Termelan, Filbert, Domenica
Termelan apologizes to Filbert. "I apologize of the insult, sir. I also admit I have never seen a dwarf before coming here. But from all this bad business with my ignorant mistake, at least there's one morsel of good... You asked me about my place. I'll answer you shortly, but I shouldn't leave a lady waiting for a reply"
Turning to Domenica, Termelan says apologetically "I have no information about a poisoning or even spoiled beer from this place; the quality is what can be expected but the patrons keep a tidy place; they wouldn't serve spoiled beer. And no, I don't blame Alamiens for any incidents, far from it.
From the riots that happened yesterday, if indeed there was trickery involved I would think it was agitators from Tuornen. I'll tell you about it"
He clears his throat and talks in a clear voice that soon takes color and tone as Termelan recounts last night's riots. He doesn't speak loud enough to interrupt people's discussions but certainly loud enough to be heard by anyone interested. And he plans to make it interesting.
"Along with a knight in shiny plate armor, sir Gunnar, and madam Safana, a striking foreign sorceress sheathed in mystery and arcane power which she carries with as much grace and confidence as sir Gunnar carries his armor and well-used sword, we managed to stop and capture some rough types with hoods that partook in the riots.
While sir Gunnar, a one-man-army, was defending crying orphans and widows in the docks of the icy river, using expertise and skill against a dozen or so such ruffians. The knight tirelessly defended the weak and his Grace's the duke's laws as he was stroke down half a dozen of them. The thugs scattered in front of the knight like sparrows in the path of a charging warhorse. They were routed and the refugees of the docks saved. We captured a couple as they were fleeing Sir Gunnar's just wrath.
Madam Safana stopped them in their tracks with a simple spell as they were gathering like vultures over a carcass on a poor defenseless woman set upon taking her honor. I saw fire in the sorceress' eyes as she let just a trickle of her mystical power take over the minds of these thugs. Only the presence of the innocent woman in their midst seems to have stopped madam Safana from incinerating them in fires conjured out of her arcane fury.
Not wanting to waste the opportunity, I took the chance and used my own arcane powers -I've picked up a spell or two during my travels- to bring magical slumber on them. When they were tied, under the threat of a knife in their throats they admitted a rich man gave them the hoods and told them to start up trouble. The ruffians claimed that dozens of such low-life, river pirates, street toughs, highway men etc took up the hood.
Concerned, Lady Safana and I returned to the docks. Sir Gunnar had already brought order among the terrified refugees when we returned there. Some of the good people in this tavern may have been in the mad dash for the boats over the icy river and may recall the fear, desperation and confusion that followed the cowards' attack. And yet, the fast and clear thinking of Sir Gunnar prevented any more misfortune as he calmed the people like a father calms his children after a bad night's dream.
We brought the unfortunate people out of the docks, to an empty warehouse where they would be safe. The ruffians didn't dare to attack us there and when the morning sun graced the earth, the watch found us all sound and safe inside it."
Dropping the pretence of speaking to Domenica instead of giving another performance, Termelan fished
a gold coin from his pouch. He held it between his index and middle fingers as he raised his hand to make it gleam.
"We found this in the possession of the thugs" he said with a loud voice to the gathered people.
"We got from them this gold coin. It is blessed with the joyful tears of a mother that saw her son safe thanks to Madam Safana and Sir Gunnar. As it was paid to the lowlife in order to bring you despair, I think it's just, it's fitting that I spend it here to bring you a little measure of joy in these troubled times."
He addresses the waitress loudly "I want to buy a round of beer for all the good people in this tavern. I am sure the heroes of last night, Lady Safana and Sir Gunnar would approve." And then, with a flourish, he sent the gold piece spinning on the palm of his hand before he passed it to the waitress.
"Remember good people of Riverside. There are people in the service of his Grace, the duke, that would defend you, that would fight for you an that would bleed for you.
Can I have a cheer for Lady Safana and Sir Gunnar? This beer is on them!" He closed his speech.
As the disturbance settles Termelan moves closer to Domenica and whispers "The instigator had a hood on and they didn't see his face but he was described to me as tall and thin, articulate as a noble and carrying a sword. My Lady, the ruffians said the watch has been paid off to look away for the night and that the instigator was local. Sir Gunnar is investigating. I thought I better say that to you in order to not feed suspicion over last night's events."
Then, he smiled again. "I hope I didn't bore you with my story; you asked both for information and a story... I hope delivered both to your satisfaction."
Safana being nearby may have heard Termelan's accounting of the events she has took part in as he was describing dazzling swordplay, powerful magic, exotic beauties, shining knights, mysterious villains and nameless minions with the fate of hundreds of defenseless people at stake.
He certainly wasn't saying them in a low voice.
