A Mask, A Cane, and A Box

A man seeks vengeance on the powerful people that stole the love of his life.

T

he male Human, hunched over a vice mounted on a workbench, wielded a fine-bladed screwdriver on the brass mask the vice held. He tightened a tiny screw, just barely visible, on the inside, just below the left eye-hole. The exquisite mask was polished brass in the form of a delicate heart-shaped feminine face with wide-set, almond-shaped eye-holes and full, red enamel lips with an almost imperceptible slit between them. The nostrils also had holes. The eyebrows are filigree silver and have embedded red gemstones. On the inside, around the perimeter, are tiny runes in red enamel.

“Chia, Chio, come here,” the man calls out over his shoulder.

“Yes, Horatio?” a tall, thin Hobgoblin said as she stepped into the pool of light around the worktable where Horatio sat. She wore an off-white tunic that reached mid-thigh, belted at her narrow waist, light blue hose, and tan half boots.

“Ah, Chia, please bring me that small casket on the other workbench,” Horatio said as he waved a hand at a workbench along the other wall without looking up.

Horatio released the mask from the vice, wiped it carefully with a soft cloth, and slipped it into a velvet cloth bag. Chia set the casket on the workbench near him. He placed the wrapped mask inside, closed and locked the lid, then asked, “Where is Chio?”

“My brother will be along shortly.”

A few minutes later, a short, wide male Hobgoblin entered the room and said, “Sorry, boss.”

He was a foot shorter and two stones heavier than his sister. He was dressed identically, except he wore a leather vest with pockets he wore over the tunic and black leggings.

“Chio, here is the key and deliver this to the witch … to Shenan the Blue,” Horatio said as he handed a small brass key to Chio then added. “Follow the plan and be alert. We have a rendezvous tonight and I will need you with me.”

Chio nodded, took the key and tucked it into a pocket on his vest. He picked up the casket, looked at Chia. She nodded and they made their way out of the laboratory, carefully shutting the door behind them. They took the stairs down to the street, then made their way to the bus stop. Just as they reached the bus shelter the cross-town steam-bus pulled up.

Chio and Chia were able to find a seat near the door as the bus wound through town, stopping several times before the siblings rose and got off at the stop at the corner of Bluet Road and Pixie Way.

Since it was mid-morning, the foot traffic was light. They set set off down Bluet Road and after a few steps, Chia fell back a couple of steps. As she walked she eyed everyone on the street and especially alleyways. They walked three blocks and paused in front of the public house The Cask and Crank. The siblings paused for a moment, as if to collect themselves, then with Chia in the lead, pushed the door open and entered the pub.

The bartender looked up,from behind the long wooden bar, raised an eyebrow, shrugged, then waved in the general direction of the tables. Just before they sat, Chio placed the casket on the floor between them under the table. He then placed a foot upon it.

They were there only a few minutes before a Dwarf serving girl came through a door behind the bar and stepped up to their table.

She asked them quickly in a heavy hill Dwarf accent, “Good morning to ye. What will ye be having today?”

Chio and Chia shared a look, then Chia said, “I’d like a scone and a cup of Herns Green Tea.”

“An’ you, pretty boy?” she asked with a leer.

Chio blushed and said, “A scone, a bit of back bacon, and a pint of bitter, please.”

“That’ll be two bits, unless pretty boy wants to follow me inna back … that’ll save ya a half bit,” the server said, as she wiggled her eyebrows.

“Oh, Chio, we could then afford the medicine for grandpa!” Chia said.

Chio blushed even brighter.

“Jes’ kiddin’. You are a pretty one, but business is business. Two bits, and I’ll be back in a little bit with your drinks,” the Dwarf said as she headed through a door at the back of the tavern.


At a table in a corner, a ways from the door, sat a male Human, a male Dwarf, and a female Troll. Each had a mug in front of them and they sat conspiratorially close, talking in low voices. The Troll had watched Chio and Chia come in with interest.

“Look, we got some hobbies. Looks like they got something,” the Troll said.

