Rhiann struggled with keeping the secret of Exeter from Rhiann and ultimately opted to have Iyaca grasp the hilt of the weapon.
Rhiann said, “Iyaca, you are my apprentice now. There’s something I want you to know. If I should fall, do your all to protect my Bag of Holding and particularly one item within it.” Rhiann opened the bag and continued, “Place your hand inside and grip the hilt of the longsword.”
Iyaca said, “Longsword! Master Rhiann, the Bag is scarcely long enough to hold a dagger.”
Rhiann said, “Remove the weapon.”
Iyaca Vassi pulled Exeter from the Bag of Holding.
Exeter voice placed the words in young Iyaca’s mind, “Young Iyaca Vassi, I hope this is the beginning of a long relationship. You are now privy to my secret.”
The night passed uneventfully. On the morrow the guards reported no trespasses against the wagons. After breakfast Longbeard organized the troupe.
Shouts rang from Jack’s Refuge’s guard tower.
Longbeard stopped his work and headed toward the still closed gate. He ascended the wall stairs and looked out. A Gnome riding on a straining halvsie rapidly approached on the road from Dry Creek. The rider shouted as he neared, “Kobolds! Dry Creek is under attack! We need help!”
At Longbeard’s urging Jack Taylor’s guards opened the door and allowed the rider to enter. Longbeard ran down the wall stairs and held the exhausted halvsie’s reins while guards helped the distraught rider dismount. Farriers attended the brave little equine that carried the Gnomish messenger.
Longbeard said, “Talk!”
The gnomish rider breathlessly said, “Last night the tower guards saw two kobolds hanging around the woods’ edge. Sergeant Rorke doubled the guard during the night. Before dawn it started. Two guards were picked off by arrows. They kept us pinned down on the wall walk. We fired back into the wood, but I don’t think we hit anything.”
Longbeard Nineteen names said, “Kobold archers picked off two tower guards! They normally couldn’t hit the broad side of a livery stable. Kobolds usually prefer sneaky ambushes in the woods or else a direct attack when they have superior numbers, which isn’t often, because of their chaotic nature. Only their greatest leaders like Narg have been able to gather sizeable forces. Narg had the Sorcerer Bailiwick’s help. Old Bailiwick probably threatened to turn them into toads if they didn’t fight.”
The rider whose name was Nugget said, “These weren’t typical kobolds! They used duck and cover tactics effectively and were crack shots!
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