"You're saying I'm not going to believe you?"
"That's part of it."
Ryson found the explanation feeble, if not totally inaccurate. Bizarre creatures and events were common throughout Uton. He accepted them just as he accepted the legitimacy of the legends. No one could accuse him of being so shortsighted as to disregard possible threats, no matter how fantastic.
"I've seen some things…"
Heteera cut him off.
"I can imagine what you have seen, and I understand the power of the magical energies. Events beyond sanity have already taken place in this land, and you have been much in the center of it. I imagine there is very little that would truly surprise you, but even the curiosity of the most open-minded delver has limits." She looked upon both Ryson and Linda and could see they remained skeptical. "Let me ask you this: If I told you a colossal giant with three heads-taller than a dozen houses stacked one upon the other-stepped out of the western seas and took prisoners of port cities, would you believe me?"
Ryson didn't answer.
"You've seen incredible things since the return of the magic," Heteera continued, "but that sounds a bit much, doesn't it?"
"A monster like that wouldn't be able to hide. Stories of it would fly across the land. I haven't heard anything about…"
"What if I was simply the first to make it through from the coast, the first to tell the story? Maybe news of the encounter just hasn't reached you."
"But it would eventually."
"And you wouldn't have to take my word for it, correct?"
"Well, it doesn't hurt to confirm things."
"And if I wait for you to get some confirmation of the danger I'm talking about, it will be too late."
"Are you saying that there is such a monster?"
"No, I'm not. I'm using it as an example. I'm trying to explain that some things are difficult to explain. Sometimes just words of a problem aren't enough, especially in this case. There are certain topics, certain descriptions, that would, by their very nature, invite reservation. And that is only half of my dilemma. Part of the threat that is coming has not taken any form. I'd like to be specific about the danger, but at this point, I can't be sure. That's the other part of my problem in explaining it to you. Without form, I cannot give you an honest appraisal of the threat."
Ryson acknowledged there was some merit to the sorceress' concern. If she, in fact, did not want to lie or embellish her concerns about an unknown threat just to get the delver's compliance, then perhaps it would be difficult for her to be more accommodating. He searched for other answers that might be easier to obtain.
"Where is it you want to lead me?"
"To the southwest-not terribly far, but beyond the forest-to the border lands between Dark Spruce and the Lacobian."
Mention of the location sparked Ryson's curiosity. He had just been very close to those badlands, and he had felt something strange in the distance. If the woman hoped for credibility, she had just gained some, but only to a degree. The delver also understood the power of magic. His interest in the area had remained fresh in his mind and a powerful sorceress might just be feeding his own curiosity, using it against him. Thus, he remained cautious.
"But you can't give me any kind of indication of what's there?"
"I'd rather not. I don't know how else to explain it to you. If I try, I'm worried that you will either misjudge the problem or me. It's better you see for yourself and come to your own conclusion."
Ryson looked away. He was given so little information, and yet, so many things pulled at him. He had indeed seen many incredible sights over the past few seasons. And it seemed that every new day brought something beyond the previous spectacle. Whether it be monsters or miracles, the magic had reshaped the land in countless ways.
This story, however, had no true substance, only a plea for assistance by a sorceress who claimed great power and warned of some shadowed threat. It was not a request that could be validated in any way. He couldn't pick apart the facts from any possible embellishments because he had no true description from which to start.
He had heard so many other stories in that tavern, mostly exaggerated yarns or inflated half-truths. And yet, there was now an underlying reality to even the most outlandish tale. If you wanted an adventure, you did not have to travel far. DarkSpruceForest was a gathering point for dark creatures of varied types, as were the ColadMountains. The LacobianDesert was becoming even more mysterious than the other two combined, with spell casters utilizing the barren lands as a stage to manage their new found abilities.
Was the sorceress exaggerating the threat?
She said that was what she hoped to avoid, but sometimes leaving things unsaid did more to heighten a conceived threat than by describing it in the most inflated fashion.
Again, Ryson thought of his earlier encounter with the swallit. The creature used illusion against the delver's sword, a trick to make him sheath the weapon. Was this just another trick?
What did he know of her? She stated she could cast white magic. If that was a lie, it was a risky one. If it wasn't, she had power and she shouldn't be ignored.
Ryson shook his head and then focused on the floor. He placed an imaginary flame-very small, that of a candle-on a blank space. He wiped all the thoughts from his mind as he concentrated on his greatest concern. He finally spoke, but would not look up from the floor at Heteera. He kept his mind on the practical, on the measured response of logic, and kept his curious instincts in check.
"I have to tell you, I've been through this kind of thing before-all my life, in fact. People know I'm a delver, and if they want something from me, some will try and use it against me. They throw one mystery after another at me. They usually do it because they want to trick me."
"I'm not trying to trick you."
"I don't know you, but you came to see my wife first. You tell me you need to speak to Enin, but he won't see you. Even so, you say you cast white magic. If that's true, I would think he would want to speak with you. You're afraid Holli will kill you, and I have no idea why. You sum it all up with a notion that there's a threat that has to be stopped. It's a delver hunt, one mystery after another."
"And that's why I came to your wife first. I was hoping that she would look upon my words in a different manner. I couldn't entice her on a delver hunt. As for being mysterious, it's not my intention. I'm not trying to offer a mystery that needs to be solved or some treasure that needs to be discovered. I'm trying to get you to simply see for yourself what it is that I can't explain. Let your own eyes be the judge. It's not going to seem any more plausible to you if I explain the danger. You know I'm a sorceress. You're going to wonder if I'm manipulating you."
And with that said, Ryson made an admission, and once more looked upon Heteera.
"I think you might be trying to manipulate me now."
"If I was using magic to manipulate you, why would I want your wife present? The magic can't touch her."
A valid question, and one that met Ryson's logic with wisdom of its own. He faced Linda.
"Do you believe her?"
"I believe she's afraid of something out there and I believe she feels terribly guilty about something. That's all I can say for sure, but I still don't want you going out there with her unless she tells you what she's afraid of."
Ryson nodded as he returned his focus to the stranger.
"I believe you're not trying to trick me, but she's right, it's not enough. The simple truth is that I'm not going to just follow you unless you give me something more to go on."
"I do not think it will help to tell you anything further."
Ryson frowned as he came to his decision and revealed it with blunt honesty.