“Well, actually,” said the dwarf, “I’d really rather stay with the master. If he’s willing, of course.”
The faces around him filled with surprise.
“We’ve been together a long time,” explained Shelyid, “ever since I was—well, found in a basket. I don’t know where I was born, or who my parents are, so the master’s really been my only family. Until I went on this trip, I didn’t even have any friends—well, I had one, but—well, never mind.”
Seeing that his words were not having much effect, the dwarf hurried on: “And besides, it’s not been as bad as you all make it out to be. Sure and the master thrashed me a lot, and he’s impatient with me, and maybe I think I’m not really as stupid as he always says, but the truth is I actually learn a lot and this trip’s been really exciting even though I didn’t want to go and I only went because he made me but it really has turned out just like he said it would, I really have gotten better—really, I can tell! I’m stronger and smarter, and I made a bunch of new friends and before in my whole life I only had one and it—well.” He fell silent for a moment, then said: “I miss—well. But it’ll be so nice when I get back! I’ll be able to tell—” Again, a moment’s silence. Then, quietly: “It’s my secret.”
When the dwarf spoke again his voice was filled with a quite unusual firmness. “I want to stay with the master. The reasons may not make any sense to anyone else, but they’re good reasons to me. It’s not always fun, being the master’s apprentice. Truth to tell, it’s not any fun at all. But it’s best for me. I don’t want to be just a wretched little dwarf. I’m tired of it. But even though the master treats me bad, well, I don’t know any better way to learn what I have to learn.”
He looked around the room. All visible faces were blank in expression. The wizard’s head was still bent. Wolfgang’s face remained invisible in the darkness of his corner.
“You all think I’m crazy,” muttered Shelyid, “but I know what’s the right thing to do.”
“Of course you do, boy!” boomed Wolfgang’s voice. Everyone jumped.
“What a fright you gave me!” exclaimed Magrit. “I’d forgotten you were even here!” She gazed at the lunatic quizzically. “You’ve been silent as a clam. Not like you, at all.”
Wolfgang pulled his chair into the light.
“As the mage would say—’bah!’ You sane types have an altogether irrational faith in the power of speech. Babble, now, there’s a useful skill!”
He gazed about the room, beaming like an idiot.
“I think the boy’s quite right! Not stupid at all! Of course he should go with the wizard! Where else would he learn the things he’s learned? Why, think about it! A mere sprout, and he’s already sown confusion and havoc! Fed a high and mighty Crud to a snarl! Which of you had accomplished such mad deeds at such an early age? Not to mention stealing a great relic!”
“Oh!” gasped Shelyid. “The Rap Sheet! We haven’t even looked at it! We’ve wasted all this time talking about me!” He grasped the sleeve of the mage’s robe and tugged vigorously. “We should look at the Rap Sheet, master—it’ll tell you who your enemies are!”
Zulkeh’s head lifted a bit. His face, it could now be seen, was pale and drawn.
“Later, Shelyid,” said the mage. “It will keep. At the moment, there are more important things to deal with.” He gazed down at the dwarf’s hand, still resting upon his sleeve.
“You are firm in your resolve?” he asked. “To remain as my apprentice?”
“Oh yes, master!” cried Shelyid.
“Be not so quick, Shelyid. The road I must travel, though its exact route remains uncertain, will undoubtedly take me to distant and perilous lands. ‘Twill be long, perhaps very long, before we shall return to Goimr.”
“Oh, I’m not afraid!”
The wizard shook his head. “That is not my meaning.” He snorted. ” ‘Tis certain that the timid gnome who left Goimr is no longer timid! Rash, yes. Foolhardy, yes. But certainly not lacking in courage.”