IX: The Captive

Two large ugly ogres, with pale skin and glowing green eyes, led the young man down the corridor. IT was dark and cramped; drops of polluted, dirty water fell to the damp ground and splashed. Rows of mangy cells lined the walls, and just before the ogres led the young man into one, a witch who had been waiting there to meet them removed his blindfold. 
"Heh. That was easy. Too much curiosity for one cat," she said. It was Gizmo.
Suddenly, he leaped over his own cuffs, grabbed one of the ogres' axes, and ran into the cell; the other ogre, axe drawn, followed him in. Gizmo turned, knocked away the ogre's attack, and lopped off his head. Gizmo shoved the body through the cell door. It knocked over the other two, and Gizmo grabbed their hands. He used the key to unlock his cuffs, put their hands through the bars, and locked the cuffs. He dropped the key between the semi-conscious two.
Gizmo looked down the hall. As he traveled back the way he came, he checked every cell for prisoners. Every one between him and the door was dead, but when he got to the last cell before the door, he found the old lady. However, it was not the same person the giant was chasing.
"Who ARE you?" he whispered, and he cut the lock off the door. Looking up, he found his eyes met with hers.
"No," he said. It was the Lady of the River.
"No! Don't come in here!" she replied. Her eyes were red, as if at one time, she wept tears like a mighty river, but the source had since dried up.
"I've got to get you out!"
"No! You don't understand! This cell is encased in some sort of enchanted... amber... bubble thing. She really doesn't want me to escape."
"Why do you look so different?"
"It ages me, very quickly. I shall probably die soon."
"Then I will get you out!"
"But it'll kill you!"
"Then I'll meet you on the other side," Gizmo replied. The source was renewed, as she realized there was no stopping him. He stepped through the amber. Nothing happened. Gizmo fished the talisman out of his pocket. It glowed; he smiled. Gizmo cut the Lady down and led her out of the cell. On the other side, she lamented.
"I'm sorry. I don't know... I didn't know--" Gizmo grabbed and kissed her. When he opened his eyes, nothing had happened.
"It was worth a shot," he said. Holding out the talisman to her, he said, "Your turn." She smiled and grabbed it. She glowed bright green, but as the light faded, her younger self emerged. The two embraced.
"So why did the witch make the giant chase you?" he asked.
"What do you mean? What giant?" she replied.
"She didn't make the giant chase you through Robert's Dale."
"No. What--what giant?"
"It WAS her! Aww! She wanted us to investigate so that she could get her talisman back?"
"But why would she kidnap me?"
"She disguised herself, but she needed a template. Someone to resemble, so she could hide herself. You came along, the perfect subject, but she had to change you so that WE wouldn't recognize her."
"Oh."
"But why does she want us dead so badly? We need to find the others. We're all in danger!" The two ran into the throne room, where they found the Bards.
"Gizmo!" yelled Scheaun.
"What is she doing here?" asked Badger, referring to the Lady. Before Gizmo could answer, the witch entered the throne room.
"That was... skillful. I have to admit that your escape was brilliant," she said.
"I have your talisman," replied Gizmo. "In return for its safe return, I demand you release my friends. We shall not bother you any longer."
"Ha! you think that all I want is the talisman!? Thieves, murderers! You killed my daughter, Le'heigh-"
"She was kidnapping innocent people and torturing them!" Gizmo interrupted.
"YOU WILL PAY!" yelled the witch, and she pointed at Gizmo. As she did, he drew his sword; lightning shot from her fingertips, and Gizmo used his sword as a conductor, absorbing the sword energy.
"She meant to end our lives," he yelled. "It was the only way we could survive."
"Burn!" she screamed back, and with her other hand, she used the fire from the torches along the walls as missiles. The fire flew towards the Bards, but the Lady knelt to the ground. She stood and waved her hands in an arc, as the moisture from underneath them froze and shielded the Bards.
"Give me your coat!" The Lady told Gizmo, and he did. Gizmo slipped around the ice shield and disappeared. The Lady turned her back to the witch, who easily broke the ice.
"Now I shall finish you," she raged, as she turned the Lady around.
"WHAT!?"
"Get your stinkin' paws off her!" cried Gizmo from the throne. He stood with his sword in one hand and the talisman in the other.
"I don't think I will. She'll make a nice pet-"
"Over your dead body," Gizmo said, and with that, he smashed the talisman. The witch began to glow a bright white light, and she dropped to her knees.
"No! No! NOOO!!!" she howled. The white light consumed her and faded. She was gone in a wisp of smoke. The shackles around the Bards' hands and feet vanished. Gizmo got up, and walked over to them. As he did, he tossed his sword aside. The Lady ran to meet him, hugged him tightly, and whispered, "I love you."
He smiled.
"I know." They kissed.

