Andal glared at the dark figure, "What do you mean Moxey is still alive? I cut off his head!"

Heffer asked more quietly, "And why did he call this 'the dreamscape?'"

"His body is dead, but it will be reformed in time. His soul is finding its place in an imprint he left here previously. Be offended if you will, but I implore you to finish him off."

Andal's expression didn't lighten, "Tell us who you are first, if you expect us to believe something like that."

The dark figure was silent at first, then answered, "I will not tell you, for I fear you would not believe me if you knew, but I tell the truth! If you do not hunt him down now then Moxey will fully recover."

Andal laughed bitterly, "You expect us to believe an unknown figure that we can't even plainly see?"

Noric stepped between them, "If I may, Andal," he turned to the dark figure, "If you can't tell us who you are you can at least show us you know what you're talking about, right? Tell us what makes this place the dreamscape, and we'll believe you."

The dark figure seemed to nod, though it was hard to tell since it's head and torso were the exact same shade of color. "This I can do." He gestured into the sky, "In the foremost days of the world, chaos was prominent on the earth, as it is here. Gods made changes frequently, and accidentally, from the tiniest whims of their mind. Eipoios saw the chaos and sought to silence it, making the dreamscape. This is where the dreams of gods are found, so that they would not cause confusion on the earth."

Andal asked, "If this Eipoios is so strong, and wants peace on the earth, why doesn't he do anything about the Haverdash?"

"Eipoios has no power on the earth, I think by choice. Regardless, I don't think he would. He does not seek to dominate others, even when that may lead to more peace, it is against his nature."

Heffer asked, "What does Eipoios look like?"

The dark figure pointed in the distance, to the giant slug running across the sky that could be barely seen from where they were. "His avatar."

Heffer exclaimed, "I knew it! I believe him, we need to finish off Moxey."

Jeva agreed, "I think we should trust him too. If it is a trick, I don't see what he has to gain, or what he would be trying to get out of us. He's a very good liar if he's a Haverdash projection of some kind." She addressed the dark figure, "Though, if this is the place where gods dream, and you understand that, who are you?"

The dark figure didn't respond, so Jeva asked another question, "At least tell us, are you a god?"

After considering if it should answer, the dark figure told them, "Yes, I am."

Andal was struggling to be critical now, and was instead wondering if he should be showing reverence. "It seems we believe you. Where can we find Moxey?"

"There are formations of pools and hanging trees, deep in shade, and with an aura of peace. Noric or Heffer, do you know them?"

"We do," Noric answered, "We have often used them for shelter."

"Moxey is also using one for shelter. His is several of your miles in that direction. You see where the cloud is copulating with that mountain?"

"I didn't realize that was what was happening, but yes."

"Go past that mountain, to that valley, and go to the end of the valley. Between two hills there you will find the proper place, and you must search it for him."

"I can't help but wonder," said Andal, "Why don't you finish Moxey off yourself? If you are a powerful being who knows precisely where he's at, and wants him dead just as we do."

"It is a fair question. Unfortunately, I cannot traverse the dreamscape without cost. I found my way here, but to find my way over there would require forcing my way through the minds of others, lords of lands I have never known, and would be seen as a hostile force. I cannot do it without making enemies where there should be peace, but you can."

"I don't truly understand, but I will take your explanation at your word. Noric, you will guide us there?"

"Of course, let's be off!"

Jeva asked the dark figure, "Will you be here when we get back?"

Everyone else seemed surprised. It answered, "I suppose I can, if you wish."

Andal cocked his head, "Why would we come back though? It's a long ways, and we need to find a way out of here."

"I want to talk to him more! You could tell us who you are when we get back, right?"

"I could, yes."

"And I bet you know how to find a meadanim real easily!"

"That is also true."

"See?" She said to Andal and Noric, "We should come back once we finish off Moxey!"

Heffer joined in, "I think that's a great idea!"

Andal relented, "I guess that's a good use of time, yea. Well, thank you godly being, we'll be back in time."

"Don't be caught unawares. He is weakened, but devious."

*

The walk was interesting, to say the least. Heffer gave lots of instructions, "Don't walk on that grass." "Wave to that rock before it gets the wrong idea about us." "Step on those ants. Harder." "Take a dive you'll shrink if you stay there!"

They had disagreements in a couple spots, like when they thought they saw a dying man, and Heffer insisted they shouldn't help him. A chunk of ice rolling by got too close and out of his mouth popped a big black lizard to swallow it up. The body deflated, showing that it wasn't actually a human body that a lizard was living in, but more like a human shaped bag.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

When they passed by the cloud and the mountain to get into the ravine they saw a village population of frog people impatiently staring at the mountain, holding belongings like they had been kicked out of their homes by the cloud. The frog people payed them no mind though, and they passed into the ravine.

