Alexander noted all the group's remarks for the record, including the fact that Azrun was a great help in retrieving Lytern from the Zhents. He said little as he wrote, although he looked very displeased at the suggestion that slaves had been kept in Marlen's cellar.
After speaking with the scribe, one of the serving women they had met last time they were in the keep came up to them, "You'll be staying the night or going?" She lowered her voice to a low whisper, "Lord Parlfray's taken ill. He's not a young man. I fear this may have been too much for him." She continued more loudly, "I can show you to some rooms if you like."
Jana leaned over and whispered to Arachne, "Do you think you could help him feel better?"
"If he'd let me," Arachne replied to Jana, I think I could. She went to the serving woman, tugged on her sleeve and asked quietly, "He doesn't want anyone to know about his ill health, does he? I _could_ help him, but I'm not sure how I might get in to see him, much less persuade him to let me lay healing hands upon him. Have you any suggestions? Does he already have a physician attending upon him?"
"Aloysius," she turned to the wizard. "Lack of locating magic is hardly anything to be ashamed of. I don't have any capability like that either. That's just the way it goes. If our journey from here takes us back through Thurmaster again, perhaps you could ask Tauster if he has anything he could share. Now, you wanted rest here; we're resting. Is rest all you need, or are you also still hurting from whatever happened to you at Tauster's." She frowned. "Whatever did happen to you at Tauster's?"
"Uh, actually.........I'm uncertain," the wizard replied. "I reached for a door, realized I was on fire, and vaguely recall a man with a large sword standing over me in a rather menacing posture. Then, I awakened the next morning to find my cloths burned and bloodied."
An expression of confusion passed over his face. "Strangely, when I did arise, I found no significant injury about my person. Other than being at an utter loss for incantations, I'm fine now, all things being considered."
"I believe we are agreed to staying the night." Blacky replied to the woman "Jana, if you have time, could you instruct me in the arts of sword wielding."
Blacky spent the next several hours in the training yard trying to familiarize himself with the two-handed sword.
"I'd be happy to," Jana replied, blushing a bit at the thought someone would ask her help for anything. "I'm not really familiar with that particular weapon, but since I often use my sword two-handed, I'm sure I can get you going on the basics."
"I'd appreciate it. I'm sort of an ax man myself, never learned how to swing one of those blades." He replied heading toward the practice grounds.
Echo nodded, "I guess I should go study." She looked like she had swallowed a bug. "Aloysius, if you want one of these spellbooks to go over, let me know."
Aloysius cocked a surprised eyebrow at Echo. "Er.....I shall......thank you." He seemed to ponder something for a moment. "Possess do I a spell book from a fallen companion that I have almost finished with. I think he would have had no objections if you were to look through it as well." He glanced over at Arachne. "Um.....right?"
Arachne looked confused a moment, then calmed herself and nodded. "I'd guess so," she said.
Echo gave Aloysius a weak smile, "One is all I'm going to be able to handle today, probably for a while, but thanks. I'll let you know if I want to go through it sometime." She handed one of the two spellbooks they had acquired to Aloysius.
Aloysius took the book hesitantly, keeping a wary eye on Echo. "Oh my.......", he muttered quietly. He looked at the cover of the book and then placed it into his pack without opening it. He glanced back at Echo with a rather wide-eyed expression. "Why.......?" he began, but apparently thought better of completing his question. He then simply stood there rather uneasily, looking at the wall.
Aloysius inquired of the serving woman as to where he might find a bath, a quill, and some ink. After talking with her for a moment, he headed off by himself.
