Stone Dragon (The First Realm) (14 page)

Going through her pockets, the Witch found coins and banknotes. I had just begun to examine the foreign money when the girl woke up. She screamed when she saw us. I do not think she had seen an elf before.

The Witch grabbed the girl’s head in both hands. She stared deeply into the halfling’s eyes, which fluttered as the spell took effect.

“Pleasant dreams,” she said, as the girl fell into a deep sleep.

* * *

“Tell me about these fairy rings,” I said to the Witch.

She sat cross-legged in the grass with the girl on her lap. With my Sight I saw the active spell glyphs. She was writing information directly into the girl’s brain, a delicate bit of work, but the elven woman hadn’t even broken a sweat. Somehow she drew strength from the forest. Cruix had said that stone could think. Apparently, so could wood.

“This is the only ring left in Brandish. There are others, but they’re in the barbarian lands. The teleportation happens every few weeks. Usually it’s just a few insects, maybe a bird or field mouse, but sometimes we get a halfling.”

“Just halflings?”

“Don’t you know? Elves, dwarves, and humans are unique to our world. We evolved from a common ancestor, and our common ancestor came from somewhere else. Halflings come from that place.”

“A
world
of halflings?” I said in disbelief.

“A world without magic. With them as the dominant species.”

I sat down. “That… would make sense.”

In fact, it confirmed my theories about the origins of humanoid life. We
did
come from elsewhere. The fairy rings were the way. Unfortunately, according to the Witch it was a one-way trip.

The girl shifted in her sleep, then settled down. When she woke she’d speak a little Elvish—about as much as a tourist. She’d also have an abridged guide to Brandish, mostly about things that could kill her if she weren’t careful.

“You must get many of these visitors,” I told the Witch.

“Every few years. The ring was due for it, which is why I brought you. These people arrive confused and scared. We shelter them a few days and then send them on their way.”

“Where do they go?” I wondered. “And what can I do?”

“Most adjust to their new lives and settle down somewhere. Many make their way to the cities, where they try to have normal lives. A few get it in their heads that they’re adventurers and get eaten by wyverns.”

“They never find each other and band together?”

“It’s a big world. Angrod, I’m showing you this because you need to know. I see great things in your future. You will make decisions that will affect not just our people, but also the entire world.”

I scratched my head. “People keep telling me that, but as far as I know I’m still going to die in a few weeks. Can we dispense with the riddles? Just give me the plain truth.”

The Witch smiled. “Once you can see the source of magic, all will be revealed.”

* * *

“Where am I?”

It was dawn. We had allowed the girl to awaken.

“You are in Deepwood Forest. I am the mistress of this place, and this is Angrod Veneanar, gentleman adventurer.”

“How can I… understand? How can I… speak? Oh, right—magic.”

“We will bring you to my village. You can rest there you’re ready to move on. If you’ll step this way?”

“Step…?”

“Take my hand.”

The girl took the Witch’s hand and the elf pulled her to her feet. She gasped, but then her legs steadied. She took a few shaky steps from the wheelchair.

“I… can… walk!” she said, her face lighting up. She took several more steps and grew more confident. “I walk—again!”

She let go of the Witch to walk even further. For a few minutes she enjoyed the use of her legs. Then she frowned. “I’m never… seeing my family again, will I?”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m… grateful. But… shouldn’t I… sadder?”

“I dampened your emotions, for a time. The grief will come, but gradually.”

“I want to… cry… if you don’t mind.”

“It’s all right,” the Witch said, and hugged her.

I looked away as the halfling had a good cry. They did that a lot, but they were stronger than they looked.

Chapter 16

“Why can’t I go with you?” Conrad asked.

He watched as we loaded supplies into the little sailboat. He’d wanted to help, but I told him to stay close to Sandy, the halfling from another world.

“I can ride, I can shoot, I won’t be a burden at all,” he insisted.

“That’s true,” I said, “but I’ve already got two sidekicks.”

“Hey!” Minos said.

“I thought we were friends,” the boy said, his voice breaking. I sighed and turned to him.

