."

Kadrys' gives a crooked grin at this exchange. He does not offer
to help translate, since the words 'wimply kungfu' were not part
of the antique Elvish dialect 'Raelf and he both knew. Indeed, as
he searches farther and farther into his memory, he realises the
words have no meaning in any of the many languages he has encountered
down the years. Clearly, 'Raelf comes from a world quite outside
his experience. Interesting.

Then, SunStorm appears and, upon questioning by Lancos, repeats
what the seer Denriqa told him. Kadrys listens silently, a frown
slowly deepening on his features. He leans forward intently as the
riddles continue, his mind racing.  'Raelf states his interpretation
and asks whether anyone can shed any light on the first set of
verses. At this, he breaks his silence.

"As Lancos here knows, since he was courteous (or rash!) enough to
ask me about my past when I was in one of my more talkative moods,
I was in life a thief.  And the skills have been useful enough
since then that I have not grown rusty.  It may be that I am the
thief mentioned by the first verse." Kadrys shrugs.

"Or, of course, the verse may simply refer to the person who stole
TrueSilver. I agree with 'Raelf that the third verse refers to
myself, 'Raelf, and Lancos in turn. As for the rest, I cannot give
you any definite information beyond what has already been said."
He pauses, and his expression darkens. "I find it deeply intriguing
that one of my kind appears to be your foe, SunStorm. How have you
crossed such a one in the past, that he would go to such lengths
to avenge himself upon you?"

He adds quickly, "Anything you can tell us about your enemy would
help us all to help you."