The Lutin Chronicles
Chapter 11
Keep of the Ancients
By Oren Otter

It was said that Sujan had never felt an emotion in his life.  That wasn't entirely true.  He remembered feeling flashes of what could only be described as feelings years ago, when he had first been placed under Captain Kayrok's command.  There was a particular moment when Kayrok had both accused him of kissing up and praised his brilliance.  He'd felt what he thought must be pride and shame.  It had been intriguing, but not really worth pursuing, he thought.  But lately, he'd been experiencing more and more of these flashes.  There had been events which caused him to feel.  Sometimes it was bad.  Sometimes it was good.  Sometimes, it was like a fire inside.  The sensations had left Sujan wanting.  That was why he had started the experiments.  He was always careful to avoid being seen by other lutins.  His experiments were always performed far out in the woods where no one would see or hear.  Today, Sujan had shot a rabbit.  He hadn't killed it, though it would be dead soon.  "I apologize for what I am about to do." said Sujan.  "But I need you to help me feel emotion."  Over the next hour, the lutin did feel twinges of emotion.  Guilt.  Sorrow.  Dismay.  Horror.  Self-loathing.  To any other person, they would have been unbearable, but to the sociopath, they were rare sweetmeats to be savored.  When his prey was finally gone, the feelings faded as quickly as they had come, and Sujan was left wanting more.

* * *

Sytet was eager to be on his way.  The whole area was still much too saturated with silver for his liking following the battle with the Yarasa.  The soles of his feet were becoming increasingly irritated, even through his shoes, and he was beginning to develop some breathing problems.  He found himself envious of Urik, whose transformations renewed his body every morning so that extended exposure to silver was never a worry.

Going to the stables, Sytet looked about for just the right pony.  He picked a strong-looking chestnut mare and went to fetch a saddle for her.

"Mister Kofak?" said a voice from the barn door.  It was Micho, Urik's oldest son.  Urik had sired Micho while in the form of a pony, and his mother was a human who had been changed into a unicorn.  As a result, Micho was fully intelligent and had learned to speak at a very young age.

"Actually, my name doesn't work that way.  It's Kofak-Sytet.  But never mind that.  What can I do for you?"

"Dad says you're going on a long journey.  That you're going to Lavamist to find out what happened to the people there."

"That's right.  I'm leaving just as soon as I get this pony saddled."

"Take me instead."

Sytet digested this request for a moment.  "Why do you want to go?"

"You need a good pony." said Micho.  "One who's got brains in his head.  I'm smarter than any pony in this barn.  I can be the perfect travel companion."

"All compelling arguments, but why do YOU want to go?"

"Well, Sir, I'm of age, and I want to serve.  Besides which, I've never seen the outside world.  I've spent my entire life right here in the federation.  I want to see the world."

"You're lucky to live here." said Sytet.  "The outside world is an awful place."

"But I still want to see it.  I want to understand things.  I want to know."

Sytet once again stood and digested this answer.  "What does your father say about this?"

"He doesn't want me to go." said Micho, honestly.  "But he's willing to let me."

"I'm going to verify that." said Sytet.

"I know."

"You'll need to be shod.  It's a long, hard trip.  I'll be waiting in the mess tent while you visit the ferrier."

"Yes, Sir!  thank you, Sir!"

* * *

Rugi felt frustrated.  There were numerous magical items taken from the Yarasa, some of which were very handy.  The firestarter rings, for example.  Several of the dwarven craftsmen called dibs on the sand-blasting rings for making their wares incredibly smooth incredibly fast.  But the most frustrating thing of all was the communication amulets.  When activated, speaking into one would cause every other amulet to repeat the words, allowing instant communication.  This was what had allowed the Yarasa to carry out such an orchestrated attack.  The problem was that Rugi couldn't figure out how to activate them to save his life.  For that matter, he wasn't even sure he would know if he DID activate them, being completely deaf.

Throwing up his hands in frustration, Rugi went to his couch and lay down.  Perhaps some inspiration would come to him in his sleep.  Almost immediately, his mind began to dream, even before he was fully asleep.  It wandered back many years.  Rugi was in his childhood home, nestled in his mother's arms.  He had been very sick as a boy.  He wanted to go out and play with the other goblin children, but he was simply much too weak.

Father came through the door.  Rugi tensed.  He hated it when his father was home.  "How was the hunt?" asked his mother.

"Terrible." snapped Father.  He went on to describe in great detail and with many, deeply offensive words how his entire hunting party had returned with nothing.  He then demanded to know why supper wasn't ready.

"It wil be ready soon." said mother.  "There is a pot of soup on the fire."  Putting little Rugi on the floor, she proceded to ladle a bowl out.

Father looked at the woodpile next to the hearth.  "Why is there so little wood?" he asked.  "Rugi, I told you to bring wood in when I left."

"He hasn't had the strength, dear.  Our sone is very sick."

Father flew into a rage.  "I'm tired of excuses!  Your problem is you just don't listen!  I'll teach you not to listen!"

Mother tried to protect her boy, but for her trouble was thrown across the room.  Rugi struggled weakly as his father held his head sideways in his vicelike grip and the soup bowl drew closer.

The thurge awoke with a silent yelp, heart pounding.  Of all the memories in his life, why did he have to relive THAT one?  Then a realization washed over him.  Rugi hadn't been born deaf.  His ears had been damaged.  And where there were magical healers, damage could be undone.

