The death of Rabin at the hands of demons has shaken the party. Anandar decides that it would be prudent for them to have a forward scout and moves away from his companions a mile or so ahead, giving him the opportunity to study the black broadsword in greater detail. Jeran and Elric meet with an Eren (human) smuggler from Grayhawk who agrees to lead them to Baldur. His name is Cornelius Sula. Sula tells them that he was shipwrecked two years earlier and has made a living on Malangor as a wagoneer.
Fearing further interventions by demonic sources Jeran and Elric follow Sula through the sleepy lanes of the Great Plains. They spot a large black wolf following them - Jeran's telepathy is unable to pick the thoughts out of an animals mind - but he is aware that it possesses a peculiar intelligence. Cornelius Sula approaches the creature and is surprised as the wolf speaks to him. It warns them that others track their steps and is gone again into the night with little explanation as to why it should come to their aid. As they move on they are certain that the wolf tracks them.
Later that day, in separate incidents, Jeran and Elric sense archers waiting for them in concealed places. Elric shoots one and Jeran the other - both dead bowman are Asharok soldiers.
Several days later they come upon a sickening sight. A local farmer has been hanged from a large oak tree that sits directly in their path. They stretch their senses out to guard themselves from ambush but find only an old woman being taunted by several youths
.
Jeran and Cornelius chase them off and the woman is extremely grateful. Jeran
can sense that there is a distinct familiarity between the old woman's mind
and that of the strange black wolf. She eats supper gratefully offering them
startling information for their trouble."The demon queen, Sithlaen," she says, "has despatched a man called Menrak to get the book that you carry. He is known as the Minister of Death in Asharok and is feared by men and demon alike. You should know that the tome that you carry is so powerful it acts like a beacon to any sorcerer within two hundred leagues. You should put some thought to concealing the effects of that power for your trail is easy to find."
The old woman departs and that night Jeran, who now carries the book, studies it for clues as to the problem of it's overwhelming beacon-like power. After several hours he manages to shroud himself in a mental fortress (a Marraq telepathic ability that acts like a mental shield) and discovers that by extending this skill slightly he is able to block the effects of the tome.
Next day Cornelius leads the party into the South Malan Fair. It is an area containing hundreds of tents with a population that fluctuates between hundreds and thousands, depending on how good trade is at that time. Heavily patrolled by the Malan army the Fair is an ideal location to trade or rest or to pick up information. Jeran's mind sweeps the place and he feels one particularly powerful presence within. He fears it to be Menrak but decides that it would be safer to be within the confines of the Fair than without. Within the hour, whilst Cornelius is selling the contents of his wagon, they meet Menrak. He is tall, powerfully built and has an impressive greatsword on his back. His ordinary face possesses dark, evil eyes and he exchanges insults with Jeran before departing.
An hour after leaving the Fair, in a small wooded area, they spot Menrak in their path. Jeran and Elric immediately pull out their bows and launch arrows at the Asharok but are dismayed as he calmly steps aside. Jeran launches a mind attack upon Menrak but the Asharok's mind is too powerful and withstands the assault easily. Jeran, Elric and Cornelius draw weapons and run at the man. They are unprepared for the ferocity of Menrak's blade work and although they press a three-to-one advantage the Asharok swordsman pushes them back on the defensive. From nowhere the black wolf enters the fray, biting at the Asharok's legs. Unperturbed, Menrak sidesteps the howling creature and slices through Elric's ribcage with a vicious sweep. As the bounty hunter clutches his shattered side Menrak decapitates him with a single deadly stroke. The wolf is next to die and Jeran begins to fear for his life as Menrak gains the upper hand. Desperately Jeran attacks once more with his mind and the Asharok swordsman decides to leave the battle to nurse several bad cuts by vanishing into the ground and disappearing. Jeran stares at Cornelius in despair, then he stares at the carnage around him….