by Inlo, Jeff
"How's Stomps?" Enin asked, eagerly awaiting news of the dog he had given to the delver.
"He's doing great," Ryson replied. "He's home with Linda right now."
"You're all getting along?"
"Absolutely."
The wizard was thrilled by the news but clearly didn't want to leave it at that.
"When I get the chance," Enin proclaimed, "I'd like to stop by and see him. I'd like to know if there's anything else I can do for him. I don't want him to think I just forgot about him."
Ryson remembered that, on some strange level, Enin could actually communicate with dogs. He looked forward to bringing the wizard to his home, maybe even getting the chance to find out what Stomps was really thinking.
"I think he'd like that. Actually, I'd like it too," Ryson admitted.
"Maybe when all this is settled," Enin offered.
And finally, there was a hint of the trouble that brought Enin and Holli to Burbon and might also explain the delver's growing unease.
"That's fine," Ryson responded, "but can you tell me what you're talking about. What's going on that needs to be settled?"
"A dwarf messenger reached us with a disturbing report. Petiole has escaped."
Ryson did not expect that type of news. It seemed both absurd and troubling at the same time. He realized immediately the issue was no small matter, but he could not believe the escape of an elf elder would have caused him the distress he had been feeling. Still, he could not simply dismiss the incident and questions surfaced in his delver mind.
"How did Petiole manage to escape the dwarves?"
Enin revealed everything that the dwarf messenger had relayed to him. The information was sketchy at best. While there was enough for the delver to comprehend the plausibility of the escape, many other questions followed.
"Someone smuggled magical rocks into his cell?" Ryson wondered out loud. "Who could have done that... and why would they have wanted to?"
"No idea," Enin professed. "I imagine that's what Therese Folarok wants to discuss."
While the delver wondered about certain details, the town's guard captain focused on more sweeping matters. Sy tried to assess Petiole's escape as it related to Burbon. He realized it held significance between the dwarves and the elves. He also understood it might affect certain human towns, especially Pinesway and Connel. With so much at stake, he could understand Enin's inclusion in the matter, but there was another question he could not answer.
"So why did you come here?" the captain of the guard inquired. "Don't get me wrong, I'm willing to help out, but why didn't you go directly to Dunop?"
"It seems Queen Therese also wishes information on a half-delver named Pru Fallow."
"What's he got to do with this?"
"I assume that's what she wants to know. He was found outside a tunnel entrance to Dunop at the exact moment Petiole escaped. He claimed to be chasing a large goblin. He said the goblin was a threat to Burbon. Is this true?"
"Yes," Sy admitted, and then the captain explained everything that had occurred and his experiences with Okyiq.
"So you asked a half-delver to kill the goblin?" Enin asked, somewhat surprised at what he was hearing.
"Yes," Sy responded without displaying any remorse. "He was a threat I couldn't ignore."
"Hiring an assassin seems a bit severe," Enin professed with obvious amazement over the drastic measure. "This Okyiq just left a message—rather ghastly I admit—but beyond that, it sounds like he didn't do anything more to Burbon."
"That's not true. Not too long ago, he led a raid against us, even got inside the walls. Civilians were killed. He was captured, but I let him go."
"Why would you do that?"
"I let him go because he promised to kill the goblins that followed him. It was his followers that killed the civilians and looted the town."
"I still don't understand," Enin revealed.
"It's not that difficult," Sy responded with a growing annoyance at having to explain his actions. "Okyiq is dangerous. I thought it would take him at least ten cycles of the seasons to find every goblin that followed him, maybe more. It barely took him any time at all. When he was done, he came back with that message. He wasn't just boasting. He was threatening us, letting us know that he had completed his task and was turning his attention back toward us. I think that's all pretty clear."
Holli noticed the discussion was becoming slightly heated and extremely unproductive.
"It is pointless to argue over past decisions," the elf stated. "We came here to obtain information on Pru Fallow, not to debate the manner in which Sy protects this town."
"I guess you're right," Enin conceded. The wizard looked back to the captain. "Do you have any idea why Okyiq or Pru might have headed toward Dunop?"
"No. Pru was supposed to track Okyiq until he dealt with him. I gave him seven days to complete the task. I haven't seen or heard from him since he left, but his time isn't up yet. I just thought he was being careful. If Pru is claiming he followed Okyiq, then it was the goblin that wanted to head toward Dunop. As to why he might do that, I have no idea."
"What about you, Ryson?" the wizard asked. "Any ideas on this?"
"Not ideas," the delver responded, "but things don't add up. I know how fast Pru can move and I have a good idea of how much of a head start Okyiq had on him. I can't see how the goblin could have possibly made it all the way to Dunop without Pru catching up to him. It doesn't make sense."
"That's a good point," Sy added, "but as I said before, Pru might have been biding his time. He wasn't supposed to just catch up to Okyiq. He was supposed to take care of him. Maybe he didn't get the opportunity and just kept following."
"I'm not sure that makes any more sense," Ryson countered. "With that crossbow of his, Pru would just need a to get close enough for a clear shot. What else was there for him to do?"