* * *

Count Wallace Dupris was a good man.  He cared for his people and loved them all.  However, he had one great personality flaw, at least where the lutins were concerned.  Dupris hated goblins passionately.  He made no attempt to hide this fact.  Wallace was the descendant of people who had risked and sometimes lost their lives in a war between goblins and the civilized people of the south.  His forefathers were why goblins were only to be found in great numbers in the giantdowns.  Those people had been betrayed long ago and exiled here to sky valley.  One might think their anger would be turned against the betrayer, but instead, they only allowed the wrong to increase their hatred of goblins.  After all, none of this would have happened if not for the goblins.

Wallace made no attempt to disguise his hatred when dealing with Grickle and Grackle.  The two lutins were just boys, but they had dug an air vent through the rock from the tunnel below up to the plateau.  Their only crime was curiosity.  Finding a castle up here in the mountains was amazing indeed, and they only wanted to explore.

"Who sent you?" demanded the count.

"Nobody sent us." said Grickle.  "We came on our own."

"For what purpose?"

"We were curious." said Grackle.

"What are you doing in Sky Valley?"

"We dug our way up here." Grickle answered.

"You lie." the count insisted.  "There's miles of solid rock between here and the Forest of Darkness."

"We're not lying." Grackle replied.  "We have special spells."  Grickle hushed his brother, but it was too late.

"What sort of spells?"

"We turn the rock into meat, and then we eat it." Grackle explained.

"You're way too scrawny to have ever eaten that much meat."

"Don't tell him any more." Grickle warned.  The count dealt the lutin a kick to the stomach, knocking the wind out of him.

"Stop it!" cried Grackle.  "We didn't do anything to you!"

"Then tell me the truth." demanded Dupris.  "How did you get here?"

"Go soak your head, human." spat Grickle.  The count responded by unsheathing a dagger.

"No!" shouted Grackle.  "Don't hurt him!  I'll tell you whatever you want!  We didn't do it alone.  There are thousands of us."

"Thousands?"

"We're digging through the mountains and creating a pass to the south.  My brother and me, our job was to dig an air vent."

"And where are your thousands based?"

"Just past the cliffs."

The count called for a guard.  "Lock these two in the tower." he instructed.  "We'll see if what you say is true."

* * *

Mara and Urik had just enjoyed a large lunch together.  This was a rare event, since Mara's diet was restricted to grass and grains while Urik, at least during the day, required more lutinlike fare, but this day, Urik was enjoying a day off from work and the two enjoyed a picnic in the woods.  Mara had eaten a large portion of a bale of hay and was feeling very satisfied as she lay down next to her husband.  A cool breeze was blowing, and her eyelids felt heavy.  It would be nice to just lay down and sleep, but there was also something on her mind, something she'd been wanting to ask for a long time.  "Urik?" she said.

"Yes, my love?"

"What happens when the pass is finished?"

"Well, we use it, of course."

"But for what?"

"Well, to move.  The southlands are far more hospitable than the north."

"It will be an invasion.  Won't it?"

Urik sat up.  "That's a rather harsh way to put it."

"But it's true, isn't it?  Nasoj's forces will invade the south.  There will be war."

Urik stroked Mara's mane.  "My dear, Nasoj only wants what's best for everyone.  He just wants to give us lutins a better life."

"I wish I could believe that." said Mara.  "But the things I saw while I was at the Keep..."

"I wish I could make you see things our way." said Urik.  "Nasoj is a good man.  You'll see."

"I'm afraid, Urik." said the unicorn.  "I'm afraid the day will come when you and I will find ourselves fighting on opposite sides.  If there is an invasion, and I'm confident there will be, I will be bound by honor to fight for the south."

"And I for the north." Urik said.  "A terrible day that will be indeed.  But that day is a long way off, my dear.  There will be many years before we come to that point, and perhaps we may arrive at the truth together before then."

"Oh, I hope so." said Mara.  "I never want to lose you, Urik."

* * *

Count Dupris, standing between a pair of soldiers, gazed out over the cliffs at the burgeoning civilization below.  "Imagine that." he mused.  "All this time, a goblin empire has been right under our noses."

"Should we attack them, Sir?" asked one of the soldiers.

"No, General, for we would surely lose."

"But surely you must agree that this is the opportunity we've been waiting for." said the other soldier.

"Yes.  And the honor of our forefathers wil be re-established, but not with an all-out frontal assault.  Come.  We must make other plans."

* * *

Alnatak couldn't help but drool a little as he stirred the gigantic stewpot.  The aroma was heavenly.  "Hey, Alnalam." he said as he stirred.  "What do you think man tastes like?"

"Don't know." said Alnatak as he sat sharpening his knife.  "I hear it tastes like pork.  Some people say it tastes just like chicken."

"I would think more like beef." said Alnatak.  "All that red meat."

Mintaka, who was sitting quietly to one side reading a book, was disgusted.  "You both know mother forbade us from ever eating people." she said.

"Dad seemed to like it." said Alnalam.

"Dad also beat you both with a birch tree for no special reason."

"Those were the days." Alnalam remarked.

"It's wrong to eat people." said Mintaka.

"Calm down." said Alnalam.  "We're not going to eat anybody.  We're just making small talk."

"Yeah.  If we were going to eat people, we'd be eating goblins right now." said Alnatak.

"I bet they're nutritious."

"I wonder what goblins taste like."

Mintaka returned to her reading.  "You two are incorrigable."

Failing to understand the big word, the brothers continued discussing the tastes of various sapient beings.

