[CHAPTER 1] [CHAPTER 2/3] [CHAPTER 6]
[KRONDOR]

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

NIVEK: Seigneur Locklear! Good to see you. Interesting news. Interesting news...

LOCKLEAR: Nivek, you old rascal. Got your ears to the grapevine again, eh? What is it this time?

NIVEK: I've been to see Nia at the Six Toe near Sethanon. Ah... I can't really talk about it right now. Why don't you come back later and see me?

LOCKLEAR: We will good friend! Take care.

Seated behind one of the benches was an old associate, Nivek, Lord Minister of Finances of the Western Realm. A loyal subject of Arutha, he had befriended both he and Seigneur Locklear during their scramblings about in Krondor's streets and had taught the both of them a good deal about the workings of the Kingdom's finances.

Looking down the considerable length of his nose, he greeted them cheerily.

NIVEK: Seigneur James! What a pleasure to see you!

JAMES: The pleasure is mutual. How are the ledgers of the Kingdom, Nivek? Think we shall have enough money to keep the Kingdom running for the year?

NIVEK: The ledgers are at a balance, but I daresay my thirst suffers a deficit of catastrophic proportions. Though I handle thousands of sovereigns a day, I fear I haven't the command of more than a handful for my own use at the moment. I don't suppose you might be in a position...

JAMES: What do you say, Owyn? Do we buy a drink for the honorable tax collector or do we allow him to expire of thirst?

Levering himself up from his table, he walked over to greet James.

NIVEK: How nice it is to see you. What brings you into the Rainbow Parrot?

JAMES: Ah, I see you're still in an upright position.

NIVEK: Just because you are counted among Arutha's favorites, James, do not be impertinent. I only on occasion drink a bit too much, but I have not indulged in that pleasure in quite some time. Would you perhaps be disposed to purchase me a drink?

JAMES: What do you say, Owyn? Do we buy a drink for the honorable tax collector or do we allow him to expire of thirst?

Drink up friend and tell me what you know. You've always had a good ear for the happenings in and out of the Kingdom.

NIVEK: Hmph!

JAMES: Perhaps we may buy you something to drink next time. Good day to you.

NIVEK: Rumors? My goodness me, I'm not the kind to consort with the rumormongers. No sire, you should know that. Of course, I do occasionally hear a few facts that are of interest to people. Accounting is a...UHRUP...fascinating business you know, all the figures and such.

JAMES: Something a little more lively if you please. Stolen cows, cheating wives, dishonest traders - that sort of thing.

NIVEK: The prurient and the scatological, eh? Hmmm. Well, let me think on it. I believe I heard something last week - at least I believe it was last week. Maybe it was the week before that. Couldn't have been before that annexation in Malac's Cross ---

JAMES: If you please, Nivek. We would like to get out of here before tomorrow.

NIVEK: ...I...AHHHP...would be most pleased to accommodate you, but it seems that my mouth has grown a bit dry. What do you say to buying me another drink?

SECOND DRINK

NIVEK: Ahh now. That's much better. What was I saying? Oh yes, about this story. Th-ere was...UHRUP...this fellow that lives near Sethanon that has filed three new claims on land in the past year. Thr-ee, ya understand that?

JAMES: Is there something suspect about his purchases?

NIVEK: Oh, his selections of land are nice enough. Prime pieces of land matter of fact, but he's without a...AAHHHP...ti-tle! How'z a person of ignoble birth manage to buy three prime estates? Tell me that!

JAMES: What was this fellow's name? Perhaps we should look into it.

NIVEK: What kind of ques---RUCHH---question is that now? Ya think I carry my ledger about in my head? I mean you might as well ass me the name of Prince Arufa's---Arutha's wife...

JAMES: You mean to tell me that you can't remember Princess Anita's name?

NIVEK: No---what is her name?

JAMES: You were telling me about the man near Sethanon. What else do you know about him? Tell me about the man.

NIVEK: ...Ahhhh...I fink his name was Fibber... NAH, that's not right, not right at all... Fleeber...Monk's Finger...Map's Flipper...Fever... FEEBER! Maxie Feeber! Thatsss it! Ya know, I'm really, really getting tired now and maybe I should go home.

JAMES: There's still a few things I need to know. Think you can hold out for a just a few more minutes?

NIVEK: Sure...RUCCHH...I kin do it. Need something else ta drink though. You buy---UHRUP--ing?

THIRD DRINK

NIVEK: That hit the---the ahhh---What?

JAMES: I suppose you mean that your drink hit the mark. Why don't you tell us a little more about this Max Feeber character?

NIVEK: NAHnahnahnahh...that's bori---UHRUP--ng... let's talk about the last year. Did ya know that for every cow in Midkemia, we get a golden sovereigns a year alone just for their manure... Did ya know that? BETCHA didn't! An for every duck...

JAMES: Max Feeber. I want to know about Max Feeber.

NIVEK: Dokay. Moxie Flipper. Ahm, I know that gee was tryging to buy up some of the propurtee left in Sethanon a few years back from Jared Lycrow but Jared wouldn't sell to no one, so Moxie co--AHRUP---cooked up this idea... Sure you don't want to hear about the ducks?

JAMES: No. Just tell us about Max. What did he do?

NIVEK: Ee gots him selk a shovel and dug---ARRGHA---to try to skeer Jared. Corse Jared wasn't skeered of nuthin but it shore fri-teened---UHRUP---Nia...

JAMES: What was he digging up?

NIVEK: ...Goin ta slep now... Gnite...

