Month: July 2016

Iyaca asked, “Old Ones, Lieutenant Donovan? Have you known Old Ones?”

Donovan said, “Yes, a few. Keep your eyes and ears open, young Iyaca. I feel like we are being watched.”

Longbeard drew alongside the wagon just then and said, “Me, too. It’s unnerving. I’ll be glad to get to Dry Creek.”

Rhiann caught up to Longbeard and said, “We are. Kobolds are on both sides of the road. Not many, and they scamper off into the woods after we pass.”

Donovan urged the big phi gamms and said, “How’d you know Rhiann? Kobolds are stealthy, quiet, and blend in. Is it a Magick thing? Are you using a spell?”

Rhiann replied, “No, it’s the sword. She tells me if an enemy is within thirty feet. I could get used to it.”

Longbeard said gruffly, “I still think it’d be best for me to carry the weapon. Good thing halvsies are so good natured. You can have a free hand to grip the weapon’s hilt. Come to think of it, Mayard Klarje really was not in the mines. Does our agreement to keep the weapon secret still hold?”

Rhiann said, “The sword relayed Mayard’s wishes, so I’d say ‘yes’.”

Donovan Eleven-names cleared his throat and tipped his head toward Iyaca, who sat next to him on the wagon and well within earshot. Rhiann saw the less than subtle effort and said, “Iyaca knows Exeter is more than a simple long blade. He is now my apprentice and must learn to stand in my stead when needed.”

Longbeard Nineteen-names muttered, “Strange days! Shapechangers on our side! Shapechangers against us! We depend on children to fight for us. Bedlam! Fits dealing with Mayard Klarje, though. The Shapechanger handled his ale well and told Mayard’s stories as though he had lived them. Truth be known… I rather miss the blighter.”

Rhiann said, “p-Mayard had shared many adventures with Uncle Mayard. I also miss his company.”

Donovan asked, “Does Magick tell you anything about your Uncle, Rhiann?”

Rhiann honestly answered, “No.”

The phi gamms trudged along and set the pace moving steadily toward Dry Creek. Around midday the two-wagon caravan neared the hillock that p-Mayard had considered a perfect spot for an ambush. The road cut between two rocky outcroppings that sat like small buttes placed in the woods. Longbeard halted the column.

Captain Longbeard Nineteen-names’ booming voice awakened Rhiann. Dawning light surrounded the camp in the woods. The twin suns twinkled in the east. The grateful merchants from Dry Creek provided victuals. Gnomes wolfed down their trail breakfast, busily broke camp, and made ready to head for Dry Creek. By now for better or worse reinforcements should be nearing Dry Creek from Gnome-town. Hopefully they arrived in time.

Longbeard’s charges broke camp at dawn. Captain Longbeard and Rhiann rode beside Donovan and Iyaca’s wagon. Rudy Nine-names rode at the head of the column. Alden Eight-names rode at the rear. Four pair of Gnomes rode halvsies and positioned behind Rudy, between the first and second wagon, behind the second wagon, and with Alden in the rear. Eight Gnomes walked as foot soldiers by the wagons. The octets of walkers and riders swapped places every hour or so. The archer Dibbit kept his bow ready and rode with Donovan and Iyaca. Lieutenant Donovan Eleven-names relished his new “wagon driver” moniker and continued to drive the phi gamms. Iyaca Vassi yielded his halvsie to Roro and rode beside Donovan. The veteran lieutenant had traveled much more than most Gnomes and entertained the youth with his stories. Donovan Eleven-names was quite fond of dragon tales and spun tales as well as he fought. The veteran Donovan remained wary of the environs.

Iyaca asked, “Have you fought dragons, Lieutenant Donovan?”

