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Stories from the Verse
Garden of Versers
Chapter 22: Slade 139
Table of Contents
Previous chapter: Chapter 21: Kondor 140
As Joe and Zeke popped into view, Slade said, “Ah, good, you’re here. What do you know about our little problem?”
“Apparently Derek was seen flying around the palace and landing in the window, and now the palace guard is on alert to find the sprite-like creature.”
“More complicated than that,” Derek said. “Someone set a hawk on me, and I had to do a mid-air transformation to Ferris before I reached the window.”
“So they’re looking for a gargoyle,” Joe said, “who either materialized from nothing or, maybe, is able to change size.”
Derek nodded.
Slade said, “I was just saying we need to go see the Caliph and explain it to him. We could attempt to hide it, but that means Derek doesn’t change form again while we’re here, and we’ve given up a significant advantage. Do you agree?”
Kondor nodded. “The question is, how do we get an audience during the crisis?”
“That seems simple enough,” Zeke said. “Wait for these guard guys to show up here, tell them we have information about the creature but we can only give it to the Caliph in person, and let them arrange it.”
Slade nodded. “That’s pretty close to what I was thinking. Kit up, people; we don’t want to face this situation unarmed, as it might go south quickly.”
They scattered to their respective rooms, grabbed weapons and protective gear, and reunited in the Slades’ quarters. From the sounds of the echoes, the guards would be here momentarily.
There is a behind-the-writings look at the thoughts, influences, and ideas of this chapter, along with twenty other sequential chapters of this novel, in mark Joseph "young" web log entry #277: Versers Resettle. Given a moment, this link should take you directly to the section relevant to this chapter. It may contain spoilers of upcoming chapters.
As to the old stories that have long been here:
