A man, stranger to Man and Goblin. Strange ways and stranger ideas.

None shall know his mind.

Struck down in sickness his strength shall grow. A cause of strife. Rivers of blood.

Bringing Hope with Despair, he shall change both.

Uniter of Goblin Clan. Usher of new dawn.

A man,stranger to Man and Goblin.

Translation of a fragment from the only known goblin text.

Spell Caster

Arrival

“It’s too cursed cold for this.” The warrior complained to her mount. Her breath plumed and more frost formed on her helm. She moved her heavy red and gold enameled shield onto her back. Her hand had gone numb with cold from holding it to block the wind. “This is what comes of volunteering, fool that I am.” Being a woman in the Kings army was hard enough. Being in the elite Kings Brigade was even tougher. And being the shortest in the garrison and likely in the whole army didn’t help matters. Barely a pace and a half tall, many had made the mistake of thinking her an easy target. “I need to learn to keep my mouth shut. I have nothing to prove to these louts anymore.” she told the horse. Of course the horse had heard all this before and replied as it always did; with silence. Weaving their way around everblues heavily laden in snow she tried to keep her face turned from the wind. Even with the extra heavy under padding, the probing fingers of winter’s cold still found every chink in her armor. The snow was piled deep here and her mount slowed to push through.

A loud crunch and a sudden jolt in her back threw Talynne out of the saddle. Landing in the deep snow cushioned the fall but she was still stunned. Then she could hear it. The low guttural language of goblins. Her horse had immediately pounded off. It was well trained and would be back in seconds once the shock wore off. She sweated despite the cold and worked her hand down to grip her sword. Goblins were bad news at the best of times. She could feel the tip of an arrow grinding against the armor plates at her back. ‘Lucky my shield was on my back.’ she thought, picturing what would have happened if she had kept it forward to block the wind. She could hear someone coming through the snow. ‘No not someone; a goblin. And alone by the sounds of it.’ There was none of the almost constant bickering when goblins are together. She held still in spite of the freezing cold and snow blowing down the back of her neck. ‘Let him see the arrow sticking out my back .Let him see that I’m dead. That’s it, come closer, come strip the body...’ The goblin was almost on top of her now. Wolf fur raggedly bound around big feet stopped in front of her eyes. She could hear its breathing and grumbling. ‘Wait... wait... NOW!’ She whipped her sword out from under her in an arc trying to take off its legs. The feet jumped back but just a second too slow. The sharp blade sliced through fur, skin and flesh into bone as she surged to her feet. She almost caught the goblin's chin with her helm but her stuck sword pulled her up short and off balance. The goblin bellowed jumping back, jammed sword stuck in its leg. Talynne stumbled to her right off balance but managed to get her shield around onto her arm. The goblin was screaming trying to free her sword, its own dropped, forgotten in snow. She charged with a battle cry, swinging her shield at its head. Just as the goblin freed her sword with a cry of pain it grunted under the impact. The shaft lodged in the shield dug a furrow along its forehead and the goblin went down. With another cry she flung herself at the stunned goblin, swinging her shield again while trying to get her dagger out. A crunch and the goblin spasmed and flopped in the snow, throwing the warrior. Talynne scrambled back to her feet then realized the fight was all but over. The broken wood shaft of its own crossbow bolt was sticking out of the side of the goblin’s now deformed skull. The scaly green fiend continued to spasm and flop around, mouth working silent screams. She looked at the front of her shield to the blood covered broken wooden shaft. Panting she walked over to retrieve her sword moving warily around the goblin. Talynne stood in combat stance in the deep snow and watched until it stopped spasming, then wiped first her sword then her shield off in the snow. Goblin blood would corrode even the hardiest of metals. Now that the adrenaline had stopped pounding in her veins, Talynne felt the cold piercing her sweat soaked under padding. Not too mention the large shield shaped bruise in the middle of her back along with a few other scrapes and knocks. ‘Where is that horse?’ She hoped she wouldn’t have to go searching for it.

