The majesty of the field was revealed by the rising sun. The closed moon flowers still shown the edges of their pale petals hidden in green capes.Snap dragons abounded, marking both dragon and rider blood spatter. The ogres were marked by tall thistles of bruise purple and deep green. In daylight, the vines were just as dark green and red as they looked by torch light. Those who had been wounded seemed connected to the plant that grew from their blood. Also, friends of the fallen told us they could feel their friend's energy in the blossoms that marked where they lost their lives. Some of the healers stayed behind to document this and catalog which plants grew from who's blood. We packed up to return to Gowgornok.
A great crowd met us as the illusion barrier opened. Family found their members and either rejoiced in their return or mourned their loss. The council was informed of the location of the field, healers, and the wondrous plants. As our "army" separated to return to normal life, the council gathered scholars, wizards, and clerics to go and thoroughly investigate the field. We seven were called to the council chambers to discuss how to cloak the Rod so it would not continue to light the way to Gowgornok.
We hashed it out for hours. Maudrin and other riders were asked for options as well. We took a break when the group from the field returned with an extremely detailed report. Samples were shown of everything but the vine. None of them could break, cut, or slice even a chip from it. Detailed drawing of it was the best they could do. Some flowers were named in honor of the fallen. The vine was named "Ogre's Folly". They decided not to name it after Nurz as they concluded he was "dead" long before the battle. The thistles were simply called "Ogre Thistles".
We still had no solution to the Rod dilemma. It was decided to sleep on it, perhaps to let other powers guide us.
Day 299 (277)((267)):
(Dream)
I was not in Andros' home, Fate's dwelling, or anyplace I knew. Vanity was at my side as was Set. All three of us were confused. The room was gray and empty.
"Kay? Are we in trouble?" Set asked as he leaned against me in fear.
"I am not sure. What a strange place. I wonder what drew us to a cold, empty room?" I asked as I comforted Set.
A laugh echoed from the emptiness. It died away just before a male voice spoke.
"Fearless young thing, isn't she? She can even comfort her young charge while faced with the unknown. Let us test her a bit more. I do not wish to take their word for her metal."
The voice fell silent and the walls began sliding inwardly. I felt Set's attempt to enter kirlan.
"Kay! I can't pop! We're stuck!" Set yelled as he shook in my embrace. Vanity also looked fearful. I grabbed her hand and we sandwiched Set between us.
"Set, look at me. Remember your big size? This is the dreamland. You can be as big as you want to be," I told him.
His eyes looked away as he remembered. Suddenly, he began to grow rapidly. I pulled Vanity around to my side when he got too big for us to encase him. When Set grew to meet the ceiling, he folded a bit before giving it a mighty shove with his horned head. The ceiling lifted off the room and sailed off to the side. Squeals preceded the falling of the walls to crash on the floor. Small, gnome-like people fell forward to lay on the walls that were thin boards instead of the stone it was made to resemble. Behind us, two male and two female dwarfs stood, laughing at the small people's distress. Set, realizing the dwarfs had imprisoned us, faced them crossly.
"That was not funny! Maybe we should put you in a box and see how you like it," he chastised the group, flames and lightning leaking around his lips.
"Stand down, dragon!" one of the males, the same who had spoke before, ordered, "You know not whom you address."
"No," I interrupted as Vanity and I came around Set to the group, "we don't know who you are or why you have done this. So, unless you are finished with us, I suggest you explain."
The four exchanged looks. They closed up to whisper to each other. I heard, "Told Brimagor off too" among the noises they made. Finally, they turned back to us.
"We are High Fathers and Hegi Jomfru of the dwarfs. We wanted to see if the stories about you were true. And here, in an unknown place against unknown dangers, you found the solution that did the least damage and kept everyone from real harm, proving every word. Also, not knowing us or our power, you reprimand us for our behavior as you did with Brimagor. Let us put away hostility and get to the matter at hand."
I turned to Set and began calming him, which let him return to his normal size. Chairs were brought as the "room" was taken away. When everyone was settled, they began.
