by Eric Vall
“I didn’t know flying so high would be like this,” the naiad squealed. “It’s scarier than I thought.”
“It’s wonderful after you get used to it,” Aleia said as she navigated toward the gnomes’ camp. “It’s the freest feeling.”
“I kind of like it,” Nicola responded with a smile, but her eyes were still wide and slightly terrified as she stared down at the ground below. “It’s the highest I’ve ever been… look at those trees down there…”
“I wouldn’t go so high if it weren’t for safety reasons,” Aleia explained. “I don’t think anything’s down there right now, but wouldn’t you prefer to be completely secure? The treetops will keep us out of sight.”
“Of course,” the brunette responded, but she grabbed hold of Aleia’s arm even tighter.
“As far as I can tell, the only things up here are bats,” Penelope said and shuddered as she gestured to the small animals swooping through the moonlight. “I’m glad those aren’t giant.”
“Something normal-sized, for once,” I sighed. “So, I wonder how many goblins live in that lair. You’re going to need to find out everything Wilfrim and Elowise know.”
“We’ll ask plenty of questions once we get to their camp,” Nicola assured me. “It feels like it’s taking forever!”
“We’re almost there,” Aleia grunted as she pulled upward on both of the other women’s bodies.
I would definitely need to ask the fairy if we could have full-on flying sex sometime.
“So, you’ll just drop the two of us off and keep going?” Penelope asked. “Oh, sister, I really hate to send you off alone.”
“I wouldn’t let her do it if I thought it was too dangerous,” I told the naiad. “I can communicate with all of you at all times, as I’m sure you know. Aleia won’t be by herself.”
“Okay,” the blue woman fretted. “This is just all so upsetting! It came out of nowhere! We only finished fighting spiders hours ago, and now there’s this, all in the same day.”
“It does feel like it’s been a long day,” Nicola admitted as she looked up at the almost-full moon and starry skies. “Penelope, aren’t you tired?”
“I am pretty exhausted,” the naiad confessed. “I don’t feel my best, but there’s no way I could sit at home while the two of you go out and rescue Roza.”
“No, of course not,” Aleia agreed. “I’m going to land now, please prepare yourselves for that.”
“Eek!” Penelope squealed. “This makes my stomach feel funny.”
As the women headed downward, the gnomes stared up at the sky.
“What am I looking at?” Elowise called out with fear in her eyes. “Hellooo up there?”
“It’s us, Elowise,” Aleia called out as she sailed to the ground with the other two priestesses in her arms. “Sorry to scare you.”
“Oh, my goodness,” the old woman said as she put her hand over her heart. “I’m not sure what the three of you are doing flying like that, but I couldn’t have handled any more trouble today. You’ve heard about Roza?”
Elowise’s eyes filled with tears, and she buried her face in her hands.
“We have,” Nicola replied as her own eyes welled up, and the brunette rubbed the short old woman on her back. “Don’t worry, Elowise, we’re going to do everything we can to get your granddaughter back to you.”
“I appreciate you girls so much,” the old woman sighed. “And thank you to Jack, as well. What are your plans?”
“Aleia is going to fly ahead and scout out the goblin cave, and we’re going to stay here with you for the time being, if that’s alright,” Penelope explained.
“Of course, sweetheart,” Elowise sniffled. “I appreciate the comfort you bring me.”
“And then, once Aleia gets back here, she’ll fly us back over to the mountains,” Penelope explained.
“So, Aleia is flying you places now?” the old woman chuckled. “Seeing you like that is the first thing that’s brought me any joy in a while.”
“It’s faster than walking,” Aleia laughed. “We want to get to baby Roza as quickly as possible.”
“Well, I appreciate that, dear,” Elowise sighed. “I never thought Orm and Robert were capable of something like this. I knew they were bad, of course, and I was worried they’d come back here and rob us, but I didn’t know they were actually horrible enough to steal our darling baby.”
“How long has Roza been gone?” Penelope asked.
