Alternative Life

by Matt Harris

  The-irest,-ione-iornate-itragedy-iafter-ianother,-idepicted-inothing-ibut-isuffering,-iviolence,-idestruction,-iand-iwar.-iWhile-ishe-ionly-ihad-imoments-ito-itake-iin-ieach-iof-ithe-icarvings-ibefore-ishe-iwas-iforcibly-imoved-ifrom-iits-iview,-ishe-ibegan-ito-iget-isome-iidea-iof-ithe-ioverall-inarrative.

  Their-igod-ihad-icreated-ithem-iin-itheir-iown-iimage,-ibut-ithe-iother-iraces,-ihaving-ibeen-icreated-ifrom-inothing,-idid-inot-iaccept-ithis-inew-i"perversion"-iof-itheir-icreator-igod's-iintent.-iSo-ithey-icast-ithe-ignoll-irace-ifrom-iacceptance-iinto-iexile,-ileading-ito-iwars-iand-ifamines-iand-islavery,-iwith-ithe-ignolls-ibeing-ishown-iboth-ireceiving-iviolence-iand-idelivering-iviolence-iin-ireturn.

  Eleanor,-iin-ispite-iof-iher-icircumstances,-icouldn't-ihelp-ibut-ifeel-ipity-ifor-ignolls.-iThe-istory-ithey-iwere-itelling-imirrored-ithe-ihistory-ishe'd-ibeen-itold,-iexcept-iit-idepicted-ignolls-ias-icorrupted-imonsters-iwho-iexisted-isolely-ito-iharm-ithe-iother-ipure-iraces,-imuch-iin-ithe-isame-iway-ithat-iit-iwas-isaid-ithat-iorcs,-igoblins,-iand-ikobolds-idid.-iThis,-ihowever,-ishowed-ia-irace-ithat-iwas-icreated-igood,-ibut-ithrough-ithe-iprejudice-iof-iothers-ibecame-ievil-ias-ia-imatter-iof-iself-preservation.-iIf-isuch-ia-istory-iwere-ieven-ipartly-itrue,-ithen-ishe-ialmost-icouldn't-iblame-ithem-ifor-ibeing-ithe-iway-ithey-iwere.

  None-iof-ithis,-ihowever,-iwas-igoing-ito-ialter-iher-icurrent-icircumstances,-iand-ino-iamount-iof-iempathy-ifor-iher-icaptors-iwas-igoing-ichange-ithe-ifact-ithat-ishe-iwas-istill-itheir-iprisoner-iand-ithat-iif-ishe-ifailed-ito-ifind-ia-iway-iout-iof-ithis-isoon,-ishe-iwould-istay-itheir-iprisoner-ifor-ihowever-ilong-ishe-imanaged-ito-iendure-itheir-iabuse,-iand-ino-ilonger.-iRemembering-ithis-ifact-isobered-iher-imind-iback-iup.

  "Now-iis-inot-ithe-itime-ito-ibe-ia-ibleeding-iheart,-iElls.-iYou-ican-icare-iabout-ithem-iafter-ithey're-inot-ikeeping-iyou-ichained-iup-ilike-ian-ianimal."-iShe-ithought-ito-iherself-ias-ithey-ireached-ithe-iend-iof-ithe-icorridor.

  At-ithe-ifar-iend,-itwo-imore-ilarge-iguards-iwaited-iin-ifront-iof-ia-ipair-iof-imatching-istone-idoors-iset-irecessed-iinto-ithe-iend-iof-ithe-ichamber-ithat-irose-iall-ithe-iway-ito-ithe-icarved-iceiling.-iAs-ithey-idrew-iclose,-ithe-itwo-iguards-istepped-ito-ithe-iside,-ione-iof-ithem-itapping-ione-iof-ithe-istone-idoors-iwith-ithe-imetal-capped-ibutt-iof-ihis-ipolearm.

