This is my fourth Nano novel ... Unfortunately I didn't finish on 30Nov with the required 50k ... that happened some months later ... This is however a fun novel for me and I am currently revising it. I am not planning a sequel eventhough this draft seems to end that way. My intention is to make this a single stand alone novel, but even best laid plans can change... I'm just sayin'.
Enjoy
Dream Born
The screaming wouldn't stop! Paul dragged himself from a deep sleep to realize that the screaming wasn't in his dream, but coming from his roommate across the room. He jumped out of bed, forgetting that the night before he had left his bag on the floor by his bed. He tripped over the bag and hit his head on the desk lamp, knocking it to the floor adding the breaking sound of the light bulb to the incessent screaming of his roommate.
Paul staggered to the main light switch by the door and blinded himself with the sudden light. His roommate, Ben was laying flat on his back, arms and legs stretched stiff. He was laying as if bound by ropes and screaming as if he were being burned alive! Paul was frozen with fear. He had no idea what to do. Ben just lay there screaming, tears streaming down his face from wide open unseeing eyes.
Suddenly the door burst inward, knocking Paul forward as it caught him in the back. He fell to his knees. A couple of guys from the dorm had heard the screaming and came to see who was getting killed. One was the RA. He helped Paul up and shouted for another to call for help. He sat Paul on his bed and went to try to wake Ben. As soon as he touched him, Ben stopped screaming. He then began sobbing and curled up facing the wall.
Paul was relieved that the screaming had stopped but the horror of it made him want to cry to. Instead he just sat there and numbly watched as the RA tried to calm Ben.
It seemed like hours before the paramedics came. Paul just sat there knees drawn up to his chest and watched as they checked Bens vitals and then took him away. They questioned him and all he could say was, “He was screaming like he was burning”
The got his name and information from the RA, because all Paul could say at the moment was “He was screaming like he was burning!” After the paramedics left it took the RA at least an hour and some vicadin to get Paul to relax enough to talk about what he saw, which really wasn't much.
Paul was beginning think they blamed him for Ben's screaming, even though the RA kept saying that he couldn't have done anything. The RA was getting up to leave telling Paul, that if he didn't feel up to his classes the next day he could provide an excuse for his teachers.
Paul, feeling weary beyond belief thanked him and then said, “Did the paramedics say why he was screaming? I mean what was causing it? It was horrible!”
The RA shook his head and said, “They refused to speculate and said it was better left up to a doctor to figure it out. They said his pulse was weak and his breathing shallow and thats why they took him.” The RA smiled sympathetically, Paul thought it almost looked like a priest smiling at a condemned man, then he said, “Look it's been a long night for both of us. Get some sleep and stop by my room later for that excuse. I need to go call Ben's family and let them know he's been taken to the hosiptal.”
Paul nodded. He looked at Bens empty bed and then at the broken lamp. He got up and cleaned up the mess from the lamp, but decided that touching Ben's bed or stuff could be dangerous. He flipped off the light and realized that dawn had arrived as weak morning light was spilling through the window. He closed the thin curtain, crawled back into bed and let the vicadin take over.
Happenings
Paul stretched as he walked out of the dorm. He was still unsettled by the events of the night before as the spectre of Bens screaming face loomed before him. Fortunately the vicadin gave him a dreamless sleep and he had woken feeling better. The RA had been gone, but an envelope with Paul's name on it was taped to his door. A class excuse form was inside and a hurridly scratched note about the RA being suddenly called home for a family emergency. Paul had shoved the note in his pocket and the permission slip in his bag so he wouldn't forget it on Monday when he returned to classes.
For a fall Friday afternoon, campus was pretty deserted. Most students were usually rushing about preparing to attend a football game and then the parties afterwards. He then remembered the football team was away playing in another state.
Paul liked the campus in fall. All the leaves on the trees were changing creating a colorful mosaic with the old brick and stone buildings. This was his first year in college but his older sister Kate and then his cousin Mike had started here before him. Before that his parents and Mikes parents actually met here. The college truly seemed a home away from home. He was just glad that none of his professors mentioned that they had taught his parents before. Only one mentioned Kate.
He passed by the Campus Commons, a park-like area where students could study (or late in the evenings to make out). As he walked through the wind picked up. He shivered as an icy finger of air stole up through his hoody. Suddenly he heard footsteps pounding on the pavement behind him. He assumed it was a jogger running through campus, but as he steped aside to let the runner by he saw that it was a woman dressed in a suit coat and skirt her feet bare and a dark figure chasing her. The figure was dressed in a flowing black robe that whipped about in the chill wind. It's movements were fluid as if it were gliding through the wind. He couldn't see a face only darkness in the opening of the hood. The woman's womans face was contorted in fear and her mouth was wide open. She appeared to be screaming, but the only sound Paul heard was her feet on the pavement. She lept right towards him, but didn't seem to see him.
He threw his hands up to brace against the impact of her slamming into him and instinctively his eyes closed. He felt a deep rushing chill pass through his body and when he opened his eyes, the wind had settled and quiet reigned in the commons again. The woman and the dark figure were gone.
Paul sat down on one of the benches, shaking. His breaths coming in deep ragged gasps. The image of Ben screaming pounding in his head.
“What the hell is going on!” he shouted.
“Are you ok?” a soft voice asked behind him.
Paul jumped and turned around. A young woman stood behind him, her face full of concern. It took a few seconds before he recognized her as a girl that was in his history class. She usually sat in the first row and seemed to be able to answer any question the prof asked.
“Ah shit! You scared me!” he snapped.
She looked at him with a mix of concern and strangly a look like she was examining a bug under a microscope. She raised one eyebrow at him.
Relieved that she wasn't a screaming roommate, or some apparition, he said, “Man I'm sorry I snapped. You'll probably think I'm nuts, but I thought I saw a woman being chased by ...” Paul hesitated and she gave him a look like she was waiting for him to continue, “Ok she looked like she was being chased by death.”
He looked down at his feet waiting for her to burst out laughing or walk away shaking her head that he was mad. When he looked up she was still standing there, but instead of derision, she seemed to be trying to remember something.
She smiled, without the least hint of mocking and said, “I once heard a tale that about 12 years ago a young woman, a business student to be exact was killed in this common area. A few students have reported seeing her here.” she looked at him, “have you ever heard of this story?
Paul shook his head. After the events of the previous evening, this bit of news was unsettling, especially since he hadn't told her that the woman he saw was actually wearing business clothes.
All she said was, “hmm”.
Paul watched her as she paced around the bench he had been sitting on. He had an odd thought that she looked like a hippified sherlock holmes. She truly was a bit of an odd duck. In class she tended to be quiet until the teacher was asking questions, then she not only answered them but gave a dissertation. The history prof always looked pleased as if she had given him a blow job rather than just answering a question. He was wondering if she was 'doing' the history prof, when she said, “It's not this apparition thats got you on edge is it? You're the one whose roommate went to the hospital today!”
There she was, hands on hips giving him a look like he was a bug on her shoe now.
He slugglishly switched his thoughts from blow job to his screaming roommate. He felt a headache beginning to press on his temples. He wondered in passing whether he had hit the low point in his college career or if it was just going to get worse, when she said, “You know the rumor is you did something to him.” That bug look again, “but personally, I don't think you're the type.”
Should he be relieved by her assessment?
“No, I think your roomate probably just had some latent issue that manifested with the stress of college life. Not everyone is cut out for this you know, the studying, the class schedules and of course the social dramas.”
Now he just stared at her as if he had just been told that in order to pass his next exam he would have to do it naked and standing on his head. Another thought passed through his head about women and if they all confounded men or was it just her?
She smiled and then sympathetically said, “Wow I'm sorry, you really have had a rough day and here I am babbling on about the hows and why's. It's my major you know, Phsycology. It makes you want to phsyco-analyze everything!”
Paul just nodded. He decided then and there that women were just aliens from another planet and should be dealt with carefully and the less you say the less they can harm you.
“Well hey,” she said, “My name is Mary Brown. If you need someone to talk to or just hangout with come find me, I'm usually in the library.”
Mary extended her hand. Paul numbly thanked her and shook her hand. He sat back down on the bench and watched her walk away. At the moment he was more stunned that the stringy haired nondescript girl with soft brown eyes and absolutely no boobs at all, (that he could see) who wore clothing straight from haight asbury circa 1960, was named Mary Brown. He expected her to be named Sunrise Moonbeam or some other name from the psychedelic past his grandparents always raved about.
The breeze picked up and threw some leaves across the cobblestones. He jumped up and checked his watch. He needed to hurry or he would be late for work. Big Bob the manager at the Pizza Guru where he worked as a busboy was pretty easy going, but Friday and Saturday nights were the two busiest nights and he would get cranky with anyone who was late.
Paul still had five minutes to spare, when he pushed the back door of the Pizzaria open. He was surprised to find Big Bob leaning on the prep table and chatting idly with Meg, Bill and Jamie. Meg and Jamie were waitresses and Bill was the main cook.
They all looked at him as he came in. “Did I miss something?” he said as he hung his bag in the closet and pulled his apron out.
“No not a thing,” said Big Bob. The others just shrugged.
“It is Friday? Right?” he asked, suddenly worried that he had slept through until Sunday.
“Oh Ya it's Friday” agreed Bob. He glanced at the others, then said, “Everything ok with you? I mean we heard, uh you, um had a bad night last night.”
Paul shook his head. “Ya it was rough. I really don't want to talk about it though”
“Sure, Sure, No problem,” said Bob, “Hey look things are pretty quiet around here if you want to have the night off?
“Actually,” said Paul feeling awkward by everyones concerned stares, “I wouldn't mind working a bit, to get my mind off last night.
“Ok then” said Bob, not looking like everything was really ok, he said, “I was going to just lock up early and send everyone home, but of you like the tables could all use a good clean and then the floor could use a thorough mop.”
Paul nodded and headed for the cleaning closet. He came out with the mop bucket and several clean rages to wipe down the tables with. Jamie, Meg and Bill were gone and Bob was shrugging his big coat on over his ample frame. “Tell you what, I'm gonna lock the front and set up the alarm. Just flip the switch for on when you leave and lock the door before you close it behind you.” Bob yawned and stretched, “I think I will see what a quiet Friday night is like for once.”
He clapped a meaty hand on Pauls shoulder, “Don't work too hard and don't worry if you don't want to finish. It's been a tough day.” He looked at Paul with large sorrowful eyes.
Paul, just stood there nodding his head wishing Bob would stop looking at him with those eyes and just leave. He sighed with relief as the door clacked shut behind Bob. He sagged against the prep counter and wondered if he really did feel up to cleaning all the tables and mopping the floors.
Suddenly angry with himself he grabbed the clothes and another bucket for soapy disinfectant water and furiously attacked the tables. As he worked he slowly quit thinking of anything but making the tables sparkle. By the time he was halfway through the restaurant with floor mop, he had worked up a good sweat and finally felt the cares of the day recede. He even began to hum to himself.
