The Mage's Room: First Tower

The Magician slumped in the small chair. The wicked gash on her neck still oozing blood, her head tipped forward. A spider crawled from her black dress and scuttled across the floor.

“We won’t kill you if you help us,” said Patron softly, something malicious in his voice. Was he somehow thinking that might make things better? She raised her head enough to look him in the eye. He was dressed for fighting but she knew there was more than that. An odd-looking Half-Elf with intelligent eyes. He was part of a nasty group of rogues that had come over the pass last night.

The Magician could hear the grim looking hobbit ransack the room. Little fucker. There was something very unsettling about him. More there than I will ever know, she thought. The curious Half-Orc she’d pick off the causeway was there too. Watching the others. He seemed strangely relaxed – until he looked toward the Hobbit where his brow furrowed. There was something true and simple about that Half-Orc. An unlikely innocence wrapped in brawn and beef.

They were going to stay the night here – they said as much. An assault of the Peak was their mission. Apparently Elanor had already picked one off from the hills around the pass. Amateurs. Patron was speaking again. Something about telling them what she knows. About letting her and Cher go. About helping them take on the Peak.

Later that night they found the books on Dragon Lore. They noted how well read the tome on Black Dragon’s was. Did they have any idea what they were dealing with? She thought of the Wolfen and how much pain and death this group would bring them if they marched down the causeway into their home. Perhaps Patron’s offer was the best way out. If they would just let Cher go. Another innocent caught in the evil that rogues like this bring.

Just before dawn she decided. She could not trust them. They had refused to let Cher go – thinking there was some familial connection. Her life had been long enough. All she could hope for was to save those she had grown so fond of over these years. The trail south then west could take them round to where she had seen Orc-sign. Sending this lot in through the West Tower would save the Wolfen at least. Once they are in – who knows, they might wake up Semite. That would be something to see.