“It’s been an hour or two,” the old woman said with panic in her eyes. “Oh, my Roza, where are you?”
“Mother!” Nissa said as she came rushing up to Elowise with bright red eyes and new wrinkles etched into her small face. “I didn’t know where you went, and I was afraid you were gone, too!”
“I was just talking to the girls over here,” the old gnome explained. “I was saying how glad I was for their help.”
“Oh, yes,” the blonde gnome woman said as huge teardrops ran down her round cheeks. “Thank you. This is the worst thing that has ever happened to me.”
“Of course it is,” Nicola empathized.
“Aleia, you should probably go,” I told the fairy. “We need to keep moving.”
“Is there anything I need to know before I leave?” the fairy asked as she looked around at the gnomes. “I know you used to live in the mountains, but I’ve never been that far before. How long do you think I’ll be flying?”
“At your speed, sweetie?” Elowise said. “Thirty or so minutes? Not more than an hour. But the road is winding, the trees get thinner, and it gets colder, especially at this time of night.”
“Thinner tree cover,” I mused. “Aleia, it’s a good thing you’re so small, just in case you have to hide.”
“The goblin camp is up a couple thousand feet or so,” Elowise went on. “So, it’s not too big a gain in elevation, but the path is rocky and steep, so it’s for the best you’re flying. Once you reach the foothills, you’re going to want to head southward. You’re looking for a large, rocky outcropping on the edge of the mountainside, and you’ll notice an iron gate before anything else.”
“Thank you, Elowise,” the fairy responded with a smile.
“Please tell the gnomes I’m going to do everything I can to get Roza back,” I told the priestesses. “I want them to know I’m not letting the goblins get away with this.”
“Jack says he won’t stop until Roza has returned,” Aleia told Elowise and Nissa. “He has never let us down before, and he won’t let us down now.”
“Thank you, Jack,” Nissa said as streams of tears continued to spill down her face. “I just wish I didn’t feel so helpless. I wish we could fight with you, but we can’t climb as easily as the three of you can. I certainly don’t like the idea of you girls facing danger on our account--”
“Don’t worry about us,” Aleia said as she placed her hand on the old gnome’s shoulder. “We’re prepared to do all we can, and Jack will help to protect us. You focus on tending to your family, and I’ll be back before you know it. I’ll make sure to look for clues along the way.”
“Goodbye, and good luck, Aleia,” Elowise said to the fairy. “Thank you again for all you’re doing for us.”
Aleia patted the bow on her shoulder and the sling on her belt as if to make sure they were still there, and then she turned to the other two women.
“So, there’s another bow, and you have your spears…” the fairy confirmed as she fluttered up into the air.
“Yes, I think we have everything,” Nicola said with a nod. “Thank you, sister.”
Aleia waved goodbye to the group of women, and she turned east down the road toward the mountains.
“I want you to fly really high again to stay safe,” I instructed the fairy. “I know it’s not the easiest trip, but it will be worth it once we gain more intelligence. It’s good this is all happening under the cover of night.”
“I wish I knew more about what we were getting into,” Aleia fretted.
“If you need to turn around, you need to turn around,” I told the fairy. “I like the gnomes, and I don’t want to make enemies of them, certainly, but my main concern is the lives of you, Nicola, and Penelope.”
“I understand, my lord,” the strawberry-blonde priestess sighed. “I won’t do anything to put my life at risk, and I will ensure my sisters don’t either.”
“Thank you, Aleia,” I murmured. “I’m so relieved I can rely on you.”
The little fairy blushed in the moonlight, and she tipped her chin up as she set her shoulders in a sturdy line.
The road started to wind more steeply uphill as Aleia followed it toward the mountains, and from the way her hair was whipping around, I could tell the wind had started to blow a lot harder. Despite the fact that there hadn’t been a huge gain in elevation yet, the landscape had changed to mostly pine trees, and they were a lot sparser than the thick mix of deciduous and coniferous trees down by the convent.
