Delver Magic Book VII: Altered Messages

by Inlo, Jeff

  "So what are you going to do?"

  Therese reflected upon the question and did so with an awareness for the scope of the dilemma she faced. What to do about the half-delver was only part of a much greater problem.

  Petiole was more than some common prisoner. The escaped elf represented a myriad of mistakes made during the transition from a land without magic to one where the energy was shaping the very edges of reality.

  And it wasn't just the elf that had committed crimes. Dunop had been through so much since the return of magic. The dwarf city had fallen into the hands of separatists who committed crimes of their own. They had viciously attacked elves, humans and algors, but their crimes were not simply forgotten.

  When Dunop was freed of the separatists, a new leader was sought and every dwarf of the underground city came into her care. She had done much to restore their honor, to earn atonement for their transgressions. They had gone to the aid of the humans in Connel, helped them rebuild the outpost of Pinesway. They had also made efforts to assist the algors, but were rebuffed. That, however, was the choice made by the algors, not by the dwarves.

  As for the elves, they offered but one act of repentance. They had turned over the one elf responsible for the most grievous of sins. He was the camp elder and Therese knew it was a significant gesture. The imprisonment of Petiole represented more than just the punishment of a criminal elf. It signified the acceptance of contrition by the elves themselves, a new understanding.

  But Petiole had escaped, and with the aid of magic. She knew what would happen next. There would be accusations. Rumors would spread both fear and anger. The dwarves would demand a response.

  What would she do?

  She resolved herself to the inevitable. She looked upon the half-delver with neither anger nor pity. He would have to accept the situation, just as she had done.

  "I am going to do what is necessary," she told the half-delver. "I will not allow Dunop to fall into chaos again. I'm going to take my place on that throne and issue certain decrees and orders. You will hear them all, for some of them will have to do with you. It is not my wish to keep you here against your will, but certain inconveniences are necessary. We have no official contact with Burbon, but we do have vital relations with both Pinesway and Connel. This is a delicate situation and will require your understanding."

  Pru didn't care about Pinesway or Connel. He cared about what was going to happen to him.

  "It sounds like you're planning to hold me here."

  "I am."

  "Do I have anything to say about it?"

  "No."

  "That doesn't make me happy."

  Therese frowned.

  "Happy? Think about every dwarf in this city that faced the prospect of being consumed by shadow trees. Do you think they're happy that Petiole is free?"

  "You're blaming me for something I didn't do!"

  "No, I'm not. I'm asking you to understand the situation. I am not saying it is fair, but I am saying it is necessary. If you don't appreciate that, then I really don't care if you're happy or not."

  She said nothing further. She rose from her chair and moved with determination to the throne at the head of the hall. She took her seat and addressed the crowd of dwarves and the lone half-delver in the room.

  "As you all know, the elf Petiole has escaped. He has done so with the aid of magic. The city has been searched, but there is no sign of the criminal. The search will continue. Dwarves have been sent into every adjoining tunnel and above ground over the city.

  "Messengers have been sent to neighboring dwarf cities, though I doubt the elf will seek refuge there. Still, I will ask for their aid. I will request that they inform us of any news that might pertain to the fugitive.

  "My request for aid will not end with our own kind. We have developed thriving relations with the humans at both Connel and Pinesway. I am confident they will be willing to assist us. I will request council with the wizard Enin, for he is best suited to advise us in the matters of magic. I will ask that the humans remain watchful for any elf movement, especially near their town of Pinesway. Messengers have already been dispatched to communicate my requests in this regard.

  "I will also send an emissary to the elves. They will be informed of the incident. We will require them to disclose any significant information regarding renegade elves who might have assisted in Petiole's escape. We have no way of knowing who was involved, but we must explore every avenue. The severity of the situation will require the elves' understanding. I have not forgotten it was the elves that turned Petiole over to us. They allowed us to judge and punish him for his crimes, but I cannot dismiss the chance that certain elves might regret that decision. I believe the elf council will understand the necessity to recapture Petiole, but I will also ensure they understand that we will not tolerate any elf camp harboring or aiding the fugitive."