The man began coughing, turned in his chair as if to not cough on his companions. His eyes flickered to Chia and Chio. He finished coughing and turned back to his conversation with the other two.

“Good eye, Bo,” the man said as he glanced at the Troll. He turned to the Dwarf and asked, “Looks like they are delivering it to someone. They look familiar, do you recognize them, Tarbla?”

“Ya, Irl. Them hobs work for the tinker, Horatio Hornblatter. He makes damn good stuff for rich people. If they are delivering something, it’s going to be worth a lot. I expect, whatever it is, the Scarecrow will pay good coin for it,” Tarbla replied.


The waitress dropped off Chio and Chia’s drinks, then said, “Grub’ll be out real quick.”

She then looked Chio in the eyes and said, “You want anything else, luv just call me.”

Chio blushed again and stuttered out, “Thththank yyyou.”

The waitress left, and Chia said, "If I am not mistaken, little brother, I think that waitress likes you."

"Ga! Stop it," Chio whispered, then took a gulp of his ale.

"C'mon, you are a good-looking fellow, and she is nice-looking AND has a job! That's a good start."

"I don't want to talk about this."

The waitress dropped off the bacon and scones, along with a pot of butter and a knife, then returned to the kitchen. The siblings smeared the scones with the butter and started eating.


“Irl, they’re gonna be done quick,” Bo the Troll said as she glanced between the man and the Hobgoblin pair.

Irl nodded, then turned to the Dwarf and said, “Tarbla, we need to have some idea where they are going. You drink up and head out the front. Wait across Bluet and follow them from that side.”

“Got it,” the Dwarf said, finished his drink, and left out the front door.

Irl changed his attention to the Troll and said, “Bo, you slide out the back and wait in the alley, near the Bluet end. I’ll come out the back when they leave.”

“Bo, finish your drink and remember: wait for me, don’t go charging at ‘em.”

Bo nodded her head, finished her drink, rose, then passed around the bar and through a door in the back.


“They’ve taken the bait, I think,” Chia said after the Dwarf left.

The front door opened, two more Hobgoblins stood for a moment, then made their way over to Chio and Chia.

The male of the two said, "Greetings, beautiful ... and you too, Chia."

Chio choked on his ale and almost spat it on Chia. He managed to cover his mouth with a napkin while he coughed.

The other three laughed.

“How are you, Hlia?” Chio asked, as she looked at the young female Hobgoblin.

“Much better. Ulia’s potion did the trick. She costs a bit more, but her potions work every time.”

Chio recovered and rose. He put two large and four small copper coins on the table and looked at his sister. She nodded, took a last sip of tea, and rose.

"You guys know the plan, right? Hlio you are in the lead, followed by Chio, me then Hlia," Chia asked.

They all nodded.

The waitress showed up and said, "Leavin' so soon?"

"Yyyes," Chio stammers out.

"Well, luv, I get off at dusk," the waitress said, then frowned and added. "I mean, I stop working at dusk. I'd like to get off a dusk, it's been a long dry spell, if you know what I mean."

"You and me, both, sister," Hlia said.

The waitress picks up the coins and said, "Well, I'm not going to retire on this but you are a generous man. Please come back, soon."

The troop of Hobgoblins passed out the front door after bidding the waitress goodbye.


Horatio stood back from his workbench. He flexed his shoulders and hands and looked at the ornate walking cane with an intricate silver jack-o-lantern on the end of the collar that lay on the bench. The cane was a yard long, black lacquer with a brass ferrule and collar. Just below the collar were four green gemstones evenly distributed, and on the shaft were red enamel runes arranged in columns. The face of the jack-o-lantern had pointed quartz teeth and blood red gemstones for the eyes. Horatio picked up a scarlet silk cloth, wrapped the cane in it, and placed it in a long, narrow box. He sighed, closed, and locked the lid on the box, then turned his back on the workbench and left the laboratory.