“Conrad, little buddy, this is a life-and-death mission. Once we get on that boat we’re going to be risking our lives again. You’re a tough guy, but it’s too dangerous for you. I will not allow it.”

“But—”

“Not even if you grow a mustache
right this moment
.”

“A good leader never asks for something he can’t do himself,” Heronimo said. He had a sack over each shoulder but he set them down to clap the boy on the back. “It’s been good to know you, kid, but your mission is to reconnect with your people. You’ve got that girl to take care of.”

“Hmph,” Conrad said. “She’s useless. Can’t ride, can’t fight, can’t even track.”

“She’s an orphan just like you.”

Minos came over and handed Conrad a small purse. From the way it clinked it carried more than a few gold pieces.

“Traveling money,” the little dwarf said. “It’s half my stash, so it ought to last you a while. I also give to you our horses and mules—may they serve you well!”

“Thank you, Minos.”

The dwarf flushed and turned to Heronimo and me. “Well, and where are all the supplies? Come on, we haven’t all day.”

* * *

Meerwen stood in the middle of the ruined halfling village. Her face grim, she scanned the bodies for clues.

Feanaro, her second-in-command, offered his opinion: “Looks like Angrod picked up a pair of killers.”

She looked around to see that no one else was near, then leaned close. “Don’t be a fool, Fen. These halflings may have put up a fight, but from the look of their wounds they were already dead.”

“Forbidden magic?”

“Forbidden
water
magic. And Angrod only scored average in that area.”

She walked around, tracing the action by the arrangement of the bodies. “It started in this cottage. The human was over six feet tall and massive. He also drew first blood, and the battle spilled onto the street. A savage and undisciplined fighter—the dwarf—killed many here, then dueled the blacksmith. This knot of headless chickens must be where the human was distracted. And these corpses with their heads blown off or caved in, that must have been Angrod.”

“So they were ambushed. Who else is hunting the dragon?”

“I don’t know.” Meerwen frowned. She thought of her father. “But I wonder.”

* * *

The task force tracked Angrod until they reached the bridge to Deepwood.

“Looks all right,” said Feanaro. “Is that a woman?”

Meerwen rode up to the woman, who sat beside the bridge. As the elf drew closer she saw that the woman was crying.

“Good woman, why do you weep? Did you come from the village behind me?”

“I did,” the woman said. “My son and I, we survived the massacre. M-my husband died letting us escape.” She started weeping again.

“I’m sorry,” Meerwen said. She dismounted and offered her handkerchief. “Where is your son now?”

“They took him! An elf, a human, and a d-dirty dwarf! Said they needed someone to look after their mules.”

“Those fiends,” Feanaro said.

“This makes no sense,” Meerwen said, but her lieutenant continued:

“We shall not rest, madam, until we have rescued your baby and brought his kidnappers to justice!” And he galloped down the bridge.

“She didn’t say he was a baby—aw hell.”

They watched the royal knight thunder down the living bridge. Moments later he was pounding back, eyes wide. “How’d you get here so fast?”

“We never left, dumbass.”

“But I just—” and he turned and rode back across the bridge, reappearing minutes later. “Is someone messing with my mind?”

“It wouldn’t take much,” Meerwen said. She picked up a stick and drew a line in the dirt, then bent the line back until it merged with itself. “They cut off the bridge from the other side, doubled it back, and cast an illusion. We’re not getting across that way.”

* * *

We cast off from Deepwood’s western shore and sailed toward the Southern Sea. The plan was to hug the coast, head north, and round the cape at Bone Valley. Ultimately we would make landfall in Corinthe Bay.

The Witch had been prepared to help us on our way, but she hadn’t planned to give us her people’s best boat. That was where Minos came in. Thanks to his purse we were once again well-equipped, and as Heronimo was a skilled sailor the trip went smoothly.

I’d been lucky with my companions. I wouldn’t have gotten as far without the human’s skill or the dwarf’s generosity. Though this adventure would almost certainly end badly for me, it was an adventure nevertheless.

The trip downstream was uneventful, which was a nice change. If we had traveled overland, we probably would have gotten into all sorts of side missions. The only problem was that the way was
boring
. There wasn’t much to do except drink and play cards.

