The First path of

Part 4ish

Chapter 4 ish

After several minutes of silence, I hear "What in the hell is that thing?" from our guest as he continues to stare at Thanatos.

"That's a long story."

"If you share that story I will be more than willing to share mine." He replied with a slightly elevated voice due to panic

I look up at him "I would be willing, but Thanatos's tale intertwines with mine as well as the rest of my parties."

He nodded his head at that and replied "Then as a courtesy I will tell you part of mine first if that pleases you." while eyeing Thanatos nervously.

"It would greatly."

"Since it is late I will only start with the basic facts so that the real story might be said in the light of dawn where it is a much easier tale to tell. To begin with my name is now Ciallian, do to a long time ago mistake and a story that would be too long to tell my family is cursed with the fact that we may only say a name in reference to ourselves once. And no there isn't any way to break it that we know of. So to overcome this at birth we are given a name, but we will only say it on the day when we join another what you, and your people refer to as marriage. That being said it's not much of a burden we just change a letter or two or the pronunciation every time we say it and it's also why in my region of the country almost no one will ever ask what your name is and it is almost considered rude to ask someone else's."

I nod thoughtfully "So can we choose a name for you and continually use that name for you or would we be forced to change it as well?"

"As long as I don't say it it would be fine"

"Cool We shall from now on call you Marek, anyway continue."

He looked me up and down and replied "That will do for now but we do need to come up with a better one please" before he started. I nodded in agreement

"Well for rough summary, I was younger and in my youth's stupidity and the fact that I kept using the same name twice, which has not very fun consequences, don't ask, I stole the Blades of Sarthieon, traded them to the Inquisitor for what I thought would be a cure to my curse, but actually literally drained out all of my blood's magic. Then I went from back alley deal to back alley deal trying to regain my magic as well as I started a one-man war on the Inquisitor. I never caused him any real damage, but I made so much of a nuisance that they had enough of me and offered me a job."

"Ok but that still doesn't explain the creepy voice from the blackness, the hot half-elf, or the numerous hobgoblins." I replied

He reached up a rubbed the back of his neck "Yeaaaaa the only reason I accepted the job and joined up with the Inquisitor is because I kinda really ticked off the owner of that voice . . . . . . . . . Angelia Silkweaver."

I look at Adrian

Adrian notices and replies "Also known as the Black Widow of the Soul Fellows, all goblin races regard the woods sacred so they don't allow anyone to enter, but she is powerful enough to where the goblins don't dare try to get her out. Some groups worship her as their god and obey her. The hobgoblins that attacked as are such a group, they go by the clan name of Nashirith."

I look back at our guest " How in the heck did you anger her so badly?"

Rubbing his neck he replays "Long story short I stole something and then in the mad dash half-way across the country it was stolen from me so I can't even give it back. Any way give me a cup of that" he says pointing at the pot of tea Adrian had put on the fire "and than explain . . . ." He motions over to a now very comfortable Thanatos who is currently laying on his back, legs in the air, and snoring.