*****
Gob and Nob paddled the boat, while Hob sat at the stern and fretted. The island to which they were headed was in the opposite direction of the river. It was just around a point of land that jutted out from the shoreline and obstructed it from view from the banks near their cabin. It was a small island, so small in fact that, if not for the small clump of trees and bushes growing in the center, you could easily toss a rock all the way across. They paddled the boat up to the tiny beach that surrounded the island and hopped out to pull it ashore. No sooner had they pulled the boat from the water and Arinya was calling to them.
“I heard your whispers when I left you. Remember, I hear everything that happens on these waters.”
“Well, whether by choice or not, we are here as you requested,” said Gob. “What is this deal you have to offer us?”
Arinya glided through the water until she was at the shoreline. The three dwarves, although standing on dry land, backed up a few paces. They did not know how far her reach extended and they did not want to take any chances.
“When I was in Kahzidar, I had a perfect arrangement with Ringwald Stonebreaker.”
“You see!” Hob screeched. “I told you that would be the deal she would offer! And now we are stuck on this island!”
Gob grabbed him by the beard while Nob delivered three well aimed kicks to his shins. As soon as they calmed him down and made him promise to be quiet, they returned their attention to Arinya.
“As you were saying,” said Nob.
“As I was saying, I had a perfect arrangement with Ringwald. I guarded the Black Hills entrance to his kingdom and, in return, he provided me with bones for my boat. Gnome bones are superior quality for boats as they are light and buoyant. Dwarf bones, however, are dense and heavy. They are usable, but they make better anchors and of anchors I have no use.”
“We will not bring you ANY victims for your smelly boat,” Hob yelled.
“Hob,” Gob whispered fiercely, “we need to hear her out, so SHUT UP!”
“Then she needs to quit beating around the bush and tell us what she wants!” Hob shot back.
“I want one thing and one thing only; Ben Alderman.”
The three dwarves stood there in stunned silence. Finally, Nob spoke up.
“Ben is our friend. How do you know him and what do you want with him?”
“Ben is the one who orchestrated the coup that toppled Ringwald’s reign. For several weeks after Ringwald was destroyed, I had no contact with anyone and then one day a large group of gnomes show up and start draining my lake. I managed to catch one of the gnomes who slipped and fell into my waters. I made him talk and oh, the things he told me.”
“So, what do you want with Ben?” Nob persisted.
“I want to make him pay,” Arinya answered. “Now that Ringwald and the dragon are gone, the gnomes are reopening the Black Hills section of Kahzidar. They have drained my beautiful lake and forced me to seek a new home.”
“If we refuse?” asked Gob.
“Then you will remain on this island until you die of starvation. It is a painful death, especially for a dwarf, or so I have heard. The hunger pains are quite intense, but I understand your race is hardy and it will take several weeks for you to die, several long, slow, agonizingly painful weeks.”
All three dwarves paled. Hob began rubbing his stomach. He could use a good meal right now.
“And if we agree to your terms, how will you enforce them? What is to make us hold up our end of the bargain?”
“Do you think I will let all of you go?” Arinya laughed. “No, that one,” she said, pointing to Hob, “will remain behind. I will let you two leave and bring Ben back to me. If you do not return with him, this one named Hob will die.”
“How long will you give us to return with Ben?” Gob asked.
“I’m in no hurry,” Arinya answered. “How long does it take for a dwarf to starve? That is how long you have to bring the child to me.”
“Let us withdraw into the woods where we may speak privately.”
Arinya nodded and the three dwarves walked to the center of the small island to confer.
“We cannot bring Ben to her,” Hob whispered. “He is our friend and has saved our lives more than once.”
“Agreed,” Gob whispered back. “But if we do not convince her that we will agree to her terms, then we will die a slow and painful death.”
“What do you suggest,” asked Nob.
“I suggest that we agree to her terms. We shall have to leave you here, Hob, but you will not starve anytime soon, because there are enough supplies in our boat to sustain you for a while. When Nob and I reach the Twilight, we will come back on land and rescue you.”
“That sounds well and good,” Hob replied, “but how do you plan to rescue me?”
“I don’t know yet, but I’m sure that between Ben, Casey, Louise, Amos, and Gabriel we can think of something.”
“I don’t like it,” said Hob, “but it is really the only option we have.”
Gob and Nob nodded in agreement.
“Then let’s get it over with,” said Hob.
The three dwarves walked back down to the water where Arinya was waiting for them.
“We agree to your terms,” Gob announced.
*****