The dwarf’s gaze remained downcast as he stumped along in silence.
Drakis walked alongside Jugar for a few moments as the silence stretched on.
“What? No long description of the wonderful customs of free humans in the wild?” Drakis chided. “No half-forgotten epic poem that will last us until sunset in its recital? No made-up facts about an ancient civilization from the past that is going to resurrect dragons from our nightmares and save us all?”
The dwarf looked away as he marched.
“Well, isn’t that my fate,” Drakis said, shaking his head. “As long as I’ve known you, I couldn’t get you to shut up, and the one time I want to talk to you, you lose your tongue!”
Jugar turned his head and glared at the human. “We do have a need to talk, my boy! But not so close to so many ears!”
The dwarf gave Drakis a great shove, pushing him into the tall grass bordering the trail and following in his wake.
“You dwarven fool,” Drakis exclaimed, “what are you up to now?”
“It’s time for you to be quiet and do as I say,” Jugar said with menace in his voice. “Keep walking and keep the trail in sight. The grass is taller than I am and will keep my words between us alone.”
“But I still don’t. .”
“Keep walking!” Jugar snapped. “Don’t look at me, look at the trail.”
“What’s this, dwarf,” Drakis said as he walked through the rustling grass. “What new game are you playing?”
“No game,” Jugar replied, “but we are the ones who are being played. See this?”
Drakis glanced down. “In your hand? That round ball of mud with some grass stuck in it?”
“It’s a good deal more than that, lad,” Jugar explained, “although it’s certainly meant to appear as innocent as you suggest. Only someone familiar with the magic involved would know its true purpose.”
“And I suppose that someone would be you,” Drakis said.
The dwarf spoke with pride. “I know a thing or two about magic.”
Drakis nodded. “I’ve been meaning to ask you about that. .”
“Soon enough, my boy,” Jugar interrupted. “But we must speak of this first. This, lad, is a beacon stone.”
“A beacon stone?” Drakis urged. He’d never had such trouble getting the dwarf to talk before. “What is a ‘beacon stone?’ ”
“It’s a device of the Iblisi,” Jugar replied. “It is used by the Inquisitors to find anyone who drops them along the way. They have many uses, but it would seem they are now being used to track us. Wait! Did you hear something?”
Drakis stopped. “You mean beyond the marching feet of several thousand gnomes? No, I don’t hear anything-and just what are you suggesting? That the Iblisi are still following us-all the way across the Vestasian Savanna?”