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future dangers. Mycelle s eyes widened. So you know of my work? The swamp
wit ch waved one of her boys over to her and placed a hand on his shoulder.
These are my children, constructs of moss and illusions. They are my eyes and
my ears in the swamp and around its edges. There is little I don t know that
occurs in my lands, including the city of Shadowbrook. When the wit ch
arrived, I watched and
listened& and suspected that in her magick lay a chance of salvation.
Salvation for whom? Mycelle asked.
She held up a hand. In due time. What I
can tell you now is that your other companions in
Shadowbrook did escape the destruction of the Keep and are already on a barge
toward the coast.
Elena sat up from where she slouched in her chair. Did they find Meric?
The elv in? Yes, he is injured but lives. I am afraid I can t give you much
more detail than that. It taxes my strength to stretch my reach that far. But
I can tell you this: When they broke the Keep, something escaped something
that has since been trailing your party.
The thing that tried to attack us at the lodge? Jaston asked.
She nodded. I have been unable to get a clear look at it something black and
foul of form. Its dark magick obscures my vision. And after being thwarted at
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the lodge, it grew more wary and stays hidden in the waters. I lost it
somewhere in the deep swamps. But little passes through that area without my
help.
A grudging respect for this wit ch grew in Er ril with her tale. She had
managed to hone her elemental gift over the centuries into a for-
midable tool. Yet could she be trusted? He wished he had Krai here to judge
the truth of this woman s tongue. So why did you help us?
To offer your wit ch a bargain.
And what is this offer? Er ril asked.
I will free her of the bewit ching no matter what she decides, but I can also
offer her a tool that will prove invaluable in her war upon the Black Heart.
All I ask in exchange is a small promise. Er ril s eyes narrowed. What is
this promise?
That when you are finished with this tool, you return it to its original
lands and its rightful place.
Where is that? Elena asked meekly.
Cassa Dar stood up from the table. She glanced sadly at Elena. Before we
bargain, I must first put aside all illusions. Standing, the wit ch reached
up with her arms, and with a slight shake of her body, as if slipping from
loose clothing, her illusions fell away from her. Trailing vines and mounds of
moss fell away from her body until her true form was revealed.
Before them hunched a misshapen creature, squat of form and pale of skin. Her
back was bent with age, and her pendulous breasts drooped like rotten melons.
Her face, as she shied from the light, was more wrinkles than features. Only
her ebony eyes still shone with the keenness and intelligence of the one named
Cassa Dar.
Er ril knew what he was looking at. He had fought such creatures on the
battlefields with the coming of the Dark Lord. You re a d warf!
Elena watched Fardale and Jaston dance back from the revealed wit ch. The wolf
growled and retreated around the table. Soon their entire party clustered on
the far side of the room. The stout oaken table stood between them and the
d warf.
I
am a d warf, Cassa Dar admitted as she kept her face in shadows. Even her
voice was a harsh gravel
compared to its smooth tones from a moment before. But as you disparaged the
assassins a moment ago, you now misjudge my people.
Misjudge? Er ril spat. He had his silver sword in hand. It was your armies
that ravaged our lands.
She lowered her head, as if its weight were too heavy. I know. But before you
lay blame, hear my story.
I
Wit ch storm
We have no time to hear your sick tale, Er ril declared hotly. His cheeks
had darkened to a deep red.
Elena had never seen him so disturbed. Between your people and the dog
soldiers, we were slaughtered. I saw a cousin of mine torn to shreds by the
beasts leashed to d warf overlords. They laughed at his screams. And you ask
me to hear your tale? Er ril s voice had risen to a sharp pitch.
May your people be forever cursed!
Elena saw how his words wounded the wit ch, how her back seemed to bend under
his assault. Finally she raised her face toward him; tears ran in rivulets
across her marred features. If it gives you any relief from your sorrow, we
were cursed, plainsman. The pain rang clear in her hoary voice. We were
cursed before we ever set foot upon your lands.
Before Er ril could vent more bile, Elena placed a hand on his arm. He glanced
down at her, his eyes aflame with rage. She had to tense her knees not to balk
from his gaze. I wish to hear her story, she said softly.
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He started to argue.
She squeezed his arm. No, I will hear her out.
Er ril pulled back and could only nod, obviously fearful of even speaking lest
he lose control.
Satisfied he would mind his tongue, Elena turned to the d warf. I will listen
to what you have to say.
The creature nodded but remained quiet, collecting her thoughts and composing
herself. When she finally spoke, her voice was hushed. In the southern
mountains of Gul gotha, we lived in peace, trading our forged goods to the
human settlements of northern Gul gotha and sometimes even across the waters
to neighboring lands. That is how I remember my people and our homeland. I
still remember racing in the tunnels as my brothers and I played games of
sneak-and-seek. I remember our scolding mothers and proud fathers. I remember
the strike of hammers on anvils echoing through the valleys, and the flames of
a hundred forges glowing like stars across the mountains.
She dwelt in her memories in silence for several heartbeats. When next she
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