29. The Trap

Caoilainn and Mazanlold walked together along the palm trees to reach the fisherman village. Caoilainn strolled playfully while Mazanlold strode like clockwork, and despite that, both were comfortable. Mazanlold broke the silence:
- "You know, Caoilainn?" - she replied:
- "What, Mazanlold?"
- "Thanks for the other day." - he hesitated - "I really needed that wake up call" - she smiled:
- "Don't worry! The reward of you two and we four getting along is all the gratitude I need."
- "Yeah, thank you, regardless" - she let a subtle laugh, then he continued - "and..."
- "And?" - she asked.
- "What we are doing is pretty unsafe" - he paused - "however, I must admit I enjoy the challenge."
- "Yes, I know. That's why I chose you."
- "Really?" - he laughed - "You sure are one of a kind!"
- "That's the marvelous Caoilainn of Kitatik for you!" - she smiled and showed her tongue. Then, she continued - "I also chose you, because you are our best warrior and it didn't seem to be something everyone needed to do. We have to work hard and rest well to see this journey through the end."
- "You are a sharp one" - he smiled - "and, why did you accept to help this man?"
- "Well" - she paused - "I cannot see children suffering. And I do believe a mage should help people, not work exclusively for his own gain, so " - she paused again, to organize her thoughts - "nothing could be more fair than taking a small detour on this journey to help someone in need." - Mazanlold smiled, specially pleased, and said:
- "I guess, that's what a warrior should do too. It's great we think alike on that."
- "Yes, I agree!" - Caoilainn made a small playful pose and they continued walking.

Suddenly, they heard a loud snore which got them into a fighting stance. Mazanlold and Caoilainn moved closer to the beach, to better check their surroundings. There, they could hear an intense rustling of the trees from the direction they were going, but saw no movement. Mazanlold said:

- "That's strange, but regardless, let's move deeper into the trail, it is probably safer" - and at the same time, a giant figure came out of the direction they were going. It was a huge green elephant sporting long tusks and a third eye on its forehead. Caoilainn shouted:
- "Run!" - and they ran inside the palm area. They advanced quickly but could hear the elephant closing in on them. At times, they looked back and could see a green figure mixed with the trees, approaching. Hearing other sounds, Caoilainn made a turn, Mazanlold followed, and so did the elephant.

- "Should we fight?" - asked Caoilainn.
- "We should try not to" - replied Mazanlold and they continued running. However, looking back, Caoilainn saw the green figure getting closer and did not see a root and tripped on it. She fell on the ground, Mazanlold stopped next to her and both were pulled up by a net. Stuck on it, all the sounds they were hearing stopped, leaving only the sound of a chilling wind. Caoilainn said:
- "It seems" - Caoilainn sighed - "that we got caught in another trap."
- "Yes" - Mazanlold crossed his arms. Caoilainn tried to move and get more comfortable but was unable to. She said:
- "How can I be so dumb? This is such a cheap trick!"
- "Hey, calm down" - replied Mazanlold - "I am stern, but I won't blame you. We just wanted to help."
- "Yes" - she said on a sad tone. At the same time, they saw smoke rising up to them, seeming to come from fruits under the net. The started getting drowsy and Caoilainn continued - "please... don't... leave me..." - and both of them fainted.

Caoilainn and Mazanlold woke up in a gray room of cobblestone. It was dimly lit by torches and a minuscule square window. They were lying in ragged beds, and could see iron bars in front of them. Their bags, staff and morning star were not with them. Mazanlold got up, while Caoilainn stretched and said:
- "Well, we are in prison."
- "Yes, we got caught in a trap again, and a good one at that" - Mazanlold took a thorough look at the cell looking for a way to escape. - "I can't find anything here" - but he kept on looking - "do you think we are facing the same foe as last time?" - Caoilainn replied:
- "It may be possible." - she touched her chin - "I am thinking here, and it is very possible that the elephant was an illusion. After all, it made lots of sounds but did not seem to move the trees, even being huge."
- "That's true."
- "If that is the case, we are probably facing the same foe." - she sighed - "that's bad, because this means we were not targets of opportunity, he is really targeting us." - she lied down again.
- "So, let us wait." - Mazanlold said - "the same foe or not, we were probably not arrested just for the sake of it. Soon, we will have news. I will keep looking for something here.
- "Yeah, you're right." - said Caoilainn. She kept lied down looking at the ceiling, while Mazanlold anxiously tried to find something, to no avail.

Some time later, a man appeared before them. He was tall, imposing, and wore fancy clothes and a glistening cape. Mazanlold and Caoilainn looked at his face and it seemed human, but retorted and the skin was gray and his eyes were yellow and blue. He also had two small horns on his head. In a low voice he said:
- "Fancy meeting you again, Caoilainn and Mazanlold." - Mazanlold said, without looking up:
- "And who are you?" - the man let a sly smile.
- "Don't you know? Well, I did look different last time" - he looked down - "you knew me previously as the Duke Moninose of Neggenegg." - he looked at them and spread his arms - "I am the Demon Duke Donisemon, at your service" - and he bowed. With that, Mazanlold sat down again and sank into his bed. His eyes were fearful. This prompted Caoilainn to say:
- "Okay, Demon Duke, what do you want from us?" - The Duke replied:
- "Well, well, I was expecting more reverence from you" - he shook his head - "kids those days are getting less and less respectful." - he paused - "but it doesn't matter. You see, I am honest demon, all I want is to help you."
- "I doubt it" - she replied promptly.
- "You see, I know of your journey" - he smiled again - "since you sprang my trap on Boneenob canyon, I've been watching you" - he looked up - "you see, I am very interested in dreams, and that's why I left the trap there" - he spread his arms - "all I want is to help dreamers, with all I can do." - hearing this Mazanlold jumped out of his bed and held the bars shouting:
- "You demon, you don't want to help, you want to destroy us! Don't listen to him, Caoilainn, demons are dirty liars!" - while Mazanlold's eyes were red with anger and Caoilainn was also irritated, Donisemon let a loud laugh. He gesticulated a lot before continuing:
- "You will make me sad, the way you don't trust me." - he recomposed - "however, that is alright. I'm a demon of patience, I will give you sometime to think, before I can you bring you my proposals." - he bowed - "see you later, dreamers" - and he left them alone.