We woke to this village singing the gnomes' sunrise song. Nathan nearly jumped out of bed as we got up. He was still trying to deal with last night's surprise. We walked out while they were still singing. Nathan could not understand their words, so Anna translated. We waited until they were finished. The Gengan told Nathan the traders had arrived just before dawn and could take him wherever he wished to go. We all walked with him to where the traders were set up. One man separated and approached us.
He grasped Nathan's hand, "Dear boy! We've been told of your dilemma. We travel quite a bit. If we can't find your home, we can find you a place that feels like home."
Nathan seemed relaxed now that he was in the presence of other humans. He was given warm clothes and a "job" until he found his home or a home. We were handed travel food as we returned to gather our things. Our guides met us at the door and helped us repack our saddles. We rode beside the traders for a bit until they veered off towards another village. We continued on the trail.
Our guides did not have to tell us when we neared Gowgornok. It amazed us as how many people we felt. The other villages held less than one thousand people each. I could feel well over five thousand beings ahead of us.Our guides must have suspected something. They stopped in what appeared to be an open field in the middle of nowhere.
"A test, Sisters," Sandorn announced with a smile, "We would like to see if the Seven Sisters of the Swords can find and enter Gowgornok on their own."
We smiled back. Dismounting, we huddled together along with our companions. We felt for the population we sensed. As we approached it, we also felt the barrier around it. While similar to the ones we passed through at the other villages, this one was much stronger. I could feel our guides tension and mirth as we approached the barrier. It was Set who told us we were close.
"I smell people and furies and food. Kayla, when I look ahead of us, my eyes hurt."
I shared his sight. The swirling magic did make my eyes sting. We looked at the ground and found where the magic lay. Returning to my own sight, my sisters helped me to confirm the boundary of the barrier. Our guides were impressed.
"You've found it," Horbar chuffed, "which is the easy part. Entering is something else entirely."
Accepting both acknowledgement and challenge, we proceeded. We discussed many avenues of gaining entrance. As it was made to keep out invaders, force was out of the question. Anna, as a gnome-kin, we decided, would identify herself to the barrier and ask for entrance. She walked up to it and, in fluent gnomish, told her family lines and asked permission for all of us to enter. We stood still and silent as we felt the magic examine us. Our guides held their breaths. Suddenly, we heard lots of laughter. The barrier parted like a gate, revealing several hundred gnomes standing in front of us. A woman bearing the marks of the Gengan approached us, smiling and clapping, which caused the rest to applaud.
"Well done, Sisters. Your gentle natures and wisdom have won you entrance into Gowgornok. Many have tried countless ways of attempting to bully their way through our defenses. By both identifying your relations and calmly asking permission, you allowed us to know you were not enemies. What would you have done if it denied you?"
We thought for a moment.
"I could have identified myself as an ally as dwarf-kin," Callie stated, showing her family crest as proof.
Many nodded, but did not tell us if it would have worked.
"I could have identified myself as a dragon-rider, an ally from the Faerie, or as a friendly visiting cleric," I offered.
Some nodded while others stared.
The Gengan smiled, "No mention of force or aggression. You are as legend tells us. Now, let us get you inside and comfortable. We have a grand feast awaiting you. Welcome to Gowgornok."
The crowd cheered. We remounted our horses and rode through the barrier, which closed seamlessly behind us.
The power of their illusion became evident by the size of this city. What, from the outside, looked like an empty plain and rolling hills, was in fact a thriving city to rival Raval and Selvis Prime. We were taken to the largest building as the Gengan explained it was not a royal palace as they had no royalty. It was build to house other races when they visited for important meetings like treaty signing and trade agreements. Gowgornok actually had a Gengan council as it was too large for a single leader. We were shown a suite to use during our stay. Our companions were treated well and no one threatened them.
It was still early in the day, not yet mid-day, and there were people who wanted us to look at parts of the city. Callie went to inspect some new building projects. Sarah went on a tour of the clinics and healing places to help with a strange disease that had erupted this fall. Lisa was needed for some new wells that had a funny taste and smell. Gretta was called to inspect some trade goods that were suspect. Anna went to meet relatives who had been asking about their "lost daughter".
Alice and I stayed and met the Gengan council. They asked about Sky Thunder and any other dragons that would ally with them to protect both the gnomes and the Miner's Rod. I told them he was the only wild dragon in the area, but the dragon riders would be asked to patrol the area. The council gave each other odd looks.
"If I can talk to them, I can see how many gnome and dwarf riders they can spare, " I offered.