Talynne walked slowly over to the dead goblin, or what she hoped was dead. Keeping the sword point at its throat she pulled its cloak to one side to inspect the tribal markings. Red thread stitched in the shape of a tear on the shoulders of its simple tunic. Talynne frowned. ‘Blood Craven! What in the nine hells are you doing way out here? And in winter.’ She reached and yanked open its shirt, a blood crystal also carved into a tear hung on a simple woven leather tong. ‘And a member of the Clan Guard! Now that is troubling.’ She knew the clan lived way over the other side of the Odladin River, a couple hundred leagues to the east. Warily she looked around. If there were more surely she would have been attacked by now. Talynne’s mind raced. To get out here undetected by the King’s forces or by the other clans would take some careful thought and planning. Not something goblins are especially noted for. Unless the clans are co-operating. She dismissed the thought. Even a single clan gathered resulted in serious in-fighting amongst themselves. More than one clan... practically all outwar. No, this had to be a small party to get this far unnoticed, no more than 4 or 5 and all blood related. Talynne stood and looked at the tracks in the snow. Follow the horse or the goblin? She needed to know what the goblins were doing but needed the horse. The deep snow decided for her. She wouldn’t make it far and her feet were freezing standing still. Besides in bright red and gold armor, she wouldn’t be able to do much recon without being spotted which meant a swift retreat may be required. Reaching down she cut the Blood Craven insignia from the dead goblin’s tunic, then stripped him of the blood crystal. ‘Now, where’d that Gods cursed horse run off to?’

After half an hour of wading through hip to chest deep snow Talynne was sore, cold, tired and soaked. And cursing mad. Only the thought of more goblins in the area had stayed her tongue. Finally as she started up a rise she spotted the horse. Standing with ears flattened back, under some snow covered tree branches. Not even a switch of its tail. Just as she waded her way to the top did she realize the horse still hadn't moved a muscle. It turned its head to looked at her then turned back. Now she thought about her bright colored armor. Even half covered with snow she wasn't likely to go unnoticed. Trying to creep through waist deep snow wasn't exactly easy, but at least it muffled some sound. She came up along the right side of the horse, thankful for the wind it blocked. She ran a hand down its side and felt it quivering. What would spook a trained war horse? She looked through the thin covering of snowy branches and her breath caught.

'TROLL!'

And just nine or ten paces away. Now she knew why the horse was so scared. If she had been louder in her approach, or the wind blowing the wrong way, her and the horse would end up as lunch. She imitated the steed and tried to not move a muscle. Now she really worried about her bright armor. Trolls were vicious, huge, always hungry, and damned hard to kill. Loners intent on smashing first, eating after. No questions or doubts involved. Their one redeeming quality was being notoriously stupid. While she had never fought one, she had seen the results of more than one battle. A dozen killed or injured just to bring a single troll down. She was so intent on the troll, it was a minute before she realized it was standing in a circle and not alone.

'What in the nine hells...' A Bone Caster shaman had drawn a flattened circle in the snow with black red goblin blood. In front of the troll were two stones placed a pace apart. Between the stones Talynne could almost see something. Like a heat shimmer on the plains seen in summer. The shaman sang in the guttural language of goblin and blood magic, dancing around the circle waving its staff. 'Must be powerful to make a troll stand still Damn, how many did it drain for that circle.' There were at least three dead goblins laying in the snow. Talynne could feel fear trying to worm its way into her mind, but she suppressed it hard. She watched the proceedings with a sinking feeling. Blood Craven goblins, a Bone Caster, a troll and some nasty magic added up to serious trouble in Talynne's book. Then she realized what the shaman was doing. The Bone Caster was making a gateway. 'Damned powerful, controlling a troll and a gate at the same time... shit! This is not good.' That gate could be leading anywhere, and most likely no where good for the people of Tanise. Talynne knew she would have to act, but was no match for the troll. She would have to wait for the right moment then see if she could follow the troll through the gate if possible. If she couldn't fight it, then she could at least warn people. 'Where would a goblin send a troll? And why?' The gate was silvery now almost reflective. Then it spiraled open and she could see green trees and sunshine. No snow and some strange roaring sound. As the troll jumped through the gate, Talynne jumped up into the saddle.

