“Should we be worried about your friend coming at us with a gun, Alexx?” Sheila asked, looking bewildered.

  “I thought he was dead.” Virgil commented, surprisingly amazed.

  “I wish he was dead…” Alexx grumbled.

  “I can’t believe he survived a fall from that high up, and managed to cross the wilderness and catch up to you. That is some Bacoot.”

  Alexx balled his fist and grumbled loudly, making his comrades concerned.

  “What’s the matter Alexx?” Hammond asked.

  Before Alexx had the chance to answer, Silas stopped running at full speed to catch his breath. He was wearing some leather armor that fit his body, and resembled some pieces that were of Peacemaker design. He was looking cleaner than the last time, but his bushy white beard remained the same.

  “I thot ah had lost yas,” Silas said through his wheezing, “I prayed foh fuhgivness from Zowl, I says “Zowl! I los’ da chil! Please fuhgiv me! Buh I realizin’ tha I cood not giv up, you was out here fightin’ da good fight! An’ I needed ta pick up mah sorry bahind, and join yas! I pick mahsef up, got mah sum new clothes and hurried! But everawheres I go, ahs a step bahind. It took me foheva to cach up! Whys you headin dis a way wen Sin-kaws-a-towl is back thataway?”

  Silas looked around at the party hanging around Alexx and began to grow suspicious.

  “Who a dees folk?” he asked, waving a hand at them.

  “These are my friends, Silas,” Alexx said, stuttering and looking around at them, “They’re uh, helping me.”

  Sheila was the first to step close to Silas and shake his hand, “It’s nice to meet you, how do you know Alexx?”

  Silas returned the handshake, “Aw, I know his secret y’alls don’t have ta use his code name rounds me!”

  Alexx groaned.

  Sheila smiled but was confused, “What secret code name?”

  Silas inched up to her and began to whisper, “His code name he uses cuz he cain’t go roun’ lettin’ people know whosee is!”

  Sheila nodded, trying to follow along, assuming he meant the Moon’s Heart, “Y-yes, that’s right. It’s very important we keep it a secret…”

  “Yeh, but yaw’ll don need ta keep quite roun’ me cuz he tol’ me.”

  “Well, he must really have a lot of trust to let you in on his secret.” Sheila smiled, but turned around to Alexx who was acting as if this conversation wasn’t happening.

  Silas was getting a good look at everyone, and was focusing on Virgil more than the others.

  “You look famil’er…” he said.

  “No I don’t.” Virgil replied with a sharp retort.

  “Somethin’ abowt dos’ eyes, I feel like ah seen um bafore…”

  “You’re old, you’ve seen a lot of eyes.”

  “Tha’ mehbee true, buh it don’ haf ta be ‘bout bein’ old!”

  “Are you from the south, sir?” Hammond asked him.

  “An’ proud ta be!” Silas replied, “Silas B Huckle’s the name.”

  “Silas, those clothes, were you a Peacemaker?”

  “Lawn tahm ago, sonny,” Silas sighed, and smiled, “Ah’s use ta help with human relatiuns, an’ pilgrumaj journies.”

  “The Bacoot Pilgramage is something I would like to see one day,” Hammond replied.

  “Thangs are’n as grate batween us an’ humans as they used ta. But back’en I’da let ya go an’ see it.”

  “We should get moving before the trolls get any closer to us.” Virgil announced, with Alexx silently agreeing next to him.

  “Trolls?” Silas raised his voice, “I know wats ta do with’em trolls,” He hopped forward a couple times, took aim for less than a second, and fired a shot into the distance Virgil had pointed to.

  “What was that?” Virgil asked.

  “Ah shot one, tha’ outa make em run,” Silas smiled.

  “You did not shoot one, you barely took aim.” Virigl replied frustrated.

  “Ah did so, an’ ah prove it.”

  “I’m just gonna go.” Alexx said, getting annoyed by the banter.

  “Ah ma right behind ya!” Silas followed without a second thought, and marched directly behind Alexx.

  “I’m starting to see why Alexx was groaning.” Virgil said to Sheila and Hammond. They silently followed after them looking around for more trolls.

