Chapter VI: To Fitzigigg Cottage

The trek through the tunnels below Tradesdale were much longer than expected. Aeroth couldn't be certain, but they stopped and rested enough time for almost a fortnight to have passed. How much longer would they be down here? Could the Trickster be trusted? Where was he taking them? How far would they be from Horatio's cottage when they emerged?

Despite the grumblings of the group, he could not help but feel his spirits lifting. Caves, dungeons... they were his home. This felt like Cöthrom in many ways... so Aeroth couldn't help but smile secretly to himself as they pressed forward. He excelled at memorizing twisted tunnels, so during their long journey he played a game with himself to see if he could recognize their path.

When they stopped, the Trickster would disappear for an hour or two. But he would always return, usually with a few skinned rabbits, and some stale bread. They did not feast, but they did not famine either.

Then, at long last, when they thought they could march no more, when they could hardly remember what it was like to breathe fresh air an bask in sunlight, there cam a lit corner of the tunnel, revealing a tall sort of ladder. Up and up they went until a noise began to ring in their ears and light began to stream down at them from a hole up above. What was that sound? Perhaps water? But a lot of it-pouring down right over their heads.

They emerged on the underside of a waterfall. And when the last member was out (Aurora was grumbling from the added weight of the baby on her back), the Trickster turned and gave a big, swooping bow.

"I'm afraid this is where we part ways, my friends. It's been charming, I can assure you. And would that I could continue on with you where you're going. But I'm afraid I do have business elsewhere. However, it's not far from here to where you're going. And if you're swift of foot, you'll make it there by nightfall. And might I suggest that you do make it there before nightfall, considering your history with that sort of thing?"

Tic protested. "But how are we supposed to find Fitzigg cottage without you?"

"My guess is to ask the magician." The Trickster shrugged. "But it's not far from here. You can be there by nightfall if you walk fast. And I suggest you do."

"And where are you going exactly?" Asked Aeroth.

"Places. Places of business. Ah, but that's my little secret, mmm? I would wager a game of cards that we'll be seeing each other again soon, though. I flock towards those things that peak my curiosity, and you, my friends... well, you're very curious indeed." Though he wore no hat, he pretended to tip the rim to us in a grand gesture. "Farewell, curious mice. I hope you find your cheese."

And he was gone.

With a glance at their map, it was true. They'd come to the falls just south of Fitzigg cottage, and could well make their way there by nightfall. None of them had forgotten the experience on the road to Tradesdale. Wyveryn and Tic shivered collectively when thinking of the Bâhlmüt. Yes, it would be best to get there by nightfall and no later.

Each area of the Fearwood sparked different internal responses from Wyveryn, Tic, and Marco, the three most accustomed to forests. Here, as the sun sank into the sky, there was not that sense of there being something "wrong" as there had been on the road to Tradesdale. Rather, there was a sense of something shifting... as if every time they turned around, several of the trees had moved from their rooted spots. It was unnerving.

The baby sat in the sling across Banger's back, but seemed sick and unresponsive. They'd tried everything to heal her, but it seemed that the only chance of that would be to help her find her way home... wherever that was.

"I don't like this at all." Banger said under her breath.

"Me neither." Wyveryn and Tic agreed in unison.

"Do we ever like the predicament we find ourselves in?" Marco said, slightly annoyed.

"Better than a black dragon breathing down our necks." Pointed out Tic.

When the sun set at long last, a small light could be seen up ahead. The group silently shared glances, and mutually agreed to go forward. Marco knew this path well enough. He only hoped the old professor was home. This was no time for more surprises.

*****

The forest thickened as they drew closer to the light, but a sense of calm welcomed them to this place. Although it was highly unlike any forest Wyveryn or Tic had ever traveled, there was something overlooking it... like a fatherly presence. Now, this did not stop Aeroth, Banger or the others from being cautious and keeping their hands on the hilts of their swords. Too much had happened for them to let down their guard now. But when they came to the small wooden bridge and crossed it, they knew they had passed into Fitzigigg Territory.

The cottage was a hovel--half hut, half woven into the trunk of a Giant Sequoia tree. Tiny window were the sources of light they'd seen from the distant hillside, and a welcome series of stones led the way up to the front door.

Aeroth started with the orders again.

