Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #14 May 2015 | Page 28

ney. I’m beginning to think it’s you who is senile, not
Manfred. It cannot be coincidence that he was there
when we needed him. I can’t spend half a day inside a
tree. It’s inhumane treatment.”
“I agree with Dawit,” Taran said. “About the naked
man,” he added hurriedly. “Someone or something
has been following us. It would seem that whoever it
is has our interests at heart, at least for the moment.
You could learn a lot from an afternoon with Old Man
Willow. You are a dwarf; you are used to living in the
dark, in a cramped underground mine. Surely inside a
tree is not so bad?”
Dawit muttered something incomprehensible as
Jhamed butted in. “They will not come for us today.
They might come back, keep watch, and demand
our surrender. They cannot step on the grass without
falling foul of their own laws. They need the requisite
paperwork completed before they do so. It will take
at least a day to get it all approved by the magistrate.
Relax and rest, we will leave at sunset.”
“When all this is over, I will take you to see the caverns in First Delve. Then you will understand that life
underground is not all cramped darkness. They will
astound you. I guarantee it.” Dawit was still fretting
about Taran’s remark.
“I look forward to the day when we have the time and
the freedom to do