The Hobgoblins, once outside, set out along Bluet. Chio was carrying the box, Chia was behind him to his right, Hlio ranged ten steps ahead, and Hlia fell back ten steps. They moved warily to the next corner and turned on Liropre Road. They followed it for eight blocks, then turned on Temple Street. Two blocks up Temple Street, as Hlio passed an empty building, Bo burst out of the empty building and knocked him over. Bo then turned quickly, grabbed the box from Chio, and ran back into the building. Irl slammed the door closed and pushed an empty cabinet in front of the door.

At the moment Bo had burst out of the empty building, tarbla had run up behind Hlia and thumped her on the head with his shillelagh.

He turned and ran passed Chia and down an alleyway.

Chio hesitated only a moment before he knelt next to Hlio and asked, "Are you alright?"

"I've been better," Hlio said as he sat up.

Chia ran to Hlia and helped her to her feet.

"OK, ouch," Hlia said.

"That's going to leave a bump, but the skin's not broken," Chia said.

"That's good. I got enough holes in my head. How is Hlio?"

The Hobgoblins regrouped, attempted to enter the building, but couldn’t open the door. They ran down the side alley but found the alley behind the building to be empty. They walked down the alley until it let them back out on Liropre Road.

“Hlio, how are you?” Chia asked.

“I’ve had worse. I've decided not to ask that Troll out. She was pretty cute, but I think another encounter would require hospitalization."

"Yeah, that Dwarf could have just asked. I am not writing him off yet, but next time we gotta set some ground rules," Hlia said.

"Well, it looks like it worked. Thanks for your help, and we'll see you at Poppy’s tomorrow, yeah?”

“Yeah,” Hlia answered.

Chio passed Hlia and Hlio a few coins before they left. Chia and Chio crossed the street, walked up to the bus stop, and sat to wait for the next bus.


Irl, Bo, and Tarbla met up and walked down several streets and alleys until they reached a set of stairs going up. At the top, they passed through a poorly maintained doorway and walked down a long hall. Halfway down, they stopped before a door with a small stylized cat on it. Irl unlocked it and waved the others inside. The front room was nicely appointed with a couch and two overstuffed chairs around a long, low, narrow table. Bo set the box on the table, then knelt and studied the lock. She pulled a set of small tools out of her blouse and began picking the lock. It was only a few minutes before the lock opened, and Bo flipped up the lid. Tarbla reached in and took out the velvet bag with the mask in it.

When he removed the mask from the velvet bag his hands began shaking. Tarbla held it up and turned it this way and that; even in the dim light of the apartment it’s beauty shined.

“Oh my word. This is -” Tarbla said.

“Going to make us a lot of coin!” Irl said, watched the mask as Tarbla turned it in the light.

“He is an amazing tinker. An artist, really,” Bo whispered.

Reluctantly Tarbla slipped it back in the bag, placed it back in the box and closed the lid. Irl stepped over to a cabinet, rummaged around in it for a few moments then returned with a different lock, this one with a key. He locked the casket and left the key on top.

“I believe our best bet is the Scarecrow. How do we get this in front of him?” Irl asked the Dwarf.

Tarbla was quiet for several minutes then said, “He has a regular schedule, and I know a guy that knows where he’ll be tonight. Gimme about an hour and I’ll know.”

Irl nodded, and Tarbla left the apartment.


Chio and Chia knocked on Horatio’s apartment door and waited quietly. Horatio opened a few moments later and asked, “Good, you are both here, come in. How did it transpire?”

“Exactly as you planned. It took them longer to take the bait, but eventually Irl and his companions attacked us. Hlia and Hlio did their parts perfectly. Hlia’s got a bit of a lump from it, but she’s fine.”

Horatio nodded and said, “Now to alert the witch. I sent a messenger to her, Shenan the Blue, earlier, announcing that the delivery was today. Chio, you need to make your way to the witch and tell her about the theft,” Horatio said, paused, looked at the short Hobgoblin for a moment, then continued, “She can be … moody; she will be upset by the news that her mask has been stolen. This is the most dangerous part of this mission. Please tread carefully. Show her all the deference you can muster.”

