Zera- um, I'm sorry but I'm not completely sure on what you mean. When I first read it I thought that you meant "how did Amelia come to this conclusion in life", in which case I would tell you that that is the reason for continuing to write this; that this story is about how she got to that point. But then I read it over again and it almost seems like your asking me, directly, how I came to this decision. In that case, I have not actually come to this viewpoint of life. I don't know about you or anyone else, but the reason I write is to explore ideas and come to a decision myself. I create my characters to have their own views on the subject and then they reason it out by talking to each other and by facing different experiences. Just because my main character, or any other character of mine for that matter, has an opinion, it does not mean that I share it. By creating those who are against my beliefs, I am forcing myself to defend my reasoning. Sometimes my characters even change my mind about things. So, if that answers any questions at all, or if it raises any new ones, just give me a holler. Oh yeah, and I'm really sorry that I didn't remember to get back to you on that when I first posted this chapter.

Chapter Six

I awoke to find once again that Goombuckle had left me. I panicked at first, then saw that he had left his trinkets on the log. I picked them up and looked them over. They were his promise to return to me. I figured that he must have gone into town to find out what had happened.

I sat on the log and looked up into the branches of the trees. They were growing dimmer as the sun, which I did not see, lowered itself across the never ending frontier. The ambiance brought back into my mind the goal I had created for myself. I thought about it slowly at first, and then it began to expand. If I were so witty I suppose that I would compare it to a young country's expansion. Always growing with each new idea, its ranks full of those who longed for an innovative adventure or invention. In its rush, it over takes everything else.

Where would I go? What event could possibly compare with the wonders of finding a new continent? Would I need to discover a new continent? Or could I match his with several exploits? I didn't want to cross the ocean, one of the more prominent reasons that I would never go with Michelle to Palané.

Secretly, I considered myself a coward for that. I didn't let on to anyone the truth, but I hated any water that was more than waste deep. I didn't trust it. You never should trust elements like water. The ones that move on their own and you couldn't do much to stop them. It took the control over myself out of my hands and I didn't like that. Fire, that was alright. You could dowse fire or simply take away the fodder. But water, what could you do to stop that? If a flood suddenly swept up, how would you counter it? It was impossible.

So, that was why I hated water. And that's why I hated myself for doubting I could ever discover a new continent. In order to discover one, you needed to cross the large waves that broke the horizon. You had to relinquish to the mighty sea the control of your life in order to find one. And that's something I simply couldn't do.

A yell snapped me out of my day dreams. It was darker than when I had last taken heed to the world around me. I listened again, hoping it was Goombuckle's voice. It sung out again and to my dismay it was not Goombuckle's but one of the guards.

I edged my way to the edge of the dark grove to get a better idea of what was going on. As I neared the edge and looked out, I saw that a third guard had joined the other two and was talking rapidly to them. A wind was kicking up and I couldn't make out the conversation.

I took a breath and tested my luck. I got low to the ground and quickly moved towards the wall while being as quiet as I could. The original two guards were looking towards their new companion who stood within the entrance to town. It wasn't terribly difficult to get close because the two had their backs towards me and the third guy was inside the still open gate. I was within ten feet of them when I decided not to push it any more.

"I'm telling you, they're getting ready to hang him right now. Why would I lie about this?"
"Come on! Like they'd hang dat old guy. He's been around here jist about for ten years."

"They think he's been the one causing all the ghost trouble. He won't tell them where he lives, he won't tell them his job, nothing! He just keeps quiet as those exorcist guys question him."

"So they're just going to hang him?"

"Yep."

"Isn't anyone going to stop them?"

"No, the exorcist guys have just about everyone sold on it. The way they put it, even if this guys not the guy who was pulling the pranks, at least they can send a message with him."

My heart had been sinking lower and lower by the moment. It had slid past the bottom of my lungs, then it hit the top of my stomach, and kept going till it hit the bottom of it. Even there it didn't feel like it had reached where it wanted to go. It had taken the blood in my face with it and I felt its new position weighing down my knees. I braced myself against the wall that was equally as cold as I felt.

It couldn't be. They couldn't just kill Goombuckle. I wouldn't let them, would I. But what could I do? And where were the others?

They must be making a plan to save him, I reassured myself. They wouldn't let him just hang. So I'll go now and help them how I could when they did it.

I dashed past and around the guards who looked up startled. I didn't hear them yell or anything, so I guess they just thought I was trying to get home. I kept running, not knowing specifically where I was going. But eventually I wound up in the right place. I was on the main street and saw the torches that had been set up around a makeshift gallows. There was already a large crowd surrounding the execution stage, all of them seemed a bit too excited for my comfort.

