From: cinci@tbird1.larc.nasa.gov (Debbie Taylor)
Newsgroups: alt.pub.cloven-shield,alt.dragons-inn
Subject: [C&R&M&J] Scroll's contents and other secrets revealed
Date: 8 Jan 93 09:53:35
Organization: NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA
NNTP-Posting-Host: tbird1.larc.nasa.gov
In-reply-to: sbeitzel@netcom.com's message of Thu, 7 Jan 1993 23:44:13 GMT
X-Md4-Signature: d9c2faf64869bbabd8559ae5dbd6e096


Shortly after Chalmers and Raven ordered their dinner, Meriden came back from
the stables.  Spotting Raven and Chalmers he joined them at their table. Again
the innkeeper hurried over to take Meriden's order.  By the time Raven and
Chalmers' food arrived, so did Jester.  Soon all four had eaten their fill.
After dinner the four new friends went back upstairs to Raven and Chalmer's
room. Once again Raven spread the scroll out on the bed.

Meriden studied it intently for a moment, then looked up at Raven, a confused
look on his face.  "If you're really from Amuran ... and you do look like you
probably are," he added hastily as Raven stared back at him, her dark eyes
unreadable, "Why do you have a northern name?"  he finished in a rush, wishing,
not for the first or last time, that he would learn to think before he opened
his mouth in the first place.

Raven stared at him in the silence that followed his question. "Raven is the
closest translation to my name in common," she spoke quietly, "and I borrowed
DeMorney from a friend I once traveled with, since I had none of my own."

"Where is this `friend' now?"  Chalmers asked quietly.

Raven shrugged, "We parted company two years ago ... I wasn't ready to give
up adventuring and my friend was ready to settle down."  Her words were quiet,
but spoken with finalty.  It was clear she considered it a closed subject. 
Silence again filled the room.

Jester broke the silence with a shout of glee, "Isn't this the rune for air?" 
he asked, pointing to one of the intricate drawings on the scroll.

Meriden peered at the mark, "He's right, it is!  And this is the rune for
transport.  I think there's a transport spell encripted in the these pictures!"
Both he and Jester leaned closer to the scroll, studying the picture intently.
Chalmers met Raven's gaze over their heads, but for once could not read her
thoughts in her eyes.  

Meriden looked up from the scroll, "It may take a while to figure it out,
but I'm fairly sure I can do it,"  he smiled happily at
the others.  "I guess the next thing would be for Raven to translate the
scroll."

"The scroll was written about 200 years ago, by a wizard named Izmir El 
Kazaair.  El Kazaair claims to have visited the city," she began.  "It is
a tour guide, of sorts.  El Kazaair talks of wondrous works of art, jewelry,
architecture, literature and other things.  The city is described as a normal
city, filled with people of all ages, classes and temperment; in all respects
a `normal' oasis city in the center of a vast desert."

A thought struck Meriden, and he interrupted. "These Djinn, they're the
beings who have been rumored to live in bottles and answer wishes?  With that
kind of ability, they must live very well."

"They can grant wishes ... for others, not for themselves.  Otherwise they'd
never be stuck in bottles or lamps!  Those that are captive long for their
freedom and will do most anything to get it.  Never misjudge a captive Djinn,
they are powerful and dangerous!"  Raven warned.

"What else does it say?" Jester leaned forward, little dancing lights circling
his head.

"It talks about the water in the oasis.  It is said that it can cure any wound
or disease and that anyone who drinks from it will never thirst again,"
Raven smiled, "a true miracle for a desert dweller!"

"Yeah, but does it tell us how to find the city?"  Chalmers asked.

"Well it says that first we much reach the elemental plane of air ..."

"... and that's what the spell's for," Meriden said.  "When we figure it
out, we'll know how to get there."  Jester nodded his agreement.

"So we get there, then what?" Chalmers asked.

"Well, then we have to find the desert.  Once we find it the city is located
around the oasis in it's center."

"Sounds easy," Chalmers shrugged.

Raven looked at him, "And how many deserts have you crossed?"

"Well, none," he grinned at her, "but I have faith in you.

Raven just shook her head as the discusssion turned to the things needed for
desert travel and how to approach the city.  Most of the discussion was
between Raven and Chalmers since Meriden and Jester spent their time bent
over the scroll, though they were at least half listening as their frequent
questions and suggestions indicated.  Several hours later, Chalmers stretched
and yawned.  "It's getting late ..." he announced.

"He's right," Meriden agreed reluctantly looking up from the scroll.  "I guess
we'd better go.  Come on Jester," he tugged at the other man's shoulder, "it's
time for bed."

"Goodnight, Gentlemen," Chalmers called as he closed and locked the door behind
them.

Chalmers turned back to watch as Raven put the scroll in it's case and the
case back into her backpack.  He should have been mulling over the things
she'd read from the scroll or thinking about the last minute details of
their trip tomorrow ... or even about making love to her, but he wasn't.
The only thought on his mind was a fear that Raven was married ...

"Raven, we have to talk," he said calmly, pointing to the chairs Jester and 
Meriden had recently vacated.  He knew he'd never get his questions asked
if they sat on the bed.

"You want to know about Gaston, don't you?"  she looked aprehensive as she
sat down.

"Are you married to him?"

"Married ... possibly, but not to Gaston."

"Huh?" That was not the answer he'd expected.

"No, I'm not married to Gaston DeMorney, though he once wanted it that way,"
her eyes took on a faraway look, "I met him in Illyria when I was 18.  I was 
in serious trouble, the watch was looking for me, they were going to arrest
me for theft.  Thieving is a serious crime in Amuran.  Gaston vouched for 
me, said I was his wife even though I was young enough to be his daughter.
The guards believed him and I moved into his house that day.  We lived and
traveled together for several years.  He taught me to fence.  I did love him,
but more as a father figure than anything else ... eventually it was time
for me to move on.  All I have left of him is his name.  I guess I just got
used to using it," she shrugged.

"Ok, now I understand about your name, but you said you might `possibly' be
married ... I don't understand that.  Either you're married or your not."

"I'll try to explain it. In Amuran a woman is `sold' into marriage by her 
family.  Her husband pays the agreed `bride price' and she's his. Technically,
the gifts Zartan gave me could be considered my `bride price' and since 
I had no family, he would have to give it to me ..."

"So if he considers you a runaway wife, he has even more reason to hunt for
you ..."

She nodded, then added, "But what he thinks is unimportant ... I never agreed
to be his wife and I'm not going back to Illyria!"

:)

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