Author's note: I apologise for not having written this chapter sooner. I have lost myself in a new character, whose adventures are being documented elsewhere, in EverQuest 2 for the past year or so. But I promise to try and write more often and finish this tale. If anyone is still reading, thanks for your support!
Naramira stood before the haunted forest of Kithicor, her eyes straining to penetrate the darkness of the woods. She did not relish the idea of entering Kithicor again. But somewhere within its murky depths lay the entrance to the halfling city of Rivervale, which is where she would meet her high-elven friend, Lyise, for the next phase of their quest. Their paladin protector, Jaldore, had been recalled to duty in Freeport and so the two enchantresses had agreed to continue together without him.
Naramira watched as the sky first turned a rosy pink and then a pale blue with the coming of dawn. As the first rays of light cleared the tops of the High Pass mountains, the young enchantress gathered her courage and entered the forest.
She shivered as the gloom of Kithicor enveloped her, like a cold blanket of terror. She knew that her time was limited, that she had to find the cave that lead to the entrance of Rivervale before sunset. After that, her chances of survival were almost nonexistent.
The ominous silence was almost palpable. No twittering of birds filled the air, no rustling in the underbrush as small animals went about their lives, no sounds at all. Her own breathing sounded loud in her ears.
The young enchantress hurried along the barely perceptible footpath. She didn't stop to look at the abandoned hut, but quickened her pace as she remembered what had happened the last time her curiosity had gotten the better of her in this forest.
"Bzzz. Stonehive!"
Naramira jumped and swore under her breath as she glared at the little creature suddenly flying across her path. It had the yellow and black striped body of a bee, but was as big as Naramira's hand and had a humanoid face. Tiny crystalline wings made a dull buzzing sound as it hovered in the air in front of the young enchantress.
"Bzzz. Stonehive!" it said again, before flying straight at Naramira's face, trying to stab her with its stinger. She swatted at the dogged little creature in an effort to protect her eyes, but soon tired of its persistence. Bright colours suddenly fluxed about her, stunning her tiny attacker motionless, before a purple ring of magic mesmerised it on the spot. Ignoring the buzzing presence now trapped within a corner of her mind, Naramira set forth on the footpath again, irritated at the delay.
Her progress went slowly. The woods seemed to be filled with the annoying little creatures today and Naramira constantly had to fight them off. She soon gave up trying to mesmerise them all and hurried along the path with her dirk permanently unsheathed. It wasn't long before her satchel was heavy with the many stingers she had looted from their dead bodies.
She reached the second split in the path without further mishap, but as she stood there deciding in which direction to go, an eerie cackle broke the oppressive silence. 'Dusk is near', she realised, and took the right fork on instinct.
She hadn't gone far when a buzzing warned her of another one of those little creatures lying in wait. Exasperated, the young enchantress readied herself for the confrontation, but she hesitated as an orcish grunt reached her ear. Cautiously, she peered out from behind the gnarled tree that was blocking her view to see a strange sight. Lyise stood in a clearing, cheering an orc pawn on as it attacked three of the little creatures simultaneously.
"Lyise! What are you doing?" Naramira asked as she stepped into the clearing.
The elven enchantress smiled when she saw her friend and replied: "This is so much fun, Nara! Gurk here is helping me teach these stupid bixies a little lesson. They've been bothering me all day. Don't worry, I charmed him," she added quickly as she saw the alarmed expression on Naramira's face. "Gurk just loves killing bixies, so he's not even resisting my compulsion too much, are you Gurk?" She smiled benignly at the orc, who growled viciously but kept on hacking at the bixies with his rusty sword.
"Are you crazy?" Naramira almost shouted. "The sun's almost down, Lyise. There's no time for fooling around. We have to get out of this forest as soon as possible!"
"Oh Nara, relax," Lyise replied. "The cave is just over there." She gasped and dropped the hand she had been pointing. Naramira followed her gaze and felt her heart sink into her boots.
Standing at the edge of the forest, and blocking the entrance to Rivervale, was a chillingly familiar mail-clad dark-elf warrior with an evil grin on his face. Naramira winced at the metallic sound his scimitar made as he unsheathed it.
