Dread Mage

They were wandering through a forest. Sonder didn't know where, instead, she just followed Vell's lead.

He seemed to know what he was doing.

He was mostly silent, but after a while, he stopped, set down his bag, and began rummaging through his bag.

"Where is he...?" He mumbled, "Come out, come out."

And then to Sonder's surprise, something inside the bag answered.

"What?" The voice was quiet but very gruff.

And then, after putting his whole arm into the bag, he pulled it out like something stung him.

A small ladder was set at the edge from inside the bag.

Then a tiny man climbed it up. He was small enough to fit inside the mage's palm. He was lifted by Vell, at eye level.

He was nicely dressed and had a long beard. He almost looked like a shrunken down dwarf; not that Sonder had seen any in her life, but she heard of them and knew what they were supposed to look like.

Sonder stared at the small man.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Vell said, "let me introduce you. "Sonder, this is Hiraeth. Hiraeth, this is Sonder, something like a stray I picked up."

"G'day," Hiraeth said, giving a tiny bow.

"Hello," Sonder said, and she didn't know why but was compelled to curtsie.

"Hiraeth is my archivist; the best there is. If I have any lapses in memory or have any questions, I ask him." Then Vell turned to Hiraeth, "This is Sonder. She's an undead. She was human, but now is something else. I've infused her with the part of an elf's soul."

"I can imagine that she hasn't always looked like this, aye?" Hiraeth asked.

"No, she was more... human, as strange as it sounds."

"And let me guess, you want me to find out what she is, or could be?"

"Right on the money, Hiraeth, as always."

"Such favors come for a price, Vellichor," Hiraeth said.

"Of course. What do you want?"

"You're out of wine. Cabberon to be specific."

"What? How? I bought two bottles for you last month. How can someone as small as you go through them so fast?"

"I drink and I read, that's what I live for. And supposedly, I am also in this world to help a hopeless mage, like yourself, or do you want to begin reading through your own library? I recommend you go start with the interesting stuff first like, 'The Art of Potting Plans', or 'The History of Shoe Polish - Volume IX'."

"Yeah... I think a few bottles of Cabberon wine are worth your services."

"Make it a casket. Then I won't have to annoy you any time soon."

Vell stretched out a finger, and Hiraeth shook it. The deal was made.