The Lutin Chronicles
Chapter 8
The Invisible Killer
By Oren Otter

Fugu poured in the last bit of plaster-mud around the base of the lamppost in the middle of Camp Dimtorch.  "There" he said as he wiped his brow and shook some sweat out of his moustache.  "That's the last one."  Now every municipality in the federation would not only have a steady sourse of light at night, but they would also be protected from the bleedover from Mara's age charm.

A dwarf and a trag came out of the passand headed toward the lamp.  "Hey, nice work." said the Dwarf.

"Thanks, Rockfoot.  What are you up to today?"

"Well, our shift just ended, so Apple and I are going up to Splim's, and then perhaps a dip in the pool at the trading post."

"Or maybe the new lake if we're feeling adventurous." said Apple, the trag."

Fugu grinned.  "Are you two dating?"

"Are you just now realizing that?" asked Rockfoot.  "Oh, yes.  I never imagined myself courting a lass with no beard on her face, but I have to admit, the tail drives me wild!"

"That's great.  I think I hear the train coming.  You two better go."

"Have you got one of these for Refuge?" asked Rockfoot, indicating the lamp.

"Refuge?"

"You really don't get out much, do you, Fugu?  That's what we're calling the new city being built down south in the pass."

"But the cavern is constantly lit by phosphorescent rocks and mushrooms.  And I doubt Mara is ever going to go that far down into the pass."  That was what he wanted to say.  What came out was "I'll get one from Rugi."

The train pulled to a stop on the west side of the camp.  As Rockfoot and his girlfriend turned to go, Fugu noticed that he had several small burns on his neck.  He didn't think about it, but instead went about his business and went to see Rugi about another lamppost.

* * *

Urik awoke from his nap feeling refreshed.  He didn't actually need sleep, since his nightly transformations gave him as much rejuvination as a full night's shuteye, but it felt good, and it was nice to sleep next to Mara.  Urik smiled.  He had been a zebra last night.  A frisky zebra.  Perhaps another foal was on the way.  He sat up and turned to wish his wife good morning, only to find that she was gone.  Donning his tunic and boots, he went outside and found Micho grazing.  "Son?  Have you seen your mother?" he asked.

"No, Fah-ther." Micho chuffed.

"Good morning, Daddy!" exclaimed Karen, brightly.  The little pony pranced and bucked happily at the sight of her daddy.  Karen handled human speech so much better than her older brother.  Perhaps it was because Micho had grown up in a matter of days, while Karen was still young, her mind maleable and able to pick up new skills quickly.  "You were a zebra last night.  Does that mean the stork is coming?"

"Now who told you about the stork?" asked Urik.

"Billy Mapleroot.  He's a gnome.  He said that whenever you're a horse or a donkey or zebra that you and Mommy signal the stork and then the stork brings a new baby!"

Urik smiled.  He and Mara signalled the stork much more often than that, but it was only when he was equine, not just in form but completely changed by his curse, that he and his wife could conceive.  Fortunately, because some small part of her was still human and some part of him was still lutin, his children had been born with goblin-level intelligence.  And of course, Mara's age charm caused her children to be born the day after they were conceived, so the stork was as good an explanation as any for a curious child who was waiting for a sibling.  "It might come.  But before we know that, I have to find your mother.  Have you seen her?"

"Mm-mm." replied Karen with a shake of her head.

"Where could she be?" Urik wondered.

* * *

"I've always been kind of sleepy." said the dwarf as Gitch examined him.  "That's why my mum named me Dozy.  But lately, I've been feeling way more sleepy than usual.  Last night, I was filling a train car with bauxite... you know, aliminum ore, and I just passed out, right there on top of a bauxite boulder."

"First of all," said Gitch as he cleaned his stethoscope.  "Illuminum is spelled with an I."

"Aluminium?"

Gitch ignored that.  "Secondly, you may have narcolepsy.  One of the lutins has that and he also passes out sponteneously.  I'm going to write you a prescription for chotaberry tea.  It's full of caffeine and should keep you from falling asleep."

"Where can I get chotaberries?"

"There's a whole field of them near Mountainshade.  Mara was due to go there today and age the crop to ripeness.  If that doesn't work, I recommend you see Doctor Clickwizzle in Solace."

"Thanks, Doc." said Dozy, getting up and putting on his jacket.  What do I owe you?"

