Soon the aura disappeared from Balon. “I had to do that just to make sure,” he said.
“What do you mean?” Massacharamar asked.
“I am sure that I am a lawful magic-user,” he explained. “However, I have been tempted to cross to the chaotic side. Then I had commanded that orc and he obeyed, I wanted to make sure I was not falling victim to turn evil. If that aura had been yellow, I would have no choic but to leave.”
“Why leave?” Bard asked.
“I would not want to cause harm to fall on any of you,” the magic user said quietly. Without saying anymore, he walked over to the next pool that had a liquid that had different shades of green. The image showed a lion drinking from it. Then all of a sudden it yawned greatly and laid it head in its paws and went to sleep. “A pool of sleep.”
“Does anybody have a fishing pole?” George asked. In the next pool, trout and bass were swimming around. No image appeared when Balon waved his wand. I guess this is how the orcs survived in here, by eating fish.
Steam was coming from the next pool. They went over to investigate. “Ice,” said Britt “dry ice. Do not touch it. It is so cold that it will burn you.”
“I think we are going to be rich,” George said looking at the bottom of the final pool. Looking down into the clear water, the bottom of the pool was covered with gold coins.
Balon smiled, “I do not need my wand to tell what this one is.” He reached his arm into the pool and as soon as the surface of the water was touched, the image disappeared.
“Oh shoot,” said George, disappointed “Another illusion, just like the one in Joban’s chamber.”
Balon walked over to the west wall of the pool room and looked at it. It was bare except for some rune markings on it.
“I think there may be a secret door,” he called. In less than a minute they were standing in a small but quaint room. It too had the perfectly layered floor in ceramic tile, forming a beautiful checkerboard pattern of reds, browns and black, just like the pool room.
“I wonder who stayed in this one,” Johanna said, looking at the simple bed, chairs, desk and table. They had no worth, since they were commonly made and were worn.
Massacharamar walked over to a painting that was hanging on the wall over the bed. A strong warrior, wearing plate armor, was wielding a sword. “If this actually is Stephan,” she said, “he is very handsome.”
Standing next to the warrior in the picture was a magic-user wearing purple robes. Power was coming out of his fingers. “He too looks very impressive,” Balon said. He looked closely at the painting, “What does that say?” There was writing in the lower left corner.
“Of that is written in the elfin language,” Massacharamar said. “It says:

‘To Luten
Advisor
Counselor
Friend.’”

Underneath, in the common language, Stephan and Joban’s names were signed.
George looked at the gold frame surrounding the painting. “I bet this could sell for at least three-hundred gold pieces. However, I think it would will be too heavy to carry back to Antares.”
“We will leave that up to the elders,” Britt said. “I never heard of this Luten fellow. I wonder what he advised them on.”
Johanna walked over to the desk and picked up the book. Opening the book, she said, “I think I know.” She pointed to a page with a drawing on in. It was of a room that they had already explored. There were notes of what supplies were needed for the construction, how long it would take and how many laborers were needed to complete the room on time. Different pages showed similar drawings of other rooms.
“He must have been the major planner of this fortress,” Bard said, looking through the pages. “However, there is nothing about the lower lever.”
“Maybe that never got done,” Massacharamar said. “What are you doing, George?” she asked as he pulled out his lockpicking kit.
“I just wonder what is so important that the desk drawer had to be locked.”
“Be careful,” Britt warned. “You remember what happened before.”
“This one is safe,” George said. “I already checked I dismantled the trap.”
“Was it the pin one again?” Bard asked.
“No. It more or less was a harmless one, something like my laughing gas prank. However, if it was set off, we probably would have left the room quickly, holding our noses.”
“What was it?” Britt asked
“A gas one. You know what happens after we eat too many beans.”
“George!” Britt barked out laughing. “I am so glad you dismantled that trap! If that gas is anything like your bean episodes, we would not be able to come back into this room for at least four hours!”
George grinned, evilly. “Pay back, Britt if I find any laughing gas in this drawer.”
He finished skillfully using his kit and had the drawer open. “Maybe I might be in luck,” he said holding up a bottle, filled with a clear liquid. He handed the bottle to Balon. “You are the expert in this.”
“This is a potion of levitation.”
“It there anything else?” Bard asked.
“Yes and they may be worth something. He held up a gold necklace and a ring.
“Let me see the ring, for a second,” Balon said. George handed it to him. “This is a ring of protection.”
“Just like the one Joban had,” Johanna commented.
What is that you are holding, George?” Britt asked. “Something you are going to pocket?”
“No. I actually do not know what it is. Though the gems might be worth something.”
“That is a moonstone, Johanna said, looking at the stone with the blue gems embedded in it.
“What are they used for?” Bard asked.
“These are magical gemstones. Do you see how it shimmers with different light when you rotate it one way or another. They are used for different purposes. Sometimes they are used to predict weather. Some woman use them to become fertile. Farmers use them to bring an excellent harvest. However, I think this one was used as a dream stone. By turning it where you get the right color, you can have beautiful visions at night.” She handed George the moonstone. “I think you should have this,” she said. “You were tossing and turning last night, maybe you need a good dream.”
“Thank you,” he said quietly. He was not shocked that she was generous with this find. Everybody, was kind and generous. What surprised him was that Johanna was not off the mark. He had that dream about Shyla again. She kept calling out to him during slep. He would think he would find her. But then it would turn into a dead end. “It is dark in here, George! Please help me!” Everytime he thought he was in reach, Shyla was no where to be found.
The dream he had last night was worse. She let out a blood curdling scream. Then she was silent. “Shyla!” he yelled to her. “Where are you!” However, there was nothing but silence.
He woke up sobbing in his blanket, thankful that nobody was awake to witness his weakness.

