And please let me punish Kalrek for his crimes. I accept my fate, but please let me make Kalrek suffer his first for all the blood he’s spilled. 

Those are the boons I ask of you. My failings are mine alone-no one else should suffer for them. 

At first glance, Copper Crossing seemed more the size of a large town than a city. There was much more to Copper Crossing than what was on the surface, though. The surface part of the city was built over a network of underground tunnels that contained the majority of the city’s population, homes and businesses. The tunnels also housed the copper, tin and iron mines that generated so much wealth not only for Copper Crossing, but for surrounding lands as well.

When the companions were close enough to Copper Crossing’s gates, they dismounted and led their horses and ponies on foot towards the gate. As they did, Airk began to speak again.

“We won’t have any trouble getting into the city,” Airk said, “or in finding lodgings while I meet with Laessar. We won’t be here more than a couple of days at most, and then we’ll deal with Kalrek. What say you all?” he asked, his expression and his tone both calm.

His friends were silent as they followed him.

“Are you really sure you want to continue with me?” Airk asked. “You shouldn’t feel like you have to. This is a personal thing for me-I can’t live with myself until I’ve put this to rest, for all the deaths and bloodshed Kalrek’s caused.”

“We’ve been over this, haven’t we?” Weimar said. “I’m sure I speak for the rest of us when I say that. But why are we coming to Copper Crossing? Shouldn’t we go to that outpost the bandit captain described?”

“Laessar will know anything about Kalrek’s operations that we could have learned from the outpost,” Airk said, shaking his head. “If anything, we’re likely to get more knowledge from Laessar. If we struck at the outpost, Kalrek would likely get word of it and have more time to prepare for us when we strike at his lair. Kalrek will have less time to prepare this way.”

The companions fell into silence again, thinking about what Airk told them.

That wasn’t the only thing on Airk’s mind.

Despite his companions’ assurances, Airk still felt guilty about bringing them along. They were putting their lives at risk for him and his vendetta against Kalrek, a vendetta that had festered for longer than any of them had lived.

Six and a half decades…the gnome thought, and all I’ve done is wander, until now. I left the blood of my fellow soldiers unavenged. Now that I’m finally doing it, I might just as easily shed the blood of people who’ve already done more for me than I could have ever asked.

Laessar Bradon conducts all of his underhanded operations for Kalrek in a thriving community like this? Ma’non’go signed incredulously as the companions walked down one of the main streets. How could he avoid notice from his fellow citizens?

“This is the perfect place to do it,” Amyalla said. “You saw how many caravans leave the city on a daily basis, so who’ll notice another one? The bandit captain told us about one of Kalrek’s outposts. He probably has an entire network of such places where minions like the spriggans meet merchants like Laessar to deliver their plunder. The merchants then deliver it to Kalrek. Their caravans look the same as any other.”

“And Kalrek can keep even bandits and spriggans loyal,” Airk said in disgust. “How else do you think we Flintholders came to trust him, besides our being so blind and stupid?”  

“Airk, are-“ Seline said.

“The Owlbear Arms is best suited for humans in this part of the city,” Airk interrupted her, staring straight ahead. “You all can wait there while I talk to Laessar. Once I get the information I need from him, I’ll return and we can discuss our plans.”

 “Don’t you want anyone to come with you?” Weimar asked.

“No,” Airk said, shaking his head. “I’ll be less likely to alarm Laessar if I go alone.”

“Is that all, though?” Seline said. “You might-“

“If Kalrek has spies in Laessar’s household, they’re less likely to notice us if Airk goes in alone,” Amyalla said. “We just look like another group of travelers, and Airk’s just visiting an old friend. You’ll be careful, of course?” she asked Airk.

“What do you want?” Airk demanded, his ugly mood made clear by the look on his face.

“We need to talk,” Luna said, shutting the door behind her. She stood between the door and Airk, making no move to get out of the gnome’s way.

“We’ve said everything we need to,” Airk said. “Now get out of my way.”

