Changed by J.L. Crandall

Author:J.L. Crandall
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: J.L. Crandall, Prudence MacLeod, Queen, King, Ogre
Publisher: Shadoe Publishing
Published: 2020-10-05T00:00:00+00:00

The Calling Place

Kull was sitting with his back to the wall while Gala was feeding him some kind of root. Silver thought that it would be pretty tough chewing, but the ogre was making short work of it. Arion grunted a couple of times and the ogre fell on his back, holding his sides and shaking. Gala tried the same grunts with a slight variation. Kull sat up again and nodded his approval. Arion tried again and seemed to get it right this time.

“What is all this about?” asked Silver. Not long ago he had seen Arion lying broken in a pool of his own blood with Gala straddling him protectively. Kull had been the enemy in that battle; now they seemed to be the best of friends.

“Kull’s trying to teach us his language,” replied Gala. “It’s been a long time since he has seen any of his people. We thought he might like to hear it spoken once again. This way we hope to understand him better, and thus change an enemy to a friend. Kull says that ogres make better friends than enemies. We believe him.”

“I agree with that,” Silver nodded. The elves’ capacity to accept what life gave them and enjoy it always amazed and pleased Silver. “We need to talk to Kull for a moment.”

“Silver,” Kull’s voice turned the name into a long hiss and growl. “Tell tale.”

“He seems to think that you’re the world’s greatest storyteller,” said Arion. “He wants to hear another.”

Silver and Ketdryn sat down with them. “Tales I have aplenty,” Silver said with a grin. “Tell them I will, another time. Things there are that I would know, friend Kull. Your help we need.”

“Ask.”

“Long ago,” began Silver. “Many folk here. Kull’s folk. Life was good. Much food in the land. Give thanks, did they? At a special place, did they? Power flowed through the land did it?” Kull nodded his huge head slowly. He was growing suspicious.

“Why Silver want to know?” he asked. “Why seek holy place?”

Ketdryn reached out her hand to the ogre. She took his huge paw in her hand. Looking deep into the ogre’s eyes she spoke in a soft voice. “Bring back life to the land we would,” she said. “Bring life to the holy place once more we will. With respect for your people, and love for the land we would do this.” She held the ogre’s gaze for a long moment. At last he shifted his gaze to Silver.

“Ketdryn talk with heart, she does,” he spoke slowly. They were amazed at how well he could pronounce her name. “Silver tell tale; Kull show calling place, he will.”

“All ogres bargain so hard do they?” Silver asked Kull.

“Kull bargain hard,” he chuckled. “Like when Silver tells stories, I do.”

Silver sighed and gave in. “Alright,” he agreed. Kull settled back against the wall. Ketdryn, Gala, and Arion settled down comfortably as well.

Silver told of his first meeting with Ketdryn. He spoke slowly in common so the ogre would be able to understand.

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