The Lutin Chronicles
Chapter 14
A Goblin Scorned

"Life in the Alpha Omega Federation is wondrous." said Captain Kayrok.  "We have accomplished so much together.  Behind me stands a new city, built in a matter of weeks.  Only a few years ago, such a thing would have been completely impossible.  But today, the impossible has become commonplace.  Steam driven trains have made it possible to travel anywhere in the federation in mere minutes.  Our schools have made widespread skills that were once rare.  Magic is no longer a mysterious force wielded by a few powerful individuals.  We are able to communicate instantly accross large distances.  But more than all this, we have created a land of peace and harmony from disparate peoples once known only for their hostility toward one another.  Dwarves, goblins, elves, giants, cyclopses, talking animals, humans, gnomes, all living in peace.  Not a forced peace, but one of genuine friendship.  This is what has made us great.  And while it was my attention to build my little troop up when we first arrived in these woods, I cannot take credit for what we have become.  We are a great nation today because of all of you, with your commitment to honor and duty, and a complete lack of animosity, complacency or sloth.  No offence, Muphrid."

"None taken." replied Muphrid the sloth as everyone chuckled.

Kayrok took a pair of scisors in hand.  "And so it is with gratitude to all of you that I dedicate this new city, which marks the halfway point through the Great Barrier Mountains.  Ladies and gentlemen, I hereby declare the city of Halfway open."  A great cheer arose as Kayrok cut the ribbon accross the city gate.

Halfway was a most beautiful city indeed.  The mayor, a knocker by the name of Gwyn, was skilled at the design of underground dwellings, and had been working since its inception to make it grand.  The streets were literally paved with gold.  The Barrier Mountains had been very generous.  Precious metal and jewels had been discovered in such abundance that it simply wasn't possible to trade them away fast enough.  The excess had been used in the building of Halfway.  The most interesting find, however, had been the clams.  Kayrok understood that the place he was standing in had once been a lake, but a great cataclysm long ago had filled the lake and closed the gap in the mountains.  In the process, thousands, perhaps even millions of clams had been burried alive.  The most bizarre aspect of that fact was that the clams had not died, but gone into a permanent state of suspended animation.  When the miners had removed them from the rock, the clams proved to be fully alive.  Sadly, they did not survive long.  But on the upside, there would be clam chowder for years to come, and there was now a massive surplus of pearls.  Clam pearls were not as valuable as oyster pearls, but in the right hands, they could be made just as beautiful.  The greatest find had been a massive clam fifteen feet in diameter.  It's shell was now a pair of fountains in the city plaza.  Colored lights played off the water within and made dancing patterns on the ceiling of the cavern in which halfway resided.  The center doorway of the city gate had been constructed from that clam's single, giant pearl, cut and reassembled like a jigsaw puzzle.

Water was plentiful, here.  A mountain lake lay directly overhead.  A brilliant feat combining magic and engineering changed the bottom of the lakebed into perfectly clear quartz, allowing sunlight to illuminate the cavern during the day.  Several holes drilled into the rock allowed water to pour out into stunning waterfalls around the edge of the cavern.  It collected in deep pools around the edge of the city, and from there, flowed into pipes where it was sent northward to Refuge, Cephas, and eventually into the pond at Camp Dimtorch.  From there, it would be sent by way of a newly dug creek into the valleys which lay south of Moondark and west of Steadfast.  The reservoirs would not only beautify the land and provide many years of fishing, swimming and ice skating, but would also see the nation through times of drought.

The entire federation was flourishing, and that knowledge delighted Kayrok.  Mentally, he went over all the places his land had grown in the last few months.  Six jewelers had moved into the towns of Mountainshade, Singing Pony and Bounty, attracted by the sheer volume of raw materials to work with, as well as the notion of being able to perform their craft without the constant threat of robbery, for while it was true that the Lom Shi'Un empire rewarded wealth, many found that the potential rewards were well offset by the constant threats of a nearly lawless nation.

The news that the school at Mountainshade was offering classes in magic had attracted a number of aspiring mages from all over the northlands.  The very first thing they were taught was the moral code to which the local mages held.  To most, it was an astounding revelation which they embraced.  Not surprising.  If they didn't embrace it, they weren't taught.  Rog and Blotchet, who were studying there as part of their punishment for fraud and theft, were becoming quite successful as legitimate magicians.

The town of Punishment was no longer living up to its name.  The fishing there was without equal, and already a thriving community had been built up around the fishermen who both settled there and came to visit.

Ponytown had grown like a wildfire.  The vast majority of the ponies were transformed hobgoblins who were very skilled miners and craftsmen.  While hooves had robbed them of their more delicate skills, they were determined.  It was actually Blotchet who made everything possible.  He had come up with the idea for the magic grip horseshoe which once again allowed ponies to weild tools and build themselves houses, shops and places of industry.

Wadogo, a city far to the north and about halfway to the Lom Shi'Un border was proposing an alliance.  The town was populated by the descendants of slaves who had been brought from Irombi to the oriental coastlands and escaped to freedom.  The wadogoans valued that freedom more than anything else, and Kayrok knew that if the federation were threatened by an invading foe, the Wadogoans would fight like badgers to keep them free.

To the west, just beyond the newest of the lakes, lay the village of Fargone.  It was a village of halflings, a people not unlike the dwarves.  They had become valuable trading partners.  The halflings were a people of the earth.  They could do amazing things with food, both in its growing and its preparation.  Many were also experts in crafting items of glass and pottery.  Many others were accomplished artisans in music, painting and other fine arts.  There was never a shortage of goods and services for the halflings to trade.  Kayrok hoped to talk them into joining the federation someday soon.

Kayrok was brought sharply out of his musings on his young nation by Smallbeard and Ravenpelt, the two dwarves who were in charge of all digging operations, both in the main tunnel and in the mines.  "Gentlemen, what can I do for you?" asked the commander.

"We've got something to show you." said Ravenpelt, producing a lump of metal.  "We've come upon a vein of this material just off of the main tunnel."  The metal was very dark, but had a golden tinge.  "We don't know how far it goes, but there's a lot of it."

"Scrying spell?" suggested Kayrok.

"Tried." replied Smallbeard.  "Every spell tried showed nothing.  It's like it's not here."

"It's like nothing we've ever seen." said Ravenpelt.  "We've nicknamed it glutangium."  Kayrok didn't get it.

"Meaning pain in the butt." Smallbeard explained.  "It's just about impossible to work with.  The melting point is incredibly high.  It's difficult to deform.  And on top of that, magic spells do nothing to it.  The stuff just seems to dissipate magic.  It's only redeeming quality is that it's not as heavy as you'd expect for a metal this stubborn."

Kayrok took the lump of metal and studied it for a moment.  "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" he asked.

"Armor." said Ravenpelt and Smallbeard together.

"Make it happen." said Kayrok, handing the metal back.

* * *

Falshar's brow furled harshly as he looked out over the plain.  It had been a hard winter.  Already, the bulk of the food which his giants had stolen from the local goblins was gone.  Even the goblins themselves were almost gone, though Falshar thought to imself that this might be a good thing.  Goblins tasted terrible.  He'd rather have a human or dwarf any day.  In either case, the food was getting thin, and all of the towns and farms which they might have plundered had already been smashed.  Turning around and facing the giant camp, the commander called out "Blaron!"

A red-skinned giant with a severely scarred hide and an even more severe underbite answered.  "My lord?"

"Prepare the troop to move.  It's time to find new prey."

"And where shall I tell them we are going, Lord Falshar?"

"South." the leader replied.  "Into the Forest of Darkness."

"To Taikroisa?" asked Blaron.  "Or perhaps Marai-Uthra?"

"Further." said Falshar.  "As my dinner begged for its life, it told me of a land beyond Marai-Uthra where there is plenty of food and no walls.  That is where we are going."

* * *

Darren Hardfoot was in a very good mood today.  Not only was the usual trading party coming from the Federation, but Kayrok himself was going to be visting.  Darren always enjoyed visitng with the lutin leader.  The man was always pleasant, always had something cheerful to say, and was the least stuck-up politcal leader he'd ever met.  The man was techncally an emperor, being a king over many kings, yet he prefered to be addressed as "Captan".  Hardfoot had been inspired by Kayrok to be a hard-working but quiet mayor, demanding no special respect and consequently commanding much.  The mayor adjusted his bow tie and stepped out of his hillside home into the open.

Walking through the town, Darren passed by the town square where the Swackball team was hard at practice.  He stopped to watch the players swinging at the ball with their paddles, moving it to and fro across the park, and was almost unaware of Kayrok and Point coming up beside him.

"They're saying that the lions could go all the way to the championship this year." said Kayrok.

"It won't be easy.  The Steamville Oracles just signed on Ophiuchus the mastodon.  They'll be a force to be reckoned with.  Welcome, Kayrok.  How are you?"

"Fine, fine." replied the captain as Hardfoot pumped his hand, then moved to shake Point's.  "And how are things in Fargone?"

