by Bill Mays
With a heavy sigh, Tark continued on to the open gate where a single portly man sat in a hovering chair. Light security, the gladiator thought to himself.
“State your names and your business truthfully and you may enter, but be aware that the dome cancels all spells that pass through it. You can reactivate them on the other side if you like.”
The round little man wore a floppy hat that all but covered his eyes from sight and more jewelry than any woman Tark had ever seen. Rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces all rattled noisily as he held up his palm and a small book appeared there open to a blank page and ready to be written in.
Herrin led the way. “I go by Herrin and Herrin alone these days,” she offered curtly. As she spoke, her words appeared in a silvery writing on the blank page.
“And what is your business?” The floating man prompted.
“Research,” she replied with a half-smile.
The man tilted his head, “Very well, madam, I hope you enjoy your visit. You may pass.” The sage shuffled through the dome and stopped to wait on the others just on the inside of the wall. As she stepped through the transparent bubble, it rippled slightly. “Next!” The portly man called loudly, even though they stood right before him.
The fairy flitted up to within inches of the man’s face. “This is fun! Do you get a lot of visitors?”
The round little man wiggled his chubby finger in front of the girl, sending his jewelry to rattling again. “All information obtained about visitors is strictly confidential.”
“Oh, alright,” she grinned back sheepishly. “I’m Nivit, I’m a sun fairy and I really like your magic book. I’m here on a special journey with Herrin to help Tark learn of his destiny.” The girl chirped excitedly. As she spoke, a silvery writing again appeared on the page.
“Enter and enjoy your stay, miss,” the portly man nodded.
At about that time a flash of light and a high-pitched squeak signaled Ado’s attempt to slip into the city unnoticed. The spark had not only thrown him to the ground, but cancelled his invisibility, too. Both of the huge statue guardians shifted. Three eyes glowed on each face as the heads turned to look at the gremlin.
“Sir, please follow the rules or I will be forced to ask you to leave Talwen at once!” The round man spat with annoyance.
The gremlin looked terrified as he struggled to his feet. His red eyes were glued to the huge statues glaring down at him. The man in the chair waved his pudgy hand and the statues returned to their former state.
“Whatever,” Ado mumbled, “Stupid formalities.”
“State your name and your business for me please,” the man in the floating chair repeated.
“Yea, yea, I heard you the first time.” Ado flitted up to eye level with the man and puffed his chest out. “I am known throughout the lands as Ado the Magnificent!” He announced. The words appeared on the page in red ink this time.
The portly man cleared his throat loudly. “You must speak the truth to enter; otherwise you are wasting my time.” Tark could not hold back a laugh at Ado’s expense.
“Very well, I’m Ado and I’m here with them for the same reasons!” The gremlin was quite upset and embarrassed with the whole humiliating process.
“And I am Tark, here for research with them as well,” the big man added nervously.
“You may both enter,” the man stated flatly with a jingling gesture towards the gateway.
Ado moved to the dome cautiously this time, but he passed through it without incident. As Tark entered, there came a loud popping sound and a blinding flash of light. The entire dome flickered out for a moment as he stepped through then reformed with another loud pop. Everyone on the streets stared at the gladiator, some blinking away the stars in their eyes. The floating attendant and the statue guardians stared at the man suspiciously as well. They could see no obvious threat. The mumbling and whispers quickly spread through the crowd. The portly man in the chair waved the statues back to their former state and then reached into his pocket and pulled out two crystal marbles which he tossed inside the dome. He spoke one word sharply and the marbles lifted into the air. Tiny pinpricks of light glowed within like magical eyeballs.
“I’ll be watching you, warrior!” The round man announced loudly. “Don’t cause any trouble.” Tark nodded politely.
Not such light security after all, the gladiator decided. Herrin hurried them on to end the spectacle they were quickly becoming, but the crystal marbles floated along just behind Tark like a pair of unblinking eyes, perpetuating more whispers.