"Marco, you take the rear. I'll go to the front, Banger, Jewelynna, stay back--"

"Oh for the love of Tyr, Aeroth, sometimes a hut is just a hut!" And with that, Tic placed a rap, rap, rap on the old door.

There was nothing at first... then a scuffling... then a muffled voice, wavered with age.

"... Guests, Willowfoot.... see what's about.... No, don't get up. I'm at the door."

A click. A creek. Out peered a long nose, a white beard and a pair of spectacles. The nose sniffed, the beared wiggled, and the pair of gray eyes behind the spectacles darted about. When they landed on the magician, the door flew open wide in and out stepped the most peculiar old wizard any of them had ever seen.

The pointy hat on the top of his head was decorated with silver stars. His robes were black, his sash was blue and there were trinkets of unusual sorts about his neck. Horatio Fitzigigg walked with a slight stooped hunch, and there was a wobble to his finger when he pointed. But despite all that hair around his mouth, he broke into a grin.

"Marcus Magentum! How are you, old boy?! You're so much more handsome than when you were a short, spindly lad!"

He threw his arms open wide and the party watched in amusement as Marco found himself engulfed in a big bear hug. The magician blushed, but returned the embrace with affection.

Horatio pulled away, and considered each party member, with a brief pause on Wyveryn.

"And what friends did you bring to my hut tonight, Marcus?"

"Perhaps introductions can be made inside?"

"Of course! Of course! How rude of me. How silly of me. WILLOWFOOT!!! PREPARE THE TEAPOT! WE HAVE GUESTS!!!!!"

He shuffled them inside. The cottage, which had looked so tiny from beyond the door, was a vast expansive home on the inside. The den area was circular, covered with a hand woven rug. The kitchen was off to the left, with the smell of warm soup cooking. Several stairways led up and down to places unknown--perhaps bedrooms, perhaps magical chambers? Who could tell? For they were so busy taking in the waterfall of books strewn about that they could see not much else. Books overflowed into each and every room. Thick books, then books, old books, older books. Banger tripped on near the doorway and was saved by Tic's quick reflexes.

In the middle of the beautiful round den was a small stone pillar. It sat, quite complacently, as if waiting for something.

"WILLOWFOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Horatio was bumbling about in the kitchen, peering under books and inside of cabinets.

"I see you fired your cleaning maid." Marco observed.

"Couldn't stand the woman. Always meddling in my things. You want something done right, Marcus, you simply must do it yourself. Like making TEA for example. WILLOWFOOT!!!!!!"

"Who is Willowfoot?" Muttered Aeroth.

"Oh, he's just my rat. WILLOWFOOT!!!!! Ah, there you are!!"

The rat was large, gray and fat. Very fat. A more well-fed rat, they had never seen. But it perked its whiskers about curiously and seemed to almost swoop its head in a bow. To their alarm, Horatio began carrying on a conversation with the rodent as if it were perfectly capable of speaking the common language.

"Where have you been, you naughty little rat? I've been looking for you. We have guests! Yes, the tea. Would you be so kind? Thank you. No, I don't know where they're from, but perhaps the magician will tell us. In any case, we must make them welcome. No droppings on the carpet, do you hear me?"

"Marco, is your friend crazy?" Aeroth muttered under his breath.

But the magician simply smiled. "Only when he chooses to be."

The baby, who'd appeared physically sick and had been very quiet, perked up when they handed her over. Horatio held her and cooed at her and tickled her under her chin. When he touched her, she seemed to regain a bit of what she'd lost on the long journey.

"This one needs to go home." He commented.

"Yes, but where's that?" Asked Aeroth.

"Well, that would be a very good question, wouldn't it? WILLOWFOOT???!!!" The little rodent came trotting over. "Where is the child's home? Do you know?... Yes?... Yes?... Yes?... You don't say..."

Aeroth waited patiently, then asked, "Well? What did he tell you?"

"He doesn't know."

The party heaved a collective sigh of irritation.

This banter went on for some time. The longer they stayed, the more they relaxed as a collective whole, though there were still glaces to towards the window as if expecting something to jump through it at any moment. Banger and Jewelynna strolled around the foyer, touching things and exploring the room. Aeroth and Wyveryn attempted communication with the old man, quickly discovering the Horatio Fitzigigg had a one track mind when it came to lost things... such as his rat. And all of his answers merely ended in a loud shout of the rodent's name.

