WOT Adv 27 - Keb Freehan and the Road to the Almoth Plain

--- The Wheel Turns ---
"So Maer, what should we do?"

"For now, we rest. Tomorrow morning we will sell the horse, get supplies, and get some help."

"What sort of help?" Maeslyn queries.

"Children."

Maeslyn arches a single eyebrow and stares steadily at you.

"You will pass a rumor that the soldiers have sweetmeats on them to all the poor children in the area and at a certain time they will be offering them free."

"You must be joking. You want me to lie?" Maeslyn looks at you suspiciously.

"A large crowd of children is a good distraction, besides I'm sure they have some sort of sweetmeats on them, so it isn't a complete lie."

"It's a lie that they'll be handing them out to the children."

"Well, they 'might' give them to children."

"Might and Will are very different words," Maeslyn counters.

"You are making this very difficult, wetlander. If you won't do it, I will. You can sell the horse and get the supplies."

Maeslyn stares at you balefully, "Fine, but I doubt it will work."

"Maybe not, but we can at least try."

Maeslyn stands and paces, and then she begins to chuckle. "Maer, you are not from these lands. You will tell the children that there are sweetmeats around and it'll come out sounding like the Whitecloaks have a lost of 'sweaty meat' around."

"Perhaps," you smile. "But perhaps not; we'll just have to wait and see. If nothing happens then we find a different way."

"Very well. Anything else?"

"Yes, you need to find someone to accompany who can get us through those doors."

Maeslyn pauses in thought and then nods. "Very well, I'll need at least a day to do this. When do we make our move?"

You think for a moment. "How about tonight?"

"A major flaw in your plan, Maer, there won't be any children out on the streets at night."

"Then we act in two mornings."

"Very well, that should give me enough time to get the supplies and track down some aid," Maeslyn nods. "Now if you don't mind I would like to get undressed and take some rest."

"I will sleep on the floor." you point to your bundle.

"Oh no you won't. This is still a lady's room." She points to the door.

You shrug and pick up your cloak and head out of doors.

"And Maer," Maeslyn adds as you exit the door.

"Yes?"

"You're tired. Get some sleep. This wasn't your best plan."

"It will work." You reply confidently and leave the room, heading for the stables where you can get some sleep from Bennet for a minimal price.

The next morning dawns a sullen gray and by noon you are wet but well pleased with yourself. The morning began with breakfast with Maselyn at the Golden Stag and then you both entered the city gates and went your separate ways. For nearly three hours you wandered from tavern to tavern trying to find the aid of someone who could help stir up the crowd of children. Your finally approach one Vorshe G'man a gleeman and you tell him you would pay him five marks for him to spread some tales to the children in the neighborhood.

He agrees but only for twenty marks. You try to get him to back down, but he won't. Stubborn wetlander.

So you empty your pouch and only come up with twelve marks and five silvers, but then you remember the shriveled Drahkgar's head. You pull it out and tell him your tale. His eyes gleam at having such a prop and the knowledge of such a story, and you both finally agree that the contents of your pouch plus the head is sufficient pay for him to spread a few well placed tall tales for the next day. You hope Maeslyn gets a good price for the horse because you are completely dry. But you feel confident he is the man for the job.

You return to the Golden Stag in the afternoon and help Master Bennet in the stable yard until well after dinner time. The animals are much more responsive than the previous day allowing you to comb and brush them down and exercise them as needed.

When you inform Bennet that you and Maeslyn will be leaving on the morrow, he seems almost saddened, but he accepts the news stoically and extends a hand of friendship, inviting you back as a stable partner if you ever need a little extra coin.

You thank him, wash up and enter the inn for a late dinner that Master Ferrin brings out to you. The common room is empty except for you and a snoring dog by the unlit fireplace.

The door opens and in walks Maeslyn with another woman who has shoulder length black hair and black eyes and tanned skin. She's attractive and slender with eyes that seem to be alert and attentive as they meet yours.

"Maer, this is Keb," Maeslyn introduces her. "She has agreed to travel with us for a few days."

"Pleased to meet you." Keb nods in your direction. "I'm a hired hand. I've worked with Maeslyn before." she grins "And was of course well compensated. When she mentioned she would pay me a few marks to help you out plus five marks for every additional day, plus any share of any spoils along the way... well, how could I refuse?"

"Lets go to my room." Maeslyn offers and you and Keb follow her to the private room where there's a little more privacy.

Once in the privacy of the room, Maesyn drops her bundles to the floor. "I got an excellent price on the horse and saddle. I bought some supplies."

You look at the bundle and see a sturdy lantern with shutters, several pints of oil, a bundle of torches and several packages of dried goods.

"So, what's the plan?" Keb asks after glancing at the goods. "All I know is we're going into a building. Why do we need all that?"

"You'll see. You only need to get us into the building."

"A building guarded by White Cloaks." Keb shakes her head in unbelief. "I must be out of my wits to have agreed to this. So what's the plan? What am I supposed to do?"

Maeslyn gives a quick overview and then adds, "Maer seems to have worked up a little get together with some of the local townsfolk and the ever so pious Children of Light. Aparently he thinks a daylight break in with hordes of children and the Light knows what else is the best way to go."

Keb scowls, her nose wrinkling daintily "Daylight huh? I don't like that. White Cloaks are gonna spot us out in the open like that. With a crowd around, someone for sure is going to spot us and report us and then we'll be stuck inside a building with a garrison of troops around our necks. What's so important in that building anyway."

"You're not paid to ask questions," Maesyn counters. "Just do your job and with a little luck, we'll be able to get inside and be home free without any problems."

"This is ridiculous. We'll be trapped." Keb says firmly.

"No we won't. Trust me." Maesyn says with a calm serenity.

"Well," Keb sighs. "I'd still much rather go in at night, just in case something goes wrong. I just don't see how this is going to work."

"Well, the plan is already set in motion," Maeslyn explains. "Although I suppose it's always possible to back out."

"Good. Let's think about that." Keb says, giving you a scathing look.

"The white clothed soldiers will not take us," you tell her confidently. "The crowd of children will be there. They won't be able to react quickly, if they see us at all," you explain.

"Hmmph." Keb grumbles. "I think we need some specifics here, though," Keb says. "If you're dead set on mid-morning, then that's the way it is. But I don't want to be recognized, so my hood is going to be up and I'm going to stay quiet and low. You said around mid morning a bunch of brats will surround every White Cloak in the city. And then what? What specifically is the route we will take? And when exactly? And what happens if the crowds don't show up, or if a squad of soldiers comes at us with swords drawn, then what is our plan?"