The Shadow Plague

  "When we approached the meadow of the Seven Kingdoms, a shadowy figure fled," Tanu said. "We gave chase, but the scoundrel was too quick. "

  "It wasn't quite like anything we'd ever seen," Coulter said. "Maybe three feet tall, it wore a dark cloak and ran low to the ground, in a crouch. " As he used his hands expressively, Kendra was reminded that Coulter was missing a pinky and part of the neighboring ring finger.

  "A hermit troll?" Grandpa asked.

  Tanu shook his head. "A hermit troll could not have entered the meadow. And this did not quite fit the description. "

  "We have a theory," Coulter affirmed. "We'll get to that in a second. "

  "What's a hermit troll?" Seth asked.

  "The smallest of the trolls," Warren said. "They never stay in one place long, setting up temporary lairs anywhere from a quiet attic, to under a bridge, to inside a barrel. "

  "Go on," Grandpa encouraged Tanu. "We got inside the hill and found the Sixth and Seventh Kingdoms gearing up for war again, in spite of the extensive damage Newel had caused. "

  "Stan," Coulter said, "you wouldn't have believed it. The Sixth and Seventh Kingdoms are draped in black, with most of the citizens bearing arms. The nipsies in those kingdoms were as Seth described, with gray skin, dark hair, and red eyes. They tried to bribe Tanu and me to assist them, and issued threats when we refused. If I didn't know better, I would say they had fallen. "

  "But nipsies don't have a fallen state," Grandma said. "At least nothing documented. Fairies can turn to imps, nymphs can become mortal, but who ever heard of a nipsie being transfigured?"

  "Nobody," Tanu said. "But there they were. Which leads me to my theory. I think the creature we were chasing was some species of fallen dwarf. "

  "Dwarfs don't fall either!" Grandpa huffed, clearly perturbed.

  "Tell that to this one," Coulter muttered.

  "It's our best guess," Tanu said. "We interrogated the nipsies to see how all of this originated. Evidently it began when they were exploring the preserve, looking for ways to keep the satyrs out. That was how the dark ones met their new master."


  "When we started fishing for specifics, they clammed up," Coulter said.

  "What could make a nipsie fall?" Grandpa mused, as if speaking to himself. "I've never seen anything like it," Coulter said.

  "Nor heard of anything like it," Tanu added.

  "Nor I," Grandpa sighed. "Normally, my first call would be to the Sphinx. Maybe it still should be. Friend or foe, he has always given sound advice, and none can match his knowledge of lore. Does the condition appear to be spreading?"

  Tanu noisily cracked his knuckles. "According to some of the normal nipsies, after the Fifth Kingdom was invaded, a good portion of those nipsies were carried off and became like the others. "



Chapter 3