Pure Choice dm-6

by Jeff Inlo

  "But you can ignore me," Linda cut him off.

  "Is that what this is all about?" Ryson asked with total honesty. "Do you really think I'm ignoring you?"

  Linda bit down slightly on her bottom lip as she looked once more at the empty glass that was upside down on the table. When she spoke, she did not turn her head or her eyes to the delver.

  "You know that we can never have children, right?"

  "What?"

  "Children. We can never have children. It's impossible. I just figured that out."

  The delver sat completely stunned. His mind turned to a jumbled mess.

  "It's really quite simple," Linda continued. "I'm surprised it took me so long to figure it out. You have magic within you and I'm immune to magic. How can I ever have a delver child? I can't."

  "I don't understand," was all that Ryson managed to blurt out.

  "Magic. I'm immune… totally immune. We both know that. You're a delver. Magic is a part of you. Any child of yours would have that same magic, but not in me. It can't happen."

  It was Ryson's turn to stare at the empty glass. He didn't know what to say. He wasn't sure he could argue with his wife. She seemed so absolutely certain. It might have explained her reaction to everything that happened that night. The revelation definitely disrupted his own thinking. He sat in complete shock.

  "Look," Linda finally said to end the growing silence. "I don't want to talk about it anymore… not tonight anyway. You said you have to go look for the elves. I think you should start now."

  "Now?"

  Linda nodded.

  "Yes, now… tonight."

  "I don't want to leave you now. I don't think I should."

  "You think you should stay for me?"

  "Of course."

  "I appreciate that, but if you really want to do something for me, and not you, then you should go tonight. I don't want you to walk me home and stay with me knowing that you'll be leaving the moment the sun rises."

  "Maybe I shouldn't go at all. Maybe you were right."

  "I don't think so, not any more. You'd only be staying with me because you're worried about me, or maybe you feel sorry for me. I don't need that. I don't want it."

  "It's not about feeling sorry for you," the delver countered. "It's about doing what's right. I didn't know this was what was bothering you. I never would have even left you tonight if I knew about this."

  "I didn't realize it until after you left." Linda then looked toward the door. "I'm not even sure why it even came up. It just hit me, washed right through me and I knew."

  "But then why do you want me to go?"

  "Because we both need some time."

  "Time?"

  "Yes. I don't know if this changes anything… for me or you, but we have to accept it."

  "Shouldn't we try to accept it together?" Ryson asked.

  "With you wondering about what happened to the elves… always looking out a window toward the forest. You can't stop being a delver. That's what this is all about, isn't it?"

  "In all honesty, I really don't have any idea anymore."

  "I do. It's about what we want, and right now, I want you to go find the elves. It may not make sense to you, but it does to me."

  "But you seemed upset about me leaving you alone. Now that's what you're telling me to do… to leave you alone."

  "It's something I have to get used to, isn't it? It's either that or admit I made a mistake marrying a delver. That's not something I want to do. Is that what you want?"

  "No!" Ryson responded emphatically.

  "Then, like I said, do this for me and go find the elves."

  Chapter 7

  "You got here faster than I expected," Sy revealed, but was equally grateful Holli Brances reached Burbon so quickly.

  He had not slept since the battle with Okyiq and his minions. Sy had immediately sent out a messenger to Connel. While waiting, he had questioned several goblin prisoners and each one substantiated the claim that the elves had disappeared. The mystery was growing, and it annoyed him that Ryson had left during the night to find answers Sy would not be able to obtain on his own. It would be too dangerous to send out his soldiers to search for the elf camp. He would have to wait for his messenger to reach Connel and then for Holli to travel back to Burbon. To his delight, she was at his office door in half the time he anticipated.

  "We teleported directly to the border of your town. We thought it important enough not to delay. The messenger who brought your news to us, however, decided to return on horseback." Holli motioned to the individual standing next to her. "This is Jure. He wished to accompany me."

  After, Sy and Jure exchanged greetings, the captain revealed all of the details of the raid. He concluded with the information obtained from the goblin leader.

  "The word of a goblin is always suspect," Holli offered after hearing Okyiq's declaration that the elves were gone. "Unless held to a strict bargain they deem beneficial to their own standing, they will lie in an instant to save their own skins. Even if the goblin was not stretching the truth, their ability to comprehend complex situations is always quite lacking. That is why they are easily duped into being pawns."

  "Normally, I would agree with you," Sy replied, "but there was something different about this one. He wasn't just bigger than the rest. He led them, displayed a level of-how did you put it? — complex comprehension that surprised me. Not much mind you, but I can't deny he utilized a greater level of tactics than I ever would have expected. He had a number of goblins with him, but he didn't just storm us. It wasn't like he unleashed a horde, even a small one, and he didn't conduct a simple grab and run raid, either. He was able to get inside the gate. I admit my soldiers made some mistakes, but I don't think a regular goblin raiding party would have made it through. I'm not saying he was the quickest wit I've ever come across-nothing like a serp-but he was able to negotiate and think on his feet. I saw it… I dealt with it."