  With that said, she turned her gaze upon Pru, but did not speak directly to him. She continued to address the audience of the hall as a whole.

  "The final matter of importance regards this half-delver. I have discovered nothing that makes me doubt his claims of innocence, but I am unwilling to discount anything until I confirm certain facts. His story will be verified and we will thoroughly investigate his activities.

  "Until I am satisfied, he will remain a guest in Dunop... and he will be treated as one. His weapons will be returned to him and he will be allowed the freedom to explore the castle and much of the interior of Dunop. He will not, however, be allowed to leave the city. Any attempt to do so will be viewed as an act of aggression and he will be considered an enemy of Dunop... as well as all of our allies."

  Therese clearly directed her next words at Pru. Even as she spoke to every individual within the room, she wanted him to understand exactly what he faced if he failed to cooperate.

  "Let there be no confusion on this matter. He is half-delver and might be able to escape us. Even if he does, we will consider him as much a threat as Petiole himself. We will put the same tenacity in capturing him as we shall put in recapturing the criminal elf."

  With that one declaration, Pru finally began to understand the magnitude of Petiole's escape and what it meant, not only to the dwarves, but to all of Uton. He could not simply dismiss it as irrelevant to his own concerns.

  And with that decree, Therese had removed any other options Pru might consider. He had to remain in Dunop, had no choice. He might be able to escape the city, but even if he did, his life as a tracker and scout would be over. He would be labeled a criminal. The dwarves would not rest until he was brought back before them, and it would not end there. He believed the elves of Dark Spruce would work towards his recapture, probably even the humans of Connel and Pinesway. Even if the dwarves treated him as a guest, he was a prisoner in an underground city, and he cursed his luck again.

  Chapter 6

  Okyiq decided to sleep right where the sorceress had left him. The thick brush was comfortable enough, and he didn't worry about his safety. Dark Spruce was his home. He believed it belonged to him, and the dangers that crept through the forest were not his concern, at least not at that moment.

  To him, the monstrous creatures that filled the woods were as common as the trees, and the perils were no mystery. A bloat spider lurking high in clustered branches might hope to ensnare him in sticky web strands. A rock beetle burrowing below the ground might wish to drag him down into an inescapable hole of death. Even if such monsters were nearby, neither thought bothered Okyiq. He could always handle insects, even the big ones.

  Shags were slightly more of a concern. The hairy beasts certainly seemed to appreciate the taste of goblin meat, but they always avoided Okyiq. Maybe the large goblin's size confused the monsters. Okyiq wasn't surprised. It didn't take much to baffle the fur laden creatures.

  Only the hook hawks brought unease to Okyiq's heart. The flying horrors enjoyed goblin flesh even more than shags, and the birds were large enough to carry Okyiq away to some blood-soaked n
est. If the goblin had seen one of the winged terrors slashing across the skies, it would have forced him to reassess his position, but the surrounding trees offered sufficient protection. The canopy of leaves and branches filled the space overhead, and a hook hawk would have difficulty in navigating a path down to the goblin's resting place.

  As for the remaining inhabitants of the forest, the only remaining dark creatures Okyiq considered worth his attention were other goblins, but he didn't view them as a threat. No, they were an opportunity. He knew there would be several packs in the area, perhaps even a few with strong leaders. None, however, would be as strong or as devious as him. Eventually, he would find the divided camps and take control. He would bring them together and form an army.

  He knew he could lead a large band with both his guile and his strength. He had done so before. He had even managed a raid against the humans of Burbon, actually breached the town's defenses. He was ultimately captured by the cursed delver during that encounter, but through no fault of his own.

  The eventual failure of the raid was solely attributable to the goblins who followed him. They were weak. They fled when they should have fought, abandoned him and ran off into the forest.

