Jeff Inlo - Nightmare's Shad

He did not get a chance to finish as the delver spoke with cold determination.

"I don't care what you agreed to," Ryson interrupted. "If she's in danger, I'm not leaving her side."

It was not with anger that he eyed the wizard, but with impenetrable determination. It was not up for debate. There was not a question in his mind. The algors' dilemma evaporated from his concerns like a single rain drop in their desert home.

Enin saw no other way to argue. He came right to the point.

"Then I suggest you come to grips with the reality that you just sentenced the algors to extinction and perhaps every inhabitant of the western coast once Baannat's forces claim the Lacobian."

Ryson was prepared for almost any argument, but that single accusation stung like a quick slap to the cheek.

"What? You can't place that on me!"

"You defeated Baannat. You are linked to the algors. He will kill them because of that."

"But that's Baannat's fault, not mine."

"And what of your failure to warn the algors?"

"Don't mix the issues! You're talking about my wife here! There's absolutely no way you can expect me to let anything else be of greater importance. Someone else can go to the desert!"

"True, someone else can send a warning, but who else can convince them to accept help from the dwarves? You are connected to their tribe. You.No one else. If you don't go, I cannot send the dwarves as aid. It would not only be useless, it might start a skirmish between them that would weaken both forces."

"That's not right. Just because the dwarves once attacked the algors doesn't mean I have to leave Linda."

"I'm afraid it does, for that is the situation at hand. You can blame destiny or chance, it doesn't matter which. The truth of the matter is that, while I understand your desire to protect your wife, you are needed elsewhere. The algors trust you and you alone. That is what the situation demands."

Ryson shook his head. He could not accept those demands.

Enin understood, but he could not allow a refusal.

"Understand, I don't wish to put you in this situation. In fact, I've done everything I can to come up with the best solution. Ask yourself this, who better to guard Linda than the cliff behemoths?"

"I can do it better!"

Enin raised an eyebrow.

"You can? You are an amazing individual, I do not deny it, but are you telling me you are a better defense against an army of dark creatures than a host of cliff behemoths?"

The description surprised the delver.

"A host?"

"Ryson, I am well aware of the loyalty you have to your wife. Did you think I was just going to turn her over to one or two cliff behemoths in the wilderness. Give me a little more credit. I did not waste time speaking with Dzeb. My effort was deliberate in every way."

"But how can I leave her?"

"By understanding what is at stake. There are many lives in the balance and I view them all as precious. I don't wish to sacrifice any, not one. Why would I waste valuable time with these plans, and now arguing them with you, if I didn't understand the magnitude of what we face. Now you must accept that I have taken the proper precautions. Every cliff behemoth understands the need to defend Linda. They will do so."

Ryson felt trapped, cornered. What was not even supposed to be up for debate was turning into an argument he was actually losing. He looked to Linda.

"I don't want you to be in this kind of danger, and I don't want you to face it alone."

Linda felt pulled in every direction. She wanted Ryson with her and the thought of being hunted by an army of beasts left her beyond terrified. For her, it was more than a death sentence. It was a punishment of torment. That is why she remained quiet, until that moment.

"I don't think what we want matters anymore," she said, barely above a whisper.

Ryson saw her fear and his emotions took over.

"You see?!" he demanded of the wizard. "She's terrified."

Enin bowed his head. He had lost the delver. He was sure of it, until Linda changed the outcome.

"Of course I'm terrified," Linda managed through labored breaths, "but what can we do? Even if you do stay with me, wouldn't it be best to seek the safest place? Can't the cliff behemoths protect me?"

"I don't know," Ryson admitted.

"If they can't, can you?"

"I'd die before I let something happen to you."

"Then we both might be dead, maybe all of us-the algors, the humans, the dwarves, the elves-every last one of us."

Ryson found no way to answer that.

"Ryson," Enin joined with his optimism renewed. "There is a way, but you will have to trust in Dzeb and the cliff behemoths."

"It's not about trust, it's about responsibility," Ryson shot back, becoming angrier and now feeling outnumbered.

"I know it is, and unfortunately, your responsibilities are split. You have a responsibility to your wife and a responsibility to the algors. You believe the former is greater than the latter. No one will argue that point, but I have given you the opportunity to meet both responsibilities. You can escort your wife to the safest place in the land, leave her knowing that she will be protected by the mightiest beings of Uton, and move on to fulfill what you must do in the desert."

"There's got to be another answer. What about you? Can't you protect Linda right here? You could wipe the land clean of goblins with your power."

That solution seemed to hold merit, hope even for Linda. Enin, however, pointed out what he gleaned from Baannat as he shook his head at the proposal.

"We three-Linda, you, and I-we are the main targets of Baannat. We are the ones who defeated him. He wants revenge… on all of us. We must remain separated. If two of us come together, Baannat can combine his forces. If he knew I was with your wife, think of what he would send against us. It would not be just goblins. Do you remember what you saw in the dark realm? Multiply that a hundredfold. That is what he would send at us. Do you still want me to guard Linda?"

"No," Ryson admitted, but then jumped on another option. "So you don't guard Linda, but what about the algors? It doesn't have to be me. You could do that. I heard what you said before about convincing the algors to accept the help of the dwarves, but why even bother with the dwarves? Why can't you protect the algors?"

"Because I'm going to have to eventually face Baannat," Enin revealed, "and he's going to want to do more than destroy me. He wants to humiliate me."

Ryson found that explanation lacking and looked to the wizard with a doubtful expression.

Enin tried to erase those doubts.

"Maybe you think I can stand with the algors. It is a false hope. Once more I ask that you look at the situation in total. Baannat is planning my destruction, but he has many objectives. If I remain away from Linda, away from you, and away from the desert, Baannat must divide his forces. If you demand I go to the desert, he will focus all his might there and then turn upon you and your wife. You might as well open the path for Baannat's victory right now."

Again, Ryson had no answer.

"No, I can't do that," Enin continued. "I must be prepared to move at a moment's notice to counteract whatever Baannat attempts. I may need to assist the elves in Dark Spruce or the humans here in Connel. I must be ready to deal with any number of contingencies. Remember, Baannat not only controls the dark creatures, he reenergized himself with vast quantities of magical energy."

Enin offered Ryson one choice, but it was false hope, and the wizard knew it before he even made the suggestion. "In all honesty, you have one other alternative. If you are absolutely determined to remain with your wife, you would have to bring Linda with you into the desert. Think on that carefully. Who would you really be serving? Where do you really think she will be the safest? In the mountains under the protection of cliff behemoths or in the Lacobian where I am sure Baannat will attack in great force… a terrible force if he believes you two are together."