As Nivter rounded the first corner smells of roast meat and fresh bread greeted his nose. Just ahead of him was an Inn called "The Pot Bellied Pegasus." Nivter approached the inn with no hesitation. Inside the smells that had only been light outside overwhelmed the senses. Nivter took a deep breath, finally a warm meal! He walked up to the bar with a slight grin.
"Hey bartender! May I have a menu please?" Nivter's voice rang with a pleasant disposition. The bartender, Gaedi Hildison, smiled at Nivter as he brought a menu over to him.
"Hello there! You here for the festival?" Gaedi seemed like he new the answer already, everyone he had talked to had been talking about the festival.
"Of course! How could I miss the Festival of Uthwix!" This time Nivter's voice was overflowing with sarcasm. Gaedi stepped back a little with a frown. Nivter was not what he expected him to be. Gaedi brushed it off quickly and raised an eyebrow before presenting the menu.
Nivter began reading the menu intently looking at each dish and pondering his decision. Suddenly he stopped. Nivter noticed that there was no number twelve on the menu. The dishes were labeled 10, 11, 13, 14 but there was no twelve. A thin smile spread on Nivter's mouth and he turned to Gaedi.
"Bartender: Where do the darastrix fly?" Nivter's question seemed to puzzle Gaedi but he remembered that darastrix was another word for dragon... or at least he thought so.
"That depends on their color. Though I would venture to guess that they fly where they please." As Gaedi began speaking Nivter stood up and stopped listing to him.
"Yes of course... Well Mr. Hildison. Who is the owner of this establishment?"
"Oh! That would be Grassi Norvelton. He is in the office. Why do you need him?" Gaedi's voice betrayed his confusion and worry about Nivter.
"I must speak to him about a matter of extreme importance." Nivter leaned forward and smiled slightly. Gaedi, not wanting to cause a scene gestured Nivter to the back room.
"Alright. Go on ahead then." Without a second thought Nivter swiftly wove through the bar and to the back door. As he entered the small room his nose was assaulted with the strong fragrance of incense. In the middle of the room, on many pillows, sat a balding man in a silk robe surrounded by smoke from the incense. Nivter sat accross from him and spoke softly.
"Si tepoha vi selgtarn di jennu rigluin ekess ukris zahae." Grassi quickly sat upright and his eyes opened like lightning. His eyes quickly looked over Nivter.
"Geou jaesk waph?"
"Drong waph jaesk!" With this final statement from Nivter, Grassi broke into a huge smile.
"Hello! I know you not but you are indeed a brother!" Grassi stood up with Nivter as they embraced.
"I would hope so. You must be Grassi. I am here to find out why I was summoned to Brinoriand." Nivter's voice was gleeful but sharp.
"Ahh you must be the urcaxic ricinic they told me might show up." Grassi looked around as if checking for intruders, "Are we secure?" Nivter squinted slightly, a purple light shone in his eyes.
"We are secure. Nobody is listening." Grassi relaxed before launching into his narrative.
"Alright listen close. A few days ago the governor of this region named Cavello died in a horse accident. At first no one thought anything of it. Then suddenly the nearby governor forbid anyone to look at or examine the body in any way. We are not sure but this new governor was extremely defensive about the body. We sent in a japachi sthyr and he came back with the information that the governor was not killed by his horse but by a Gnome named Philipe. We need you to find out why Cavallo was killed and who hired Philipe."
"Alright. I know who he is but I don't know where he is. What information do we have on Philipe?" Nivter seemed calm but his eyes were bright with excitement.
"I am afraid that I don't know anything else. We fear that something could be happening that is much larger than just a few regions in Brinoriand." Grassi shrugged with his comment.
"I will need some time to get established in this city. Thank you for what you have given." Nivter turned to leave. Grassi quickly grabbed his shoulder.
"You are welcome Mr....?" Grassi's question made Nivter's face go dark.
"Drong waph jaesk Mr. Norvelton." The cold, harsh words left a dead silence behind them. Nivter turned and exited the room without another word.
Grassi stayed there for several minutes, standing in place.
"Drong waph jaesk." Grassi turned slowly and went back to his meditation, though he was restless for the remainder of the evening...
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