Chio frowned and nodded.

“Stick to the plan, talk as little as possible. Don’t mention her brother, the Scarecrow. She needs to reach that conclusion on her own,” Horatio paused and then added. “Please be careful.”

Chio nodded and left.

“Now, Chia, let's go to the laboratory. We must get the final piece assembled. I will need your steady hands for this,” Horatio said.

They entered the laboratory and walked over to a workbench where a small brass box with the lid off rested. Inside the box was a small open space surrounded by a clockwork of gears and jewels. For the rest of the afternoon, they worked on the box. The top of the lid had five rune dials in the center. Each rune could be changed by pressing on a small button just under the rune. There was light scrollwork along the edges, but no other decorations on the box. Not even a maker's mark on the bottom.


Chio stood in the foyer of the witch’s mansion, shifting from foot to foot. Before entering, he’d torn his blouse to look like he’d been in a fight. The servant, a Halfling, had bid him wait while he fetched the mistress. The foyer was circular, with the entrance behind him and a hallway in front. To his left was a half-size statue of an angry Wyvern, to the right of that a closed door. To his right, a painting of a battle, with a door to its left.

Chio turned to the painting and had just begun to study it in earnest, when the manservant returned and guided him to the parlor which was through the door next to the Wyvern. He was only in the room a few moments when a tall, thin well dressed woman with wide set, almond eyes, a slightly upturned nose and full lips entered.

“I do not see my item,” she stated as she eyed the young Hobgoblin.

“Yes, ma’am. Master Hornblatter sent me to deliver your item. A Troll and a Dwarf waylaid me on the way here. They took the box and my coin purse. Please forgive me, Mistress Shenan the Blue,” Chio said and bowed his head.

Her eyes narrowed. She frowned, then opened her mouth, paused, and closed it. A thoughtful look came to her pretty face. She said,

“I believe you. What is your name?"

"Chio-yat, Mistress."

"Very well, Chio-yat, let us sit and you tell me exactly what happened.”

She glanced at the Hafling and said, “Toshi, bring us some refreshments.”

She waved Chio to an overstuffed chair and sat opposite.

“Please begin.”

Chio told everything from the pub to returning to the bus stop.

“I am surprised that such a small group would attack the four of you over a casket of unknown contents. Then again, when they saw four of you, maybe that indicated it was valuable,” she said, paused, then continued. "I suppose the new tariffs have everyone scrambling. The thieves get bolder when there are fewer jobs."

They sipped the tea that Toshi had dropped off while Chio talked.

“I don’t blame you or Horatio; you only did what was prudent. I blame the lack of Watch presence in this town. Did you, by chance, recognize any of the thieves?”

“Yes, Mistress. The Human male. He is known as Irl.”

“Irl? That name sounds familiar.”

She rose, paced around the room muttering, but it was too low for Chio to hear. Chio sipped his tea and ate the biscuits quietly.

She stopped, stepped back over to Chio, and asked, “I don’t suppose you would know where my brother, the one known as the Scarecrow, will be tonight?”

“Yes, Mistress. Yes, I do,” Chio answered, nodded his head, and added. “We have a delivery for him tonight, so we are going to meet him at the Red Bull this evening.”

“Hmmm,” Shenan the Blue hummed, then said. “Very well, I shan’t keep you. Please tell Horatio I will pay him for his trouble tonight at the Red Bull.”

She looked at Toshi and said, “Please give this brave young man some coin to get his shirt repaired and see him out.”

She turned to Chio and asked, “How much coin did you lose, young man?”

“Three shillings and six pence, ma’am.”
As she left the room, she said to Toshi, “Toshi, give him an extra silver for his loss.”
Toshi nodded, then walked Chio to the front door, handed him a small stack of coins as he ushered him out the door.
Chio moved quickly down to the street, then up the block to the nearest bus stop.


After he stepped into the apartment, Tarbla said, “He'll be at the Red Bull tonight.”

