There were no lights on when he entered, though the moonlight was more than enough for his eyes to see by. However, once he closed the door, even that was taken away. Fortunately, Gromann knew the layout of his house well enough that it made no difference.
'Kaylin, dear, I'm home,' he called out softly, making his way back to the bedroom.
There was no answer. Perhaps she was already asleep. His eyes were starting to adjust to the darkness as he turned the corner into the room. He paused. Two dark shapes stood at the far side of the bed. A third dark mass lay at the head of the bed.
'Kaylindrra?'
A pair of hands grabbed Gromann's right arm and jerked him into the room. Four small globes of green-white light sprang to life across the bed, revealing the four gnomes who drove the caravan: Drom, Merem, Furnis, and Sudo. Drom sat on the bed next to Kaylindrra, his hand over her mouth and a knife resting against her neck. Her eyes were wide and darting wildly.
'What is going on? In the name of Garl Glittergold, if this is some kind of prank…'
'Oh, it's no prank, old man,' Merem said. The glow from the lights cast eerie shadows across his face and made the tone of his skin seem sickly. 'And we are not who you think.'
Merem lifted a crystal amulet, which Gromann just then noticed, from around his neck. As he did so, his form seemed to distort and grow, until a human towered there, wrapped in a hooded cloak.
' Wh-what do you want? '
'You are going to show us where we can find the lair of this dragon you call the Unseen Protector.'
'I don't know what you're talking about. That's just a bedtime story told to children.'
Kaylindrra squealed from behind her captor's hand as he pressed the knife against her skin hard enough to draw a drop of blood.
'Don't test my patience. We know there is a dragon that protects your caravans, your village. And we know that in your stories, the dragon has revealed himself to the elders. If the dragon is real, then perhaps that is true as well.'
'In fact, I'm willing to bet your little woman's life that it is. What do you say? Am I right, and you'll take us on a late night stroll? Or does your wife die?'
'No, no. You're right,' Gromann pleaded. 'I can lead you to him. Just don't hurt her. Don't hurt my Kaylin.'
'Tie her up,' the man who had been Merem said to the one who looked like Drom. He hung the crystal amulet around his neck once more and quickly turned back into Merem. 'We don't want anybody to know what we're about just yet.'
Gromann watched through teary eyes as Kaylin was bound to the bed and gagged. Then the false Merem pushed him out of the room.
'Is there a back door out of this place? ' He asked as the rest of the false gnomes filed out behind him. Gromann nodded and led them out of his house through the kitchen.
They made their way quietly through the village with only the night stars as witness. The festivities were all but over and no one was out and about so far from the green. Gromann led them out of the valley and up into the foothills of Felrenden, desperately trying to remember where the ancient gold dragon had revealed himself, several years past. There was a cleft with an old statue of marble inside…
After a couple hours of searching, the man disguised as Merem jerked Gromann to a halt.
'Are we going to get there soon, old man? I hope you're not trying to stall or something.'
'Please, it was a long time ago. I'm trying to remember. I'm not even sure if this is his only lair.'
'Well, hurry up. This is taking too long.'
He let Gromann go and they started walking again. A few minutes later, and Gromann thought he recognized an outcropping of rock.
'I think this is it,' the elder exclaimed.
Excitement stirred within his breast at a sudden thought. If the Unseen Protector did show himself, if Gromann had found his lair, it seemed likely the gold would make short work of the men. Gromann quickly hid his grin.
'This? It's nothing but an overhang with some odd bits of art and other trinkets laying around.' The false Merem did not sound convinced. 'What are you trying to pull, old man?'
'The Unseen Protector has no need for a home like mere mortals. He is invisible and without form, appearing only when he is ready to strike.' Gromann couldn't help but slip into his storyteller voice.
'Save your fireside showmanship for the children,' Merem snorted. 'All right, let's get set up,' he ordered the others. 'I'll summon the Archmage Arcane.'
He removed the crystal amulet and was once again human. From a pouch on his belt, he produced a small stone and stood silently for a moment, holding it in the palm of his hand. Then he returned it to his pouch and took a few steps backward.
A brilliant white light flashed into existence where the man had stood. It began to expand in an oval until it was seven feet tall, energy crackling at its edges. Once its growth stabilized, a foot emerged, followed by a knee, and the rest of a heavily armored man. Not two seconds after, a form bent with age hobbled out, his bald crown ringed by long, white hair leading the way. A handful of other humans brought up the rear, dressed in a similar fashion as the one who had summoned them. The portal closed with another flash.
'You have done well, Daikon,' the old man said as he directed the others to begin setting up some strange rods around the cleft.
'Thank you, Master.'
'Now, who do we have here?' The old man came to stand before Gromann. Bent over as he was, he stood only a little taller than the gnome.
'I am Froga Gromann, elder of Ieirithymbul.' Gromann straightened, pride in his voice.
'So you are, so you are.' He patted Gromann's head patronizingly then turned back to the others and said, 'Are we ready? Daikon, please position the bait. Quickly, now. The dragon should be arriving any minute. I made sure our arrival was suitably announced.'
Daikon dragged Gromann a few feet until they were in the middle of the circle of rods that had been planted into the ground. He used the amulet again to transform into Merem and drew a dagger from his belt.
'Night, night, old one.'
He swung the hilt at Gromman's head and everything went black.
Palarandusk drifted, invisible and intangible, up the hillside toward where he had seen the flash of light. The little one, Burlmarr, should have been home in bed by then. An interesting gnome, that one. Palarandusk would have to keep his eye on him.
As he climbed into the foothills, the dragon realized he was nearing one of his many stashes of treasure that were hidden around the valley of Felrenden. Then he saw the two gnomes huddled at the base of an outcropping. He surged forward, worry growing in his heart. One of the gnomes looked hurt.
When he was within a few feet, Palarandusk slowly materialized his head. One of the gnomes shrieked. The other, older gnome lay motionless. Palarandusk could see a large bruise forming on the side of his head. Was that Elder Gromann?
'Do not be afraid, little one,' said the dragon. 'Are you hurt?'
'Y-yes,' the young gnome stammered, 'I–I mean, no. I'm fine, but Elder Gromann is hurt. I came to find him when his wife said he hadn't come home from the celebration.'
'What was that flash of light?'
'I don't know. I just got here myself and found Elder Gromann lying on the ground. I can't get him to wake up. Can you help us?'
'Let me see what I can do.'
Palarandusk moved forward and began to materialize fully. A scent in the air stopped him. There were men about. Palarandusk had been the target of adventurers seeking trophies before. Perhaps the elder had been kidnapped by them to use as bait. In which case, he had walked right into their trap. In fact, he then noticed the rods spaced at intervals around the outcropping.
'Fool, it is too late. There will be no escape.' The young gnome had become a human wrapped in a hooded cloak, slinking toward the edge of the ring.