  The entire day of traveling Hammond spent his time asking Silas all about the Bacoot race, and Silas’ time as a Peacemaker. Much of the customs they heard they had already learned, except the kind of Bacoots Silas come from were mountain dwellers, miners, hunters. But Silas himself and his family lived remotely from most of them, due to their faith. Hammond impressed Silas by knowing about the Pilgramage, and the Bacoot faith in the Great Land. Silas shared why he doesn’t believe in it because of how many trips he took and saw nothing.

  “Is jus’ a giant hole.” he explained, detailing the long trip Bacoot’s took to get to a land with an underground passage leading to a spot that opens up underneath Rediew, showing the abyss below them. Hammond was fascinated by it all. They talked until they all reached an expansive part of the land where the path turned. Most of them knew this would be where they split off from the way to find the trail leading to the temple of Zaal. Nearby there was a party sitting by a fire. There was a female Avian, a female Bacoot, a large male Tuttel, a dark skinned male human, and a male Zane. Alexx, Sheila, and Hammond were surprised by the Zane in the party. As Silas said what they were thinking openly, “They reclusive!” The other party seemed to be surrounding the Zane as if he was the leader. His fur was a light gray, and his wolf-like ears and snout were white. His paws and legs were covered in wraps, while leather armor covered his body, save for his tail. When the Zane saw them, he stood up and walked over to them. Virgil and Sheila prepared for trouble.

  “Greetings travelers,” He said in a strong tone, and white sharp teeth, “My name is Rao. Can you tell us if you’ve seen a man walking around by the name of Senkazital?”

  The entire party went into mental shock, their faces could not conceal their surprise. Rao could see their expressions, and gave a slight chuckle, “I see you’re familiar with the name. Am I right then, assuming you know him?”

  “Oh we knows em awright,” Silas said, stepping out before everyone, “An’ his days’r numbered!”

  Rao looked surprised in return, “You are a resistance group?”

  “We’r mor’n that! We’s got tha chil’ a prophecy with us!”

  Alexx hung his head down in defeat.

  “You do?” Rao said.

  “We do?” Sheila said.

  “Well duh!” Silas said to Sheila, “Ah thot we’s all known!”

  Confused, Sheila looked to Virgil, the only one she could figure might be close to this answer. But Virgil looked back at her confused, “You think he’s talking about me?”

  Sheila nodded.

  “No, it’s not me, but I have a good idea who he means.”

  He looked at Alexx, who was trying to appear nonchalant.

  “Better get it over with now.” Virgil smirked. Sheila caught their exchange and looked at Alexx, “What is he talking about?”

  Alexx frowned. He knew this would get worse if he dragged it out.

  “Silas,” Alexx said, calling him away from Rao.

  “Was goin’ on?” asked Silas.

  Alexx looked into the eyes of Silas, and could see the excitement in his pupils. He swallowed, knowing he was about to destroy that happiness.

  “Silas, I- I lied to you,” Alexx admitted. Silas lost his smile, and replaced it with a puzzling look.

  “Back then, outside Attricot, I made up a story just so you wouldn’t shoot me.”

  Rao had heard his confession and was drawing near, listening, “Why were you near Attricot?”

  Alexx looked up at him, “Because I’m actually a pirate. I am searching for the Moon’s Heart, and I unleashed Senkazital to do that. But instead of killing me, he employed me to work for him. I ran away, and Trandin found me and we were escaping. But one of his Kagral chased us, and we fell into Attricot to get away.” Alexx pulled out the container holding the preserved dragon eye, “Dragon eyes dispel the fog, and Trandin had one. I found this one inside, that’s how I got out, and ran into Silas. I lied to him so he wouldn’t kill me.”

  Silas had deflated his posture. He looked at Sheila, who silently agreed to Alexx telling the truth. Virgil and Hammond did the same.

  Silas hung his head down, mumbling to himself. He walked away from the parties still mumbling, and wandered back into the group. Rao’s party had joined them by this time and was watching the drama unfold.

  “You mean ah follered yas all this way fer nuthin’?”

  Alexx nodded.

  “But Sin-kaws-its-all is really out thar?”

  Alexx nodded again.

  Silas took the stock of his gun and slammed it down on Alexx’s foot. The pirate reeled back and cried out in pain. It wasn’t broken, but was hit hard. Alexx hopped back and forth. Virgil concealed his smile while Sheila and Hammond were concerned about Silas.

