“So, what do we do?” Whyth asked.
“How are you feeling, Rahmys?” Marl called out.
“Moving slow, not sure I’ll be able to contribute to my fullest, but I’ll not go down without fighting. If I do cast anything, be ready to get out of the way. I’ll holler before I do anything.”
The mounds quivered, sending ripples across the surface of the water. Then, they moved toward each other. Each time they touched another mound, red grassy vines from each mound grabbed each other, forming a tight bond. Within a few minutes, the nine mounds combined into one large mass.
Chuck leaned in closer to Marl and Whyth, his voice barely audible over the water's lapping. "I don’t think that’s good for us," he whispered, his tone tinged with concern.
“Not sure yet, but I’d guess not,” Marl whispered back.
“Should we attack? I know it’s been less than ten minutes, but I already feel like I could go berserker at any moment—and that’s not even close to my class.” Whyth copied the whispers of the others.
"Shouldn’t attack until we know they mean us harm,” Rahmys spoke from behind them.
The large mound shuddered, sending larger ripples across the water's surface. It grew still, then shuddered again. A sizeable purple stalk, three times thicker than the eyestalks, rose from the middle of the mass.
“Get ready,” Marl mumbled under his breath.
“Been ready,” Chuck answered back. Crap, status check.
<< STATUS
Health: 74/78
Magic: 32/88 >>
“Uh, on that been ready thing." Chuck's whisper took on a pained tone. "I forgot to do a status check after all our leaping. I don’t have much magic left, less than half of my points, not…”
“Charles Ahjex, you have been summoned!” The voice burbled as if it came from under the water.
“Who the vragnar is speaking and who the vragnar’s daughter is, Charles Ahjex?” Rahmys screamed to the sky while everyone crouched and looked for an attack.
Chuck’s head wriggled while he answered. “Charles Ahjex is me, and what is a vragnar?”
“Don’t worry about a nargrexing vragnar right now,” Marl growled, his green fingers wrapped tightly around the hilts of his daggers.
The wet sounding voice rumbled again, “Charles Ahjex, make yourself known or face our wrath!”
“This some Bythie trick?” Whyth asked. “Doesn’t sound like one of their voices. Maybe they’re disguising it?”
Marl shook his head slightly. “They’re usually more direct if they’re here. I’m guessing it’s someone working for them. Someone had to give them Chuck’s name. Come to think of it, how would the Bythie know Chuck’s full name?”
“What does your wrath consist of?” Chuck called out to the vibrating mass of red and purple grassy mounds.
Silence answered Chuck’s question.
Rahmys rolled her shoulders. “I’m not sure we need to stay on full edgy alert. Just alert seems to be all we need. Other than shuddering and threatening, that muddy mess out there hasn’t done anything.”
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“Relaxing gets you dead,” Marl stated.
“Will you answer the summons, Charles Ahjex?”
“How do you want me to answer it?” Chuck replied.
The makeshift island’s shudders grew more intense, but no answer came.
<
Don’t yell in my head! And what are you shouting about?
<
Wait a minute. You’re sounding more like a person than the Structure. What’s going on? Chuck sensed, more than heard, a sigh within his head.
<
So that switch of voices or attitudes back in the cave?
<
These things are from the Structure—er—you?
<
Marnovian? I need to let my friends know they’re not a threat. Be right back.
Chuck turned to face the group. “Hey, the Structure just let me know these Marnovians are acting on the Structure’s request. I think the Structure isn’t too happy with how they handled things.”
“You mean making threatening commands with no context?” Rahmys’ pose went from wary to angry in less than a second.
“Something like that. I need to keep talking to the Structure, so I’m going to be out of it for…”
<
“Got us a ride through some of this marsh. We’re to get on the Marnovian raft. The Structure will talk to me then.” Chuck made his way to the edge of the knoll. “I, Charles Ahjex, do answer the summons. My friends and I will allow you to take us to wherever it is we’re going.”
The group of Marnovians glided through the marsh, overlapping with the grass on the knoll to make a ramp for everyone. They all chose their mounds in the center of the raft, each having enough room to lie down if desired.
Once everyone settled in, the gurgling voice started. “We shall take you to the place Ku-nav instructed us to take you.”
“Who is Ku-nav?” Whyth asked.
“The wisest of all of us. The one who hears the voices which guide us.” Each mound vibrated, causing bubbles to play along the edges of the mounds comprising the raft.
Marl looked over at Chuck and raised an eyebrow. “The voices being the Structure?”
“Hold on, I’ll chec…”
<
Chuck allowed a few seconds of silence.
<
Chuck nodded to Marl, “Yep, the voice is the Structure. I’m going to lie down. Seems like this conversation may take a little while.”
Okay, I’m back. Yes, that is precisely what snark means. Well, maybe not exactly, not sure, but it’s how I always used the word.
<
Maybe. Were you lying when you said you’d turn the snark down?
<
Have you and I talked before? I don’t recognize your tone or approach.
<
I’m not the one holding you back.
<
I believe I’m tracking with where you’re leading.
<
Mechy? Seems like a solid name for ya.
<
Chuck felt confident he heard a hint of laughter mixed with the Structure’s answer.
Fine, how’s Spi?
<
Structure’s Personal Interface, S-P-I.
<
Thank you, Spi.
<
Ominous sounding.
<
Chuck’s thoughts scrambled beyond any ability for a snappy comeback.