34 Chapter 34

   As it turned out Mashek had the Dawnstar Inn held in his thrall. The serving wenches made him seductive offers. The owner didn't dare deny him a request, and the locals seemed to regard the thief as some sort of hero. The Barkeep pointed to Mashek, "Another round in the house in the name of our daring friend."

   The bar differed from others because the 

   The entire scene perplexed the Princess because back in Shadowfen, Mashek barely ranked above a cutpurse. The gap-tooth burglar raised a flagon, "To the next adventure."

    Zinjo and Aurelia exchanged puzzled Glances, "It seems our sticky friend made good somehow," Zinjo said in a quiet tone. "Shall we see what our friend has been up to?"

   Slender hands gripped the parasol blade with determination, "I agree," Aurelia gracefully walked toward the slender thief. 

   The crowd parted as Zinjo and Aurelia approached their informant, "Mashek, it's so good to see you," Aurelia put her arm around his shoulder. The thief went pale and tried to get up, Zinjo darted around to the right side and pushed him back down. "I see you're doing well."

  In an instant Mashek waved his hand, "Sorry folks, I'll regale you with the story later. I'd like to catch up with them privately." He waited for the assembled crowd to leave, "By the goddess what are you two doing here. You could ruin everything."

    Zinjo leaned his partisan against the table and yawned, "Ruin what, thief?"

    "A round of drinks for my friends," Mashek shouted, "There is major dissent in the nobility, Lord Bathory is looking to unhorse emperor. I scored a very important item a few nights ago."

    "How important?" Aurelia demanded as the serving wench brought them cold mugs of ale, "Thank you."

   "Might I remind you your sister's business is Aurelia's hands," Zinjo's veiled his threat with a hint of sugar? "I'd hate to see her out in the street," The yellow eyes were filled with disdain. Aurelia hadn't forgotten his aversion to whore houses.

    A fist smacked the table and Mashek pointed at them, "I have power now you don't get to threaten me. Treat me with respect or I won't tell you what I stole. I may have been just a cut-purse at home, but here I am somebody."

    The princess sighed and several coins clinked against the wooden table, "Perhaps I shall let my gold do the talking." Aurelia suggested. 

     The thief licked his lips, "I don't recall either of you saying anything untoward," He flashed his yellow teeth and down the contents of his flagon. A loud belch pierced the air before the tankard found attack to the table with a thump. "Lord Bathory had me steal a bottle."

   "A bottle?" Aurelia placed a hand on her forehead,  "Why would he need a bottle?"

    "When the emperor went missing a man named Dunkelheit assumed the throne with a legitimate claim"

     Zinjo cut him off with the slash of a hand, "Dunkelheit is the ruler of the Cherish Empire? With a legitimate claim? How is that possible?" 

   "We were about to find out until you opened your mouth," Aurelia scowled at him, she turned to Mashek with a flourish of her hand, and honeyed words, "Please continue, my ears hunger for your words."

    "Anyway, four of the most trusted servants saw Dunkelheit's true face and immediately came to Lord Bathory with a description. Of course, Lord Bathory being the consummate scholar that he is, began to do research based on the description. He came across a passage describing Lebende Dunkelheit, or living darkness."

   "Lord Bathory accepted the servants' words without question,'' A dubious expression hit Zinjo's face like an arrow shot from a longbow. 

  "Bathory is familiar with all legends and investigates every matter his people bring to him. As you can see, Venmere is prosperous because of such action." A serving wench brought another tankard of ale, and he took a long pull before he put the mug on the table, "Anyway, about five hundred years ago, a dark magic user named Dunkelheit ruled Cherish. It was through his cruelty and dark magic the Cherish Empire was born. "

   "How come we have no record of it in Shadowfen?" Curiosity tugged at Aurelia's mind. Surely such a character would be in the history of her kingdom.

   "Shadowfen sprung up a hundred years later," Mashek replied, "Anyway, the emperor's ancestor led a brave army to topple the madman. They Succeeded, but little did they know their troubles were just beginning."

   "Kivuli," Zinjo whispered, "The great shadow."

   "Here they call him the Kludde, Bathory is insistent. We call him Dunkelheit to remind him we know his true identity. To name him something ominous gives him power," He leaned forward, "I'll assume Redford is behind your little visit?"

   "Redford and Mshindi are waiting outside of town, they were worried about you, thief," Zinjo growled softly, "Now what is so special about the bottle?"

    Mashek's voice grew lower. "The bottle is meant to hold a creature like Dunkelheit. Bathory calls them witch traps. He thinks the key to stopping Dunkelheit is to bottle him up again. Although that is just the beginning, he thinks we need a spell to activate the bottle."

   A mournful groan left Aurelia's lips, "Well then I want an introduction. Zinjo and I wish to help. A man like Dunkelheit won't rest on his laurels before he plunges the world into Chaos." 

  "I agree," Zinjo said.

   "Fair warning, Bathory is quite the paranoid recluse, and he may not talk to you today," The slender thief rose from the table and left a pair of gold coins for the serving wench, "She has two children to support."

   "That's very thoughtful of you Mashek," Aurelia said with a big smile, "Now lead the way to lord Bathory's"

***

   Once they were back  out on the street Mashek asked, "How are my camping buddies doing anyway?"

   "Let's say the trip here was interesting in all the wrong ways," Aurelia said. She told the thief of their adventures to Venmere. 

  "Wow, that is quite the tale. Lord Bathory is always looking for new knowledge and entries for his book on creatures. If you talk about the widow of the woods, he'll welcome you at his table."

    "Did you just come with that now?" Zinjo put his arm around Aurelia.

    "Yes, sounds rather fitting doesn't it?" Mashek grinned.

    Aurelia leaned against Zinjo and sighed in content, "It does have a certain ring to it, and we have the parasol blade as proof."

   "A what?" Mashek asked.

   Parasol opened and then closed, Mashek was so busy watching the colors, he didn't hear the blade clear the scabbard. The thief jumped back, "Whoah. Where did that come from."

   Aurelia sheathed the blade, "Unique wouldn't you say?"

   "Unique enough to lend weight to your story, let's hurry."