"Medical service is free for servicemen and Kayrok's employees.  Wait a minute."  Gitch took a hold of Dozy's arm and twisted it slightly to get a better look at a small, red lump.  "How long has that been there?"

"Two, three days.  Why?"

"That doesn't look good.  I'd like you to keep an eye on it.  Come and see me again if it gets any bigger."

"Sure thing, Doc."

* * *

Kayrok flexed his hand.  The scar was throbbing.  He cursed himself for a fool for what he'd done.  Not for taking a knife to save Smallbeard, of course.  He was proud to have done that.  It was because he'd been macho and waited until all of the business with the stone tragso had been completed before getting it seen to.    In that time, it had become infected.  He had asked Mara to heal him, but that was a bad idea.  Her magic healed the wound, but it also made the infection itself strong and healthy.  Hornbeam had been forced to open the wound again to drain the infection.  The Captain had to spend a month in the infirmary taking the most horrible-tasting medicines.  He'd never make that mistake again.  Even now, long after the incident, his hand swelled up like a balloon if he let it down for too long.

"Captain, the financial reports are here." said Sytet, entering the Captain's office without ceremony.

"Ah, good." Kayrok responded, reaching for the reports with his left hand.

"Hand bothering you, Sir?" asked Sytet.

"It is.  How is yours doing?"

Sytet pulled off the glove which he had taken to wearing.  The skin of his hand and part of his arm was hideous, like the peel of a muskmelon.  Two years ago, he'd suffered horrendous silver burns, and while his body did regenerate, silver damage was always extremely slow to heal.  "It still hurts, Sir.  Especially when I fly.  But it's getting better.  I think it may be completely healed by the end of the year."

"I'm so sorry this happened to you." said Kayrok, repeating himself yet again.  "You ability to turn into a bat and fly was one of our greatest assets.  I let everyone down when I let you become injured."

"It's not your fault, Sir.  You couldn't have prevented this.  Even I didn't know there was silver in the burn cream."

"How is your flying now?"

"I can make it from Punishment to North Hunger before I have to stop." said the werebat.  "Why?"

"Three weeks ago, I sent a package to Lavamist.  I included a sending spell so that they could reply and tell me why we haven't gotten any supplies or new troops in the last two years."

"Any reply?"

"No.  So four days ago, I had Rugi make me a pair of closed-connection crystal balls and sent one to Lavamist."

"And how did that go?"

Kayrok took a ball from a drawer in his desk and gave it a rub.  Mist swirled within and resolved into an image.  The image showed a room full of dust and cobwebs.  A shield mounted on the wall was rusty and grimy.  Mouse droppings littered the furniture.  A mound of Kayrok's letters lay in a pile, some of them apparently peed on by a rat.  "Abandoned?" Sytet posited.

"That's one possibility.  It might be their HQ moved and we were never notified.  It might be that they were attacked and killed.  Either way, we need to find out."

"And you want me to fly there."

"Yes.  But I know you're not able to travel."

"What about teleportation, Sir?" Sytet suggested.

"We don't have a spell powerful enough to send anything bigger than a breadbox."

"Mara does!"

Kayrok was surprised.  "She does?"

"Unicorns have the ability to teleport once per day, Sir.  They are able to travel many hundreds of miles at once."

"That's no good.  A unicorn wouldn't last five minutes in a lutin military base."

"True.  But we have a master of disguise."

Kayrok smiled.  "Bring me Mara and Norebo!"

* * *

Dozy stood on the edge of the chotaberry field, gazing at the bushes.  They were completely bare, having only the buds of flowers and leaves.  "I thought the unicorn was supposed to make the berries grow."  Then he sat down and fell asleep.

* * *

Mara woke to a strange scent.  She expected to smell Urik, but what she smelled was not lutin.  It smelled... human.  Opening her eyes, she leapt to her hooves.  She was indoors, in a building of stone.  There was fresh hay on the floor.  She was wearing a bridle, which was tethered to the wall by a chain.  Mara pulled and pawed at her restraints, but could not get them off.  "Oh, what I wouldn't give for my fingers!" she muttered.

"Welcome to Sky Valley." someone said.  Mara turned to find a face peering through a window in a door.  It was a human face.  Male, tan skin, greasy black hair and a well-waxed moustache.  "I hope you find your accomodations suitable."

"Who are you?  Where am I?  Why have I been chained here?"