Dan Thompson loved driving along the cottage roads of the near north in Ontario. It's the last week of July and he was on vacation. The twisting gravel roads, the shady trees. Even the odd deer or rabbit running for cover as he flew past in his shiny new neutron blue Honda. Up a hill and round a corner then back to the right. He could feel the tires wanting to slide on the gravel so he let off on the gas just a bit. Down the other side around another corner and up again. Trees flashed past, sun and shade creating a strobe effect. Down yet another hill and the road flattened out for a km or so following along a creek to the other side of the small basin.

Ahead near the center of the road a tiny flat disc appeared barely a meter off the ground. Transparent with the slightest tinge of silver it slowly grew in diameter. With the heat waves coming off the gravel baked by the hot July sun one would not have seen the disc unless one was standing directly in front of it. Six centimeters, ten centimeters eighteen centimeters. It started to grow exponentially, the silver becoming more dominant. Dan’s flashy new Honda reached the disc just as it solidified in this world with a flash of light. The leading edge of the instantly expanding disc sliced diagonally through the passenger door continued through the dashboard cut clean through the engine then out the grilll. Before physics could spin the car out of control, a huge monstrous foot came through the portal and impacted with the speeding windshield. Dan registered all this at the same time as the seatbelt restrained his body from flying out the suddenly half missing windshield. The force of impacting a troll and losing the right front corner of a speeding car send him spinning off the side of the road. The troll faired little better. Its left leg smashed through the windshield the impact shattering leg bones. Its momentum slammed its body down onto the roof of the car crumpling it and several ribs in the process. As the car spun clockwise the troll was thrown off and tumbled on the gravel surface where it laid still face down.

Dan opened his eyes but was only semi conscious. Pain in the center of his face he stared dully at the blood on the bent steering wheel. The car looked odd but he couldn’t figure out why. And he wasn’t on the road, why wasn’t he on the road? He tried to sit up straight but kept hitting the buckled roof. He tuned his head and everything went black.

Dan opened his eyes and there was pain in the center of his face. What happened and why was he not on the road. There was something moving in front of him. ‘Oh God! I’ve hit something. Have to get out. Get out and see if it’s all right’. The fact that most of the front of the car was missing never registered in his mind. The door wouldn’t open, the car too badly warped from the weight of a troll slamming down on the roof. Dan put his shoulder into the door and blacked out with the pain.

When his eyes opened again he was looking directly at a hole in the air. Deep snow covered the ground and distant blue? pines.A woman, at least he thought it was a woman stepped through the hole. A woman in red and gold armor, complete with shield and sword. A rather dangerous looking woman who was staring at him and his car. ‘armor...?’ A scrapping sound outside his window made Dan turn his head and the world swam before his eyes. The biggest hand he had ever seen came up and gripped the window edge. ‘Green? A green hand? Needs a manicure.’ Glass shattered, and then the hand gripped the door frame. The car sagged then slid sideways as the crippled troll tugged and tried to stand. Then another hand on the door frame and a huge incredibly ugly face was staring at Dan, inches away. Yellowed tusks and bad breath failed to penetrate Dan’s concussion. Nor did the green skin or rust colored eyes. Not even the black blood leaking from its crushed nose. Dan stared uncomprehending; bulky muscles rippled as the troll grasped the roof and tore it open. Then there was a flash of steel and the troll bellowed in pain. It tried to spin around but its broken leg failed and falling, it crushed the remains of the car's hood.

