Anderson, Kevin J - Gamearth 01 Read Online Free Page A

him then."
    Delrael rubbed his hands together. "Real smart. Haw, haw!"
    Vailret crouched in the underbrush as close to the half-Sorcerer as he dared to go. The hanging form of Bryl stirred, but Vailret couldn't risk making a move just yet. He wished Delrael would hurry up. He wanted to go home.
    "So, Gairoth," Delrael leaned forward and lowered his voice. "How you keep treasure pile safe? I be scared someone steal mine. Humans, adventurers, quests ¯ you know how the Game be. I works my fingers to the bone to get jewels, then can't never leave my camp. Afraid treasure might get stole."
    Hidden in the underbrush, Vailret squirmed and motioned for his cousin to hurry. Delrael didn't notice him.
    "Hey, you wants to see my treasure?" Delrael smiled, open and friendly.
    "Promise not to steal it? I gots no guards. But I trust Gairoth. You be good neighbor."
    Even from his distant viewpoint, Vailret thought he could see the gleam in the ogre's eye. Soon ... soon.
    Gairoth stood up, ready to follow Delrael. Then, to Vailret's dismay, the ogre turned around and plucked the skull with the Air Stone from his dwelling. "Now we go."
    No! I wanted the Stone! Vailret shouted in his mind.
    Delrael looked at the pyramid-shaped diamond swallowed up in the ogre's hand and flicked a glance toward where Vailret hid. Vailret noticed his cousin heave a sigh as he motioned Gairoth to follow him into the swamp. The dragon bounded along, eager.
    When the trees blocked them from sight, Vailret emerged from his hiding place, holding a hand to his stiff back. Flies buzzed around his head.
    He cautiously went to where the half-Sorcerer hung dripping.
    Greenish-brown water puddled in the dirt below him. Bryl seemed to be regaining his consciousness and vitality, but too slowly to help. According to the Rules, he would take about a half-day to recover completely. Vailret scowled, knowing he'd have to carry the half-Sorcerer on his back. Bryl's red cloak and scraggly gray hair reeked like the loathsome cesspools, and the smell would soak into Vailret's jerkin.
    He grumbled at the invisible Outsiders, knowing they would never listen. "Why don't you go play a game of hexagon-chess? Why don't you make me a magic user? Why can't you entertain yourselves and leave us alone?"
    Vailret withdrew his knife and cut the rope, catching Bryl as he fell.
    He hiked the half-Sorcerer across his shoulder blades and stooped as he scuttled forward. Delrael was the one who had the strength score for this type of work, but he was preoccupied at the moment. Bryl stirred, and the smell of spoiled-everything rose into the air.
    Vailret sighed. It was nearly over ¯ all the Game adventures had become tedious. Predictable. Vailret would rather be finishing his history of Gamearth ¯ not stuck with these frivolous, familiar quests the Outsiders played all the time.
    Grunting with the effort, he shifted Bryl's bony body to a more comfortable position, then moved away from Gairoth's encampment toward the cesspool.
    "It be gone!" Delrael wailed. "Stole!"
    Rognoth nearly collapsed after the wild-goose chase the man had led through the swamp, circling back and forth, getting even the ogre hopelessly lost. But Delrael's tracker-sense would not let him get confused.
    Delrael stared at the clearing they had stumbled upon, pointing an accusatory finger. He gaped at the ogre, incredulous. "Gold, gems ¯ right here! All be gone! Someone stole it!" He switched his own dismayed expression for one of horror. "Oh, no! You be next, Gairoth! Hurry!"
    The ogre looked as if he grasped what was going on. "Come on, Rognoth!"
    Gairoth smacked the dragon with the end of his club. "We gots to get home!"
    Delrael crossed his fingers, hoping Vailret had done his part.
    Everything seemed to be going well, too well for a Game adventure, and he wondered how long the Outsiders would keep making dice rolls in his favor.
    He sprinted after the alarmed ogre.
    Vailret slogged through the swamp, stumbling with the added