At the End of My Rope

Day 2

They'd had a late start that morning. Four of the horses had freed themselves from their hobbles overnight and had wandered, requiring time and tedious effort to collect.

"Worth it, though." Blue was smug. He was the cleverest of them at manipulating things and had gotten his hobble off first. Then Storm, the black charger and acknowledged leader, had demanded Blue free him as well. Then Rose, the pony, had figured out hers and freed Lady as well. The four of them had enjoyed themselves exploring the gullies above their campsite until the Elf had come calling.

"You know you really should have gone to them right away," Lady said. "Elves expect us to do what they say."

"That Elf's a jackass," Storm replied.

"It was pretty funny watching him try not to be pissed when you let the Dwarf walk right up to you," Blue said.

Storm snorted. "The Dwarf doesn't make demands. They ask."

"Anyway," Lady was impatient. "What are they up to now? Do you think they really understand the problem here?"

Blue shook his head. "Almost certainly not. But at least they know there's a problem. They'll figure it out in a bit."

---

The rest of the party was standing on the verge of a wide river, dithering. The river was broad and deep but hardly moving. Only the slow drift of debris on the surface suggested any current at all. It could be swum. But Sassenac had called a halt and when asked why—

"There is a water fey."

"Do we fight it?" asked Cedric.

"Not unless we must," Sassenac said. "Such fey are old and powerful. Better to get permission if we can."

"And we do that how?" asked Cedric.

"I can call it." Sassenac walked right up to the edge of the stream, lifted their arms, and sang. It was not loud, full of wailing glissandos and quavering half-notes. It lasted thirty seconds or so, then Sassenac stepped back and lowered their arms.

All was quiet for a moment. Then a ripple formed well out in the stream. More formed behind it spreading out and out from an apparent source that seemed... long. Very long. The head of the disturbance built up to a large wave coming directly towards the small group on the shore, while the tail seemed to stroke the far bank.

When the wave reached the shore, it collapsed as the creature making it came to rest. The head revealed was large—larger than that of the horses—but shaped somewhat similarly. But it was green and scaled, and though it seemed to have hooves of a sort, the back part of its body trailed away like that of an eel. Its tail undulated gently, stirring the water far upriver from their position.

"You disturb me." Its speech slurred the consonants and emphasized the sibilants, but was easy enough to understand.

"It was unavoidable," Sassenac replied. "We must cross, and would have your favor before we make the attempt."

"Better not try," replied the fey, folding its forelegs and leaning on them like it planned to be there all day. "There's a river monster, have you heard? Shouldn't think more than half of you would make it over."

Cedric loosened his sword in its scabbard. "Yet we must cross," he said.

The fey rolled an eye the size of a cannon ball at him. "Then cross," it said. "Could be fun."

The gnome, Beau, spoke up, startling everyone, it spoke so seldom. "Can we strike a bargain? What will persuade you to let us over?"

Sassenac winced, but said nothing.

"Oooh, now we're talking." The fey looked pleased. "Answer me my riddles three."

"Very well," said Beau.

"Let's see," said the fey. "I know! What's delicious and crunchy and goes on four legs?"

"Horses," said Beau.

"Right! Here's another. What's delicious and crunchy and goes on two legs?"

"Man," said Beau. "I don't feel that you're treating this game with the seriousness it deserves."

"Sure I am. I didn't say you could cross if you got the answers right, did I? Who gives anything of value for a riddle anyway? It doesn't make sense."

There was a silence while everyone reviewed the conversation in their heads. The fey was right. It hadn't promised anything.

"Very well," said Beau. "Something of value, then. Suppose we give you a gift. Will you then let us cross?"

"I love gifts. But what do you have?"

The Gnome was small, black, wizened, and clad in nothing but a loincloth. It clearly had nothing. It looked at the rest of the party. "Anybody?"

"My sword?" suggested Cedric.

"What would I do with a sword?" asked the fey.

"I have a sewing kit here. It was my grandmother's. It's very handy." That was Rosa.

"No," said the fey.

"Howabout gold?" asked Katrice.

"I like gold. Show me."

Katrice pulled at a ring on her finger, and after a bit of effort it came off. She held it up. "Gold. Infused with love and struggle, sacrifice and sorrow. I give it and all it carries to you."

"Katrice!" hissed Rosa.

"Hush," responded Katrice. "It's just the past. An old relationship I'm ready to be done with."

The fey extended one clawed hoof and Katrice placed the ring in its circle. The fey considered it a few long moments.

"It is well," it said. "I shall take the ring, and you may cross."