The fairy soared at least a hundred and fifty feet above the pines, and I thought this was high enough no one would notice her from the ground. This also meant she would be out of range of an attack from something like a bow and arrow, but she was incredibly quiet, too. Although her pale violet wings moved quickly, the motion was almost inaudible over the wind.
Aleia seemed particularly agile as she flew, and it made me realize I hadn’t checked the women’s statistics since my level up. This seemed pretty important considering they were about to fight. The priestesses had done a lot including discovering the trap door, fighting the spiders, and finding the newspaper, so I had no idea which of their numbers would increase the most.
Aleia was first.
Strength: 8
Endurance: 2
Intelligence: 2
Perception: 3
Agility: 3
Special Ability: Crafting: Develops into Alchemy: Level 8
So, Aleia’s Perception had gone up, and this didn’t surprise me because the strawberry-blonde had discovered both the trap door and the entrance to the tunnel down by the creek. The other two women would have discovered the trap door eventually, but there was no way they would have found the other door to the passageway without the fairy’s help.
Nicola was second in line.
Strength: 5
Endurance: 3
Intelligence: 1
Perception: 2
Agility: 3
Hunting/Animal Husbandry: Develops into Animal Communication: Level 8
Nicola had also gotten an increase in her Perception category, and I thought it was probably because she’d discovered the newspaper and the key.
Finally, it was time for Penelope.
Strength: 3
Endurance: 5
Intelligence: 5
Perception: 3
Agility: 3
Special Ability: Water Seeking/Fishing: Develops into Water Magic: Level 8
Penelope’s math was a little harder to figure out because the naiad still had a one-point sex boost from the night before, but I determined after a couple moments that she’d gotten an increase to her Intelligence, and I assumed it had to do with the interest she’d had in the newspaper.
When I tuned back into the world beneath me, I heard Aleia’s teeth chattering.
“I wish you had a cloak, or something,” I mused. “That seems easy to make. But how would that work with your wings?”
“F-Fairies’ clothing usually comes with slits for wings, although our priestess robes don’t need them because they’re open on the b-back.” The strawberry-blonde beauty shivered. “A cloak might be difficult to fly in, though. Maybe some sort of coat would be better for me.”
“Yeah, I don’t know much about women’s clothing,” I admitted. “Do you know how to sew?”
“Of course, my lord,” the fairy laughed. “Most women I’ve met have been taught that skill.”
“So, are we talking about you being able to fix a hole in a pair of socks, or could you make a whole coat by yourself?” I asked.
“Somewhere in between,” Aleia estimated as she pursed her lips. “I’ve made some simple garments, but nothing too elaborate. If I had a good teacher, I might be able to do more.”
I suspected that since the fairy’s special Crafting skill was up to a level ‘8,’ she already might be able to sew better than she thought.
“I’m sure you can sew well,” I assured the strawberry-blonde. “But we need to figure out where you’re going now, since it seems like we’re getting close.”
There were only pines scattered here and there on the mountainside ahead of us, along with big patches of what appeared to be bald rock. The moon shone down in an eerie way on the landscape below, and the large areas the moonlight didn’t reach almost made the hill appear haunted.
“There really aren’t that many trees,” Aleia remarked. “I’m glad I can go so high.”
“Me, too,” I agreed.
“Elowise told me to head south,” the fairy said as the wind blew her hair directly into her face, and she pushed it away impatiently. “Which way is that again?”
“Turn right and head around the mountain,” I explained.
Aleia turned, and as the ground below continued to rise, the fairy flew higher into the air than I’d ever seen her before.
“I don’t see anything, master,” the fairy said as she scanned the ground below. “Everything is all shadowy in the moonlight from all the way up here.”
“I assume they have someone on guard, so there’s probably a light somewhere,” I responded. “I think it’s safe for you to fly another fifty feet lower in this darkness, but I’ll look more closely for you. I don’t see them just going to bed for the night after kidnapping Roza.”
