~Gole~

The little runt girl is good on her word and leads me to the statue of Tgeat. Then she scampers off without another word. I flick my tail as I look at the brick observatory Poole lives in and then I turn my gaze to the statue. I hope Poole is still slightly useful. I walk over to the glass door and scratch down it, leaving streaks on the glass.

In a minute, a male rem with brown, curly, unkempt hair, wearing clothes that are too big for him, comes racing to the door. His clothes don’t even match, although his brown shirt compliments his eyes perfectly. He appears to be about four and a half feet tall.

“Gole! Don’t scratch my glass door!” Poole shouts as he bursts outside, and I bristle.

“It’s really nice to see you too.” I growl and Poole pinches the bridge of his nose.

“Yes, yes, I’m the bad guy now. I was busy studying with Tgeat when you interrupted by wrecking our property.”

“So, why does this ‘Tgeat’ have a statue and you don’t? That doesn’t make much sense seeing as how you’re the one who went on an adventure to save our world and he didn’t.”

Poole glares at me suspiciously.

“Tgeat is my wizard mentor who taught me everything I know, including where to find the bonny lily. I explained this to you ten years ago when the statue was built.”

“Right.”

“You’re taller.” Poole remarks and I glance at my reflection in his scratched-up door.

I study the scar on my face near my green eyes and then I narrow my eyes. Terror will pay.

“Poole, I need your help to hunt down Terror.” I say and Poole gapes at me.

“You’re kidding.”

“Do I look like I’m kidding?”

“No, just wishful thinking on my part. How am I supposed to help the great Gole of Everburning Rage?”

“First off, you could not say my name like that ever again. I’m just Gole and you’re Poole.”

“You used to call me Pink Lance.”

“I don’t remember that.”

“Still no luck on your memory?”

“I’m hoping killing Terror will make me feel better.”

“That would make everyone feel better if it were possible.  I assume you have a plan?”

“Have you ever heard of the Walled Box?”

“That ancient Strange Lands legend?”

“Precisely. Only, it’s not a legend. It’s real. The doorway will be open for two minutes, five days from now, at sunset. The verdues and uticales can validate its existence. Some of them saw the doorway open ten years ago. A book fell out and they’ve been guarding it ever since.”

“What does the book say?” Poole asks and I shake my head.

“No one knows. It’s written in a strange language no one can read.”

“Wow. You’ve done some research.”

“I have contacts.”

“So, what are we going to do? Shove Terror into the Walled Box before it closes?”

“Pretty much, yeah.”

“He’s a wind monster, Gole. You can’t touch him.”

“No, but you can lure him.”

“How?”

“Make him mad enough that he’ll chase me.”

“And where do I come into all of this?”

“I’m not sure yet, but you could be useful.”

“Why don’t you get one of your contacts to go with you?”

“Because I want to travel with someone who knows me.”

“I don’t know you! I haven’t seen you since Trouse’s funeral and that was years ago!”

“You know me better than anyone living.” I reply and Poole stares at me for a moment before he sighs.

“Give me a moment to gather some stuff for the trip.”