A Roll of the Die - 1. Inception
Copyright© 2026 by Michael Loucks
Day 3
Karla had retired early and was up long before first light to take her place at the table with Brandon and Marcus, feigning sleep. Lisette had relayed through Milos that the sleeping draught added to the stew would result in severe headaches when the men awoke, and she'd added an herb that cooled men's ardor such that their ploughs would refuse to function.
Not long after Karla rested her head on her arms, Marcus stirred, raised his head, and groaned. Karla waited to see what he would do, continuing to feign sleep. Marcus put his head back down, so Karla simply waited. It was just before dawn when the two men awoke.
"What ... happened?" Brandon asked, his head pounding.
"I have no idea," Karla replied, trying to sound groggy and in pain.
"Bad stew?" Marcus suggested.
"We all ate from a common pot," Karla observed.
"You missed the herbalist who was here," Lisette said, coming up to the table. "He must have spiked your food. Nobody else became ill or passed out."
"We need to report to Pavel!" Marcus insisted.
"I need to eat and be on my way," Karla declared. "Tell Pavel I've begun my mission."
Once the men had left, Karla returned to the room she shared with Milos. He was awake, and a short time later, they joined the others for breakfast. While they were eating, Karla related the previous day's happenings.
"You shouldn't go alone," Milos counseled.
"I probably could hire one man-at-arms without arousing suspicion. You have your training; Tristan can accompany me."
"Lisette is going to be sad," Miri teased. "Though I think she's been trying to make up for lost time!"
"Be careful on your mission," Matthias cautioned. "There are far bigger dangers than the Razor Claws!"
"I've thought more about what you said," Tristan interjected, "and I just don't see it."
"What?" Miri inquired.
"What Matthias always worries about — magic."
"I'm telling you, Kranos is extremely dangerous," Matthias insisted.
"Obviously," Milos agreed. "But we agreed to his demand not to interfere when we encountered him on the way to the Grinning Griffin. He gave his word not to harm us."
"And you trust him?" Matthias asked incredulously.
"He allowed us to leave unharmed," Karla interjected. "He also returned Miri's crystals."
"I don't know," Matthias said despondently.
"Just relax," Tristan advised. "We aren't doing anything against him. While Karla and I are away, you need to find where they're keeping Isaac, if you can."
"Why collect the reward?" Lisette asked, pouring tea for them.
"To buy time," Karla replied. "Our goal is to return Isaac to Southham, along with the ransom and his plans. We need to truly collect the ransom, lest some member of the Razor Claws is watching, or in case they have spies in Southham. You four have three days to locate Isaac."
When they finished their meal, Karla and Tristan bade the others farewell and gathered their things from their rooms. With full packs, they left the inn and headed to the market to buy provisions for their journey. That task accomplished, they walked to the stables to retrieve Karla's horse and buy one for Tristan. Once they mounted their horses, they left the city, heading for the Grinning Griffin.
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At the Soaring Falcon, Milos, Matthias, Miri, and Lisette discussed the best way to gather information. The first suggestion was the obvious one — Lisette would listen for rumors and attempt to gain information from any member of the Razor Claws who might patronize the inn.
"Matthias should thoroughly explore the city," Milos suggested. "Go at night, by stealth. Miri should continue her research, and I'll probe for information at the Keep."
"You don't think Isaac is in their lair?" Miri asked.
"It's too obvious," Milos replied. "They would never have let Karla in if that was their true base of operations. It's a simple way to trap a new recruit — if the City Guard shows up, they know the supposed recruit is a plant. I'm sure they have an escape route, likely via the sewers."
"That might be something for Matthias to explore," Miri suggested.
"My brother Arthur and his friends explored them," Lisette said. "Matthias should talk to him. I think they even have a map. Arthur works at the stable as a groom and hand."
"I suppose that makes sense," Matthias said half-heartedly.
"I'm off to the college library," Miri announced.
She wanted to talk to Matthew as Miriam, but he had refused to speak at all the previous night. He'd once again slept on his bedroll on the floor and refused her entreaties to share the bed without being intimate. She was very concerned but had no idea how to reach him.
"Then I'll be off as well," Milos said. "I'm sure I can find sparring partners at the Keep."
He rose, and Matthias followed suit, deeply concerned about the ultimatum. Kranos hadn't given him a time limit, but Matthias was sure it was short.
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Tristan and Karla made good time, and just over four hours later, they approached the Grinning Griffin.
"Remember our mission!" Karla reminded Tristan.
"Spoilsport!" came the rejoinder. "There is a garden in need of tending and a rose to be plucked!"
"Lisette is not sufficient for you?"
"Be with only one girl for life?" Tristan asked skeptically. "Never! There are far too many gardens to be tended and fields to plough! Perhaps you need variety to understand?"
