neetha Napew - Spellsinger

companions. "What then are you bound to, old friend? This does not appear to me

to be a typical robber band, though if such is their wont I daresay they would

be efficient at it. Those are two of the biggest humans I've ever seen. And the

turtle called the man an 'otherworldly' wizard."

"I don't wonder at your wonderin', mate," said Mudge. " 'Tis all part o' the

strangest tale ever a 'alf-senile wizard wove. I'd give me left incisor if I'd

never o' become involved with this bunch." His voice had dropped to a whisper.

"Now don't you go botherin' yourself about it. You can't 'elp me. You get on

your way afore 'is 'ard-shelled and 'ard-'eaded wizardship there conscripts you

also. 'E's a no-nonsense sorcerer 'e is, and 'e's dragged us all off on some

bloody crusade to save the world. Don't think o' doubtin' 'is magic, for 'e's

the real article, 'e is, not some carnival fakir. The tall 'uman man with the

slightly stupid expression, 'im I still ain't figured out. 'E seems as naive

sometimes as a squallin' cub, but I've seen with me own eyes the magic 'e can

work. 'E's a spellsinger."

"What about the tall human woman. Is she a sorceress?"

"Not that she's shown so far," said Mudge thoughtfully. "I don't think she is.

Sure is built, though."

"Ah, my friend, you have no appreciation for the arts of higher learning. Even

in our brief exchange I could tell that she is of a noble order of initiates on

whom high intellectual honors are bestowed."

"Like I said," reiterated the otter, "she sure is built."

Caz shook his head dolefully. "Will you never lift your thoughts from the

gutter, friend Mudge?"

"I like it in the gutter," was the response. " 'Tis warm and friendly down

there, and you meet up with all manner o' interestin' folk. What's 'appened t'

me since I made the mistake o' temporarily comin' out o' the gutter is that I

was stuck as wet-nurse t' the lad, and now I've got meself sort o' swept along a

course I can't change or swim out of. As I've said afore, mate, the company is

nice but the situation sucks. Shssh, be quiet, an' watch your words. 'Ere 'e

comes now."

Clothahump had waddled over to them. Now he looked sorrow-ingly down at Mudge.

"My dear otter," he said, peering over his spectacles, "do you never stop to

consider that one who is capable of calling up elemental forces from halfway

across the universe is also quite able to hear what is being said only a few

yards behind him?"

Mudge looked startled. "You 'eard everythin', then?"

"Most everything. Oh, don't look like a frightened infant. I'm not going to

punish you for expressing in private an opinion you've made no secret of in

public." The otter relaxed slightly.

"I didn't imagine you might 'ave a 'earin' spell set on yourself, Your

Niceness."

"I didn't," explained the wizard. "I simply have very good hearing. A

compensation perhaps for my weak eyesight." He regarded the watchful Caz. "You,

sir, you have heard what our mutual friend thinks. Allow me to explain further,

and then see if you think our 'crusade' is so insane."

He proceeded to give the rabbit a rundown on both their purpose and progress.

When he'd finished, Caz looked genuinely concerned. "But of course if what you

say is imminent, then I must join your company."

"Wot?" Mudge looked stunned, and his whiskers twitched uncontrollably.

"That's damn decent of you," said Jon-Tom. "We can use all the help we can get."

"It simply seems to me," said the rabbit slowly, "that if the sorcerer here is

correct, and I have no reason to doubt him, then the world as we know it will be

destroyed unless we do our best to help prevent the coming catastrophe. That

strikes me as quite an excellent cause to commit oneself to. Yes, I shall be

honored to join your little expedition and give what assistance I may."

"You're daft!" Mudge shook his head in despair. "Downright balmy. The water's

seeped into your brain."

"Idiot," was all Pog said, confirming Mudge's assessment of Caz's action. But

there were congratulations and thanks from Clothahump and the two otherworldly

humans.

Even Talea ventured a grudging kind of admiration. "Not many people around

who'll do the honorable thing these days."

"That's true of at least one other world, too," added Flor tentatively.

"It is sad, but honor is a dying attribute." Caz put a paw over his heart. "I

can but do my slight best to help restore it."

"We're certainly glad to have you with us." Clothahump was clearly overwhelmed

by this first voluntary offer to help. "Do you have a sword or something?"

"Alas," said the rabbit, spreading his paws, "I have nothing but what you see.

If I can procure a weapon I will naturally carry it, though I have found that my

most efficient methods of disarming an opponent involve the employment of facile

words and not sharp points."

"We need sword arms, not big mouths," grumbled Talea.

"There are times, head and heart of fire, when a large mouth can smother the

best attack an antagonist can mount. Do not be so quick to disparage that which

you do not possess."

"Now look here, are you calling me dumb, you fuzz-faced son of... !"

Clothahump stepped between them. "I will not tolerate fighting among allies.

Save your fury for the Plated Folk, who will absorb all you can muster." He

suddenly looked very tired.

"Please, no more insult-mongering. Not direct," and he glared at Talea, "or

veiled," and he gianced over his shell at Caz.

"I shall endeavor to control an acid tongue," said the rabbit dutifully.

"I'll keep my mouth shut if he does the same," Talea muttered.

"Good. Now I suggest we all relax and enjoy the midday meal. Have you eaten

recently, sir?"

The rabbit shook his head. "I fear I had to depart before lunch. This has not

been my day for timing."

"Then we will eat, and wait...."

XVI

But no other vessel appeared while they ate. Nor all the rest of that day or the

morning of the next.

"In truth, we passed much commerce moving downstream toward the Glittergeist,"

Caz informed them, "but practically none save ourselves moving in the other

direction. The winds are capricious this time of year. Not many shipowners are

willing to pay the expense of poling a cargo all the way up the Tailaroam. Good

polers are too expensive. They make profit most uncertain.

"We shall be fortunate to see another ship moving upstream, and even if we

should, there's no guarantee they'd have room aboard for so many passengers. My

vessel was quite crowded and I was the only noncrewmember aboard." He spat

delicately at the sand. "A distinction I should have avoided."

Clothahump sighed. He struggled to his feet and trundled to the water's edge.

After a long stare at the surface, he nodded and told them, "This part of the

Tailaroam is wide and deep. It should be full of docile but fast-swimming

salamanders. They will be safer and cheaper than any ship." He cleared his

throat. "I will call several from the deeps to carry us."

He raised short arms over the gently lapping water, opened his mouth, and looked

very confused. "At least, I believe I will. That spell..." He began searching

the drawers in his plastron. "Salamanders... salamanders... Pog!"

The bat appeared, hovered in front of him. "Don't ask me, boss. I don't know

where ya put it, either. I don't tink I ever remember hearin' about it. When was

da last time ya had ta use it? Maybe ya can goose me memory if not your own."