{"id":2032,"date":"2015-03-03T00:01:59","date_gmt":"2015-03-03T05:01:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tellest.com\/?p=2032"},"modified":"2015-03-13T16:11:47","modified_gmt":"2015-03-13T20:11:47","slug":"the-littlest-kobold-part-five","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/the-littlest-kobold-part-five\/","title":{"rendered":"The Littlest Kobold – Part Five"},"content":{"rendered":"

I can’t believe\u00a0The Littlest Kobold\u00a0<\/em>is coming to an end. \u00a0It feels like we just started on it, and already, there we go. \u00a0I do think, after going through it again, that it definitely sits a little outside the types of work that we usually see in the Tellest universe, but that’s not to say that everything always needs to be dreary and dismal. \u00a0Mageborn<\/em> maintained a nice, whimsical tone throughout, and that’s done remarkably well in the review space.<\/p>\n

Anyway, I digress. \u00a0I seem to be rambling again, when I should let the story do all the talking for me. \u00a0I hope you enjoy the conclusion of\u00a0The Littlest Kobold<\/em>!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Littlest Kobold<\/strong>
\n-Part Five-<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you\u2019ve been with them this whole time?\u201d<\/p>\n

Leah nodded, averting her gaze from Gwendolyn\u2019s sympathetic eyes.\u00a0 \u201cEvery time I try to get away, one of Faroon\u2019s people brings me back.\u201d\u00a0 She turned to Camille then.\u00a0 \u201cWe shouldn\u2019t be here.\u00a0 It was bad enough involving you and your family, but if they come here and think Aspica was involved\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNonsense,\u201d Gwendolyn said, standing up straighter.\u00a0 She circled around to the front of the counter and gestured for the children and the kobold to follow her.\u00a0 \u201cThis is a noble cause, and I\u2019m sure the rest of the folks who live here would be happy to lend their hand.\u00a0 I can\u2019t do much for you, but maybe we could fashion you a better disguise.\u00a0 No offense to your sling \u2013 or to you, Leah \u2013 but that won\u2019t hide the fact she makes for one unusually hairy baby.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leah opened her mouth to speak, raising her hand, but hesitated.\u00a0 \u201cActually, I was a pretty hairy baby.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gwendolyn laughed as she led her guests to the front of the shop.\u00a0 \u201cSo obviously you\u2019ve seen my hobby.\u00a0 I love to make dolls.\u00a0 My husband and I have been trying for a baby, and when we started, I began working on these dolls.\u00a0 Still no baby, but my collection\u2019s pretty impressive, no?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou made these?\u201d Camille asked with wide-eyed wonder.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, not all of them,\u201d Gwendolyn clarified.\u00a0 \u201cI purchased the porcelain ones from Sungarden a few years back.\u00a0 But the clothes they wear and all the other knitted dolls\u2026 Those are all mine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s incredible,\u201d Abraham remarked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you very much.\u00a0 And now, if we\u2019re ready, I\u2019d like to prepare an outfit for Miss Leah.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAn outfit?\u201d the tiny kobold repeated.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t have you out and about while Faroon\u2019s lackeys are looking for you.\u00a0 Not without a proper disguise, that is.\u201d\u00a0 Gwendolyn reached high up on one of the shelves and pulled down a doll she had purchased, removing its clothes and placing the naked doll on the bottom shelf.\u00a0 Finally, she turned about, proudly displaying a dress that would have been fit for a girl of high regard.\u00a0 Though it was simple with an auburn-tan color, it was bolstered by a lace bodice and sleeves sewn into the top.\u00a0 It splayed out at the bottom in ruffles as well.\u00a0 Gwendolyn held it out next to Leah.\u00a0 \u201cJust your size, too.\u00a0 What do you think?\u201d<\/p>\n

The kobold looked up at the shopkeeper with moisture building on the rims of her eyes.\u00a0 She spun on her heel and looked at her young rescuers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s beautiful, Gwenna,\u201d Camille said.\u00a0 As she finished, she bowed her head, letting her eyes fall upon the pouch that rested on Abraham\u2019s belt.\u00a0 \u201cMy father gave us some gold, but I don\u2019t think it\u2019s enough to pay for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNonsense,\u201d Gwendolyn said.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not charging you for this.\u00a0 This is a gift to commemorate our friend\u2019s emancipation.\u201d\u00a0 She held out the dress again, delivering it into Leah\u2019s unsteady hands.\u00a0 \u201cWhy don\u2019t you try it on?\u00a0 We\u2019ll all look away so you can change out of those nasty rags.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nodding, the kobold took the outfit and turned around the corner of the shelves.\u00a0 They could see the light casting the shadow of her body as she removed her cracked, old lines.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo your parents know you\u2019re here?\u201d Gwendolyn asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Abraham answered.\u00a0 \u201cPapa would really love this shop.\u00a0 He really appreciates craftsmanship.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBack at home, he carves pieces for games of lords,\u201d Camille said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s much better at making the pieces than he is at actually playing the game,\u201d Abraham snickered.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes this look all right?\u201d the three of them heard.\u00a0 Turning about, they saw Leah in her new dress, its color complementing her dark fur.\u00a0 \u201cI look silly, don\u2019t I?\u201d<\/p>\n

