does appear to be in ruins."
"But who ever heard of nipsies at war?" Doren questioned.
"We'd better have a chat with the Seventh Kingdom," Newel resolved. "Hear their version of things."
"We will return," Doren declared to the nipsies on the tower. He and Newel began walking away. "Who are you?" the voice chirped from the megaphone. "The one without horns."
"Me?" Seth asked, placing a hand against his chest. "I'm Seth."
"O wise and prudent Seth," the voice resumed, "please prevail on the goat giants to come to our aid. Do not allow the wicked elders of the traitorous kingdoms to seduce them."
"I'll see what I can do," Seth said, hurrying after Newel and Doren, watching the ground carefully to avoid flattening any nipsies. He caught up to the satyrs outside of a walled kingdom built of black stone and flying sable banners. The streets of the kingdom were virtually empty. Many of the nipsies in view wore armor and bore weapons. This kingdom had a tower with a megaphone as well.
"The wall is new," Doren remarked.
"And I don't recall everything looking so black," Newel said.
"They really do appear more warlike," Doren conceded.
"Here they come up the tower," Newel observed, nodding toward the black megaphone.
"Greetings, worthy overlords," a voice squealed. "You have returned in time to witness the culmination of our labors and to share in the spoils."
"Why are you waging war with the other kingdoms?" Newel asked.
"You have yourselves to thank," the speaker answered. "The Seven Kingdoms sent out many parties in search of methods for preventing your return. No party ventured farther than mine. We learned much. Our vision expanded. While the other kingdoms constructed defenses, we quietly rallied support within the Sixth and Seventh Kingdoms and developed engines of war. After all, as you have long known, why make when you can take?"
Newel and Doren shared an uneasy glance.
"What would you have us do?" Doren asked.
"Victory is already inevitable, but if you help hasten our hour of triumph, we will reward you far more generously than any of the other kingdoms. Most of our riches are below ground, a secret they would never share. Surely the others have solicited your aid in stopping us. Such action would prove disastrous to you. We are in allegiance with a new master who will one day rule all. Stand against us, and you stand against him. All who defy him must perish. Join us. Avoid the wrath of our master, and reap the handsomest reward."
"Can I borrow your lens?" Doren asked.
Seth handed the satyr his magnifying glass. Doren stepped over the city wall into a vacant square, squatted, and examined the figures on the tower. "You two will want to have a look," he advised soberly.
Doren moved out of the way, and Newel took a long look through the magnifying glass, followed by Seth. The tiny men on the tower looked different from the others Seth had seen. Their skin was gray, their eyes bloodred, and their mouths fanged.
"What has happened to your countenances?" Newel asked. "Our true form revealed," the voice responded from the megaphone. "This is how we look with all illusion stripped away."
"They've been corrupted somehow," Doren hissed.
"You won't actually help them?" Seth said.
Newel shook his head. "No. But it may not be wise to resist them either. Perhaps we should avoid involvement." He looked to Doren. "We do have an appointment elsewhere shortly."
"That's right," Doren said, "I had almost forgotten our other engagement. We don't want to disappoint the, uh, hamadryads. Can't afford to get behind schedule. We'd better head out."
"You don't have an appointment," Seth accused. "We can't just abandon the good nipsies to be destroyed."
"If you're so big on heroism," Newel said, "you go stop the navy."
"My job was to get us in here," Seth replied. "If you want batteries, you need to earn the gold yourself."
"He has a point," Doren admitted.
"We don't need to earn anything," Newel asserted. "We can go take what we need from the Third Kingdom treasury and be gone."
"No way," Seth said, shaking an upraised hand. "I won't accept stolen payment. Not after what happened with Nero. The Third Kingdom offered an honest reward if you help them. You were the one telling me the nipsies can't harm us. Is that any different just because some turned evil? Tell you what, I'll even waive my extra twenty-five percent." "Hmmm." Newel rubbed his chin.
"Think of all the shows," Doren urged.
"Very well," Newel said. "I'd hate to see this little civilization ruined. But don't