The whole council looked fit to faint. Alice and I looked at each other, a bit confused. Did they not know that there were riders of their race?
One male stood, "Ladies, you must be mistaken. There are no gnome or dwarf dragon riders. Our races are not called to be riders."
"Yes, they are," I countered, "We fought the Baalocs beside such riders. If I may borrow a viewing glass, I can have Maudrin speak with you and confirm my words."
They got one for me. Holding it so all the rings of my riding set touched it, I called to Demagram. The council crowded around me. An unfamiliar male face appeared.
"Yes? May I help you?" he asked a bit flatly.
"Hello, my name is Kayla. Is Maudrin..."
"Kayla! THE Kayla? Emperor Rider Kayla?" he interrupted excitedly.
I blushed, "Yes, that's me. Is Maudrin, rider of Emerald, nearby?"
"Maudrin, yes, he is in the yard. Please wait. I will get him," the male disappeared as he spoke.
"I guess Demagram is well informed," Alice mentally teased.
Before the council got too antsy, Maudrin's familiar face appeared in the glass. The council let out a collective gasp.
"Greetings again, Kayla. How may I help you?" he asked smiling.
"Maudrin, the council in Gowgornok are of the opinion gnomes and dwarfs cannot be dragon riders. Also, they are having an ogre problem that, we hope, a few visible dragons could lessen or eliminate entirely."
Maudrin's smile fell, "Ogres? Threatening Gowgornok? Is the Rod safe?"
"For now," I told him, "but they are getting bolder and we suspect the gray ones are aiding them somehow."
Even though I could not see his glow through the glass, his expressive face told his emotions plainly.
"Why did they not call us at the first sign of trouble?" he asked between clenched teeth.
Because, Rider," one of the Gengans answered, "we did not know any naghle (gnomes) or joban (dwarfs) were dragon riders. No rider finders have been in this area in decades. We do not ask outsiders for aid, as you know."
Maudrin nodded, "I see. Look for us on the morrow. Your eyes and minds will be open," and he ended the viewing.
The council returned to their places as I returned the glass.
"Forgive our ignorance, Ladies. We concluded that, having not seen rider finders for so long, that they preferred other races as riders. Our eyes have been opened," a female councilor explained.
We spent until evening telling them of all the races we had witnessed as dragon riders. We walked with them to reunite with our other sisters and the rest of the gnomes for the feast they had prepared.
I felt a little out of place, like an adult at a children's party. With the tallest of them at only four feet, even Anna and Sarah were almost a foot taller than every adult in the room. Gretta truly towered over them as the tallest among us. After a while, however, it was easy to forget the size difference and simply enjoy ourselves. Anna was having a grand time. As an only child now surrounded by new relatives, a loneliness fell away to be replaced by boundless love.
As I watched the merriment, one male gnome caught my attention. I felt like I had seen him before. It nagged at me a bit before I realized he was the man I saw in Fate's vision. Unknown to Anna, I was looking at her future husband. Vanity and Sloth agreed to not interfere and let the two find each other naturally. Set was too busy being fed by the children to pay attention to us. I did not have long to wait. While he was shy, he did manage to introduce himself to her. Like Alice and Earshaw and Carmon and Julia, their glows became similar at the first touch of their hands. When they parted, her eyes followed him and locked onto him until someone else got her attention.
News of the impending arrival of the dragon riders was circulated around the room and around the city. By the time everyone was leaving, that was the main topic. We went to our suite to sleep. Set regaled us with all the foods he had been given. We did not ask Anna about the man, but all of us could tell she was much happier being around so much family. We did not need our mats as the beds were quite comfortable. I did lay my mat on the floor for Set as the floor was a bit cold and the bed too small for us both.
We thought for a moment.
"I could have identified myself as an ally as dwarf-kin," Callie stated, showing her family crest as proof.
Many nodded, but did not tell us if it would have worked.
"I could have identified myself as a dragon-rider, an ally from the Faerie, or as a friendly visiting cleric," I offered.
Some nodded while others stared.
The Gengan smiled, "No mention of force or aggression. You are as legend tells us. Now, let us get you inside and comfortable. We have a grand feast awaiting you. Welcome to Gowgornok."
The crowd cheered. We remounted our horses and rode through the barrier, which closed seamlessly behind us.
The power of their illusion became evident by the size of this city. What, from the outside, looked like an empty plain and rolling hills, was in fact a thriving city to rival Raval and Selvis Prime. We were taken to the largest building as the Gengan explained it was not a royal palace as they had no royalty. It was build to house other races when they visited for important meetings like treaty signing and trade agreements. Gowgornok actually had a Gengan council as it was too large for a single leader. We were shown a suite to use during our stay. Our companions were treated well and no one threatened them.