"Better than ever." replied the halfling mayor.  "My people love to eat, as well you know.  They're quite happy having others to grow their food for them, leaving them the freedom to pursue arts and industry.  It's never been this good since our forefathers came to this forest."

"If I may inquire," said Point.  "Why did your people come here?  This is about as far as you can get from halfling homelands."

"It's a long story." replied Darren.  "But to make a long story short, our ancestors were excedingly wealthy.  Everyone wanted their treasure, and it seemed like everyone had some reason why the treasure belonged to them and ought to be taken by force.  They spent a great deal of energy defending their fortunes.  Halflings don't like to fight, as you know.  We just want to eat and be left alone.  So our ancestors picked a spot on the map that was secret, defensible and as far away from our enemies as possible."

"And what became of the treasure?"

"Oh, it's still here.  Would you like to see it?"

Point rubbed his chin.  "Do you think it's wise to display your treasures to a foreign head of state?  We could come back and ransack you."

Mayor Hardfoot laughed merrily.  "You two?  Oh, I don't mean that you couldn't.  Certanly, you're both fearsome warriors, but you're men of honor.  You're also my friends.  I wouldn't fear you if you were aiming a crossbow at me and I had a target on my shirt."

"I'd like that." said Kayrok.  "Which way?"

Hardfoot pointed to the cliffs to the south.  "That way."  He led Kayrok and Point right up to the cliff face, where a large pair of doors were set into the very rock face.  The doors were simple and betrayed no sign of what was inside.  It was a bank, complete with marble walls, gold-plated fixtures and plush red carpet.  The place was manned by a handful of tellers, one of whom came out to greet the trio personally.

"Happy morning, Mister Mayor." said the bank official.  "How may we be of service today?"

"It is a happy morning." said the mayor.  "The tea was especially good at breakfast today."

"And how is your garden?  Doing well, I trust?"

"Very.  I expect the blueberries to be especially sweet."

"They ought to make a fine juice."

"Especially if Wanda does the pressing.  She's very good at making juice, you know."

"Does she roast the berries before she juices them?"

"Oh, no.  That would make them taste awful."

"I see."

"I would like to take these fine councilmen to vault number twelve."

"Very good, Sir."

"The secuity here at the Fargone bank is second to none." said the mayor as he followed the banker back toward the vaults.  "The walls are solid iron, two feet thick.  Outside that, miles of rock.  Both the steel and the rock are protected by countless antispells.  There's no way in but through the front.  The doors to the vaults require both keys and combinations.  Then the individual vaults are each guarded by a ghast."

"Ghast?" Point echoed, unfamiliar with the word.

"Magical beings.  Genies like to keep large groups of them to amplify their powers.  My great-great grandfather once managed to get three wishes out of a genie while on a sojurn in Irombi.  His third wish was for twenty of the genie's ghasts to use as his personal servants.  They've been guarding our treasures ever since."

Having led the group deep inside the mountan, the banker inserted his key into the door to vault number twelve, then dialed a set of six dials to enter the proper combination.  The door began to swing open.  The process of opening seemed to take ages, as it was a very thick door.  When at least two feet of metal had passed through the doorway, the other side fnally became visible.  Before the group stood a creature which looked like a human, but with bright yellow skin.  It wore a bright magenta turban, a blue vest with red polka dots and baggy orange trousers with a pattern of green and azure plaid.  In its nose, a huge ring with a large sapphire set in the middle.  It's feet were bare, but on each of its toes was a ring with a different colored jewel.  The creature's appearance was beyond comical.  It was... well... ghastly.  Crossing its arms and looking as imposing as possible, it bellowed "None shall pass!"

"Hello, Jabar." said the banker.  "One side, please."

"Phooey." said Jabar.  "It's so boring down here.  The only fun I ever get is denying anybody passage, and I only get to do that rarely."

Hardfoot passed by the ghast without a word, but Kayrok stopped and offered his hand.  "Hello, Jabar.  Kayrok Firessed.  Pleasure to meet you."

Jabar seemed quite surprised.  No one had ever spoken to him like this.  "It's only a ghast." said Hardfoot.  "You don't need to be polite to it."

"Nevertheless, it's my way.  I've never met a ghast before, and I'd like to make a good first impression."

"Jabar." replied the ghast as he shook Kayrok's hand.  "Jabar AlFnar, formerly servant to the genie  of the book."

Point gazed into the darkness in the chamber.  All he could see was a torch sconce on the far wall.  "Mayor Hardfoot, the vault is empty."

"Jabar!" snapped the mayor.  "Quit socializing and do your job, please."

"What?" the ghast responded.  "Oh, right."  With a wave of his yellow hand, the treasure appeared.  It was truly a sight to behold.  It was plain to see that it didn't come from one place.  Darren was more than happy to exposit on each piece's origin.  There was jewelry from Whales, bags of diamonds from Yesulam, statues from Salinon, paintings from Yamato, ancient scrolls from the library at Rin Tanuki, chalices from Devil's Strand, golden lamps from Arabarb, silks from Zhonglu, ivory from Spake, the list went on and on.

"This is all truly amazing." said Kayrok.  "It seems a shame to keep it all locked up.  Why not put it all into a museum?"

"We tried that once." said Hardfoot.  "Our neighbors just began to covet the treasure more and more."

"How did you come by it all?" asked Point, examining a glass figurine of a cat from Nethex, on the far side of Irombi.

"Have you ever heard of Marcon Prox?"

"The explorer?  Of course.  Who hasn't?  He was the most successful treasure hunting giant ever.  Are you saying it was his?"

"I am.  But Prox isn't who most people think he is.  The person most people thought was Prox was a giant named Harkel."

"Then who was Marcon Prox."

"A bird." answered Jabar.

"Jabar!" snapped Hardfoot.

"You want to know the whole story?" asked the ghast.

"Please." said Kayrok.

Jabar was delighted.  No one ever said "please" to a ghast.  "I was there." he exlained.  I was bound to the genie of the book, along with about eight hundred other ghasts.  Our old master had died in a hideaway of a private island, stll clutching the book.  So we just sat around for hundreds of years.  It was so BORING!  Then along comes a halfling.  Marcus P. Hardfoot was his name.  He was a sailor on a ship full of humans.  His ship pulled up to the island to collect some fresh water from the river.  He'd broken away from the landing party because he needed to find a place to relieve himself.  He found himself at our dead master's hut.  Actually, he slipped off of a ledge and fell through the roof.  It was purely by accident that he landed on the book and opened it.  Out came the genie, of course.  He demanded to be rescued from the island, but he was also furious that it had taken so long for someone to come along and find him.  He told Marcus that if he would take his book onto the ship, Marcus could choose the manner of his death.  Well, Marcus was a clever fellow.  He chose to be shipwrecked and die of starvation on that very island with the book still in his hand.  The genie was furious.  He demanded that the halfling pick another way to die, but the sailor refused.  So the genie made a new deal.  Take the book back to civilization and get three wishes.  Well, Marcus didn't know he was already entitled to unlimited wishes."

Darren was beginning to look mortified.  "Jabar, you're boring my guests."

"Not at all." said Kayrok.  "This is interesting.  Please, continue."

"So Marcus, being so clever, makes his first wish for a long and healthy life.  So now not only can the genie not kill him, neither can anyone else.  His second wish was to be the greatest treasure hunter ever.  Well, anyone who knows genies know that they just love to twist wishes.  So the genie tansformed Marcus into an eagle.  Now he could freely travel anywhere in the world and use his super-duper vision to hunt for precious objects.  Marcus was furious at this, but he was still clever.  His third wish was for some of the genie's power.  He figured he could chage himself back into a halfling in he had a gene's power.  Well, the genie obliged.  He gave Marcus twenty of us ghasts, knowing that without a genie to team up with, our powers wouldn't do him a whole lot of good."

"So how did he become Marcon Prox?"

"Marcus took full advantage of his new abilities.  And while he couldn't use us ghasts for granting wishes, he used us as scouts to help him find treasure.  When he was rich enough, he bought his own ship.  He also teamed up with a giant.  Marcus figured a crew wouldn't follow a bird, so he had the giant pretend to be the captain when all the while, the eagle sitting on the giant's shoulder was the one making all the decisions.  The new name was all part of the act."

"Did he ever get changed back into a halfling?"

"Nope.  It's said that he had a chance, once, but he'd gotten so used to beng a bird that he turned it down."

* * *

Rog and Blotchet sat and stared as Jun looked over their papers.  Both of them had been pouring themselves into their studies in magic since Norebo had caught them in the act of fraud.  Part of their punishment was that they were required to become the wizard and unicorn they were pretending to be.  For Rog, this meant that he would receive a free education and eventually be able to continue his get-rich-quick scheme properly.  For Blotchet, this meant that he had to go around with hooves and a horn for an indefinite period of time.  Being Pureheart the unicorn full-time was getting old very quickly, and he was becoming anxious to return to his own form.  He just wanted to get this punishment over with.