"We apologize for the fright. We had difficulty believing what others said about you. Also, the report of how you handled the ogre mage was hard to believe. Now that we have seen you for ourselves, we offer you aid. The gnomes cannot return the Master Miner's Rod to the dwarfs. Our dark children, the Duergar, would do unspeakable evil with it in their possession and any mountain is vulnerable. They have the Foot, which is the least of the three, but it enables them to go anywhere, even the most secure area inside the mountains. Fortunately, the Wand, the one that summons elements, is far away and safe."
A gnome returned with a handful of parchment. This was given to the dwarfs.
"Herein lies instructions to cloak the Rod. Emphasize that this is to be followed precisely. We know the gnomes will want to modify it, but it must be this way in order to work. When they argue, and they will, tell them 'Gal-tol greenakmar' . This should, hopefully, end their reluctance. Now, return to them and let them know the solution is in hand."
We took the parchment and the three of us held them together as we returned to the waking world.
My sisters were standing around me as I woke. They looked concerned and worried. As I sat up, papers rustled under my arm, on top of Vanity, and under Set's heavy tail. I moved them to lay on my lap.
Finally, Callie broke the silence, "Where did you go? The swords said you were 'summoned', but they didn't know where. Set was growling and smoking something awful and Vanity was humming fiercely. The council is still at Sourmortane, so we are the only ones who know."
I got them to sit as I explained. Callie thought my "test" was rather mean. Anna asked me to describe the other people in greater detail. She explained that they were not gnomes but what the clerics called "Waiting Spirits", who may or may not be reborn. They help all gods, not just gnomish or dwarfish gods.
As we sat, we looked over the parchments I had been given. The plans were rather simple. We could not see why anyone would seek to change them in any way.
A staff woman interrupted our conversation. We dressed and went down to the council chamber. Worry hung in the room like a cloud. Each councilor had their own cloud and looking downtrodden. Finally, one addressed us.
"Ladies, we are at a loss. No wizard, cleric, or any other magic users has any idea on how to shroud the Rod. Please, can you give us any hope?"
We passed the parchment to the council. They were allowed to look it over. Just as the High Fathers said, they began talking about a tweak here, a pinch there, to make it "work".
"Council, those plans do not need any changes. The ones who gave us those said the plans must be followed precisely," I interrupted them.
They looked at me questioningly. They exchanged looks with each other. The looks they gave me were like disapproving parents.
"Kayla, while these are very good plans, their skills still require refinement," a councilor told me.
My sisters held their retorts. Facing the council, I took a deep breath before responding.
"The designers gave me a message if you decided to make changes."
That got all of their attentions. After a few heartbeats, I told them "Gal-tol greenakmar."
Items crashing was their only reply as cups, utensils, and other things fell from limp hands. Staff who happened to hear my words were standing as if turned to statues. We seven looked around. Anna had told us what it meant, but we did not expect this kind of reaction.
"Why are they quiet, Kayla?" Set asked as he looked around at the motionless gnomes.
"I don't know. Those words surprised them. They should recover shortly," I assured him.
We waited for the council to find their voices as we finished our breakfast.
Finally, one of them spoke, "Ladies, you may not know this, but our deities told us that any who spoke with their words would use that phrase to let us know to believe what we were told. We shall follow these plans to the letter."
We nodded in understanding. They asked where we had gotten the plans. Cautiously, I told them. Some of the councilors and staff passed out. We attempted to aid them, but were asked, tensely, to leave so they could tend their own. We walked out and went to the riders' outpost. Some of our allies were still around, helping finish the outpost to be a comfortable living space. A pair of unicorns spotted us first. Running to meet us, they faltered just before reaching us. A storm of emotions raged within them. They snorted and pawed the ground. They cast hard looks at the council building.
"They dismissed you for trying to help? We will teach them proper respect!" their mind voices shouted.
"No, don't do that," Anna told them as she stepped between them and the building. We joined her.
"They must learn! You give them honesty and they only give you doubt and heartache. We will make them learn," the largest countered, pawing as if to charge.
I approached him and took his head in my hands. I isolated the two of us from everyone else, "Starebane, cool your anger, Some two-legs do not have open minds and do not hear as we do. They are foals still at their mothers' side. They have much to learn, I agree, but must learn on their own, not by force."
