When the Gem awakens to call a Hero, the world is ill prepared...and its fate is placed in the hands of a 17 year old boy, named Wendell.

Some will say this is nothing but a tale of fiction.
Let them think as they may.

After all...I can't fix stupid.

Previously: Using his mastery of the mägoweave he wears, Wendell sneaks aboard the Centurion transport and helps his new friends escape.

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Chapter 65

Sometimes the sweetest tale is the one you never tell.

It was impossible to go anywhere without being mobbed by gnomes begging for autographs.

Dax didn’t care.

He’d upset the balance of the Trench Wars with his strategic and combat prowess, then upset the media by telling them to “go suck on their question pads.”

What made it worse was he’d simply sat there, behind the interview table, arms folded…waiting for everyone to leave.

Didn’t say a word, just scowled at reporters until they were so uncomfortable, they just…left.

Not that anyone really blamed Dax for being so upset, but the team had goals. A mission even, to accomplish, and his attitude wasn’t going to help anyone, including himself.

When the reporters filed out of the room, Dax looked about him, lit a cigar, and briskly made his way to the transport.

“Let’s get out of here,” he grumbled.

“You can’t just push everyone aside!” Nat complained, trying to keep up.

“Watch me, Wheels,” Dax hissed.

“Please… don’t call me that.”

By the time Dax and the rest of the crew made it to the transport van, the buzz had already gone viral.

The uproar over the match had been huge. Every news station in the city spun its own variations of the fight, feeding its perspective to its audience.

Every news station.

Prime Time, Indie Reporters,…and even some home brew MeTuber’s with nothing but a basic microphone and a smartphone had something to say.

Dax was the hottest news in the city.

Dozens of mainstream reporters spliced the footage in new ways, each adding their own spin. Pictures of Dax and the rest of the Steel and Stone team were everywhere. By nightfall, Trench Wars was more popular than ice cream and candy bars.

When the crew got back to the warehouse, Dax walked silently to Chuck’s library, and locked the door.

Chuck caught Alhannah’s arm. “Let him go, dear.”

“Uncle Chuck, he’s gonna…”

“I know, sweetie,” the mägo whispered, patting her hand, “but he needs time. Let him drown his thoughts for tonight.” He gave her a wink. “We’ll talk about it in the morning.”

“I’m afraid that won’t work,” Nathan groaned. He rolled into the kitchen and handed Alhannah a note.

“What’s this?”

Nate motioned to the paper. “It was left taped to the front door.”

“What is it, dear?” Chuck asked.

Alhannah groaned. “We’ve been summoned by our benefactor,” she said coldly. “He says he needs to talk to Dax and me right away. It’s urgent.”

“Well, he can wait till morning,” Chuck snorted.

Holding up the note, she repeated the last line through a clenched jaw.”P.S. This is not a request.”

Chuck’s bushy eyebrows popped up. “Well, I’m not telling the monkey. I provided the Blackseed Rum.”

Alhannah looked at Nate.

“What?” he snickered. “Dax tolerates me…and that’s on a GOOD day.”

“Mahan’s pink panties…” she moaned.

“I don’t give a fairy fart what Bellows wants,” Dax growled. “He can drown like a turd in a toilet for all I care.”

Alhannah gently pulled the stained mug from Dax’s grasp. Höbin stopped working and peered over from Chuck’s corner desk.

“Now you’re being stupid, monkey,” Chuck scowled. “The last thing any of us want is to alienate those on our side. Bellows might be a moneybag, but he’s a connected moneybag of respect in this city. If we’re going to try to find Wendell, then we—”

“BUT WE’RE NOT TRYING TO FIND HIM!” Dax roared. “THAT’S THE WHOLE FRIGGIN PROBLEM!!” His arm flung out, sending the mug flying across the room to shatter against the far wall. Splintered fragments skittered across the floor while gray liquid streaked downward from the point of impact.

Lili squeaked and buried her face in her hands, shoulders trembling.

Since my disappearance, Lili had been jumpy—sensitive to every voice raised around her. Anyone losing their temper sent her straight into panic.

“That’s right,” Alhannah muttered, leaning close so only Dax could hear. “Scare the few loyal people who are here to help.”

Chuck waved her off and set a gnarled hand on the elf’s shoulder. “My boy, we don’t know his fate yet. That security footage could have been doctored to discourage us. None of us has any idea of what the Ithari’s truly capable of.” Then his eyes widened, and a grin spread across his face. “Besides, this time he had on his mägoweave! Maybe only his face got burned off!”

Dax stared at him, horrified.

“See? There’s a bright side to EVERYthing!” Chuck beamed. “Now get your butt out of that chair, and for TGII’s sake, brush your teeth. You smell like fermented flesh rotting. You need to get to Bellows’ estate. It’s about time we told him what’s happened to the boy and get his help. While you’re gone, I’ll ask Deloris to join me in a meeting with Motherboard. I have a few ideas of my own.”

That’s when he paused and studied Alhannah.

“You alright, dear?” Chuck asked.

