by Langland, J.
"The Abyss?" Fiernon was startled. "What is the state of our current extradition treaty with the Abyss?"
Wylan shook his head. "Unfortunately, not particularly good. What organized government said region has is notably lacking in cohesion and is further noticeably reticent to make any such treaty so as to uphold the due process of law. Experience has further taught us that their pursuance of the matters of justice is more than even criminally sporadic. In short, even given the existence of said treaty, it is highly unlikely to be upheld on the part of the Abyssal rulers."
Fiernon nodded. "This is therefore indicative that extradition via extra planar extraction is advisable?" he asked.
"Advisable yes." Wylan stated. "Feasible no. Said government, such as it is, is notably objective to incursion by outside elements. Such actions on our part are often met with severe resistance on their part. Further given no truly cohesive organized government institution that we can deal with, and no embassy on our part, locating such individuals is also extremely difficult."
"Nefarious nihilists! For the moment, they seem out of our pursuance. How I would love nothing more than for the jaws of justice to mercilessly masticate the miserably malicious malefactoring miscreantic malcontents!" Fiernon pounded his fist into the palm of his left hand.
"While the exhaustive exhibition of elegant eloquence in your exhortative elocution is extremely, nay exquisitely exacting in the extreme, and excessively encouraging to me, thus ensuring of my express agreement, I must say, do not give up hope!" Wylan paced around the campsite, looking for details. "For, as is well documented, such maloriferous misanthropes as these, frankly mystifying malefactors of malevolent mendacity and mongers of maladictive misbehavior, always return to the scene of their putrescent, puerile and pitiable perpetrations. To wit, in this case, they will return to Astlan. Of this you may rest assured."
Pointing to the heavens above, Wylan concluded. "Therefore, have no futile feeling of fearful fretting, as Justice shall prevail and the rapscallious vagabonds of cantankerous courtly contempt shall pay most dearly for the scandalous, nay, scoundrel-like, misdeeds and misappropriations of constabulary life." Fiernon bowed his head, grateful for the alliterative, yet nearly allegorical, postulations of reassurance provided by one who was so obviously a truly masterful legal discourser of the first rank.
"You were, as I believe was so efficaciously effected tonight to be demonstrated, correct in your initial estimations as to these villaicious varlets threat to Oorstemoth. Not only do I concur with your judgment, I feel that I must request that a full lack of judicial restraint be utilized in the capture and subsequent prosecution and execution of these savagely seedy suspects of sin." Wylan complimented and assured Fiernon. "I shall even now begin the undertaking of such steps as to ensure the eventual demise and destruction of said parties."
~
Edwyrd was sitting on Tom's throne, rather overlarge for Edwyrd's body, reviewing his argument with Jenn. No one had said much afterwards, they simply moved off to corners and sat and waited. It didn't seem to take quite an hour before Tom felt the summons from Tizzy.
This time it was similar to Jehenna's last summons. Much stronger than Rupert's, but without the demand that Lenamare had. As he felt the pull, Tom let his mind trace the mental path that the summons created. In a way, the gobbledygook words he'd used to describe what he was going to do, before they'd left were correct. It was a link, or mental thread, between Tizzy and himself. Only in this case the link was created by Tizzy doing the summoning.
Tom could 'feel' with his mind something like a string or path going to Tizzy and could thus get a view of where Tizzy was. Wherever that was, was dark. It seemed to be a large grassy field of some sort. He reached out and felt himself where Tizzy was. Simultaneously he felt himself in the cave. Using himself as the bridge along the link, he mentally dug a hole in the space between locations.
Each time he'd done this gateway, he'd done the visualization slightly differently, but each time it had worked. This time was no exception; he felt a hole in space opening around him. Apparently, the visualization wasn't as important as the intent and the knowledge of both ends. Widening the hole, he brought more of his consciousness to the cave. "OK, everyone! We have the gate. Time to go!"
Jenn sighed with relief, Gastropé giving her a reassuring smile, saying he'd known they'd be all right. Maelen simply stood up and dusted himself off, picking up the donkey's reins. Maelen looked at the dark hole in space near the throne, shaking his head he lead the donkey towards it and then through it. Still controlled, the donkey caused no problems.