JAMES: Maybe I could buy you another drink?

NIVEK: What, you haven run outta mon---mon---money yet? Oh, in that case I'll have nother...if you're buying?

FOURTH DRINK

NIVEK: Grabeyurd neer Sethnon. Dats whur he wusss diggin. Up---ERRRRUP--- Frait o gosts n Jer-rud whatnt. Not at ull. Jes Nia. Littl o Nia...

JAMES: Where do you think he got the funds to buy the land?

NIVEK: E...Ee sait that he gots it in na hole! Alz the monkeys...ARRAH...moneys in na hole! Jus got go...to get it... Ain't frait no gooset...

JAMES: What hole are you talking about? Where is he going?

NIVEK: I tink I go home now...

JAMES: One more tankard of ale to keep him going?

FIFTH DRINK

NIVEK: Ya nu... Zaa unturducktur key urdn skeywers...trite to sulit tome but...UHRUP...I no crumiminal...oh gles mr...AAAGH. O Ghats! Imna be sich! Ha- ho!

JAMES: The what? I don't understand.

NIVEK: I sait, mna be SICK!

JAMES: Okay, okay. I think I've abused you enough for now. Sleep well, Nivek. I think we know all we need to know.

Slumped on his bench, he gazed into open space, his monocle fogged and his features slackened. Seeing James, he seemed to pale somewhat.

NIVEK: GRRNNMPH!... Just let me die, gods!

JAMES: Still hung over, Nivek?

NIVEK: ...not so loud...ooh...please, just leave a poor old soul to die...

JAMES: Sure you don't want a drink?

NIVEK: ...I want you to know that I hate you to the depths of my being right now...the Bitter Sea isn't as deep as my loathing for you...

JAMES: So I take it you're not in the mood for a talk.

NIVEK: ...go fall off the edge of the world...quietly...just so long as you don't make any sound doing it. Goodbye, James.

JAMES: Take care of yourself, old friend.

Slumped on his bench, he gazed into open space, his monocle fogged and his features slackened. Seeing Owyn, he seemed to pale somewhat.

NIVEK: Please state your business quickly and quietly. I'm...incapacitated...just now.

OWYN: I' m sorry to interrupt your hangover, sir, but it's very important that we speak to you. Have you seen or spoken to Pug of Stardock in the past few days? He's disappeared from the palace and we' re trying to find out where he might have gone or done before he left.

NIVEK: It could be that he and I dressed in the Princess Anita's finest gowns and danced with skeletons on the docks, but I don't remember a single detail of this last evening. I had a bit too much drink, I believe...and I'm regretting it with great acuity at this moment.

OWYN: Surely you might remember the events when you entered the bar?

NIVEK: Nothing. Not a moment...mind's as blank as a slate...I don't even remember where it is I mislaid my keys.

OWYN: Maybe if you found your keys, you'll recall last night's events.

NIVEK: That is a respectable theory, young friend, but as I am in no condition to move I cannot test your hypothesis...

OWYN: Tell me what they look like. If we run across them, we will bring them back to you and maybe then you'll remember.

NIVEK: Not much to distinguish it from other keys...It has my name etched up on it...that is all...

Good luck.

OWYN: Take care of yourself, old friend.

Slumped on his bench, he gazed into open space, his monocle fogged and his features slackened. Seeing Owyn, he seemed to pale somewhat.

NIVEK: So, have you found the key that will unlock my past?

OWYN: If you mean, have we found your key, the answer is yes. I have it here in my pack, but...it might be advisable for you to consult a solicitor for advice.

NIVEK: A solicitor? Why? Where were my keys?

OWYN: We found them on a dead man. He was just outside of Krondor. It looked as though the side of his head had been bashed in with a large, blunt weapon. Was he an enemy of yours?

NIVEK: If you're suggesting that in my stupor I killed someone, you've lost your senses. I'm not violent when I'm drunk, and in fact I tend to fall unconscious after even a few tankards of ale... I am starting to recall a few things about my...episode...shall we call it? I remember a man who came into the Rainbow Parrot and offered me a drink and then it seems I followed him somewhere...outside of town, perhaps?

OWYN: Where you killed him.

NIVEK: No, where he...he offered me more to drink...and then he took me someplace else, or did his friend take me there? And then...after that, everything's still a blank...

OWYN: So these strangers got you drunk and stole your key. Does your house key open any other locks other than your house?

NIVEK: Yes, it opens the locks to my correspondent's office in Eggley. The Prince had my keys made especially so I could have access to any of the Kingdom treasury offices.

OWYN: Mind if we borrow this key for a while? I want to test a theory.

NIVEK: Be my guest. Anything to help my own cause. I'd really like to get this cleared up.

OWYN: We'll do what we can. Thanks.

Slumped on his bench, he gazed into open space, his monocle fogged and his features slackened. Seeing Owyn, he seemed to pale somewhat.

NIVEK: I don't suppose you've found my keys have you? Fortunately the locksmith came by and gave me a new one so that I can again enter my dwelling, but I would still like to know where I went during my bender.

OWYN: You still don't remember?

NIVEK: Nothing. I know only that I've discovered a twig in my shoe and a leaf in my pocket. Perhaps I wandered into the woods.

OWYN: At least that gives Gor...Thorgath and I something to go on. Thank you, Nivek.

Despite Owyn's repeated attempts to revive him from his drunken stupor, his efforts proved to be fruitless. "Seems someone else has come along and softened him up," Owyn sighed. "We'll just have to find out the significance of his key on our own."