Chapter 9

Slymejade was prowling. "Where the ell is she nah?!?" he announced to nobody in particular. The Witch had dissappeared over two hours ago, looking to gain some information on what the Triumvirate were up to.

"Wait ere Slymejade, she says, all I been doin fer the last 7 year is waitin!!" he growled, "An Whats wiv dese ere buckets all over da place!" he prowled towards one of the upturned buckets and kicked it as hard as he could, and was a little surprised to see a small yellow bird crouching down underneath. With a sharp flick of his tounge, the bird was gone, but before he could swallow his catch, the inside of his mouth started burning. "Yaaarrrrggghhh!" he shouted and spat out the be-draggled creature. The Bird lay on the muddy ground for a minute, then gradually started to glow, then expand, until the familiar form of the Witch took shape before him.

"Oops...." breathed Slymejade. "YES OOPS!" shouted Skye, "WHAT IN THE NAME OF ALL THATS HOLY...DO YOU THINK YOURE DOING!!". "Err.. Lunch?" replied Slymejade, and shrunk down to his lowest before the onslaught from the Witch.

Meanwhile the trio were making good time, and had reached the foot of the Skloplje mountains, and a small village, the last before their impending climb. "Lets find an Inn." Oldfried said, "Good idea!" enthused Jeremy, "I could do with an Ale". Oktar sighed, as Oldfried found new and interesting ways to describe exactly what he would do to the young Druid if he drank too much ale again, and finished the diatribe by bringing into question the parentage of not only Jeremy, but of all Druids in general. "You wouldnt shout at me if I were not a Druid in training!" retorted Jeremy, "I think its about time you started taking me seriously, too!" Oktar sighed again..."Im too old for this shit.." he muttered to himself, then louder, "Theres an Inn over there, lets get in the warm, and spend some of this money weve got, If I have to eat another of those creations of yours Oldfried, I might just turn vegetarian!" 

The Inn had all the appearance of being just in the process of falling down. A process that seemed to have been taking quite a while, with no end in sight just yet. The trio entered, Jeremy knocking his head on the door frame, followed by Oktar, then Oldfried bringing up the rear, waving his scythe maniacally "Seems to keep the roughians at bay if I let em know Im carrying." He said by way of an explanation.

"Two of your finaest Ales and a pitcher of water for the kid!" shouted Oldfried to the landlord. Silence descended in the room. The kind of silence that only the foolish fail to notice theres a reason for. The kind of silence that shouldnt be broken unless you are prepared to fight your way out. The kind of silence that any sane person would simply walk away from. The kind of silence that was, of course, immediately broken by Jeremy "I WANT ALE!!" 


Copyright © 2005 Mark Wilson