Both Camille and Gwendolyn brought their hands to their mouths, but Abraham took a step forward.\u00a0 \u201cYou look beautiful,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat you do,\u201d the shopkeeper confirmed.\u00a0 \u201cNow we just need the finishing touch.\u201d\u00a0 She kneeled down in front of the kobold and placed something on her head.\u00a0 Abraham stepped around and noticed as Gwendolyn tied the bonnet around Leah\u2019s chin.\u00a0 \u201cThere we are.\u00a0 Your look is complete.\u201d\u00a0 She stepped out of the way, letting Camille see her more clearly.<\/p>\n

Her mouth opened wide, but it quickly transformed into a smile.\u00a0 \u201cYou look like a princess, Leah.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is incredible, Gwenna,\u201d the kobold said.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re sure this is all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI insist,\u201d she replied, dropping to one knee.\u00a0 Leah graciously accepted a hug but averted her gaze when the gesture had ceased.<\/p>\n

\u201cCami, have a look at this,\u201d Abraham said.\u00a0 \u201cI can\u2019t tell\u2026 Is that our carriage?\u201d<\/p>\n

The young lady cut across the shop and glanced out the window.\u00a0 Sure enough, her father sat in the driver\u2019s seat, and Rion leaned out of the side.\u00a0 \u201cThat it is,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat opportune timing,\u201d the shopkeeper declared.<\/p>\n

Abraham ran to the door and swung it open.\u00a0 \u201cPapa!\u201d he called out.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, you take care of each other,\u201d Gwendolyn said.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019ve been given a chance to make something wonderful of yourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope we meet each other again,\u201d Camille said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure we will,\u201d she replied.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Leah exited the doll shop with her hand in Camille\u2019s.\u00a0 Virgil swung the carriage about, and Rion was just finishing leaning out of the other window, much to the dismay of his mother.<\/p>\n

\u201cUp and about, kids,\u201d the Destrite patriarch said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to introduce you to Gwenna,\u201d Abraham pressed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m afraid we don\u2019t have time,\u201d Virgil protested.\u00a0 \u201cFaroon\u2019s voice can still be heard in the northern woods.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want to miss our chance to escape with the little lady.\u00a0 If it\u2019s meant to be, I\u2019ll meet this Gwenna another time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Papa,\u201d Abraham said as he opened the carriage door.<\/p>\n

Jerrick hopped out of the cabin and gave a nod to his siblings and the kobold.\u00a0 As Camille lifted the well-dressed stowaway into the wagon, the eldest boy hopped up next to his father.\u00a0 Abraham squeezed inside, and he and his sister sat on either side of Leah.\u00a0 She looked at Nika, who shared a warm smile with the kobold.<\/p>\n

\u201cNice to be meeting you, ma\u2019am,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re a precious little thing, aren\u2019t you?\u201d Nika replied.\u00a0 \u201cEven more so up close.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leah flashed an awkward grin.\u00a0 \u201cThank you so much for taking me in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Virgil flicked the reins and urged the horse forward.\u00a0 The brother and sister who had ventured to Aspica saw Gwendolyn in her shop, waving them and the kobold farewell.\u00a0 Camille beamed and nodded to her new friend as the wagon pulled out of sight.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

Rion had fallen asleep against the wall of the carriage, and seeing him in that relaxed state enticed a yawn from Leah.\u00a0 She sat between Camille and Abraham and across from Nika.\u00a0 The children\u2019s mother caught the last moment of the kobold\u2019s yawn, and Leah shied away in embarrassment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhoa,\u201d they heard Virgil say.\u00a0 At once, the carriage drew to a stop.\u00a0 Everyone in the cabin heard some incoherent mumbling outside.\u00a0 \u201cCan I help you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope so,\u201d another voice in the woods assured.\u00a0 Leah\u2019s ears perked up, and her eyes widened at the familiar-sounding man.\u00a0 \u201cEarlier today, one of my friends went missing.\u00a0 I was hoping you might be able to give me an idea of where she might be.\u00a0 Have you seen a kobold running around these parts?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA kobold?\u201d Virgil repeated.\u00a0 \u201cThis far from Warus?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPart uh our circus troop,\u201d another voice snarled.<\/p>\n