The Bards returned, and Schaff threw a grand party, with food, music, and a wonderful time for all. At the end of the night, Scheaun and Gizmo left together.
"So what DID you find at Koma?" asked Gizmo.
"Like I said," Scheaun replied. "Nothing. Like, no one, just a bunch of ashes and rubble. But something odd did happen."
"You should tell me about it," Gizmo smiled.
"I will." For a while, they walked in silence. However, Scheaun broke it with the question that bugged him most.
"So where was the Lady all this time?"
"I thought she was in Kali, but apparently she got back earlier than I suspected."
"You didn't know?"
"No. I--we had some issues a little while ago, but now we're past them." Gizmo bit his lip.
"Oh. Wait... ohhh. So Kali, huh?"
"Yeah."
"With the nice beaches?"
"Yeah."
"Sure could use a vacation."
"Not until you tell me about Koma."

VIII: The Woman

Early in the world of Bamah, the world was filled with magical creatures. There were those who worshipped Chadde, there were the Elves, there were the river people, there were animals who could talk, and there were witches. Eventually, the numbers of all three parties dwindled. The witches and Chadde-worshippers warred for a time, but most of the blame can be traced to the birth of man. As the species of man grew, he conquered everything and spread across the planet. All species are wont to do so, but none have suite matched man's might.
When the actual kingdom of Bamah arose, the witches resisted. The King offered to integrate them into society, but they refused. They fled deep into the woods and never again returned. Establishing their own culture, the Most High Witch, a founder of the original tribe, named herself the High Witch, total ruler of all witches. She decreed that she would pass it down to the witch of her choice: (not much else is known about witches, such as how they reproduce, but it is the ancient witch term "D'aughtre Roiale," or, successor or heir that became the English term "daughter.")
The High Witch chose the youngest witch, a mere baby to be her "D'aughtre Roiale," and raised her as her own.
The years passed, and the D'aughtre grew into a powerful witch, worthy of the throne. The High Witch's last words before passing on the crown was "grow a worthy one," referring to the raising of her successor. (Of course, it could also refer to their reproduction, which is definitively associated with the talismans, as witches "grow" with their talismans.)
The New High Witch immediately obeyed and chose a child successor. Her name was Le'heigh.

The young D'aughtre grew as her mother did, but she seemed more passionate about witch history. She adored the witches who would tell the stories of how the ancient witches were fantastic warriors, and for obvious reasons, hated man. However, the High Witch cared less about man; they had yet to interfere with the witches' society.
"Mother! We have the power! We should retake our lands!" Le'heigh said one day.
"What?" The High Witch replied.
"I'm tired of your pacifism! We need to reclaim Bamah for magical creatures!"
"Why?"
"Umm... because man is greedy and evil! They stole it from us; it's rightfully ours!"
"You do know that they offered to let us join them. They didn't exactly run us off; our pride forced us to leave."
"So? Uggh! You don't get it!" (It was obvious she was the equivalent of a teenager.) She stormed off.

Le'heigh ran away, to a new home in another set of woods. The High Witch was enraged for a time, but settled. As the time went on, Le'heigh never returned. Her mother began to fear for her demise. The High Witch gathered a group and left to search for her D'aughtre.
They covered miles quickly, traveling from the eastern edge of Bamah to the southern tip in one day. Stopping in Robert's Dale, the small band of witches stopped at an inn for the night. There, they met a giant. He had come from a different way, and had stopped at a cave on his way, and he saw the girl they described.
"Will you take us there?" asked the desperate witch.
"Of course." The giant, however, was seedy. He knew a tribe of Chadde-worshippers who violently hated witches and would pay him handily. That night, he notified them of where they would be.
The next morning went well. The giant led the witches to Le'heigh cave. There, they were by the angry warriors.
"You infidels! Your actions shall be punished!" yelled their leader.
"What? Witches and those of Chadde made peace!" replied the High Witch.
"Not with us!" they charged, and the battle was intense.
"Stop him!" He sold us out!" said the High Witch, pointing to the fleeing giant. She leaped from her horse and handily defeated many warriors. One Chadde-worshipper, a sorcerer, knocked her down, but she sent him flying. The other witches stood their ground well, and there were no worshippers of Chadde left. A few witches captured the giant, and brought him back to the High Witch.
"You! Traitor! You gave us away!" she yelled, angrily striking the treacherous prisoner.
"I serve no one but myself. I have no master," he calmly replied.
"Then I shall give you one," and with that, the High Witch cast a spell upon him, that she had complete control of his consciousness. The giant became her slave.