* * *

Grickle and Grackle sat miserably in the tower dungeon, their legs shackled to the wall, the only sunlight coming from a window far too high for anyone to reach.  Anyone but them, that is.  As soon as they were certain that the guards outside the door were not paying attention, both brothers quietly turned into bats, slipping their tiny legs easily out of the shackles.  Up they flew to the window.  Grickle slipped easily through the bars.  Grackle had a bit of trouble.  "I told you not to eat so many moths." squeaked Grickle as he tugged on his brother's leg.  When at last the larger of the werebat twins was through, they hastily made their way back to Camp Dimtorch.

* * *

"So what do you think?" asked Gitch, staring at Rugi's ear.

"I think that if we can make Rugi hear, it will be a huge advantage to the entire federation." replied Hornbeam.

"I meant can it be done?"

"Oh, no question.  But the ears have been very badly damaged.  If we bring the dead tissue back to life, it's going to hurt."

"How much?" signed Rugi.

"A lot.  We can't fix your ears with conventional means, but it can be done with magical means.  Any painkiller we could give you would be instantly undone.  Are you willing to go through the pain?"

Rugi lifted his gaze from Hornbeam's lips to his eyes.  "Yeth." he answered.

"Get James." said Hornbeam.  "Nurse, strap the patient down.  Tightly."

* * *

Kayrok listened to the twins' report with grave concern.  He didn't like the thought of anybody locking young boys in a dungeon.  Such a man ought to be horsewhipped.

"Sky Valley?" said Point who had been two meters from Kayrok's left hip for the entire report.  "Isn't that where Mara once teleported to?  The one with the count who taught her the stone to flesh spell?"

"So it appears we now know where it is." said Kayrok.  "The count and I need to talk.  We need to assemble a delegation, one with as few goblins as possible.  You, of course." he indicated Point, his right hand cyclops.  "Ask Mikel Greenstar to join us.  Also Smallbeard, Alnatak and Mara.  We know he has a soft spot for unicorns."

Point nodded and said "Right away, Sir."

Sopok, Kayrok's adopted werebat son, had been watching all of this with curious interest.  Approaching Kayrok, he asked "Father, are you going to punish the humans?"

"No, Sopok." Kayrok replied.  "That is not for me to do."

"But he beat and imprisoned two of us.  Why will you not punish him?"

Kayrok placed a hand on his son's shoulder.  "When we go to war, it is because we must, either to defend ourselves or others against evil.  If I should punish you, it is because you are my son, and it is my duty to instruct you.  Count Dupris is not mine to punish.  Vertarbna will punish him, if he must be punished."

"If you do not punish him, he will do it again."

"That may be so, my son, but if we punish our enemies for every wrong, they will also punish us.  We would be at war forever.  That is not our way."  Kayrok left feeling more than a little worried about what Sopok's original parents had taught him.

* * *

A scream ripped through the air in Camp Dimtorch.  James the nilbog recoiled.  His power to siphon damage from others had just caused Rugi excruciating pain.  "You must keep going." Gitch urged.

"I can't!" replied James.

"You have to.  Rugi is depending on you."

"But I'm hurting him!"

"You have already caused him pain, but if you don't finish and give him back his hearing, it will have been for nothing."

James swallowed.  Reluctantly, he placed his hands on the sides of Rugi's head.  Tears welled in his eyes as Rugi's screams tore at his heart.  After what seemed like years, it was finally over.  "Rugi?" said Gitch.  "Can you hear me?"

The thurge lay still.  He was slowly becoming aware of dozens of things going on around him.  Someone splashing water outside.  The rustle of a blanket.  A gust of wind.  "Yeth." answered Rugi with tears in his eyes.  "YETH!  I cang heyoo, Gish!"

"Your speech will take a while to catch up to your hearing." said the doctor as he loosed the restraints.  "Welcome to the world of the hearing."

As soon as he was up off of the table, Rugi danced for joy.

* * *

Count Dupris strode down to the woodworker's cottage with several scrolls in his hand.  As soon as he entered, the craftsman set down his project and sprang to his feet.  "Count Dupris!  Good afternoon, Sir!"

"Now Arnold, I've told you a hundred times to call me Wallace."

"I know, Sir, I know, but I've got to set a good example for the kids."  He indicated his two sons, about ten and twelve, who took a moment from busily sanding wooden items to wave to the count.

Wallace waved back, then put his scrolls on the counter.  "I have a project for you." he said.  "I want four large beams, tapered at one end, treated to resist water, and I need these words carved into the large ends."

The carver studied the scrolls for a few moments.  "These... these look like spells, Sir."

"That's right."

"What could you possibly use these for?"

Count Dupris began to explain his plan in great detail.  Arnold the woodcutter thought it was brilliant and set to work immediately.

* * *

It was several days before the delegation could be sent to Sky Valley.  It wasn't there was a lack of readiness or willingness, but because although the smaller folks could easily have fit through the air vent, which had been designed to act as an emergency escape tunnel from the start, Alnatak was four times wider than the tunnel itself.  The giant would have to climb the cliffs, but that would be easier said than done.  It had taken this long to carve out a ladder for the giant from the rock face.  As Alnatak weighed in at a good nine tons, that ladder had to be very carefully constructed.  The giant showed no worry as he climbed up the cliff, climbing as casually as if he were climbing out of an empty swimming pool.  He reached the top in very short order, where he turned around and lowered a basket on a rope, with which he would haul up the rest of the party.  Mikel Greenstar, the chief of the gnomes, had agreed to come.  Smallbeard was there, as were Mara the unicorn, and of course, Point and Kayrok.  They had even managed to hire a wood elf to act as a porter.  Kayrok was pleased just to have the species diversity.  It would hopefully make the count feel less like he was dealing with goblins.

"I'm glad that ride is over!" said Mara as her hooves touched solid rock.