Talynne jumped back. While the troll was badly injured, it was far from helpless. She would dodge and feint, and cut at tendons and muscle when openings arose. Wear it down as best she could. Keeping out of arms reach was key to survival. She glanced quickly at the man in the strange metal contraption that the troll had so easily ruined. He was unconscious again. Unlike the troll who was getting up. One leg was plainly broken and now it was favoring the arm she had sliced, muscle and tendon severed. It was slowing, as it turned back towards the gate. The diminutive warrior moved in intending to hamstring the other leg. But the troll was far from finished. Quicker than a snake, it kicked out catching Talynne in the chest sending her flying. Hitting the base of a tree she felt a bone in her forearm snap. Tears leaked from her eyes in pain and she desperately fought to catch the breath the troll had kicked from her chest. The weight of the shield on her broken arm was intense and the world swam in red. Fumbling for her sword she went through the training to calm down and force her lungs to draw in the air they so desperately needed. The troll was now dragging itself toward her. Even as injured as it was, it still came on with alarming speed. Finally she managed to cut through the toughened leather straps and the shield fell away. With a scream of pain she stood and shambled back from the advancing troll. Blood leaked from its ruined nose and flowed from several wounds but still it came on. Talynne slowly circled to her left not allowing the troll to turn and follow her easily. Its broken leg won’t support it and it had to use its arm to stay up right. Talynne made a quick move forward and to the left. The troll spun quickly on its arm to follow. She spun back around and feinted to her right. The troll spun again to follow her but put its weight on the broken leg. It bellowed in pain as the leg buckled and bone tore out through its hide. Talynne spun back again to her left and brought her sword around through a dipping arc, tip slicing through the beasts elbow. It screamed in pain and rage as it collapsed and fell face first into gravel road. She continued to spin and again the blade flashed in a dipping arc this time slicing through leg muscle. Talynne stumbled to a halt and took shaky steps backwards trying to hold the swords point up in defensive stance. She stood panting, the pain of her broken arm making her sweat and grimace. Gods but she hurt. Hurt everywhere. She looked over to man the troll had obviously been trying to reach. He was awake again, staring at her. But the eyes were glazed; head wounds could be tricky. She looked back to the troll to see it was still trying to get up. Tendons in one huge shoulder and an elbow of one overly long arm severed, one leg crushed the other sliced open like a gutted fish, and still it was trying to come after her. She had to admire its brute strength and stubborn will. Catching her breath, she knew she had to finish the job. Even as nasty as trolls are, she could not leave it like that. Talynne circled and the troll tried to follow her but it was too crippled to keep up. She got around its side and the sword swung again, biting deep into the downed troll’s neck. With a scream of her own pain she swung again cutting into the tough vertebrae, severing spinal cords. Blood spurted and the beast gurgled its last dying breath.

Talynne staggered backwards and painfully fell to her knees. She supported herself with her sword and knelt on the gravel panting. ‘Shot in the back by a goblin Clan Guard, then almost fried by a Bone Caster, and now through a gateway to kill a troll. Single handed and in one day.’ she chuckled then winched. ‘Cracked rib for sure. This is what I get for volunteering. That cursed horse had still better be there.’ She stood to look towards the portal, it was definitely getting smaller. She would have to hurry or become trapped where ever here was. Stumbling over to the troll, she poked it in the ruined nose with her sword tip. No movement. ‘Ok it’s definitely dead.’ Talynne wiped her sword as best she could on the dead troll’s hide and cut off it's ragged excuse for a cloak. She turned to the iron contraption to see the man fumbling with what appeared to be a belt. She walked over and the man looked up at her.

“I can’t seem to get out.” was all he said before his eyes rolled back and he was out again.

