Good Wine Makes Good Blood

[Rezantis]

"I've always been too curious for my own good, Friend Ekim," Nathan winks, "And while it's occasionally gotten me in trouble, I would never have retrieved my ancestor's blade without learning such things."

[Brian]

Ekim pauses his work a second time, and studies you appraisingly.  "This is true," he says after a moment.  "Tell me, Friend Nathan....  What goes on in the castle?  I hear little, but sense that all is not well."

[Dracos]

Dracos eyed Nathan, turning slightly and glancing around to make sure no one was listening in on the conversation, gesturing slightly to indicate he'd keep an eye out for listeners.

Dracos

[Rezantis]

"Treachery and suspicion.  When we travelled out to meet the stormriders, we found those who would betray us to the dreadmarch . . . and Lord Kevin suspects it in the keep as well."

Rez pauses.

"More than suspects, now.  Some lorekeepers tried to kill Radagast last night, and it's believed that there are more traitors waiting for their moment to strike."

[Brian]

Phil sees no one nearby, except a single servant, just leaving a chicken coop with a basket of eggs.  She seems not to notice him, and heads towards the keep.  "Kill Radagast?" Ekim asks, sounding confused.  "Why?"

[Dracos]

"Madness and lies.  Someone apparently sent an order that Radagast was a traitor."  Dracos answered, glancing back at Ekim.

Post

[Brian]

Ekim looks upset about this, and nods.  "Radagast said that these were weapons," Ekim confides, pointing at the shells.  "I don't know how, but now I understand why he asked for more of them."

[Dracos]

"It's good to hear that he has tricks up his sleeve.  Bleh.  Bad enough with the dreadmarch outside without this cloak and dagger stuff keeping us distracted here.  Anyone bother you about that sword at all?"

Dracos

[Brian]

"Not a one," he says, lifting the edge of his shield to check.  The sword is there, laying flat on the clean-swept brick.  Nodding, he sets the shield back down (it 'thuds' heavily).  "It remains safe."

[Dracos]

Dracos nods.  "Good to hear.  Don't know how far others might be, so be careful, Ekim."

Dracos

[Brian]

Ekim nods.  "I will be," he rumbles.  "And you as well, my friends."

[Rezantis]

Rez bows respectfully and follows Drac back off towards the stormrider camp.

[Dracos]

Dracos leads the way back, looking out for his commanding officers.

Dracos

[Brian]

In short order, you find Sir Warrick Aubron, Lord Roger Lowry, Sir Erik Kethel, Sir Harold Volter, Lord Farwell (you never actually learned if that was his first or last name), and a man you've not yet met before named Lord George Barrock (he's wearing the caribou torc, now).

Your reach them at the same time a contingent of guards from the keep run up to your group.  One of them says, "Sirs and Lords, Lord Kevin humbly requests your presence for a meeting of strategy before the battle is to commence."

Judging by the moon, you've got about two hours to go.

[Rezantis]

Rez starts to look around for Alec, before realizing that he'd probably better not bring him along to the Sekrit Stratuhgee Meeting . . . and so tags along with Drac.