This incident takes place in the Sleeping Dragon Tavern in Stormhaven five months before the outbreak of the Narshadow War in the North East. I had not yet arrived in Stormhaven, on this planet of N’ume so this account is one that I received from the scholar, my fellow chronicler, Shan Ju Roshi. I cannot vouch for its accuracy but it is consistent with other things that I have learnt. It follows from chapter 3 of the first volume of the Chronicles that the scholar and I are writing together.
By the way the representation of Shan Ju, Boz and myself are not entirely accurate, the painter Gen Ai said that it was ‘impressionistic’, especially with regard to Boz. Boz was not impressed but he was eventually amused and let Gen keep him room at the tavern.
From ‘A Londoner in Stormhaven ~ The Journal of Khalid Johnstone’
Suddenly, Boz broke out laughing.
“And why is the watcher still here?” He said loudly. Turning towards Shan Ju Boz continued “The show is over, surely the audience should leave.”
The scholar was petrified, quite as though the taverner were a basilisk. Clearly Boz had felt Shan Ju staring at his back and now he was looking directly at him. He felt naked under the taverner’s gaze. And now he was coming over.
Still grinning, Boz pulled up a chair and sat down staring unnervingly at the scholar.
“I understand that you are interested in me Shan Ju Roshi.” There was a certain pleasure in Boz’s voice. Rather like the pleasure of announcing ‘checkmate’ to an opponent. “I am also interested in you.”
About an hour previously ..
It was very late. The lamps had been turned off or turned down, customers had been turned out, guests had gone to their rooms and the only two staff left in the bar room were Boz and Natalie who slept at the Inn. They were exhausted after a particularly trying day and sat drinking in the easy companionship of friends who greatly respected each other. And that’s what they were despite the difference in their ages. Maybe it was tiredness that made Natalie aware that the room’s soft light was brighter than could be accounted for by the lamps that remained lit.
“Sometimes, this place seems to glow.” she said. “It seems to breathe, almost as if it were alive.”
“It is alive” mumbled the taverner. “It’s a QuasiBO.”
“How can it be a crossbow?” puzzled Natalie “And why would you say a crossbow is alive?”
“I didn’t say ‘crossbow’, I said ‘QuasiBO’, that a Quasi Biological Organism.”
“That’s one of your anagrams isn’t it?” chuckled Natalie “Like T-A-V-E-R-N. You’re funny Boz.”
“They’re both ‘acronyms’ Nat. Anagrams are something else” smiled Boz. “TAVERN means ‘Transdimensional Anomaly in the Virtual Extended Reality Nexus’”
“Light save us. You’re a dork Boz!”
“I may have some orc blood.” mused Boz.
The two laughed softly. Perhaps it was an echo but the tavern seemed to laugh also.
Shan Ju had been listening from his shadowed corner, confident that neither Boz nor Natalie knew that they were being watched. He understood little more of what Boz had said than did Natalie, but what he did understand convinced him that there much more strangeness to the taverner than could be accounted for by any alleged possession of ‘orc blood’.
Now Nathalie Moonglow had left for bed. Now the voluminous tavern keeper was looking down at him.
Now the scholar was lost for words.
Boz broke the brief silence. “We’re actually in the same business Watcher. You travel the world watching and I sit here watching. I watch this place.” He looked around taking in the large room.
“And I watch this city. I watch the sea and the people who come across it. I listen to the stories of those who come by sea and by road and by other means.”
Shan Ju thought that the taverner was more than an observer of life. He recognised Boz for what he was, a Man of Knowledge, one whose vision pierces the illusion of reality. A true Seer if you will. Perhaps Boz was even a Sorcerer, one who can shape the appearance of reality.
“Are you, perhaps, a sorcerer?” he asked.
“If I were, I would not call myself that.” replied Boz.
“The things I heard you saying to the girl. You said that this tavern was alive in some way. You spoke of it being a QuasiBO. I’ve never heard the word before.”
“You haven’t heard the word before because I made it up.” Boz grinned.
“You’re playing with me sir.” protested Shan Ju.
“Maybe I am and maybe not.” returned Boz, “But let’s not speak any more about QuasiBOs. Let’s speak instead of dragons. About the Blue Dragon scale in one of your pockets, scholar. The one that fell from Strike’s purse during the fight and that you picked up. Don’t bother denying it. Please.”
The blood left Shan Ju’s face. How could the taverner know this? He’d not even been in the tavern and Shan Ju thought that no one else would have paid attention to the old man bending to pick up the scale.
“I just want to see it.” continued Boz. “The city guards might call it taking evidence from the scene of a crime but I don’t care. You can keep the thing. As I said, I just want to have a look.”
Reluctantly Shan Ju took the scale from his pocket and held it before Boz. It was blue and translucent and it hovered in the air about an inch above the scholar’s hand. It had come from a young dragon. Many would have wanted to hunt and kill such a creature for its scales which were said to have healing properties as well as its more evidently gravity defying attributes. Additionally the scales were reputed to make excellent armour that would offer not only protection but the ability to fly. Boz took the scale from the scholar, turned it around in his hand a few times and then gave it back.
“Now this came from a dragon alright” he said.
“Oh.” said Shan Ju. “Well thank you, thank you so much ..It’s long past time for me to get some sleep. Good night … Taverner.”
“Good night scholar. We’ll talk again later.”
Shan Ju felt Boz’s gaze on his back as he climbed the stairs to his room. Being seen by anyone was unnerving enough for the scholar, but Shan Ju understood that he was not merely being looked at by the taverner, he was being observed.