We walked quietly along the gravel road. A breeze bent the grass and cooled my skin. Sheesha panted as she walked. Tiny sweatflies buzzed around my head. I waved them away now and then. The grass looked greener than it had before. Various weeds with broad leaves grew in the grass. A few birds flew overhead. It wasn’t until they flew by that I realized they were the first birds I’d seen since we came to Heedon Springs.

“Have you noticed there are new plants growing.” Jenna asked.

“And birds,” I said.

“That’s right,” Chastity said. “What happened?” We gazed at the grass as we walked along.

“This confirms what I suspected." Jenna said. She pointed at the sack Chastity carried and hummed a starting pitch for her speech,"The artifact in that bag is responsible for the barren nature of this area. In that underground lake, where the pearl of power lay in the coffin of Lengnil, the pearl sucked dry the energies of this land, for miles around. It was charging it's power. The slight energy discharge caused the springs that emerge from that lake to become empowered. The springs provided magical healing, but only at the cost of the life of the land.” She looked satisfied with herself, but nobody was really paying attention.

“Bad news,” Grundy said. He looked behind us.

“Not again,” Freya said. I craned my neck around and squinted. I looked down the gravel road. It ran like a straight white river through the brown grass.

“What?” I asked. Grundy pointed up. I looked up from the endless plains and saw a black speck far off in the sky. It moved quickly toward us.

“That’s her all right,” Grundy said.

“The dragon?” I asked.

“She must have left Tang’s,” Grundy said.

"No one run!" Freya said, "No one is left behind!"

Orka was flying closer. I could begin to make out her torn leather wings and her sagging scaled belly. The dragon bobbed in the sky. Her wings flapped and she shot upward. Then she plummeted as her fat body dragged her toward the ground. Her wings pumped again and she shot upward.

"This is it, folks" Grundy said, "Chastity, put that staff together quick"

“Please don’t come this way,” Chastity said. We started to look for somewhere to hide. There was no escape. Then, the dragon careened sideways. She turned slowly in the sky. Her tail hung in the air. She bobbed, twisted, and turned the other way. Her saggy belly swung back and forth. A green fog began rolling off of her. She completed a few bobs and turns, then slowly flew away from us until she was just a speck in the sky. The green mist still hung high in the air where she had danced.

“What could she be up to?” Jenna asked.

“It almost looked like she was searching for something,” Chastity said.

“Let’s hope it’s not us,” Drexel said.

"It didn't look like searching to me" Freya said.

"It looked like she was drunk" I said.

"Yeah," Grundy said, "And what's that green stuff? Maybe she was doin all that twisting to push out a big fart or something?"

"Thank you for that." Drexel said.

"I cant imagine what she was doing" Jenna said.

“There’s no sense in trying to figure out a dragon,” Grundy said.

“At least she isn’t at Tang’s anymore,” I said

"She headed back in his direction." Freya said, "Let us make haste to the town and recruit Falstaag and his men."

We turned and continued walking. I looked over my shoulder every few minutes. The dragon was still a tiny dot in the sky. We kept walking. Ahead, the first few buildings of Heedon Springs appeared on the horizon. It was late in the day by the time we could see the east gate.

“That gate’s gonna have some kind of welcoming committee,” Grundy said.

"Oh no, I forgot, the east gate is guarded by Tang's monks!" Drexel exclaimed.

"We can take em," I said, patting Sheesha's side. She panted appreciatively.

“Get ready to fight, but first let me try to talk to them,” Freya said.

“I’ll leave it all to you,” Drexel said. He crept through the grass by the side of the road. We passed some of the outlying houses. Sheesha and I rode quietly. Freya led the way. As we reached the large, white gate, we slowed, bracing for a fight. But there were no monks in sight.

"They musta taken the day off" Grundy said.

"What in heaven is going on in that monestary" Jenna said, her ears twitched.

We continued on towards the west side of Heedon springs. We took the main roads. There were still tourists and performers milling about, but the tourists weren't nearly as abundant as when we arrived. The ones that were still here generally had looks of anxiety on their faces. We neared Lengnil Square.

The outlines of two guards stuck up from the road. Their helmets sat on the ground in front of them. On the helmets rested their bare, dirty feet. The two guards sat back against a pawnbroker's shop and dozed. Rusty swords were piled next to them. We passed by them without a word. One of guards awoke with a snort. He stretched and looked us up and down as we filed past.

“If it ain’t the Twaddle Six. If we still had a boss, I reckon you’d be in big trouble right about now,” he said. He kicked the other guard awake.

“Where’s Falstaag?” Freya asked.

“Where he always is, the Mug and Jug,” he said. He coughed up a gob of phlegm and spat in the gravel.

“He’s getting work done!” The other guard said with a laugh.

Freya led the way as we left the guards behind.

“I know where the Mug and Jug is,” Grundy said. He walked down the street toward the center of town. We passed a few boarded shops and restaurants. The streets were more deserted in this part of town. It seemed Orka's attack last week must have wiped out some of the towns key workers, as heaps of rotting garbage sat under swarms of flies. A dead dog of the same breed as Sheesha lay on its back in the middle of the street. Its stiff legs jutted into the air. Its leathery, dried tongue pushed past its teeth. Sheesha walked toward the dog for a sniff. I pulled her back. On one corner a few Town Guards stood and joked loudly. They passed a brown jug around. They wore only the pants of their uniforms. Their bare chests shone with sweat. One watched us pass and then went back to joking with the others.

“I guess word is out about Orka's attack on Heedon Springs,” Grundy said.

“There’s nothing like a dragon attack to kill the tourist trade,” Drexel said.

“Pay attention,” Freya said. “Watch the shadows.” The sun was low in the sky. Thin figures leaned against the sides of the buildings. They lingered in shadows along the lanes. We passed a hotel on our right that was still open for business. A stilt dressed in a dirty gown stood in front. As soon as he saw us he started shouting.

“Friends! Welcome to Heedon Springs. Free meals with every room,” he said. His voice was hoarse. A couple pushed past him on the way out of the hotel. “Leaving so soon?” He asked.

