Original Link (now dead) - http://zone.msn.com/asheronscall/ASHEderethtale4.asp
A Derethian Tale
Chapter 4
"Sir, I have found your sword and armor, where would you like to meet?" The voice had come in a magical tell, and to Guhns it could not have been more wonderful had it been the lilting voice of an angel. He had been wandering around the wilderness for what seemed like hours, frantically trying to find the place where he had been struck down.
After the brutal attack of the hunter shreth, Guhns had been left standing at the lifestone in the center of Nantos, without sword or armor and no hope of replacing them with but thirty pyreals in his belt pouch. That copper chain had seemed like a lucky find when he had spotted it for sale at the forge, but it had taken nearly all of his money to purchase it, and so he was forced to strike back out into the wilderness, defenseless and slowed by the death-sickness.
"Can we meet in Nantos?" came the voice again. Despair seemed to drop from Guhns' shoulders like the release of a huge weight. "I am on the way now," replied Guhns, as he turned and started the long run back to town.
Walking through the opened door of the inn, Guhns was surprised to find himself facing a young Sho woman. Introducing herself as Chania, she quickly handed over his missing equipment.
"Must you put that on now? There are no enemies here!" Her reproach stopped Guhns in the middle of re-donning his armor.
Chania seated herself with her back to the wall, at the center table on a floor cushion. "Sit down. You are in the land of the Sho, and it is not considered polite to keep your head above that of your host's."
Guhns quickly seated himself across from her, and managed to stammer out an apology, "Your pardon, mlady, I am Aluvian, and unused to your customs."
"The only Aluvians I have met were all quite mad", replied Chania, "Tell me of yourself, that I may be sure of your sanity."
Guhns noted two Sho warriors standing a respectful distance away, who responded to Chanias' command that tea be brought, instantly, and only spoke when she commanded them to. They showed her obvious respect, and Guhns wondered if all her vassals were that disciplined.
"Why do they call you Kataki, mlady?" asked Guhns.
"Because that is my place, Yeoman," responded Kataki "We will drink our tea, and then you may tell me your story."
She made Guhns start at the beginning, telling of his home life in Ispar, and though it took hours, she patiently listened, and only interrupted to clarify a point or custom to herself.
"Then you search for a portal back to Ispar? " asked Chania, "I know of none in existence, nor I am sure has any been found, or people would be flowing like the waters of a flood."
With a sigh, Guhns was forced to agree with her.
"I am certain of your sanity, Yeoman." said Chania, "Tomorrow we will go on a hunt together. Who knows? Perhaps we will find your portal. For now you may find a bed upstairs to rest in."
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