because I’ve been away too long, seen too much of what else there is ever to really be the same as them. A Gnome who’s not a Gnome. I’ve learned more than they ever will, shut away in the Eastland forests like they are. They know it, too. They barely tolerate me. They respect me, though, because I’m the best that there is at what I do.»
He glanced sharply at Jair. «That’s why I’m here — because I’m the best. The Druid Allanon — the fellow you don’t know, remember? — he came into the Ravenshorn and Graymark, tried to get down into the Maelmord. But nothing goes down into that pit, not Druid nor Devil. The Wraiths knew he was there and went after him. One walker, a patrol of Gnome Hunters, and me to track. Tracked to your village, then waited for someone to show. Thought someone would, even though it was pretty clear that the Druid had already gone elsewhere. And who should appear but, you?»
Jair’s mind was racing. How much does he know? Does he know the reason that Allanon came to Shady Vale? Does he know about the… ? And suddenly he remembered the Elfstones, tucked hastily within his tunic when he fled the Vale. Did he still have them? Or had Slanter found them? Oh, shades!
Eyes still fixed on those of the Gnome, he shifted cautiously against the ropes that bound him, trying to feel the pressure of the Stones against his body. But it was hopeless. The ties knotted his clothing and gave him no sure feel for what he still had on him. He dared not look down, even for an instant.
«Ropes cutting a bit?» Slanter asked suddenly.
He shook his head. «I was just trying to get comfortable.» He forced himself to sit back and relax. He changed the subject back. «Why did you bother coming after me if you were supposed to be tracking Allanon?»
Slanter cocked his head slightly. «Because I was tracking the Druid to find out where he went, and I’ve done that. He went to your village, to your family. Now he’s gone back to the Eastland — isn’t that right? Oh, you needn’t answer. At least not to me. But you will have to answer to those who came with me when they get here in the morning. A bit slow they are, but sure. I had to leave them to be certain I caught you. You see, they want to know something of Allanon’s visit. They want to know why he came. And unfortunately for you, they want to know one thing more.»
He paused meaningfully, eyes boring into Jair. The Valeman took a deep breath. «About the magic?» he whispered.
«Sharp fellow.» Slanter’s smile was hard.
«What if I don’t want to tell them?»
«That would be foolish,” the Gnome said quietly.
They stared at each other wordlessly. «The Wraith would make me tell, wouldn’t he?» Jair asked finally.
«The Wraith is not your problem.» Slanter snorted. «The Wraith’s gone north after the Druid. The Sedt is your problem.»
The Valeman shook his head. «Sedt? What is a Sedt?»
«A Sedt is a Gnome chieftain — in this case, Spilk. He commands the patrol. A rather unpleasant fellow. Not like me, you see. Very much an Eastland Gnome. He would just as soon cut your throat as look at you. He’s your problem. You’d better answer the questions he asks.»
He shrugged. «Besides, once you’ve told Spilk what he wants to know, I’ll do what I can to see that you’re released. After all, our fight’s not with the Vale people. Our fight’s with the Dwarves. Not to disappoint you, but you’re really not all that important. That magic of yours is what’s interesting. No, you answer the questions and I think you’ll be turned loose quick enough.»
Jair eyed him suspiciously. «I don’t believe you.»
Slanter drew back. «You don’t? Well, here’s my word on it, then. As good as your own.» Heavy eyebrows arched. «It means as much to me as yours does, boy. Now take it.»
Jair said nothing for a moment. Strangely enough, he thought the Gnome was telling him the truth. If he promised he would seek Jair’s release, he would do just that. If he thought Jair would be released on answering the questions asked, Jair probably would. Jair grimaced. On the other hand, why should he trust any Gnome?
«I don’t know,” he muttered.
«You don’t know?» Slanter shook his head hopelessly. «You’d think you had a choice, boy. You don’t answer, Spilk goes to work on you. You still don’t answer, he turns you over to the walkers. What do you think happens to you then?»