“Not until I’ve had my say. What are you going to do, Airk? Throw me out of your way? Threaten me? Or are you so obsessed with revenge that you’d be ready to attack everyone who’s come to care for you since then?”

“I…how can I let Kalrek go unpunished after everything he’s done? Didn’t you see what he did to the people of Oakdale, to the people of Flinthold? Am I supposed to forget all that?”

“Of course not! Never that! But you know how worried we are about you, and what this quest is doing to you.”

Airk sighed, looking down at the floor before looking at Luna again, a sombre look on his face.

“Have you ever felt such guilt that it threatened to drive you mad?” Airk asked. “Have you felt you’ve shamed your heritage and people, shame made all the worse because you couldn’t bring yourself to punish a murderer? When you saw the corpses of the people of Oakdale, were you reminded of your failures and your weakness? Did you feel disgust at your cowardice, feel that you were just as responsible for their deaths because of your inaction? That’s what I felt, Luna-and don’t go telling me that I’m not responsible. I am, and that’s all there is to it. Now please, let me pass.”

Luna’s mind whirled as she recalled the conversation she’d had with Revafour and Weimar on the Coast Dancer. She tried to think of what to say.

“I just…I can’t bear to see you this way,” she finally said. “None of us do, and-“

 “-and I know that,” Airk finished for her. “But this is something I have to see through to the end. I owe the people of Flinthold that, at the very least.”

Before Luna could answer, Airk pushed her aside and left the room.

Luna was left alone with her fears, praying desperately to Pelor for answers.

When Airk looked at Laessar Bradon’s mansion, he was distinctly impressed by how well his old friend had done since leaving Flinthold. The mansion was not the largest house in Flinthold’s high class neighborhood, but it was immaculately designed and crafted. Detailed bas-reliefs of burrowing animals and murals of surface hills and woods decorated the mansion’s walls. The grounds were decorated with statues of gnomish heroes and gods like Garl Glittergold and Baravan Wildwanderer. Strategically placed lights decorated the estate with a combination of warm embracing light and mysterious, dreamlike shadows.

Airk walked at a leisurely pace up to the gatehouse at the entrance to the estate. He glanced all around him, admiring his surroundings as if he had all the time in the world. As Airk approached, the gatehouse’s attendant emerged with an officious look as he prepared to deal with the latest visitor to Laessar’s manor.  

“Greetings, sir!” Airk said as he came up to the attendant. “Is Master Laessar Bradon at home today?”

“Who are you?” the attendant asked, looking suspiciously at Airk’s heavy armor and weapons. “What’s your business here?”

“My name’s Airk Venbelwar,” Airk said, bowing slightly. “I’m an old friend of your master’s from the Hateful Wars. I’ve come to Copper Crossing on business, and I thought I might pay Laessar a visit. It’s been too long since I’ve seen him.”

“Indeed,” the gatekeeper said, raising an eyebrow. “And what proof do you have that my master would know you?”

“Laessar and I are friends of one Kalrek Burunne,” Airk said. “Perhaps you might at least confirm with Laessar’s valet, and he can inquire of your master?”

The gatekeeper’s eyes widened in surprise at hearing Kalrek’s name, but it spurred him to action. The gatekeeper turned back into his gatehouse and rang a bell. The servants’ entrance of the manor opened in response to the bell, and a pageboy came out to the gatehouse. The pageboy had a whispered conversation with the gatekeeper, and quickly ran back inside. A few minutes passed before the pageboy returned, this time with directions to the gatekeeper to let Airk in.

Once Airk passed through the gates, the pageboy led him up to the grand front doors of Laessar’s mansion. The pageboy opened the doors and let Airk into the foyer, where they were greeted by Laessar’s valet Borrus.

“Greetings to you, sir,” Borrus said to Airk once the pageboy had left them. “Any friend of my master’s is a friend of mine.”

“You honor him, I’m sure,” Airk said. “Will Laessar be able to see me today?”