Donovan proudly answered, “There’s a green dragon with a big lump on his head after his misfortune of going up against me. I’ve had a go with quite a few Copper Dragons, too. You can usually buy them off with a bit of copper, but the old ones get cranky and might enjoy a taste of Gnome. Not all dragons are bad. I met a Prismatic Dragon once. It passed through Gnome-town. Yes, sir, I’ve had some pretty good friends with wings.”

p-Jack said, “Not that one! The young sorcerer! He bears the mark of the Klarjes. For whatever reason, Mayard is traveling in the guise of his nephew. The Gnomes thought the Shapechanger was Mayard. I guest they know the truth now.”

Bailiwick said, “It makes sense. The youth fought like a veteran warrior. All the while it was that ****** Mayard. Good thing we have an alternate plan.”

The Watcher in the Woods waited patiently for the discussions to wane. He said, “The Gnomes did not go all the way to Jack’s place. They reunited with their wagons and camped out in the woods. Per your instructions, we left them alone to relish their victory. My scouts tell me all the kobolds have withdrawn from Dry Creek and now mass on both sides of the road between Jack’s place and Dry Creek. Reinforcements are approaching Dry Creek.”

The Man in Black said, “They are reinforcing for a battle that will not occur. Bailiwick’s archer killed the wrong adversary. If the sorcerer still travels with the Gnomes, we could still be in for quite a tussle. However, we may never get another chance to have odds so much in our favor against Klarje.”

p-Jack asked, “Might I go on ahead and whack old Jack Taylor? What good is he now?”

Bailiwick said, “I have no problem with your doing him in.”

The Man in Black objected, “He is a pawn we might still employ.”

The Kobold Beeyo stepped into the firelight and said, “My warriors are itching for a fight. Why did we stop the attack on Dry Creek? Why don’t we attack the Gnomes in the woods while they are outnumbered?”

Bailiwick quipped, “You lost around forty blokes in the last skirmish, and the sorcerer only fought with a sword. How many of your people are you willing to lose?”

Beeyo growled, “I’ll lose everybody if it means we get Klarje and Longbeard.”

The Man in Black said, “Fair enough! That just might happen. Beeyo, the key to our success is surprise. Keep your kobolds quiet and out of sight. The reinforcements from Gnome-town will be concerned about making Dry Creek safe. The sorcerer can cast only one spell at a time. There’s a lot of treasure on those wagons. We still can get Klarje.”

Beeyo slinked away to instruct his sergeants. p-Jack took another opportunity to menace Jack Taylor. The Fearsome Foursome and Bailiwick readied to break camp and go the watcher’s ambush point.

The Watcher in the Woods navigated the thick forest with ease and found the Man in Black and Bailiwick camped under the canopy of a Thyme Tree. Sage brush grew all around the massive tree and provided fragrant boughs for the highwayman and sorcerer’s fire. Bailiwick drew on a briar pipe and the Man in Black rolled some locally grown tobacco. The Red-headed stranger, Waymore, and Straight Arrow sat at another fire and filled the air with folksy music with a cither, juice harp, and banjo. Highwaymen sat around and tapped along with the songs. Beeyo the Kobold leader gathered with a group of ten of his underlings in the periphery of the noisy camp. A big man was tied to a tree near the group’s horses. Three Kobolds taunted him. An exact visage of the man sat with Bailiwick and the Man in Black.

The Watcher approached the Man in Black and reported, “They have fallen back toward Jack’s Refuge.”

p-Jack interrupted, “They won’t find old Jack there.”

The Man in Black muttered, “I tolerate you because Bailiwick insists you are valuable to us. Yet you let a fake Mayard Klarje slip through your hands, and worse yet, our attack simply killed one of your ilk. I’d say you’re not of much account and nigh worthless to us.”

p-Jack replied, “Well, I did bring old Jack to you and filled his shoes.”

The Man in Black said, “I never had a problem with Jack Taylor until now. He allowed my men to use his facilities. Having you available to spy on the goings on between the mines and Gnome-town hasn’t borne much fruit.”

p-Jack said, “I did let my colleague walk. He was fooling the Gnomes. I thought he might ultimately be an asset. I tried to get here and warn you of the deception. The attack came before I got here. ****** horse came up lame! Well, then here’s a tidbit for you. Mayard Klarje does travel with them. It’s the kid.”

