“I'm in mourning, that’s why,” Freya said sharply. My tooth nearly broke as I bit down on the hard roll. I mashed the bread in the bowl of tasteless gruel to soften it. It seemed to absorb some of the liquid. I gnawed the bread into mush. We had been on the river for two days and this was the first meal Freya had allowed. The other gnomes had brought real rations for themselves. They said Freya had told them she would provide for the rest of us.

“Im in Mourning too! What’s that got to do with making us eat this? I thought you worshipped food or something,” Reese said. He flung his plate into the river.

“Ragnar is dead!” Freya raised her voice for the first time since I’d met her. “And to show respect, we eat food without flavor. It reminds us of the lack of our friend.”

“Whatever,” Reese said under his breath.

“And don’t ever waste food again or I’ll break my vows and cook you for dinner,” Freya said in a cool, even voice. The gnome in front of her leaned away from her anger as he paddled.

Nobody spoke. I sneaked a glance at Freya. She never moved. Her eyes were fixed on the water as it rushed past our boats. Gned grunted as paddled in front of me. The sun hung in the air over us. The air was humid. A trickle of sweat ran down my back. On the shore, the steamy swamp slowly became forest. Great trees reached into the air. Huge, black trunks rose high over head. Gnarled branches spread in the sky. The branches reached far over the side of the river. The gnomes hugged the shore so we could travel in the shade.

“It was barbaric what your priest did,” Freya said to Gned. “Cooking a human being. Not even cooking, burning him!” she shouted.

“Its Flownia's way,” the gnome in the back of my boat spoke up.

“Be quiet, Gnathaniel,” Gned said.

“And is it Flownia's way to allow his friends to think he was alive? To lead us on in our hopes that we would see him at that travesty of a dinner?,” Freya said

“Old Gnorman put him up to that! I heard em! He said it was so you'd be sure not to mess up the celebration of life!” My heart jumped at the name of Gnancy’s husband.

“Gnorman again! Does that wife-beater run your whole village?” I seethed.

“It’s Flownia’s way.” Gned said, in high-pitched imitation of Gnird.

“That’s enough!” An older gnome said from Jenna and Chastity’s boat.

“Flownia dislikes such talk,” he scolded.

“Oh be quiet, Gneal,” Gned said.

“Yeah, shut up Gneal!” All the gnomes said in unison. Gned finally turned around to face me.

“What was Pusstown like?” he asked.

“I don’t remember much,” I said. “I spent most of my life in a smooger pit. I lived with dogs.”

“Smooger?” Gned asked.

“Goblins. Yellowtoes. Smoogers,” I said.

“I’ve never heard of those.” He looked confused.

“Count yourself lucky then.” I rubbed my thumb against the handle of my dagger.

“They aren’t tall like stilts, but they’re still a disgusting race,” I said. Chastity frowned.

“Hey Gned’s uncle raises dogs!” Gnathaniel said.

“No more!” Gneal shouted. He slapped the water with his paddle and sprayed Gnathaniel. “There will be no more ribald discussion with these ruffians. If you continue, then I will tell Gnird all about it when we return,” he said. The others frowned and pulled their paddles through the water in silence. Chastity rolled her eyes. She turned to face Gneal.

“Are you in charge?” she asked. She reached over and stroked his cheek. He pulled his head away. “You are strong enough to be in charge.” She ran her fingers down his neck and to his arm. She gave his muscle a squeeze.

“Stop it!” A deep red glowed under his brown skin. Snickering echoed softly across the water from the other boats.

“I think she likes you,” Reese said.

“Enough!” Freya said sharply. Gneal gave Freya a look of gratitude. Chastity turned around and pouted. Reese looked up at the sky and whistled.

The paddles dipped into the river in unison. The rhythm of their paddling almost put me to sleep. The trees on the riverbank towered high above us. Even the smallest branches were bigger than the largest trees back in Blagton. As we glided up the river I let my hand trail in the water. My fingers made a small wake in the water. An ever widening V spread across the river. I looked down at my finger in the water. My reflection traveled over the ripples. I stared at myself in the water. A shadow appeared under my reflection. I pulled my hand back. Two rows of long, thin teeth snapped where my hand had been. The shadow slipped under the water and disappeared. The boat rocked back to the other side. Water sloshed over my legs.

“Scary,” Gned said. He face was pale. He steadied the boat. The paddling stopped while we bailed out the water. The gnomes in my boat scooped some water into Gneal's boat. Water sprayed into the other boat as well, not entirely by mistake. There was more splashing and some shouting. It was hard to tell if we were getting more water than we were losing. Gned’s laughter was contagious. Reese reached into the water and sprayed Chastity in the face.

“Yes,” he said. Her tight shirt clung to her breasts and became immdediately see-through with the wetness.

“Quit fooling around!” Gneal shouted. A bucketful of water splashed across his face.

Over the splashing I heard the call of a large bird. Another call came from the other side of the river. Gned stopped his splashing.

“Stop!” he shouted. Gnathaniel brought his paddle down spraying water across my back and hitting Gned in the face with the rest. Gned’s face twisted into a look of utter panic.

“Giant Cranes!” he shouted. The gnomes stopped splashing and looked frantically at the sky. There were no birds. Another cry came from the woods. It was louder than before.

“Paddle!” Gned shouted. The other gnomes looked at Gneal.

“No! Stay still,” Gneal said.

“What’s going on?” Jenna asked. Her ears pointed forward.

“Gather together!” Gneal said. The gnomes paddled toward each other until we bumped into each other. We sat in a bunch.

“We’ve got to look big,” Gneal said. The gnomes were white with fear.

“What’s the worry?” Reese asked. "Those things were in huge flocks when we first came down the river, and they never bothered us a bit! They just like to eat those big fish with legs."

“Be quiet, please!” Gneal said. Our little flotilla drifted backwards down the river in silence. We slowly drifted back to the place where the fish had nearly taken my fingers. The boat vibrated.

“Why is the boat shaking?” I asked. Nobody answered. I realized that the gnomes were trembling. Another bird screeched. The call was deeper. It was much louder as well.