"You speak!" said the face.  "That is a surprise.  Very well."  The window closed and the door opened.  The face strolled in riding a very well-dressed, slender body.  The man wore a jeweled ring on every finger.  His clothing was black, save for a red sash.  He wore a long, black cape which seemed to move on its own accord, even without wind.  "In order, I am Count Wallace Dupris.  You are in Sky Valley, and you are chained here because we need you."

"Need me for what?"

Here in Sky Valley, we are surrounded by miles of stone.  Nothing will grow in this ground.  We therefore rely very heavily on our gardens, the only real dirt for miles is right here in the valley."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"I'm getting to that." said the count, leaning against the wall.  In the past few years, our gardens have produced poorer and poorer yields.  The nutrients are simply gone from the soil.  This year, we fear there may not be enough.

Mara paced, pulling against the chain.

"But then last night, you appeared.  Literally, you just appeared.  And where you slept, the plants not only grew, but flourished.  In a matter of minutes, our seedling pumpkin vines had grown enormous pumpkins that were ripe and ready to cook and eat.  We thanked the gods for such a gift, and we knew we would have to take precautions not to lose you.  So while you slept, we drugged you, then carried you here, to your new home."

"This is not my home." Mara objected.  "My home is with Urik."

"I am truly sorry you feel that way." said the count.  "I do not want you to be unhappy.  I truly don't.  Ask for anything to make your stay more comfortable.  It will be given to you.  But we cannot let you leave.  And by the way, that bridle is enchanted.  If you try to teleport away from here, it will bring you back here instead."

Mara's heart sank.

* * *

James was not your average Nilbog.  His name was a perfect indicator of that.  The other nilbogs hated him because of his weird power.  Any time James touched someone, they became weaker and he became stronger, as though he were a sponge siphoning their strength.  His tribe had given him a human name to demonstrate their disdain for him.  Gloves and long sleeves were now a constant necessity, lest he accidentally bumped into someone.  When he heard about Captain Kayrok and his band of misfits, James thought there might be a place for him here.  He was right.  Though he still dared touch no one, we was welcomed as a brother here.  Ravenpelt especially had been extremely kind to him.  The dwarf had become the first friend James ever had.  More than that, he found the perfect spot to build his home.  This cave which they were calling Refuge was his favorite place in the world.  When he stood here in the middle of the cavern, he could feel energy coursing through him.  It was invigorating.

* * *

Urik was becoming very worried, now.  He's ridden the train to every one of its destinations and no one in any of them had seen Mara.  It was time to search on foot, or rather, on hoof.  Placing his clothing in a safe place, the lutin put on his special charm, and was transformed into the shape of a unicorn.  He had only gone a short distance when he happened upon Dozy laying in the road.  "Hey, Mister!" he said, prodding the dwarf gently with his horn.  

"What?" Dozy replied.  "Five more minutes."

"Wake up, Mister.  You're in the middle of the road."

Dozy blinked.  "Oh.  There you are, Mara."

"Sorry.  I'm Urik."  Still, he looked around to be sure Mara was not there.

Dozy groaned and clutched his arm.  "What happened to me?" he asked.  Taking off his coat, he was alarmed to see that the skin of his arm bore numerous blisters.

"I think I'd better get you to a doctor." said Urik.  "Climb on."

* * *

Ravenpelt stumbled from the rockpile he was working on.  "Smallbeard!" he called.  "Smallbeard!"

The head dwarf ran over and helped Ravenpelt to steady himself.  "What's wrong, lad?" he asked.

"I feel sick, chief.  I think I need to go home."

Ravenpelt was not a malingerer.  If he wasn't working hard, he was definitely ill.  "Granted.  Take the next train back to Cephas."  Ravenpelt lurched.  His stomach emptied itself onto the ground, spreading chunks of meat everywhere, including Smallbeard's shoes.

"Oh no." cried Ravenpelt.

"It's all right, bucko.  It ain't the first time someone threw up on my shoes."

"You don't understand!  I had fruit for breakfast!"

"Alnatak!"

The giant hurried over.  "What need?"

"Get this man to the infirmary, and fast!"

James had been staning nearby.  He saw the whole thing.  Seeing his best friend in danger, he sprinted after the giant.

* * *

Hornbeam was examining Dozy's arm when a norker walked in, complaining that one of his armor plates had fallen off.  Gitch had no sooner begun examining the norker than a bhuka came in, hands covered in blisters.