They didn't even aknowledge him. They looked exhausted. As soon as they stepped into the street, the thin stilts in the shadows rushed toward them. Entertainers pulled at the woman’s arms. Some sang in hoarse gasps. A juggler desperately kept four empty wine bottles aloft.

“A coin! A coin!” They shouted.

The man backed away. His woman clung to him. He looked down at her and pushed the juggler aside. The bottles crashed against the flagstones.

“Get back you beggars!” He said. He hurried his wife away. “That’s it, we’re leaving Heedon Springs. This is ridiculous,” he said.

“It wasn’t my idea to come here,” the woman said.

“That’s because you don’t have ideas, my dear,” he said.

The juggler began to follow them and then he saw us. He sprinted toward us. Sheesha became nervous and almost threw me off her back. I gave her a squeeze with my knees and reached for my dagger. The Goblinizer pulsed in my palm.

Within seconds we were surrounded by the stench and noise of a dozen destitute buskers.

“Get lost.” Grundy stepped toward the juggler and drew back his fist. Freya crouched in a fighting stance. The entertainers looked us over. They backed up. They stood in a circle around us. They stared at us with hungry eyes. One took a step forward, and cleared his throat. Another hit a pitch on a little whistle. Several looked like they were about to sing. There was a tense silence. Sheesha barked. All of us jumped. She growled and strained against her harness.

“Boo!” Grundy said. The bards scattered.

“I don’t need your short change,” the juggler shouted. Laughter came from the shadows.

“Freaks,” Grundy said. We kept quiet as we hurried down the street.

Grundy took us to a building made of wide wooden planks that stood vertically. The building looked like a giant keg of whiskey.

“The Mug and Jug,” he said. We followed him inside. The sour smell of stale beer filled my nose. We stood in a dark, huge round room filled with empty tables. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I made out the hulking figure of Falstaag. He slumped at a table, alone in the back. His huge bearskin coat was badly soaked in spilt liquor. Behind Falstaag was a staircase that spiraled up the keg of a building. A woman with huge breasts, in a stained white shirt, stood behind the bar.

“We’re closed,” the bartender said. Falstaag sat with his head bowed. Empty bottles lay around his feet. Broken glass covered the floor. We slowly walked toward his table.

“I wouldn’t go over there if I were you,” the barmaid said.

“What’s upstairs?” Freya asked.

“Rooms. But like I said, we’re closed,” she said. She leaned her head on her hand and stared at us. We made our way to the back. Falstaag sat with his chins on his heaving chest. A cold plate of half-eaten rabbit sat in a pool of congealed gravy. His beard was streaked with grease and chunks of food.

Grundy reached over the table, grabbed a fist full of Falstaag’s hair and pulled his head up.

“Wake up Falstaag. We’ve got business,” he said.

“Get me a drink you little swine!” Falstaag burbled. He didn’t even open his eyes. His chest heaved. His body jerked. He opened his mouth and he belched. The sour wind caused all of us but Grundy to step backward. Freya winced.

“You’ve had too much to drink Falstaag,” Freya said.

Falstaag opened his eyes. His head rolled back and forth on his thick neck. He looked us over. His eyes focused on Freya’s face.

“You,” he said. His lips curled, exposing black stumps of teeth. “You fucked me!,” he said. His right hand reached for one of his swords as his left overturned the table. Grundy jumped back. We were splashed with rancid gravy. Sheesha barked and lapped at the greasy mess. I pulled her head up.

Falstaag pulled both his swords from their sheaths. He wobbled as he waved the blades at us.

“We’re on your side,” Freya said.

“You fucked me. You tried to get me melted,” he slurred, "you fucked me." He belched again. A mouthful of food came up and dribbled into his beard.

Grundy looked at Freya and nodded toward Falstaag’s right arm. She nodded toward his left.

“Now!” Freya said. In a blur they dove for his arms. Falstaag staggered back and forth with Freya and Grundy dangling from his biceps. Grundy bit Falstaag’s wrist. Falstaag bellowed in pain. Grundy pried open Falstaag’s fingers. One sword clattered to the floor. Freya twisted Falstaag’s other hand backward and brought her elbow down on his forearm. She caught his other sword as it fell. Falstaag blinked. He lurched forward and took a wide, clumsy swing at Freya. She ducked, then sprang into the air, kicking twice. He raised his arms to protect himself but not in time. Her feet smacked into either side of his head. He dropped to his knees. Grundy gave him a quick punch in the back of the head and Falstaag fell face down into the pool of rotten gravy.

“His room is upstairs.” The barmaid said. She rose up from behind the bar and went back to leaning her chin in her hand. “There’s room for all of you, believe me. Two Heedontines each. Got any other friends?"”

Freya looked down at the enormous stilt snoring on the floor.

“Let’s get him upstairs before he wakes up.” Freya looked at the rest of us. Nobody moved.

"Lets leave him there, stewing in his own juices" I said.

“Oh come on. Help me with him,” she said. I took a leg, Jenna struggled with the other. Freya and Grundy grabbed his arms and Chastity helped push. We dragged his enormous body upstairs. The wood creaked and groaned under the load. We grunted and swore as we slowly pulled him up one step at a time. Each time we managed to get him up a few steps, one of us would slip in the gravy or a pool of stale beer and Falstaag would slide back down. By the time we reached the top of the staircase, we were all covered in grease.

“He’s going to feel that in the morning,” Drexel said. He looked remarkably clean. In fact, he just seemed to appear at the top. Drexel helped us tie Falstaag’s hands behind his back. We dumped him on the bed in his room.

“He’s a mess,” Chastity said. She looked at Jenna.

"This guys of no use. Let's leave him." Grundy said.

"If we can get him sober enough to intimidate his men again, we would certainly have enough forces to destroy Barry Gorgon" Jenna said.

"Barry Gorgon, the whole damn time it was Barry Gorgon" Drexel said, "Every damn mess we've been in. oooh I just hate him! Never speak his name again."

"Yes, at least until it is immediately followed by '..is dead'" Jenna quipped proudly.

"Barry set us up, I hate him too, and I'm not saying he doesn't need to die," I said,

"tssst! Do not speak the name" Drexel said, incredulously.

