Master Novice - Part 08

"This tale ye tell... there are many things I do not understand, but all the same, it sounds to me that you children have suffered a great tragedy."

Hank nodded. "Yes, Armond, that is generally how we all viewed it, at the time."

Armond leaned forward. "There are some things I would ask, though. How do ye feel about the Realms now?"

Hank looked around his friends for a moment, and noted that Natasha had slipped out at some point during Preston's story. Oh, well. "It's probably mixed now. Some of us, like Preston, would probably never leave the Realms. To Preston, it would mean giving up his powers, all that he's worked for these past twenty years."

Armond nodded. "Magic my people know little of, but I can understand the sentiment. And the rest of ye?"

Sheila spoke up. "I would give almost anything to return to my home. I've been here for an entire generation of my people. I've missed out on two decades of my world's history. There is nothing - NOTHING - that holds me to this place. Except," she added, "my children. They would have a hard time adapting to my world, with its lack of magic and its advanced technology."

Armond shrugged. "It sounds like a world run by gnomes."

Preston shook his head. "No, Armond. Earth's technology is nothing like what the gnomes do. Their inventions still rely on the rest of the Realms' technology, and even occasionally magic. Earth has NO magic, so far as you would understand it. There, even the greatest wizard would find his powers reduced to nothing."

Armond smiled. "It doesn't sound too bad, actually."

Robert said, "It's not. The medical knowledge there is much more advanced there than here. But there, the gods don't seem to listen to the prayers of the people, and have not for many centuries. That much technology apparently defeats even the most powerful god."

"So, the gods have abandoned yer plane? How does it survive?"

"Our scientists' search for reality seems to create reality as they go."

Armond frowned. "That makes no sense, lad. The forge cannot make the hammer that made the forge."

Preston nodded. "That is as close to magic as Earth can come now."

Armond thought for a moment, then said, "This... 'Dungeon Master,' as ye call him... ye do not know who he really is?"

Preston said, "Dungeon Master is the only name we have for him. All that we can tell is that he seems to be some sort of really powerful wizard." "And yet, he cannot get ye home?"

Eric grunted and said, "Can't, or won't."

"And what of Venger? My people had, of course, heard of him - from the elves of the Sla'nathliden - but he had never bothered us." Armond paused for a moment, then continued, "He is said to have single-handedly defeated entire armies, and much more powerful creatures then Men, yet he was unable to defeat ye because of six magic items?"

Hank nodded. "That's not to say that he wasn't able to take them from us on occasion - he did - but we were always able to recover them from him, somehow."

"I see." Armond took a long drink from his mead. "And what, exactly, is this 'crystal sphere' that he was banished to?"

Preston said, "As far as I can determine, it's another plane, sort of an alternate Realms, where even his vast powers are dwarfed by those of the native inhabitants."

Armond raised an eyebrow. "Aye? And what do ye think happened to him in this 'crystal sphere'?"

Everyone turned to look at Preston. He shook his head and said, "Knowing Venger, he tried to seize control of it from its rightful rulers, and kings being what they are, I believe they likely blasted him to kingdom come." Seeing the puzzled look on Armond's face, he added, "I don't think he's still alive."

Armond nodded. "As it may well be. And now," he said, turning to Hank, "ye think that ye're being followed by minions of Tiamat?"

Hank shrugged. "I think so, but my friends are all convinced that there's nothing following us."

"I would advise caution, then. Her minions are the evil dragons, and most are able to take any form they wish, from the smallest insect to their own, powerful forms."

Hank looked alarmed. "The smallest... insect? I... hadn't thought of that..."

Armond raised his hand. "Do not worry yer head, this night. We've ways of determining the unwelcome, and ye've not brought any unseen intruders with ye, else ye would not have made it as far as my home."

The group visibly relaxed. Armond stood and said, "As my guests, ye are more than welcome to rest here tonight. I can provide but four rooms for ye, as my house is not large, but I believe that should make ye fairly comfortable 'til the morrow."

Hank nodded. "Thank you, Armond."

Natasha stood on a balcony overlooking the great forge for which the clan had been named, but she had no desire to watch the dwarves hard at work below - solitude was what she desired.

She *knew* that the name "Hank" had sounded familiar. She was traveling with those who were directly responsible for her father's imprisonment! Now she must surely not reveal the identity of her father, for that would not only ruin her plans, but would pit her alone against the other six.