  In-ia-imoment,-ithe-idoor-iswung-islowly-ioutward-iwith-ia-ilow,-igrinding-irumble,-iand-ithe-ignoll-iwho'd-ibeen-iholding-ithe-ichain-iattached-ito-iher-icollar-iwalked-iover-ito-iher,-iand-iwith-ia-isharp-itug-isnapped-ithe-icollar-ifree-iof-iher-ineck-ibefore-iunceremoniously-ipushing-iher-iinto-ithe-inew-iroom.-iBefore-ishe-icould-isay-ia-iword-ior-iget-iany-iidea-iof-iwhat-iwas-ihappening,-ithe-igiant-istone-idoor-iboomed-iclosed-ibehind-iher.-i

  ###-iChapter-i63-i--iInside-ithe-iForest

  The-inight-iarrived,-iovercast-iand-ifoggy,-inot-ilong-iafter-iJames-iand-ithe-igirls-imade-icamp.-iIn-iorder-ito-ihave-isome-isemblance-iof-ishelter,-ithey-iset-iup-ia-ihundred-ior-iso-ifeet-iinside-ithe-iforest-iline.-iIt-iwas-ifar-ienough-iin-ito-igive-ithem-ifull-icoverage-ioverhead-iin-icase-iof-irain-iand-iobscured-itheir-ipresence-ifrom-ithe-ioutside,-ibut-iwas-istill-iclose-ienough-ito-ithe-iforest-iedge-ithat-iJames-ifelt-icomfortable-ithey-icould-iget-iout-iof-iit-iif-isomething-iinside-iof-iit-idecided-ithey-iwould-imake-ia-igood-isnack.

  As-ithey-isettled-iin-ifor-ithe-ievening,-iRose-isuggested-ithey-iactually-icook-isomething-ifor-ia-ichange,-irather-ithan-ieating-icold-ifood-ifor-ithe-ifourth-imeal-iin-ia-irow,-iand-iasked-iJames-ito-iheat-isome-iwater-iin-itheir-iiron-ipot-iso-ishe-icould-itry-iand-imake-ithem-isome-isoup.

  He-ithought-iabout-iit-ifor-ia-imoment,-iand-ibroke-idown-ithe-iroot-ispellword-ifor-ifire-iuntil-ihe-ithought-ihe'd-iisolated-ithe-icomponent-ifor-iheat,-iand-iseeing-iif-ihe-iwas-iright,-iplaced-ia-ihand-ion-ithe-iwater-filled-ipot-iand-iintoned-ithe-isyllable.

  To-ihis-igreat-isurprise,-iit-iactually-iworked,-iand-iwithin-ia-iminute-ithe-ipot-iwas-iboiling-iquietly-ion-ithe-ismall-icooking-istand-iRose-ihad-iset-iup.-iRose-ipulled-ia-ismall-ibag-ifrom-iher-ibackpack,-iand-ipoured-ithe-icontents-iinto-ithe-ipot.-iFrom-ithe-ilimited-ilight,-iit-ilooked-ilike-ibeans.-iJames,-ion-iher-isuggestion,-ialso-iadded-iin-isome-iof-ithe-idried-imeat-ifrom-iEllie's-isupplies.-iFinally,-ishe-ireached-iinto-iher-ipack-iagain-iand-ipulled-iout-isome-ikind-iof-ilarge-ish,-ipie-like-ipastry,-iwhich-ishe-ibroke-iopen-iand-ipoured-ithe-icontents-iof-iinto-ithe-ipot.

  "It's-ia-ipot-ipie.-iOnly-ithing-iwe've-igot-ithat-ihas-iany-iother-ivegetables-iin-iit."-iShe-isaid-iwhen-iJames-ilooked-iat-iher-iquestioningly.

  The-ithree-iof-ithem-iate-iuntil-ithere-iwas-inothing-ileft,-iand-iJames-ifound-ihimself-iwishing,-idespite-ihis-ifull-istomach,-ithat-ithey-istill-ihad-isome-ileft.-iRose's-icooking-inever-iceased-ito-iimpress.

  "Though,-iEllie's-ieven-ibetter"-iJames-ithought-ito-ihimself.

  A-ishort-itime-iafter-idinner,-ithe-ithree-iof-ithem-ilaid-iout-itheir-ibedrolls-ibeneath-ithe-itreetop-icanopy,-ihidden-iin-ithe-imidst-iof-ia-ipatch-iof-iferns-ithat-irendered-ithem-iinvisible-ifrom-imore-ithan-ia-ifew-ifeet-iaway.-i

  For-ithe-isecond-itime-iin-ia-irow,-iJames-ifound-ihimself-iunable-ito-isleep,-ihis-imind-irestless.-iThe-igirls,-ifor-itheir-ipart,-iseemed-ito-ibe-ihaving-ino-iissues-iwhatsoever,-iand-ifrom-ithe-irhythmic-isounds-iof-itheir-ibreathing-iwere-ialready-iwell-iinto-idreamland.-i

  There-iwas-isomething-ibothering-ihim-iabout-ithis-iforest,-ibut-ihe-icouldn't-iput-ihis-ifinger-ion-iwhy,-iand-ithat-ibothered-ihim-ieven-imore.

