The Morgle Unmasked: Chapter 2, Part 1

18 September 2026

Welcome back! In this today’s installment from Book 3, The Morgle Unmasked, we join Blakstar and Thalamar, on their way to Karble where Sir Blakstar must go and report; this pair of chosen are about to enter the town of Komfleu, where they intend to spend the night. Their reception is less than warm. . . . (1 February 2016) The full ebook version of this book is available for purchase from all ebook sellers. We remind all that the first book in this series, Chosen of the One, and the second book, Staff of Shigmar, are both free from Smashwords! Glossary links: Book 3, Book 2, Book 1

Chapter 2, Part 1

Perhaps we were too quick to rescue Komfleu from Gar; maybe if we had delayed for a year or two, their suffering might have broken their overweening pride and taught them wisdom. But then again, perhaps it would have made the situation worse. . . . They never seem to learn. . . .

from the private journals of Fereghen Wulfrik, atno 1013

Three days later, in the middle of a very warm afternoon, Thal and Blakstar rode up to the gates of Komfleu. The guards at the gate slouched against the wall, unshaven, holding rusty spears and wearing grimy leather armor. When the two guards saw Thal and Blakstar approaching, they stepped into the center of road and stood with spears pointing at the newcomers. Thal and Blakstar stopped their mounts, looking down at the two greasy-haired, unkempt wethem blocking their entrance into the city.

“That’s far enough,” growled one of the guards. “Get down off your horses.”

“And keep your hands where we can see them,” the second added.

Thal wanted to laugh but bit his own tongue and slid to the ground. A flicker of annoyance crossed the kortexi’s face, but he, too, climbed slowly to the ground.

“What is your business here?” the first asked gruffly.

“We are traveling to Karble,” Thal said quickly, seeing the irritated look on his companion’s face, “and planned to stop here for the night. Can you direct us to a nearby inn where we can rest for the night?”

The two guards laughed. “There is only one inn,” the first spat, “that will take your kind.”

Thal’s brow wrinkled; he put one hand on Blakstar’s arm. They had been warned that they might have trouble here by both Marilee and one of her kailum, Grelsor. Thal shot a warning look at the kortexi. “I’m not sure what you mean by that last part,” he noted, keeping his voice level. “This is, after all, the Fereghen’s highway, open to all who wish to travel.”

The guards seemed to ignore what Thal said. “A white maghi,” the first said, coldly, “and a kortexi: we do not allow your kind to walk freely about our city. We will escort you to the Red Lion where you will stay until we escort you out of our city in the morning. If you leave the inn, or if there is any disturbance while you are staying there, you will be arrested and thrown into our dungeon, all your goods confiscated, and you will wait there until our thukro finds the time to dictate sentence.”

Thal felt Blakstar tensing, so he gave the kortexi a warning squeeze on the arm. “Uh, right. Lead the way,” Thal said, carefully controlling his voice.

The first guard turned and passed through the gate; the second followed the two young wethem leading their horses. Thal looked back, noticing that no one came out of the small guardhouse to watch the road; he nudged Blakstar and pointed.

The kortexi frowned. “You are leaving the gates unguarded? Is that wise?” he asked.

The guard following them snorted. “You hear that, Malik? Him, questioning us?”

The first laughed out loud. “As if he knows better than us our duty; as if we need to guard the ruddy gate! Guard it against what?” he asked, stopping.

“More of their kind, I’d wager,” the second added, also laughing.

“There hasn’t been any need, not for centuries,” the first went on. “Typical of their kind, isn’t it? Always acting like they are better than everyone else.”

“And what about the legions of Gar’s forces that just destroyed Shigmar?” Blakstar retorted, his voice rising. Thal grabbed his arm again, shaking his head.

“There they go again, bearing tales to frighten the foolish,” the second said. “There is no ‘Gar’; he is a fairy-story invented to frighten children into obeying their parents, or fools into bowing and scraping before their kind.” He laughed mockingly.

“We are not frightened by your fairy-story, kortexi,” the first spat the word like a curse, “so don’t give us any of your nonsense, or we’ll lead you straight to the dungeon. Now, shut your mouths or we will lock you up.” He turned and led them on, turning left just inside the gates and leading them down a muddy, foul-smelling street, past hovels that looked like they would fall down if touched by a gentle breeze. The edges of the street were choked with garbage, and they noticed a half-starved cat digging among the refuse for something to take the edge off of its gnawing hunger. A mangy dog came slinking out from behind one of the shacks; it saw them in the street, tucked its tail between its legs, yelped as if it had been hit, and ran back into the shadows out of sight. The few people who were out at this hour of the afternoon were sad looking wetham clad in filthy rags, one having a bundle in her arms; an aching bawl sounded from the rags, and when any of the wetham noticed the guards trooping down the street, they wrapped their rags more tightly about them and scurried into their hovels or the dirty shadows between the shacks. Thal noted these circumstances and behaviors but did not speak, fearing to antagonize the guards further, not that he felt threatened by them, but he wanted to avoid any incident which would reveal who they were or delay their journey.

Next week we will follow these heroes as they move through Komfleu, encountering, and helping, the downtrodden of this town. Until then, we remind all that the first two books of this series, Chosen of the One and Staff of Shigmar, are free from Smashwords. Get this book, The Morgle Unmasked, from the links provided. Good reading!