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the case my scouts would have
reported troop movements to me. Problem is that I don't expect a single man to
report back in for another week. So as of this moment, you are all we have
Kromwell. I want you to go see a friend of mine. More of a mentor really,
Arturo will give you all the supplies you need. Give him this." Turk
handed me a ring unlike anything I had seen before.  A steel ring with a
crest, two crossed swords with blades of red under a single crown. There was
some kind of writing under the blades but age had made it impossible to read.
As I looked down at the ring in the palm of my hand a feeling began to rise in
me. Something I had never felt before, trust. I then looked Captain Turk in the
eye and saluted him in earnest.
     Captain Nikle was another story. He wanted us gone,
told us to forget about the ruins and to return to our inn. He would summon us
when he required our service. I still held the ring in the palm of my hand,
clenched tight in my fist. I did not trust Nikle. He thought he was better than
us, better than Turk. There was a clear division between the city and royal
guard. It started here with him. When we left his office there was no question
on what we would be doing.  Ignoring everything he said and going to see
this friend of Turk's.
     The first time we entered the shop of Arturo Son of
Agathar is a day I will never forget for as long as I live. As sure as I am
breathing today, this man was a hero. Well more than twice my age Arturo had an
air about him that demanded respect and honor.  Not that he expected it,
you wanted to give it to him.  I only hope that I can inspire someone the
way he did me.  It told him who we were and why we were there.  I
then handed over the ring that Turk had given me. As he looked at it something
passed over his face.  As if he was transported to another time and
another place.  He said only one thing in that moment. "This does
not bode well."
     He was quick to give us whatever it was that we
wanted.  He opened the store to us and gave us free pickings.  Once
we had everything we wanted and packed them onto our horses I took a moment to
look around.  This is why I came here.  This is what I wanted.
 I was doing something with my life, something my father had no control
over.  I was making a difference in the world.  I thanked Arturo for
everything and told him I would see him soon.  Still not sure why I did
that but I knew we would be spending quite a bit of time together, I wanted to
know him.  We arrived back at the ruins without incident, without seeing
another soul.  As we once again descended down the old stairs I took one
last look back at the sky and then at each of my friends.  They were ready
as was I.  We did not see the sky again until three days later.

  9.  Blocked
     
        
Of all things in life I have been taught, this one thing always seemed to be
the most useful. When lost in a maze, follow the right hand wall.  For
three days the four of us made our way past every obstacle in our way.
 Except for one very large and according to Hetaron, magically locked
door.  Both he and Hans studied the door for hours on end and I got tired
of watching Pare get shocked when he touched the door.  I think he was
tired of it as well but he seemed very determined.
     Three days underground and no evil wizard to speak of.
 That being said, we did find humans, lots of them.  Four of them
proved most troublesome but they in fact provided the most information we had
found yet. They also provided the greatest fortune.  It was the day before
or earlier that day.  I was no longer sure what day it was, only that I
was tired and needed a good rest. "They are from Katja-Lor, a good
people but they will work for the highest bidder." Hans told us.
 I didn't care where they were from.  All I cared about was the chest
of coins they were guarding.  Then we found the papers on the leader.
 This chest was the last of