"So we meet again, human," he said in the dire voice of death. "And this time you brought a little Koada'Dal friend with you. It will avail you not." He started advancing slowly towards them.
Lyise was murmuring the words of mesmerisation, but Naramira knew it was no use. This dark-elf was more than a match for the two of them. Lyise's face paled visibly as her spell rebounded of their assailant.
"I will cut your hearts out and offer them up to Innoruuk," the elf threatened as he came ever closer. "Feed your flesh to the wolves and grind your bones into dust." Somewhere in the distance a wolf howled, as if in expectation of fresh meat.
Naramira's knees trembled and it felt like she had been rooted to the spot. She had escaped this dark-elf once before, but she did not expect the same kind of luck again. The charmed orc gave a whimper of fear next to her. 'The orc!'
She glanced at Lyise, who nodded in understanding as the same idea came to her. Then, Naramira stepped within reach of the dark elf just as Lyise shouted: "Gurk, kill him!" Rainbow colours fluxed around Naramira. As the elf stood dazed, Lyise grabbed her wrist and they ran past him, towards the cave.
"For the mistress!" the orc bellowed, unable to resist Lyise's command. There was a short sound of steel clashing on steel, followed by a strangled gurgle as he met his fate.
The two enchantresses sprinted past the perimeter of the forest and into the cave where they collapsed into a tangled heap. The dark-elf's yells of frustration as he realised they were beyond his reach were blood-curdling and Naramira knew that he would certainly not be distracted like that for a second time if ever their paths crossed again.
When they had caught their breath, Lyise sat up and wiped a single tear from her eye. "Poor Gurk. He wasn't so bad. For an orc."
"Come on," Naramira said as she stood up. "Let's go find an inn and get some rest."
Lyise nodded and together they set out towards Rivervale.
The warmth of the early morning sun shining in through the window woke Naramira. She yawned sleepily, but got gratefully out of the tiny bed she had spent an uncomfortable night in. She stood up and bumped her head on the ceiling, forgetting that the inn hadn't been built with tall human physiques in mind.
She found Lyise in the common-room, bright and cheerful as ever. "Good morning!" the elven enchantress smiled. "Did you sleep well?"
"Not as well as you, apparently. Didn't you find our accommodation a bit cramped, Lyise?"
"Oh yes, at first, but then I shape-shifted into halfling form and everything was just perfect."
"I thought shape-shifting was just an illusion," Naramira replied, a slight frown on her face, "We don't actually change shape, it just looks like it."
"Your mind makes it real. Trust me. I spent an hour or so as a rock once, trying to hide from an orc centurion, and he picked me up and threw me at a faerie in frustration," Lyise recalled. "The faerie was convinced, in any way. That orc went running back to Crushbone, I can tell you."
"Good morning to you," a halfling waitress interrupted their conversation. "First breakfast will be served in ten minutes. Is there anything I can get you to drink so long?"
"I'd like some honeyjum please," Lyise replied immediately.
The waitress flushed beetroot red and stuttered apologetically: "I… I'm sorry, mistress Elf, but honeyjum is a halfling drink. We… uh… we don't serve it to… uh… Big Folk."
"What? Why ever not?" the elven enchantress exclaimed indignantly.
"Er… I don't know," the waitress replied, looking flustered. "I just follow the rules. Is that Cook calling me? Excuse me please." The little halfling rushed off to the kitchen with Lyise fuming at her back.
"Don't worry about it, Lyise," Naramira said. "As soon as breakfast is done, we'll find out who makes the honeyjum, change shape and go and get it."
"I know. I just never expected this kind of discrimination from halflings. And they call us haughty. Hmph."
Not long after, a different waitress served the two companions a delicious banquet of a breakfast as one would only find in the company of halflings. Course followed after course, there was bacon and eggs, toast and marmalade, fresh fruit with cream, sausages, pancakes and apple pie. Naramira sat back in her chair after the meal was finished, thinking to herself that she didn't have to eat for the next two days after all of that.