“Good,” Irl said, then paused for several minutes before continuing. “We are going to have to dress a lot better to get in there. I have a good set of clothes that will work, Tarbla?”

“Yes. Gimme an hour,” Tarbla said.

“Bo?”

Bo muttered something under her breath and refused to look Irl in the face.

“Bo, we have to wear better clothes to get into that place. Do you have better clothes? If you don’t, you can wait outside for us,” Irl offered.

“Yes. I have … something. If I must,” she answered cryptically.


Chio reported back to the laboratory to find Horatio had changed into black half-boots, black knee pants, and a half jacket with a scarlet trim. His blouse was magenta with white highlights.

“Chio! You are back! How did it go?"

"Well. She doesn't suspect anything and even gave me some coins for 'my trouble'."

Horation smiled, then said, "We need to leave within the hour. Chia is already in the apartment changing.”

Chio nodded, turned, crossed the hallway, and entered the apartment. Chia stood in front of a full-length mirror, adjusting her outfit.

She was wearing a form fitting teal gown that went to mid-calf. The sleeves ended at her wrists. There was a hint of make up around her eyes and light rouge on her cheeks and on her brow rested a silver tiara with blue gemstones embedded in it.

“Wow! Chia-na, you look great! Where are you going to carry your knives?” Chio asked his sister.

Chia turned and showed him her back. Worked into the back of the gown were two sheaths that would hold her blades. The handles would be at her shoulders and would not be visible from the front.

“Nice,” Chio said as he disappeared deeper into the apartment. Chia turned to a table with a set of long steel knives with silver-coated blades on it. They had bone handles with a simple stylized lightning bolt on them. She practiced sheathing and unsheathing the knives. After a few minutes of that she sheathed the knives and sat in a chair. She drew on a pair of calf high, black leather boots.

“OK, how do I look?” Chio said as he stepped into the room.

Chio wore black knee pants, hose and short boots. Over that wore a short sleeved, mid-thigh length, teal tunic with a black leather belt at his waist with his knives sheathed on either hip. He, also, wore a black, half cloak that reached mid-thigh.

“Handsome! You'd better not go back to that pub wearing that, or the waitress will wrestle you down! Now, please help me with my cloak,” Chia requested, pointing to a long black cloak hanging from a cloak rack on the wall. Chio helped arrange the cloak on his sister, and they left the apartment. Horatio was waiting in the hall. He looked them over, smiled a little sadly, and said, “Both of you look good. Chia, you look just like your mother. Chio, please carry the box with the cane in it.”

Horatio handed Chio the long box he was carrying. They stepped into the street to find a steam-cab waiting for them. Chia entered first, Chio handed the box to her, helped Horatio in, closed the door and then climbed up to sit with the driver. Horatio tapped on the roof and they took off.

Irl slipped his pale blue half jacket with tails on over a white shirt that was tucked into pale blue knee pants; blue hose and half-boots completed the ensemble. He stepped into the front room on hearing the door open.

Tarbla had returned wearing a black and dark red wool kilt, black knee socks and black half-boots. He had a dark blue long sleeved blouse on with a pair of crossed daggers embroidered on the left breast. Belted at his waist was a wide black leather belt with a long knife on his left hip and his shillelagh on the right. He had a black and red beret on his head.

“Good. Now we wait on Bo,” Irl said and waved the Dwarf to a chair.

It was only a few moments later that the door opened and Bo stepped inside. Both men stood up, mouths agape on seeing her. She wore a cream colored off the shoulder gown that hugged her voluptuous figure. The skillfully applied make up accentuated her long nose, high cheekbones, and dark green eyes. She wore a dark green shawl and completed the outfit with dark green half-boots.

“What?” Bo asked, blushing.

“Bo, you look lovely,” Irl said, shook himself, and added. “Please step in and close the door so we can talk about tonight.”

Bo blushed more at the compliment, shut the door, and sat down. The men sat after her.