It was night in the ravine. The stone walls had carvings of palm trees with coconuts, and seagulls feasting on bananas.

Heffer suddenly cried out, We're about to flip! Everyone be careful to land safely, there's no telling where the ground will be after this!"

Night suddenly became sunset, the ground dropped almost twenty feet, and the walls were totally obscured by a forest of giant mushrooms. Andal made shields of light beneath each of them, preventing anyone from falling.

Noric was confused at first, then smiled at Andal, "Nice catch!"

"Thanks, step down to the next one and let's get to ground level safely.

As they descended Jeva noticed lots of little eyes peering at them from behind the mushrooms. They kept their distance for a while, but then got more curious, and dozens of little mushroom people edged closer with spears. Jeva waved to them, but they didn't seem to understand that hand motion, or her words when she said hello. They continued to edge closer, making the group increasingly uncomfortable.

One of them prodded Andal with his spear, so Andal yelled as a warning, “Hey! Watch it!”

It scurried back. They congregated and started whispering to each other. They seemed to reach an agreement, and one of them yelled high-pitched indiscernible words. Two mushroom trees parted, and a giant mushroom man with an angry look was revealed.

Heffer alerted them, “We run from those!”

The giant mushroom man chased after them, but they were able to reach the end of the ravine without getting run over. They saw the formation with willow trees and went for that, knowing that it would be a safe place. As soon as the last one of them stepped into the shade of the willows, the giant mushroom man turned around and went back into the ravine.

Noric asked the group, “This is it, right? Moxey should be here?”

“He should,” Andal answered, “let’s stay together. We don’t know what condition he is in.”

The ground was soft, and the pools of water were clean. Jeva told them, “I know we’re looking for Moxey here, but this place is really nice.”

“It is,” Andal agreed, “The sense of peace is palpable.”

“Hey guys,” Noric was looking down a tunnel of branches a short ways away from them, “I think that’s him.”

Andal rushed over to look through the branches, “Has he noticed us yet?”

“I think so, it’s hard to tell actually.”

Andal had to agree, he had no idea if Moxey could see them. His eyes were translucent, as were his legs, his left arm, lower jaw, and a decent percentage of his torso. Andal waved the other two to follow, and walked through. When they stood in front of Moxey, they could tell that he could see them. His translucent eyes seemed to loosely follow them. Andal looked him up and down, remarking, “I had many sleepless nights because of you and what you’ve done to me. When I killed you the first time I couldn’t relax, because you made me worry about my friend, but this is different. I’m kind of happy you lived, now that I see you, so that I can properly kill you and give closure to those nightmares.”

Moxey’s lower Jaw took form, but spoke in breathy, small chunks. “Are you suggesting… you want to kill me… to be at peace?”

“Yes, are you so unaware of the suffering you cause?

“I… don’t believe you.”

Andal recoiled in offense, “Well it doesn’t matter if you believe me or not. Look, I’m going to kill you again!” Andal drew his sword. “You’ve lost!”

“That… I believe. I have lost… and you have victory. Which… is what you… always wanted.”

“You’re projecting. You Haverdash can’t understand anything as lovely as peace.”

“...True.” He made a slight gurgling sound, and his speech seemed clearer. “We do not desire peace, it is a small and unimpressive thing. Since you are strong of will, you are more like a Haverdash than other humans, and so it is no surprise that you would pursue stronger things. Why would you rage at me, if you only want to be at peace?”

Jeva looked at Andal with concern. Andal was silent, so Moxey continued. “Your anger, your desire to dominate me, showed that you desired victory over me. And, you have it. I do not hold that against you, it is only natural, since you are strong of will, to not settle for peace. Though it is a great shame that you settle for a human condition, since you could be so much more.”

“Suggesting that I become a Haverdash again? This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. You’re making me feel silly for considering you some great villain in my life.” Andal drew his sword back to strike.

“”I remember you, you’re friends with Lars.”

Andal hesitated. "How do you know his name? Did you torture it out of him?"

"I would gain nothing from his name. I know him well, and so I know his name. I didn't realize that you two knew each other until our fight, when you said that I'd killed your family. I had not made the connection that the templar boy and that boy who rode away were one and the same. It makes sense though, that the only two strong enough to survive Haverdash wine would be friends."

"He survived…?"

Moxey's eyes and torso had formed while they were talking. "More than survived, he's flourished. He and I have made quite a bond."

