The Companions of Tartiël Read Online Free PDF Page A

opposite door. It, too, had a keyhole, this one silver. Curiosity had already almost gotten the better of him, so Wild tucked his worries and suspicions away for the time being and finished sweeping the rest of the hall.
    As the day drew to a close, the chores ended. Kaiyr frowned at Wild, noticing a few subtle signs of burns that Wild had deftly disguised. The halfling saw Kaiyr looking at him and very surreptitiously shook his head. Understanding, Kaiyr said nothing.
    After dinner and a bath, Kaiyr and Caineye waited in their room for Wild to return from his bath. Earlier, the halfling had privately caught the druid’s attention, too, indicating that he desired a private meeting with both of them.
    “What the hell is a fire-trapped door doing in your main hall?” Wild demanded of Father Cobain, bursting into the library, where the priest was transcribing holy writings.
    “Oh, my,” Father Cobain said apologetically, setting down his quill. “So, you found it.”
    “Well, duh,” the irate halfling went on. “I put my broom down for a moment and lean against the door for a breather, and fwoosh !—down comes fiery doom on my head. Seriously, is it that much of a crime to take a break?”
    Cobain shook his head. “I am sorry, Mister Wild. That door… well, I was told never to open that door, despite it being in the main hall. Supposedly there is something of great power—and danger—behind it.” He steepled his fingers in front of his nose, his elbows on the desk before him. “I would appreciate it if you did not go poking around that door, or the one opposite it. Both are potentially lethal.”
    The man’s tone changed, and he smiled gently. “Luckily, the spring where we bathe is actually empowered with positive energy. Go and bathe in its waters and it will heal your burns in mere minutes.”
    Wild huffed a sigh of resignation. “Well, all right. Sorry for causing such a storm.”
    “Not at all,” Cobain replied softly as the halfling returned the way he’d come.
    Once the halfling had retreated down the hall, the smile fell from Cobain’s face. “Go,” he commanded the empty room. “You know what to do.” From the shadows, a dark figure coalesced into the form of a large rat that scurried across the floor, disappearing around the corner. “I’m so sorry you found that door, thieving halfling,” Cobain murmured. “And as I know your kind’s penchant for curiosity, I can’t let you find out what’s behind it.”
     

III.
    “Now that is interesting,” Wild said as he rounded the corner and stepped into the room the travelers shared. He wore only his pants, carrying his towel and shirt over one arm.
    “What is?” Caineye said, taking the bait.
    “Check this out,” the halfling said in a low voice. “I was burned by a magic trap, but the water in that spring healed me right up. Look, not a mark!” He spun around once, showing the other two his tiny body.
    Kaiyr gave Wild a concerned look. “A magical trap? What are you talking about?”
    Wild looked at the other two. “Do both of you speak Elven? I guess it’s a given for you, Master Kaiyr. Anyway, we might have a better chance of not being understood by the resident clergy if we speak something other than Common.”
    “I do,” Caineye said, “Though Sylvan or Draconic might be even better.”
    “No good,” Wild sighed.
    “I can speak any of the three,” Kaiyr said. “But it is already settled. Let us discuss this in Elven.”
    Wild’s face turned dark, and he switched to the Elven language. “I think there’s something fishy going on here. First of all, one of the doors in the main hall, you know, where everyone comes in, is trapped so that anyone trying to open the door gets his ass toasted nice and crispy.”
    “I shall not ask you why you were trying to open a closed and locked door, but do go on,” Kaiyr said, glancing about the room.
    Wild nodded his thanks. “But have you two noticed anything strange about this