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=	[Dragon] 1.03 - Arriving at the Black Boot Inn			=
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The sun was setting in the horizon, leaving a golden and red trace in
the sky when the party arrived at last to Pas du Mer. The smell of the
sea-breeze welcomed them and gave a little rest to their tired bodies
and minds. It had been a long trip, a quite uneventful travel
from Montfort. The horses of the party are covered of dust and sweat,
just like their masters.

"At last, boys" says Adain with a quick smile " Pas du Mer, I thought
that we would never arrive at this city".

"Same here," replies a tired voice behind him.

"Well, okay, we must find acommodation for the night. I know a tavern
near the port that will do just fine: The Black Boot. There is a friend
of mine, Tawas, awaiting us."

They took the main street of the city, which was nearly empty. The smell of
dinners cooked in the houses made their stomachs protest in rebellion.

Finally, they stopped in front of a big, black and old house, which stood in
near the beach. It bore a bright golden sign which said in gothic letters
"THE BLACK BOOT". The sound of music and laughter came from the common
room and promised a fun evening.

As they toke the horses to the stables, a black shadow appeared in the
door. With a laugh, Adain advanced to it and said "Tawas, at last!
I'm really sorry for the time that it took us to arrive, but we are here..."

Tawas didn't reply.  Instead, he showed a medallion to the
companion.  He then said, "Do you know the orgin of this medallion?  I
received it from a strange friend."

"It can be some kind of sigil" said Adain when he had examined the medallion.
"You know, a mark or object that a mage leaves behind him for
keeping strangers out of his chambers. But..."

He took the thing in his gloved hand and added "I think that a friend of
mine told me once that a tribe of... mmhhh, I can't remember the race,
anyway they used their jewels to communicate between them". He looked
at Tawas and said, suspiciously, "Who gave it to you?"

Thanin, who had been occupied with surveying the inn, finally noticed
their newest companion.  The dwarf's eyes betrayed immediate wariness
as he recalled his only encounter with one of Tawas' race.  Thanin looked
to the others, wondering how they felt in the presence of a drow.  A
glance in Prytzouth's direction told him that he was not the only one who
was more than a little curious.

Prytzouth looked over the new party member, Tawas.  He could see the
muscles tense and relax convulsively in his face muscles indicating
uneasiness.  The question was, what was this man uneasy about.  This
mysterious medallion?  Or was he hiding something?  He smiled down at
Thwuck and then to Brianna and realized he could wait for an answer to
that question.

"Ahem." he coughed.  "I'm sorry to inturrupt," he turned to the newcomer,
"Tawas, Adain, but I believe that rest and food are in order, so if you
don't mind, let's take this conversation up once we've tended our horses
and filled our bellies."  He smiled diplomatically and turned Shadowmist
to what appeared a logical direction for the stables.  Despite her
exhaustion, Mist nickered and shook her mane at the mention of food and
eagerly followed Prytz's lead.

Brianna was shocked.  She had never before seen a dark elf, but had heard
many tales.  What was he doing here, she wondered to herself....  As her
horse moved to follow Mist, Brianna was brought back to reality.  Pushing her
hair back out of her face, she turned and followed Prytz to the stables.

Thwuck growled towards Tawas. "Me hungry. Me want food. Me need sleep." He
didn't as much as cast a glance at the medallion, as if it were a trinket
not worth his attention. Then he looked Tawas sirectly in the face, a gleam
that contained much more intelligence than his companions had ever noticed
shining in his bright blue eyes. "Don't wear thing close to your heart!" he
says, as he turns towards the door of the inn.