can keep you alive long enough, you’re the only person that can identify him.”
John gulped. “Umm...keep me alive? Is Milos dangerous? He didn’t hurt me when I saw him the first time; why would he hurt me now?”
“He didn’t hurt you then,” the Magistra replied, “because he wasn’t worried about you coming here. He obviously thought that you wouldn’t be able to follow him. I don’t know how you did it, but you are here now...and you are the only one that knows what he looks like. You are the only one who can identify him. If he has some nefarious plan, he might very well want to eliminate the possibility that he can be identified…and that would mean eliminating you .”
The threat in the elf’s words brought goose bumps to his skin. “I’m not sure that I want to do that,” John replied. “Maybe I could draw his picture for you instead? I’m a pretty good artist...”
“No, it would be better if they had your active support, I think,” said the Magistra. She frowned at him, causing John to feel unworthy. “If you don’t help us, what are you going to do here? Where will you go?”
John was at a loss. “I don’t know where to go,” he said. “I guess I’d go back to my world.”
“And how will you get there?” the Magistra pressed. “Through another mirror?”
“I guess I will go back to the inn where I arrived,” John answered. “However, I don’t know where that is. Or how to operate the mirror there, either.”
“I will make you a deal,” said the Magistra. “If you help Dantes and Ghorza find and apprehend Milos, I give you my solemn word that I will use the considerable resources of the Magisterium to return you to your world. If you do not assist us, I will not stand in your way, but neither will I do anything to aid you. I simply do not have the resources to waste on someone that refused to assist us in our time of need.”
“When you put it that way,” replied John, “I don’t have any choice but to help you find Milos. There is no way that I can find my way back to the inn, or my world, on my own.”
“Thank you very much,” said the Magistra, gracious in victory. “I greatly appreciate your assistance. For my part, I have something that will assist you in your quest.”
The Magistra turned to Ghorza. “Take him to Vishdink,” she said, “and tell him to give John Gratsby the Necklace of Tongues.”
“Yes, Magistra,” Ghorza replied. She turned to leave.
“Thank you again for your assistance,” the Magistra repeated to John. “Please know that once Milos has been caught, we will do everything possible to help you.”
“Thanks,” said John. “I’ll look forward to it.” He turned to follow Ghorza out the door. “Assuming I’m still alive,” he muttered under his breath.
Chapter 11
John followed Ghorza another two levels down below the surface of whatever planet he was on, still worrying about everything the Magistra had said. In addition to the death threat, one other thing stood out. “I’m not sure I want to wear a necklace made of tongues,” he said finally.
“Gruempt dakto?” asked Ghorza. She sighed. “ Convertite! ” said Ghorza, casting another Translate spell to replace the one that wore off. “What did you say?”
“I said, I’m not sure I want to wear a necklace made of tongues,” John repeated. “You have to admit, that’s pretty gross.” Realizing that he knew nothing about Ghorza, he added, “Well, I don’t know if it is for you, but it’s pretty gross to me.”
“Wearing a necklace of war trophies isn’t gross in orc society,” said Ghorza, confirming her orc heritage; “however, that certainly isn’t something that would be worn in polite human company. In this case, though, I don’t think that you have to worry about it.” She stopped in front of an unmarked door and opened it before John could ask a follow-up question.
They entered a large room that was a little wider than it
John gulped. “Umm...keep me alive? Is Milos dangerous? He didn’t hurt me when I saw him the first time; why would he hurt me now?”
“He didn’t hurt you then,” the Magistra replied, “because he wasn’t worried about you coming here. He obviously thought that you wouldn’t be able to follow him. I don’t know how you did it, but you are here now...and you are the only one that knows what he looks like. You are the only one who can identify him. If he has some nefarious plan, he might very well want to eliminate the possibility that he can be identified…and that would mean eliminating you .”
The threat in the elf’s words brought goose bumps to his skin. “I’m not sure that I want to do that,” John replied. “Maybe I could draw his picture for you instead? I’m a pretty good artist...”
“No, it would be better if they had your active support, I think,” said the Magistra. She frowned at him, causing John to feel unworthy. “If you don’t help us, what are you going to do here? Where will you go?”
John was at a loss. “I don’t know where to go,” he said. “I guess I’d go back to my world.”
“And how will you get there?” the Magistra pressed. “Through another mirror?”
“I guess I will go back to the inn where I arrived,” John answered. “However, I don’t know where that is. Or how to operate the mirror there, either.”
“I will make you a deal,” said the Magistra. “If you help Dantes and Ghorza find and apprehend Milos, I give you my solemn word that I will use the considerable resources of the Magisterium to return you to your world. If you do not assist us, I will not stand in your way, but neither will I do anything to aid you. I simply do not have the resources to waste on someone that refused to assist us in our time of need.”
“When you put it that way,” replied John, “I don’t have any choice but to help you find Milos. There is no way that I can find my way back to the inn, or my world, on my own.”
“Thank you very much,” said the Magistra, gracious in victory. “I greatly appreciate your assistance. For my part, I have something that will assist you in your quest.”
The Magistra turned to Ghorza. “Take him to Vishdink,” she said, “and tell him to give John Gratsby the Necklace of Tongues.”
“Yes, Magistra,” Ghorza replied. She turned to leave.
“Thank you again for your assistance,” the Magistra repeated to John. “Please know that once Milos has been caught, we will do everything possible to help you.”
“Thanks,” said John. “I’ll look forward to it.” He turned to follow Ghorza out the door. “Assuming I’m still alive,” he muttered under his breath.
Chapter 11
John followed Ghorza another two levels down below the surface of whatever planet he was on, still worrying about everything the Magistra had said. In addition to the death threat, one other thing stood out. “I’m not sure I want to wear a necklace made of tongues,” he said finally.
“Gruempt dakto?” asked Ghorza. She sighed. “ Convertite! ” said Ghorza, casting another Translate spell to replace the one that wore off. “What did you say?”
“I said, I’m not sure I want to wear a necklace made of tongues,” John repeated. “You have to admit, that’s pretty gross.” Realizing that he knew nothing about Ghorza, he added, “Well, I don’t know if it is for you, but it’s pretty gross to me.”
“Wearing a necklace of war trophies isn’t gross in orc society,” said Ghorza, confirming her orc heritage; “however, that certainly isn’t something that would be worn in polite human company. In this case, though, I don’t think that you have to worry about it.” She stopped in front of an unmarked door and opened it before John could ask a follow-up question.
They entered a large room that was a little wider than it
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