Myths of Power

As they walk down the road (it could only be called a 'road' because it lay between buildings),Richard keeps looking nervously down side streets. As they get closer to the Sickle and Scythe, Richard pulls Catherine up by her arm. They stop just outside the entrance.

"Here Catherine, Take this..." He hands her a few coins. "Go in, Get a room and head straight to it. Lock the door and wait for me. Don't let anyone else in. I mean ANYONE."

Catherine looks confused by this, but does as he asks. Richard heads back up the road and turns into an alley. He removes the bandages covering his face and hands, lowers his hood and stands up straight. As he does, the sound of slipping and cracking vertebrae, echo in the general area. He stretches his arms, twists his neck and stands against a wall.

In a flash he whips his arm around the corner, grabs a hold of cloth, hair, flesh and muscle, pulls with all his strength, twists and pins his quarry against the wall. A tall, yet stocky man, clean shaven and wearing light leather armour. His face has a curious, long look to it.

With Richards forearm pressing against the man's throat and his other holding a sword to his belly, Richard leans close to the man's face. "Who are you and why are you following me? Who do you work for?"

The man lets out a few gurgles as his face starts to turn blue. Richard lets some pressure off the man's throat and he takes a gulp of air. "I.. I don't know...cough... what you're..."

As Richard grows angrier, his facial features start to deepen. His eye's become deep-set and the colour fades from them. His nose shrinks back to it's bridge and his lips curl over his gums. Even in the low torchlight, the man can see Richards skin lose it's pallor and turn gray. Small pieces of skin fall off, exposing muscles and tendons.

"I'll ask you once more," Richards voice becomes low, and half filled with gurgling noises. "WHY ARE YOU FOLLOWING ME?"

Strangely, while the man is having trouble breathing, he is not showing any shock over Richards sudden change. Richard gives the man room to breath, but keeps him pinned.

"Are you mad? Get a hold of yourself and turn normal?"

Richard, unsettled by this turn of events, releases him and steps back. "Obviously you're not human. What are you? 'Thrope? 'Pire? Did the elders send you?"

The man rubs his neck. "I'll tell you anything you need to know, but for the gods sake man, change! If anyone sees you.."

Richard takes a quick step forward, prodding him in the belly with his sword. "If anyone sees me, we're both dead."

Richard takes a deep breath and starts to calm down. Insects and beetles crawl out from the gutters, and like tiny carpenters, they start to repair Richards face and body. Within a minute, Richard looks normal again.

The man's face looks like he's about the vomit. "Urrmm, I will never get used to you Revs doing that. My name is Coltan. I'm Lycanthran working for the elders of the White Wind cadre."

"White Winds? They're a cadre of information gatherers, spies?"

"Yes, I suppose you could call us spies. Look," He beckons Richard to leave the alley. "I know your companion has gotten a room. Perhaps we should talk there. I'm sure the information we can exchange would best be said in private."

"Agreed."

They head toward the Sickle & Sythe. Where Richard was standing lay the empty, withered remains of the beetles and insects, blowing softly away in the breeze.

With some effort, Catherine walks with Richard to the Southern Gate.

"I'm having some trouble with this, father." The word came out cold, unfeeling and forced.

"Good, Catherine, it will make it all the more believable. And, perhaps you should just call me William. 'Father' just doesn't work for you." Richard slows his shambling down so Catherine can catch up.

Two guards, who were quietly passing the time, stood and lowered their weapons to point at them.

"HOLD THERE! Who are you and why are you here?"

Richard holds his hands outward in a surrendering gesture. "I am ...William...This is my.... daughter...Catherine." Richard's speech is laboured and throaty. He pulls Catherine lightly forward. She lowers her head in embarrassment. "Greetings kind sirs."

"What do an old leper and lame girl want in the great city?" Most of the city guard were known to call Haladan 'The Great City'. This gives Richard some confidence as the formal military who normally guard the gates would be more exacting in their questioning and searches.