Jun looked up from the papers.  "Mister Rog, regarding the question of poison grapes, you put down the words to the universal cutoff spell.  How is this supposed to help the subject?"

Rog wrung his hands as he answered.  "Well, the question said it was a man who was turned into a dog while he was eating grapes.  The universal cutoff spell would turn him back into a man and he'd be immune to the poison in the grapes."

Jun scowled.  "The question was intended to test your knowledge of methods of neutralizing poisons.  However, in real-world situations, your lateral thinking woud have saved our friend's life just as quickly as any chemical.  Well done."

"What about my paper?" asked Blotchet.

"Firstly, I would highly reccommend concentrating on your spelling lessons.  In any other school, you may have failed for answers like number six: "Furst ide graynd op teh snel shils ond than spenkel thum awn teh apel sid pohshin."

"I only just learned to read and write." said Blotchet.

"And for that reason, I'll cut you some slack.  As for your idea, snail shells would indeed neutralize the distortion effects of the apple seed potion.  The correct answer was chalk dust, but yours is an interestngly creative solution.  Well done.  You both get A's."

Rog whooped in exultation as he left the magic school and stepped out into the chilly air of Moondark.  "We did awesome!"

"I guess so." said Blotchet.

"I know so." said Rog.  "And now that we've passed that section, we can go on and study illusion spells.  Hey, let's go to the trading post and get a couple of beers to celebrate."

"Okay.  You want to take the train?"

"Better yet, why don't we use a teleport spell?"

Blotchet shifted uneasily.  "I don't know..."

"Come on, it'll be fine." urged Rog.

"What if I mess up."

"You won't mess up.  You're  unicorn.  Teleportation is in your blood."  Blotchet raised an eyebrow.  "I mean CURRENTLY.  I know you're not... you know."

"Okay, fine.  Hold on to me."  Blotchet closed his eyes and concentrated.  There was the sound of imploding air and suddenly, the pair was in the forest to the north of the trading post.  "Told you I'd mess it up."

"Rubbish.  The trading post is just over there.  Come on.  Last one in buys!"

Blotchet let Rog run ahead, lagging behind at a mre leisurely pace.  Rog was already in the buiding when Blotchet Heard a noise.  It sounded like someone crying.  The ersatz unicorn stepped off the path to invesigate.  Under the shade of a willow tree sat a pony, her back towards him.  Her fur was a soft, golden color, her mane a sunset orange, and she was softly weeping.  Since normal ponies didn't weep, Blotchet knew it must be one of the cursed half-dwarves.  ...or one of the talking animals from Furbluffs.  ...or one of Urik's kids.  ...or a lutin scout with a magical disguise.  ...or a displaced keeper.  All right, so he had no idea.  "Excuse me, miss." he said softly.  "What's the matter?"

The pony was startled only momentarily, then respoded "Why do you care?"  She looked back at him with soft, blue-green eyes.  Her voice was beautiful, her face even moreso.  Blotchet found himself momentarily confused by this young mare's strange beauty, but he recovered quickly.

"I'm just concerned.  I heard you crying, and I hate to see a lady cry."

"Sorry to inconveniene you." 

"Would you like me to leave you alone?"

"No.  No, I'm sorry.  My name is Karen."

"I'm..."

"Pureheart.  I know.  You're the wizard's friend."

Blotchet had forgotten himsef for a moment, literally, and had almost introduced himself by his human name.  "That's right." he said.  "What's wrong, Karen?"

"I'm lonely." she said.

"Why?"

"I asked my father to find a husband for me.  He brought back a normal horse, stupid and mute.  Then I said I would rather marry my brother.  He said it was forbidden.  He called it 'insects'."

"Do you mean 'incest'?" asked Blotchet.

"Yes.  That was the word.  Then the ponies came from the north with Algene.  Father suggested I find a husband among them, but they're all so old.  I thought perhaps I could find a husband among the animals from furbluffs, but all the good equines are spoken for."

"I am sorry." said Blotchet.

There was a moment of silence before Karen asked "That's it?"

"That's what?"

"Aren't you going to tell me 'There's someone out there for you'? or 'Vertarbna has someone picked out for you'?"

"No." replied Blotchet.  "I don't know anything of the sort.  I'm just a simple... a simple unicorn.  Things like fate and providence are over my head."

Karen looked at Blotchet for a good long moment.  "I like you." she said.  "You're refreshngly honest."  Blotchet felt a twinge of guilt at that.

Rog, meanwhile, was already ordering himself a beer.   "Top marks!" he bragged to the bartender.  "The professor said my lateral thnking is a life saver!"

"Vey nice." said a goblin at the end of the bar.  "But I'm a little confused.  Aren't you the great Spectaculo?"

"That's me." said Rog, beaming.

"What does a mighty wizard like Spectaculo need with tuteage in magic?  Shouldn't it be you teaching the others?"

"Oh, why cetainly.  And I do teach a bit."  Rog wasn't lying.  He frequently helped Blotchet with his work.  That counted.  "But even someone like me doesn't know everythng.  There's always more to learn.  So I am going to the school of magic to add to my existing skills."  It was the truth.

"My name's Duffer, by the way."

"Rog." the human slipped.  Then, catching himself, he added "Rog the spectacular.  Or Spectaculo for short."

"I see.  You must be a great wizard to have earned that name."

"Well, I don' mean to brag." Rog lied.  "But t was me who completely refilled the food bank after it had been robbed."  He didn't mention that he was the one who robbed it, albeit inadvertantly.

"I come from a town called Prosperity." said Duffer.  "We had a great wizard, once.  He passed away last year."

"Oh, sorry to hear that."

"Fantastic wizard.  His name was Olgarch.  He was so good at spellcasting that all he had to do was  snap his figers and speak a word to turn a lutin nto a squirrel."

"You don't say."

"I do.  Have you noticed how many squirrels there are in this neck of the woods?"

"Yes."

"Olgarch's enemies."

"I see.

Duffer sipped his drink and looked thoughtful for a moment befre saying "Olgarch took an apprentice before he died, but he never had the opportunity to teach his apprentice any magic.  I was just thnking.  You're so clever and talented, and education obviously means a lot to you.  Perhaps you would be willing to teach our new village wizard."

"Why doesn't he just go to the magic school?"  asked Rog.

"He would, but Olgarch and Jun had a falling out years ago.  A big misunderstanding concerning the Tragso.  Jun forbade Olgarch and any of his disciples from ever returning to Moondark.  That, f course, includes his apprentice."

"I don't know."

"We can pay you.  We're not called Prosperity for nothing."

If Rog's ears could move, they'd have perked.  "How much?"

* * *

Kayrok had a map sread out on the table in front of him, showing the Federation and its neighbors, including Fargone.  "Our water distribution and storage network is second to none." he was saying.  "We can now pump water anywhere in the Fedration through a system of underground pipes and canals.  We already created a lake south of Moondark.  We've almost fnished filling one west of Anhunger.  Next, we want to put one right here, north of Fargone and west of Steadfast."

"The area is already a moor." said Point.  "It can't be farmed or built on.  But if we can just fill up the natural depression, we'll have a perfect reservoir for the entire western region."

"I like this." said Hardfoot.  "We often use so much water for irrigating crops that we drain the river to dangeously low levels.  If we have a lake that we can draw from, we won't need to worry."

"I'd also like to put in a rail line going from Punishment, over to you, then up around the lake and back over to Steamville.  It will encourage growth out here in the west.  We can then take advantage of the greater amount of sunshine in the area here in the northwest quadrant, away from the shadow of the mountains, to grow a wider array of crops."

"I'm impressed by your foresght." said Hardfoot.  "in fact, I'm impressed all around."

"It's our hope that Fargone may one day join the Federation." said Point.  "You have much to contribute and much to gain."

"Such a decision must necessarily be made by all of Fargone's citizens." said the halfling mayor.  "But I can say I'm very optimistic about it."

* * *

"I'm not sure about this, Rog." said Blotchet as he carried his friend down the highway.  "If this guy isn't allowed in Moondark, there must be a good reason."

"Maybe." said Rog.  "Or maybe Jun was a little hasty.  Let's just give him a chance."

"You think that's wise?"

"At the very least, it's fair.  Norebo gave us a chance, didn't he?"

"That's true." Blotchet had to admit.

"We should be getting close." said Rog, consulting a small map.  "It's not easy to figure out these things.  How do we know whether we're going five degrees north anyway?"

"We can follow the scent of lutins."

"I admit they're smelly, but come on." said Rog.

"No, really.  I can smell lutins.  I think they're over there, just a little to the right."

"I don't smell anything."

"I think my nose is more sensitive because I'm not human." said Blotchet.

"You're not a real unicorn." Rog said in a half whisper in case someone might be listening.  "You're just the shape of one."

"I don't know." said Blotchet.  "I've been feeling... different.  Like... more unicorny every day."