  It was a mistake, one they would eventually pay for with their lives. They underestimated their leader. They fled because they thought they could avoid punishment. They didn't, and punishment was both swift and severe.

  As he rested on his back in the thick grass, Okyiq realized that the failure at Burbon was only a minor setback, perhaps not a setback at all. It allowed him to send a message, not only to the goblins of the forest, but to the humans as well. They would all fear him.

  The future held the promise of glory. He knew it, just as he knew his influence would expand throughout the forest. Word would continue to spread of what he did to the goblins that abandoned him. No minion would dare run from him again. Their loyalty would be strengthened with fear. He would lead a horde massive in both size and devotion.

  At the very edges of sleep, Okyiq began to imagine the grand spectacles of his future conquests. He would claim total dominion over the forest. Shags, river rogues, rock beetles and bloat spiders would flee from his army. Even the elves of Dark Spruce would cower in fear. None would question his authority.

  As his host of goblins grew, he would move eastward, back to the edge of Dark Spruce. He would set his sights on the human towns and their stockpiles of food and weapons. He would take everything, even further revenge.

  He would capture the Delver Acumen and put him on a leash. He would prevent the delver from exploring even as he dragged Acumen across the land, a torture he knew would drive the curious delver insane. It would be a grand scene to watch.

  An even greater spectacle was waiting for the human called Sy Fenden. Okyiq would find the guard captain at Burbon, make him eat live bugs in bunches, and then slit open his stomach so everyone could watch the insects crawl out of his innards. He'd keep the captain alive long enough to feel the bugs feasting on his wounds.

  The images of his two enemies suffering made him smile. All of that, however, would have to wait. Okyiq had plenty of time... even time to sleep. He dozed off without a care, dreaming of grand conquests and the ferocious horde he would command.

  "Wake up!"

  It seemed as if Okyiq had barely closed his eyes. He heard the voice. It sounded familiar, but he saw nothing. There was too much brush around him.

  "Come out of there," the voice demanded.

  At first, the large goblin didn't move. He didn't like the words or the tone. It was an order, and Okyiq didn't follow orders. He gave them.

  He looked carefully through some of the tall weeds and vines to his right. He saw a shadow, but not enough to make out the full figure of the intruder. He knew it was not a river rogue or a shag. If it was, it wouldn't have spoken. It would have simply leapt into the brush and tried to eat him where he slept.

  "I said come out of there!" the intruder repeated.

  It was clear that, whoever the pest was, it wasn't going to let Okyiq go back to sleep. The large goblin crawled out of the thick grass and into a clearing to get a better look at the annoyance.

  A serp stood defiantly between two large tree trunks. He glared at the goblin with his arms folded across his chest. He appeared without escort, but he showed no sign of fear in facing the large and angry monster.

  "You move slow," the serp snarled, annoyed at being made to wait. "We'll have to work on your obedience and your mobility."

  The insult did nothing to make Okyiq move any quicker. The goblin peered about the forest to ensure they were alone. Once certain there was no one else about, the massive beast inspected the face of the serp with greater care.

  "I recognize you," the goblin growled.

  The serp was not surprised or even concerned by Okyiq's admission. If anything, he felt recognition would assist him in his task.

  "I am Samk," the serp hissed. "I am on the council. You didn't return as you were told to do so."

  Okyiq almost laughed. Serps were by no means physically imposing specimens. Watching the scrawny creature try to lecture him was rather amusing. What was not funny was the expression on the serp's face. Samk clearly believed he had authority over Okyiq, and the large goblin decided to burst that ludicrous assumption.

  "Since when do I listen to you?"

  "When you decided to join us."

  "Join? Fah! We had bargain. Bargain complete. Did what I said I'd do. Don't have to do more.

  "You'll do what we tell you to do."

  Okyiq finally did laugh.