Richard shambles forward but the guard steps forward himself, his weapon becomes even closer to Richards head. "Just stay there and answer the question, peasant!"

Richard places his palms together in prayer. "Yes, yes. I am sorry." He takes a step back. "We are here... for the services.... of the physician. Does he.... still reside in... mighty Haladan?"

The man raises his weapon. "Of course fool. Were else would he be allowed to ply his 'trade'?"

Richard raises an eyebrow under his bandages and thinks to himself. 'Hmmm. This boy knows something about the monk. This may be advantageous for us.'

"Of course, of course. This... cursed malady often plays tricks.... with my senses. It is ...only... due to my daughter here ....that I don't wonder aimlessly to my ....death."

The second guard mumbles to himself. "death would be better than being cursed you vermin."

The first fires a look back at him that causes him to go back into the guardhouse. Seconds later he comes back with a scroll.

"Can either of you make your mark?"

Richard laughs and pushes Catherine forward. "My... hands are not what they used.... to be, but Catherine.... here can."

"Come this way then..." The guard ushers them toward the gate and a small table. He brushes some wastes of lunch off the table and hands a mug to his companion. He unrolls the scroll which has some almost illegible writing on it. He then supplies a pen and inkwell to Catherine and points at the bottom of the scroll.

"Sign here girl, both of your names."

Catherine leans over the scroll, writes her name and then begins to write 'Richard'. Richard notices and grabs her hand. "No no you ...stupid girl... MY name... your brother ...couldn't make the trip...remember?!"

Catherine starts to panic, but manages to continue. "Oh...yes...sorry father..." Richard looks at the guard and begins to worry. 'damn it, this isn't going well...'

"...I do miss him so, father. Do you think he will be fine without us?" Catherine leans over again and writes 'William of Balantine'

"Yes, daughter, he will be.... fine." 'just finish up will you girl!'

The guard takes the paper and hands it to a small boy in the guardhouse. "Do your job...quickly now!" and in short order the boy comes back with two bracelets.

"Hold out your left hands." They do as ordered and he tightens the bracelets around their wrists.
"These will tell any guard in the city when you came in, and from where. You will stay in the South Quarter at ALL times. You will present these to any city or military guard when asked without delay. By the Regents order, you may stay in the city of Haladan for no more than one week. Failure to follow ANY of these rules WILL result in your death."

Richard looks at the bracelets. 'this may change things a bit...' He looks up at the guard. "Go on your way...Long Live The Regent!"

The second Guard repeats the call. "LONG LIVE THE REGENT!!"

Richard looks at Catherine who gives a half-hearted "long live the regent."

They both turn and walk into the Southern Quarter. A squalid section of the city, were most of the areas poor and unwanted end up. The streets are littered with filth and dog muck.

"What do we do now Rich... umm William?"

"I think we need to find a place to sleep and eat, don't you?" She smiles at him and nods "Nice recovery back there with your 'brother'"

Catherine looks around, fearful of everything "Thanks...it just popped into my head and I decided to use it."

Richard stops for a second and lets Catherine move ahead. 'really?...I must remember that...'
"Come on, 'daughter'.. I see a perfect place just up ahead." He points down the street to a run down inn at the end of a row, 'The Sickle & Scythe'

An old, hunched man walks slowly down a stone corridor, the sound of his staff, cracking against the marbled floor, fills the hallways. He wears meagre clothes and a cowl, obscuring his face. He approaches a set of large oak doors, guarded by two soldiers in light armour.

As he stops, the guards lower and cross their pole arms.

"What business do you have here, old one. You were not summoned by the regent?"

The old man makes a swift upward movement with his free hand and the top of both the weapons fall, cleanly cut, to the ground.

"Nor will I ever BE summoned, you brainless ape!" His voice is low and harsh, with strange background clicks. "Now stand aside."

The guards move back in terror as he easily opens the doors.

"I have information for our...regent...."