  It-iwasn't-ianything-iovert.-iThe-isounds-iwere-iall-inormal,-ithe-itrees-iand-iother-iplants-iwere-iexactly-ias-ithey-ishould-ibe,-ibut-isomething-ideep-iin-ihis-isubconscious,-iinstinctive-ibrain-itold-ihim-ito-ibe-ion-ihis-iguard,-ialmost-ias-iif-isomething-iwas-istalking-ithem-ijust-ioutside-iof-ihis-irange-iof-iperception-ior-isomething.

  He-itried-iclosing-ihis-ieyes-iand-islowing-ihis-ibreath,-ithen-icounting-isheep,-ibut-inothing-iwas-iworking.-iHe-ijust-icould-inot-ishake-ihis-idiscomfort.-iAfter-iabout-ian-ihour,-ihe-igot-iup-iquietly-iand-iwalked-igingerly-ioutside-iof-itheir-icamp-iarea-ito-irelieve-ihimself-ibehind-ia-itree,-ifar-ienough-ito-iavoid-ibeing-iseen-iby-ithe-igirls,-ibut-iclose-ienough-ito-istill-ifind-ihis-iway-iback-ieasily.

  He-iwalked-iabout-ififty-ipaces-ior-iso-iaway-iin-ia-istraight-iline,-icareful-ito-ikeep-ihis-iprofile-ilow-iand-imake-ias-ilittle-inoise-ias-ipossible.-iWhile-ihe-iwasn't-isure-ianything-iwould-ipay-ihim-imuch-imind,-ihe-iwasn't-iabout-ito-idraw-iunwanted-iattention-iif-ihe-icould-ihelp-iit.

  Looking-iahead,-ihe-isaw-ia-ilarge-ienough-itree,-iand-iwalked-itowards-iit.-iAs-ihe-idid-iso,-ihe-iheard-ia-ifaint-irustle-ibehind-ihim,-iand-ihe-ijerked-iaround,-ibut-icouldn't-isee-ianything-iout-iof-ithe-iordinary.-iThe-isense-iof-iunease-ihe'd-ibeen-ihaving,-ihowever,-isuddenly-igot-imuch-iworse,-iand-ihe-ifound-ihimself-isuddenly-ihaving-ian-ioverwhelming-iurge-ito-iget-iback-ito-ithe-igirls.

  He-iturned-ito-igo-iback,-iand-ifroze-iin-ihis-itracks-iwhen-ia-idark-ihumanoid-ishape-irose-iout-iof-ithe-iundergrowth.-iThen-ianother.-iAnd-ianother.

  His-iheart-iracing,-ihe-iraised-ihis-ihands,-iand-ibegan-irunning-ithrough-ispellwords-iin-ihis-ihead,-ibut-iwas-istopped-ishort-iby-ithe-ifeeling-iof-isomething-ipointy-iand-icold-iheld-iagainst-ithe-iback-iof-ihis-ineck.

  A-iman's-ivoice-ibehind-ihim-isaid-isoftly-i"Now,-ilet's-inot-ibe-itoo-ihasty,-ifriend."-i

  ###-iChapter-i64-i--iThe-iGirls-iWake-iUp

  Rose-iawoke,-iher-ieyes-iflicking-iopen-ito-ifind-ithat-iit-iwas-istill-icompletely-idark-ioutside,-iand-ioutside-iof-ithe-ioccasional-ichirp-iof-ia-ibird-ior-ian-iinsect,-ior-ithe-ishifting-isounds-iof-ithe-isurrounding-itrees-iand-iferns-idue-ito-ithe-ifaint-ibreeze-ibrushing-ipast-ithem,-ithere-iwas-ino-inoise.