  “You stoopid pirate!” Silas cried out, “You sorry sack o’ barnacles! How dare you lie ‘bout bein’ tha chil’ o’ prophecy! You hav’ insulted me! And you lemme jus’ carry on servin’ you!”

  Alexx growled and decided that he had enough retribution, and left. He limped toward the direction of the mountains while Silas continued to berate him for a moment longer.

  “Good riddance ya’ sleezy thief!” Silas huffed and started heading south alone. The rest of the parties stood in silence. Rao spoke up to say he was the child, but Silas immediately disbelieved him. Rao and his company packed up and traveled west to Crowne.

  Out of the woods, a red blur jumped Silas and captured him, jumping back into the woods towards the northern mountains. The party gasped. Virgil took off after them. Sheila turned around to Alexx and yelled to him what just happened.

  “So, what do I care?” Alexx replied back angrily.

  “It’s your fault he’s here in the first place!” Sheila replied back.

  “I didn’t ask him to follow me!”

  “He wouldn’t have if you had told the truth!”

  “And end up full of holes!”

  “Follow Virgil and get him back, that’s an order!”

  Alexx screamed in frustration, but turned back and began running in Virgil’s direction.

  Virgil led the pack, bounding behind the bouncy, timid, and shaky creatures while Sheila, Alexx, and Hammond followed behind. Hammond’s knowledge of trolls helped pace themselves. Small, average sized Trolls known as lesser trolls capture creatures for labor, and hardly ever for food. They stay in caves, and are subject to a bigger troll known as a greater troll.

  After traveling for a while, they reached a steep incline. The trolls seemed to naturally keep their pace without noticing a change in inclement. The humans, on the other hand, put in some effort. The mountains were on the edge of the continent, and its range was vast.

  Virgil noted the trolls were acting more like mischievous imps than territorial trolls. Dancing about each other, whispering and chuckling like little kids with a secret. They were average height, but slender, their bones were seen under the skin, and clothes consisted of dress-like cloths wrapped around their waist and tied with brittle rope. What was unique were the markings on their bodies. They looked neither of wounds or scars, but painted symbols and patterns that were foreign to Alexx.

  “What do the markings on their body mean?” Alexx asked Hammond.

  “I don’t know what they intend to mean, but I do know they represent whoever owns them.” Hammond replied.

  “Owns them?”

  “Yeah, greater trolls bargain, buy, snatch, or even fight for these guys.”

  “So slavery huh?”

  “Basically.”

  They continued up the treacherous pass, now changing from grass to barren stone. This trail had the only naked rocks along the ever stretching range; one glance revealed that. The beaten path eventually stopped at a face. Alexx voiced his frustration, “I didn’t want an epic rock climb…” but Virgil kept his thoughts inside, and took hold of the mountain. No sooner did he get ten feet off the ground did Sheila begin, and soon after, the forlorn Alexx.

  The climbing took them some time, but they were unconscious of how much. Alexx made the comment that he felt he had climbed up two masts when they neared the top. Yet, they were not as skilled as trolls. The deviants seemed to be having fun leaping from ledge to ledge going upwards. Virgil remarked about the ledges coming, to which no one had a complaint about. It was easier traversing the lips of the sediment than clinging to the side of a flat wall. Just as they leaped for the last upper ledge, they found themselves staring down into a large carved out crater.

  The trolls entered into it. The bottom of the crater had an unnatural opening. The inner walls were adorned with torches of gargantuan size.

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  “The caps and crowns of other hills around us reach further up into the sky, which makes this particular spot easy to miss from below. The light would never be seen at night.” Virgil added.

  “They went in, and it’s too dark to see further inside,” Alexx noted, “Oh well- we tried. Silas is dead now.”

  “Don’t be such a coward, go in.” Sheila commanded.

  “Why are you pushing me? Do you know this Bacoot or something?”

  “I know you. And I know you don’t want this to end with more blood on your hands.”

  “The crew that came with me, the whole island of Lanrete, the village outside of Attricot, I’ve got a trail already.” Alexx said angrily, trying not to feel the guilt inside.

  “You share that responsibility with Senkazital.” Sheila replied, “He’s going to get what’s coming to him, while you need to start making up for all of this. Starting with Silas.”

  “This is ridiculous, I can’t believe my pirate captain is lecturing me on morality, and making amends.”