"But," I continued,"is there any way we can maybe con him and use his guys and weapons and bards? We're gonna need everything we can muster to get to Tang."

"Wisely spoken, Telle." Freya said, "but I fear tricking Barry Gorgon.."

Drexel covered his ears and stomped a foot angrilly.

"...would be harder than beating Orka in single combat" Freya said.

"Well thats good," Grundy said, "Cause next time I see..." He looked at Drexel, "Next time I see He-who-stuffed-Cloda-and-put-her-under-a-tarp, I'm gonna kill him."

"Thank you" Drexel told him.

"But we gotta wait till Falstaag wakes up" Chastity said, "should we watch him tonight in case he tries something?" She looked ill.

“Somebody has to clean him up, too. I’ll keep an eye on him,” Jenna said. She smiled. Jenna stayed behind and we locked them both in. Chastity giggled. The hallway was lined with doors. The place was empty. We each took a room down the hall. It was the first time in my life I’d ever had my own room. As soon as I opened the door, Sheesha ran inside and jumped onto the bed. She had rolled in the rancid gravy while we’d wrestled with Falstaag. The grease oozed off her and onto the bed. The entire room stank. I grabbed a sheet and lay on the floor.

“Goodnight Sheesha,” I said as I drifted off to sleep.

I awoke to Sheesha’s tongue sliding over my face. Light came in through a round window above a stand with a basin. I sat up. My back ached. I stumbled to the nightstand. On the wall was a faded painting of Lengnil. He cast lightning bolts into bunches of screaming smoogers. I looked down at the basin. It was half-full of black liquid. The foul water reeked. A knot of green phlegm sat, like an island, in the middle of the pool. As I stared into the filthy bowl, I saw my own reflection in the water.

There were new lines around my eyes. My hair was matted. My cheeks were drawn. My laced vest was stained and torn. It hung loosely on my shoulders. The traveling around and the days in Lengnil's tomb had shed the pounds that Freya’s cooking had put on. But I was not fit. I was gaunt. Purple bags sat under my eyes. My sunburn polished head shined, but peeled at the top. My mouth was pinched. My skin was jaundiced, almost yellow. I did not look well at all.

“Kraken, it was times like this that I would pray for your guidance,” I said. I looked at the painting of Lengnil's. The smoogers scattered and died before the bolts cast from his staff. I took the belt we’d stolen from Barry’s. I ran my fingers over the smooth beaded pictures of Kraken.

“Where did Tang get this?” I asked myself. His search for the pearl of Lengnil must have led him close enough to find this artifact. It looked so familiar to me. I looked again at the horned image of Kraken. I closed my eyes and remembered the mindless stone monster that staggered toward us in Lengnil's tomb. Our God, the watchdog of a stilt’s corpse. My throat choked. I put down the belt and sobbed into the bowl of filthy water. The painting of Lengnil wasn't filling me with fervor tonight. It was making me sick.

Sheesha jumped off the bed. She jumped up and put her paws on my shoulder. She licked the tears of my face. I grabbed her around her neck and wrestled her to the floor. We lay there together.

“You’ll never leave me,” I said to Sheesha. I rubbed her belly. She lay on her back. Her wrinkled skin spread out on the floor. Her tongue hung out of the side of her mouth. I scratched her neck. I scratched her side and her leg twitched. I smiled. Sheesha raised her head. A crash came from outside my room. Sheesha barked. I got up and opened my door. At the end of the hall, Freya and Chastity crouched outside of Falstaag’s door.

“Give me a drink!” he said. His voice shook door.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“He just started yelling. The noises before were more difficult to understand.” Drexel said from behind me.

“Is Jenna still in there?” I asked.

“I’m afraid so,” Grundy said.

“We’d better do something,” I said. Freya nodded. She unlocked the door and flung it open. Falstaag stood naked facing the door. Jenna lay on the bed behind him. She was flushed, also naked.

“Haven’t you ever heard of knocking?” Jenna said. Her voice was angry, but she was smiling firmly.

“Downstairs in ten minutes,” Freya replied and shut the door. She shuddered.

“Have a beer ready when I get there,” Falstaag said through the door.

We made our way down to the dining room. It was just as we’d left it. The upturned table lay in the pool of gravy.

“Which one of you is cleaning that up?” The barmaid asked. She yawned. Nobody answered her. She wiped the bar in lazy circles with a gray rag. The rag left a slimy trail of grease. Freya nodded to Drexel. Drexel handed the woman a small sack of coins. The woman stuffed the sack between her breasts and went back to wiping the bar. Soon Falstaag came stomping down the stairs with Jenna following. He sat at our table.

“Beer!” He shouted.

“No,” Freya said. He frowned.

“My head is splitting,” he said.

“I know, I split it. Now sit still. We have much to discuss,” Freya said.

“You got that right. You fucked me! Why weren't you at Tangs?,” he said.

“I explained all that to you,” Jenna said. She patted his head.

“Shut up pipsqueak," Falstaag said, "You fucked me. I show up at Tangs just like we plan, and you fuck me.,” he said.

“There is a reason for that,” Freya said.

“You fucked me, I go to Tangs, I look for you, and bam, there's Orka. you fucked me! You tried to kill me.” He reached for his scabbards. They were empty.

“Give me my swords!” Falstaag said.

“In time,” Jenna stroked his hair. He brushed her hand away.

“We were late,” Freya said. “we were out for quite a while.”

“Out where?” He asked.

“Vacationing,” Drexel said.

“We were stuck with goblins in the middle of nowhere,” Chastity said.

“Goblins! I got rid of all them smoogers!” Falstaag looked around to see if anyone was listening.

“There’s no use pretending. We know you’re working with the goblins near your stronghold,” Jenna said.

“How dare you!” He looked around again, "I've killed for less!". The barmaid yawned.

"I've seen it" Freya snapped. She was growing livid, "You may have been telling the truth about Tang, but you are still a pathetic drunken slob of a lying murderer. You disgust me."

Falstaag and Freya shot up out of their chairs. They stared with venom at each other. Neither made a move. Falstaag sat back down.

“The point is," Jenna said, "it was Barry who sent Jehosephat after us, indirectly causing you to get in trouble with Orka. It was Barry who sent us after your goblins. He was setting us against each other hoping one of us would be killed, if anybody has betrayed you here it was him.”

