and spoke in a soft, soothing voice, “My apologies for the intrusion, dear folk. We are but two lone travelers that seek shelter from the creatures roaming this plane. This is my friend, Clarissa, and she was hurt. She needed to recuperate and heal.”
He dropped the sword and pushed it towards them with his foot.
“We are unarmed and will reward you for your hospitality should you be so kind as to provide us with a warm bed for the night.”
Clarissa frowned slightly. Mel was able to produce a sword so easily when all she was able to conjure were rubber balls and licorice. Suddenly, the thought of the candy made her stomach growl audibly and she flushed in embarrassment as she waited for the goblin male to answer. She hoped the goblins would accept the offer made to them and that Mel would continue to have his powers and procure them another sword if they needed one.
The male goblin bowed to them, slightly in fear as he was visibly shaking.
“We are simple peasants, my lord. We have nothing to offer you. Our food is scarce enough for us but if you promise me and my wife no harm we’ll share with you and suggest some place more suitable for your needs.”
He kept his head down, his eyes averted as he spoke while he continued to make sure his wife stayed behind him.
Mel walked over towards them and closed the door behind them. He spoke softly, calmly so as not to make them any more fearful then they already appeared to be, “We mean no harm but we do need help.”
The powerful judge waved his hand and a virtual feast appeared on the table.
“Food we don’t need. There is plenty and your bellies will be full this night. However, we do need shelter and if you can provide us with some information to aid us in leaving this place, you will have my eternal gratitude.”
“He means out of here as in this realm. We’re not sure how we got here or even where we are. So anything that will help us leave, any knowledge or guidance you can give, we would be most grateful.” Clarissa moved to help the woman goblin who was thrilled to see the buffet while she gathered the contents of her basket. “Please help us find a way home.”
Azamel pulled a chair out for the old woman who sat down after a moment’s hesitation. The male joined after an additional few seconds. The allure of a decent meal too much for him to resist, he was willing to trust the two strangers in his home. In a low, deep, gravely voice the goblin spoke, “I’m not sure how much we can tell you but we’ll do what we can. My wife, Baryl, and I welcome you to our home and thank you for this bounty. My name is Bebou.”
Mel moved around to pull out a chair for Clarissa as well and then materialized some wine and goblets before sitting down at the opposite end of the table from Bebou. Speaking with a patience that belied his inner frustration, Mel modulated calmly, “What is this place?”
“This is a realm like no other, my lord. We call it the Zero Realm, where nothing has any value. Not life nor possessions, we just are. The things outside kill to survive and we stay indoors to avoid being murdered. Life here has no beginning and it has no end. To find the exit you must find where it all begins and where it all ends.”
The Guardian rolled eyes and thought, ‘ That is so not helpful.’ She watched Mel and somehow could tell he was just as frustrated, though his stoic appearance and icy pale blue eyes belied any inner turmoil she felt from him. Or was it her own restlessness she was just projecting.
“Do you have any idea where the beginning and end meet?”
“No, fair maiden, we don’t. Legend has it that the path you seek is to the East. Treacherous and long your journey will be. Nobody has ever come back from there in one piece. It is thus a journey we don’t dare take. They say at the end there is a golden gate that you will have to pay a fare to the keeper to enter. That gate will take you out of here to wherever you wish to
He dropped the sword and pushed it towards them with his foot.
“We are unarmed and will reward you for your hospitality should you be so kind as to provide us with a warm bed for the night.”
Clarissa frowned slightly. Mel was able to produce a sword so easily when all she was able to conjure were rubber balls and licorice. Suddenly, the thought of the candy made her stomach growl audibly and she flushed in embarrassment as she waited for the goblin male to answer. She hoped the goblins would accept the offer made to them and that Mel would continue to have his powers and procure them another sword if they needed one.
The male goblin bowed to them, slightly in fear as he was visibly shaking.
“We are simple peasants, my lord. We have nothing to offer you. Our food is scarce enough for us but if you promise me and my wife no harm we’ll share with you and suggest some place more suitable for your needs.”
He kept his head down, his eyes averted as he spoke while he continued to make sure his wife stayed behind him.
Mel walked over towards them and closed the door behind them. He spoke softly, calmly so as not to make them any more fearful then they already appeared to be, “We mean no harm but we do need help.”
The powerful judge waved his hand and a virtual feast appeared on the table.
“Food we don’t need. There is plenty and your bellies will be full this night. However, we do need shelter and if you can provide us with some information to aid us in leaving this place, you will have my eternal gratitude.”
“He means out of here as in this realm. We’re not sure how we got here or even where we are. So anything that will help us leave, any knowledge or guidance you can give, we would be most grateful.” Clarissa moved to help the woman goblin who was thrilled to see the buffet while she gathered the contents of her basket. “Please help us find a way home.”
Azamel pulled a chair out for the old woman who sat down after a moment’s hesitation. The male joined after an additional few seconds. The allure of a decent meal too much for him to resist, he was willing to trust the two strangers in his home. In a low, deep, gravely voice the goblin spoke, “I’m not sure how much we can tell you but we’ll do what we can. My wife, Baryl, and I welcome you to our home and thank you for this bounty. My name is Bebou.”
Mel moved around to pull out a chair for Clarissa as well and then materialized some wine and goblets before sitting down at the opposite end of the table from Bebou. Speaking with a patience that belied his inner frustration, Mel modulated calmly, “What is this place?”
“This is a realm like no other, my lord. We call it the Zero Realm, where nothing has any value. Not life nor possessions, we just are. The things outside kill to survive and we stay indoors to avoid being murdered. Life here has no beginning and it has no end. To find the exit you must find where it all begins and where it all ends.”
The Guardian rolled eyes and thought, ‘ That is so not helpful.’ She watched Mel and somehow could tell he was just as frustrated, though his stoic appearance and icy pale blue eyes belied any inner turmoil she felt from him. Or was it her own restlessness she was just projecting.
“Do you have any idea where the beginning and end meet?”
“No, fair maiden, we don’t. Legend has it that the path you seek is to the East. Treacherous and long your journey will be. Nobody has ever come back from there in one piece. It is thus a journey we don’t dare take. They say at the end there is a golden gate that you will have to pay a fare to the keeper to enter. That gate will take you out of here to wherever you wish to
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