"I don't understand this."  said Hornbeam to his compatriot.  "So many weird injuries and not a single one of them explainable."

"Doctor!" called Alnatak's voice across the camp.  A second later, his face was peering through the infirmary door.  "Doctor Hornbeam, dwarf is making up!"

"Making up?" Hornbeam repeated.

"Not know word.  He goes BLOD!"

"Throwing up.  Bring him in, please."

Alnatak stuck his hand through the door.  In it lay Ravenpelt, white as a sheet and chin covered with blood.  Horbeam took him and lay him upon a bed.  Probing the dwarf's chest with a stethoscope, he asked Alnatak "Did you see what happened?"

"No did thing happened.  He is good, then he is bad, then he is make 'BLOD!'"

"He's not merely sick.  His stomach is hemorhaging.  Everyone who isn't medical personel, out.  Now.  I'm going to need to perform surgery.  Someone go check supply to see if there are any magical elixirs left at all.  Alnatak, go find Mara the unicorn.  She may be the only one who can save him."

* * *

Mara was determined not to give up hope of escape.  She was a hipocci, and hipocci were born fighters.  She would find a way out.  A young woman entered the room.  She was dressed in a gown of yellow with golden threads interwoven.  Long, shiny curls of golden hair framed her face.  She looked exactly like the sort of human one would expect to see with a unicorn.  "Hello." she said.  "My name is Eladne."

"Hello, Eladne." said Mara with a glare that bled from her eyes into her voice.

"So it's true.  You do speak.  I'm so pleased!  I hope you'll consider me worthy of conversation."

"What do you want?" asked Mara.

"To take you for a walk in the gardens." Eladne answered as she unlocked the unicorn's chain.  "That is, unless you'd rather stay here."

"You realize that now that you've freed me from the wall, I could easily gore you and make a break for freedom."

Eladne looked as though she had been struck.  "Why... why would you do such a thing?"

"Because I am a prisoner here.  You have no right to keep me."

The human seemed to be on the verge of tears.  "I'm sorry.  It wasn't my idea.  I just wanted to make it better for you."  Her lip quivered.

"Calm down." said Mara.  "I said that I could, not that I will."

Eladne was reluctant, now.  "Do... you want to go outside?"

Mara softened.  "Sure.  Take me to the garden."

The gardens of Sky Valley were disheartening to look at.  There had been grandeur here, at one point.  There were fountains and statues, steps and terraces and elaborate waterways.  But the plants were all but gone.  Only a single location, the point into which she'd teleported last night, had any real growth.  "What happened to this place?" asked Mara.

"Too many years of growing plants in the same place."  Eladne replied.  "The soil is dead.  It simply won't grow any more."

"So what are you eating?"

"Come." said the woman.  "I'll show you."  She took Mara to a place where people were standing in line.  The line was thousands long.  Perhaps the entire valley's population.  Most were humans, with the occasional elf, dwarf and halfling.  At the stroke of noon, the count emerged from his castle.  A servant took his cloak, followed by his jacket.  He then jabbed a needle into the count's arm.  The valley's leader flinched, but allowed it, and watched patiently as a small bottle filled with his blood.  Another servant brought a large cup of soil.  The count turned and walked toward the face of a nearby bluff.  "Stone to flesh." he said in a quiet but commanding tone.  A cube-shaped chunk of rock, about a foot square, shone and transformed.  It was soft and covered in what looked like cowhide.  The count took the cube and handed it to the first person in line.  He then repeated the process.  Time after time, he changed rock into meat.  Hundreds of people received the meat cubes and went home grateful.  Mara watched the process, absolutely fascinated.  As she watched, she noticed that the volume of blood in the vial diminished, as did the earth in the cup.  By the time midnight rolled around, the count had served almost a thousand people before he grew faint and was forced to stop.  Thousands of people were yet in line, and it was with a pained look that the count sent them home.  He whispered something to one of his servants, who then approached Mara and Eladne.

"His serene highness would be honored if my ladies would join him for dinner this evening."

After what she had seen, Mara was very curious.  "Tell him we accept."

"Very good, madam.  Dinner will be served shortly, if you would both kindly follow me."

The count was ashen-faced when Mara and Eladne arrived in the dining hall.  He made an attempt to rise, but could not.  "Please, your highness, don't trouble yourself." said Eladne.

"Gracious as ever." said the count.  "Your presence is always a pleasure, my dear.  And how is our guest settling in?"

