PARACOSM: The Call

Chapter 2: In Which Old Friends Reunite And Dirty Laundry Is Aired

I pushed open the broom closet door and led the way out to the corridor beyond. The corridor was built from marble walls, with lemon-sized lanterns illuminating the path. The smell of incense permeated the air and distantly, the sound of people cheering and string instruments echoed down the hall. They always had incense burning in the temple. It was sacred to the god Huluru, and smell made it easier for him to answer your prayers.  

A rush of nostalgia came over me. I hadn't smelt that smell in ages and old

...a girl in a white dress stood over me, my nose bleeding while her broom pointed down at me like a spear "Who are you? Why are you talking funny?"... "I want to go with you. You're my friend and I care about you, you dummy!" I yelled into the empty Great Hall, Giovanna and Hypnox standing in shock...standing at the feet of the alter, Father Hypnox holding my oil-covered head and head high, showing the Mark of The Sun on my brow to everyone"At last, the prophecy is coming to pass. Squire Craig, Huluru has spoken, you are the god's champion and will be the one to stop Hesperus before he destroys us all!"

Good memories, bad memories. I'd lived in these walls before the war had happened. I'd chased Pabulo down these halls, searched for potion ingredients and run away from the masters and knights in these walls.

Welcome home again. It was good to be back. 

A gi

Was the scorch mark we left from that Fireman Fireman ritual still there, like Father Hypnox said he would? Was my room still here or had they given it to someone else?

"Where are we?" said Nessie "This is the Viridian Woods?"

Nessie's voice shocked me out of my stupor. Cam

"No no, this is the Cassipodira, in Cassiopia City." I said, sounding like the tour guide at Venice. "It's where the Sorcerers Guild and the royal family live and work together."

"And where are they?" Nessie said, rubbing her bare shoulders. It was summer back hime

"The portal had an alarm on it, so they know we're coming. Do you need a coat? I though it'd be warmer." I said, 

"Craig? Is that you lad?". A loud voice cried across the hall. It set warm fuzzy feelings that had been locked away inside me free and as I turned to see if it was really true, was it really him after all these years,

Running towards us in the short run that dwarves are good at doing was a dwarf with a short black beard, a circlet on his head dressed in a dark jerkin and polished boots, a ceremonial axe attached to his back and his dark eyes blinked repetitively as if he wasn't sure if he was seeing right.  

"Aldergor?" I said, my voice hitching in my throat. 

"Eh, lad. Don't go crying on me, I'm small enough already!" The dwarf cried while tears streamed from his own eyes. "Bring it in here!"

I had to kneel down to hug him, but he swept me in for a bonescruching hug; Aldergor was tall for a dwarf, which meant he was about as tall as my nipples. 

"It's good to see you!" I cried, squeezing Aldergor even tighter, burrowing in deeper to breath him all in.

"I should think it is, running off as long as it's been. How's Dirt been treating you?" he said jollyly, standing on tiptoes to pat me on the back.

I rolled my eyes at the old joke. When I'd had first arrived in Faltarisa, Aldergor had laughed at my story about being from a planet called Earth. He'd joked that the people of Earth must live in dirt if they named there home after it and made a point of always making dirt jokes whenever Earth was discussed.