Paul was so engrossed in his mopping that at first he didn't hear the tapping on the door. Finally as he was turning a corner aond a table he glanced toward the door and saw a woman standing outside the door knocking on it. She was wearing a white flowing dress that was blowing about her in the wind, as was her long black hair that whipped about her head.
Paul pointed to the closed sign and shook his head. She had both hands on the door and was frantically looking over her shoulder and then back at him. She seemed to be mouthing the words “help me!”
Paul tried to see what she was looking at but couldn't see outside because of the glare from the lights. He sighed and dropped his mop into the bucket. Crazy people seemed attracted to him today, he thought. He wiped his hands on his apron and unlatched the door.
The woman slid in and waited while he closed and locked the door. “We're closed,” he started to say as he turned around, but the woman was gone. On the floor where she had been standing was a piece of thick paper. He picked it up noting that it felt like a thin piece of leather. One one side were a bunch of symbols that had absolutely no meaning for Paul. He shoved the paper in his pocket and went looking for the woman. The Pizza Guru, wasn't large. It had a kitchen, walk in refrigerator and freezer, a small storeroom and even smaller closet and a bathroom that Paul suspected was put in as an after thought. The woman wasn't anywhere. He assumed she left out the back, hoping to dodge whatever she thought was chasing her.
He figured she must have accidently dropped the paper. He sighed. His day was still crazy. He quickly finished up mopping, and cleaned up. Shrugged his coat back on, and left the Pizzaria. He had intended to go back to the Dorm, but after last night he wasn't quite ready for that so he decided to swing by Mikes frat house and see what he was up to. He hadn't seen Mike much lately and thought maybe he should tell him about his strange day.
When he got there the house was dark and quiet. Paul was unnerved. This was not a typical friday night on a college campus, even if the football team was not in town, surely not everyone went to the game. The thought that he and Mary Brown were the only two people left on campus gave him the chills.
Nothing left to do, he hurried back to his dorm room.
Disappearences
The frat house was still quiet when Paul stopped by the next morning. He pounded on the door, but no one answered. If he hadn't known better he would have thought they had all been up partying late. He stood on the expansive wrap-around porch of the old victorian styled frat house and tried to call Mike on his cell phone. The phone cut over to voicemail. Paul clicked his phone off and banged on the door one more time. The door was locked so he couldn't just barge in.
Paul sighed.
The sun was up and morning was nearly over, but there was still a chill in the breeze that made Paul shiver. He put his hands in the pocket of his hoody as he went down the steps of the frat house. His fingers rested on the piece of paper he found in the Pizzaria the night before. He pulled it out and examined it in the light of the day. The writing on one side of the paper was brown and slightly darker than the paper it's self. Again he thought it felt like a thin piece of leather. He'd never seen anything like it. The edges of the paper were not evenly square. The handwriting was very precise however and the characters were carefully drawn.
Curious he tried to tear a bit off one corner and found that it would only stretch and not tear. He decided to try the library and see if anyone there could tell him something about the paper. He stuck it back in his pocket and walked to the campus library. He carefully skirted the commons area, not really wanting to encounter another ghost, or Mary Brown again. Something about her made him uneasy.
Saturday mornings on campus were generally quiet, and this morning was no exception to that quiet, but Paul hoped to see others, even if they were just walking by. He climbed up the stone steps of the library and entered into the dim foyer. A second set of doors led him into the main hall of the library with it's marble floors and columns. The vaulted ceiling stretched up to a tile mosaic depicting a monk bent over a table laboriously copying a book with a feathered quill pen.
Suddenly the mosaic gave Paul a sinister chill. He hurried to the librarians desk in a hurry to be done and out of the building. The woman behind the desk looked up from her computer as he approached. She looked to be about thirty, but pretty with dark hair and kind blue eyes. Aside from her pleasant look, Paul was relieved to see that there really was someone else on campus besides he and Mary. Even his dorm had a deserted feel about it this morning.
“Can I help you?”
Paul looked at her name tag and saw that it said Marissa H. “Umm ya, umm I have a piece of paper with some writing on it that I was hoping someone could explain to me.”
Marissa nodded and said, “ok, do you have it with you? May I see it?”
“Oh, uh ya,” he blushed, “Sorry.” he pulled the paper out of his pocket, dropped it on the floor, picked it up and put it on the counter. “Sorry,” he mumbled again.
Marissa smiled warmly at him making him feel a little less stupid. She looked at the paper and exclaimed, “Oh! Wow where did you get this? It's not paper, I believe it's vellum and it feels very old.” she held the piece very delicately as if it would fall apart in her hands.
He said, “I found it at work last night while I was mopping the floor.” he decided to leave out the part about the disappearing woman.
“where do you work?”
“Pizza Guru”
She smiled, “I love that place, their Pizza is the best. But it's an odd place for a piece of vellum. Whoever dropped this is probably looking for it.”
“Do you know what it says?” He asked not wanting to have to elaborate on his day yesterday.”
Marissa laughed, “Me? No, I'm only a librarian assistant. I basically sit here and keep the librarians organized.” she looked over the piece of vellum again, “even so, knowing the librarians here, I'm not sure any of them would know anything about this either.”
Paul said, “Oh.” his disappointment must have shown.
“I do know a professor on campus that does studies in ancient peoples and writings. He may be able to help. Would you like me to take it to him?”
“If you give me his name I could do it myself,” said Paul, “I would hate for you have to go out of your way.”
This time Marissa blushed. “It's no problem. I umm see him on a pretty regular basis and plan to see him later today.”
“Oh,” said Paul, flustered “um ok thats fine. When should I come back?”
“Here, give me your phone number and I will call you.” she handed him a pen and piece of paper.
Paul scratched him name and cell number on the paper and handed it back to her.
She smiled and then frowned when she looked at the paper. “You're the guy whose roomate had a weird fit the other day.”
Paul felt like sinking into the floor and then he flet like changing his name and moving to another state. He couldn't speak and just nodded wanting to get away.
“I'm so sorry,” she said, “That was rude of me. It had to be awful for you!”
Paul smiled tersely and said, “I should proably change my name, I seem to be famous because of my roomate!”
A long piercing scream echoed throughout the library causing both Paul and Marissa to look at each other with fright.
“Oh My God! That sounded like Beatrice!” her voice distraught. She turned and ran towards the back of the library. Paul sprinted after her.
When they got to the back of the great hall Beatrice was crumpled in a heap on the floor sobbing. Two other women were with her trying to console her.
“What happened?” exclaimed Marissa
One of the other women said, “I sent Marissa to get some paper for the copier from the supply closet. She was gone for only a couple of minutes when I heard her scream.”
The other woman said, I was in the stacks over there, putting books away when I heard her scream. Margie and I got to her at the same time.
Beatrice gulped through her sobs, “Dead man in closet!”
All of them looked at her startled, Paulwas the first to speak, “No a dead man? That can't be right”
Beatrice started blubbering, “dead man,” over and over.
“Where's the closet?” Paul asked Marissa.
Fear in her eyes, Marissa pointed to a door in the wall.
Paul started toward the door when Beatrice started screaming hysterically, “Don't open it! Don't open it!”
Paul looked at Marissa. Marissa told the other women to take Beatrice to the employee lounge. Paul could see the fear in her eyes as they walked Beatrice away who had mercifully stopped screaming and was just sobbung uncontrollably.
Marissa looked nervously at Paul as he moved toward the door. She said as if trying to convince herself, “Beatrice is usually pretty emotional and dramatic at times.”
Paul nodded, hand shaking as he reached for the door, terrified of what he would find. He opened the door a crack but it was dark inside. Marissa stood behind him. “anything?” she whispered.
“Stand back, I'm going to open the door wide to let the light in so we can see but so we don't have to enter.
In answer Marissa took three giant steps back. Paul felt suddenly alone. He wanted to close his eyes, but he flung the door open and jumped back. The door banged on the marble wall and bounced back, the sound echoing loudly scaring him and causing Marissa to scream.
He did glimpse the figure of a person slumped on the floor and the person seemed to be wrapped in something, but the door banged shut before he could really see anything.
Panting, he and Marissa looked at each other.
“Should we call 911? or campus security?” she whispered.
“Have you ever seen a dead body before?” he asked her.
She shook her head.
“Me either. But I think we should maybe make sure he is not dead before we call.”
The fear Paul felt seemed to be mirrored in Marissa's eyes, but he also saw a resolute determination. He took a deep breath and slowly opened the door. The figure slumped on the floor was a mummy with a giant bowie knife sticking out of its chest. Dripping from the handle was blood. Paul felt like puking. Instead he fumbled on the wall just inside the closet for the light switch.
The light from the bulb revealed that the mummy was actually a paper mache sculpture and the dripping liquid was red paint. The only “real” thing about the mummy was the knife. Paul shuddered. Someone was playing a sick joke on the library staff. However, until the events of the last two days he might have even thought it was funny, but in light of everything he had just been through he saw nothing funny.
Marissa was angry. “Goddammit LEO! Get in here right now!” she shouted.
Paul jumped at her unexpected anger. She was striding toward the custodial closet her heels clicking angrily on the marble floor. “Leo!” she shouted again.
The custodial closet opened and man about Pauls age poked his head out. “What?!” he snarled angrily at her. “What does your highness want now?”
“You can cut the crap Leo! Your little practical jokes are out of hand! I will take this to the dean!”
“Take what to the dean?” he snapped back. “After you complained to him the last time I ain't played another joke on no one!”
“Ok then who's idea was it to put a stabbed and bleeding mummy in the supply closet?” Marissa seemed to tower her authority over Leo by tapping one foot and arms crossed over her chest like a judge condeming a murderer.
“A mummy?” as far as Paul could tell Leo seemed genuinely surprised. “Let me see.” Marissa followed the curious Leo back to the closet.
Leo jumped a bit when he saw the mummy for the first time. He turned and gave her a vicious grin. “I wish I could claim this but it weren't me!”
Marissa glared at him and Paul felt like punching the smirk off his face.
Marissa, visibly containing her anger asked, “Any thoughts who this might belong to? And could you please remove it from the supply closet? Also, make sure it doesn't show up anywhere else besides the custodial closet for now. We will need to find out who it belongs to.”
“As you wish yer highness,” Leo mocked.
Marissa ignored him. “Thanks for your help.” she smiled apologetically.
Paul shook his head, “What a crazy weekend. I'm glad it wasn't an actual dead man though.”
“Me too.”
They stood there awkwardly for a moment, not quite knowing what else to say.
Marissa blurted out, “Well I better see to Beatrice and the others. I will call you as soon as I have your vellum looked at by the professor.” she smiled.
“Thanks, I appreciate your help. I hope Beatrice will be ok.”
Marissa nodded and turned to walk toward the employee lounge. Paul watched her for a moment before he turned and walked out of the library.
He stood atop the stairs and looked around. It was a beautiful fall day. The trees on campus were bursting with fall colors and the sun stood over head warm and inviting. Despite the insanity in the library, Paul was actually starting to feel better. He pulled out his phone. No calls from Mike yet. He decided to call his sister Kate.
“Kate?”
“Paul? Where have you been?”
“Here. Why?”
“Oh My God! I have been trying to get ahold of you for hours.” scolded Kate.
