From: aaron@space.ualberta.ca (Aaron Humphrey)
Subject: [R] Mistletoe[Pashar]: Meet The Party
Reply-To: aaron@space.ualberta.ca
Organization: University Of Alberta, Edmonton Canada
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL4
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1992 20:53:45 GMT

As Mistletoe entered the inn where this Karl was apparently staying, she noted
two men standing near the entrance watching for somebody.  She hoped it wasn't
for Karl...but she kept herself demure and passed virtually unnoticed.  Hmmm...
if Karl did need to escape, he'd probably be best to do it as a slave, she
thought.  This country had one big blind spot in that area.

At the desk was what looked to be the younger son of the family that owned the
inn.  Obviously a prestigious one, to house foreign emissaries like this.  She
walked up to the desk and, still keeping her head bowed, waited to be noticed
and spoken to.  To do otherwise was to risk being flogged, and surely being
recognized.

Finally he looked up.  "You may speak."

"My master, gracious that he is, has sent me here to bear a message to a man
named Karl, an emissary from Generica who he was informed was staying at this
august establishment.  Unworthy that I am, I must deliver the message unto him
myself, on pain of punishment on my return."

The man at the desk clucked his tongue.  "You are in severe danger of receiving
punishment, then, my dear.  Karl is not here, having left earlier today and not
yet returned.  I assure you that we are an establisment noted for our extreme
discreetness, and that if you give the message to me to pass on to Karl, no
word of it will reach the ear of your master."

Mistletoe stood silent for a moment, considering alternatives, then said, "Does
the esteemed emissary Karl have companions who are present?  Perhaps the trust
of my master may be extended to include such a one, who is close to Karl and
whom Karl himself trusts."  She suddenly realized what the man probably thought
the "message" was, and what his offer of "leaving it with him" amounted to, and
her cheeks flamed beneath her veil.  In that case, he must really be puzzled
now.

There was some rustling of paper, then he said, "Yes, there were indeed a
number of others in Karl's party.  They have a suite of rooms allocated to
them, so as not to disturb other patrons.  I must warn you that they are all
somewhat disturbing to one unused to outlanders.  They have a woman with them
who brings disgrace on the whole of Generica by her actions.  They returned
here recently showing signs of a brawl--no doubt one instigated by themselves,
since as you know the residents of Pashar would never let themselves become
provoked, even by such extreme wantonness."

Mistletoe fought hard to suppress a giggle, and finally succeeded, although she
was smiling broadly under her veil.  "I will take the risk.  My master esteems
me made of sterner stuff than I look."

He shrugged.  "Do not share with me the guilt for actions resulting from this,
then.  I wash my hands of you."  He gave her directions to the outlanders'
wing, and she left with haste, before her mirth could bubble forth and betray
her.

Once she was safely inside the wing, she closed the door and loosed her control
of her laughter.  The sound was mostly damped by the many tapestries hung on
the wall and the rugs on the floor, but it did carry a ways down the corridor.
She heard voices coming to investigate and composed herself once more.  With
outlanders, though, she could be more forthright, since they would not be
offended by her disregard for local custom.

The man and woman that rounded the corner were outlanders, all right.  And she
could see what the desk man had meant about the woman, if this was the same
one.  She would likely embarrass all Rameshander men in sight.  Both of them
looked askance at her, and the woman asked, "Can I help you?"

"I have a message for Karl.  I have been told that he is absent, but that I may
leave it with one of his companions that is trustworthy."

They looked at each other.  "What do you think, are we trustworthy?"  "Well, I
am sometimes.  But maybe we should get Radan."  "He's still talking with Shade,
though."  "No, wait, here comes Shade."

A dark figure came down the hall, brushed past the others, barely noticed
Mistletoe, and exited.

The man smiled.  "Well, that solves that.  My name's Killian."  He extended a
hand with long fingernails.  Then he retracted it.  "Oh, I forget.  You're a
slave, right?  Sorry."

Mistletoe drew back her veil and threw back her hood, exposing her silver hair
and grey elven features.  "I have not always been a slave.  Once I was free,
and someday I will be free again."  She extended her own hand.  "My name is
Tillieflowers."

The woman extended her hand.  "Hello, Tillieflowers, I'm Jenever."  They shook
hands.  "Now let's go see Radan."  They led her down the hallway back to a
sumptuous waiting room with several bedrooms off of it.  Another man stood
in the room.  "Radan, this is Tillieflowers.  She has a message for Karl."

Radan nodded.  "Go ahead."

"I am a servant of the mage Amaan, whom Karl has been sent to Pashar to bring
to Generica.  Earlier today my master met with Karl, and was informed that
there would be a delay involved in getting a ship back to Generica.  Amaan has
deemed it impractical to return to his home, and has instead taken a room in
another nearby inn, in disguise as the merchant Jamin bes-Adhem.  He will be
waiting there until further notice."

Radan nodded.  "Anything more?"

On an impulse she nodded.  "Amaan will be accompanied by three slaves--myself,
another named Ornigan, and one named Bronwen.  We are not actually Amaan's
slaves, but those of a merchant named Juhlavi bes-Pelmaj, on loan to Amaan for
this journey.  And we do not plan to return from Generica."

There was silence for a few seconds, then Jenever clapped her on the back.
"Good for you.  I couldn't stand to live here, and wear one of those veils for
more than a few minutes.  Not to mention the way they treat you.  I really
don't blame you."

Radan looked puzzled. "But if you're just on loan to this Amaan, and he returns
without you..." he stopped, sudden comprehension dawning.  "Amaan doesn't plan
to come back either, does he?"

Mistletoe nodded, and Radan let out a breath.  "Oh, great.  We're helping this
guy to defect.  I wonder if the Rameshanders are going to be too happy about
it?"

"Should we tell Karl?" Killian asked.  Mistletoe's heart stopped for a moment.

Jenever shook her head vigorously.  "Of course not.  I mean, it's Amaan's
problem.  The worst that can happen is that we have to send Amaan back.  They
can't make us send the others back to a life of slavery."

Radan sighed and nodded.  "Okay.  I don't know how happy Karl will be to find
this out, though."

"Oh, one thing more," Mistletoe said.  "One of us--Bronwen--needs to be kept
sedated.  She would try to flee otherwise, or cause a fuss.  No, no--it's not
what you're thinking.  She is a friend, but she's a bit confused right now, and
would stay if we let her.  And I can't let her.  Do any of you have some herbs
I could borrow?"

Radan nodded.  "I'm a healer--I've got some stuff in my kit."  They went into
his room and she replenished her supply of the necessary drugs.

"Thank you all," she said.  On an impulse, she embraced Jenever.  She almost
asked if any of them had seen Maleiu in Generica, but stopped herself.  Time
enough for that later.  She didn't need that extra burden on her mind, and she
was already almost late.  Amaan must be wondering why it took so long for her
to deliver a simple message.  "I have to go now.  Hopefully I'll see you all
again when we set out."  Then she stopped, reassumed her servile demeanor, and
left the inn.  She hoped that Amaan would let her have some of that food
Ornigan was fetching--she was starving.

--
---Alfvaen(Canadian SF Quasi-Activist)
"What have I done to piss the gods off?"  ---Terence Trent D'Arby
Current Album--Phil Collins:Hello, I Must Be Going
Current Read--John Updike:Rabbit, Run
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