Baroness Chordan

The impossible task continued

"Well at any rate I firmly believe that it's all just a case of superstition although the disappearances of the previous scribes has me worried. So do you know how to fight in any way?" Furnin asked Suna  who was now dressed in her apron and grey clothing. Since her academy robes would be dirty if she wore them at her job at a local tavern. She swept and served drinks there at the Rivers Landing. So she was thankfully given some old rags from the bar owners' wife.

"Well my father taught me how to wield a bow for hunting but I haven't shot one in ages. Since I was little in fact." She replied touching her index finger to her chin thoughtfully.

"Then I shall acquire a bow and arrows just in case...I'm going to take every precaution necessary because I don't intend to die nor do I intend for you to die either." Furnin replied thoughtfully with his arms crossed.

"Good to know. Now if you'll excuse me I have to go to work, let me know the plan after I close up ok? And I trust you so I know this will go well."She replied as she left toward the town square.

Furnin nodded in reply then turned and headed toward the boys dorms...he was stopped only a block away by a hooded figure going through great lengths to hide his identity. Furnin then noticed two much larger than this small maybe 5 ft man in front of him, meanwhile the bigger 6 ft men behind him were not that intimidating to the nearly 7 ft Furnin , the men who were approaching from Furnin's rear were brandishing hidden weapons under their cloaks.

"State your purpose." Furnin said with authority.

The small one cackled out, "we heard they are planning on sending you to the Chordan estate."

"You are well informed. I am, although what's it to you?" Furnin replied while readying a fighting stance and eyeing the larger men who have now moved to each side of him.

"Oh, well we just want to know what purpose the academy is sending a young whelp like you there?" The small one cackled out.

"Well first since I stand 2 ft higher than you, the term 'whelp' is hardly adaquate to be used to describe me. Secondly it's just to clear up a family record issue." Furnin responded with a small amount of cockyness.

"Ha...'family records' huh? What utter nonsense. Let me give you a word of advice kid. Watch your back no one goes to the Chordan estate and returns." The small man said

"And why is that? Care to elaborate as to just why that is?" Furnin asked still keeping his fighting stance

"Because that place is a ghost town and I'm not talking about a ghost town where everyone just up and leaves. Oh no. I'm talking literal ghosts but I can see you look like you might be able to handle yourself. So I'll make you a deal if you can handle these two I'll give you some advice that may save your life." He motioned to the men

They drew their broadswords out from under their cloaks furnin had fought with swords before and knew swordsmanship he could tell by their stances they'd fought before but they were no experts, nothing like her. The one on his right swung wide towards his torso. His muscles made him strong but furnin was stronger, and stronger muscles didn't always mean one was faster not like furnin was. Furnin moved towards the man and grabbed the man's arm one hand on his elbow, the other towards the shoulder. Furnin then yanked outward breaking the man's arm in quick succession then moved to dodge the other man's lunging thrust of his broadsword. Furnin then stepped to his other side and was behind the other man. He then kicked furiously the back of the thrusting man's knee breaking his leg with a crushing crack.

Furnin then returned to a default fighting stance never letting his guard down.

The small older man said with a shocked rough voice, " who? who trained you!?"

Furnin replied, "Master Durna did."

He nodded then said" no amount of training will help you even if she trained you. There will come a moment when your life will be in the balance, you and whomever you bring with you. But I can tell you may be able to change things there. Learn what you can about the lore of what's called the ethereal realm. May just save your life. And do me a favor if you happen to discover what happened to the other scribes let me know. " He paused walked to the moaning, hurting brutes then began bandaging and splinting them.

Once he was done he said, "don't worry about all of this I told them to attack you. I'll take whatever blame for their injuries."

Furnin responded lowering his guard, "why go through such measures to test me. And what's this about an ethereal realm? Also why do you want to know what happened to the other scribes?"

The older man said, "because rumor has it ghosts kill all who go to the mansion. And I have reason to believe some sort of ethereal portal has something to do with it. And as for why I want to know what happened to the other scribes," his face showed grief and he said, "because one of the scribes sent was my son."

It made sense to furnin now. A father not wanting another victim to be sent to his unknowingly death. After a moment furnin replied, "well thank you for the information. I shall look up lore on this 'ethereal realm' if you say it may help. But I have no intention of dying at the hands of some 'ghosts'."

The old man muttered," I'm sure my son didn't have an intention of dying either."

Furnin continued headed to the local blacksmith for Suna's bow and arrows,  but now an added purpose to learn what he can about this so called ethereal realm.