"People, dont worry, we're Dragon-killers,"Reese said loudly

There was a rustle from above. A giant bird burst from the tree line. It’s huge red wings easily spanned two boats, end-to-end. Another bird appeared from the other side of the river. They circled overhead. Their shadows closed in on us. I shrank into the boat. I grabbed Kraken in one hand and my knife in the other. The sky darkened as the first bird blotted out the sun. I squinted up at it. It was hard to see with the sun behind it. It dove straight for us. A screech filled the air. The call was deafening. I winced and ducked.

The other gnomes held their hands over their heads. I did the same. I peeked up between my fingers. The bird sailed toward us. The hooked beak opened and a pink tongue the size of my arm stuck straight out.

“Scrawww!” The tongue vibrated as another screech reverberated through my guts. The beak hung over me for an instant.

“Kraken save me!” I shouted into it’s black throat. The beak passed over my head. It snapped shut over the head and chest of Gneal. The wings pumped the air. The down draft rippled the water and cooled the sweat on the back of my neck. Gneal rose into the air.

“No!” Gnathaniel shouted. Gneal was already hundreds of feet above us. The bird flew for the shore. Gneal’s legs thrashed in the air.

“Gneal! The flotilla isnt working!” Gned screamed. The other bird circled above us. The bird with Gneal landed on a giant tree branch by the side of the river. Gneal’s legs kicked the air.

“Look!” Gnathaniel screamed. Four beaks reached out of a nest that was hidden in the branches below. The bird lowered his head. The eager beaks snapped and tore at Gneal’s legs as the giant bird lowered him into the nest. His clothing ripped apart. I turned my head.

“Paddle!” Jenna shouted. Her ears stuck straight out of the side of head, making her look a little bigger.

“Get us out of here!” I said. Jenna grabbed Gneal’s paddle and smacked at the water.

“We can’t leave him!” Gned said. Tears ran down his face

“No, she’s right,” Gnathaniel said. Gned stared at the snapping beaks. Gneal’s bloody and naked legs still kicked in the air. A shadow passed overhead. The second bird swooped down. Gned started to paddle. The other gnomes reached deep into the water with their paddles. Our boats jerked forward under their effort.

The beak snapped in the air just behind us. The bird screeched and flew over. It landed by he nest and reached for one of Gneal’s gnawed legs. It pulled at the gnome. The other bird pulled back. There was a crack. The bird flew off with a mouthful of Gneal.

“Thank Kraken that isn’t me,” I mumbled. There were more screeches deep in the woods. The gnomes grunted and cried as they paddled hard through the water. We lurched upstream.

"This is why! This is why we dont come upstream this far!" Gned cried.

Sweat ran in streams down the gnomes’ backs. I took Gneal’s place in Jenna’s canoe and tried to paddle. My arms burned. We paddled without rest until the sun was down. We tied the boats off on the riverbank and all slept fitfully that night. The next morning Freya made another meal of hard biscuits and gruel. Smooger food had more flavor, but even Reese had the courtesy not to complain. We were on the water and moving upstream right away.

“You did a good job back there.” I said to Gned. I paddled uselessly. My muscles were sore from the day before.

“Tell that to Gneal,” he said.

“It wasn’t your idea to stop paddling,” I said. Gned didn’t say anything. Gnathaniel looked at me and nodded.

“Didn’t you say you had a cousin in Heedon Springs?” I asked.

“No,” he replied.

“He has an uncle there,” Gnathaniel said.

“Be quiet,” Gned said.

“He was banished because he breeds dogs. Big, ugly dogs,” Gnathaniel said.

“They’re not ugly!” Gned turned around. He looked at me. “Our family raised Bald Mastiffs for generations. Gnird finally banished him for going against Flonia's laws of breeding.” he said.

“My dad says that was unfair,” Gnathaniel said.

“Mine too,” Gned said. He looked at the other gnomes. “You guys better not say anything about this when we get back,” he said. They nodded and kept paddling.

“His name is Gnick. He lives by the swineherds just outside of Heedon Springs.” He reached deep into the water with his paddle. “He raises the best dogs in the world.” The forest thinned as we continued upstream. The land flattened and stretched. As far as I could see was brown grass. We paddled rhythmically by the monotonous terrain. I shifted in my seat. It had been three days since we left Peep.

“I’m sore,” I said.

“You’re not the only one,” Chastity said.

“Are we there yet?” Reese whined.

“There it is.” Freya pointed ahead. In the distance a town rose up from the land. The gnomes paddled faster at the sight of it. My paddle knocked against something. I pulled it out of the river.

“What is this?” I asked. A red cloth dangled from my paddle.

“Women wear those under their clothes,” Jenna said.

“Some women,” Chastity said. I dropped it back in the water. More clothing drifted past. A leather boot floated upside down. Empty jugs knocked against the boats.

“The smell,” I said. A rotten stench filled my nose. The bloated body of a goat passed by, its legs stuck straight up from its round puffy body. We all covered our faces.

Empty barrels bobbed past our boats. The mouth of the river opened up into a wide, still lake. At the far side a wooden platform ran along the shore. The mast of a sunken boat stuck crookedly out of the water. Huge wooden boats were tied to the boardwalk. Stilts sat at tables on the decks. Music drifted over the water.

“Civilization at last,” Drexel said.

“Its a party!” Reese said. A huge sign hung under the boardwalk.

“Welcome to Heedon Springs.” Freya read aloud.

We paddled passed a boat on our way to the boardwalk. Stilts talked and danced above us. The smell of roast beast drifted down. My stomach growled.

“Look out below!” I looked up in time to catch a face full of meat scraps and pilmelon husks.

“Disgusting,” Freya said. She picked a wilted leaf off my eyebrow. The gnomes didn’t even wipe the slop from their brows. They stared straight ahead and paddled. They seemed very uncomfortable about this stilt-town. We paddled to a ladder that hung down from the boardwalk. The boat rocked as I stood. Everyone climbed up the boardwalk. I was last. I grabbed the ladder and climbed up, toward the boardwalk. As I got to the top, I looked down on the gnomes.

“Thanks for the ride, Im really happy I met you guys” I said. They looked tiny in their boats, against this huge dock.

