Deals and Dangers

by Kay L. Ling

  Eneff shouted in triumph, and Ben, Oliver, and Xenon thumped him on the back.

  “Gems preserve us, who is that fellow?” Jarren asked.

  “An Outcast named Eneff. He’s with me, and so are the breghlin,” Kaff said. “The two carts of supplies are a couple miles west of here, near a recent battle site. We left them there so they wouldn’t fall into enemy hands.”

  “There was another battle?”

  Kaff hated to describe what he’d found. “Militia from Morodin’s clan attacked Outcast forces. I think they were badly outnumbered. We found a lot of fallen militia but not many breghlin. Morodin was among the dead.”

  Jarren’s lips twisted in anger. “We will avenge him . . . and the others.”

  A terrible cry rose from the front lines, putting an end to the conversation. Kaff couldn’t see what was happening at first. Then he glimpsed something that made his jaw drop. Where had it come from? If it wasn’t an illusion, someone had created it a few minutes ago. He would have seen it when they were on the hilltop. No one could hide something this big.

  Someone shouted, “Immobilize it!”

  Someone else shouted, “I tried!”

  Militia troops scrambled out of the way. They had never seen anything like this . . . but Kaff had. A head from a monster just like this hung on the wall in S’s suite.

  “Brontskeller!” Ben shouted. He and the other breghlin raced off. Eneff, hampered by his bad leg, shouted helplessly after them, “Are you out of your minds? How do you fight something like that?”

  Good question, Kaff thought. The brontskeller was about three feet tall, four feet wide, had a shell like armor, a long barbed tail, and jaws that could bite through a small tree. After S’s defeat, four of them had climbed out of Elantoth’s moat and gone on a rampage. Elias, Jules, and several breghlin had finally killed them all. Kaff had heard the story more than once, and Ben had a scar on his leg where one the creatures had bitten him.

  How had this monster gotten across the trench? Had the gem master created it over here after crossing through the trench? Would there be more of them? Kaff couldn’t see far with so many troops in the way, but there would be warning shouts if more creatures appeared.

  Jarren, Kaff, and Eneff went off to support anyone brave enough to attack the monster, and Kaff followed. Threading their way through until they came to an opening, they finally had a better view. The brontskeller was snapping its powerful jaws and sweeping its tail in a wide swath. The overburdened gem masters had enough problems without this, Kaff thought grimly.

  “Flee or die!” the creature bellowed in a surprisingly gnome-like voice.

  Kaff gasped. It could talk! Was it a sentient being like a pythanium or was it a breghlin or Outcast transformed by gem powers? Either way, it was intelligent, and that would make it much more difficult to kill it.

  Someone shouted, “They’re immobilizing our troops.”

  Jarren took off running. Someone needed to free them or Outcasts would make short work of them if the brontskeller didn’t first.

  More and more of the enemy were pouring into militia territory, forcing those in the front lines to defend themselves while staying clear of the brontskeller.

  “Come on, we’ve got to help,” Eneff said desperately, grabbing Kaff’s arm.

  “You’re injured. Do what you can from here.”

  “How can I help when I can’t see what’s happening?”

  He had a point, but it would be dangerous to force their way to the front lines. “I can make us invisible,” Kaff said, “but I can’t fight breghlin, think up gem power attacks, and keep us invisible all at once.”

  “Just make us invisible. I’ll deal with the rest.”

  “All right.” Kaff soon regretted it. This was insanity. How would they stay together with everyone fighting all around them? They would have to dodge around combatants. Everywhere he looked, armed breghlin were charging toward militia members, engaging them in hand-to-hand combat.

  Kaff lost count of how many times he and Eneff were nearly skewered or beheaded. Once, Eneff saw an Outcast about to kill a gnome with a spear and knifed him in the back.

  “One less,” he said over the shouts of battle.

  Kaff hadn’t stopped to think about it, but what if the other side had an invisibility gem and were also fighting unseen?

  A few feet away, a breghlin stumbled and fell, clutching his ribs, his tunic soaked with blood. The attacking militia member swung his sword at the next approaching opponent. Kaff and Eneff dodged around them and almost stumbled over a gnome covered in welts who fell right in front of them.