"I think we all are." said Kayrok.  "No offense to Alnatak."

"None taken.  That is big fall for little man."

Kayrok pointed to the river.  "We'll follow the water upstream." he said.  "Sky valley has to be near water, and this is the only water up here."  With that, the party set off.

* * *

Several of the workers who had just gotten off duty were bathing in the pond to the east of Camp Dimtorch.  By now, Mumbor had made it a habit to wash regularly, as it eased his allergies, but it also didn't hurt that there were a few lady goblins on every shift.  Mumbor was very grateful to Kayrok for his progressive attitudes.  They made cavorting with the opposite sex so much easier.  Mumbor joked around and splashed playfully with the ladies in all of their green-skinned glory when a stranger came to the pond.  "Mind if I join you?" said the stranger.

"Certainly not!" said one of the females.

"Please do." said another.

"Are you new here?" asked Mumbor.  "I don't think I've seen you before."

"Sure you have." said the newcomer as he disrobed to reveal a well-muscled torso.  "It's me, Tiro."

Mumbor shook his head and did a double take.  "Tiro?  Fat, blobby, roly poly Tiro?"

"Wow.  You really haven't been paying attention." said Tiro.  "I've lost weight.  Working for Kayrok has been the best thing in the world for me."

"No kidding."

"Oh yeah." said Tiro, settling into the water.  "Dropped the fat and put on muscle."  He flexed a bicep.  The females gathered around to admire his muscles and giggle.  Mumbor realized he couldn't compete, and got up to dry off and head home.  "Hey, Mumbor?" said Tiro.

"What?" responded Mumbor, half testily.

"You have a tail."

Mumbor reached around his back to feel.  It was true.  There was a tiny little stub of a tail.  "What the Everdark?" he exclaimed.  Throwing on his clothes, he ran over to the clinic.

* * *

"You're the fifth one today." said Hornbeam.  "I can take it off it you want, but it's growing, and it would probably grown back."

The clinic door opened.  In came Zib.  "Doctor!  Doctor!" he cried, jumping up and down.  "I got feathers!"  And indeed, he did.  Long white feathers were protruding out from under his shirt.

"Have a seat." said Hornbeam.  "Gitch, you want to take this one?"

Gitch hadn't even responded when Pip walked in the door.  "Doc, have you got a minute?" he asked.

"Of course."

"I'm just feeling so sick.  I'm getting light headed whenever I stand, and I feel like I'm about to throw up all the time."

"I can give you medications for those." said Gitch.  "But the horns may require surgery."

Pip shot Gitch a strange look, then probed his head.  Indeed, there was a pair of horns growing there.  "Baaa!" he exclaimed.

* * *

Count Dupris looked out over the plateau from the highest tower of his castle.  "It appears that we have company." he noted.

"Aye, Sir." replied a soldier who looked through a telescope at the approaching party.  "Besides the giant, there's a cyclops, a unicorn, a wood elf, a gnome, a dwarf and a goblin."

"And which one is leading?"

"The goblin, Sir."

"Then that's the party I've been expecting."

"The unicorn... Sir, that's Mara."

"I'm aware." said the count.  "When the group arrives, they are to be welcomed.  Give them everything they require.  Allow them every luxury.  But when they ask to see me, inform them that I am occupied with business that I cannot leave, and will attend to them shortly."

"Aye, Sir."  The soldier collapsed his telescope, saluted, and went down the stairs to carry out his orders.

* * *

David Skypierce was a very clever gnome.  He was always finding ways to work smarter, to accomplish more with less labor.  Today, he had a doozy of a plan.  There were a lot of pulleys and ropes involved, but he'd come up with a way to build a navigable path up onto the plateau with no actual digging.  Since Smallbeard was not available, he took his plans down to refuge to show Ravenpelt.  When David arrived in Refuge, he found Ravenpelt sitting in front of his house clutching his stomach.  "Ravenpelt!" he called as he ran to the dwarf.  "Are you all right?"

"So... sick." said the dwarf.  "Jamess makes it better... but then we go right back to being sick again."

"Let's get you out to the infirmary, Sir." said the gnome.  He took Ravenpelt's hand to help him to his feet, but recoiled in horror.  The fingers of Ravenpelt's left hand had joined into one giant finger, looking more like a wing than a hand.  "What... happened?" he stammered.

"Everyone is... mutating." said Ravenpelt.  He pointed to a Koalinth at the edge of the lake.  The poor fellow had a long pair of rabbit ears and so much fur on his head and neck that it was blocking his gills.

Yeah... come on, Sir.  We need to get you to the train.  You need to see Gitch right away."  Placing himself under Ravenpelt's arm-wing, the gnome tried his best to support the man three times his size as he took him to the train.

* * *

Sujan was unsatisfied with the results of his experiments.  Ironically, that in itself was something.  The lack of fulfillment in seeking emotion was in itself an emotion.  Yet Sujan wanted more.  He knew that he should return to his duties at Camp Dimtorch, especially when Kayrok was gone.  As second in command, leadership responsibilities fell to him.  He knew he needed to return home, but the need to feel ate at him.  Just a little while longer.  Sujan heard the peeping of chicks.  Perhaps if he experimented on younger prey...

* * *

Kayrok and his team strode boldly to the city gate.  Amid the stared and whispers of the locals, they made their way directly to the count's castle.  "Alnatak, would you knock, please?" said Kayrok.  The giant raised a fist the size of a watering trough to the front door, which surprisingly opened before impact.

"Good evening, Sir." said the doorman.

"Good evening.  We would like to speak with Count Dupris, please."

"And who may I say is calling?"