“Please dont ever come back to peep!” Gned said. "Tell Gnick I miss him if you see him" He pulled against the water and brought his canoe about. The gnomes paddled away without looking back. I wanted to shout something, like, “Watch out for the birds!” Instead I turned and climbed the ladder to the top of the boardwalk.

"We're here! We're here!" Chastity clapped her hands enthusiastically.

“I like it here,” Reese said. He danced on the boardwalk, his hooves clopped in a bad rhythm. Stilts mobbed the place.

“Watch where you’re going!” I yelled. I bounced from thigh to thigh. None of them bothered to look down. I pushed through the crowd. I could just see Freya ahead. I squeezed past a fat stilt in front of a round building. It looked like a hut made of twigs and thatch, but gigantic.

“Come to the Barbarian experience! It’s an experience you’ll never forget!” He pointed inside. A female greenskin sat with a collar around her neck. She was chained to a table in front of a big fire. Reese headed for the door.

“There’s an elf chained to that table,” he said.

“No you don’t.” Freya grabbed his shirt and yanked him back. Men stared at her as they passed. In fact, they stared at all of us.

We passed shop after shop of expensive clothing.

“Shopping!” Chastity said.

“Stop,” Freya said.

“Oh look!” Chastity ducked into a small store. I followed her inside. I was glad to be out of the crowd. A tall stilt in a black velvet cape and white shirt looked us over and frowned. Chastity ran her hands over a silk dress that hung in the corner.

“It would be very flattering on you,” The stilt said to Chastity. “Why don’t you try it on?” He led her to a small room in the back. Reese walked to a rack that held tiny shorts made of a strange animal skin.

Two stilts walked in. The man was chubby and balding. He wore a long, purple, velvet cape, a green jumpsuit and brown leather boots. The woman on his arm looked half his age. She held a tiny dog in the crook of her arm. It panted. Its pink tongue licked her wrist. A blue collar with lined with pink stones nestled in the fur around its neck. Her blue skirt had a long slit up the side. Reese turned around and gaped at her legs. I thought she was the man’s daughter until he slipped his hand around her waist. She was also pregnant. Very pregnant. Another stilt approached the couple.

“Alligator slacks for the gentleman? They are very supple,” he said with a bow.

“What are these?” The woman squealed. She reached for a pair of shorts on the rack where Reese stood.

“Excellent choice ma’am,” the shopkeep said. “Wereskin unmentionables, for ladies only,” he said. He raised his eyebrow and looked sideways at the man.

“Wereskin?” the stilt asked.

“We have an exclusive arrangement with a dealer up north. We have a variety of Were-creatures to choose from, for these exquisite garments.” He handed a greenish pair to the woman.

“Oh, just feel them, Stanley!” she said. She held them up. They looked almost like stilt skin, with wispy soft hairs. The man ran his hand over the light fur, pursed his lips, and nodded.

“They’ll bring out the beast in you,” the clerk said. He winked at the man. The woman smiled and walked around the shop pointing at various dresses and shirts. The clerk collected them. The man began to look queasy.

“I like it.” Chastity announced. She stood before us in a blue silk dress. The fabric was practically transparent. The first clerk emerged from the dressing area looking flushed. Chastity looked naked with a blue cast.

“Yes!” Reese agreed.

“Buy it for me Drexel.” Chastity looked at Drexel and pouted. Drexel sighed and pulled a pouch from his pocket.

“That will be thirty Bupence, or five Heedontines,” the clerk said. Drexel poured coins into the clerk’s hand. Chastity winked at the clerk. "You can change your money at your hotel with a discount!" he offered eagerly.

“That is so much money,” Reese said. Drexel shrugged. He walked past the wereskin underwear. His hand reached out and petted the tiny dog.

“What a lovely animal you have,” he said. He winked at the man. The man wrinkled up his nose.

“Yes, he’s adorable.” The woman said.

“You’ve got to be careful when you bring a woman in here,” Drexel said to the man. “A man could lose his shirt.” The man laughed.

“I see you didn’t get out of here without taking a hit,” he said.

“Nobody does,” Drexel said. “Enjoy your trip.” He smiled and walked out. We left the shop and the couple behind us.

“What was that about?” Freya asked.

“Just being friendly,” Drexel said.

“Since when?” Jenna asked. Drexel coughed. The boardwalk was packed. Stilts brushed against me on all sides.

“Where are we going?” I asked Jenna. Her ears flitted up and down nervously as the stilts hovered over us.

“I think Freya is looking for somewhere we can stay, so we can sit down and figure out what we're going to do.” she said. We fought to keep up with the others.

We turned off the boardwalk. The road was paved with stones. The street led into a wide plaza. Stone buildings rose up on either side.

“What is this place?” I asked. I gaped at the four enormous stone buildings that lined the square. Each had a banner across its front. Lengnil's Ways, Lengnil's Triumph, Lengnil's Will, and Legacy of Lengnil. There was also a large, white gate here, expertly painted with the words "Gate to west springs". From the gate, a wide dirt road led out of town.

“Look at all these castles,” Reese said. In the center of the square, several armed stilts sat on horses and talked to each other. A wooden booth was in front of them. The men wore shining armor draped with matching tabards. The tabards bore an orange insignia with a bottle of whiskey on it.

“Welcome to Lengnil Square, from your friendly Town Guard Station,” Freya said. She read the banner on the booth.

“These are inns.” She pointed at the castles around us.

“We could stay with Gnick, Gned’s cousin,” I said.

“Bad idea,” she said. “We don’t need to get mixed up with any locals. This place is remote, but we must remember that we're still in Twaddle, .”

“But he breeds dogs,” I said.

“Finding you a pet is at the bottom of the list Telle,” Freya said.

“I don’t need a pet, I need a dog,” I tried to explain. She just shook her head.

“Escort to the springs?” One of the guards shouted to us with a smile.

“Keep walking, don’t say anything,” Drexel said. We walked up a red rug to the stone steps of one of the inns. A stilt in white leather pants and a tall white hat opened the door for us. I started to walk through the door when I heard a scream behind me. We all turned around at once.

“Goblins!” A woman shouted. I grabbed my knife and looked across the plaza.

“We were attacked!” A stilt with ripped clothing leaned on a bruised woman. They limped through the square. Tourists stopped and stared.