Next came Gastropé who stepped through as soon as the donkey's tail had completely crossed the threshold of the gateway. Jenn straightened her clothes and moved towards the gateway, looking around the room. "Rupert? Where's Rupert?"
Tom looked around the cave. The boy wasn't in it. Apparently, he'd left the cave, no one had noticed. "I don't know, he must have wandered out."
"Curse that child!" Jenn said, shaking her head in frustration. "Rupert!" she yelled. "Come on! it's time to go!" They waited for a response but none came. "Where the Abyss is he?" worry showing through Jenn's voice.
Tom! Tom heard Tizzy's voice in his head. That was strange; it was like telepathy, he guessed. How was that happening? Was it this link he had? Hurry up, the gateway is spilling light into the surrounding area; someone is bound to see it soon. What's the matter, what are you taking so long for? Trying to make yourself another kid? Tom just grimaced at the little demon.
"Jenn, we can't keep this link much longer!" Tom said.
"Well I'm certainly not leaving him here!" Jenn cried almost hysterically.
"No, no!" Tom assured her thinking quickly, "but I'll stay and find him. You have to go through. I'll find him and then bring us both back."
"No, I'm not leaving without Rupert!" Jenn shouted.
Tom shook his head, "Jenn, you can't go out and find him; your spell won't hold up to the heat. Mine will. You go through; I can pull us both out the same way. You just have Tizzy repeat this summons in...I don't know...three hours or so, at dawn say."
Jenn looked at him for a moment, "No," she finally said. "I can't leave the boy in the Abyss."
"Jenn," Edwyrd pleaded. "Please, believe me. I can find him; he will be all right. I swear to you by all that I hold sacred that I'll find him and bring him through. You have my word that I won't leave the Abyss until I find him."
Jenn bit her fingernails. Edwyrd knew she didn't want to leave the boy, he hoped she realized that there was no choice. "You swear to Maera? On your heart, upon your soul of souls?"
"I swear to Maera, fervently and devotedly. May I be doomed to spend the rest of eternity here in the Abyss if I lie, or if I fail." Rather a hollow promise Edwyrd realized. For one thing, he had no idea who Maera was, and for the other, he was already doomed to the Abyss for all eternity. Jenn just frowned uncertainly, but her brow was already lined with sweat from the heat. She had to know there was no way she could handle the outside temperatures, needed to find Rupert.
"RUPERT! COME HERE!" She yelled one last time with all her might. They waited several more moments but no Rupert came. Now Edwyrd was getting concerned. Biting her lower lip, Jenn stepped closer to the gateway. "Please find him, Edwyrd, not just for my sake, but for his own?"
"I will, Jenn; I swear it. Don't worry, I will ensure his safety." Jenn gave Edwyrd's hand a quick squeeze then backed through the gateway, looking longingly up the passageway from the cave. Edwyrd watched her go through, feeling her fear.
As soon as she was through, he called to Tizzy, Tizzy, summon me again at dawn; I've got to find out where Rupert wandered off to.
Probably the courts, Tizzy replied, every kid wants to see those. See ya later! With that last thought, Edwyrd allowed the hole in space to fill itself in with reality. Rupert, that kid was more trouble, Edwyrd thought to himself.
With the departure of the wizards, the Were Light was also gone. The ca
ve was quite dark. It had certainly not been that way before. Since he was going to be here for a while, there was no reason to limit himself in his search. He might as well be comfortable and have all of his abilities available to him. Quickly, Edwyrd stripped off his clothes and put them on the table. With that done, he let himself relax completely.
Even as he did so the room began to lighten. Within moments, not only had his viewpoint shifted upwards by five or six feet, his eyesight was able to see everything in the room as well as if it were day. Marching determinedly, he went up the passageway to the cave's exit.
As he reached the small ledge that marked the cave's mouth at the top of the mountain, he found a pile of human clothes. It didn't take much looking to realize they were Rupert's and it didn't take much to guess what the kid had done. Kids, Tom sighed to himself. He scanned the red sky above, looking for any flying silhouettes. He didn't see any. He then turned his gaze downward toward the valley.