"I'm not settling." Mara answered.  "I do not intend to stay, and I only agreed to come tonight out of morbid curiosity."

"I see.  Please, be seated.  I will be happy to answer any questions you might have."

"What are you doing here in this god-forsaken place?"

"Very good question.  The answer begins centuries ago.  My ancestor was count Adam Dupris.  He was the ruler of a very small human settlement in Quenardya.  In his day, there were goblins in the south who made war against the elves of the Aelfwood.  Adam was a noble warrior and stood side by side with the elfin king in his battle against the goblins.  He and his men were able to drive the goblins out, forcing them to flee deep into the mountains.  Despite his valiant deeds, Adam fell prey to the schemes of a jealous rival who sought to put himself at the king's right hand in Adam's place.  The king was told that Adam was making plans to betray him and sieze the throne of Quenardya.  Sadly, the king believed this.  So he called my ancestor to him and presented him with the deed to a vast holding as a reward for his service.  In reality, he and all his subjects were being sent into exile.  About two hundred men, women and children were sent here in all.  But they were tenacious.  They determined that they would thrive, and thrive they did.  They built the civilization of Sky Valley, and now we, their descendants, number approximately fifteen thousand."

Mara tried to suppress a twinge of admiration.  The Sky Valley people had a spirit not unlike the Hipocci.  "Now I understand the use of the stone to flesh spell to make meat from rock." said Mara.  "But why are you the one performing the spell?"

"When the elf king exiled us, he placed us under a curse.  Our ability to learn and use magic was nullified, lest we use it to rebel.  Not one of us could cast the simplest spell.  In time, a few children were born who were resistant to the curse.  With a great effort, they were able to cast some low-level spells.  However, it is extremely taxing.  Those who did become casters lived short lives, their strength sapped by their art.  One by one, they died out, and fewer and fewer magic-able individuals were born.  I am the last."

"You used your own blood as a spell component.  Why?"

"Because this is my burden alone to bear.  I could not conscience taking blood from anyone else.  Many have offered, but I will not take it."

"Why not use the blood of an animal?"

"What animal?  There is no life here, save ourselves and our few surviving plants.  All of our livestock died out long ago.  Even birds avoid this place."

At that time, dinner arrived.  The table was laid out with an elaborate assortment of vegetables and a little roast made from the formerly stone cubes.  "You claim a food shortage." said Mara. "Yet you set yourself a feast like this?"

"It's all right." said Eladne.  "The count spends a great deal of energy casting his spells.  He must eat this much every night, or he will die."

"Lady Eladne speaks the truth." Dupris confirmed.  "And it saddens me to know that many are going hungry tonight while I consume all this.  But..." He indicated his body.  Indeed, there was not an ounce of fat on it.  Mara was beginning to feel guilty for hating this man.

* * *

"Remember the first time you tried coffee?" Ravenpelt croaked.

"How can I forget?" replied James.  "I thought I was going to puke."

"I never thought about what caffeine would do to a nilbog." said the dwarf.  "It's a good thing Azpat was there."

"I probably owe the poisoner my life.  If he hadn't spiked my drink with arsenic, I might have died."  Immediately, he regretted his choice of words.  James had been keeping a vigil by his friend's side, praying to every god he could think of to keep him alive.  He was sorry he'd mentioned death.  Medicine was so easy for the Nilbogs.  A knife to the gut, a splash of acid, a hand submerged in boiling oil, any one would make them right as rain.  It was healing spells which they had to watch out for.  Other types of goblin were far harder to fix.  Healing spells had been applied to Ravenpelt's body, but their effects proved insufficient for the level of damage done to his internal organs.  Mara might have been able to save him, but she was nowhere to be found.  Poor Urik had searched all day.  Now, night had transformed him into a coyote.  His mournful howls could be heard across the land, letting everyone know that he was still searching for his true love.

"James?" said Ravenpelt, hoarsely.  "Where is Thistle?"

"Your wife is out searching for Mara.  Remember?"

"Oh yes.  I forgot.  James?"

"Yes."

"Will you make sure my house gets built?  A really good house.  Thistle has been a good wife.  She deserves a good house."

"You'll build it yourself, my friend."

Ravenpelt's eyes became serious and pleading.  "James, please, promise me."

"I promise."

"Thank you."  Ravenpelt felt relieved.  He relaxed.  Then his eyes seemed to focus on something distant, and he was gone.