  “Alexx,” Hammond stepped forward and looked him in the eye with a serious face, “What you did affects all of us; affects Sheila more than you realize. She is your leader. And whether or not you care, you reflect back on her. But even more than that, she cares.”

  Amidst the feelings swelling around his chest, her look at Alexx agreed with what Hammond said.

  “You guys are terrible pirates,” Virgil said, smirking. His quip lightened the mood. The need for any more words had left, Alexx understood it all. Sheila was showing care for the rest of his life in her own way. Shee was also trying to make him care for his life. Alexx was too focused on the Moon’s Heart to care. In truth, he still didn’t want to save Silas, knowing how close he was to the temple. But she was right. Even if this all blows over, Senkazital wins or loses, whether the world is a prison or not, they will come for him and demand retribution. He may have been a petty thief with many trespassing crimes, but now he was a national murderer.

  “I guess I’ll have to cross that bridge at some point.” Alexx sighed.

  “We’ll cross it with you.” Sheila replied with no hesitation.

  Alexx nodded, and walked to the cave.

  The opening looked to be about ten feet tall, and twice as wide. A smell of musty air, and a sweating onion stink hovered around as a sort of welcoming. The faintest scent of smoke passed by as well. The first room was spacious. The inlay held terraces falling deeper into the mountain, round step-like formations, each with a facile pool of water. Each step carried the risk of slipping, thus the four were careful to step further. Their footsteps echoed down the passage.

  The walls were jagged and crooked. Clearly, these were carved, not natural. Soon the terraces stopped, and the room came to a close, with a single tunnel leading further down. Light was becoming less of a resource, and the stench of smoke became stronger.

  “This smoke scent can't be just torches, right?” Sheila asked.

  “It’s a furnace,” Virgil replied, “A big furnace.”

  “Oh wonderful, so they do want to eat us.” Alexx added.

  Walls and floors dried up, green moss appeared all around them. Torches were few and far between, leaving plenty of the passage dark. Fortunately, they had the sense to take a torch with them. Every once in a while they would come across the body of a troll covering its head, lying on the ground. Their curiosity led them to try and examine it, when it would shriek and scurry away, keeping its eyes shielded. They presumed it was the light they carried.

  As their feet made more noise down the path, they soon came to a sudden stop. The cave led to a drop. The way deeper into the mountain continued in the direction they walked. The four of them noticed a low hum of indistinct noise.

  “They have a rope ladder over there.” Virgil said, walking in its direction. He took hold of it, it was wet, coarse, but thick. It was plenty strong to hold him all the way to the next level. Sheila, Hammond, and Alexx joined their fearless assassin, and the ropes remained strong. They felt confident it would hold them on the way back up.

  The suffocating smoke was not only getting stronger but visible. Light was also becoming more available. Torches were lining the walls, but also a faint glow could be seen in the distance. Alexx could make out bones along the ground, and some nailed to the wall. It was almost aesthetic looking. There was an entire pile of wolf, bear, snake, rabbit, cougar, and bat skulls piled on each side of the tunnel.

  The light had filled the cave they walked through, making it easier to see the stalactites and ground. But they found it repulsive. Chains mounted to the walls had corpses of trolls. Some humans could be made out among the captured dead. Yet, there was no rotting smell, only the smoke and onion-stink melting with the damp air. The noises of a crowd of trolls were in full swing. Words written in common tongue were cast upon the wall, but the spelling and the symbols made them indecipherable. Some of them weren’t hard to figure out: “Oz home”, “keep out”, “die”. Finally a large mural was of a great sized troll wielding a hammer and shouting while other smaller trolls ran away in terror.

  “Stick together,” Sheila said, “Keep your eyes open for surprises, and don’t forget to let the rest of us know.”

  “We can still leave, you know.” Alexx replied.

  They proceeded slowly. The cavern ahead sloped up, leaving the light a mystery still. The crunch under their boots signified gravel. The ground was changing, and warmth was taking hold of the air. Clearing the slope, it could be seen now that the light was coming from a pit of coal. It was centered in a round room. The trolls had returned, but there were more than before. All of them bustled back and forth, carrying what looked like ore, and metal objects. Their path to and fro originated from the left.