"Had enough, milady?" their new waitress asked. "Second breakfast will be served in twenty minutes, if you're still hungry."
Naramira smiled. "No, thank you, everything was delicious. Tell me, my friend and I have heard of a traditional halfling delicacy called honeyjum. Where might we be able to try some of it?"
"Kizzy Mintopp is the one to speak to. She makes the honeyjum and she's very jealous of her recipe. Won't tell anyone what goes into it. Her shop is close to the bank, but I don't know if she'll let you have any."
"Thank you," Naramira said while looking at Lyise. "We'll go and talk to her then."
Lyise grimaced in disgust at the thick layer of hair covering her feet. "How can they stand this?" she wondered out loud.
"At least your hair is blonde," Naramira replied. "Just look at the state of my feet!" She pointed to the dark brown hair standing up in tufts on her toes. "No wonder halflings never wear shoes, my feet are baking hot as it is."
"Let's go talk to Kizzy and get this over with," Lyise suggested.
The honeyjum merchant was an abrupt and rather rude little halfling who made it clear that she didn't have time for questions on her secret recipe. "No, I'm completely out of honeyjum and I'm not about to go out and gather ingredients to make some more right now. I have way too many other things on my mind at the moment," she said as she bustled about her little shop.
The pink flush to Lyise's face was enough to warn Naramira of an impending outburst from the annoyed elven enchantress. She quickly forestalled it and said: "But what if we were to collect the ingredients for you, mistress Mintopp? What is it that you need?"
"Don't for one moment think I don't know what you're planning, young lady!" Kizzy exclaimed. "I am not about to share my secret with anyone, and especially not with anyone, be they halfling or not, who is not from Rivervale!"
"I've had about enough of this!" Lyise exploded. "We have travelled from far away to this Tunare-forsaken little town out in the middle of nowhere to purchase a jar of what will probably turn out to be as unpalatable as sewage water, and you are accusing us of wanting to steal your recipe? So help me, I will show you what I think about that!" Her hands started glowing as she prepared to cast a spell.
Naramira had to act fast before the situation turned ugly. She bundled her friend out the door and told her in a firm voice to wait there while she talked some sense into Kizzy. She re-entered the shop and had to duck to avoid being hit by a flying mince pie.
"Get out of my shop!"
"Please excuse my friend, mistress Mintopp, she's had a long and arduous journey. I don't know what's come over her." Kizzy opened her mouth to reply, but Naramira quickly interrupted her, her hands weaving Alliance, a spell that makes the caster's target more amiable,behind her back. "I can assure you we are not here to steal your secret recipe. It is true that we are not from Rivervale. Our ancestors, for reasons unfathomable to me, decided in their wisdom at the time to move away from this epicentre of our civilisation to lands now inhabited by Big Folk. Day by day our exiled people have to endure ridicule and disgrace at the hands of those humans and elves. We yearn for a better life among our people, united in our common goals, wishing only to be a part of the people of Rivervale once more." She paused theatrically for a moment, the feisty little merchant hanging on her every word. "Alas, the bulk of our families are unable to make the journey back here, old and young people alike too frail and timid to survive the rigours of this dangerous expedition. All my friend and I ask of you, mistress Mintopp, is for us to purchase a jar of honeyjum each to take back to our families so they can once more remember better times among their kinsfolk."
Tears sparkling in her eyes, Kizzy Mintopp grabbed Naramira's hand and shook it vehemently. "I had no idea," she repeated over and over, genuine sympathy in her voice. "Of course I will help you. Your request is very reasonable, my dear. I would give you some honeyjum now, except that I really am out of supplies at the moment." She wrung her hands in disappointment.
"Then let us help you gather what you need," Naramira offered.
Kizzy's smile almost lighted up the dark little shop. "What a wonderful idea! Of course, that will be the easiest thing to do. All I need are three bixie honeycombs per jar. The rest of the ingredients will be easy for me to find in town. And, since I really do feel sorry for you and your family out there in the Big World, I will let you have it for only thirty gold pieces per jar."
