59 Winey Ides (1/2)
Nelda's Top Five Prophecy Priorities
5) How can we get SmithGuild back to his proper form?
4) How do I, or any of us, get better control of our potential ”magical” abilities?
3) Can anyone still move between Mirth and Earth?
2) Is Brenda Watson on Mirth?
1) How do we resurrect the unicorn?
[Should I move #5 up a bit higher?]
They had been walking for what seemed like most of the day and taking turns telling their wishes to Typho, who claimed to have the best memory. Nelda's turn had yet to come. She would like to ask where the Jasper had got the doll's eye from.But some nasty little instinct told her she should just keep that discover to herself.For now.
The sky was starting to get dark again. [How many days are between us and this possible war... and worse?]The marron tinted clouds seemed to hang heavy with bad omens.
Turning back, she saw SmithGuikd struggling along just behind her. He had mastered an authentic array of human gestures either by instinct or copying Nelda, but was still palpably awkward in his primate body.
[I'd probably miss having claws and wings too. Who wouldn't? But more to the point, why did every other person portaled over here in a human form apparently unconsciously chose to arrive as something else?]
”Ah.” SmithGuild pointed to a moss-draped stone.On closer inspection, it bore some faded indentations. They resembled something akin to hieroglyphs.
BugleHead peered at them.”That one looks like a cock,” he said.
”Centaurs use a language of symbols,” SmithGuild said. ”This is a message saying who is in charge of this land, and what rules visitors are expected to abide by.”
”Oh, so – is it saying he is a male centaur?” Nelda suggested.
SmithGuild rubbed his chin, looking bashful.”No. The earlier part” – he pointed – ”says that he is a seer and you should bring him forms of liquor, fortified forms by preference.It says anyone not doing so, or anyone that belongs to the Belmare herd, can, uh, fuck off.That is the colloquial meaning fo the combination of the phallus with the fust symbol.”
”I could think of friendlier meanings,” BugleHead remarked.