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The Colonel shook his head and laughed while leaning forward and resting his hands on his desk. Colonel Myles Braxton’s office was small for someone of his rank and position. Haykon was a frontier town close to the Mogolth Mountains and claimed first defense against any invading attack by the goblins that infested them. The goblins had usually been fairly quiet only rarely attacking anyone fool enough to get close to the mountains. It had been a few years since they had mustered any kind of attack against the city but the city’s resident army repulsed them easily enough. The Colonel was the leading authority here answering only to the King back in Calandra. For someone of his rank and stature a grand office would have been more in order but Braxton didn’t fall for that sort of pomp and luxury. He was a soldier not an armchair leader who merely issued paper orders. Where ever the fighting was the hottest that is where the Colonel would be found. A simple chair with a desk was all the luxury he needed. The chair Jack sat on had to be brought in. “How many times are you going to ask me that question, Jack? You’re friends are well and improving. Much better than the half corpses you brought us a week ago.”

Jack harrumphed into his beard. He had sat by those two half corpses since they got to Haykon and watched them improve daily but he still had reservation about the man and woman who were caring for them. “They’re just so secretive about everything it make me nervous.”

“Rest your worries, Jack. They’re only changing the poultice on your friend’s chest today. What was his name again?”

“Dor. Dor and Tam are their names.” Jack’s mood suddenly changed from dark to darker. “Any news from Calandra?”

Braxton leaned back and shook his head the frustration obvious in his demeanor. “Not a word. I’ve already sent extra troops to help seal the pass and guard it, beyond that, all I can do is wait.”

Jack shook his head. “What does he think he’s got on his hands here? He knows about the rock trolls leaving the Shadow Mountains—he shut down Hell’s End Station because of it. He just let them go unchecked through the whole northern country!”

Braxton sighed. “I know, but there’s nothing more I can until the King gives the order.”

Jack ran a hand through his gray hair. “He’s a fool. He’ll end up giving up the whole country before it’s through; along with all of our lives.”

“I know,” Braxton said in a half whisper. “But, I don’t have the privilege you have in deciding my own fate. I’m a soldier. I follow the orders of my king and that’s that no matter what I might think of those orders.”

Jack sighed. “I know, I know. I’m sorry. I just see dark days ahead for all of us if we don’t address this problem now.”

The colonel eyed his friend for a moment as if weighing him. “You know, it didn’t have to be this way and it still doesn’t.”

Jack quickly shook his head holding both hands up as if to ward away the suggestion. “No, my friend. I made that choice too long ago and have become too comfortable with it to change my mind now. Dagan’s all right, he just needs some smarter heads surrounding him to understand that life is not the same outside the palace as it is within.”

Braxton leaned forward. “I know I could lose my head if anyone heard me say it, but your hand may yet be forced in all of this and when it does, you know you can count on me and my men.”

Jack just shook his head. “Let’s pray to all the gods that it never comes to that.”

Braxton leaned back in his chair again. “So, when are you going to tell me more about these friends of yours you keep hidden under lock and key?” he smiled, changing the subject. “What’s the big secret?”

Just then there was a soft knock on the door. Jack smiled at his friend who growled to himself before calling out. “Enter!”

The door opened slowly and a robed figure walked in. It was Kat, one of the Healers. Like her counter part, she wore a hooded brown, wool robe that hung loosely on her body almost swallowing the tiny figure within. Her hood was pulled back revealing charcoal eyes and dark brown hair that was cut short to just below the earlobes in typical Healer fashion. She was not a pretty girl but neither was she homely. Plain in appearance she would have been easily passed over in a crowd except for the Healer robes she wore that marked her. Healers were something of a mystery without homes of their own they traveled from place to place working their art curing people with all sorts of ailments. Though secretive about their abilities, they were believed by many to use magic to heal and therefore were shunned by the more superstitious. They were all unassuming and quiet, mainly keeping to themselves except for when they were called for to heal. The only payment they ever accepted were food offerings and a sheltered place to sleep. Not much of a price considering their miraculous abilities. Still, some felt they were charlatans while others claimed they were thieves. “The boy is beginning to rouse,” she said in a tiny voice and then immediately backed out of the room again.

