The morning after we went to the library and gave the book to the head of the library I came out on to the deck of the Dashing Stag. The sun was high and bright making my eyes hurt and my head was throbbing. Stilicho was on deck working out like the mead and ale had no effect on him. I sat in the shade and tried to gather my thoughts. Stolad came on board and told me he had sold the 10 pounds of elemental earth I had given him. I could not read his face? Was he happy, was he nervous? He told me that he had to sell it for less than it was worth, because I had told him to sell it quietly. I did not want to attract any more attention to our group. I was worried at this point that we did not get very much for it, after training we could all use the money. The he told me that he sold it for 32,000 pieces of silver. I forgot all about my head ache. I jumped off of the stool I was standing on. I grabbed and kissed the man on the top of his balding head. I saw the relief on his face. Stilicho came running to see what the matter was. I through the giant bag of gold coins to him and told him we were rich. Come on I said lets go tell the others. We went and woke up the rest of the unchained and told them the good news. We decided that it was time to go get clothes for the audience with the king. We divided up the 32000sp, the 500 gold pieced for delivering the book, and the silver the library was paying us for our stories. I had never seen so much coin in one place. Vridich said something of going to his room to roll in his coin, but just smiled.

We got dressed and hit the town’s best tailor shops. I bought several sets of fine clothing in reds and oranges. I also bought a big brimmed red hat with three long green feathers. We were all picking out nice new clothing when Suulin and I noticed that Urgral was not shopping. When we asked Urgral why, he said that he was not wasting money on expensive clothing. So Suulin and I bought clothing for him to wear to see the king. He picked out a nice but plain charcoal great outer tunic and pants. Vridich bought a nice looking shinny cloack. Suulin bought a cloak that has living crystal embroidered accrost the outside of the cloak. Dremnin came out with an outfit of forest green with gold trim.

We got back to the boat and started to get ready. Urgral said something about not bathing. Vridich whispered something to him and Urgral looked shocked. He looked down in to his pants and then headed off to the bath set up on the aft castle. Vridich smiled and walked way.

We were all looking like noble men and women, when we arrived at the banquet. We were announced by a caller after a short horn blast. All in the room looked as we were escorted to the front. There were mostly dwarves but also humans in the hall. Our seats were just below the king’s pedestal and to the right. The party was not very exciting, no music or dancing, just men and dwarves talking politics. The dwarves do serve a great meal though, and plenty of drink.

The king entered about 30 minutes after we arrived. He came in with about 10 dwarves following him. He was very young to be a king. After taking his seat the meal continued. The king looked board out of his mind. After about 10 minutes he stood up and started to speak. He thanked us for the return of the book of tomorrow. The king stated we may never understand the greatness of the service we have done for his people. Then he asked for us to introduce ourselves and to tell our story. I stood up first and said that we could all come forward and drone on about who we are, but instead we would have our troubadour tell our story for us.

Suulin got up from our table and walked out in to the middle of the room. All eyes were on her. She smiled and went in to the story of the unchained. Having heard Suulin’s telling before I watched the king more than Suulin. When ever she told of our time in combat he would lean forward in his throne, his face and eyes lighting up with excitement. When it was of our travels or our interactions with different people he would lean back and relax but still listened intently. After our story was over, Suulin asked if the king would like to hear the Dirge of Daren Kuyu. The king said that he would like to hear it. Suulin went in to the telling. The pace and rhythm was completely different that our story. It was almost like a march. When she finished she had been going for almost 3 hours. The room irrupted in cheers. She bowed to the king and then the room and came to sit down. The king applauded her all the way to her seat.

The king then said that he wanted to give us gifts for our service. 6 people came in to the hall carrying different items some on trays, other on velvet pillows. I was the first to be called forward. I got up from my chair and walked to the king. I tried to walk as tall and strait as I could. When I got up to the king I bowed. The king talked again of our service to his kingdom and then told us that the items we were to receive were from the kings vaults. A servant came forward with a tray there was something lumpy on it under a white cloth. The king reached over and flipped back the cloth to reveal a set of living crystal ring mail armor. It was backed by strips of multi-colored leather. He told me that armor had many secrets to unlock and that if I took the time to learn them it would serve me well. I took a knee and accepted the gift. The T’skrang was speechless and could only thank the king. He took his gift lovingly back to his seat.

Urgral went up next and received a very old looking dwarf sword. It still looked to be in good shape but you could tell by the design of the sword that it was from a time before the scourge. Suulin was given a necklace with several gem stones in it. It was very beautiful and the light glinted off it. Dremnin was given a pair of boots that looked to be of the same material as Vridich’s new cloak. Stilicho was given a very old and battered helm. It was missing decorative pieces and the crest had been smashed off of it. Vridich went last. He received a circlet that was made of silver and black stones. The king made a motion to put it on Vridiches head. Vridich was so much taller that he had to kneal and bend down for the king to reach. When he stood back up you could see that the circlet had a closed eye formed in it. The placing put the closed eye in the center of Vridich’s forehead. The king then made sure to tell us all that these items will sever us well if we took time to learn their secrets.

The king then thanked every one for coming and dismissed those in attendance. We walked back to the boat as if we were floating on the clouds. Fame and fortune was in our grasps, all we had to do now was take it. On the way back to the ship Suulin said that she could find out the secrets on our items if we let her have them for a week. When we got back to the boat I gave her my armor and my hammer. So may items were given to her that she was going to be very busy. I offered to cook for the week so that she did not have to be distracted. She accepted, so I started working on the meal plan for the week. HA HA fish soup all week!