Early the next morning, Darius came downstairs for breakfast. He sat down at a small table in the dining room, and a waiter came up to him; he'd been the bartender last night.

"Good morning, sir, I trust you slept well?"

"Yes, George, thank you. I say, this room is new, isn't it? I don't remember a dining room the last time I was here. Well, you served meals of course, but that was in the tavern proper. And nothing so fancy. This is nice."

"I'm glad you like it. Cost a good deal, but not as much as I would've expected. Never could've done it, before Frank Numbercrunch took me on as a client. That fellow Tom, you were talking with last night, recommended him to me. Very good financial planner. The dining room was his idea, actually, and he figured out how to do it."

"I see. Perhaps one day I will think of hiring him, myself."

"You should. Your menu, sir?" he said, proffering it.

"Thanks. And please don't call me 'sir.'"

"Of course. It's just, Frank suggested I be more courteous toward my clientele. I've rather gotten into the habit of it."

"Mmm. But we're friends, aren't we?"

"I'd like to think so. Little as I see of you 'round here."

"Well, I like to see the world. And if I didn't, I couldn't let you know how favorably your establishment compares to most I stay in, in my travels. Anyway... this menu looks very good. Hire a real cook, did you?"

George shook his head. "Marie took lessons."

"Good, good. Another of Frank's ideas, I suppose. Well, I'm hungry. I think I'll have a large breakfast. Toast, eggs, sausages, pancakes, hashcakes, ha'cit juice, coffee. Something nice and continental."

"I'm sorry, but a continental breakfast is spare, not large.”

"Is it? Are you sure? I always thought it was big and fancy."

"Well, I don't know. I hadn't even heard of the word until I started making plans with Frank last year. But he says it means a light breakfast, say toast and coffee. And he reads the dictionary alot. I'm always looking things up when I talk with him; got so I bring my own pocket dictionary along. And it says he's right."

"Hmmm. I think perhaps I've embarrassed myself in more than one inn, then. And probably unwittingly spread about some misinformation to a few acquaintances. But, I mean, it sounds like it'd be big and fancy, doesn't it?"

"To me."

"And me. Actually, I wonder where it even comes from? Is it a subphrase?"

"Yes, I do believe it comes from Earth..."

Just then, Tom wandered into the room, and sat down opposite Darius. "Morning," he said.

"You stay here, last night?" asked Darius.

"Got a room here, bought it few years back, when I first moved to the village. Had it made up special, eh, George?"

"Yes, sir. Even has its own W.C. Someday I'd like to put them in every room, but for now, there are just his, Marie's and mine, and the public ones upstairs and downstairs."

"Hmmm." There was something tugging at the corners of Darius's thoughts, and he tried to pin it down. "Ah... you did say last night that you'd moved here. To Plist, I mean. But somehow, I guess I got the idea that you were new around here. That perhaps you hadn't been in this tavern before. I'm trying to think why that was..."

"He likes to feel like he's still movin' around," said George. "So sometimes he acts like he is, and don't know nobody. And he has his friends act like that too. For example, he has me tell him the price of things most times, when he already knows the prices fine."

"I see," said Darius. "Like when you told him the price of his liquor, last night."

"Exactly," said Tom. "If you're done with your menu, could I have a look at it?"

"Sure."

George said, "Of course he knows everything on it, and I know what he'll probably order."

After a minute, Tom looked up, handed the menu to George, and said, "Fried eggs over-easy on wheat toast, and an extra strong cup of coffee, black, three sugars."

"Yes, sir. I'll be back shortly with both your orders."

He left, and Darius said, "I say, you do look surprisingly good, for someone who got 'right good and drunk' last night."

"But pretty lousy for someone who didn't, I expect. Anyway, it ain't so hard, when you're used to it. Now about this Tiejo kid. You really planning on helping him? I'm still not convinced he knows any prisoners of war."

"You never know. He might. Even if he doesn't, we're bound to have some sort of adventure trying to help him."

"If you say so. But I don't see how this really helps your plans of raising a rebellion." Tom didn't bother to glance about or lower his voice before saying this. Anyone who'd lived a halfway adventurous life (and was still alive and at liberty) would naturally be in the habit of noticing his surroundings at all times, without seeming to notice. If anyone was around to have heard their conversation, Tom and Darius would both be well aware of it, and not speak so openly. At the moment, they were the only two in the dining room.