Jack jumped to his feet, knocking his chair over as he did so and almost sent himself to the floor. But before Myles even stood up, Jack had recovered and was through the door and across the hall where Dor and Tam had been kept for the past seven days since he brought them in half dead. Thanks to Dor’s ingenuity and a great deal of guts, or insanity, Jack and Dor had rescued Tam from the rock trolls who were now setting up camp with the whole goblin nation on the other side of the Mogolth Mountains. For his efforts, Dor had received six inches of steel right into his chest and would have certainly died had Jack not gotten him and Tam back to the Healers in Haykon. Tam suffered from a different problem, although just as serious, having been drugged with dranlok since her capture by the trolls. Dranlok was so addictive that most people would rather die then go without it for any period of time; most, in fact, did. While Dor was now out of immediate danger, Tam’s life might still hang in the balance.

Jack almost knocked Bren over as he crashed into the room barely missing the Healer with the door that certainly would have broken bones had it connected. Bren, like Kat, wore the long brown Healer robes that marked him as such. Though his hair was cut short like Kat’s, his was as black as midnight on a moonless night. He was huskier than Kat, filling his robes out a little better and had high cheekbones and large black eyes. He jumped aside as Jack rushed in and tripped over the chair that Jack had slept in for the past week. Bren and the chair crashed to the floor but Jack paid no mind to it as he rushed to Dor’s bedside. Dor was still very pale but his lips were not as blue as they had been. He was getting better but it was slow going. This was the first time since he was brought in that he had gained consciousness.

Jack looked down at his friend who now wore the head wrap of a Tjal-Dihn. That was the first thing he had done with Tam and Dor after the Healers had seen them is wrap their heads to hide their pointed ears. He regretted not doing it before the Healers got there but that was not a top priority at the time and they didn’t seem to have reacted to them in any way. Most would have left the room screaming seeing the dreaded myth of Chufa come to life. Jack knew the childhood stories were mostly false especially since becoming friends with Thane and then Dor. He even found it amusing that the Chufa had their own stories about HuMans, as they called Jack’s race. It still amazed him that after so many years they had not made contact sooner. He felt they could gain a lot from each other but also knew that now was not the time to go spreading the word. Placing a hand on Dor’s arm he whispered, “Dor, can you hear me?” His arm had warmed the past couple of days from the cold and clammy feel it had when he brought Dor in; another good sign that he was beginning to recover. “Dor, it’s me, Jack.”

Dor moaned slightly and moved his head around before going still again.

Jack looked at Bren who was picking himself and the chair up off the floor. “Why won’t he wake?” Jack asked in a sterner voice than he meant. Although he still had his doubts about Healers, he did have to give them credit for saving his friends’ lives. By all accounts, Dor really should be dead.

Kat moved over to Dor and placed a hand on his forehead. “He is still very weak from his wound and a lack of nourishment. It may take a moment for him to find his way back to us. Keep talking to him. Help him find his way.”

Jack gave her a quizzical look but did not question her. “Dor, it’s Jack. Wake up.”

Dor moaned again this time turning his head towards Jack’s voice and leaving it there. His mouth open slightly and mouthed something but no sound came out.

The excitement in Jack’s voice was evident as he moved closer to Dor’s face trying to hear and understand what he was trying to say. “What did you say? I couldn’t hear you?”

Dor’s nose curled slightly and his chest rose as he took in a deep breath. “I said,” he whispered slightly, “get away. Your breath reeks of last week’s dung heap.”

Jack quickly put his hand up to his mouth and blew into it trying to catch a whiff of his own breath. Then his face curled into a huge grin and he threw his hands into the air. “He’s all right!” he exclaimed jumping up and turning to the Healers who only smiled slightly at him. “And his sense of smell is still very good.”

“We will leave now and let you two alone while we go and fetch some food for him,” Bren said pointing at Dor and pushing the chair over to Jack so he could sit down.

“If you need us,” Kat added as she opened the door, “we will be at the mess hall.” Braxton was putting the Healers up while they were here and feeding them since they were taking care of Jack’s friends. He would have paid them gold from his own pocket and put them up in the most expensive inn in town but they would not accept. That was their way so he gave them each a cot, albeit in a room of their own and not with the soldiers, and had them help themselves at the mess hall. It was the least he could do and the most they would accept.

