[CHAPTER 2] [CHAPTER 3] [CHAPTER 6]
[CHAPEL OF ISHAP]

The man walked over to join them. He stood before them, eyebrows arched inquisitively.

GRAVES: Welcome gentlemen. What brings you to the Abbaye Ishap?

JAMES: My young charge here wished to visit your famed school of nobles. I don't think he would have let us leave Malac's Cross without paying a visit.

GRAVES: Well, well, well. I am pleased to see that our reputation precedes us. Am I to assume you are interested in becoming a new pupil, or are you visiting from our estimable rival, the Academy of Magicians at Stardock?

OWYN: My father would never allow me to study magic formally. Even though he more than has the financial resources to send me to Stardock, he thinks it's a waste of a young noble's time to spend ten and twenty years with his nose stuck in a book and yet be hardly capable of doing anything else. If it weren't for a magician named Patrus that I met once, I wouldn't know anything of magic at all.

GRAVES: It is true that magicians study for longer periods of time with fewer visible results, but no course of study is a waste of time. And while magic is not a primary staple in our directed studies here, magician Pug is kind enough to occasionally send instructors from Stardock to lecture on issues that involve magicians. If you would be interested in enrolling...

JAMES: I regret that we don't have time for that kind of detour. He is on crucial business that takes him elsewhere.

GRAVES: What about you, Seigneur? Is there anything in our curricula that interests you?

JAMES: Books and scrolls? I'm a bit too old for that sort of thing now.

GRAVES: Really? How unfortunate for you. And I was preparing to offer you a chance to attend a lecture on tactics that is being taught by one of our guest instructors... Now that I think on it, you probably wouldn't be interested. It's being taught by this, well, odd fellow, a one eyed gentleman who goes by the name Bas-Tyra.

JAMES: Bas-Tyra? You mean Guy du Bas-Tyra? King Lyam's First Adviser?

GRAVES: Yes, I believe that's his title... It's part of the Abbaye Ishap's arrangement with King Lyam. In exchange for setting aside part of our facilities here for the purposes of education, the King occasionally will loan us some of the finest minds in the Kingdom. It works to our mutual benefit. I can still arrange to allow you in if you're still interested for a small donation of twenty sovereigns. What do you say, Seigneur?

The man walked over to join them. He stood before them, eyebrows arched inquisitively.

GRAVES: You're fortunate. There still seem to be a few places open for Guy du Bas-Tyra's speech on combat assessment this evening. Do you wish to buy a ticket?

SEE OPTIONS BELOW

GRAVES: In town, near the Queen's Row, there's a small hall that we have reserved for Guy's speech. Simply present this ticket at the door and they will admit you all. I believe you will be in for a stimulating evening.

JAMES: Thank you. We are looking forward to it.

GRAVES: I'm afraid I can't admit you without it. It's one of the small constraints on us. As our abbaye is not in the habit of great enterprise, we pay for our guest's travel expenses with the funds we gather at the door. You'll probably miss tonight's lecture, but we may have a request for a repeat lecture, depending on our student turnout, so perhaps if you can come up with the funds you can still listen to him.

JAMES: We'll try to fill our purses between now and then. Good day.

GRAVES: If you change your mind, I should have tickets available. Good travelling.

JAMES: We know where to find you. Thanks.

The man walked over to join them. He stood before them, eyebrows arched inquisitively.

JAMES: Hello Abbot. We were hoping we could speak with you a while.

GRAVES: As much as I would like to chat, I have some business to attend to. A few of my students require my special attentions. Perhaps I shall see you again some time.

JAMES: Perhaps you shall. We'll leave you to attend to your students. Goodbye.

The man walked over to join them. He stood before them, eyebrows arched inquisitively.

GRAVES: Gentlemen, welcome back to the Abbaye Ishap. How may I help you?

JAMES: Several men were killed in Romney recently and my companions and I are investigating their murder. We were hoping you might be able to give us some information.

GRAVES: We are always at the disposal of the King's wishes. Please, ask your questions.

JAMES: There were two objects found on the bodies of the dead men. One was a rather ordinary looking brass spyglass and the other was a small spider statuette made of silver. Would you know anything about either object?