Chapter Twelve
May We Dance?

“Is this Stephan’s’s chamber?” Bard asked, looking around the circular room.
“If it is,” said Britt, “he rather liked to live a simple life than like royalty.” Still this is a nice room.”
The had taken left the pool room and went back down the corridor where they had encountered the orc. Then they followed the next one to the west. At the end was a room that was different from the others they had so far explored on the upper level. First the walls of the room were curved. Second, the walls were covered in tephan strips of finished pine wood.
George ran his hand over one of the strips, “I like this. While, it is simple and nothing fancy about it, I think it is very beautiful.”
“Yes, I think this is Stephan’s chamber,” Johanna said, studying a tapestry in on of the corners of the room. Measuring approximately seven feet wide and nine feet high, it showed a dragon with green, blue and red scales. A warrior had thrust a sword into its belly.
“Did tephan actually kill a dragon?” George asked with his eyes wide opened. “Then he looked at the dragon again. “Is it me or does that dragon look like it is only three feet long.”
“There are dragons,” Britt said. “However, they are not the large monsters, people tell stories about. Three feet is actually large for a dragon.”
“Why do people fear them?” Bard asked.
“Because of their fire breath. Did you ever wonder why Antares is a town that is made of stone?”
“I never thought of it,” Bard asked.
“Fire does not burn down stone. Antares was built that way to protect its residents.”
Johanna spoke, “Different dragons have different types of breath. Some breath wind, some ice and I even saw a horde of dragons destroy a village with water.
Now it was Britt’s turn to be surprised. “I did not know that,” he said.
“If dragons are so small, why do people fear them?” George asked.
“Because they are like bees, they swarm. Luckily for us, they only travel in groups of two or three.”
“I have never seen a dragon,” said Massacharamar.
“They usually keep to themselves,” Britt answered. It is said that they are a dying breed. It is rumored that fewer that a hundred still exist. They usually attack if they are provoked. They are not necessarily evil.”
The second tapestry showed a battle in a mountain pass. “This must be the barbarian invasion,” balon said. He ran his finers over the colorful threads showing the great detail. “This is very beautiful work. Whoever, did this put a lot of time and effort into this.
“Hello,” said George, doing a wolf-whistle. “Who is this?” He was standing in front of a third tapestry.
“She is beautiful,” said Massacharamar. The picure showed a woman and warrior standing by a lake, holding hands. The wind was tossing her blond hair. She had a look of love and admiration of her face. The warrior was smiling, happily.
“I would not think of Stephan having a wife or even a mistress in his life,” Bard said. “Maybe he was not a self-centered as we thought him to be.”

“Look at this!” exclaimed Bard. They had left Stephan’s personal chamber and walked down a short hallway. They were standing in a large open area that had a floor made of smoot slate. At each corner of this room were four marble columns. However, this was not what had attracted his attention. At one end, sitting on a stone platform, stood two large chairs made of red granite.
“I say,” said George, “they must have actually thought they were rulers! I wonder which one was the queen and which was the king.”
He went to one of the thrones and sat on it. “I am the king!” he called. “Britt, you are my queen!”
“Keep dreaming, son,” Britt growled. However, he walked over to the empty throne and sat on it. They kept an eye on the other.

Johanna and Bard walked around. “Do you think this was used as a ballroom?” she asked.
“I have no idea,” the warrior answered. “I have never been to a ball before, let alone dance.”
“Me neither,” said Johanna. “I mean I never have been to a ball, but I know some dances. Here, I will show you a few simple ones.”
“Shall we dance,” ask Bard.
After a few minutes, he learned a few simple steps. Soon they were dancing around the room, keeping step to unheard music.

Britt and George watched and Bard and Johanna were twirling around the ballroom.
“He is a fast learner,” George said. “Maybe I can teach him how to thieve.”
“With that big and clumsy body of his, he could not scale a wall,” Britt gruffed. He would get a few feet, then he would fall to the ground!” He barked out laughing. They watched in silence for a few minutes, then he leaned towards the thief. “How long do you give them?” he whispered.