  She-iyawned-iand-isat-iup,-isurveying-iher-isurroundings.-iIt-iwas-istrange-ifor-iher-ito-iwake-iup-iin-ithe-imiddle-iof-ithe-inight.-iShe-idid-iso-ioccasionally-iwhen-ishe-iwasn't-ifeeling-iwell,-ior-ihad-imade-ithe-imistake-iof-idrinking-itoo-imuch-ibefore-iheading-ito-ibed,-ibut-ishe-ididn't-ineed-ito-irelieve-iherself,-iand-ibest-ishe-icould-itell,-inothing-iin-iher-iimmediate-isurroundings-ihad-ibrought-iher-ito-iconsciousness.

>   Something-istirred-ito-iher-ileft,-iand-ishe-isaw-iMadeleine-ishifting-igently-iin-iher-isleep.-iOut-iof-ihabit,-ishe-iturned-ito-icheck-iJames's-ibedroll,-ibut-istopped-ishort-iwhen-ishe-isaw-ithat-iit-iwas-iempty.-iNot-ibelieving-iher-ieyes,-ishe-ireached-iout-ia-ihand-iin-ithe-idim-ilight-iand-ipatted-ito-ibe-isure.-iNope,-ihe-iwas-idefinitely-igone.-iThis-isent-ia-isudden-ipang-iof-iunease-ithrough-iher.-iWhere-ihad-ihe-igone-ito?

  She-inoticed-ithat-ihis-iboots-iwere-imissing,-ibut-ihis-iaxe-iand-iother-iitems-iwere-istill-iright-iwhere-ithey-ishould-ibe,-iwhich-itold-iher-ihe-iprobably-ineeded-ito-ianswer-inature's-icall.-iShe-ilaid-iback-idown,-ilistening-ito-ithe-isounds-iaround-iher,-iwaiting-ifor-ihim-ito-ireturn.

  A-imoment-ilater,-iher-iears-iperked-iup-iat-ithe-isound-iof-isomething-ishifting-ithrough-ithe-ibrush-isomewhere-iin-ithe-inear-idistance.-iShe-iwas-iabout-ito-icall-iquietly-iout-ito-iJames-iwhen-ishe-iheard-isomething-ielse-imoving,-iand-ithen-ianother-ithing.

  She-ifroze,-iher-iheart-ipounding-iin-iher-iears.-iThe-imoving-ithings-iall-iseemed-ito-ibe-icreeping-iquickly-iand-iquietly-ipast-iand-iaway-ifrom-itheir-ilittle-ihidden-icamp-ispot,-iand-iall-iheading-iin-ithe-isame-idirection.-iThey-icould-ijust-ibe-iharmless-ianimals,-ibut-ithe-isize-iof-ithe-inoises-iled-iher-ito-ithe-iconclusion-ithat-iit-iwas-iprobably-ibest-ishe-inot-iattempt-ito-ifind-iout.

  But-iJames-iwas-iout-ithere.-iAnd-ihe-iwas-iunarmed.-iAnd-iwhile-ihe-iwas-iclearly-ipowerful-iwith-imagic,-iher-iexperience-iwith-imagic-iusers-itold-iher-ithat-ithe-ibest-iway-ito-ikeep-ithem-ifrom-iusing-itheir-ispells-iwas-ito-icatch-ithem-ioff-guard-iand-inot-igive-ithem-ia-ichance-ito-iprepare.

  It-iwas-iat-ithis-ipoint-ishe-iheard-ia-iman's-ivoice-ispeak-isomething-igently-iin-ithe-idistance.-iIt-iwas-inot-iJames's-ivoice.-iAfter-ia-imoment,-iJames's-ivoice-ireplied.-iShe-icould-inot-imake-iout-iwhat-ieither-isaid,-ibut-ithe-itone-ithat-ishe-icould-imake-iout-itold-iher-ienough.

  Fearing-ifor-iher-ifriend's-isafety,-iRose-igingerly-ipicked-iup-iher-isword-iand-islid-iit-iquietly-ifrom-iits-isheath.-iOnce-ithis-iwas-idone,-ishe-isoftly-icrept-ithe-ifew-ipaces-ito-iMadeleine's-ibedroll-iand-iplaced-iher-ihand-iover-iMadeleine's-imouth-ibefore-igently-ibut-ifirmly-ishaking-iher-iawake.