It was still early in the day, not yet mid-day, and there were people who wanted us to look at parts of the city. Callie went to inspect some new building projects. Sarah went on a tour of the clinics and healing places to help with a strange disease that had erupted this fall. Lisa was needed for some new wells that had a funny taste and smell. Gretta was called to inspect some trade goods that were suspect. Anna went to meet relatives who had been asking about their "lost daughter".
Alice and I stayed and met the Gengan council. They asked about Sky Thunder and any other dragons that would ally with them to protect both the gnomes and the Miner's Rod. I told them he was the only wild dragon in the area, but the dragon riders would be asked to patrol the area. The council gave each other odd looks.
"If I can talk to them, I can see how many gnome and dwarf riders they can spare, " I offered.
The whole council looked fit to faint. Alice and I looked at each other, a bit confused. Did they not know that there were riders of their race?
One male stood, "Ladies, you must be mistaken. There are no gnome or dwarf dragon riders. Our races are not called to be riders."
"Yes, they are," I countered, "We fought the Baalocs beside such riders. If I may borrow a viewing glass, I can have Maudrin speak with you and confirm my words."
They got one for me. Holding it so all the rings of my riding set touched it, I called to Demagram. The council crowded around me. An unfamiliar male face appeared.
"Yes? May I help you?" he asked a bit flatly.
"Hello, my name is Kayla. Is Maudrin..."
"Kayla! THE Kayla? Emperor Rider Kayla?" he interrupted excitedly.
I blushed, "Yes, that's me. Is Maudrin, rider of Emerald, nearby?"
"Maudrin, yes, he is in the yard. Please wait. I will get him," the male disappeared as he spoke.
"I guess Demagram is well informed," Alice mentally teased.
Before the council got too antsy, Maudrin's familiar face appeared in the glass. The council let out a collective gasp.
"Greetings again, Kayla. How may I help you?" he asked smiling.
"Maudrin, the council in Gowgornok are of the opinion gnomes and dwarfs cannot be dragon riders. Also, they are having an ogre problem that, we hope, a few visible dragons could lessen or eliminate entirely."
Maudrin's smile fell, "Ogres? Threatening Gowgornok? Is the Rod safe?"
"For now," I told him, "but they are getting bolder and we suspect the gray ones are aiding them somehow."
Even though I could not see his glow through the glass, his expressive face told his emotions plainly.
"Why did they not call us at the first sign of trouble?" he asked between clenched teeth.
Because, Rider," one of the Gengans answered, "we did not know any naghle (gnomes) or joban (dwarfs) were dragon riders. No rider finders have been in this area in decades. We do not ask outsiders for aid, as you know."
Maudrin nodded, "I see. Look for us on the morrow. Your eyes and minds will be open," and he ended the viewing.
The council returned to their places as I returned the glass.
"Forgive our ignorance, Ladies. We concluded that, having not seen rider finders for so long, that they preferred other races as riders. Our eyes have been opened," a female councilor explained.
We spent until evening telling them of all the races we had witnessed as dragon riders. We walked with them to reunite with our other sisters and the rest of the gnomes for the feast they had prepared.
I felt a little out of place, like an adult at a children's party. With the tallest of them at only four feet, even Anna and Sarah were almost a foot taller than every adult in the room. Gretta truly towered over them as the tallest among us. After a while, however, it was easy to forget the size difference and simply enjoy ourselves. Anna was having a grand time. As an only child now surrounded by new relatives, a loneliness fell away to be replaced by boundless love.
As I watched the merriment, one male gnome caught my attention. I felt like I had seen him before. It nagged at me a bit before I realized he was the man I saw in Fate's vision. Unknown to Anna, I was looking at her future husband. Vanity and Sloth agreed to not interfere and let the two find each other naturally. Set was too busy being fed by the children to pay attention to us. I did not have long to wait. While he was shy, he did manage to introduce himself to her. Like Alice and Earshaw and Carmon and Julia, their glows became similar at the first touch of their hands. When they parted, her eyes followed him and locked onto him until someone else got her attention.
News of the impending arrival of the dragon riders was circulated around the room and around the city. By the time everyone was leaving, that was the main topic. We went to our suite to sleep. Set regaled us with all the foods he had been given. We did not ask Anna about the man, but all of us could tell she was much happier being around so much family. We did not need our mats as the beds were quite comfortable. I did lay my mat on the floor for Set as the floor was a bit cold and the bed too small for us both.
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