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The Seventeenth of Granite, 1063
"This hammerman, he's congenial?" asked Kodor.
Bonepicker sighed. His master was worried about this meeting, although he couldn't say he blamed him. His master had little but the weapon and armour to call his own.
Kodor had grown more agitated as they had entered the town, and now they stood before the inn within which the Hammerman Bugi Reveredsystem held council.
"Yes, master, he's a good man from all reports. A family man. We've certainly not had trouble with him."
"I guess we'll see for ourselves then."
"Yes master."
They entered the inn, which was busy apart from a large man on the level above. By his dress they identified him as the town's leader.
Kodor walked up to him, and bowed. "Greetings good sir."
Bugi appraised him. "You have the look of a warrior about you, Dwarf."
"Aye." replied Kodor, nodding. "Have you need of one?"
Bugi chuckled. "It so happens we do. As you may know, my guards and I must remain here to defend the town from whatever threatens it. Perhaps you could prove your usefulness to us by dealing with a minor matter we cannot allow to distract us."
"Perhaps I could. What would it earn me?"
Bugi smiled. "Friends in high places, perhaps."
Kodor considered this a moment. "A minor matter you said." he ventured.
"A gargoyle. Nothing major. Goes by the name of Wordsforked and lives out in the Laborious Towers, in a cave we call Reingedumbral. West of here about half a day."
"What's he done?"
"A while back there was a huntress named Isa Axesearch. Whilst she was no hero, she did manage to slay a number of feared beasts out on the Mortified Steppes. We have four gargoyles on her record. She first met Wordsforked on her first foray, but he managed to escape. I recall she always regarded him as the one who got away. Six years ago Wordsforked ambushed her, and tore her to pieces. There was a lot of blood at the scene, so we thought maybe he'd dragged his sorry arse off to die someplace. No such luck."
Kodor thought it over a moment. It had been a long time since he'd had cause to test his skill as a warrior. "I'll check it out for you."
"Good. Anything of value you find is yours to keep. You might be able to find somebody brave or foolish enough to lend you a hand. No doubt your servant here will prove of little use in a true struggle."
"I'll take it under advisement."