“Help us!” the woman said. A crowd gathered around them, but the town guards continued their conversation as if nothing was happening. I ran toward them. Drexel grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back.

“Stay out of this Telle,” he said.

“There are Goblins! Down the road!” The woman shouted, pointing at the white gate. A trickle of blood ran down the side of her face. The doorman in the white suit ran to help them. We stayed at the entrance of the inn.

“Please, we can help you inside!” He grabbed the couple and guided him toward the inn. He smiled at the gathering crowd and waved to the guards. The guards smiled warmly and waved back. He led them past us.

“Smoogers?” I looked up at the bloody woman.

“William was too cheap to hire an escort to the East Springs!” She looked at her husband. “They killed our servants!” she said.

“I’ll buy you more servants if you’ll shut your mouth!” The man spat. A tooth bounced off the stones.

“You were robbed of everything? How devastating,” The stilt in white said as he helped the man.

“Don’t worry, you scoundrel. We have enough left inside the inn to pay for our room,” the man said as he hobbled inside. We followed. Servants and maids appeared from all sides. They soothed the couple and led them away. The innkeeper called for a physician. He turned to us.

“Sorry about that little interruption. Welcome to the Legacy of Lengnil Inn. Would you be needing accommodation?” he asked. He plucked a quill from a bottle of ink.

“We’ll take your finest,” Drexel said. The man nodded and snapped his fingers. A stilt in a red uniform with gold sleeves rose to his side.

“Rifescott will show you to your room,” he said.

“Wait for me,” I said. Rifescott escorted us up a wide staircase, built for stilts. I stretched my legs up the tall steps. The others waited for us at the top. Jenna and I panted and puffed as we climbed up. We walked down the hall. Rifescott stood in front of an open door. He held his hand out.

“Enjoy your stay. Will you be needing anything else?” he asked.

Chastity danced around the room in her see through dress. She twirled and fell back into a wide leather chair. She looked up at the decorated walls.

“It’s beautiful here,” she said.

The walls were covered with colorful tapestries. The biggest was at least 30 feet wide. The tapestry showed a vivid scene of a giant battle. An aged stilt stood like a beacon in the middle of the battle. He wore blue robes and held a crooked staff in his right hand. Terrified yellow smoogers ran from him in all directions.

The stilt's unweildy staff had a large globe of light at its end. Bolts of blue lightning shot from the globe, in all directions. One smooger, his mouth stretched open in a scream, ran from the flame. The lightning shot through him, into his back and out his belly. One bolt streaked across the landscape and ended in the head of an infant smooger, in the foreground of the tapestry. It's mother yowled as she looked down at the dying baby in her arms. The old stilt held his head high. He had a look of righteous conviction in his eyes. The craftmanship of the tapestry was incredible. The shrieking smoogers seemed to run straight for us. I cold almost hear their screams. They looked like they could run right out of the cloth.

“What is that?” Jenna asked. Her eyes sparkled.

“There are thirty-six magnificent tapestries, created by the Lengnil Estate, illustrating the life of Lengnil the Conqueror," Rifescott began, "Each tapestry is over one hundred years old. They were created in honor of the great Lengnil, father of modern Heedon Springs. His first and last heir had them commissioned by the finest artists in Twaddle. The Lengnil Inns have collected seventeen of them over the years, at great expense. As you can see, three are in your room alone.”

"Well, we wanted the best" Drexel said.

Rifescott elegantly gestured to the back right corner of the cloth mural. I could see a small smooger town engulfed in flames. Smoogers on fire crawled from the ruins.

“You can see the marking here, that notes that this is an authentic, not a replica."

"Is this based on a true story?" I asked.

Rifescott's face brightened, "Oh yes sir! Without Lengnil, the delights of Heedon Springs would not exist. Two hundred years ago, this area was not even part of the Twaddle empire. It was a tiny human settlement, surrounded by a wasteland completely infested with goblins. Disgusting hordes of goblins swarmed the barren soil like stenchflies on a horse biscuit. Pardon me for that ladies, but it is the truth. More yellowtoes than you can imagine. Lengnil liberated the lands for Twaddle, and for all of humankind,” he smiled.

“I wish he could have liberated me.” I said.

“We stilts are good for something.” Chastity said to me. She brushed my cheek.

“Is there anything else I can do for you?” Rifescott’s hand hung in the air, palm up.

Freya felt the mattress and frowned. “Do you have anything firmer?” she asked,

“Unfortunately not,” Rifescott said.

“But there are beds in the adjoining rooms, you may find one of them more to your liking,” he said. He looked at his hand and then at Drexel.

“Will you be needing anything else?” he asked.

“How about a normal sized bed?” I asked. He looked down his nose at me.

“So sorry, sir. Only the one size. I could bring you a child's crib if you prefer.” He looked at Drexel. “I’ll be leaving now?,” he announced, palm up.

“Oh, right,” Drexel said. He reached into his pouch and slowly pulled out a coin. He deliberately let some of the scales he had pried off the dragon fall clattering onto the floor. Rifescott’s eyes widened. He closed his fingers over the coin. Drexel raised one eyebrow and smiled.

“Run along,” Drexel said. Rifescott spun on his heel and shot out of the room.

Drexel picked up the scales and stuffed them back into his pouch.

“Stop that jumping,” he yelled. Reese stopped bouncing on the bed and fell onto his back. He pretended to sleep. He snored loudly. Drexel pulled another pouch from his pocket. It was purple with gold trim across the top. A larger green silk pouch came from another pocket. Then a darker red, leather pouch appeared. They all jingled with coins. Then he pulled a string of pink jewels from his pocket. It was the collar from the woman’s dog in the shop. He held the collar up to the window. The jewels sparkled.

“Now this is my kind of town,” he said.

“I didn't know you could smile,” I said to him. He laughed.

“Where did you get all those bags?” I asked.

“It was so crowded on back there. I’m afraid some people dropped them,” he said.

“Drexel,” Freya said. Drexel opened his mouth in mock surprise.

“How can it be that you still steal from people? After all we've been through trying to change this Country for the better...Especially with Ragnar…” Freya shook with anger.