  The four made their way down, and the full scope of the room was in view. The ceiling was tall, and the circular room had five doorways. The trolls seemed to ignore the intruders as they hastily walked around, grunting, and carrying heavy equipment.

  “Weapons?” Sheila asked.

  “And everything else,” Alexx said, grabbing a crude metal pole from a stray troll, “I can’t say the craftsmanship is top notch, but he is working with a tough material.” The troll demanded the weapon back immediately.

  “Steel,” Virgil said, eyeing the staff, “It’s hard to come by, but they’re carrying it by the armful..”

  “That explains the noise and the smoke.”

  “As well as the tall doorways and this caves’ size. It’s no mistake, we’ve stumbled upon a greater troll.” said Hammond.

  “Any chance he’s a great big stupid troll?” Alexx asked.

  “Not likely.”

  “There are so many trolls, do any of you have a count?”

  “I estimate over a hundred.” Virgil said.

  “Why aren’t they freaking out from our presence?”

  “If I know my troll culture, if they’re not working, they’re dead.” explained Hammond.

  “Speaking of a hundred, that hallway has a lot of rooms, and I’m pretty sure I’m picking up the sound of animals.” Sheila added.

  “I can hear them too. Horses, pigs, birds, and dogs to name a few.” he replied.

  “Seems like our Oz likes collecting more than shiny things.”

  “Who knows what else he has?”

  “If we’re lucky, Silas.”

  “He won’t give up his things.”

  Alexx looked around then leaned in closer, “What he doesn’t know is missing won’t hurt him.” he winked.

  His friends winked in return, and they proceeded to follow the trolls carrying nothing. A new sensation graced their olfactory. It was strong enough to send their stomachs into a fitful growling uproar. Never had the scent of meat made such an appeal, that eating never seemed so necessary. The scene wasn’t what they expected. What was an obvious workshop, complete with furnace, cauldron, anvil, tools, and materials, had been rigged into a dining room. Trolls were clearing the room of all materials. The furnace held a giant metal plate, as well as all of the succulent meats. The water cauldron now seemed to be holding a bubbling white substance. But the only ones enjoying this banquet were a giant red troll, as tall as the ceiling, sitting in a chair befitting his gargantuan size, and a blue skinned woman. She appeared to be someone of riches. Her robe looked made of white bear fur. Her linens were green and shiny, and her feet clean of dirt or grime though she wore no coverings.

  The scene was made even more strange by the two Kagral standing behind her like bodyguards. They appeared armored, and imposing, but they never moved or flinched. She was talking to him, but no one could make it out over the sounds of grilling, loud chewing, and distinct troll chatter.

  “More food for the Kagral queen.” the great troll shouted.

  “Please, call me Mish-za-heel. Mish for short,” the woman replied. Virgil stepped behind Alexx and tried to shrink from her view.

  “The Mish lady…” he commanded the trolls.

  “I would like to get to the point of my visit.” Mish-za-heel rose from the table and cleared her throat, “Oz, I want you to join the great service of Senkazital.”

  “Piss off.” Oz replied.

  “You don’t understand, my mighty lord, Senkazital is going to deliver us all to a wondrous new world. He only asks for your loyalty and subjects

  “He’s not takin’ my things,” Oz splashed a deal of soup in his mouth. No one could hardly hear Mish over his chewing.

  “With all due respect, great Oz,” She continued pleading, “Once Senkazital is in power, no one will dare challenge him. His strength will be too much for any one country to overtake. Not even a greater troll will suffice-”

  “You threatenin’ me!?” Oz slammed his stone spoon down.

  “I would never be so crude as to insult or endanger my gracious host.” Mish replied.

  “Then what was all that talk ‘bout ‘yer master bein’ better ‘an me?”

  “I was merely warning, good Oz.” she bowed, “These are the words of my master, not mine.”

  “Y’er treadin’ on thin ice, woman. Either you convince me what I get outa this, or get out of my mountain.”

  Mish sighed, her brows furrowed, the group noticed. They assumed she must be getting impatient. While she gathered her thoughts, Oz walked to the cauldron for more food. He sat back down, looking frustrated. Alexx suddenly hatched an idea. He stepped out of the shadows and made his way to the table. While Mish and Oz were confused by his appearance, he took some bread, and began juggling for him. The great troll seemed somewhat amused. The pirate took it a step further by catching each piece and throwing them at unsuspecting trolls walking around. The hall erupted with laughter, first Oz, and then the other trolls.

