The Questing Game

"So?"

Dar gawked at him, then he laughed helplessly. "Like you care about what people think of you," he accused with a grin. "I was raised with ma

Tarrin lowered his eyes, then turned and looked back over the bow. So had he, once. But a bite from Jesmind had changed all that. Now he had a new upbringing, one that was much more primitive, much less civilized. It hurt a little to think that Dar thought that what he was now was what he always was. He was human, once. He'd had a life, and friends, and family, and he wasn't violent or dangerous. But that was another life, another time, a time long past. Being in human form made the Cat a bit more distant, but it was never enough to get away from it, to return to what once was. His human form was just an image, an illusion, a convenient way to hide the truth within. A painful reminder of what he once had, and what was taken from him.

"When do you think we'll get there?" Dar asked.

"Go away, Dar," Tarrin said calmly, quietly. Dar understood Tarrin enough to know that he wasn't being facetious or playful. Without another word, Dar quietly retreated from him, leaving him alone in the bow with his thoughts.

"That wasn't very nice, Tarrin," Sarraya accused indignantly as she winked into view beside him. Sarraya really liked Dar, and she jumped to his defense whenever she felt him slighted.

"Get away from me, Sarraya," he said in a deceptively calm voice, low and throaty, nearly a growl.

Not one to be foolish, the sprite did as she was told immediately.

He spent the time it took to dock in complete solitude and in silence. Dar's jibe stung, but he hadn't meant it as an insult. Tarrin had to admit that he didn't care what people thought of him. He was who he was, and he accepted it. That was all he needed. The approval of people he had no care for didn't concern him. It didn't hurt to think of what people thought of him, it hurt when he remembered how he used to be, how much he had changed. Changed in ways he'd never have expected, changed in ways that would make his family ashamed of him. It was a good thing they were all in Ungardt, well away from him.

The ship tied up and lowered its gangplank smartly at sunset. Tarrin was joined by Allia and Dar, each wearing long silk robes to conceal themselves from wandering eyes. Allia looked particularly uncomfortable in her attire. It was a bright red silk, complete with a hood-like cowl and veil common in Saranam and Yar Arak. Saranami and Arakite women favored the garments, for some mysterious reason. She was carrying his staff, which she handed to him wordlessly when she reached him.

"You look unhappy," Tarrin remarked to her.

"I despise being dressed like this," she growled. "But Dola

"You're Selani, Allia," Dar said simply. "You'll attract attention. Trust me."

"She'll attract attention like that anyway," Tarrin noted. "She's about a head taller than an average woman. It makes her stand out."

"No disguise is perfect," Dar shrugged.

Dola

"Why?" he asked.

"Because you will be the one to try to find the Doomwalker," she replied. "You ca

"With that stench out there, I may not be able to smell it, Dola

"We will be happy with whatever aid you can provide, my dear one," she smiled through her veil.

"Any idea about what we do when we get to Arak?" Dar asked curiously.

"Some. I have been talking with Phandebrass and Camara Tal. We have worked out an idea."

"What kind of idea?" Tarrin asked.

"The Book of Ages is an ancient tome, dear one," she replied. "And there are weaves for locating items of extreme age."

"I-ohhhh," Dar said with a smile. "I get it. Even in a city the size of Dala Yar Arak, there can't be thousand-year-old antiques in every attic."

"Precisely," she nodded. "Phandebrass is researching a wizard spell that will duplicate the weave, and Camara Tal has already arranged the proper spell with her goddess."

"You didn't ask me," Sarraya fumed.

"You already have a primary task, Faerie," Dola

"I could be convinced."

"True, but I will not answer to Triana for your own failing. That is an unpleasant chore that you may undergo alone."

"Cheater," Sarraya grumbled.

"There are bound to be a great many items that will react to the spells we have in mind, but at least it will give us a way to search in a systematic ma

Faalken joined them, wearing his full armor, his magical sword belted at his side. "We're about ready to go, Dola

"Spell components, most likely," Dola

"Maybe he just wants to scare somebody," Faalken chuckled to himself as he moved towards Camara Tal. The Amazon still wouldn't get all that close to him, but for this excursion, he had already steeled himself against her presence.

"Allia, you carry Tarrin. You are the only one that can understand him," Dola

Allia nodded, and Tarrin absently shifted into his cat form. It felt a little weird doing it directly from the human shape, but the immediate easing of aching muscles and joints was a blissful relief, release, from the u

"Alright, is everyone ready?" Faalken asked with a light smile.

"Let's go, then," Camara Tal grunted.

"I say, I'm ready to go," Phandebrass a

"Sounds good to me," Sarraya said with a bright eagerness in her eyes.

It worked rather well. Allia carried Tarrin through the city, following Dola