Qilynn soaked in the hot water as long as she dared before stepping out and wrapping herself in a luxurious robe. Padding into the bedroom, she saw the chambermaid had left a clean gown on the bed. No sooner had she realized she had no lady’s maid to help her dress than a light knock sounded on the door.

“Come.”

“The housekeeper sent me to help ye, M’Lady,” said a timid voice.

“Come in, I don’t bite.”

A tall, thin young girl entered, her cheeks flushed bright red. The Housekeeper had carefully chosen the gown to complement her coloring, which had shifted from angry Summer to calming Autumn shades.

She barely had time to get her hair in place when another louder knock sounded.

“Come.”

“Dinner is served, Milady,” came the housekeeper’s voice.

Qilynn waited until she heard Kharys and Tumorgi, then joined them as the chamberlain, who had been waiting for them all, led the group to the dining room. He seated Qilynn at the Baron’s left hand, with Tumorgi next to her and Kharys facing them across the wide table.

The baron asked them about their interrupted plans and learned that Kharys had hoped to attend a druidic enclave on another island. Unless she could book passage on another ship, she would likely miss her opportunity.

“I ain’t got no plans but t’ make sure I gets me next meal, regular-like if’n that’s possible,” Tumorgi announced when asked.

The baron expressed surprise that Qilynn arrived with the storm that damaged the ship.

“You were ripped from the Feywild, you say?”

“Aye, My Lord Baron…”

“Call me Joaquim.”

“Joaquim… One moment I was at a ball at the Seelie Summer Court, the next, my companions fished me out of the ocean. My gown completely ruined!” She knew she sounded like a petulant child, but the last several days had honestly stretched her patience.

“There, there,” soothed the Baron. “I’ve seen my staff work miracles with fabric, My tailor will make it good as new, you’ll see.”

After dinner, the baron invited the companions to his study.

“Friends,” he began after shutting the door. “If I may be so bold, I must tell you… I am in… I must ask you to do something for me while near Thistle. I must ask that our discussion this evening remains a secret that you must not share with anyone, including Master Vance.”

He waited until each had given him their word.

“For years I’ve had a… patron. It’s someone or some group that’s been looking after me, my career, and my fortune or fate. At first they asked for minor tasks from me, and small favors given in return. But over the years, the tasks and favors increased in importance and some strained my morals.

“Many years ago, I failed a task. I told no one, reported to my patron I’d completed it, though I wasn’t certain. I was to destroy a warehouse, an underground compound once used by my patron and his cohorts.

“I found this place abandoned, and took certain books and other items my patron wanted, then set the place on fire. Unfortunately, it’d rained for many days and the fire spread slowly. Once I set the fire, the halls filled with noxious smoke and I had to flee before I could make certain the entire place burned. As the gods would have it, after I was on the trail away, heavy rain fell again. I watched as the smoke from my fire boiled into the sky, then dwindled to nothing. The fire went out.

“I want you to go back to that depot and demolish it, finishing the task I should have done twenty years ago. Somewhere inside, there could be papers, books, or other items that will help identify this group of patrons that’s been helping me all these years. In my youth, I didn’t care, as long as fortune favored me, but now, with the death of my brother and other events I’ll not speak of, I’m concerned this patron has foul intent.

“I want to know who this patron is, what group he belongs to and why they’ve been manipulating me most of my life. I’m only interested in the knowledge the place may provide me. Anything else of value is yours to keep. Bring me what you can and I’ll be in your debt.”

How do we get in?” asked Kharys.

“When I went there many years ago, the great door at the front was locked but had no key. My patron placed a spell on my signet ring to unlock their special doors. Take it, hide it, show it to no one. Spies of the order may see it in your possession and wonder why you have it. That wouldn’t be good for any of us.” The baron slipped a length of leather over his head, handing a necklace to Qilynn. A ring dangled from the thong. Looking at her earnestly, he said, “I am certain you will keep this safe for me.”

Qilynn draped it around her neck and tucked the signet down the front of her robes and out of sight.

“Where’s this place?” asked Tumorgi.

“It’s north of Thistle at the base of a hill near several hedgerows and a stream. I think it’s about an hour away with a sheer rock face. The hedgerows and stream run between two hills.”

“And you know nothing about your ‘benefactors’?” asked Kharys.

“I was young and full of myself, I fell in with a group I knew little about. They referred to themselves as ‘scholars’ but they weren’t the academic type. They called their group the Circle House. The more I worked with them, the more things went my way with little or no effort. Where rivals and peers in my circle would have misfortune when I succeeded. This made me question the intentions of the Circle House.”

“This never aroused your suspicion?” asked Qilynn.

“When I was younger, no. It wasn’t until I was older and began questioning my fortune.”

“You want us to search this warehouse for signs of this group?” asked Tumorgi.

“Yes, there were still documents and other items left when the Circle Group left the warehouse.”

“Why have you waited so long?” asked Kharys.

“My contact came to me last month and said they think I’m ready to join as a full-fledged member. They want introduce me to the higher echelons, and for me put myself in their hands. I suspect they want to manipulate my life more than they have. I want to know who this Circle House is and what their intentions are. If their intentions are nefarious, I want to know.”

“So you want the reward with little risk to yourself?” asks Kharys.

“I want to stay anonymous in this. I suspect they’re watching me and would take it badly should they learn of this commission I’ve asked of you.”

“Then we should deal with the warehouse in Thistle and destroy the depot after?” asks Tumorgi.

“Yes.”

Qilynn looked around at her companions. Kharys looked thoughtful. Tumorgi grinned like someone looking for a brawl.

“I’m in,” said the big half-orc with a grin. “If’n I have the ladies for backup, that is.”

(to be continued)

Previous: Qilynn: Meeting Baron Wildhurst
Beginning: Qilynn of the Feywild