  “What are you doing, Alexx?” Virgil said, stepping behind Sheila.

  “I’m getting his attention! What’s it look like I’m doing?”

  “I don’t know how you thought of this, but it’s making Mish really perturbed.”

  “That’s the plan. He likes us, he hates her, we get what we want!”

  Mish cleared her throat again, “Sir would you mind clearing this hall of your entertainment? This is a serious meeting we’re having.”

  Alexx interrupted her, “You can’t order him around like that! Who do you think you’re talking to?”

  “And who are you to interrupt me?”

  “Me? I’m one of Oz’s servants.” Alexx said confidently.

  “You are?” Mish replied.

  “You are?” Oz echoed, “I don’t remember makin’ you my slave.”

  “How could you? With all of the great things you’ve been up to, how could you stoop so low as to remember someone so little as me?”

  Oz stroked his chin, making a hum noise, “You’re right, I have been busy. I always wanted an entertainer! Can you play music?”

  “Of course!” Alexx shouted.

  “What do you play?”

  “The flute, although I’ve lost mine.”

  “That’s okay, I have lots- someone get him the blue flute!”

  A couple of trolls scrambled to their feet, quickly running out of the room.

  “What else can you do?” Oz asked.

  “I can tell jokes, dance, I’m strong, and fast, so I can fight for sport.”

  “Well I’ll be! You’re quite the little human! Uh, but what about those two?”

  “They can do everything I can do and more!”

  “Amazing! I can’t believe I got so lucky! Play some music for us while I talk to this witch. And then afterward I want some jokes!”

  “If you let us have some food we promise our performance will be twice as good, master!”

  “Well… normally I don’t allow slaves to eat my food, but I’m feeling very happy right now in light of my new collections. Go ahead, I was jus’ gonna throw it all out anyway.”

  With a pleasing smile on his face, Alexx returned to his friends, expecting to see the familiar looks of frustration he grew accustomed to. Surprisingly, they were slightly reluctant yet content with this surprise plan, impressed by the spur of the moment idea, and success of the devious pirate’s plan.

  They ate as much as possible. The spread was plentiful: pork, poultry, and red meats, with separate rarities. The soup was creamy, and chock full of potato chunks. It was buttery, salty, and milk made it go smoothly down the throat. Sheila commented that the great troll was quite the chef. The others didn’t argue. As they were washing them down with some drink, the smaller trolls returned with a decorated flute. The blue, crystal barrel was complemented with white streaks around the holes, and the mouthpiece was painted maple wood.

  “You cheeky troll,” Alexx muttered to himself, “You don’t care who you take from, do you?”

  He pressed his lips to the flute and practiced some tunes. He played each note in ascension and descension twice. He stretched his fingers, and then began playing an upbeat tune. The notes were short and the melody seemed simple enough. Sheila chuckled to herself, humming along to the song. Virgil requested a lute, upon being asked what he plays, and Sheila, a fiddle. There were those in the room commenting on her missing arm, when Hammond joined her side and put his fingers on the neck, while she plucked. Alexx continued to play uninterrupted, and Virgil began to tap out a beat on the lute while Sheilaand Hammond joined in, filling the halls with rhythmic beats, and harmonious strings. Oz tapped his foot in beat while he was listening to Mish-Za-Heel give her speech on Senkazital. The longer she tried convincing him, the deeper in aggression Oz grew. Finally, he stepped up from his seat, the music stopped abruptly, and every troll in view stopped moving and stared at him.

  “I’m not giving up any of my collection, and I am bored with you. I’m getting tired, so get out of my cave, or I will force you out. I put up with you enough today!”

  “But great Oz, I-”

  “Get out, or else!” Oz stormed out of the room, and walked toward a distant hallway.

  As the echoing steps faded, the trolls resumed their duty of cleaning up, while the three humans packed up their instruments. Virgil noticed Mish approaching them out of the corner of his eye.

  “You four,” She addressed them like peasants, mainly at Virgil, “You’re not actually a part of his collection, are you?”

  “We-” But before Alexx could speak, Mish interrupted him, “Silence monkey, the adults are talking. Now, I asked you a question,” She looked towards Hammond and Sheila.

