At midday the Party arrived at a large inn. They had traveled quickly since that morning, when they had encountered another pack of Things. Fortunately, there were no casualties this time. A brightly colored sign hung over the gateway read "The Eagle's Nest." Sendraak nodded and walked inside. The rest of the Party followed suit, just as the pattering rain made the transition to a downpour. The inn was brightly lit and welcoming to the cold, wet, exhausted travelers. The guests were friendly, and by no means hostile towards newcomers. Sendraak led them to the front desk.
Half an hour later, each Party member had been given a room. They had all changed into warm, dry clothes and now sat at a table near the wall, chatting merrily. The inn had a cozy feeling about it that made them doubt that anything bad would happen there. They began to discuss how they would continue their journey. "I think that we should head northwest. This way we will still be going the right direction, but not running into their domain head-on." Klaigge said. Sendraak nodded.
"Klaigge is right. We'll need to keep our distance until we know exactly what we are up against. If it's too much, we'll need time to go back for help."
"Help? Who say's we'll need help?" Mayetwist questions.
"Mayetwist, even you have your limits," Gnawgh reasoned.
"I hope the storm ends soon," Tarbuck said. "You can't do much adventuring with all this rain." Klaigge shook his head slowly. It was just like Tarbuck to look right past the danger of our journey. The he looked up.
"So that's it then?" he asked.
"We start as soon as the roads are fit to travel." Sendraak said. Klaigge nodded, stood, and walked away briskly. The Party stared after him, confused and worried. Klaigge was never the first to leave a discussion, nor was he ever in such a rush to make plans that couldn't be carried out for at least a week. His face was lined and thin. Even Tarbuck couldn't help but worry. After Klaigge's abrupt departure, the Party left slowly, each in his or her own direction. Finally, Maali was the last one at the table. As soon as Sendraak left, she stood and hurried towards Klaigge's room. She was almost sure that was where he had gone. Thinking about this a moment, Maali realized that Klaigge had often sought solitude after they had began traveling north. She knocked softly on his door, silently praying that he would answer.
"It's open," Klaigge's voice came from inside. Maali stepped into the room and closed the door again. For the first time that day, she got a good look at Klaigge.
He looks exhausted, Maali thought. Something's wrong. Something has to be wrong. But what? Maali didn't see Klaigge notice her perplexed expression. He stepped toward her.
"Maali, what's wrong?" Klaigge asked.
"Nothing," she said. "I was just thinking; that's all." Both were silent for a moment. Maali looked up and caught his eye. "Klaigge, something is bothering you. What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. I'm fine." Even as the words left his mouth, Maali knew that Klaigge was lying to her. He was keeping something from her…from everyone.
"Klaigge, I'm not the only one that's noticed it." She spoke truthfully. While they had been walking that morning, Gnawgh had dropped back to speak with her. In a hushed voice, he mentioned how strangely Klaigge had been acting. She understood Gnawgh's concern. He and Klaigge were the closest of friends. It must upset Gnawgh that Klaigge is being so secretive lately, Maali thought. Klaigge sighed. He opened his mouth to speak, then thought better of it. "Klaigge, you can't pretend nothing is going on. It isn't working anymore."
Klaigge winced. He had known that Maali would see straight through his façade. He didn't know what to tell her. He didn't know what to tell anyone anymore. And how could he tell anyone what he had been seeing? How could he explain everything he was feeling? Klaigge knew that eventually he would have to tell someone what he was seeing and what he now almost believed to be true. Was it really possible that InkleTomb had come back? Klaigge didn't want to set off a false alarm. But still…those dreams…they had to mean something. And they weren't just dreams anymore. His memory flashed to the discussion that the Party had about their plans. As Tarbuck was complaining about the rain being a hindrance to their journey, everything had gone black…right before his eyes. He had seen InkleTomb raising a whole new band of evil, worse, fiercer than before. Then he had been shoved back into reality. He had left, wanting to be alone, hoping for a chance to clear away the strange emotion that pulled at his mind. Fear…no, that wasn't it. Desperation? Maybe it is fear, Klaigge realized, shivering involuntarily. Maali's voice yanked him back to the present.
"Klaigge!" Maali snapped her fingers in front of his face. She looked angry. Just as quickly as that anger bubbled up, it melted into a worried, concerned, even somewhat scared emotion. Maali was surprised that she had been angry with Klaigge at all. Something was seriously wrong with her friend. It was obvious from his face that he was afraid to tell her. Klaigge strode across the room and collapsed onto the bed. He sat there muttering to himself; he was completely unaware that Maali was still in the room. A closer look told Maali that he was shaking. She walked over and sat next to him. He's going crazy…Maali thought, He's insane. She thought about this a moment. Coming to the conclusion that Klaigge couldn't possibly be crazy, Maali laid a hand on his shoulder. Klaigge jumped, surprised. Shaking his head a few times as if to clear it, he looked at Maali with clouded eyes. "Klaigge…something is seriously wrong with you. I want you to tell me what it is."
"I can't…" he managed to croak. "I…" Klaigge let his voice trail off.
"Klaigge, you have to tell someone," Maali pressed. Then her expression softened and she squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. "Klaigge, you can tell me anything. I only want to help you," Maali said. Klaigge leaned his shoulder against the wall, almost as if he needed it to hold him steady.
"I…I think InkleTomb…I think he came back…" Klaigge began. "You know that I have been seeing him in my dreams…but it's getting worse."
"What do you mean?" Maali asked gently.
"Sometimes…my vision…it blanks…and then I see him…he's creating a bigger, stronger army than before…he's waiting for us…waiting…to kill us…" Klaigge's voice cracked and he was silent.
"Klaigge, why haven't you told us? We've all been worried sick about you," Maali asked. The words sounded harsh, even in her ears. Klaigge immediately looked upset; he couldn't think of a good answer. She didn't know what to say, how to make him see that if he didn't find a way to stop what was happening, he wouldn't last. Maali did the first thing that surfaced clearly in her mind. She wrapped her arms around Klaigge, holding him gently. It was then that Maali realized that he was dangerously thin. Somehow she wasn't surprised. After all, she thought, who could eat when they are as upset as Klaigge? Maali suddenly found herself forcing back tears. After a moment she realized why. Klaigge had always been invincible through her eyes. He was always the strong leader, the one who kept going, even when those around him had fallen. Klaigge sat up straighter and seemed to collect himself. He took a deep breath and shifted slowly. Maali released him reluctantly. As worried as she was about Klaigge, she couldn't drown out her feelings for him.
"I'm sorry, Maali," Klaigge said, his voice back to its soft, mild tenor. "I didn't want to upset anyone by telling them."
"Klaigge," Maali said gently, careful to soften her words. "I think you upset them more by not speaking up." Klaigge sighed.
"I know. But…I just…" When Maali looked at him questioningly, Klaigge continued. "I don't know. I can't explain it," he said.
"You should at least talk to Sendraak," Maali told him. "Maybe he will know how to stop it."
"Maybe…" Klaigge rubbed his eyes, suddenly tired. He wanted to lie back and fall asleep. Maali noticed him tiring and hugged him gently before standing.
"I'll let you rest," she said. Then she turned for the door.
"Maali, wait," Klaigge called. He stood and crossed the distance between them, sweeping her into his arms. Then he kissed her cheek and released her. Maali smiled at him and left, padding to her room for a nap of her own.