“And why would a Bone Caster want you dead?” Talynne stood looking at the obviously soft man before her. This man was no warrior...although he could be a alchemist judging by this strange contraption he was trapped in. The smell of the liquids leaking from it supported that thought. The belt held him to the chair. She pulled but it refused to yield. Talynne looked at and realized it was actually a woven belt. Very finely woven with fibres she did not know. So she pulled out her dagger and cut it off. She tried to pull the unconscious man out only to discover there was another belt at his waist. With a sigh she bent over and grimaced in pain. The second belt was quickly cut and the man pulled free. 'Gods your heavier than you look.' She dragged him as far as she could with one arm, ribs burning like fire. The portal was definitely shrinking. Looking around, she threw her shield and helm through the portal. She whistled for her mount and the animal came grudgingly. 'Must be the smell of blood magic. Althoughtroll stenchlikely doesn't help' she thought. Tying the reins around the man's wrists she then urged the animal back pulling the man through. Quickly she scanned around. Her sword was lying beside the ruined... horseless cart? was all she could think of. Quickly she moved to retrieve the blade, then stopped and cut off a long section of the belt. Running while gritting her teeth, Talynne headed for the portal. It was smaller and dimmer. She had to duck to pass through back to her side. Back into the freezing of winter and deep snow. At once she realized how hot it had been and how much she had been sweating on the other side of the gate. She would need to find shelter quick and a fire. Her under padding was soaked through. It would freeze solid in no time and the sun was going down, barely a hand above the horizon. The unconscious man had no protection at all. Then she realized a large piece of the man's contraption had also come through the gate. She wanted to inspect it, but first things first. She walked over to the dead Bone Caster and dug the snow through to find his staff. Once in hand, she straightened then threw it as hard as she could at the nearest tree. The paincaused her to miss. 'Okay, fine.'. Talynne gathered her shield and placed it the horses feet. Taking a short rope from her saddle bag she tied it to the shield brace, then to the saddle. Holding one shield edge up, she got the horse to back up, pulling the man onto it. 'Best I can do on short notice.' Taking her sword, she cut off the cloak and clothing of the now headless goblin shaman. She shuttered at the remembrance of how close she had come to dying to its dark magic. Folding the mans arms and legs as best she could, she draped the clothing over his prone form. She could feel the ice forming under her armor. She lead the horse to where she had thrown the staff past the tree. 'Damn this snow is deep.' She dug around till she found it, then continued to lead the horse towards a copse of everblues. As she passed a big boulder sticking out of the snow, she again threw the staff as hard as she could. With a flash and a crack of thunder the staff 's crystal smashed and the boulder cracked. With a nod of satisfaction, she continued on to the everblues. She could come back later for the broken staff; no point in wasting good fire wood. Even broken, leaving a former mage staff laying around wasn't wise.

Talynne quickly cut a branch to make a small entrance to get under the largest everblue tree, then led the horse under, being carefull not to disturb too much snow. She didn't want to get buried now. Under the protective branches the ground was almost free of snow, just the lightest of dusting on the windward side. She was starting to shiver non stop; a bad sign. In very little time she had dug a smallpit and got a fire going. She thought that was pretty remarkable considering her hands would not stop shaking. Scrapping more fallen pine needles, she made two beds as close as she dared to the fire. Dragging the unconscious man then tumbling him off the shield was an exercise in pain. She needed to set her arm in a splint and bind her ribs. 'I could also use a fine roast stew and flagon of ale, hell make it brandy while we're wishing.' Talynne stripped off her armor, another painful experience. More branches onto the fire then she practically sat in it. Steam started to rise of her under padding. Boots and plated leggings were next. Finally she could feel the blessed warmth. She inspected the swelling of her forearm. Hoping she hadn't damaged the bone too badly, she selected a likely branch to strip into a splint. 'It's going to be a long night.'

By morning she had almost exhausted the available branches under the sheltering tree. The little sleep she had gotten wasn't enough and she could feel the graininess in her eyes. The belt she had cut from the... carriage made a fine sling for her splinted arm. At least her fingers hadn't gone numb, that was one relief. Aches and bruises hurt in everywhere. She knew she wouldn't be able to ride far, if at all. And the poor horse plowing through chest deep snow while dragging a man on a shield, it would never forgive her. Talynne wasn't due back to the garrison for another day, no one would be looking for her. And if she was a day late in this deep snow, no one would be surprised or worried. So Talynne used a charred branch to draw a map of about where she was on the back of the Blood Craven patch.'That will get their attention'. Detaching the reins from her horse, she tied the map to it's bridle and led the animal from under the branches.

“Go home boy. Find Karl, go find Karl.” The horses ears perked up at the name. She smiled and stroked the animals forehead. “That's right Karl. Go find Karl.” The horse nickered and set off without Talynne having to give it a smack on it's rump. Well trained and quite intelligent, it knew exactly where to find the head groom. “You find Karl and I'll forgive you for running off and leaving me to the damned goblin.” Shivering in the early morning cold, she ducked back under the everblue.