The witches had been gone some time, but at that same spot, on of the surviving warriors, the sorcerer, came to. Looking around, all he saw was vegetation and dead bodies. However, a green stone caught his eye. It was like no jewel he had ever seen. Placing it in his pocket, the sorcerer slipped away.
This occurred a few hours after the battle, but at almost the same time, the witches came upon a grotto. Opposite them was a large pile of rocks.
"This is it. This is her dwelling," said the High Witch.
"How do you know?" rightfully asked a witch.
"These markings," she answered, walking over to examine the left side of the rocks. "These runes are from the ancient witch language. It is an ancient spell, for defense." She scratched it out, and a shriek filled the air. The grotto felt like a nicer place. Just then, Le'heigh leapt from a high tree and took out the    High Witch. 
"Mom!" she cried, climbing off of her. "I'm so sorry."
"No matter. You're returning with us."
"No, I won't."
"What about the throne?"
"You're not dead yet," she snapped.
"How dare you!"
"You chose ME! I didn't want that life anymore. Come get me when you... need me."
"As you wish. I will always stand by for you." Hurt, the High Witch returned to her horse. She reached for her talisman for comfort, but it was gone. She turned to Le'heigh.
"Where is my talisman?" she roared.
"That's what I was wondering. It was always about your neck," came the reply. "Did you drop it?"
"It's gone. Wait! It was that evil magician from the woods! I spared him, but he stole my precious talisman!" She leapt onto her steed and flow off. The other witches followed her, but Le'heigh returned to her cave home.
"That'll never happen to me. I keep mine locked up," she said.

That same sorcerer made his way to a nearby kingdom. The king's hunting party found him attempting to enter.
"You there! How dare you trespass into my domain!" the monarch roared.
"My liege, I request solace. There are those who wish me dead. In return, I offer you this precious gem," replied the tactful sorcerer.
"Very well then, indeed. Tis a marvelous stone to behold. As your new ruler, I demand you enter for protection's sake. Squire, see that he finds a job to stand upon." The two left.
"My, this is a wondrous stone. My daughter will love it."

VII: The Witch

"What does the witch want with the woman?" asked Scott.
"And why does she want US dead?" said Badger. "I mean, she's not after just anyone. She wants the Bards. US."
"The sorcerer who kidnapped the princess. He was a worshipper of Chadde," said Gizmo.
"Wait... what?" asked Dumon.
"Yeah, he did. I knew I had seen those marks before," said Paddy.
"It doesn't answer any of those questions, though," remarked Scott.
"Paddy, let me see that stone," said Gizmo. Paddy gave it to him. "Scheaun, look!"
"It's a talisman! Like the one we used to kill Le'heigh!" Scheaun gasped. "Maybe it's the witch's?"
"Right!"
"Maybe she just wants it back," said Schaff. "She thinks we stole it from her."
"But what does this have to do with the woman?" demanded Badger.
"We'll just trade the stone for the woman," said Holden. "Easy enough, right?" The group assented, and began to follow the was the witch left. To himself, Gizmo said, "But it's never easy enough."

