“Hic…good grief.”
Pensive over the impending war that the group had to orchestrate between the great armies of Cormyr and Sembia, Gryffin looked up from picking at the remains of his meal, peered over his shoulder, and noticed two Cormyrian soldiers sitting at a small corner table. Sitting next to the cavalier leader Sserroll, Gryffin turned slightly to observe them more carefully, and realized that the pair was not only rather loud but intoxicated…very intoxicated. They were doing a fairly poor job trying to hide their irritation towards Gryffin’s and Sserroll’s other cabal member, Redell, who was taste-testing various wines and other liquors with the pub owner, talking noisily about the various ingredients, and was on a previously similar path to drunken bliss. Gryffin leaned back to the table to address Sserroll.
“Sserroll….” Gryffin gently elbowed Sserroll on the arm and nodded his head toward the two Cormyrians. Sserroll glanced over to see what was happening and turned curiously at Gryffin.
“So, I think I have figured out a simple way to get our Sembian messenger friend out of our hands and make him look like a spy.” Gryffin grinned and leaned back slightly. “They’re so inebriated right now that it seems almost too easy to get the Cormyrians involved. I’m sure that if we even hint at the thought about the Sembians sending spies and are considering an attack on Cormyr….”
Sserroll smirked and nodded. “They will be sure to interrogate him and find this ‘declaration of war.’”
A minute passed. Gryffin cleared his throat and prepared himself for a bit of spotlight action.
“So, my friend,” Gryffin started, in a louder voice to overcome Redell’s chatter and the crowd, and in the Cormyrian language, “I was minding my own business trying to come here the other day, and I found out the most fascinating rumor.” He was relieved to finally relive a bit of the acting voice again as he overemphasized what he was saying to make sure the Cormyrian soldiers heard him and Sserroll over the general ruckus.
“Oh, my, you must tell me what you heard among the other rumors. Surely something must have warranted your attention enough to have to tell me, because I hear so many.” Sserroll was playing along with the ruse.
“Well…in case you haven’t heard, Sembia is supposedly considering an attack on the Cormyrian army.” Gryffin motioned with his hands as he spoke. “I would not know why they would do such a thing, but that is what people are saying.” As he said this, he noticed the attention of the soldiers at the corner perk up and see that they were having a horrible time attempting to disguise their interest.
“Oh, that is a great undertaking!” Sserroll exclaimed in exaggeration. “But, I do not know how or why they would charge towards Cormyr so suddenly.”
“But of course that would not be wise! They were at least clever enough to send some sort of espionage to infiltrate their walls.” Gryffin stood up from his seat and proceeded outside to walk towards the inn where the cabal was staying. Sserroll followed suit, and the soldiers stumbled after them, badly attempting to not be obvious to the two.
“Did you happen to hear someone say where this supposed ‘spy’ would be visiting? Surely the messenger would have to stop at a few places for rest and supplies while delivering some sort of declaration of war to Cormyr from Sembia.” Sserroll tipped his head in mock puzzlement, his arms crossed and chin in his hand.
“Indeed, that is true. In fact,” Gryffin stressed and slowed his walking pace to make sure the soldiers heard, “I did hear where he was supposed to be! I heard he would be staying at our inn. The Blackwing Inn, somewhere upstairs,” he quickly appended, to make the soldiers’ curiosity rise greatly, and that they knew where to look.
“Oh, dear…how interesting,” Sserroll glanced back quickly and saw the soldier’s eyes grow wide at the revelation. “He should take care that the Cormyrians do not find him, or he will face dire consequences.”
At this, the Cormyrians couldn’t hold their glee much longer. They conversed between the two of them, and drunkenly hobbled out of the way to return at the inn.
“Well, we should prep our guest for his departure,” Sserroll concluded. The two cloaked Drow rushed inside to their rooms to make sure the rest of the cabal left the room to the Sembian messenger.