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The struggle is always worthwhile, if the end be worthwhile and the means honorable; foreknowledge of defeat is not sufficient reason to withdraw from the contest. -- Steven Brust

I do not wish us to die valiantly; I wish us to win! -- Steven Brust

The village of Little Olaedihoo has been misnamed. Not intentionally, of course, but the mistake is there. The name Little Olaedihoo would lead one to believe that there is a Big, or Greater Olaedihoo nearby, and that the word ‘little’ in the town’s name is merely a way of describing which Olaedihoo you are going to visit. This is, for the most part, right. There is another Olaedihoo. Greater Olaedihoo sits three and five eights of a mile closer to the base of Mt. Rankin than Little Olaedihoo does. However, the mistake is thinking that Little Olaedihoo is the smaller, more rural town. In fact, Greater Olaedihoo is little more than the main street and a few, scattered houses, while Little Olaedihoo is a fairly large city. Third largest in the kingdom, in fact, behind Sentraville and Billet.

I mention the town because the Flame Sage, Salamander Smith, was trying to find a decent pub in Little Olaedihoo. There are exactly one-hundred sixty-eight pubs in this city, but for all Sal knew, there could have been none. In particular, he was trying to find the one called The Marquessa and the Imp. He’d had a very trying morning, complicated further by a stranger in a hooded cloak who told him to be at said pub at noon. It was now half an hour till, and Sal still hadn’t found it. His familiar, a phoenix named Hephastios was scanning the city overhead, and relaying what he saw to the earthbound Sage.

‘Hey, Boss, I think I found it.’

‘It’s about damn time. My feet are sore.’

‘Boss, I think you’re cheating.’

‘How do you mean?’

‘I mean that most people have to either suck it up, or be known as whiners.’

‘Oh. That just means I’m smart enough to have a ready-made listener to my whining.’

‘That’s a new job for me, boss. Do I get a pay raise?’

‘Yeah, your salary just doubled.’

‘Heh.’

Salamander picked through the crowd, following Heph’s unspoken directions. Finally he arrived at the place, a full twenty minutes early. Perfect. Luckily, he’d be the first one there, and then he could make sure nobody was trying to set him up. Sages weren’t beyond assassination. He knew that, and these were times of war. He was surprised that Serry hadn’t already tried to do him or the other Sages in. Anyway, he entered the bar, tavern, whatever, and took a seat in a corner table, his back to two walls. Heph took a perch in the rafters, scanning anyone below for suspicious activity. Sal was glad he had an immortal creature who was willing to die for him. When the waiter came, Sal ordered a wine, and the waiter whisked away to get it. Nothing to do now, but sit and wait. Sal wondered whether his wine or his host would come first.

Advar Serry studied the city below him from a nearby hill. He watched as a phoenix swooped above the rooftops. He didn't understand it. The citizens of this land apparently let dangerous animals run unchecked through there lands. He had also been shocked to find Weavers(or mages as they were called here) uncontrolled back in the last village he had seized.
Weavers were too dangerous to be allowed freedom. he would have executed the whole lot, but they were too useful as soldiers if properly tamed.
Serry was pulled out of his thoughts by a voice at his side saying "Your meeting has been arranged". Without answer, Serry mounted his horse and rode to the city. No one would recognize him here, even if they had heard about the fall of Szandzi by now.
Before long he had reached the pub. He pulled his hat down slightly over his eyes, walked in, and looked around.
They seemed to be normal people, but you could rarely tell an untamed Weaver on sight. But there was also a half dragon, the phoenix he had seen earlier, and a man in strange clothing. Serry guessed that this was the man he had arranged to meet, and so walked over to the corner table and sat down, scanning his surroundings for threats.

Little Olaedihoo, a place Yue hasn't visit for many years. She walks with a loathsome baggage tied to her sword, which was hanging over her shoulder. The sun glared in a hateful way which she detested. The water she had absorbed before hand was evaporating faster than she had though. Quickly, she glances for a tavern that might hold a spare room for a weary traveler far from her home. She spots a tavern not far from her, named The Marquessa and Imp and heads there in a hastily paste. When she reaches the door, she feels a strong impulse of strong magic on the other side. Maybe this is a bad idea, she thought. But the flaring sun gave no reason for her to go away. The door chimes as she enters and figures where littered about in the cool shade. She goes to the bar and sits and places her sword down by her side.