“I don't have any missed calls.”
“Paul, you are such an idiot at times. When's the last time you have turned off and resarted your phone?”
“umm”
“Exactly. Mom and Dad have been trying to call you too. All we have gotten is your voicemail. We have left messages at your dorm. Every time we call you are out, or no one answers the phone there!”
“Sorry!” said Paul, irritated at being scolded.
“Look,” Kate softened her tone, “I'm sorry. We all heard about Ben and were worried about you.”
“I'm ok, just a little freaked out.”
“Have you gone to the hospital to see him yet?”
“No. should I”
“Oh Paul, sometimes I wonder how you function. Yes of course you should go. You do know Ben is in a coma right?”
“He is? No I mean no I didn't know. Look Kate it really hasn't been much of a picnic for me either.”
“Where are you now? You want me to come get you and take you to the hospital?”
“Maybe later. Right now I need to see Mike. Have you heard from him?”
“Mike? No I haven't. You need to restart your phone.”
“ok I will, tell Mom and Dad I'm ok. I really don't feel like talking to them right now.”
“Alright I will. Just make sure you make time to go see Ben.”
“I will. I gotta go. I'll call you later.”
“Ok just take care of yourself.”
“I will. Gotta go.”
“Bye”
Paul hung up. He looked at his phone, powered it off and started walking back toward Mike's frat house.
This time someone answered the door. The guy looked like he had just dragged himself out of bed.
“Hey Paul, don't think Mike is up yet. How's Ben?”
“John. No change in Ben. You mind if I go up to Mikes room? I really need to talk to him.”
“Sure.” John scratched his ass and pulled the door open so Paul could enter.
“We had a hell of a Party last night. You should have come.”
“Ya? I had to work”
“How's ol Big Bob?”
“He's good. I better go see Mike.”
“Alright, I think I'm going back to bed.”
Paul nodded and took the stairs two at a time up to the second floor. Mikes room was actually at the front of the house. Paul walked down the narrow hallway to the door at the end. He knocked on the door. No answer. He opened the door and poked his head in afraid he would find Mike with some girl.
The room was in its usual cluttered messy state, but Mikes bed was empty. Paul let himself in. The room was cold. Mikes window was open and the breeze was fluttering the curtains. Mikes shoes were on the floor and even stranger, his cell phone was on the night stand next to the bed. It was blinking with a red light which meant it was low on power and he had a missed message.
Paul crossed the room and looked out the window. He shut the window and looked around the room. Tacked to the cork board over the desk was another piece of vellum like the one he had found, but instead of writing, this one had what looked like a map on it. Paul took the vellum off the board and put it in his pocket. He then searched around Mikes room to see if he could find anything that might let him know where Mike was.
He was about to leave the room when the blinking phone caught his eye again. He picked up Mikes phone and put it in his pocket.
Paul hurried out of the frat house. He noted that it was still fairly quiet, but there were a few inhabitants stirring. On some level that made him feel better.
For the second time that day he walked toward the library. He was hoping to give Marissa the second piece of Vellum in hopes both could be interpreted when he ran into Mary Brown again.
Inwardly he groaned. Today she had her hair pulled back in a pony tail and seemed to be somewhat dressed respectably.
“Hi, are you having a better day she asked?” he had to admit her voice was pleasant to listen too, even if her crooked teeth and stringy hair were off putting. At least she smelled clean, like fresh soap.
He didn't feel like saying much so he said, “Ya it's been a lot better. Thanks for asking.”
His lack of communication didn't seem to register with Mary. She walked with him quietly for a moment, “Did you hear what happened at the library today? They had to take one of the assistants to the hospital.”
Paul stopped. Mary stopped a few paces later and turned he mouth open to continue, when she saw his face. “You were there weren't you?”
“I had no idea she went to the hospital.” was all he could say.
She squinted her eyes as she looked at him as if a narrower vision could reveal some secret.
“I should go there now, and see how she is doing.” he said lamely.
“You can't, they closed the library, pending an investigation.”
It was his turn to squint at her. “Where did you say you were going?”
“I didn't.” she said. Mary laughed, “Don't worry I'm not stalking you, although lately you have become one of the most interesting people on campus.”
Paul frowned. “So where are you going?”
Mary laughed again, “To my dorm silly.” she pointed at the building just past the library.
“And you were coming from where?”
Rolling her eyes, Mary said, “Really you are strange, but if you must know,” and she turned and pointed to the building behind them, “I'm coming from the science hall. My lab partner and I were going over our notes for our Chem exam on Monday. I know, I know” she held up her hands, “we are weird, because we study when everyone else is just waking up from Friday night debauchery.”
Paul said, “Look, it's been a rough couple of days. I pretty much don't know what to think. My roommate is in a coma, I can't find my cousin, my parents are pissed because I haven't answered my phone and this morning me and the library staff got to see a mummy stabbed through the heart. Ah shit my phone!” He pulled it out of his pocket and turned it on.
Mary laughed again. He laugh was actually kind, Paul thought, not lke she was laughing at him, but at the fact that life was absurd and he seemed to be living all his weird moments at once. After these two days he figured the rest of his life should be happily dull.
The phone in his pocket began to ring. He pulled it out and realized it was Mikes phone. He looked at who was calling. The picture came up of his aunt, Mike's Mom. Quickly he muted the phone and stuck it back in his pocket. He was in no mood to explain to aunt Becky why he had Mike's phone and why he wasn't answering it. Next his phone began to ring telling him he had missed calls and messages.
Mary was watching him. “Well I can tell you are busy. Besides I really need to go. Hope your day gets better. If you need anything or just want to talk … you know where I live.” She grinned. Her crooked teeth actually seemed to give her smile added warmth.
He waved at her, deciding she wasn't so bad afterall.
He glanced at the library and decided he needed to get something to eat and forget all the craziness of the last few days. Maybe just hanging out in his room for the weekend was the best thing for him.
Information
Paul climbed the steps to the library. He had been waiting for it to reopen. He heard that they had caught the guy who had stashed the mummy in the supply closet. They guy who had crafted the mummy was angry at the destruction of his work. Apparently the mummy was to be a centerpiece for the theaters production of “King Tuts Tomb: A Historical Reenactment.” aside from the hospitalization of Beatrice for hypertension overload, Paul thought the mummy had been put to better use in the supply closet.
His crazy couple of days had faded into the usual routine of his college life, and he actually found himself grateful for plenty of time to study . He actually completed all his homework over what remained of the weekend.
He did find it odd that Mary wasn't in history class. Nor did he see her wandering about campus. He found himself wondering why he was even thinking about her.
The library had opened as usual on Monday morning. The exciting news of the mummy had given way to the even more exciting news that the football team had actually one its first game in four years. Paul wished he had seen the game. It was supposed to have been amazing.
He still didn't know where Mike was, and had finally answered the phone when aunt Becky called. He told her that Mike had gone to the game and had accidently left his phone in Pauls room before leaving. He said he would get the phone back to Mike as soon as he returned, with a message to call his mother immediately.
As it was Paul had plenty of his own scoldings waiting for him when he finally remembered to check his own messages. His mother alone left fifteen messages, while Kate left five. In his mothers messages he could hear his Dad in the background, shouting for his Mom to leave him alone. He was a college man and would call when he needed money or something.
Paul was grateful his dad understood.
Kates messages he deleted and forgot immediately after listening to the messages. She kept berating him for not going to see Ben. She just didn't get it, but then she never did.
He walked into the library, a suspicious glance at the mosaic tile monk, and then he walked to the main counter. A woman he had never seen before sat at the computer where he had seen Marissa the other day.
She was much older, even older than his mom. She looked mean too. He almost left without asking her anything when she said, “Well? Can I help you or are you just going to stand there and decorate my counter with your elbows all day?”
“Umm I need to speak with Marissa. Is she here?”
The woman glared at him over the rims of her readers, “Marissa only works weekends, Come back friday afternoon.”
With that she turned back to the computer and ignored him. He was about to walk away, when he thought of the mummy, “How is Beatrice?”
The woman glared at him, “She's as neurotic as ever. But if you want to talk to her you will have to still wait, because she only works weekends as well. Now, do you mind? I have work to catch up on since these girls went and got all distracted this weekend over some toy mummy.”
Paul thanked her and left the library.
He pulled the piece of vellum out of his pocket. He had looked at it hundreds of times, but could still discern very little. It definitely looked like a map, but of what and where he could not figure out. Nothing on it resembled anything he had every seen before, other than the obvious graphice of mountains, water and roads. There were a couple of bits on the map that could have been a forest as well. He had a feeling that the other piece of vellum had to do with this one. Not for the last time did he wish for Mike. He'd gone back to Mikes Frat house several times. Finally, the last time Mikes frat brothers told him not to come back. They all said they would let Mike know he was looking for him when he got back.
He still had Mikes phone, but without the charger, it was now dead.
He decided it was time to visit Ben. Since Paul was a Freshman he was not allowed to have a car on campus, which really wasn't a hardship as he could usually get everywhere he wanted to go on foot or by bicycle. The hospital, however, was another matter. It was ten miles away from campus.
Cab fare was too expensive, so he would need to take the bus. The ride to the hospital took an hour and Paul thought 100 stops. As far as he could tell the bus stopped at every block, then it seemed to hit every red light between campus and the hospital.
Ben was still in a coma and it seemed no one could figure what caused it. When he got to the room, Bens parents were there talking with the nurse. Paul knock on the doorframe to announce his arrival.
“Oh Paul!” exclaimed Ben's mother, “We're so glad to see you. How are you doing?” she continued to babble for a few more minutes until her husband drew her away.
“I'm sorry son, she's pretty upset especially since the doctors can't tell us why this has happened to Ben.”
“I'm sorry sir,” said Paul, I wish I had more information to give you, but I don't know what happened either. I was sound asleep until Ben woke me up with his blood-curdling screams.”
Ben's dad just nodded sadly as if he had hoped Paul could shed more light on the situation.
“Is there anything I can do?” asked Paul hoping that he could make the gesture without really having to do anything.
“Actually, yes there is one thing you can help us with.” Bens Dad strode over to the bed where his son lay immoble.
Paul groaned inwardly.
“Do you know what these are?” asked Ben's dad as he held up a couple of objects.
Startled Paul went over to Ben's dad and took the two objects. “I do, these are mine actually.”
“A stick and a rock?” Ben's dad asked doubtfully.
Paul blushed, “Ya I know carrying a stick and rock sound silly, but I keep it because Mike and I found these when we were small kids.”
Ben's dad looked at him as if he were crazy.
“I keep mine because, Mike was the closest thing to a brother I'd had. I really don't remember how or why I have this stick and rock, but I keep it with me always to remind me of the fun Mike and I had as kids.” Paul looked at the objects in his hands. The last time he remembered looking at them was when he packed them in a box and brought them to college. He glanced at Ben's father, and then said, “How did they get here?”
“The paramedics say he had them clutched in his hands. They said the force at which he was holding them should have broken the stick. Instead, he has fractures in the palms of his hands.”