Ragnar wouldn’t want it any other way,” Chastity said. She reached for one of the pouches and lay back on the chair.

"Chastity's right, just look at the marks around here! These are the folks that the Bupinders are trying to impress. These fat cats are rich off of the backs of the, ahh, the...help me here, Jenna"

"The proletariot" Jenna offered.

"Exactly!" Drexel said. "What do you think Ragnar would have thought about that, eh?"

“Your little show for the bellboy was ridiculous,” Freya said.

“It was the best tip he’s ever gotten,” Drexel lied. “Did you see his eyes when he saw those dragon scales?” he asked.

“Have you forgotten?” Freya put her head in her hands.

“Here it comes,” Drexel said to Chastity.

“There are still soldiers hunting us!” she said.

“Relax,” Drexel said. “You saw those guards in the square.” He laughed. “Did they look like they cared about enforcing the law? The sketches of us probably didnt make it this far north, anyway.”

“I still havent decided what Cloda meant when she said Gorgon was her 'Leader'. It is possible that there was a higher level of authority in Cloda's rebellion that she kept secret from us?,” Freya said.

"I really think Cloda organized the rebellion alone" Drexel said.

"Isn't a Gorgon some kind of monster?" Reese asked.

"No Reese. don't be foolish." Jenna shook her head condescendingly.

"Well we need to find him or it, if for no other reason than repaying our debt to Cloda." Freya said.

“Tomorrow,” Chastity said. She yawned. “Let’s find him tomorrow. Until then, let’s live a little.” She pouted and looked at Freya.

“Fine. But keep a low profile,” Freya said. I looked around the other rooms.

The stilt beds were enormous. I couldn’t even climb into one of the beds without help. The chairs were too big. Portraits of stilts hung on the one wall with no tapestries.

“I don’t like it here,” I said.

“I love it here,” Chastity said. She purred and ran her fingers over the arms of her chair.

“I hate these stilt rooms,” I said to Jenna. She took her book and went to another room.

“Don’t bother me until tomorrow.” She said, and shut the door behind her. Reese’s fake snoring became real. Drexel counted pieces of metal and sparkling stones that poured out of the pouches. Freya watched him and frowned.

“We should go and find Gnick,” I said.

“No locals,” Freya said. “I already told you that.”

“I wasn’t asking.” I walked to the door.

“I’m finding Gnick. I’ll see you later,” I said. I opened the door.

“Wait,” Drexel said. I turned. He tossed a small pouch through the air. It smacked into the palm of my hand. It was heavy for its size.

“You might need a little pocket money,” he said.

“Thanks,” I said. I stuffed the pouch into a pocket and found my way downstairs. The innkeeper stood behind a tall counter. Rifescott stood beside him. His gold sleeves sparkled in the lamplight. I walked past them and into the square. People, all stilts, milled around.

The pregnant couple I’d seen earlier stood across the square. The woman carried several bulging sacks. The man wore a tall blue hat. He looked exhausted. A juggler ran up to them. He tossed bottles end over end. The juggler smiled and danced while he kept the bottles in the air. They tumbled and turned in the air. His hands shot in all directions to keep them aloft. When he finished the pregnant woman squealed.

“That was wonderful!” she said. “Tip him Stanley,” she pleaded to her man. Stanley smiled and tossed a coin to the juggler.

“Gods bless!” the juggler said with a bow. The couple walked into the inn next to ours. A boy pushed a cart by me.

“Cloda dolls! Cloda dolls!” he said.

Inside the cart was a heap of Clodas.

“Where did you get those?” I asked. I picked up a doll. It looked just like her. The mouth was open, as if she were singing. Her arms were held high over her head.

“Bupence, Heedontines, Spatchkells?” he asked.

“What?” I asked. The boy had dirt on his face and a tear in his shirt. I could see his ribs through the hole.

“How do you want to pay?” he asked.

“Oh. I don’t know.” I reached for the pouch and poured some coins into my hand. The kid grabbed a small silver piece.

“One Spatchkell,” he said. He started to walk away.

“Get your Cloda dolls! Cloda dolls! Don’t go home empty handed,” he said.

“Wait.” I grabbed his shoulder. “Where can I find the swineherds?” I asked.

“What do you want with pig raisers?” he asked.

“I’m looking for a dog breeder named Gnick.” I asked.

“I know im. A kneebiter.” He looked at me. “No offence,” he said.

“None taken.” I rubbed the handle of the knife in my pocket.

“He’s on the other side of town,” he said. He pointed to a line of carts. Stilts in red coats with black hats stood around.

“Try them. Good luck getting them to take you way out there,” he said. I thanked the boy and walked to the carts. Two stilts ran up to me.

“Ride, sir?” they both asked.

“I need a ride to swineherds,” I said. The stilts stopped and turned around. They walked back to the others.

“He’s going to pig town,” one of them said. Nobody moved.

“I need a ride!” I said. I walked up to the stilt at the end of the row.

“Whatcha got?” he asked.

“Spatchkells?” I held out the pouch Drexel gave me.

“I’ll do it,” he said. “Get in.” He pointed to his cart. I climbed the ladder up the side and hopped inside. The stilt held two poles that stuck out on either side of the cart and pulled. We began to roll.

I smiled and sat back as the highthigh pulled like a donkey through the streets of Heedon Springs.

“Faster!” I shouted down to him. The back of his red coat darkened with sweat as the fancy buildings and stone streets became dirt roads and shacks. We passed rows of huts with dirt pens in front. Pigs and other animals lay in the mud. A strange looking man stared at us as we passed. He was my height, but twice as wide. He tossed feed to a bunch of pigs. The dirt road became rutted. Sweat dripped off the stilt. He stopped in front of a small hut. Dogs barked from behind the shack. The smell brought me back to Blagton. I climbed down from the cart.

“How much?” I asked. I emptied the sack into my hand. He grabbed half the coins and spun around.

“Good day, sir,” he said. I laughed. I’d never been called ‘sir’ by a beamducker before. He tromped off, his coat was soaked with sweat.

