bLuNtMaN looked at the strange note he had found in Nujel’m. Fearing the worse, he called for us to join him. Arriving we found the woman with the fiery hair waiting. Smiling she greeted us. “Welcome, welcome.”

Stepping to the front bLuNtMaN bowed and greeted her, “HAIL my lady. Are you still looking for the book?”

“For the book? I have long since passed caring about a silly bound cover filled with pages. she replied laughing, “It is a trivial object, which Minax will gain nothing from.”

Puzzed ,”Then why are you? ” He asked?

“I came here to talk… did you want to play with my pets instead? the woman said,winking. “I could surely arrange that.”

bLuNtMaN smiled back, “While we enjoyed your pets, we’d rather hear what you have to say.”

“So you came to listen then? It is quite intriguing that you gave Telemor the run around.” she said thoughtfull. “I would have thought he would not be so blind. Laughing, she placed on orb on the ground, “I assume you were looking for this?” she asked. “I happened upon a merchant, who had a nasty fire in his cart. The whole bottom burned out and look what I found inside. Or more aptly, in the dirt when he ran off screaming.”

Looking carefully at the orb, bLuNtMaN asked. “Whats that for? So that’s what the book was leading you to.”

“Me to find?  No, my pet. You are mistaken, I burned one of Minax’s little pets alive for the book, she seemed so interested in it. Any thing Minax is interested in, so am I but not for the same reasons.” Picking up the orb, she continued. “I believe you have the hinges already, do you not?”

bLuNtMaN laughed,” I’d not get on the wrong side of Minax.She has a very long memory

“She does, but so does my master.” the woman agreed. “But now where we…”

Caught by surprise,bLuNtMaN quickly asked, “And who is your master?:

Winking at him she replied, “I don’t kiss and tell, love.  I assume you are interested. stepping back she pointed to the claws on the ground next to the building.

Looking at them, bLuNtMaN saw they were the third part of the secret word, “Yes very interested.” reaching to pick them up.

She lightly pushed his hand from the claws, “Then we have an exchange, I give you the information, you do something interesting with it.”

“Like what?” he asked watching her carefully,leary of trusting her after the last encounter.

“Surprise me, set a few cities on fire for me.” blowing in to her hand.”

“You jest I hope.”  he said backing away.

Shaking her head in disappointment, “What, you don’t like to party or dance… such a bore. You didn’t really think I meant to burn the cities down?”

“Then now what?” bLuNtMaN asked, Moving closer to him, the Woman “Why then our business is concluded for now…All but one last bit. Didn’t you say you wanted to play?”  the air growing hot as she rubbed her hands together. “Here… have a ball! Try not to let the city burn.”  Manifestation of heat appeared.

“I knew we couldn’t trust you!” shouted bLuNtMaN as he joined the battle.”

“But love, it’s only a bit of hot air..nothing to burn down the city.” she laughed blowing him a warm kiss. “See that draft is getting cold. All my lovely heat is being taken away.” Fire began to surround her,

“Do what you wish with the knowledge, I do not need to see the end result,” and she was gone.

As the battle raged on,  Agais joined us.  Stabbing a creature,he shouted, “We’ll talk after these things are killed!”

Battle won, bLuNtMaN handed Agaris the orb.

Looking at it in surprise, Agaris asked.”Where did you get it? It was lost months ago.”

“The Woman of fire dropped it off.” bLuNtMan quickly explained how she had gotten it.”

Perplexed Agaris looked at him, “She just gave it to you? Wasn’t this what she was after?”

“It seems not, she just said she liberated it.” bLuNtMaN shook his head.  “It is strange, she wasn’t concerned about the book either.” Then he frowned. “She also told us she had burned up on of Minax’s minions.”

“This is strange. I thought she was one of Minax’s servants?” Agaris said confused, “So she is… helping us? That does not make any sense.

Showing the claws to Agaris,”she felt that we would put the knowledge to good use.” bLuNtMaN answered adding. “She may have he own motive.”