“Barry?” Falstaag asked, "Barry knew about my goblins?"

"Aha!" Drexel shouted.

“We snuck into Barry’s,” I said.

“We discovered that he’s working with the Bupinders,” Jenna said.

"Big deal, so am I" Falstaag said, "He's on the town council, of course he works with the government you dumbasses."

We looked at each other uncomfortably for a moment.

"Did he really know about my goblins?" Falstaag asked.

"Ok Falstaag, I'll give it to you straight" Drexel said, "Barry's playing you like a sucker. We've all got prices on our heads. Big prices! Did you know that?"

"Drexel be quiet!" Freya said.

"No, this man deserves the truth!" Drexel cried, "Barry told us to go after the goblins, knowing full well that it would bring us up against you. Not only was he endangering your smooger operation, he was going to let you kill us and collect the reward for himself"

"He was?" Falstaag stared.

"Thats right, friend" Drexel continued, "And not only that, he was playing both sides of the coin...if we ended up killing you, then he'd have one less rival on the town council!"

"Hey thats true" Falstaag said.

"Yes! And another thing!" Drexel cried, "He makes fat jokes about you constantly to everyone he knows! He does a Falstaag impression where he puts pillows in his tunic and splashes whiskey on his head! He's got wooden statues of you poking your head up through the poophatches in his outhouse!"

"He fucked me!" Falstaag cried, jumping up from his chair again.

"Yes!" Drexel said, he egged Falstaag on.

"Barry fucked me!" Falstag cried.

"Barry fucked you!" Drexel cried.

"He fucked me! He fucked me!" Falstaag screamed, reddening.

“Wench. Whiskey!” He said. Freya shook her head at the barmaid. The barmaid smeared more grease across the filthy bar.

"Dammit I own this place, gimme my whiskey!" Falstag bellowed.

“Listen to us, Falstaag." Drexel said, we don’t have much time. You need to rally what forces you still have and help us move on Barry.”

"Gorgon's ass is mine" Falstag growled.

“And then on to Tang’s,” I added. Everyone looked at me.

“Right?” I asked.

“We can’t touch that dragon,” Falstaag said.

“Maybe with all your men? And our weapons?" I said.

"We wouldn't stand a chance" Falstaag replied.

“But, the dragon might not be at Tang’s any more,” I said. “We could surprise him." I looked at my friends "Or maybe we could let Falstaag use the staff and.."Freya's eyes stopped me from finishing.

“Let’s look at the situation,” Drexel said. He leaned on the table.

“Tang has bad food and dead babies.” He drew a circle in the grease with his finger.

“He's got dead babies?,” Falstaag asked.

"Falstaag, you were the one to tell us about them!" Freya said.

"I did? Oh yeah I did say that, didn't I? ...he really kills babies?" Falstaag asked. Drexel smacked himself in the forehead.

"Please pay attention" Drexel said, pointing at his grease diagram, "Tang is the goal, But Barry…” Drexel smeared a few lines on the circle and made it look like a coin. He looked Falstaag in the eyes.

"Fucked me" Falstaag said.

“Yes, and Barry is rich,” Drexel said. He licked his lips. “All Barry’s loot…” Drexel said as he slowly nodded up and down. Falstaag nodded slowly in agreement.

“All of Barry’s loot,” Falstaag repeated.

“Barry has quite a fortune, and you have more than enough evidence that he has been dealing with elements that are hostile to the town of Heedon Springs,” Drexel said.

Falstaag nodded.

"Who, Jehosephat? He was on the Town Council for cryin out loud" Falstaag said.

"err, well, what about his plan to eliminate you?" Drexel said.

“He fucked me,” Falstaag said.

“And shouldn’t the property of any and all enemies be forfeited for the cause of the defense of Heedon Springs?” Drexel asked.

“Yeah, yeah, we've already decided this! Barry fucked me so now he's a dead man. You bastards fucked me too, but only by proxy, so let's get Barry. He fucked me! I can't believe he fucked me! Now get me my swords!” Falstaag said. He stood.

"Can you provide us with weapons, Falstaag?" Freya asked.

“I’ll need a spiked chain, and Telle could use a lance,” Grundy said.

"And, Falstaag, before you say no to helping us with Tang, we have a secret weapon!" I blurted. Freya glared. Chastity shook her hed vehemently at me.

"What kind of weapon?"

"We have a weapon," Freya said, "That may be able to hurt the dragon, if we have enough cover to allow us to use it."

"Freya, no!" Chastity said.

"And we will use it when the time comes" Freya said, glaring at Chastity.

“Where’s Cantick?” Falstaag asked. He walked past Drexel to the bar. He reached over the bar and took a jug off the back shelf. He pulled the cork out with his teeth and tilted his head back. He drained half the bottle down his throat. “Leutenant Cantick!” He said. He walked out of the bar.

“Do you think his guards will still follow him?” Chastity asked.

“I think so,” Jenna said. “Falstaag can lead. He just needs direction.”

"Im sure they'll snap right back into shape after he decapitates somebody" Grundy said with disgust. Drexel nodded in agreement.

“Let’s eat,” Grundy said. Freya hopped behind the counter.

"Barkeep, " She asked, "May I request permission to use your cooking facilities?"

The stilt barmaid ambled over to a table and sat. She put her head down and began to snore.

Freya tossed some wood in a stove and dug around under the bar. Soon her hands were a blur over the stove. The bar was clean and the air was filled with the smell of sizzling meat. My stomach cramped in anticipation.

"My god," Drexel said, "Real food, two nights in a row"

"Things are looking up" I said.

We took a seat at the cleanest table we could find. Freya served us several dishes. It was good not to be eating grass. Even Sheesha got her own plate. Grundy nodded as he chewed. We all ate as with the intensity of the starving.

I sat back from my empty plate. A warm glow spread out from my stomach and filled my body.

“Freya,” I said. “I have a feeling we’re going to punish Barry and get Tang to tell us what he knows.” I patted my belly. Sheesha curled up at my feet.