  Holli found the report intriguing. She had great respect for Sy Fenden, appreciated his skills as a leader and a soldier. She did not doubt his account, not for an instant, but the details of Okyiq's abilities contradicted her perception of goblin limitations.

  "Interesting. A goblin blessed with superior size and the ability for critical thinking. Very unusual."

  And it was unusual for an elf to consider a lowly goblin endowed with such characteristics. Due to their close proximity in the forest, elves dealt with goblins far more extensively than humans, and serving as Enin's apprentice, Holli had her own experiences with the diminutive monsters. She had seen them behave exactly as they were portrayed in elflore.

  During the past several seasons, she witnessed them act with a brash disregard for reason and strategy. They were often cast to the forefront of a battle, and despite taking enormous casualties, they displayed little reservation in hurling themselves at desperate situations like mindless rocks tumbling down a mountainside. Mostly, she saw them consumed by the collective lust of the horde. With such experiences fairly fresh in her mind, an intelligent goblin was not simply a rarity, it was a paradox.

  But while Okyiq presented a puzzle, Holli was not ready to accept the large goblin's rather simplistic explanation regarding her camp.

  "Still, he is a goblin," Holli noted, "and as such, he might not understand all of the possible explanations to what he might notice. To him, the elves are indeed gone, but what does that mean exactly? From his standpoint, he gained the freedom to operate with fewer restrictions; he did not have to worry about elf intervention as he amassed his following."

  "Would the elves have interfered?" Sy wondered.

  "I believe they would. A growing goblin pack can soon turn into a horde, and that is a hazard to all creatures. It is best to break up the pack before they become too great a menace, especially if they are led by a superior creature. The elf guard that protects a camp is trained to monitor the activities of all possible threats. When a grouping of goblins begins to thrive and grow, the guard can util
ize several tactics to encourage the pack to either disband or leave the area."

  "Then that would seem to indicate that something has happened to your old elf camp, wouldn't it?"

  "They might have simply relocated, and that in itself is not necessarily a concern. The elves of Dark Spruce are not pure settlers like the humans of this region. Their camps are not as permanent. They do not construct large structures or build lasting roads. Though they tend to remain in a set portion of Dark Spruce, the region is vast. Elves always remain somewhat nomadic. It is easier that way when adapting to life in the forest. Despite what Okyiq states, they might have simply moved their camp westward. If they did, they would have done so with care."

  The captain considered such a simple solution, but the explanation seemed odd to him, or perhaps lacking.

  "I guess it's possible. You'd know better than I would, but wouldn't there be a reason for that… something we might have noticed ourselves?" Sy wondered.

  "Many possibilities exist, and remember, it is not so difficult for the elves to relocate. Certain events that might seem a minor inconvenience for a human settlement, something you might disregard as a temporary nuisance, might be enough to cause the elves to reposition their camp… a drought, for instance, or they might have found the food supply dwindling, or even a more bountiful supply in another area."

  "We've had a good deal of rain lately. Would something as simple as that cause a camp to move?"

  Holli considered the relevant factors and then offered what she considered an even more likely explanation.

  "Actually, I believe they might have felt uncomfortable with the increased dwarf activity near Pinesway. I am sure you are aware of the growing relationship between the dwarves and the humans at the outpost. I would not be surprised if such a situation caused the elves a bit of… anxiety."

  "I thought about that myself," Sy admitted. "I even thought the dwarves might have disturbed the rogues. And what about them? They hit the same time as the goblins. Was it all just a coincidence?"

  "Possibly, but not totally unrelated. It may all be nothing more than a logical sequence of events. The dwarves are invited to help the rebuilding efforts of Pinesway. The elves are uncomfortable so close to an increased dwarf presence above ground, and so, they reposition their camp. Paths once protected by elf guards go unwatched. Rogues and goblins that once stalked territory near Pinesway decide to move and find free passage into areas of the forest abandoned by the elves."

  "And that would be nearer to us," Sy admitted as he followed Holli's logic. "I guess it makes sense. I have to admit my patrols have spotted more and more of the dwarves lately. If we're seeing them, everyone else would, too; the elves, the goblins, even the rogues."

  "Have you faced any other irregularities?"

  "Well, we haven't had any contact at all with the elves for a while now. That still has me bothered."

  "If the camp has moved, that would offer the explanation."

  "Perhaps, but I thought they would have said something to us, or even tried to reestablish contact. We've been working with them for a while now. Even if they moved, I would have guessed they would have wanted to continue to share information. I always thought it was helpful for both sides, but all contact just stopped. We never even got the chance to tell them about the Great Valleys, to explain what happened to all the refugees from the east. I would have guessed they would have been curious about that."

  "They might have learned of it from different sources. The dwarves of Dunop were also involved in the incident in the valleys. The elves of my camp had trade agreements with the dwarves… at least they did."

  Sy perked up at the obvious meaning.

  "That sounds like it stopped. Have you heard from the dwarves about that?"

  "They have also indicated that contact with the elves has ceased."

  Another element for the captain to consider, and it left him as puzzled as before.

  "Doesn't that worry you?" he asked the elf.