"I can't say, but we don't know what he might have run into in the forest. Maybe Okyiq met up with another group of goblins and Pru had to work his way around them."
"I guess that's possible," the delver conceded.
"Further assumptions are also somewhat pointless," Holli advised. "According to the message we received, the dwarves are holding Pru Fallow. When we go to Dunop, we can ask him directly as to what happened. We came here to obtain certain information regarding the half-delver. We only needed to confirm his story. We have done that."
"That's true," Enin professed, "but I want to know if anything else is bothering Ryson."
As all eyes turned to the delver, Ryson felt his burden of discomfort expand. He had no intention of hiding it, but he had said nothing about his worries. He could not help but feel slightly cornered as the topic dramatically switched and focused upon his unshakable misgivings.
"How do you know something is bothering me?" the delver asked somewhat defensively.
"I can feel it," the wizard professed, "but it's not in the magic. It's something else, something I can't describe. There's an aura of dread around you."
Ryson was no longer surprised by Enin's question.
"In all honesty, I can't describe it either. Something just doesn't feel right."
"Can you be a bit more specific?"
"No. Actually, I was hoping you might be able to shed some light on it. I thought that whatever brought you here might explain it."
"You now know what brought us here... questions regarding Petiole's escape. Do you sense a possible association between the two?"
Initially, Ryson recognized no such connection, but he did not wish to be too quick to dismiss the thought. He considered the importance of what had happened, but even as he sensed all the havoc that might be unfolding, Ryson could not completely match Petiole's escape with the unease he felt. Something else was tugging at him. There was a deep resonance within his spirit, and whatever the cause, it was not completely tied to the occurrences in Dunop.
"No, I don't think that's it," Ryson revealed. "I don't know why, but that just doesn't seem
to explain it, not all of it anyway. There might be a connection, but it's small... insignificant. There's something else. It's like an old wound that's been opened."
"Petiole's actions caused several wounds," Holli stated, a monumental confession, especially from a former elf guard.
"I know, but when I focus on Petiole, it doesn't really connect to what I'm feeling. I know it doesn't make any sense, but the whole thing confuses me."
"Then let us obtain further information," Holli stated. "Very little of this makes sense... to any of us."
"She's right," Enin agreed. "We need to speak to Queen Therese, and the sooner the better."
"Ryson should come with us," Holli announced.
"I agree," Enin acknowledged.
"Me? Why?"
"I don't like this feeling you are experiencing," Enin explained. "I think we need to keep you informed of what we discover. It might help explain what is happening. I also believe your presence will be important when I discuss events with Therese. The dwarves of Dunop have a great trust in you. I want you to tell them about Okyiq and confirm Pru's story."
"They'll believe you," Ryson said. "They trust you."
"They trust you more, and you have first hand knowledge of what happened here. You're from Burbon and you have dealt with Okyiq. You saw the message he left. I don't want to leave any doubts in Therese's mind. This is a very delicate situation."
"It is as Enin said," Holli offered. "Relations between the elves and the dwarves have always been complicated. You, however, have always been a bridge between the races."
"I'll have to tell Linda I'm going."
"I can take care of that," Sy offered.
"I guess that'll be alright," Ryson allowed. "How are we going to get to Dunop?"
"I will teleport us there immediately," Enin revealed.
"Won't that upset the dwarves if we just appear?"
"Actually, no. We have set up... an arrangement. They prepared a special room for me within the castle that I can use as a target for my spell. It has allowed us to communicate better. It speeds things up. The dwarves still have to rely on messengers, but I can respond almost immediately."
"Well, I'm ready whenever you are," Ryson offered.
He was indeed ready, even curious about what they would find, but he still could not shake the sense that something was very wrong somewhere in the land.
Chapter 10
"It is not my intention to disturb you," Desiv called out to the tall grass in Dark Spruce Forest, "but it is necessary."
Okyiq woke quickly. He heard most of the words. The voice was familiar, and it reminded him of the serp he killed.
"Another snake face?"
"I'm afraid so."
The large goblin couldn't believe it. He was certain the other serps received his message. His anger rose, but not as quickly as his impatience. He found it tiresome to have to dispose of another serp. He thought they were smart, but they were demonstrating as much intelligence as a shag.
"Don't you remember my promise?" Okyiq snarled.
"I do, in fact," the serp acknowledged. "You said you would kill any serp that tried to control you. I have no intention of trying to control you."
"You're bothering me. Almost as bad."
"It is not my intention to bother you, either, but you've been sleeping a rather long time."
"How long I sleep is not your concern. If I have to come out of this grass, I will..."
Desiv cut the goblin off quickly. He didn't wish to create a situation where there was no possibility of a constructive outcome. He needed to speak with the goblin, but he didn't wish to die in order to do it.
"Please don't make a promise that you will kill me if you come out of there. I know you keep your promises, but there are things we must discuss."
"Discuss?" Okyiq groaned. "Always talk. Serps talk too much."
