Faeles shrugged with a mixture of indifference and mild disappointment. [color=Orange]"I daresay that I know more about the Keeper than you...and I am not so sure that your 'plan' would have worked. The shaman might have killed you."[/color] Suddenly a devious chuckle rang out from behind the wraps that shrouded Faeles' face. [color=Orange]"He still might kill you! When we get to the top of this mountain, you will see that the dragon somehow managed to save the sorry fool, though now the shaman looks more like you than an orc."[/color] The arch-thief marched on, not even turning to see Torrens. He didn't need to, [color=Orange]"Ah yes, the dragon. I did warn you about their God-king, didn't I? In any case, you [i]are[/i] in my debt. I will procure the staff easily enough without you, but when I come for another favor you will not deny me again!"[/color] The demon broke rank and skulked away from Torrens, melting into the darkness of the shadows that clung to the bottoms of the cliffs. A few hours later when they arrived, Torrens' own eyes would be able to confirm what Faeles had said. [center]--=~=--[/center] Gormlag trudged through the crowd restlessly, just as he had done for the past hour. He [i]would[/i] find D'Artagne. His patrol was interrupted by the strangest of sights: it was a knight of sorts, mounted atop some sort of [i]beast.[/i] And it walked straight up to the rabbitman who had lurked in the shadows. Straight up to the one that he had been seeking. He could only stare for a long moment. He heard what Lorelai said and laughed; she was yet another lackey for this despicable 'Horde'. If she got in his way, he would kill her too. And the monster that she rode. With a menacing gait he walked right towards the small gathering, his burnin eyes focussed solely on D'Artagne. [b]"You! You are a liar, a coward, a [i]traitor![/i] Look at me: you have wrought this upon me!"[/b] he roared out. Without another word, for he could no longer speak, he gave in to rage. He charged forward with beastly fury, intending to simply rip D'Artagne apart when he was close enough. Considering his new form, he might also incinerate his enemy at the same time, but there were worse problems to have. [center]--=~=--[/center] While Torrens arrived with the rest of the Horde and no doubt gawked at Khillgarath (or perhaps found himself embroiled in a fight when the shaman confronted D'Artagne) Faeles was on the other side of the encampment. He was seeking out someone, specifically the insect-creature. [i]'Clotho, that is her name. I remember now,'[/i] the demon thought to himself. There was no way to evade Faeles when he sought you out; those same lenses that he used for scrying faraway lands were also a useful tool for seeking out those that would hide. Inevitably, he found Clotho after only a short time. Unaware that even now Clotho was infested and that their conversation would have Mar as a silent eavesdropper, he spoke bluntly, [color=Orange]"I have a talent for knowing things, and so I have learned that the king of these orcs, the dragon...he is in the possession of something that I would [i]very[/i] much like to acquire. It appears as a simple mirror gilded in gold, but the thing is no mundane object. It has far more powerful than even the most discerning of mortal eyes could see. Alas, I cannot reach it. I lack wings that would allow me to enter the dragon's lair and leave with haste, and my sort of demon has a distinctive smell that the dragon might recognize. Furthermore, I have other engagements. So I propose that you perform the heist! Take the mirror for me, and claim anything else that you might want to keep. In return I offer both my silence and my thanks; a favor from me might prove vlauable later on..."[/color]