GRAVES: Spyglasses are common devices, but silver spiders, now those would be quite rare. I've seen them catalogued in books as magical poisoning devices but they would be prohibitively expensive for a common murderer. Whomever used your spider would have to be a man with a great deal of money and would have to have connections with Kesh. That's where they are made.

JAMES: Thank you, you've been of tremendous help.

GRAVES: Glad to be of service. As I recall, you purchased tickets for the First Adviser's speech on enemy assessment, did you not? I trust it was educational.

JAMES: Actually, we never got around to it. We ran short of time when we were last in Malac's Cross.

GRAVES: A pity. I understand that one of our bright stars - a Kyle Fischer, if I recall correctly - decided to stand and debate the First Adviser's tactics on a battle for Deep Taunton. I don't believe I've ever seen that boy look quite so mortified for quite so many days. You're in luck, however, because another of our guest instructors will be lecturing for a while and since you didn't use your ticket, it's still valid.

JAMES: What's the topic?

GRAVES: A subject that I think is already of interest to you. Tactics, once again, taught by Baron Troville from Highcastle. I believe he will be discussing his battles against the moredhel.

JAMES: Why isn't he massing his forces in the North?

GRAVES: He's awaiting a group of soldiers from Darkmoor. Until they arrive, he's been gracious enough to lend us his services. I should like to attend the lecture myself but my duties call me elsewhere. Enjoy yourselves.

JAMES: We shall. Thank you.

The man walked over to join them. He stood before them, eyebrows arched inquisitively.

GRAVES: Welcome to the Abbaye Ishap. I am the Abbot Graves. How may we help you?

JAMES: Several men were killed in Romney recently and my companions and I are investigating their murder. We were hoping you might be able to give us some information.

GRAVES: We are always at the disposal of the King's wishes. How can we help?

JAMES: There were two objects found on the bodies of the dead men. One was a rather ordinary looking brass spyglass and the other was a small spider statuette made of silver. Would you know anything about either object?

GRAVES: Spyglasses are common devices, but silver spiders, now those would be quite rare. I've seen them catalogued in books as magical poisoning devices but they would be prohibitively expensive for a common murderer. Whomever used your spider would have to be a man with a great deal of money and would have to have connections with Kesh. That's where they are made.

JAMES: Thank you, you've been of tremendous help.

GRAVES: Glad to be of service. Incidentally, would you gentlemen be interested in attending a lecture this evening on tactics? It's being instructed by Baron Troville in our special lecture hall and it promises to be very enlightening. The tickets are only twenty sovereigns. Do you wish to go?

The man walked over to join them. He stood before them, eyebrows arched inquisitively.

GRAVES: You're fortunate. There still seem to be a few places open for Baron Troville's speech this evening. Do you wish to buy a ticket?

SEE OPTIONS BELOW

GRAVES: In town, next to the Queen's Row, there's a small hall that we have reserved for Troville's speech. Simply present this ticket at the door and the doorman will admit you all. I believe you will be in for a stimulating evening.

JAMES: I hope we shall. Thank you.

GRAVES: I'm afraid I can't admit you without it. It's one of the small constraints we have on us here. As our abbaye is not in the habit of great enterprise, we pay for our guest's travel expenses with the funds we gather at the door. You'll probably miss tonight's lecture, but we may have a request for a coda, depending on student turnout, so perhaps if you can come up with the funds you can still listen to him.

JAMES: Thank you. We will try.

GRAVES: If you change your mind, I should have tickets available. Good travelling.

JAMES: Good travelling to you, as well.

The man walked over to join them. He stood before them, eyebrows arched inquisitively.

GRAVES: As much as I would like to chat, I have some business to attend to. A few of my students require my special attentions. Perhaps I shall see you again some time.

JAMES: Perhaps you shall. Until then, good day.

The man walked over to join them. He stood before them, eyebrows arched inquisitively.

GRAVES: You have picked an inconvenient time for a visit. I...I have business to attend to.

OWYN: Why would Pantathians be interested in attacking the Abbaye Ishap and why would they blame you for it? The citizens are terrified, fleeing the city for fear of their lives. They blame you, abbot.

GRAVES: Please...I don't know why they would make these...accusations...I'm not responsible, I will not be responsible.

