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“The Great Dragon. Gregory and I lay together days ago and he speak of the story of the dragon’s rise and fall. I tell him that I read the story as he sleep but I did not.”
“Come now Algra, the story of the First is a myth. Even the orc priests believe that it’s only a metaphor for how the world came into being.”
Algra narrowed her eyes upon Emmet, “I do not lie.”
“I’m not saying you’re lying. Did Gregory speak directly of the First?”
“He spoke of dragon who carried fire of creation.”
“Look, he’s seen someone who he knows burned alive. You yourself said it was dragon fire that came from the ring. I’m only saying that it’s not necessarily significant that our young friend is dreaming of dragons right now.”
Algra growled at Emmet in such a way that a lesser man might have been excused for soiling themselves under her gaze.
“You asked if there was anything odd about him, old man.” Talina said.
“Ah, yes. Yes, I did. Very well. Rapid healing, an insatiable sex drive, and dreams of dragons. Anything more?” Emmet looked away from Algra but subtly tilted his neck to the side in a classic orcish submission gesture. He certainly didn’t want to start a fight over the matter.
Algra let out a breath and turned her head back to look over the others.
“There is the small matter of the way he came to be here from another world via the use of a magic ring.” Talina rolled her eyes at the rest of them.
“Well, technically I was the one who put the ring on.” Janette said.
“Grolfir has taken the ring and placed it under his direct care. Algra went this morning to ask if we could examine it further but the warchief refuses to give it back to us until Gregory has proven himself. We can do no more at this point other than guess at the ring’s true nature.”
“Then what do we do?” Janette asked.
“Nothing.” Emmet replied.
Algra turned and growled at the old man again. She wasn’t the type to find inaction comfortable.
“We clearly do not have enough information to know anything. This all might just be a series of oddly timed blessings and odd occurrences. Yet I, for one, do not like so many coincidences, so many sudden changes without explanation. So I wanted to speak with you all so that you keep it in mind. Look for other things that the boy does that are out of character or otherwise strange. Janette, you know him best of all. You must put your love for him aside and think critically. His fortune may depend upon it.” Emmet pressed those final words to hit home the importance of the task.
Janette nodded slowly in reluctant agreement.
“When we get the ring back, we may know more. Until then, let us all be watchful.” Emmet stood and offered them all a small bow before going to assume his duties in helping Bolut run the camp.
Janette let out a little frustrated huff.noveldrama
“Tomorrow I think I’ll skip breakfast.”
– – – – –
Talina walked through the orc settlement with quiet purpose. A few days had passed since the conversation at breakfast and she had taken the time to set up a meeting. The meeting had been especially difficult to set up since the participants didn’t know it was about to happen. It had taken quite a bit of subtle manipulation to get Grolfir, Ulag, and Elder Stormbane together and alone in the same place. Unfortunately, that place had been Grolfir’s private tent, constantly under guard by his own pack mates. Since these guards included some of the fiercest warriors on Arolius, Talina wasn’t in any hurry to be caught sneaking about the place.
So, she stepped out of the main avenue of the settlement and opened her clasped hands to reveal the pale blue vial of liquid that had been given to her by Valise. It had taken several days to make and it was highly illegal, especially in the orc realms. They didn’t like sneaking one bit and outright hated humans who practiced the art.
Fortunately, it was an art she excelled at.
Lifting the vial to her lips, she took a quick glug and downed the contents in one go. The effect was almost instantaneous. The metallic taste it left on her tongue fizzled and crackled as she felt herself getting a very mild stomach ache. It wasn’t to last, for her entire body then faded from sight as the light was smoothly twisted around her slender form. Looking upon her hands, she saw them fade to glass-like structures before vanishing entirely.
Her first thought about being invisible was that it was very odd to be able to see through her own eyelids. At least she wouldn’t miss anything important in the meeting to come.
The only drawback in using an invisibility potion was that unfortunately her clothes didn’t disappear along with her. Shedding the garments didn’t take long, for she didn’t wear much. A thought passed through her mind of all the fun she could have had with Gregory in her current state before she set herself to the task at hand. Creeping through the grass on bare feet in the dark was easy enough, as was slipping into the tent. It was good luck that the place was empty, though she knew that time was not on her side.
She could hardly prop herself against the table or sit on one of the chests without someone knocking against her. So, instead she jumped onto the table and reached up for the upper struts of the large tent. There was enough space there amongst the wooden beams for her to settle above the heads of those below. With a smooth, feline grace that would have made Fiona proud, Talina settled herself amongst the struts and waited.
She did not have to wait long.
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