'Haversack?' the old man asked. 'Have we met somewhere?'
'Yes, sir,' Emilo said. 'A few days ago, in some other place. You made me unnoticeable except to people from Krynn so I could help you discover if someone was an impostor or not.'
Jas and Finder exchanged surprised glances.
'See,' the old man said, holding a finger up in front of Finder, 'you don't have to remember everything. Sometimes you can get other people to do it for you.'
'I'll find someone to remember that for me, sir,' Finder replied.
'Ha!' the old man laughed. 'You are a sharp one, aren't you?' Then he turned to Jas. He put a hand on the woman's cheek. 'You've grown to be a lovely young lass,' he said. 'Why, I remember when you were just a wee tiny baby.' 'Are you sure you don't have me confused with someone else?' Jas asked in a kindly tone.
'You are Rose and Michael's little girl, aren't you?' he asked.
Jas's jaw dropped. 'Those were my parents' names,' she said, surprised.
'You look just like your mother,' the old man said. 'Now, Finder, my boy-'
'Yes, sir?' Finder said.
'This is for you,' the old man said, handing Finder an envelope.
Finder turned over the envelope. It was addressed simply to 'Our Friend.' The god opened the envelope and pulled out a plain white card edged in gold. 'It's a wedding invitation,' he noted.
'Yes. Someone I know threw it away. Very unlike him. I had to wonder if it was really him.'
'But it isn't addressed to us,' Finder said.
'It doesn't matter. That's the wonderful thing about weddings. Everyone is welcome. Turning away a guest would be very bad form,' the old man said.
'But this invitation is for a wedding that took place last month,' Finder pointed out.
'Oh, that doesn't matter,' the old man said. 'Better late than never to give best wishes to the happy couple. Anyway, it will get you where you want to go. It's a portal key. Just hold it up and say… and say… Oh, dear, I seem to have forgotten. Let me think for a moment. 'Don't leave me in the lurch?' 'Stop on a dime?' Hmmm… That's not it. How about, 'Plant a little birch, make a little rhyme?' No. Oh, now I remember. You say, 'Get me to the church on time,' and you'll be there.'
Finder laughed at the irony of the words. 'I really appreciate this, sir. Thank you,' he said. 'But it occurs to me you haven't told me your name.'
'My name?' the old man repeated. 'My name is Fuzz-bat… No, wait. Fezbutt,' he said with less certainty. 'Or maybe it's Fizz… Fizz… Fizz Something. I'm quite sure.'
'Oh. I thought it might be something else,' Finder said. 'But I'm pleased to meet you, Mr. Fizz Something.'
'What did you think my name was?' Fizz Something asked.
'Well, the way you've come to the rescue, completely out of the blue, I thought you might be Ao,' Finder replied. 'The Overpower of the Cosmos.'
Fizz Something laughed hard for several moments until he started to cough and wheeze. When he had recovered, he looked up at Finder. 'What an interesting guess,' he said. Then he teleported away.
'What was that all about?' Jas asked, completely confused by the exchange between the god and the old man.
'That was Fizz Something,' Finder said. 'A god from your world, I believe,' he said to Emilo.
'No,' Emilo replied. 'He's just a nice old wizard.'
'Right,' Finder said. 'Just a nice old wizard.'
'So the invitation is a portal key?' Jas asked. 'It must have been someone pretty important for such a fancy invitation.'
'It's for the marriage of Aurora Brightday to Allain Crimson, to be held in the realm of Morning Glory,' Finder explained. 'And it's high time we wished the happy couple joy.' He reached out for Jas's hand. Jas, in turn, took Emilo's hand. Finder held up the wedding invitation and called out, 'Get me to the church on time.'
The heather-covered precipice over the river disappeared, replaced by an orchard of peach trees. The sun was just rising over a distant mountain ridge. Birds flitted about over their heads, twittering excitedly.
Suddenly a tall, dark girl in plate armor came running toward them.
'It's Holly!' Jas said.
Holly ran straight to Finder. 'Hurry!' she begged. 'Lady Beshaba is trying to kill Lady Tymora, and Lord Lathander won't do anything to interfere.'
ACT FOUR SCENE 6
Joel spat out the dirt in his mouth as Tymora formed a protective cocoon around them.
'My hero,' the goddess called him as she helped pat out the fire that singed his hair and clothing.
The Limbo-like chaos they had just flown through left Joel dazed. The disorganized elements didn't seem to bother the goddess in the least.
'Thank you for saving my life,' Lady Luck said. 'You are lucky for me, Rebel Bard. But I think it's time you were going.'
'Going where, my lady?' Joel asked.
'You cannot stay in the fusion chamber. You cannot negotiate the chaos matter, and I cannot protect you and defend myself from Beshaba at the same time. Beshaba will either kill you or use you against me, and I cannot allow that.'
'The magical barrier surrounding this place holds living matter prisoner,' Joel said. 'There is no way for me to leave.'
'I think I have a way around that,' the goddess replied.
'Lady Tymora,' Joel objected, 'if I leave the fusion chamber, Lathander and Sirrion will begin to merge you with Beshaba immediately. The longer I stay here, the more time I buy for Finder to rescue you.'
Tymora smiled and placed her palm on Joel's cheek. 'You are so like Finder was when he was young, before he grew afraid of death. Such valor is commendable. Still, you must go.'
'Finder will not be pleased if I do not render you every assistance I can,' Joel insisted.
'Finder would be less pleased if you should die, though he does not know that,' Tymora said. 'He needs you. Take care of him, Rebel Bard. Be his luck, as you were mine.' She kissed him on the cheek.
Joel opened his mouth to object more strenuously, but his face was suddenly too stiff to move. His limbs felt as stiff as stone. Then he realized that his limbs were stone. His whole body had become a statue. Then his mind went black.
Finder, Jas, Holly, and Emilo burst into the clearing beside the tent near the intersecting streams.
'They're in there!' Holly cried out, pointing to a shimmering portal hovering over a stone altar.
Just as the paladin spoke, a stone statue came sliding out of the portal. It was covered with dirt and dripping with water. Little patches of flame flickered over its surface. Nonetheless, they were able to recognize the statue.
'It's Joel!' Jas gasped. 'He's been turned to stone.'
Finder motioned with one hand, and the statue levitated to his side. Then he touched the stone, and Joel slumped into his god's arms, flesh and blood once more. The bard moaned softly. He felt as if he'd been sleeping on rocks for days.
As Joel's head cleared, he noticed Lathander, standing beneath the portal with his back turned toward them. The god spun around to face the intruders. He looked surprised to see Holly standing with Finder.
'Paladin, what is the meaning of this? Why have you brought Finder here?' the Morninglord asked Holly.
'Forgive me, Lord Lathander,' Holly said, 'but something isn't right here. Lord Finder should have an opportunity to speak on behalf of Lady Tymora.'
'There is no time, paladin,' Lathander said. 'If we delay the fusion any longer, Beshaba may destroy