Thinking about what he had learned, Agaris thought out loud. “It is clear the lady is from Felucca. I wonder what is going on there.”

He studied the orb, I think it’s better if I leave this to Evidia’s hands.

Agaris: She was studying the orbs when we had them before.

Agaris: Wait at the hall,  I will send her there once I have retrieved the other orb and brought them both to her.

Arriving at the hall we found an excited Evidias.

“Hail, Evidias.” bLuNtMan greeted her, watching as she moved her hand between the orbs.

Wondering at the magic connecting the two artifacts…Evidias returned the greeting. “Do you know what there are?” she asked.

bLuNtMan studied the orbs, “Portals? A door?”

“No, not a portal. More like…” she stopped and moved her hand between the orbs again. “A lock and a key, the door is the lock and the hinge is the key… it seems strange to say it that way. But the door is heavy and only swings on the hinges… it’s… fascinating…”

“Sweet.” bLuNtMan said smiling. “Could we use these?

Evidias began circling one orb around the other. “I bet we could.” She contiued moving the orb along invisible lines that only she could sense. As she did, there was a click. “Did you hear it?” she asked excitedly?

bLuNtMan nodded his head,”aye.” When he looked over at us, we also nodded in agreement.

Frowning Evidias stopped moving the orbs. “Someone must have used these to seal things away. A powerful mage….”

“Such as Minax?” bLuNtMan suggested.

“I do not know, but I do know what we can do with them. Do you want to see? Evidias asked impatiant to try her idea. Where was the shop…In south east Britain yes?” she said opening a gate.”This way.” Arriving at the shop, we found a note on the table.  After reading it, Evidias began moving around the room.

“So… it must be here somewhere.” She looked around the shop then moved the orbs in the air. To our surprise she disappeared for a moment. Reappearing she began muttering to herself. “Why did they put it so far away?” Once more she used the orbs. This time a tear ripped between the two halves of Sosaria then was gone in a flash. Looking down at the lock and key, she shook her head. I have a feeling these were not meant to be found. She moved to  dagger and scroll were. “The dagger appears cursed somehow… and that scroll is…I do not like the feel of these, I’ll ask the king to send mages to find a way to move it.”

Shivering she moved away from them. “bLuNtMan, wasn’t there a dagger mentioned in one of the reports.”

“Yes, it was in Vesper.” he answered.

“Hum, But there is… something else here.” She began to follow the the invisible lines in the air. Stopping she stared at the spot when they met. “I wonder,” Evidias said as she used the orbs magic to turn the lock. A gate opened and we stepped through arriving in Felluca’s Vesper. With a feeling dread bLuNtMan prepared to defend Evidias. She had moved toward the side of the bank and was looking at some things on the ground. Moving next to her, he could see that it was armor with a note beside it.

“The armor… is enchanting but the magic is… painful…We should… go back… I feel so weak. It feels as if my magic is being siphoned from me.”  Before bLuNtMan could catch her, she fell. Her magic hidding her.

Hearing movment behind him, bLuNtMan turned to find Telemer Agent of Minax behind him. “What are you doing here. We drove you off once and will do it again.”  bLuNtMan demanded.

Telemer smiled, “I seem to remember leveling the lot of you. Now please politely walk away and I will retrieve my Lady’s new gifts.”

bLuNtMan stepped in front of the armor. “I can’t let you do that.”

“Have you forgotten my whispers?” and Telemer began to summon them. “Can’t you hear them?”

Telemer seemed to weaken. Holding his head in pain, Telemer looked at him, “What…are you doing to me? Stop… it…”

 

Knowing that it was the armor, bLuNtMaN quickly saw how he could use the information. “Weakling. It is so easy to steal your magic.” and he laughed at Telemer.

“What kind of trickery is this. You can’t do this!”  Telemer shouted moving to toward the portal.  Suddenly he stumbled, weakened by the magic. Moving back he shouted, “Eldevian, show yourself! Minax will not take kindly to failure. Do your worst.”

