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The oldest brother takes the lead again and answers your questions.

- I see...it wouldn't hurt to touch the cases, would it? I'm guessing it is just a "security" system in case someone tries to open it, am I wrong?- 

- No. They will not. You could even take out the scrolls from their cases. Unless you try to decipher them, the spells bound to the scriptures are harmless. - a short pause - But... if you try to read them without the proper counter-spell... or to alter them somehow, then the magic within will be unleashed. -

- What do you mean "we"? Are you coming with us? I didn't think you would risk your asses on this, having about eight people here apparently willing to do all the dirty job.-

He frowns, equally with anger and disapproval.

- We will accompany you. All of us. For one, we want to see the faces of those who dare to assault our Palace with such ease and impunity. Then, we are recovering what is ours by right. We ought to be there when that happens. Third, you will need our help, to guide you trough the Palace and its lower levels to the Vault. And finally, - he smiles sadistically - we would also like to split some blood of those who have ordered the murder of our father.- 

Didn’t you tell the authorities? She asked. Is that palace in Cawic? She asked then, thinking that answer, if negative, would answer the first one at the same time. And by the way, what do you know about the enemy forces that took it from your hands?

- There are two answers to the first question. For the Palace is not within Cawics walls, but outside on a hilltop by the shore. However, it is still Cawic jurisprudence indeed. But usually the City Guard don't venture outside the Outer Wall and... - he blinks showing that it hurts what is about to say - if we were to the Council to admit that we have lost one of our Headquarters... well, that would be accepting that the Greenmeadows have been already defeated by our enemies. So far, only us, and whoever has occupied the Palace and assassinated our father, know about the current state of affairs in this war - He brings his hand to care his beard.

- And about your second question, we don't know much. Unfortunately, the reports we have from the few survivors of the assault, and the men who have tried to recover the palace before are less than inconclusive. The enemy forces that captured and hold the palace seem to be well trained and armed. They don't bear any distinctive marks nor banners, meaning that so far we are not able to tell their allegiance. The majority of these attackers seem to be humans, but some reports also place Dwarfs, Elves and even Orcs among their ranks, although none of them have been confirmed- pausing another moment, he seems to doubt about telling you the next thing. Finally however he nods slowly and goes on - There are also... concerning stories about the night of the assault from some of the survivors. Stories about monster walking alongside those men that stormed the palace. The descriptions are wild and variate, so we have not been able to sort out what types of monster those people witnessed that night, but we could suspect them to be Ogres or Trolls... - he shrugs as if discarding any other, more bizarre, possibility - nothing more. -

After some seconds of silence, considering having answered the main concerns, he looks around the table and asks.

- Anything else you would like to know? -

Baster took a moment to digest all that information.

The explanation about the lack of involvement by the authorities seemed far-fetched. It seemed like a kid not wanting to tell the teacher or her father that the bully had beaten her. But truly, she couldn’t say she knew a word about how law enforcing worked in more civilized lands than those she had been born in. Maybe it worked like that, who knew.

The hostile force was not just made up of people of various races, but also monsters. Even if it they were just trolls and ogres, as Erard suggested, it was enough to heat the blood coursing beneath her flesh to molten iron point and make her heart beat like a hundred war drums. She could see herself again in that cave, fighting for her life with the couple of ogres among the mauled corpses of her friends.

Yet there was an issue. If they chose to accept the undertaking, the brothers and sister would be coming with them.

I have one last concern, she said at last. What happens if all of you fall during the assault? Would we still get paid? And, she added, if that came to happen, should we still get those Scriptures anyway and deliver them to someone else?

Relief falls over me when I hear him saying the scriptures won't be as dangerous as they first seemed. When he answers my second questions though, his face shows anger. Is it anger towards us or towards the people who took their castle? It wouldn't be a good start if it was the first option. 

The Palace is outside Carwic, it may be crowded by monsters, they are coming with us...So far, all my questions have been answered but just when I'm about to accept, to enrol in this adventure, Baster states a fact I hadn't even taken into account. Although it was such a reasonable and important thing to ask. 

- Good point.- I say, waiting to hear what the eldest son has to say about that. His answer might change everything. 

Silently, the older brother produces a sack from behind his belt.

- Fair question. - he says while walking towards the door to the kitchen behind the bar where Gonore was seen disappearing from before.