OWYN: If you're thinking of fleeing the city, I wouldn't advise it. We've been told that some of the townspeople intend to make you a present to the Pantathians as a prisoner.

GRAVES: The Pantathians don't take prisoners! They kill once they make their minds up on a target! It would be murder!

OWYN: It seems that the Pantathians are willing to do worse than that to Malac's Cross if you aren't turned over to them. Why don't you tell me why they're here? Perhaps we can help you if you help us.

GRAVES: Greed. They're here because a certain spineless brother of the Abbaye Ishap looked up and said I am meant for greater things than this. He was unscrupulous, unflinching, dedicated to a singular selfish cause. With as little conscience as a man has when swatting a fly, he arranged that his abbot should be caught with a sum of money that was discovered missing from the brotherhood's coffers. Naturally, the brother then assumed the abbot's place.

OWYN: You. But you weren't able to keep the secret, were you? Someone discovered your deception.

GRAVES: My plan was seamless, as perfect as the most perfect pearl but somehow he found out. So we struck an arrangement. The Crawler agreed to silence so long as I contacted Pug and arranged for a magical tutor to be sent periodically to Malac's Cross. The tutors never knew that not all of the men they trained were nobles and things went relatively well for four years...then Pug discovered the truth from one of the Crawler's men in Krondor. Pug withdrew his tutors, stripped us of our books and left me incapable of fulfilling the details of my secret deal. So the Crawler made a new demand. Since I could no longer train his rogues, I was to uncover a certain magical relic for him or forfeit my life. I refused, and his Pantathian masters were not pleased. I responded with a few of the boys that Pug's adviser had taught magic, nobles, but apparently they were overmatched.

OWYN: The relic the Crawler wanted, was it a book by any chance?

GRAVES: I will say no more. The time is come that I made arrangements for my escape from Malac's Cross and you two may be my only hope. Find Mitchel Waylander and tell him what has happened. And tell him I don't want anyone else hurt. Once he has made his arrangements, return here and tell me what I must do.

OWYN: What? We can't help a criminal escape justice!

GRAVES: The men and women of Malac's Cross aren't at all concerned about the criminality of my acts, boy. They know nothing of them. All they know is that the Pantathians have asked for my skin and they will do anything they can to protect themselves, even if it means turning over an innocent man. That is the justice they believe in. If you can still find me guilty after your deliberations, then don't bother coming back.

In a few minutes he appeared, the look in his eyes wary, like those of a beaten dog. Shuffling forward, he spoke quietly to Owyn.

GRAVES: Have you spoken to Mitchel?

OWYN: He has a plan that he believes will work. He sent along the details.

GRAVES: Tactics, tactics, tactics, always tactics. A justified end to my life as an abbot, I suppose. The priest brought down by the pawn. The circle closes.

OWYN: It's not too late to do the right thing, abbot. You have a chance to strike back at the Crawler. You can tell me how to get the relic so that he doesn't gain it. Tell me how to get the Book of Macros.

GRAVES: Book of Macros? I've never heard of it. I transcribed quite a few of the books that came from his library when he left Midkemia, but I believe I would have remembered reading a book by that title. I know very little about that magician except for what is written in Pug's or Tomas' historical commentaries on the Riftwar with the Tsurani. No, the Crawler was after a magical sword that was reputedly lost near Malac's Cross in the dim past. Personally, I don't believe the Guarda Revanche is anything but a myth.

OWYN: You just mentioned someone named Tomas. Who is that?

GRAVES: Hmph? Tomas? He's Warleader of the Elves in Elvandar and Consort to Queen Aglaranna. He was very close to Pug as I understand it and I believe he also spent some little time with Macros. Perhaps he may know about your Book of Macros.

OWYN: It's a lead. Thin, but a lead. Thank you, abbot. I think we have a book to find. Perhaps we will meet again under happier circumstances...

GRAVES: Unlikely, unless you set your feet on the road to Kesh. I imagine that's where I go next. Goodbye and farewell.

OWYN: Kesh is it? Good luck.

OWYN: We haven't located him yet.

GRAVES: The citizens of the town won't wait much longer. It's imperative you find Mitchel Waylander. Now go, I have a few final details I must attend to here before I leave.

OWYN: We will return when we find him.