“You’re probably right,” the strawberry-blonde said and nodded. “There must be a visible camp. But where is it?”
“Let’s keep looking,” I replied. “I’m not ready for you to give up yet.”
“Me neither,” Aleia assured me. “But how far around the side of the mountain could it be?”
I kept my eyes peeled to the ground, but all I saw was a few creatures creeping through the trees. I even thought I saw a cougar slinking past, but it wasn’t nearly as big as the one the women had hunted, and it could have been a trick of the eye.
“Jack, are you seeing anything?” Aleia asked in an anxious voice.
“I think you should go a little bit further,” I told the strawberry-blonde. “It’s got to be here somewhere.”
“Yes, my lord.” Aleia nodded, and she continued to fly and scan the ground so I could see.
After several more watchful minutes passed in silence, I finally caught a glimpse of something.
“Aleia, wait!” I called out to the fairy. “I just saw a flash of light below.”
From ground level, I could see there were two lanterns stuck in the dirt outside a rocky cave. The entrance to the cave couldn’t have been more than five feet high, and it was covered by an intricate, black metal gate. At first sight, I thought the small opening was completely isolated on the hillside, but then I realized a gravelly trail ran directly from the cave down the side of the mountain.
I was just beginning to trace the trail to see where it began when I heard the vague sound of voices, but I wasn’t close enough to hear what they were saying.
“What is it, my lord?” Aleia asked in an anxious voice. “Is it the goblins?”
“I don’t know yet,” I answered. “I’m going to need you to fly just a little bit further.”
“Of course, master,” the fairy replied, and she started to slowly move through the air. “Tell me when to stop.”
The voices got louder the further Aleia descended, and as I stayed zoomed down to the ground, two goblins soon appeared.
“Finally,” I sighed. “It’s definitely the right place, so you can stop here.”
“Are you sure, Jack?” the fairy asked with a dubious expression. “I still can’t see anything.”
“I c
an,” I told the strawberry-blonde, and I focused directly on the two short creatures. “I’m going to try to listen to what they’re talking about.”
“I can’t wait until I’m off work tonight,” a skinny goblin with bright red skin said in a high, squeaky voice. He had the same shiny, bald head and pointy ears as Orm and Robert, but his black jacket was shorter, and I couldn’t see any gold teeth glinting in his mouth. The creature stood still with his back against the rocks next to the exterior gate, so I assumed he was some sort of guard. “I have a date, you know.”
“Are you sure about that?” his shorter, larger companion asked. This goblin was more of a mauve color, and he spoke in a much deeper tone. “Or are you just making shit up again?”
“I don’t make things up!” the first goblin replied in his high-pitched voice, and I decided I was going to call him Squeaky. “There’s a girl, and I’m seeing her tonight.”
“What’s her name?” the other creature demanded in a baritone, and I dubbed him Deep.
“You wouldn’t know her, she’s from another clan,” Squeaky answered.
Classic excuse.
“Sureee,” Deep scoffed. “I’ll know when I see her right in front of my face, but I’d sooner believe a frog was going to grow wings. I suppose I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt this time, though. When are you meeting her?”
“In about four hours, after we’re done with this watch shift,” the other goblin replied.
That seemed like odd timing for a date, and I wondered if the goblins were nocturnal. I also wondered if there were other goblin clans all over this mountain. The idea was an unsettling one, given how close this mountain was to my convent, but it would make sense if this guard had a hot goblin date set up for this evening.
Which was also an unsettling idea, and I decided not to dwell on the notion of goblin courtship as I considered his bulbous belly, and red, fleshy face.
“The guard says he gets off work in around four hours,” I told Aleia. “If there’s a changing of the guard then, we probably don’t want to be around. But we need to make sure there’s enough time left for you to go back and get Nicola and Penelope.”
“I think we have plenty of time,” the strawberry-blonde said as she looked up at the sky again. “I can fly fast.”
