Summary - 6/03
Cathena and Eric set off to Mr. Castle's shop, finding it with little problem. Once they entered Castle & Son Archival Experts & Map Makers, they found Mr. Castle in the middle of a huge mess. It seems that during the last week, several archivist shops had been vandalized. Not much appeared to be missing, but the entire shop was a disaster area.

Cathena and Eric made sure that Mr. Castle was well and were both heartened and dismayed to hear that Mr. Castle's son was due back from Avalon that very day. Quickly, Cathena briefly explained what she thought was happening with Duke Anjou's men seeking the book. She urged Mr. Castle to meet his son at the boat, just to be sure of his safety. After a bit of thought, Cathena urged Eric to go with him while she visited a number of other archivist shops, discreetly asking about the book there and making small purchases along the way. Hopefully to draw off any watchers.

Eric reluctantly agreed and she spent a nervous afternoon going from shop to shop, purchasing paper, ink, quills and commissioning a copy of Bucca's history, charter and a map of Bucca. Not to mention some of the other odds and ends that a new ambassador to Avalon would need. She looked to see if she was being followed but saw no one.

Arriving home near dinner time, Cathena spends time with Don Luis, speaking to him and playing chess. Though he does seem better, he still seems to be a mere shadow of the man he so recently was. She manages to avoid all talk of Javier so she does not have to deceive her father again. Soon after dinner, Don Luis drifts off to sleep and Cathena returns to the kitchen.

While in the kitchen, Rosa and she speak. Rosa has heard nothing of Mr. Castle nor of Eric. Just then, there is a pounding at the back door. Hidden knife in hand, Cathena answers it and is surprised to see Eric standing there - who promptly collapses into her arms from exhaustion. Once she gets him inside and makes sure that he is unharmed, Cathena demands an explanation while Rosa feeds him.

Eric did accompany Mr. Castle to the dock to meet his son, Frank. While there, father and son spoke as Eric stood guard. Once Frank discovered what the problem was, he revealed that he was carrying the two books - the original and the copy - in his bag. He handed them over to Eric right away. Eric had then escorted the two men back to the shop for their safety - and with good reason.

On the way, they were set upon by street thugs who demanded Frank's bag. It was clear that they had not seen the exchange at the docks. Eric stepped forth to proclaim their innocence and to protect the two scholars. There was quite the fight with Eric being slightly wounded and at least one of the thugs being seriously wounded. The thugs got the bag away from Frank and ran off. Eric finished escorting the men to their shop and paid them handsomely for their troubles before returning to the Rivera home.

However, on the way back, Eric spotted a tail. It seemed that this one was a native by the way he was able to keep up with Eric and all of his dodging techniques. So, finally, Eric sprinted as fast as he could, half way across Bucca, to the Rivera home, completely exhausting himself. Thus, the most dramatic entrance. He apologized with Cathena for frightening her with a kiss and the two books.

Cathena wrapped the two books up separately, hiding the copy in the kitchen and the original in the living room. She voiced the thought of using the original to get Javier back while keeping the copy, heading to Avalon with it and getting another copy of it made there to send back to Bucca. Eric agrees, grimly believing that the kidnappers would be contacting them very soon. But, all they can do for the moment is rest up and wait.

Summary - 6/04
The next morning Rosa finds a note pinned to the back door. It states, "If you want Javier alive bring the book to the Drunken Duck tavern at noon today, no tricks!" She immediately takes the note to Cathena and Eric who begin to plan what to do about this. There is no doubt that Cathena is willing to hand over the original book to get her brother back safe and sound.

Cathena decides to see if she can get a couple of allies to slip into the Drunken Duck before mid-day, just in case something goes wrong. Eric insists on being the one to take the book to the tavern. She agrees, arms herself and heads out to the docks to find former shipmates from the Sassy Lass and the Just Rewards.

Speaking to only those she really trusts, Cathena finds three men and one woman willing to slip into the tavern and to back her up if needed. They all understand that this will be very dangerous because of having to deal with Duke Anjou's men. Not only that, Javier's life is on the line and he is the most important thing in this whole mess. No matter what else happens, he needs to survive this.

It is almost exactly noon as she walks into the tavern. The place seems rather busy and the staff are rushing around to fill orders. Every table is full but a man with hooded cloak at a table in the corner waves her over. Making her way through the tavern she is surprised to see not only the four crewmates she recruited, but several other former shipmates at some of the tables. None of them give her a second glance or say hello as she approaches the cloaked man.

When the cloaked man pulls back his hood, Cathena is shocked to see Pierre, Duke Anjou's psychotic nephew. As she sits at the table, the two adversaries face off in mutual loathing. There is a bit of a stand off as Cathena and Pierre both demand what they wish first - the book for Pierre and Javier for Cathena. Pierre gestures to behind Cathena, where she can see Javier sitting with two big men. Javier is pale and barely conscious but alive.

Cathena breaks the stand off by stating that she is going to stand and walk to her brother while the book will be delivered to Pierre. She will not take no for an answer and calls Pierre's bluff. Much to his annoyance, Pierre is forced to restrain himself for the moment. He wants to book more than he wants to kill Cathena.

Eric delivers the book to Pierre while Cathena goes to collect her brother. However, as expected, the betrayal does come. As soon as Pierre confirms he has the book, he orders his men to kill Eric, Cathena and Javier as he flees out the back of the tavern with his treasure in hand. Fortunately, they have allies in the tavern, many more than Cathena first expected. Instead of it being four heavily armed men facing a man, a woman and a half-conscious, injured man, it was a dozen heavily armed former crewmates against the four hired thugs.

Cathena, Eric and Javier leave before it got too ugly for words. Hailing a cab, the three of them are able to safely return to the Rivera household where they tuck Javier in bed and check on Don Luis who was looking better every day. Don Luis and Cathena speak together and she was able to tell him that Javier was doing well now without feeling guilty.

After her talk with her father. Cathena and Eric discussed whether or not they should go after Duke Anjou and Pierre to get the book back. At first, they wonder if the lack of pursuing will tip off the Montaignes that something is wrong. Then, ponder the idea of letting Pierre believe that Cathena and Eric are dead or too injured to follow. Finally, they decided to just let it, and Pierre, go. It is better to for Pierre to believe he has won. It is more important that Duke Anjou believe he has won. Also, It is time for them to move on with their own lives without having to worry about Duke Anjou's nefarious plans.

That is exactly what everyone does. ... For the moment.

Plot Wrap-Up

Thus ends the first adventure in the Adventures of Cathena and Eric.