Paul looked up startled. “Fractures? From holding this stick and rock? Thats amazing!” he examined both carefully. As he did so, a memory flickered past his minds eye. It was so quick he only caught the essance of the memory, much like waking from a dream and only remembering if it was a good dream or a bad dream by the essance that remained. From the stick and rock Paul could only remember flames. He quickly put the items in his pockets.
Soon the nurse came in to say that visitors needed to leave. Paul thanked Bens parents for allowing him to visit and then he left. Now he had another mystery on his hands. First the pieces of vellum and now, the rock and stick, and not to mention the odd bits of memory that were beginning to flash up out of now where.
He hopped on the bus and headed back to campus.
Still no News
The week dragged by slowly. As Paul went between classes, his dorm and work he would keep one eye on the library. He also still had no idea what happened to Mike. That bit was really beginning to worry him. In fact, his frat brothers were beginning to worry as well. Mike occasionally would be gone for a few days, typically staying with his girlfriend Stacy, but things began to get weirder when she showed up looking for him. At first she was angry, but then when she found out that Paul had his cell phone and his shoes were still in the room, she really got angry. This time she was angry at Paul and all of Mikes frat brothers.
Stacy, was alright and Paul always wondered what would happen in Mike decided to marry her. When Paul said something to him about it, Mike dismissed Tracy as just a passing thing while he was in college and he had no plans to pursue her when he was done with school.
Now as he watched her, he could tell that she knew how Mike felt, but she was hoping he would change his mind. Paul wondered what it was that made girls so desparate. He didn't dwell on it for long and made his escape while Tracy was gnawing on the bones of her lastest victim Mike's Frat brother was the president of the house.
It was Friday afternoon, he wanted to see Marissa and find out what she knew about the vellum. When he walked up to the desk an older gentleman in his late sixties was behind the desk. Jammed down on his head was a hat that said POW vietnam. The cap would have intimidated Paul if he didn't know that the guy was actually just one of the custodians. Paul went to the counter and asked the man if he had seen Marissa.
The man pushed his hat back and scratched his head. “I think she called in sick today. Or at least I know she aint been here all week.”
Paul sighed, “Is there anyone here that could tell me for sure? It's very important I speak with her.”
The man looked around the desk area as if it would give him some clue what to do. Then he said, hang on let me see if I can find someone. He disappeared behind the stacks in the direction of the custodial closet. Paul wondered what happened with the mummy.
He stood there for about five minutes and was on the verge of going to the custodial closet when the mean woman strode up. She glared at him. “Look, I don't know what you want but Marissa isn't hear and I have to work because she didn't show up.”
Paul stammered, “I'm sorry to hear that. Maybe you could give me her number and I could try to reach her?”
The woman grumbled, but then she said almost conspiratorily, “look I'm not supposed to give out employee information, but I really have some place to be today. If you can get her to come to work so I can leave, I will not only give you her number but you can have her address as well.” she dropped to a whisper and said, “everyone remains hush hush about her relationship with Professor Milton, but if she's not home then she is with him. He is supposedly on sabbatical in Egypt, but my guess is he is on sabbatical from his wife at some hotel nearby.” she snorted and rummaged through a rollodex. She wrote out a phone number and address. After hesitating for a moment she wrote down another number.
She handed the paper to Paul and said, “I never gave you this. No get out of here before I change my mind.” she sniffed, and added gruffly, “That second number is Prof Miltons cell phone. Strictly confidential.”
Paul thank her and hurried out of the library. He glanced toward Mary's dorm and then ran back to his dorm. He suddenly felt the need to hurry. He couldn't explain it, but suddenly it felt as if he had to hurry, the only problem was he had no idea what he was rushing to do.
As his feet rushed him towards his dorm, his mind threaded it's way through the events of the past week. He worried over each detail trying to find a common theme. He stopped as he realized that in some way or another people were vanishing from his life. Mentally he ticked them off, Ben in a coma, Mike disappearing from his room without a trace, the woman who showed up at the Pizzaria and then vanished, (although he felt he was forcing that connection since he had no idea who she was), Marissa not returning to work, and now Mary.
“Paul?”
Paul jumped and spun around. Mary stood right behind him, as if his thought of her made her appear. “Ah Mary! You scared me!”
“Wow! You would think I was a ghost with that look on your face!”
“I'm sorry,” he ducked his head, suddenly feeling rude and ungainly. “it's just that things have been so unusual lately.” he looked at her thinking she was going to laugh at him, but she just looked at him waiting for him to finish his thought. “Look,” he said quickly, “My roomate Ben is in a coma, my cousin Mike hasn't been seen by anyone in over a week now and I keep getting angry calls from his girlfriend like it's my fault.” he threw up his hands, “Now I find out that the librarian who was helping me has no showed at work and her replacement is two words short of blaming for her disappearance too.”
He took a deep breath and then rsuhed on saying, “and then I haven't seen you all week. I mean you are usually in class and as far as I know you never skip classes! I was beginning to think you were missing too.”
“Oh paul, thats quite a complex you have there!” then she laughed, “No seriously I don't blame you. I would have worried to, but my disappearance this week was pretty mundane. I'm a member of the debate team and we had an event on Wednesday. We left Tuesday, debated all day Wednesday and got back yesterday. I was pretty tired so I went back to my room and just hung out.” she smiled her crooked teeth smile that he was actually beginning to really like. It made him feel special when she smiled at him.
She layed her hand on his arm and said, “I probably should have mentioned it to you, but then truly I had no idea that you really noticed if I was around or not.” she smiled again putting him at ease.
Evenso, he didn't know what to say, so he just nodded and said, “I guess I count on seeing you in class because then I know that not everything is not crazy with the world.” he smiled lamely.
Mary laughed, “aw my heart is aflutter with your romatic sentiments Paul!” she cocked her head and looked at him like a bird eyeing a tasty looking beetle. “Paul?” she asked quietly, if he didn't know better he would have thought she was suddenly acting shy, but that couldn't be possible for someone who raised their hand to answer ever possible question under the sun in class... could it?
“Ya?” he said, truly curious now.
“I have no idea what you last name is, I feel silly.” she blushed! She actually blushed, Pauls brain was hollering at him.
“Oh uh, ha!” and suddenly he couldn't even remember his own last name. “is Pearce. Please, I know all the PP jokes there are.”
There was that smile again, how could he ever thought it was an ugly smile? It just made him feel all warm inside. Suddenly he just wanted to kiss her for that smile.
“aw I wasn't going to make a joke. I actually like your name, it's nowhere near as boring as Mary Brown.”
Paul smiled at her. “There's nothing wrong with Mary Brown. I kinda like it personally.”
She blushed again. He was beginning to think her blush was almost as cute as her smile. “Well then, I had best go. I have a psych class in half an hour and I wanted to get there a few minutes early so I can go over my notes before I take the test.”
Paul nodded, “Well I don't have to work tonight, maybe we can go have dinner or something?”
Ah that smile again. He was getting pretty good at making her do that. “Sure, shall I call you when my class is done?”
“Good idea.”
“Um maybe I should get your number?” she asked.
“Oh hey,” he said pulling his phone out of his pocket, “give me your number and I will call you right now and then you will have my number.”
She blushed again. “Oh boy, I must be the oddest person on earth!” she said. “I don't own a cell phone. I will have to call you from my dorm.”
“Wow really? That's actually kind of cool,” he said still trying to figure out how anyone could function without a cell phone.
He pulled a piece of notebook paper from his bag and rummaged for a pen. Mary handed him one and he wrote his number down for her.
She grinned and said, “Ok I will call soon.”
“Good luck on your test”
“Thanks, See ya later,” and she turned and walked on toward the main campus.
Paul watched her walk away, truly relieved she too had not disappeared. He even liked the way she was dressed today. It was definitely unusual, a dark blue dress that flaired out from the waist and ended at the knees. He caught a glimpse of green tights that disappeared into a pair of black boots. Wrapped around her head and neck as a colorful wool scarf. Wisps of hair poked out giving her a wild untamed look. She was definitely growing on him.
As she walked around the corner his sense of urgency to find Marissa returned. He looked at his phone and saw that he had spent twenty minutes talking to Mary. He ran the rest of the way to his dorm.
There were a couple of people sitting in the lobby studying, but the dorm was pretty quiet. Another quiet Friday. Paul just couldn't fathom it. In fact the reason he didn't have to work tonight was because Big Bob had closed the Pizzaria and said he needed a vacation. Another weird situation that just added to the craziness of the past week. Paul knew there had to be a connection there as well.
In his room he grabbed the rock and stick, a book he'd found in the library on ancient writing systems and another on the history of paper. He was just getting ready to slide the books in his bag when he noticed the name of the author. He did a double take and then looked at the slip of paper the librarian had handed him. Sure enough the name on the book was professor Miltons name. Another odd coincidence which made Paul become extremely suspicious that these things were happening to him based on someones elses plan for him.
He still couldn't find the connection, but he felt that Marissa would be able to answer some of his questions. He grabbed his jacket and his bag and hurried back out the door. He plugged the address into his fone to get directions to Marissas house. From his dorm it was a five mile walk. It was time to get bicycle. He went down to the storage room in the basement of the dorm and fished his bike out of the caged room.
Fortunately the tires weren't flat.
It took him twenty minutes of trying to watch the GPS navigator on his phone and steer the bike at the same time, but he finally found Marissa's house in the middle of a pleasant little neighborhood that skirted the campus. A car, which he assumed was hers was in the driveway. There was a large oak tree dominating the tiny front yard.
He leaned his bike up against the garage door and walked up to the front door. The latch on the screen appeared to be broken and the door swung lazily back and forth in the chill fall breeze.
The actual door to her house was slightly ajar. Suddenly Paul felt fear crawling up the back of his neck. He was afraid of why the door was open. He stood staring at the door not wanting to touch it, let alone push it open and go in. Not only was it rude to walk in a house uninvited, a door that was slightly ajar usually meant that something was wrong on the other side. He listened carefully, but didn't hear anything stirring in the house.
Paul carefully push the door open. He looked inside, but couldn't see right away as it was dark inside and his eyes needed to adjust. Eventhough he expected it (he had watched plenty of movies after all) he still wasn't prepared for the sight of her house totally ransacked.
Careful not ro step on anything he walked in and saw at first only objects scattered and broken throughout the main room. Next he began to see the claw marks gouged into the walls and furniture. He was afraid to move further.
A gust of wind must have kicked up because the screen door banged loudly several times. Paul barely contained a scream as he jumped and spun about, ready to fight for his life against something that could leave deep gouges in walls and wooden pieces of furniture.
The state of the house didn't bode well for Marissa.
Paul was still standing in the doorway when he first noticed the smell. How he missed it before he attributed to the startling chaos of the house. But now the smell nearly knocked him over. In fact, smell was too tame of a description. It was a stench. It tickled his nose like an electrical burn smell, but roiled his stomach with the elements of foul decay. The smell held his feet rooted to the spot. He knew if he found the source of the smell he would find Marissa. He clapped his hands over his nose and mouth and made his way carefully across the front room trying not to disturb anything. He went to the open archway across the room. It apparently led to a dining room. There was a large dining table with large gouges, like the ones on the walls all along the length of the top of the table.
