Anna sensed the weight on him and wanted to reassure him. “He will see that it is good then. No one will learn our identities or purpose from us. We already have other names we can use, such as Anna for myself.” Hiding the truth in plain sight seemed bold but obvious.
“Thank you, my lady.” Denir placed four small bags on the table, each clinking. “We do not expect you will need to purchase supplies, but we know the unexpected happens. Please accept these coins and gems to satisfy any needs that may arise.”
Ryan and Eric sat nearest him and took a pouch each for themselves, giving the others to Matt and Anna. She knew better to look inside, as did Ryan. She suspected Eric did too, but he did it anyway, and Matt dumping the contents on the table did not surprise her. She thought it was just boyish greed, but then he asked a smart question that made her feel sorry for doubting him.
He asked, “How much is this in these kingdoms? Is it enough to attract attention? Should we be careful showing this much?”
Denir said, “We thought of that. The coins are not platinum, which would be noticed at once except among royalty. There is only a little gold, one piece each, because they would also notice this in poor quarters. I recommend finer places if the need arises, which we do not expect. You should use the silvers and coppers.”
“And the gems?”
“Emergency use only, and only in a city at a reputable trader. Use them out of sight, not in a main room where others would see the transaction.”
Eric nodded. “Got it. I’ve been meaning to ask, how big are these orbs?”
“Half the size of a human head.”
“How do we stop ourselves from being ensnared by them?”
Matt regarded him. “I think I might know a spell.” He lifted the bag with Soliander’s spell books in it and pulled out one in black leather with gold writing, the one Anna knew to have “nicer” spells in it, as opposed to the one with silver markings. Everyone waited quietly as he flipped through the pages. “Found it. It protects against any attempt to read the mind. I remembered if after what happened on Honyn, when I, uh, ran into that wizard who tried to do that. If I had cast this spell on myself beforehand, he may not have been able to learn anything.”
Anna asked, “Can it be cast on more than one person?”
“One at a time.” Matt’s eyes scanned the page. “Wait, I can do it on a group.”
Denir asked, “May I ask the name of this spell? I don’t believe we have such a one on Rovell.”
“Mind Shield,” replied Matt. He let the wizard look at the spell and Anna wondered if sharing like that was a good idea or not, but then it wasn’t an offensive one. Maybe they needed to talk over something like that, and establish some grounds rules before giving a dangerous spell to a world that didn’t already have it. It might be like introducing an animal into an ecosystem that developed without it, destroying a delicate balance.
The wizard looked over the spell. “It says you need eyes from a blind fish, two eyes for each person. Do you have any with you?”
Matt shook his head. “I don’t think so. I will have to check my supplies.”
Denir said, “We have similar fish. This spell looks like it would work here on this planet. You are more experienced traveling between worlds than I, but most spells from other worlds work here as long as you have the needed materials, or can substitute them.”
“The substitutions typically work?” Eric asked.
“Yes.”
“Where could we get these fish eyes? I don’t suppose someone sells them?”
“No. They are not commonly needed. There is an underwater lake to the southeast in the mountains, from where you could get them, but it is in the opposite direction from where the Lords of Fear have gone. I’m afraid that puts us under great pressure, but it might be needed.”
Novir spoke up. “I know of another place north of Valegis, a mountain town. It is on the way, less of a detour, but it is more dangerous.”
“How so?”
“The Kirii Cave not only has the large, batlike Kirii in it, but there is a leviathan in the waters, which is why I have heard of the place, as have most. We would have to be careful to not disturb any of kirii, but I think it is worth the risk. Four champions of your power could easily defeat anything we awaken. It lies within another dwarven kingdom, in a valley of the Galla Mountains.”
“How do we get the fish?” Anna asked, imagining the famous Ellorian Champions standing around with fishing poles, the idea almost making her smile despite all of her worries. “Is there something faster than a net?”
Derin responded and turned to Matt, “A simple cantrip can round them up with little trouble. You know of it?”
Matt appeared to think for a moment and shook his head. “Perhaps you can show me.”
“It would honor me to teach the great Soliander the merest of spells.”
Eric said, “Okay, so given time being an issue, how do we get to this cave and then the city quickly?”
Novir gestured to the three leather clad companions, who had remained silent as they leaned against a wall listening to all of this. “The dragons will take us.”
Chapter 5 – The Kirii Cave
Ryan arched an eyebrow and turned to look at the humans that were apparently shape-shifting dragons, just like the ones on Honyn, except that none of those had been civil, just murderous toward any that were not their kind. The male in blue smirked at him, the one in green looked bored, and the female in red sauntered toward him, her intense gaze locked onto his. She seemed fiery