The trail led them through the woods. Scheaun, at the front of the group, found himself at the edge of the forest. To either side a road ran, and it was between them and a large field. Across that field lay another forest.
"It's... the highway," remarked Holden.
"Yeah, I know," replied Scheaun.
"So which way did she go?"
"Not left... nor right... there! C'mon!"
A shadow on the horizon dove into the trees across from them. The group rode like they never had before; the horses' legs were like strong tides of the ocean, waves churning to and fro. They flew across the plain, into the trees. Among the woods, the Bards continued to glide. No tree got in their way; no branch hindered them. They dashed into a clearing, and found themselves at the mouth of a cave.
"She's in there," said Scheaun.
"And... are we waiting for a signal?" laughed Holden. Scheaun shrugged. Badger, bringing up the rear on Scott's horse, flew through screaming.
"YAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" (It's a scream. What did you expect?)
The Bards all followed her lead. The cave led them down, into the darkness. They stopped when a single torch glowed at the end of the hall. Gizmo dismounted and approached the wall on which it hung. He pulled the torch; it did not come down, but out. The wall swung open so that they could pass.
"That was easy," joked Scheaun.
"Yeah, never saw that coming," said Holden.
"How did you do that?" asked Schaff.
"We've seen it before," said Gizmo with a smile.
The group entered through the make-shift door, into a throne room. In one corner sat an empty cage, whose door swung wide open. It creaked with the sudden draft, but never closed. The Bards looked inside, but there was only a blanket and pillow there.
"I guess this is where she kept the old lady," said Badger. "But where are they now?"
"What does the old lady have to do with this anyway?" asked Dumon.
"Maybe they're the SAME PERSON, you guys," said Scott.
"Why would she have the giant chase her around?"
"I dunno--he got loose?"
"But he couldn't, until he was in the ring of fire," said Badger.
"I--maybe, I don't know," replied Scott.
"Did anyone actually KNOW the woman?" asked Paddy.
"No one. Like at all." replied Schaff.
"Guys, where's Gizmo?" noticed Scheaun. He was gone. Paddy looked at the cage. On its door was a new note that read:

IT'S A TRAP.

And on the back:

NO. SERIOUSLY. GET OUT.

"I suggest obeying whatever advice he gave you," bellowed a deep female voice. The witch appeared among them. "Now."
Schaff swung at the witch, but she stopped his blade with her bare hand; with her other hand she sent him flying across the room. Badger and Dumon pulled out their bows and launched several arrows at her. The arrows all stopped a foot from the witch. She looked at Dumon and Badger as the now-harmless arrows fell to the ground. At the same time, Scott and Scheaun drew their swords and ran at her. Holden followed suit but the witch defended every blow and knocked them all over. She looked around at the startled Bards and snapped her fingers dramatically. Glowing green chains appeared around their wrists and ankles, and the witch smiled. She held up her forefingers, then brought them together. The Bards flew into a row, suspended in the air. The witch pointed down, and the Bards dropped to their knees.
"Where is it?" she roared.
"Where is what?" returned Scott.
"Don't patronize me. I sent my giant to kill you, while I have my sorcerer searching for it. Turns out you somehow double-cross me and end up alive and in possession of my talisman! Where is it?"
"I don't have it," said Paddy.
"That doesn't answer the question."
"Gizmo has it."
"Oh. Then I DO have it. Never mind," she said as she began to walk away.
"Wait," said Badger. "Who was the woman?"
"I was," said the witch, and she closed the door behind her.

VI: (Whispers In) The Dark

"Gizmo!" Scheaun whispered.
"What?"
"You got those matches I gave you?"
"Yeah. Hang on!" He fumbled around, searching for them.
"Why are we still whispering?" interrupted KT.
"The title has to make sense to the reader! If we weren't whispering, it wouldn't be called "Whispers in the Dark," would it?" replied Gizmo.
"What are you talking about?" Gizmo lit the match.
"Well, there we go," he said, looking around. He pointed. "This way!" Gizmo lit another torch for Scheaun and began to walk in that direction.
"Gizmo chronicles all his adventures. I guess he's already come up with a title for this one," Scheaun told KT.
"Wait a minute... You mean... Oh! He writes for the Bards! That's him! The Bards are popular in these parts. I never quite made the connection."
"Yeah. Well, I mean, how many people are named Gizmo?" laughed Scheaun.
"How many Scheauns spell their name that way?" KT smiled.