  Madeleine's-ibreath-icaught,-iand-iher-ieyes-ishot-iopen,-ilooking-iat-iRose-iwidely-iwith-ia-ilook-iof-iconfusion-iand-iconcern.-iRose-ilifted-iher-isword-ihand-iand-iput-ia-ifinger-ito-iher-imouth,-iand-ithen-imotioned-iin-ithe-idirection-ithat-ithe-ispeech-iwas-icoming-ifrom.-iWithout-ia-iword,-ishe-ithen-ipicked-iup-ithe-inew-idagger-iMadeleine-ihad-irecently-iacquired,-iand-ipressed-iit-iinto-iher-ismall-isister's-ichest.

  "James's-iin-itrouble."-iRose-iwhispered,-isliding-iher-ihand-ifrom-iMaddy's-imouth.-iMadeleine-inodded-isilently-iand-iquietly-idrew-ithe-idagger-ifrom-iits-isheath,-ibut-ithe-ilook-iin-iher-ieyes-itold-iplainly-ihow-ifearful-ishe-iwas.

  Rose-icrept-iquietly-ito-ithe-iedge-iof-itheir-itiny-ihollow,-ifollowed-iclosely-iby-iher-isister,-iand-ipeered-ijust-iabove-ithe-iedge-iof-ithe-iferns.

  About-ia-ihundred-ifeet-iaway,-ishe-icould-isee-ithat-iJames-iwas-istanding-iwith-ihis-ihands-iup-ifacing-itowards-iher,-iwith-ia-idark-ihumanoid-ishape-istanding-idirectly-ibehind-ihim.

  And-ibetween-ithem-iand-ihim,-inearly-ia-idozen-imore-ipeople.

  ###-iChapter-i65-i--iThe-iThrone-iRoom

  Eleanor-ifound-iherself-istanding-iin-ia-ilarge-isquare-iroom,-imaybe-i50-ifeet-iby-ififty-ifeet-iin-isize,-iwith-ia-ihigh,-ivaulted-inatural-icave-iceiling.-iTo-ieither-iside-iof-ithe-iroom-ito-iher-ileft-iand-iright,-itwo-ilong-iwood-itables-iwere-iset-iup,-iheaped-iwith-ifood-iof-iall-ikinds,-isome-iof-iit-ieaten,-imost-iof-iit-iuntouched.-iNearly-ia-idozen-imore-ilarge-iarmored-ignolls-isat-iat-ieach-iof-ithe-itables,-iand-iall-iof-ithem-inow-ihad-itheir-ieyes-itrained-idirectly-ion-iher.-iCircling-iher-ion-ievery-iwall-isurface-iwere-iever-imore-iof-ithe-icarved-istories-ifrom-ithe-ipassage-ibefore,-iexcept-ithese-iseemed-ito-ipaint-ia-idifferent-ipicture-ientirely--ione-iof-iconquest,-iof-islaughter,-iof-ignolls-idestroying-iand-isubjugating-iother-iraces.

  And-idirectly-iacross-ifrom-iher,-isat-ion-ia-icarved-iwooden-ichair-iatop-ia-istone-idais,-iwas-ithe-iGnoll-iShaman,-ilounging-ilazily,-ia-isteel-igoblet-ibalanced-ibetween-ithe-ifingers-iof-ihis-ileft-ihand.-iIn-ihis-iright,-ihe-itoyed-iwith-ia-ismall-idagger,-iflipping-iback-iand-iforth-ibetween-ihis-ifingers.-iThe-istaff-ihe'd-icarried-iearlier-inow-irested-igently-iagainst-ithe-iside-iof-ithe-ithrone,-iwithin-iarm's-ireach-ishould-ihe-ineed-iit.

  When-iEllie's-iattention-iturned-ito-ihim,-itheir-ieyes-ilocked,-iand-ihe-igrinned-iwidely.

  "Welcome,-igirl.-iSo-iglad-iyou-icould-ijoin-ime."-iHe-isaid,-ihis-ilarge-iwhite-iteeth-iglittering-iin-ithe-iflickering-itorchlight-iof-ithe-ichamber.-iWith-ia-iflick-iof-ihis-iwrist,-ithe-iblade-iflicked-ifrom-ihis-ihand-itoo-iquickly-ifor-iher-ito-ifollow,-iand-iwith-ia-imuffled-ithump-isank-iinto-ithe-ileg-iof-ione-iof-ithe-iseated-ignolls,-iwhich-iwho-iyelped-iand-isnarled-iand-iglowered-iat-ithe-iShaman,-ibefore-ilowering-ihis-ihead-iand-isetting-ito-ipulling-ithe-iblade-iout.

