Jak Barley-Private Inquisitor and the Case of the Seven Dwarves by Dan Ehl Page A

absorbed most of the concussion, so for good measure Lorenzo kicked them both in the stomach.
    It seemed to have only taken half a breath, but suddenly the three goblins were flat on their buttocks and clutching various points of pain.
    "Kindly inform your Captain that we would rather sleep the winter in bat droppings and eat broccoli than be at his beck. We will call upon him at our own convenience. I will send word," Lorenzo spoke with disdain.
    I expected the goblins to be a bit resentful at this verbal and physical abuse. I was wrong. Quig briskly rubbed his injured knee, but nodded and smiled approvingly as if he would have been disappointed at any other response. They gained their feet and without even as much of a backward glance, the three goblins disappeared around the corner.
    The cavern was again silent and darker than ever.
    "We could have at least kept them around long enough for some questions," I said when their footsteps could no longer be heard.
    "No, they'd just have gotten cranky again. Anyway, they wouldn't have known anything. We'd need to talk to the brass for that and I'd like to be more prepared for such a meeting."
    "Still have your magic torch?"
    A bright beam of light shot out as an answer to my question. I felt the gloom lift that had been building with the darkness. I was becoming very weary of these caves. We again began following the twists and turns.

Chapter Eight

    It happened so abruptly I stopped and blinked in confusion, taking several seconds to realize the sparkling motes dancing about me were dust particles drifting down from above and the illumination came not from torches but the sun. I lifted my face to feel the warm rays caress my face.
    We climbed a half crumbling stairwell and emerged from a round doorway carved into the base of a limestone bluff. Trampled vegetation showed that the goblins had also found the same exit. The crushed brush and weeds would have once hidden the portal from outside eyes. The goblins' trail, and whomever they pursued, disappeared downhill into the woods
    I was drawn to the music of a waterfall. It had worn a large basin into the rock floor before flowing off into the thick woods. Hazy shadows that looked like trout lazily circled below, the pool at least twice as deep as I was tall.
    Gingerly untying the hemp twine and sliding off the boot, I hesitated before unwrapping Lorenzo's bandaging. There was no denying he had done a good job. My poor stub was only a bit red about the stitching he used to pull together the torn flesh.
    I scooted to where the water flowed out of the pool and dunked my poor foot in the cool current and wearily fell back onto the leaf littered floor of the woods. I cracked one eyelid to see Lorenzo rising from the pool and wiping his mouth, from there to go off scouting into the trees.
    I woke to hear a sound as delicate as silken wings splashing in a butterfly bath. I turned my stiff neck and blinked as my eyes adjusted to the light. Three rock fairies the size of sparrows dipped and darted along the water's surface. A large eruption sent water flying and the blue and pink metallic flash of a fish flipped back into the pool. The fairies, looking like tiny teenaged maidens with gossamer wings, hovered sassily at a safe height before bobbing down once again to tease the trout.
    I felt wonderful despite the throbbing foot, grumbling stomach, and stiffness from sleeping on stone. The fairy dance had me enthralled and I could have watched their aerial shenanigans 'til the night. It was wonderful to once again see and hear the sounds of life. I stretched a cramped leg and the rustling of leaves startled the rock fairies, sending them shooting into the leafy canopy.
    I sighed with disappointment and climbed unsteadily to my feet. Lorenzo must have returned while I was sleeping. I found my bandages had been washed in the creek and were hanging from a bush. They proved to be dry and I carefully rewrapped my foot before slipping it back into