Jair went cold to the bone. He didn’t care to think about what would happen then.
«I thought you were smart,” the Gnome continued, wizened yellow features twisting into a grimace. «Smart, the way you got past those others back there — even got past the walker. So stay smart. What difference does it make now what you tell anyone? What difference if you tell the Sedt why the Druid came to see you? The Druid’s gone by now anyway — won’t likely catch up to him this side of the Eastland. He wouldn’t tell you anything all that important anyway, would he? The magic — well, all they want to know about the magic is how you learned it. The Druid, maybe? Someone else?» He waited a moment, but Jair said nothing. «Well, anyway, just tell how you learned it and how you use it — simple enough and no skin off your nose. No games, just tell the truth. You do that, and that’s the end of your use.»
Again he waited for Jair to respond, and again the Valeman stayed silent.
Slanter shrugged. «Well, think on it.» He stood up, stretched, and came over to Jair. Smiling cheerfully, he replaced the gag in the Valeman’s mouth. «Sorry about the sleeping accommodations, but I can’t be taking many chances with you. You’ve shown me that much.»
Still smiling, he retrieved a blanket from the far side of the clearing, brought it over to Jair and wrapped it about him, tucking in the corners where the ropes bound him to the tree so that it would stay fixed. Then he walked over to the fire and kicked it out. In the faint glow of the embers, Jair could see his stocky form as it moved off into the dark.
«Ah, me — reduced to chasing down Valemen,” the Gnome muttered. «Waste of talent. Not even a Dwarf! At least they could give me a Dwarf to track. Or the Druid again. Bah! Druid’s gone back to help the Dwarves and here I sit, watching this boy…
He muttered on a bit more, most of it unintelligible, and then his voice faded away entirely.
Jair Ohmsford sat alone in the dark and wondered what he was going to do when morning came.
He slept poorly that night, cramped and bruised by the ropes that bound him, haunted by the specter of what lay ahead. Considered from any point of view, his future appeared bleak. He could expect no help from his friends; after all, no one knew where he was. His parents and Brin, Rone, and Allanon all thought him safely housed at the inn at Shady Vale. Nor could he reasonably anticipate much consideration from his captors.
Slanter’s reassurances notwithstanding, he did not expect to be released, no matter how many questions he answered. After all, how would he answer questions about the magic? Slanter clearly thought it something he had been taught. Once the Gnomes learned it was not an acquired skill, but a talent he had been born with, they would want to know more. They would take him to the Eastland, to the Mord Wraiths…
So the night hours passed. He dozed at times, his weariness overcoming his discomfort and his worry — yet never for very long. Then finally, toward morning, exhaustion overtook him, and at last he drifted off to sleep.
It was not yet dawn when Slanter shook him roughly awake.
«Get up,” the Gnome ordered. «The others are here.»
Jair’s eyes blinked open, squinting into the predawn gray that shrouded the highland forest. The air was chill and damp, even with the blanket still wrapped about his body, and a fine fall mist clung about the dark trunks of the fir. It was deathly still, the forest life not yet come awake. Slanter bent over him, loosing the ropes that bound him to the tree. There were no other Gnomes in sight.
«Where are they?» he asked as the gag was slipped from his mouth.
«Close. A hundred yards down the slope.» Slanter gripped the Valeman’s tunic front and hauled him to his feet. «No games now. Keep the magic to yourself. I’ve let you loose from the tree so that you might look the part of a man, but I’ll strap you back again if you cross me. Understand?»
Jair nodded quickly. Ropes still bound his hands and feet, and his limbs were so badly cramped he could barely manage to stand. He stood with his back against the fir, the muscles of his body aching and stiff. Even if he could manage to break free, he couldn’t run far like this. His mind was dizzy with fatigue and sudden fear as he waited for his strength to return. Answer the questions, Slanter had advised. Don’t be foolish. But what answers