It was decided that Marco & Tic would go outside to gather food and to scout for trouble. With them gone, Wyveryn was bolder than ever as he explored the pillar in the center of the room. It was only then that Horatio snapped out of the search for his rat.

"Don't get your fingerprints on that, young man. That is very important."

"This? But it's just a pillar."

"Just a--!" Horatio's cheeks flushed red as he scrambled for his spectacles. "Just a pillar! Is the sun JUST a sun? Is the sky JUST the sky? And are you really as dumb as you look?"

"Now just a--"

"A pillar, indeed!" Scoffed the old man. "It is a foretelling column. Only I've lost the bauble that goes on top. Been looking for it all morning and well into the afternoon. And that's about the time that I lost track of the old rat, whose probably the one who stole it from me in the first place! WILLOWFOOT!"

Under his breath, to Aeroth, Wyveryn muttered, "I can't believe we came all this way just to find him. This old man is crazy."

At the word "crazy", Horatio glared directly at the bad-tempered half-elf. "Crazy, huh? Well, I've got better hearing than even a half-elf, it seems, whose whisper is so soft it alert a whole army. Just for that, you've lost your tea privileges."

Wyveryn sighed grumpily, enduring the glares of Aeroth and the others.

"Just help him find the bauble, would you, Wyveryn?" The Paladin muttered. "You'd think after all we've been through, you'd be grateful for the hospitality."

"Grateful." He thought of a retort, but decided it was best to keep quiet.

******************************

Tic & Marco had been walking deftly through the thick of the forest outside the cottage, looking for bits to eat.

"You'd think the old man would have an herb garden, at least."

"He doesn't really need an herb garden."

"Out here, all by himself? And at his age? How does he even get around? Who doesn't have an herb garden? Or fruit trees? Or a well?"

"Horatio always manages to do things his own way."

"How long have you known him?"

"For many, many years."

"Since you were a child?"

Marco was about to tell Tic to mind his own business when something white caught his eye. He grabbed Tic by the collar and dragged him down into the brush.

"Shhh."

"What is that?" Tic wondered, then heard himself gasp.

The mare was white as the foam on the sea. But there was an unearthly glow about her, lighting her path and casting a sense of ease all around them. It was as if the trees parted for her, and so light was her step that the grass barely moved. Atop her head was a long, silver horn.

"A unicorn." Whispered Marco in amazement. He'd heard stories, of course. Oh, if only Aeroth could be here. Marco could finally show him one of the good sides of magic. Part of the reason he'd taken up with the Causists to begin was was the idea that not just terrible things resided in the caves of Cöthrom. There were creatures beautiful and good, trapped like terrified mice in a cage. It made him remember that his intentions at Cöthrom hadn't be all bad...

"I've never eaten Unicorn meat, before. I bet it tastes divine." Said Tic.

"Are you sick?"

But before Tic could react, the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen came full into view. Long white hair tumbled down her back, and she moved just as silently as the creature, as if she were made of the forest itself. Curved and naked, she drew the beast closed to her and pressed her forehead to it.

"Um... Marco? Why is there a naked woman in the woods?"

And at his comment, she turned to look right at them. Both men stiffened.

Marco knew from his historical lessons that this was no doubt a dryad, a creature of the forest, made from the earth and the trees. He felt Tic tense, but neither man made a move to draw his blade. Instead, Marco began to back them away.

"Terribly sorry to have troubled you." He said.

"Yes, we were just out looking for some cheese." Tic then whispered to Marco. "She's gorgeous! Why leave now?"

"It's better to leave her to whatever her business was out here, Tic."

"What if we became her business?"

"Tic, shut up, turn around, and let's go back to the hut."

*************************************************


"I found it."

Wyveryn, perched atop one of the room's tallest bookshelves, proudly showed off the palm sized bauble he'd discovered.

"Well, what was it doing up there?" Aeroth asked.

"Maybe Willowfoot put it up there." Banger said dryly.

"Willowfoot! There you are! You naughty boy!" The little rat scurried up Horatio's shoulder, watching Wyveryn with amusement as the ranger climbed down from the bookshelf. He handed the bauble over to the old wizard.