“Wish we had some women,” Heronimo said. “Hit me.”

I dealt him another card. “Why would you want that?”

“This boat’s a real sausage fest, haven’t you noticed?”

“Can’t say I have. We’re on a quest, not a pleasure cruise.”

“Mm,” he said, and took another drink from the bottle. Thanks to the Witch there was plenty of mead on board. “It’s just been a long boat ride.”

“At least there’s plenty to drink.”

“Yes, but I’m a wine, women, and song kind of man. Say—”

“I will
not
endure more of your singing.”

“You said you liked
Show Me the Way Home
.”

“Music is not one of your many talents. Yours is more of a battlefield voice. And don’t even
think
about any traditional songs.”

“But Three Battles and Three Funerals is my favorite!”

“Ugh. So depressing. And why are you so horny? Don’t tell me you didn’t have any opportunities back there. The wood elf babes were practically hanging off you.”

He grinned. “They had lots of places to hang from.”

I looked at Minos, who was scrutinizing his cards. He had delicate hands, for a dwarf.

“How about you, Angrod?” Heronimo asked. “Did you get any action? Eighteen.”

“Depends on what you mean by
action
. Also, twenty-one.”

“Eighteen,” Minos said. He showed his cards and I raked in the chips.

“Wish we knew another card game,” Heronimo said. “You sure you don’t wanna learn Dragon Poker?”

“I have enough dragons in my life, thank you.”

“Anyway, something happened between you and the alpha witch. How was she?”

I smiled. “Let’s say she was a swinger.”

We laughed. I dealt out more cards and we all had a drink.

“I don’t remember much but I think I
did
get lucky,” Heronimo said. “She was short, cute, and curvy. Lots of fun!”

I thought I heard someone say
eep
, but that could’ve been my imagination. It’s never entirely silent on a boat.

“But she was gone when I woke up.”

I looked at him, I looked at Minos, and I looked a Heronimo again. At the back of my head, Cruix was humming something about strange fancies and a girl in her brother’s clothes.

No way.

Yes way.

But he has a beard! A long, luxurious beard, the envy of every smooth-chinned elf.

Search your feelings!

But… the beard.

“Hit me,” Minos said.

“I wouldn’t hit a lady.”

“What?”

“I mean, like candy from a baby.”

“Huh?”

* * *

Now that I thought about it, it made sense. In the beginning Minos had been so boisterously macho it was like a parody of masculinity. Other details also fell into place: The unusual modesty, the insistence on sleeping apart, and the lingering glances at Heronimo’s butt. Now that I could admit it to myself, there was great deal more sway in Minos’s hips than I’d ever seen on a dwarf. And we’d never once pissed together in the unspoiled wilderness.

There wasn’t any way to be sure, at least nothing that would allow us to remain friends. I had tried my Sight, but Minos’s gear threw up too much static. I’d ask, but that could easily create the awkward situation I was trying to avoid.

We were approaching the marsh. Heronimo proposed a dip. “This will be the last freshwater bath for a while. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never liked bathing in the sea.”

So we moored the boat to a tree and stripped down. That is, Heronimo and I got naked and dived in. Minos stayed aboard and tried to look elsewhere.

“Come on, the water’s fine!” Heronimo said. “Take off that chain mail and get in here!”

“I prefer sponge baths,” Minos said. “Dwarves panic when their faces are submerged, did you know that?”

Quick as a snake, Heronimo grabbed Minos and pulled the dwarf went headfirst into the water.

“Heronimo!” I said.

“It’s okay, the river’s shallow here. See? I can totally stand in it.”

“Can Minos?”

“... shit.”

He reached down into the murky water, looking for our dwarf friend. “Help me fish him out!”

I waded over and searched for Minos in the murky water.

“Wait, I think I’ve got him!” Heronimo said. His hand came up with the dwarf’s beard—and nothing else. We stared at a dripping mass of hair.

“Oh, gods,” Heronimo said. “We drowned his beard!”

Minos burst out of the water. She climbed out of the river, gasping and sputtering. “Heronimo, don’t
do
that!”