Part 41 (1/2)
For the first series of moments, Sam heard Kael laugh, and then the blade responded. ”So what's the plan?”
”Beats the heck out of me,” Sam shrugged. ”It's not like I go charging into the belly of toads every Peak, you know? Let me think about this a bit.” Sam rolled over to take another look, but Grogger was gone. The king looked up. To his surprise, the shapple toad was falling from the sky. The beast was going to land on the back side of their position on the side of the hill he had ascended.
Sam quickly commanded Kael to bring forth his fire. Further, he commanded the blade to protect his skin from the acid inside the toad's belly. He tucked Kael tight to his body to ensure that he did not drop the weapon and kept its point facing the ground. He closed his eyes, balled up tight, and waited.
The ground shook as Grogger landed. Sam could hear the screams of the souls wailing from inside the toad's stomach as it opened its mouth. The force with which Grogger's tongue pulled them inside nearly knocked Sam unconscious, but somehow, the king avoided breaking a bone. In fact, the toad swallowed them so quickly, the flame of Kael's blade did not have a chance to burn the creature until they were inside its stomach.
As the lining of the toad's stomach sizzled, Grogger stirred as his guts took the brunt of Kael's heat.
The motion helped Sam regain his composure. When the king opened his eyes, he found himself in a pocket of protection. A man dressed as a hunter was holding the missing piece of the crystal, and he was staring at him.
Grogger hopped around the side of the hill in pain, throwing Sam and the hunter around inside him. The king fought through the pain that was inflicted by Grogger's tongue and buried Kael deep into the floor of the beast's stomach. ”Hang on!” he shouted.
Both men could hear Grogger's horrific cry. Suddenly, the pile of bodies beyond the protective barrier began to s.h.i.+ft as the walls of the beast's stomach began to spasm. The toad was going to barf.
Sam reached over and pulled the hunter close. ”Here we go! This is going to get messy!” Sam commanded Kael to extend his blade.
Like projectiles, every being inside Grogger's belly was expelled into the open, all of them landing across the hillside.
As they were pushed out, Sam had held tight to Kael's handle. The blade sliced the toad from its belly through the beast's mouth. The size of Grogger instantly reduced once the mound of bodies had been vomited up. The brutal cut left the toad lifeless and the lower half of its body had been split open.
Sam stood and wiped the stomach juices off his clothes. ”d.a.m.n, I've dissected plenty of frogs, but that was ridiculous.”
The king commanded Kael's flame to dissipate. He wiped the blade clean as best he could under the circ.u.mstances and then extended his hand toward the hunter. ”What's your name?”
”My name is Geylyn Jesthrene, from Hyperia.”
The king reached out and took the piece of the Crystal Moon. ”This is what I came for. I hope you don't mind, but I need to take this bad boy with me.”
Geylyn nodded. ”Yes. Yes. Please, take it.”
”Geylyn, it looks like this is your lucky Peak. How long were you inside the toad's belly, and how did you protect yourself from the acid?”
”I cannot answer,” the hunter responded. ”I've been commanded to hold my tongue. The crystal is yours. I must return home without speaking further. Thank you for saving me, sir.”
Geylyn pulled a small scroll from beneath his s.h.i.+rt, read the words aloud and then vanished. Sam watched tracks appear as Geylyn's invisible form worked its way down the hillside toward the water of the swamp.
Sam lifted Kael to his mouth. ”How's that for grat.i.tude? Let's find my pack and help as many as we can. We've got to get them out of here.”
Before a step could be taken, Mosley appeared beside Sam. The wolf-G.o.d said nothing at first and gave the king a moment to think.
Sam was pleased to see Mosley, but he knew he had to swallow his pride. ”I owe you an apology for how I spoke to you in my throne room. I was out of line. I'm sorry. Are we still friends?”
