The goblin clapped its clawed hands over its ears. It peered at the dark sky from under a furrowed brow. You must not speak the ancients name, it said.
The gift is in the loam, Smara said, her pupilless eyes staring up at the sky.
Yes, the gift in the wherever, Sorin said. He turned to the goblin. Well, lead on then, he said.
Wait, Anowon said. The vampire had advanced on the goblin and was not less than an arm s length away.
I did not see you. I did not smell you, he said.
But I saw you, vampire, the goblin said. I saw you held outside the doors as the magic wielders fought. And the dragon. And I saw you
That is enough, Anowon said, holding up his hand.
A sly smile spread across the goblin s dry, cracked lips.
The vampire does not want me to speak of what I saw?
You will remain quiet, or you will sleep with your friends.
The goblin bowed, turned on the ball of its right foot, and pointed into the darkness. The Teeth of Akoum lie there.
They walked all that night. The wind that blew across the flats was cold, and soon Nissa s teeth were chattering. But when the sun rose, the flats heated quickly. By the time the sun fell shining in their eyes, the ground was so hot that none dared stop, for fear that their sandals might start ablaze. The goblin was the exception its feet were the color of rock and seemed as thick and as hoary as dulam hide.
For three days they walked. At the goblin s request they traveled at night until the land split into shallow canyons with long-dried stream beds at their bottom.
Anowon remained in a dark mood. He traveled far behind the others and began to lose weight. There was nothing for him to eat, as Sorin slept next to Smara and the goblin, knowing that if they lost the goblin they would all be lost and at the mercy of the crystal flats.
To make matters worse, there had been no water since they had found a hedron plant, a low gray plant covered with thorns and roughly shaped like a hedron. They d found it in a low draw, and without a moment s hesitation, Nissa had cut the top off. They had scooped out the pith and sucked the water from it. That had been the day before. At that moment, Nissa s tongue felt so large from lack of water that she could barely close her mouth.
Nissa and the goblin topped the bank of an arroyo and saw shapes moving on the flat before them. Nissa squinted at the moving shapes, but the sun was in her eyes, and she could not see well.
Brood? Nissa said. Goblin, is it them?
The goblin looked at the movement. Mudheel, it said. I have told you. My name is Mudheel. Or will you not like to speak the name of a goblin? I am not some Saltskull. I have a brain and a tongue, and I know how to use them.
You are certainly the most unusual goblin I have ever met, Nissa said.
Mudheel, my name is Mudheel, the goblin said, bowing mockingly. If it pleases my lady.
Mudheel, Nissa said. What I said before.
Mudheel looked to the flats. It is the City that Walks. The Goma Fada Caravan.
Does it have water?
I do think, Mudheel said. If not they would die in this waste. A body needs water.
Thank you, Mudheel. I ll keep that in mind, Nissa said, struggling forward. Speaking hurt as much as walking, and her throat burned from talking to the goblin to Mudheel. Still there was one question that was burning her as much as it had before, as much as the scorching air around them. Nissa turned to Mudheel.
Why do you stay with this party as the other goblins have slowly disappeared? Nissa asked. Are you not afraid that you are next? Why have you not fled in the night?
Mudheel turned to Smara. She needs me.
Nissa waited for more.
She is like a wife to me, Mudheel said.
A wife? Nissa thought. Of all the responses the goblin could have given, that was the one that Nissa had least expected.
A wife? Nissa said.
The goblin nodded and turned to look at Goma Fada. Nissa also turned toward the mobile city, her mind reeling from what Mudheel had said. A kor and a goblin? she thought. Nissa understood then why they traveled. Either of their people would strike them down for being together. Suddenly Nissa felt pity for Mudheel, but also shuddered at the though of their unnatural coupling. Goblins! she thought.
In the bright glare she could barely make out hundreds of small buildings, some with pointed roofs and others with flat. Large dulam beasts were pulling the buildings.
The Goma Fada Caravan was slow moving and they made their hobbling way to it just as the sun was fading. It was a huge caravan, composed of hundreds and hundreds of enormous wagons. Each cart held a small building of wood or mud. One that Nissa saw was a small stone holdfast with turrets and a portcullis. Some of the carts were long and flat and pulled by braces of dulam beasts. Those were filled with dirt and plants. One such cart had a small grove of fig trees growing in it.
A flock of birds flying above the caravan cried out as the party approached. Soon a merfolk riding a slim beast rode out to meet them. He pulled up on the reins, and the animal snorted and stopped. Nissa noticed that the bit and bridle were studded. She had never liked bits and bridles. She was not sure she liked the merfolk rider, either.
He was dressed in long flowing white robes. A hood was pulled up over his head to keep the sun out. His lips, painted to accentuate their natural blue, pulled tight into a mirthless smile. His green eyes glinted beneath the shadow of his hood. Yes? he said.
We mean no harm, Nissa said. Suddenly the sun felt very heavy on her shoulders. She took a step, and the world moved its alignment. She touched the vial around her neck, but it was not boiling. We are in need of water, she said.
The rider looked from her to Sorin, to Smara, to Mudheel, and finally to Anowon, where his eyes stayed. The vampire is not welcome, he said. But I will be the benefactor for the rest of you. Do you have coin? Strangers must have a benefactor to enter the caravan. There are no exceptions. Hurry, the Caravan Sheriff will arrive shortly.
Nissa waited for Sorin to speak. When he did not, she opened her mouth. We have no coins, she said. But we have items of power.
The merfolk rider waited. If you say hedron chips I will call the Sheriff myself right now, he said.
Nissa thought desperately for something they could barter with.
We have teeth, she said.
Teeth?
Magic teeth.
Let me see, the merfolk said.
Nissa turned to Anowon, who was scowling. The teeth are owned by the vampire, she said.
Perhaps he can enter if properly bound. Let me see these teeth, the merfolk repeated. He held out his hand, palm up.
What kind are they? he asked. When Anowon did not move, the caravaner snapped his webbed fingers.
They are merfolk teeth, Anowon said, and seized the emissary.