I then felt my body go limp as I saw Goombuckle up on the platform. He was beat and bloody. The noose was already starting to grip his throat because they had not had enough rope to fully lower it to his height. There were two men, dressed in a white that seemed to be stained red from the light cast upon them, flanking Goombuckle. I assumed that they were either the exorcists or their assistances.

I began searching the crowd for my friends. First I looked towards the house I knew David lived in. All the lights were out in it and I guessed that meant his family had come out to witness the event. I didn't try to find Midas because he would be shorter than everyone else. Most likely he was in the front row, awaiting the signal to save Goombuckle. He could use his height as an excuse to be up there. I didn't see Michelle anywhere but took comfort in knowing that she was probably out there somewhere.

A tall, slender man wearing a garb similar to the other two that were up there. The difference came, however, in that he had many gold chains and necklaces adorning his attire. He cleared his throat and the crowd that had been at a constant buzz was silenced.

"My good city folk," he began in a surprisingly expansive voice, "today we hang a gnome who has been charged with the crime of practicing dark arts and with causing a good measure of unrest in the surrounding areas." The man turned sideways to Goombuckle and held out a threatening hand. He was yelling with great conviction and, had I not known that Goombuckle was innocent, I would have believed the man. "He has yet to deny any of the accusations made against him, therefore accepting all punishments that should be bestowed upon him as well as the guilt of being the source of what evil has invaded your good city. Unless he should repent now for his iniquities, he shall be hanged in retribution for them. Out of goodness I will give you one last chance to reconcile your transgressions and gain atonement. What says you?"

Goombuckle said nothing and I know that he would have turned his face towards the ground and away from the strict, "pious" face that stood mere centimeters from his, had the noose not been so tight.

After a moment the priest rose back up to his full height and declared to the crowd, "He has refused the kindness that has been given to him and is so sentenced to death by hanging."

There was a giddy roar from the crowd. Content with himself the exorcist nodded to one of his cohorts. The man moved slowly over to a lever.

I knew what would happen if he pulled it. I was no longer waiting for the others to act.

I screamed at the top of my lungs and somehow was heard over the commotion of the onlookers. I was running even as I yelled and the people in the back row turned to look curiously at me. I pulled out my knife and held it above my head. I don't know why, but I started to yell a bunch of gibberish.

As it worked out, one of the men in the back row was very superstitious and had a good imagination.

"Look out! She must be in cahoots with the gnome! I think she's casting some sort of evil spell!"

Everyone started screaming and the crowd split as I ran towards it. I kept my eyes on a startled Goombuckle as I ran for him. The man with the lever had stopped where he was and the leader was standing in shock.

Through my blind furry and overwhelming fear I heard my name called. I looked over and saw David running for me. He had his arms out in preparation to grab me. I didn't understand why he was trying to stop me. Suddenly, he stumbled and fell.

I resumed my concentration on what lay ahead of me. I couldn't hear anything any more but my raging heart and screaming voice. I leapt and rolled onto the platform. There appeared one of the men wielding a longsword in front of me. He swung and to my utter amazement did no more damage than ripping my cloak.

I quickly ripped my knife across his exposed wrist. His sword clattered to the ground and he howled in pain. The other one left the lever and stalked towards me. I wrapped my hands around the longsword and hefted it with both hands. The man smirked at my feeble effort and I did my best to wield it. Even if I left the sword on the ground I wouldn't have been able to avoid any attacks from him. So, I took the one, crazy chance I had thought up while I panicked.

I spun and let go of the sword. The man jumped out of the way as the sword sailed through the air. It is nearly impossible that it actually happened, but the sword some how did what I wanted it to. Its well sharpened blade sliced right through the rope and the noose fell limp. I took this moment to slip past the amazed man and ran towards Goombuckle.

I put a hand around his wrist and pulled him. He didn't take any time to react and was running with me through the splitting crowd. I could hear the man screaming and yelling behind us.

We ducked into an alley and I quickly cut the ropes from Goombuckle's wrists. He pulled the noose from his neck and started casting a spell. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but what I got was odd. A rectangle panel opened came into being in front of us. Through it I saw a open field that looked familiar but I couldn't put my finger on it.

Before I knew it Goombuckle grabbed my hand and pulled me into it. I briefly felt a feeling like I was being hurled through the air. When it was done I was standing outside of the city walls with Goombuckle. I spun around and saw nothing but the blank wall. There was nobody around and I could only barely make out the sound of the people we had left behind.

I jumped at Goombuckle and wrapped my arms around him.

