Teri McLaren
Dunsan's appearance had stopped her long enough for Og to squirm loose from her grip and drop gracelessly to the ground.
"I have to find Cheyne. Does he yet lodge with Wiggulf?" the songmage asked.
"He left to go to his father. They are up the path a bit. I can lead you," said Dunsan, slicing through the ropes still binding Og's hands.
Og strode quickly after him, with Womba right on his heels. Dunsan wove through the forest until they came upon Cheyne's party. Yob and a Neffian were with him: they were transporting a wounded man between them, moving along the path Cheyne and Og had taken to the selkies' lodge earlier.
"Cheyne! Yob! Help!" he cried.
Cheyne halted the group, and Yob took off after his daughter. Moments later, he came walking back with Womba, unconscious and draped over his shoulders, with Og rubbing his bruised hands, but making his own way beside them.
Cheyne had no smile for Og. "Where have you been? We needed your help." Og followed his stony stare as it fell upon the wounded man.
"Well…* For once, Og was speechless. He bent to look at the man, but when he touched Javin's cold hand, he drew back. "He's dead. Who was he?"
Doulos bowed and answered. "He is the young Muje's father, the true king of Sumifa. And he lives yet. But if we cannot get help for him, he will die very soon."
Og pulled at his scrip and emptied the stones into his hand, making ready to sing the life song. But after the first few notes into the melody, the light generated by the two stones faded and died away, leaving Og croaking the words out of tune and so tired he could hardly move.
"What is the poison? I cannot unsing this," he marveled.
"It's the Ninnites' dark magic, Og."