DISCLAIMER: I don't own anyone you recognize. I don't own anyone you don't recognize. I don't own anywhere you recognize. I don't own anywhere you don't recognize.
Except Aut, and Aut's cabin. I own them. I also own the evil over-cheerful grins, and the melodramatically appearing hut, and the Swanp Thing (which is still an extremely random non-reasonable thing). I shall probably have another disclaimer at the end of the chapter. Which will be quite short. Telling what I actually do own. Because I'm just randomly making this up as I go along.
Aut lay on his back in some dry grass, panting. He had just barely managed to save himself from the wraith by taking another mad leap through space and time. And he was also still breathing hard from the tussle with the orange-haired short person with the over-cheerful grin. He was exhausted. In fact, he was so exausted that he didn't hear the man approach until it was almost too late.
The man in question was dark, with black hair and an unpleasant face. Aut, who had luckily remembered to bring his sword along (you never know who you can meet on a journey through space and time), jumped to his feet and drew it hastily. "Narach Chlochla," he said grimly.
The man -- Narach -- nodded. "Aut. What is your surname, by the way?"
"T," said Aut. "My parents didn't give me proper names, just initials. A.U.T., that's my name."
"A T," said Narach. He was very very stiff about things like formal challenges, Aut recalled, and formal challenges involved the use of the first name and the last name. "I challenge you here to a duel. May the spirits of Fire, Water, Wind, and Destruction here bear witness to my challenge."
"It is customary for the challenged to know the reason for the challenge," suggested Aut mildly.
Narach looked at him like he'd grown two heads. "That is not in the formula of the challenge!" he protested.
"It is still customary."
"All right. I challenge you for the reason of -- of -- of hating your guts. Is that fair?" asked Narach.
"It is customary to know the reason of one being hated," said Aut infuriatingly. He grinned. I bless the fates that on my birth have smiled, and taught me to be terribly annoying when I choose, he thought.
Narach squirmed. "I hate your guts for the reason of -- of -- of turning King Bredan against me!"
Aut grinned again. "And when precisely have I had a chance to talk to King Bredan in the past, oh, twenty years? I've been in my cottage in Mandos the entire time."
"I hadn't finished," said Narach testily. "I hate your guts for turning Bredan against me using the young Farre Dan Helia."
Aut grinned again, this time cheerfully. "You caught me. I did use Dan. Bright young man, isn't he?"
"So you accept my challenge?" Narach was also known for relentlessly pursuing what he wanted until he got it. In this case, that meant a dead magician -- preferably one named Aut, and not the one named Narach Chlocha.
"It is customary for the challenged to have the option of refusing," said Aut, who most definately did not want to fight. If it was, say, Herin Dagina, he might have fought, but Narach Chlochla was known throughout reality for being one of the best with a blade. "Are you going to depart from custom and not allow me that option?"
Narach grunted in exasperation. "No..."
"Bid you good day then." Aut lay back down on the grass. He was very exausted, still, and Narach was a very tiring man. Especially if you happened to argue with him. He squinted back up at the annoyed man. "I suppose you have honour enough not to run me through during my nap?"
"I wouldn't count on it," said Narach nastily, and began to bring his blade down...
...just as Aut rolled out of Elene and into...another place...
His back hit someone's legs and the someone fell over on top of him. "Watch where you're rolling, will you?" said an irritated voice. "Dammit, this dress is ruined now."
Aut sat up warily. He knew that voice, but it was supposed to have a trace of accent about it. "Lady Ruth of the Green Caves?" he said tentatively. "Is that you, Ruth?"
The person who had fallen on top of him scrambled to her feet and shot a weary glance at four nearby figures. "Yes..."
"Who are you?" asked a girl with black hair that stuck out all over the place under her cap. Ellen, Aut remembered.
"I'm your godfather," Aut said, hurt. "Don't you remember me?"
A girl -- Aut knew her name, Laura -- looked at him more closely and rushed at him, hugging him tightly. "Aut!!" she cried entheusiastically. "We haven't seen you for an age!"
A short person with an over-cheerful grin appeared. Uh-oh... Aut thought nervously. "Excuse me, children, but I accidentally stumbled into your time." Laura looked so disappointed that Aut regretted saying this. He whispered in her ear, "Short people with over-cheerful grins seem to be attacking me lately. And there is a person with an over-cheerful grin behind you. And I have just been attacked by a very powerful magician who also happens to be one of the best swordsmen in reality." Laura nodded, somewhat appeased. Aut got to his feet. "I must leave now. Good-bye, and may angels and ministers of grace defend you!" He took another leap into space and time, just as the short person began to dive for his leg.
OK. Now. I do own Narach and Elene and Bredan and Dan Helia. That's it.
Mac