Gizmo took in his surroundings with curiosity and awe. He paid attention to every detail, as the cave work was art, not just random digging. Each side told a story, and each story flowed into the other. The walls were meticulously carved; its intricate details would make any sculptor cry. In fact, had Gizmo not noticed the boringness of the floor, he would have fallen over a steep ravine. He stopped; looking over the edge, he saw a massive dungeon on the floor of the cave. Cages hung from the ceiling, and those that were not empty not locked. Scheaun and KT soon joined him. They found a ladder and climbed down to the cave floor. In the middle of the circle of hanging cages beyond the circle, some tables, littered with papers, pots, and other paraphernalia, guarded a large metal box. It had a lock but was wide open, and sat on a pedestal as high as the cages.
"Creepy digs," said Scheaun.
"Very goth. Nosferatu would be proud," Gizmo agreed. KT found a ladder, and Scheaun carried it over to her.
"Put it up against this cage. Hold it still," she said. Gizmo and Scheaun steadied her climb to the locked cage. Inside, two giant eyes stared back into her own. A dirty, starved man crawled over to her.
"Hey, Scheaun, hold her. I found the key," Gizmo said. He ran to a couch beyond the empty metal box, and returned with a ring of keys. Handing them to KT, Gizmo joined Scheaun in holding the ladder.
"Thank you," whispered the man. The three forced every living soul in the set of cages there. The motley crew began their return to the surface, but as Gizmo, the last to reach the top of the ridge, ascended, their journey was halted. A dark, robed figure stood at the Scheaun's sword.
"How dare you," the figure growled.
"I could ask you the same thing," Scheaun replied.
"KT, take these people to the surface," Gizmo said. "Her fight is with us, not these innocents." KT hurried them along.
"Why are you torturing these people? What did they do to you?" Scheaun inquired.
"What HAVEN'T they done? They stole what was most precious to me, and I must find it!"
"That gives you no right to take lives!" roared Gizmo.
"It is fitting; they took mine!" she answered, sending Scheaun soaring with her last syllable. Gizmo jabbed, but the witch formed a transparent blue shield and blocked his sword. The energy with which she formed flowed from her veins, forming a sword in her other hand. She swung to block Gizmo's second parry. Turning his blade over, she spun, roundhouse kicking him away. Scheaun ran in, and the witch ran at him. He blocked each of her strikes, but then she used her shield to knock his sword away. As she went to deal the final blow, Gizmo lopped the witch's head off. The energy-weapons faded into mist, and the witch's lifeless body fell over.
"Well then," laughed Gizmo.
"Thanks," Scheaun replied.

The two made their way to the mouth of the cave, where KT and the prisoners waited. Smiling, she ran to hug Scheaun. She kissed him, and the two enjoyed their moment.
"Hang on," said Gizmo. "The stone. IT's glowing through your blouse!" And it was. KT took the necklace out from under her shirt.
"Let me see," said Gizmo. KT handed him the stone, and as he held it, a rumbling came from the cave. Everyone looked, and a bright blue light beamed upward toward them. In the light, they saw the witch's head and body floating; the two pieces began to grow back together. Quickly, Gizmo drew his sword, and smashed the stone to bits. The light went out, and the witch was dead once more.
"Ding dong," smiled Gizmo.
"Wait, wait. Wait. What?" said Scheaun.
"That stone was a talisman. As long as it is in one piece, the witch can survive. At least, that's how it looks. That stone was what she was looking for. It was the source of her power."
"Well, I got that. But the 'ding dong' thing?"
"Oh, I don't know. First thing that hit me." One of the freed prisoners spoke up.
"Thank you for saving us," he said. "We are all grateful to the three of you."
"Of course," said Gizmo.
"How can we repay you?"
"There's no need. It's what we do," replied Scheaun.
"Just go home. Enjoy your lives, and if any one asks, tell them it was the Bards," said KT.

Following the death of Le'heigh, many other witches, hiding in the Chroi forests, gathered. They pleaded with the High Witch, angry with the loss of their sister.
"The Bards deserve to die!" yelled one.
"The murderous fiends! Kill them all!" yelled another.
"Silence, my children," the High Witch interrupted. "I have deliberated enough. The heartless killers shall die. But you go about your business. Leave this to me." The convention rejoiced.

V: The Giant

The giant carried Badger and Dumon through the forest. The two Bards struggled to free themselves from his grasp but to no avail. Suddenly, Schaff swept through the tree is front of the giant. He stopped just in front of it. The giant tripped on a vine he could not have seen, and fell face-first onto the ground. Badger and Dumon fell out of his hands; Badger grabbed her bow and loaded an arrow, meeting Schaff, whose sword was drawn, at the giant's head.
"Who are you?" yelled Badger.
"Answer me!" She lodged an arrow in his left hand. The giant stood, growling, and roared. His eyes were a sickly green, and his veins bulged. Badger put an arrow in his right hand; he still grabbed her, but not before Schaff cut his right pinky off.
"Let go of her!" Schaff cried, as he stabbed the giant's foot. It turned and picked him up, neglecting the sword sticking out of his foot.