And again, what of Aurora...? So long as she was unable to speak, she would surely not be able to reveal the identity of her grandfather. She might not even remember his name - it had been many years since she had even heard it. But Natasha dared not even ask her, because the mere asking would likely bring the memory of his name back.

She heard soft footsteps behind her. "Whoever it is, go away."

"Natasha...? Are you okay?" It was Preston. Yes, but she had heard of him being called "Presto" in the past. No matter.

"I'm fine. Go away." To her surprise, the only emotion she heard in her voice was grief, not anger.

She felt Preston's hand on her shoulder, and she shrugged it off. He asked, "Natasha, what's wrong?"

She turned to look at him, and was surprised to find tears in her eyes. She wiped them away and said, "Your tale. Venger. It brings back many... difficult... memories."

The poor fool had no idea that the memories she had of Venger were all pleasant memories. "I understand. It was a trying time for all of us. I didn't mean to cause you any anguish."

She sniffled. "And... and..." She collapsed against Preston, sobbing. "I miss my father."

This surprised the wizard, who could only put his arms around the woman. It felt strangely good to him, suddenly being thrust into the role of the comforting man. "Shh... It'll be okay. We'll find your father, I promise you."

She didn't respond, just nodded her head. After a few moments, she gathered her wits and stepped back from his embrace. "I... I'm sorry. I don't usually do that. It's just... it's been a trying day."

Preston nodded. "For all of us. Armond has had rooms prepared for all of us. Come with me, and get some sleep. You'll feel better in the morning."

She wiped her eyes and managed a feeble smile. "Alright." She took his arm and they walked back together.

"Sheila?"

She looked up from brushing her hair. She felt like she was in the lap of luxury - Armond's wife, Forla, had provided a mirror, a brush, and a gown that actually fit. "Yes?"

Hank looked worried. "I'm still worried. Something just isn't right."

Sheila put down the brush and turned to her husband. He was exhausted, but was still worried. "What do you mean?" He shook his head. "It's like I said before, I think we got away from that town entirely too easy. Tiamat isn't one to forget a slight against one of her high priests. She MUST have sent something after us."

"But Hank, I thought she was banished."

"Only her physical form. She still has influence, can still perform her evils."

"Forla says that there's a major city just a day's ride from here. Surely we'll be safe there."

Hank sighed. "She's like a hydra - cut off one head, or one plan of action, and she's got a hundred more ready to spring."

"Hank, don't worry so much about it! Tonight we're safe. Tomorrow night we'll be safe again, and the next day all we have to worry about is freeing Natasha's father."

He looked both grim and sheepish at the same time. "I know. I just can't help it. It's like worrying is in my blood or something."

Sheila walked over to the door and slid the lock into place. She turned to her husband with a small smile on her face and said, "Then I'll give your blood something else to worry about for a while..."

"This game of yers is very interesting, lad."

Eric nodded at him, smiling. "Coming from you, Armond, I'll take that as high praise."

Diana looked from cavalier to dwarf and back. Finally she said, "I call your bet, Eric. Whaddya got?"

Eric smacked his cards down on the table. "Full house! Beat that!"

Diana laughed as she laid her cards down. "Straight flush. You lose. Ah, Eric, you should see your face!"

Eric quickly wiped the shock from his face. "Uh, well, what do you have, Armond?"

Armond looked puzzled. "I'm not sure, lad. I think it's another, eh, 'straight flush', but I don't know for sure. See?" He laid his cards down. "See? Ten, knight, queen, king, and the one - the 'ace', I think you called it." Seeing the look of total surprise on the others' faces, he asked, "What? Did I do something wrong?"

Aurora was walking down a long, dark hall. The floor was polished marble, the walls gleaming crystal. She looked up and could see no ceiling, just the walls rising into darkness.

There was something behind her. She knew that it was bad, but she had no fear because she knew she could beat it. She kept walking down the hall until she came to a large chamber, somewhat better lit than the hall she exited.

As she approached the center of the chamber, she looked back at the hallway, and saw five pairs of eyes glowing in the darkness, no longer advancing. She smiled, and one by one, the eyes went out.

She turned back toward the far end of the chamber. There was now a large, ornate throne, with a man sitting on it. He had huge bat wings, and a single horn that looked like it was growing from the side of his head.

"Aurora. It has been so long. I'm so glad you finally returned."

She smiled, and realized that here, she could speak once again. "Grampa!"