Dogs barked behind the house. The walls were splintered. The entire shack leaned to one side. The only thing that looked new was a shiny brass knocker on the door. It was a dog’s head that held a ring in its mouth. I pulled back the ring and let it drop. There was a dull thud. I heard footsteps. The door creaked open. A thin gnome with a yellow pallor and purple bags under his eyes stood before me. My heart jumped to see another of my kind. Someone who wouldnt hold my actions in Peep against me.

“What do you want?” He stared at me. His eyes looked a bit like Gned’s.

“You must be Gnick.” I stuck out my hand. “My name is Telle Smellme. Your nephew Gned sent me,” I said.

“Gned, eh?” He looked me up and down. “Go to hell.” He turned and slammed the door in my face. The barking from the back grew louder.

I looked at the door and back at the street. It would be a long walk back to the Legacy of Lengnil. I let the knocker fall again. The door swung open. An old gnomish woman with grey hair and dark brown skin stood before me. She wore a filthy apron and no shoes.

“News from Gned? Oh dear boy, come in, come in!” She grabbed my hand and pulled me inside.

“I don't want any Flownia freaks in my house!” Gnick said from inside.

“Don’t be silly,” she said. She pulled me into a small room with a table laid in front of a fireplace.

“Smelly was it? What news of Peep? It’s been so long since we’ve heard from anyone!” She said. She patted the seat of a chair at the table. I took a seat.

“My name is Smellme. Telle Smellme,” I said. She set a plate in front of me. The place was warm and properly sized.

“You’ll be staying for dinner Mr. Smellme,” she said. I actually hoped that I would stay for much longer.

Gnick squinted at me from across the table.

“Where did you get a name like Telle Smellme? I don’t recall any Smellmes in Peep,” he asked. My eyes adjusted to the light. The room was lit mostly by the fire. It was very hot. The mantle above the fireplace held various plaques and trophies. There were sculptures of dogs on every surface and drawings hung on every inch of wall. The woman cooked on a grate over the fire.

“I’m from Pusstown,” I said. There was a crash. The woman dropped a metal fork against the grate.

“Oh dear,” she said.

“Pusstown you say?” Gnick’s eyes widened. The whites of his eyes were yellow.

“I thought there were no survivors,” Gnick said.

“You’ve heard of Pusstown then?” I asked, excited.

“Of course,” he said. “It was Pusstown that cost me my livelihood.” He slammed his fist on the table.

“You don’t know that,” the woman said. She carved a piece of meat into strips with a dull knife.

He began coughing. Huge, convulsive coughs followed gasps for air. His face reddened.

“There, there.” The woman brought Gnick a mug. He gulped the liquid and his coughing eased. He cleared his throat spat into the fire. The logs hissed.

“What did Pusstown cost you?” I asked.

His voice was raspy. “I wanted to avenge that massacre,” he said.

I wanted to hug him.

The woman dropped the slabs of meat on the fire grate. The air filled with steam and smoke. The meat sizzled and popped.

“Dinner’s almost ready,” she said.

“They was afraid to take on the smoogers.” Gnick took another drink from his mug. “The town went against me.” He began to cough again.

“There, there. The dinner table is no place for such talk.” The woman dropped a slab of charred meat on each of our plates.

“Gilmic Pig steaks from just down the street,” she said. I grabbed the meat and took a bite. It was delicious. I grunted my approval and gnawed at the steak. I was hungry. I barely chewed, swallowing whole chunks of meat. I licked the melted fat off my plate. I looked up and saw them both watching me. They looked disturbed.

“Boy, didn’t they teach you no manners in Pusstown?” Gnick asked. I felt my cheeks turn red. He sat with a napkin tucked into his collar. He’d only taken a few bites of his dinner.

“I grew up in a smooger pit,” I said.

“Goodness Gracious!” the woman said. She warily patted my head. “Have some more.” She cut her steak in half and gave me a piece. I wanted to stay here forever.

“Thanks,” I said. I fumbled around with the fork and knife. Grease dripped down my chin.

“Smoogers? Dear god, boy. You were raised by them yellow toes?” he asked.

“Thank Kraken I survived,” I said. I muttered a quick prayer.

“Is that some kinda prayer? No prayin in this house,” Gnick said. He glared at me.

“But…” I said.

“It's his big rule, Telle,” the woman said, consolingly.

“How’d you come to Heedon Springs?” I asked.

“When we moved here this place was just getting off the ground,” Gnick explained. “As you can see, it’s mostly stilts around here,” he said.

“I noticed,” I said.

“Yeah, well. Rumor has it this was once all smooger country. Some stilt cleared it out and they made a town here.” He took another bite of meat.

“Heard about that, I guess the stilts were good for something,” I said.

“Sure!” He said. “They buy my dogs. I got no argument with stiltfolk. After getting tossed out of Peep, Gnelly and I didn’t have no place else to go,” he said. “They don’t treat us like their own, but they don’t make us be no Flownia freaks neither,” he said.

“I’ve never seen a dog so big that a stilt could ride it,” I said.

“Ride?” Gnick asked over a mouthful of food. “Boy, stiltfolk don’t ride my pups. I raise show dogs.”

“Show dogs?” I asked.

“Stilts keep them as pets, Telle,” Gnelly explained.

“They don’t use them or anything?” I asked.

“No boy. They keep them around. Mine are trained. They do tricks and whatnot. Lemme show ya.” He walked to the back of the shack. The barking reached a frenzy. “Here Sheesha. Come on girl. That’s a good pup,” he said.

Gnick came back with a giant, wrinkled, slobbering monster of a dog. Ropes of foamy drool hung from saggy bald jowls. The whole dog was bald. The wrinkled skin rippled and sagged. The dog stood taller than all of us. Gnick reached up and patted her on the back.

“Fancy walk, Sheesha,” he said. The dog trotted around the room. She lifted her legs high in a ridiculous walk.

“What’s wrong with it?” I asked.

“Wrong?” Gnick looked annoyed.

“She’s all skin,” I said.

“Of course she is. She’s a bald Mastiff. I breed ‘em that way. They’re a noble stock.” Sheesha panted and barked. Flecks of spit sprayed across the room. She snatched a piece of meat off the table.

“Take that beast out of my kitchen!” Gnelly yelled. She snapped a towel at Sheesha. Gnick led the dog out the back door.

Gnelly wiped the spit off the table and cleared away the plates.

