Misteline's towering genius does not take long to decide to whom he will turn for assistance after reading Silas' letter. He chuckles to himself as he thinks of the hot-blooded Rufus; wonder what trouble the best blade of Takshendal has gotten into since their return? Impetous lad that Rufus… By the Light, is it a year already…
Rufus' landlord informs Misteline that the Castelopean is not in and that he looked grim as he went out, and a few coins soon loosens the busy bag's tongue.
It seems as if things did not go quite as planned for RUFUS. Upon his return to TAKSHENDAL he was ambushed. Walking down a quiet street one winter's day he sensed something was wrong, but before he could react, he was shot in the back from an upstairs window. Several ruffians then burst forth and set upon him but RUFUS managed to keep them at bay with his rapier and parrying dagger until local militia guards came to his help. RUFUS spent the next several weeks in bed with a fever, tended by DOCTOR CINDER on the behest of ADRIANA ARABELLA WORMPOLE. It was Februrus before RUFUS was able to walk again and the landlord suspects his fighting abilities had suffered considerably as a result of the wound he had sustained. He cursed and railed at the unseen enemy who had dealt him such a low blow but soon his anger turned to resolve and two months hence he began to hunt for his assailants.
Misteline thanks the good Burgher and sets out to find Rufus, not a hard task as his demeanor alone has put the fear of the Gods in those he met, street vendors, hawkers and beggars all remember the short but fearsome and determined man with fire in his eyes walking past, and soon Misteline spots the Castelopean. A much-changed man with white knuckles gripping his sword hilt; his agile and graceful step, ever moving as a dancer has turned to a limp, the quick, agile movements blunted by pain and the confident and challenging stare now has a touch of paranoia and pain in it, a pain deeper than anything physical. While his hard eyes search every window and cranny for an ambush, yet, not recognising Misteline even as his eyes, at once distant and sharp, passes him.
Misteline calls out and Rufus half draws before he realises who is facing him and greets him, eyes still distant. And distant they stay while Misteline relates his need for a strong sword arm and the fortunes of Silas and himself, even news of The Black Rock seems to not face him and it seems to Misteline that his trusty friend was starting to turn him down as suddenly his eyes turns sharp and he murmurs something before smiling coldly, "Overmore you say? Our old companion Silas, that cold-blooded cutthroat, has trouble in Overmore? Misteline, my old friend, I shall be glad to accompany you and again to thwart those nefarious cultists, and bask in the light of your intellect, artistry and skill. When do you plan to leave?"
Misteline's hearing is not as it once was, but he is certain Rufus murmured something along the lines of, "Overmore mmmm mmm coward puta mmmm mm mmmm mmmm that me mmm mmm I can mmm him."