Dan opened his eyes and couldn't figure out the branches overhead. Or why it was so hot. Or why the needles on the pine were blue. Shivering while sweating he could feel the dull pain of his fractured nose. His chest hurt like he had been punched with a giant fist. And a smell. A god awful stench. It was the blanket covering him; he flung it off. Cold so cold. God it's so hot. Where was he? How did he get here? Dan, shivering and racked with fever stood up; the world spun and he fell. Still shaking with cold while sweat poured from his body Dan crawled towards the opening in the branches. A woman stepped under the branches, ribbons of color wove a complicated pattern around and through the woman. Pale and flowing they never stopped. Dan looked up at her dented and scratched armor, then promptly vomited on her boots. Concern on her face instantly passed to disgust as she jumped back. Dan lay where he was shaking with cold. God he was so hot! The woman bent down and peered into his face. She spoke but Dan's ears must have been stuffed with cotton. He was burning up with cold. The colored ribbons flowed everywhere, but he couldn't grasp them. Like smoke. He could barely hear her. And why was she talking in slow motion? His stomach heaved and Dan fought not to throw up again. The woman in red armor jumped back and Dan lost his battle to his stomach. It's so cold and I'm burning up. I have to get out. Where am I? Just get out. The woman was speaking to him again but he couldn't hear enough to understand her. The ground kept swaying, he could barely balance himself on hands and knees. The woman was grabbing him now, stopping him, but he had to get out. He struggled but she was too strong. The world spun and he shook with fire, burned with ice. He could fight her off but he had no strength. His stomach want to turn itself inside out. Sweat burned his eyes

Talynne struggled with the delirious man. He had a fever, she could feel the heat radiating from his body yet his skin was so cold. She was a little upset about his vomiting on her boots, but she wasn't going to let him leave. He needed to be by the fire more than ever. While he had almost no strength to fight her, he kept banging her splinted arm. 'Damn it that hurt!' A roundhouse punch to the jaw and his eyes rolled back; the man collapsed.

“Sorry.” Talynne apologized. But at least now she could get him back beside the fire. Once settled and recovered with the goblin cloaks, Talynne looked at the vomit with a grimace. She was unable to decide which smelt worse; the goblin's clothing or the puke. Damn she hated cleaning crap like that up Using her shield as a scoop she flicked the soiled pine needles outside, well away from the tree, then buried it under a lot of snow.. Time to find that mage's staff again. More fire wood then perhaps set a snare or two. Saddle provisions were ok but freshly cooked rabbit was better.

Mid afternoon the next day the birds suddenly went silent. Talynne, ears straining for any tell tale noise quietly gather up her helm and put it on. Sword in hand she crouched at the opening to the her little shelter. Horses. She could hear their breath streaming from their mouths, working against the deep snow. Coming closer but she could hear no talking. From a ways over to her left, she could hear more horses. With a smile she knew it was the Brigade come looking for her. Following her tracks no doubt. She stepped out into the sunlight. Red and gold armor greeted her sight.

“You men make so much noise, a dead troll could hear you coming.” she said in mock severity, hands on hips. Two helmed heads swiveled in unison.

“With your looks, no wonder the trolls dead.”

“No it must be that stench that killed it. Gods Tal, don't you ever bathe?” A third horse rode up.

“Enough!" barked the arriving commander. "Squadman, report!”

“Sir!” Talynne snapped to attention and saluted, fist to chest. “ Encountered single goblin, Blood Craven, Clan Guard. It's dead.” Looks were exchanged between the men dismounting in front of her. Blood Craven, this side of the river? The looks were obvious.

“You didn't get busted up like that from a lone goblin, Clan Guard or not.” Her commander said. He always did have a keen eye. “Your a mess.”

“No sir. A Bone Caster and a troll.” With the mentioning of those two dangerous creatures, the men were instantly on guard. Swords unsheathed, eyes looking everywhere at once. “Also both dead sir.” More looks, this time of incredulity, but the men hardly relaxed. “Sir I have something you had better see. Is there a healer with you?”

