"With such worthless items you hoped to buy an enchanted gem? You are an optimist, aren't you?"
Garth shrugged again; he hoped the gesture seemed natural.
"What of your gold?"
"I had little with me."
"Then with what did you buy your freedom from the bandits in Derbarok?"
"What little I had, which I had gotten for my goods in Mormoreth."
"And, poverty-stricken though you were, you spent a good bit of gold here in Skelleth feeding an old man? And I have heard that the stable-boy who tended your warbeast mysteriously acquired enough gold to buy a share in the last ice-caravan, as well. Could that gold have been yours?"
"I..." Garth stopped. He could not think of a reasonable answer.
"And how is it that these `Wise Women' sent you south with little gold? That, my friend, was not wise."
"Very well. I did have a great deal of gold. The ropes and chains were to take hostages, should my offer of gold for the gem be refused."
"Ah, that's better. And the cage?"
"I bought no cage."
"The carpenter Findalan says you did."
"He is mistaken."
"That seems unlikely."
Garth shrugged again.
"And what of the old man you spoke with?"
"He seemed congenial, and I needed to learn the route to Mormoreth."
"I see. He must have been very congenial indeed." Another shrug.
"However, I have heard otherwise from every other person who has spoken with this old man."
"Oh?"
"He is well known in Skelleth as the surliest, most unfriendly creature in Eramma."
"Perhaps he likes overmen."
"Perhaps." The Baron shifted position, so that he was sitting up. He leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees, and put his hands together, resting his chin on his fingers. "Do you know his name?"
"No."
"You didn't ask?"
"It seemed unimportant."
"I would be interested in learning his name."
"Why?"
"That man has lived in the King's Inn since before I was born, yet no one seems to know his name. He is referred to simply as `the old man,' which seems lacking in respect. I would like to call him by his right name."
"I am sorry; I did not ask."
"It has been said that the old man is a wizard of some sort."
"I wouldn't know."
"Tell me about Mormoreth. I have never been there."
Garth was caught by surprise by the sudden change of subject. "Well, it's...it's a city of white marble, in the middle of a fertile valley-"
"I know all that. What of the Baron of Mormoreth?"
"There is no Baron of Mormoreth. The city is ruled by a wizard named Shang." It did not seem wise to admit that Garth had left the city in the hands of bandits.
"Oh. Did you meet this wizard?"
"No."
"Why not? I should think he would be the obvious owner of this magical gem you sought."
"Perhaps; but he does not allow visitors."
"But surely, a...a person as resourceful as yourself would not let a mere detail like that stop him!"
"I did not care to start any trouble."
"Oh. Yet you started trouble here."
"Not intentionally. I wished no trouble. Your villagers wished otherwise."
"Ah, yes, I understand they blame you for today's execution."
"Some of them, yes"
"Just as well that they blame you and not me. They liked Arner far too well to blame him, but somebody must be responsible." The Baron smiled. Garth did not like the expression.
"Tell me, Garth, how did the bandits manage to kill your warbeast?"