Wow.

This one took about a full month to do. Way longer than it probably should have, and it came out to be .. well.. massive. Still, it came out to be pretty well written, if I do say so myself. (And, well, I did write it.)

It's got a few storylines it touches on, too. And a few mystery cameos show up! I won't ruin the surprise, but it was nice to be able to toss a few more KOL'ers into the story.

It's also the first apperance of a couple of named enemy NPC's. I hope you enjoy!

The self styled hero and the powerhouse trapper had proven every bit worth the meat and the time Prince BlahKing had invested into them. Having major problems that couldn't be solved himself was bad enough. Having a desperate lack of funds being the reason for that inability was, to the King, almost as bad.

Blahking felt the need to attend himself, as things were bound to get interesting. He'd arranged a little surprise backup last minute. For now, that left him alone, cloaked in conjured shadows, amidst another swarm of Knob Goblin reinforcements. It wasn't just the typical, day to day garden variety soldier either. (Or the typical, day to day soldier variety gardener, for that matter.)

Blahking's first fear was that the army had come for all out war. Despite the stream of mad Goblin scientists and field chefs, however, it didn't seem to be nearly the size of a Goblin military operation. At least a third of them seemed to be treating this like some sort of vacation.

Strangely enough, Blahking had seen no signs of a confrontation with them and the Penguins. Either they were avoiding going where the Penguins would be at, or the Penguins were relocating before they got there.

Or both.

The chaos of the situation had exceeded even Blahking's expectations. His clan, the Kingdom of KOL, had just come off a costly and final victory over the armies of the nation of Pertene. It had cost the clan the lives of their King, and several of their most powerful members. A new King had been assigned - the mighty warrior, Mtiger. Blahking himself had participated in the debates over who should be given leadership of the kingdom. The new King had worked to mend the bruises of his family and friends when opportunity had come up.

It looked simple enough on the outside. Investigate the disturbances between two factions in Degrassi Knoll. That was it. They weren't even technically obligated to do anything about the problem, even if there proved to be one.

Ah, but that was the trick of it all. The two factions in question were the armies of The Goblin King, and the Penguin Mafia itself. At full strength, with no distractions and enough funds, The Kingdom of KOKOL would still have to be half insane even to go against the lesser of the two threats, the Knob Goblins, without sufficient backup.

KOKOL was hurting, and besides, both factions had their paws - or fins- too deeply into Degrassi Knoll to simply be torn out, anyway. So, the idea was to go in and not do anything. At least, that's what they wanted the public to believe. Yet, the real goal was to create as much reason for the Penguins and the Goblin thugs to get out of Degrassi Knoll as possible.

Blahking realized early on with only two assistants- the ever loyal Konáll Bearsmasher, and a rogue wondering adventurer named Sebastian Dash. They'd done their part to mess with the factions, as covertly as possible. A few days ago, they updated Blahking with a their ultimate plan. They meant to trick the Goblins into fighting the Penguin mafia over what they thought to be a powerful artifact by the name of the Orb of the Sun.. an item which was, while rare, of little to no power.

More importantly, and better still, it was located somewhere out on the open plains, so it would draw the fighting and the action away from prying eyes. It was a perfect plan, so naturally, someone had to throw a monkey wrench or two into the plan. A mysterious package had gotten sent to Blahking, requesting the presence of Mtiger's "security forces" near the spot Bearsmash had told them the so called "orb" was hidden.

Something was up. It came through the council, but Blahking had the distinct impression someone else was behind the request. The only question is, were they expecting the KOKOL representatives to protect them against the other side? Or worse still, could it be a trap they're walking into?

Blahking wasn't sure, but he had a feeling he wasn't going to like the answers. There wasn't all that much time to warn Bearsmasher and Dash, either. Blahking's decision was to stealth himself with his magic long enough to investigate the situation.

Unfortunately, he wasn't sure he'd be able to hold the magic long enough to determine anything before he had to make a strategic retreat. So far, the only thing he'd accomplished was to grow tired of hearing the Elite guard unit bragging and the Knob chefs gossiping with the Gnob Barbecue team members.

Annoying, isn't it? Even given his interest in all matters cooking, Blahking found it tedious. It was just that boring. He was contemplating cutting his losses and getting out of the herd when he spotted a commotion further down the line. Blahking's sigh was mixed with relief and worry as he redoubled the spell of inviability around him. It wasn't a tough spell to cast, but it did require a bit of concentration. Blahking wouldn't relish in the idea of it slipping in this mess of Knob Goblins, even for a split second.