"If he does have a master, he may turn out, as Tiejo says, to be a valuable member of the group. And along the way, in the course of the adventure, whether there is someone to be rescued or not, we'll certainly meet various folks who we might talk to about joining the group. That's pretty much all we can do to start the group, anyway, is go around talking to people. Or so I reckon."

"So, how's this Chaos thing going to work, anyway? You got some big plan like the Order's?"

"Nope. But that's an orderly thing, anyway, having a plan. Chaos isn't about planning, so if it's going to work, it'll just have to do so in its own way."

"If you say so. So where do we start?"

"I think we'll talk with Tiejo about that, next time we see him. Do you think he'll come back here soon?"

"Oh, probably, if he remembers we agreed to help him."

"So, for now we go about our normal business. Spend evenings in the tavern, and wait for the streetrat to find us."

At about third seven of the clock, Tiejo slid into the third seat at Darius and Tom's table. "Greetings and chaos," he said. "The Chaos still does live?"

"I'm still with you two, if that's what you mean," said Tom. "And we're planning on helping you. But we're waiting for you to tell us what this little rescue mission of yours entails."

Tiejo was now staring at the Band on stage, and his head was swaying. To look at his eyes, you'd think he was mesmerized, unaware of anything else around him. But he murmured, "Yes, help, good. Must to thank good kind adventurers. Pretty music, yes?"

"Very pretty," said Darius. "I've occasionally seen them perform in other villages, but not for a couple of years now. Last time I saw them, they were four. The Elf girl's new."

"Yeah, joined 'em last year," said Tom.

"You know them? I've never had a chance to talk with them."

"Well, you should meet them tonight. Come to think of it, maybe they'd be interested in this Chaos of yours."

"A traveling minstrel band?"

"Yeah. The Band. They intend that name as a double entendre, of sorts. A band of minstrels, and a band of adventurers. Well, except the lead singer. He's pretty much only around for the performances, not usually even for practice. The rest of them always complain about that. But he does a good job."

"Indeed."

"Near Port," said Tiejo.

"What's that?" asked Darius.

"Prisoner is my master, in Near Port."

"Great. I've never been inside the old Northern Alliance. How about you, Tom?"

"Last time was early in the Coming. Never been to Near Port at all."

"I don't suppose you've been there, Tiejo?"

"Tiejo, yes. I have been. Wandered for a time with master, I did. Not much, then he was captured. I wasn't there, he was captured. Bad, should have been there, but running an errand I was, returned too late. Then, alone, wandered I did, help so as to search for. No luck had I. Settled in Plist, home it was where master first did find me, during Coming. Still ask all for help, no one will. Till good Lonewander."

"I see."

"I believe the Band may've been there. I'm not sure," said Tom.

"Well, we'll have to ask them. When do they get finished?"

"Oh... another sixty centhours or so, I should think. Then we can ask them to sit with us and talk awhile."

"We'll need a bigger table."

"No problem. We could even get to a more private room. Perhaps George could join us, we could use his study."

"George has a study?"

"Yet another of good old Frank's ideas. Not directly profitable, but a man needs a place to be alone in peace, to think, relax. Settle the nerves. Makes him more effective when he's workin'. See?"

"Very wise. My father had a study, very important to him."

"I'll go ask him about it."

"His name's Darius Lonewander. Darius, these are Alecstar Inco, Cameron Piper, Ginger Protestant, Tino, and Emma Pseud."

"Pleased to meet you all. And Tom forgot to mention Tiejo Streetrat, here."

"Good pretty music, yes. Like the Band, I do. Will join Chaos, help save my master?"

"We'll talk about that in the other room, Tiejo," said Darius. "Emma... I was wondering, what's that instrument you were playing, besides the mandolin?"

"An Elven instrument, a duré. You like it?"

"Yes. You play it well. As Tiejo says, you all make very good pretty music."

"Yeah," said Tom. "Now, friends, I suggest we adjourn to George's study."

"Yeah, well, I gotta split, kids," said Tino.

"What a surprise," said Ginger with jocular sarcasm. "I don't suppose you'll be joining us in whatever Tom and his friends are planning?"

"I dunno, maybe. Where you headed?"

"I'd rather not say, in the open," said Darius. "But of course there'll be numerous stops between here and our ultimate destination. And other places to go after that, anyway...."

"Right, well, I'll catch you all later. Ginj can fill me in, when things are settled." He gave Ginger a quick kiss, then stepped back, said "See ya," to the group at large, turned, and left.

The others headed to the bar. "Ready, then?" asked George. He came around, popped his head in the doorway to the kitchen, and shouted to his wife to take over the bar. She came out and took up his vacated position. Everyone followed him into the study.

"Nice," said Darius.

"Yeah, that Frank's full of good ideas. Tom says your dad had a study. Better than this old thing, I suppose."

"A bit. Not much. This is definitely very nice. Roomy. Do alot of secret mission planning in here?"

"No," he said with a grin, "but I could, I guess. Happy to let you use it for such. I hope it suffices."

"More than, I'm sure. Now, everyone find a seat."

There were plenty of seats, and comfortable they were. Two good-size couches, as well, and a large table in the center of the room, with plenty of room to walk around it. There was a desk at the back of the room, with a bookcase to one side; George went to sit behind the desk. Tiejo sat on the floor in a corner by the door; Darius stood beside the table. Everyone else seated themselves on couches or chairs.

"First, I'd like to introduce myself again, and then have everyone here reintroduce themselves as well. My name is Darius Lonewander, originally from Triscot. My clan opposed the Plan in 903; they were all killed, except my Uncle West, who was in Tanq. Since the Order was established, I've been wandering, adventuring. But now... well, I'll get to now later."

He stopped talking, and waited for the others to begin. "George Taverner. Inherited this place in 905, when my dad died. Married two years later. Um... that's about it. I've no great love for the Order, but I'm not an adventurer."

"Tom. Born 862, in Tonad. Wandered most of my life, learning lots of different talents from lots of different masters. I've had a few adventures in my day, made some money. Now I live off interest- heh, at least banks are good for something, I'll give the Order that. Probably wouldn't need it though, if the Order didn't exist. Anyway, spend most of my time now getting drunk."

"Alecstar Inco, originally from Tanq, though my family were among the settlers of Kimrin when I was young. For the most part, my past is my own, and I don't want to discuss it. But I've had a few adventures on my own, and do still, but with the Band here, now. Drummer. Definitely don't like the Order."

"Cameron Piper, ex-Sorreter; adept. Adventurer. Fife-player, songwriter."

"Ex-Sorreter?" asked Darius. "Don't suppose you know where the Protestant Sorreters dis-"

"Can't say," said Cameron, "if I know or not. Don't ask."

"Fair enough."

"Ginger Protestant, daughter of Therman. Singer, lyrist, spirit-talker, adventurer."

"Therman, huh? I'm impressed."

"You should be. I wonder, might I know of your family?"

"My father was Adam of Triscot." Alecstar looked up, at that name, and several expressions vied for play on his face. Old memories, and a sudden realization about Darius.... But this lasted the briefest of moments before he controlled it. No one seemed to have noticed, much to his relief. He said nothing.

"Ah. I'm impressed as well," said Ginger.

"You should be."

"Emma Pseud, songwriter, mandolin-player, duré-player, adventurer. Elf in self-exile. Like the rest of us, I don't care for the Order, and I think my people were on the wrong side in the war."

"Good. Um... Pseud, that's not Elven, is it?"

"I changed it when I left. Do you need to know my clan's proper name?"

"Not if you don't want to tell me."

"Good. Maybe someday."

"Now... is that everyone? Oh... Tiejo?" He turned to the streetrat sitting in the corner. Tom sighed.

"What? Oh, introduce? Yes. Tiejo call myself Streetrat, everyone does. Yes. Plist born in, have friends, Streetrats. Once met adventurer, good, brave. Opposed Order, he did, and imprison him they did. My master for a short time he was. Wandered with him a bit I did, but not there was I when they captured him. I know he is in Near Port."

"What's his name?" asked Alecstar.

"Secret, you know when we rescue him."

"Why's that?"

Tiejo grinned impossibly wide. "Hmmm. Ah, is as for... hmmm. How is it actors, writers all would say? Hmmm. Ah, anyway, believe me you wouldn't if I told you. But when you see the truth, you know is true. Yes... ahhh, dramatic effect."

Tiejo was finished, and no one else spoke for a time, so Darius went into his speech. "Now, I've been thinking for awhile that I'd like to start a group, a rebellion, to oppose the Order, and put things back the way they were. I wanted to have a name for it, first, and last night, I got that name. Tom here unwittingly supplied it for me. I'm calling it the Chaos. The way things used to be, that was the Old Chaos, and this group, the Chaos, will help bring about the New Chaos, when the Order falls."

"Now, let's be clear, here," said Ginger. "When you say you want to get rid of the Order, I suppose you mean the Second Order?"

"Well, yes, I guess so. Not that I have any great love for the First Order; I'm a Protestant, myself. But after all, I'm sure not all of them are evil. I don't think it's such a bad thing to have more than one religion in the world. In fact, maybe we should get a few more to supplement the Order, Protestants, and Independents. But I don't want to get rid of the First Order. Yes, the Second Order. Then again, it might be well to retain a few of its changes. The World Fair isn't such a bad thing, for example. And banks, as Tom pointed out. Still... for the most part..."

"Agreed," said Alecstar. "I'm in."

"I assume," said Cameron, looking with a slightly concerned expression at Alecstar while he asked Darius, "that our first mission would be to rescue Tiejo's master in Near Port?"

Alecstar looked to Darius at that, his own expression quite troubled. "Oh?"

"Well, yes," said Darius.

"Hmmm," said Alecstar.

"See, he doesn't like to go to the Northern Alliance," explained Ginger. "Won't tell any of us why."

"Well..." said Alecstar, "as long as we don't have to go to Kimrin, I guess I could go. But I don't like it."

"Very well," said Darius. "We'll avoid Kimrin. So... any questions? Suggestions? Anything?"

"So what route will we be taking?" asked Emma.

"We can vote on that of course, but I'd rather like to get to Triscot along the way. So I imagine we'd be going through Tonad, Shipsister, and Tanq first. But if anyone would prefer to hire a ship at Shipsister- or at Ship, if you prefer to head there- to take us straight to Near Port..." Darius shrugged.

"I don't mind doing it your way," said Ginger, "but then, Triscot is another place Star doesn't much like."

"Well, if we're going North anyway, we might as well go to Triscot," said Alecstar with a sigh. "Whatever."

No one else said anything, so it was decided. "Very well," said Darius. "I think it's time then to consider provisions."

"I'm sure all we'll need is the standard sort of stuff," said Tom. "We're all adventurers here, we know what that entails."

"When was the last time you adventured?" asked Darius.

"I dunno. 902, maybe."

"There are probably some new things you'll not have used, then. Perhaps we should pick up a few magical items. Flying carpets, t-mail bubble travel-packs, that sort of thing."

"Oh. Okay, yeah. I use t-mail, of course, when I have to. Never flown before, on a carpet or anything. Prefer to walk. Or take a wagon or coach between villages."

"I really think it would be good for you to learn to fly a carpet. Or a recliner, or something. Much faster. Unless maybe Cameron wants to just translocate us?"

The ex-Sorreter shook his head. "Takes too much power to translocate someone besides yourself. The seven of us, that'd be quite impossible, at least all at once; and in case of emergency, there probably wouldn't be time for multiple trips. Then too, you have to have been where you're going before, be familiar with the spatial coordinates, and I've never been to Near Port. I could get myself to Triscot, but then I'd just have to wait for you all to catch up. And perhaps more importantly than any of this, magic- particularly strong magic like translocation- can leave traces behind, which take even more magic to cover. Our arrival could be detected by enemy Sorreters."

"I see. And then," added Darius, "adventuring's just more fun and exciting, and a lot more happens, if you travel normally."

"Feh. You call flying 'normal.' That's magic too, I'll remind you."

"Yes, Tom, but it's a subtler sort of magic, and we'd still be traveling in real space."

"If you say so."

"I do," said Darius. Emma took out a notepad and pen, and started jotting something down. Darius glanced at her for a moment, then continued, "Starting tomorrow, Tom will get flying lessons. I'm sure we'll spend plenty of time on the ground, too, but I definitely must insist we're all capable of quicker and more convenient methods of travel. Anything else?"

Everyone thought a bit, then shook their heads. "Good. Then we'll all get some sleep and make preparations in the morning."

"Uh, we're actually booked to perform here through the month," said Ginger.

"Oh, don't worry about that," said George. "It'll probably be at least a few days before you're all ready to go anyway. In the meantime, you can still perform nights. And if you're ready before the month is up, you may feel free to leave. My nephew's always asking me if his band can play here. I'm sure I could get them anytime as a short-notice replacement."

"Thank you," said Alecstar. "That is much appreciated."

"Yeah, thanks," said Ginger.

"Yes," said Darius. "I guess that's it, then. Goodnight."

"Night!" said Tiejo, jumping up. "Yes, good." And he opened the door and exited. The others followed.

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