"Scuse me sir, do you have a room for one in this delightful establishment you have here?" Yue casually questioned an elderly man on the opposite side.

"Why yes. How long do you plan to stay Miss?"

"I have not decided yet, but here is a small payment for now." Yue places two small silver coins on the bar and looks around interestingly.

"Thank you for your patronage Miss." He takes the coins and starts heading away.

"Sir! Sorry to bother you once more, but can you also prepare extra pillows and the largest bath you have to be set in my room." He stops and turns back and replies in a cheerful tune, not at all angered or annoyed like Yue had imagine him to be when she called for him again.

"Of course Miss. Is there anything else I can do for you?" Yue rubs her chin in thought and makes an uneasy face.

"You wouldn't have any iced water in a chill glass now would you?"

"One water in a chilled glass, coming your way Miss."

"Thank you."

She looks around and notices the strong presence of magic once again. Among it was a very strong fire user, perhaps a master? Either way, she should retreat into her room before something unpleasing happens.

Astor surveyed Little Olaedihoo from a nearby hill. She had been watching the other sages and found that the Fire Sage had sent members of his hall to Sentraville to help with the defenses. But why was he here, in Little Olaedihoo? Did it have something to do with Serry's capture of Szandzi?Astor had visited the village in person just the day before to see with her own eyes, unaided by magic, just what the extent of the damage was. To her horror, she found mages in captivity and Serry's troops everywhere. Aware that by herself she would not be able to do much, Astor loosened her hair enough to cover her ears and started tracking Serry.

His trail led her to Little Olaedihoo, to The Marquessa and the Imp. Astor smiled, remembering some interesting events that had taken place in that pub a few years ago. She watched the inside of the pub from the outside and found, to her surprise that the Fire Sage, Smith, was there, waiting for Serry. She wondered whether he knew whom he was meeting. Astor wanted to go inside, but she continued watching from outside, not wanting to be spotted in such close quarters.

In addition to Smith, there were several mages in the pub, including two other sages. Astor recognized Yue Abhra, the Water Sage, going off to a room, and Malakite Draconas, Sage of Chaos, talking to a mage at the bar. Well. This is just getting curiouser and curiouser.

Fanares looked up at the stranger wondering what he wanted. He felt power emanating from him. As well as several other people in the room, but he also felt a almost killing intent around the bar. 'Some company would help give me some cover', he thought. "Alas, you may sit if you want. After crossing the desert for seven days seeing and talking to another would be alright with me," he then took another drink from his water. The faery having her fill sood up and yawned and then climbed back into Fanares pocket and began to sleep.

His head began to ache with all the power floating in the air along with the malcontent. 'I must hold off using any magic or medicine until I know nothing will happen. Maybe I should have stayed with the nomads after all.'

Salamander was pleased to see that his new friend didn't seem too upset with his disrespectful comments. "Well, hello then, Thomas," he said in a frendly way, but Sal didn't think for a second that that was this guy's real name. Just the way he said it..This guy was creepy, Really creepy.

'It's not a crime to be creepy, boss. I mean, look at you.'

'I know, but something about this guy is off.' Salamander was so supicious of 'Tomas' that he didn't even bother responding to Heph's joke. If it was a joke.

'So, keep an eye on him.'

'Well, yeah, we are sitting at the same table, that shouldn't be hard.'

'I knew you were up to it, boss.'

Sal decided that the best way to get this guy talking was to give up a little information. "All I know is that there's some other country way off on the other side of the desert. Of course, this is a real shock, cause no one's ever known what was on the other side of the desert. No one who sets off to cross it ever comes back. Before Szandzi, we just kind of figured it was because it was too big to cross. Now I'm thinking that those people got killed by the barbarians on the other side. They say the general of their army is a real fierce, ugly guy. But, I wouldn't know cause I've never met him."

"Well, see, there was a trade caravan due in Greater Olaedihoo today. Didn't show up, so people started talking. The guy who runs it is a friend of mine, and it's not like him to be late. So, I sent someone to look for him. I found out that you can't teleport into Szandzi anymore, and that there was an army camped outside of it. Not to mention that I happen to know that King D'Arsier hasn't stationed an army anywhere near Szandzi."

'Boss, you think it's wise to let him know so much? He could be working for the bad guys.'

'Nah, you think. Don't worry, Heph, I've got a plan.'