Chapter 22
"We
have decided to stay and help fight Gerald and his men."
This
announcement from Ian met Crystal and Dabble when they woke up later that
evening.
"I
thought we'd already decided that before we came," said Crystal.
"This
is Ian's official declaration of intent," said Magbert to her. She made a
silent "o" with her mouth as Ian went on.
"Lokey,
Magbert and I (here Pandora cleared her throat and elbowed him) and Pandora,
will fan out southeast, where Gerald will be coming from, and take out as many
as we can. Any that get past us can be taken care of by any nymphs who can
distract them long enough to lure them into some of the traps we've set up, or
back toward us."
"Lure
them?" questioned Dabble. "With what?"
"Wouldn't
you follow a naked woman through the woods?" asked Magbert.
"Oh,"
said Dabble, obviously enlightened.
"Uh,
Ian, you sorta forgot to mention me," said Crystal eagerly.
"No,
I didn't," said Ian. "You stay here and watch Dabble."
"What?"
she demanded.
"You
brought it, so it's your responsibility," said Lokey, with a smirk.
"That's
not fair!" Crystal protested, looking almost physically wounded by this
news. "I wanted to help!"
"You
will be helping," said Magbert. "You'll be staying alive so I can
kiss you when I return."
Crystal
opened her mouth to argue, but found she could not openly argue with that logic
for fear of hurting Magbert's feelings (something he, too, was aware of).
"Fine," she muttered, folding her arms irritably.
"Wait
a minute!" Dabble demanded. "Don't I get a choice in this?"
"No!"
the others replied simultaneously.
"Just
checking," he replied meekly.
"We
don't have much time, so let's move," said Ian.
"The
men are assembled, my lord," said Sir Killion.
"Good,"
said Gerald. "Now, our plan of attack has changed somewhat. Tefrin, the
elven mage, joined our party last night and has offered to assist us in our
search." As he spoke, the elf of whom he spoke stood silently next to him
waiting. "When we get further into the forest, he will locate the nymphs'
strongest center of magic so that we may take them all out from there. Those we
cannot bring with us can be disposed of. And if the half-breed..."
"Your
sister," Sir Killion reminded him firmly.
"If
she is found, bring her directly to me," Gerald finished.
"My
lord, I must ask you again to reconsider this foolish act. This will not in any
way popularize you with your people," Sir Killion said.
Gerald
raised an eyebrow at Sir Killion. "Killion, I am the son of a duke,
therefore, I only need only command the people's obedience, not their love. Now
move out." Gerald began to make his way into the thicket and the castle
guardsmen began to follow.
"You
act as though you care about these mindless nymphs, Killion," said Tefrin,
smirking disdainfully. "They're not like us, man. They've no intelligence,
no sense of chastity, no...
Sir
Killion, having heard enough, grabbed the elf by his collar and shoved him
against a tree. "Do not," he began, "mock me or those I believe
in. I am a knight and am accustomed to being treated with respect. You'll
remember this in the future, won't you, scum?" Tefrin nodded in fear and
Sir Killion threw him to the ground. Tefrin scrambled up and stumbled after
Gerald and his men in an effort to regain his composure.
Pandora,
hidden from view in a high tree, watched somewhat anxiously. Certainly Gerald
would never have found Mother Sipa's tree alone, but his elven mage friend
would certainly be a great help. Somehow, she had to stop this before it
started. "Sir Killion!" she whispered, trying to attract his
attention. "Up here!"
Sir
Killion, hearing the slight whisper, looked up in her direction, then reached a
hand up to her to assist her. "Pandora, dear child, I had almost given you
up for lost! But you must not be here. Your stepbrother is looking for you and
your mother to make you surrender you nymph friends to him. I have tried within
my power to stop him, but I am sworn to serve him...now that your
father..."
"I
know, Sir Killion, and I must respect that," Pandora nodded, head hung
sadly.
"However,"
the knight added, "I am in no way restricted in my ability to give aid to
you as well. I know well the tree you live in; your father told me in strictest
confidence, in case something ever happened to him. Therefore, I shall tell
Gerald I have found a nymph who gave me information leading us northeast
instead of south..."
"But
that can't possibly work without proof that you have actually talked to a
nymph," Pandora returned. Then, before Sir Killion could disagree, she
added, "USe me as a prisoner. I can make Gerald believe me much quicker
than you can."
"My
lady, do you know what you ask of me?" Sir Killion gasped. "You heard
youre brother. He would just as soon see you dead than alive and many of the
guardsmen think you are some type of evil enchantress! The risk is too great to
justify such an act."
"But
I have to, Sir Killion, or risk the failure of our plan. If you capture me,
he'll truly believe you are on his side and that I was actually captured. Then
we can lead him into the traps my friends and I have set for them."
"Your
friends?"
"Yes,
I've met up with a gnome, a sprite, an elf and another human who've been helping
me. I've even taken up with a brownie, of all creatures!" Pandora
explained. "If you can't secretly free me or I, myself, they can rescue me
later."
"Truly,
you lead a charmed life, m'lady," Sir Killion sighed. "Very well, I
shall do as you ask. But know now I have disagreed with this from its
outset." He took a length of rope from his saddle and wrapped it gently
around Pandora's wrists, then led her away.