“I hope you’re right,” Drexel said, "because I have a feeling we're going to be sat on by a giant lizard." He smiled and picked his teeth with the tip of a lock pick.

“You deserve some revenge on Tang after all this,” Jenna said.

“Here's to finally getting everything we deserve,” Chastity made a toast.

“What do you think Freya?” Chastity asked. Freya finished her plate. She seemed less optimistic than the rest of us.

“We’ll just take the next few days one meal at a time,” she said. Grundy nodded. Freya spooned the last of the food onto a plate and set it next to the snoring barmaid.

The door opened and Falstaag walked in. Leutenant Cantick was with him. Cantick looked a little more confident since we’d seen him at his gory promotion, when Robbard had been cut in half.

“Sir, the men are forming up outside,” he said.

"That didn't take long" Jenna announced, beaming.

“Make sure they’re in uniform,” Falstaag said. “And get these people some weapons.” He nodded at us. Cantick snapped a salute and shot out the door. Falstaag sniffed the air. He smiled. He looked around the room and walked over the barmaid. He reached down and took a handful of the sautéed meat and fried vegetables. He shoved it in his mouth. He stopped mid-chew. Then he swallowed and shoved more into his mouth. Soon he was licking the plate.

“Who made this?” He asked.

“Freya did,” I said.

“This meal was my cook’s death sentence,” he said. “How would you like to be my new cook?” He asked Freya.

“Spare your cook. I’d gladly train him if you agree to stop arbitrarily killing your men,” she said, coldly.

Falstaag grinned as the food did its work. I sat on a wooden stool.

“I was ready to kill you people,” he said.

“But I’m glad you came back.” He rubbed his belly. “We’ll get Gorgon and then we’ll head on up and send that knee-high Tang back to shortland,” he said. He nodded. “That’s the plan all right.” He rested his head on his chest and closed his eyes. “I’ll just get my men together and we’ll take care of business,” he said. He folded his hands over his belly. “The people of Heedon Springs can count on that,” he said. Soon he was asleep.

We got up and walked outside. Cantick sat on a horse in front of four rows of Town Guards. Some were already in uniform. Some looked like they had just woken up. Two guards in the back held a drunken friend between them. His head flopped back. His knees buckled.

“At sundown this evening we will have a full formation, and inspection.” Cantick said. He rode down the line. His uniform was crisp. His plumed and polished helmet glinted in the sunlight.

“We have an important operation coming up, and there will be good pay for the motivated.” He pulled out a sword and held it over his head.

“Spread the word,” he said. He pulled the reigns. His horse screamed and rose on its hind legs in front of the formation.

“To insure that no one is late, the last guard to line up for formation this evening will be executed,” he said. Freya winced. The drunken man in the back opened his eyes. “Dismissed,” he said. The men ran in all directions. Falstaag yawned from behind me. I turned and saw him standing in the doorway. He walked back inside the Mug and Jug. I wondered what he had done to scare so many men up so quickly.

The day passed quietly. Guards staggered out of brothels and inns. The beggars and bards made a few coins by polishing helmets and boots. Falstaag wandered around the town. Cantick brought us weapons. I got a lance and Grundy got a long spiked chain. After that, Cantick was one step behind Falstaag, with jugs of whiskey and trays of food. There were still no monks in town. There were far fewer tourists than before. Boats still came in, and a wealthy few still shopped on the boardwalk by the harbor, but their faces turned sour immediately upon arrival. Some went right back aboard the boats. The stench of burnt flesh and charred wood still hung over the town.

That evening, Cantick formed up the guards in front of the Mug and Jug. He sat atop his horse in front of the formation. The guards looked surprisingly disciplined. The last guard ran into the block of men. He struggled to straighten his helmet as he sprinted into the group. The other guards stared straight ahead.

“Jingleson, front and center.” Cantick said. The late guard looked to his left and right. He slowly realized that no more guards were coming.

“I’m last?” He asked. He had a deep voice.

“Front and center.” Cantick said. The guard took one step backward and then ran to the front of the formation. He stood straight. “You may remember what I said about the last man to this formation.” Cantick said. Falstaag drew a sword. Jingleson looked back at the men. He looked back at Falstaag. A trickle of sweat ran down the side of his face. Jingleson looked at the guards in the formation again. None of them looked at him. Falstaag looked at Freya from the corner of his eye.

“Get back in formation. Don’t ever be late again.” Falstaag said. Jingleson exhaled.

“Yes sir!” He said. He snapped a salute and walked back to the formation.

"You owe me a good cook" Falstaag said to Freya.

“Form up in the town square at noon tomorrow. Then we march!” Cantick said.

“Prepare to get rich,” Falstaag said. Some of the men smiled. A few scoffed.

“Dismissed,” Cantick said with a smile and a wave of his hand.

“Cantick, don’t make me think about promoting a new Leutenant,” Falstaag said, his hand on his sword.

“No, sir,” Cantick said. We walked into the inn.

“I still don’t like the way he runs things,” Grundy said.

Falstaag sat at his usual table. Cantick joined him. The barmaid sat on Falstaag’s lap. Jenna scowled.

"We are waiting way too long to attack Barry" I said to our table.

"Falstaag's crew's gotta get their supplies together," Grundy said,"they're preparin to march to Tangs afterwards too."

"But what if he tries something in the meantime, or alerts the dragon? Barry's gonna find some way to turn this around to his advantage!" I said.

"We agreed we'd have a better chance with Falstaag's men at our backs, and they can't be ready till tomorrow morning, so we're stuck here." Grundy said, "So calm yourself"

“We’re getting some sleep,” Freya said. Nobody objected.

“Get yourselves ready for some fun tomorrow,” Falstaag said. Cantick smiled.

“We’ll be ready,” Freya said. “Make sure you’re sober.”

“I fight best when I’m lubricated,” Falstaag said. He took a long swig from a mug and then pinched the barmaid.

“I’m gonna bring you some presents little lady,” Falstaag said. We walked upstairs.

“I’d hardly call that stilt little,” Jenna said. I nodded and went to bed. Sheesha lay on the bed again. I lay on the floor. I slept hard that night.

