Chapter 53: Frieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeend

Vivi and Orko shouted at the beast to stop, or they'd use their magics, but it didn't listen.

"Blast it!" Orko called, fearful for Zentarou's life. Staff and wand were lifted, and...

"Wait!" Dregan burst from the underbrush. He ran fearlessly up to the beast, causing the others to lower their magical items, and hit it twice on the muscular arm with the flat of his hand. "He's a friend! Put him down!" The beast looked at Dregan, and opened its mouth in a fearsome grin. Abruptly it dropped Zentarou - the cat scrambled away the instant he was able - and caught the elf up in another hug, lifting the mage right off his feet.

"Frieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeend," the beast drawled slowly, but eagerly.

"Yes, friend," Dregan agreed, his voice a bit squished-sounding.

"Elf mage frieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeend." The creature talked a bit like a child. He set Dregan down and patted him on the head with a massive hand.

"Oof. Yes, I missed you too." Dregan pointed at the others. "Friends, Render. Elf mage's friends. Don't hurt."

"Frieeeeeeeeeeeeends?"

"Yes. Friends." The Render, as it apparently was, stepped over to Zentarou and patted his head.

"Render sorry. Frieeeeends?"

"Um... yeah. We're friends." The expression on his face at being petted was almost enough to make the others laugh. The Render smiled that same toothy grin, and looked back at Dregan.

"Wild elf friend miss elf mage. Search for with all elf friends." The Render puffed up a bit. "Let Render guard little elf friends." Dregan smiled.

"Anything try to hurt little elf friends?" The Render thumped himself on the chest.

"Render protect little elf friends!" He sounded rather proud.

"Good!"

"Did the demons come here?" Zentarou asked, which got a confused look. Vivi grinned, trying to think in the Render's terms.

"Big mean monsters, with black skin and claws. Demons who want to hurt elf friends." The Render nodded.

"Monsters come. Hurt woods. Wild elf friend chase away with big lizard and big cat. Monsters no get elf friends. Then wild elf friend make trees better." That got a big sigh of relief from the Bretheren. The Render patted Dregan on the head again, apparently his sign of affection.

"Pretty elf miss elf mage lots. Cry lots and lots. Made other friends real sad."

"She'll be happy now," Orko spoke up, getting a nod.

"Lots happy now! Smile pretty smile again." Dregan grinned.

"Render don't tell elf friends elf mage home. Big surprise." The Render grinned the nodded.

"Biiiiiiiiiig surprise. Render no tell."

"Thanks." Render looked at Zentarou, who was rubbing his ribs, with concern.

"Render hurt furry kitty friend?" Before anyone could answer, the Render moved off into the forest, and swiftly returned with a fistful of leaves. "Render help make better." Zentarou took some of the leaves, not sure what to do, but then the Render put a couple of the leaves halfway into his mouth, bit them just enough to tear the skin, and sucked on it.

"Um..."

"He seems to know what he's doing," Dregan assured. "Kest taught him a lot." Zentarou shrugged, bit a leaf, and sucked on it. His eyes widened a bit.

"It's a natural pain-killer," he explained, taking the leaf out of his mouth to speak. "And a fast-acting one." He smiled at the Render. "Thank you. Render good friend!" The Render beamed, patted Zentarou, once more suckling the leaf, on the head again, then shook a finger at Dregan.

"Elf mage go home. No make pretty elf cry again." They all chuckled at the scolding tone.

"I promise. I'll go straight home, and never make her cry again."

"Good elf mage." With a final pat for Dregan, the Render moved back into the woods.

"Trolly-molly!" Dregan laughed.

"I know, it takes quite a bit to get used to him. But he's the best protector I could imagine, after my family and Adynaeus." He waved them to follow. "The Syndisian Sword if this way." They followed him along a natural trail that eventually led -after almost an hour of walking - to a straight, northern, well-maintained path. A signpost next to it read: Black Dragon Road.

"Black Dragon Road?" Vivi read aloud.

"A little joke. Kest has a special hatred for evil black dragons, and visa versa. No dragons of that sort have ever come back from Black Dragon Road." They strolled down the road, feeling carefree and lighthearted. And their good humor improved upon reading the several signs that stood on the side of the road en route:

Careful! You are now approaching the Syndisian Sword Tavern, the home of oddities. (That got a few laughs.)

CAUTION: Any items or appendages that hang loosely should be removed and stowed or wrapped securely. (Zentarou asked 'Why?" with a backwards glance at his tail. Dregan just replied that following that sign was a good idea.)

CAUTION! Don't tick off the one with a longest ears. - Either of them. (That last bit was in Dregan's handwriting. The Dunedi commented that following this sign was an even better idea. They shared a laugh.)

Do not try to attack/banish/kill/smite/et cetera the Nimpits. (That one got a three-toned chorus of "What's a Nimpit?" Dregan just smiled.)

The final sign read:

Welcome to the Syndisian Sword Tavern!

Come in, rest a while, catch a drink and a bite

Amidst safety and companionship

and stay, maybe, for a night.

Dregan sighed happily, as through the next line of trees the Syndisian Sword Tavern/Inn could be seen. Suddenly they heard the sound of a door opening, and children's laughter. Dregan slipped into the woods beside the path and, with the other mages following, crept secretively up to the edge of the clearing.

Peering in, they saw eight children; each set of four more of less the same age to determining who was the eldest was impossible. The children began to play some sort of child's game of make-believe adventure. Dregan watched them, smiling, a light mist forming in his eyes.

The last Bretheren Arcanum was home at long last.