"It's alright, Chris. We're going to be alright. Just give me a moment to fix myself up and we'll be on our way."

He cast another spell and all the wounds that he incurred were gone. I marveled at this and smiled.

"A little trick I picked up. Now come on, let's go before they find us."

We ran as fast as our legs could carry us. We ran all through the night and finally stopped right before daybreak in a bush covered gully on the side of the main road. The second my head was on the ground I was asleep.

I didn't sleep long however. Goombuckle woke me up midday and hurried me along. I dragged my feet for the first few minutes but soon we were underway. I looked up at the bright sun and thought about what it was like in Estella. There it did not seem to be as dark all the time as Jein had. I figured I would try to persuade Goombuckle to go there. It was out of the way and a very small town. We would probably not run into anybody that would know us.

"Hey Goombuckle."

"Yes, Chris?"

"Where are we going?"

"I'm not exactly sure. I'd like to go back to Baizine; I know some people there who would take us in. But the quicker way would be to turn around and pass by Jein, but I'm sure we don't want to do that."

"No," I agreed quickly.

"We could cut the angle and head cross-country but I don't have a map or any other way of finding our way there. I suppose I could use some of my magic to help get us there, but after thinking about it, I've always wanted to go back to Nomen. It's a nice little town but there's always lots of adventure."

Since the day he told me that he had been among the first to land on Salidemthían soil, he had had a strange aura about him. It didn't seem magical to me, though I don't suppose that I would have been able to tell. It seemed to me that it came fully from the strength of his spirit. Apparently that conversation had awaken a hope for more adventure in him. He had even shown it, though I may not have noticed it at the time, while up on the gallows. He seemed like he was younger now and more energetic. He walked briskly and uprightly now more than ever.

"A little adventure will be good for you. You'll love it. We may not have a home, but when you're out there for a purpose, you don't really think about it. You have your tent and your companions. That right there feels like a real home and a real family. I'm telling you, it will be great."

He then stopped talking for a while. He looked at me a couple times and seemed to be thinking deeply about something. He had started looking old again, a little more decrepit even. I wished that he'd start talking again but I didn't want to break the silence. He seemed so intent on figuring something out that I was afraid any interference from me would prove deadly to the subject that he was examining. At long last he sighed and locked his gaze on mine.

"You know what? Maybe we should just get rid of the idea now," he sighed.

"What?" I demanded.

"I'm only thinking of you Chris. The way it seems to me, you've been wandering around for most of your life. You deserve a settled life. Even back there, with the others, that wasn't a real home."

"But Goombuckle! You love adventuring! I've seen the way you've been since you started thinking about your first experiences here. You loved them! I can tell you want to relive those ones again! Even though you're a gnome, you'll probably not be this young for much longer!"

"Chris! I've already gone adventuring. I don't need to do it again. I may just end up being younger longer than you will. And," he blinked and sniffed a little, "the truth is that you humans don't… you don't last very long. You're lives are so short in comparison with the lives of most the other races. You don't have much time to experience everything. We can adventure later on in your life, maybe. But you deserve to experience a home of some kind. If you don't experience a real childhood, now while you still can, you'll grow old and hard. I'd never forgive myself if that happens. I remember my childhood, Chris. It was the best time of my life. I can't let you miss that. It's something you'll need when you're older." A smile touched his lips. "Trust me, I know."

I sighed with submission. I would have argued with him further but I felt that I already owed him more than I had given. In truth, I don't think I would have ever trusted the others had he not been so nice to me at the beginning. I may have even starved myself to death. It seems rather stupid to me now, but it made sense at the time. It's odd what despair can do to someone.

We walked on another dozen feat and I watched the sky, a hobby I had yet to indulge. They were somewhat appeasing to my soul. They seemed to have a dimension to them that nothing else on the ground had. I looked at them all and followed them to the far horizon before us.

Goombuckle stopped abruptly. I stopped and peered at him to see what was the matter. He seemed to be listening to something far off. He turned and looked down the path behind us and I followed his lead. As I looked across the plains I saw a figure riding a horse and immediately reached for my dagger. It looked like one of the Sacred Exorcists from that distance and I looked around to see if there was something I could use to better our odds. But Goombuckle made no movement and watched as the human approached. As he got closer I saw that I had been mistaken and that it was a young traveler.

