Mac tried to get up, but the stone man's hand was immovable. "When did this become a bad Saturday afternoon movie?" he muttered to nobody in particular.
"Shut it, meat bag," said one of the stone men.
Then a gem of a woman emerged from the rock face. She was a natural diamond, with milky white curves that seemed to glow from within. Her hair reflected the yellow mid-afternoon sun like strands of glass. Mac was eye level with her in his position on his knees. Her face reminded Mac of a Greek statue, but the eyes were no blank marble. Each was totally blue, with no discernible pupil. The diamond woman had no clothes, and didn't need them. She was perfectly beautiful without any further decoration. She carried herself as if she was impervious to any weather or discomfort.
The diamond approached Mac and looked straight into his eyes. He looked back with a practiced neutral expression. Though he had never been captured before, he had plenty of experience in appearing non-threatening while still maintaining his dignity. He concentrated on keeping his eyes on her face and off her perfect breasts. The woman made it easy by taking his chin in her small diamond hand. She inspected his face, then turned his head to one side to examine him in profile. She paused a moment to examine the hand print on his face. Then she stepped gracefully over to examine the elf and the gremlin.
"Obviously the human and the goblin are traveling together," said the diamond, holding Fifi's wrist and examining her red-brown stained palm.
"Am gremlin," said Fifi.
The diamond woman ignored her. Instead she addressed Mac. "Human, tell me what business you have in the gnome lands."
"The gremlin and I are searching for personal property that we suspect is near here. We met the elf while passing through," said Mac.
"Is the elf a friend or an enemy?"
"At present, a friend."
"Is this true?" the diamond asked the elf.
"Yes. They are new friends, but still friends," said the nameless elf.
"Then tell me both their names."
"The big one is Mac, and the small one is Fifi."
"Now the only name I don't have is yours," said the diamond, putting her finger on the elf's mouth. "But you will tell me," she said and stuck a diamond finger in Mac's face. There was no good answer. Mac considered the situation he was in. As a prisoner the worst thing he could do was lie and get found out.
"She does not have one."
"That is correct." said the diamond. She caressed Mac's face as gently as her diamond hands would allow. "Its pleasing to meet someone with the sense to tell the truth instead of telling ridiculous stories. As for the elf, her name is stuck on one of my pebbles, and I can't have that." She held Mac's face in both her hands. "And that nightmare O'Neil hag is making things difficult. Go get me the pebble and I will allow you and the goblin safe passage out of my realm this one time only."
Mac's neutral expression almost broke when he recognized the name. Surely no relative was on the property. If so then his cousin would have told him. He shifted to a subject nearer at hand.
"What about the elf?" asked Mac.
"You may say goodbye to her on your way out. But first she will help you find the right rock." The diamond woman grabbed the elf by the head, then pulled out a few long white hairs. "The correct rock will react with this," she said, handing them to Mac.
She then shouted "Gniff!" The fat little gray woman who must have been called Gniff attempted to stand at attention. The queen continued. "Escort the human to the edge and point him toward the pool, then return here. Execute!"
"Follow me, human," said Gniff.
"Be careful Mac! That's her pool!" said the elf.
Mac got to his feet and followed the short little gnome. They went slower than Mac would have otherwise walked. The gnome was similar to Fifi in height, but noticeably fatter. She seemed to roll along on her short legs with her large butt swaying under her dirty canvas skirt. Gniff's greasy black hair grew in tangles from under her stereotypical pointed gnome hat. The hat itself was patched and dirty. It flopped against her upper back rather than standing erect. Her top had once been a simple leather corset, but was at present a food stained thing that barely contained her nearly human sized breasts and did nothing to help her fat belly.
They descended the rest of the way into the wooded valley. There a small creek wound among rocks on its way to the New River. Oak trees grew at wide intervals in the rocky soil. An under-story of dogwoods grew in abundance up the opposite slope, taking advantage of the partial shade. Their late spring leaves caught the mid-afternoon sun and turned the whole forest green-gold.
The gnome stopped at a natural weir that spanned the creek. She pointed upstream. "Go that way until three springs feed a pool. Collect a white pebble with the elf's name attached to it," she said mechanically.
"Why does the diamond woman want it?" asked Mac.
The gnome looked uncomfortable. She massaged one hand with the other. "None of your business," she said, as if reciting for an audience. But her hands spoke differently. Gniff briefly put a finger and thumb around the other wrist just long enough to catch Mac's eye. Then she went back to nervous massaging.
"I need you to guide me the rest of the way," said Mac.