Even invisible, with the airs surrounding him acting in his defense, Blahking had to be careful where he stepped. More than a few times, he'd come into nearly impassable walls of odorous Knobs, forcing him to backtrack, or in a few cases, risk levitating out of the mob. Randomly pushing the idiots around would be safer than appearing in their midst without an explanation, but not by nearly enough.

Blahking spotted a horse drawn caravan ahead, surrounded by guards who looked tougher, better armed, and less dim witted than the average elite guard. It was also traveling at a fare rate faster than the slow moving Knob stream. Blahking hastened himself to catch up.

Interesting. Blahking hadn't expected to see the leader of the operation, Cider, out here, but there he was. The man was hard to mistake, even from a distance. Despite a physique that put most of the elite guardsman to shame, he sported the blood red laboratory coat so typical of Cider. Blahking got a glimpse of those evil grass green eyes of his.

Unsurprisingly, Cider was making his way towards the caravan. Prince Blahking couldn't shake the feeling of unease which that fact was causing him, but he knew, whatever this meeting was about, he had to find out.

-- * --

Things were getting chaotic for Konáll Bearsmasher and Sebastian Dash as well. Each battle had served a purpose, though, as they continued to drop threads and false information to their attackers/ victims. Bearsmasher had insisted on getting Spaz out of harm's way, and Dash was all too eager to assist.

Along the way, they picked up some information as well. In the following scene, featuring Dash and Bearsmasher throwing down with a couple locals who seemed to think Gnollish hospitality meant throwing down with anyone who looked tough. Which it did, incidentally. So in a very weird sense, they're totally in the right.

The proceeding paragraph was brought to you by Frobozz's sentence padding enhancements. Cheaper by the six pack.

A Knollish bodybuilder tossed his weights in the air, with another Knoll standing behind him. You know.. for backup.

The muscleman said. "We'll take you on any day."

Kronall rebutted, "You and what army? Cross-dressing girlie man in the skirt over there?"

The cross-dresser replied with "You're wearing a kilt."

"That's completely different," Konáll said. "For example . . . " The distraction was enough for Dash to bash him over the back of the head with the hilt of Dash's sword. As the bodybuilder turned towards Dash in surprise and rage, Bearsmasher caught him across the jaw with an uppercut that lifted him off his feet. Dash grazed the over muscled Knob Goblin with a mid air kick as he fell, finishing him off.

"Nice move," Dash commented.

"Thanks," Bearsmasher answered. "Not too shabby yourself. And look, I think I see another fight!"

There were a bunch of Knob Goblins ahead. Instead of rushing off to battle, Dash motioned for him to keep quiet, and ushered him into a nearby ally. "Hold up. We're not supposed to be picking fights with them, remember? Or, at least, we should avoid it enough so the Knolls have deniability for our actions."

"Yeah, good point. Sorry. I kind of got caught up in the rush of the excitement. So what, we just ignore them?"

"Voice down."

"Sorry," Bearsmasher whispered. Loudly. Dash wondered if the concept of stealth of might be beyond him, although Dash reasoned he was likely just caught up in the rush of the excitement.

"Something's up," Dash finally said, noting they were making their way to a Knob Goblin tent set up on the town's borders. "Stay here, in case there's trouble. I'll scout it for us. Guard me."

"Yeah, yeah, just go sniff out the information. I'll stand here and be quiet like a good little trapper." Konáll Bearsmasher started to let out a roar of a laugh, then caught himself.

Dash chuckled in response, then slipped into the shadows. "Be back soon. Whatever they're planning, I want to know."

Bearsmasher folded his arms, then smiled. Looks like another Knob Goblin set to start some trouble at him.

At least he wouldn't be bored waiting.

It wasn't what Prince BlahKing had expected.

After all the fuss that was being made for the arriving caravan, Blahking might have expected the King himself, or at least an even higher ranking official from the Knob Goblin community. With all the Knobs moving at once, it wouldn't have surprised the Prince to even see the fuss made over one of the top notch Goblin chefs. They'd been known to do that on similar occasions. Blahking idly wondered if it was a Goblin tradition of some sort.

