Dragons of Winter Night - Margaret Weis [139]
Tasslehoff studied the gnome with excited curiosity, the kender had never seen a gnome before, although old legends concerning the Graygem of Gargath indicated that the two races were distantly connected. Certainly there was something kenderish in the young gnome, his slender hands, eager expression, and sharp, bright eyes intent on observing everything. But here the resemblance ended. There was nothing of the kender’s easy-going manner. The gnome was nervous, serious, and businesslike.
“Tasslehoff Burrfoot,” said the kender politely, extending his hand. The gnome took Tas’s hand, peered at it intently, then, finding nothing of interest—shook it limply. “And this—” Tas started to introduce Fizban, but stopped when the gnome reached out and calmly took hold of the kender’s hoopak.
“Ah …” the gnome said, his eyes shining as he grasped the weapon. “Send for a member of the Weapons Guild—”
The guard at the ground-level entrance to the great mountain did not wait for the gnome to finish. Reaching up, he pulled a lever and a shriek sounded. Certain that a dragon had landed behind him, Tas whirled around, ready to defend himself.
“Whistle,” said Fizban. “Better get used to it.”
“Whistle?” repeated Tas, intrigued. “I never heard one like that before. Smoke comes out of it! How does it wor—Hey! Come back! Bring back my hoopak!” he cried as his staff went speeding down the corridor, carried by three eager gnomes.
“Examination room,” said the gnome, “upon Skimbosh—”
“What?”
“Examination Room,” Fizban translated. “I missed the rest. You really must speak slower,” he said, shaking his staff at the gnome.
The gnome nodded, but his bright eyes were fixed on Fizban’s staff. Then, seeing it was just plain, slightly battered wood, the gnome returned his attention to the mage and kender.
“Outsiders,” he said. “I’ll try and’ member … I will try and remember, so do not worry because”—he now spoke slowly and distinctly—“your weapon will not be harmed since we are merely going to render a drawing—”
“Really,” interrupted Tas, rather flattered. “I could give you a demonstration of how it works, if you like.”
The gnome’s eyes brightened. “That would be much—”
“And now,” interrupted the kender again, feeling pleased that he was learning to communicate, “what is your name?”
Fizban made a quick gesture, but too late.
“Gnoshoshallamarionininillisyylphanitdisdisslishxdie—”
He paused to draw a breath.
“Is that your name?” Tas asked, astounded.
The gnome let his breath out. “Yes,” he snapped, a bit disconcerted. “It’s my first name, and now if you’ll let me proceed—”
“Wait!” cried Fizban. “What do your friends call you?”
The gnome sucked in a breath again. “Gnoshoshallamarioninillis—”
“What do the knights call you?”
“Oh”—the gnome seemed downcast—“Gnosh, if you—”
“Thank you,” snapped Fizban. “Now, Gnosh, we’re in rather a hurry. War going on and all that. As Lord Gunthar stated in his communique, we must see this dragon orb.”
Gnosh’s small, dark eyes glittered. His hands twisted nervously. “Of course, you may see the dragon orb since Lord Gunthar has requested it, but, if I might ask, what is your interest in the orb besides normalcuri—?”
“I am a magic-user—” Fizban began.
“Magicuser!” the gnome stated, forgetting, in his excitement, to speak slowly. “Come this way immediately to the Examination room since the dragon orb was made by magic user—”
Both Tas and Fizban blinked uncomprehendingly.
“Oh, just come—” the gnome said impatiently.
Before they quite knew what was happening, the gnome, still talking, hustled them through the mountain’s entrance, setting off an inordinate number of bells and whistles.
“Examination Room?” Tas said in an undertone to Fizban as they hurried after Gnosh. “What does that mean? They wouldn’t have hurt it, would they?”
“I don’t think so,” Fizban muttered, his bushy white eyebrows coming together in an ominous V-shape over his nose. “Gunthar sent knights to guard it, remember.”
“Then what are you worried about?” Tas asked.
“The dragon orbs are strange