Zero Hour

[Bjorn]

Bjorn waits until the door has closed behind Nathan, scrubbing at his face tiredly, before starting to speak again.  "In all honesty, my Lords, Elric told us very little we did not know before -- and all the new was about him.  We knew about the Dwarf, and the Archon, the Jotun and the size of their armies.  Since there is little planning we can do about Elric until Wardmaster Mattias finishes his work, then the planning left is the planning we have been doing."

He straightens his back.  "What we need, and what we have been given, is a chance to rest.  Time to sleep, to mend, to heal, to implement our strategies and develop new ones.  If I might be so bold, Lord Kevin, I would suggest that we adjourn, and reconvene when the moon rises again.  In the mean-time, we can deal with the problems we already have, and think about how to solve our new ones."

[Brian]

Kevin nods.  "Very well," he says.  "Eske, if you'd be willing to help, I'd see to it that guards watched over the decoy sword."

Eske nods back, and Kevin arranges for some guards to prepare.  "Find what rest you can," Kevin says earnestly.  "We need to take it while it's still there to be taken."

[Bjorn]

Bjorn bows.  "As you say, my Lord."  With that, unless someone tries to stop him, he leaves the room and heads back to his quarters, bent on finding Mirallia.

[Brian]

Phil now moves to A Walk in the Neighborhood.

When you get back to your quarters, Mirallia is already there, speaking with three other vassals dressed identically to yourself.

[Bjorn]

Tired as he is, Bjorn almost stumbles in surprise before quickly collecting himself again.  Shit.  I knew Nathan and Phil were collecting people from the temples.  I should have bloody guessed.

Still in the doorway, Bjorn pauses for a second, listening to whatever it is that they are discussing, as he tries to decide whether to stay or to leave.

[Brian]

Mirallia breaks off from her story, which appeared to be an explanation of what happened to the other vassals with you on your way to Stormwall.  "Ah, you've returned," she says neutrally.  "You should probably rest while you can, Bjorn."

The other three vassals all turn to eye you speculatively, but say nothing.

[Bjorn]

"Thank you, Mistress," Bjorn says, neutrally, "but I'm afraid there are still more things that I must take care of.  Since Lord Kevin had me on detail all of last night, I took this chance to make sure you were all right."

[Brian]

She smiles at you.  "Thank you, Bjorn.  I'll be looked after, so you shouldn't worry; you should continue as Lord Kevin commanded you."

The other vassals raise eyebrows, but say nothing.

[Bjorn]

"As you say, Mistress."  He hesitates slightly.  "If you do require me, please ask the servants to direct you to the acting Warder."  He bows.  "If you'll pardon me."

With that, he exits the apartments, and begins walking down the halls.  At first, he's simply putting distance between himself and the other vassals, but then a thought strikes him, and he starts to head towards the corridor described as the drop-off point in Durant's notes.

[Brian]

It's a dark corridor, somewhat out of the way.  There are few torches lit, as light is seldom needed here.  Or at least, that's the idea.  The actual spot is an alcove with a statue in it.  Presumably of one of the earlier lords of Stormwall keep, it's unlabeled and unmarked.  But the shadows around it are fairly deep.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn goes up to the alcove and studies it carefully, though carefully not touching anything.  If the shadows prove too dark to see into, he takes one of the torches out of its scone and brings it closer to the alcove.

[Brian]

You can't see much of anything in the alcove, but when you bring a torch over, it proves ... to be empty.  There is a hollow in the back of the statue, however.  It's got a piece of folded paper in it.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn reaches in, carefully picking up the paper in gauntlet'd hands, and reads the note.

[Brian]

It reads:

Code Select Expand

Hunter,

Leave a copper in the hollow the day before you wish to meet.

                                          -Fletcher

[Bjorn]

Bjorn carefully refolds the note, putting it back exactly where he found it (or at least, as best as he can manage).  Standing, he returns the torch to its proper place, and then scratches his beard in thought for a second.

Then, with a nod to himself, he heads off to find a servant who can direct him to Durant.