  “This way,” Eneff said, heading toward an opening among the combatants.

  Partway there, pain burst through Kaff’s body. Every nerve seemed to be on fire. He stumbled to a halt, clutching his head. It felt as if it might explode. Eneff stopped, too, gasping for breath. Kaff struggled to maintain the invisibility field, but it was hard to concentrate on anything but the pain. Around him, others were moaning, and not just gnomes. Breghlin were affected, too. There had to be a gem master close by, projecting pain in a radius, not skillful enough to target only gnomes.

  “It’s him,” Eneff gasped, pointing. “He’s doing it.”

  The Outcast Eneff indicated was so deformed he could pass for a breghlin. The brute drew his sword, dashed forward, and attacked the nearest gnome. Crippled by pain, the gnome was all but defenseless. The Outcast laughed as he killed him, then moved on and killed two more.

  “Got to stop him,” Kaff said through gritted teeth. “Stay close.”

  The pain made Kaff lightheaded. If he moved too fast he’d pass out, and if he lost control of the invisibility field, they’d be the next targets.

  The Outcast killed three more gnomes before Kaff finally plunged a dagger into his back. Kaff’s pain disappeared as the Outcast dropped to the ground.

  Eneff inspected the body, making sure the Outcast was dead before they moved on. “Good job,” he told Kaff. “I wish we could kill every Outcast gem master.”

  That would make all the difference in the world, Kaff thought, pressing onward.

  There was a shocking number of fallen gnomes, and many had ravilor welts. There were only a few dead breghlin and no dead Outcasts except the one he’d killed. Some Outcast gem masters might have stayed on the other side of the trench, supporting their forces from a safe distance. That would explain why none had been killed.

  When Kaff and Eneff finally neared the brontskeller, they found militia members dragging away six mangled gnomes who had tried to fight the creature. Kaff had heard enough stories about this monster to know that despite its size and weight it was surprisingly nimble. Oliver, Xenon, and Ben were eyeing the monster warily, looking for the best way to attack.

  “Run and save yourselves,” the monster taunted. “Your swords and spears are useless against my shell.”

  Oliver raised his spear and moved stealthily forward, coming in along the creature’s side, behind the head. The monster must have sensed he was there. It swung its head around, hissing like a snake.

  The brontskeller’s long neck gave it a dangerous amount of reach. It grabbed Oliver’s spear in its powerful jaws and broke it like a twig. Oliver leapt aside, and other attackers came up from behind, only to be swept off their feet by the monster’s tail and lashed with its barbs.

  “Even if I didn’t have a bad leg, I wouldn’t attack that thing,” Eneff said.

  Kaff had to agree. The skin on its head and legs looked like petrified wood, and the shell looked hard enough to blunt most swords. The shell’s closely spaced ridges glistened in the sunlight like knives, and judging by the blood on the ridges, the creature had rammed into several previous attackers.

  A gnome armed with a sword ran up and tried to slash one of the monster’s legs. The brontskeller turned and whipped its tail at him. The gnome barely got out of the way in time.

  “Several should attack at once,” someone from behind Kaff cried. “Th
at’s the only way to defeat it.”

  “Tell that to the last six who tried,” the brontskeller mocked. “They’re dead.”

  “I wish I still had the transformation gem,” Kaff muttered. “Whatever this thing is, I’d try to turn it back.”

  “They may have used a spell to prevent that, and even if you succeeded, they’d just make another,” Eneff said.

  Several militia members started forward, Oliver, Ben, and Xenon, among them, but after advancing a few steps, they stopped, frozen in place.

  The brontskeller gave a gleeful laugh and charged.

  Kaff’s heart raced. They were immobilized, and he couldn’t free them. He didn’t have the right gem. What could he do? There was no time!

  The brontskeller slammed into Oliver and two gnomes, knocking them down. With so much momentum, it kept going, and the underside of its shell raked over them, mangling them as it had the gnomes Kaff had seen earlier.

  “No!” Kaff shouted, tears stinging his eyes. “Oliver!”

