“You okay?” Hump asked.

Celaine stared into the fire, not answering. It was dawn and their oats were on the boil. Three days had passed since their run in with Brianna and the guards, and the rest of their trip had gone undisturbed. At Hump’s estimate, they’d be in Vonhold by afternoon.

“Celaine?” he probed.

She looked up, yawning. “Hmm?”

Hump laughed. “I asked if you were okay.”

“Oh. Yeah, I’m okay. Just thinking about home.”

“Getting nervous?”

She nodded. “A year’s a long time to be away. It’s going to be weird. And I’m worried about my sister—Elerai wasn’t in a good place when I left. I’m not sure what to expect upon my return.”

Celaine had told him a little of her sister and her lost dragon, Starfall. Hump didn’t even want to think about the loss she’d suffered. After having Nishari for only a short time, he could already imagine the devastation. It wasn’t just attachment, it was a literal bond between their souls. To lose her would be an irreparable scar on his, one he wasn’t sure he would ever recover from.

“Maybe meeting Nishari will help like you said.”

“I hope so, Hump. I really do. It’ll be good to see Elerai either way. I was feeling apprehensive about going back before, but now that we’re getting closer, I’m starting to realise how much I missed everyone.”

“You must be looking forward to seeing your family.”

“Yes, definitely. The rest of the village… I’m not so sure.”

“Because of me?” Hump said, guessing the issue.

“You and the egg. Some will see it as a betrayal that I stayed with you—there’s no way around that. Vamir’s ideals are somewhat progressive in Drakalyn. Many would have killed you and taken the egg back with them.”

Hump groaned, stretching his aching back. “Brilliant! Well, I’m used to people disliking me anyway. What does a few more matter? They can’t kill me, right?”

“No.”

“Then it’s all good. I’m kind of excited to see where you come from, honestly. A place where dragons roam, and the Great Tree towers over everything. Maybe I’ll even catch a glimpse of the goddess herself.” Hump grinned.

“That’s not a maybe,” Celaine said. “You will meet Owalyn.”

Hump blinked, mouth falling open. “Huh?”

“You’re to be one of her Dragon Keepers—that is not a title that is given lightly. She meets each of them individually.”

“I… I’m going to meet a goddess?”

Celaine smiled slightly. “Yep. And with any luck, you’ll survive the meeting.”

Suddenly, Hump recalled the hunter’s presence he’d felt when Celaine had received her blessings. The deadly intent that froze him in place like prey before a hunter. He swallowed; his excitement washed away.

“Does she often kill her Dragon Keepers?”

“Not often, though it’s happened to those that betrayed her. Owalyn is our protector, but she is also the goddess of the hunt, who even dragons will follow. You do not want to be the subject of her wrath. I know the blasphemy is funny around Bud, but I suggest you keep it to yourself in Drakalyn.”

“Don’t worry, I figured that much out myself.”

Hump was deep in thought as he cleared their campsite of his runic veils, when he noticed Nishari perk up from her breakfast and stare at a nearby bush. It rustled, and Hump went on alert.

Nisha, come! Hump called out in his mind.

Immediately she raced to him, clawing her way up his leg and onto his shoulder. Hump levelled his staff toward the bush, a spell already on his lips. To the left, beside the river, Celaine was already flanking left, an arrow on her bow and her face focused.

The bush rustled again, something shuffling around inside. Celaine gave Hump an inquisitive look—shoot or wait—and Hump shook his head. A few moments later, a scruffy, shaggy furred head stuck out from inside, sniffing at the air—a gnoll, and a young one at that. It was no taller than a toddler, its mouth slightly agape, either a toothy smile or snarl on its mouth. It looked at Hump with bright, inquisitive eyes, snuffling curiously, then it let out a quiet yipping sound. To Hump, it sounded more playful than aggressive, but it could just as easily be a call out.

He searched the surrounding foliage. “Is it a trap?” he called to Celaine.

“I don’t see any sign of others. I think it’s alone.”

“Well that’s just great. Do we kill it?”

