David Wise - Tales of Ravenloft

"Perhaps His Lordship, the noble Claude Renier, has asked for an accounting of the town's funds," suggested one member. "God help the burgomeister if Richemulot determines the amount spent on his food and spirits!"

The rest of the council laughed, until a door opened and the burgomeister took his seat.

"And what is the source of this merriment, gentlemen? Klaus asked, reproach in his tone of voice. "There is little to be jolly about."

"And why is that?" asked the councilman who had caused the laughter.

"Vermin!" said Klaus.

Another councilman frowned. "Good sir, there is no need to refer to us in that manner!"

"No, no," Klaus corrected. "Vermin, gentlemen! Specifically, rats. They are everywhere. They have overrun this town. One of those diseased, hideous rodents bit me on the hand in my own bed last evening. "To confirm his statement, the burgomeister held up his bandaged thumb.

A councilman nodded in agreement and said," You are correct, sir. I have heard the beasts in my own abode. I haven't had the courage to visit my own wine cellar in weeks. I believe there are scores of them hidden down there."

"But there have always been rats in St. Ronges," stated another civic leader. "Rats exist everywhere. They are impossible to control, impossible to eradicate. We might as well hope to do something about insects."

Klaus weighed the councilman's words, cupped his chin in his hand, and muttered," Perhaps."

Loud words from the rear of the chamber answered him: "Perhaps not."

The entire council turned to see the man who uttered these words. He was tall and handsome, resplendently dressed, and exceedingly arrogant in demeanor.

"Who the devil are you?" the burgomeister demanded.

"I, good sirs," the man answered," am simply a wandering tradesman. My trade is the extermination of pests. It is the trade my family is renowned for. I am a piper of Hamelyn. "In his hand was a crude wooden flute.

The rat sat on her lap and squeaked continuously. Jacqueline Renier found the rodent's tale so amusing she bellowed with laughter. The rat, too, squealed with delight. When she was able to compose herself, she said," That was a very amusing story, my friend. I hope your bite causes the burgomeister's thumb to swell as large as his opinion of himself."

The rat leapt from her lap, ran around in a small circle, and squealed once more.

Jacqueline pondered for a moment, then said," Yes, I think I will go to town, but not with you, my little friend. I shall remain in my present form. My grandfather will arrive in St. Ronges within the hour. He plans a surprise visit to that odious burgomeister and his council of cretins. I want to hear all about it from him."

The beautiful young woman stood up and smoothed the wrinkles that had formed in her gown. Then she headed for the city square. "Go, my friend, go dine on more of the burgomeister's menu of cheeses. . unless you prefer his appendages, that is!"

The rat bolted into a sewer as she headed off, amused at her own wicked sense of humor.

"Permit me to understand you correctly," Klaus said. "You are stating that you are the famed Piper of Hamelyn?"

The council members snickered, and one said," And I am Lloth, Queen of the Spiders. "The comment drew laughter from his colleagues.

"No, sir," the piper corrected. "You are merely a presumptuous boor."

Flustered, the insulted councilman turned to Klaus. "We must throw the scoundrel out, sir. How dare this rogue insult a member of the council!"

"Oh, settle down, Werner!" the burgomeister said in response. Then he turned to the piper. "Speak. Do you claim to be the Piper of Hamelyn?"

The man smiled. "I claim to be — and in fact I am — a piper of Hamelyn, blessed with the same abilities as my brethren. Like them, I possess the knowledge of magical airs and hypnotic ditties, which I am wondrously able to perform on this instrument."

Interested, Klaus asked. "So there are many pipers about? "

"Only a very few with the talent of enchantment."

"And how is it that you arrive here in St. Ronges at this particular time, when we are indeed in need of an expert exterminator of filthy rodents?"

The piper stepped toward the council. "Perhaps we should attribute it to a fortunate turn of the Wheel of Fortune, good sirs. For you and for me."

The burgomeister and the councilmen whispered among themselves while the piper relaxed and gazed around the council chamber, noticing the marvelous carpentry of the furniture, the beautifully detailed if garish design of the stained glass windows, and the finely crafted goblets the men were drinking from.

But the piper grew impatient with the men. "Sirs, if you do not wish my services, you merely have to inform me of that fact. There are, I am quite certain, many burgs not very far away that would gladly welcome me." He let his pipe slip into a small leather compartment on his belt. "But it is a shame. I assure you I could have rid you of every single rat within a ten-mile radius of this town square. My talent is infallible, my musical charms quite overwhelming."

"You are a braggart, young man," Klaus retorted. He turned briefly to the council members, then faced the piper again. "But no one hates rodents more than I. I want to see them gone. They have given the town of St. Ronges an air of decrepitude that I don't want it to have. Particularly since His Lordship of Richemulot, the noble Claude Renier, will be visiting us anon."

"Perhaps a demonstration of my musical prowess will help you decide whether to employ me or not," the piper suggested.

The burgomeister scanned the faces of the council members. They all seemed interested. "Yes. I think that is an excellent suggestion. Councilman Dragova mentioned the rats in his wine cellar before. Why don't we go there and put your alleged powers to the test?"

The piper bowed flamboyantly. "I am at your service."

Klaus and his council stood up, and they and the piper headed out the door. But two guards, both heavily armed, blocked their path.

"What is the meaning of this?" Klaus demanded angrily.

The guards separated, and Claude Renier stepped between them.

"I am," Renier said, smiling. "My itinerary has changed, Klaus, my friend. I trust my early arrival will not inconvenience you?"

Nervously, Klaus answered," Er. . no, Your Lordship."

"You and your fellows seem headed on an important mission," Renier continued. "I would love to accompany you. So rarely do I get to see one of my town councils in action. What is the nature of your mission?"

Klaus tugged at his collar in order to loosen it and wondered how to explain where they were headed. "I'm afraid it's rather mundane, milord."

"Speak, man!"

"If I may be so bold, Your Lordship," the piper interjected. "The citizens of this good town are having a rodent problem. I was about to demonstrate my technique of extermination."

His Lordship smiled. "Oh. Rats, eh? And this is a major problem, is it Klaus? "

"I'm afraid it is. They will take over if we do nothing."

"Will they?" Renier laughed. "Will a rat rule Richemulot someday? Who knows? In any event, I would very much like to see this young man's demonstration, so I will accompany you. Please, lead on."

"A-As you order, Y-Your Lordship," Klaus stuttered, and the group of men set off toward Councilman Dragova's home.

As they walked through the streets, a beautiful young woman, unseen by the group, wondered where her grandfather, the Lord of Richemulot, might be headed with such a sorry group of men. She resolved that she would follow them, but would do so in secret.

All of the men, including Claude Renier, assembled at one end of Dragova's rather extensive wine cellar. Lighting yet another candle, Dragova himself pointed at several partially emptied bottles of port and cried," Look. The foul beasts have eaten through the corks, damn them. "