gnomes, and a few whooped as rhey looked down at their now-healed injuries. Dyffed appeared surprised, then carefully unwound the bandages over his hands using his teeth. Teldin saw the gnome thoughtfully examine his hands-still missing certain fingers, but otherwise fully healed. Dyffed looked up abruptly as if someone that Teldin could not hear had just spoken to him.
'Oh, that's quite all right,' he said hurriedly. 'The pain is gone, and that itself is marvelous.' He put a hand to his mouth, running fingers over his lips. 'Just wonderful, simply wonderful. One Six Nine, you are the dearest old fellow.'
You have suffered the threat of physical extinction in searching for me, said One Six Nine, the large humanlike mouth moving in rhythm to its thoughts. I watched your arrival from my tcha, where my true body lies now, at the peak of the megafauna's horn. You see but my image, created by my powers. I was impressed with your removal of the humanoid colossus by using your damaged quasi-psionk locater device as an aerial missile. You have earned my admiration. You have, however, only limited opportunity for discussion. I acknowledge the imminent arrival of antagonistic forces. You wish to acquire knowledge concerning the cloak Teldin Moore wears?
'Yes,' Teldin broke in. 'I was told that I had to find the Spelljammer, but I haven't any idea how to find it or even if that's what I'm supposed to do. I haven't been able to talk with anyone I can really trust on this.' He colored as he said the last pan, hoping that no one present took offense.
You must come closer, said the fal. Its front tentacles twisted and waved gently in his direction as its fore-part-Teldin couldn't bring himself to call it a head-faced him.
Teldin took a deep breath and approached the fal, coming to a stop a dozen paces from its open, man-sized maw. He found himself staring at the dozens of razor-sharp teeth set in multiple rows inside its circular mouth, like the teeth on a shark's jaw Teldin once had seen on Krynn.
I am not carnivorous, said One Six Nine. The two largest tentacles, on opposite sides of its central mouth, examined Teldin from two widely separate points, looking him over with uncomfortable thoroughness for perhaps a minute.
I am satisfied, said the mental voice at last. You are wearing an authentic ultimate helm. You possess potential of an open-ended nature. You are the Cloakmaster, Teldin Moore, the future captain of the Spelljammer. You need only find your ship to claim it.
Teldin felt as if he had been physically struck. The blood ran from his face. It was difficult to think straight. 'I'm what?' he said faintly.
You wear an ultimate helm, a device imbued with the power to command the Spelljammer, the largest and most powerful ship in all known spheres. You must find the Spelljammer in order to take command of it. You have open-ended potential-infinite, unlimited, of import to the gods themselves, given time.
'Of import to…' Teldin's mouth was completely dry. He felt light-headed. 'But why me?'
You were randomly selected, said the fal. You were in the right place at the right time, as your kind is fond of saying. I know of no preconceived reason for it. You have taken a path from which you cannot turn back.
It once had seemed to Teldin that he had a thousand questions to ask the fal, but now he could not think of where to start. He took a deep breath, but the fal's telepathic messages flowed into his mind before he could begin.
You need to know much from me, Teldin Moore, said One Six Nine. I fear I may not have much to tell you that you need to know. I have studied the legends of the Spelljammer for an age of time. I have examined trinkets said to bear dues to its origin and whereabouts. I have even seen the Spelljammer as it passed through this sphere six thousand seven hundred twelve days ago, load time, on its endless journey through the spheres. I have deduced from all my research only that nearly all of what people know of the Spelljammer is wrong. There is little that is right.
There was a pause, and Teldin had a mental image of someone smiling wryly at a private joke. He looked around and noticed that everyone standing around him-Aelfred, Sylvie, the gnomes, Gaye, even Gomja, still half-tied on the ground-appeared to be listening to their own internal voices. You should not be concerned that they can hear what I am to reveal you, said One Six Nine, inclining its head in Teldin's direction. I have been able to project my thoughts into others from the time of my generation as an individual, unlike others of my kind, though I can read only your surface thoughts in return. I am able to carry on two such conversations at once- again, a unique ability. I am giving your comrades a speech welcoming them to my abode. I find this an easy speech to give, and I am not troubled by its habit. I wish to speak with you alone now. You fear that you can trust no one. I will strike a bargain with you, Teldin Moore. I will tell you what is true about the Spelljammer if, when you find it, you will return and tell me all that you find to be true about it.
Teldin blinked and dropped his gaze, considering. It was an easy enough thing to promise. The fal obviously was powerful and had no real reason to lie. He had the distinct feeling that it wasn't interested in his cloak in the slightest; only pure knowledge would satisfy it. As far as he was concerned, that was a fair enough price to pay for more practical knowledge. If he fal's advice was true enough, he'd owe the creature a thousand favors.
He made his decision and looked up. 'It's a deal,' he said imply. 'I'll do what I can for you if I make it to the Spelljammer!'
I am pleased, said One Six Nine. I trust you and have faith in your ability. You must listen carefully to my next words.
I must tell you first that you must be prepared to meet dangers that will make all you have seen until now appear tame. You will face uncounted enemies on your quest, their ranks growing with each passing day. You must have courage beyond measure to go on to the end, for even if you retreat from hunting for that ship, your enemies will do their utmost to sky you for your cloak as you sleep. You were, are now, and will be hunted, no matter what you do. You cannot escape this fate. I must tell you second that your cloak is not unique. You have one of many devices with the potential to control the mighty Spelljammer. You are one of many other beings from across the known spheres and beyond who seek the prize of command of that ship. You must move with all speed to your destination if you wish to have a chance at capturing it for yourself, to whatever ends.
'Wait, wait,' Teldin mumbled, dazed. He had expected the grim, first revelation, but not the second. 'There are Others? But how could there be? I don't-'
I have little time left, Teldin Moore, said One Six Nine almost sadly. I sense the arrival of your enemies is at hand. I muse tell you third that the goal you seek is itself dangerous to you. I have met others before you who sought the Spelljammer, and they have vanished, their ultimate fates unknown to all but themselves. I have heard reliable stories of whole crews who went aboard that ship but were swallowed up by their goal. You must be wary of all dangers when you set foot on its decks, and you must watch for destruction such as no being has ever faced before, for no one has yet successfully prepared for it or escaped it.
I must tell you fourth that I alone know a due to the mystery of the Spelljammer, one that was revealed to me when last the Spelljammer passed through this sphere. I reached out to the ship with my mind, across the millions of miles of open space beneath our sun, in an effort to communicate with those powers aboard it. I discovered in doing so that which I had not expected. I know that the Spelljammer is alive.
'Alive?' Teldin said faintly. 'The ship's alive? How?'
I do not know how. I caught only the briefest look into what consciousness it has, and I looked into alien depths I could barely fathom. I captured but one image out of that foreign abyss of thought and dream, one bit of real knowledge. I offer you the knowledge that to find the truth about the Spelljammer, you must seek its birthplace: a broken sphere. I know no more, Teldin Moore.
One Six Nine shifted, raising its forward bulk off the ground so that it towered over the assembly beside the Perilous Halibut. Its tentacles twisted in great agitation.
I sense that your enemies have arrived, the fal said to all. I can do