The Man in Black guffawed, “Balderdash! I spared that kid years ago! He’s just a prestidigitator at best.”

p-Jack said, “Not that one! The young sorcerer! He bears the mark of the Klarjes. For whatever reason, Mayard is traveling in the guise of his nephew. The Gnomes thought the Shapechanger was Mayard. I guest they know the truth now.”

Fatigue overwhelmed Iyaca’s apprehension of being in the woods surrounded by untold enemies, and the youth quickly slept. Rhiann battled exhaustion and reached into his bag of holding and grasped Exeter’s hilt. The blade’s enticing voice appeared in his thoughts, “Young Rhiann, you should be resting.”

Rhiann thought, “I worry about Uncle Mayard. He relayed a story of fighting a bewildebeest during his travels with Nona, the eldest of the Three Sisters. He never said he’d been hurt. When did you learn of his injury?”

Exeter answered, “Some time ago, Rhiann. The injury involved the hair strand gifted him by Nona. His body has changed slowly, but the effects have been cumulative. He brought you into his life earlier than he’d hoped. Your Uncle thinks the future of Magick and continuation of Sagain’s legacies rest in your hands. My last contact with him came when he gave the heartstone and remnant of the Gray Wanderer to the dwarf in the mines. I learned of his presence in the Hanging Gardens when I touched your mind. Your knowledge of the great sorcerer is more recent than mine. By the way… I regret the death of the Shapechanger. He was not typical of his lot.”

Rhiann silently responded, “Thank you. Your voice is most reassuring. I am weary. Perhaps I should…”

Exeter said, “Sleep. Yes. Good night, Rhiann Klarje.”

It didn’t take long. Rhiann dreamed of his mother Caye, lovely Decima, and his cantankerous Uncle. Then the horrors of the battle crept into his dreams. Exeter’s blazing redness, the flowing dark life’s blood of the doomed kobolds, the brief startled expression on p-Mayard’s face after the death arrow struck him, the angry battle cries, and recalling the lust in his heart took their turns at tormenting the young sorcerer’s sleep. As it had many times before, shapeless grayness mercifully entered his dreams.

 

Wisps…

Threads…

Threads of Magick…

Threads of fate…

Threads of time…

Threads connecting worlds …

Dreams connecting worlds …

Dreams of Magick…

The Magick of Dreams…

Magick connecting dreams…

Magick connecting worlds…

Grayness…

Lieutenant Donovan Ten-names, Sergeant Rudy Nine-names, and Corporal Alden Eight-names tended the fire that consumed the Shapechangers and Kobolds’ bodies. Rhiann Klarje had read about Tuscon feathers in the tomes of Thynna’s libraries and cautioned the Gnomes and Iyaca to avoid contact with the ash created by the fire. The grass beneath the bodies more than burned. It withered and all signs of life disappeared. When the fire went out only a circle of thirteen-foot diameter of bare black dirt sat where the bodies had been. Donovan caught a grasshopper as it flew by and tossed the insect onto the burned ground. The bug died and withered instantly. Longbeard organized the party into a column of twos and the riders rapidly rode westward toward Jack’s Refuge. They found Roro, the two merchants, and ten other Gnomes with the wagons in defensive positions off the southern side of the road. Lieutenant Donovan took command of the wagon p-Mayard and Rhiann had brought from Thynna. The merchants nervously climbed aboard the second wagon. Longbeard added “Wagon driver” to his loyal lieutenant’s list of monikers, and Donovan was henceforth known as Donovan Eleven-names.