"So what exactly is this supposed to do?"

"Watch and learn, Half-elf. Watch and learn...."




*****

When Tic & Marco came inside the cabin, they had felt the dream as strongly as the others. Thus, when Tic made eye contact with Banger, both flushed scarlet and turned quickly away. The trouble was, everyone else in the room could feel it as well, and even Wyveryn had no words to say. Horatio looked thoughtful and opened his mouth as if about to say something, when there came a light knock at the door.

Instantly Aeroth drew himself alert.

"Extinguish the lights. Marco, Tic, Wyveryn, stand guard by the door. Banger, take the window. Jewelynna, tend the child!"

Hearts pounding, they crept to their posts, weapons drawn and ready for battle. Though the little old wizard seemed oblivious to their plight. He hummed a little tune to himself, having a conversation with the rat at his side.

"Can someone please quiet him?" Aeroth asked.

"Just open the door, paladin." Tic replied.

"On the count of three, then. One... two...."

Three.

Deftly, the paladin flung the door open, only to find a covered basket sitting on the stoop.

"What is this?" Asked Banger.

"It's... cheese." Answered Marco. "And bread. I don't understand..."

"The wood nymph." Laughed the old wizard. "She comes round from time to time. Must have taken a liking to one of you. Brought us treats, to go with our soup!"

The lot of them took a collective sigh of relief. Tic, remembering the beautiful woman from the woods, eagerly snatched up the basket and took the first bite of cheese. "Wonderful!"

They closed the door, and returned their attention to the bauble on the pillar... though with the presence of food now, their bellies began to rumble. And so, for a while, they ate. It was not a feast, of course, but after the last few weeks, it certainly felt like one. And their hunger was satisfied... at least for the time being.

*****************

Banger put her arm on Aeroth's shoulder.

"Are you all right, paladin?"

"Why do you ask?"

"You seem distracted."

"I... well... this may sound odd... but I think the rat is talking to me."

"Talking to you? What is he saying?"

But it was the old wizard who drew himself up and interrupted the paladin's reply.

"Danger." He said. His pupils dilated. His irises went white. His head flung back as if he were seeing a vision.

The company leapt to their feet, weapons once again drawn.

"Danger." Horatio whispered again. "Coming from the north. Coming from all around. Go. You must go. Now."

"But--"

"GO!"'

And so they fled again, running upstairs through the abnormally large cottage, dropping their soup bowls and feeling the hunt overtake them. How had it come upon them so quickly? It was silent like a shadow, and Aeroth wondered if they would ever stop running? Out he flung himself through a back door, and to his dread he could see the movement in the trees. Whoever... whatever was out there... it was a great number. And they were likely surrounded. Damn! If only they hadn't been distracted by the old wizard!

They came at them through the shadows... Senshi warriors from the kingdom Gin. There was no mistaking the way they moved like silent spiders, and fought with their fists. All Aeroth could think about was getting the baby to safety. But there was so much chaos and darkness that he could barely find his own way.

And then, straight ahead, the moonlight caught the figure of a robed woman. Her black hair was pinned up with two red sticks. The scarlet sash at her waist marked her garb as being Ginean, but her face was familiar... one that he had seen many times in Cöthrom.

"Allandra..."

Marco recognized her as well, just moments before she cast her spell. And the whole scene froze. The sensation was bizarre, as Marco felt like he was stepping outside of his body watching the whole thing. Aeroth, Banger, Jewelynna, Tic, Wyveryn... everyone and everything came to a standstill. Frozen like ice. Except for Allandra. Despairingly, he watched her pluck up the child and examine her as she would a new toy.

"There are many who have been looking for you," she said. "But it is I who have found you. And I will bring you to my lord, Cardinal Okra.

No! Marco's thought was so strong in his mind that he felt himself breaking through the ice. That was when Allandra appeared to notice him.

"Ah... Marcus. I have also been looking for you for a very, very long time. Ever since the fall of Cöthrom. Where have you been, my sweet? Taken up with the wrong crowd, I see. Very well. You will all come with me tonight. We travel to Stronghold, as my prisoners. But you, Marcus Magentum, you will ride up front with me. For tomorrow your precious friends will face the Wizard's Game."