There was a lot not known about the Goblins, and especially about their Kingdom whose origins were lost in the mists of time during the infamous Cola Wars, long ago.

Instead of something he expected, what he got was an odd sense of forboding. She was oddly beautiful, in a strangely masculine, elderly way, of course. She reminded him of the wandering gypsies he'd read in one of the endless classes on histories of places he'd probably never visit, see, or even care about in his lifetime. The classes always served to remind Blahking of how big the world is.

Despite the pinkish white tint to her hair, hidden mostly under a dark red leather strap, she had an air of confidence and mysticality about her. The baggy, multicolored clothes did little to hide her slender, well toned body. Blahking's mind struggled to place a face to the newcomer, but without any luck. The thought she might be a prized Harem girl left his mind as soon as it entered.

She was so beautiful, it hurt. Meaning, she was beautiful to the point of distracting the Prince so he slammed his foot on a nearby pack of weapons. ouch

Cider greeted her with a reverence usually saved for the Harlots, however. No, it was more than that. Almost a fearful respect. It set Blahking's nerves on fire. Something was up, and he felt compelled to find out what.

"Greetings, Mistress Naereess. The ride up here wasn't too rough, were it? Dumb animals under me, they ain't smart enough to figure out one end of their butt from the other, let less get me word you were coming."

Understandably, Blahking, like most people, hated having to try to listen and comprehend a Knob Goblin. Even a high ranking one- the others were usually worse.

She shook it off, not much seeming interested in small talk. "The ride was adequate. At the very least, it probably wasn't egregious enough to warrant discipline against you or your men. Although a couple of your ranking officers got a bit too rank for their own safety."

"If you'd tell me their loser names, I personally deal wi-"

An authoritative, astringent glare from her cut him from speaking further.

"They were dealt appropriate punishment already. Take care I'm not forced to do the same to you."

"Yes, ma'am."

If not for the danger of his surroundings, Blahking might have let out an impressive whistle. Either she was incredibly dangerous, or potentially incredibly useful. Blahking couldn't imagine the commanding Cider taking such abuse over either, though. An order from above? Maybe she *was* a prized whore of the King's.

"I've only come here out of necessity, you see," the mysterious woman continued. "And out of loyalty to your Kingdom. Loyalty for which we'll all be rewarded for someday. Through our dedication to the kingdom, and selfless sacrifice, the Kingdom will obtain victory over our enemies here, and in turn, carve a path to our glorious future, rewarding our renouncement of personal gain with prosperity of our loved ones and those who admire us, and more importantly, with the prosperity those less fortunate than ourselves."

Her voice was enchanting. "I've come here to serve your greater needs, so you may in turn serve your king's needs. It is his wisdom that makes you useful, and his courage that protects you from the dangerous of those in authority who would corrupt you. Their evil is a point of distraction."

She glanced around, before her indifferent glare fell directly on Blahking. His heart quickened. If the spell had worn off . . No. No one else seemed to notice him. They certainly weren't attacking him. Blahking reminded himself to relax and trust in his abilities. He was well trained- his skills had yet to fail him.

He spun forward at the last second before a guard could barrel into him from behind, just barely avoiding his path. Being invisible was easy, but Blahking had no safe way of becoming intangible.

The guard walked up to the Gypsie. Blahking hadn't noticed her summon him, yet it was clear she had. The way she eyed him reminded Blahking of a viper sizing up a mouse. Blahking sympathized with the soldier.

"You're sure this is a secure area, then?"

He just nodded.

It seemed strange to Blahking that she would bother to ask. He bit his lower lip in anticipation. If all she was here to do was make small talk, it might be a good time for Blahking to abandon this, while he still could.

Whatever she was saying was mesmerizing.

Whatever she was saying was . . . Blahking fought on a subconscious level to put the pieces to the puzzle together. Something about this situation didn't add up at all.

"Doesn't add up, does it?" She asked no one in particular.

It was the way she . . .

"Is he finally putting the puzzle together?" The gypsy laughed. It was a malevolent laugh. The way a serial killer might have laughed before killing his first poodle.

It was the way she echoed his thoughts as soon as he thought them.

"Oh, but I'm more than an echo."

What?

Had it suddenly gotten later? The other Goblins had gone back to their business, seemingly oblivious to the strange visitor now. Blahking would have cut and run if his limbs were working.

"More than an echo, more than an echo. . . " It was funny to Blahking how her words echoed in his head.