Another door across the room was partiall closed, and hanging at an angle as the door had been partially ripped from the wall. The source of the smell was getting stronger. Paul felt his stomach heave in protest. He shoved the sleeve of his hoody farther into his face, nearly suffocating himself to keep the stench at bay.
Eyes watering he peeked inside the next room which was the kitchen. Here the destruction was the worst. Water was spraying from where the sink used to be. The refrigerator and it's contents were strewn throughout the room. He could see a knife thrust through the ceiling. Something dripped off of it, but he wasn't exactly sure what it was. In the center of the room and ripped off the foundation was the center island. A gaping hole led to the basement. Blood streaked the walls and floor as well as the gouge marks found in the rest of the rooms. He carefully made his way to the hole and was nearly there, when he saw her. Or what remained of her. Her body was mangled as if it had been through a meat grinder. Her hair was the only recognizable part left.
Paul could not help himself, his stomach gave way and he retched and retched and retched. Tears streamed from his eyes. His knees buckled, throwing him to the floor. He needed to get away from the smells and the horrible ruin of Marissa.
The hole in the floor was definitely the direction the stench eminated. Paul got to his feet and staggered back to the dining room. He continued to gag on the smell and he could not rid himself of the vision of Marissa's mangled body. It seemed to float before him, haunting him like a grisly ghost.
Back in the front room he stumbled over a broken chair and fell to the floor. The impact knocked the breath from his chest and he laid there gasping for putrid air. After long moments and the tightness in his chest eased somewhat he pushed himself to his knees. As he did he came face to face with a black snarling drool drenched face. Yellowed fangs inches from his nose snapped as the dog growled in a low menacing tone.
Paul froze. The dog snarled loudly and lunged. Paul threw himself to the floor, hands over his head. The dog sailed over him and began snarling yelping and barking as it fought something behind him. He jumped to his feet and whirled around. The dog was loosing as the dark oily shape opened its maw to blast the air with it's fetid stench. Pauls stomach lurched and heaved, but he had nothing left. Razor sharp claws extended with a metallic gleam from the ends of the beasts arms. It swiped at the dog raking it's rear flank as the dog lunged away, yelping in pain and fear.
Paul didn't wait. He scrambled to the door and ran out. The quiet litle neighborhood stood in sharp contrast to the battle that rage inside the house. Paul grabbed his bike and tried to pedal with shaky legs. He crashed three times before he was able to get the bike under control. He heard another anguished squeal from the dog as he rolled down the driveway to the street, then silence except for the pounding of his heart and the racing of the tires on the pavement.
He looked back once, but nothing followed. He feared the worse for the dog, but didn't know what else to do. He assumed the dog belonged to Marissa and it had been trying to rescue or protect her. His vision was blurred and he had a hard time seeing where he was going. After several blocks of maddened pedaling he slowed down and looked behind him. All was quiet except for the usual traffic of neighborhood cars.
He wiped his eyes and looked around. Nothing was familiar. He had not even cared which way he had been going he only knew he needed to get away from that thing. He shuddered at the memory. The only way he could describe it was a big shiny black shadow with a huge even blacker mouth, no eyes and metallic daggers for teeth and claws. It was a butcher shadow. It's only purpose was to rend and tear. He felt bad for the dog. He liked dogs and even if he thought the dog was going to attack him, he would never wish that horibble fate on anyone.
Even the memory of the stench of that thing made Pauls stomach lurch with queasyness. He wondered how long it would take to get that smell out of his nose, if ever.
He looked himself over and was relieved to find that he had done minimal damage to himself while he was puking.
He looked around the neighborhood and saw that he wasn't far from the main road through town. The campus wasn't far, but it was on the opposite side of the road from where he sat. He would need to ride through the old district where the seeder shops and taverns were to get back to where he needed to be to get to campus.
It was still pretty light out so he figured he would be safe at this time of the day. He laughed shakily at himself and decided safe was relative. Afterall, what thug or mugger could be worse than the butcher shadow.
As he straddled his bike his cell phone began to ring. He looked at the number and tried to recall why it looked familiar. Suddenly he remembered that he was to meet Mary.
Quickly he answered the phone.
“Hello? Mary?”
Nothing.
“Hello?”
Nothing.
He looked at his phone, it was still connected.
“Hello? Can you hear me?”
Suddenly a high pitched whine screetched through the phone causing him to yelp with pain. He shut the phone off and angrily shoved it back in his pocket. The phone began to ring again, this time it was alerting him that he had a text message.
He pulled out the phone and looked at it.
“You will bring the map or more of your friends will die!”
Paul nearly dropped the phone. He had no idea where he was to bring it, but at this point to get all this madness to stop he would do just about anything.
“Ok where?” he texed back.
“The Binder book and curio shop. Bring it now or she dies!”
“On my way” he sent back.
He climbed on his bike and began pedalling quickly. The Binder was about two blocks from campus and tended to sell used text books and some other more interesting things and accompanying paraphanalia.
When he got there the store looked deserted. In fact, he could see scorch marks from a fire on the building, plus the windows were boarded up. He wondered when that had happened. It seemed like he had been there just a week or two agao with Mike.
Paul hopped off his bike and leaned it against the wall, hoping no one would come along and steal it. He looked around, but the place seemed deserted. He walked up to the door and was surprised when it pulled open. He expected to see charcoled remains of the interior, and gasped with surprise when he saw that the inside seemed to suffer very little to no damage at all.
He walked to the counter in the back. A woman with a young girl of about thirteen stood behind the counter. The woman had blond hair streaked with gray, yet she was very pretty he thought. The girl was bent over looking at something on the glass. Paul jumped back when the girl looked up. She had a burn scar from her temple that ran down along her cheekbone to her neck and disappeared under the collar of her smock.
Paul tore his eyes away from the scar so as not to be rude and he turned his attention to the woman. She was watching him through heavy lidded eyes. Her eyes were an ice blue color that seemed to be as cold as ice eventhough her face smailed warmly at him. He shivered.
The womans voice was soft and dusky. She said, “It's good you decided to return.”
Paul looked around, “Returned? I don't recall ever being here!”
She laughed. “No you wouldn't remember, at least not yet, but you will. Come we have much to talk about. Ilya, prepare the tea.”
The girl nodded her dark eyes deep with intelligence and age that belied her looks. As she turned to leave she grabbed a stuff bear that was sitting on the shlef behind the counter. It's milky eyes glared balefully at Paul. He'd seen those eys before, but they didn't have that milky film over them. They looked like they had been subjected to extreme heat.
The woman indicated that Paul should follow her through the doorway at the back of the shop. As he moved past an old gilded mirror, he thought it reflected the shop engulfed in flames, but as he turned and looked the shop was untouched. He looked at the mirror again, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. He decided his overloaded mind was playing tricks on him.
He ducked through a curtain to find himself in a small parlor. He felt like he had just entered the swami's tent at a carnival. The walls were draped with elaborately designed curtains all in colors of red, gold and orange. The floor was covered by a thick deep red rug that depending on the light could have been mistaken for black. In the center of the room sat a low heavy wooden table. Silk cushions of every color of red, yellow and orange piled around the table were to be used as seats. He ran his fingers through his hair and then rubbed his eyes. He suddenly felt extremely tired. For some reason he just felt as if he had hit a limit. Too much weirdness, too much death, just too much. The girl appeared from behind one of the curtained walls, bearing a tray with a steaming pot and four small tea cups. Paul wondered who the fourth cup was for. That mystery was quickly solved, when the girl placed the bear on one of the cushions at the table. The woman indicated that he should sit as she herself sat at the table.
He stood for a moment. What he really wanted to do was get on his bike and ride as far away from this place as he could. He was feeling extremely uneasy.
Paul sat down. He felt a light breeze stir in the room. It had a faint smell of charred wood. The air was warm, in fact as Paul sat he was becoming uncomfortably warm.
“Paul,” the woman said in her sultry voice, “I know you are unable to remember us, but when you were very small you came here with another boy. Your cousin, I believe.” she nodded as if he confirmed what she was saying. He just stared dumbly at her. Sweat started to bead on his forehead. The curtains began to undulate slowly. As he watched they flickered in the light as they moved. The girl was handing him a cup of tea. He tore his eyes away from the mesmerizing dance of the curtains. He looked at the cup of tea. Steam swirled up to his face. The aroma was delicate and light. Soothing. He sipped the tea. The flavor was light and sweet like the aroma.
The woman was speaking again, but her voice was just a background hum to the memories that began to flood his vision.
Images flashed, He was following Mike as they played a game of tag in his parents back yard. Another image, he and Mike sneaking into the woods behind Mikes house. Yet another image, a cloaked and hooded man beckoning for them to follow him. He and mike huddled together, scared that they had gotten in a car with a stranger. The images flashed faster and faster. He and Mike in the shop eating ice cream with a little girl. The little girl having tea with a bunch of Teddy Bears. The teddy bears drinking tea. The girl and the woman screaming as dark shapes began to swirl through the room. He and Mike screaming and trying to get out of the shop. The stranger from the car grabbing them as flames started to erupt through the shop. The girl and the woman burning. The bears burning as they sat drinking tea. The stranger handing each of them two objects. Mike held a key and a box. Paul a crystal and a wand. Suddenly the memories stopped. Paul looked around. The woman was smiling at him through flames engulfing the room. The girl was burning and the bear had grown life sized and was dancing in flames. Paul looked at his hands as they burned. He began to scream. He tried to rise but his body wouldn't obey. The woman began to laugh, her laughing turning to a piercing scream.
Paul screamed with her.
Stood Up
Mary paced the floor. Paul wasn't answering his phone. She wasn't sure if she should be angry or concerned. She had only tried to call him twice. The first time she thought she heard him say “Hello” but then an awful high pitched static noise made her drop the handset.
She never had a cell phone, but she was pretty sure they didn't usually make that sort of noise. The second time the phone went immediately to voicemail. Maybe that noise ruined his phone. She grumbled, it had nearly ruined her hearing!
She checked the clock in her room. It was now seven pm. She didn't want to leave in case he tried to call, but damn she was hungry. Finally she grabbed her bag and her coat. One last look at the silent phone and she stalked out of her room.
Campus was again silent for a Friday night. Mary had noticed a few strange things, especially since Paul had pointed a few out to her. But now the complete lack of Friday night student revelry actually frightened her. She felt like some hiddn agenda was happening, and she was the last to know.
She hurried toward the campus hangout, the “Thinkers Grill” Out front a replica of the statue the thinker sat brooding in the deepening twilight. Shadows danced about the statue as clouds brushed across the moon. The grill was lit inside, but it seemed like it was deserted. She went inside. The two bored workers looked up from their conversation as she entered.
She walked up to the counter. “Where is everyone? This place is usually hopping on Friday night!”
The young man shrugged. “This is only my second night working.” He pointed at the girl, this is her third night.”
“Are you the only two here?” Mary asked incredulously.
The girl said, “Ya, the manager said he was going to take the night off. He said the same as you that Friday is usually busy, but that this one was shaping up like last Friday.”
