[CHAPTER 1] [CHAPTER 2] [CHAPTER 3] [CHAPTER 6] [LAMUT]

"Honors to your houses."

SUMANI

LOCKLEAR: Why did you decide to come to Midkemia and open an inn, anyway? Surely you would get better business on Kelewan.

SUMANI: I was not always a tavern keeper. As a soldier serving House Shinzawai under Earl Kasumi, I was trapped here when the rift gate was collapsed at the end of the Rift War. It was our belief that we would never again see our families in Tsuranuanni or the green skies of Kelewan again.

LOCKLEAR: But Tsurani warriors traditionally kill themselves if they are in danger of falling captive to an enemy.

SUMANI: This is true, lord, but the Earl informed us that we were forbidden to dispatch ourselves until given leave to do so by a Great One --- I believe in Midkemia you would call such a one a magician. Until such a time, I content myself with running the Blue Wheel Inn.

LOCKLEAR: I've heard that the permanent rift-gate to Kelewan is located near here. I was hoping we could get a glimpse of it.

SUMANI: There would be little to see at the moment. An internal conflict has arisen in the Empire between House Acoma and House Anasati. The Assembly of Magicians have ordered a temporary interruption of transport between the Empire and the Kingdom of the Isles until such time the conflict is resolved. I have been assured the measure is temporary.

LOCKLEAR: You said you were a soldier with the Tsurani forces. Would you be interested in teaching us some of your combat techniques?

SUMANI: It would be my honor, lord, but I will require a small fee for my services. If my armor were to be damaged, I would be ill prepared otherwise to pay for it's repair.

SUMANI: Seventy Five sovereigns should cover any potential harm. Is this fee acceptable?

ARMOR REPAIR

LOCKLEAR: I don't know how much longer our armor is going to last. Any idea where we could get it repaired?

SUMANI: If your armor was the same as mine, I would suggest trying the garrison, but Kingdom armor is made in a different way. I would think perhaps the dwarves in the Mac Mordain Cadal would be of assistance. I understand from speaking to Dubal that the small ones are gifted when it comes to the manufacture of weapons and armor.

LOCKLEAR: We were up at the Garrison earlier and they told us that a group of grey warriors stole a pair of rubies. Are the grey warriors some kind of special armed force on Kelewan?

SUMANI: Special, yes, but not in the way you imagine. The grey warriors are men without honor, men whose houses have been destroyed by an opponent house. Such men must live off the land until they die, though I have heard that Mara of the Acoma has accepted many such men into her estate. Others have learned they may be granted freedom if they can reach the Kingdom. Many die trying...

LOCKLEAR: Where would such men go once they got here?

SUMANI: Away from La Mut, wherever they might go. Though the members of the Garrison here are bound by Kingdom law, many of the soldiers still live by Tsurani custom, as I do. It is not easy to fight our feelings about the grey ones.

If indeed these grey warriors have stolen rubies, I suggest you seek out a man with a tainted honor...Keifer Alescook in the town of Loriel. He is a gem merchant there, out of his home.

LOCKLEAR: I get the feeling this ruby theft isn't an isolated incident.

SUMANI: You listen between my words. This is the sixth such theft in the past year. Twice, gems have been stolen near the Assembly of Magicians from Great One Makala's entourage. That would be no simple feat to accomplish, even for a master thief. Whoever it is that is responsible, he must fear little if he doesn't fear the wrath of a Great One.

I would take care following this thief, friend. I sense he is very dangerous.

MAKALA

JAMES: We met a Tsurani in Krondor named Makala. Do you know anything about him?

SUMANI: He is a Great One of the Assembly of Magicians. Beyond that, I know little as the Great Ones do not communicate with the lesser folk.

JAMES: Lesser folk?

SUMANI: Those who are not of the Assembly or those who are not Lords or Ladies of the Tsurani Empire. It would be improper that a person such as I should speak to one of his rank unless he asked a question of me. This is the way of my former people.

JAMES: I suspect the graveyard outside of LaMut will fill up faster than the gravedigger can dig holes if the roads become any more treacherous.

SUMANI: It is truer than you might imagine. The roads at night are patrolled now by the LaMutian guard. Any found out after dark will be slain on sight.

JAMES: No exceptions?

SUMANI: Dubal told me that he managed to...haggle, is that the word?...past one of the guards, but then again he is especially gifted with words. I, myself, would not wish to rely upon such a skill.

JAMES: I've always found myself on the short end of the stick when I've tried my hand at haggling. Ask me to charm the dress off a peasant girl, no problem. But when it comes to convincing a merchant to undersell something to me, I'm less than expert.

SUMANI: You were not born knowing how to walk, but you seem to have no difficulty putting one foot in front of another. Anything may be learned so long as you truly wish to learn it.

JAMES: So who would I speak to about learning how to haggle? Dubal?

SUMANI: Dubal is Dubal. His talent is a part of him and I doubt he understands his own abilities. There is one who lives in Romney, however, who I think may be of help. He is known as Mitchel Waylander and is the head of a very powerful guild, the Glazer's Guild. I had a very long conversation with him when he wished to buy a few of our Tsurani pots. I think he could teach you something about haggling.

JOKE (if Dubal)

JAMES: Dubal tells me you're quite the entertainer. Any chance I could hear one of your Tsurani jokes sometime?

SUMANI: Dubal tells many people many things. Some things he says are true, other things he says...not as true. I merely repeat what it is I have heard from those at the Garrison.

JAMES: That's fine. I'm easy to please.

SUMANI: Your will, lord, though I should warn you there is a different...how should I say, aesthetic to Tsurani humor. You may find it...puzzling. But as you request it, I shall endeavor to entertain you.

During the reign of forty four times Emperor Hidjucama, the lords of the minor houses of the Omatu, the Xudumakal and the Hebatoki were summoned to the Holy City for an audience with the Warlord. The Omatu, knowing the Warlord to be allied with the Ebon Fist Party, decided they would present the Warlord with a woman of the Reed Life. The Xudumakal were richer however and decided they would buy the Warlord a fine wooden sword from the Cho-ja hive on the estates of the Kenu. But the Hebatoki paid the greatest price of the day and rode into the Warlord's estate astride a ferocious harulth. Immediately, the harulth consumed the Reed Life prostitute and began destroying the Warlord's estate. Using the blade given by the Xudumakal, he beheaded the beast but broke his blade in the process. When he had seen what he had become of his fine gifts, he exclaimed, "Turakamu be praised! The Emperor shall love his new shoes!"

JAMES: Ah... That was...well... To be honest, I didn't understand anything you said after the word reign, but you told it well, I'm sure.