“Lead!” The great Phudge lost his composure for a moment and clutched his robes around him. “No lead! Great Highbulp not expendable. People need me!”
“No, no. I didn’t mean lead,” Tanis amended hastily. “If you had a map or could send someone to show us the way.”
“Map!” Phudge mopped the sweat off his brow with the sleeve of his robe. “Should say so in first place. Map. Yes. I send for map. Meantime, you eat. Guests of the Highbulp. Guards take to mess hall.”
“No, thank you,” Tanis said politely, unable to look at the others. They had passed the gully dwarf mess hall on their way to see the Highbulp. The smell alone had been enough to ruin even Caramon’s appetite.
“We have our own food,” Tanis continued. “We would like some time to ourselves to rest and discuss our plans further.”
“Certainly.” The Highbulp scooted forward to the front of the throne. Two of his guards came over to help him down since his feet didn’t touch the floor. “Go back to Waiting Place. Sit. Eat. Talk. I send map. Maybe you tell Phudge plans?”
Tanis glanced swiftly at the gully dwarf and saw the Highbulp’s squinty eyes gleam with cunning. The half-elf felt cold, suddenly realizing this gully dwarf was no buffoon. Tanis began to wish he had talked more with Flint. “Our plans are hardly formed yet, your majesty,” the half-elf said.
The great Highbulp knew better. Long ago he had drilled a hole through the wall of the room known as Waiting Place so that he could eavesdrop on his subjects as they waited for an audience with him, discovering what they intended to bother him about in advance. Thus he knew a great deal about the companions’ plans already, so he let the matter drop. The use of the term “your majesty” may have had something to do with this; the Highbulp had never heard anything quite so suitable.
“Your majesty,” Phudge repeated, sighing with pleasure. He poked one of his guards in the back. “You remember. From now on, say ‘Your Majesty.'”
“Y-yes, y-your, uh, majesty,” the gully dwarf stuttered. The great Phudge waved his filthy hand graciously and the companions bowed their way out. Highbulp, Phudge I, stood for a moment beside his throne, smiling in what he considered a charming manner until his guests were gone. Then his expression changed, transforming into a smile so shrewd and devious his guards crowded around him in eager anticipation.
“You,” he said to one. “Go to quarters. Bring map. Give to fools in next room.”
The guard saluted and ran off. The other guard remained close, waiting in open-mouthed expectation. Phudge glanced around, then drew the guard even nearer, considering exactly how to phrase his next command. He needed some heroes and if he had to create his own out of whatever scum came along, then he would do so. If they died, it was no great loss. If they succeeded in killing the dragon, so much the better. The gully dwarves would get what was-to them-more precious than all the pretty rocks in Krynn: a return to the sweet, halcyon days of freedom! And so, enough of this nonsense about sneaking around.
Phudge leaned over and whispered in the guard’s ear. “You go to dragon. Give her best regards of his majesty, Highbulp, Phudge I, and tell her … ”
20
The Highbulp’s map.
The spellbook of Fistandantilus.
I don’t trust that little bastard any farther than I can stand the smell of him,” Caramon growled.
“I agree,” Tanis said quietly. “But what choice do we have? We’ve agreed to bring him the treasure. He has everything to lose and nothing to gain if he betrays us.”
They sat on the floor in the Waiting Place, a filthy antechamber outside the throne room. The decorations in this room were just as vulgar as in the Court. The companions were nervous and tense, speaking little and forcing themselves to eat.
Raistlin refused food. Curled up on the floor apart from the others, he prepared and drank down the strange herbal mixture that eased his cough. Then he wrapped himself in his robes and stretched out, eyes closed, on the floor. Bupu sat curled up near him, munching on something from her bag. Caramon, going over to check on his brother, was horrified to see a tail disappear into her mouth with a slurp.