Hump felt hesitant even asking the question, the small creature appearing harmless. Adventurers were supposed to slay gnolls. The humanoid monsters were of slight intelligence, but they were known to prey on people. The tavern keeper had warned them of gnolls attacking traders in the area, and it seemed likely this was one of their pups.

Celaine gave him a helpless look, the same thing clearly running through her mind. “I have no idea. We’ve encountered gnolls in the Fallen Lands. Occasionally they’ll leave offerings to Owalyn along the edge of our territory, but other than that, they keep their distance.”

“Right…”

The creature yipped again, the sound becoming more like a whimpering whine as its eyes fell on what remained of Nisha’s breakfast. Slowly, it snuck out from the bush, revealing a skinny, malnourished body. It approached Nishari’s breakfast, and the little dragon growled from Hump’s shoulder, her entire body vibrating. She expanded her wings, flapping them to add to the noise, and to try and appear bigger. The gnoll stopped, lowering its head submissively.

Hump petted Nisha’s head with a finger, hushing her.

“Hey!” Hump called out to it.

The creature looked at him sharply, eyes turning white.

Hump took a piece of jerky from his pocket and held it out. “Do you want this?”

Graauk!” it snapped in a strange, snarling voice. “Nashak Graauk.”

“I think it’s trying to say something,” Celaine said.

It let loose one final guttural sound, then pushed through the bush, disappearing. A few seconds later, its head popped out again, staring between them with anticipation.

“You want us to follow you?” Hump asked.

“Graauk!” it said again, then disappeared back into the bush, its footsteps shuffling away.

“I guess that’s a yes,” Celaine said.

Hump’s training with his master had never covered this element of adventuring. One thing he was sure of though was that he couldn’t just murder it.

“I may have gone soft,” Hump said, “but I don’t have the heart to kill it, even if it is a gnoll.”

Celaine sighed, returning her arrow to its quiver and then walking forward. “I’ll scout ahead. Stay close to it. And be ready for a fight.”

Hump nodded. “Got it. Nisha, pouch.”

He held the pouch open and she scrambled inside, perking her head out as he handed her the piece of jerky, then closed the flap.

Hump followed the small gnoll into the woodland along the river. It kept its distance, rushing on ahead of him, though it constantly glanced over its shoulder to make sure he was following. After ten minutes or so, Celaine returned to his side.

“There’s a wounded gnoll hidden a few minutes ahead,” she said. “Probably its mother. I can’t see signs of any others. I’m guessing it smelt our food and came over for help.”

“Are gnolls smart enough for that?” Hump asked.

She shrugged. “Maybe it was just hungry. Either way, we have a choice to make.”

“Not much of a choice,” Hump said. “We could capture it, hand it in for a few silver, and the guild will kill it. Or we can do the deed ourselves.”

“Or we heal up the mother and let them go,” Celaine said.

Hump shook his head. “A pup is one thing, but an adult gnoll is too dangerous to let loose.”

Celaine rubbed her face, her eyes falling on the pup. “Are gnolls usually this adorable?”

Hump snorted. “You sure there’s no others nearby?”

“Almost certain.”

“Then I suggest we just see how this plays out. Worst case scenario, we have to fight a couple of gnolls. They won’t be much of a threat to us.”

They found the mother gasping in a bush. She was a large creature that had to be at least as tall as Bud. She had a deep wound to her stomach that Hump guessed was from a spear. From the smell, it was definitely infected. Where her clothes weren’t torn, she wore animal hides and leather, a necklace of teeth around her neck. Her fur was matted with blood and dirt. She had longer fur around the top of her head and neck that was braided with heartstone beads that glimmered dimly in the shadows.

The pup laid down gently beside her, pointing at her.

“Nashak!” it snapped.

“That’s your mother?” Hump asked.

The mother gnoll suddenly opened her eyes, trying to push herself up. She let loose a pained growl that turned into a furious snarl. She glared at them with hate and hunger in her eyes, pushing her pup back behind her with one hand.

Hump and Celaine took a step back, their weapons ready.