Everything looked darker.

"Does it look dark now?" She answered his thoughts, looking directly at him. "That's nothing compared to how dark it's going to look when your usefulness to me runs out."

She cackled a sinister sounding laugh, that seemed loud enough to burst Blahking's ears. He wasn't able to move his arms, or he'd have covered his ears with his hands.

It didn't matter- he was unconscious within a handful of seconds.

Sebastian Dash greeted Konáll Bearsmasher by joining in the fight and saying, "I've got some information you might be interested in!"

"Me, too!" Bearsmasher hadn't expected to be ambushed so soon. "You'll never believe who I just met."

Thrust, parry. "Why're we fighting Elite guards?" Dash ducked under a pole arm attack, and sliced the guard's shoulder wide open. With a running leap propelling him, Dash dropped the guard with a boot to the head. The elite guard weren't just the toughest, most talented guards the Knobs had to offer, they were, as a rule, freakishly huge.

And there were a whole bunch of them.

"Oh yeah, we got an - urgh!" Turned out the Elite guards could be pretty sneaky. Proven by the one that snuck up behind Bearsmasher and leveled him with a massive forearm. Another joined in, with both guards grabbing Bearsmasher by an arm and a leg, then flinging him effortlessly back, where a Knob Goblin Bean counter clocked him, mid air, with a sack of beans to the head.

"Konáll!" Dash turned, sensing this wasn't going to be as easy of a fight as he thought. No time to play nice anymore. He thrust his trademark broadsword, Bad Beats, through the Bean counter's chest. Drawing blood only seemed to infuriate the guards. Who would count their many, many beans now?!

While Konáll broke free of the guards, only to have a third and fourth dogpile him, Dash found himself maneuvered into a corner. Things weren't too bad until one of the guards managed to grab his sword arm, nearly disarming him from the sheer grip of the hold. Another went to stab Dash, who, despite being held by three other Goblins, managed to twist his body out of the way of the blow. Konáll flexed his muscle and send a non elite guard flying through the air.

"I'm fine," Konáll responded, breaking free of the guard's grip. His weapon, the haxxor, had three functions, and this battle was testing all three. He used it as an axe to slice open the underside of a guard's stomach, before bringing it across the skull of the other guard. With the attention turned towards Bearsmasher, Dash was able to slip free of his guard's grip, and join Bearsmasher out in a more open location. "Worry about yourself."

"We don't have time for this." Dash parried off an attack, leveling the guard with a fist across his jaw that stunned him, then shoving him into Bearsmasher, who laid him unconscious with a single powerful headbutt. There were easily another nine elite guard untouched. "There's some kind of big meeting going on down south. Big enough they're mobilizing their units to cut south."

"Would that happen to be about a mile and a half down south? Becau-" Bearsmasher was cut off, as Dash pulled him out of an arrow's path. Dash looked around, slipping between Goblins, determined to take the distance weapon out of the equation.

The first slice decapitated the crossbow. Another slice, and it's owner's body fell lifeless to the ground.

"Apparently, I forgot to suggest staying out of trouble while I was gone." The Elite guards didn't seem much deterred by the fatalities or injuries their comrades were suffering. Dash seemed more concerned over having to bend his own disposition to killing. "Where'd your little demon Spaz go?"

"That's what I've been trying to tell you, Dash! There's something serious going on here. Maybe more than we realized. And if you happen to see an oversized winged wolf . . ."

"Like that one?" Dash's jaw might have gone slack had he not been engaged in fighting for his life. A ferocious looking silver wolf threw itself on one of Dash's attackers. It was a beautiful, ferocious creature. And yeah, there were the wings, flapping majestically at it's side. Hard to see much more as the sun was starting to tip down.

Regardless, he was helping for the moment. Which was fortunate, since one of the guards just sliced Bearsmasher across the shoulder. It hardly cut through his furs, yet he screamed in rage and agony. The next one was aimed at his throat.

It never got close. Dash cut the attacker down, driving his sword through the would be murderer of Konáll Bearsmasher, elite trappist. Bearsmasher flew into a rage, letting all the anger pour forth. Something was up, and Dash knew it was bigger than the simple flesh wound, if it even was that deep.