“I guess that’s one way to keep the teasing at bay,” Herrin grinned. “What happened?”
“I’m guessing it had to be the gem,” Tark shrugged. “I suppose it did not want to be turned off.”
“Good job at keeping things quiet there, big guy. Nothing like a little subtlety,” Ado squeaked sarcastically.
“You were the one that tried to sneak in, Ado the Magnificent!” Tark growled back angrily. As the gladiator’s voice rose, the marble eyes floated around to get a clear view of his face.
“Better watch that temper,” Ado giggled as he flew up and out of reach. “You don’t want to cause any more trouble.”
Tark shot him a glare that dared him to come back down. Through the whole exchange, Nivit darted to and fro, marveling over every unusual sight. There were crystal chimes that sparkled when the wind blew, small circular rocks that hummed when touched, and bizarre little animals that could mimic your voice. There were even singing flowers in small pots being sold by a giant talking flower woman as tall as Tark. Herrin feared her tiny assistant was going to explode from over-stimulation.
“No wandering off now! You stay close, Nivit!” Herrin warned. “Who knows what price a fairy might fetch on the magic market? That goes for you too, Ado.”
The tremlin rolled his eyes as if it were a ridiculous thought, but afterwards he turned invisible and flew between the humans for safety, just in case. Eventually, as they moved away from the gate to the city and deeper into the large metropolis, the stares died down. Tark could not relax though. The crystal marbles were always there, watching his every move. They made him immensely uncomfortable.
“Where do we go now?” The big man asked nervously. “I feel as if I can’t speak freely with these clear eyes always hovering nearby.”
“Don’t worry about what you say. I’m pretty sure those are only good for visual transactions,” Herrin huffed as she leaned against a wall to catch her breath. Talwen was no small city. “As for where we go, I’m looking for the scientific sector. Just look for alchemists and labs. It may take some experimentation to get any results. We need someone who might be able to translate these runes. That’s my biggest obstacle. Perhaps a skilled mage scribe if such a thing can be found. As a last resort we can try one of the magic schools.”
“Magic schools?” Tark had heard of apprentices learning from more experienced masters, but he had never heard of an actual magic school before. Mages were such mysterious creatures. He never expected them to have anything so mundane as a school.
“Yes, Talwen is famous for them. They train their students in specific forms of magic study, such as illusion or necromancy. I’m afraid I really don’t know much more about them, though. The schools are what originally founded the city. Everything grew from there. Many of the world’s mages have studied in this very city. Perhaps Mr. Ado has thought about enlisting with one of the school houses?” The sage questioned the air.
“Whatever,” a voice squeaked. “I studied long enough under old Edle, there’s no way I’m going to subject myself to any more training especially at some fancy self-absorbed school. Besides, I’m beyond that. I don’t need anybody to teach me, I can learn spells on my own now.”
Herrin chuckled, “My apologies.” She scanned the crowded streets but nothing looked identifiable. The buildings were oddly shaped with twisting spires and floating bridges connecting them above the streets along with stairwells that defied
the laws of gravity. Alleyways wound between everything; and vendors set up shop at random points, creating a mazelike effect. “What we need right about now is a map. This place has grown since my last visit, and clean architecture is obviously not one of their concerns.”
“You need a guide, yes?” A voice peeped from below as something tugged at one of her satchels.
Herrin jumped from the start it gave her. Her hand fell over her heart instinctively. The old woman looked down to see a young goblin child grinning up at her.
“Gringey good guide to Talwen, cheap too!” He exclaimed as he hopped up and down excitedly. The small creature was filthy and wore only tattered rags for clothing.
“It’s a little goblin. Isn’t he cute?” Nivit giggled.
“Go away! Shoo!” Ado squeaked from hiding. “We don’t need a filthy little goblin’s help!”
“Wait just a minute!” Herrin scolded the air. “Things are a little different in Talwen than in most places. Gringey is your name child?”
