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Back to Empire on the HPe3000
... and ...
"I will, have no doubt." said Talberth. "But what have we learned
that was not known before? They bleed, a torrent in fact, a sharp blade
can end their life as easy as any mans."
"An unlucky stone thrown by a passing cart can end the life of
most men," Telenstil replied "those two last night, they died beneath a
magic blade, drunk and spelled to sleep, a prayer of silence surrounding
allthat transpired. Had they woken it would have been a fight worth
telling of when we return to civilized lands. No, last night we had the
Lady on our side. It took just minutes for the alarm to sound and the
entire Steading to be roused and set to search."
"We saw only the entranceway, their tower and a few feet of that
monstrous hall. I do not feel the Lady looked at us in kindness." Talberth
shook his head.
Telenstil laughed, light and mild, a cheery pleasant sound. "Oh
youth, you expect too much. We came, we went, and no one died, no
injuries, not even a pursuit of any kind. That is kind fate indeed. I
will not argue that we could have discovered much more, but what we saw,
it proves our information right. The map that we have, it tallies with
what we have seen. And of much more import, we worked well together.
Look at us," he waved his hand again. "A Cuthberite sits near a praying
Pholtus priest, a city bred halfling thief, a hero of renown, a pair of
mercenary scouts, a gnomish master of deceiving spells, you and I, what
a unlikely gathering."
"Working for an alliance of Kings," Talberth said with a doubtful
tone "we are a mismatched group as you say. I for a Duke, you for your
Queen, though her interest here seems far astray from her own lands."
"We elves have eyes that see quite far." Telenstil good naturedly
replied. "Or didn't they teach you that in school?"
* * *
"How did you cause Edouard to change into that giants form."
Gytha asked in a light alto voice.
"It was the simpliest of spells" answered Ivo with pride, a deep
grating rumble, each word a rocky sound, but clear and sharp like the
edge of fresh cut stone. "Back home, among the hills, we live by
such masking spells. Our warriors are doughty but our enemies are large
and many. Such illusions are but a word, a gesture and a speck colored
dye."
"They are a wonder to me." She said wide eyed. " I have a simple
faith, and with the Saint's boon I am granted such answers to my prayers
as e deems me worthy to receive, but I have never seen the like
of spells such as yours."
"Have ye not?" The old gnome asked surprised.
"Oh," she laughed "I have seen mages spells before, and druids
cause the oerth to rise and take on human form, but not these magics which
trick the eye or blind it. And more, I do not trust my senses now that
I have seen you cast your spells."
"Hey there!" called Harold from across the fire. "Don't let him
deceive you with his simple talk. I've seen him on a Midwinter night
casing spells from upon stage set at the center of Greyhawk's High
Market. He lit the sky with colored lights that swirled and changed,
then came alive. First monsters walked from roof to roof, great dragons
danced in pairs above, then a rain of sparkling mist chased them all away.
Next a land formed, the empty curve of the Selintan before a brick or
stone was laid, then against the river a small wooden house, a wall of
wood then stone sprang up around it. Then a castle keep, and like a
seasons growth of grain shown from seed to harvest in a moments time,
the city grew and grew until mirrored in the sky above were all those
below upon the ground." The halfling gasped for breath and laughed at his
memorys of such a spectacle. "Then it all changed and there was Zagyg's
face, laughing down at us, he blew us all a kiss and stuck out a
tongue that could have lapped the river dry, oh what fun it was, the Fool
was crowned and the mad night begun."
* * *