The Tomb of Den Divzar

Chapter Two: Blood Shame

Heavy footfalls crunched through the undergrowth of the tangled woods, followed closely by footsteps accompanied by a quiet ringing and the long treads of a ghostly third. The trio walked without a word with only the soft trembling of branches to betray their presence. Tol cleared branches away with the butt of his sword taking a natural shine to the lead position. Kirnen ducked and swayed in a tree-like fashion himself to avoid branches and vines as he struggled to follow the path made by the knight. Breaking the air of silence and interrupting a bird's song, Tol spoke aloud to no one in particular.

"If myne memory serves, I hath not been in such a forest since the days of myne youth."

"Hm. Never did mind a forest like this, plenty of nice shade for a sunny day. Makes for a good rest, I say." Hogart responded.

"I believe twas myne father who brought me to the wood near the estate. We hunted and slew a great hog that day, though I seem to recall not being all too proficient with his longbow..." Tol responded, ignoring Hogart's comment.

"You reckon there's any hogs around here? It would make for a fine meal that." Hogart said. Tol glanced back at the bearded fellow before returning his eyes ahead.

"Surely thou hast not already forgotten why we are here. I am certain we do not have time to indulge ourselves in wild hog chases."

"Bah. You spoilsport! A nice ham dinner would be great for morale, and besides, how are we to give old Den Divzar a wallop on an empty belly?"

Tol turned back to cast another look at Hogart,

"Thou doth not truly believe we shall find any 'Den Divzar' dost thou? Such rumors are for scaring stable boys and peasants, I would expect a learned mage to know better."

Hogart chuckled, grinning slightly, "Fine then, since your honorable lords know so much, tell me, what's in the tomb?"

"Treasures. All within the rightful bounds of the majesty of House Androf to be claimed by a righteous questing knight such as myself." Said Tol.

Hogart grinned wider, like an angler feeling a tug at the end of his rod. "Ah I see now, and how do these lords of Androf know this"

Tol thought for a moment, "Simple. A lord must have stored these great treasures here for safe-keeping and now is the right time to retrieve them. Though, I am unsure of what thee stand to gain by this line of questioning."

Hogart's grin threatened to split his face, he giggled under his breath at the knight's growing discomfort.

"Interesting... Tell me, sir Tol of the House of the Rekindled Flame, if the nobles knew what was in the tomb, then why are me and frosty here exactly?"

"Because..." Tol's mind was blank, as there really was no reason as far as he had been told. He was the blind leading the blind and Hogart knew it.

Hogart's voice was dripping in derision as he finally reeled in his point.

"Because, they don't know what's in the tomb and that fact alone is making them nervous. Furthermore, they're afraid and when your precious highborns get one little fright they throw some poor sap with a sharp stick at the problem, until either it goes away or the poor sap dies. Am I wrong, sir Tol?"

Kirnen stiffened as he sensed that the wizard had crossed a line, despite Tol's rage however he still couldn't help but feel the knight deserved the comeuppance. Hogart basked in Tol's fury as he burned his leering smile into the back of the knight's head. He knew Tol could feel it mocking him.

Tol stiffened and wheeled around, now face to face with the wizard as he leaned over him. His face was red with embarrassment and anger as he jabbed his gloved finger into the smaller man's chest.