[center][b][h1]Bork[/h1][/b][/center]

Bork snorted at the threat.  It was ridiculous.  He hadn’t even laid eyes on the clerk but a few days before, and now he was hiring an assassin to murder her?  For reasons?  It had not occurred to him that anybody would believe he could do such a thing.  Nor, being room-illiterate, did he pick up on any of the tenor of people watching them.  He did appreciate one aspect of the situation, though:  he needed to get out of this common room, away from Catlady, and find the abbot right away.  And for that he needed to stall her.

The dwarf glared at her and shook his head, biting back all the things he wanted to say while composing the things he needed to say.  Finally he sat back and exhaled sharply, pushing his remaining food and drink away.  [b]”Sure, I’ll talk to her,”[/b] he said at last, trying to sound placating.  [b]”See if I can persuade her to do the right thing.  She’ll want to save your husband’s life, I bet, if only so she can question him.  I’ll sell it that way.”[/b]

There was movement at the window.  Bork saw it and realized who it was.  He didn’t bother to try to hide his noticing the guard from Kriltra.  [b]”Looks like I have other company,”[/b] he observed, gesturing with his head towards the window.  [b]”Like I said, I’ll have a go at Drom, see if she’ll give me the bowl.  I can’t make any promises, though, so keep your gems until I deliver.  And I haven’t forgotten about the other thing,”[/b] he concluded, patting the wooden folding tablet with the plant samples in them before putting it back into his pocket.

 He took his leave and went outside to find out what the guards wanted.

[center][b][h1]Mellard Hogni[/h1][/b][/center]

[b]”Is he with her?”[/b] the dwarf asked, peering up at his partner who was looking through the window; the human was gesturing to somebody inside, presumably their target.  Judging from his manner, he was having difficulty getting said target’s attention.  

[b]”Maybe we should just go in there and get him, Carlson,”[/b] Mellard Hogni suggested.  

The human guard shook his head.  [b]”Captain said no.  Not sure why, but he was emphatic.”[/b]

[b]”He with Kriltra?”[/b] Hogni asked again.

[b]”Yep, and they’re talking pretty serious, too, looks like.”[/b]  Adlar Carlson was young, muscular, and tall, even by human standards.  He peered down at the dwarf and grinned.  [b]”Shall I describe her to you, or should I find you a box?”[/b]

Mellard groaned.  Another short joke.  [b]”Bite my arse, Carlson,”[/b] he growled.  The retort might have been more effective if the pair hadn’t been keeping their voices low.

[b]”Bit [i]short[/i]-tempered, are we?  And no thanks, I’d have to get dirt on my chin, -oh, wait, he sees me.  Looks like he’s coming.”[/b]

 The two guards stood back and slightly to either side of the door.  They weren’t sure what to expect from the engineer, mainly because they weren’t sure how much of Colmarh’s brew he’d had.  They’d had to pull him off of that Belloc character that one time he’d gone on a bender.  Some of the guys had wagered that there’d be trouble.  Hogni and Carlson had both put a couple coppers down that there wouldn’t be.  They suspected that was why the Captain sent them.

Bork emerged and blinked at the two guards.  [b]”What is this?”[/b] he growled.  He was grumpy, but sober.  Hogni spoke first.  [b]”Bork Valding, you need to come with us,”[/b] he explained, [b]”to the Inn.  Something’s happened.”[/b]

Bork scowled.  [b]”Am I under arrest?  If not I got other things to do.  I need to talk to the abbot and the clerk.”[/b]

[b]”Both of whom are at the Inn,”[/b] Hogni responded, gesturing for the other dwarf to follow him.  Carlson maneuvered to the other side of the dwarf.

Bork was still being stubborn.  [b]”You didn’t answer me.  Am I under arrest?  And what is it that happened?”[/b]

The big human loomed over Bork and laid his hand ever-so-gently on his shoulder.  [b]”No, you aren’t, unless you keep being difficult.  And we’re not at liberty to say.  Everybody you could possibly talk to is at the Rusty Peg.  Let’s move.”[/b]

Grousing but otherwise cooperative, the engineer went along.  He had a lot of things to tell the abbot.  And even more things to ask him.