\u201cFergus,\u201d Leah whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cShh,\u201d Camille hushed.<\/p>\n

\u201cSir, I hope you won\u2019t mind, but I\u2019d like to check your carriage for our friend,\u201d George went on.\u00a0 \u201cShe has a habit of disappearing into strange places.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just my family back there,\u201d Virgil assured.\u00a0 \u201cAnd we have a newborn that\u2019s just fallen asleep.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t make this harder on \u2013\u201d Fergus began to say.<\/p>\n

A brief pause interrupted him, followed by the agitated bark and growl of a dog.\u00a0 Leah shivered against Camille\u2019s body.\u00a0 The young lady scooped her up and held her close.\u00a0 Nika leaned forward and grabbed her daughter\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe seat lifts up,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n

Outside, George stepped closer toward the carriage.\u00a0 \u201cI assure you, sir, we\u2019ll be quick and quiet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy little brother is scared of dogs,\u201d Jerrick piped up.\u00a0 \u201cOne of them bit him on the hand once.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll leave this fella outside then,\u201d George conceded.\u00a0 Not a moment later, the door to the carriage swung open, and he was there upon the ground.\u00a0 \u201cGood evening, folks.\u00a0 Sorry for the interruption, but my\u2026 employer would have my head if I didn\u2019t take adequate measures to make sure our friend wasn\u2019t stowing away without your knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nika smiled, cradling Kira against her chest.\u00a0 \u201cOf course.\u00a0 Just us five, though,\u201d she softly spoke.<\/p>\n

Taking a look about the compartment, George didn\u2019t see anything amiss.\u00a0 It was just the woman and her four children, as she had said.\u00a0 He began to take his leave when his eyes settled on the seat Camille and Abraham were upon.<\/p>\n

\u201cMa\u2019am, I don\u2019t mean to intrude, but does that seat open into another compartment?\u201d<\/p>\n

The briefest of pauses was all Nika would allow.\u00a0 \u201cWhy yes, it does,\u201d she said.\u00a0 \u201cChildren, would you give the man some room?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d George said.\u00a0 \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t believe how wily this kobold can be.\u201d\u00a0 As he moved into the carriage, Camille lifted the seat.\u00a0 \u201cThank you,\u201d he said again.\u00a0 He was affronted with the sight of the ruffled dress with the lace bodice.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s just a doll I bought for my sister,\u201d Camille said.\u00a0 \u201cI know she\u2019s too young to appreciate it yet, but I don\u2019t know when we\u2019ll be back this way.\u201d<\/p>\n

The circus guard passed a wary glance at the girl, his brow furled.\u00a0 He reached into the compartment, moving some clothes aside, and pulled the dress down over Leah\u2019s protruding tail.\u00a0 After a light squeeze on the kobold\u2019s back, he pattered her and stood back up.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t see anything out of the ordinary here,\u201d he said.\u00a0 George looked at the Destrite family members, meeting their wide-eyed stares.\u00a0 With an appreciative nod, he displayed a halfhearted grin.\u00a0 \u201cThank you,\u201d he offered, his voice cracking just a bit.<\/p>\n

As he disembarked the carriage, Abraham shot a surprised and curious glance toward his mother.\u00a0 She shook her head but remained quiet.<\/p>\n

\u201cWait a minute,\u201d Fergus snarled.\u00a0 \u201cHold Rufus for me.\u00a0 Something doesn\u2019t smell right.\u201d\u00a0 Without warning, the skinny, short fellow hoisted himself into the carriage.\u00a0 He took a quick look around, but his gaze lingered on the baby held to Nika\u2019s chest.\u00a0 He squinted and stepped toward mother and babe.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou touch my mother or my sister, and you\u2019re a dead man,\u201d Abraham insisted.<\/p>\n

That promise stayed Fergus\u2019 hand, but he turned on his heel and peered into the open seat compartment.\u00a0 He saw the dress and bonnet atop the supposed doll.\u00a0 Camille swallowed hard and passed a pleading glance to George.\u00a0 He stood outside, his hand grasped around Rufus\u2019 leash.<\/p>\n

