Dutton Hobbs Comes Calling
Javair stood before the huge mirror he had leaned against the wall in his bedroom...a rubble strewn room right off of the feasting hall. He pulled the hat from his head and rubbed his hand with his left hand. The wrinkles amazed him the most. It seemed like he had just started his adventuring days...back on the Island of Crunal. In truth, those early days were fifteen years passed and a thousand miles away. In those days Javair had sought to record history...to be present when important people performed important acts, and then write amazing tales about it. Javair smiled at how much things had changed. Now he was making history...driving political forces...and shaping a new kingdom from an ancient ruined one.
You re getting old. The voice from behind Javair was deep and perfectly clear.
Javair spun around from the mirror and drew his sword half-way from his scabbard while taking two quick steps in the direction of the unexpected intruder sitting on Javair s bed. Who are you...a thief...a burglar...an assassin? Explain yourself!
The man pulled his gray hood back and revealed a face familiar to Javair. Shouldn t a student recognize his mentor...shouldn t the debtor recognize his generous benefactor? What has the world come to?
Javair slammed his sword back into its scabbard and extended his hand. Dutton Hobbs! My joy in seeing you again is only slightly tempered by the fact that visitors to the Keep keep sneaking up on me lately. First Jack Skull and now you! All the same, it is good to see you!
Dutton stood up and clasped Javair s hand tightly. Its no wonder so many people are sneaking up on you...with your hair graying, and your hearing going...your an old man! Plus, you ve filled the Azure Keep with all manner of folk...an army of people and creatures. It reminds me when Senaca was king. I only snuck up on you for old time s sake. Don t you remember the first time I visited you in Haven? Crept in during the night and scared you right good! That s when I loaned you my harp....
Loaned! HA! You gave me this harp! Of course I remember each of your visits to me. You taught me quite a lot about playing for a crowd, and the history of Kempin. And you helped me save Vikos from the clutches of Alcald VanDrunan. I haven t seen you in quite awhile....
Dutton plopped down in an overstuffed chair up against the wall, and put one leg up over the arm of the chair. I ve been busy. Working off my debt to VanDrunan. Can t spend all of eternity playing old dusty songs for long-forgotten dead...now can I? Just recently finished up...and good old Alcald freed me to do as I please. From what I hear, Alcald is already recruiting a replacement for me! Of course, I was freed too late to avoid an angry visit from King Senaca. Seems a certain young...well, not so young...bard friend of mine told King Senaca exactly where to find me...Gellhorn! I owe you for that, you ungrateful whelp! Dutton laughed. Five Hundred years had not tempered the good King s anger one bit. Clearly his anger is righteous and correct, but that didn t make facing him any easier.
Javair sat on the corner of the bed, an embarrassed look on his face. When I entered the Azure Keep, the King came at me...thinking I was you. The only way to prevent him from attacking me was to convince him I wasn t you...and to tell him where you were. I hope he didn t hurt you...he was very angry!
No...no. In truth its good that he found me and that we talked. I was able to give his spirit peace...and convinced him to...well, to move on. Though he forgave me, I fear that the gods will still make me pay for what I did to him...and his family. Well, enough of that...I see you have practically made yourself king! Very bold, and very unlike you. What happened to that songwriter/historian I took under my wing all those years ago?
Javair smiled. I got tired of just watching events unfold. I decided it was time to take some control of the world around me. Perhaps it was all the stories you told me about the Azure Kingdom, but when I came here for the first time...it felt like home. The Goblin Queen still calls me Dutton Hobbs, though I ve told her a hundred times I prefer Javair. She will be thrilled to see you, Dutton.
Dutton drew a flask from his breast pocket and took a swig from it. Well, I can t stay long. I ll of course chat with Merrick a bit, and play a song or two...but no one must know who I am. Its best that the dead stay dead, and that legends stay legends. Tell people I m your student if you wish. I mainly came to fill you in on information that King Senaca told me before passing on to his rightful reward. I promised him that I would give you the information personally.
Javair was frowning. Why can' t you stay long? You only just got here...and you said yourself you no longer owe VanDrunan anything....
Senaca and I talked for quite a bit...and I wanted so bad to help him move on from this world...move on to whatever was to be next for him. In the process, I think I convinced myself! Why I ve been hanging around, an old ghost for so long...I m just not sure. Dead is dead. I freed myself from VanDrunan not to live...but to finally die. Its time to pass the torch, once and for all. I no longer recognize the world, and it no longer recognizes me! But enough of dark topics, Javair. I have news to impart...and then we must feast and play and sing all the night long....
For details on what Dutton Hobbs tells Javair, read:
The Introduction to Mensa s Cameo s Armies of Doom,
The Introduction to the Elders He Who Guards the Key
The Introduction to Vikos and Javir at the Storm Gates
The World of Kempin or Vikos and Javair
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