“Good news, I was able to make reservations for a table near the Scarecrow's regular table. Bad news, it cost about a quarter of our stash,” he stated, paused, then continued. “That’s a lot, but I am pretty sure the Scarecrow will more than make up for our outlay. If things go smoothly, we should only have to cover our first round of drinks before we can slip out of there. Tarbla should handle the contact once we are there. Any questions?”

Bo asked, “What drinks should we order?”

The men looked at her for a moment, then Tarbla said, “Probably best to order wine. The cocktails can be pretty potent, and beer or ale won’t look sophisticated enough.”

“OK,” Bo said, paused, then asked, “What kind of wine?”

“Hmm. I tell you what, Bo. Let me just order for you. Will that work?” Irl asked.

“Yes!” Bo said, as a look of relief swept across her face.

They discussed a few things, then left the apartment together.

The large oval shaped dining hall of the Red Bull had tables arranged around a good sized open area. The entrance was on one long side and the kitchen doorway was on the opposite side. The tables were divided by a two yard wide walkway that went from the entrance to the center and on to the kitchen doorway. At one narrow end was a doorway to the jakes and the other was a cloak room.

Horatio and the Hobgoblin siblings arrived and were seated at a table on the narrow end of the room, a table row back from the open area. At the table, Horatio sat facing the entrance with Chia across from him and Chio to his right.

“I thank you both for getting me this far. This is about your mother and what those two did to her. You do not have to be here. There is a real danger that this can get really bad. I don’t want to see either of you hurt -”

“Horatio, we understand. We are agreed that we will see this through with you,” Chia said as she reached out and held his hand.

“By the gods, your mother would be so proud of the people you have become. I am proud of you,” Horatio said as tears came to his eyes.

At that moment, a waiter stopped at their table and took their drink orders. When he had left, Chio whispered, “They’ve come with the box, but they look very different.”

Horatio nodded but didn’t look at Irl, Tarbla, and Bo.

Bo was led to her table by Tarbla who was following a servant of the Red Bull. Irl walked behind carrying the casket. They were seated on the opposite side of the room as Horatio’s group. They sat with Bo at the back of the table and Tarbla on the left and Irl on the right.

"She did not look like that earlier. Wow," Chio said as he stared at Bo.

"Ooo, so he fancies hot Troll girls," Chia teased her brother.

"Aw, leave it be," Chio muttered, paused, then whispered, “Sheran the Green is here.”

“Put the cane box on the table and unlock it, but don’t open it,” Horatio whispered back then added. “Chia, when you deliver it to him, he will hand you his cane to hold, touch only the shaft, none of the metal parts. A present from his sister, before their falling out, that shocks anyone who touches the metal parts. Not fatal but not pleasant either. He gets a sick joy out of people getting shocked.”

Chio did as requested, placing the box between Chia and Horatio. Horatio looked up at the entrance way and saw a tall, lean man in a gold embroidered, deep green, half-jacket with tails, matching knee pants, hose, and half-boots enter the room. He wore a dark yellow blouse beneath the jacket. His escort was two tall male Trolls in dark green and gold livery, a Dwarf in black and red half jacket, knee pants, hose, and half boots, and a thin female Hobgoblin in a floor-length, flowing, dark green gown.

“Welmet, tinker Hornblatter. Is that what I think it is?” Sheran the Green said when he reached their table.

“Welmet, Sheran the Green, and yes, it is. It is not charged, so feel free to handle it.”

As Horatio predicted, Sheran handed his simple wooden cane with a brass collar topped that was adorned with a large, green gemstone to Chia. She handled it as instructed; there was a brief flash of disappointment across Sheran’s face then he refocused on the box on the table. He opened it, pulled out the wrapped cane, unwrapped it and checked it carefully. He finally said, “This is exactly what I wanted. How do I activate it?”

“You must charge it on a full moon with a minimum of three drops of the wielder's blood into the mouth of the Jack-O-Lantern. That will get you five discharges. To discharge, grip the collar and point at your target and invoke the rune carved into the top of the Jack-O-Lantern. The range is about four yards and perhaps a bit farther. The more force you put into speaking the rune, the stronger the effect.”

