Part 24 (1/2)
”Until recently, we would have thought that entering into the Otherworlds without the cloak of death would have been impossible.” He looked at me and my roommate. ”But when we found out that Jayne and Tim had recently entered the Underworld while fully alive, we knew that it was, in fact, possible. The key was to figure out how it happened and how we could then duplicate the process.”
Oh boy. Everyone was looking at me, and I couldn't help but wonder what the chances were that they'd be able to figure out how to do all this without talking to me about it or having me actually be the one doing it. I wasn't so sure I could do it again, especially if everyone was kind of counting on it. Expectations tended to throw off my mojo when it came to this magic c.r.a.p - or anything else, really.
”We discussed Jayne's process with the council members who were privileged enough to hear her story, and we also involved some witches who have had some dealings with demons and angels in their communication spells. It seems that it could be possible to send a small group of fae into the Otherworlds for the purpose of contacting the guardians in their realms.”
The whispering started around the table, but Gregale continued.
”It's not without its risks, though, so we must caution the council that whoever they choose to take these journeys, for surely there will be at least two - one into each realm - will do so at great personal risk. It is very likely that not all who go will return.”
”What are the odds?” asked Ben.
”Depending on the race of the fae, the odds range from three-to-one, to twenty-five-to-one.”
I wondered which category I fell into, and then very quickly decided I didn't want to know. I didn't want to go on this little trip in the first place; and if I did have to go, I wouldn't want to know that I was probably the one who was going to not make it back. It was better to go in b.a.l.l.s-out, thinking you were going to come out alive with a new dragon friend than to go in worrying about when you were going to lose your head or get it sizzled off.
”I volunteer to go,” said Niles. ”Dwarves have long held symbiotic relations.h.i.+ps with dragons. I believe we have the best odds of success.”
Gregale looked a little uncomfortable at that, and Tony started fidgeting. That told me Niles could possibly be overestimating his awesomeness, at least as far as the gray elves were concerned.
Dardennes looked at Gregale. ”Have you put together a list of candidates?”
”As a matter of fact, we have, Anton. Here you are,” he said, handing Dardennes a small scroll. ”I must say that Tony, our young wrathe, was quite instrumental in constructing this list. He's very good at the game of chess, which uses various pieces to maneuver around a constrained area with numerous threats present and a limited ability to antic.i.p.ate the moves of the opposition. We find his reasoning to be superbly applicable to this particular situation.”
Dardennes gave Tony a brief smile and then opened the scroll, his eyes scanning the list of names.
My palms began to sweat as I wondered if any of my friends would soon be risking life and limb for the fae and humans both.
Dardennes' eyebrow went up a little and then up some more until it finally disappeared into his white hair. He looked over at Gregale when he was done. ”Are you sure about this?”
Gregale nodded. ”As sure as we can be. It took the greatest amount of our time, constructing this group from the fae we have available here.”
”What were your criteria?” asked Niles.
”There were many, of course,” started Gregale.
Tony stepped in when Gregale seemed to hesitate. ”We looked at the environments they'd be going into, the dangers they'd face and different threats we know are present, their particular skills and talents, and last, their positions here.”
”Meaning what?” asked Niles.
”Meaning, if they are more or less expendable to our community, they were higher on the list of potential candidates,” said Tony, unapologetically.
”Do you mean to suggest that the fae on this list are considered expendable?” asked Dardennes, clearly offended by the idea.
”No, not at all,” explained Tony. ”But some have roles here that are more critical and hard to fill than others.”
”Which does not explain to me how certain fae could be on this list since they are the only ones who fulfill certain roles and can be the only ones to do so.”
I got a s.h.i.+ver up my spine on that one, knowing there were only a couple fae in this place who fit that description, Ben and me being two of them.
”We had to weigh the options, like I said. While someone may be critical to our community here, his or her skills or talents might be so important to the success of the mission that we cannot leave this particular fae out or it will surely fail.”
Dardennes took in a deep breath and let it out in a long, unhappy sigh. ”I have no problem sharing this list of names with the council, but I am not prepared to agree that it is a definitive list. We reserve the right to add and subtract as we see fit.”
Tony and Gregale nodded their heads. ”Of course,” said the gray elf. ”We are merely here to consult for you, not to take it upon ourselves to subst.i.tute our judgment for the council's.”
Tony looked up at me, his face a mask of stress and self-doubt now. I squinted my eyes at him and nodded my head, trying to tell him he was awesome and had nothing to worry about. I'd totally back him up, no matter what. I sent out the vibe as hard as I could. You rock, Tony Baloney. Whatever you put on that list is good enough for me.
He smiled briefly before going back to being his serious wrathe self.
”Don't keep us in suspense any longer, Anton. Out with it,” said Red.
Dardennes held up the scroll and began reading off the names.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE.
DARDENNES' VOICE RANG OUT, BRAVE and unwavering.
”Ben the elemental.”
I could have guessed that one.
Tim said softly near my ear, ”Could his head possibly get any bigger? I think not.”
”Jared the daemon.”
Ditto. He knew how to fight.
Tim added. ”I'd pick him too.”
”Niles the dwarf.”
That was going to make the little shrimp happy. And he'd fought enough times and won to prove he could outlive almost every other dwarf on the planet. Maybe he had special ninja moves or something. I planned to pay better attention to his techniques if I ever got the chance to watch him fight again.
Tim snickered. ”He'd be like a delicious jalapeno popper for a dragon. Why'd they pick him?”
”Samantha the witch.”
Gag me. Why is she always in my face?
Tim's commentary p.i.s.sed me off this time. ”Now she and Ben can get it on in three realms instead of just one.”
I reached back to flick him but he was in too awkward a position for me to reach.
”Finn the green elf.”