Its teeth bared; hackles raised. There was a long knife beside her but she didn’t reach for it, perhaps not even remembering she had it. The pup yelped then started to whimper, both confused and terrified.

“Don’t move,” Hump said, lowering his staff toward the creature. He let essence build up in its focus, illuminating the creature.

The creature relaxed her mouth, hiding her teeth. “No… kill…” she gasped. “Please. Not bad. No hurt man.”

Hump stared at her. Its voice was tight and sounded uncomfortable, like gravel stuck in its throat. Each word came out snarled and pressed together, the syllables almost lost, but it was easy enough to understand. He’d never heard of a gnoll that could speak the common tongue.

“You understand me?” he asked.

She nodded, seeming to relax a little. She pressed one hand to her wound, while keeping her pup pressed back with the other. “Speak little man speech. Mercy. No kill.”

Now that changes things. Hump had been prepared to put two monsters down if he had to, but a wounded creature that could understand him and its pup was another matter.

Hump let the essence fade from his staff and righted it. He made a show of his palms. “Fine. No kill.”

“What are you doing here?” Celaine asked.

“Not hunt humans. Not hunt.”

“Then why are you here?” Hump asked again.

The creature tilted its head inquisitively.

“Why here?” Hump said. “Why leave mountains? Why come to human lands?”

The gnoll grunted in understanding. “Dead Queen hunt pack. No go back. So run over mountain.”

“There’s a lich in the mountains?” Celaine asked, concern in her voice.

The gnoll shook her head. “Do not understand.”

Hump looked to Celaine. “You didn’t mention a lich when you suggested we come this way.”

“It’s news to me. It’s a big mountain range. It wouldn’t be the first powerful monster to establish a lair there.”

Hump rubbed a hand over his face, biting his lip. It would be a long trip, and that’s if they were even able to make it through Vonhold Pass. Access into the Fallen Lands wasn’t something granted to just anyone.

It was then that an idea came to Hump.

“Where are your pack?” Hump asked.

“Mountains.” She tapped her chest with her hand, then gestured to the pup. “We alone.”

“Do you know a way over the pass?” Hump asked. “Into the mountains?”

There was a moment’s pause, then she nodded.

Hump and Celaine shared a look.

“How confident are you in your contact?” he asked.

“He got Vamir and I in. For the right price, I’m sure he’d get us back out. If not, someone else could.”

“Unless the events in Suncrest catch up with us,” Hump said. He turned back to the gnoll. “If I heal your wounds, will you show us the path?”

“You want leave man lands?”

Hump nodded. “Yes.”

“I show you,” she said, relief clear on her. “Name Rehk.” She pushed her pup forward. “Tokdaar.”

Hump gestured at himself. “Hump.” Then pointed at Celaine. “Celaine.”

The gnoll nodded. “Thank you.”

“You sure about this?” Celaine said.

“No. But the way I see it, if they betray us, we’re strong enough to take them. That, and we’re their only chance. From the sounds of it, finding someone to smuggle us out of Vonhold might be even more risky.”

“Guess so.” She looked at the two gnolls. “Never thought I’d be doing this.”

Hump took a healing potion from his potion pouch. “Can’t say I ever did either. Now, let’s find out if human healing techniques work on gnolls. Rehk, drink this.”

He held the potion out. She took it with her giant clawed hand, careful not to catch him with her claws. She eyed him suspiciously, then tipped the potion into her mouth. She dropped it, choking and coughing furiously.

“Now hold still,” Hump said. “I’m still not very good at this.”

He knelt, staff held over Rehk’s wounded stomach. Since manifesting his soul, all forms of magic came more easily to him. Perhaps most important of all was his ability to use Healing Touch. While it was only a Tier 1 spell, combined with a potion, it should be enough to save her life.

His staff glowed white, and he laid a hand on her stomach. He flinched as Rehk snarled from the pain, but she didn’t try to stop him.

“Healing Touch,” he muttered.

The warmth of life swept through his hand.

This better not get me eaten.