"Chairman Kayrok Fireseed and company from the Alpha Omega Federation."

"Very good, Sir.  Please come in.  You are expected."

The doorman showed the group to a very expensively furnished guest room.  Alnatak was forced to crawl on his hands and knees to fit inside the castle, but a large pile of cushions was waiting for him at one end of the room.  The giant nestled in and got very comfortable.  "The count is currently occupied with a matter that demands his full attention." said the doorman.  "He promises to be with you shortly.  In the meantime, you may wish to take the opportunity to rest from your trip.  Refreshments have been provided, should you be hungry or thirsty.  If you need anything else, please do not hesitate to call."  Then the human turned on his heel and strode away.

"Me like." said Alnatak, who took a watermelon from a nearby pile and popped it into his mouth.

Greenstar was in the water closet.  "Indoor plumbing!" he remarked.  "With hot and cold running water!  Oh, this is an amazing place indeed!  I think I shall take a moment to wash up before meeting the count."

Kayrok simply sat.  It was a nice place.  A very nice place.  And it made him uneasy.  Something was wrong.

* * *

Gitch was close to his wits' end.  Half the population of the federation was coming in with symptoms of poisoning, but with no sign of poison in their bodies nor any signs of what they might have ingested.  No one had been eating, drinking or breathing anything strange.  And these weird mutations which people were experiencing seemed to be completely unrelated aside from the fact that they appeared in every case of poisoning.  It was all he could do to prescribe a generic remedy of finely ground charcoal, which seemed to be helping, and instruct his staff to administer it to every patient while he went to talk with Hornbeam in private.

As soon as he was away from the patients' eyes, Hornbeam sat down hard, panting in exhaustion.  "Not you too!" declared Gitch.  Hornbeam responded by pulling up his pant leg to reveal the foot of a bird.  Gitch sat down next to him.  "We have to think." he declared.  "What could possibly be causing this?"

"Is there anyone not being affected?"

"No.  Everyone is getting this.  Lutins, dwarves, trags, gnomes..."  Gitch stopped himself.  "No... Only the gnomes who work here are affected.  There haven't been any coming from Solace.  Same with the trags.  The trags remaining in Anhunger and North Hunger aren't being affected.  At least that's what the patients are telling me."

"What about you?" asked Hornbeam.  "You're not sprouting wool or feathers or scales.  What are you doing differently?"

"Nothing.  I eat the same food you do.  I drink the same water..."

"I've been drinking the bottled water from outside the clinic." said Hornbeam.

"So have I."

"Gitch, have you bathed recently?"

"No.  I've been too busy.  I... The water!"

"Every town in the federation uses the same water.  It all comes from the river on the plateau."

"The lake in Refuge is fed by a branch of that river."

"Which in turn feeds an underground river that passes under Rider."

"But the wells of Solace draw from groundwater.  Their wells wouldn't have gotten polluted, yet."

"And the tragso get their moisture from rainwater and juice."

Gitch was quite excited by now.  "Then whatever's poisoning the water is somewhere south of where the river branches."

"Let's go check it out." said Hornbeam.  "And get Jun.  Whatever did this..." he indicated his bird foot.  "Is probably well within his realm of expertise."

* * *


Ascending the cliff using handholds intended for a giant wasn't easy, but Gitch, Hornbeam and Jun were lutins, and with their strong lutin hands, no cliff was unasailable for them.  When they reached the top of the cliffs, Jun took an odd-looking intrument out of his pack.  "This water is heavily cursed." he announced.  "The spell detector is indicating three or four different curses here."

"I thought you couldn't enchant something already enchanted." said Hornbeam.

"You can, but it's difficult.  The spells tend to interfere.  Liquids are different.  It's possible to enchant several liquids and then mix them together.  Woof."

"Did... you just bark?" asked Gitch.

Jun removed his hat to show Gitch a pair of alsatian's ears.  "I washed my hair this morning." he said.  "Come on.  Let's get on with this."  With Jun in the lead, the three lutins travelled upstream for several hours.  Every few minutes, Jun would check the water for enchantment, and he would always get the same result.  Evening was approaching when they came to a point in the river where four large beams stood straight up out of the river.

"What are those?" asked Hornbeam.

"They're inscribed with spells." said the mage.  "I'll wager they're the source of our troubles."

The first beam was within arm's reach.  Hornbeam wrapped his big, strong hands around it and pulled.  The wood creaked, but at last let go of the riverbed.  Hornbeam threw it ashore, where Jun examined it.  "This plank is clean." he announced.

"What?  But the spell..."

"Is just words.  It's not an active spell.  He scanned the water.  "The water is still cursed upstream.  These objects were put here to mislead us."  For twenty more minutes, the group travelled upstream, and were well within sight of Sky Valley before the water finally became clean.  "Whatever's doing it is right here." said Jun.

"I see nothing." said Gitch, peering into water so clear, he could see the rocks at the bottom.

"You won't." said Hornbeam.  If you wanted to curse a river and didn't want anyone to find the source of the enchantment, what would you use?"

"Rocks." said Gitch.

"And this riverbed is covered in rocks." Jun noted.

"We could search for weeks and never find the right ones." Hornbeam said, despondently.

"We could." said Gitch.  "Or we could find some helpers to make the search faster."

* * *

Urik's leg was covered in white fur and a flap of skin connected his ankle to his finger.  Pat of his brain wondered if this mutation were indicative of the coming transformation or if he'd turn into some other creature entirely.  He wondered this as he heaved dryly over a bucket.  When at last his stomach calmed, Urik flopped down onto his floor-level bed.  If only Mara were here, she would make him feel better.  Mara always made him feel good inside and out.  He watched motionlessly as someone made their way into his back yard, too sick to move.  He heard Benji's voice and wondered what could be going on.  when Benji left, he lay and waited for night to come.