Starebane thought for a bit, then nodded, "I understand, Kayla. We will let the two-legged foals find their own way."
We parted. He told his group and they walked with us to the outpost. The riders were curious about our face off. We told them about our morning. They saw both sides and let us know they could intervene with the council when they found dealing with us difficult or we with them. We thanked them for any help we could get. We stayed at the outpost doing little things to make it feel more like a home. We did not see the council for the rest of the morning and most of the day. The oddlings, knowing the riders did not adhere to the separation that the rest of Gowgornok shared, walked openly in the outpost and were learning how to care for dragons. They also provided helpful skills, like metal-working and leather crafts, that will be invaluable to keeping the riders' gear and weapons in good repair. Also, in the outpost, they were allowed to do any ritual they wished that did not interfere with the riders or dragons. The oddlings cooked a fantastic lunch. The gnome riders explained that most of Gowgornok avoided certain foods and spices as "uncivilized" or "barbaric". The oddling has no such restrictions. Some of their spices were becoming favored by the dragons. I was given a bag of it for Set to "spice up" his food.
By early evening, the council found us. The riders stood with us while the oddlings vanished. The council looked forlorn.
"Ladies, we have to apologize and ask your help once more. We apologize for questioning you and even attempting to change the plans and, also, for not allowing you to aid those that fainted. We realize that you were not bragging or patronizing us, even though we took it that way. We are glad you were concerned about us and should have not denied you."
We accepted their apology then asked what was troubling them. It seemed the plans required magic they did not have. Gnomes, both wizards and clerics, were excellent at illusions, but other magic was not their specialty and they were barely apprentices at them. The plans called for evocation, summoning, plus a few other skills they did not posses. We did not know how much we could help, but we would try. With the riders and dragons, we were shown the plans and walked through the steps. The council pointed out this magic and that magic that they could not perform. Some of the riders offered to do bits that they could. The dragons also offered here and there. Near the bottom, one step puzzled us all. It called for an item none of us knew and a dance done none of us had seen. Around us, I felt the oddlings and sparks of understanding.
"Nagle, do you know these things?" I asked one of the elder oddlings mentally.
"Yes, they are still in our tradition. These do not know it because it, like us, were cast out of their teachings."
Quickly, we seven worked out how to bring this news to the council. The oddlings became agitated that we might force them to openly display their private practices to the rest of Gowgornok. We told the council we would seek experts to clear this confusion. They left to confer with others about it as well.
The oddlings cautiously reappeared. Nagle looked both sad and worried. The rest also looked downcast.
"We cannot do our ritual in public. This is the reason we are oddlings. We know it is needed, but we cannot."
We talked this over for the rest of the evening and after dark. Finally, we hit on a solution that we would present to the council. After dinner, we went back to our suite and prepared to pitch the idea to the council in the morning.
A staff woman interrupted our conversation. We dressed and went down to the council chamber. Worry hung in the room like a cloud. Each councilor had their own cloud and looking downtrodden. Finally, one addressed us.
"Ladies, we are at a loss. No wizard, cleric, or any other magic users has any idea on how to shroud the Rod. Please, can you give us any hope?"
We passed the parchment to the council. They were allowed to look it over. Just as the High Fathers said, they began talking about a tweak here, a pinch there, to make it "work".
"Council, those plans do not need any changes. The ones who gave us those said the plans must be followed precisely," I interrupted them.
They looked at me questioningly. They exchanged looks with each other. The looks they gave me were like disapproving parents.
"Kayla, while these are very good plans, their skills still require refinement," a councilor told me.
My sisters held their retorts. Facing the council, I took a deep breath before responding.
"The designers gave me a message if you decided to make changes."
That got all of their attentions. After a few heartbeats, I told them "Gal-tol greenakmar."
Items crashing was their only reply as cups, utensils, and other things fell from limp hands. Staff who happened to hear my words were standing as if turned to statues. We seven looked around. Anna had told us what it meant, but we did not expect this kind of reaction.
"Why are they quiet, Kayla?" Set asked as he looked around at the motionless gnomes.