"Yes, perhaps we do, but we also know things... important things. For instance, it is very likely that the powerful wizard from Connel will teleport to this spot in the very near future. If he finds you here, it won't go well for you. That is one of the reasons I am here. I'm trying to help you avoid an unpleasant encounter."
Okyiq grumbled to himself. He thought of the wizard from the east, knew of Enin's powers. He could fight many creatures, but he did not wish to face the spell caster. He rolled out of the tall grass and rose to his feet. He looked at the serp with a mix of disgust and curiosity.
"You know what wizard is going to do?" Okyiq demanded, as he wondered about the veracity of the serp's claim.
"Do I know for certain? No. But I can make fairly accurate projections of what others might do, especially humans. They are much more predictable than say abnormally large goblins."
"So you just guess wizard will be here. I can guess too."
"Yes, I'm sure you can, but you don't have as much information as I do. You see, my guess is more of a calculation, a weighted estimate based on events of which I have a certain knowledge."
"So you think you know more than me?"
"Regarding what the wizard might do? Absolutely. It's no insult to you, I might add. I'm not looking to get into some contest with you about which one of us knows more."
"Contest? You don't want a contest? You say that, but you mean something else. You're still making a challenge."
"I'm not sure I follow you," Desiv admitted.
"I say we both can guess about what wizard might do. You say you know more. That's a challenge."
The serp was navigating a tricky course. He didn't want to compete with the goblin, but he didn't want to upset Okyiq by dismissing his viewpoint, either.
"I guess it might be considered that, if you look at it in a certain way."
"You sure you know more?" Okyiq pressed.
Desiv didn't see anyway to avoid the question, so he prefaced his answer to ensure he wasn't insulting the goblin.
"Regarding the wizard? About what he might do in the very near future? Yes, I'm sure."
"Bet your life?"
"If I have to."
"You have to."
It seemed Desiv was placing his life on the line in quite a few instances, and he was prepared to do it again. He didn't like it, but he accepted the fact that certain pursuits required necessary hazards.
"Then I bet my life."
Okyiq grunted a small laugh through a wicked grin. He quickly set himself up as the judge.
"Tell me what you know about wizard and why you think he will come here."
Desiv nodded. He fully intended on revealing as much as possible to the large goblin even before he teleported to Dark Spruce. It would be part of the offer, and he believed honesty and openness would keep him alive. The serp began with details he felt were important to the goblin's current dilemma.
"You were sent to Dunop because we orchestrated an escape of the elf, Petiole. We wanted your appearance near the dwarf city to cause confusion and to coincide with the elf's escape. It has. The half-delver that followed you was taken by the dwarves and is still being held in Dunop as we speak."
"None of this has anything to do with wizard. I already know this too. You're about to lose."
"I'm not done. The dwarves have sent a messenger to Connel... to the wizard. They have asked for an audience with him. They want him to verify the story of the half-delver and to assist in understanding what happened to Petiole. Enin has agreed and has already left Connel."
"How do you know all this?" Okyiq wondered.
"We have spies in certain places. Rock beetles can sense many things underground and razor crows have sharp eyes. We have other creatures as well. They watch and they listen."
Okyiq knew what serps could do. He experienced their powers firsthand. They could take control of the minds of lesser creatures. It would not surprise him if the council of serps had many spies, but that fact did not answer all of his questions.
"So wizard is going to dwarf city. Not coming here. Still don't see danger for me, so still think you lo
se."
"The wizard will learn things in Dunop," Desiv countered. "He will talk to the dwarf queen about the elf's escape and they will discuss the half-delver's involvement."
"Still doesn't explain why wizard would come here."
"It is my belief that the wizard will analyze the magic around Petiole's escape. He will sense the teleportation spell that freed Petiole and brought him to Portsans. He will be able to follow it. We knew that would be the case when we decided to use teleportation stones to help the elf escape."
"That would send wizard to Portsans."
"Which is where we ultimately want him to go."
The large goblin looked at the serp with complete and utter confusion.
"You said wizard might come here. That's why you bothered me. Now you say he will go to Portsans? This is Dark Spruce. This is forest. Does this look like Portsans to you? You might know about wizard, but I should still kill you."
"I haven't finished. There is a very strong possibility the wizard will also review the area in the tunnel where you and Rivira teleported to this spot. The wizard will be able to follow that spell as well. There is a very good chance he will come here first and then go to Portsans. I never said it was definite. I only said it was likely. I do, however, believe that it is very likely."
Okyiq shook his head in disgust. He almost forgot about the challenge—almost forgot about killing the serp—as he tried to determine if the wizard was truly a threat.
"Snake faces always think too much and make no sense. You want wizard to go to Portsans but you tell me he might come here."
"I agree. It's a twisted path with many possibilities, but that's what serps do. We consider many different alternatives and plan for each one. I can't guarantee that the wizard will come here, but as I said, I believe it is likely. The elf guard that travels with him will sense you immediately. They will not let you escape, and despite your considerable skills, you would not defeat them. That is not meant as an insult to you. It is simply the truth."