Jack just waved as he sat down and looked back at Dor. “How do you feel? Is it hard to talk? Maybe I should let you rest more, although your color is coming back. You must be starving. They’ll be back with some food soon. Does food sound good? Are you all right? Can you speak some more?”

A thin smile split Dor’s lips but he kept his eyes closed as he took a deep breath. “I would,” he whispered, “if you would shut that jaw of yours for two seconds.”

Jack opened his mouth to say something but shut it again and mumbled a simple, “Sorry.”

Dor started to laugh but it quickly turned into a coughing fit that made him flinch with pain. Jack stood up wanting to help but obviously had no idea how and managed only to stand there and look foolish.

“Don’t make me laugh,” Dor gasped hoarsely. “It hurts too much.”

“I didn’t mean to,” was all Jack could think to say. “How do you feel?”

Dor stopped coughing and rested his head back on his pillow while closing his eyes. “Like a pin cushion.”

“Does the wound hurt much?”

“Only when I move. Where are we?”

Jack’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh, yes. You wouldn’t know that would you. We’re in Haykon. I got to you just as that Dren loving goblin buried his dagger into your chest. It was a long night, but I got you here just in time.”

“How?” Dor asked licking his dry lips. “I should be dead.”

Jack nodded in agreement. “I know. Luckily there were two Healers here when I got you back. I don’t know what kind of sorcery they worked on you but it seems to have done what was needed.”

Dor opened his eyes again just slightly. “Healers?”

“They’re a strange group that keep to themselves. I have to say that I don’t trust ‘em much but they did it right by you.”

Dor coughed again and moaned from the pain. “What about Tam?” he asked struggling to catch his breath.

“Look for yourself,” Jack said pointing behind him.

Dor turned his head slowly and looked over at Tam in the other cot across the room. “Is she well?”

“As far as I can tell, though I have to say that I haven’t really asked. I’ve been more worried about you.”

Dor lay silent for a moment catching his breath and licking his lips. It was obvious he was exhausted and Jack was just about to suggest he get more rest when he spoke up again. “And Thane?”

Jack’s head dropped, as did his mood. He had been able to help Dor rescue Tam, which in and of itself was a miracle considering the numbers that had poured into the valley near Raven’s Eye peak, but with the injury Dor had sustained and the apparent shape Tam was in he had no choice but to abandon any efforts to find Thane and get the other two back to safety. And really, there was no way of knowing where Thane actually was. The dragon had flown in the direction of the Mogolths but that is all they knew. Thane could be anywhere by now. That is if he was still alive. They had no way to know. “Nothing,” was all he could say.

Dor nodded once his face darkening with his own thoughts and doubts. “I’m tired,” he whispered.

Jack knew that he was but also knew that Dor needed to be alone for a while to collect his thoughts about his missing friend. “The Healers will be back soon with some food,” Jack said while standing up. “You make sure you eat all of it. You won’t be up and around if you don’t get some food back into you.”

Dor just nodded once his energy almost spent completely. He was tired, and thirsty. His stomach was quiet for the moment but his mouth was dry and his throat burned.

Jack opened the door. “I’ll come back in a while to check on you.”

Dor didn’t answer. He was too exhausted to even think of forcing a reply.

The Healers did come as promised with a large pitcher of water and some warm soup. Dor was too tired to even open his eyes and look at them but he did eat and drink everything they put to his mouth. He could almost feel the food moving through his body giving it strength but it wasn’t enough to revive him much. He needed more sleep and after he was through eating that’s exactly what he did.

It was another two days before Dor was awake again long enough to do anything but eat and drink something before falling right back to sleep. Jack had wanted to talk to him more but the Healers were more adamant now that he not be disturbed until he got more strength back. He was back from death’s door now but still had a way to go before he was anywhere back to normal.

Bren was changing the poultice and dressing on Dor’s chest when he woke up again. His color was close to normal now and his body had reacted quickly and favorably to the food and drink the Healers had been forcing down him since he first woke up. He may have even gained back a couple of pounds fleshing him out a bit from the skin covered skeleton he had been only days before. The stubble on his head was starting to grow back now and itched fiercely in some places but he couldn’t quite get it with the cloth Jack had tied on his head. He unconsciously reached to pull it off but stopped when he realized he wasn’t alone.

