Book 4: “Alone Into The Underwyrld!” Page 8
BRYAN SEES THE LIGHT! . . . FINALLY.
or
SHAK-RLA VOTES WITH HER FEET
Greetings, most honored reader!
Did you ever have a boss who acted like he knew everything, could do no wrong, and when he did do something wrong, blamed it on you? I know I have—and it’s no fun! I think we can agree that the Iron Dragon’s guardsmen are in a similar situation now with Bryan. They just can’t do right!
But you really must excuse Bryan for his boorish behavior. He wasn’t always like this. It might even be that you and I would act the same if we were –like Bryan—petty bureaucrat-pampered-wannabe-aristocrat-turned-dwarf-via-mystical-resurrection sons of dictators, so that we became laughing stocks and abhorred in the very same high society circles we once lorded over. That would be very much like Bryan’s situation now. Before his resurrection, he was actually a pretty nice lad.
Nor should we think that something about being a Dwarf has anything to do with it. True, Dwarves could be suspicious, clannish, and insular as I mentioned HERE, but nothing about that made a Dwarf inherently a bully.
Of course Bryan is concerned for his sister Nikki, like any good brother, so we can forgive him his loutish behavior (this time!).
But wait—speaking of Nikki—she somehow escaped Shak-rla’s powerful ESP ability—and!—it turns out she’s not the only spy in the room! This man—The Shot!—he was also a spy! But for whom? And how did Shak-rla overlook Nikki’s traitorous thoughts? Why didn’t she find two spies—instead of just one?
Could it be that Nikki’s own latent powerful Elvin telepathic abilities (abilities of which even Nikki herself does not yet realize) have somehow shielded her from the Doppelganger’s telepathic scans? Could be. But will she escape a second scan?
Let us peer again into the sub-cellar lair of these Bordertown gang members next week to find out, honored reader, as well as to discover what this man, The Shot, will do next. Until then,
With Health & Cognescentii blessings,
~The Traveller