Obran told them all to rest up and went down to speak to Stripe who was still with the same woman who Obran was starting to think was more than just a friend or employee. Was she rubbing his ears, Obran thought? She was introduced to him as Phoebe, Stripe's partner, but Obran wasn't sure what kind of partner.
"Pleasure to meet you, young gremlin," Phoebe said. "Yes, I think he looks like the right gremlin for the job."
"Uhm...thanks," Obran said.
Katrina had arrived too; he had to speak to both of them but now couldn't get his mind off the others. Were they all crazy? Didn't they realize how dangerous it would be to travel north? When he left them they were like a cheery group of adventurers ready to start a merry quest. What's the worst that could happen? Don't they know? Well, they could get skinned alive by elves, or tortured and crucified by Romans, or boiled alive and eaten by goblins. Yes, there were plenty of those up north as well as other creatures he'd never want to run into.
"I was hoping to talk to both of you," Obran said.
"Go right ahead. We are all friends too. I hope there is no problem? I have the package ready for you both," Stripe said.
A leather satchel lay on the bar. It didn't look too large or too heavy.
"No, I'm ready but please Mister Stripe tell me everything I need to know," Obran said.
"I'm happy to hear that my boy and hope you will share everything with me as well," Stripe said.
"Yes, I will," Obran said.
Phoebe poured them all wine mixed with water.
"Now you know that several Roman legions are being sent to take back the Northern Mountains but despite what the dwarves or some generals believe it won't be easy. A Roman officer, no doubt on orders, asked me to acquire a new poison that was developed on the island of Albion by the Chymico guild."
"I've never heard of them," Obran said.
"A very secretive guild, even more than the assassins guild," Stripe said.
Obran knew little of either guild though he suspected a few gremlin veterans had joined the assassins guild and they had even tried to recruit him once.
"Albion is off limits to all outsiders of course but I have contacts with capable spies and smugglers," Stripe said.
Sabotage, both physical and biological, was what gremlins specialized in, and though Romans often poisoned wells and salted the earth Obran knew that wouldn't work on goblins or orcs who like gremlins were immune to most poisons.
"I know what you're thinking my boy but this poison is said to work on anything short of a dragon and just a pinch is lethal," Stripe said. "I won't bore you with the details, all you need to do is deliver this satchel to collect your reward; no one will ask you to administer it."
"Okay, I do hope the Romans only plan to use it on the goblins and orcs in those mountains ," Obran said.
Romans also had a habit of poisoning their political and personal enemies.
"Let us hope," Stripe said with a smile.
Obran thought of an idea.
"Okay, so it is agreed," Obran said. "I have secured a ride and we will all leave as soon as possible," Obran said.
"So soon? Does it have to do with you being pursued by the...uhm...authorities," Stripe said.
"What do you mean?" Obran said.
It was hard to hide things from a gremlin and Obran only hoped Stripe could be trusted.
"I suspected something when I saw you with your friends," Stripe said.
"There is something odd about all of you," Katrina said. "But I mean that in a good way."
"Don't worry my boy. I would never sell out a fellow gremlin, not for all the gold in Roma, and definitely not a war hero," Stripe said.
"It's not just the authorities," Obran said.
"Really?" Stripe said.
"Dark elves too," Obran said.
Obran told them how he met Tori and that the King had ordered him to escort her north to make sure she got home. He also told them the others were not important and asked to keep their identities a secret.
"Hmm...dark elves. I've heard of a wizard who'd pay top dollar for a live one," Stripe said. "Well those are some problems you have."
"I wanted you to know before I started the job and I do hope no matter what you will all be discreet," Obran said.
"Of course, well I hope you can avoid any problems but you seem motivated and are more than capable and that is what most interests me," Stripe said.
"And it's nothing me and Corvus can't handle," Katrina added.
"Okay," Obran said. "Thank you."
Obran started to think everyone in Italia had gone crazy but his instincts told him he was making the right decisions. They hashed out the details and decided they would leave right after lunch. Might as well get a good meal since we will be on the road for a while. Back in the room Obran tried one last time to convince them to stay in Remus.
Zico, Mara, Erkin, and Tomas all looked at each other as if they were all thinking the same thing.
"Can that be the last time you ask us to stay," Mara said. "We are all in this to the end, okay."
"And where my wife goes, I go of course," Zico said.
"Don't worry, we won't let you down," Erkin added.
"None of us will," Tomas added.
They all looked happy and excited even after the near miss with the praetorian the previous night. Yes, everyone had gone crazy.
"Okay. I won't doubt any of you again," Obran said.
Tori looked happy as well but he caught a hint of worry in her eyes.
"I'll go see about preparing us a real meal that will leave a good taste in everyone's mouth," Obran said. "Zico, I'll need your help. I need you to help me prepare something special."
"Okay, what do you have in mind?" Zico said.
"Tell me what kind of breads can you make?" Obran said.
"All of them," Zico said with pride.
"Perfect, and Mara, we'll need some fairy dust too," Obran said.
"Plenty of that," Mara said.
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