"I don't know. Those words surprised them. They should recover shortly," I assured him.
We waited for the council to find their voices as we finished our breakfast.
Finally, one of them spoke, "Ladies, you may not know this, but our deities told us that any who spoke with their words would use that phrase to let us know to believe what we were told. We shall follow these plans to the letter."
We nodded in understanding. They asked where we had gotten the plans. Cautiously, I told them. Some of the councilors and staff passed out. We attempted to aid them, but were asked, tensely, to leave so they could tend their own. We walked out and went to the riders' outpost. Some of our allies were still around, helping finish the outpost to be a comfortable living space. A pair of unicorns spotted us first. Running to meet us, they faltered just before reaching us. A storm of emotions raged within them. They snorted and pawed the ground. They cast hard looks at the council building.
"They dismissed you for trying to help? We will teach them proper respect!" their mind voices shouted.
"No, don't do that," Anna told them as she stepped between them and the building. We joined her.
"They must learn! You give them honesty and they only give you doubt and heartache. We will make them learn," the largest countered, pawing as if to charge.
I approached him and took his head in my hands. I isolated the two of us from everyone else, "Starebane, cool your anger, Some two-legs do not have open minds and do not hear as we do. They are foals still at their mothers' side. They have much to learn, I agree, but must learn on their own, not by force."
Starebane thought for a bit, then nodded, "I understand, Kayla. We will let the two-legged foals find their own way."
We parted. He told his group and they walked with us to the outpost. The riders were curious about our face off. We told them about our morning. They saw both sides and let us know they could intervene with the council when they found dealing with us difficult or we with them. We thanked them for any help we could get. We stayed at the outpost doing little things to make it feel more like a home. We did not see the council for the rest of the morning and most of the day. The oddlings, knowing the riders did not adhere to the separation that the rest of Gowgornok shared, walked openly in the outpost and were learning how to care for dragons. They also provided helpful skills, like metal-working and leather crafts, that will be invaluable to keeping the riders' gear and weapons in good repair. Also, in the outpost, they were allowed to do any ritual they wished that did not interfere with the riders or dragons. The oddlings cooked a fantastic lunch. The gnome riders explained that most of Gowgornok avoided certain foods and spices as "uncivilized" or "barbaric". The oddling has no such restrictions. Some of their spices were becoming favored by the dragons. I was given a bag of it for Set to "spice up" his food.
By early evening, the council found us. The riders stood with us while the oddlings vanished. The council looked forlorn.
"Ladies, we have to apologize and ask your help once more. We apologize for questioning you and even attempting to change the plans and, also, for not allowing you to aid those that fainted. We realize that you were not bragging or patronizing us, even though we took it that way. We are glad you were concerned about us and should have not denied you."
We accepted their apology then asked what was troubling them. It seemed the plans required magic they did not have. Gnomes, both wizards and clerics, were excellent at illusions, but other magic was not their specialty and they were barely apprentices at them. The plans called for evocation, summoning, plus a few other skills they did not posses. We did not know how much we could help, but we would try. With the riders and dragons, we were shown the plans and walked through the steps. The council pointed out this magic and that magic that they could not perform. Some of the riders offered to do bits that they could. The dragons also offered here and there. Near the bottom, one step puzzled us all. It called for an item none of us knew and a dance done none of us had seen. Around us, I felt the oddlings and sparks of understanding.
"Nagle, do you know these things?" I asked one of the elder oddlings mentally.
"Yes, they are still in our tradition. These do not know it because it, like us, were cast out of their teachings."
Quickly, we seven worked out how to bring this news to the council. The oddlings became agitated that we might force them to openly display their private practices to the rest of Gowgornok. We told the council we would seek experts to clear this confusion. They left to confer with others about it as well.
The oddlings cautiously reappeared. Nagle looked both sad and worried. The rest also looked downcast.
"We cannot do our ritual in public. This is the reason we are oddlings. We know it is needed, but we cannot."
We talked this over for the rest of the evening and after dark. Finally, we hit on a solution that we would present to the council. After dinner, we went back to our suite and prepared to pitch the idea to the council in the morning.
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