A Good End in Badside - Part XXIX

From: Oliver D. Bernuetz <bernuetz.oliver_at_...>
Date: Thu, 24 Oct 2002 19:03:57 -0000

I say "while" but of course what I really meant was a seeming eternity. It felt like we sat there long enough to develop bed sores on our butts but that'd be an exaggeration. We did however sit there long enough for me to watch the pattern of light on the opposite wall from us move half way across the wall. This light was coming from a small window high in the wall above us. I did notice something interesting about the followers of Yemalio while we waited though. They go out of their way to avoid shadows. Their buildings are generally very well lit with either magic, natural light, reflected natural light-using polished metal surfaces, very profligate, lamps or torches. If they're walking down a corridor and find a patch of shadow, or worse, darkness, they'll go out of their way to avoid it. Walking around it if possible or even turning back, or better yet getting a servant to rekindle whatever light source went out. Better a servant dare the darkness than someone important. It'd be too hard to purify them. I suppose trolls avoid light sources in the sane fashion.

We'd sat there for quite some time as I was saying, in fact I think we had both drifted off, when a clattering woke us. We sat up trying our best not to look like they had caught us sleeping and saw that it was Haloric Goldbrow and a dozen templars dressed in the full formal get up of pisspots and pointed sticks. Telling them to wait we got to our feet as he strode up purposefully, nodded courteously to us, knocked on the door, waited hardly any time at all and then went in. Belvani and I looked confused at each other and he'd just begun to say, "What's going..." when the door opened again and out came Haloric, Karial the Pure and the supercilious clerk from a few days ago.

When Haloric came out the templars quickly put themselves in formation behind him and Karial. The clerk was left to find a spot way in back. Once this was all done Karial nodded at Haloric who gave the order for them to start and they began marching down the hall without so much as a by your leave. I hastened to impose myself before the procession, no mean trick with a bum leg. Haloric held up a hand and stopped the parade. I nodded agreeably to first Karial and then Haloric and said, "What gives? We", pointing in Belvani's direction, "have an appointment." Karial looked down his nose at me and said in a dry husk of a voice, "I am afraid that will have to wait. I am on my way to bury my nephew."

To be continued.

Oliver