It was the Silver Surfer who first said it, as he gazed out over the city. “For truly, there are worlds within worlds.”
Amusing about how deep he was looking. For all one has to do is to step outside your front door, maybe chat with a friend on IM, look at the newspaper; to find out that there are so many worlds out there.
Each person lives in their world and at the same time, in other’s worlds. And people get together and form their own worlds, societies. We are ignorant of them until we stumble across them. But as we watch, we find that there are people thoroughly sucked into their worlds.
Maybe it’s the world of people who like lots of tattoos, perhaps they are Monopoly fanatics, NASCAR groupies. So many.
And there is poor Willow. Not only does she play online in Worlds of Warcraft, but then at times, plays in the World of Warthog.
And in my world, the rules change as I need them.
And all it takes sometimes, is for me to get an image, which I make into a scene, and then weave a small story around it.
So we shall leave the world of Fantail, Suave, Pip, Varnish, Wonder Girl, Filet, Yen-up and all the rest; and see what happens when the Warcraft, the Willow and the Warthog’s worlds mix.
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A Strange Tail
By G.W Hogg
©4-22-2006
For truly, there are worlds within worlds.
S.Surfer
The band was almost to the end of the small valley, when a group of Goblins stepped out of the bushes. The two groups paused and looked each other over. Twelve Goblins stared at the seven humans.
“Who dares our valley?” The Goblin leader called out.
Willow stepped forward. “The Amber Band does.” She said as she planted her feet and stared at the diminutive creature.
“Who is this youth before us, not even old enough to sprout a beard!” He took a second look. “Why this thin sapling is just a mere girl!” He laughed, as did the rest of the Goblins.
Nothing pissed off young Willow more than someone making fun of her size, much less her age. In one smooth motion she drew her rapier and lunged forward, the thin blade piercing his throat. The Goblin leader’s laugher died to a gurgle, as his throat filled with blood. He looked shocked for a second, then death darkened his eyes and he collapsed.
The rest of the Goblins screamed in anger and reached for their weapons, but the Amber Band was already on them and their end came quickly.
Willow bent down and wiped the blood off her rapier with the dead Goblin’s cloak, then sheathed it.
Her man walked up to her and lightly touched her on the shoulder. “It always amazes me how you handle your sword. It’s as if it is an extension of your arm.”
She smiled up at him, pleased at his praise. “A wonderful man suggested it to me once and helped train me on it.”
He loved to see her smile like that. “A great swordsman?”
“Good, but a better teacher.”
Her man turned to the rest of the band. “Search for any booty, then drag the carcasses into the bushes. We have a lot of ground to cover if we are to reach the village before nightfall.” He turned back and watched Willow as she walked over to the knapsack the Goblin leader had dropped near the bushes. He marveled at the fluid motion of her slim, lithe figure. Such a pretty young woman, and so deadly. As graceful when she dances with him, as when she dances with a sword.
The rest of the men gathered around him and they waited for Willow to finish. Though he was the leader of the group, they all looked to Willow for her knowledge.
“Just a few coppers and this odd knife.” And she held up a small dagger in a simple sheath. “Maybe enough for a tankard of ale. A small Tankard.” And the men laughed.
“Anything special about?”
“I doubt it.”
“Never hurts to try, Willow.”
“I guess you’re right.” She unsheathed the dagger, revealing a sharp, but badly nicked blade. She held the dagger in her left hand and deftly wove a small detection spell around the dagger. “Harrumph! Not even a glow. Oh well.” And she sheathed the dagger and put it in her pack.
“Let’s move boys, we’re burning daylight.”
They set off into the bushes and the valley floor began to rise. Soon they were into a stand of trees and the cool shade made their trek easier.
When they crested the ridge, they could not see into the next valley. But everyone smelled the wood smoke, so they knew they were on the right track. The trees began to thin, as the walked down the gentle slope. Just as it leveled off, they emerged from the trees and low bushes into a well plowed field. In the distance ahead, they could see the village, surrounded by a stockade. The south gate was open and there appeared to be a large man leaning against the side of the opening.
“Okay boys.” Willow said. “Looks like we’ll get a good meal tonight.”
“Just one guard?” Someone said behind her.
“And he looks, odd”
“We’ll know soon enough.” And they all began walking to the dirt path next to the field. The figure in the door didn’t move.
When they had covered half the distance, Willow held up her hand to halt them. “Something’s not right.” She had felt a subtle change, as if they had passed from one world into another. She backed up a few paces and could feel a difference. “Yes. There is an odd spell around this place. She closed her eyes and spread out her hands. Yes, there was a spell at work here, but she could not detect its purpose. She frowned as she concentrated.
“What is it, my love?”
“I cannot tell, but we just crossed a line of sorts.”
“A protection spell?”
“No, I know those. No, it’s there, but I cannot tell its purpose.”
Her man shrugged off his pack and retrieved his small telescope. He surveyed the landscape. “Everything looks normal.” He said, then looked towards the village. “What manner of fell creature is that!” He exclaimed as he took the scope from his eyes and passed it to Willow.
She look through the tube and studied the creature leaning against the stockade opening. He was huge and looked like a man. But there was an oversized head on top of his massive shoulders. That his head was covered with brown-gray hair was not unusual. It was the four tusks that came out of his elongated mouth. He was, ugly was the only word. Big eyes and big ears sprouting out of the side of his head. And a laughably small tall stuck out from the back of his trousers.
“I know not what kind of creature this is, but we shall know soon enough. Let move.”
When they were within fifty paces of the stockade opening, the creature straightened and moved to the center of the opening.
“Shall I talk to him, Willow?”
“No, there is something oddly familiar about this ugly creature. Let me approach him and talk to him. I am less threatening, though I don’t feel that much can threaten him.”