He had to stare for a while, but eventually he found an unusual spot on the valley floor below. It was only a few hundred feet horizontally from him, but about a couple thousand vertical. His cave was on a very steep mountain. He swooped down off his perch towards the speck below. As he came upon the spot, he shook his head.
A small winged, burgundy humanoid was laying on the ground. It waved at him as he approached. Actually, it was sort of tilted over backwards. It's lower legs, below the knee were stuck in the ground, his upper body bent over and resting on the ground, almost like sitting. Tom knew the position. "Legs hurt?" he asked Rupert.
Rupert smiled slightly and nodded strongly. "Like crazy. I'm also stuck."
"Flying is not as easy as it looks, is it?" Tom said with the air of a learned expert. He had to remind himself that it had only been a couple weeks ago that he'd been in the same position. "Here." He reached out his hands so Rupert could grab them. As the boy did so, Tom pulled straight upward, lifting the boy and his legs out of the hole. He met a slight resistance and Rupert groaned, and then popped free of the dirt.
"Oh...." Rupert moaned as Tom set him back down on the ground gently, before landing himself. He looked down into the boy’s eyes. "You know, of course, that Jenn went into hysterics when she found you missing?"
"I'm sorry." Rupert said sincerely. "I just went out for a look again, and--well, I couldn't help myself. I had to try." He bowed his head. Tom sighed, he understood.
"Well, they've gone back to Astlan," he pulled the boy forward, "we'll follow in a few hours when Tizzy summons me again. I'm just glad you're all right." He gave Rupert a hug. Once again, proportion was balanced between them, and Rupert's horns only came up to Tom's ribcage. He hugged the boy tightly, patting him between the wings. Rupert smiled fondly upward at him. "OK, boy. No son of mine is going to go around putting holes in my front lawn. We'll have to teach you what to do with those wings, aside from cooling yourself!" Tom shook his head and smiled as Rupert grinned back. Rupert's smile didn't look anything but what it was now, in no way was it frightening. Interesting, Tom thought.
Like most young kids, Rupert was a fast learner. Within a half hour, Tom had Rupert soaring over the valley with him. Showing him some of the finer points he himself had mastered just recently. After one extremely high dive, in which they nearly scraped the bottom of the valley, they pulled up to near the same height as the top of the mountain. There they rested for a moment, just hovering in the air.
"Wow!" Rupert exclaimed. "This is so excellent. I can't believe how much fun it is." Tom had to smile, flying was fun. It was even more fun when you had someone to enjoy it with. It was also fun to watch the boy's enthusiasm.
"Ah-hem," a voice said behind and below them. Tom started slightly. He looked down and over to the voice. About twenty feet away, standing in a respectful pose, was another demon. This was not a demon Tom had seen before. Instantly he was on guard.
The demon was actually quite small. Perhaps a little bigger than human Rupert, but thinner. Almost like one of the smaller Sidhe he'd seen in Hoggensforth. However, this demon had cat-like eyes, a small beard and mustache and rather small bat-wings. He was also dressed. The little demon was wearing some sort of leather vest and pants. How very strange.
"Yes?" Tom asked, "Can I help you."
"Sorry to interrupt. However, I've been trying to meet you for some time now, with little success."
"Really? And who might you be?" Tom asked, Rupert looking on.
"Antefalken's the name. Barding's the game." The small demon smiled with a slight bow, "Actually, I at least think you're who I've been trying to meet. You are," he glanced between Rupert and Tom, "the demon called Tom?"
Tom nodded, "That's me? I might ask how you know me, not to be rude, but paranoia does not seem completely out of the question at the moment."
"Certainly true! Especially with all the individuals involved in the situation, right now. However, let me assure you, I mean you no harm. I'm a friend of Boggy's and he told me all about you."
"Boggy? I haven't seen him in a while either. Not since he parted ways with his master."
"And parted his master," Antefalken added, "at least as I heard it from him." Tom just nodded.
"So then? Now I know why you know me. Mind if I ask why you want to find me?" Tom hated to sound so suspicious, but he was a little leery anymore of strange demons.
"My understanding is that you work for Lenamare?"
