Ludlow, on the Border of Barovia and Freelands 12757, 11:22 PM 

Mr. Emil Barnes the Raccoon was having a bad day and it was only getting worse, he thought as he climbed the six flights of stairs to his apartment.  He had been 'retired' from diplomacy to the quiet life of a file clerk.  A file clerk of all things!  He had been destined for greater things of course.  He had been a major Freelands diplomat with the full confidence of the Barovian's Prince, Malik.  All he had to do was cover for the Prince's sordid deeds.  It was a worrisome price to pay but he was willing to accept it.  But with the Prince's death at the hands of that damnable Kari, the King had come down with a vengeance on anyone he blamed for allowing his only son's demise.  That turned out to be most of the upper government and half the military officers.  He kept reminding himself that he had been lucky to be in Freelands; to only get demoted to a courthouse in the obscure border town of Ludlow.  All the dignitaries he had known in the Barovian's government had been purged.  Ambassador Ramhorn- gone.  Prime Minister Rathbone- gone.  General Hawkstalon -gone. Even that oily Information Minister Darkheart was gone!  Also the hapless Minister of Education had bought it, although Barnes could not for the life of him figure out why. 

Barnes broke out of his reverie when he reached the top of the stairs.  He stared at his apartment door- something was wrong, although he couldn't put his finger on it.  Barnes cautiously edged along toward his door, his back to the wall.  He drew out a small pistol and unlocked the door, letting it open inwards without going in.  He spun around and faced into the deep darkness of his living room.  Dark and empty.  He took a few cautious steps inside, starting to relax, when he suddenly picked up the smell of cigar smoke!  He spun around and pointed the gun into the space created by the side wall and the open door.  A shadowy figure lurked in that cranny. 

"By God, it's Darkheart!"  Barnes sputtered. 

"Good to see you too Emil." said Darkheart cheerfully, the glowing butt of the cigar clamped in his teeth casting sinister shadows on his face. 

Barnes lowered the gun and just stared at Darkheart. 

"How-how did you escape from Barovia, Silvertongue?" 

"Long story Emil.  Suffice to say I've been on the run for many years now.  By the by, if you ever meet a young Barovian Lieutenant named Greenhorn, do give him my regards.  I had a close scrape with him.  Sorry about sneaking in and everything, old friend, but you can understand my need for keeping out of sight." 

Barnes mutely nodded and pocketed the gun.   He crossed to the door and shut it, then turned on the light, illuminating a small and rather depressing looking grey walled apartment.  He gestured to Darkheart to have a seat. 

"I take it that it was not serendipity that brought you to my door Constantine."  said Barnes dryly "What do you want?" 

Darkheart sat and Barnes did as well. 

"Information." 

"I can't give you anything classified.  I'll get worse than demotion if anyone finds out I've been harboring a fugitive.  Besides, I'm not privy to any big secrets nowadays.  You understand?" 

Barnes poured himself a drink as he said this.  Boy did he ever need one! 

"Perfectly. In fact I don't care who the new Barovian Prime Minister is." 

"Rathbone." 

"We got another?" 

Barnes nodded.  "His eldest son took over." 

"Kids these days",  muttered Darkheart, grinning. 

Barnes sipped his drink thoughtfully. 

"If you don't want government secrets Constantine, then what the hell do you want?" 

"Like I said before Emil, I want information, but not on nations; on individuals." 

Barnes arched an eyebrow in interest, and took another drink. 

"Who did you have in mind?" 

Time to put my ace on the table, Darkheart thought. 

"I'm going after Kari." 

For the first time, Barnes smiled.  It was a mean ugly smile at that. 

"Oh ho ho! So you want revenge against that bitch too!" 

"Who wouldn't blame either of us?  You are in a position here in Ludlow to hear things. To buy and sell information." 

"You want to know where Kari is, don't you?" 

"I know you know you crafty old Raccoon.  You must have spent years gathering your information, plotting you revenge, but you're too timid a Raccoon too much in love with his own life to ever actually pull it off." 

Barnes' face flushed as he knew Silvertongue was right: fundamentally he was coward. 

"Give me the burden of your revenge.  I will assure you that her punishment will be harsh." 

Barnes looked up and silently nodded. 