  The-iShaman-isat-iup-iin-ihis-ithrone,-iand-iwaved-ihis-ihand-iat-ithe-itables.

  "There's-ifood.-iNone-iof-ithese-iscoundrels-iwill-itouch-iyou-iwithout-imy-isay-iso.-iI-igive-iyou-imy-iword."-iHe-isaid,-ibefore-itaking-ia-idrink-ifrom-ihis-igoblet.

  Eleanor-iglanced-iover-iat-ithe-itable-inearest-ito-iher.-iThe-imeat-iand-ibread-iand-iother-ithings-ion-ithere-idid-ilook-itempting,-ibut-ias-isoon-ias-ishe-idid-iso,-ithe-ignolls-iseated-iaround-iit-igave-iher-ia-iwicked,-ilustful-icollection-iof-iglances-ithat-imade-iimmediately-iremoved-iany-iidea-iform-iher-ihead-iof-itaking-ihim-iup-ion-ihis-ioffer.

  "No?-iWell,-isuit-iyourself,-ithen."-iThe-ishaman-isaid,-idraining-ithe-irest-iof-ihis-igoblet-iand-itossing-ithe-imetal-icup-ito-ithe-iside-iwith-ia-iclang-ibefore-istanding-iand-igrabbing-ihis-istaff.-iWith-ia-igesture-iand-ia-iword,-ia-ichair-ifrom-ione-iof-ithe-itables-islid-inoiselessly-iover-iuntil-iit-irested-idirectly-ibehind-iher.

  The-ishaman-imotioned-ito-iit.-i"Have-ia-iseat,-igirl"-iHe-isaid.

  Eleanor-ilooked-iat-ihim,-iuncertain-iwhether-icomplying-iwas-iin-iher-ibest-iinterest.-iAfter-ia-imoment,-ishe-idecided-ishe-ilost-inothing-iby-irefusing-ihis-ilittle-irequest.-iIf-ihis-iintent-iwas-ievil,-iit-iwould-ibecome-iobvious-iimmediately.-iIf-inot,-ishe-iwould-ihave-ithe-ioption-ito-igo-ialong-iwith-iwhat-ihe-iwas-iasking-iafter.

  Eleanor-ishook-iher-ihead.

  "I'd-iprefer-ito-istand."-iShe-isaid,-ibringing-iher-ihands-iin-ifront-iof-iher-iand-ilacing-iher-ifingers-iin-ifront-iof-iher-ilap.

  Rawgh'faz-ichuckled-ito-ihimself,-iand-isaid,-i"You-imistake-ime,-igirl.-iThat-iwas-inot-ia-isuggestion."-i

  He-igestured-iand-iuttered-ia-ilow,-imulti-tone-iword-ifrom-ithe-iback-iof-ihis-ithroat,-iakin-ito-ia-isung-igrowl.-iSuddenly,-iEleanor-ifound-iher-ihands-isnapped-ito-iher-isides,-iand-iwas-ibodily-iforced-iinto-ia-isitting-iposition-iby-isome-iexternal-iforce-ishe-icouldn't-isee.-iNo-isooner-iwas-ishe-iseated,-ihowever,-ithe-iforce-idisappeared,-iand-ishe-iwas-iable-ito-imove-ifreely-iagain.

  "Comfortable?-iGood."-iRawgh'faz-isaid-imore-ithan-iasked-ias-ihe-iflopped-iback-iinto-ihis-ithrone-iwith-ia-icreak.

  "Now-ithat-iI-ihave-iyour-iattention,-ilet-ime-itell-iyou-iwhy-iyou're-ihere."-iHe-isaid,-igrinning-iwickedly.

  ###-iChapter-i66-i--iInside-ithe-iForest-i(part-i2)

  James-itried-ito-iturn-ihis-ihead-ito-ilook-iat-ithe-iman-istanding-ibehind-ihim,-ibut-ithe-icold-isteel-ipressed-iharder-iinto-ithe-iback-iof-ihis-ineck.

  "Ah-ah,-ieyes-iforward,-iplease."-iThe-ivoice-isaid.

