Day 11
Late Evening
Kaymann

<Snip>

Mentorn became aware of something other than the sickly drone of Marssell's
crowing though Kaymann was taking in a number of details about the knife he
had...

<End Snip!>

"Well, old man, you've bought yourself a few moments, but you'd better 
start talking fast." Kaymann whipped the knife away from the man's grimy 
throat. The old man wheezed a sigh of relief and ambled over shakily to a 
pile of carpets and sat down heavily. He produced a plain handkerchief and 
swatted his brow with it.

"I knew you'd llisten to reason boy. You always did have a rational side. I 
knew the run in with Ka'Laren was merely a poor circumstance." He huffed.

Kaymann shot him an evil glare. "That's not what I think you should talk 
about old man. Change the topic... quickly."

Mentorn arched an eyebrow at Kaymann, curious to know his connection to the 
mercenary Ka'Laren.

"Hmm, yes, the knife. Well, you hold in your hand, Kaymann, the legendary 
Knife of the Fires." Marssell produced his pipe from within the tattered 
cape he wore and he began to stuff it with his favourite tobacco.

He patted down his vest for a match. Mentorn struck one of his boot and lit 
the pipe with a smirk. The old man puffed a few times until the tobacco 
glowed red in the centre. He blew smoke out from his nose and began again.

"The Knife of the Fires is a sacred relic of an ancient tribe of 
Dragonriders from a time long before the warrens formed. The K'Um Lah Tribe 
were considered to be an enlightened people and their culture flourished 
while they lived alongside the dragons of the land.

They dug their sacred shrines into the roots of the volcano where they 
lived. They believed that the angry demons of the fire goddess that lived 
in the mountain by their village demanded tithing and to her, so they sent 
their finest wares and riches."

He puffed away at his pipe, letting the smoke curl around his wide brimmed 
hat. He crossed his arms and looked contentedly at the two young men.

"So let me guess, this volcano goddess - "

"Mamatha."

"What?" Kaymann snapped at the old man's interruption.

Mentorn leaned against a series of rolled up carpets. The smoke from the 
old man's pipe seemed to be gathering in the corner where he stood. It 
seemed to tickle his nostrils, he could see why Jasmine could track the old 
man by the smell of his tobacco alone. He stood up and took a step away.

"Mamatha. That is the name of the Volcano goddess, I thought you might need 
to know that."

"Well, if there are any other pearls of wisdom you think you might want to 
share, please feel free." Kaymann pointed the ancient knife menacingly.

Before Mentorn took his second step he heard a muffled noise. He stopped 
and slowly turned around. It sounded like a sneeze.

"No, that's about it. Only one other thing, this tunnel which you so 
cleverly found, and I am impressed, not only leads out of Norwall, but also 
into the ruins of the Temple of the Fires."

<Snip>
... just as Marssell was coming to an end, Mentorn - to the wonder of the
other two men - punched a hanging rug with some force. To their greater
surprise, the rug cried out in pain!

***
"But we have what we really wanted... information about the treasure."

"And I have what *I* wanted... not let you two go off alone again!!" Cat
affirmed with triumph.

<end snip>

Kaymann rubbed the light stubble that was growing on the end of his chin. 
He casually spun the intricate knife around his fingers.

Cat and Mentorn stood patiently. Mentorn folding his arms across his chest 
and Cat nursing her bruised cheek.

"You know..." Kaymann smiled finally, his voice dripping with mischief. 
"Since we're already here... it wouldn't take us too long to collect some 
equipment, I mean, we'd just be borrowing it, and we'd be sure to 
compensate the shopkeeps when we find the treasure..."

"Yes, it would be a shame, wouldn't it?" Mentorn turned to Cat, wearing the 
same mischievous smile that Kaymann wore.

"Yes, a real shame." Cat nodded, the infectious smile taking hold on her 
face as well.

[Tag Peter and Carina - Woo-hoo! Treasure hunt!]

Submitted by Wil
for
Kaymann - lovable rogue


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