AnAdventurousIntroductionToLeilm part 11

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12/12/2002 - date gamed

(372yp)

It is the morning of the 58th of Spring, Zaral'a'mazi.

Zali'haro and Sjer Mi'han are asleep whilst Afalar goes for a walk.

Afalar goes out to the White Market carrying the silver ring from Dr. Milizaro, the gold ring with the markings and he is heading to Mi'zali, a pawnshop. While looking at the case of small rings, Afalar notices a ring similar to his gold one. He asks to inspect it and is given it to examine. It is not as intricate, but seems a little heavier. It is worth 190 drops. Afalar leaves the shop and heads into the Market Proper. After a walk around the market Afalar heads back to the Sru'haro compound.

Afalar spends the rest of the day perusing the good Dr. Milizaro's book.

That evening we sit around the dinner table with 15 other members of the household including some new women.

They are here preparing a room for the Alm's niece. She is fairly strong-headed and knows how to ride and has gotten into trouble a few times.

We rise and head out for a walk under the stars. We discuss our options and goals and decide to head back to Afalar's room. Afalar sits down to pen two letters from Jezeral to Famel, aka Afalar, and the other from Jezeral to Mazidi. The one to Famel asks for help and directs him to get more information from Mazidi. The second letter to Mazidi is a letter of introduction for Mazidi.

We then obtain horses once more and head west out of the White Gate. We ride for two and a half hours following some vague directions. We pass an old irrigation channel and come to a hut near a bridge. There is a small mill, but it seems to be a non-operational. There are some other buildings indicating a once thriving community, but it is now scarcely populated.

Afalar rides in first and gets his horse settled, then enters the inn. He sees a narrow hall with a couple of meeting rooms just inside. There is a set of stairs going up and a common room which Afalar heads to.

Once Afalar sits down a short heavy-set woman comes in and offers to bring Afalar whatever he wishes.

Afalar takes the table which puts his back to the wall. He looks at the occupants and sees a couple of dusty workmen, a woman and man, and someone in the shadows whose face cannot be made out. After listening to some of the common conversation for awhile his flagon arrives via Nalis.

Afalar spends some time appraising everyone there. The couple are an odd pair. The woman is very tall, towering over her companion by a head. Her companion is dark and very solidly built. They seem quite smitten with each other and speak of making their fortune in the city. They mention the name Kailimar.

Afalar's mutton stew arrives complete with mint jelly. Nalis may be thick, but she can sure cook.

Sjer and Zali enter and pay for a room for the night. Zali picks a table between Afalar and the shadowy corner. Three flagons and two bowls of mutton stew later.

Afalar makes his move a few minutes later. He heads back to the shadowed table.

"You are Mazidi?"

"I am, and you are?"

"Famel from Falom. I have been sent to see you, but before I reveal my purpose, I need to know that it's you."

"What would convince you that it's me?"

"Well, I've been sent by a man who I do not know personally but that I know through a friend who is currently in Lie'lm. And he has sent me to you. Does the proprietor, Nalis, of this place know you? Can she vouch for you?"

"Yes."

"Very good. That would satisfy me. Don't worry, my caution is justified, no offense to you."

"None taken."

Afalar then goes back to his seat and continues eating while waiting for Nalis to come back out. She appears and Afalar questions her about the identity of the woman in the back. After confirmation, Afalar finishes his meal and ale and then switches tables to sit with Mazidi.

"I'm curious," she says.

"Some time ago I received these letters," Afalar states as he hands over the two letters to Mazidi.

"Where did you travel from?"

"I don't wish to say where I travelled from. Let's just say it was not far from here."

"Perhaps this is not the best room to talk in. I have a room upstairs."

"That's fine, I would like the one letter back."

"In a while."

Afalar and Mazidi head upstairs leaving Sjer and Zali in the common room.

"Finish your food," Sjer whispers to Zali.

Once upstairs Afalar is shown to Mazidi's room. She opens the door and he goes in first. There are a couple of beds there and a small stand with a basin of water. She is heavily armed and there is a shield beside her.

Mazidi lights the candles and peers intently at the letters that Afalar has given her. She then hands one letter back to Afalar.

"I'm as cautious as you are."

"I understand."

"You weren't the person I was expecting to meet. Do you know anything else of what is going on here?"

"I do not"

"And you have never met Jerezal before?"

"I have not."

"Who is Pamar?"

