Date: Thu, 10 Jul 1997 23:51:39 -0400 From: Christopher Vaughan Subject: INT: Return to the Keep Norgoth looked out from behind the tree in the withering garden. It was a beautiful place to be so long as you were a gnoll or an elf, or an animal of some sort. The withering garden couldn't stand people, though. If one so much as set foot in its vicinity it would quickly wither and die (some gardens have more common sense than others). That was, of course, precisely why Norgoth had come to hide in the garden. Norgoth had been as puzzled as his mistress when everything in the Keep seemed to have turned topsy-turvy. When he realized how angry she was, the gnoll had decided discretion was the better part of valor (not a trait gnolls are known for, anyway) and run away lest she blame him. "What are you doing?" Nogoth almost jumped out of his tights. He turned and glared at the Giant Purple Caterpillar who was the guardian of the withering garden. "Shhhhh... Don't tell Raini I'm here, p-p-p-please!" The caterpillar scrunched up its nose (or the nearest caterpillar equivalent to a nose). "What's got you so worried?" "It's the Keep. Something's wrong with it." "Really?" The caterpillar looked unenthused. "Well, I'm just in charge of the garden. The Keep pretty much manages itself." Norgoth scratched his head. "I know, but did anything unusual happen in the Keep lately? I mean, anything you just happened to see?" "Well, that Syrilyn moved in." "Who?" "Syrilyn, the Master's fiance." The caterpillar looked astonished that Norgoth was so ignorant of current events. "Naturally I find the whole affair to be too sordid. I mean, they aren't even _married_ yet." "But the Master is married to Mistress Raini." The caterpillar laughed. "What is that? A person or bad weather?" Norgoth didn't find that amusing. "She is the most beautiful woman ever!" The caterpillar laughed agian. "If she's so wonderful, then why are you hiding from her?" Norgoth started to answer, then scratched his head. He'd have to think on that one. Chris -- _____________________________ Chris Vaughan space.cowboy@worldnet.att.net