she muttered again hoping this time she would believe it. Kiora’s eyes fluttered open to see the Aktoowa’s beak around her arm preparing to bite. Her eyes narrowed. She had to get Emane back. “This is not—”
The bird clamped down, its beak sliding harmlessly through her arm, just like an illusion. “Real!” she exclaimed, shoving her hand through its stomach. There was nothing but open air behind it. The creature screamed as Kiora groped around for something solid. She felt a hand and then an arm. Grabbing it, she jerked with all her might, pulling Emane out of the creature’s grasp. Dead weight slammed into Kiora. She fell to the ground, an unconscious Emane on top of her. Grunting, she rolled him to the side.
“Emane, wake up.” She patted his cheek. No response. His eyes were closed, lips slightly parted as if he were fast asleep. Kiora looked over to Drustan who was holding one of the ugliest things she had ever seen. “He won’t wake up,” she yelled.
Drustan held a small black being that had multiple legs and arms, a short torso, and a head much too big for its body. Its skin was shiny black like eel’s skin. It had long, stringy black hair and beady black eyes that flitted nervously between its captors.
“What is it trying to be?” Kiora asked, curling up her nose.
“Nothing. This is what it really looks like. Now,” Drustan said, shaking the ugly thing roughly. “What do we need to wake our friend?”
“Don’t know, don’t know,” it cackled.
Drustan squeezed his Giant’s arms tighter and the Illusionist began to choke. “I know you drugged him,” Drustan growled. “Now tell me how to fix him and I will let you live.”
Kiora wanted to free the creature from Drustan’s grasp, but Emane’s life depended on it talking.
“But he’s so pretty, so pretty,” the Illusionist said through short breaths. “Green snake-magic . . . they like. They liiiiiike,” it mourned.
Drustan’s brow furrowed and he released some of the pressure. “Who’s they?”
“The market, the market,” it said excitedly, trying to twist its body around to look at its captor. Drustan tightened his grip to keep the creature still. “They like new things—new things—good things. Good things is rare,” the creature rambled. “Very, very rare.”
“What do you mean, good things are rare?” Drustan asked.
“You stupid!” The hideous thing cackled “You know—you know—no more good—all gone. Stupid Shifter.” It shook its head, stringy black hair flying from side to side.
“How long has it been gone?” Drustan pushed.
“Stupid Shifter, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid.” Drustan tightened his grip again, locking his fist under the Illusionist’s chin. It gasped before croaking, “Long time—good went bye bye, hard to find.” It looked longingly at Emane before its eyes flitted to Kiora. It breathed in deeply, and its eyes looked like they might pop out of its head. “Snake nice but she’s nicer, ohhhhh, want her—want her!” The Illusionist’s arms reached desperately for Kiora.
“Stop,” Drustan commanded. “You don’t get either one. Where were you taking him?”
The Illusionist squeaked indignantly. “I bright—you stupid Shifter. Stupid, stupid.”
“Listen to me very carefully.” Drustan spoke through clenched teeth, putting his face against what Kiora assumed was its ear. “You will tell me what I need to wake him or I will shift into something very nasty. And unlike you, no matter how hard you hope they won’t, my teeth really will hurt.”
The Illusionist gulped and stretched one of its many arms toward the utility belt it wore. Drustan loosened his grip just enough for it to reach a pocket, his eyes watching every move carefully. The Illusionist pulled out a vile of purple liquid. “Drink this, he wake up.”
“Thank you,” Drustan said, growing an extra arm to take the potion and toss the vile to Kiora.
The Illusionist twisted, trying to free itself. “You let go, I gave you potion.”
“You really do think I am stupid,” Drustan said. “I am not letting you go until I am sure it works.”
Kiora looked nervously to Drustan, who nodded for her to continue. Biting her lip, Kiora pulled open Emane’s mouth and poured the potion down his throat. A second later Emane sputtered and opened his eyes. Kiora sighed in relief, leaning back on her heels.
“See!” The Illusionist cackled. “Worked, worked—all better!”
“Not so fast,” Drustan growled. “Emane, can you move your arms?”
Frowning, Emane opened his mouth and croaked, “No.”
The Illusionist screamed in protest, thrashing under Drustan’s restraint.