  Blood pooled around the bodies. Kaff wanted to run to Oliver, but there was no point, he realized bitterly. Oliver was dead. No one could help him now.

  The brontskeller turned toward the next group of immobilized gnomes.

  “Not this time,” Eneff growled from behind Kaff.

  The air shimmered, and an energy wave slammed into the brontskeller, blasting not only the monster but several would-be attackers who flew through the air like wind-tossed leaves. One was Ben. He landed and rolled, grabbed his fallen spear, and got to his feet with remarkable speed.

  The brontskeller seemed dazed. It swung its head from side to side, blinking its eyes.

  Ben charged. He was almost within striking distance when the monster noticed him. It turned to lash him with its tail. Its speed and coordination were off due to the blast, but even so, it struck Ben in the chest. Ben kept going, clearly in pain, and with a cry like a wild animal, plunged the spear into the gap between the creature’s upper and lower shells.

  The monster bellowed and turned, and Ben lost his grasp on the embedded spear.

  “You’ll pay for that,” the monster vowed. “I’ll make sure you die a slow, painful death.” It whipped its tail at Ben and struck him in the ribs. Blood seeped through new gashes in Ben’s tunic.

  If Ben hoped to finish the creature off, he had to pull the spear from its body and attack again, but the monster turned, making sure he couldn’t reach it. “You’re an annoying little insect, and I have your stinger now,” it taunted.

  Ben drew a knife from his sash—Morodin’s knife, Kaff realized, and drove it into the space between the shells, over and over, howling in rage. In the monster’s weakened state, the small knife was more effective than Kaff expected. The brontskeller gave a final shriek and collapsed. Ben retrieved the spear and drove it into the creature with all his might. The brontskeller thrashed its tail weakly, and then its head dropped to the ground and its sightless eyes stared across the battlefield.

  Ben retreated, his tunic soaked with blood. He had only gone a few steps when he stumbled and almost fell. Xenon ran forward and caught him.

  Kaff looked around. He had been so busy watching the brontskeller he hadn’t seen what was going on elsewhere. The ground was littered with bodies—mostly gnomes. Someone had dragged Oliver away and laid him with the others who had died fighting the brontskeller. Not far away, Jarren lay face up, impaled with a spear. No wonder he hadn’t been able to help.

  “We’re leaving,” Kaff said with quiet determination. “The battle is lost. These regiments will be coming to Elantoth. We have to warn Tyla. Poor Oliver. I hate to leave him here, but we have to.”

  “Ben needs healing gems or we’ll lose him, too,” Eneff said as they hurried toward Ben and Xenon.

  Kaff extended the invisibility field, and was grateful that no one shouted in alarm when Ben and Xenon disappeared.

  “Ben be hurt bad,” Xenon said.

  “I be okay,” Ben said weakly. “Has ter be. Tina Ann say she make me sorry if I gets myself killed.”

  Xenon snorted. “How she gonna do that?”

  “Dunno,” said Ben, “but this be Tina Ann we talkin’ about. She fin’ a way.”

  Chapter 66

  Needing to lighten the carts so they could travel quickly, Kaff and Eneff abandoned most of the provisions and transferred their remaining infused strength to the maraku. Ben was in no condition to drive, and Xenon wanted to take care of him while they traveled, so Eneff drove one cart and Kaff the other.

  They traveled all night, their lightgem lanterns illuminating the windy roads, and they encountered no one along the way. When they reached Elantoth early the next morning, Kaff was exhausted, but the sight of Elantoth’s stone walls gave him new energy. He wished he had good news for Tyla, but all his news was disheartening. Outcast gem masters were more skillful than he had thought, pythanium were accompanying three regiments to Elantoth, and more regiments might be coming as well. Elantoth was in great danger, and there was little time to prepare.

  Kaff parked the cart near the barn and got out. Where was everyone? Normally, breghlin came to greet travelers and tend the maraku. Weren’t they anxious to hear what had happened?

  Xenon helped Ben out of the cart.

  “Something’s wrong,” Eneff said, looking around. “No one came to meet us, and there’s no one outside working.”

  “Maybe they’re all in a meeting.” It was the only excuse Kaff could think of. “I’ll take Ben inside and clean his wounds. Could you look around the barns?”