The goblin hopped up and down again. “Yes, me Gringey. Gringey good guide, know all of Talwen. Gringey born here!” He smiled even though the expression looked unnatural on a ruddy little goblin face.
Just then, a strange frogman bounced to the street beside the companions. He stood hunched over with his bulging eyes staring up at them eagerly. He was even shorter than the goblin child was. His slick skin was deep blue with bright green specks.
“You people need guide?” He croaked.
“No!” Gringey shouted as he rushed over and shoved the little frogman away. “Gringey guide!” He growled. The frogman flicked his long tongue out at the little goblin then bounced away to find another customer.
“I like his spunk,” Tark grinned.
“Then it’s settled. Gringey is our guide,” Herrin nodded. The goblin began jumping up and down happily.
“Yea!” Nivit cheered. “I like Gringey!”
“We are looking for alchemy labs, or scribes, do you know where to find them?” Herrin asked.
Gringey looked back with confusion. “You want food, or inn?” He questioned the woman with a grin.
“Perfect,” Ado sighed. “Are you happy now? We have a dimwitted goblin guide.”
“What dimwitted mean?” The child asked the air where the voice came from.
“I’m saying you’re slow in the head, kid!” Ado sighed again.
“Gringey no slow!” The goblin stated aloud. “Gringey smart! Gringey good guide!”
“Stop being mean, Mr. Ado!” Nivit scolded the air this time. The fairy floated down to look the goblin child eye to eye. “We need a magic man that can read special old writing,” she explained.
The goblin child’s face beamed in understanding. “Man who can read magic writing?” The fairy nodded. “Follow Gringey. Gringey know where to go. Gringey know smart little magic man.”
“Good job, Nivit!” Herrin congratulated her assistant.
“From one dimwit to another,” the gremlin grumbled under his breath. “It must be a secret language of idiots.”
The goblin was off, hopping and skipping through the streets. He paused every so often to make sure the companions kept up. Several human merchants and one orc tried to stop them along the way. They were selling everything from magic potions to flying carpets at astoundingly excessive prices. This place was so far beyond anything Tark or the little folk could have imagined.
“I hope this works out,” Tark mumbled as he jogged through the crowd with two crystal marbles floating after him.
The goblin led them to a set of stairs that wound up into the air to end at a floating door with a sign over it. There was no building or anything else attached to the door, save for the sign. The sign read: knock before entering. The companions looked up to the door skeptically.
“You see!” Ado squeaked, “Dimwitted.”
“Gringey no dimwitted!” The goblin child shouted angrily. He then held out his hand for payment. “Two copper,” he stated firmly.
Herrin looked to Tark. The old sage had not had any money to speak of since leaving her courtly life behind decades ago. She found little use for money in the wetlands. The big man shrugged his shoulders and fished a gold coin from his coin purse.
“You can’t give him that!” Ado squeaked.
“It’s all I’ve got, and there isn’t time to exchange it. It’s gold or nothing,” Tark sighed as he handed the valuable coin to the child.
Upon seeing the gold, the goblin did a double take and then jumped up and down in circles. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Gringey shouted happily. “Gringey wait here. Show you to inn for free!” The child curled up on the ground at the base of the stairs. It was clear he was used to sleeping on the streets.
“Don’t you think you should get back to your parents? Won’t they be wondering where you’re at?” Herrin asked in a motherly tone.
“Gringey parents left a long time ago. Gringey alone,” the child replied. “Gringey wait here.”
The old woman shook her head sadly. “Well, let’s go see what you just paid for,” Herrin smiled at Tark.
The old woman led the way up the staircase. Two flights of twisting steps was wreaking havoc on the sage’s aging knees. She rapped lightly on the door and then waited. There came no response. She rapped again more loudly this time, but again no response.
“Get that gold back!” Ado grumbled.
“Just a minute,” Herrin called out as she turned the latch and pushed the door open slowly.
