How long has it been?”
“Seven hours, more or less.”
“That’s seven hours too long. Let’s try to keep our separation to short periods of one hour at a time at most.”
Termund chuckled and held the back of her head in his hand. “If only life was so accommodating.”
“I’ll make it be.”
When she came out from Termund’s embrace, she caught her brother’s slack-jawed expression and nearly burst out laughing. He’s never seen me with a fellow before. Not like this. He’s not sure what to think. So she gave Termund’s hand an extra squeeze and winked at Nikselpik. A little of your own medicine, eh brother?
Dale went around the table and stood behind Nikselpik. The precisor general clapped his hands, rubbed them together, and gave them all a serious look. “My friends, I’ve gathered you all here for one reason: to decide the fate of our fair city. And make no mistake, we are all in grave danger, or at least some danger. Even Mayor Boslem has seen the light, although I’ve not invited a single of our illustrious politicians. Why? Because they don’t have a lick of experience with these ultraworlders. They don’t know what we’re dealing with.
“All of you have , in one way or another, dealt with this threat. Amorphs. The Mother Amorph. You two guards,” Dale gestured to the two standing on either side of the door, “have personally guarded some of the captives who were freed by our very own Nikselpik here.”
“Yes, sir,” one of them said. “They’re keeping them at the jail.” He gulped and shook his head. “Some of the strangest things we’ve ever seen, me and Rolv.”
Dale nodded. “Beings the like have never before seen on Sullenor.” His eyes caught Niksabella’s. “Or perhaps you’ve encountered one of these ultraworlders here in our very city.” His eyes slid away, leaving Niksabella with a cold chill. “In any case, it makes the members of this group uniquely qualified to measure what we’re dealing with.”
Etty tapped a spoon on the table. “I only reluctantly agree that any one of you, outside our immediate military persons and City Council members, has anything useful to add. Unfortunately, Dale and I do not see eye-to-eye on that account.”
“That’s right, Etty. We don’t. In any case…” Dale sauntered to his right, around Uncle Brit, where he placed his hand on Seether’s shoulder. “Mister Seether, would you care to start?”
Seether’s scarred lips sipped from his cup. He looked up and smiled, a terrible, gentle mask. “I am more than happy to share my poor, sad tale. If it keeps the light alive in this world, yes, yes. I certainly shall.”
Chapter Ten
What had started out as a night of continued recovery, fussing over him by Lili and Fara, and ultimately boredom, now appeared to be taking a very interesting turn. While still physically weak and ill, he was thrilled to see all these interesting gnomes together. Even Etty. His hard feelings for the cleric had diminished somewhat, but that didn’t mean he’d miss out on having some fun at the prickly bastard’s expense.
Yes, it was looking to be an entertaining night, starting with his sister.
Niksabella’s open affection toward Termund had nearly decimated his already fragile worldview. Not that her hugging and kissing on that Thrasperville gnome was a bad thing. Quite the opposite. He was genuinely happy for her. Proud, even, in a strange way that he couldn’t explain. Termund was a good, strong fellow. He wasn’t necessarily the type of gnome Nikselpik would have an ale with—slapping the bottoms of tavern wenches all the while—but his respect for Niksabella was palpable. Yes, anyone could see that. It was just… it stirred his heart a little. To think you shocked me for once, sister. Good for you!
The room was quickly un-stuffing, the open window ushering in a refreshingly cool breeze that touched him lightly on his face and forehead, sucking the heat out of whatever fever
“Seven hours, more or less.”
“That’s seven hours too long. Let’s try to keep our separation to short periods of one hour at a time at most.”
Termund chuckled and held the back of her head in his hand. “If only life was so accommodating.”
“I’ll make it be.”
When she came out from Termund’s embrace, she caught her brother’s slack-jawed expression and nearly burst out laughing. He’s never seen me with a fellow before. Not like this. He’s not sure what to think. So she gave Termund’s hand an extra squeeze and winked at Nikselpik. A little of your own medicine, eh brother?
Dale went around the table and stood behind Nikselpik. The precisor general clapped his hands, rubbed them together, and gave them all a serious look. “My friends, I’ve gathered you all here for one reason: to decide the fate of our fair city. And make no mistake, we are all in grave danger, or at least some danger. Even Mayor Boslem has seen the light, although I’ve not invited a single of our illustrious politicians. Why? Because they don’t have a lick of experience with these ultraworlders. They don’t know what we’re dealing with.
“All of you have , in one way or another, dealt with this threat. Amorphs. The Mother Amorph. You two guards,” Dale gestured to the two standing on either side of the door, “have personally guarded some of the captives who were freed by our very own Nikselpik here.”
“Yes, sir,” one of them said. “They’re keeping them at the jail.” He gulped and shook his head. “Some of the strangest things we’ve ever seen, me and Rolv.”
Dale nodded. “Beings the like have never before seen on Sullenor.” His eyes caught Niksabella’s. “Or perhaps you’ve encountered one of these ultraworlders here in our very city.” His eyes slid away, leaving Niksabella with a cold chill. “In any case, it makes the members of this group uniquely qualified to measure what we’re dealing with.”
Etty tapped a spoon on the table. “I only reluctantly agree that any one of you, outside our immediate military persons and City Council members, has anything useful to add. Unfortunately, Dale and I do not see eye-to-eye on that account.”
“That’s right, Etty. We don’t. In any case…” Dale sauntered to his right, around Uncle Brit, where he placed his hand on Seether’s shoulder. “Mister Seether, would you care to start?”
Seether’s scarred lips sipped from his cup. He looked up and smiled, a terrible, gentle mask. “I am more than happy to share my poor, sad tale. If it keeps the light alive in this world, yes, yes. I certainly shall.”
Chapter Ten
What had started out as a night of continued recovery, fussing over him by Lili and Fara, and ultimately boredom, now appeared to be taking a very interesting turn. While still physically weak and ill, he was thrilled to see all these interesting gnomes together. Even Etty. His hard feelings for the cleric had diminished somewhat, but that didn’t mean he’d miss out on having some fun at the prickly bastard’s expense.
Yes, it was looking to be an entertaining night, starting with his sister.
Niksabella’s open affection toward Termund had nearly decimated his already fragile worldview. Not that her hugging and kissing on that Thrasperville gnome was a bad thing. Quite the opposite. He was genuinely happy for her. Proud, even, in a strange way that he couldn’t explain. Termund was a good, strong fellow. He wasn’t necessarily the type of gnome Nikselpik would have an ale with—slapping the bottoms of tavern wenches all the while—but his respect for Niksabella was palpable. Yes, anyone could see that. It was just… it stirred his heart a little. To think you shocked me for once, sister. Good for you!
The room was quickly un-stuffing, the open window ushering in a refreshingly cool breeze that touched him lightly on his face and forehead, sucking the heat out of whatever fever
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