friend to suffer longer...”
Brenwar hurled it back.
“I’m not a druid. I don’t know what Gortt Root is.”
“If it was a tankard of ale, you would have.”
“If it was a tankard of ale,” Brenwar growled, rising to his feet, “I’d dash yer head in with it.”
“Point taken, Dwarf,” the sage said, removing a pinch of mossy-yellow powder. He stuffed the pinch under his lip and smiled. “Happy?”
Brenwar snatched the pouch out of his hand and took a whiff of it. His eyes watered.
“Strong, isn’t it?” Otter Bone said.
“What is it?” Brenwar asked. He felt good but light headed.
“Alleck Moss. Very rare, like Golden Ore. It’s a natural remedy for most world-born poisons. Your friend Bayzog was struck by the Gortt Root. Its fibers are dark and twisty. Rooted poison that kills off the fish in pond waters. Just another dirty little secret in this world of ours.
“You know a lot of odd things,” Brenwar said.
“I’m a sage. We are odd people.”
Brenwar kneeled down and grabbed a pinch out of the pouch.
“A little more,” Otter Bone suggested. “Just stuff it inside his cheek.”
“This better work.” Brenwar stuffed the Alleck Moss inside Bayzog’s mouth.
The part-elf’s chin wriggled a bit.
“Give him a few moments,” Otter Bone said, “and while he recovers, I’ll reveal a few things to you.” Otter Bone felt his way around until he found a log and took a seat. “You’ll have to forgive me. Usually, Horse Neck assists me with these minor things.” He craned his neck in Brenwar’s direction but not directly at him. “Come sit.”
“I’ll stand,” Brenwar said, making his way closer. It was odd. Otter Bone was not only blind, but all alone, but he seemed far from helpless. “Go ahead. Spit it out.”
Otter Bone cleared his throat and tapped his chest.
“As I said. I knew of you coming. I’ve seen the darkness that comes and closes in.” He pointed upward. “Floating above are grave perils that not all of you were prepared for. Brenwar Bolderguild, I could not allow you and your friends to continue on with Nath Dragon. It would have been your peril. And you are still needed. Alive, not dead.”
“Ha!” Brenwar barked. “A likely story. More likely, you are a servant of Barnabus, and now you’ve divided our forces. Kidnapped one. Poisoned another. This is not the work of good people.”
“I serve Nalzambor, and Nalzambor is good, but I have a very different way of going about it. Either way, what must be done must be done.” He slapped his hands on his knees. “You should be thanking me. If you’d gone with Nath Dragon, you’d be dead already.”
Brenwar scoffed. His beard itched. The ring of truth in Otter Bone’s voice was clearly heard. He hefted War Hammer over his shoulder. His heart pumped in his chest. Not having Nath within a glance ate at him. What kind of danger was Nath facing?
“Your friend,” Otter Bone continued, “is very powerful and resourceful. But there is a lot more darkness up there than there is light. He will be tested. Let’s just hope he survives.”
“If you know so much,” Brenwar said, “then you know that I am charged to never leave his side. If something happens to him …” He gently popped Otter Bone in the head with his fist. “Then something bad happens to you.”
“If something happens to him,” Otter Bone replied, “then it won’t matter what you do.”
CHAPTER 26
Sasha sat on her sofa in front of a fireplace, picking at her lip. At her sides her boys sat, Rerry on the right and Samaz on the left. Her thoughts were on her husband, Bayzog. She could feel something wrong.
“Mother,” Rerry said, pushing her hand away from her face. “You should stop that. You’re making Samaz nervous.”
Samaz leaned forward with a glum look, and then nestled back into the sofa.
Sasha’s hand drifted back to her pendant.
“You’re thinking about Father, aren’t you?” Rerry said. “And
Brenwar hurled it back.
“I’m not a druid. I don’t know what Gortt Root is.”
“If it was a tankard of ale, you would have.”
“If it was a tankard of ale,” Brenwar growled, rising to his feet, “I’d dash yer head in with it.”
“Point taken, Dwarf,” the sage said, removing a pinch of mossy-yellow powder. He stuffed the pinch under his lip and smiled. “Happy?”
Brenwar snatched the pouch out of his hand and took a whiff of it. His eyes watered.
“Strong, isn’t it?” Otter Bone said.
“What is it?” Brenwar asked. He felt good but light headed.
“Alleck Moss. Very rare, like Golden Ore. It’s a natural remedy for most world-born poisons. Your friend Bayzog was struck by the Gortt Root. Its fibers are dark and twisty. Rooted poison that kills off the fish in pond waters. Just another dirty little secret in this world of ours.
“You know a lot of odd things,” Brenwar said.
“I’m a sage. We are odd people.”
Brenwar kneeled down and grabbed a pinch out of the pouch.
“A little more,” Otter Bone suggested. “Just stuff it inside his cheek.”
“This better work.” Brenwar stuffed the Alleck Moss inside Bayzog’s mouth.
The part-elf’s chin wriggled a bit.
“Give him a few moments,” Otter Bone said, “and while he recovers, I’ll reveal a few things to you.” Otter Bone felt his way around until he found a log and took a seat. “You’ll have to forgive me. Usually, Horse Neck assists me with these minor things.” He craned his neck in Brenwar’s direction but not directly at him. “Come sit.”
“I’ll stand,” Brenwar said, making his way closer. It was odd. Otter Bone was not only blind, but all alone, but he seemed far from helpless. “Go ahead. Spit it out.”
Otter Bone cleared his throat and tapped his chest.
“As I said. I knew of you coming. I’ve seen the darkness that comes and closes in.” He pointed upward. “Floating above are grave perils that not all of you were prepared for. Brenwar Bolderguild, I could not allow you and your friends to continue on with Nath Dragon. It would have been your peril. And you are still needed. Alive, not dead.”
“Ha!” Brenwar barked. “A likely story. More likely, you are a servant of Barnabus, and now you’ve divided our forces. Kidnapped one. Poisoned another. This is not the work of good people.”
“I serve Nalzambor, and Nalzambor is good, but I have a very different way of going about it. Either way, what must be done must be done.” He slapped his hands on his knees. “You should be thanking me. If you’d gone with Nath Dragon, you’d be dead already.”
Brenwar scoffed. His beard itched. The ring of truth in Otter Bone’s voice was clearly heard. He hefted War Hammer over his shoulder. His heart pumped in his chest. Not having Nath within a glance ate at him. What kind of danger was Nath facing?
“Your friend,” Otter Bone continued, “is very powerful and resourceful. But there is a lot more darkness up there than there is light. He will be tested. Let’s just hope he survives.”
“If you know so much,” Brenwar said, “then you know that I am charged to never leave his side. If something happens to him …” He gently popped Otter Bone in the head with his fist. “Then something bad happens to you.”
“If something happens to him,” Otter Bone replied, “then it won’t matter what you do.”
CHAPTER 26
Sasha sat on her sofa in front of a fireplace, picking at her lip. At her sides her boys sat, Rerry on the right and Samaz on the left. Her thoughts were on her husband, Bayzog. She could feel something wrong.
“Mother,” Rerry said, pushing her hand away from her face. “You should stop that. You’re making Samaz nervous.”
Samaz leaned forward with a glum look, and then nestled back into the sofa.
Sasha’s hand drifted back to her pendant.
“You’re thinking about Father, aren’t you?” Rerry said. “And
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