The five mile way would be long in the real world. Fortunately, role-players are not millionaires to spend months reaching their enemies. The road falls under our feet miraculously fast. Maybe role-players agreed to consider it an action of the spell…
We ascend to the cliffs and start circling along the path. Several times it seems to me that I recognize the place where I was scaring the hobbit but it always turns out that I'm wrong. The road was created in a hack-workers' way, assembled from repeating elements.
Finally Vika notices the tracks going into the fir grove from the road. Not well enough did we hide Unfortunate, any fighter lagging after the army would notice him. Without an agreement we walk faster, what if he's not here already?
But Unfortunate is there and even not alone. He sits leaning against the tree trunk and tells something to the hobbit, drinking from the flask. The hobbit, squatted against Unfortunate laughs effusively. Noticing us, he jumps up and grabs his little dagger.
Just look at him… this kid can be brave, at least when a helpless guy is behind his back.
– We're friends! – says Vika raising her hands. – We came with peace!
– I'm Elenium the Healer, – I support her. Will Unfortunate recognize us I wonder?
– Hi Lenia, – he says with a smile.
– I'm Harding! – informs us the hobbit hiding his dagger, – Haven't you seen Conan around? A tall guy with a fiery sword?
– That Conan have robbed the kid, – says Unfortunate very seriously, only his eyes are smiling.
– No, he's not that bad! – the hobbit defends his offender suddenly, – He then left all my supplies to Alien { exactly this word is in the original, but in Russian transcription }, he understood he needs them more!
– To whom? – me and Vika ask together.
– To Alien… – repeats the hobbit not suspecting anything, – To him. He broke his leg.
How interesting.
I approach Unfortunate and undo the cast on his leg, then shake out the contents of my bag to the snow. I don't have a slightest idea about how to heal in this imaginary world.
– So your name is Alien? – I ask. Unfortunate keeps silence.
I open one of the jars, the stinky green ointment is inside. I roll up the trouser-leg and spread it along Unfortunate's leg. After a little thinking I also stick several dry leaves on top of it and declare:
– The fracture will heal in five minutes.
The situation is absolutely simple. I'm able to heal the wounds in this world. Unfortunate appeared here with an injured limb. Now, when I opened my bag and spent some of its contents for Unfortunate, the computer that supports Lorien and its suburbs must restore the functioning of the drawn body.
– What if it doesn't work? – asks Harding curiously.
– Then we'll carry your… hm… friend to the city.
– Thanks, – says the hobbit sincerely, – I have only 3 strength points, I wouldn't be able to lift him.
He hesitates for a moment, then asks:
– Will you manage it alone?
– Sure.
– Then I'll run, okay? Back to the city… I was here for so long, will be punished for that.
Surely a kid.
– Okay… Run, – I say feeling conscience-stricken. Harding trots to the path, then shouts:
– But beware of Conan! Just in case…
Vika whispers in my ear:
– Conan the Victor over Hobbits!
– Cut this out, – I ask, – It's shameful enough already…
We wait for several minutes in silence, postponing the talk with Unfortunate. We need to wait for the healing results first.
– Okay, stand up, – commands Vika.
Unfortunate leans on the leg, unsure, rises a little, makes one step, another…
– Does it hurt? – I ask with curiosity of the real doctor.
He shakes his head.
– Then let's go to the city.
– And what's then? – Unfortunate squints his eyes at Vika, but she is silent, I have to reply:
– Then you'll have to make your choice after all. We don't have any more time for riddles.
One can't call the return to Lorien a triumphant one. The guards by the gates look at us disdainfully – we have left two hours ago and obviously didn't catch up with the army. There's no malicious phrases though, but I decide to explain anyway:
– He convinced us to train more, – I nod at Unfortunate, – Not too much use from us yet.
An explanation not worse than any other. Let them think of us as of newbies, too self assured in the beginning but repented in time.
– Is this Lorien? – asks Unfortunate while we drag ourselves along the snow-white trees tangled by stairs like Christmas trees with garlands.
– Exactly. Now we'll exit to the street and will finally fix our business. – I throw carelessly.
– I can't explain anything anyway, – says Unfortunate.
– Then we'll part. We'll part forever, man. – I don't lie and don't blackmail him. I need to hide, a long and boring task. To hide in small one-horse towns where calculators are called computers, and Vika needs to restore her business.
Vika looks at me askance but stays silent. She understands, she knew that I'll have to leave.
Unfortunate raises his head and looks into the sky pierced by mallorns.
– You can stay here if you want, you don't have to pay phone bills, do you? – I ask.
– No.
– … And neither have you to exit into reality to have a snack.
He remains silent.
– You'll earn a thousand points, will become cool and respected, – I reason aloud, – Some time I'll come here, will knock quietly and ask: "How can I find the wise Alien?". And maybe then you'll take a risk to tell me the truth.
– I don't have too much time either, Leonid.
– Oh come on! What does a couple of years mean to you… after hundreds of years … of silence?
Unfortunate stops, we gaze into each other's eyes.
– Hey guys, it looks like I became the less informed in our company suddenly. – says Vika.
– Everything is simple, Vika. Very simple. When you cast aside the impossible, then unbelievable becomes the truth.
Even Unfortunate is in disarray.
There's still something missing in that long chain of conditions that would allow him to talk.
– Let's go, – I ask, – Let's not confuse poor Elves… we'll never become a part of their tale.
The exit from Lorien is through the same gateway, only this time the gatekeeper doesn't bug us with his questions.
– Make your decision Unfortunate, – I say opening the door, – I'm not joking, I'm really tired of these riddles.
Only exiting into the street I understand that it'll be me to decide anyway.
Man Without Face stands five away meters or so, with hands crossed on his chest, gazing at us with the fog from beneath ash-colored hair, the black cloak spread above the dirty pavement. And he's not alone.
Three bodyguards stand behind his back, two more fly in the air a bit further. Their flight isn't made as ironically as Zuko's winged slippers – droning jet knapsacks are behind their backs. They are not high, just a couple of meters above the ground and the whole scene reminds me of some ancient, pre-virtual era game…
– Bravo, diver, – says Man Without Face.
Vika is the first one to come to herself.
– Were it your assholes who ruined my institution? – she starts aggressively.
The fog above the cloak's collar waves slightly.
– Check your account baby and then decide whether you have any right to feel hurt.
Another move – the nonexistent face turned towards me.
– The warehouse where we had our talk is located at 42 Nukem Street. Go and take what was promised to you.