And night did come.  Urik had guessed correctly.  When the sun set, his body transformed into that of a ghost bat.  He breathed a sigh of relief.  The transformation had cleansed his body of its sickness.  But even better, he could now fly!  That meant that he could go find Mara!  With squeaks of joy, Urik mounted the wind on transparent wings and took to the sky in search of his wife.

* * *

"When are we going to get to speak to the Count?" Kayrok asked with a rather demanding tone.

"The count sends his regrets, but he is unable to meet with you at this time.  He has, however, extended an invitation to be his guests tonight, so that he may hear your business on the morrow."

"You tell the count that..."  An apparition cut Kayrok off.  An image of Jun appeared before him, floating in the air.  "Captain, water supply heavily cursed.  People becoming sick and mutating.  Source of pollution found near Sky Valley.  Attempting removal now.  Suspect Dupris.  Be careful, Sir."  The image of Jun then faded out.

"What treachery is this?" asked Point.

Kayrok's brow furled.  "Tell your master we accept." he told the guard.  "Alnatak!"

"Here."

"Since the count hasn't time for us tonight, what say we pass an hour or two with a walk?"

"Okay."  Alnatak rose, bending the ceiling before he remembered where he was and crawled out on his hands and knees.

* * *

"Understand that we do this only out of interest in our own welfare." said Amiak, leader of the Kol'ksu.

"Understood completely." said Jun.  Before the mage stood three Kol'ksu, the aquatic goblins from the river near Point Grove.  Kol'Ksu did not associate with other goblins, and absolutely did not work for what they considered lesser breeds, but circumstances were such that cooperation was the only option.  To the left of the Kol'Ksu stood D'jup, a mild-mannered Koalinth.  D'jup was a very different kind of aquatic goblin from the Kol'Ksu and much easier to work with.  To his left stood Benji, a hippocampus and son of Urik and Mara.  These five individuals could spend all day submerged with no ill effects.  if anyone could find the source of the magic toxins, it was them.  "You each have a wand." said Jun.  "These will glow in the presence of magic.  Start from the south side and sweep north.  When you come to the point where the wands glow brightest, you've found a charm.  Bring the charm here for me to deactivate."  We'll repeat the process until the river runs clean."

One by one, the goblins and the hippocampus slipped into the river.  Jun was just pondering whether he might turn the healers into otters or seals to add to the numbers when he heard thundering footsteps coming up from Sky Valley.  "Jun!" called Kayrok from Alnatak's right shoulder.

"Captain!" Jun replied.  "I take it you got my sending spell."

"I did.  Unfortunately, so did the palace guard."

"Whoops."

"It's all right.  Have you made any progress?"

"No, Sir.  We only just started."  We think the count has enchanted several stones in the river.  There's no telling how long it may take to find them."

One of the Kol'Ksu pulled himself out onto the shore, hacking and coughing.  A third of his face had been transformed into that of a lizard.

"Don't bother." said Kayrok.  "Dupris is a clever man.  He's probably put all sorts of safeguards on those charms so that you can look right at them and not find them."

"Then what do we do?"

"Have you got the juice for another sending spell?"

* * *

A sea of torch lights illuminated the clifftops between Dimtorch and Punishment.  With Count Dupris at their head, an army stood staring town at the cities of the goblins and their allies.  Five long pipes were being assembled.  each over a hundred and fifty feel long, they would serve as transports to get the troops down to the lower level quickly and safely.

"It's hard to believe that this day has finally arrived." said one of the captains.

"Thrilling isn't it?" asked Dupris.  "Tell me, Captain, what are you hoping for the most?"

"To restore the honor of our ancestors, my Lord."

"And goblin gold doesn't hold any allure for you?"

"I cannot deny I hope for some of that, too."

"And what of the chance to hear the death screams of your enemies?"

"Oh, that will be glorious, your highness."

"No, it won't." said the count.

"I beg your pardon, Sir?"

"This battle will be to prove once and for all where the loyalty of our people lies.  We are people of honor, Captain.  Not of darkness.  Hate is of darkness."

"But do you not hate the goblins, Sir?'

"I seek the destruction of goblins to protect all that is good." replied the count.  "I do not wish to cause suffering for suffering's sake, even upon my enemies."

"I see, My Lord."

"Start moving your troops as soon as the first slide is ready, Captain.  We attack at dawn."

* * *

Urik gave an alarmed squeak as he passed over the army of humans below.  He passed over them several times, but Mara was not among them.  The bat continued toward Sky Valley.  Before long, he saw Kayrok and several other below.  He swooped down, trying to get their attention.

"Aurgh!  Stupid bat!" mumbled Alnatak as he swatted the air.

"Don't hurt it!" shouted Benji.  The bat turned and landed on the hippocampus' head.  "Dad?" asked Benji.  Urik squeaked an affirmation.

"Hello, Urik." said Kayrok.  In response, Urik took off again and began circling in the air.

"I think he wants us to follow him." said Gitch.

"Alnatak, come with me." said Kayrok.  "The rest of you, stay here."

* * *

"This is bad." said Kayrok, looking out over the human army from a hiding place high in the rocks.  "This is very bad."

"They make us sick." said the giant, piecing it all together.  "Then they attack."

"Right."

"They make our water bad.  Use water to hurt."

"That's right, big fellow.

"So why not we use water to hurt?"