“He has some important paperwork to finish, but he’ll come to see you in a few minutes,” Borrus said. “Would you care for something to drink while you wait?”

“Just some water, thank you,” Airk said, as Borrus led him into a sitting room and poured him his drink. 

Borrus left after that, leaving Airk to think about the situation. Everything turned out the way Airk expected. Laessar gave his servants standing orders to immediately admit anyone who mentioned Kalrek’s name, although without revealing exactly why Kalrek was so important.

“How long has it been, old friend?” Laessar asked as he shut the study door behind him. “Thirty years?”

“Yes, but it feels longer than that,” Airk said. “How’s the gem trade? I take it things are going well?”

“Of course they are,” Laessar said as he walked over to the bar in one corner of the room and poured two glasses of wine. “And what about you? Are you still burrowing through haunted ruins, rescuing distressed damsels, and traveling to the four corners of the Flanaess?” he continued, as he sat down at his desk and Airk sat in the chair facing it.

Airk and Laessar laughed at the comment, but then they fell silent. Airk could see a hunted look in Laessar’s eyes, and he realized that Laessar probably saw the intensity in his.

Laessar took a long, hard swig of wine, but Airk didn’t touch his glass.

 “Now that’s an expression I haven’t heard since the Hateful Wars,” Airk said.

“…Well, it’s been some time,” Laessar said, his expression clouding.  

“Time enough to lose contact with old friends?” Airk asked.

“You were the one who became an adventurer,” Laessar said. “How could I have reached you?”

“You didn’t have any trouble reaching Kalrek,” Airk said. “Still exchanging letters with him, aren’t you?”

Laessar turned ashen at that, rising up from his chair as Airk did the same.

“What do you know about that?” he demanded.

“I know everything I saw from those letters written to the spriggans in the Cairn Hills,” Airk said. “I know what I saw from seeing those people dying at the hands of the trolls you and Kalrek sent against them. I know what I saw when Kalrek betrayed Flinthold to the Steelhearts in exchange for their blood money. I know what I saw when Kalrek made the caverns run red with our kin’s blood! I know all of it, and I know you’re involved with it!” Airk continued, his voice rising to a shout.

“Airk, you don’t understand,” Laessar said, stumbling back as Airk began to advance on him.

“He shed our blood. He led us all to suffer and die. He received a king’s ransom for it,” Airk said, his eyes flaring with rage. “And now he’s doing it again. Again!”

“Airk, please!” Laessar said.

Laessar tried to run for the door, but Airk was faster and immediately caught him. The two gnomes wrestled fiercely, each trying to overcome the other. Airk soon proved the stronger and caught Laessar by the wrists, pulling him closer until they stared intently into one another’s eyes.

“How much did he pay you, Laessar?” Airk said. “How much was it worth to consort with spriggans and trolls? How much was it worth to send bandits out to rob and murder defenseless innocents? How much was it worth to turn your back on everything we fought for in the Hateful Wars? How much did he pay you?”

Panic rose in Laessar as he tried to break free. His fear gave strength to his arms, allowing him to drag Airk forward as they resumed their struggle. As they passed by a large glass mirror, Laessar twisted to try and fling Airk into it. Unfortunately, Laessar’s combat skills had weakened with time, and Airk had little trouble countering his maneuver. Instinctively, Airk planted his feet firmly and went with the spin, twisting around and releasing Laessar.

Laessar crashed headlong into the mirror, which exploded in a shower of glass. Blood mingled with glass shards as they spilled all over the carpet, and Laessar’s body fell among them. Gasping for breath, he tried to rise to his feet, before collapsing again.

Airk’s blood ran cold with horror as he knelt down and rolled Laessar over. The door to Laessar’s study burst open, and Borrus burst into the room with several guards, alarmed by the shouting they’d heard. They were stunned when they saw their master’s condition. A large shard of glass protruded from Laessar’s neck, and another one had pierced his eye, leaving a torrent of blood pouring down his upper body.