“Have some tea.” She handed me a cup. Gnick came back and took a seat.

“Fine dogs they are,” he said. I nodded.

"Would you ever consider taking on another hand here?"I offered, "I'm really great with dogs."

“How did you come to Peep anyway?” he asked.

“They saved me,” I said.

“Is that right?” Gnelly said as she poured hot tea into Gnick’s cup.

“My friends and I killed a dragon,” I said. Gnelly jumped.

“Ouch!” Gnick shouted and jumped back. Gnelly had spilled tea into his lap.

“Woman!” Gnick barked. Gnelly wiped the table down. Gnick frowned and leaned over the table.

“I’m sorry, Gnick. For a second I thought I’d heard Telle say…”

“I killed a dragon,” I said. Gnick coughed.

“Say that again, son?" he asked.

“Well, not just me. My friends and I killed a dragon,” I said.

“Now hold on, son,” he said. “You didn't kill no dragon, you cant just kill no dragon..” he blathered.

“You’re telling me! We almost died. One of us did die in fact.” I thought of Ragnar. I almost smelled the burnt flesh.

“Son...” He lowered his voice. “What did this dragon look like?”

“It was so strange, here was this black winged monster, but he walked like a scaly stilt. And he was wearing this ridiculous purple hat,” I said.

“Jehosephat!” Gnelly exclaimed. She jumped back from the table. The color drained from her face. She looked around the room.

“Boy!” Gnick said. He started coughing. “Do you know what you’ve done?” he asked. “Get out!” He pointed at the door.

“They’ll find out! They’ll kill him, Gnick!” Gnelly was hysterical.

“Who? What? What’s the problem? The thing was gonna kill us!” I stammered

“What do we do?” Gnelly said. “He’ll be executed!”

“You stay right here!” Gnick said to me. He got up from the table and grabbed his wife by the arm.

“Come here, woman.” He pulled her out the back door. He slammed it shut. I got up and walked to the door. I put my ear to it.

“It must be a mistake. He couldn’t have killed HIM, he couldn't!” Gnick said.

“Was he was fibbing? He sounded like he didnt even know who that dragon is!” she asked.

He said nothing.

“Should we turn him in?” She asked.

“We’ve got to get rid of him! He’ll get us both killed,” he said. “They’ll kill every gnome in sight. This is just what we don’t need.”

I reached into my belt and felt the handle of my dagger, just to make sure it was there. I swung the back door open.

“You don’t have to get rid of me. I’ll find my own way out,” I said.

“You really have no idea what you’ve done, do you, boy?” Gnick looked at me with pity and scorn.

He looked to his left and right. We were surrounded by cages filled with drooling naked hounds.

“Listen, boy. If the guards find out what you done, they’ll come after everyone you know. You are in a heap of trouble. A heap of trouble.” He scratched his chin. “You take the first boat down river and get out of here.”

“Yes…but…” I said.

“Ain’t no buts about it!” He said. “You go way down that river. Big cities down there, you’ll like it. Get yourself far away from here,” he said.

“I need a dog,” I said.

“What?” he asked.

“I know dogs! I can get out of here quickly if you’ll give me a dog.”

“Out of the question,” he said. He shook his head. “Everyone knows where them dogs come from. Besides, these ain’t for you. They’re show dogs.” He stuck his chest out.

“I only need one,” I said.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he said.

“I have money.” I showed him my bag of coins. He blinked and looked at the bag. I handed it to him.

“Yes, you do,” he said.

“Quick, come back inside.” He ushered me to the table. He poured the coins onto the table in the kitchen. Gnelly gasped. Gnick stuffed coins into his pockets. Without looking up he said, “Son, take whatever dog you like.”

“Are you sure that’s wise?” Gnelly asked.

“Shut up woman!” He patted his bulging pockets. He looked around his house as if he were seeing it for the last time. He licked his lips.

“Listen up, boy. I’m reporting a dog stolen tomorrow. So you best be out of town by then or else the Town Guard will have you and I’ll get my dog back. Understand?” he asked. He walked to the back door.

“Fine,” I said. “I want Sheesha.”

“No refunds!” he yelled over his shoulder. He went out back and got Sheesha from her cage. I took her out front. The sun was beginning to go down, it was getting dark. I climbed onto her back. She whipped her head around and cocked it to the side, she wasnt used to a rider.

“Good girl,” I said. She barked and licked my face. Drool ran down my neck and into my shirt. Her sinewy muscles tensed underneath me. She was stronger than any smooger dog I’d ridden. I dug my heels into her side, but she just stood still and barked. I gave her a slap on the behind and she ran around in a circle. I hopped off her back.

"Come on Girl" I said, and started to run down the street as fast as I could. She followed me in an enthusiastic trot. I grabbed some of her bald flesh rolls and quickly pulled myself up to her back. She was starting to understand. I rode her up and down the dirt road several times until she got a little more used to me. We passed rows of pigpens, some held swine. Others held huge dumb looking animals. They were brown docile boars with white spots. They were almost as big as the beetles from the farm where I met my friends. I think they were the Gilmic pigs i had just eaten.

“Good eatin’” I yelled. The thick rightsizer I’d seen on my way in looked up. He stared at me as I rode past. I made my way to the paved roads. Finding my way back was easy. The houses and streets got better and better as I approached the center of town. The same stilts that were in my way earlier scrambled to evade Sheesha's galloping jowls. When I got to the center of town I dismounted and led Sheesha through the square.

The guards had their attention on something behind me. A massive stilt with two giant swords strapped across his chest staggered into view. A thin stilt in a purple suit followed with a silver tray full of drinks and food.

“Attention!” One of the guards called out. The others snapped straight as rods. The fat stilt walked to the cluster of guards. He grabbed a bottle off the tray and swallowed its contents in one gulp. He let the bottle drop. Two arms in gold sleeves reached out to catch the falling bottle. It was the servant from our inn. The same servant that Drexel had tipped so well.

I remembered what Gnick said about the Town Guard. I rushed Sheesha into our inn. Drexel was outside, calling to passerby in a loud voice.

"Genuine dragon scales here! Get your dragon scales!" He cried.

"Drexel what the hell are you doing?" I screamed.

