Deal with the Duke

JP with Winteroak and LucianNepreen
Tarmen shrugged.
“Straight from the mans mouth. He was sure of it. He figured it was to an artifact of great value to Fang. Something that could out pressure on their leaders.”

The Duke nodded. "What sort of artifact?" He asked his curiosity now peaked and his mind running to see how this opportunity could be used to their advantage.

“The way he had heard, it is a hammer. He himself had only found this revelation a few days before I arrived. Don’t know much else other than its supposed importance. That’s part of why I thought it was a fool’s errand.”
He wondered if he should pay a visit to the Friar after this, cover his tracks with an actual visit and maybe a bribe for this alleged prior meeting.

"A Hammer you say? Of importance to the Odonine." He pondered the significance of such an artifact to the current alliance but for the future between the two powers. Maybe if he had something to leverage against Koshnem of the time came. Maybe there was another use for the man from Kru'll. He was still no sure how honest the man was being but for the moment he decide he continue the line of enquiry.
"And the map shows where this Hammer is, you've been told?" He asked as a page entered the Great Hall hurriedly.

The man paused deeply to the Duke in apologies for the interruption and handed him a note. The Duke read the letter and his eyes widen and a grin spread across his face.

"Leave us..." He told the messenger. "Something important has happened that needs my urgent attention. Take whatever notes you need from the carvings. Find me that Hammer. If you bring it back and it is what you believe it to be you will rewarded handsomely." He told a stunned Tarmen who simply nodded dumbstruck. He got to work. Later when he was finished he would leave the Keep going to find Alexis in her land. Rumours were spreading like wildfire through the town. Arbiter Voah Sahnsuur had been declared an heretic. An Apostate.

Tarmen was quick to sketch the bone, still disturbed by the sudden compliance and that impish grin. He could swear he was a spitting image of the creature and it brought actual chills to him.
He had to see the benefit of whatever news had come to the Duke, as it had allowed a rather interesting success in his mission.
Finished with the bone, he remained in his room for a time, both pondering the Duke’s good nature; never a good thing, as well as a few more details for the expedition he had signed himself up for.
When he left for the Hare that evening, he had an odd pit in his gut. Even with his blade he couldn’t shake it, leaving him on edge as he sat towards the back of the pub and waited for Alexis.