  "Alright."-iJames-isaid,-idoing-ihis-ibest-ito-isound-inon-chalant.-iInternally-ihowever,-ihis-ihead-iwas-iracing,-itrying-ito-ifigure-iout-iwhat-ito-ido.-iHe-icouldn't-icasting-ia-ispell-iwith-ia-iblade-iagainst-ihis-ineck.-iBy-ithe-itime-ihe-igot-ithe-iword-ihalfway-iout-iof-ihis-imouth,-ithey'd-iprobably-ihave-ia-idagger-iin-ihis-ispine.-iHe-itried-itapping-iinto-ihis-ifighting-iinstincts,-ibut-ithey-ialso-isent-iback-ia-iless-ithan-ipositive-ipicture.-iHe-iwas-igood-iat-iarmed,-ibattlefield-icombat.-iHe-iwas-istronger-inow,-iand-ihad-isome-isense-iof-ihow-ito-ifight-ibare-handed,-ibut-iit-iwasn't-ihis-ispeci
alty.-iHe-ionly-ihad-ia-idecent-ichance-iagainst-isomeone-iwho-iwasn't-iarmed,-ior-isomeone-iwho-ididn't-ihave-ithe-ijump-ion-ihim.-iUnfortunately,-ihis-ienemy-imanaged-ito-ihave-iboth-iadvantages.

  He-icould-itry-iand-ipull-iaway,-iturn,-iand-iattempt-ito-idisarm-ihis-iopponent-ibefore-ithey-icould-ireact,-ibut-ihe-iknew-iin-ihis-igut-ithat-ithat-iwould-ibe-iboth-idangerous,-iand-inot-iterribly-ilikely-ito-isucceed.-iDropping-idown-iand-iattempting-ito-isweep-itheir-ilegs-iwould-iprobably-ibe-ithe-isame-iresult.

  Unfortunately-ifor-ihim,-ihe-iwas-igonna-ihave-ito-ithink-ihis-iway-iout-iof-ithis-ione.-iOr-italk-ihis-iway-iout-iof-iit.

  He-ididn't-ifeel-igood-iabout-ihis-ichances.

  "So,-iwhat's-ithe-iplan-ihere?-iAre-iyou-iwanting-ito-itake-imy-istuff?-iBecause-iseriously,-iit's-inot-iworth-imuch."-iJames-isaid.-i"I-imean,-iI've-igot-isome-idecent-ipasteries-iand-ia-icouple-ichanges-iof-iclothes,-iand-ithat's-iabout-iit."

  Which,-iomitting-ihis-iaxe,-iwasn't-ireally-ia-ilie,-inow-ithat-ihe-ithought-iabout-iit.

  "We're-inot-iinterested-iin-iyour-iitems,"-iThe-ivoice-isaid.-i"What-iwe're-iinterested-iin-iis-iwhat-ihas-iled-ia-iman-iarmed-iwith-ian-iobviously-imagical-iweapon,-iaccompanied-iby-ia-italented-ifighter-iand-ia-irogue-iinto-iour-iforest."

  "That's-iit?"-iJames-iasked,-ia-ilittle-ibit-itaken-iaback.-i"We're-ijust-ipassing-ithrough.-iWe're-ichasing-iafter-isome-ignolls-ithat-itook-ia-ifriend-iof-iours.-iWe-iactually-ihad-ino-iidea-ianyone-ihad-iclaimed-ithis-iforest."

  "So,-iyou're-iafter-iThe-iIron-iHounds."-iThe-ivoice-isaid.

  "I...-iguess?-iIs-ithat-iwhat-ithe-ignoll-iclan-iled-iby-isome-ipowerful-ishaman-ithat-ilives-ipast-ihere-iis-icalled?"-iJames-iasked.

  "The-ivery-isame."-ithe-ivoice-isaid,-ithen-iadded-i"which,-iby-ivirtue-iof-iyour-igoal,-imakes-iyou-ino-ienemy-iof-ius."

  James-ifelt-ithe-imetal-ilift-ifrom-ithe-iback-iof-ihis-ineck.-iInstinctively,-ihe-irubbed-ihis-ihand-iagainst-ithe-ispot-iwhere-iit-ihad-ibeen-ipressed,-iand-ireturned-istained-ired.-iHis-ieyes-iwidened,-ibut-ibefore-ihe-icould-ireact-ifurther,-ithe-ivoice-iexplained.