Karla laughed, "Allow me to guess — you would make the sacrifice?"
"I am sure it would be extremely pleasurable! For both of us!"
"We will never find out; I am pledged to Milos."
Their conversation ended as they entered the inn. Dari squealed the moment she laid eyes upon Tristan and hurried to embrace him. She glanced over her shoulder for her father and, not seeing him, gave Tristan a warm kiss, causing Karla to roll her eyes as she sat down at a table.
"Do you need a room?" Dari asked hopefully.
"We only need a meal," Karla quickly interjected.
"Oh," Dari pouted, then whispered in Tristan's ear, "I would hope to visit you if you stayed."
Tristan frowned and replied, "Let me speak to Karla."
Dari released Tristan from the embrace and went to the kitchen to fetch pottage from the cook and ale from a cask, while Tristan plopped down on the bench next to Karla.
"Would you deny me a rose begging to be plucked?" he asked.
"Would you risk our mission for another maidenhead?" she inquired.
"We have plenty of time," Tristan countered.
"True, if everything were to go well, but there are no guarantees; we can't risk the reward!"
"Fine," Tristan conceded. "But you owe me!"
Dari brought pottage and ale, and Karla and Tristan ate quickly. When they finished, Tristan paid for the meal and kissed Dari. He and Karla left the inn to continue their journey, joining up with a passing merchant who had asked them to accompany him.
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Matthias napped that morning, as he planned to be out late, and just before noon, he headed to the stables to speak to Lisette's brother, Arthur. His boots scraped along the cobblestones as he trudged along, contemplating his impossible choice — go home and abandon Miriam, or be killed in both worlds by Kranos. Making the best of a bad situation, he took in as much as he could about Fulham as his eyes and ears could glean.
As he passed the market, a young, beautiful blonde girl approached him.
"You are Matthew, also known as Matthias?" she asked.
"I am," he replied reflexively, despite his surprise at being called by his real name.
"There is someone who can help you," she said.
"Who?" Matthias asked.
"My father, Tranos. He is the brother of Kranos. They detest each other, so my father will help you. For a price."
"What price?"
"That is for him to say. Will you meet with him?"
Matthias felt as if he had just been thrown a lifeline, and he was going to grasp it with both hands.
"Yes!" he exclaimed. "Most certainly! Lead on!"
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Miri, for her part, scoured the library for plans of the city and found a relatively recent map. She obtained paper and ink, as well as a quill, and set about copying the map. As she did so, a distinguished-looking man came up to her.
"What is your name, girl?" he inquired with a tone of authority.
"Miri of Langford," she replied.
"I am Balor, aide to Lord Edward. He summons you to meet him."
"For what purpose?" Miri inquired.
"He did not share his reasons with me. He bids you to the mid-day meal."
"I have work," Miri protested.
"I will provide you with copies of any document you need," Balor said.
Miri contemplated her options, and she realized she really only had one — to comply with the summons from the Lord Mayor of Fulham.
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Milos found several sparring partners and was able to glean several tidbits about the Razor Claws, including that there was a bounty on each of their heads. Unfortunately, Karla had relinquished the crests required to claim the bounty. He learned that the Guild was believed to have about two dozen members, though Milos knew that number had been reduced by five.
Their leader, Pavel, had once been a lieutenant in the King's Guard, but had been dismissed when he was caught bedding servant girls when he should have been on duty. What Milos found strange was that even with the bounty from the King, the Razor Claws seemed to have free rein in Fulham. He felt it was better not to ask, as he didn't want to arouse suspicion from men at the Keep, or from the Razor Claws.
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"What is your name?" Matthias asked as he and the pretty girl made their way through the city.
"I am Lilia," she replied. "How many years do you have?"
"Eighteen. And you?"
"It will be fifteen next moon."
They approached an elegant house near the city center, and Lilia used a key to let them in. Matthias followed Lilia through the well-appointed residence, and she escorted him into a study where a man who looked very much like Kranos was waiting.
"Thank you, Lilia," he said. "You may go."
"Yes, Father," she replied, backing out and closing the door.
"Lilia said you could help me," Matthias said immediately after the door closed.
"That I can," Tranos replied. "The geis is controlled by a globe containing small figurines representing you and Miriam and filled with water and silver shavings. If you retrieve it and bring it to me, I can release you. At that point, you will be free to choose your own destiny, either here or in your world."
"You know about that?" Matthias asked, completely taken by surprise, despite Lilia having used his real name.
"Yes."
"Your brother promised to kill me if I don't comply!" Matthias declared.
"I can provide you with a ward that will create a field that blocks all magical effects from spells cast by my brother."
"And the price for your help?" Matthias inquired.
"In a ten-day, when my daughter, Lilia, is of the age to marry, you will marry her and father a child. I can't imagine a more agreeable price."
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