- This sack is packed with precious gems, stones and old jewelry. The heritage we got - points to his brothers and the missing sister outside - from our grandmother when she passed away. We have collected them as your payment in anticipation of what you just mentioned. - he goes through the door and you hear him talking to the elf for a second.

Presently he comes back and rejoins you by the table.

- Should we all perish in this mission, you can come back here and talk to Gonore. He will help you selling them and spreading the profits. - he pauses and lowers his head and voice a little - Additionally, should we all die there, the Greenmeadows will be no more... Then, there won't be any claimant to our titles, wealth or properties... should that happen, you are more than welcome to keep whatever you find during this raid... Including the scriptures since they won't be of any use to us in our deaths. -

After a long pause while silence reigns in the room after the perspective of death up ahead, he stands up again and starts walking to the doors.

- By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes - he recites the proverb

- Should we go now? -

So, if I did understand everything the way it was suposed to, these people were not really hiring warrios but companions. That was brave, but if they were not skilled they were only going to be a burden. Since they said "if we all perish you can claim blablabla" I was wondering if the pretty daughter was going to fight as well or if she wasn't rightfully one of the Greenmeadows and therefore had no right on claiming anything of the wealth of her dead father. I was hoping it was the first one, otherwise those guys were assholes with their sister.

- So, ayment is in order and the "plan" is sort of in order too. If everybody agrees on helping here, we should better start preparing the attack plan.*

Baster wasn’t one that had grown in an environment where pretty stones and brilliant metals had any significant value, much to the chagrin of the few merchants who dared venture the forest and its scalping and skinning loving elven overlords. She had learnt about it lately, though. One could sell those for good money to buy actually useful things. O wear them, if she cared for that, around the neck, hanging from the ears and the like, and let others look at her and nod in appreciation of such an elegant and succesful individual.

She had already made up her mind anyways, so she didn’t even bother to ask about the amount of money she could turn her part into. Or what was the actual plan. it'd have to come up eventually.

Guess we’re the wicked that come, she said, a smirk on her face. I’m in.

Grimmel had been quiet. Too much of this story of treason and murder was familiar to him. Once again he would storm a castle, and once again he could but hope that Justice was on his side.

—Knowledge is the wing wherewith we shall fly to victory. We must be ready, but if there is anything else we need to know, this is the place and the moment.

That last time, a damned night of terrible memories, he brought war to a well-defended castle and rose victorious, but he knew every access, the habits of every guard. This time they would be in the darkness, in more than one sense.

I frown my eyebrows. I don't really trust Gonore. It hasn't been long since he seemed to have tried to poison us. Or so it had looked like. However, at that point, I'm not that interested in the money anymore. Of course, it matters that we will get a reward but, right now, anything sounds better that staying at the Inn, with the creepy Inn keeper, getting bored out of my mind. 

- You can count on my swords- I say, no loyalty whatsoever in my voice. Then, I get into practical matters.- So...how are we gonna split up.- Since they've decided to accompany us I agree with Elaria that maybe they should arrange the groups.- Will there be just one of you in each group or you'd rather come in pairs or groups of three?

Sionnain is still in the Grimmel's lap when the room starts to fill up with people. He smiles, seeing Elaria is ok, and laughts when Grimmel touchs his nose. The little boy is drowsy and a few times closes the eyes for some seconds. 

He doesn't take part in the conversation between adults, but when all seems organized, he raise his eyes to look at Grimmel and nods. - I'm ready! - Exclaims rubbing his eyes with the reverse of his hands.

Erard nods slowly and silently. Presently, he adds a wide smile to his bearded face, pleased and content for the imminent chance to recover that what will allow his brothers and himself to be rightful owners of the Greenmeadows demesne.

- It is set then – he walks towards the door of the inn. Opening it, he signs the step sister, Eril, to get inside.

The young girl walks silently in front of him, grief still written in her face, and joins you by the table.

- We should plan the assault now that we are all together. –

From a hidden pocket in his coat, he produces a folded paper that carefully expands over the table. Bending over a little bit over the wood planks, you clearly see what it depicts: these are the plans of the Palace.

- This is the Palace of the White Jade – begins Erard.

First thing you can clearly see in a quick glance, this is no castle or strong fortification. It seems rather a luxury construction, built more for pleasures and pretensions than military or strategic purposes. And is that quality you also catch up in the first glance. The palace seems quite pompous, and just by looking at is floor plans, giving you an idea of the riches it might contain inside.