Longbeard updated Roro Seven-names about the battle and the demise of pseudo Mayard Klarje. Roro’s group had seen kobolds in the woods and assumed defensive positions to assess the situation. In the best of circumstances, the wagons would not make Dry Creek by nightfall. The status of the walled community was unknown. Longbeard and Donovan debated whether to return to Jack’s Refuge, hunker down for the night, or travel into the night. They chose to pull a bit further off the road and bed down in the woods for a fireless night. Rhiann offered to cast defensive spells and used his limited healing skills to help three Gnomes injured in the battle. Rhiann Klarje had cast more spells in the past day than any earlier time in his young life. He’d tasted hand-to-hand combat and taken lives… many lives. Lieutenant Donovan jokingly referred to Rhiann as “kobold’s bane.” Longbeard Nineteen-names assigned watch shifts. Rhiann and Iyaca Vassi hunkered down in the center of the makeshift camp.

Gnomish Lieutenant Donovan Ten-names said, “Alden, please carefully inspect the Shapechanger archer and assure he carries no more death arrows. If not, drag his carcass to his likeness, the one that looked like Mayard Klarje. Everyone! Do not touch the arrow or any like it! Carefully carry the kobolds’ carcasses to the Shapechangers. Show them respect. Take nothing from their bodies! We’ll create a pyre.”

Sergeant Rudy Nine-names said, “Lieutenant Donovan, we have no oil. Igniting the bodies will be difficult. If we do start a fire, will it be safe to breath the smoke generated by that foul arrow?”

Rhiann said, “I’ll ignite the bodies with a Fire Spell.”

Lieutenant Donovan Ten-names said, “Young Klarje, you fight like a berserker from Valhalla. On this field, we have to trust you, but I am wary of your Magick.”

Captain Longbeard Nineteen-names said, “Well said, Donovan. Rhiann, we still have a sorcerer against us, so I agree with Donovan that we must trust you, and I do. The battle confirmed you can walk the walk as well as talk the talk. By the way, Dibbit, nice shooting! From this point forward, you are Dibbit Six-names I’m adding ‘dead-eye’ to your monikers. Now let’s get on with it. We smote nigh two score Kobolds, and that’s two less score to assail Dry Creek. Once we attend the pyre, we must gather the halvsies and back track toward Jack’s Place and retrieve our wagons. Then we’ll make a slow steady approach to Dry Creek. Reinforcements from Gnome-town should be well on the way by now. We must stay on high alert. Highwaymen, at least one sorcerer, and lots of Kobolds remain in the area.”

Corporal Alden Eight-names carefully examined the doppelganger archer and found only a long bow and quiver of standard arrows. Alden and Newby Five-arms carried the archer’s corpse to the body of p-Mayard. Other Gnomes collected the halvsies and brought the fallen kobolds’ bodies to the planned pyre site. Lastly the kobolds’ weapons and the four lances were thrown onto the pile. Rhiann directed the others to stand thirty feet away. The young sorcerer crushed a piece of sulfur, conjured, and uttered harsh words. A stream of blue fire flowed from his outstretched left hand to the bodies. Magick fire engulfed the bodies. The flames burned silently until the four lances were consumed, and then the flames began to crackle. The dark arrow gave off very dense black-gray smoke as it burned. The extremely hot Magick fire quickly consumed the bodies. The flames died down and left charred ground where the bodies had lain. The circular patch of ground never again saw a sprig of life. In future years all manner of beasts that trod upon the cursed patch of ground lost their lives.

Longbeard nervously looked around at the carnage and said, “Just touching that vile arrow killed two kobolds. The Shapechanger that mimicked Mayard only suffered a flesh wound yet it smote him instantly. It’s too dangerous to try to remove and reuse it. Magick works against us, and no offense Rhiann, we do not have Mayard Klarje. Invisible attackers, silence invoking spears, death arrows… what will that a****** think of next!”

Rhiann said timidly, “Yes, Captain Longbeard, I agree. The lethality of the arrow stems from its Tuscon fletching. Few are the sorcerers capable of creating a Death Spell. Silence spells were placed on the kobolds’ lances. There’s always a chance a spell won’t work if placed against an individual. The Silence was tied to the lances’ location. Invisibility always works if the recipient is willing, but a peculiarity of the Magick is that the invisibility is lost if the recipient attempts an offensive action.”