It tore into the Knob guards with an animalistic fury which Bearsmasher easily matched. The guards backed down, obviously realizing the danger the wolf represented. A streak down it's back glowed violently red. It looked to Dash like nothing so much as a scar. Not a battle scar. More of a surgical scar. Dash wasn't sure of the beast's intentions, but if it was that dangerous, maybe they should take it down before it could turn on them.

The creature started glowing a faint blue, and as soon as it did, without waiting for the panicked order given seconds before, the Knob Goblins took off and abandoned into the distance.

Dash drew his sword in front of him, ready to end this new threat. Bearsmasher grabbed Dash's arm. "Whoa, hold up, Dash! He's on our side!"

The Wolf looked from Dash, to Bearsmasher, then back to Dash, before laying on his stomach, paws over his head, his tail wagging behind it. Dash didn't seem convinced. It let out a whimper. "Are you sure?" Dash asked. "It looks wild."

The winged wolf looked up at Dash, appearing anything but threatening. Dash wasn't sure, but it seemed like the wolf rolled his eyes at Dash. Bearsmasher's little demon, Spaz, emerged from somewhere on the wolf, and started following Bearshasher and Dash around again.

"It's safe. Intelligent, too," Bearsmasher added with no small sense of admiration. And a sense of wanting to skin it but restraining himself. Such a nice fur. . . "Oh, what? Anyway, he's intelligent. I was talking to this Harem girl. Sweet girl, for being such a orge's mannequin. Did you know they have their own personal musicians and beauticians? Which's ironic, since. . ."

"What'd she say?" Dash cut him off. He could smell more trouble on the air.

"Oh, right, sorry. It sounds like they're setting a trap for the Prince."

The winged wolf nodded it's head rapidly. So he did understand them. Dash looked past the markings on the wolf's face into his eyes.

"Do you know where this's going down at?"

The wolf nodded again, pulling itself up to a sitting position.

"Can you lead us?"

The winged wolf nodded, and turned, flapping it's wings, yet not leaving the ground. Dash and Bearsmasher quickly fell to following.

A violent slap from a gauntlet encased hand abruptly ended Prince BlahKing's refuge in unconsciousness.

Felt like it nearly broke his jaw.

"Oh, did we wake you? Pity. Don't worry," the guard laughed. "You'll sleep again soon enough- after we kill you!"

Great. The gypsy left him to be executed by the moron squad, apparently.

"Fancy Prince got no fancy talk to say?"

It wasn't even Cider. Just some lowly nobody. Blahking tried to summon his magic, just to make sure he could, and was met with a psychic backlash. He groaned in agony.

"HA! Stupid King Blahprince think he can use his magic? Stupid King Blahprince is wrong!" That was another guard, and possibly an even dumber one than the first. But he was right. Magic wasn't going to work this time.

Blahking had always had the importance of not becoming overly reliance on magic pounded into his head for most of his tenure in the Kingdom of KOL. Now it was time for that to pay off.

"It's Prince Blahking, not King Blahprince." Blahking coughed violently and had to spit out a wad of blood before he could continue speaking. "So the high and mighty Knob Goblins are working for a rogue commoner now, huh?"

Another smack. Blahking knew he was in trouble. But if he could just get some useful knowledge . .

"She work for us! And she gonna help us control everything!"

"What are you talking about?" Blahking asked. If he wasn't bound and tied, spread over a table by thick wires, he'd have held a jar to his sore jaw.

"Nothin' you needa know! Now shut up, we gotta kill you now! Bye!"

Blahking twisted his body violently. He'd hoped to cut his way out with a small knife concealed in his sleeve, but that was gone. Probably that gypsy's doing. She seemed capable of much more than she'd let on.

The biggest guard, looking bored, pulled out an oversized axe. Didn't seem like a very pleasant way to go.

"I think I've heard enough!" A familiar voice rang out from above Blahking. He watched, helplessly, as a rodent sized burst of energy shot through the room. Blahking hadn't noticed the set of octagon symbols above him. The burst of energy shot through it, seemingly floating on invisible wings.

The idiots looked up, taking their eyes of Blahking, even as the bonds holding his magic in place weakened. He could feel them. With a roar, the one with the axe hoisted it above his head and rushed at Blahking, intent on finishing him off.

Blahking tried to summon a bolt of magic too late.

A bright bolt of thunderous lightning struck the guard from mid air.