- I suggest we split up in three groups – Erard continues planning the assault. – You two – he points towards Baster and Ilesys – should join me in creating a clear distraction, probably using a direct approach through the front façade. -

His finger moves in the map towards the main entrance.

Erard raises his head to his two brothers-

- Hammond, Gery, take the mage and the healer and prepare a reinforcement group that flanks the enemy though one of the palace wings and is ready to assist us should the tides turn… in our disadvantage. – Both brothers nod.

- Then, Eril – he turns to his step sister – you will guide an infiltration group from the rear façade that will be charged with the task of recovering the scriptures with the rest of these people –

He looks at you all now.

- The plan is simple, and not written in stone, since we don’t really know what to expect there. Although the idea is more or less clear, my group creates a distraction while Eril’s sneaks from behind and the flanking group supports both advances, it might be subject to changes depending on how the assault develops, meaning that, if any of you encounter  the possibility of taking the scriptures, do so without hesitation. Remember, the main objective is to recover those documents. Once we have them, we can compel to the Council to reclaim what should be originally ours. Everything else in this mission is secondary, so use any means necessary to achieve our objective. –

He folds the map back and puts it into his pocket.

- Well then. Let’s go. We can refine the particular details for each group once we approach the Palace. – 

- Thus, without further add on, our heroes departed from the warm hall at Gonore’s Inn, to the damp cold of the dawn mist in the Southeast coast of Hilone. Soon they were crossing through Cawic’s mighty gates, and heading towards the cliffs to the North where, some miles away, the Palace of the White Jade was waiting for them… -

After a long journey back to the city of Cawic, you finally make your way to the Triumphant Harper.

The night has fallen during the trip back from the palace, so luckily enough, there are not many curious eyes around to witness your return.

The Inn's door remains ajar, and a warm light from the big fire filters out as the only welcome the heroes have after their journey.

You push the door open and find the innkeeper, Gonore, standing just a few steps away.

- I was waiting for you - is the only welcome he says before placing his eyes on Ilesys body.

- Quickly take her to that room - he raises a hand indicating the big room at the floor just by the big fire.

For a moment you are tempted to argue with that. To replay, to tell him that she is dead, that there is no use in anything for her anymore. But again, somehow you feel compelled to do as he says.

So you place the body of the young warrior on the bed at the room.

- Now get out. - Gonore says while lays towards Ilesys and starts searching for vital signs - Eat, rest and recover - tells you - You have earned it. -

Suddenly you are very very tired. Is like everything has fallen on you at once. The entire day, the tough mission, the fights, the runs, the mischievous treason. So you obey.

In the main room there is food and drinks ready for you to enjoy. In the upper room your beds are warm and welcoming.

You rest and sleep a dreamless night.

Sunshine comes and the light wakes you up. Even after all the punishment of the fights, traps and adventures that happened yesterday, your bodies feel miraculously rested.

Gonor is by the stares, waiting for you to wake up.

Once you realize he is there, he smiles gently.

- Come. All of you - he says - she is about to wake up. -

You follow the innkeeper downstairs, to the room where you put Ilesys to rest yesterday night.

There Gonore lays over once again.

- Oh you are awake. Good. Good... - he says while putting a warm and reassuring hand in her forehead to keep her lying down while his other keeps changing the bandages in Ilesys chest and arm.

- You got us all worried, my dear. Thought you didn't make it - He smiles, and his smile is sweet and gentle.

To your awe, Ilesys replies. She is not only alive, but she is even conscious.

- How did I get here? - she ask, letting a grunt scape, suddenly aware of the pain in her chest and arm. Trying to sit up she looks straight into the man's eyes - Us? - He had implied that he was not the only one worried about her well-being.- Are the others ok? Did they make it back here with the Scriptures?-*

Sionnain feels like he would in a dream. Since the darkness blinded his vision and the melody captured his mind, the little boy wasn't aware of all around him. He feels the wound, the arms of Grimmel charged him, the treason of the brothers, but he is a little confused about. 

Is in the inn when the kid starts to react. He listens carefully the Gonore's words and when the new sun raises, he gets out of bed plenty of energy. He claps when he sees Ilesys. - Ohhhh, welcome back! The half-elf woman was a bitch! And she is making out with her brother! -exclaims the kid with his sweet voice, obviusly disgusted- And she wanted sleep with Grimmel too. 

Then, he tilts his head and looks at Grimmel smiling. -But now we are safe. And ready for a new adventure! Yeah!