Ian the Lurker
The Never Ending Quest - Episode 23599
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The heavy doors to the decrepit little tavern were swung open suddenly,
startling the unsavory patrons of the wayside establishment. Even through
the thick haze of tobacco smoke, the figure sillhouetted by the morning
sun in the doorway found who he was looking for immediatly. He rushed
over to a table located in an especially shadowy corner of the tavern's
main hall, letting the doors slam shut behind him. His entrance was
followed by a chorus of obscenities and curses from the locals. Any
surprise was a bad
surprise in these parts, and apparently he was already a figure of ill-
repute amoung most the local folk...even in a seedy place like this. Coming to the table in the corner, he helped himself to a seat. The well dressed, middle-aged man at the other end of the table looked him over with cold resentment. "What mischief brings you here, Ian the Lurker," said he, blowing a cloud of tobacco smoke in his face. "Of all the titles I have earned," Ian replied, still short of breath from his arduous run, "that is the one I cherish least. Jeremiah, please hear me out...I have seen something...a monster, a spy of the dragon..."Jeremiah burst into a fit of laughter, showering Ian with a generous misting of saliva and stale ale. "You've gone too far this time Ian," he said amoung his many guffaws. "I've heard my share of your nonsense, but this just outdoes them all! Praytell, what manner of 'monster' was it?" "I swear by the gods! By the creek near the farm of Benjamin I saw a living harpy!"The smile on Jeremiah's face vanished. Grabbing Ian by the neck, he drew the man closer - their eyes locked. "Now I know you're full of it! I think maybe you've been spending too much time in the Eastborough, lurking about like a sneaky little spook! No harpy has ever been seen in these parts, you fool. You insult my intelligence with this hogwash! How dare you disturb my peaceful morning with your shady workings, you son of a harlet!" He released his grip on Ian's neck. Ian, unmoved by the man's insults, continued to argue that what he spoke was truth. "I swear by all that is swearable, Jeremiah! Hear me out, at least! Do you think I would come to you with such an outlandish tale if there wasn't some element of truth!? The monster, it limped here from the east yesterday afternoon and collapsed by the creek. I would have shot it, but alas I had no bow! Then they came, Benjamin and Mary!" Ian spat before continuing. "They actually...talked to it! They didn't kill it - they had a conversation with it before they took it back toward their home!""You rat!" Jeremiah stood up as if provoked, the sound of his chair hitting the floor reverberating through the entire tavern. "Don't you go getting honest folk mixed up in your schemes! I'll have you hung before I let you meddle in the affairs of decent people, you snake! I know you have a score to settle with that man and his wife." "Hear me out," Ian continued, still undaunted. "There is no organized order in these parts, you know that. Men are too independant out here. You are respected and feared amoung these men, I come to you with this news because I feel you can do something about it. I would not risk your wrath without good cause. I was of a sober mind, and I saw what I saw; a living harpy...which I believe is now in the possession of Benjamin and Mary.""We shall see. And let it be stated now, Ian; if what you are saying is deemed false I will have you cast out of the Four Boroughs for good! If anyone sees your pasty face in these hills you will risk the pain of death, understood?" Ian nodded."Good. You charge the farmer Benjamin of harbouring a harpy, a heavy charge. I will have it investigated, and until then you will remain in my sight. You've stirred up enough trouble in the past, you won't have another chance at redemption this time. You better be telling the truth." Several horseman sped off to investigate the charge given by Ian the Lurker. Anything the man said was never taken at face value, and no one really believed that an actual living harpy had indeed been spotted. Ian was known to be a liar, thief, and heavy-drinker, and Benjamin and Mary were good, upstanding and solid people in the scattered community. There was probably a rational explanation for all of this...
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Ib
2/12/2003 8:28:30 AM
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