Hornbeam checked the body for a pulse and found none.  With a heavy heart, he declared the dwarf dead.  James wept openly, not caring that it was ungoblinly.  He put his arms around the body and held the remains of his dear friend to his heart.  James' face touched Ravenpelt's cheek, and he could feel strength flowing into him.  It didn't matter.  His parasitic power couldn't hurt someone who was already dead.  Then... he felt a heartbeat.  Ravenpelt gasped deeply and clutched James' arms.  The nilbog was overjoyed and frightened all at once.  Did his power somehow kill the dwarf beyond death and turn him into a zombie?  He pulled back, and Ravenpelt weakened.

Hornbeam was dumbstruck, then he realized what was happening.  Nilbog health worked backwards.  To other nilbogs, James was a parasite.  To other species of goblin, he was a healer.  "Take off your gloves!" ordered the healer, already moving to remove the gloves himself.  James complied and touched his bare fingers to the dwarf's face.  

Another gasp, followed by intense coughing.  "James!" he sputtered.  "Help!"  James held his friend tight, pulling him back from the dead.  Nothing could make him let go.

* * *

Mara was very tired.  She had been awake for a long time.  All that morning, she had walked through the gardens.  With her own magic, she revived the dying organisms within the soil.  At the same time, her age charm caused the plants to grow to fuition.  Unfortunately, the age charm was also working its magic on Eladne, who had neither protection nor resistance to it.  Her golden hair was turning white, and she was already much less spry than she had been the previous day.  "I've done what I can." said the unicorn to her escort.  "But Eladne, you must let me go."

"But I cannot!  The count has forbidden you to leave!"

"I must.  My magic is making you older.  I know you feel its effects.  If I stay here, you will die.  Soon, others will die, including the count.  You must let me go back to my own home."

Eladne knew that what Mara said was right.  Reluctantly, she removed the count's bridle and chain from Mara's face.  "Go, then." she whispered.

"Thank you, Eladne.  I shan't forget this."  Closing her eyes, Mara concentrated and disappeared.

* * *

Urik sat outside the commander's quarters, watching the stream of dwarves and goblins come and go from the infirmary.  One by one, James healed them and sent them on their way.  As a result, the nilbog had become quite hyper and was jumping about and whooping like a monkey between patients.  He made Zib look sedate by comparison.  Urik had just changed from a coyote back into a lutin as the sun rose.  He was naked, but too tired to care.  While his transformations rejuvinated him physically, his mind and heart were weary.  A bat came and perched under the eaves, regarding Urik with a curious stare.  "Hello, Sytet." said Urik.  The bat squeaked in response.  "I don't suppose you've seen any trace of Mara.  No, of course not.  I knew this day would come.  Every so often, Mara teleports in her sleep.  She's gone off somewhere new and it's unlikely she'll find her way back here." Urik shook his head.  "Oh, Sytet, if you had told me when I was a little goblet that I'd be here today, turning into a coyote, in love with a unicorn, and a Keeper at that, father of two ponies, sitting naked outside the CQ and telling my troubles to a werebat... And yet here I am."  The bat continued to regard Urik attentively.  "I'm a rich man.  Kayrok has made us all fabulously wealthy.  I could retire today if not for the mission.  I've got gold, diamonds and pearls coming out my ears.  Sometimes literally.  And yet I'd give all of it up for one more night with Mara.  You're lucky you're single, Sytet.  You can't experience the pain I feel right now."

"Actually, I had a wife once." said someone to Urik's right.  There stood Sytet wrapping his hand in a fresh bandage.

"Wait... if you're there, then who..."  The bat flew off.  It was apparently just a bat.

Sytet finished wrapping his hand and took off his shirt.  "Here.  You need this more than I do at the moment."

"Thank you."

"I know what you're feeling right now." he said.  "I loved my wife, Kofak-zosha, with all my heart.  When she died, I lost my own will to live.  But your Mara is not dead, merely missing, and I know that she also loves you like her own flesh.  She will return to you.  Do not give up hope."

"I never knew you were married." said Urik.  "How did she die?"

"Horribly.  She was killed by a fellow werebat.  By choosing to serve Nasoj instead of my colony, I was branded a traitor.  The colony killed Kofak-zosha as revenge."

"Sytet... I'm so sorry."

"I have lost much, my friend.  But I have gained much as well.  By serving with Kayrok, I have found friendships which I never could have had before, either among other lutins or in the colony.  In any other company, you and I would not be having this conversation."