Sheesha woke me by standing with one paw on my chest and dragging her tongue across my face. I shoved her off got to my feet. The water in the basin had been changed. I washed my face in the clean water, and then set the bowl on the floor for Sheesha. She lapped it up and spilled it across the floor. There was a short knock and then the door opened.

“Let’s eat,” Freya said. She walked into the hall. I grabbed Sheesha and followed her. The others stumbled from their rooms. Drexel stretched and yawned. Jenna came from a room next to mine. We walked past Falstaag’s room. A deep vibration rattled the door.

“That man can snore,” Grundy said. We walked downstairs.

Freya made us another breakfast from behind the bar. The barmaid was nowhere to be seen, but the room was a bit cleaner. The breakfast was an incredible plate of vegetables, gilmic bacon and eggs.

“Where’s Chastity?” Freya asked.

“I haven’t seen her,” Drexel said. Freya shrugged and finished her last bite of eggs.

"Don't worry, I took the sack with the Pearl in it away from her" Grundy said.

“What’s on for today?” Drexel asked. He wiped grease from his chin.

“We march at Noon,” Freya said., "We're meeting Falstaag's men in Lengnil square. She set a plate of food on the floor for Sheesha.

“Sounds good to me,” Drexel said.

"Lets head out there now and familiarize ourselves with our allies" Freya said.

We left the Mug and Jug for the short walk. The sun was low in the sky.

“It looks like we've got some time,” Grundy said. He yawned.

“That was the best night’s sleep I’ve had since that dragon came to town,” he said. We walked past the inn where we’d stayed when we arrived in Heedon Springs. The manager sat on the step. He looked tired. Stilt children, and a woman sat on the roof of the inn. They pointed off in the distance. I looked up at them.

“Chastity is that you?" I said, "What are you doing up there?"

“We're watching the dragon,” Chastity said, fear in her eyes. She shook her head. “It just flies, far off, back and forth. I pray she doesn’t come this way,”

“Lot of good that will do,” I said. She slid down to the edge of the roof, put her head over and looked down at me.

“What would you know about prayer you kneebiter?” She asked. Her voice was almost a hiss.

“Telle,” Freya said. She put her hand on my shoulder.

Chastity dropped down from the roof and dusted herself off. She glared at Freya.

"Chastity, I'm sorry," Freya said, "but we can't trust any other human here to weild that staff. Certainly not Falstaag. It must be you, we have no other choice. Please agree to do this."

"Well, If it looks like we're gonna get killed by Orka anyway, I'll use the damn thing. Satisfied?" Chastity asked. Grundy hugged Chastity.

"You're doing the right thing" He said.

“Does anyone else hear those trumpets?” Jenna asked. We followed her to Lengnil square. The blaring of trumpets stopped us.

A dozen bards in yellow and purple costumes cart wheeled into the square from a side street. Horns blew. Children squealed. A drumbeat sounded. Barry’s voice boomed through the air.

“Ladies and gentlemen, gather around. Barry Gorgon here, and Barry’s got a very special announcement,” he said.

"Damn him!" Freya shouted.

The shutters on all the windows that faced the square flew open. Children ran from buildings, pulling at their parents arms. A group of groomed horses with Barry’s guards clopped into the square. The horns blew a fanfare. A dozen guards walked in step into the square. They struggled to hold a full-sized stage on their shoulders, complete with curtains to a small enclosed backstage area. At the head of the stage was Barry. His white fur vest was open to the navel, as usual. Gold chains gleamed in the afternoon sun.

“Hello good people of Heedon Springs,” Barry said. His voice echoed across the square.

“It’s a Barry Gorgon show!” Someone shouted. People crowded into the square from side alleys. Tourists that were hiding in their Inns emerged. Townspeople filed out of their empty shops. Buskers came out of the shadows. Soon, the square was filled with stilts. I had to climb onto Sheesha to get a view.

“Barry has some very exciting news for all of you…” Barry said. He stood at the front of the stage. His guards sat on horses on either side.

"This can't be good" Drexel said.

“You have heard the stories,” he said. A gong banged from the back of the stage. “You have sung the songs,” he said. The gong banged again. “You’ve bought the dolls,” he said. Again, the gong rang. “And now it is Barry’s great pleasure to introduce to you, for their first public appearance, the Twaddle Six!” He said. The gong rang out. Drummers drummed, and the horns blew. The crowd erupted into cheers. People pushed to get close to the stage. More people streamed in from the side streets. Children shouted. A few men sang on the side of the stage. The bard from Barry’s that sang about Reese was there.

I looked at Freya. She frowned. Drexel was already gone, lost in the crowd. Jenna scowled. She couldn’t see anything over the crush of stilts, but she’d heard enough.

"What is he trying to do?" She asked.

"I don't know, but I don't like it" Freya said, "I'd attack him now, but there might be a riot."

“She’s always got something cooking, Iron Sex!” Barry said. A thin female stilt jumped out from behind the curtains, into the air. She landed badly and executed a clumsy somersault. She wore a lacy white gown and had fake Elvin ears stuck on the sides of her head. She bowed. The men in the crowd cheered. Freya’s muscles began to writhe under her leather wrap.

“He’ll fall for anything, but you’ll fall for him, Telley Smell-me!” Barry said. The gong rang. A bizarre man who was my height but had the nose and ears of a stilt ran onstage. He jumped through a flaming hoop,produced from backstage, but intentionally got caught up in it. His pants were on fire. He fell to the ground and struggled to put himself out. He ran around the stage bowing at the crowd. Barry stuck out his foot and the little stilt tripped and rolled across the front of the stage. He stood and fell again. Laughter shook the crowd.

“What is that?” I asked. Grundy leaned over to me.

“It’s a rare breed of short stilt. They call them midgets,” he said.

“What is he doing?” Jenna asked. She looked up at me. I reached down and pulled her onto Sheesha.

“She can cast a giant spell from her tiny hands, it’s the mini mage!” Barry said. The gong rang. Another midget stilt female jumped through the flaming ring.

“Are those supposed to be my ears?” Jenna asked. Round flaps were attached to the sides the stilt’s head. We looked at each other and squirmed.

“Is he just trying to piss us off more?” I asked, "It's working!"