"That's just... That can't be right.  The spell I used on you doesn't work that way.  Unless... it does.  That's a creepy thought.  What if you wake up one day and you can't talk?"

"I don't think that's going to happen."

"But what if it does?"

"We're here." said Blotchet, deliberately changing the subject.  Through the trees, the boys could see a group of hide tents.  Within were a group of lutins gathered around a cold firepit.  Some were standing, others sittng, all of them looked dirty and about half of them had been drinking much too early in the day.  In other words, it was a completely normal lutin tribe.

"Who goes there?" shouted one of the lutins.  A dozen weapons were immediately brought to bear on the newcomers.  Both tried very hard not to flinch.  ...Or for that matter, to bolt.  Rog had to remind himself that these were not Federation lutins, and for them, this was normal.

"Peace, men." said a familiar voice.  It was Olgarch, standing up of the other side of the fire pit.  "This man was invited here.  This is the great wizard, Spectaculo, and his trusty unicorn, Pureheart.  He's here to tutor our magician."

"We have a magician?" someone said.

"Of course we do, fool." said another.  "Durod."

"Who's Durod?"  And a second later.  "Oh, right! The apprentice."

From the largest of the tents, an imressive figure stepped.  He was large for a lutin and heavily muscled.  His face held no sign of emotion, only a cold, unfeeling stare.  "You must be Spectaculo." he observed.  "I am Durod, selected to be a wizard but never trained.  I am told you are willing to train me." 

"Yes." said Rog.  "But first, I need to make sure that you're an honorable man, that you're not going to abuse the knowledge I'm going to give you."

Durod took a small bag of coins out of his pocket.  "Twelve platinum coins down and ten per lesson."

Rog dismounted.  "Shall we start with a simple levitation spell?"

* * *

Mayor Hardfoot was feeling very optimistic this morning.  The spring thaw had come early this year and the growing season was already well on its way as a result.  A visit from Mara the unicorn had already resulted in one full harvest.  A second one wasn't that far away.  In his hand, the mayor held a small, magical box which played music as he walked along.  About a month ago, an otter from Bounty and a goblin from Rider had come up with the idea to use the communcation charms recently created by Rugi to continuously send music, news and entertainment to lsteners throughout the federation and surrounding areas.  It made everyone feel unusually cose for some reason, almost as if they were all personal friends of the announcer.  "You've been listening to Angry Griffin playing Once Upon a Volcano.  Fortunately for them, the volcano wasn't active.  If you like what you just heard, you can hear that song any time you like, thanks to Rugi's handy dandy sound-capture charms, just one copper apiece, available at Singing Pony trading post, Redfern Hall in Solace and beginning tomorrow, at Uefnik's in Anhunger.  Coming up next, it's Cosmic Serpent by the Rider Yaybahar quartet, followed by the Sky Valley Angels doing the Swackball Shuffle.  This is Impish Bilge bringing you hot new tunes on the otter-goblin spellcast network."

"I love yaybahar music." said Hardfoot to nobody in particular as he held his soundbox near his ear, enjoying the bizarre, spacey, echoing sounds of the strange goblin instruments.  It was absolutely wonderful the way life was improving in so many ways, thanks to the Federation.  Across the park, a lad was listening to his favorite trag drummer on a sound-capture charm.  It didn't mix at all well with the yaybahar music, but Hardfoot was happy that they each had their own unique songs to enjoy.  As he enjoyed his music, the mayor looked up to see Kayrok approaching.  Well, ths was a welcome surprise.  He hadn't been informed that Kayrok was coming for a visit, or he would have prepared to receive him, as well as the dozen lutins striding in behind him.  Darren knew these people.  Sergeant Oof was among them.  So was the womanly Angu.  There was Mumbor, as red-eyed as ever.  Behind them, he coud see Urik, Sytet, Barga and Norebo.  "Gentlemen and ladies, welcome." said the mayor.

Kayrok looked Hardfoot in the eye with a complete and cold lack of emotion.  "Go." he said, icily.  The soldiers sprang into action, spreading out and yelling wildly a they ransacked everything around the square, setting fire to wagons, taking clothing and goods from anyone in their path.  Hardfoot screamed at Kayrok, begging him to stop, even springing at him with his fists swinging, but Kayrok merely swatted him away like a fly.  The mayor flew backwards, his head hitting the stone pavement, sending him into darkness.  The last thing he heard was the voice of Bilge saying "That was Dolph McRuben with Absolute Insanity.  Now here's Seven Copper Bezerkers with their newest hit, It All Has to End."

* * *

"The radiant communication project has been a huge success."  said Rugi, his slight slur having nearly disappeared over the last few months.  "But the rock of the mountains interferes with the signals. We can't get any reception in Cephas, Refuge or Halfway."

Fugu thought for a moment as he stood in the middle of Camp Dimtorch, looking over the coverage map which Rugi had made.  "I think I might have an idea." he said.  "First, put your transmitter right here, next to the path to Sky Valley.  You'll get the best coverage from the cliff face.  Second, run some cables along the length of the tunnel.  I've been conducting experiments with electricity..."

"Electricity?  What is that?"

"Foon's mini-lightning.  Lightning one may use as they elect to do so, hence the name.  But as I was saying, I've been able to use cables to carry electricity a long way.  I believe you can do something similar with a magic signal."

As Fugu and Rugi was discussing their ideas, Foxtooth ran into the camp, looking exhausted and bedraggled.  "Where's the captan?" he huffed.

"The captain is in Anhunger, rehearsing for the grand opening of the new shopping center." said Fugu.  "Why?  What's wrong?"

"Fargone was attacked."

"By whom?"

"By us!"

* * *

Kayrok was stunned as he stared at the device carrying Foxtooth's voice to him.  "It sounded like you said it was me who attacked Fargone."

"Yes, Sir."

"But I've been here in Anhunger since this morning.  Besides which, why would any of us do such a thing?"

"That's just it, Sir.  You wouldn't.  But someone who looked exactly like you did command the raid.  All of the soldiers were exact copied of us.  I even saw myself there, Sir."

"Point?"

"Here, Sir." came the voice of the cyclops.

"Notify everyone, no military personel are to go anywhere near Fargone for any reason until this matter is investigated completely.  I'll be there as soon as I can.  Kayrok out."

"Problems?" asked Lo-Mahle as he approached the captain.

"Big ones." replied Kayrok.  "Someone attacked Fargone while impersonating me."  

Lo-Mahle said nothing, but the look on his face spoke volumes.

* * *

Falshar was in a really bad mood.  All of the food which the troop had brought with them was depleted.  They had come across a family of cyclopses living deep in the woods, and that had provided them with a little sustanance, but eating cyclops always left him feeling terrible.  Cyclopses were too closely related to giants, and it bothered what remained of his conscience.  Falshar cursed the shriveled, worn down, scraped-up, sewage-poor excuse for the tattered remnants of his conscience.  He would have greatly prefered to rip the blasted thing from his heart if he could, because the alternative was subsisting on fruits and vegetables.  In his anger, Falshar decided he'd eat the next cyclops he saw by himself just to spite his conscience.  If his prey's dying words were anything to go by, there would be a particularly meaty one when they reached Camp Dimtorch.

* * *

Fargone was not a walled city.  Its streets were public and anyone who wished could use them.  Nevertheless, Kayrok, Point and Sytet felt as if they were committing some illegal act as the walked along the street toward the hospital.  The townsfolk glared with restrained hostility and the tension was palpable.  The three entered the building as quickly as they could.  The hospital was a single building with no partitions, so Hardfoot was immediately visible.  The nurses were reluctant to let the lutns and cyclops in, but Hardfoot bid them let his friends pass.  "I know it wasn't you." were the first words out of his mouth.

"I'm relieved to hear that." said Kayrok.

"You're a good man." said the mayor.  "You would never attack us.  I know it was an imposter, and I refuse to let this incident poison the relationship between Fargone and the Federation.  I have already cast my vote in favor of joining."

"That's excellent news."

Hardfoot raised a hand.  "But the matter must be put to the entire council.  Mine is but one vote among ten.  The rest of the council doesn't know you like I do.  They'll surely vote to shut you out completely."

"What can we do to prove to them that it wasn't us?" asked Kayrok.

"You have to find the imposters." replied Hardfoot.  "The council won't believe until they actually have the perpetrators in hand."

"We'll find them." said Point.  "And they will pay for what they have done."

* * *

"Right over there." said Algene as he walked along with his hand on Chara's shoulder.  "There will be an art museum right between those two oak trees, with the trees actually forming the corners of the building.  The town will be called Laughter.  The city planner will be an otter, and there will a waterslide going all the way from the top of that hill to the town of Pleasant, two miles down the road." 

"But the town won't be contructed until some time after the slide is finished.  The slide will be put in based on your prediction that Pleasant will soon spring up around it."

"Very astute." Algene praised.  "You've been honing your seeing ability."

"I am still frustrated, though." Chara confessed.  "There are still enormous gaps in what I am able to see."