“Which is?”

“Paralysis, followed by unconsciousness.”

“Ha. Excellent. Nonfatal, perfect. So three for five. Limit?”

“Fifteen discharges.”

“Understood,” Sheran said and turned to his Hobgoblin companion. “Jlia pay the man. In fact, pay him double!”

Sheran the Green turned abruptly, walked over to the table he customarily occupied at the Red Bull with the rest of his entourage, and sat. The Hobgoblin, Jlia, stayed behind. She slipped a hand into her gown and brought out a small leather bag, and dropped it on the table. She repeated that three more times, then left for Sheran the Green’s table.

“Place the cane in the box. We will deal with it later,” Horatio said as he pulled the small box with a rune on the top out of his pocket and placed it on the table.

Chia took the leather bags and put them in hidden pockets in her outfit.

The waiter brought their drink orders and dropped them off.

Tarbla approached Sheran the Green’s table and signaled the other Dwarf. The Dwarf rose, and they spoke briefly as Tarbla passed him a rolled up message. That Dwarf returned to the table and spoke to Sheran, passing him the rolled up message. Sheran read it, signaled assent to the Dwarf who nodded to Tarbla.

Irl took a deep breath and let it out slowly, picked up the box, and stepped to the Scarecrow’s table. He placed the box on the table, unlocked it, flipped the lid open, and stepped back slightly. He looked at the Scarecrow’s face as the man stood to look into the box. The man's face was almost pretty with wide-set, dark, almond-shaped eyes, full lips, and a slightly turned-up nose. The only flaw was a long, poorly healed scar that ran down the right side of his head from the temple to the throat, disappearing into the high collar of his yellow blouse.

The Scarecrow lifted the wrapped mask out of the box and unwrapped it. A low hiss escaped his mouth as he admired the work of art in his hands. He flipped it over and ran his fingers over the inside. He looked at Irl, and a thoughtful look came over his face. He turned to the Hobgoblin and said something in a different language. She nodded and pulled a soft leather bag out of her gown and passed it to Irl, adding, “This should be sufficient. Leave the key.”

Irl accepted the bag, dropped the key on the table, and retreated to his table.

“He has the mask,” Chia said to Horatio. That worthy looked up from the small box and whispered, “Good. Let me know when she gets here.”

“Can we leave now?” Bo asked as soon as Irl and Tarbla returned.

Irl looked around and noticed that all the Trolls in the place were staring at their table, more specifically at Bo. He shared a look with Tarbla then said, “Yeah. I don’t like the attention we are getting. One at a time out the back through the jakes. Meet in front. I'll go first, then Bo, Tarbla last.”

Irl rose and headed to the back door. Bo waited until Irl passed through the door to follow. Tarbla took his time, pretending to be very interested in a mixed group of Human and Dwarf women two tables over. After Bo passed through the back door, he stretched and headed that way at a leisurely stroll.

Outside, Tarbla caught up with Bo and Irl standing next to the bus and cab drop off and pick up area. A couple yards away a private steam-cab was stopped.

A footman in blue livery jumped down from the guard mount and opened the door. Shenan the Blue stepped out with a determined look upon her face. She stormed up the low stairs, and the doorman barely got the door open before she arrived at it.

Irl stood and watched the sorceress storm into the building. He said to his companions, “I almost wish we’d stayed. That is going to be an interesting confrontation.”

“What confrontation?” Bo asked.

“That is Shenan the Blue. The Scarecrow is her twin brother, otherwise known as Sheran the Green. I knew that mask looked familiar. It was made for her. She has to be pretty angry about not getting it.”

“I believe we need to get as far away as we can. Maybe it’s time to see the ocean,” Tarbla offered.

At that moment, a large Troll stepped out from a group going into the diner club and said to Bo, “You are looking exceptionally lovely tonight, Miss Lethan. Might I escort you into the Red Bull for dinner?”