  "It does, but relations between dwarves and elves have always been somewhat complex and unpredictable. The situation in Pinesway might still be the simple explanation for all of this. The elves might not appreciate the increased dwarf presence in their lands. They may view it as an unwanted advance into their territory."

  "So you think the dwarf activity in Pinesway is the most likely explanation?"

  "I believe it can explain some things, but there are other factors that have piqued our own curiosity. Jure is very sensitive to magical energies, he sensed something from Dark Spruce not too long ago."

  Sy looked to the wizard with both curiosity and concern.

  "You think there might be some magical explanation to all of this?" the captain asked.

  Jure answered without hesitation, acknowledging Sy's authority as the leader of the town facing unknown and increased dangers. He had remained quiet, allowing Holli and Sy to exchange critical information, but when the guard captain requested his opinion, Jure offered it freely with the hope of assisting the people of Burbon.

  "I believe something of magnitude has happened in the forest. Beyond that, I'm not sure. I don't exactly know what's going on. You've had a rather interesting experience with goblins and rogues, the elves seem to have moved from their camp, and there is much more dark creature activity in this region, but is it all related? As I said, I'm not so sure."

  "But you sense something, something in the magic?"

  "Yes I do, but it's not something entirely active."

  "Can you explain what that means?"

  "It's something like… a pulse may be the best way to put it. A pulse that I can't pinpoint, but it came from this direction. It's something like the memory of a great magical disturbance. It's more of an echo, but it's a very complex echo. I don't believe it was one large destructive spell, a casting that got out of hand. The intricacies seem to indicate a great degree of control. Does that make sense to you?"

  "Sort of, but in all honesty, I never could get a full grip on this magic stuff. I usually left that to Enin. Of course, Enin now spends his time in Connel."

  "He has not forgotten you," Holli offered. "He encouraged us to get here as soon as possible, and he is more than willing to help."

  "I know that, but I have to admit it was easier when he was here. He could have handled a goblin raid and a few rogues with a blink of an eye. All that power. Of course, sometimes he didn't want to use it."

  "He has always been careful."

  Careful.

  It was true. Enin was careful with his magical abilities. He didn't try to solve every problem. He helped as he believed he should. He felt there was a distinct line between helping and interfering.

  For some reason, Sy thought of Ryson. Maybe Ryson was just doing the same thing, setting up a boundary, being careful. Ryson said it himself, he drew a line in the sand he didn't want to cross. Enin drew a line as well, used it as a reason to not interfere in other people's lives. Were they both making excuses or did they both have a valid point? Sy wasn't sure.

  Still feeling uneasy about his decision regarding the delver, Sy decided not to dwell on it.

  "I know Enin does what he can," Sy offered with an apologetic tone, not quite certain if the tinge of guilt he felt related to Ryson or Enin. "Anyway, so that's why you're both here then. You've got a feeling that something magical happened out in the forest and I send you a message that the elves have disappeared. No wonder you teleported right over."

  "It creates an element of concern that should be investigated," Holli stated almost too distantly.

  Sy suddenly realized that they were talking about Holli's camp, a group of elves she once swore to protect with her life. Though she accepted banishment for the good of her camp, he found it difficult to believe she could be so detached. He also wondered about the elves connection to Holli. He couldn't believe they would just up and move and not give her some indication of their plans.

  "What about you? Did they try to send you any notice
, I don't know, maybe some magical alert informing you of a possible relocation?"

  "No," she responded as if she believed such notification was completely unnecessary.

  "Don't you find that a bit strange? Shouldn't they have notified you if they were moving?"

  "Not at all, I am no longer a member of the camp. They have no obligation to inform me of anything."

  "Maybe they don't have an obligation, but I would think they'd want you to know."

  Holli was puzzled by the assertion.

  "Really? Why?"

  "You have a history with them. You've helped them in the past. Alright, you're no longer an official member of the camp, but so what? I'd want you to know what's happening."

  "I still do not understand the reason," Holli admitted.

  "You're an asset. It's not good tactics to leave an asset uninformed."

  "Revealing too much information could also be a liability."

  "I suppose if they were hiding from something, but why hide from you?"

  "As we have indicated, they may be unhappy with the dwarves. I am now located in Connel, a human town with strong ties to the dwarf city of Dunop, and I am the guard of Enin, an ally to those same dwarves. They might feel it unwise to include me in their plans."

  "Relations between the dwarves and elves are that strained?"

  "Not necessarily strained," Holli explained. "As I said before, they are complex."

  "So maybe I'm concerned about nothing more than a simple elf relocation," Sy admitted.

  "The concern is warranted," Holli noted. "The elves may indeed be gone. When a goblin of unnatural abilities offers such information, it needs to be investigated. What we have discussed is all speculation. We must focus on the facts and determine if there is a true danger to your town, or even to the land."

  "I'm all for that," Sy revealed.

  "I would suggest that we scout out the previous area that served as the site for the elf camp. Once I inspect the region, I can determine if they simply relocated. Jure can further probe for any magical sensations. What he sensed may not be connected to the elves." Holli glanced toward the town's captain. "I do not wish to exclude you, but I do not believe it would be wise for you to accompany us."