"Pamar is an old friend of mine."

"What I can tell you depends on what you are sent to do. That letter is a little bit vague. You must have your own thoughts."

"Well, it seems I am to take care of a problem and that is my specialty. Problem solving. From what I understand there is a horse race next week and the problem is in the race. It's pretty clear that it's my responsibility to take this person out, but I need to know some more information about this person besides his identity and it appears you are the conduit for this information."

"Hmm, you are a little bit unexpected. I wasn't told you were coming. So we'll have to put you up somewhere in the city."

"It's my responsibility to take this person out, so where I'm put up and how I'm put up really depends on how I am to deal with the problem. So I need to the know the name of the person who is causing this problem and I need to know the situation with the race and possibly his associates there so that I may do my job."

"He can't die during the race, so if you were contacted to kill him it would have to be after the race. It's not something we've discussed before. Have you ever been to Lie'lm before?"

"Yes."

"So you know how difficult it can be to get into the compounds -- into the stables."

"It won't be any more of a challenge than what I have done before. You can count on that. And as I understand it that is not really your concern, but my responsibility."

"Say that again?"

"It is my responsibility to carry out my task."

"So all you need is the jockey's name?"

"I need his name, and I need to know the names of affiliates and family and Alm. I need to know more about this race that he is in. I know when the race is. I get the impression I was not told these details in the letter for some security reason. I don't understand why I need to ask you."

"Well this is the final race of the long distance runners. And this particular race is the grandest. The last. There is one particular jockey who is in excellent position to win. As long as he completes the race and not in last place he will win. This would be great for him and his stable. There is only one rider who could possibly catch him to win, Lajas Cramalar. He could only win if Torazi does not complete the race or comes in dead last. It is an endurance race, it will last ... well, it is difficult to determine. It is based on a number of laps. Somewhere between 20 and 25 circuits so it will be a long run."

"And which of these racers is the problem?"

"Well, Torazi will be the issue, but he can't be seen to be killed by foul play during the race or before."

"And hence that is why I'm here. It's clear to me that he is to die during the race from natural causes."

"And you can arrange this?"

"Yes."

"The stable he is with is Zoriris and owners of the stable are Azar Arajil. Most people seem to bet that Torazi will win the race and the final crown. It is not one of the larger stables, it is a smaller one. Interesting that he would go to such matters to deal with this. There does not seems to be any Alms involved, did you expect there to be?"

"There is always an Alm involved. So the problem goes away if he does not complete the race in a way that seems fair to the race.

"And some people would stand to gain a lot of money."

Sjer and Zali are led upstairs and to their room.

"What information do you need? I don't know what position he will race out of, but it seems that you are someone who is competent and will find these things out in time. Will you need to contact me again in the city?"

"I don't believe so, but if I need to how will I do that? It seems clear I should deal with you and not Jerezal."

"Well, you can find me on the 62 or 63 of this month in the evening after dusk at the Inn of the Yellow Stallions. That would seem somewhat suitable. And if I need to send you a message before then?

"You can leave that message there with the proprietor."

"How can I contact you if I need to do that?

"We can do the same thing, are you using the name Mazidi?"

"Yes."

"I will check in there. and leave the barkeep my name, Famel."

Afalar stands up and makes movements towards the door. Just before opening he says, "Oh, can you recommend a good swordsmith to me in the city?"

"I don't know them well enough to recommend a good one, however there is a district of them near the Ta'im'ielm."

"Thank you for the information that you provided."

Sjer then closes his door across the hall when he makes eye contact with Afalar.

Afalar exits and collects his horse and then goes to where he can watch the road.

Later, Sjer hears Mazidi leave the room and go downstairs. He rouses Zali who climbs out the window and and falls into the water trough below breaking it and bruising himself badly in the process.

Mazidi heads South toward the old castle instead of East where Afalar waits. We saddle up and leave the Inn in search of Afalar. We find him and continue back to Lie'lm.

Zali always says, "Leap before you look." And tonight, he proved it.

The ride in is uneventful.

Once in the city as we are heading back Afalar sees the man who followed Sjer and Afalar that night in the New Market. He is in the company of Hara'eem and they enter a small tavern together.

Afalar tells Sjer that the night we saw Prupumara we were followed by a man who just went into this bar right here in the company of Hara'eem. The bar is at the sign of the Four Stars.

We go home and sleep the night away. It is now the morning of the 59th.

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