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.Gustin struggled to his feet, rubbing one shoulder."Ah, well," he said in his usual cheerful tones, "at least they didn't hit me over the head."He wiped the smears of mud and blood on his hands against the back of his tunic.Sophraea tutted at this, pulling a clean handkerchief out of her pocket.With years of practice from cleaning up Leaplow, she dabbed at the scrapes on Gustin's face and hands.A trio of burly Watchmen thumped up to them."Saers," one commanded."Lay down your weapons."He seemed a bit disconcerted to find only the ancient and verywell-known Lord Adarbrent leaning negligently upon his cane, a small young woman with ruffled curls clutching a wicker basket, and a tall, thin young man picking up a large rain cape."We heard an affray," began the one Watchman in stentorian accents."Nothing of importance," said Lord Adarbrent, looking down his nose."Actually," began Sophraea, ready to report Stunk's servants to the City Watch.Lord Adarbrent turned and gave her a stern look."Nothing of importance," he repeated to the City Watch."I am simply bidding good-bye to these two young friends, who will now go straight home.""If you say so, my lord," said an older Watchman, who gave one of those shrugs that said so clearly "We know you are lying and you know we know, but what can you do in Waterdeep?""I appreciate, as always, the City Watch's discretion," Lord Adarbrent bowed and retreated up the steps to his door, which swung quickly open at his approach.It closed just as definitely behind him."High adventure and dark dearlings, just like the book promised," chuckled Gustin as he slipped his wand back into his sleeve.He tucked his hand around Sophraea's elbow and guided her away from the Watch.The three men stood stiff and silent, watching the wizard and the girl walk away."Even a duel in an open street with a nobleman and timely intervention by the City Watch.""High adventure? That was just a street brawl.My brothers spent most of their youth with my cousins in just such fights.Leaplow still battles with everyone he can find," said Sophraea, momentarily distracted from her wrathful muttering about impolite things that should have happened to Stunk's men.She considered telling her brothers and cousins.Declaring war on Stunk's menhad considerable appeal—Leaplow would love it! She bit back the thought.If she did such a thing, she would never hear the end of it from her mother."And dark what? What was that word you used?" she continued as the wizard's earlier statement finally sank into her mind."Dearlings," replied the lanky wizard."Isn't that the local term for a sweetheart?""Of course not.I have never heard such a thing in my life.Where did you hear it?" Sophraea snapped, still cranky that she couldn't have all of Stunk's servants locked up in some dungeon deep beneath the castle or pounded in the head by some of the younger Carver males."I read it.In my guidebook to Waterdeep.See!" exclaimed Gustin reaching inside his tunic and pulling out a small book.The cover was stained leather, sloppily stitched onto the pages, obviously replacing a much older cover that had been torn off and lost long ago.A crude map of Waterdeep, printed in faded inks of brown, green, and blue, unfolded from the back."This must be older than Volponia," said Sophraea, taking the book from him and frowning at the creased and crumpled page."This map is all wrong.This street, for example, doesn't run into this alley.There's a building there.A big storehouse.""What's a storehouse or two?" Gustin asked as he retrieved his book, folded the map correctly so it lay flat inside the back cover, and gently turned the pages to the beginning."There are wonderful descriptions in here.Essays on all sorts of marvels.And see, right here at the beginning, it promises 'high adventure and dark dearlings' to any who come to Waterdeep."Sophraea stopped in the middle of the pavement to lean over Gustin's arm and read the line that his long finger ttaced for her."I'm sure that was a mistake.Some printer's error," she said, shaking her head."There's no such thing as dark dearlings.""Oh, I don't know," said Gustin with a funny little smile
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