The Quest 3

LEVEL 1 :  HARNOD'S QUEST

The three of them staggered back upstairs into the tavern. The took up their previous seats at the bar, all now a little worse for wear. Merryn and Ulric both had splashes of blood on their clothes, Garrial's attire was clean, but neither of his friends wanted to sit too close to him, he still carried the shameful odour of vomit.

Harnod stepped forward and placed the small bag of coins on the bar. "Your reward."

Merryn's hand snatched the coin purse from the bar, it clinked, she couldn't wait to count it.

"That's for the three of us," Ulric reminded her.

"I'm making sure it's all there," she replied, but in truth she just wanted to feel it. The gold was cool against her palms, but soon warmed. She could smell it, a sort of warm yellowy scent, the sweetest perfume she knew. There was some silver in the bag too, the scent of that was cooler, more metallic.

"It's all there," Harnod bristled, then sniffed. "So you didn't have a problem with the rats then?"

"We even killed their king," Garrial said.

"Queen," Merryn corrected him. Stupid Elves, could they not tell a male rat from a female one? "If that had been a king, his balls would have been bigger than yours," she informed him, and then added, cackling "in fact, she probably did have bigger balls than you."

Ulric grinned. "I don't think our friend likes the sight of blood."

Merryn clapped Garrial on the back. "This is why he's an archer, so he can kill from a safe distance, isn't it Gar?" An evil glint sparkled in her eye as she added, "or is it "Garrughaghugh?"

"I am the finest archer in my village," Garrial sniffed, "I could take down a soaring eagle before you even see it."

"But you fail at basic rat biology and your stomach turns inside out the moment you have to do any actual fighting?" Merryn raised an eyebrow, "are you sure you're cut out for this? At least now I know why you're a vegetarian."

Ulric sighed. He turned to Harnod. "There's a door at the far end of the cellar, where does it lead?"

"To the sewers, were you thinking of going exploring in there?" Harnod smiled. "I have the key, I would be glad to give it to you..."

"Is there gold under there?" Merryn asked.

"In the sewers? I believe there is a few hidden caches of treasure, it was well used by several thieves guilds at one point. Of course, there is no thieves guild any more, the militia have seen to that." Harnod paused, "and of course, legend has it that the Hellishly Fine Ladies Club is also down there."

At this point the lovely barwench gasped.

Garrial, who had been resting with his head on the bar top suddenly sat bolt upright. "The Hellishly Fine Ladies Club? What's that?"

"It's an exclusive gentlemen's club," Ulric told him, "definitely illegal and probably mythical."

"It's not mythical," the barwench said, then clapped a hand over her mouth. Harnod threw her a pointed look. He turned to the adventurers, a smile painted on his face.

"Several years ago, I lost my wife. Rumours have it that she was taken down into the sewers and she now resides with other ladies in that club."

"And you never went after her?" Merryn asked.

Harnod shook his head, his expression was the perfect mask of regret and sorrow. "I am not an adventurous man, I had a young daughter; Ellysia here, and my business. If I had perished down there, what would have become of her?"

"We shall find your wife!" Garrial cried, "the key!"

Merryn prodded him none too gently in the ribs. "Is this what you are asking us? To go through the door, find where the ladies are being held captive, and bring your wife back home?"

Harnod inclined his head, the barest of replies.

"How much?"

"I could not possibly put a price on my sweet love's head," Harnod pleaded. "I beg of you, let us not bring financial bargaining into this."

"A grand apiece," Merryn suggested. "Plus expenses."

Harnod swallowed, "that much?"

"Surely no price is too high to get your sweet love back?" Merryn asked gently, she got the feeling she had asked for too little. A feeling compounded when he agreed without haggling. Never mind, they had yet to agree on expenses, and Merryn had quite a list.