Ralph and the Pixie

‘He is no mere blacksmith,’ Cyphallus replied. ‘He is mighty in craft, and a warrior of great renown, if rumour be true.’

‘And Pran the traitor has brought these three into our midst, thinking to defy My will,’ the King said, ‘no doubt acting on behalf of that upstart, the Thane of Mirrindale! I should have crushed those traitors along with those filthy Merchants who attempted to usurp my power! Curse them!

‘Yet, it is done. The thing is made, and the Pixie woman searches for the Earth Mother, even as we speak. What can be done? How may she be captured and slain, this periapt taken and destroyed?’

Cyphallus smiled, knowingly.

‘There are creatures,’ he said, ‘seldom spoken of, but ready to your hand, should you choose to invoke them. They are evil, yes; far more evil than Goblins, more deadly, and dangerous to all. But they are possessed of the power of flight; they could intercept this Faerie vermin and her little toy by tomorrow’s eve.’

‘What be these creatures?’ the King asked, eyeing the little Loremaster warily.

Answering him indirectly, Cyphallus replied, ‘Many years ago, when experimentation took place with a Lore that was still in its infancy, certain . . . mistakes . . . were made. Spells were invoked, with utterly no foreknowledge of possible consequences. Still, what choice was there but to enact a spell and see what happened, in the face of an utter lack of knowledge and experience?