Geckle puzzled over the jokes for a while before chuckling nervously. The lantern was comforting as the sunlight became sparse and obscured. The quietly flying moth kept up its wide circling in the trees, but like the keen-eyed Gwenaël, gave no warning of anything lurking nearby, yet. [i]Why[/i] was [i]the palace built here? It's a good question. The goblins may have been hiding here for many generations... They'll know how to stay safe here, but the palace is newer. There's probably a good reason for it.[/i] After all, the palace was superbly defended by men and magic. [i]What kind of arcane concoction went into that bubble, I wonder? I suppose I could imitate a little of that, if any good spirits still answer...[/i] The druid clasped one hand over the glass amulet he wore and another to his only weapon, praying for faraway spirits to extend their ghostly hands to their servant. "I advise we say a few words to our... Protectors, to encourage ourselves," Geckle offered, glancing at Alexander particularly. "They're, er. better armed than we are."