I woke from a vivid dream of wasps chasing me through Lesser Faydark. I sat up in bed. I could hear shouting and bargaining from the square below. The apartment was quiet, though, so I knew that Uncle Zophia and Tinna had gone to sleep.
As I put my boots on, I thought about Uncle Zophia. The poor fellow, retired and all his magic gone -- but as hard as I tried I couldn't believe that Tunare would forsake him after his lifetime of service. I could ask Father, of course, but I knew what he'd say. He'd tell me Zophia's wish to help those not beloved of Tunare had been his downfall. But that wouldn't be right. The Mother of All would not ignore one of her own after sixty seasons of faithful service. That was the only thing I knew for sure.
Gathering my things, I made up my mind to help Zophia. He and Tinna would be happier if they could travel easily again. I had to find someone else to talk to about this. But where would I start? I didn't know many druids besides the ones in Kelethin, and I knew they'd all stick to the same line as Father and the Heartwood Master would.
At the bottom of my pack, I found some stationery Mother had given me before I left home. A small stab of guilt reminded me I hadn't told Father where I was yet. Promising myself I'd get to that sooner or later, I wrote a note:
Dear Uncle Zophia and Tinna, you have been very kind to me. I have appreciated your hospitality, yet I must continue my journey. I know not where it will take me next, but I promise to stay in touch. Love, Gwion.
I sneaked out into the living room and left the note on the table. Then I took a last look at Zophia and Tinna, resisting the temptation to wake them up to say goodbye.
"I'll come back, dear Uncle," I whispered, "I swear it." Zophia stirred in his sleep, and I froze, afraid he'd wake. But he didn't. I left as quietly as I could.
Downstairs, the bartender smiled as he put a muffin and a cup of tea on the counter. "Leaving us?" he said, pointing to my backpack.
"For a while," I said. "But I'll come back soon." He moved off to help someone else and I stared into my tea, taking inventory of everyone I knew in the world. Did Bankerra know any druids? No, she'd been surprised when I invoked the Spirit of the Wolf for her. Wrixlan seemed a well-travelled fellow, but what if he didn't know any other druids either? I didn't want to make that long horrid run to their camp for nothing. Then I remembered, I did know someone who knew a lot of other people. I gulped my tea down and rushed off, hoping I was heading toward the docks.
It took half an hour of wrong turns, but at last I found the Port Authority. I ran out onto the docks. "Hm," I muttered, "If I were a cardshark with bad breath, where would I be?" Then I heard laughing, and smelled beer. "Hah! I'd be in a bar!"
My courage almost deserted me at the door of the Seafarer's Roost, but I managed to walk in. I stood near the door, scanning the half-full room. The bartender was busy telling a story to a gnome and a drow. In one corner, some warriors poked a passed-out companion. Goodness, it was only noon. They must have been at it all night.
"Hullo," said a very deep voice behind me. I turned to see the biggest, ugliest being I'd ever encountered in my short life. He was brownish-green in color, taller even than the barbarians I'd fought the day before, and much wider as well. His clothes were crudely sewn together. In one hand he held a staff almost bigger than I was; in the other, what looked like a totem. His yellow eyes gleamed in the half-light.
I tried to speak, but nothing came out. My staff clattered to the floor. I wanted to run, but my body wasn't responding.
"Not be scareded, little Elf," he said. "Me likes Elfs. Here," he bent to pick up my staff, "You drop dis."
"Uh --" At last my arm obeyed, and I reached out to take the staff. "Uh -- thank you, uh --"
"Me Razgum," he said. "You not see troll befores?" He leaned his head querulously to one side.
"Heh! Lookit that, will ya?" Ninian put his hand on my shoulder. The little creep was laughing fit to choke himself. "Heh, I don't think she's met anybody like you before, Raz! Hoo hoo!" He wiped a tear of laughter from his eye. "Boy, wish I had a picture of your face, Sister!"
My head and neck thawed suddenly, and I turned toward him. "Gwion," I said.
"See there?" Ninian clapped me on the back. "Still alive! Don't mind ol' Raz, he won't hurt ya. He just -- well, let's say he won't win any beauty contests around here! Heh!"
"Hey!" Razgum looked offended. "You not nice. Mom tink me handsome."
"Woof! I don't think I want to see what your mother looks like, Raz old buddy," Ninian said, leading us toward a table.
"Ale?" said Ninian when we'd sat down. I took the mug he offered and drank half of it in one long gulp. I was still shaken up, but the troll didn't seem like he wanted to hurt me.
"Razgum here's from Grobb," Ninian continued. "Not a lot of stuff there, except trolls, I guess. Never been there myself."
"Lots of trolls," said Razgum. "Me like trolls, but trolls not like elfs. Except Razgum. Razgum like elfs." He nodded earnestly.
"Yeah, good thing, there, Raz-man," said Ninian. "I wouldn't want to be an elf pie."
"Me not like elf pie. Razgum like frogs!" The troll drooled a little, then, looking somewhat embarrassed, hastily wiped his chin on his sleeve.
"Uh, right," Ninian said. "Frogs. So, Sis-- Gwion, what brings you to the docks? Wanna get in a drinking contest? I think those warriors over there are looking for a replacement. Heh!"
"No," I said. "I need to know where I can find a druid."
"Druids," Ninian said. "Hmm. What about Kelethin? I mean, no offense to your intelligence or anything, but isn't that place lousy with 'em?"
"Yes." I sighed. "In fact I am one. But I need another one. I have to find someone to talk to who isn't from Kelethin -- or who's been away for a long time."
"Heh! Well, all right, I won't ask why." Ninian waited for me to tell him why. I didn't. He shrugged and drank some ale. "Uh, hum, let me think." He frowned. "All the druids I know are from Kelethin. I know a lot of people from Kelethin. You ever met that Heartwood Master guy? Sheeesh!" He shook his head. "What a stiff! That guy's got no sense of humor. One little thorn on his chair and the guy goes ape."
I laughed. "You didn't! How did you get into his study?"
"Heh! Trade secret, Sister." Ninian tapped his temple. "Trade secret."
"I wish I'd been there to see that."
Razgum suddenly grinned, showing rows of pointy yellow teeth. He bounced in his seat and tapped Ninian on the shoulder. Ninian winced. "You know something, Raz?" he said.
"Razgum know druid!" He bounced some more. The table shook. I grabbed my mug to keep it from falling over.
"Well don't keep us in suspense, man. Where?" Ninian patted Razgum on the shoulder.
Razgum's face fell. He was silent for a moment. "Me forget," he sighed at last. "Hmmm. Druid was little little tiny man." He held his thumb and index finger about an inch apart. "But he has big big feets. Almost as big as Razgum's." He nodded.
"Big feet?" I said. That sounded familiar -- then I remembered Uncle Zophia's story. "Hey, where's that place, Ninian, the little town of the halflings?"
"Rivervale!" Ninian nodded. "I been there once. Not like I could go back again, but I think I can tell you how to get there. Druids all over the place. Yeah. Heh! I forgot all about those halflings!"
I finished off my ale. "Well," I said. "Thanks, Razgum. I guess that's where I'm going next. Ninian, can you draw me a map?"
"Heh! Easy," Ninian said. "You know how to find West and everything, right?"
"Uh, yeah, sure," I said. "No problem. No problem at all."
