'We have news, My Lady.'
You sigh without raising your eyes, wondering if it will be good
news or bad. By the Ancient One's voice it could be either.
Looking up from your desk into his eyes and see the glimmer of hope.
'Let's have it then. What news my friend?' you ask evenly.
'He has found it. Jim has found the stone!'
Your heart skips a beat and you immediately stand. 'Bring him to me
at once! This is cause for celebration!'
The Ancient shakes his head. 'I cannot bring him to you but we will
go to him now. Come, you will see why.'
Your vision fades …
Your vision returns … You are someone else …
'My Lady! We have it! We have found the Stone!' the pain is
overwhelming but you still feel the elation of having done what has
eluded so many.
'Cyllyl's beard! You are a mass of blood!' Turning to the healer,
Ciang asks, 'Will he survive?'
Powint turns from where she is mixing an herbal concoction. The
smell is awful and you sincerely hope she doesn't make you drink it.
'He will survive but I'm afraid he will lose his hand and part of
his arm. His friend is another story. Elena, is he asleep?'
You turn your head to see Elena move away from a hulking form.
'Please how is he? I owe him. I owe him my life,' you ask quietly.
Elena comes over to you and places her hand on your head. 'He will
survive, but I fear he has lost his wits. We will do all we can for
him. He is a hero and will be remembered always for his actions.'
'He saved my life,' you think to yourself.
The Ancient brings a chair next to your bed and Ciang sits beside
you. 'Please, tell us what happened.'
Nodding to the Lady, you tell your tale.
Your vision fades …
Your vision returns … You are someone else …
Are you sure about this? I may not be the smartest in the world,
but it all seems too easy.
'My sources are reliable. I'm sure there is SOMETHING there, let's
just hope it is what we seek. If not, we still profit,' said Jim in
a low voice. 'Now, are you ready? The assassins are nearly in
place.'
'I'm ready Jim. My part is easy; it's you I'm worried about. You
have to go in there, into Cyllyl knows what traps have been laid,'
you tell your friend nervously. He's your best friend after all.
Jim chuckles quietly. 'My friend, you worry too much. This will
be a simple pick and grab, just like the countless others I've done
before. Well, perhaps not JUST like all the others, but my part is
easy with you and the others to help me out. Do not fear.
Nodding, you are comforted by Jim's confidence. All will go well.
'There's the signal,' whispers Jim, his head cocked to one side
to better catch the faint sound in the night. 'I'm off! Remember,
a steady count of 100 before you move,' Jim says as he slips off
into the night.
You take a deep breath and begin counting.
Your vision fades …
Your vision returns … You are someone else …
75 .. 76 .. is as far as you get when all hell breaks loose at the
house. Standing, you just step toward the door when Jim dashes
past yelling. 'RUN! ESCAPE PLAN TWO!'
You quickly glance behind you as you start off after Jim. The
assassins are engaged in a heated battle with 12 Sentinels at the
house. Shaking your head, you pick up speed and begin to follow
the path laid out by Jim for escape.
As you turn a corner, you hear sounds of fighting nearby. Slowing,
you hear Jim cursing and rush to his aid. You enter an alley where
Jim is pinned by four Sentinels. Justice seems to be the last thing
on their minds. Your friend is in trouble and appears to be cradling
his left arm as much as he can when facing four enemies. You draw
your axe and Rat's Tail - a gift from Jim - and with a roar, you enter
the fray.
One goes down immediately with your axe in his back. Their
attention now split, two engage you and the third focuses on Jim.
Good, two foes is simple work. You see Jim slip behind his foe and
stab him under the arm and twist. Two down and you turn your axe to
the next Sentinel. Swinging with enough force to cleave the man in
two, you miss him as he ducks under the blow and your axe hits the
stone wall and shatters! A half moment later, the Sentinel drops to
the ground with a surprised look on his face and Rat's Tail sticking
out of his neck. You spin quickly to fend off the last threat but
it's too late. The last thing you see before the darkness is Jim,
his left arm bleeding heavily, flying toward the final Sentinel who
is swinging a large mace at your head.
Your vision fades …
Your vision returns … You are someone else …
'He saved my life. I would have died in that alley and the Stone
would have ended up in the Temple of Sikkar. He IS a hero.' The
worry and emotion in Jim's voice is evident. You feel ashamed to
have thought of him as an unfeeling opportunist.
You bow your head in silent prayer to Cyllyl, thanking her for such
men. Behind you, the Ancient One asks Jim, 'The Stone. Please,
will you give it to the Lady?'
Jim nods, 'Of course.' Reaching toward the foot of the bed - with
his right hand - Jim pulls a gray stone from a bag between his feet.
Holding it out to you Jim asks, 'Please, Lady Ciang, tell me, is
this the Age Stone?'
You reach out toward the simple gray stone and take it from Jim.
Turning it over in your hands you see the sigil. You nod to Jim,
tears running down your cheeks.
'It is the Stone of the Mind. The first Stone has been recovered!'
Your vision fades …
