Daniel Wolf part 3

Daniel Wolf part 3. Chapter 5

I spent a lot of time walking around the town. In a matter of days it seems the people had become used to my walking about town. They began to respond to my overtures of friendship with waves and nods. Since I always seem to have a few extra coppers the children became my constant companions . We would end up at either the sausage cart or the sweet shop.

One morning I stepped out my front door. I stretched and took a deep breath of the good clean air. A group of the kids had already gathered and were ready for our walk. A horseman had just entered the square and began riding his beautiful long maned Spirited black mare towards me.

At the same instant one of the younger children burst out of an alleyway and rushed across the square on a collision course with the rider. The mare was startled and reared, putting the child just below those flailing hoofs. The rider appeared to lose his seat. It was if the world had stood still.

I rushed across expecting to see the brutalized body of this small 6 year old. I was shocked at what I had found. In an instant the rider had leaned out and grasped the child by his jerkin and lifted her to straddle the mare in front of the rider.

I don’t think the child even was aware of the danger it had been in just momrnts before. Her only thoughts were she was sitting on a horse and she tried to hug the big animal. All the other kids were circling around the horse laughing excitedly. They were yelling “Maggie, Maggie !!! “

Maggie waved at them with a big grin on her face. As I reached up to lift Maggie down, I heard a gasp from Tiiup. “Dan that is Prince Argus … The Crown Prince.”

I looked up just in time for the Prince’s hand grabbing me by the shoulder laughing and saying, “How goes it cousin. I am here to deliver a message from King Auric, my father. He wishes for you to travel to your Captial. The assassians guild has been making inroads. We think they are trying to over throw your rule. We think they are moving in with Tarrent’s help.”

Tiiup touches my mind “Tarrent is the country to our North. They have been trying for years to take over your Duchey.

I offered Prince Argus the use of my tub for a bath. He must have enjoyed the girls … his bath lasted three hours. After his bath he was well ready for the large meal that Dax had lain out. The Barn Fowl was well roasted and the Lamb stew very savory. The vegetables and the desserts topped off the meal.

Prince Argus filled me in on what he knew of the goings on at Foxwood. We made it an early night he was leaving out 1st thing in the morning as well. Tiiup told me he was courting Princess Jade Lynn of Gromwell. A Royal wedding was in the offing or so it was rumored.

Before dropping off to sleep I thought about Prince Argus’ s tale: “The assassins have been killing off your Merchants. At first it was thought to be an illness and their deaths of natural causes till Nobleman Evers who had long suspected his manservant of snitching his Rum, Found him dead with his rum bottle in hand. “

“The potion mistress was summoned, it was soon discovered they had all been poisoned by a subtle almost undetectable poison used primarly by the Assassins Guild.” Word was sent to Father’s court, and then he sent me on to You. Now it is left up to you to pursue and to punish them.”

The next morning at breakfast Prince Argus added that His father King Auric had stated if help be needed to send him word.