Losing a staff to gain a sword

I do not know if the monks intentionally betrayed us, or if Khaml merely reached too many interested ears while he sought us. Master Chen seemed genuinely interested in aquiring the staff for himself, and I believe his offer was legitimate. But the swiftness with which troubled followed was suspicious.

Polimius had hidden the staff on his person with magic, in fear that Chen would attempt to take it by force, but the bigger danger proved to be the Lord Prefect's troops, including former ally, the treacherous Sister Cordwainer, who had leared of our meeting with Chen and arrived to arrest us and the the staff for themselves. We of course were unwilling to go so easily.

True to form, Polimius vanished from sight and that was the last I saw of him. It seemed a good play to spirit the staff from danger. I am left to wonder what went wrong. Velis broke a window and flew out looking for an escape. We were too high on a cliff to descend safely, though that didn't stop Chen or Khamal who both took that route to freedom.

Ravik and I descended out the window to the next level. There we quickly ran into resistance. A few warriors and a spellcaster where soon joined by a shining knight, demanding our surrender. Knowing we would receive no fair treatment at the Prefect's hand, we fought on, even as Sister Cordwainer came to help. The knight was a formidable foe, and luckily Ravik was able to disarm
him. He became more and more angered when I retrieved his sword and used it against him. Declaring that I was not righteous enough to use the weapon, he thought me fool enough to return it. Though my swordwork is rusty, and I much prefer the easier balance of a staff to a longsword I would have to be mad to return such a weapon to my opponent. Without his weapon, he was not much of a threat. But things quickly turned for the worse. Ravik had advanced so we had the knight between us at our mercy, but Sister Cordwainer's spell rendered him helpless, still as a statue, and another of her warriors cut the poor man down.

It was then I realized my dire predicament, and noticed that Velis flew at the window aiding the battle as she could with her bow. Ordering us to surrender one last time, the knight knocking his sword from my arms, but catching Velis's eye we both saw a better plan. Scooping the sword back up, I fled the enraged knight, ran to the window and grabbed Velis who flew us off to safety.

She told me she'd seen griffons flying off with a man-shaped bundle. We could only guess it was Polimius, probably with the staff being taken to the Prefect's Justice, and turned ourselves to follow, desperate to overtake them in time. With luck, I have lost only one friend today.

I have always been rather indifferent to the Lord Prefect's teachings. But I learned today that I had obviously misunderstood some of them. When she first betrayed us, we left her and her large paramour alive; former comrades at least deserved that. But now she returns with murderous intent. Rest assured, Sister, that I will not forget what you have taught me about mercy.