She nodded slightly, though the dark rings under her eyes betrayed her. Her skin had lost its porcelain glow, veins showing faintly beneath. “I asked Shamas to investigate what happened to Wendell. The security footage across the manufacturing district gave him some possible leads.”

“Wait,” Dax swallowed hard, “it did?”

She nodded weakly. “But with the kid gone, our need for security doesn’t feel so important.” She turned to face the elf. “But Chuck’s right, Uncle Dax. Bellows can still help. We can also do more damage to those responsible if we’re the top dogs.”

The elf swayed in his chair, weighing the idea. Fame and fortune could be powerful weapons…but that wasn’t what she was talking about. They all wanted to unite to fight against their enemies.

Still… given the choice, he’d rather use his own hands.

An enormous burp rattled the desk, scattering papers to the floor. Dax licked his lips and stood. “Lili? I’m…sorry, kid, for behaving like that. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

She nodded.

“I’ll get dressed,” he muttered, turning to Alhannah. Then he glared at the wizard. “But I ain’t brushing my teeth.”

The butler stood stiffly at the foot of the stairs. “Master Bellows is in a private meeting. Please wait here.”

Without another word, the old gnome turned and walked away, leaving Alhannah and Dax in the entryway.

“This place is huge,” Dax breathed.

“Yeah,” Alhannah replied.

“I wonder how rich this guy actually is?” Dax craned his neck, staring upward at the high, vaulted ceiling.

“Hmm.”

Dax stopped and turned. “You don’t have much to say, ‘Hannah. Especially after what this moneybag’s been putting us through. Not exactly yer norm, kiddo. You okay?”

Her eyes roamed over the towering tapestries and rows of ornate statues along the walls. She wondered. Bellows always knew too much. Way too much. Where had the richest gnome in Clockworks City hidden his cameras and listening devices?

She sighed. “Just don’t have much to say.”

Dax snorted. “Yeah, and beer don’t taste good.”

Alhannah shrugged.

“Hey, I wonder what’s over here?” And before she could stop him, the elf turned sharply and jogged down the nearest hallway.

“Wait—no, don’t! Uncle Dax!”

She hurried after him.

One by one, Dax rattled the heavy doorknobs along the corridor. Each doorframe stood more than ten feet tall, all with an intricate woodcarving in its central panel. One had a forest hunting scene, another contained a lakefront alive with butterflies. The sixth door had storm clouds rolling over jagged mountain peaks.

Dax stopped suddenly.

“Woah.”

Unlike the others, this door wasn’t natural wood color. It was deep, almost blood red. The carved panel stretched from top to bottom, the whole door a single, uninterrupted canvas. A mountain cave yawned in the center.

“That’s kinda cool,” he breathed, and stepped closer.

Its etched shadows looked so deep they seemed to swallow the light of the room. Dax raised a hand to touch one of the carved stone wedges—

“Cripes!” He jerked back, stumbling into Alhannah. “Would you look at that!”

Stepping forward, she squinted.

“What the…,” she gasped.

Eyes glimmered from within the darkness of the cave.

“Now that’s just…creepy,” Dax muttered. “Don’t think that’s right, if ya know what I mean.”

“Luckily, the master did not ask you,” grumbled the butler.

Both Dax and Alhannah nearly jumped out of their skins.

“If you would follow me,” the butler frowned, “he will see you now.”

Back down the long hallway and through the center of the massive estate, the butler led them to a plain door. Not the office door, which they both knew…but one that opened into a dim library.

Bellows stood near a fireplace, conversing with a shadowed figure in one of the oversized leather chairs. Firelight danced across the polished floor and dark-paneled walls.

“Come in,” Bellows said warmly. “Please, both of you.” Striding forward, he gripped Dax’s hand in a firm yet friendly handshake. “Fantastic display of skill last night! Truly amazing. The workers in the factories cannot stop talking about your performance, Dax. You’ve become the pride of the lower districts.”

“Pride?” Dax frowned, confused. “You’re not pissed off?”

The older gnome chuckled. “I’v watched many of my fiercest adversaries in the media world eat crow. The Church is beside itself, and the Government Faction is on meltdown.” He gave Dax’s shoulder a light punch. “Pissed? I’m delighted!”

That made Dax smile.

Bellows leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Have you enjoyed the cigars?”

“What? Oh, yeah. Love ‘em.”

Bellows nodded. “Good. Good. “ Another case is being shipped to the warehouse tonight.”

Dax blinked. “Wow. I mean….thanks?”

Alhannah’s gaze shifted from her benefactor to the shadowed figure. “We didn’t mean to interrupt. Deloris said you wanted to see us immediately, but we can come back.”

“Nonsense,” Bellows waved the thought away. “I was going to summon you both after my conversation with Motherboard.” He lowered his voice again. “He shared his information about Wendell and the unfortunate situation the other night.”

Dax growled. “Unfortunate? He was killed, you pompous little—”

“Dax.” Alhannah’s hand clamped on his shoulder. She met Bellows’ gaze coolly. “You seem disturbingly unaffected by this… setback. That, and the fact that President Stump sent his goons to threaten us…and Wendell…before the last fight. The government knows what you’re doing.”

