The tall elven Inquisitor sat down on one of the benches. It was, unfortunately, built to gnome specifications. Soen was more stooping than sitting. Argos took no notice of his guest’s discomfiture and plopped himself down on an opposite bench.
“There!” Argos leaned forward and spoke quietly. “What favor might I do for my good friend Soen?”
“I am looking for a man,” Soen began.
“A man?” Argos interrupted, stroking his beard. “I don’t know about a man. I can get you a woman-a good number of them, in fact, I should think-but ours is a backward people not as enlightened as the heart of the great Rhonas Imperium.”
“No, Argos. .”
“Just give me a moment, friend. . I may be able to come up with a man for you. .”
“No!” Soen began fingering his staff once more. “I am looking for a specific man. . a human bolter.”
Argos’ eyes were losing focus. “Bolter. . bolter. .”
“A runaway slave,” Soen continued. “A human male. We believe he and a number of fellow travelers left the Murialis Woods and were making their way into Vestasia.”
“Murialis. .” Argos repeated as he nodded his head vaguely. Suddenly his eyes focused, shifting to stare at the Iblisi. “Murialis? That Murialis? The witch west of the Southern Mountains?”
“Yes,” Soen continued. “I believe they may have been traveling north.”
“But that’s over one hundred and seventy leagues from here!” Argos laughed incredulously.
“Yes,” Soen agreed, “and it is land with which I am not familiar. What can you tell me about it?”
Argos leaned back, his face turned upward as he considered the question. He began stroking his beard with his left hand as though trying to pull some answer out of it. “Ah, you believe your quarry is in the Great Savanna.”
Soen nodded. “If that is to the north of Murialis lands, then yes.”
“Difficult place, that savanna,” Argos mused. “You’ll need to travel south around the edge of Gnevis Bay, then follow the Lynadio River inland until you cross at the confluence. West, beyond the river is the Great Savanna. . filled with wild creatures and death. Perhaps you would like some men to accompany you-our finest warrior guards and at a most reasonable price! I could get you some women also, but that would be more difficult and, naturally, more expensive. .”
“No,” Soen said, his sharp teeth grinding slightly as he spoke. “I don’t need an army-just your-your most excellent advice. Have you any news of my prey? There are three humans, a pair of manticores, and a chimerian who. .”
“A chimerian?” Argos laughed. “That sounds like the beginning of a joke.”
“I assure you it is not,” Soen snapped then drew in a breath. “Have you any word of such strangers?”
“In the savanna?” Argos chuckled. “No one cares what happens in the savanna!”
“Isn’t there anyone. . any tribes who might have seen my prey?”
“Ah, perhaps the Hak’kaarin,” Argos said with a disdainful sniff.