A Rock and A Hard Place

Coming up from the ground outside the gnomes' compound, Gandr was breathing heavily. "That's not as easy as it looks," he said as he set down the unconscious boy to catch his breath.

"You think that looked easy?" Devrim guffawed. His brow crinkled. "You look spent. Have you been looking for me for a while?"

Gandr nodded. "When you were not back in the room where we parted, I looked all around the area, popping in and out of each room through the ground. Then the thought occurred to me to try Cafer's rooms."

"I am glad you found me, but I am sorry you had to waste your magic. We could really use it now." The Emperor was also weak, but he picked up Alaron across his shoulders. Together, they slogged along around the side of the lake. It was mid-morning, and the sun was beginning to beat down on them in earnest. They were far north, but somehow that did not lesson the heat that they felt. Both males were sweating heavily before long.

"Part of me hopes the boy will wake up so we can fo