It turned out that there were four of the kobolds living in the cave. After calming down Filnak, Fizkip introduced me to two Kobold Grunts named Firnak and Fiplon. The latter were smaller than their brethren and carried small clubs for weapons. They were an odd bunch, chirping and squeaking, which I figured must be their language.

Occasionally they would look over at me with a wary eye. I didn’t mind. I was here to help and sometimes lesser creatures need to understand that their words can’t harm you. I was bulletproof to their whisperings.

Fizkip handed the trap back to me after giving it a thorough once-over. “It looks pretty solid, I would have never thought about this sort of design on my own. In fact, I didn’t know it was even possible to use silver as an insulator. I will defiantly make sure I learn from Mistress Mimi next time I try to experiment.”

“So what is the plan?” I asked. “She just said we just have to place the trap next to it?”

Fizkip wrinkled his brow and bit his lower lip in contemplation. “I don’t think it’s that easy, you see the convergence lines will wreak havoc on our timeline if we get too close.”

I started at him blankly for a while before he noticed.

He sighed. “I’m sorry, technical terms, what we need is a way to get it there without getting too close.”

I tossed the device in my open hand. “I can probably throw it, would that work?”

He shook his head. “The main issue is we have to open the lid once it’s there. If we open it out here, it will suck in all the mana from the area, along with any matter attached to the mana. That would mean you and me. If my assumption is correct, it will grab the most concentrated mana in the immediate area before locking itself down.”

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I frowned. “So we have one chance at this, and once we open it we have to be far enough away?”

He nodded. “Yes.”

“How about a pole?” To the side, Filnak interjected.

Fizkip and I gave each other a look.

“It could work, actually. We push it in with a pole, then use a hook to unlatch this clasp here.” He pointed to it. “Normally this would have to be opened by a mage, but I’m confident I can do it remotely.”

After a few minutes of jerry rigging, we fashioned a hook from a dagger, and lashed it to a pole lying in the woods. After some careful creeping up to the cave entrance, we discovered we could get about ten feet away before feeling the pull of the magic inside.

It made me sick to my stomach being so close, but you have to be uncomfortable in this line of work.

Lying on our stomachs, I pushed the box in while Fizkip used his magic to keep it standing upright and facing the mass of energy.

Finally, it was in position, just to the side of the pulsing glob of black magic that hovered just inside the darkened cave.

“Now!”

I used the dagger to try to pry the latch off, but it wouldn’t budge.

“Sorry, I can’t quite manipulate it from here.” He edged forward a foot, wincing at the magic. “Try again!”

This time, the latch seemed to move but not quite.

“I need to get closer!” He yelled.

I flashed him a look. “Are you sure? We can go back and get her help.”

He shook his head. “I can do this. Besides, it’s my mess to clean up anyway.”

He inched forward wincing with each inch until finally he was close enough. “Okay, I can feel it!”

I pulled on the latch as he cast a spell.

With a crack like lightning, the lid flew open and sucked in the mass of black magic, as well as the pole in my hand. It also started pulling in Fizkip. He scrambled to grab something to keep him from sliding across the dirt, but he couldn’t reach.

He was pulled into the air and swirled around the box for a moment, our eyes locked together while he smiled.

“See? I cleaned up my mess.”

And then he was gone. The box snapping shut.