  "Sounds like snake face is ordering me, maybe even threatening me. Too funny. Not under your control and not worried about you. Don't care what you have planned or what you want me to do. No more bargains. Don't need to go back to coast. I stay in forest... my forest. Now you go back to other snake faces before you get in trouble."

  The goblin's insolence surprised the serp, but only for a moment. Samk's tail twitched angrily as he made his intentions clear.

  "I will go back... with you on your knees behind me. I misspoke before. You're right, you didn't join us. We decided to use you, and we will continue to use you. Your service will be complete when we say it is complete... and not a moment sooner."

  The serp's tone continued to aggravate the goblin, but Okyiq still did not view Samk as anything more than a stubborn pest.

  "Fah, I used you. Got you to round up goblins for me and all I had to do was deliver message and lead stupid half-delver to dwarf tunnel. Enjoyed delivering message, would have done same thing on my own."

  "Be that as it may, we are not through with you."

  Okyiq shrugged. He didn't care what the serp thought. He wanted to go back to sleep. He turned to go back to the thick brush.

  "Go away, snake face. I have my own plans."

  The dismissal enraged the serp. Samk was not a powerful spell caster by any means, but he could utilize the magic for certain minor castings. The serp's eyes glowed amber and a orange chain of misshapen segments formed around Samk's wrists. He thrust his hands outward and threw a small orb of flame directly at the goblin.

  The power of the fireball was almost laughable even as it exploded across Okyiq's back. It was merely a flare of light that barely singed a few hairs on the goblin's hide, but it got Okyiq's attention.

  "You do not turn your back on me, goblin!" Samk decreed with a snarl that almost vibrated with anger and frustration. "You will do as I say, or you will be punished!"

  Freezing in his tracks, the huge monster didn't know whether to laugh with delight or roar with anger. The pathetic casting of the serp was about as threatening as a human child with a matchstick, but the audacity behind the assault plucked at Okyiq's tolerance.

  Rather than twirl around and rip the serp into pieces, the enormous goblin showed amazing restraint. He grumbled one warning loud enough for the serp to hear.

  "You're alone here, snake face. I can tell. No guards. No shags hidin
g in the weeds to protect you. I can sense it. Nothing between you and me. Nothing to save you. If I turn around, you die."

  "You're actually threatening me?" the serp questioned as he broke out into a laugh of his own.

  Okyiq stood perfectly still, his back remained turned to the serp. Any amusement he gained from the serp's stance faded away. The snake-faced creature had turned into more than a pestering annoyance. Samk had become an aggressive disturbance, and Okyiq didn't tolerate that kind of trouble. Despite his building anger, the goblin decided to give the serp one last chance.

  "Made promise to captain and delver of human town. Told them I would kill every goblin that ran away. Every goblin is now dead. Not a threat. Promise. Make same kind of promise to you. Like I said before, if I turn around, you die."

  The serp was not impressed with the goblin's boast. He saw it differently.

  "Is that supposed to impress me? That you killed some goblins? You wouldn't have killed them without our help. We brought them to you. We took over their minds. It is what we do. They came to you willingly."

  "Would have found them without you. You just made it quicker. Doesn't matter, snake face. Promise still kept. You leave now, and I won't have to turn around. You stay... you die. You understand?"

  "I think it is you who doesn't understand. Remember what I just said? Those goblins you killed? We took over their minds. It is what serps do. You are goblin. I am serp. Think about it."

  Okyiq didn't give great weight to the veiled threat of the serp. He only thought of his own promise. Continuing to display far greater patience than he thought the serp deserved, Okyiq stated the obvious.

  "You're not leaving."

  Even though it was much more of a statement than a question, Samk answered just the same.

  "No, I'm not. I'm here to bring you back to the council. We have more work for you, whether you like it or not. I also made a promise. I said you would return with me, and so you shall. And also as I said, you will be on your knees behind me like the pathetic servant you are."