“Well, I have an enlargement potion ready in case it turns into a fight out here,” Tanu said.
Vanessa glanced at him. “Does your shirt stretch?”
“The solution is tuned to treat my clothes like part of me,” Tanu said. “Similar to fur or a hide.”
About half an hour later, Warren emerged from the mist, carrying an iron pole with a complex symbol at the end. He took wobbly steps, legs bending in ways that made Kendra wince.
“Is Ptolemy neutralized?” Tanu called.
“He took the bait,” Warren said, speech slurred, head bobbing oddly on his rubbery neck. “Sleeping like a baby. Wait, I’ve known too many babies. Sleeping like an old guy after a long day.”
Clutching the lightning key with two hands, trying to keep it steady with unstable arms, Warren handed it to Vanessa. Then he held out a hand to Kendra. She shook it and felt the rubbery fingers compress beneath her grip.
“Gross,” she said, reflexively releasing him.
“Doesn’t hurt,” Warren said as clearly as he could. “The gummy potion worked great. Ptolemy hit me with hatchets, punched me, pulled me, stomped on me. It didn’t hurt. My body stretched around sharp edges without tearing and squished flat under heavy blows.”
“Perfect,” Tanu said.
“How long will Mr. Three Heads be out?” Warren asked.
“He ate the entire sheep?” Tanu asked.
“Spat out a few bones,” Warren said.
“He’ll be unconscious for a day or two,” Tanu said.
Warren nodded floppily. “It’ll give that cave some much-needed silence. That guy wouldn’t shut up. Three heads are definitely worse than one. Should we head back to our dungeon?”
Tanu looked at Kendra. “Next stop, Dragon Temple.”
“I’ll catch up,” Vanessa said. “With an ettin asleep so nearby, it would be a waste not to have a quick bite.”
“He looked kind of germy,” Warren said.
“I’ll be careful,” Vanessa promised, licking her lips.
There’s Seth!” Knox exclaimed. “I call it! I found him!”
“You’re not serious,” Newel said.
“That sure looks like him!” Doren cried, pointing. “See? Over there, by the swordsman. Is that a satyr with them?”
“We found him!” Tess enthused.
Knox ran through the crowd of the Arena Plaza to reach his cousin. The wind gusted, and a goblin chasing a bandanna almost collided with him.
Knox, Tess, Newel, and Doren had been carried to Humburgh through the Giant Queen’s passage by Rustafet. The giant shuttled them across Big Side to the Small Town entrance, with directions to the Arena Plaza. They had rooms reserved at a place called the Wayside Inn that Knox had not yet seen. Knox had been looking for Seth at the Arena Plaza for about five minutes.
“Seth!” Knox called as he drew near to his cousin. “We found you.”
Seth turned and regarded him skeptically. “Do I know you?”
“You don’t remember me?” Knox asked.
“I’m sorry,” Seth said. He stood by a tough-looking guy with his hand casually on the hilt of a sword and a satyr wearing a yellow shirt under a tweed vest.
“It’s me, Knox. Your favorite cousin!”
“You’re my cousin?” Seth asked.
“The ob-Knox-ious one? From Texas? With the smelly Knox socks? I sometimes make fun of your Seth breath! You have to remember.”
“You’d be surprised how clean my memory was wiped,” Seth replied.
Tess and the satyrs caught up.
“Do you recognize me?” Tess asked. “Your cousin?”
“I’m afraid not,” Seth said.
“I’ll give you multiple choice for my name: Tess. Jules. McKinley. Or Laura.”
“I don’t know,” Seth said. “Jules?”
“No, but I always wanted that name!” Tess said. “Good guess. Try again.”
“Tess?”
“Good job,” Tess said. “Maybe your subconscious knows.”
“You seem nice,” Seth said.
“What about us?” Newel asked. “Do any memories stir?”
“A hint is you introduced us to fast food,” Doren said.
“Sorry, guys,” Seth said. “I only know about fast food—I have no memories of eating it.”
“We have a huge favor to repay,” Doren said solemnly. “Where do we start? Taco Bell?”
“We’re Newel and Doren,” Newel said. “We’ve been looking for our best friend.”
“You have many who care about you,” the swordsman said.
“Who is this guy?” Newel asked.
“Looks like he can handle himself in a brawl,” Doren assessed.
“This is Fenrick,” Seth said.
“Who’s the new satyr?” Doren asked contemptuously.
“I’m Virgil,” the satyr said, holding out a hand to shake.
Newel clasped his hand. “Nice to meet the flavor of the moment.”
Doren glared. “Have fun while it lasts.”
“Fly high,” Newel said. “Try not to think about the crash.”
“Look, guys,” Seth interrupted. “I’m sure you mean well. We’re on important business.”
“Are you going to trash another sanctuary?” Knox asked.
Newel and Doren winced.
Seth looked uncomfortable. “I probably deserve that. I’m not trying to hurt anybody. I just want my memories back. You probably want that for me too!”
“We’re here to help you,” Knox said.
“Meet your reinforcements,” Newel said.
“You don’t have to be lost anymore,” Tess added.
Seth glanced at Fenrick and Virgil, then back to Knox. “Can we talk later?” Seth asked. “I have an urgent appointment.”
“We crossed oceans to find you,” Knox said. “We almost got killed a bunch of times. And I took out a powerful demon.”
“We have rooms at the Wayside Inn,” Doren said. “We can feed you. And your new sidekicks.”
“Are you with Kendra?” Seth asked.
“Not at the moment,” Knox said. “But she was with us. She sent us to look for you while she tries to save the world.”
“How?” Seth asked. “What’s the problem? What’s she doing?”
Knox glanced at Newel and Doren. The satyrs theatrically looked away, as if they had become interested in anything besides the current conversation.
“You don’t want to tell me,” Seth said. “I get it. You know I lost my memory, and after all I’ve done, you don’t know if you can trust me.”
“We really are here to help you,” Knox said.
“Help me how?” Seth asked. “Take me in? Lock me up? Keep me from doing more damage?”
“Nothing underhanded,” Newel said.
“We’ll find your memories,” Tess said.
“Doing that will be complicated,” Seth said. “I’m in the middle of the process, and making progress. Right
