When they arrived at the palace, the guards let Cole and his companions pass without argument. The Dragonmaster asked where the Princess was and was told that she was in the training room. Cole told Carla and the others to go get settled until he had talked to Leeta. The Premier and the two Knights went towards the living areas in the west wing, while he headed for the room he shared with the Princess.
He climbed the stairs to the fourth floor and entered the Royal chambers. Cole removed his Dragon equipment and changed into a pair of forest green pants, a black tunic, and a gray vest. He pulled his boots back on and strapped on his Sword before he left. It only took the Dragonmaster a few minutes to descend the stairs several floors and make his way to the training facility. As he neared, Cole heard the sounds of steel tearing through cloth. He came to the weapon's training room and stopped at the entrance. At the far end of the room stood the Princess. She was wearing a black tank top and hose. Her blue blond hair was tied back into a pony. In her hands was a steel long sword. Cole watched for a few moments as she performed several attacks on a man sized dummy.
He started clapping. "Nice form. The dummy never stood a chance, but there is some room for improvement in your technique."
She lowered her sword and turned to him. A small smile played across her face. "Big words. Care to back them up with a small test of skill?" She raised the tip of her blade slightly.
The Dragonmaster returned the smile and drew the the Goddess' Sword. Both of them made their way towards the sparring mat. Cole shouldered off his vest and unclasped the sheath from his belt. Leeta assumed a ready stance, but Cole merely stood by with his Sword tip pointed downwards. The Princess lunged, and Cole's ancient blade snapped up to parry. Her initial attack deflected, Leeta shifted her weight and slashed low. Cole easily jumped back and batted away the long sword. Not discouraged, Leeta spun to the right and made a series of slashes. With lightning fast speed, the Dragonmaster parried slash after slash. Finally, Cole went on the offensive.
In repeated, rapid movements, Cole slashed at the Princess' left and right sides. At first she was able to keep up, but she was soon confused by the rapid motion of Cole's blade. With unparalleled agility, the Dragonmaster made two quick steps forward, maneuvered the tip of the Goddess' Sword under the guard of Leeta's own blade, and disarmed the Princess. The long sword flew through the air and landed with a crash. Cole leveled his Sword at Leeta's neck and smiled triumphantly.
Her own smile signaled her willingness to concede defeat. Cole lowered his blade, but Leeta surprised him with her last attempt to snatch victory. Before he knew it, she had pushed past him, thrown her arms around his neck, and kissed him full on the lips. His grip on the Goddess' Sword loosened, and it fell to floor. She pulled her face from his. "Looks like I win after all," she whispered.
He held her tighter. "Then it's time to collect your prize." The Dragonmaster shifted his weight and started to fall backwards. As he fell, Cole pulled the Princess with him.
Leeta pulled on her tank top and looked down at Cole, who was laying half dressed on the sparring mat. She nudged him with her right foot. "Come on, get up. We may have relieved the stress we had both been under, but there is a war going on."
Cole made a face. "For a while, I was almost able to forget about it." He got to his feet and pulled on his shirt and vest. He strapped on his Sword and walked up behind Leeta. He encircled her waist from behind and kissed her neck.
"Stop," she said. Leeta patted his hands and he released the Princess. "We're both a lot calmer now, but we still have a big job ahead of us."
The both of them left the training room. Leeta looked up at her love. "Where are you going right now?" she asked.
"I think I'll have a talk with the Knights," replied Cole. "We'll go into the city and see what we can dig up about what's going on in Yis-Toril." He put his arm around her as they walked. "What about you?"
"I'm going to go and talk to Carla," she said. "I haven't seen her in a while, and I want to catch up."
Cole nodded. They arrived on the main floor. The Dragonmaster said good-bye and left to find the Knights. Leeta turned and headed back to her room. As the Princess walked through the halls leading towards the Royal chambers, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. Leeta stopped several times and looked over her shoulder, only to see the empty hall behind her. She shook her head and continued.
Moments later, a clicking noise echoed her own steps. Leeta looked back again, but she still saw nothing. The Princess quickened her steps, and the clicking noise increased. Suddenly, Leeta found herself running down the hall. She came to a flight of stair and started to ascend them two at a time. She reached the third floor and made a mad dash for her room. All the while, the clicking noise grew louder in her ears. Leeta rounded a corner, and the red doors to her room appeared. In front of them were two Royal guards. The Princess cried out, and they were at her side in an instant. "What is it Princess!?" asked a guard.
Leeta inhaled a deep breath while pointing behind her. "I... think... something is following... me," gasped Leeta between breaths.
The two guards nodded and ran off with their weapons drawn. Leeta wasted no time and went immediately into her room. A few minutes later, the guards returned and reported that there was nothing to be found. Leeta nodded as they spoke. They finished, and she ordered that security within the castle be tripled just in case. The guards left, and the Princess heaved a huge sigh. "The fun never ends," she muttered to herself as she walked towards the bathing chamber.
"That's about all we were able to find out," said Argile.
Cole sat in silence as the giant warrior finished his report. He stared at Argile across the conference table. "But you only spoke with the guilds, right?" asked Cole. Argile nodded.
The Dragonmaster turned to Connery. "Since you and Mirage aren't as well known, I want you two to go into the city and fish around for information."