He slowed his horse and came to a stop in front of us. I kept my dagger clenched in my hand beneath my cloak in case he was trouble. I didn't want anymore surprises and made sure to look hard at him to see if I could spot any warning signs. To my surprise he nimbly dismounted from his horse and stood before us, staring at first from Goombuckle to myself but then only at Goombuckle. I tightened my grip and shifted my weight very slowly, as to not draw attention to the movement, to my right foot. I didn't trust the young man who stood giddily as he examined Goombuckle with his eyes. People don't act excited to see people they don't recognize. He somehow knew, or thought he knew, who Goombuckle was and the first thing that came to mind was that a warrant had been put up for our arrest.

"You!" the young man burst out. It took my total amount of control to keep from panicking and stabbing him in the chest right then. "Are you Goombuckle Rubynose!"

Rubynose? I thought skeptically, What an odd last name. That can't possibly be Goombuckle's last name. That would just be silly. Who would have a last name like that?

"Young man," Goombuckle responded slowly, once again seeming old, "normally I would not answer a question asked in that way. However, you look familiar, though I don't know where I may have seen you, so I will deign to you an answer. Yes, my name is Goombuckle Rubynose."

I scrunched my eyebrows and sent a glance at Goombuckle, Apparently Goombuckle has a last name like that, I answered my earlier question. Or perhaps he's just playing along. Yeah, that sounds like a better answer.

Suddenly the young man flopped down to one knee. I felt my body shake as I kept it from reacting in alarm. I saw him grimace a little as he bowed his head. He had been a little too over zealous in his act of obeisance and I knew he was now feeling it in his leg.

"Sir, it is appropriate that you may recognize me. I am the son of you good friend Calver. My name is Cantrol. It is an honor to finally meet you."

Goombuckle's eyes opened wider than I had ever seen them. He didn't say anything for a moment. When he finally spoke, his voice was at a slightly higher pitch. "I am honored by the meeting as well, though I would suggest that you not make anymore sudden motions. Chris is holding her dagger and I believe she is reaching the ends of her nerves. You should consider yourself lucky that she hasn't lost herself in surprise yet."

Cantrol's face went pale for a moment and slowly put his hands up in the air. He then, very slowly, rose off of the ground and took a step back. I was a bit angered at his mistrust of me and pulled my cloak away from my dagger. His mouth slowly opened as he looked at it. I then trusted it into my sheath and he relaxed, though he did it slowly.

"And… um… of what relation is this fine young lady to you?" he asked hesitantly. "Your daughter perhaps?"

Goombuckle smiled. "Yes, my daughter. Don't be fooled by her size though, she is not a gnome, just a young human." Cantrol blinked twice and started stuttering, trying to find the right words. Perceiving what Cantrol was thinking, Goombuckle quickly clarified, "My adopted daughter."

"Oh," Cantrol exhaled in relief, "I see. Well, it is nice to make your acquaintance, Chris."

I took the hand he held out to me and held it firmly. "Likewise."

I didn't notice at first because I was testing his hand strength, but I suddenly realized that he was not looking at my face, but at my sheath. I gave an exasperated sniff and sharply broke with him.

"You shouldn't insult her by not trusting her. She won't bring any harm to you. We've been through a lot in the past couple of days and I'm afraid her patience has almost run out; we haven't had a full night's sleep in the past two days and it's taken it's toll on us. She's normally much nicer," Goombuckle ensured him. Once again, I was angered for being told how I felt, but it was Goombuckle and I let it go.

"I apologize, miss," he said with a wide-sweeping bow. "I did not mean to insult your integrity."

I mumbled a response that didn't seem to please Goombuckle too much, so I told him that no real harm had been done.

"So, how does your father fare?" Goombuckle continued.

"Once again, I apologize. But the reason that I have come looking for you is because you are needed urgently. I really have wasted too much time in finding you so we must be going. I will explain things on the way. I'm sorry that I am rushing such a man of high honor, like yourself, in this way but we really must be off."

"Do not worry, I am not of so high repute," Goombuckle said humbly. "If it is so urgent then we must make haste."

I didn't mention it, but it bothered me how they were now talking. They spoke so regally it made me feel out of place.

A carriage and two armed horsemen came into view down the road.

"Those are my guards," Cantrol explained. "Those are not their normal steeds. Those are horse bred for running and not battle, so that we may get to our destination sooner. I was expecting to bring a guard with us, just in case, but since you have a companion I will ask him to travel in the carriage with the other one."

"No, that's alright, I'm sure Chris is tired and needs rest, don't you Chris?"

"But Goombuckle, I want-" I started to object.

"Shh… It's alright, I promise I'll wait for you if I can. And if I can't, I'll make sure that they send you after me. Right now you need to regain your strength. I'm going to cast a spell on you that will help you sleep better, alright?"

I started to object again, but Goombuckle started singing and I quieted down. He cast the spell and I was out in an instant.