Bo looked at the tall, handsome Troll, blushed, and seemed at a loss for a response.

“I am sorry, ole chap. We’ve just finished with an early dinner. Why don’t you leave her your card, and she will get back to you. I am sure she would be delighted to have supper with a splendid chap, such as yourself,” Irl said to the Troll.

The Troll studied Irl for a moment, nodded, and said, “That is a shame. But I will do as you say, and I look forward to seeing you again, Miss Lethan.”

He handed Bo a small card, then returned to his companions.

Bo accepted the card, then the three of them got into the next cab and left.

“She’s here,” Chio said.

“Alright, the stage is set. You two take the box with the cane in it, and wait outside.”

“But we shouldn’t leave you ...” Chia pleaded.

“We discussed this. I will have my revenge upon these people for what they did to your mother,” he said quietly then added. “At this point you two have done all you can do. Best to wait outside in case this goes awry.”

Reluctantly, the two Hobgoblins left Horatio’s table and went to the entrance. At that point, Chia stood to one side of the door while Chio went out.

Horatio glanced up, caught a glimpse of the witch as she strode across the floor to the Scarecrow’s table. He focused on the box and spoke the first two runes on the lid in a low voice.

Shenan the Blue confronted Sheran the Green at his table. Sheran the Green rose from his chair, the mask in his right hand.

“My what a pleasant surprise, dear sister,” he greeted her.

“Brother. You have something of mine,” Shenan the Blue hissed back.

Horatio intoned the third rune on his box. The spoken runes began to glow an angry red. Horatio had beads of sweat on his brow as he concentrated on the box.

“This little mask?” the Scarecrow held up and moved it toward his own face.

Shenan hissed again and raised her hands, then stopped. She gestured, and the cane, leaning against the table, leaped to her hand. Just as her hand closed about the shaft, the scarecrow fitted the mask to his face.

Horatio intoned the fourth rune; his voice, though low, seemed to carry power now. He began to say all the runes again.

The Scarecrow said something but it was muffled by the mask. He raised his hands to remove the mask but it seemed unable to, just as all the gems embedded in the mask began to glow.

Shenan’s right hand held the pommel, the sheath separated from the pommel revealing a slim rapier. The gems embedded in the mask emitted beams that coalesced at a center point between the eyebrows and a few inches in front of the mask.

As Horatio intoned the last rune the second time, the box glowed red and a red nimbus climbed up his arms. The smell of burning flesh permeated the air around him. He stood facing Sheran the Green and Shenan the Blue and heaved the box toward them.

Just as the point of the rapier, once freed from the scabbard, dragged the hand holding it forward to touch the breast of Sheran the Green, a beam of violet light shot forth from the mask and struck Shenan the Blue in the forehead, between her eyebrows.

“No!” Shenan gasped. She seemed to struggle to stop the rapier from piercing he brother’s chest.

The box thrown by Horatio landed on the floor in front of the two siblings. The lid snapped open, and a horrendous, screeching sound filled the room. A red-tinged nimbus rose out of the box, engulfing the pair. The rapier pierced the breast of Sheran, while a look of horror crossed his sister’s face, which changed to horror as the beam striking her brow started to smoke. Time seemed to slow for a moment, the sister struggling to stop the progress of the sword cane pushing deeper into her brother’s chest, the brother struggling to pull the mask off as the beam from it penetrates his sister's forehead, and both surrounded by a red nimbus. The sound reached a crescendo as an almost tornado formed, pulling the brother and sister into the box by the red nimbus. The lid slammed shut, and silence followed.

Horatio sat down heavily, holding his seared hands over the table, sobbing quietly. Chia, who’d only gotten as far as the door, ran back to the table and wrapped his hands in napkins. She helped him to his feet, guided him out of the Red Bull, and into a steam-cab
Chio was holding at the curb. While they exited, the rest of the patrons rose to their feet in shock, and all began talking at once.

As the entire room descended into chaos, no one noticed Horatio and Chia leaving.

[Words: ~6500]