“Sit tight. Let’s see where this is going,” Freya said.

“We should at least see if the guards are going to show up,” Grundy said.

“People of Heedon Springs,” Barry said. The crowd shouted and cheered.

“I have brought the Twaddle Six here for a very exciting announcement,” he said. There were more cheers.

“Our heroes have vowed to rid this town of a terrible problem,” he said. The fake Twaddle Six looked solemn. “The Twaddle Six have promised to rid this town of She who spits black death! They will kill The Ancient of ancients! That's right, the brave Twaddle Six will fight Orka, the Black Dragon!” He said. The cheering stopped. There was silence in the square. People looked at each other. A few cringed.

“The Town Guard couldn’t do it, the people couldn’t do it, but the Twaddle Six can!” Barry said. Someone coughed. A baby cried.

“They’ll be slaughtered!” Someone in the front shouted.

“She’ll kill them and come after us!” Another voice cried.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Barry said. He looked over the crowd, humming gently. He spread his arms. He moved his arms to the right and the crowd leaned slightly to the right. Then he brought them back to the left and the crown leaned to the left. He pushed forward and everyone leaned back. He pulled toward himself and the crowd leaned toward the stage.

“The Twaddle Six will kill the dragon,” he said.

“The Twaddle Six will kill the dragon.” A few voices said.

“The Twaddle Six will kill the dragon!” Barry said.

“The Twaddle Six will kill the dragon!” The crowd roared back. The bard on stage stepped to the front. He sang.

“A brave group of six will take up the challenge.

They have the will to destroy the black dragon.

To free Heedon Springs of a miserable companion.

They'll return with her scales piled high in their wagon.”

His voice wound around the crowd. He repeated the song until the crowd sang along with him. My head nodded with the melody.

“A brave group of six will take up the challenge.” I sang. Jenna reached around. Her hand drew back and slapped me across my face. My cheek stung. I stopped singing and looked around. The others stared at me.

“I thought you were stronger than that Telle,” Jenna said. “Mind tricks usually only work on weak minded stilts.” Her ears quivered.

“Sorry,” I said. Barry danced elegantly on the stage and sang. The phony Twaddle Six danced with him. The voices in the crowd grew louder and louder.

“There he is,” Freya said. I looked across the courtyard. Cantick stood in front of the town guard. At least 60 guards stood in formation behind him. Falstaag spotted us. He waded through the crowd. His broad arms tossed people aside. He made it to us in a few minutes.

“What is this?” He asked.

“Barry is setting us up,” Freya said. “He’s getting the word out that we’re going to fight the dragon. He must be trying to up his statue sales and put us in jeopardy at the same time"

“I'll bet he's hoping she'll hear about it and come looking for us,” Jenna said.

“This looks like an illegal gathering to me,” Falstaag said, "His ass is mine"

"Let us put a stop to this show,” Freya said. She jumped straight up. She came down with a each foot on a different bystander's head. She ran across the top of the crowd. Her feet were so fast that people barely noticed she was running over their heads. She blurred over the crowd and flipped onto the stage. She whirled and kicked. Iron Sex screamed as Freya’s foot kicked her in the chest. She fell backwards off the stage. Telley Smell-me ran and dove into the crowd. The guards underneath the stage struggled to keep from buckling.

“These are not the real Twaddle Six,” Freya said. She whirled again and punched a bard in the throat. He stopped singing and fell to his knees. Much of the crowd stopped singing. People looked at each other. The stage tipped to and fro.

“What’s going on?” Someone asked.

Falstaag shoved his way toward the stage. He knocked stilts to the ground on either side of him. I set Jenna down and Grundy and I followed in his wake.

“Oh no,” Barry said, insincerely. He bent his knees and threw up his hands.

“Demon imposters are trying to stop the Twaddle Six,” he said. He pointed at me and sang echoing words that I didn’t understand.

“Run!” A stilt next to me shouted. He was on the ground, having been knocked there by Falstaag. He crawled away from me. He looked terrified. Grundy turned and looked at me. His eyes opened wide.

“Now that just ain’t right,” he said. I looked down at my hands. Two claws with red scales wiggled.

“Falstaag, Falstaag, do what you can to help me,” Barry sang. Falstaag stopped where he stood. He slowly turned around. He pulled a sword.

“Falstaag's been torqued!" Grundy shouted, "He looks like he's turning on us, and he's not drunk this time,”

“Demons!” Someone shouted. The people near us began to panic. Freya turned and kicked Barry. Her foot went right through his chest, but she felt only air. She recovered her balance and looked around.

Cantick stood with the guards. “Stand fast!”, he shouted.

Falstaag took a heavy step forward and swung his sword at Grundy. Grundy jumped backwards. Falstaag missed. His sword sliced the arm of a nearby stilt, almost in half.

“Falstaag, stop that demon dwarf,” Barry said. There were screams. Panicked stilts ran from the fight. The stage fell over sideways. Barry’s men on horses charged into the crowd, dispersing them with blows. An arrow shot past me and stuck into the chest of a stilt behind me.

Sheesha barked and bucked. I squeezed her body with my knees. I gave her a pat to calm her. I felt my fingers across her skin. My hands looked like talons, but it was just an illusion.

A stilt I recognized as Yanter, Barry’s head guard, waded through the crowd on a horse. His hand was in the air.

“Fire,” he said, dropping his hand, and flipping his long blonde hair in a flourish.

I ducked instinctively. Arrows whizzed past me. Stilts all around me fell to the ground. I looked up. From behind the fallen stage, a row of Barry’s guards were fitting their bows with more arrows. I kicked Sheesha and pulled the lance from its sheath. It was light and easy. Not as pretty as the one Barry made, but a good weapon.

Sheesha raced toward Barry's head guard. He drew a sword. I didn’t know what Barry had done, but it must have made me look pretty scary. Stilts screamed when they saw me and dove out of my way.

“Demon!” They cried. Yanter raised his sword as Sheesha and I bore down. I angled my lance upward. He was pretty high on his horse. He swung his blade. I reached with my lance. He was too high. I was going to miss and his sword was going to take my left shoulder clean off. In that last second everything seemed to slow down. I saw his sword high over my head. I saw his horse’s eye looking down at me. In the reflection of that shining black eye was a red faced, green-horned demon with long black fangs. The demon rode a bald dog.

