176 The Box

For the third day in a row, Cafer brought Alaron above ground into the land of magic. He told the other gnomes it was to make sure the boy was safe, but additionally, Cafer found being in his cave to be more and more suffocating. The former councilman also did not think it a good idea to leave the prince in the company of the gnomes for too long. The abrasive personality of gnomes made Alaron nearly lose his temper with each interaction. Cafer was walking a very fine line.

In order to protect his investment from those who might harm him, Cafer had taught the prince a bit of light magic that would subdue an enemy close to him. The pulse would knock out his foe and let him escape. The shrewd gnome had thought it was a good idea until Alaron used the spell on the next earthy creature who insulted him.

The belligerent gnome was knocked to the ground unconscious, and Cafer had rushed into the scene to extract the boy and leave before anyone knew what happened. "That spell is only for emergencies. It uses too much magic," he scolded the boy. Alaron nodded, committed the spell to memory, but did not use it again. As a result of this event and others, Cafer was even more diligent to keep the gnomes and prince separate.

Today they ambled through a field that was close--but not too close-- to the elves' land. "A rabbit with horns!" Alaron exclaimed. He used a magic spell to pin the creature so he could get a closer look.

"It is a jackalope," Cafer informed him as they walked over to it. "And you should probably let it go." The gnome flicked his gaze around the field. These creatures could travel in packs, and the thought of a hundred small, horned creatures running at him was undesirable.

Alaron touched the creature gently. Its fur was softer than any silk. Releasing the creature from his spell, Alaron watched the jackalope hop hastily into the high brush.

"You have been using a lot of magic," Cafer scolded.

"I cannot help it. It just feels so natural here. And I feel good when I use magic." Alaron whispered something and little sparkles of light lifted from his palm. "I learned that one this morning," he announced proudly.

It turned out that King Baak had a book on magic squirreled away in his treasury. The king presented it to Alaron as a 'gesture of goodwill', but Cafer knew the truth. Gnomes were not generous. Baak was trying again to hasten the boy's death with a magical overdose. Cafer could not reveal this without admitting his own treachery, so he tried to slow Alaron down instead.

"Please be careful. You will tire yourself out."

"You sound like Nanny," Alaron laughed. "I am fine." He did another trick. This time a small whirlwind went flying toward the nearby river.

Cafer let out a small sigh. "I wish you would listen to me," he muttered angrily.

The whirlwind touched the surface of the river and dissipated. Part of the flowing water stilled. Curious, Alaron walked closer and leaned down to look. Cafer, who had been consumed with his own conflicting thoughts, paid attention just in time to warn him, "Your Highness, get back!"

Alaron leapt backwards as the still water rose from the river to form a watery being. The water nymph's hair cascaded around her translucent face as she peered out at the prince, who stood frozen in place. The nymph leaned in to examine him closely.

"I had heard talk of a human boy wandering about," the nymph said in the ancient tongue. "But I had to see it for myself." While Alaron only heard gurgling sounds, Cafer could understand her clearly.

Her examination complete, the nymph rose to full height. She towered over the boy. The prince reared backwards. Afraid that he was about to be hit with a wall of water, Alaron uttered a protection spell which made his palms glow.

"And you have taught him magic, you naughty gnome!" The nymph became angry. "Let him go back to his own people in peace."

Cafer raised his hands in defense. He took a small step toward the river. "The boy is here willingly."

The nypmh grunted her disbelief. Water spat from her mouth like a fountain at the gnome. Cafer dodged.

To Alaron he mumbled, "Remember that light spell, I told you not to use? Be ready."

"What does she want?" Alaron asked. When he realized that he would not be crushed, the prince lowered his hands slightly and prepared them for magic.

"She thinks I am holding you captive," Cafer responded in human-speak loud enough for the nymph to hear.

Alaron cocked his head to one side. "Why in the world would she think that?"

"Gnomes have a bad habit of abduction…" Cafer answered carefully.

The nymph gave a watery snort. Just because she did not speak the human language did not mean she could not understand it. "Abduction and every other treachery!" She scoffed in ancient tongue. "I will keep my eye on you."

Cafer gave a wry smile. "Only from afar," he retorted. "Because gnomes are rarely close to water."

The nymph gurgled angrily for, of course, he was right. "Nevertheless, I am watching all the same," she warned before returning to the river's flow.

Cafer scowled. He did not like nymphs and had a new reason to hate them. But he was glad that he had not had to use magic on her. It likely would have taken both Alaron and him to subdue the large watery creature. "Time to head back," he told the Prince as he rolled his shoulders to relax. "The king has something he wants to show us anyway, and we have kept him waiting long enough…"

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Baak walked with Cafer and Alaron to his treasury. The prince was surprised that the king would lead him to his store, but when he saw the two biggest gnomes he had ever seen guarding a heavy door, he understood that only way he was getting in or out was with permission.

It took both gnomes to push open the thick door, and inside the prince was blinded by what he saw. The room was smaller than he had expected but it was filled with wonders like he had never seen. Grand golden statues and strange swirling orbs sat untouched. There were stones that glowed in every shade of the rainbow. The place was brighter than the light of day.

Cafer was obviously jealous, but tried to hide behind a face of indifference. "Have you brought us here just to show your wealth?" He queried.

"I have thought about it, and I do not like our odds of attacking the castle straight on, even with all of the resources His Highness has gathered." Baak drawled.

Cafer's muscles tightened. Was the king going back on his word? Seeing the other gnome's apprehension, Baak waved his hand casually.

"I thought of an excellent way to increase our success and minimize our casualties." The king announced.

Cafer relaxed. A smile hooked his mouth. "His Highness is more than happy to accept any and all help. What help can we find in here?"

There was a low moan from somewhere off to one side. Alaron looked and swore he saw something move behind a set of iron bars. But the motion stopped as soon as it began and he could not say for sure what it was. Baak ignored the sound and walked over to a green box around the size of the Prince's torso. It was unassuming, but Alaron knew how deceiving looks could be.

"In here is a little something I picked up a while ago. It is about to no longer be of use to me, so I figured I should let it help us before it loses its value." Baak had an evil glint as he opened the box slightly. Alaron saw a pearl-colored, ovular object.

Cafer gasped. "You have bragged about having this for years, but I never thought you meant it. You are trying to bring trouble on all of us!" he cried.

"Relax," the king laughed as he shut the lid. "As long as it is in the magic box, they cannot sense it. Plus we are deep underground. They are at a disadvantage if they attack."

"And how will this help us?" Cafer could see some possibilities, but he wanted to know the other gnome's thoughts.

"They do not know we have it, and if they find it in, say, the Empress's palace, they will raze the castle to the ground in order to retrieve it." Baak chuckled at his own brillance.

Cafer nodded thoughtfully. "You are devious as usual, Your Majesty. We can swoop in once the damage is done and take control easily." The gnomes shook hands as if they had already won.

Alaron stared at them, bewildered. "I do not understand. What exactly is in the box?"

"The Queen's egg."