Kayrok thought for a moment.  "Alnatak, you're a genius!"  He scanned the area and found a perfect place to strike.  "Over there." he pointed.  "See that big rock sticking out from the hillside where the valley narrows?"

"Yeah?"

"Think you can move it?"

"Oh yeah."

"Bring it down.  The whole hillside.  Block the valley completely."

"You has it, boss."  Moving as stealthily as a giant can, Alnatak got next to the rock and began to work it loose.  Kayrok, meanwhile, made his way back to Gitch and the others.  He didn't go undetected for long.  Some of the humans caught sight of him and loosed arrows in his direction.  The few that hit bounced harmlessly off of his thick hide.  With a great heave, he pulled the stone loose, sending the entire hillside collapsing down into a wall of debris, blocking the valley.  Immediately, the river on the north side drained empty while the part of the south side began to rise.  "Oh." said Alnatak, realizing what Kayrok was planning.  "I guess I am a genius!"

* * *

Kayrok burst back into the suite where Mara, Smallbeard, Mikel and the others still waited.  "Everyone, we need to leave." ha said.

"Right now?" said the porter, who had just gotten comfortable atop the pile of cushions meant for Alnatak.

As if on cue, a trickle of water came through the door.  "In ten munutes, this place is going to be a swamp.  Grab your things and get!"  Everyone complied, especially Mikel, who thought himself likely to be the first to drown.

* * *

Sujan was supposed to be in charge.  He was supposed to be, but no one knew where the strategist was.  Instead, Hornbeam had taken control of the situation.  The surgeon had his hands quite full with all of the poisoning cases and magical mutations.  He was ready to pull his hair out when Jora entered and asked "Anything I can do to help?"

Fugu stumbled through the door, clutching his stomach with one lutin hand and one cat paw.  "Give him an antitoxin potion." said Hornbeam.  "It's in the blue urn next to the cotton."  Jora moved to comply, but found the urn empty.  "Well, that's just peachy." Hornbeam practically yelled.

"I can make some more." Jora offered.

Hornbeam paused.  "You can make potions?"

"Just healing potions." the bard replied.  "I learned how at Udge's school.

"How many people were in your class?" asked Hornbeam.

"About twenty." Jora answered.  "Lot's of people are interested in making their own healing potions, what with that weird disease folks were catching in Refuge and all."

"Round up your classmates.  Bring them here and have them make all the healing potions they can."

"No." said Fugu.

"No?  Why not?"

"Use the steam engines.  Make..." Fugu winced in pain and meowed plaintively, then continued.  "Make the potions into a vapor.  Spray everything with it."

"I like the way you think, Fugu." said Hornbeam.  "Let's get it done."

Jora left the infirmary at the same time Sopok entered.  He was flustered and still half bat, changing as he ran.  "Mister Hornbeam!" he shouted.

"Sopok?  What's wrong?"

"The humans... they're coming down the cliffs.  They're heavily armed.  They're going to attack us!"

"How do you know they're planning to attack?" asked Hornbeam.

"I watched the adult werebats enough times that I know what it looks like when they're preparing for war."

Hornbeam pulled his ears.  "We're in no condition for war." he grunted.

"Precisely the point." said Fugu.  "There's an old proverb" 'If you find yourself in a fair fight, your strategy stinks.'  If I were Dupris, I'd -meaow!- take advantage of his position and poison the water supply before attacking."

Hornbeam leaned on a counter with a look of despair in his eyes.  "Where is Sujan?" he asked anyone.  "He would know what to do."

"You may not have Sujan, but -RAAAR!- you have me.  You also have a practically unlimited supply of cursed water and the steam sprayers from the battle with the werebats."

"You're not going to spray silver everywhere again, are you?" asked Sopok.

"Don't worry." said Fugu.  "No silver.  But the results will be far more interesting."

* * *

Dawn was slowly coming.  Color was creeping into the eastern sky and with it, a thick fog came rolling into the human camp.  At first, no one thought anything of it, until a number of people developed hacking coughs.  Shortly thereafter, one of the captains found his lips hardening into the beak of a parakeet.  "Why those dastardly little fiends." said Dupris.  "They've turned our own water against us."

"Should we -twitter- call off the attack, Captain?  We no longer have the advantage."

"When we are so close to regaining our honor?  Does having a beak somehow negate your ability to weild a sword."

"Forgive me, my count.  I -chirp chirp- was momentarily confused."

"Get the men ready.  The sun is nearly up."

"Count Dupris!" someone shouted.  The count looked around.  "Up here!"  Dupris looked up toward the clifftops and saw Kayrok standing there with all of his group.  "Parlay!" shouted Kayrok, waving a white flag.

"Should we kill him?" one of the warriors asked.

"No.  This day is about honor.  We do not attack someone beneath a white flag.  Let him come.  Kayrok!  Parlay is granted!"

Kayrok climbed onto Alnatak's shoulder and rode the giant down the side of the cliff.  At the bottom, he had Alnatak set him gently before the count.

"Kayrok."

"Dupris."

"Have you come to discuss terms of surrender?"

"I've come to ask you to stop this madness."

"Madness?  Hardly.  This is the day we of Sky Valley regain our honor."

"Honor?  Count, look at what you're doing.  We came to you in friendship.  You poisoned us.  Is that honorable?"

"You are but goblin filth." the count spat.

"Filth?  What did we do to deserve that title?"

"It is because of your kind that we were exiled."

"No.  It was because of a traitor that you were exiled.  But if you want to talk about exile, look out there.  The federation is a nation of exiles.  We built a civilisation we could be proud of when we were expected to die in dishonor.  Same as you, Count."

"Do not compare yourselves to us."