From the shadows, we heard a voice. “You will burn to a pile of ash!” shouted Eldevian the Mischevious summoning Slitherfiends.

 

Telemer and she disappeared. But not before dropping a strange object by the building.

In the midst of the battle,Evidias reappeared leaning on the wall.  “My lady are you okay?” bLuNtMaN asked.

“I’m still to weak to help with the battle,” she replied.

“No matter my lady. The battle will soon be over. Already their numbers are smaller.”

As he predicted, the battle  soon ended. We all moved to where Evidias waited. She was looking down at an object, “Where did this come from? Its magic is strong. Evidias moved away from it. As she did her strengh returned. Moving back towards it, she became weak again. “Its magic is strong. Evidias studied it, “Now I know why the Woman didn’t go for the object.  She fears the armor as well.” she moved towards it again, then quickly moved back. “Yes, the stronger your magic, the weaker is makes you…Imagine if Minax got a hold of this, and used it against the King.”

 

“If a powerful mage locked it away, it makes sense it was to protect magic.’ bLuNtMaN said frowning. “But I’m more worried that the Woman of Fire isn’t working with Minax.”

Evidias thought about what bLuNtMaN said, “I agree that is worrisome. I’m sure we will find more about who she is working for.”  Turning to bLuNtMaN she smiled. “bLuNtMaN… you did well.”

I think he believed you were making him weak.”

“ty.” bLuNtMaN said laughing. “Who will tell him I wasnt!

“Maybe he does not know what we found yet.” Evidias smiled back. “I’m sure he will stay far away from you.

Evidias stared at the strange carvings in the torture chamber. Not words, just shapes. They must fit together somehow.*

“Hum…what is it? bLuNtMaN asked catchting Evidias as she stumbled.

“Perhaps someone can take us back to the hall. I’m still feeling to weak to cast a gate.” bLuNtMaN quickly opened a gate and helped her through.

Once the torture chamber was secure. Evidias traced the indents in it. It should be safe here until we decode it.”

Looking thoughtful bLuNtMaN looked at the object.

“What is it, bLuNtMaN.” Evidias asked stumbling.

Worried bLuNtMaN,offering his arm for support. “Are you Okay?’

Leaning on his arm, She smiled at him, “Thank you I’m just a little weak. You had a thought?”

“Yes, If it took magic to lock all of this away… and it drains magic. How was it locked away?”
“I do not know.” Evidias replied, “You are right.  How did they lock it away to begin with?” staring at the strange orbs. “Someone sealed these things long ago it seems, when the world was separated.  They might hold the answers.”

“Still it is strange.  Who left them for us to find. It seems as if it was a trap.” bLuNtMaN said. “But I don’t think it was the Woman of Fire. She seems to be helping us or at least not working against us.”

“Is she helping us…You might be right,she views Minax as an enemy and we do the same for now… ? She is a puzzle.” Evidias said rubbing her forehead.”Perhaps, I do not know, I did not feel any ill intent from her, danger yes, mischievousness, yes. But not ill intent.”

Looking at the three objects,hidding a secret word.  Evidias sighed, “For now we seem to have stopped Minax, from obtaining something to use to kill King Blackthorn, and possibly Lord British. But that raises another problem, are there more of these objects hidden throughout Trammel/Felucca? What is happening in Felucca. its getting crazy! It is a shame Felucca has been so cut off from us”

Still woozy from the armor. She leaned again on bLuNtMaN’s arm.

Looking worried,”You need to rest my lady.” he suggested.

Nodding,”I am tired. I think… that the objects are stuck between worlds still. So, without the orbs, perhaps they cannot reach them? There is nothing more we can do until I learn more.”

“My Lady may I escort you back to the Castle?” bLuNtMaN asked.

Evidias smiled up at him, “Thank you, I am still unsteady.”

“More than honored.” bowing he walked out with her.”

Evidias turned back to us. “Good bye my friends.  I hope to know more when I see you again.”