Fergus pivoted, bracing his hands on the carriage\u2019s doorframe.\u00a0 \u201cYou stupid idiot,\u201d he seethed.\u00a0 \u201cYou brought us the wrong way!\u201d\u00a0 He hopped out of the vehicle and approached the circus guard.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Georgie.\u00a0 The pup must have lost the Hare\u2019s scent a ways back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Over the sound of the waking newborn, his companion sighed.\u00a0 \u201cNo matter.\u00a0 We always find her,\u201d George replied.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry to have interrupted you nice folk.\u00a0 Please be careful as you head up north.\u00a0 It\u2019s getting dark.\u201d\u00a0 He turned to the tracker and his dog.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s go, Fergus.\u00a0 Maybe she went into the town.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood luck,\u201d Jerrick called out.\u00a0 Beside him, Virgil snapped the reins, urging the horse on.<\/p>\n

Camille reached over and swung the door shut while Abraham lifted Leah from her hiding spot.\u00a0 When they had travelled a ways, she ventured a glance outside.\u00a0 Turning back, the Destrites noticed the tears that matted the fur beneath her eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d Camille asked.<\/p>\n

With a sniffle, a weak grin, and a shrug, Leah looked up.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m free.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

The darkness had lulled them all to sleep.\u00a0 Only Nika was still awake, gently stroking her baby\u2019s soft hair.\u00a0 Crickets outside hummed their tune over and over, so often that it melded together with the silence.\u00a0 When the carriage stopped, the two children opposite Nika shook forward, and Leah nearly fell to the floor from between them both.\u00a0 She stirred and instantly shivered at the thought of the stopped carriage.<\/p>\n

A whistle cut into the night, and Virgil cleared his throat.\u00a0 The kobold gave a slight nod and hopped down from her seat.\u00a0 She took off her bonnet and placed it on the seat beside the young lady who had rescued her.\u00a0 A flashed smile was the only communication she shared with Nika before she gave the door a gentle, silent push forward.<\/p>\n

Virgil looked down as the kobold came up beside the horse.\u00a0 Together, they looked at the road in front of them.\u00a0 It forked north and east, trees on both sides.\u00a0 Each road seemed weathered and beaten.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought you should know: \u00a0This path here leads through southern Raleigh,\u201d Virgil said.\u00a0 \u201cIf you\u2019re looking to get back to Warus, that\u2019s the road you\u2019d want to take.\u00a0 We\u2019ll be taking that one north to Viscosa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Mister Destrite,\u201d the kobold said.\u00a0 She moved along toward where the two roads diverged, each into their own lane of darkness.\u00a0 She gazed down both paths, her eyes unable to see far beyond where she stood.<\/p>\n

\u201cLeah?\u00a0 What are you doing?\u201d she heard.\u00a0 When the kobold turned about, she saw Camille standing there beside the carriage.\u00a0 \u201cWhere are you going?\u201d<\/p>\n

A shrug lifted her shoulders.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m safe now\u2026 away from Faroon and his intentions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut that doesn\u2019t mean you have to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n

All those who were awake heard the door to the carriage shut.\u00a0 When they looked, Nika stood there, Kira still held against her bosom.\u00a0 She nodded and shot a grin to her daughter.<\/p>\n

Camille spun back around and faced her new friend.\u00a0 \u201cNo one is forcing you to go back to Warus.\u00a0 I know you want to see Brighton Beach again someday, but there will be plenty of time for that.\u00a0 We\u2019d be more than happy if you came home with us.\u201d<\/p>\n

The kobold\u2019s eyes brightened at the offer.\u00a0 When the young lady dropped to one knee, she ran to her side.\u00a0 They shared a warm embrace that let her know that even though Warus wasn\u2019t her destination, she was still headed home.<\/p>\n

Scooping her up, Camille walked back to the cabin.\u00a0 Nika swung open the door and let her cheerful smile show.\u00a0 As the rest of his family settled in, Virgil gave his sleeping son a gentle squeeze before he snapped the reins.<\/p>\n

The Destrites continued along on their journey.\u00a0 And with them was the littlest kobold.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I can’t believe\u00a0The Littlest Kobold\u00a0is coming to an end. \u00a0It feels like we just started on it, and already, there we go. \u00a0I do think, after going through it again, that it definitely sits a little outside the types of work that we usually see in the Tellest universe, but that’s not to say that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1960,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[145,146],"tags":[770,783,784,771,149,785,767],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Camille_Leah-e1422788179475.png","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1UVey-wM","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2032"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2032"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2032\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2033,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2032\/revisions\/2033"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1960"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2032"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2032"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2032"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}