"Oh, hello Telle, your baldness seems to have spread through the local livestock" he camly replied, looking at Sheesha.

"Get off the street!" I pushed him inside and ran towards the stairs.

I made my way up the stairs, I had lost track of Drexel already. Sheesha stopped at the bottom. She looked at the stone steps and then up at me.

“Come on, Sheesha!” I clapped my hands. She barked. It echoed through the inn. She nervously climbed up the stairs. When I got to our room I opened the door. A stilt in a red shirt and green pants stood in front of me.

“Sorry, wrong room,” I said. I turned to walk down the hall.

“Telle, wait!” Freya said from behind the stilt.

“This is Mendel.” Freya stepped in front of the stilt. Sheesha and I entered the room.

“And this is Sheesha,” I said. Sheesha barked at her name. Globs of spit flew across the room and smacked into Mendel.

“Sorry about that,” I said.

“Yuck!” Mendel wiped his face with his sleeve.

“Are you allowed to have pets in here?” he asked. His words came slowly.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“I work for Barry. I’m supposed to take you to his estate,” he whispered loudly.

"Who's Barry?" I said. "Wait, it doesnt matter, “We have to get out of here, now,” Inside the room already, Drexel raised his eyebrows.

“Are you in charge now?” Drexel asked. I looked at Mendel. He breathed through his open mouth. His eyes were half-closed.

“I can’t explain,” I nodded at Mendel, “but we have to go now.”

“You’re mysterious all of a sudden,” Chastity said. She winked. Reese snored on the bed.

“I’m serious! We have to get out of here,” I said.

“You’re cute when you serious,” Chastity said. Drexel laughed.

"Telle, is that thing your dog?" Jenna stared at Sheesha. Jenna's ears fanned out from her head and formed cups.

Mendel looked at me and sucked on his teeth.

“There is someone who people know here in Heedon Springs.” I took a breath.

“Who is also a young dragon,” I said.

“Jehosophat.” Mendel said. “You must mean Jehosophat Orka. He owns this hotel I think.”

Drexel screamed.

“Yes. The dragon who owns this hotel,” I said. I couldn't believe it. "Does he wear a purple hat?"

“Yup. A purple cap. That’s Jehosaphat,” Mendel said. He grinned. Freya turned white. Jenna's ears began to tremble. "Hes a town councilman too, you know."

“And I just saw the porter in Lengnil square, with the guards,” I said.

“You idiot!” Freya said to Drexel. He turned his head.

“What’s wrong?” Mendel asked.

“Nothing,” everyone said at once.

“Mendel,” Freya spoke very slowly and looked Mendel in the eyes. “We have to go now, but we need to go quietly. Is there another way out of this inn?” she asked.

“I'm not sure,” he said.

“Wake him up. We’re leaving.” Freya pointed at Reese. He smiled in his sleep. Sheesha cocked her head. Jenna’s ears quivered.

“People downstairs,” Jenna said. Sheesha barked.

“Quiet that animal!” Freya said. I reached up to pet Sheesha behind the ear.

“Easy, girl,” I whispered.

“Mendel, you may need to get ready to run,” Freya said. He nodded dumbly. She opened the door. We filed into the hallway. Drexel vanished in the shadows.

“One day in a new town and we’re already fugitives,” Chastity said. "One day!"

“Quiet!” Freya said.

We crept down the hall. At the end was curving staircase. We descended as quietly as we could.

“Halt!” As I turned the corner I saw a scrawny stilt in metal armor. He held a short sword in front of him. He looked us over. We didnt halt.

“You people are wanted for questioning the Town Guard. I order you to stop…”

“To what?” Chastity stepped forward. The guard’s eyes traveled up and down her dress. She put her finger on the sword and pushed it aside.

“You wouldn’t poke a girl like me with something so sharp. Would you?” she asked. Her cheeks puffed together in a cute pout. He bit his lip and looked at her.

“Maybe not" he said.

“Of course not. Why don’t you just let us by? My friends and I are in a big hurry.” She stroked his cheek.

“What’s that, Harold?” a voice came from another room.

“It’s really nothing,” Chastity said. She whispered something in his ear and he nodded.

“It’s nothing,” he shouted up the stairs. Chastity smiled. The stilt smiled back.

“See you soon,” she said. She gave him a kiss on the cheek. We all filed past.

We sneaked down the hall and through an empty kitchen. A back door opened to a small walkway. On either side was a pit filled with rotting garbage. Stenchflies and yellow grubs crawled over piles of rotten meat and kitchen waste. Sheesha jumped into a pit and rolled in the filth.

“Sheesha!” I shouted. She looked up at me. Strands of longdough hung from her snout. We hurried on and she bounded out of the pit and caught up. She shook herself and sprayed us with spinning tendrils of juice. Freya clenched their teeth from the effort not to yell at me. I just kept my head down. Mendel led us through back alleys and streets until we were at another white town gate. It looked like the gate in Lengnil square, except it was on the other side of town and said "Gate to East Springs".

The town guards were nowhere in sight. Just inside the gate, several bald stilts in orange robes with thick, black eyebrows stood with their arms folded behind their backs.

Drexel looked at me, "First your dog, Telle, and now this...your baldness is causing an epidemic!"

“Those look like Monks.” Freya said under her breath. They stared at us as we passed. Freya made eye contact with the first stilt. He turned his head as stared back at her as we passed. Freya stopped walking and faced the stilt. She refused to break her gaze. The stilt stared at her, his bushy black eyebrows quivered. The other two stilts turned to face us. They stiffened and crouched on either side of the stilt who stared at Freya. Nobody moved.

"Freya do you have something to say to these nice men?" Jenna said, nervously.

Freya squinted. A bead of sweat formed on her temple. The veins in her neck bulged. The stilt flared his nostrils. His eyebrows stuck straight out from his head. His head began to quiver. His lips pulled back from his teeth. His right eye twitched. Freya smoothed her breathing. Her eyes narrowed. She just barely leaned forward.

“Achhh!” He turned his head and broke the gaze. Freya turned and walked though the gate. The two stilts at his side tracked her with their eyes but made no move to stop us. Soon we were on the road leading away from town and toward the East Spring.