"What?"
"Examination Room;" Fizban translated. "I missed the rest. You really must speak slower," I-ie said, shaking his staff at the dome.
The gnome nodded, but his bright eyes were fixed an Fizban's staff. Then, seeing it was just plain, slightly battered wood, the gnome returned his attention to the mage and kender.
"Outsiders," he said. "rIltryand'member . . . I will try and remember, so do not worry because'-he nova spoke slowly and distinctly-"your weapon will not be harmed since we are merely going to render a drawing-"
"Really." interrupted Tas, rather flattered. "I could give yarn a demcnstration of how it works, if you like."
The gnome's ewes brightened. "'Thatwou;vdbeznuch-"
'And now:' interrupted the kender again, feeling pleased chat he was learning to communicate, "what is your name?•'
THE DRAGONS OF WINTER NIGHT
Fizban made a quick gesture, but too late.
"Gnoshoshallamarianininillisyylphanitdisdisslishxdie-"
He paused to draw a breath.
"Is that your name?" Tas asked, astounded.
The gnome let his breath out. "Yes;" he snapped, a bit disconcerted. "It's my first name, and now if you'll let me proceed-"
"Wait!" cried Fizban. "What do your friends call you?"
The gnome sucked in a breath again. "Gnoshoshallamarioninillis-"
"What do the knights call you?"
"Oh"-the gnome seemed downcast-"Gnash, if you-"
"Thank you," snapped Fizban. "Now, Gnash, we're in rather a hurry. War going on and all that. As Lord Gunthar staked in his communique, we must see this dragon orb:'
Gnosh's small, dark eyes glittered. His hands twisted nervously. "Of course, you may see the dragon orb since Lord Gunthar has requested it, but-if l might ask-what is your interest in the orb besides normal curi-?"
"I am a magic-user=" Fizban began.
"Magicuser!" the gnome stated, forgetting, in his excitement, to speak slowly. "Comethiswayimmediatelytothe Examination room sincethedragonorbwasrnadebymagicuser
Both Tas and Fizban blinked uncomprehendingly,
"Ol,., just come-" the gnome said impatiently.
Before they quite knew what was. happening; the gnome talking-hustled them through the mountain's entrance, setting off an inordinate number of bells and whistles.
"Examination Room:?" Tas said in an under-tone to Fizban as the}• hurried after Gnash. "What does that mean? They wouldn't have hurt it, would they?"
"I don't think so" Fizban muttered, his bushy white eye
brows coming together in an ominous V -shape over his nose. "Gunthar sent knights to guard it, remember:'
"Then what are you worried about?" Tas asked.
"The dragon orbs are strange things. Very powerful. _'Ay fear;" said Fizban more to himself than to Tas, "is that they may try to use it!"
"But the book I read in Tarsis said the orb could control dragons!" Tas whispered. "Isn't that good? I mean, the orbs aren't evil, are they?"
"I don't suppose;" Fizban asked in a hopeless tone, "that the Examination Room would be on the ground level?"
Gnosh shook his head. "Examination Room on level fifteen-"
The old mage heaved a heart-rending sigh.
Suddenly there was a horrible grinding sound that set Tas's teeth on edge.
"Ah, they're ready for us. Come along-" Gnosh said.
Tas leaped after him gleefully as they approached a giant catapult. A gnome gestured at them irritably, painting to a long line of gnomes waiting their turn. Tas jumped into the seat of the huge sling catapult, staring eagerly up into the shaft, Above him, he could see gnomes peering down at him from various balconies, all of them surrounded by great machines, whistles, rapes, and huge, shapeless things hanging from the sides of the wall like bats. Gnosh stood beside him, scolding.
"Elders first, young man, so get outoftherethis instantandlet"-he dragged Tasslehoff out of the seat with remarkable strength="the magicusergofirst="
'Uh that's quite all right." Fizban protested, stumbling backwards into a pile of rape. "I-I seem to recall a spell of mine that will take me right to the tap. Levitate. How did that g-go? v Just give me a moment:"
"You were the one in a hung-" Gnosh said severely, glaring at Fizban. The gnomes standing in line began to shoat rudely, pushing and shoving and jask:iing.
"t7h, vep,r well;' the old mage snarled, and file climbed into'; the seat, with Gnosh's help. The gnome operating the lever that' launched the catapult yelled something a': Gnosh which sounded like "whalevel?"
Gnoshpainted up, yelling, back. "SiFimbos5~'
The chief walked over to stand in front of the first o? a series; of five levers. An inordinate number of ropes stretched upward info infinity. Fizban sat miserably in the seat of the catapult stir trying to recall his Spell.
"Now;" yelled Gnosh, drawing Tas closer so he could have the advantage of an excellent. view, "in just a moment, the chief will give the signal, there it is-"
The chief pulled on one of the ropes.
"What does that do?" Tas interrupted.
"The rope rings a bell on Skimbosh-er-level fifteen, telling them to expect an arrival-"
"What if the bell doesn't ring?" Fizban demanded loudly.
"Then a second bell rings telling them that the first bell didn t-"
"What happens down here if the bell didn't ring?"