Her man chuckled. “Less threatening, amusing. Well, I have always trusted your judgment.”
Willow dropped her pack and approached the huge creature. Though she was slim, she was tall; but the creature’s shoulders were well above her head. His bulk seemed to fill the doorway and he looked completely at ease at her approach. He was wearing simple, short brown trousers and a tunic. He appeared to carry no weapons, except what looked like a short, flat piece of wood thrust casually in his wide leather belt. It looked as if there might be writing on the flat stick.
The closer she got, the more familiar he seemed. Well, this was a strange land and many familiar things looked different here.
She stopped ten feet from him and waited. He looked her over several times and then his face split into a huge, tooth-filled grin.
“Hail and well met, young Willow.”
“You know me?”
“As you knew me.”
“I have never seen you before.”
“Ah, despite your progress youngster, you still have much to learn. Perhaps, with time.”
Willow bristled at being called young. “Youngster! I’ll have you know…”
“I know.” He said, stopping her in mid sentence. “I have been waiting days for your arrival. I thought you would have made better time. But perhaps you don’t know where you are really going?”
This infuriated her. Question her experience, then mock her skills! She took a few steps forward, muttering a spell under her breath, her hands weaving the intricate patterns that would teach this creature a lesson!
In one smooth motion, the creature pulled the flat stick from his belt, took two giant strides towards her and brought it down hard on the knuckles of her left hand.
She stood there, stunned, the spell forgotten, her left hand smarting painfully.
The creature took a step back and grinned. “It’s thumb to index finger, then to ring finger. Not ring, then index.” And he laughed. “But you always had trouble with that spell.”
She knew this creature now! She remembered the smarting pain of the strange flat stick, the lines on it and the odd runes. And his laugh confirmed it.
“Warty!” She exclaimed and then ran to his arms that now opened.
His huge arms wrapped around her and they hugged.
When he finally released her, he held her at arms length and looked her over. “Ah Willow, you are grown up now, but I could not resists teasing you.”
“I did not recognize you!”
“In this land, I appear very different.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. Perhaps because I am different things to different people.”
“But still a warthog, underneath?” And she smiled at him.
He smiled back. It was like an older Uncle, smiling at his niece.
“What brings you to my little village?”
“There is a castle, a some leagues to the North. We have a mission to accomplish there.”
“I know the place. Good and evil avoid it.”
“So we have heard. But there is an item we are looking for.”
“For good, or evil?”
“Both.”
“Interesting. You side with The Horde.”
“It is the side my Man is aligned with.”
“And you? I once said you were an angel, but with a smudge. Perhaps now you are more smudge, than Angel?”
“Perhaps.”
“ I could never guide your destiny, only provide you with skills.”
“I know. But you did well.”
“That I can see. You are healthy and unscarred.”
“And I have a band.”
“That follows your man, but looks to you for guidance?”
“Yes.”
“You have done well. Now, what do you need from my small village?”
“Your village?”
“They look to me for guidance.”
“I see. Well, we need food for our bellies and for the rest of our trip. A good nights sleep would do us well.”
“That can be provided. If you travel up the south road here, you will find the village square. On the left will be stores that sell provisions. The Inn on the left is simple, but good. The Inn on the right side has more luxuries, but at a greater cost.”
“Thank you.”
“And I need to thank you for dispatching the Goblins to the south. They have been a nuisance for some time now. Mention my name at the Inn and you will be taken care of.”
“Is there anything else?”
“Yes. Keep you affiliations to yourselves. The villagers don’t care much for outsiders, much less the Horde.”
“I will have my band keep to themselves.”
“And make sure they behave!” And his hand touched the wand in his belt.
“You have my word, my friend, we will all be on our best behavior.”
“As I expect from any group that follows you.”
She smiled.
He always like that smile on her. “Now I have business to attend to. I will meet you at the North gate at sunrise and see you off. And perhaps with a few items that may assist you on your quest.”
She turned and waved to her band and they started forward. When she turned back, her friend had vanished.
It was just past sunrise when her band arrived at the North gate. They were well rested and their bellies were full for the first time in a month. The Warthog was there waiting, a big smile on his huge face.
“Good morning.” He called out.
“And a good morning to you my friend.” Said Willow. As she and her band formed up in front of him.
“Your destination is but three days march up that valley.” And he pointed to the North East. “There should be little trouble with any creatures in the forest.”
“And the weather?”
“It will hold for the next week. Plenty of time for you to finish your quest and return here.”
“We had not planned that far.”
“It will be best for you all to return here. There are things in the castle that may follow you, unseen. I can be of assistance.”
“No one mentioned that last night and we heard many stories.”
“Like I said, good and evil avoid the castle. There is good reason for that.”
“I will follow your council.”
“Then it is time for me to speed you on your way.”
“You would not consider accompanying us at least part of the way?”
“I would enjoy your company, young Willow. And I can imagine your band is full of interesting stories. But alas, my place is here; and you have all the skills you need.”
She smiled and walked up to him and gave him a huge hug, which he returned. She looked up into his huge eyes. “Thank you my friend, for your help.”
“You are most welcome. You and your band are always welcome here.”
“Then we are on our way.”
“Good luck, all of you. Oh, and Willow; leave the goblin’s dagger in the castle. It came from there a century ago. It’s return may help you.”
“Again, my thanks for your advice my friend.” Then she turned to her band.” Come on boys, were burning daylight here!”
The warthog watched them until they were out of sight. He would see them again, in six and a half days. But he feared the band would be a few men short. At least Willow would return. It saddened his heart, that she was aligned with the darker forces. But he knew also, that the light in her soul was still there, only obscured.
G.W. Hogg