"You learn to live with those." said Algene.  "As I have.  I'm supposed to be the greatest seer in the world, yet my senses can neither penetrate anything involving my own death or great amounts of magic.  Lately, there has been little that does not involve, and I cannot always tell the difference."

"How do you put up with it?" asked the bear.

"To tell the truth, I am intrigued." said the cyclops.  "I truly enjoy exploring a good mystery."

Chara tried and failed to supress a yawn.  She enjoyed walking in the woods with her new husband, but being a bear, the short days of spring left her feeling quite tired, and she feared she was not being very interesting company.

"I know what you're thinking." said Algene.  "And you are very interesting company."

"Do your powers now extend to reading the minds of others?"

"No, my dear.  Merely the power of obervation.  I have spent the last several months coming to know your mind and heart as well as I can, for yu intrigue me most of all."

"Am I that much of a mystery?" asked the bear with a grin.

"You, my dear, are a greater wonder than the pyramids of Sondshara, and my marriage to you is like a vast, undiscovered country, full of promise and potental just waitng to be explored."

Chara stopped and stood on her hind legs and peered into the woods.  "What is that?" she asked.

"That was an extended metaphor.  I was just tryng to say that..."

"No, no... there's something in the woods."

"Oh, that.  That's a band of raiders who are about to kidnap us."

Chara glowered at her husband.  "You and I need to have a talk about divulging information."

"My apologies, darling.  Duck."  Algene pushed his wife's head down moments before an arrow flew through the same space.

"Is there some reason you feel it necessary to be captured by hoolgans?" Chara asked, picking Algene up with both paws and movng him out of the path of a second arrow.

"Unfortunately, I don't know the full reason." said Algene.  "Too much magic.  Turn around, sweetheart."  Both seers stepped out of the way of a pair of projectiles.  Algene then took a tube of cream out of his robe pocket and rubbed it into Chara's fur.  "Don't eat the beef." he warned her.

"My life has become so much more bizarre since I met you." said Chara.  "Don't ever change."

"Of course not.  We surrender." said the cyclops as lutins poured out of the woods.  Gezundtheit."

Someone sneezed.

* * *

Blotchet tried very hard to find a grouping of pinecones interesting while Rog was giving Durod another lesson in magic.  He had a really bad feeling about this whole business, but he also acepted the fact that Rog was smarter than he was, so he trusted his friend's judgement and tried to quiet his doubts.  

"You're doing really well." said Rog.  "You've mastered humanoid metamorphsis.  I think you're ready to try something more complex.  Why don't try turning yourself into a dog?"

"Perhaps you could teach me to transform others instead." said Durod.

"Uh, well... Jun says that you should always learn to perform transformations on yourself before applying them to others."

"Jun is not here." said Durod.

Rog wasn't comfortable skipping ahead like this, but whatever he might have said was cut off by the entry of several lutins into the camp.  In the center of the group were Algene and Chara.  Algene took one look at Durod and said "Sujan.  It's been a while."

Rog was immediately backing away.  "Whoa.  What?  Sujan?  The psychopath?"

"It's sociopath." said Durod.  "Men, bind the wizard and the unicorn.  We can't have them spreading their knowledge of my identity.  Longfang, why have you brought the seers here?  I told you to kill them."

"We tried!" replied the head of the captors as the others tied Rog and Blotchet.  "Watch."  Taking out his dagger, he thrust it at Chara's back.  It bounced off without penetrating.

"Norker salve." explaned Algene.  "Makes the skin hard as stone."

"Every time we try to kill them, they've prepared some protection in advance.  Even choking didn't work."

Sujan, no longer making any pretense a being Durod, took Longfang to one side.  "Hide them in one of the tents.  Starve them.  When they beg for food, give them poisoned meat."

"Wait." said Longfang.  "Won't they know it's poisned?"

"Give them several and poison one.  If they claim that the food is poisoned, eat a piece of the clean meat to prove that it isn't."

"Which one?"

"Any one."

"Right.  And what do we do with the wizard and the unicorn?"

"They can't predict your attacks as the seers can.  Kill them both."

Rog immediately threw himself at Blotchet.  The moment contact was made, he shouted "Cito Effisimur Apis!"  With a bright flash, the two of them disappeared, leaving only Rog's clothing, Blotchet's tack and some coils of rope.

"Search the area." Sujan ordered.  "They can't have teleported very far."

But Rog had not cast a teleport spell.  Two butterfles, perched high in the trees, looked down at the rogue lutins below as they forced the seers into a tent.  One of them was very afraid.  He'd made a serious mistake.  The spell was meant to turn both boys into gorillas.  In this form, he had no way to reverse the transformation.  Spring was not the season for butterflies, and the two of them were likely to die out here in the cold.

* * *

Hardfoot's wounds were healing nicely.  It had been several weeks since the attack.  But while his body was doing well, his spirt was troubled.  The matter of joining the Federaton was going to be put to a vote in a few days' time.  Hardfoot wanted with all his heart for his city to join, but the council still believed that Kayrok and his lutins had been resonsible for the raid.  As he crossed the square this morning on the way to city hall, a sight caught his eye that was both welcome and unwelcome.  It was Kayrok, with several soldiers behind him.  Many haflings ran.  Some stood by with pitchforks, shovels and other makeshift weaons. There was no way of knowing whether this was the real Kayrok or the imposter until the lutins took action.  He did not have to wait long.  Kayrok raised his hand and shouted the order "Take the women!"

"Freeze, Kayrok!" shouted another voice.  A second group of lutins had entered the town from the opposite direction.  Their leader, a large, cold-faced fellow, had given the command.

"Who dares?" called the ersatz Kayrok.

"I, Sujan, dare.  The one you drove from your service mere months ago."

Hardfoot didn't know what was happening, but he smelled a scam.  Whatever was going on, that was not Kayrok.  This whole thing was a farce and had to be stopped.  "Cease this at once!" demanded the halfling mayor.  "I don't know who you are, but I know Captain Kayrok and you, sir, are not him.  And you..." he turned on Sujan.  "I don't know what your game is, but I am not having it.  Leave this place at once or I will summon the real Catain Kayrok to take you all out."

"Mayor Hardfoot, I assure you that we only mean to help." said Sujan.

"Blatherscythe." spat Hardfoot.  "All of you, be gone from this city!"

Kayrok took a step forward.  "I know you've lost your taste for conquest, coward." he spat at Sujan.  "But if you stand in our way, I will destroy you."

"No, Kayrok.  This has to stop!"

"So be it."  Kayrok gave the order to attack.  Battle ensued in the town square as halflings raced in to join Sujan's force in repelling the raiders.  Hardfoot had completely lost control, and cried impotently for everyone to stop until a flying stone, thrown by a lutin, hit his head, causing him to once again black out.

* * * 
It had been an exhaustng flight.  Twenty miles was a long distace fr a man or a uncorn.  For a tiny butterfly, the distance semed continental in sale.   Yet Rog and Blotchet had flown for what seemed like an eternity to reach Moondark.  Their legs and antenae were numb and their wings were damaged at the edges from the cold.  Any butterfly collector would have refused to keep them.  Together, they fluttered into the window of Jun's home.  They were in luck, fr Jun was at home today, pouring over some massive volume of forgotten lore. Rog daringly perched on the top of the book.  "Go away, moth." Jun commanded, waving a hand absently at Rog.  The butterfly lifted into the air for a moment, then perched on the book again.  Jun grumbled and reached for an atomizer full of insecticide.  Rog tried to fly away, but was doused with th poison.  It filled his spicules, immediately sickening him until he could not fly.  As he landed on Jun's desk, the lutin rolled up several papers to use as a club.  Rog could not move out of the way, so Blotchet intervened by flying in Jun's face.  "Bah!" exclamed Jun, bcking away and swatting the air.  Blotchet knew he had to act quickly.  Rog was dying, and would be dead soon if not changed back into a human.  Blotchet dipped a foot into Jun's inkwell.  While Jun was still trying o recover from the assault to his face, Blotchet wrte in the margin of the book, spelling out the word "Help".

"Blotchet!" exclaimed Jun.  The professor ran into another room and came back seconds later with a pair of amulets.  He threw them both to the floor.  Two puffs of smoke later, a naked pair of humans were laying on the desk amid a flurry of upset papers.  To make the mess worse, Rog threw up.

"How did you know it was me?" qsked Blotchet.

"You spelled help H E P L." Jun replied.  "Boys, what happened to you?"

"Sujan." answered Rog.  "We need to warn Kayrok.  Sujan is going to kill Algene and his bear-wife!"

* * *

When Kayrok was hit with the news, his head was reeling.  Standing outside the CQ with Jun, Point, and Rog and Blotchet who were resently covered by blankets, he tried to process it all.  "Let me see if I have this straight." he said.  "Spectaculo and Pureheart are really two kids from Prendar named Rog and Blotchet who have been studying magic under you at Norebo's request."

"That's right." said Jun.

