The Audience Chamber
By Terry Maltman

The wind blew through the hall disturbing the tapestries. Even this far south it was chill in the mountains all year round. Kargan Skalfson drew his cloak tighter around his shoulders as he sat at the end of the hall. At either shoulder stood thanes of his clan. Mighty hammers resting lightly in their arms.. They were the trappings of a mighty lord but Kargan knew that they were far too few. Any one of them would lay down his life for him without question. But there were far too few.

His thoughts were disturbed by his chamberlain ushering in the next band of adventurers. Since his father had slain the dragon, Graug the Terrible, there had been a steady stream of them. Kargan looked them over, a mixed crew, hardly even able to decide who was their leader. A surly looking Dwarf pushed his way to the front of his comrades - a rather shabby Imperial Noble and a near naked Barbarian.

"Speak your business in Karak Azgal", boomed Kargan, assuming a lordly posture.

The adventurers all started talking at once. "Quiet!" called the Dwarf, "Let me do the talking - I know how to do it properly". "My Lord," he began a lengthy list of Kargan Skalfson's titles and achievements. "I am Grungnar son of Grund, grandson of Grant, great-grandson of - "

"Enough" bellowed Kargan. "Your family is known to me". The dwarf lord's patience was short for one who had so much time. "Continue."

Grungnar did as he was bid, " My humble friends and I beg your permission to hunt Goblins in your caverns and tunnels".

Kargan made a sour laugh. "You mean you want to look for my treasure". It wasn't a question. "Yes, Grungnar son of Grund. You may do that. My chamberlain has already given you my terms and explained the portion I demand when you return". The chamberlain nodded in confirmation. Kargan adopted a solemn tone "Do you vow to honour those terms and return here to share my gold with me? If you are still alive that is," he added with a knowing smile.

Grungnar looked at his comrades and then said simply "Yes". That was sufficient. He knew that no amount of flowery words would make the vow any more or less binding. He knew also that if they broke that promise Kargan would enter their names in the Book of Grudges and then only blood would pay.

Kargan spoke again "Now that we have the bond of a vow made between us tell us a little more. How large is your party?"

"My Lord", the Noble took over the conversation, "We have four adventurers and nine cannon fodder, err - fighting men." He corrected himself.

"I see only three here. Explain yourselves."

"Our other colleague thought it best to wait outside with the men", Grungnar mumbled in his beard.

"And why would that be?" responded Kargan, his suspicions rising. "Don't tell me he is an Elf!"

"As you wish, my Lord", replied the younger Dwarf pushing the other two rapidly towards the door, knowing that it was too late for Kargan to change his mind.

The wind blew in the tapestries again and Kargan went back to recounting how much better things were in the old days.