Dumon had climbed a tree. She used it for cover as she pelted the giant with arrows. She fired quickly, but soon ran out. When her barrage stopped, the giant put his arm down from his face (he had been using it to shield himself.) He dropped Schaff, who fell unconscious. Running at Dumon, the giant grabbed her too, and fled.
An hour later, the other Bards arrived. Schaff's light armor took the brunt of the fall, so he survived with only a few bruises.
"What happened?" asked Scott.
"I managed to stop the giant, but he still took Dumon and Badger," came the reply.
"So back to square one again?" asked Paddy.
"Not really," said a voice from the forest. It was Scheaun. He brought forth an aid kit and attended to Schaff.
"I heard the screams," he said. " Got here just after you all did. See the giant gap there? Where all the trees bend as if something crushed them? He went that way."
"What? Oh--the branches. Wow. That wasn't that noticeable before," laughed Paddy.
"Where did you go?" asked Holden.
"I went to check out the camp at Koma."
"What did you find?"
"Nothing."

By now, Badger and Dumon gave up their struggle.
"So you're not going to tell us where we're going? At all?" Badger asked.
"No. Not at all," said Dumon. She laughed.
"So what if I have to pee?" laughed Badger. "No?"
"No," said Dumon. "No peeing. Just wait." The giant stopped.
"Finally!" said Badger.
"Can I pee now?" laughed Dumon.
He let them down, but a fire formed around them.
"What do you want from us?" asked Badger.
"What do you want from me?" sang Dumon. Badger looked at her.
"Sorry."
The giant fell to his knees. Seemingly having a spasm, he rolled over on his side, screaming. His eyes were no longer green; his veins were of normal size (for a giant.) Badger and Dumon walekd around to his face's side. The giant sat up, frightened.
"Aah! Who are you? What happened to my hands?" he asked.
"What do you mean? You just kidnapped us and almost killed two of my friends! Who are YOU?" stormed Badger.
"Oh no... I'm in a prison. You can't be here! Whatever I've done, I apologize for! I wasn't myself."
"What do you mean?" asked Dumon.
"I'm under a spell. A witch holds me hostage and I do her every bidding."
"You've been terrorizing an old woman. Do you know who she is?" asked Badger.
"No, what woman?"
"Do you know anything about what you do?"
"All I've heard is something about some 'Bards' or something. I'm helping her kill them, I think."
"WE are the Bards!" started Dumon. "Well, two of them."
"You need to leave now! Listen to me! Get out! It's a trap!"
"How?" asked Badger, arms crossed.
"That tree," he said, pointing to the only tree in the ring of fire. "Climb it, and jump to the tree next to it. Then run, and DO NOT COME BACK."
"No, we will come back. We'll save you."
"You can't."
"We've beaten gods, battled dragons, and broken civilizations. A witch is nothing."
"Fine. But go now, and do not come back without an army." Badger and Dumon climbed the tree, and descended the second when the ring of fire went out.
"Really!?" asked Badger. Then she and Dumon hid. A witch entered the ring.
"Where are they???" she screamed.
"Where are who?" replied the giant. She grabbed a sword, lifted it, and let go. It floated for a time. The witch left. Her last words to the giant were, "I'll find them myself."
The floating sword held still for a final moment, then flew through the giant's chest. Badger and Dumon  ran to the giant's side. His last words were, "The stone."
The other Bards arrived.
"Things just got weird," remarked Holden.

IV: The Sorcerer

Scott, Gizmo, and Badger met Schaff, Dumon, Holden, and Paddy at Badger's. They began to discuss the giant.
"I think it's pretty safe to say we need to stop this thing," said Scott.
"Yeah," murmured basically everyone in the room.
"But how do we even like, begin to find him?" remarked Dumon.
"What I don't get is why he went after the one lady. I mean, why do we care?" asked Holden.
"He came after us as soon as we began protecting her. She's hiding something, and we can't just let a powerful threat run free," replied Gizmo.
"Why do you say that? How do you know she's hiding something?" asked Schaff.
"As soon as we met her, Gizmo and I saw her expression change. She's not the helpless old lady she appears to be," replied Scott.
"So, basically, to answer your question, Dumon, I have no idea. She has no family, and I don't know many giants. The only place to start is that forest."