"These boys have also been tutoring Durod of Prosperity, who turns out to be Sujan, my former strategist who was exiled for going AWOL."

"No, Sir." said Rog.  "It was only me.  Blotchet is innocent."

"I'm not assigning blame." said Kayrok.  "I'm just trying to get everything straight.  A few hours ago, I had a report of another attack on Fargone.  I'm told that Sujan stopped an incursion by me and my troops."

"No doubt Sujan is usng what he learned from Rog to create magical disguises and imitate you." said Jun.

"But why?" asked Point.  "What does Sujan want?"

"He doesn't want anything." said Jun.  "He's a sociopath.  He has no emotion.  No desire"

"That's not entirely true." sad Kayrok.  "He does have some emotion.  When he went AWOL, he was conducting experments, trying to stimulate those emotions.  Doing unspeakable things.  They're part of the reason he was exiled."

"He wants to be happy." Blotchet observed.  Everyone turned toward the slightly dull-looking young man in the blanket.  "Well, everybody wants to be happy, right?  So they try to be successful in life.  But what's success?  For Rog, it's having lots of money.  For me, it's not havng to work all day.  But what is a strategist going to think of as success?"

"Conquest." said Kayrok.  "He would try to create his own kingdom."

"Following your model." said Point.  "You conquered Mountanshade by ousting a shagnasty, bringing conquest and freedom at the same time."

"You think Sujan is trying to conquer Fargone by saving it?"

"It makes sense." said Rog.  "Make Fargone think that the Federation is a threat.  You don't have to convince everyone.   Just six members of the council.  Keep them from joining us and make them team up with prosperity aganst you instead.  Start an ant-federation alliance.  When it gets big enough, they come after you.  By then, there will have been plenty of time to get suspicion of you roiled up into a massive stew of hate, and war will be easy."

"You frighten me." said Kayrok.

"I'd never do something like that." said Rog.  "But I know scams."

"Point," said Kayrok.  "Get Rugi on the radiant communicator.  Tell him we need some anti-charms.  Also, come up with a shorter name for radiant communicator.  Boys, get some clothes on.  And by clothes, I mean your usual.  Jun, bring me Thnad.  Dismissed."

* * *

"I dare say that was a delightful meal." Algene commented.

"Delightful indeed." replied Chara. "Though I am still quite hungry.  Do you think they'll figure out where we burried the poisoned bits?"

"Eventually, once the grass dies.  Are you ready to go?"

"More than ready."

"All right, then.  When the fox arrives, just swallow the pill whole.  Don't chew."

Seconds later, a fox appeared at the entrance to the tent, walked in and sat down between the seers.  "Algene," he said.  "It's me, Thnad."

"Don't speak." Algene whispered.  He reached down and found a pouch next to Thnad's chest, made of white fur so that it would be invisble against his body.  In the pouch were two small, green capsules.  Algene swallowed one and gave the other to hs wife.  In seconds, the two began to change.  Both grew long, bushy tails.  Algene became. covered in fur.  Chara's fangs retracted, giving place to long incisors.  Both shank considerably, leaving their bonds, as well as Algene's robe, on the ground.  Where a cyclops and a bear had stood, there was now a pair of squirrels with three eyes between them.  Thnad snuck out first.  Satisfed that the guards weren't paying attention, he motioned with his tail for the others to follow.  The three of them scampered away into the woods, leaving a pair of lutins boredly guarding an empty robe.

* * *

There was once again a tense situation at Fargone.  The fake Kayrok squared off against the real Sujan.  Threats were exchanged as Halflings lined the streets to watch the spectacle.  Darren hardfoot knew the futility of trying to interfere, so he watched from the steps of town hall and prayed that something would happen to stop this farce.  

It was Kayrok who put a stop to it.  Even as Sujan and the fake Kayrok were rushing at each other, Kayrok, the real Kayrok, stepped into the square with a mighty shout, causing everyone to stop in their tracks.  Once he had everyone's attention, the captain quietly said "Sujan, do you want to explain what's going on?"

"What trickery is this?" demanded Sujan.

"Don't try acting, Sujan." said the captain.  "You're really bad at it."  

"You're not fooling anyone." Sujan persisted.  "Cease this deception."

"Gladly.  Spectaculo!"

Rog, perched on the back of his unicorn friend, rode out in front of the fake Kayrok.  With a flourish, he tossed a moon amulet down, careful not to stand too close, lest the elimnation of the lutin's disguise take Blotchet's as well.  The false captain was transformed into his true self, one of Sujan's thugs.

Sujan had one last card to play.  Bold as you please, he strode up to Kayrok and spoke in low tones.  "Captain, my men have the seers Algene and Chara.  While I hoped only to prevent them from divulging my plan, I will not hesitate to use them as hostages."

"You mean them?"  Kayrok motioned to where Algene and Chara stood together at the edge of the plaza, perfectly safe and free.

"Very well.  You have beaten me" said Sujan.  "Do as you will."

"Arrest these men." said Kayrok to his troops.  "From now on, they work in the mines as slaves."

* * *

Falshar was feeling fatigued, but good.  The trip down to the southern tip of the forest had been long, but good.  Earlier today, they had come across a family of Hogboons herding swine.  The swine had been delicious, and the hogboons even moreso.  There was just something about food that begged for mercy which made it taste that much better, he thought.  But the best part was when the mother infrmed him that there was a town of halflings just a day's walk from here.  Falshar and his giants slept well that night, knowing that they would eat quite well in the morning

* * *

Sopok was very happy to get out of the house.  His fingers and toes were growing back nicely.  It was still very difficut to fly, as his wings were still fairly small.  He had to wear a magic feather to get any lift.  Mostly, he road the trains to and from school while the other werebats flew.  Tonight, Grickle and Grackle had given him a tow out to Singing Pony so that the three of the could enjoy some unhealthy food together.

One table town, Urik sat with several ponies from Ponytown, discussing improvements to the town.  As the shadows outside lengthened, Urik suddenly realized the time.  "I didn't mean to stay so late."  he said.  "I wanted to get home before I change for the night."

At the next table sat Algene and Chara.  The cyclops was dressed in a new robe and both of them were laughing abut the events of a few days ago.  It just seemed so amusing that they had escaped from Sujan's thugs by being turned into squirrels.  Both of them still had a surprisngly strong craving for nuts and were munching some as they laughed together.  Then, suddenly, Algene fell silent.  Something was wrong.  "What is it?" asked Chara.

"Trouble near Point Grove." said Algene.  He closed his eye and looked out with his mystic vision.  "There have been murders."

Chara extended her senses as well.  "I can see it." she agreed.  "Hogboons.  They were killed by..."

"Giants." said Algene.

The sun had set.  Urik was now changing shape.  As he shrank within his tunic, his body covered itself with black feathers.  "Giants?" he echoed.

"Maneating giants.  And they're coming this way.  We must warn Kayrok and the council at once."

Urik flew out the door at once.  "Giants!" he cawed.

"Does anyone have a radiant communicator?" asked Sopok.

"Just receivers." replied Grackle.

"You guys go warn my dad." said Sopok.  "I'll go spy out the giants."

"Not a chance." said Grickle.  "You heard what Algene said.  Those giants eat goblins."

"You can barely fly." Grackle concurred.  "You go warn your dad.  We'll spy on the giants."

"Be careful, boys." said Algene.  "Be very careful."


* * *

Mayor Hardfoot raised a glass of ale wth a boistrous cheer.  The council had voted six to four in favor of joining the Alpha Omega Federation.  This meant that Hardfoot was now an official member of the federation council.  Well, technically, the city council held the position, but as mayor, Darren Hardfoot was the council chairman and thus the one who had the seat on the federation council.  His fellow mayors gathered around him at Splim's in celebration, Hardfoot toasted their success.  "To Kayrok." he said with a wave of his mug.  "Who saved the day and rescued Fargone from making a terrible mistake."

"To Hardfoot." replied Kayrok.  "Who was smart enough to see through the deception in the first place."

"So what are your plans now?" asked Pentagruel after draining his cup.

"Building inferastructure." the halfling mayor replied.  "Water.  Steam.  Roads and rails.  Following that, we plan to open our bank to use by the rest of the Federation, and then my personal project, a museum.  There are so many fansastical artifacts and treasures between us.  We need a museum."

"Aye!" agreed Mayor Greenstar the gnome.  Several more chimed their agreement afterward.

As the many mayors, chiefs, lords, kings and generals were toasting the growth of their nation, a raven flew in through the window and perched on the back of Kayrok's chair.  "It seems you have a visitor." said Point.

"I've got it." said Pentagruel, who drew a knife and prepared to throw.

"Urik!" cawed the raven, frantically.  "Urik!  Urik!"

"Put your weapon away." said Kayrok.  "It's one of my men.  Hello, Urik."

"Giants." said the raven.

"What giants?" asked the captain.

"Giants." Urik repeated.

"He's just a raven right now." said Barga.  "He doesn't know what he's saying."

Urik cawed raucusly and repeated "Giants!"