  Alexx grit his teeth.

  “We have no idea what you’re talking about, we were abducted a few days ago.” Sheila lied.

  “Clearly.” She said, not believing her, “Your clothes are a bit dingy, sure, but you’re much too happy to be here.”

  “Maybe we enjoy our enslavement. Master Oz has been kind to us, as you can see, we get better privileges than the trolls. You should see our sleeping quarters.”

  “There’s something about you…” She moved in closer, examining Virgil’ eyes, “You seem familiar....”

  “I’m just an entertainer.”

  “I’m not buying your little act,” Mish replied, “And I don’t have time to deal with this. Stay out of my way, or else.”

  Mish-Za-Heel walked away, with those soldier-esque Kagral following her. Now that they had a chance to think, they noticed her appearance as completely human-like. Alexx even admitted that her face, and figure made it very easy to look at her.

  “The myth seems to be true, then. She is using a potion to hide her true appearance.” Virgil said.

  “That makes a lot of sense actually.” Sheila replied.

  “In any case, we should be careful. Whether she’s an alchemist Kagral queen or not, we don’t know everything yet, and that makes her dangerous.”

  “I’m not too worried,” Alexx interjected, “We have some pretty amazing tricks of our own to fall back on.”

  “Do you mean my dragon form I haven’t activated for days now?”

  “You said you’ve been working on it, right?”

  “I have no idea how to use it. Or what it could do to me.”

  “Virgil is right to be worried,” said Hammond, “We need more scholarly knowledge to help us.”

  “What, like a book? Everything about Being a Dragon, or Secret of the Ancient Mask. As simple as that sounds, even you know trial and error are the only ways we have.”

  “That’s not true, the university in my hometown,” Virgil replied, “They may have something.

  “He has a point.” Sheila added, “And if we know what we’re dealing with, we could have a awfully powerful weapon on our side.”

  “Fair enough.” Virgil said.

  After walking around for a bit, they learned where they could go, and where they could not. The trolls on guard kept them from entering a certain hallway, which probably housed the best treasures. The rest of the hallways were completely open. Oz was fast asleep in his bedroom, which was a simple bed and a clutter of tools and food. The guards wouldn’t allow entrance into his room also. Upon searching for Silas, they could hear a familiar drawl echoing from the back rooms. They discovered Silas ina room with other Bacoots chained to a wall. He had enough length to walk around comfortably, and crumble rocks with a pickaxe. He worked and grumbled. Often they could hear Alexx’s name leave his mouth.

  “You’re up, Alexx.” Virgil gave a slight push to the pirate’s back. Alexx stepped forward and walked around the rubble and other Bacoots until he was within speaking distance of Silas.

  “Oh good, you’re still scowling. I was afraid the trolls had knocked the grump right out of you.”

  Silas stiffened up and turned to unpleasantly look at Alexx.

  Alexx smirked, “Hope you weren’t getting too comfortable. Rescue’s here.”

  “You thank yer funny, don’t yas?” replied Silas, “Ya thank it wuz funny lying ta me?”

  Alexx blew air through his lips, “I don’t care what you have to say, Silas. I’m going to get you out of here so I don’t have to have you on my conscience.”

  “If ah ya care about is yarself, ya ca jus’ leave. Ah don’t need no rescue, an’ ah def-nit-lee don’ need you.”

  “Fine, you crotchety fart, save your own self!” Alexx yelled.

  The other Bacoots began crying out to Alexx to save them instead, promising trinkets and loyalty in exchange.

  “Wow, look how grateful these guys are.” Alexx smirked.

  “Git outa heer ‘fore ya ruin thar’ lives too!”

  Now enraged, Alexx yanked the pickaxe from Silas’ hand, and swung as hard as he could. The pickaxe came down upon the chain and shattered the link. Silas had winced thinking he was being attacked.

  “There, you're saved now.” Alexx walked away and started saving the other Bacoots. The sound of metal striking metal and stone and high-pitched cheers of joy echoed through the room. It took Alexx a few minutes to save around thirty Bacoots, and was panting at the end of it all. Silas addressed them all with a militaristic tone, and they all filled in at attention. He took command of them and promised to get them out alive. They scurried away in an orderly fashion. Alexx dropped the pickaxe and silently joined his friends. They continued on exploring the cave.