"True."

"I still miss Kofak-zosha deeply, but I am happy."

Urik glanced at the lamppost and noticed that even though the flame within had been extinguished, the lamp itself still glowed.  That meant the youth charm was active.  That meant...  "MARA!"  Urik ran and embraced his unicorn wife as she stumbled into camp.  With sleepy eyes, she nuzzled him.  "I thought you had gone!" the lutin cried.  "I thought I would never see you again!"

"Nothing could keep me away, my love.  However..."

"However?"

"However, I really need to go home and sleep.  I am absolutely exhausted."

Urik nodded and took his wife home.

* * *

Injuries continued to come in daily.  Gitch, Hornbeam, James and Mara were all kept busy.  Then one morning, Sujan came to Kayrok and said "Sir, I have important information for you."

"Yes, Sujan, what is it?"

"I have correlated the data on the mysterious injuries and illnesses.  It seems all of the victims have either settled or worked extensively in what is now the town of Refuge."

"I'd suspected.  Anything else?"

"Yes, Sir.  The severity of symptoms vary directly with exposure to the mineral which radiates constant warmth, the material which the dwarves have dubbed 'radium' after said property.

"You think that the radium is the culprit?"

"I do.  I surmise that the energy which it radiates is disruptive to organic tissue."

"Very good work, Sujan.  Then here's what we'll do..."

"I have already anticipated your order and instructed the nilbogs to mine the radium deposit clean.  They have agreed to store the radium in their own homes, where it will serve as a source of vitality."

"Excellent.  You've saved us all a lot of suffering, Sujan.  Well done."

Sujan bowed and left.  He thought he detected something unusual in his mind.  Some strange twinge that might possibly be emotion.  He decided it might be worth persuing and planned to do so when it was convenient.

* * *

Jun was beginning to like life in the Moondark warren.  At first, it was creepy and induced claustrophobia, but as the months had gone by, they began to feel cozy.  Still, it was always good to get out into the fresh air once in a while.  On this particular morning as he took his above-ground stroll, Mara the unicorn stood before him.  "Well, hello, Mrs. Urik." the caster said with a smile.

"Good morning, Jun.  I need to ask you something.  Have you heard of a spell which turns stone to flesh?"

"I have, but I've never learned it.  Why?"

"You're going to like this."

* * *

"I don't know about this." said Cranky.  "What if we end up in the belly of a monster?"

"It doesn't work that way." said Smallbeard.  Don't worry.  It will be fine."

Seven hundred workers stood poised for this experiment.  Jun set down a bottle of turkey blood which he'd gotten from the butcher shop in Solace.  Smallbeard filled a small sack with a shovelfull of dirt.  "Okay, everyone.  Just like we practiced."  There was a chorus of "stone to flesh!"  The dirt bag fell flat.  The bottle emptied.  The south wall of the pass dissolved into a mound of exactly fourteen thousand cubes of meat covered in turkey feathers.  With happy shouts, the crew began tossing them into the mine cars.  The entire federation would eat well tonight.

* * *

"The usual?" asked James as Sytet walked into the clinic.  He was enjoying his new role as a healer, and it certainly had its benefits.  The damage which he'd siphoned from others had made him strong and robust.  He'd grown so large that he might even be a possible rival for Pentagruel.

"Yes, please." said the werebat.  He held out his hand, which was inflamed and swollen.  James took the proffered hand in his own.  The swelling subsided and the inflamation cleared, but the skin was still heavily scarred.  It was starting to seem as if he'd never be complete again.

"Don't worry." said James.  "It's not forever."

"I don't share your confidence." said Sytet.  "It has been many months since my original injuries.  If my hand were to heal, surely it would have done so."  With a bow of thanks, he left the tent and took to the sky, hoping to get as much flying as possible done before the pain returned.  

* * *

"You're sure about this?" asked Urik.  "Remember what they tried to do last time."

"I'm sure." replied Mara.  "Jun is going with me.  He'll protect me."

"It's going to take a lot of magic to enhance your teleportation powers.  What if you arrive and he's out of power?"

"Urik, it will be fine!  I promise"

"I wish you'd let me go with you."

"Then who would look after the little ones?"

"Micho and Karen can look after the twins."  Urik looked over to see his newest foals, Kharg and Melody, gamboling in the field.  He knew that in reality he'd worry about them the entire time he was gone.  Mara was right.  "I will." he said.