“Grithers, find Harline bring her here. Tell the others to keep watch” Grithers jumped back into the saddle and headed in the direction Talynne had rode down the blood mage. Talynne felt a little shock. Harline was the Brigades lead healer/priest/mage. She figured a healer would come but Harline herself!

“Thank you sir.” and she caught the wine skin tossed to her. A salute to the commander and she took a deep long drink. Fire burned down her throat and she almost gagged. “This is Kruther's!” Tears formed in the corners of her eyes, and she took another drink, but not quiet so deeply.”Your not supposed to know about his still.”

“In case we found you half dead.” Dasheen said with a smirk and a shrug. “If that doesn't heal you, it'll finish your misery.”

Talynne coughed and handed the skin back. “Yes sir.” Commander Dasheen smiled, as he handed the skin to the squad man next to him. Talynne reached into her pocket and pulled out the blood crystal. “I took this from the body.” Dasheen looked at the tear shaped crystal, but made no move to take it.

“Clan Guard for sure. Much of a fight?”

“Shot me in the back with a crossbow.” The commander's eyebrows shot up.

“A crossbow? Gods curse the sellers. When we find the bastards...”

“Yes sir...” Talynne stopped as a white horse rode up. Talynne bowed her head then saluted the mage. “Honor to you Healer.”

“And to you Squad man. So a Bone Caster seperated from his head! Quiet the story you have to tell.”

“Yes Ma'am. I have something you both need to see.” Talynee inclinded her head , then ducked under the everblue branches, the Commander and the Healer followed. Inside the unconscious man twitched in delirious fever dreams. With a frown the healer went straight to the him. Talynne pulled out the blood mage's staff. “I was going to burn this, but...” The healer took the staff and turn it over in her hands, then tossed it on the fire. She turned back to the figure lying on the ground.

“Fever, I can feel the heat yet his skin is ice. Wizaed's fever!” She looked at the commander, then Talynne and demanded “Where did you find this man?” The iron in the healers voice shocked Talynne.

“Wizard's fever? Surely this man is too old...” she cut the man off. Commander or not, the Healer would brook no argument.

“It's the feverand bad, I'm amazed he has lasted this long.” Then the piercing eyes settled on Talynne again. She could feel the weight of the world crushing her from behind that gaze. “Has he said anything, anything at all. And where did you find him?”

“On the other side of a gateway Ma'am. And no just mumbling about ribbons and colors. I couldn't make much out.” At the mention of colors, the healer's frowned deepened.

“A gateway! What in the nine hells were you doing in a gateway?” Her commander was clearly upset. So Talynne started from the arrow in the back. The Healer mixed some nasty smelling brew while listening to the tale.

“You rode down and beheaded a Bone Caster, then jumped through a gateway to chase a troll!” Her commander stared at her, as if she was a fist year cadet all over again. Talynne shrugged.

“I knew I was no match, but I figured I could at least warn people on the other side.”

“And you manged to kill it and survive! I don't know whether to believe you or not.”

“That was very brave and commendable. And incredibly stupid.” the Healer said over her shoulder.”We need to wrap this man up and get him back to the garrison. And burn these rags. What a stench.” She paused on her way out. “You can believe it Dasheen. That's troll stench you smell coming from that rag. And I saw an iron... thing... at the gateway site. I gave the men instructions to burn the other bodies. We'll find the other one on our way and burn it too” With a look at Talynne “And I want to hear this told again. This time with all the details.” Then with a knowing evil grin, she handed the remains of that nasty smelling brew to Talynne. "Drink this." Talynne looked at the vile thick liquid and grimiced.

“Yes Healer.”

Harline gently took Talynne's splinted arm. Passing her fingers over the swelling the healer priest eyes were looking right through her. Talynne could feel a slight tingling.

“Fractured but set. I'll give you more complete healing when we get back. Commander, do you think it was time we were away from here?” thenwith iron once more in her voice; "Drink that.Now." Talynne complied with a grimace.

“Yes Healer, past time.” Dasheen strode from the under the tree shouting for the men to assist the Healer and to assemble. While he officially outranked her, no one over rode the King's top mage.