"Fluffy Hamster to the rescue!" A golden hamster, not much bigger than your standard, every day garden (raiding) hamster, stood a few feet in front of Blahking on his rear legs. A strand of magic cut loose from his paws, enveloping the bonds holding Blahking. When the magic dissipated half a second later, the bonds were gone and the Prince was free. "Greetings, Prince Blahking. Do you have any cheese for me?"

"Later for that." Blahking let forth a burst of his own magic, sending the guards flying. "We need to get out of here."

"Funny, they don't seem all that dangerous to me," Fluffy Hamster declared, dispatching the next two guards that entered through the door with a fiery hot wave.

"It's not that," Blahking answered, idly rubbing his jaw as he tried to figure where they were- and how to get out. He was fighting to keep his balance already, although he wasn't eager to share that information in such a hostile environment. "I'd rather not face that wench in the condition I'm in, and it's clear she's up to something. We need to grab Dash and Bearsmasher and get out of here. This whole thing stinks of traps and conspiracy." Blahking glanced back at the Fluffy one. "Put down that junk and let's get going!"

Fluffy squeaked and tossed a bunch of stray springs and cogs down. "Coming, boss!"

Blahking silently blasted a small hole in the wall. "I should have known. The south park. I wouldn't be surprised if they were planning to take us all the way down to Degrassi South proper. Let's get moving- we're going to have quite a fight in our hands."

Blahking focuses his magic into the form of an energy staff, then stepped into the hallway. Fluffy scampered behind him, then turned back and ran back into the room. He grabbed a particularly shiny spring, before dashing off to catch up with Blahking with a chuckle.

"Seems like we're close!" Dash called out.

"So soon?!" Bearsmasher let out a mighty roar of a laugh. Spaz seemed content to hide behind Bearsmasher during the fight. "This's too easy!"

"I'm just glad the Penguin Mafia haven't gotten involved." Dash tried to keep up with the winged wolf as it tore his way through the Knob Goblins, but it wasn't easy. Especially since more Goblins were pouring in to attack Dash and his comrade from both sides.

"Where do you think they took off to?" Bearsmash wondered as he axed a Knob Goblin's guard pike in half. An explosion of magic altered him to the presence of the Prince in the distance. Urgh. He hadn't even noticed his runestone glowing in all the fighting. "Ah, there they are. Why don't you go say hi while I. . . er. . . keep the way clear?"

Dash smiled inwardly at his aversion to magic. "Alright, I'll do that. See you shortly!"

"Just make sure it's after all the mystical fireworks have died off!"

Dash nodded, then took off after Zanther Wolf, who'd already taken off at the scent of Blahking and his mysterious ally.

After putting up a battle, the six were finally forced to flee up north. Escaping turned out to be surprisingly easy, especially since Dash had cleverly sent his horse, to the meeting point in advance of their assault.

It was Bearsmasher who broke the silence some time after their retreat had slowed to a more leisurely journey to the KOKOL grounds. "T'was a mighty battle. I wonder what ever became of our ruse with the Orb of the Sun."

Fluffy, who'd stuck to Prince Blahking's shoulder ever since laying sight on Zanthar Wolf, seemed to frown. "That was just a ruse? Dang. I risked life, limb, and fur trying to get that thing during a raging battle between the Penguin Mafia, the Knob Goblins, Some Knollish thugs, and a couple of half drunken Orcs." As if to emphasize the point, he produced a glowing stone he'd been carrying from a pouch that the narrator hadn't bothered to mention until this point.

Bearsmasher looked over it it, then let out a laugh. (Which startled both Wolf and Fluffy, who didn't take long figuring out what he did for a living.) "Sorry. Isn't worth much, unless you're into making plexiglass."

"How're you holding, Blahking?" Dash asked, tired of the small talk already.

"Well, all things considered. Still, I'll be happy when we get back to the new King, and we can set to sorting out what the hell happened. Zanther, Dash, and of course Fluffy, I insist you'll all stay with us while we find you appropriate accommodations for your time in KOL.'

Wolf just nodded. He'd been starring into the sky most of the trip, even while he was running full speed.

"I'm fine," Hamster said. Spaz had taken to following Fluffy, curiously watching him. Maybe sensing a kindred soul. "I've made arrangements."

"Sure," Dash said, absentmindedly wondering when he agreed to stay in the first place.

"Then I guess we're set," Blahking said. "I really want to know what that . . . gypsy was up to in the first place. Whatever it is, I have a feeling it can't be good."

-- end --