Longbeard scanned the field and directed his charges to remain vigilant. He looked at the young sorcerer and said, “Rhiann, your Uncle Mayard has long been an ally of Gnome-town, and he’s taught you well. However, his latest ploy is unsettling! Old Mayard isn’t here to face the music, but you are. The Burgomaster must ultimately pass judgment on your part in the matter. Storming Norman Twenty-four names Darktop isn’t fond of folks pulling the wool over his eyes. For my part, right now I need you. We all still face danger. The Kobolds oft leave their dead. It’s in our best interest to burn their carcasses along with the Shapechangers. It’s too dangerous to try to move the body of Mayard’s doppelganger. Someone might touch the dark arrow’s fletching. So he’ll burn where he lies.”

The remaining Kobolds abruptly left the field. The roads to both east and west were open. Longbeard Nineteen-names ordered defensive positions. Donovan Ten-names glared at Rhiann and cleaned his axe. The stout Gnome lieutenant said icily, “Rhiann, if you are Rhiann Klarje, you had to know the Shapechanger was not your Uncle Mayard Klarje, yet you led us to believe he was Sagain’s great benefactor. You helped a Shapechanger into our homes, confidence, and inner ranks.”

Longbeard added, “He certainly drank like your Uncle Mayard. Now I understand why the blighter never cast any spells. Donovan, lad, I’ve seen Rhiann produce Magick. He is at least a sorcerer, though I’d have sworn I was fighting beside a berserker from Valhalla or Paladin from San Francisco.”

Rhiann answered, “I’m merely following my Uncle Mayard’s plan. Until the moment of his death the Shapechanger thought I was my Uncle Mayard and the true Rhiann Klarje remained at the Hanging Gardens. The Shapechanger served my uncle loyally for many seasons. He was a true friend. I’m bereft and might add the Shapechanger served you well.”

Longbeard also cleaned his weapon all the while keeping his eyes moving around the perimeter. The Gnomes skillfully gathered the halvsies and kept alert. Longbeard asked, “Does Mayard remain at the Hanging Gardens?”

Rhiann said, “My Uncle Mayard stayed at the Hanging Garden in my guise. I didn’t understand my Uncle’s plan. He merely said it was important that I complete his mission and business with Roswell Kirkey and insisted he was needed at the Hanging Gardens. I am truly sorry that you were deceived.”

The Man in Black and Bailiwick sat upon horses on a nearby hillock and watched the conflict unfold. The Man in Black said snidely, “Nice plan, sorcerer. You managed to take out a Shapechanger at a cost of thirty-one lives. The gnomes have effectively whipped Beeyo’s warriors. Your ******* spells are little more than parlor tricks. You couldn’t even tell Mayard Klarje wasn’t in the fray.”

Bailiwick snarled, “It should have worked! Your watcher said Mayard traveled with them! Why would a Shapechanger travel with Gnomes in the guise of Mayard Klarje?”

The Man in Black said, “While we’re on the subject of Shapechangers! Why didn’t you tell me your Kobold archer was a Shapechanger? I’m not exactly happy about your keeping such secrets from me. The Gnomes did not benefit from Magick, yet twelve of them and two boys have beaten fourscore of Beeyo’s warriors.”

Bailiwick defensively uttered, “I couldn’t rely on the Kobolds to utilize the death arrow. Seven died trying! I couldn’t tell the kobolds a Shapechanger was among them. It would have offended Beeyo, and I… we need his numbers, unless you want to send your highwaymen against those Gnomish weapons. Furthermore, you assert the Gnomes were without Magick. The youth fought like a berserker! His sword emitted red auras! The kobolds never scratched him. He’s likely another Shapechanger.”

The Man in Black retorted, “The watcher said the youth bore the mark of the Klarjes.”

Bailiwick replied sharply, “Well, so did the Shapechanger in Mayard’s guise. Can’t say too much for your watcher in the woods. The youth is a Paladin of sorts, not a sorcerer, and he carries an exceptional blade.