The next day, the Bards made for Robert's Dale. They found the spot where the giant escaped, and they entered the woods there.
"Wait. Didn't Scheaun come with us?" asked Holden. "Where is he?"
"He's working another angle of this. He'll catch up," said Gizmo.
Just then, the trees behind them rustled. A large animal rushed at them. Everyone drew their weapons. Out ran a short, robed man. Frightened, he stopped.
"Help me!" he cried.
"Get on!" said Holden. He, Paddy, and Gizmo rode away. The others remained, as the giant leapt from the bushes. Dumon and Badger assaulted him with arrows, but it only angered him. He grabbed them as Schaff sliced his side. The giant ran off with the two Bards.
"You go get those three! I'll follow the giant!" yelled Schaff. With that, they parted.

Gizmo, Holden and Paddy stopped in the middle of the woods.
"Get down," said Holden. Before the man could say anything, Gizmo jumped on him.
"Where is she?" he growled. "I mean, the old woman? How do you know the giant?"
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" The man blubbered. Off to the side, Holden whispered to Paddy, "Does he look familiar to you?"
"Yeah, he does," Paddy replied. "Wait!"
"It's the guy who kidnapped the princess!" they both said. It was. The old sorcerer gathered his breath.
"There's this witch. She, she is working with the giant. They're after somebody called... uh... 'Bard.'"
"We're the Bards," replied Gizmo.
"Is that so?" said the sorcerer. "In that case..." Lightning flowed from his fingertips, sending Gizmo flying.
"She wants you dead," he said, raising Holden and Paddy off of their horses. He began to choke them.
"Should I kill you, she'll be pleased."
"So you're in on this too?" Gizmo, but the sorcerer could not tell from where. He looked to the trees around him.
"You're one smart cookie, aren't you?"
"I know that tattoo, on the back of your head. You're a worshipper of Chadde."
"And?"
"Put them down."
"Why should I?"
"We killed your Chadde."
"Chadde cannot be killed, you fool!"
"I saw it happen," Gizmo whispered, from over the sorcerer's shoulder. THe sorcerer looked, and Gizmo's blade was at his neck.
"Now. Put them down." He did.
"Start talking," Gizmo said. "Who is the woman?"
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck the sorcerer. He began laughing, but he was already dead. Gizmo let go, and the sorcerer fell over. As he hit the ground, the laughing stopped.
"He kidnapped the princess," said Paddy.
"Yeah, thanks by the way," said Holden.
"Him?" replied Gizmo.
"Yeah. I don't know what for, though," replied Holden.
"Did he do anything unordinary?" asked Gizmo.
"Not really. He tried to steal this stone, but that was all he took from her," replied Paddy.
"It was the only she had on her that was valuable," said Holden.
"I know. I just found it odd." Just then, Scott rode up.
"The giant took Badger and Dumon," he said. "What happened to him?"
"Hmm. Interesting. Let's go," said Gizmo. "I'll tell you on the way."

III: The Cave

Not long after the defeat of Kawan, Gizmo and Scheaun were sitting around, remembering past adventures, whose setting was no more than their imagination.
"Those were good times," said Scheaun thoughtfully.
"What if we had just one more?" replied Gizmo.
"Make it two."
"Two and a half."
"Deal." The two laughed.
"But really, check this out," said Gizmo. "I got a letter from a cousin of mine, who lives in the Chroi forests. She said she had heard about the Bards, and asked if we--the Bards, that is--could help with a local problem."
"Wait... Chroi? Isn't that where that witch is? Le'heigh, I think?" asked Scheaun.
"Yeah. Apparently, she's a bit of a bother. Bit of a bother... Bit of a... bother... That's fun to say."
"Bit of a bother."
"Say it quickly. Bitofabother."
"Bit-of-a-bother..."
"No! No hyphens! Just Bitofabother."
(This was the only thing the two said for the next five minutes, in different pitches and accents. It ended with the two rolling about on the floor, laughing.)
"Ok. So, to Chroi?" asked Scheaun.
"To Chroi!"

