The Gems of EL - Separate Paths by Mays Bill

Author:Mays, Bill [Mays, Bill]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2012-03-01T16:00:00+00:00

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After what felt like forever, the companions began to grow, finally returning to their normal sizes. “That was a lot longer than a few moments,” Tark griped at the gnome. “It was more like an hour!”

Kussenavis looked up at the man in annoyance. “I do have a concept of time, human. Gnomes are very good with time, so why are ye trying to explain the concept to me?”

The rage in Tark’s eyes was boiling over. Ado flew away as another giggle echoed out. Herrin stepped between the gladiator and the colorful little man.

“Here is the writing we need you to look at.” The sage handed the parchment to the gnome.

He scanned the paper intensely for a long while. He turned it this way and that way. He even turned it upside down and then scratched his pointy little ear.

“This is written in some old foreign language,” the gnome announced finally.

“We already told you that!” Tark stomped away; he could not stand to look at the annoying little creature another second. Even Herrin released a sigh of frustration. The old woman took a deep breath and tried again.

“Yes, I think it is in the language of the ancients. Can you translate it?”

“So, ye want it translated, huh? That is one of me specialties, ye know? It’ll cost ye, though,” the gnome looked the rag-adorned woman up and down skeptically.

“We can pay,” Tark grumbled from across the room. Ado was busy snooping through the shelves and potions while Nivit played with the animals.

The gnome studied the paper a bit longer in silence. “Very well then, I have made me decision.”

Tark’s head snapped up. That was quicker than he could have expected. He was anxiously awaiting the gnome’s findings. The big man was more than ready to leave this obnoxious man and his noisy laboratory far behind.

Kussenavis paused for effect. “I will translate this writing for ye,” he announced pointedly.

Tark sat at a small table and rested his head in his hands. This was turning out to be a long day. Sometimes, Tark wondered why he left the relatively simple life of the arena. You had training and fighting, no gremlins, no country spanning wars, and absolutely no gnomes. He thought Ado to be the most frustrating creature in the world. He was wrong. He had never met a gnome like Kussenavis before.

Herrin sat by offering what little assistance she could, while the gnome mage, inventor, alchemist, scribe, scientist did his work. Kussenavis labored over the parchment for many hours. He mumbled incantations, drank certain potions from his stock, placed strange carvings from his shelves on the paper and even asked questions of his animals. Occasionally, he would stand, throw up his hands in frustration and wander around the room muttering. The sage was beginning to wonder if the gremlin’s assessment was right. Maybe the gnome was simply scatter-brained.

Rather abruptly, he turned to Herrin with a sly grin. “This is talking about that gem ye carry,” he grinned and nodded at the old woman.

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