BETRAYAL AT KRONDOR (Part 2) From Mongoose Moredhel chests---wordlocks @~Continued from last issue DICE DELEKHAN You can count on them, though Death to our enemies! some would rather curse them. no living adversary shall You can speak dear to them, escape the new king of these isles. though well all know 'tis He will lead us to glory and just in vain. provide new lands for our people. DRUM DISPUTE Although my cow is dead, Whoever has it is angry, I continue to beat her. Whoever loses it is angrier, What a racket she makes. Whoever wins it has it no more. DARKNESS DIE This engulfing thing, Prince Arutha, from his lofty perch, is strange indeed. Will find our troops without a search. The greater it grows, His men will fall, his castle too, the less you see. and then what will Prince Arutha do? DOOR EGGS It doesn't live within a house, No visible flesh, nor does it live without. nor blood, nor bone, Most will use it when they come in, but given time, and again when they go out. they will walk alone. EYES EGGS Twins on either side of a ridge They go up white that smells. They shall never but come down yellow see each other directly. and white. EYE TO EYE EYES Three fools did once sacrifice Be you ever so quick, to win a contest long ago. with vision keen, Dobe Oyle, a Kingdom lad, by your eyes, gave his blood to start. we are never seen. A goblin man, Ethorat, Unless perchance, hacked out his dying heart. it should come to pass, Sou Oyle, Dobe's sister, won, you see our reflection, she cast away her soul. in a looking glass. EQUALS ECHO What is it of yours that you Answers its caller without being see every day, but our Leader asked. Responds within sees only rarely? seconds, and speaks all languages with equal ease. FIRE FIRE Put into a pit. The chill of its death, Locked behind a steel grate. You may soon mourn. Guarded all through the night, But though it dies, still it goes out. It cannot be born. FOG FUTURE When it comes in from sea to shore, It never was before. twenty paces you'll see It is not now. no less, no more. Fools wait for it forever. FARRIER FLEAS There is a shoemaker in the dell. When they are caught, Makes his shoes with steel and nail. they are thrown away. Although his goods last right well, When they escape, Folks need two pair, without fail. you itch all day. ICICLE GRAVE You see me oft, A strange earthen house, in woods and town. that brings nought but disdain. With my roots above, And yet those who stay there, I must grow down. never do complain. GALLOWS GLAMREDHEL When people come for me to meet, Where once there were three, they come to me with heavy feet. now only are two, The one I hold, ancient kin ours, when I get my chance, whom we sent to their doom. will turn and spin, and start to dance. GAUNTLET What is the thing GLOVES with fingers long, Buckets, barrels, baskets, cans, that grips our deadly what must you fill with empty hands? swords so strong? HOLES HORSEMAN A barrel of rainwater Six legs, two heads, weighs twenty pounds. two hands, one long nose. What must you add Yet he uses only four legs to make it weigh fifteen. wherever he goes. HONEY HANGMAN Though a tasty treat, Swollag, the famous Moredhel made in spiral towers, craftsman, guarantees his work rarely will it be eaten alone. until the end of time. HASTE HOLE Inside a burning house, It can hold you this thing is best to make, but you cannot hold it. and best to make it quickly before, and the more you remove, the fire's too much to take. the bigger it will get. HAIR ICE Kingdom fools are born without Power enough to smash ships a lot of this, and roofs. Yet it still there is no doubt. must fear the sun. JACKET KEY Neck, but no head. Axes and swords, Arms, but no hands. will not help you through. Waist, but no legs. Yet it and a little push will do. Some on the road would KNOCKER have fought and soon died, Asks no questions, were it not close at hand, but demands many answers. to let them inside. Don't knock it until you are ready to see what waits LIFE on the other side. Don't grow too attached to this thing. Without it you will never know it is LAKE gone. But be careful friend, it is I saw him where he never was, much easier to lose on kingdom soil. and where he could not be. And yet within this place, LOGS I saw a wavering face, They have not lips nor tongues, staring back at me. Yet lead them green to the pit, and as they die you will hear MOUSER them splutter, hiss and spit. What goes down to the cellar with four legs, MATTRESS but comes back with eight. Has feathers but cannot fly rests on legs but cannot walk. MIRROR Look in my face, MILK I am somebody. You can spin, wheel and twist. Look at my back, I am nobody. But it can turn without moving. MUSIC THOUGHT This wondrous thing, though not What ranges far and cannot an herb can help comfort the weak be confined, yet stays in and dying. It can be used to rally one spot? The correct one the troops, or make one start will open this chest. laughing or crying. NOTHING NOISE We love it more than life. What goes with a wagon that We fear it more than death. doesn't benefit the wagon, The wealthy want for it. but the wagon cannot move without. The poor have it in plenty. OUTSIDE SURF This side of a wolfhound Pounds all day, beats all night, has the most hair. never rests. NOOSE NAME Once alive, but now twisted Passed from father to son, round it is used by Moredhel and shared between brothers. and men to punish their Its importance is unquestioned, own kind. though it is used more by others. ORANGE Men seize it from its home, OCEAN tear apart its flesh, A shimmering field that reaches drink the sweet blood, far, yet it has no tracks, then cast its skin aside. and is crossed without paths. ONION PADDLE She has tasteful friends Held firmly in the hands, and tasteless enemies. Like a sword it cuts deep. Tears are often shed on her behalf, Bloodless strokes all, Yet