”Of course we are, Sam. I knew you'd eventually calm down as your moments pa.s.sed.” Mosley stopped to sniff the air. He then lowered his snout to the ground and began exploring his surroundings. After the third half-digested body, the wolf looked up and snorted to clear his nostrils. ”To gaze upon one's demise would make anyone think about what's important. I know you're struggling with Shalee's unfaithfulness, Sam, but I want you to know that with enough moments, that pain will also pa.s.s. Your anger with the queen will be replaced with love. Everything will be as it should be. Once you leave the swamp, you may want to return to Grayham. War is coming to Western Luvelles, and your presence here is no longer necessary.”
”What about Shalee? I can't leave her behind.”
Mosley tilted his furry head. ”Where is she?”
”She began the trials to meet with the Source. Brayson sent her to look into the Eye.”
When the wolf did not respond, Sam could tell that Mosley knew something he was not sharing. ”What's on your mind? I can sense you're conflicted.”
The wolf took a long, deep breath. ”I wish I could tell you, Sam. I desperately want to share with you, but Ba.s.sorine demanded that I stay silent.”
”Why? What are you talking about?”
”I must go, Sam. I'll come to you again at a later moment. I must join this piece of the crystal with the others.” The wolf vanished and so did the piece of crystal from Sam's hand.
”d.a.m.n that wolf!” Sam snapped. After a moment, the king redirected his attention. He removed the small vial that Brayson had given him, and after a close inspection of all the figures scattered across the hillside, he decided he could save only 10 of them.
The Village of Gogswayne That night, the goswigs could not believe their eyes as King Ultor made his way onto the banks of Crystal Lake. The Ultorian King had sent Swill and Syse ahead to summon the goswigs to a meeting. Everyone was present, except for Strongbear.
The king's skin finished changing as he stood in front of nearly 1,000 creatures that held the t.i.tle goswig. Ultor looked at Gage. ”Where's Strongbear?”
Gage did not want to answer. ”He's hibernating, Your Majesty.”
”Why would the bear be hibernating? The season hasn't changed yet.”
The goswig population began to murmur, all of them unsure how the badger was going to explain the situation. They had agreed that Gallrum would avoid telling the king about the uniting of their magic to bring winter to their underground village, but now they were forced to face the consequences of their actions.
Gage decided to tell the truth. ”Your Majesty, Strongbear was driving us mad. We were tired of listening to his orders, so we pooled our magic to bring in the new season to our village. We're all against him and are no longer with him.”
The reaction Gage received was not what the goswigs expected. Ultor began to laugh. The badger had to reach down to hold his stomach as the gagging motion of the Ultorian's laugh made him sick.
Eventually, the king settled down. ”Who organized this use of power?”
Every goswig pointed at Gage.
Again, the king laughed. On each occasion Ultor lunged forward, Gage did too. The badger's stomach was cramping as a result of the tension he felt because of the Ultorian's strange laugh.
Eventually, Ultor's enjoyment of the moment subsided. ”You must wake Strongbear. The white army has requested that the goswigs fight beside them in the upcoming war. Strongbear's magic will be needed on the Battlegrounds of Olis. I shall return tomorrow after dark.”
Ultor strolled back into the water. His skin once again changed to an iridescent blue as his large wings began to emerge from his back.
Gage tapped his staff against the ground as he turned to face the goswig ranks. ”Great! Now we've got to wake him.” He mocked, ”Are you with me ... or are you against me?”
All the goswigs grumbled as they headed home.
The Next Peak, Early Bailem Shalee and Gregory are working their way through the Void Maze. Since George killed most of the creatures inside the dungeon's corridors, they are left with just the task of finding their way through it.
Kepler and Payne are waiting for George to return from his visit with the Source. Kepler has decided to teach Payne to speak correctly. The pace at which Payne is learning is unexpected. Because of this, the demon-cat has decided to embrace the little freak and accept his company as permanent. Kepler hates to admit it, but Payne is growing on him.
Mary, Athena, Susanne and baby Garrin are inside Mary's home having breakfast. The events of the night before last are fresh in Mary's mind, despite the hangover she still has from the effects of the Mesolliff wine.
Boyafed has set up camp. The Dark Order leader is waiting for Sam to exit Grogger's swamp.