Mary was stunned. She said, “Well I suppose since you are here you are serving right?”
“Umm kinda,” said the guy. “We don't actually know how to cook anything on the menu yet. Mostly we just bus tables and sweep and mop floors.”
Mary frowned, “Then why leave you two here?”
“Uhh I don't think the manager planned to, but the other workers decided they had better things to do, so they left. We were afraid if the manager came back then we might get fired if we left. So we figured we stick around until at least our go home times.”
Mary sighed. “I guess that makes sense. Well since your not serving I guess I will head over to the cafeteria.”
The girl said, “I hear the cafeterias are all closed tonight. No one showed up to work … not even the cooks.”
“Wow,” said Mary, “Looks like I will be going hungry tonight.”
The girl shrugged.
Mary shook her head and left the two helpless coeds to their pointless conversation. She looked at the statue and wondered if he could think of a way to get something to eat.
The shadows seemed to be alive. As she passed the statue it felt as she she were being followed by the shadows. She snorted at herself for being so silly. She looked around. She supposed she should just go back to her dorm. She did have a few snacks stashed away.
She turned to go back to her dorm when she slammed into the guy and girl from the grill. Shocked at their sudden appearance behind her, she apologized for running in to them. The next thing she knew, she was fighting for her life as they grabbed her. She struggled and tried to cry out, but the guys had her arms as the girl was stuffing a rag in her mouth and then a sack over her head. Next she felt her wrists and feet being bound.
Something heavy smacked her head. As she fell she remembered thinking how alive the shadows had looked.
Alternate Reality
Paul sat up. His head swam like he had been spinning on a top. His vision was blurry. He couldn't believe he was alive. The last thing he remembered was an incredible burning sensation all over his body. He squinted his eyes. He felt fresh air brush softly across his skin. That's when he realized he was naked.
As his eyes began to clear, so did the dizziness. He breathed in the fresh clear air.
Looking around he was lying in a tent on soft furs. A linen sheet covered his legs. Across the tent, just out of arms length were his clothes. He went to reach for them when he realized he was shackled at the ankles. He wondered where he was. He wondered if he should shout and let someone know he was awke or if he sould try to find some way to remove the shackles.
He was still trying to find a way to open the smooth circular band around his ankle when a bear entered his tent.
Paul yelped and lept backwards. The bear wasn't much larger than a ten year old kid, but it was still a bear. It too startled and lept back. Apparently it hadn't expected Paul to be awake either. Growling it backed out of the tent.
Paul lunged for his clothes. He fell short by a handspan. He was lying there stretched out when the woman came in, followed by the girl with the burn scar. Paul scrabbled back to the bed and covered himself with the sheet.
The woman looked at him with hard eyes and a frown on her lips. “where is it?”
“Where is what?” he asked, keeping one eye on his pile of clothes. The girl, with an evil smirk on her face picked up his clothes and backed out of the tent. Paul glared at her.
“The scroll!” she snarled at him. “Where is it?” she demanded.
“what scroll?” he said irritably, “What am I doing here? How did I get here? And where am I anyway?” he demanded back at her.
Suddenly her faces was inches from his. The smell of brimstone emanating from her and he thought he heard the crackle of flames in her voice as she snarled, “I will ask the questions! Where is the scroll? I have the made we found in your clothes, but I need the scroll!”
He backed away from her. Her eyes seemed to flare into white hot blue flames. He choked on the smell of burning emanating from her.
“You had it I know you did. Did you not recover it from the womans house?”
He shook his head at the memory of Marissa's mangled corpse and the stench of whatever that shadow butcher was. He shook, afraid. What was he into? Why was this happening to him. He wondered if Mike suffered a similar fate as Marissa. He turned over and retched. Nothing came out. He couldn't remember the last time he had eaten.
The woman stood. Rage evident in her eyes. He was certain he was about to die, but then she changed her tone. “Very well, I can see you don't know where it is. Why did you give it to the woman?”
Paul ran his hands through his hair. His head was muddled by the events leading up to his being shackled in a tent with a crazy woman. “Um,” he croaked, “I didn't know what it was. I took it to the library hoping someone there could tell me.”
“Idiot!,” she snapped, then in a nicer voice, “Alright then. Look, we need that scroll. It's the key to the map, along with wand and the crystal. You do still have those don't you?”
Paul nodded, his mind numb. The crystal and the wand were back in their box in his room.
“I'm going to send you back, Not alone, Oliver and Ike will accompany you. You will retrieve the crystal and the wand, and find that scroll!” she paced the room for a moment, “Do you know what the woman planned to do with the scroll?”
Paul shook his head. He couldn't think straight.
The woman growled, “Well you will need to figure it out or your cousin will die!”
Paul's head snapped up, “Where's Mike?” he demanded.
She smiled that cold smile, “Do as I ask and I will let him live.”
“I want to see him!!” he shouted at her.
“Very Well,” she said. “Fiametta!” she called. The girl ducked back into the tent. “Bring Paul his clothing, and then fetch the glass for me.” her voice was back to it's sultry duskiness.
The woman turned back to Paul. Her quick mood changes frightened him. She smiled languidly. “Now when I send you back, don't think you can escape me. I am sending Ike and Oliver with you. To others they will look like you are toting around a couple of teddy bears, but one wrong move and they will remind you in no uncertain terms that they are not stuffed animals.” As she spoke two bears entered the tent. One was the bear who had frightened him earlier. The other was the bear dancing in flames.
She pointed to the first bear, he had beady little eyes and a patch of yellow fur on top of his black furred head. He snarled menacingly. “This is Oliver. He has no sense of humor. Do as you are told and he won't hurt you.” at that Oliver stood on his two hind feet an roared, drool dripped out the sides of his mouth over his sharp evil looking yellow teeth. Paul winced.
The other bear looked milder with a more pleasant demeanor. His fur looked soft and fluffy and was a light brown color with touches of red gold. “This is Ike.” she glared at Ike, “He tends to wander and become distracted, but he will always do what is expected of him.” Ike opened his mouth and let out a whine at the woman. He snuffed at her hand as if looking for treats. She snatched her hand back and snapped at him, “Not until you bring him back your mission complete!”
Ike buried his nose in his paws as if she had struck him.
Fiametta brought his clothes in and dumped them on his lap with a smirk and then left again. The woman followed her with a sharp word for him to get dressed. As she left the leg iron disappeared from around his leg. Both bears sat and watched as he dressed. He turned around so he wouldn't have to look at them.
When he was done he head for the tent flap. Oliver growled at him so he stopped and waited. The woman came back in holding a hand mirror. She frowned at him. I will only show you this once. If you fail to bring back the scroll and the other items your cousin will perish. She held the mirror out to him. Flames danced across its surface momentarily and then vanished. He nearly dropped the mirror when he saw Mikes face. He looked like he had lost a boxing match. One eye was swollen completely shut, his lips were split and bleeding and he was missing an ear.
“What have you done to him?” shouted Paul. He wanted to throw the mirror at the woman.
“He resisted,” she said mildly.
Paul growled. “I will refuse to get the things you ask for unless you promise not to hurt him further.”
“You don't get it do you?” she handed him a small hour glass. “This glass only pours one way no matter how you turn it. If you are not back here by the time it finishes, Your cousin is dead. He will die slowly. As each grain falls he will suffer a little more pain. I suggest you hurry.”
“Bitch!” shouted Paul.
The woman laughed her cold merciless laugh. “You better hurry.” with that she left the tent. Fiametta returned with a torch and lit Ike on fire. He began to dance wildly.
Paul picked himself up off the floor. He was in the charred remains of the curio shop. Two teddy bears with milky eyes sat in front of him. One with black fur the with light brownish red fur. In his hand was the hourglass. Only a few grains of sand had fallen. He remembered Mike's ruined face. He grabbed the bears and looked around for a way to carry them.
You're wasting time growled Oliver, who then attached himself to Pauls side with his claws. Paul cried out as the nails dug into his side. Ike was gentler and just held on to Paul. He would have felt absolutely ridiculous if he didn't know the severity of his situation. He found his bike, hopped on and pedeled toward his dorm.
The sun was just rising when he got to his dorm. It was then that he remembered he was to see Mary the night before. He pulled his phone out of his pocket, but it was dead. He figured either the battery was dead, or all the fiery experiences killed it.
He felt Oliers claws dig in a little deeper. He ignored it until he got to his room. The lock on his door was broken. Somehow he wasn't surprised. Nor was he surprised to see his room in a shambles. He pulled the desk chair to the closet. “Um this would be a lot easier if I didn't have a couple of bears attached to me.” Ike immediately dropped off. Olver just dug his claws in and hissed in his ear.
Paul winced. It was awkward with the bear stuck to his side to wriggle into the tight space between the wall and the shelf. He tried to squeeze Oliver, but the bear just lowered himself to Pauls leg. Paul was afraid to see the gouges in his skin from the nasty tempered bear.
Above the door of the closet behind the lightbulb was a small hole. Paul hated putting his hand in there blind, you never knew what bugs or critters lived in dark little crawlspaces. To his dismay the space was empty. His crystal and wand were gone. He forgot for a moment about the bear as he hopped off the chair, until Olver clawed his way back up his side.
“You don't need to use your claws!” He cried in dismay.
Oliver just growled back at him. Paul wanted to kill the bear.
Paul pried the bear off his side and set him on the bed next to Ike. Look you two, I know why she sent you here with me, but you have to understand, I will do what it takes to make sure Mike is ok. I don't plan to waste any time finding this stuff! Oliver just growled, but Ike buried his snout in his paws again.
Paul sighed, he picked up his backpack and said, come on you guys sit in here. I really can move a lot faster that way. He looked at Oliver, “Does she have your family hostage too?” Ike whined and Oliver remained silent.
Paul shrugged, “alright, well whatever inspires your loyalty to her it is what it is. Come on just get into the pack and we'll go. I at least have an idea where the scroll is, as for the wand and crystal, they should be here and I can't imagine who would have taken them other than the shadow butcher, but then,” he glanced around the room,”This place is trashed, but nothing like the destruction that thing leaves. Someone came here looking for those things. Hopefully getting the scroll will help with recovering those.”
The bears clambered into his bag and he shrugged the pack on. “One more glance around the room, told him the thieves were pretty thorough. As he turned to the door his eye happened to catch a glimpse of a bright color that peeked out from under Bens bed. Curious he bent over and pulled Mary's scarf out.
Now he was mystified. He could see where she may have come looking for him since he stood her up last night, but he could not imagine her breaking into his room and making this kind of mess.
As he untangled the scarf to put it in his bag a piece of paper fluttered to the floor. He picked it up. It was a note from Mary.
“I have been abducted. Not sure what they are looking for. Hope you are alright. M”
Paul stuffed the note in his pocket. Mike in danger, Marissa dead, and now Mary kidnapped. He decided he needed to get to Prof Miltons quickly, who knew what would be happening to him.
Home Again
Mary sat quietly watching as he captors agrued over the objects they had taken from Pauls room. Her mouth was bound with a dishrag, fortunately it had been a clean one, she thought. They also kept her hands and feet bound. It wasn't comfortable, but then again they hadn't hurt her either.