"Work, may not be the correct term. However we do seem to have a one-way binding contract that seems to benefit him more than me." Antefalken smiled at Tom’s joke.
"Ah then I heard right. You see, I am involved, indirectly, with resolving a dispute between Lenamare and Exador and was trying to gather independent evidence to help in the ruling."
"Like an independent counsel? Investigator?"
Antefalken nodded, "Precisely, in fact I work for a member of the Wizard's Council in Freehold."
"Really? Lenamare and Exador are there to fight their battle in court then?"
"Yes."
"I'd suggest your court put up concrete shielding in that case."
Antefalken looked alarmed. "Why? Are they planning something?"
"No," Tom shook his head, "nothing like that. It's just that whenever those two get together, lots of violent and explosive things occur."
"Like the explosion that took out the school?"
"Yeah, like that. Seems to have been a nuclear blast of some sort. Severe radiation and all. Not exactly a safe place to be these days. However, Exador's people seem to want to stick around. For their sake, I hope Exador understands what he's dealing with."
"Why?" Antefalken asked. "Is there some delayed effect spell in progress?"
"No, not a spell really. It's just that when you set off a nuclear blast, you release a lot of radiation, gamma rays and such. This does a lot of damage to people immediately, but it also makes things nearby radioactive. If you stay around them too long, you get sick and can die from it. It also makes people sterile."
"Hmm," Antefalken rubbed his chin. "I wasn't aware of this."
"Yeah, well if Exador's not doing something to protect them, he should evacuate from the area. When I was last there, they were sitting in the middle of the crater on a peninsula. Not a good idea."
"That was certainly a nasty spell that Lenamare got off."
"Lenamare seems to like overkill from what I can see." Tom stated, "Doing anything small is not his idea of doing something."
"From your tone of voice, I take you don't care for the man?" Antefalken asked.
Tom just grimaced at the demon as if he were crazy. "To use the popular expression, he's my accursed master. By definition, I hate him. Besides that even, I don't particularly care for his attitude." Tom laughed internally at his use of ‘by definition’ thinking of his argument with Jenn.
Antefalken nodded, "So you think Exador's in the right then?"
Tom shook his head. "I didn't say that at all. I've never actually met the man, but as far as I
can tell he's at least as crazy and probably a lot more unpleasant than Lenamare. After all, he drug an army through the Abyss to make a sneak attack on Lenamare. Further he rules his army through fear and intimidation." Tom said, thinking of what Gastropé had said about Exador. "He's got all the makings of a classic fantasy villain. Lenamare's just an asshole, with a really snotty bitch."
"Drug an army through the Abyss?" Antefalken was taken aback. "How did he do that?"
Tom shrugged, he didn't want to sound ignorant, all he knew was what Gastropé had told them, so he spoke with more authority than he really felt. "Abyssal Switch spell; it interchanges Astlanian real-estate for Abyss land, and anything on that real-estate. Do a couple cycles, get everyone here, cycle them back in reverse to someplace else in Astlan. Highway through Hell rather than Highway to Hell." He tried to make it sound common place and simple.
Antefalken just shook his head. "The question is why? Why would he go to so much trouble?"
Tom shrugged, "I don't know. I still haven't figured out why wizards can't tell the difference between people from outer planes and demons. Given that I'm in that boat, how would I even begin to understand how wizards view each other."
"OK, you have a point there." He looked at Rupert again. "You know, you two look mighty similar." Tom smiled, Rupert spoke up.
"He's my father." Tom tried not to grimace. He'd been going along with the boy's fantasy but didn't want to get too many people wrapped up in it. The more people that started to believe this, the more work he'd have to straighten things out later.
Antefalken raised his eyebrows. "Father. But I thought Boggy told me that..." he was looking at Tom. Tom shook his head.
"Boggy sometimes is confused on some things but not others. Things aren't always as they may appear." Tom hoped that the demon would get the hint that he didn't want to discuss it at the moment, and hopefully the demon would understand that it was because Rupert was around. He felt Rupert looking at him, clearly not understanding.
"Hmm," Antefalken said. "Well, anyway. I shouldn't keep you. Father and son at play," he smiled. “I've got to get back to the courts. If you happen to get in town, look me up."