Mara stepped over to where Jun was waiting next to a stack of meat cubes measuring twenty-five feet square and fifty feet high, and included chicken, fish, lamb, beef and pork cubes.  The miners had been busy indeed.  Behind the cubes, an assortment of breads, fruits, grain and medicinal herbs piled just as high.  Jun checked his watch.  It was nearly noon.  He cast his spell, amplifying Mara's power a thousand fold.  In a twinkling, unicorn, mage and food were gone.

* * *

Count Dupris was not happy.  But when he had seen Eladne aged ten years overnight, he realized that she was right in letting Mara go.  He could not afford to be exposed to such an effect, for every day of his life he lost meant one day the people of Sky Valley would be without his power to produce food.  Stepping out of his castle toward the cliffs, he readied himself for the daily blood draw.  Then suddenly, out of nowhere, twelve tons of food suddenly appeared.  And there, next to it, stood Mara.  "A gift." she told him.

The count was flabbergasted.  "How...?" was all he could say.

"I taught my people your spell.  This gift is from them."

"Dear lady unicorn, I am deeply in your debt.  If there is anything I can do to repay this kindness..."

"A meal and a place to stay until tomorrow for myself and my friend is all I require."

"Granted!"  The count turned to the waiting line of people.  "Fellowcitizens of Sky Valley, your portions today come as a gift from Mara the unicorn and her people!  Come and take!  There is enough for everyone!"  There was a loud cheer and a rush toward the waiting goods.

"Count Dupris, I would like to introduce you to my friend, Jun."

"Pleasure." said Jun, extending a hand.

Dupris acted as though he'd been shot.  All grace left him.  "It is not our custom to entertain goblins in this land." he declared, ignoring the offered handshake.  "Nevertheless, for the sake of honor and because of our debt to the lady Mara, you will be fed and housed until the morning, at which time we expect you to be gone."  With that, he turned on his heel and walked swiftly back to his castle.

"Well, how do you like that?" said Jun, insensed.  "Why I oughta..."

"Let it go." said Mara.  "Fighting with him won't solve anything."

"It'd make me feel better."  But for Mara's sake, he forebore.

* * *

"Mister Onju?"

Mayor-general Onju put down his writing and stood up to greet the dwarf who had just entered his office.  "Ravenpelt, what can I do for you?"

Ravenpelt removed his hat which he unconsciously wrung.  "Well, Sir, I've had something awful on my mind and I didn't know who I could talk about it to, and then something told me you would be the one to understand."

"Go ahead."  said Onju, showing ravenpelt to a chair and sitting down himself.

"Well, you see... when I died, I figured I'd go to... you call the place Stormhaven, I think.  I mean I've never done anything that bad.  But that's not what happened."

"You were in Everdark?"

"Yes.  And the name fits.  I never knew that fire and darkness could coexist like that.  I was there at the gates, and a terrible creature reached out to grab me.  Only, there was this voice.  It told the creature not to touch me.  I turned around... there was a light so bright, I couldn't look at him.  I only saw his hand."

"Yes?"  Onju was on the edge of his seat.

"It... It was Vertarbna.  He saved me.  I pledged my soul to him then and there and told him I'd do anything for him if he'd just get me out of there."

"And what did he say?"

"He said I was to tell others about him.  But he also told me to come to you.  He said you would have a mission for me.  Then he sent me back up to the world of the living."

Onju felt a thrill.  He told Ravenpelt about his dreams, and about the terrible things that would happen in the future, and how Ravenpelt might work to preserve hope in that desperate time.

"You can count on me, Sir." said the dwarf.  "You can count on me."

* * *

Across the forest of darkness, a single bat flew.  He entered a cave and flew deep inside.  In a chamber deep in the ground, several men and women stood and waitied in dim torchlight, their eyes reflecting the burning flames in more ways than one.  The bat landed on the ground and grew, taking the shape of a man.  Clothing and armor sprang into existence around him, showing him to be every inch a warrior.

"Welcome back, Bomon.  Report." said one of the others.

"The rumors are true." said Bomon.  "The people of the Alpha Omega Federation are excedingly wealthy with an excess of gold, emeralds, diamonds and pearls, and the warriors are soft and humanlike."

"Good work, Bomon." said another.  "Now, tell us the fine details so that we may draw up our battle plans."