She had no idea what they were talking about because they spoke a language she had never heard, but from their facial expressions, she could tell the girl wasn't convinced by what the man was saying.
Finally they turned to her. The man pulled the gag from her mouth and demanded, “What do you see when I hold these objects up?”
Puzzled Mary said, “A stick and a smooth rock.” the man snorted and glared at the woman. It has to be right. Women cant see the true nature of these objects, at least not until the enchament is removed.”
The woman through up her hands and said, “fine. But if we are wrong we are not the only ones to pay the price.” she began to cry.
The man softened and said, “Don't worry we will bring him back safely.”
The woman sniffled and nodded her head. Mary had a bunch of questions she wanted to ask, but didn't want to set her captors off, so she remained there quietly.
They sat huddled in a shed out by a garage owned by the campus motorpool. Friday night was definitely a quiet night at the garage. Mary was tired. She was hoping they would let her go now that they had what they were looking for.
“Can we go home now?” whined the woman. She sounded fearful to Mary. Nothing was making sense. She couldn't even figure out how they even knew she knew Paul.
The man hugged her and said, “Soon we can go. But we have one more task.”
“No!” the girl said sharply, “I am not going back there!”
The man said soothingly, “No we won't go back there. We already know that she didn't have it, but the shadow is ever close and we need to stay ahead of it.” he shuddered.
The man looked at Mary and said, almost apologetically, “You have to understand, we don't mean you any harm, but we have need of you to reach Paul.”
Mary snorted, “Well first of all, he stood me up last night, thats why I was at the grill in the first place and second of all, I barely know him. We just share a class together.”
The man nodded, “true but you are the last person he was seen with. You are the best chance we have of finding him before it's too late, although, “he glanced worriedly at the woman, “I'm afraid he has already been taken.”
“Taken?” Mary narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “Why don't you just fill me in on what in the hell is going on? Maybe I can help better that way?”
The both shook their heads. “We can't. It's not for us to tell. When we find Paul, he will explain.”
“yes” echoed the girl, “Paul can explain.”
As if that settled the matter, they ignored Mary. In fact, the man put the gag back around her mouth. Mary rolled her eyes. She knew she out to be more afraid, but neither of her captors was inspiring much in the way of fear.
She watched them for awhile, but both sat by the door with their backs to her speaking quietly. She figured they were waiting for someone else to arrive.
Mary must have dozed, because the next thing she knew the man was pulling her roughly to her feet. She looked at the door and saw that light was coming through the crack at the bottom. She figured it must be morning. She was surprised when they walked her out of the room, the light was coming from a giant undulating orb in the center of the maintenance shop. It looked hot and bright like the sun, but she felt no heat from it. Only a low level electrical cracking sound emanated from the light.
The woman was standing before the crackling light. She looked relieved. What Mary had thought was another person standing with the girl, she realized was actually and orangutan. The girl was actually having an animated conversation with the Orang. Mary shook her head. Maybe she was dreaming?
Next Mary was being handed over to the Orang. The woman and man spoke a few more words and then they left out of the garage, back into the night of the campus.
The Orang looked at her as if taking her measure. He placed his face near her ear and snuffed. At first she was puzzled then she ralized he was getting her scent.
Even more startling was when the Orang said, “I'm going to remove your gag and your foot bonds, but your hands will remain bound for now. Any attempts to escape or make noise and I will replace those bonds.”
Mary nodded.
With that he took her hands and lead her through the glowing crackling light.
Mary closed her eyes against the brilliance, but the light still penetrated her eyelids. She could feel an electrical currant playing across her skin like tiny little needles gently prickling her skin. Suddenly the light was gone and a cool fresh breeze blew across her face and through her hair. She opened her eyes. Before her was a vast blue lake rimmed by snowcapped mountains. She was standing on a platform made of stone and looking down towards a small quaint looking village. She could have been dropped in an old little swiss village for all she knew. The Orang let her hands go and pointed to a set of stairs that wound down toward a small stone building next to the cobbled road that ran through the village below.
At this point she realized that her hands and feet were unbound and the gag was gone. She wondered when that had happened. She turned around on the spot she stood. Behind her rose another snow robed mountain. The platform she was on was simply that, a raised stone platform. The brilliant light however, was no longer evident, nor did she see any mechanism for the creation of the light. As she walked to the stairs two robed figures half her size accompanied her. Their hoods covered their heads and faces and both were as silent as falling snow.
As she walked down the stairs she felt the chill of the air and the smell of the snow. It was the freshest air she could ever remember smelling. In fact, it smelled so clear and clean that she nearly felt lightheaded. As they neared the building she could smell the delicious aroma of baking bread. She hadn't eaten in so long, her stomach began to rumble.
Her silent companions led her through a courtyard to a simple wooden door. She entered a corridor lit with rush lights in small niches along the wall. One of the robed figures took her hand in its small hand. She wondered if the person was a child. She was led to another room with a firplace that dominated one end. The room was filled with benches and tables. People of all sorts were seated at the benches eating. The room got quiet as she entered and all heads turned to look at her.
Mary smiled shyly at the people in the room. She had no idea where she was, who these people were or what she was supposed to do now that she was here. A man rose from a bench along the far wall. He was tall and burly looking. He wore a gray homespun shirt and buckskin breeches. Heavy looking boots laced up his legs almost to his knees gave him a very rugged look. His sleek brown hair was pulled back and tightly wrapped with leather thongs. He had a stern look on his face. Mary worried that he might be angry with her, but then she remembered amidst the wonder of where she was, she was abducted and brought her against her will. If anyone should it be angry it should be her.
She stood, arms folded against her chest and chin up, as she waited for the man to cross the room to her. Her companion silently retreated back down the corridor.
The man stopped before her and scrutinized her from above. She had to tilt her head to look up at him.
He nodded and smiled and said, “Well now, its Mary Brown!”
Her eyes widened as she opened her mouth in shock. She heard the rest of the people in the room murmur. She thought they were just as surprised as she was.
“I can see you don't remember me.” he said nodding as if he expected that. “It's no surprise Mary, or should I call you by your rightful name?”
Mary just stared at him. She had no idea what he was talking about.
“Ah don't worry Mary we'll help you get your memories back. It happens everytime we cross over. Just be glad you won't have to do it again.”
Now she was just plain mystified. “Uh, if I'm not Mary Brown, then who am I?”
“Oh you are Mary Brown alright, just that you are also Mirga Breia.”
Mary frowned. “How long have I been away?” an asinine question she supposed, except by the sound of it, this was her home and her life there was a sham?
The man put a hand on her shoulder and scrutinized her. “You've been away for at least a year. Be all right, but lets get you something to eat. Getting your memories back is best done on a full stomach.
Mary nodded. Truly, it was becoming too much to wrap her head around. Just a week ago she was convinced that her parents, Terry and Marla Brown raised her and sent her off to college. Now she was beginning to think that was a dream and this place wasn't. So what did that mean for Paul, and what did Paul have to do with any of this or did he have anything to do with this. She shook her head. Her thoughts were beginning to spiral around with out any more answers, just more questions.
Mirga. She thought maybe she liked Mary better. The talk in the room had returned to its busy chatter, although as she followed the man to a table she noted that many kept an interested eye on her and some acknowledged her and some even waved or spoke a greeting. No one asked questions, but she could see the curiousity in their eyes.
Mary sat at a table across from the man. He resumed his meal as a woman brought her a plate heaped with vegetables and what looked like chicken and some potatoes. It smelled wonderful. The woman also place a wooden platter with loaves of steaming bread on the table and bowl of fresh butter.
Mary ate a few mouthfuls and thought she had never eaten food so wonderfully tasting before. She was pretty hungry after a whole night of not eating.
The man finished eating. He waited while she finished her food. Mary was surprised that she had eaten everything on her plate. She pushed her plate away and looked at the man. “Before you take me to get my memories back, tell me, will I forget everything that has happened to me?”
He smiled at her. “Eventually the memories will fade and you will not remember much of your time away, but you will never completely forget.” He started to stand.
“I assume I know you and most of these folks here then?”
He smiled. “Yes, you know me well, but some of these folks you may know of, some you know well and others will remain as unknown to you as they are now.”
Mary glanced around the room. It was odd to think that she knew some of these people yet did not know who.
The man said, “It is the same for all of us who travel. In fact, you are not the only one who has just returned. There are a few others sitting here who are asking the same questions as you. When we travel,” he continued as he indicated that she should stand, “we are assigned a mentor. That would be me. My job is to monitor you while you are gone and bring you back when your job is complete.”
Mary thought back over her recent memories. She couldn't begin to imagine what she had done of any significance that would constitute a job. She was eager to get her memories back. She felt that would answer many of her questions.
She followed the man out of the dining hall and down another corridor. This one was wider and had archways branching off into other rooms or corridors. By the time she was truly turned around and lost, the man stopped at a tall wooden door. He turned to her, “Through this door, all of your questions will be answered. When you have awakened, return to me and I will give you your next task.”
Her eyes narrowed, “I suppose I will know how to find you too?”
He shook his head as he opened the door and said, “You ask that every single time!”
“I've done this before?”
“More than anyone else here. It's a wonder your memories don't get muddled.”
With that Mary was through the door that closed behind her. She found herself in a small simply furnished room. A small round table sat next to a large overstuffed chair. On the table was a glass pitcher with a clear liquid with ice in it. A delicate looking glass sat next to the pitcher. On the wall opposite of the chair was a large mirror. No light illuminated the room yet the room was well lit. Mary could see no obvious source for the light.
She walked up to the mirror and inspected it. She wondered if it was a two way mirror. She'd heard once that if you put your hand on the mirror there was a way that you could tell if the mirror was two way or not. She wasn't sure she wanted to know.
There were no other doors exiting the room. Considering the sparse furnishing, Mary guessed that she was to make herself comfortable in the easy chair and drink the liquid in the pitcher. The mirror mystified her however. What was it's purpose?
“Well times a wasting,” she said to the empty room. Mary sat in the chair and filled the glass.
She sniffed the liquid and caught the sweet scent of berries and apples. A sip of the liquid tasted like sweetened water. It was a pleasant flavor. Mary took a few more drinks.
After the third mouthful a movement on the mirror caught her eye. She looked up and saw that the mirror had become cloudy. Faint images began to dance lightly across it's surface.
Intrigued, Mary wondered if the liquid had anything to do with it. She took another drink. After she swallowed she noted that the images did seem to become clearer after every drink.
By the time she emptied the pitcher she felt she was no longer in the room but swimming through images, words, thoughts and experiences. Next she began to physically feel each of these things. A scraped knee in childhood, a kiss, a taste of food, the smell of burning, familiar voices, tears, laughter, sickness, anguish. Soon she was overwhelmed and was unable to distinguish each experience. She felt immersed, then overcome. It seemed to become her only existance. Finally the room went dark. She sat in the recliner panting and sweating. Eventhough the room was completely dark she closed her eyes and leaned her head back. She was exhausted.
Mary must have fallen asleep. When she opened her eyes the room was lit again. The pitcher was gone and a steaming mug of tea was in it's place. She knew the tea was an herbal mixture to calm nerves and restore balance. As she sipped the tea she carefully tested her memories.