The steed’s eyes rolled in its head. It screamed and reared back. Yanter flew off the back. His horse trampled stilts as it turned and fled. It ran straight through the line of archers. Its terror spread to the other horses. The mounts bucked and whinnied. Yanter looked up from the dirt just long enough to see my lance slide into his chest. Sheesha ran past him. I pulled the lance out. We spun around.

The square was almost clear. The stage had collapsed. Barry’s guards ran around in confusion. Grundy’s chain was wrapped around Falstaag’s legs. Falstaag had a sword in each thick fist. He swung at Grundy but missed, lost his balance, and fell into the dirt. Jenna ran toward Cantick and the Town Guard. I kicked Sheesha and caught up with her. The guards reached for their weapons when I approached. Cantick looked frightened and confused.

“Wait,” Jenna said. “Telle, stop where you are.” She stood between me and the guards. She held her hands up. I pulled Sheesha’s harness and stopped.

“It’s trickery, Cantick. Barry has taken control of Falstaag’s mind,” she said. She pointed to me. “And that’s just Telle.” She walked toward me. She muttered and raised her hands. Her ears flapped. She touched my hand. The tips of my fingers poked out from the red claws. My hands appeared. My skin spread back from my arms. The red scales retreated and vanished.

Cantick stood still, mouth agape. The guards did nothing. Grundy backed away from Falstaag. Falstaag still flailed on the ground, but the chain had immobilized him. Barry’s guards retreated from the square. There were screams and wails from wounded stilts who lay in the square.

“Where’s Freya?” Jenna asked.

"Where's Barry?" I asked.

"Where's Drexel?" Chastity asked.

“There,” Cantick said. He pointed to the rooftop of the inn at the front of the square. Freya kicked and wheeled at the air. Sometimes her foot seemed to connect with something solid in mid-air. Sometimes she missed and tumbled to keep her balance on the roof. A blur rushed past her and off the roof. I could just see a ripple in the air. It rose up and away. Freya watched the heat ripple rise. She seemed to be screaming at it.

Falstaag was still struggling, Grundy pulled the chain to keep him bound. Freya climbed down the front of the building and helped Grundy with Falstaag. She carefully stood on his left arm, and grabbed his right with both her hands.

“Get off me treebait,” Falstaag said.

“Let him go,” Jenna said. Freya looked at her.

“So he can kill us?” She asked.

“He’s all right now,” Jenna said. “Barry was controlling his mind,” she said. Freya looked doubtful. She released Falstaag’s arm. He grabbed her and threw her sideways. She landed on her side and then jumped to her feet.

“He fucked me! He fucked me! again Barry fucks me!,” Falstaag bellowed. "Im gonna tear that dandy's arms off!"

He looked at Grundy. “Get this damn chain off of me,” he said. He unwrapped the chain from his legs. The points left red dots across his skin. The square was empty except for us, the town guard, and a few wounded stilts who moaned. The ground was littered with rags and blankets.

“What was that up there?” Jenna asked Freya.

Barry was running the whole show from up there, which is why my kick went right through him. The Barry onstage was just another illusion. When I spotted him on the roof, he turned invisible,” Freya said. “I still got a couple of kicks in.”

“Where’s Barry now?” Falstaag asked. He rubbed his legs.

“He said ‘Good luck with the dragon.’ And then he flew away,” Freya said.

“Did you say flew?” Grundy asked.

“Im sure he was the Cloda impersonator now,” Jenna said,"He has at least as much power as she did"

“I suspect his little performance did not go as planned,” Freya said.

"I'll say!" I said, "Turning me into a demon spooked all his horses. It was chaos!"

“I think it went exactly as he planned,” Jenna said. We all looked at her.

“The Twaddle Six are set to fight the dragon, both in reality and in his twisted folklore. This is all he needs to finish us off and make his big profits,” she said.

"At least we showed the people that his ridiculous Twaddle six were imposters" Freya said.

“I killed his lead guard,” I offered. I picked a scarf off the ground and wiped off my lance.

“As far as the crowd is concerned, a demon killed his guard,” she said.

"This guy's hair would make a pretty good hat plume" Falstaag said, contemplating Yanter's corpse.

“Bah,” he said. "Cantick get over here! It's time to go get Barry."

“We’ll need a better plan than that I’m afraid.” Drexel said from behind me. I jumped.

“Where did you come from?” Falstaag asked.

“When you were up there, did you see the dragon?” Drexel asked Freya.

“Yes. She’s still flying way out there,” she said. She pointed East.

“I don’t know what she’s doing out there,” Drexel said.

“Searching for something?” Jenna asked.

“Maybe. But when she gets back, where do you think she’ll go?” He asked.

“Tang’s,” Falstaag said.

“That’s my guess too,” Drexel said.

“So what?” Falstaag asked.

“So I’ll bet Barry is headed there too,” he said.

“Why would Barry go to Tang's? Barry stole Tang's magic kraken belt,” Chastity said.

"Why would Tang know about that?" Drexel asked,"Jehosephat stole it for him. Barry's probably schmoozing Tang just like eveybody else."

"He's cemented the lore." Freya said, "Now he'll ensure the reality."

“He’s got to tell the dragon we’re after her,” Jenna said.

“We’re dead,” Drexel said, "Chastity, warm up that staff"

“We’ve got to stop him from getting to Tang’s,” Freya said.

“How?” I asked.

“By flying,” Jenna said. She looked at the amulet around Drexel’s neck. The little fly was still in the middle of the amber bead. Drexel looked at it and back at her.

“Not me, no thanks” he said.

“Who then?” She asked.

“It’s very hard to ride,” Drexel said. He looked at me.

“I can’t ride horses, let alone flies,” Grundy said.

“Gimme that stenchfly!” I shouted. Drexel tossed me the amulet.

"His songs of flight and invisibility shouldnt last forever" Jenna said, "You might be able to find him if you fly straight towards Tang's as fast as you can."

“If you find him, use these,” she said, handing me the last two beads from her necklace "Be careful,”.