'By the bubbling brew of Fraviar!' exclaimed Thromar. 'Did you see that?'
'Of course I saw it, you bearded buffoon!' Moknay retorted. 'I'm right beside you, aren't I?'
The three horses galloped over the river, their hooves echoing upon the wood. Gradually, the agitated waters subsided.
The feeling of wrongness faded and was replaced by weakness. Sweat dotted Logan's brow, and he took in great gulps of night air to refill his lungs. Unexpectedly, Moknay's voice called out for Logan to take the Jewel, and the young man slowly turned to inquire why.
The pouch, however, was already flying toward him, and Logan's eyes popped open. Frantically he caught the Jewel, embracing it to his chest with his right arm. All at once, the Jewel's glare ceased, blinking out like a candle's flame. The bubbling river reverted to normal, and a lightning bolt vanished as it traced across the sky. A low grumble of displeasure sounded as the winds died with a reluctant moan.
Logan reined in his horse. 'Jesus,' he sighed, 'I don't believe this.' He peered at Moknay. 'And that was only the first movement of the Wheel?'
The Murderer nodded grimly. 'I wonder if Barthol figured out how much time we actually have left.'
Logan nodded back and saw the fear in Moknay's eyes. He suddenly realized how much the Murderer dreaded the Jewel and understood he should not have tossed it to him while it was glowing. Next time he'll give it to Thromar.
The young man gulped. Next time?
Slower than before, the four horses trotted onward, leaving the path and allowing the quartet to make camp in a small clearing. Politely, Logan gave his jacket to Cyrene, who was still too frightened to speak. Thromar munched on some food as Logan lay down on the soft carpet of green. The mismatchment suddenly rose up from the very blades of grass, and Logan grumbled as he tossed onto his back. All he needed was to have that stupid feeling keep him awake for the rest of the night!
Fortunately, sleep subdued Logan from behind.
Stars twinkled happily as Logan replaced Moknay as guard. The Murderer had since fallen asleep, his grey form cloaked by the night. Thromar snored beside him, his bearded face not so fierce in sleep, and Cyrene lay nearby. Her skirt had ridden a bit up her leg, and Logan pulled his eyes away from the girl's thigh, mumbling. Since he had come to this land he had been forced to relieve himself in the forest; what about sexually, though? Would he have to see to his own desires? In the forest?
Keeping his eyes away from Cyrene, Logan stared up into the night sky. Maybe he could spot a familiar constellation-Orion was an easy one. The sky, however, would not comply, and Logan recognized no pattern in the stars above him. He truly was on another world in another universe or dimension.
Something thudded in the foliage.
Logan's hand pulled free Moknay's dagger, while he glared into the surrounding shrubbery. There was silence all about him, and a chilling unease began to settle in Logan's stomach.
A bush crashed and rustled as if destroyed.
'Fooooooood!' a friendly voice bellowed.
Letting out a sigh of relief, Logan sank back to the ground. The large, light blue ogre smashed through the brush, a huge grin drawn across its squarish face.
'How in the world did you find us?' Logan questioned the ogre.
Its grin widened. 'Find yoooooooou!'
'No, how did you find us? It's obvious you found us. Are we that easy to trail?'
The huge creature cocked its head to one side in confusion. 'Fooooooood?' it queried hopefully.
Logan reached into a pouch and withdrew some of the fruit Launce had given them. He extended a hand toward the ogre, but, as it started forward, the beast halted, eyes wide.
'What's the matter?' Logan asked it. 'Don't you like fruit?'
'Maaaaaagic,' the blue-skinned creature whispered in awe.
The young man pivoted, expecting to see Groathit emerge from the bushes behind him. 'Magic? Where?' he cried.
The ogre pointed an enourmous finger at Logan's neck. 'There.'
Logan bowed his head to inspect himself and felt the talisman bump his chin. He slipped off the magical stone and held it up. 'You don't like this?'
The ogre shied away.
'Hmminm, I guess not.' Logan set the talisman aside. 'Here, here's some food.'
The light blue beast lumbered forward and snatched the food from Logan's hand. Greedily, it gulped the fruit down.
'Now,' Logan said, trying again, 'how did you find us?'
The ogre grinned foolishly. 'Give fooooood! Meeeee find!'
Obviously, the creature felt its answer satisfactory and went silent, leaving Logan in an awkward position. Scratching the tip of his nose, Logan attempted another question:
'Is anyone else following us?'
The creature scratched its stringy black hair. 'Skinny huuuuumaaaan!' it remembered. 'Maaaaaaad!'
Logan nodded understandingly. 'Pembroke,' he muttered. Then, he queried, 'How far is he?'
The ogre did not hesitate. 'Faaaaaar!'
As a reward, Logan gave the beast another handful of food. The ogre happily grabbed the provisions and wolfed them down. It then released a belch Logan was sure could topple a tree.
'Quiet,' he hushed it. 'Did you see anyone else?'
The ogre was silent for quite some time until booming out: 'Whiiite huuuumaaaan!'
'White human?' Logan mused. 'As to my knowledge, you're the only person I've seen who isn't white.'
The ogre grinned. 'Maaaaaagic.'
'No, no magic,' corrected Logan, pointing at the taliman. 'I took it off.'
The light blue ogre screwed up its face but its grin soon returned. 'Foooooooood?' it hoped.
Logan gave the ogre another handful and it nodded its thanks, clumsily lumbering off into the forest.
Logan was left to his thoughts.
•8• Warnings
'If we left the road about midday, I'd say Prifrane would be directly west.' Thromar's voice shattered the silence.
Logan lifted his head, blinking the sleep from his eyes.
'Groathit knows for certain we're not going to Semeth,' Moknay said. 'If we stay on the road that long, we're bound to be attacked.'
'By what?' Thromar boomed back. 'The farther west we go, the harder it is for the Reakthi to trail us! Their stronghold's in the east!'
'Spellcasters have no need for strongholds,' Cyrene remarked.
Logan sat up, eyeing his three companions as the early morning mist dispersed. Thromar threw him a pitiful glance.
'Help me, friend-Logan,' he pleaded. 'They're ganging up on me!'
'That's because you want to take a dangerous route,' Moknay retorted.
'But the longer we stay on the road, the faster we get there,' the huge fighter said. He looked over at Logan. 'Isn't that right?'
The young man shrugged, opening his mouth to say something about not knowing the area.
'We also have Pembroke after us,' the Murderer interrupted. 'Don't forget about him.'
'There's no need to worry about him,' Logan stated. 'He's far behind us.'
Moknay and Thromar both eyed the young man wondering-ly. 'How do you know that, friend?' queried Moknay.
