Chapter 10 – Part 7

The gnolls and orcs came in behind Orphan as soon as the warforged gestured to them. Orphan was no dwarven trapfinder, but he was reasonably certain that worshippers didn’t trap their temple.

The came in, the orcs moving about in a loose knot, the gnolls forming a perfect arrow-shaped formation. Some carried hand-held weapons, spears and swords, some held bows or crossbows at the ready. All were primed for violence.

Nebly came next. And not willingly. The gnome let out a high-pitched shriek as Delegado suddenly grabbed him and hurled him through the doorway. The gnome hit the ground and lost a part of a tooth. The gnoll chief K’gah started with shock, then waved at his men. The gnolls quickly formed a circle around the gnome, who drew a small knife as he stood. Delegado strode through the doorway, followed by Grullik. The mustachioed half-orc twirled a long knife in each hand as he took a guard position next to the stone doorway.

Delegado stepped up to the circle of gnolls, who parted to make way for him. He stared at Nebly.

The gnome looked back over a forming bruise. “Do you have a reason for treating a loyal adviser so?” snapped the gnome.

“Stow it,” Delegado said. He spoke in the orc tongue. “This is too convenient for even a fool to swallow, and I am no fool. You knew of this place before we got here.”

“No!” protested the gnome.

Delegado looked at Orphan. “He’s lying,” the warforged said.

“Dancing Orphan hears untruths,” snapped one of the orcs. He was holding a heavy crossbow and he’d seen Orphan’s ability to read people.

“Delegado has the speaking now,” Grullik snarled. The orc with the heavy crossbow looked ashamed. Gnolls were showing better self-discipline than orcs were, and that was not a matter for Tharashk to feel pride about.

“The warforged is jealous of me,” Nebly said slyly. The gnome spit blood. “It makes up lies.”

“I am jealous of you,” Orphan said. “And it is foolish. But you did know of this place.”

“Put the knife away before we make you eat it,” K’gah growled. Delegado seemed unconcerned about what Nebly could do with the knife, but the gnoll captain’s contract had prices in it reflecting Delegado’s healthy return.

“I have done no wrong,” Nebly insisted. But he put the knife away. “I have gathered much knowledge in my life and my studies, and this is a place I have read well of.”

“He’s still lying,” Orphan said.

“Even the fiends have forgotten this place,” Delegado said. “What did you read and where was it written?”

Nebly swallowed and looked at the gnolls. “I – I don’t know. I just had the idea one day, and then as we traveled, I – it just occurred to me.”

The orcs tittered, as did those gnolls who spoke enough orc to follow what was being said. Delegado’s scowl deepened.

Orphan did not join the levity. “Delegado, he’s telling the truth now,” the warforged said. Delegado’s eyes snapped to Orphan. “He doesn’t know how he knew, the knowledge just came to his mind.”

No one moved for a moment.

Then the air rippled on the other side of the doorway as an invisibility field dropped. A cone of psychic force, so strong it made the air scream, bowled the gnolls and orcs over like straw before a windstorm.