Noric and Heffer whispered with each other, then Noric chided Andal, "How obvious does it have to be that he's manipulating you? Your sword is drawn, kill him!"

Andal looked between Noric and Moxey, then to Jeva. He'd hoped she would be able to tell him what to do, but she didn't have any answer on her face. He asked Moxey, "Where is Lars now?"

"Less than a day's journey away by the Edezar. Would you like to meet him?"

Noric recognized the name “Lars,” as the Haverdash didn’t hide their conversations around their slaves. That was their champion who broke Mavoshidog. It was possible this was a trap, and Andal would be destroyed, but regardless, he had no intention going anywhere near Lars even if it wasn’t a trap. He spoke even more sternly, "Andal, if you have any sanity then don't trust a word Moxey says!"

Moxey's legs formed down to the knees, and he tested how much he could bend at the hip a little. Noric spotted a movement of Moxey's eyes as he bent. He looked toward a knot on the tree nearby him, as if wondering if he could reach it. Noric peered closely at the knot; he could barely see the outline of a bottle inside it, Haverdash wine.

Noric snatched the sword from Andal's hands. Moxey's legs fully formed. Noric leaped forward and slashed upward between Moxey and the tree just as Moxey jumped toward it and reached into the knot, slicing Moxey's arms off above the elbows.

Moxey glared fiercely, but Noric was undaunted, holding the sword at Moxey's neck. "He was lunging toward a bottle of wine he had stashed in this tree. You of all people, Andal, should recognize that nothing good could come of listening to Moxey."

Andal rubbed his temples, "You're right, I'm sorry." He made a sword of light in his hands, "Time to finish this."

Moxey turned his glare to Andal, "Indulge me this last time, and tell me how you found me here."

"A dark figure appeared and told us where to find you, thank goodness he did."

"A dark figure…" Moxey muttered to himself, "He wasn't in my mind?"

Andal cleft Moxey in two just below the ribs, and let the sword of light disappear. He stared at Moxey's dead body for a moment, then sighed. "Let's go back."

*

They went back to where they'd first met the dark figure, and the swirling wind returned. It congregated, and the dark figure appeared again.

Andal told him, "We killed Moxey, again. Thank you for telling us where he was. Now that the matter of trust is passed, could you tell us who you are?"

The dark figure warned them, "Do not be alarmed, I am not your enemy. I am Haverdash, the god of the Haverdash in the days of their youth."

Despite his warning, they were alarmed indeed. Jeva exclaimed, "You're trying to conquer the continent!"

"I am not! I have opposed this, and tried to draw them back. They have not known me for nearly 200 years, being caught in a web of sensations that they have replaced me with. They would not say that they have ceased to worship me, but they kill my prophets on sight.”

Andal was flabbergasted, but asked, "You have prophets?"

"I do. I send them to draw back the Haverdash people, that they would stop this warring and come back to me. All but one have answered my call to serve me, and that was Moxey. I have hope for my people, that they would repent, but I wanted you to complete his death because I lost hope in him. He and the other religious leaders, most of all those they call glorious, are a bastion against me."

"We've been planning to kill the glorious, we got Manier, how many more are there?"

"There are four in total, and one like them in strength. I applaud you, it is a good thing that you have done. Beware Glorious Trots the most, as he was the first, and is the strongest. The likes of Manier cannot rival him."

Jeva asked, "Can't you kill him for us?"

Noric echoed that, "Yea! If you want them dead the same as us, and you really are a god, why not just smite them?"

"I cannot. I can barely appear to you as I do now."

"How can that be?" Andal blurted, "How could the Haverdash have these immensely powerful characters, while you, a god, are weak?"

"The reason is one, why I am weak and they are strong." Haverdash seemed to mull for a minute, "And I suppose I will tell it to you. There was a covenant made before the foundations of the earth, in a hall of many gods, to prevent us from killing one another, or each other's creations, out of jealous ambition. We agreed that our power would be limited on the earth, and limited proportional to the number of those who pledge themselves to us. It was meant to give those on the earth democratic agency, to force the gods to rule wisely, and be appealing rather than tyrannical. I, having little ambition, sought to have an intimate relationship with a small population in the hills. They became known after my name, the Haverdash.

"I gave them gifts, that they may know the world unlike anyone else did, and see things others could not see. They followed after the gifts rather than me, but continued to worship me in name. Either by the sincerity of their worship or the slow transition that it took place in, they began to worship themselves as Haverdash in a way that tricked the covenant. Worship that would be credited to me is instead credited to the Haverdash people, my people. The strength of a Haverdash, especially the glorious, comes from the fact that they are given authority over the created world that was meant for gods. They have become, like gods."