Naramira thanked her and promised to be back soon with the honeycombs. She closed the shop door behind her to find Lyise pacing irritably outside. She quickly explained what had happened to her friend, who burst out laughing in delight and almost seemed her old self again. Arm in arm, the two enchantresses in halfling disguise headed towards the cave leading to the Misty Thicket.
"This is so frustrating," Lyise sighed as she stooped down and looted another bixie stinger. "I'm starting to feel sorry for these poor little things, Nara. I've killed dozens of them, but I can't find even one of them carrying honeycomb. If things go on like this, we're going to make them extinct."
"I don't think we have to worry about that, Lyise, they seem quite prolific. The place is crawling with them," Naramira replied. "But I do agree, it can't go on like this. Maybe we should split up to cover more ground?"
The elven enchantress agreed and Naramira soon found herself wandering deeper and deeper into the Thicket. She came across a wall running the length of the wooded enclosure, a gap where some of the stones had collapsed giving access to a darker part of the woods. She followed a trail leading from the gap to a cave in the surrounding mountainside. Two green-skinned goblins were standing guard, gazing watchfully out over the clearing in front of the cave.
Naramira shuddered. She didn't like goblins at all. She turned around and made her way back towards Rivervale. A cluster of huts not too far from the town entrance drew her attention. She knocked on one of the doors and entered as its occupant bid her to come in.
Surprisingly, the hut was occupied by a wood-elf merchant, its walls covered in shelves containing all sorts of interesting jars and artefacts. The merchant turned towards her and said: "Hello there. Haven't seen you before, have I? What can I get for you?"
"I was just wondering it you don't perhaps have some bixie honeycombs available?" the young enchantress enquired.
"You're in luck. I just received three pieces this morning. How many do you want?"
"All three please. And some information, if you don't mind. I came across a cave east from here, guarded by goblin sentries. Where does that lead to?"
The merchant wrapped the honeycombs in paper and handed them over. "That'll be three silver pieces please. Thank you. That cave leads to the Runnyeye Citadel, a dangerous place, so I've heard tell. Used to be one of the main strongholds of the goblins, but now they're slaves to the Evil Eyes. What goes on in there, I'd rather not know. But I've heard rumours that the Beholder's Maze lies on the other side of that cursed place, and there great treasures are to be had. I see many adventurers, their minds set on glory and riches, pass through here, but few have ever returned. I hope you're not interested in going there. That surely is no place for a respectable halfling."
Naramira assured the merchant that she had no such intentions. 'Yet,' she thought to herself. 'Beholder's Maze. Sounds interesting...' She thanked the wood-elf and then returned to the Rivervale gate. She found Lyise there, waiting for her.
"Did you find some?" the elven enchantress asked. Naramira nodded and told her what had happened. "I also bought mine, from a young halfling adventurer I came across. Said she'd show me where to harvest the honeycomb, but I just paid her for some she had already."
"Well, why don't you give me yours and I'll go talk to Kizzy again. I'll meet you back at the inn."
Naramira awoke the next morning, refreshed and excited. She had followed Lyise's advice and had spent the night in halfling form. She quickly got up and packed her belongings in her satchel, carefully wrapping the jar of honeyjum in a piece of cloth for fear of it spilling and getting everything sticky. Kizzy Mintopp had kept her word and had pressed the two jars into Naramira's hands with sincere best wishes for her exiled family.
She went downstairs for breakfast, wondering where Lyise was, when the innkeeper came up to her and handed her a note. She opened it to find a short letter in her friend's elegant writing.
Nara,
I have just received news about an attack on Felwithe. I must go home immediately to help and make sure my family are unhurt. It is too late to wake you now, so I will ask the innkeeper to give you this note in the morning. Please continue with our quest, I will catch up with you when I can.
Regards, Lyise.
The young enchantress wished her friend well. She did not know what it was like to have family, but she was sure that if she had received word of an attack on the Academy, she would be just as concerned and eager to return home. She just hoped Lyise had had the good sense not to try and travel through Kithicor at the dead of night.
She had a small breakfast, the halfling waitress shaking her head and enquiring after her health, before paying for her stay and setting out alone on the next stage of her journey.