The Grey Tears

"Oh, and who might this be?" Falael asked, sliding the jewel back into his pocket. The bartender looked at him quizzically.

"Are you sure you want to know? I wouldn't want one of my fine guests getting into more trouble than is fair." The bartender responded.

"Yes, please. If nothing else, I would like to at least know a name."

"Fine," Esolru breathed. "His name is Uzohr Tovis, and he lives in the blue-clad house across the way. He doesn't love having new people over, and you will definitely need to pay for his information."

"Pay?" Falael questioned. He wasn't liking how the conversation was going. "As in money?"

"He will tell you how to pay. He may ask for money, he may ask for other things." Falael noted the bartender's penchant for being deliberately evasive. There's something that this man isn't telling us, he realised. The clatter of two plates heaped with food disrupted his line of thought. "Two meals, as requested." The bartender turned his back to Falael. Falael took the plates of food and headed back upstairs.

When Falael unlocked the door, Grace pounced off the bed that she had been sitting on and took the plates while Falael locked the door behind him.

"So, anything interesting happen while you were out?" Grace questioned, handing one plate of food back to Falael and sitting back down on the bed that she had been sitting on prior to food.

"Yes, I got a name for someone who can give us more information on the stone that I found back at the cottage. Tomorrow, you and I should see him."

"Did you get a location?"

"Yes, a house across the street. But we need sleep, and I have no inclination to be heading back out tonight." Falael felt absolutely exhausted. After finishing the dinners, Grace went into the ensuite bathroom to wash her hands and Falael went back down into the bar to return the plates. By now the bar was almost empty, with only a few stragglers and the staff occupying the room. Falael put the dishes on the counter, catching the attention of Esolru.

"Enjoy the food?" He asked, picking the plates off the counter.

"Yes, thank you," Falael responded, turning to go back to the room.

"A word of advice," the bartender called out. Falael stopped and turned a little, waiting for the bartender to finish. "When you talk to Uzohr Tovis, bring as many knives as you can, you will need them." Falael nodded in response and went back to the room.

The next day the snowing had stopped, and what snow was left dotted the otherwise busy street. Grace shivered. It had been so warm in the rooms above the bar that she had almost forgotten that it was the middle of winter. The pair made their way across the street to the house that they had been directed to and knocked on the door. A tall, brown-haired man opened the door.

"Hello!" Grace said, with as much enthusiasm as she could muster. She didn't like the look of him, nor the house at all. "We're here to see an Uzohr Tovis. Is he available?" She could barely keep her voice even. The man stepped aside.

"Come in," He said, taking their coats. "My master will be with you shortly." Grace and Falael waited in the entryway for what felt like hours, but was probably only a few minutes. The man that had greeted them at the door returned. "This way if you please," He beckoned for them to follow him, leading them down a long passage before into a brightly lit room. This house looks as if it is bigger on the inside than on the outside, Grace thought, realising that the owner of this house must be well-versed in magic. After a moment a man, dressed in fine linen and silk, entered the room.

"Welcome my friends. How are you?" The man said, gesturing to Grace and Falael to sit. They obeyed.

"I'm sorry, do we know you?" Falael questioned, eyeing the man and making sure that he didn't be carrying a weapon on him.

"No, I believe that this is the first time we have met. Forgive me for being so rude as to not introduce myself. My name is Uzohr Tovis. And who might you be?"

"My name is Grace, and this is my friend Falael," Grace responded, turning slightly towards to Falael.

"Ah yes, I was expecting you. Though I expected you to take a few more days to get here," Uzohr mused. He stood and walked towards a small tea set was laid on a nearby table. "Would you like some tea?" Grace shook her head.

"No, thank you. We came here to ask for your help," Falael responded.

"Oh, and how can I help you?"

"Do you know what this is?" Falael took the grey, teardrop shaped stone out of his pocket. The eyes of their host widened, almost unnaturally large. Falael noticed this. "Looks like you do. What can you tell us about it?"

"It is the calling card of The Grey Tears," Uzohr responded.

"Okay," Grace interjected. "Is there anything that you can tell us we didn't already know?"

"In order to get any more information, you must want to fight for it."

"Okay, what do you mean by that?"

"I mean that in order to get the information you seek, you need to first pass the fight challenge. this is a requirement of all new The Grey Tears members. So who is going to undergo the fight challenge first?"