Rhiann said, “When I went into the desert, I had no idea I’d be away so long. It saddens me to know my Gnomish friends have long passed on. When I saw them leaving Thynna, I had no idea it’d be the last time I’d see them.”
Maranna said, “Not all of them have passed on.”
Rhiann said, “That’s impossible. Gnomes are not sorcerers. Even if they enjoy good health and accumulate thirty names, Gnomes are lucky to live a hundred seasons.”
Maranna said, “True. However, the spirit of adventure filled one of your friends. Right after you left, Burgomaster Storming Norman Twenty-four names sought to open relationships and trade with the Hanging Gardens and the Three Sisters. He sent his most reliable officers, including Captain Donovan. The envoys met with the Three Sisters. Mors became enamored with Donovan and shared a strand of her hair. Nona tied Mors’ lock to Donovan’s hair and bound the strands with fibers from her distaff, just as she did you and Decima and herself and Mayard. Donovan Eighty-four names still makes journeys to the Hanging Gardens. He has served as Burgomaster now for over four hundred years. Gnome-town has flourished under his rule. Copper dragons are domesticated. Thynna reacts very little now with the Gnomes. Bailiwick and Yerko even accused Donovan of hiding you and the Gem Bush. But it’s all water under the bridge now. Gnome-town allies with the Hanging Gardens. Donovan always asks about you. Thynna’s pardon did not extend to Gnome-town. Of course, everyone else you knew in Gnome-town has gone to their ancestors. You’ll be glad to know that Donovan’s troops captured three of the Fearsome Foursome on the road and made them pay for their crimes. Castellan Yerko objected, but Longbeard, rest his soul, and Donovan held fast. The Man in Black, or John Money, was reassigned duty inside Thynna, and to my knowledge never left the city again. He choked to death on a blooter bone at Elliott’s shop. Yerko accused Elliott of fomenting the deed. There were suspicious marks on the body, but Elliott eventually evaded prosecution.”
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