Connery's face contorted in anguish. "You mean go to the slums," he said flatly. Cole smiled, and the little thief groaned.
Mirage patted his small friend on the back. "Oh, it won't be so bad, kid. Slums ain't so bad once you get used to 'em." Mirage looked over at Cole. "When do you want us to leave, boss?"
"Right now," replied the Dragonmaster.
Connery pushed away anther beggar as he and Mirage strode through the seedier parts of Lucitania. Finally, they stopped in front of a grungy looking tavern. "This looks like a good place to start," said the Blue Knight.
"Oh yeah, great," muttered Connery.
The two friends entered the tavern and went straight to the bar. Mirage ordered some beer and proceeded to talk quietly to the bald headed bar tender. The bald man pointed to the rear of the room. Mirage tossed a couple of silver coins into the other's open palm and thanked him. After the bar tender went to fetch the beers, Connery leaned near Mirage. "What did you just say to him?"
"I just asked if any trade caravans had arrived in the city today," said Mirage as he stared at the other side of the room.
"And?" urged Connery.
The Pirate Lord looked at the thief. "He said that a couple had arrived from the port city of Uramie." The beers arrived and Mirage took one. He sipped it and made a face. "This tastes like piss," he grumbled.
Connery pushed his tankard away. "So why did he point to the back of the bar?"
Mirage put his own tankard down. "One of the caravan leaders is sitting over there." Without another word, he slid off of his stool and moved towards the back. Connery followed without argument.
Mirage lead them to a table with a rather fat man sitting behind it. He wore brown traveling leathers covered in dust, his head was home to a small patch of thin brown hair, and he was sweating profusely. Connery's nose wrinkled when he got a whiff of the man's b.o.
Mirage pulled up a chair and sat down next to the fat man. "Good day to you, my friend," he said with a large smile on his face. "Might I buy you a drink?"
The fat caravan leader looked up from his food. Before answering, he took a quick look into his tankard. After making sure it was empty, he spoke. "Of course you can, good man, but for what purpose would you buy me a drink?"
Mirage's smile took on a crafty air. "Oh, just out of the goodness of my heart, and because I think that you can help me."
The fat man's eyes narrowed. "What kind of help?"
"Just a little sharing of information," answered the Pirate Lord. "Specifically, current events."
The other's face became serious. "Then I think that you'll have to make it two drinks."
Both the Pirate and the fat man burst out laughing. Mirage signaled a waitress over and order two more drinks. After she left he patted the fat man on the back. "I like you, my friend. You drive a hard bargain."
The fat man smiled. "After several months at sea, you tend to want all the fresh brew you can get, no matter how bad it is. And please, call me Tiberius."
"I know exactly how you feel, Tiberius. My name is Mirage, and my small friend here is Connery." He gestured to the silent thief.
When the drinks arrived, Tiberius tool a quick gulp. He placed the first tankard down and resumed eating. "Now what is it, that you wish to know?" he asked.
"Well," began Mirage. "You mentioned that you had just been at sea. Where had your ship been sailing from?"
"The Western coast of the Eastern Empire," replied Tiberius. "By Lucia, are they having some problems over there."
"Problems? What kind?"
The caravan leader drank a little more before responding. "I was in the port city of Yin-Pral, when some rumors began to spread that the capital city of Yis-Toril had been destroyed by some mysterious army. Reports were saying that this new army was moving towards the West coast. There were Imperial soldiers running all over the place building walls all around the city. Of course after that news, I packed up shop and headed out of town on the next ship. That was just a few days ago."
Connery and Mirage were silent for a minute while they processed the information. Finally, Mirage rose. "You've just helped us more than you know, friend Tiberius." The pirate Lord dropped a couple of coins on the table. "Thanks again." He nodded to Connery and the two Knights left the tavern in a hurry.
It was early morning the next day. The sun was just peaking over the mountains as Cole finished tying the saddle bags on his horse. The news Connery and Mirage had brought him was disturbing. Someone had raised an army powerful enough to lay waste to the Eastern Empire. The thought alone sent chills down his spine. He looked around the clearing at the Knights as they too finished readying their mounts. There was a cough behind him, and Cole turned to face Leeta. She, Carla, and Carmen had insisted on following them out past the city and into the grass lands. Her hair shone in the early light. He took two steps towards her, and they embraced. "You're going again," she said simply.
He raised her head and looked into her bright, blue eyes. "You know this had to be done. We have to know for sure what's happening over there. If I could take you with me, I would, but there's no guarantee I could protect you."
She scowled up at him. "I can take care of myself. I am an accomplished sorceress, after all," she said with a slightly arrogant tone. She pulled away from him. "I don't need protection from an ass like you, either."
She started to walk away, but Cole's arm shot out and grabbed her. She struggled lightly as he pulled her near and kissed her on the lips. Seconds passed until the kiss ended. "I love you," she whispered.
"I love you, too," replied the Dragonmaster.
He stroked her arm one last time before leaping into his saddle. "All right, boys. Let's move out," ordered the green eyed warrior.
The four Knights finished their own good byes and got on to their horses. Cole signaled once with a wave, and they were off to the port city of Uramie.