Bren turned his head around and called to Kat who was checking on Tam. “He’s awake again.”

Dor thought he caught a slight hint of excitement to Bren’s voice but couldn’t be sure. Kat and Bren had been all business with him any other time he had awaken always ready with a spoonful of food or a drink of water. He never had a chance to even thank them. Every time he finished what food they had for him he almost instantly went back to sleep. He figured they must have been drugging him with the food to make sure he didn’t waste any energy on anything but getting better. But, whether that was what they were doing or not he certainly felt much better today. Actually, he was rather surprised that Bren wasn’t shoving a spoonful of something into his mouth right then.

Kat was suddenly by his side grabbing his hand. “How are you feeling today?”

Dor looked at them both for really the first time and was suddenly overcome by a feeling that he knew them from somewhere. It wasn’t because they had been caring for him. He knew it wasn’t that. All the other times he had never really paid them much mind. In fact, he usually was too tired to even open his eyes when they fed him. No, it was something different that itched at his mind. They were—familiar—that was the only way to explain it. “I’m much better today, thank you.”

Bren and Kat smiled brightly at one another while Dor tried to place them in his mind. “We are Kat and Bren,” Bren said pointing to his companion and then himself. “People call us Healers.”

Dor eyed them both still puzzling them over in his mind. “So I have heard. My name is Dor.”

“Is that your full name?” Kat asked anxiously still holding his hand.

Dor was suddenly beginning to feel a little uncomfortable with the way they were looking at him and talking to him. No wonder Jack didn’t trust them. They seemed like two nervous birds caught by the eyes of a serpent—wanting to fly away but too curious to leave. Or maybe they were the serpents and he was the bird. Jack had told him enough about the Tjal-Dihn, who he was supposed to be, to know that they supposedly had very long names. Was she testing him? “No, but like all Tjal-Dihn my name is much too long to repeat to you here. You can just call me, Dor.”

Kat frowned and looked at Bren who just studied Dor as if trying to come to some decision. “You are no Tjal,” Bren finally said flatly.

Dor suddenly felt that he was definitely the bird. “You doubt my origin?” he huffed feigning anger. “Had I my swords and the strength I would leave you in pieces on the floor.” The serpents were getting closer but he couldn’t say that he really felt threatened. They were both still so familiar. Were they trying to blackmail him somehow? Dor knew first hand how HuMans reacted to his kind having spent who knows how many days trapped in one of their unearthly dungeons. He was not about to return to a cage. What were they after?

Kat suddenly spoke, “KatSagnQen Eelo Sho Tonkonochir.”

Dor’s mouth dropped open and his eyes widened considerably. He tried to hide his reaction thinking it may have been a trap but it was too late. Bren had been looking right at him, a smile beginning to play across his face. She had spoken Chufa. Dor tried to cover up his surprise by pretending a sudden shortness of breath but Bren’s smile only widened. “What…what kind of garbled noise is that?” he choked out, still trying to cover his shock.

Kat looked at Bren. “I think you know,” Bren said, his smile now full.

“I want you two to go now,” Dor tried. “I’m tired and want some rest.”

Kat suddenly looked worried, like she had made a big mistake. “Wait,” she gasped. “Please, you have nothing to fear from us. Please. We know who you are. We saw your ears.”

Dor’s hand pulled from Kat’s and reached to the scarf on his head. “W-what do you mean? What are you talking about?” Dor was beginning to panic. They still did not seem his enemies but he would not give himself over to be treated like an animal again.

“Bren,” Kat pleaded grabbing his arm in desperation. “We must tell him so he will trust us. Please. We have already said too much not to tell all. Please.”

Bren stared at Dor for a long moment the serpent suddenly looking like the bird.

Dor was still trying unsuccessfully to recover from Kat’s words. Jack knew the Chufa language. Maybe he had taught her. Maybe Jack taught her some things and told her it was Tjal just in case Dor said something in his sleep. But why then would they mention his ears and Bren deny he was Tjal? It was too late. He had slipped and was now at their mercy. Dor tensed. He didn’t think he could even stand up but he had to try and be ready to run should this suddenly turn sour.

Bren’s voice suddenly broke through the tension. “BrenCheSagnVen Eelo Sho Tonkonochir. We are of your race.”