Page 10 of Ruins of Magic
“Can you or can you not see my markings on the cavern walls?” the voice asked.
“Yes, of course I can.”
“Well then. You are not a zanzar, nor any other magical creature that I’m aware of. You look very human to me, therefore I deduct you are in fact a druid, for only a creature born of magic could witness my marks.”
Arion shook his head but realized it was pointless to argue with him. “These are protection runes. What are you protecting yourself from?”
“Trolls,” he said simply.
“Trolls?”
“Yes, druid. Are you really that hard of hearing or simply dense? Trolls are the natural sworn enemy to all earth genies. When it rains, they often come into the caves for shelter.”
“Valaria,” Arion said as he turned to run.
“Where are you going?” the creature asked him.
“Look Zanzar, my, uh, princess is here with a small travel party. I have to protect her.”
“Trolls will not harm a human without extreme cause. If she is not also a druid, then she will not even know he is there.”
“And what of your kind, Zanzar? Will you harm her?”
“Zanzar is my kind,” the creature said with a laugh.
Arion looked at the odd thing that had finally come out into the light. It was small, not much more than a foot tall. It had round rosy cheeks and black eyes. The creature was not just short but stout around the waist, and it was wearing a simple frock in and a tall green top hat.
“What is a zanzar? You look like a gnome with a top hat,” he blurted out trying not to laugh at the picture before him.
“A gnome? I do not look anything like my cousins with their ridiculous pointy hats!” the zanzar bellowed.
“I can see that’s a sensitive subject. All I need to know is if Valaria will be safe here.”
“Too much magic runs through the veins of this cavern. No animal would dare enter and no creature of magic would harm a human. She is safe.”
“I meant, here, as in within this circle of protection.”
“You’re bringing humans here?” he grumbled.
Arion nodded. “Taneth is on his way. He felt it was safer to secure the princess deeper in the mountain.”
“It will be dark here. They will not be able to see the light as you do.”
“I understand that now,” Arion said unwilling to dwell on the truth of that.
“Yes, within the boundaries of protection, she will be safe from anything that may want to harm her.”
“Will she be able to see you?”
“No, not in this form, though she could find my statue. I will try to hide. The one thing I like most about this particular cave is that there are no truly good hiding spots. You’re certain she must come here?” the zanzar asked.
“It is for the best and we will all sleep better for it.”
“Very well, druid. I will allow it only because you asked. I do not cross paths often with your kind anymore. Once a prevalent creature of magic throughout the lands, but now, only a shadow that actually passes by in hiding. Why is it you choose to protect this human? Do you not know the history of your kind? Of the horrors the humans bestowed upon you? How they ran you from your homes and land to hide in the forests with fear of others discovering their gifts?”
“I know very little of the druid people,” Arion admitted.
“Ah. You do not truly believe you are one,” the zanzar said smartly. “I warn you not to alert your human friends of the magical power that pulses strong through your veins. They will not understand, nor would they accept who and what you are.”
