The Four Treasures

~Thaden Ma'lar~

"There is no place that a gryphon can not go," I smiled. "I will not send a messenger then." The honeybrew came. I held the mug and sipped from a straw.

"Much appreciated," I told Ma'Lar, ordering an ale for myself. I slid a gold coin across the counter and waited patiently for the drink.

"What should we do now?" I asked my two companions. Alex was still seated back at another table, sipping his ale.

"Have we any way to determine who caused all this?"

~Thaden Ma'lar~

"Not really. Unless we can remember who we've wronged. I think that we can track them down though. It is difficult to move a gryphon without some cart. I'm guessing they ambushed her and took sedated her. If we can find where the ambush occurred we can track them. The problem with this is that they'll be expecting this move. I don't see any other way." I turned to Seraph.
"This is a dangerous opponent."

I sipped my drink and, witohut looking at Ma'Lar, said "So am I."

"I have wronged no one. Everything I have done, I have done in the name of Justice. Had it been unjust, I would know, because Falthyr would know. If I have wronged someone, they deserved it."

~Thaden Ma'lar~

"I'm sure you haven't. You haven't and I haven't. However, our enemy doesn't see it that way." I took a long sip.
"Suppose we get the word, would we set out immediately or would I need to wait for you to sleep off the booze?" I asked wryly.

Croak had headed towards the door, but decided to stick around, wondering whether to return to this boring city life or to try to do something new by joining this group. He was about to leave, deciding against it, when the barkeep suddenly caught sight of him and rushed over, holding another bag, similar to the ones the warriors had recieved. Knowing what theirs had contained, Croak quickly and fearfully opened the package. All it contained was a small scrap of paper with some writing on it. Confused, Croak looked for more in the pouch. Finding nothing, he read the note.

"I know who you are. I can do what you've only dreamed of, if you but seek me out." That was all the note said. Croak threw up his arms in dispair, tossing the note aside. Why the heck to people always have to be so vague? he thought in frustration. Looking at the bag again, he decided that there was only one thing left to do.

"Well, you guys," Croak jogged over to the group, "looks like I'm coming with ya!" He waved the pouch in the air, indicating that he was involved, now. He didn't even wonder at that point, although he thought about it a lot later on, but how the man knew he would be here now was a mystery to him. Valin stared at the bag, his mouth open as he shook his head in disgust. Seraph chuckled a bit, and Ma'lar simply looked at Croak.

~Thaden Ma'lar~

I looked at the frog-man. He was a sneaky person, not to be trusted. He was a spy. I looked towards Seraph. He gave me a look. How can we say no? I snorted and went to the drink. Valin didn't bother to hide his disgust. Well, that was Seraph's problem.

I laughed at the bullygwug--he was an amusing little fellow, even if looked rather unuseful--I hope her wouldn't hinder us too much.

~Thaden Ma'lar~

I had just finished the honeybrew. A bird suddenly landed in front of me. I listened intently as he described where they had found a struggle. It was barely two miles from here. The directions were difficult because they were meant for birds, who flew above the forest, not for men who walked through it.
"Your contact?" Seraph asked.
"He found where they got Sira. It is two miles from here. I'm going to go check it out. You can stay here or come with me. I'll come back here if you want to stay."

"My father lived outside Aerondon the Main Kingdom. He lived outside it in the forest so no need to search for him."

"I'm just going out for a breather."

I walked out into the night alone, i walked about alone taking in the fresh air for a while, when i suddenly tripped up. I picked my self up and saw it was a human body; It was the the newest member of that group think i his name was Daniel i ran back into the inn

"Hey Guys we should leave immediately, i saw the Bullywug what are you doing here?"

"Someone trying to get us into trouble, their a body out here of one of your gang members", i look at Croak suspiciously.

Fontroy, what just happened?

*Running Fontroy decoder*
**Wait**

Ah. Here it is. Alex left the tavern for a bit of fresh air. There, he discovered Daniel's (although Fontroy used the name Samuel) body outside the bar. He returns inside, to warn the others. He suggests they leave immediately, thinking that they are being set up to take the fall. Also, he was surprised to see Croak. He doesn't trust him at all.

*End*

"What?!" Croak rushed out the door to see Dan sprawled out on the ground. He sighed deeply, "Oh, good--'e ain't dead." Croak turned Dan over onto his back, making sure there weren't any serious wounds. There was a scratch on his side, and a huge bump on his head, but nothing serious. "Dang," Croak said, "'e's gonna 'ave a major 'eadache when 'e wakes up." He chuckled slightly, then grabbed something from Dan's limp hand.

"'ey guys! Check this out!" In his hand, he held a piece of black cloth with some sort of design on it. The cloth matched the pouches that the five had received. "What does that mean?" He asked the others.

~Thaden Ma'lar~

I looked around quickly, scanning for any signs of our foe. The road was clear, the woods revealed nothing. No one else was outside. I felt a chill run down my spine. Our foe was here, somewhere, and he had attacked this man, who was both tall and strong.
No footprints Nothing. It was like he didn't exist.
"Where are you?" I muttered under my breath. He could be anywhere. He could even be watching me right now. Another chill went down my spine.

I stepped outside, seeing Daniel's prone form. "Hefting him onto my shoulder, I brought him back into the inn and laid him into an empty chair at a table in the corner of the room.

"Ok, my friends. I'm going to heal Croak's friend here. If anything happens to me...just get me to a comfortable bed, ok? You should probably get me out of my aromro as well, and check for...wounds of any sort. I'm not sure exactly how this is going to work. I should be all right otherwise." Hesitating a moment, I reached over and unbuckled my left gauntlet again. The Mark of Retribution flared angrily as I pulled up Daniel's shirt to reveal the wound in his side.

"Going to regret this," I muttered under my breath. I placed my hand over the wound and called forth my innate healing powers.

Pain seared through my arm, blazing like a fire through my palm and wrist. I clenched my eyes shut tightly, my teether grinding one another as I felt the wound close beneath my palm. I pulled my hand away and leaned back a moment, breathing heavily and grasping my left arm in agony. I waved away any concerned looks the party gave me, and looked back to Dan.

"By Fatlhyr...you must live a very unjust life, Daniel. It is lucky for you that I need information you might now hold."

Taking a deep breath and holding it, I pressed my palm to Daniel's forehead.

I nearly passed out from the pain. Gritting my teeth and growling through the pain, I could feel his fractured skull mending itself under my touch, and the swelling and bruising reducing in size. My arm was on fire--lances of pain stabbed it from every angle--it felt as if a Black Dragon's acid breath had been blasted upon it and was melting the very flesh away!

Within moments, Daniel was whole again. I collapsed into my own chair and grabbed up a half full mug of ale. Downing it in one gulp, I looked to Croak.

"How is he?" I asked in between breaths. I felt a hand clap down on my right shoulder.

"You're smoking," Valin said matter-of-factly. He pointed to my right shoulder. Glancing over, I saw that he was right. Wisps of smoke trailed from beneath my armor, rising into the air and dissipating into nothingness.

"That's...new," I mumbled to no one in particular, only half conscious at the time.