never has she broken a heart. Then forward we leap. PEACE PLOW Widows and orphans, Four legs in front, two behind. parents and kin. Its steely armour scratched and This is disturbed most and dented by rocks and sticks. by riots and war. Still it toils as it helps feed the hungry. PATH All across the countryside PIPE to front doors he travels Its tail is round and hollow, but you never invite him in. seems to get chewed a bit, but you'll rarely see this thing PRIEST unless the other end is lit. This Kingdom fool has married many women. Yet he has never PROMISE been married. Our valiant leaders will keep this, but only after they have given it. RAIN With flashing sword and booming cry ROPE with darkness staining land and sky Ten troll's strength, the army comes, prepared to die. Ten troll's length, Soldiers fall in glistening dress, One troll can pick it up as battles are joined without egress, No troll can stand it up. save comfort in the earth's caress. RUST RAIN It can pierce the best armor, You see it about in field and and make swords crumble with town. It cannot get up a rub. Yet for all its but will oft fall down. power, it can't harm a club. RING RIVER A precious gift,this, An untiring servant it is, yet it has no end or beginning carrying loads across muddy earth and in the middle, nothing. But one thing that cannot be forced, is a return to the place of its birth. SNOWFLAKE It flies without wings, SNAIL drops without fear, Bloodless and boneless but held in warm hands it travels about. It will soon disappear. Yet it never leaves home. STAIRS SNARES Up and down they go The bones of the dead, but never move. Can be used to trap the living. STRANGER SHOES You will invite him into your house, You tie these things, yet you know him not. before you go. Once you get to know him And untie them, This thing he will no longer be. after you stop. SPURS SAWDUST We travel much, yet prisoners are, A carpenter left some wood, and close confined, to boot. would not take it back. I Yet with any horse we will keep saw some dust where he left it, pace, and always go on foot. but couldn't find his stack. STARS SECRET The wheel is steered, It is too much for one. despite the night. Two it is meant for. They prefer our lead, But it no longer exists, more than the light. When the two become more. SHOE STOVE Has a tongue, You seek it out, but never talks. when your hungers ripe. Has on legs, It sits on four legs, but sometimes walks. and smokes a pipe. SHADOW SADDLE It can move over water, When it is down, but cannot fly. it is lower than a horse's belly, It can move underwater, when it is up, but stay quite dry. it is higher than a horse's back. SHADOW SQUARE Silently he stalks me, running One pace to the north, as I run, creeping as I creep. two paces to the east, Dressed in black, two paces to the south, he disappears at night, two paces to the west, only to return with the sun. one pace to the north. SPIDER SIEVE In all the world none can compare Round as an apple, to this tiny weaver, Deep as a cup, his deadly cloth all the Bitter Sea so silky and fair. can't fill it up. SPONGE SILENCE Holes at the top, Names give power. holes at the bottom, Magic to control. holes in the middle, But what is broken, but still it holds water. by naming it. STAKE SMOKE Although lower than a fence, Though easy to spot, and thinner than a rail, when allowed to plume, It can still be used to hold a horse; it is hard to see hooves, mane and tail. when held in a room. SWORD SUNSHINE With sharp edged wit, Never resting, never still, and pointed poise, moving silently, hill to hill. it can settle disputes, It does not walk, run or trot, without a noise. all is cool where it is not. SAWS THE DEAD We don't need wine, They feel no pain, we don't need meat. no sorrow, no greed. We have sharp teeth, They have no anger, but cannot eat. no hatred, nor need. DEATH TEMPER What is this thing that having it You must keep this thing you can no longer give it away, its loss will affect your but lacking it,for the moment at least brothers, for once yours is you can give it to those who must pay. lost, it will soon be lost by others. THORN TRADE MARES He got it in the woods and Two brothers wanted to race a course brought it home in his hand to see which had the slowest horse. because he couldn't find it. Since neither wanted to spur his mare, The more he looked for it what must they do to make it fair? the more he felt it. When he finally found it he threw it away. TROLLS Stay away from these hideous TOWEL beasts, they kill our This odd thing seems to get wetter, females and children. the more it dries. THISTLE TREASURE He stands beside the road, Moredhel and Pantathian, in a purple cap and guarding our lid, did close and tattered green cloak. Those who her ever so tightly. touch him, curse him. TABLE VICTORY It stands while others sit, With this one thing alone, It groans when it is too full. you will have defeated It has four legs, but cannot run. even the strongest foe. WALNUT WEARY A box beneath a tree, inside some Plow and hoe, reap and tasty meat. Kept for a month or more, sow. What soon does every It still tastes just as sweet. farmer grow? WATER WATERFALL This great thing can be This old one runs forever, but swallowed but can also swallow never moves at all. But has us. not lungs, nor throat, still, a mighty roar. WAGON Has tongue, but cannot talk, Runs, but cannot walk. WALL It goes past gates, but asks no one's leave. It runs clear round castles, WRONG without taking a step. The language of men can be mastered. But what Kingdom word is always WIND pronounced wrong. The strongest chains will not bind it, ditch and rampart YESTERDAY won't slow it down. A thousand Every creature in the world soldiers cannot beat it, has seen it. But to their it can knock down trees dying day they'll never see with a single push. the same one again. - o -