| 1 |
 |
In Shadowmarket, Hawk, Windy, and Turo in disguises try to find Old Burnster's place.
Ichi, his eyes white, knows they are inside the gate as a deformed elf finds them
and takes them toward Burnster. Ichi is naked except for his long black cape. A female
elf comes to Ichi, telling him the apprentices are ready. Ichi tells her to instruct
them to being the spell and to line the room with page boys..."We'll need lots
of blood." Below in the ancient tunnels the packrats call home are Dao, Oh King
Bran, and Cyndrillan. Bran has on a fur top, bare stomach below. Bran tells Cyndrillan
that he is on Hawk's side not Dao's as Dao keeps insulting Bran. Dao continues to
insult him about getting his royal toes wet and about being scared. Dao calls him
a little perverted fat mouth. Bran says, "Let me go, peasant." Windy tells
Turo he is always antsy and Turo agrees. Turo tells Windy to sit down and Windy sits
down on Turo! They are in hiding. Windy tells Turo (who is sucking on his own bangs)
that Ichi's magic is blood magic, tainted and he is not sure he can fight that. Windy
lays next to Turo, telling him that he love Hawk and Turo both. Windy fears that
Ichi will destroy Hawk or Turo or both, he knows that they will meet and fight and
perhaps Greenhaven and Elfheim will be destroyed. An old gentlemanly elf talks with
Hawk in the outer room. Burnster smokes a pipe, thinking their chances are lousy.
Ichi is a hated ruler though. Burnster tells him not to forget about love. Hawk says,
"Heh. Yea, I guess but I'm not planning on kissing Ichi. Here's to love, though."
Ropes come down around Dao and Bran's necks. Above them are two packrats. They plan
to make them Gitchi slaves once sold. Bran's top comes undone, revealing his chest.
Garth the rat man kicks the two packrats down onto Dao and Bran. The two are quickly
knocked out by Dao and Bran. Bran tells Garth it is good to see him. Gremlins come
near them. Ichi's tower is lined with young page boys holding cups, with only jeweled
belts and a hanging loin cloth and big blond hair, looking dead already, their eyes
wide open. The Oriental apprentices with shaved heads save for the sides and a big
upper pony tail have the spell set. Ichi arrives and tells them they have done well,
then tells one of them to put their face in. Ichi makes the brother shove his brothers
face in. Burning, it calls forth power. His link with Bran is broken and he does
not need his Elfheimbane. Ichi tells the brother he did well, "Next time, I'll
use you," he says as he walks out, leaving the brother wide eyed in fear. Dao
and Bran are only in their loin cloths with a forehead sucker thing attached to a
rope to a stick in their mouths as Gremlins ride them. Garth is in league with them,
his former station liquidated, he needed to look elsewhere for employment. The Gitchies
needed a new leader and Bran will make a fine royal mount. Night: Hawk checks on
Turo and Windy who are asleep; Windy sucking his thumb, their legs entangled. Burnster
has fallen asleep. Hawk pulls the sheets over them and then goes to a window to worry. |