"Why not?  We love our children the same as you do.  And we only want peace."

"Peace." said Dupris, voice dripping with derision.  "You speak of peace and yet you are digging a tunnel for the sake of invasion."

"You say invasion.  I say freedom.  We only want to go where life is good.  Isn't that what you want, too?"

"I've heard enough." said Dupris, turning away.

"Count Dupris, Sky Valley is being flooded right now."  That made the count stop.  It also made those nearby murmur in alarm.

"What did you say?"

"I know you heard the avalanche.  My giant dammed the rivber and sent your own toxic waters back to Sky Valley."

"It doesn't matter." said the count, unconvincingly.  "After today, we'll be returning to the south."

"But count," said one of the soldiers who was rapidly developing a pig snout.  "Those are -grunt- our homes."

"Our wives and children!" said another.  "What about them?"

"I'm sorry." said Kayrok.  "I didn't want it to come to this, but I must protect my people from you.  Please, let's put a stop to this.  There's still time to save your valley."

Count Dupris was boiling over with rage and contempt.  He could no longer contain himself.  In a swift blur of motion, he drew his sword and slashed at Kayrok.  Kayrok drew his sword, but he was too slow.  The count's weapon sank into his left shoulder.  Alnatak moved to grab Dupris, but Kayrok waved him off.  The lutin commander stood there, his sleeve becoming soaked in blood.  On the ground, at his feet, lay the white flag.

Dupris looked at the sword in his hand, then at the white flag.  He had just attacked someone under a flag of truce.  The men were murmuring, marvelling at how a man so fixated on honor could do this.  It was completely out of character for him.  or was it.  Suddenly, Dupris saw himself clearly.  He had been so consumed with the desire to gain honor in others' eyes that he had neglected his honor within.  His eyes went to the hand holding his sword.  His own magic toxins were changing it, making it scaly and clawed.  As the evil of what he was doing hit him, the count dropped the sword.

Mara the unicorn emerged from one of the slides.  It wasn't a pleasant thing for her to travel that way, but given that this day could bring anything, she thought it best to reserve her teleportation for an emergency.  Stepping quickly over to Kayrok, she touched him with her horn, healing his wound.

The captain with the parakeet beak helped the count to steady himself.  "Sir, what are your orders?"

The soldier with the pig snout came to his other side.  "Sir, Sky Valley is our home.  Are we just going to abandon it?"

"Monster." whispered Dupris.

"I beg your pardon, Sir?" asked the captain.

"I'm a monster." said the count as he watched the scales creep up his arm.  "He's right.  He's right about everything."

Kayrok sheathed his sword, then walked over to Dupris and offered his hand.  "Let me help you." he said.  "You wish to restore your honor.  Let's begin right now by establishing peace."

"Yes." said the count.  He lifted hs hand.  There was a moment of hesitation, but he took Kayrok's in his own.

The beaked captain looked appalled.  "Your highness!  You can't mske peace with these goblins!  Have you forgotten that they're spearheading an invasion?"

"If there is to be an invasion," said Kayrok.  "I give you my word that I will personally be the first to stand in its way."

The captain was unconvinced.  "You can't -tweet- believe him, Sir!"

"Stand down, Captain.  That's an order." 

"Like Hell, Sir."  The man drew his sword and rushed at Kayrok.  The lutin reached for his weapon, but there was no time.  The human's sword came down.  There was a puff of smoke.  The sword clattered to the ground as the man was fully transformed into a parakeet.  The bird squawked, then fluttered clumsily away.

"I never thought I'd use that spell." said the count.  "Undam the river, Captain Kayrok." he requested.  "I will neutralize my charms."

* * *

Sky Valley took some time to dry out.  The damage caused by the flood was terrible, but the humans were a determined and resourceful people, and rebuilt quickly.  As with the gnomes, the humans had been reluctant at first to associate with goblins, but once they had gotten used to the idea, they wondered how they had ever managed before.  The wide variety of food alone was enough to justify Sky Valley's entry to the federation.  On the other side, the goblins quickly learned that humans are very, very good at building things.  Most were more than happy to work in exchange for the goods and services which others in the federation had to offer, and the villages were rapidly growing into cities.  There was now a staircase leading from the lower lands to the plateau, thanks largely to Skypierce and his innovative plans.  It saw a lot of use as humans went down to work and shop while goblins, dwarves and gnomes went up to enjoy the tranquility and beauty of the mountains.  It didn't hurt that the temporary blockage of the river had produced a number of small lakes which were perfect for an afternoon's recreation.

* * *

Sytet looked cautiously around as he rode along on Micho's back.  He didn't like being confined to the ground.  When his arm had been burnt, he could at least still use it to fly short distances.  When the Yarasa had cut off his arm, it left his bat form with only one wing.  And while his arm was growing back nicely, it still meant that his wings were unbalanced and flight was therefore not possible.  Sytet had never felt so vulnerable.

"You doing okay, there, Mister Sytet?" asked the pony, picking up on his emotions.

"Just feeling a little nervous." Sytet confessed.  But then his unease intensified.  "There's someone here." he said.

"Who?"

"Someone watching us.  In the trees."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes.  Keep walking.  Pretend nothing's wrong."  The werebat reached into a saddlebag and pulled out an apple.  With a flash of motion, he let the apple fly.  It hit something and splattered.  Sytet leapt upon that something.  It was a cyclops, his eye momentarily blinded by the impact from the apple.  "Who are you and why are you following us?" Sytet demanded.

The cyclops struggled to open his eye.  "My name is Algene." he replied.  "The seer.  And we're about to have an adventure together."