Bellows’ smile didn’t falter. “I doubt that. The government doesn’t collect its own information. Too much effort, too much responsibility. Those who control the flow of information,” his grin sharpened, “control the truth.”

Alhannah frowned. Bellows knew more than he was admitting. He had deep and influential connections in the G.R.R., and that bothered her.

A lot.

“So what do you want?” Dax said. “Besides giving cigars.”

“Yes. That. Well…I want to make your team whole again. You lost a pilot, and I still require you to win if you expect funding.” He stepped aside, gesturing toward the chair. “I took the liberty of finding a replacement.”

Dax shoved Bellows in the chest, sending the gnome stumbling into the antique desk. He hit the side and fell to the floor.

“Dax! That’s enough!”

The elf froze, mouth falling open. “Wendell…?” Dax choked. “You’re alive!??”

I smiled as I rose from the chair, bare-chested with pajama pants on. “Hello, buddy.” I nodded. “Alhannah.”

Before I could blink, Dax lunged…crushing me in a hug.

“Urk.”

Alhannah stared at me. I’m assuming she was shocked…from the open mouth and bulging eyes. She sank into a nearby chair. “But… I saw you, Wendell,” she stammered, “on a security video. Falling…” She choked up. “..into…they threw you into…”

“The furnace?” I grunted under the crushing hug. “Yeah…you did.” I sipped some air. “Dax…seriously, you’re crushing me.”

He let go and spun me around.

“You hurt? Scars? She fix you up okay?”

Then he hugged me again.

Harder.

“Daaaax,” I wheezed.

When Alhannah’s eyes met mine, I could see the pain in her face. Honestly, I have no clue what bodyguards go through. I’ve only seen them in movies back home, but I’d wondered if they ever got emotionally connected to a client? Alhannah felt more like a sister to me than my bodyguard…which probably made all this worse.

She looked worn.

Exhausted.

“I’m okay, Alhannah,” I whispered, but she squinted at me, her face contorted. “Broke a lot of bones on the way down, yes. But…you know how fast I heal.”

That got her to smile.

I winked.

Dax stepped back. “How did you get out? How did you survive? Why…are you naked?”

“Says the guy usually running around in nothing but boxer shorts,” I smirked.

“Touché,” Dax snorted.

I laughed. “After a week in garbage, you’d want a bath and clean clothes too.”

Bellow moaned.

Dax was instantly at his side, helping him up, and straightening his jacket. “Sorry ‘bout that, sir. You just..I mean, I just…ahhhh, bugger.” He sighed then. “I still get the cigars, right?”

Bellows waved him off and leaned against the bookcase to get his balance.

“How did you get here?” Alhannah said evenly.

“He stowed away on a mechanical truck,” Bellows answered. “Rode it to a lift and took it straight up to a toll booth. One of my employees recognized him and called my office when Wendell claimed he’d been mugged.”

Alhannah’s eyes narrowed. “Mugged?”

“What was I supposed to say?” I smirked. “‘Hi, I was knocked out, thrown into the furnace, fell a hundred stories, and lived. Could you call me a cab?’”

Dax slid close. “Kid, maybe we shouldn’t be….ya know….”

“I explained everything to Mr. Bellows,” I said, easing my friend back.

“Everything?” Dax said.

I shrugged. “Motherboard had already hinted at certain aspects of me. Eventually, everyone’s going to know the Gnolaum is here…and not a gnome.”

“He’s not wrong, Uncle Dax,” Alhannah said.

“If you say so,” Dax added.

“Excellent!” Bellows beamed. “Which makes winning even more important. My representative—the prophetic leader of our people!”

The butler reappeared with a platter. On it was a black square of fabric. “Your clothes have been relieved of their unique odor, sir.”

I smiled. “Thank you, Keenan.”

Once the butler left, Alhannah looked between us. “We should lie low until it’s time to compete again. Keep you safe, Wendell. I don’t want something like this to happen again. You might not be so lucky next time.”

Dax gave her a nod. “On that, we agree.”

Mr. Bellows also nodded. “A wise decision.”

“No,” I said plainly.

Reaching out to the mägoweave, I extended my will.

The living cloth slithered across the silver platter and reached up to my fingers. Within moments, the cloth spread over my skin, transforming into a shirt, leather jacket, pants, and boots. The smiley face on my shirt blinked awake.

“Hello buddy,” I grinned.

The smiley face looked up at me and winked.

“What do you mean, ‘no’?” Dax asked.

“I have no intention of hiding. Whoever wanted me dead wanted me out of the games. That means I’m doing a good job of…” I looked to Bellows.

“Creating drama?” Bellows grinned.

“Drama,” I repeated. “And I plan on creating a lot more.”

Alhannah stood up, walked over to me and gave me a gentle hug. “Time to make some noise?”

I nodded. “I think it is.”

Dax snorted. “Fine. I only have one question then.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

With a heavy sigh, Dax turned to Bellows. “I still get the cigars, right?”

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65. SECRETS