The two left Bamah (The Lady was away visiting her family) and reached Chroi in a short time. Gizmo knew several shortcuts, remembered a few more, and made some of his own. Needless to say, Scheaun made it in one piece. The jury is still out on Gizmo.
The two reached Chroi in a short time. As they approached, Gizmo's cousin ran to meet them. She was a lovely sight, and it had been a long time since the two had seen each other. Nonetheless, Gizmo's relatives were gracious hosts.
That evening at supper, Gizmo's cousin Karina Tirvina (She went by KT, "her parents did that on purpose," Gizmo told Scheaun) finished the story she presented in her note.
"Le'heigh, the infamous witch, has been viciously torturing our livestock and our people! She kidnaps innocent people and questions them. My own brother, your cousin, was taken himself! He was just hunting for our dinner, and out of nowhere she just... I'm sorry."
"Does she keep them?" asked Gizmo.
"Rarely does she set them free. It was Lex (said cousin/brother) who told us about it. She kept asking him, "Where is it?" but no one knows what it is, much less where. It's all he talks about, now."
"Where is she now? I mean, do we know?" asked Scheaun.
"No. All we know is that she is further up and further in, near the mountain."
"Hmm," thought Gizmo. "The game is afoot."
"Have you been waiting to say that?" asked Scheaun.
"Well...                  yeah." He looked out the window into the night, but found himself entranced by the pitter-patter of the rain. It would be the last thing he said that night. However, Scheaun and KT stayed up longer, talking about Gizmo and the Bards' adventures.
"That stone around your neck. It's massive. Like, I could kill a man with it," Scheaun mentioned.
"Oh, that," she laughed. "Lex gave it to me the day before he was kidnapped. He said he bought for cheap off a foreign vendor, or something. Twas the last thing he gave me before..." teary-eyed, she looked out the window into the night.
"Yeah... Twas. nice word."

The following morning, Gizmo, Scheaun, and KT rode into the forest. For a long time, their search yielded no results.
"What exactly are you looking for, Gizmo? I mean, I haven't exactly seen any dead bodies or trails of destruction," asked KT.
"That, fires, signs of life, a Waffle Hut... Mr. Tracker, what about you?" he replied.
"I see trails everywhere, but nothing human. Wait... there!" Scheaun leaped off his horse and fell to his hands and knees.
"A boot...!" he exclaimed.
"A bootPRINT?" asked Gizmo.
"No! An actual BOOT!" Scheaun answered, turning to them with his prize in hand. The thing was small and green, but it was absolutely soaked in mud, which had caked on a bit after the night's rain.
"It was stuck in the ground; I had to break it out of the mud," said Scheaun.
"What direction did the toe point?" asked Gizmo.
"That way!" Scheaun pointed to his left. As he did, understanding swept across his face. "That way!"
"Let's go!" yelled Gizmo, and he led them in that direction. The three flew though the trees, as a path became more and more evident. It led the into a grotto, and they stood on a hill overlooking it. Beneath them was a pile of rocks, but as they descended to the foot of the hill, they found it to be an opening to a cave.

"Interesting," said Gizmo, who got there first.
"Fascinating," said KT, who got there next.
Scheaun flew past them at a full gallop.
"WHOOO!" he cried. The two laughed and followed after him. The cave-tunnel led them to what seemed to be the end. One large rock in the middle seemed to stand out, and Scheaun approached it. It had a vertical crack in it, but the crack was polished so as not to cut someone should they insert their hand. Scheaun did just that, and he easily swung the rock open. Gizmo and KT arrived.
"Well then," laughed Gizmo. "Look who's being proactive."
"Ladies first," replied Scheaun, as Gizmo followed KT through the door. A narrow, dark hallway led them into what seemed to be a large foyer. It was a dimly-lit room with a nice carpet rug, and on the far side was a table with three chairs and a flower. To the left and right were wooden doors with golden plates that read "Men" and "Women." Scheaun went into the "Men" door and found it to be a normal bathroom, as KT did the same to the "Women" door. Gizmo took a seat at the table.
"May as well rest a bit," he said, as he looked over the flower, intently. A smile seemed to crack across his face. Scheaun and KT joined him at the table, not noticing Gizmo's giddiness. Scheaun looked up at KT, and the two met eyes. She smiled nervously and blushed; Scheaun looked over at Gizmo and noticed his wide grin.
"What?" Scheaun asked.
"Pick up the flower, vase and all," came the reply. Scheaun looked at KT, shrugged, and grabbed the vase. It did not budge. Scheaun stood, in shock, and tried to lift the vase. The table creaked, but it did not move. Gizmo, smiling, said, "Watch this."
He pulled the flower out of the vase. The wall groaned, and it spun. The entire wall rotated, pushing the table and chairs to the other side. Gizmo, Scheaun, and KT were on the other side of the wall, and it was dark.