"He seems very insistant." said Point.  "Urik, where are the giants?"

Urik flew out the door, flying circles in the Mountainshade square while he waited for the council to file out.  He then perched on a branch of the big solstice tree and pointed with his beak in the direction of Spirtfell.  "Giants!" he repeated.

Into town flew Sopok, fluttering almost pathetically.  "Dad!" he called.  "There are giants coming this way!"

"Friendly or hostile?" asked Kayrok.

"Hostile.  They've killed several people already."

"How many?"

"We don't know.  Grickle and Grackle are finding out now."

Gwyn was alarmed.  "Whose idea was it to send boys out to spy on giants?"

"It's okay." Hamal reassured her.  "Grickle and Grackle are werebats.  Giants aren't going to pay them any mind.  They're too small to attract attention."

"We need to be ready to mobilize." said Kayrok.  "All of you, return to your cities and keep your communicators close."

* * *

Each of the twenty cities of the Alpha Omega Federation made their preparations for the coming invasion.  Cephas placed an enormous iron gate at the mouth of he pass.  It was a project which Smallbeard had been working on for some time for just such an eventuality.  Anhunger and North Hunger cmoflagued their homes so that all anyone could see was trees.  Moondark prepared a series of barrier spells.  Rider prepared a massive array of armaments.  In Fargone, fighters were few.  The halflings never desired war with anyone.  They prepared themselves by taking refuge within the vaults of their great bank.  Even giants would have a tough time getting through there.

When Falshar and his crew awoke, they were eager to continue on to the fabled land of plenty.  As they walked, they were watched constantly by Federation scouts.  Between the werebats, the animals of Bounty and Splin's link to the very trees of the forest, there was never a moment when the gants were not under surveilance.  Grickle and Grackle had reported a force of about a hundred.  Their numbers turned out to be extremely conservative, for it was more like three hundred giants now heading south.  Each one was armed with a blunt weapon, whether a club, a hammer or a mace.  They didn't go directly south, but headed instead in a somewhat southwesterly direction.  Their path would take them past most of the cities without incident.  At the end of that path, however, lay Fargone.

The giants toppled trees as they went, leaving a wake of destruction behind them.  It was disheartening to say the least.  When they finally arrived in Fargone, they found it empty of people.  They therefore set right to work, gathering up livestock and feasting on it raw.

Beyond the edge of town, from the cover of the forest, a number of lutins readied their firearms.  Bows and crossbows were carefully aimed.  Kayrok gave the order to fire.  A hail of arrows and bolts rained upon the giants.  Everywhere the arrows hit, a magic potion which coated the arrowheads changed the skin, causing it to become coated in mousey fur.  That, however, was all that happened.  As soon as Falshar realized that he was under attack, he gave the order to charge.

"It's not working!" cried Kayrok.  "Fall back!  Fall back!"  The soldiers obeyed, retreating behind a hastily erected wire fence.  As soon as the last man was across, Kayrok shouted "FOON, NOW!"  Foon placed both hands on the fence, sending a masive amount of electric current through it.  The first giant touched the electrified fence.  He paused only for a moment, and kept going.  The fence was like a cobweb before the army of giants as they surged forward.  The next line of defense was a volley of poison gas. That, too, did nothng.  After that, the enchanted mud trench.  Some of the giants developed green, scaly feet.  Nothing else happened.  The bag of tricks was exhausted.  The giants caught up with Kayrok's force and began demolishing it.  There was a great deal of blood spilled, and almost none of it giant.  Mipo stood his ground against three particulaly ugly giants.  They bashed him with their hammers until nothing recognizable remained.  A club came right for Kayroks head, and would have killed him if it weren't for Qlin jumping in the way.  The lutins and their allies were being slaughtered.  Kayrok had no choice but to order a retreat.  The retreat itself was only successful because the giants were still hungry and not in the mood to give chase.

Deep in the forest, the federation army licked their wounds.

"Never in all my years have I seen such a powerful enemy." remarked Pentagruel.  All of the ogre bravado had drained out of him.

"Why?" Kayrok asked nobody in particular.  "Why didn't any of our tricks work?"

"Because these are not wood elves." replied Norebo, seeming to appear out of nowhere.  "These giants are too big to be hurt by Foon's lightning.  They have developed a resistance to magic, and the poison probably never even made it to their mouths.  This is an entirely new enemy, Sir.  They must be dealt with in an entirely different way."

"I'm open to suggestions." said Kayrok.

"I have none." said Norebo.  "I am only a spy."

Kayrok looked around.  "Who have we lost?" he asked.

"Are you requesting an official casualty report, Sir?" asked Norebo.

"Yes.  Report."

"Casualties include the following.  Mipo Burnstar.  Zib Bloodborne.  Qlin Mankiller.  Foon Mankiller.  Wisp Carnak.  Missing personel: Mumbor Riverby.  Pip Warbleplug.  Zero Flamestorm."

Point, who was nursing a wounded arm, asked "Sir, what shall we do now?"

"We need a plan." said Kayrok.  "We need a foolproof strategy.  We need Sujan."

* * *

"So to sum up the situation," said Sujan.  "You cannot defeat the invading giants on your own.  You want me to come up with a strategy.  If I do so, I am free to leave the mines."

"That's the deal.  A full pardon."

"And my men?"

"Don't push it, Sujan."

"I do nt need to push anything.  You need my help and I am in a position to dictate conditions.  If I refuse, I lose nothing.  You can't threaten me because I know I am much too valuable for you to risk losing my services completely.  I have you over the proverbial barrel."

"Curse your cold heart.  Very well.  A full pardon for you and your men, provided you remain outside our borders."

Sujan thought for a moment.  "That is acceptable."

"So how do we beat the giants?"

You cannot beat an army of three hundred giants with brute force.  You beat them with a wager."  

* * *

"Let me just make sure I have this straight." said Alnatak to hs sister as she translated for him.  While Alnatak did speak lutin fairly well by this point, both he and Kayrok wanted to make absolutely sure there was no misunderstanding whatsoever.  "You want me, a simple construction worker, to take on a general.  Not just a general, but a CANIBAL general, for the fate of the federation."

"That's about it." Kayrok confirmed.

"Have you lost your mind?  Look, boss, I respect you and you know I would do anything for you.  I'd even cross Everdark itself for you.  But this is absolutely insane.  I don't stand a chance."

"Perhaps not by yourself, but you won't be going out unprepared."

"I'm listening."

* * *

The giants were feeling particularly good today.  They had feasted on the remains of their fallen enemies and broken into the vats of the Fargone brewery.  Tomorrow, they would begin raiding the other vllages.

Falshar was feeling a little bit tipsy, having drunk enough beer to poison an elephant, when someone called his name.  "Falshar!  I challenge you!"

The giant rose to his feet to see who had the gall.  It was the little captain from yesterday's attack.  "You?" said the giant.  "Even now, the bones of your soldiers are being ground to make tomorrow's bread.  Go home, little man."

"I challenge you to one-on-one combat!" said Kayrok, undetered.  "Or are you afraid?"

"Afraid?" bellowed Falshar with a guffaw.  "Of you?  You amuse me, small one."

"Champion versus champion." said Kayrok.  "Winner takes everything.  Loser leaves the Forest of Darkness forever."

Falshar sneered.  "You waste my time.  I have everything already."

Kayrok turned his back on the giant.  "You heard him.  The mighty Falshar is scared."

The giant took a step forward and swung his club.  Kayrok took a step back, but was very careful not to flinch.  "Falshar the great is scared of no man."

"Then prove it." said the lutin.  "Prove it in the arena."

Falshar was becoming acutely aware of the stares of his men.  "Fine.  Name the time and place."

"The stadium at Mountainshade.  Forty miles east and ten mles north.  Six hours hence."

"I'll crush you." said the giant, matter-of-factly.

* * *

The stadium was packed.  Many stayed far away from the giants out of fear.  Many more gladly risked their safety to witness this spectacle.  When the time for the confrontation came, Falshar stepped out onto the field, club in hand.  From the other end of the field came Alnatak.  He was dressed head-to-toe in a suit of armor made of glutangium.  "What is this?" demanded Falshar.  "Why do you not face me yourself?"

"That was never the deal." said Kayrok from his place in the stands.  "The challenge was our champion against yours.  You, of course, have the option of choosng a more powerful champion to fight in your stead."

"No one is more powerful than Falshar."

"Then let the combat begin!"

Alnatak's armor was a masterpiece.  Despite having been put together literally overnight, it contained the latest in magic and technology.  Sealed into the breastplate was a magic feather, which gave Alnatak the power of flight, at least for short bursts.  A charm similar to those worn by Angu, Thnad and Booli was directly below the feather.  When activated, it would alter Alnatak's form to give him the power of a lion- a twenty foot tall lion with claws the size of broadswords.  On his back was a small furnace.  It not only generated steam which he could shoot from nozzles on his wrists, but Fugu had also worked out how to use a spinning magnet to reproduce Foon's lightning.  The right gauntlet contained contacts which would allow Alnatak to discharge the lightning into his enemy.  The left contained an age charm which had been modeled after Mara's earring.  But most mportantly, his helmet contained a radiant magic communicator.  Or, as Point had dubbed it in accordance with Kayrok's order to come up with a shorter name, a radio.  He would be in constant contact with a support team.  That team included Algene, Sujan and Rose the night mare.  Between the seer, the strategist and the telepath, he should have complete foreknowledge of his enemy's every move.