  “Sure,” Eneff said. “If I don’t find anyone, I’ll unhitch the maraku and give them water.”

  “I help you,” Xenon volunteered.

  “Meet us in the infirmary when you’re done,” Kaff said.

  His uneasiness grew when he and Ben entered the fortress. Where were the door guards? He listened for distant voices or any sounds. Everything was still.

  “Sure be quiet ‘round here,” Ben said.

  Their footsteps echoed as they walked to the infirmary. If there was a meeting, everyone might be in the former throne room. He’d take care of Ben, and once Eneff and Xenon returned, they would go investigate.

  He had just finished applying ointment and bandaging Ben’s wounds when he heard the sound of approaching footsteps. Eneff and Xenon walked in. Their long faces told Kaff all he needed to know.

  “You didn’t find anyone,” Kaff said.

  Eneff looked worried. “No. There’s no one around. Xenon took our bedrolls up to the loft. Everyone’s bedrolls and clean clothes are gone.”

  “That’s odd.” Kaff’s theory that everyone was in a meeting crumbled. “What about the animals? Were they in the barn?”

  “No, they’re gone, too.”

  “This gets stranger by the minute. I can’t imagine why Tyla would take the animals off the property. Ben, rest a while. We’ll have a look around and come back for you.”

  “No way,” Ben said, getting off the cot. “I ern’t that bad off. I be comin’ too.”

  They all went to the throne room. No one was there. “Where next?” Kaff asked.

  “The kitchen,” Ben suggested. “Somebody always be there.”

  But not today. Kaff looked around in dismay. There was no food, no pot of raaka on the corrustone. Even the wretched filkin was gone.

  “Something terrible must have happened!” Kaff said with growing alarm. “Where could everyone be?”

  Ben and Xenon exchanged frightened glances.

  “If a disaster struck Elantoth, we’d see evidence,” Eneff said. “Let’s see if anyone’s in the library.”

  The library was deserted too, and the place was a mess. Books and scrolls lay scattered across the tables, and there were books on the floor. Everyone who used the library had great respect for these books, many of which were irreplaceable. Was there a chance Emanicus gnomes had gotten in here? They might be looking for certain rare books.

  “Do you think Emanicus gnome
s did this?” Kaff asked Eneff.

  “I don’t think so. If they’d been here, we’d find bodies on the floor, not just books.”

  That was probably true. “Let’s see if the gems are still in the office.”

  The office door was closed. Kaff opened it slowly. The room was in disarray. Storage cabinet doors were open, and the cabinet was empty—someone had taken the gem trays. The spell book, which usually sat on the cabinet, was gone too. Kaff went inside in case Tyla had left a note on the desk.

  “She didn’t leave a note,” Kaff said, returning to the others. “If the staff fled for some reason, we shouldn’t be here.”

  “Mebbe Franklin know where they be,” Xenon said.

  Kaff nodded thoughtfully. Franklin was a frequent visitor and a trusted friend. He might know something about the staff’s mysterious disappearance. “Let’s pay him a visit.”

  When they neared Franklin’s cabin, Kaff saw the zek lying on the porch. Bounder raised his head and looked around, then leapt off the porch and came to meet them.

  “You’re back!” Bounder said. “Did you stop the Outcast forces?”

  “No. They’re a day’s march from here,” Eneff said. “Elantoth is deserted. Do you know where everyone went?”

  “They’re safe. Franklin will explain.”

  Some of the tension eased from Kaff’s body. No one would be safe for long with the enemy coming, but for now, everyone was all right.

  Franklin came out onto the porch, looking as if he hadn’t slept in days. His hair was a mess, and there were dark circles under his eyes. “Welcome back. I assume you’ve been to Elantoth.”

  “Yes, where is everyone?” Kaff asked.

  “They evacuated. Tyla, Arenia, and Olissa have moved into the nearest tree, about a mile from here, so they could be near Elantoth. They took Zeetha with them. Parcune and Amos are here with me, tending animals. Everyone else went back to their clans.”

  “I can see why Tyla wanted her group near the fortress, but they’re outside the wards,” Kaff said.