"Alright Silvertongue, I have found that she is now working in Freedom's Run delivering cargo in some ratty old plane.  But I warn you someone has already sent out some assassins to do her in.  If you're lucky you can get there in time to see her die!" 

Darkheart looked slightly surprised but then nodded with a grim expression on his face. 

"Trust me Emil, I shall not fail." 

Darkheart stubbed out the cigar butt into an ashtray on the table. He watched Barnes get up and shuffle to a shrine containing a miniature statue of the Triad: the three Gods of Barovia.  Shirion, the Vixen Goddess of Truth and Light; Bethesis, the Doe Goddess of Grace and Mercy; and Karthax, the Jaguar God of War and Knowledge.  The statue showed them standing in a circle, facing out, their paws linked.  The People of Barovia took what little solace they had in their lives from praying to these Gods. These Gods were never cruel, never mean, never vindictive, unlike their mortal rulers.   He had received the statue as a gift from Ambassador Ramhorn. 

"Take your Gods with you Constantine"  said Barnes, handing the statue to Darkheart, "And may they guide you on your journey."
 

Part 2: Pushing up the Daisies

Freedoms Run 12757, 10:48 AM 

Jeremy Longwhisker stood up and wiped the sweat from his brow. Wiping his dirty hands on a rag, he surveyed the vast lush greenery that flourished in this greenhouse.  *His* greenhouse as Kari put it, but he couldn't help but wonder if this was some sort of weird dream instead.  He was happiest here, almost like an inner sanctum for him, a place for meditation.  And it was also a way for him to avoid the others on the island. Try as he might he found that his Barovian accent and customs set up apart as the odd Ferret out.  He was painfully shy to begin with, but all those Freelanders with their Dionysian pastimes always frankly scared him.  The small Ferret turned when he heard the characteristic squeak of Muskytail's wheelchair. 

"Pushing up the daisies, kid?"  asked Muskytail jovially. 

Although Jeremy was small, Larry Muskytail's being seated made them almost the same height.  Muskytail was a large round perpetually joking old Skunk,  retired from the Navy due to old war injuries.  Larry saw that Jeremy missed the humor of the joke, as usual.  Someday, he figured, he'd get the kid to laugh. 

"I not grow many daisies here Mr. Muskytail.  But I plant them here if you like." 

Jeremy's totally serious expression almost cracked Larry up, but he suppressed it.  Poor kid, Larry thought, I don't want him to think I'm making fun of him. 

"Sorry Jeremy, it was another attempt at Freelands jokes" 

"They must loose something in translation" observed Jeremy. 

Larry looked impressed. 

"You're a smart kid to pick up on that.  Look I'll try to can the corny humor if you'd prefer." 

"No Mr. Muskytail.  I will get someday." 

Jeremy went back to tending the flowers.  Larry wheeled past. 

"And stop calling me Mr. Muskytail, I'm not you boss anymore." 

"Yes Mr. Muskytail." 

Larry gave up and wheeled to the opposite end of the greenhouse, where the toolshed was.  He went in and found the trowel he was looking for and wheeled back out.  About halfway back to his cabin he saw Kari coming up the hill, her clunky old seaplane docked below looking even worse for wear.  Kari was a very vibrant and pretty Fennec who had experienced a lifetime's worth of pain within the span of a few short years. She was dressed causually and her hair was tied back, as usual.  They met and hugged. 

"Looking good Larry." 

"You too little spitfire.  Good trip?" 

"Yes, it was uneventful." 

"Best kind." 

Kari stood there, wondering how to broach the subject.  Must be about Jeremy, Larry thought, she always gets that sad look when she thinks of that kid. 

As if to read his mind Kari suddenly spoke: 

"How's Jeremy?" 

"He's keeping to himself in the greenhouse." 

Kari looked even sadder at that. 

"He really should get out and play. He should be having fun with kids his own age." 

Larry smiled wryly. 

"He is having fun. Gardening is all he ever wanted to do.  This is much more out of life than he ever hoped for.  Give him time, he'll grow out of his shell eventually." 

Kari nodded and sat on the hill next to Larry, dropping her knapsack as she did. 

"You do have some wisdom after all for a pompous corny old sea dog." 

"And you show some promise for a devil may care hell raising hotshot pilot." 

They both laughed at that.