'He is your enemy, then?' the young druid inquired.
Moknay nodded.
'He's a maggot!' added Thromar from the table.
'Look at him,' the Murderer breathed in awe. 'He's sniffing around like a dog. He'll find this house for certain.'
Druid Launce calmly picked up his staff and approached the hall caped in shadows. 'Remain here,' he ordered, then slid through the corridor and out of sight.
Pembroke jabbed at the vegetation with his fingers, his wild eyes scanning the immediate area. His movements were rodentlike as he jerked and scurried from one bush to another.
'He knows you are here,' he called mockingly. 'Come out and give Pembroke back his Child.' There was no answer, so he kicked at a bush angrily. 'Come out, I say!'
An almost inaudible snap whispered behind him, and the wiry man swung around, black eyes blazing. His Triblade slid silently out of its sheath as the servant glared at the young man emerging from the shrubbery, an oak staff held in one hand.
'He's going to get himself killed,' Logan moaned, watching the druid from the hidden window.
Munuc let out a frantic bark and leaped to the window, scratching his furry head in bewilderment as he fixed his eyes on the two men outside.
'You are looking for something?' Druid Launce questioned Pembroke.
The servant's mouth drew back in a sneer. 'No business of yours, holy man!' he spat.
'Perhaps it is,' responded Launce. 'I may be able to show you what you seek.'
'Bah!' Pembroke scoffed. 'You are a holy man! What do you know?'
'I know of many things,' Launce answered. 'I know of the forest. I know of the elements.' He smiled faintly. 'I know of you.'
Pembroke raised his dark eyebrows and his eyes glittered. 'Know you of me?' he repeated, stepping forward in interest.
'You are the one called Pembroke,' the druid stated. 'Now what do you seek in my forest?'
'I search for three men who have robbed me of what is mine,' Pembroke growled, eyeing the young druid cautiously. 'A grey man, a fat man, and… another. They hold the Jewel of Equilibrant-my Jewel. Pembroke's Child! Have you seen them?'
Druid Launce was silent for a long while.
'No,' he finally answered. 'I have not seen them.'
Pembroke's jet-black eyes flared. 'You lie!' he accused. 'You have seen them! Where are they?'
The mad servant dived, his Triblade severing the air. Casually, Launce stepped to one side, easily evading the deadly weapon. Releasing an angered shriek, Pembroke lashed about, whiplike, swinging the three blades viciously.
'Where are they, holy man?' he screamed. 'Where do they hide? Tell Pembroke or he shall kill you!'
Launce shook his head sadly. 'I am sorry, but you may not do that.'
The lean Pembroke halted, amused. 'Oh, no? Then Pembroke shall prove you wrong.'
The Triblade howled, and Logan turned away from the window, guilt seeping into the pores of his body. Molcnay, however, chuckled, and Thromar roared with delight as they peered out the opening. Dredging up his courage, Logan glanced out the window to see Druid Launce finish knocking aside the Triblade with his staff. Pembroke was forced to back up or else lose his hold on his heavy weapon.
'You are quick for a holy man,' the servant said between clenched teeth, 'but not quick enough!'
The Triblade split the air, and Druid Launce flipped backwards, a booted foot rushing up and slamming into the servant's wrist. The many-bladed weapon spun into the sky, the sunlight glistening off its murderous points. With a metallic clatter, it struck the ground beside the outcropping of rocks, some distance from Pembroke.
As the mad servant went to retrieve his blade, Druid Launce placed two fingers to his lips and blew. Pembroke jerked about as a shrill whistle rent the forest, but then, scowling, he bent to grasp his Triblade.
A sudden, throaty growl caused him to stumble back in shock.
'By my Jewel!' he cursed.
' Snarling from atop the outcropping of rocks was a large wolf, slavering as it watched over the massive Triblade. Growling like the wolf itself, Pembroke turned on Launce and blinked as two more grey forms padded silently beside the druid. For a moment, the insane servant was confused, flicking his night-filled eyes from wolf to wolf. Then, with reflexes impossible for a normal human, Pembroke sprang, snatching up his weapon and scampering off into the forest. The wolf atop the rocks slowly brought up its head to glare at Launce, its black lips drawn back in what could have been a canine grin.
'Thank you, my friends,' the druid said, gratefully patting the wolf nearest him. 'You may go. Remember to call for me should you ever need my help.'
The three wolves stalked back into the foliage as Launce began descending the hidden stairwell of his home.
'That was remarkable!' Moknay laughed as Launce entered.
The druid shrugged off the compliment. 'A few friends I called to aid me,' he replied simply. All at once, his eyes grew harsh as they riveted upon Logan. 'Why did you not tell me you carried the Jewel of Equilibrant?'
Logan swallowed hard, casting a pitiful gaze to his companions. What could he say to the druid? So far a Demon and a priestess had gone out of their way to steal the Jewel-and Launce's appearance had been all too unexpected. The druid had just frightened off Pembroke, but, at this point, Logan was no longer trusting anyone he met. It was too dangerous-and costly.
'We are trying to get the Jewel to the Smythe,' Moknay told the druid when Logan said nothing, 'and cannot be greatly delayed since the powers are escaping. We were trying to be cautious with our secret cargo.'
'And you thought I may prove to be a danger?' Launce said, and his faint smile reappeared. 'You honor me with abilities I do not have. But, to prove myself a friend, we shall remain here tonight. Then, at dawn's first light, I shall escort you to Plestenah. And you have my word as a friend that I shall not rest until you-and the Jewel-are there safely.'
His oaken staff before him, Druid Launce sat upon his horse as it made its way through the forest. The greenery politely peeled back for the four horses, closing behind them once the mounts had passed. The saddlebags had been filled with fresh supplies, and the three had bathed before starting off. Both Moknay and Logan had shaved with daggers, the latter bearing the wounds to prove it.
'We are approaching the Roana, my friends,' reported Druid Launce from the lead. 'I can hear the sprite's song.'
Logan blinked. 'The what?'
Druid Launce's faint smile spread across his face. 'The land of Sparrill-and some believe Denzil-was guarded by three sprites, Roana, Salena, and Glorana. With the aid of a magical Bloodstone, the very Heart of Sparrill's beauty and magic, the sprites kept our land pure and bountiful. One day a vile Deil was sent by the Voices of the Dark. So horrid and evil was this creature that all the Demons alive today could not match its wickedness. It had been sent by its masters to wound and destroy the Heart of the land, and, for many years, plague, famine, war, and strife reigned throughout Sparrill.
'Seeing the pain that Sparrill suffered, Roana became determined to cast the foul Deil out and called upon the magics of the Bloodstone to aid her. The creature, called Gangrorz by its masters, learned of her intent, and a vicious battle followed. In the course of the battle, the powers intensified and Deil, sprite, and Bloodstone were all lost.
'It is believed Gangrorz was struck full in the face by the Bloodstone's blow and was sent reeling into the heavens. When he landed, ablaze with the cosmic fire of the Air, he struck with a thousand thunderclaps. A large crater was gorged into our beloved land, and the Sea of Hedelva rushed in and drowned the hideous Deil, filling the wound he had created with horrid, putrid waters. This became known as the Demonry River and stagnant Lake Atricrix. Roana, meanwhile, was similarly lost, and, with her, the Heart of Sparrill. Following the belief that Roana herself became part of the river, it was so named after the sprite. I know she does indeed live on in the river, for I have heard the sprite singing.'
A cloud of silence hovered over the quartet for a moment as the druid completed his tale. Interesting, Logan