Time seemed to stop all at once for Airk as he knelt down. Gently, he cradled Laessar’s head in his hands, ignoring Borrus and the guards.

“Laessar...no…by the gods, what have I done?” Airk said.

“My family…” Laessar said, his breath coming in shallow gaps. “Kalrek has them…he’ll kill them if I don’t do his bidding…I beg of you, save them…”

 “Laessar…I…” Airk said.

“Borrus…where is my faithful Borrus?” Laessar said, coughing up blood.

“My lord!” Borrus exclaimed, kneeling down next to his master.

“Give Airk…the silver tome in my safe…it contains all the…don’t call the watch on Airk, please let him…” Laessar said, now visibly struggling to speak.

“Laessar, I won’t let him get away with…” Airk said. “Please forgive…”

“Save my family…” Laessar said, his voice barely more than a hoarse whisper, “and may the rest of your days be cursed if you do n-“

Laessar’s words ended abruptly as he died.

Airk sat in silence, staring in shock at the face of his dead friend. He looked at his hands, and saw that they were stained the deep crimson of gnomish blood.

Over the past several weeks, Airk had felt guilt and rage in recalling Kalrek’s betrayal. Now, he simply felt numb as he realized what he had done. He might have remained like that, except that Laessar’s guards pulled him to his feet. Looking across the room, he saw Borrus opening a safe hidden behind a painting on one wall, which contained a large collection of books and parchments. Borrus pulled out one large tome embossed in silver with the emblem of a crown on it. Walking over to Laessar’s desk, Borrus laid the book on it and began to read.

“Oh, my poor master…” Borrus said, his face pale as he read through the book. “The shame of it all…that you were driven to this…”

“Is this what you came to confront my master about?” Borrus asked Airk as he looked up from the book. “How did you know about this?”

“Because of the letters I have with me in my pocket,” Airk said. “I came for information about Kalrek Burunne, and how I could find him.” One of the guards retrieved the letters from Airk’s pocket and handed them to Borrus. Borrus glanced over them, comparing the handwriting on the letters from Airk’s pocket to the writing on some of the letters included in the book, Borrus saw they were a perfect match.

Putting the book and letters down on the desk, Borrus took a deep breath before he turned to look at Airk.

“The only reason I don’t have you killed here and now is because of my master’s dying requests, and because his family’s in danger,” Borrus said. “My master allowed no one but him to read that book. It should tell you everything you need to find this Kalrek’s person and rescue my master’s family. If you fail at that, then may Garl Glittergold ensure that the curses of a broken family bring you, and everyone you love and cherish, nothing but misery and ruin for the rest of your days.”

Airk looked once again at the blood on his hands, before he looked back at Borrus.

“My friends are at the Owlbear Arms,” Airk said. “I will need their help to do this. They go by the name of the Company of the Silver Wolf. If you give them my name and say I need help, they’ll come.”

 “Very well,” Borrus said, as he gestured for some of the guards to carry out Airk’s request.

“And damn you to the Nine Hells for what you have done today.”

“There’s nothing you can do?” Borrus asked Luna as they examined Laessar’s body, which lay in state in a separate bedroom.

“I’m afraid not,” Luna said, shaking her head. “I don’t have the power to raise the dead. We’d need the help of a priest with enough power to cast such a spell, unless the magic were inscribed on a scroll I could use. As it is, we don’t have enough time to find a suitable priest.”

“My master has many contacts,” Borrus said, “and I may be able to find someone with enough power. You’ll be on your way, then?”

Luna nodded solemnly as she turned to leave.

“A word to the wise, young one,” Borrus said, as Luna turned back to face him.

“What is it?” Luna asked him.

“You are a daughter of Pelor, judging by the pendant around your neck,” Borrus said.

“Yes, I am,” Luna said.

“Perhaps you should ask your god whether he would tolerate your sharing the company of a murderer who’s responsible for at least one innocent death, and probably many more afterward,” Borrus said, his eyes flashing.

Unable to reply, Luna turned and left the room to rejoin her friends.