But perhaps the most meaningful was a gift from his sister.  "This is a little something I picked up in Yamato." she told him as she handed him the oyster shell with a gorgeous mother-of-pearl design on the inside.  "It's always brought me luck.  I'd like you to take it with you into battle."

"Thank you, Mintaka." said Alnatak.  "That means a lot to me."  He placed the shell carefully within the breastplate of his armor to keep it close to his heart.           

Falshar wasted no time.  He rushed forward, club raised, bringing it down toward Alnatak's head.  Alnatak caught the club in his left hand, surprised at how little shock made it past the armor into his body.  Falshar tried to pull his weapon away, but Alanatak held firm.  In seconds, the wood began to rot until Falshar pulled the handle off with a damp crunch, sending soft, earthy splinters everywhere.

At Sujan's instruction, Alnatak took advantage of Falshar's momentary awkwardness to punch him in the gut.  Falshar recovered quickly and delivered an uppercut that sent his opponent halfway across the field.  "He's going to pull up the goalpost and use it as a weapon." said the voice of Algene in Alnatak's ear.  Sure enough, Falshar pulled up the goalpost and turned it into his new club.  Alnatak caught the weapon in his right hand and delivered a jolt of lightning into it.  Falshar seemed to freeze for a moment, but gave no other indication that he felt anything.   

"Make peace with your gods." hissed the canibal.  "For tonight, I will eat your heart raw."

"At least allow me to heat that up for you." said Alnatak, who then blasted Falshar with a burst of steam.  The general staggered back, burned and blinded.  "Give it up.  You can't see."

"I don't have to see you to kill you." hissed Falshar.  Indeed, the whirring of the machinery on Alnatak's back was sufficient to allow Falshar to home right in on him.

"Headbutt!" warned Rose's voice, but it was to late.  Falshar's forehead smashed into Alnatak's nosebridge, sending the friendly giant reeling in pain.  As his vision was clearing, Falshar brought both fists in to the sides of Alnatak's head.  The radio was destroyed and Alnatak left dizzy and staggering.  

"Alnatak, can you hear me?" called Sujan.  "Get into the air.  Keep some distance between you and him until you've had a chance to recover."  But it was no use.  Alnatak could hear nothing.  He gave Falshar another blast of steam, but the general was prepared this time and powered through it to deliver a sucker punch to the sternum.  The crunch this produced was most satisfying to him.

"Pathetic!" goaded Falshar.  "Weak.  Worthless.  All that weaponry and you're still nothing."  Alnatak activated the shape-changing charm, gaining the aspect of a gigantic humanoid lion.  He swung massive claws, but Falshar swatted away each attack.  "I shall enjoy killing you, but I don't think I'll kill you right away.  I'll force you to watch as I crush your captain's head between my teeth.  Then you'll die knowing exactly how big a failure you truly are as a giant."

Alnatak didn't even realize what he had done until it was finished.  He watched as Falshar's eyes went wide with pain and alarm.  Those eyes slowly fell down to gaze in amazement at the shard of clamshell sticking out from between his ribs.  "When..." was all he could say before his eyes glazed over and he fell to the ground at Alnatak's feet, dead.

The stadium was deeathly silent as the victor rose slowly to his feet.  Slowly, he regained his composure, and slowly, he turned to face the giant army.  "Which of you is next?" he asked very plainly.  Blaron, the second in command, was the first to drop his weapon.  One by one, the rest of the giants followed suit, not willing to be the next to face the mighty Alnatak, who had slain their leader with a simple piece of shell.

* * *

It was a day of mixed emotions.  The halflings had been saved.  The Faderation had grown.  The giants were defeated and life and liberty had been won.  Great good had been done, but at a terrible price.  Kayrok and the Omega company stood before the graves of their fallen comrades.  Mipo, Zib, Qlin, Foon, Wisp, Mumbor, Pip and Zero would all be sorely missed.

"I can't believe he's gone." whispered Foon.  "Zero and I have been together since we enlisted.  We've never spent more than a day apart.  Now he's just gone."

"I'm so sorry." said Kayrok, his voice catching in his throat.  "This was my doing."

"Captain, it wasn't your fault." said Udge.

"It was.  I was foolishly overconfident to think that the traps we used on the wood elves would work on giants."

Udge took the captain's shoulders in each hand.  "Sir, listen.  We were sent here to die.  Have you forgotten?"  Kayrok nearly gave an automatic "no".  But the fact was he had indeed forgotten.  "I see you have.  That's good, actually.  Because you took a troop of soldiers who had been sent into the wilderness to work themselves to death and you gave them life.  You not only helped us to survive, you made us thrive.  Without your intervention, these men would have died miserable.  Instead, you gave them life.  Not just survival, but life with happiness and meaning.  And when they died, they died for what they believed in.  They died protecting the nation they had come to love so much."

Kayrok nodded, but said nothing.  Everything Udge said was true, yet the captain could not forgive himself for the loss of one under his command.

Not too far away, Smallbeard also stood silently grieving.  The giants had taken from him the greatest companion he had ever known.

* * *

Mipo awoke with a gasp.  The last thing he remembered was having his rib cage shattered by a giant's warhammer.  A quick examination showed that his form was whole and unbroken.

"Ah, welcome to the land of the living!" exclaimed Qlin.

"I don't think we can use that phrase any more." noted Zib.

"True." said Zero.  "This is definitely not the land of the living.  Not if Wisp actually smells good."

"Very funny." said the formerly stinky lutin.  "But true."

Mipo looked around.  The colors all around him were intense.  The sky was a brighter blue than he had ever seen.  The grass a brighter green.  Even the dust of the path seemed unusually colorful.  Mipo's eyes followed that path up to the horizon.  Beyond the hills stood a glistening city.  "Is that..."

"Stormhaven." said a new voice.  Everyone wheeled around to see Brang, their old comrade who had been killed in the battle with the wood elves.  There were ebulient cheers and joyous embraces.

"We're dead." said Mipo to himself as the truth of the matter set in.  "We're all dead and this is the afterlife."

"That's it in a nutshell." said Brang.  "I'm sorry your lives ended so soon.  But just wait until you see the wonders in store for all of you."

Mipo looked around again, taking in the faces of his companions.  There were several soldiers from the Omega company, some soldiers from Rider, a tragso, a handful of gnomes, several humans and and entire family of Hogboons.  But one face was notably absent.  "Where is Mumbor?" he asked.

"I haven't seen him." replied Qlin.  "Is he dead?"

"I saw him die not long before I did.  He was torn to pieces."

Zero fidgeted.  "All of us here... we all converted to Vertarbna's way.  Mumbor... well, you know how he felt."

"Onju still talks about him." Brang confirmed.

"You don't think... you don't think he's in Everdark, do you?"

"I don't know.  Don't give up hope just yet, my friend.  We can't know what transpired in his heart.  It may yet be that he will be delivered.  For now, it's time to go home."

Brang led the way on what would prove to be an unusually cheerful journey for a handful of men who had just died.  Mipo was the last to leave, taking one last look around for Mumbor.  Just as he was ready to go, he heard a familiar sound.  A bleat.  Over a nearby hill came a goat, gamboling like a young kid.  "Bess!" exclaimed Mipo.  "Come, girl.  Let's go and meet our maker."

* * *

Mubor couldn't think.  All he knew at that moment was searing pain.  There was darkness and fire, and around him, hundreds of pairs of glowing eyes.  He attempted to scream, but little sound emerged from his throat.  Despair and terror gripped his heart as he realized that everything Onju told him had been true.  Death had taken him and now he was in Everdark, the world of the damned. 

"Keep silent." a voice whispered.  "You be okay.  You guest of king slothclaw."

Mumbor slowly became aware of what was happening.  The reason he could not speak was because he had been gagged.  He was in the forest still, and what he thought were demons were actually gnurls.  The searing pain originated from his right shoulder, where his arm had been forcibly removed.  The gnurls had staunched the blood flow by burning the stump.  It hurt like... well, like Everdark, but it had saved his life.  "What do you want from me?" he demanded.

"Giants come this way.  Destroy all.  Destroy homes.  Destroy families.  You help us.  You make revenge."

"I can't possibly fight a giant for you." said Mumbor.

"No fight giant.  Fight one who make giant come here.  You kill lutin king."

"Lutin... king?"

"You kill Kayrok.  Kill or we kill you."

Mumbor swallowed hard as he fought against the pain for consciousness.  Perhaps this was Everdark after all.