Ch. 4, Page 16

Ehlissa felt frustrated at every turn. She needed help to deal with Erac's Cousin and his strange request, but she was running out of allies quickly. There was still one avenue she could pursue, of course. It had been the first one that had entered her mind, and the first course of action she had chosen to delay.

Tenser.

Her feelings for Tenser still felt raw, like a wound that never fully healed. But she knew, in this, she could count on him. If she only knew how to reach him. In truth, in avoiding Tenser she had managed to lose track of him. She had no idea where in the city he was staying these days, or if he was even back in the city at all. But she did know someone else who would surely know. Someone who's place of residence she had not been back to in some time...

Ch. 4, Page 15

Rary and Robilar exchanged looks.

"I don't need to remind you about your debt to me..." Robilar said, scratching the side of his face and turning to look off to the side innocently.

"No, of course not," Rary said quickly.

"Good! Then I've done my part, Ehlissa. Good luck to you..." And Robilar beat a hasty retreat out the door he had come in, just as Ehlissa was internally debating if she should present some argument for Robilar to stay.

Alone with a strange magician, Ehlissa straightened up and steadied her voice before describing the spell she needed...

Ch. 4, Page 14

Robilar didn't give in right away; Ehlissa had to badger him about it for awhile. Then she switched tactics, softened her tone, and plied him with free beer.

After the third free beer, Robilar had a name for her.

"I don't want just a name, I want you to take me to him," Ehlissa said.

"What, right now?"

"Yes!"

"You are...an incorrigible woman," Robilar protested meekly. "Fine. But!" and here he wagged a finger at her. "I introduce you and leave. And you have to leave me alone for a whole week after this."

The deal was struck. Ehlissa would miss the rest of her work day, for they had a long walk to Clerkberg ahead of them. Once there, Robilar made straight for a row of tenement housing, knocked on the right door, and they were shown in...

Ch. 4, Page 13

Sleep eluded Ehlissa that night. She tossed and turned and wondered about Erac and Erac's Cousin. And what of this new, mad request? Could the Striped Mage tell her where Erac was? If there was a chance he could, how could she not take it? Yet her nagging doubts about his cousin, his cousin's strange actions, and his cousin's unknown motives gave her pause. What could she do to learn what he was up to...?

Finally, a plan of action took form in her sleep-deprived mind. She was going to need help, but she would need to find just the right person to help her. Maybe Tenser? It had been some time since they last spoke. Surely he would help, but he was always so busy adventuring with his new friends.

Sadly, she had not decided on anyone else to ask when an opportunity presented itself later that morning at the Green Dragon Inn...

Ch. 4, Page 12

"How can you make it up to me?"

"How would you like me to make it up to you?"

"Who were those people?"

"Just merchants. And one overzealous guard, I suppose."

"Where are we going?" Ehlissa guessed they had been walking for a few minutes now.

"To show you something. That's how I'm going to make it up to you."

Ch. 4, Page 11

With her hand cupped over her right ear, blocking out the noises of the bazaar, Ehlissa could hear a little bit more of the conversation going on inside. This man who claimed to be Erac's Cousin was explaining his relation to Erac with an exasperated tone, then was asking about buying something...

Gradually, Ehlissa became aware that her skirts were moving behind her. She craned her neck for a look behind her and saw either a dwarf or a midget, wearing Baklunish garb, lifting her skirts with his wavy-bladed dagger. The little pervert seemed so intent on helping himself to a look under her skirts that he failed to notice he had been caught, and was still off-guard when Ehlissa spun around and pushed him away.

"Leave me alone!" she said, being careful to sound menacing, without sounding so loud to be heard inside the tent. "I am a conjuress!"

"Heh, heh!" the short male said, twirling his dagger in his hand. Her threat only seemed to amuse him. She stepped back, but he lunged for her faster. His arm shot up and grabbed her near her wrist with vice-like strength...

Ch. 4, Page 10

The strange dog had a fearsome countenance and made it clear, with plenty of growling and barred teeth, that Ehlissa was to keep her distance. It did not prevent her from following Erac's Cousin at a distance, though -- so that's precisely what she did.

It seemed clear this "cousin" of Erac's planned to lose her in the crowded marketplace, or at least keep them in noisy enough surroundings where he would not be able to hear her from six paces back. So she just talked louder.

"When did you last see your cousin?" she shouted over a vegetable cart.

"When I was facing him."

"Was this recently?" She struggled to keep close as the dog nipped at her.

"Recently enough," Erac's Cousin answered, peeking back around a pair of merchants whispering to each other.

"Did he say where he was going?" she asked, hoping to see if this man even knew of Erac's trip to Castle Greyhawk.

But...