[SleepingDragon]: 268.The Staff of Illidon.Chapter Three- An Offer Too Good To Refuse

Chapter Three- An offer too good to refuse

Mari sat on the stone floor of the dungeon cell. She had grown tired of pacing and tired of looking through the small barred window in the door, trying to see by dim torchlight, who might be in the adjacent cell. She had grown weary of straining her elf ears, trying to hear prisoners that were not there. As far as she could tell, she was alone in this block of the dungeon. Where Chad had been taken, she did not know. She often heard footsteps, but always at a distance unless they approached her cell to bring water and gruel.

A full year she would be here! The Chancellor had been merciless. He had interrupted both Chad and herself when they attempted to speak, ordering them to silence. They had seen the light of day for but a few moments before they were tossed back into the dungeon. Release was set at forty gold for each of them. It may as well have been forty thousand, for neither of them had anyone who even knew where they were.

She had already slept until she could sleep no more, as difficult as it was sleeping on the cold of the rock flooring. She spent most of the time stretching muscles and doing what she could to keep herself fit between meals and slumber. There was little else to be done. Day and night were as one in the dungeons of Halidon. There was no difference to be told, for there were no windows in the cell. The only way to distinguish the passage of time was by the visits of the guards who brought what they had the nerve to call food.

Mari’s ears perked up as she heard footsteps approaching. It was not time yet for footsteps. She had eaten a short while ago. This was not only footsteps, it was several sets of them. She attempted in vain to peer out through the small barred window again.

“To the back of the cell!” a man’s voice ordered loudly. “Hands to the wall!” When she had complied, she heard the sound of a key in the door lock before a pair of armed guards placed her roughly in manacles.

“This way Sweetie.” The guard mocked as two others led her out of the cell and into the corridor. “It seems you have a friend after all.”

A friend? Mari could not imagine of whom they might be speaking. Both she and Chad were strangers in this land. Her people lived far to the northeast and she had not seen them since her parting more than a year ago. Had Chad managed to get out somehow and raise gold for their release? It was very unlikely, but the only reasonable thing she could think of.

The guards walked her down a long stone corridor lit with torches, and through a set of doors, stopping her several steps from the door as they unlocked it, then again as they locked it behind them. They walked a few steps and repeated this for another doorway, then turned left and repeated it once more for yet another. Finally, they stopped at a doorway on the right about halfway down the corridor. They unlocked this and ushered her into the room.

A guard stood at the head of the table. Chad was to the right of the table, seated very uncomfortably with manacles behind his back. Across from him sat a young man she had never seen. He was reasonably handsome and slender, with longish curly blond hair. He had a very disarming smile on his face and he wore a cloak of brown, clasped with an ordinary looking broach in the front. Mari immediately had her guard up. She and Chad exchanged glances as she was forced into the seat next to him, and she could see in his eyes the same skepticism.

“They treating you well?” she asked sarcastically

“Oh splendid.” He returned.

“Quiet you two!” the guard snapped at them. “You are not here for chit-chat! This man would speak with you!”

“Thank you.” The young man told the guard, making eye contact with both Mari and Chad. “Would it be possible to speak with them alone?”

“At your own risk.” The guard laughed. “I’ll be outside the door.” He then left the room, locking the door behind him.

When he had gone, the young man looked at them again, smiling.

“I am William Statesboro of Glendale.” He introduced himself. “I am a wizard. Your pardon, but I do not know your names.”

They both stared at him silently, untrusting.
“I would arrange for your release. Both of you.” His eyes darted from one to the other and back again.

“What do you want?” Chad asked after a long moment. Mari let silence reinforce the question.

“Your names for one.” William said. “But I would have you also accompany me on a short adventure. I require a pair of…well…bodyguards. I can pay you double what I am paying for your release.”

“Bodyguards?” Chad said incredulously. “I thought you said you were a wizard.”

“I am.” William said in defense. “Well, that is, I became one yesterday.”

Chad smiled over at Mari laughingly. Mari returned a blank stare then asked a question of her own.

“Tell us of this adventure. What does it entail?”

The young man smiled.

“I must go underground and retrieve a relic.”

“What relic?” Chad asked.

“It is a staff. It may be of some importance for the war.” William told them.

“Well why should we care about the war?” Chad asked with a grin. “We are not from this land.”

“I am not asking you to care.” William said. “Only to accompany me and bring your weapons.”

“To protect you.” Mari put in.

“Yes.”

Chad and Mari exchanged glances and said nothing for a long moment. Finally, Chad broke the silence.

“Why not ask some of these armed guards around here or someone you know and trust? We’re criminals remember.”

“Word is you took on everyone at the Boar and bested them all. That is a rough place.” William raised an eyebrow at them. “Surly you are even more impressive with weapons in hand.”

Chad smiled broadly at that.

“Well Mari, what do you think? Shall we go treasure hunting with the boy for a couple nights and be done with this hole?”

Mari considered a moment.

“What is it that you are still not telling us?”

William blushed.

“Well, you see,” He began. “The cavern has a bit of a reputation. It seems that none who enter ever return. But I know of none who have entered with your level of skill, or in the company of a wizard.”

“So now you will be protecting us?” Chad laughed.

“At times, perhaps.”

“Tell us more about this place.” Mari said. “Is this the ruins of Illidon you speak of?”

“The ruins of what?” Chad asked, bewildered.

“Illidon. It is an old legend among my people.” Mari told him. “King Illidon was a great wizard and possessed the elemental staff. It was an item so powerful, even he feared to use it, except in extreme circumstances. Rumor was he disassembled it and hid it throughout the palace of his kingdom. If it exists at all, it will be in pieces, scattered throughout the ruins. The pieces themselves may have innate power, but only the whole staff can be used as intended. Is this the cavern of which you speak?”

“It is” William confessed. “The staff must be retrieved. It may be the only thing that will stop the Calazarians from taking over Ogeon.”

Chad looked from one of them to the other, amazed. After a moment, he locked eyes with William.

“So what you are saying is that either we rot in this hole for a year, or leave here today on this idiot adventure, probably never to be seen again?”

“Yes.” William admitted honestly.

Chad looked at Mari, studying her face, and then looked back at William.

“Sounds like an offer too good to refuse.”