The hanging door opened to reveal a large room with a low ceiling. It did not make sense, but then again when did magic ever really make any sense. Inside was a full workshop complete with a laboratory. Many lanterns hung around the large room lighting every recess with expensive-looking, amber glow-stones. Tables with books, scrolls and writing utensils scattered about them were set against the far wall. Shelves that ran the length of the walls were lined with decorative carvings, small figurines and what looked like jars of eyes. There was a corner with many beakers and vials set in messy rows. A pink haze seemed to hang over the area. All of the tables and the shelves were built low to the ground. There were many small animals in the area, too. Birds, frogs, rabbits, and squirrels, along with cats and dogs, were everywhere. Some sat in cages while other roamed freely. All in all, the place was a disaster area. The companions filtered into the room cautiously, but there appeared to be no one home.
“Close the door already, before one of them gets out!” A small voice peeped angrily.
Nivit was the first to spot the speaker. He appeared to be a gnome, but he was only about three and a half inches tall. He stood on the floor in the center of the pink haze shrouded corner. The fairy darted to his side, followed by the others, after they made sure the door was shut tightly. They entered the haze cautiously. It smelled oddly enough like honeysuckles. They just stood there looking down on the very small man.
“Oh no,” Ado sighed, “not a gnome.”
“What are ye all staring at?” The tiny gnome asked in annoyance.
“What happened to you, Mr. ummm … Mr. little gnome?” Nivit asked coyly.
“Me name is Kussenavis Abranemere Mortikianovan, the Fourth, and who might ye all be?” He replied.
“We are travelers in search of some assistance, information if you will.” Herrin offered. “I am Herrin, a sage of Merintz, and this is …”
“What kind of information? I’m a very busy man as ye can see,” he interrupted in his tiny voice.
“I don’t feel so good,” Nivit groaned.
A similar feeling of queasiness spread through them all. Both of the little folk felt the need to land or fall from the air. Suddenly, the world became much, much larger.
“What’s happening to me?” Ado squeaked in fear.
Before they knew it, everyone had been reduced to a mere fraction of their size. Tark was now six inches tall, while Ado and Nivit were tiny specks. Ado was the invisible speck and barely an inch in height
. Unfortunately, there remained a huge pulsing stone next to the tiny gladiator. The blue gem had not been affected like the rest of their possessions had.
“So much for secrets,” the big man, turned tiny, grumbled. The floating marbles were also unaffected; but as soon as they saw the glowing gem, they winked out of existence.
The gremlin looked around and screeched in panic. “Calm down!” The gnome yelled. “Ye are going to bring the animals to us if ye aren’t careful! It will wear off in a few moments.”
The thought of being eaten by a giant bluebird clamped the gremlin’s lips shut tightly. The gnome began to grow and expand. In seconds he was back to his three-foot five-inch self again. He quickly scooped up the others and carried them plus gem to the least cluttered table. The invisible Ado flapped along furiously to keep up. The gnome set them down, and then moved to a small mirror hanging on the wall to check and see that everything was back as it should be. He brushed his uncombed, green hair and beard as straight as they would go, and then smoothed out his colorful clothing carefully. Finally, he grabbed a large patterned cap from a nearby shelf to cover his unruly hair.
“Experiments don’t always go as ye would like,” he mumbled. “So, what brings ye here? “ The gnome asked with a stern gaze down his large nose. His beady blue eyes were unwavering.
“Put us back to our right size!” Tark demanded angrily. His expressions were lit dramatically by the pulsing blue light of the gem.
“Nobody told ye to walk into the haze, now did they? In fact, nobody told ye to enter me house! I already said your size will return in time. Humans are always so impatient,” the gnome huffed. His gaze locked onto the glowing gem. “That is quite an impressive stone,” the little man breathed as he watched the gem pulse.
“Keep away from it!” The tiny gladiator threatened menacingly.
“I am not a thief! Me specialty is in experimentation, not rocks! Do ye have business here, or should I toss the lot of ye out now?” The gnome huffed again.