"Stop dawdling!" There was an echo, which jumped away from the voice. Strange bits of music came from the walls. The music was broken and very far away. Rather, the walls seemed to absorb the sound at places and let it out again at others. The source would be impossible to tell.
Rowen and Shendron looked at the gloom of the castle and then at each other. The voice had been very clear, but had come from all directions.
"Now, now! Why do you insist on looking so daft and surprised?" the voice bounced, disappeared, and came back again from another direction.
"Be careful," Rowen whispered, "this is not the castle's magic, it's an assailant."
"I can sense no ill intent, I suspect the voice belongs to an ally."
"Still, caution is the best option."
"I agree." Shendron breathed.
The voice was suddenly loud and behind them, very clear and very light. Its tone was friendly, and welcoming, "Well, if you boys can't handle a bit of teasing, before going into a tizz of worry, I suppose I have to show myself!"
The wizard and mercenary whipped around and found a small man looking up at them.
"A Leprechaun!" Rowen yelled.
"Aye, but don't be making as much noise as that, I have no pot of gold, as this castle has no Rainbows! So hush and follow me."
The companions looked at each other and turned back to the Lep, just in time to find him running off into one of the many corridors. They set off after him, and felt safe, without knowing why.