She knew she was Mirga Breia. She knew she was Guardian of Light. In fact, she knew she was of the First order of Guardian. She knew her assignments were among the toughest. She also knew she was very old, not the twenty year old she had been on Earth. She stood up feeling very weak, which was a symptom of memory return. As she went to the mirror, she also knew that this wasn't an ordinary mirror, but a device created by the first guardians to store and return the memories of those who traveled.
Not all guardians traveled. Only those who achieved the rank of first. Var was above her. He was a supreme. Mirga loved the travel. She hoped to remain a traveler and did not aspire to supreme like Var had. He was good at his post and looked after the firsts assigned to him as if they were his own children.
Memories of her recent travel finally trickled back around the older memories. As usual the memories came back in bits and pieces. She sat down as she remembered Paul. He was not the reason she was there. Reaching in to her pocket she found a crystal and a wand. Those had been her objective. She knew Paul's weaknesses. She knew he would hand these things over to the darkness for the love of his cousin. She was sent to retrieve them before he could do so. Her two lieutenants, Eris and Mera, had kidnapped her. They performed well. She knew their mission was to get to Paul before he could retrieve the scroll. She had tried to help them by arranging a meeting with him, but he had been captured by the shadow. The only thing that saved him was that the woman at the library was very quick to give the scroll to someone else. She was also very secretive.
She died for her secrets. Mary knew the shadow sent out one of it's black butchers to retrieve the scroll. That was where her memories ended. She needed to know how her lieutenants were doing and if they achieved their mission.
Before she could leave the room however she needed to finish the tea. Somehow the tea ensured the memories would take. If she left the room before the process was complete she could destroy her mind. She returned to the chair and sat back as she sipped her tea. It was a special tea that remained very hot in the cup so that small sips would prevent drinking too fast.
“Everything in it's time” was the motto of the Firsts.
Chasing Leads
Paul peddled furiously, cursing eccentric professors who had to lie in hilly wooded areas and stuffed bears that weren't what they appeared and were heavier than they looked. The sun had risen through the trees and eventhough it was a crisp fall morning, Paul was sweating profusely.
As he broke the crest of the hill the trees opened up and he could see the road wind down around the descending slope of the hill through brown fields covered in a dissapating mist. In the distance was a farmhouse and further on atop a wooded knoll peaked the top of an elaborate looking cabin. Professor Miltons place. It had to be. It fit the description in the staff directory. For all his seclusion, professor milton was also fairly flamboyant. He wondered what Marissa had seen in the man. He had to be about twenty years older than her.
Paul stopped wondering and let the bike coast a bit down the hill. He would need the rest from peddling and the speed to get up the next rise. As he passed the farm house he kept a wary eye out for dogs. Farmers usually had a pack of them guarding their houses and properties, but it was quiet as he passed by the farmhouse. He glanced in the direction of the farm.
What he saw caused him to skid to a halt. The door to the farmhouse was askew on its hinges. As he looked closer he could see fur covered hillocks in the yard. Dead dogs. The hair on the back of Pauls neck rose in alarm. His sweat turned cold and his stomach churned in fear. Oliver poked his head out of the sack. He growled at the sight. He pushed Pauls head with his paw urging him to continue.
Paul tore his eyes away from the farmhouse. He didn't have to go inside to know the stench that would have permeated the house, nor did he need to wonder about the people inside. Softly he said a quiet apology for them. He felt that is was his fault. If he had kept the paper Marissa and these people would not have had to face these horrible deaths.
He didn't have much hope for Professor Milton at this point.
By the time he reached the botom of the driveway he was exhausted with exertion and fear. The images of the distruction of Marissa and her home fresh as if he had just left her house floated before him.
The driveway wound up around the hill and disappeared. It was all gravel so he got of the bike and leaned it up against the mailbox at the mouth of the drive. He trudged up the steep drive thinking how hard it would be to get out of this place once it snowed. Twenty minutes later he was standing at theback of the house looking up. The three car garage was closed and the graveled drive ended at a paved apron in front of the garage. Stone steps rose to the right of the driveway, leading up to a wooden deck nestled in between the pines.
Oliver was climbing out of Pauls backpack. Apparently Ike was content to stay there. Paul couldn't blame him.
Oliver morphed into his regular bear appearance. He crept cautiously to the stairs, a low growl in his throat. Paul followed him. The house was quiet. Paul checked his watch. It was just after eight am. Even for a saturday morning, someone should be up. The top of the stairs opened on to a vast multileveled wooden deck. Nicely landscaped with a barbeque kitchen, seating area and firepit, alcoves with benches, statues and shrubbery scattered throughout. Nothing seemed amiss. No destruction. Paul saw Olviver testing the air with his nose.
Paul himself breathed deep. The only scent was the fresh smell of pine trees. Oliver stood on his hind legs.
Suddenly the glass door into the house opened on a level above their heads. A man stepped out wearing flannel pajama pants and a sweat shirt. He worn slippers and had a steaming mug in one hand. In the other hand held between two fingers was a large black cigar. He had shoulder length brown hair, horn rimmed glasses and a big bushy mustache. Even more startling was when he said, “Beautiful morning isn't it?”
Paul and Oliver looked at each other. “Uh sure,” said Paul. “Are you Professor Milton?”
The man grinned down at them. He seemed totally unsurprised at that fact that a student and a bear were standing on his private deck at 8am on a saturday morning. “You must be Paul. I figured you would show up once I realized what that piece of vellum said. Do you have the other piece?”
“No I don'tand actually I need the piece you have back.”
“Oh I can't do that,” said Milton. His grin became malicious. “You see Marissa wouldn't part with it either, that was her downfall, she was just too honest.” he barked a laugh. “You saw what happened to her. Well I need to know where the map is, I need you to bring it too me.”
Paul shook his head, “I no longer have it. It was taken from me.”
“Who took it?” demanded Milton.
“I honestly don't know.” Paul was shaking. The map was out of his reach, the wand and crystal were missing. He looked at Oliver. He saw his despair mirrored in the bears eyes. Paul stood to lose Mike, he wondered who Oliver was losing. Paul pulled the hour glass from his pocket. It was only a fourth of the way filled, but he knew Mike was suffering for every grain that fell. He uttered a silent apology.
Oliver growled.
“Careful bear,” warned Milton, “even you are no match for the black butcher.” his laugh grated in Pauls ears. He turned his insolent gaze on Paul, “Get the scroll or my butcher will hunt you down.” with that he turned and retreated back into the house.
“Now what?” Paul said helplessly to Oliver. Oliver roared his despair. Ike climbed out of the pack. Oliver cuffed him as he passed by. Ike shrank back chastized, but then he began his fire dance.
The next thing Paul knew they were standing in a town square. The buildings were burnt out and all the vegetation was wilted or burnt black. Ike whined and Oliver snarled. The stench of charred blackened foliage and wood filled the air.
“Where are we?” ask Paul. Oliver led the way through the ruined village. They came upon a blackened keep with an iron door. Oliver clawed at the door and roared. Ike just cowered. In fact, he gave one sad long look at Paul and then climbed into Pauls pack as a teddy bear. A guard in black armor with red and gold flames inlaid, opened the postern door. As they entered they were surrounded by more armored guards. All of them wore their face shields down. Paul knew the woman would not be pleased, but he had no idea what else to do. He held the hour glass in his hand. It was at half.
They were ushered into a room with a raised dais. On the dais was a throne of gold inlaid with rubies and amber. Thin veils hung about the walls in yellows, golds, scarlets and oranges. They undulated like flames. Even the air in the room was hot and dry. He did not see the woman or girl anywhere. In fact, the guards ushered them to a small anteroom just behind the throne. One guard remained, while the others left. Oliver sat dejectedly in a corner. He looked beaten. Paul knew how he felt.
Ike climbed from the pack and sat at Pauls feet. He laid his head on Pauls knee and sighed dejectedly. Idly Paul scratched his head between his ears much as he would do for a dog.
“Boy,” a gravelly voice spoke, Paul turned to see that it was Oliver whp spoke to him.
“You can talk?”
The bear snorted, but didn't acknowledge the question further. Instead he continued as if Paul had said nothing, “I know you tried and I apologize for being rough with you. That bitch has my mate and my cublings. If I don't do as she says, she harms them. She has made me do awful things, just to keep my family safe.”
Paul said, “I know what you mean, and now here we are, stuck. Our family members in jeopardy and no way to turn. Do you know what this is all about at least? All I know is that my cousin is inches from death and I don't even know the purpose!”
Oliver nodded, “At first I had no idea what was happening, but as time when by I begin to learn things. We are in the middle of a war. Up until I met you I though there were only two sides to this war. Now I know that there are more involved. The burning ones, whose stronghold we are in now, they are a rebel faction of the light Guardians. They disagreed with how the darkness should be fought, now the war is three sided. The bad part is they all bicker and involve those of us that just want to live our lives with our families. We don't care about their squabbles, yet invaribly we are drawn in against our will to help them achieve their version of domination.” Oliver sighed and said no more.
Paul was mystified. Why was none of this ever brought up in religion? Or science. How was it that earth was so clueless about these epic struggles? How was it that clueless earth citizens were drawn into these struggles. He knew that he and Mike had been drawn in as children. Suddenly he remembered as a kid all the hype over alien abductions. Maybe thats all they were. Ordinary people getting a glimpse of what lay beyond their usual reality. Paul sighed. He would have happily lived his whole life not knowing that this realm existed.
Paul pulled the hour glass from his pocket and studied it. Each grain of sand squeezed through the opening and dropped delicately on to the growing pile. They dropped slowly and floated like snow. However, each grain of sand gnawed at him as they sat idly waiting on their captors.
Paul looked at Ike. “What's your story?” he asked the red gold bear as he scratched his head.
Oliver looked up and said, “He can't answer you. His tongue was burned out when they made him a fire dancer.” Oliver shook his head. Ike was a promising young bear. He was smart, strong and would have been one of the warriors of his clan, but the fire guardians took it all from him.” Oliver snorted. “He isn't much better than one of your pet dogs on earth!”
Paul didn't know what to say to that. He liked dogs.
He wasn't sure how long they had been in the small room with the silent flame armored guard, but finally they were ushered back out to the throne room. This time there were people milling about the room. They all gazed warily and with interest as the three of them were ushered into the room. Paul was shoved rudely to the floor. Next the double doors were flung open and a herald's voice rang out across the throne room.
“ALL HAIL QUEEN INCENDIA!”
The entire crowd in the room prostrated themselves. Paul from the corner of his eye could see that people had pressed their faces to the floor, their hands covering their eyes. All he could hear was what sounded like a flame thrower passing by. Waves of heat coursed through the room.
When they were allowed to rise, a woman with flame red hair sat atop the throne. On her head was a crown of white alabaster, carved in the shape of flames. It sparkled with what Paul supposed were diamonds. Her skin was a deep ebony black. She wore a dress of reds and golds that swirled about her like dancing flames.
Pauls first thought was that these people took the fire theme a bit too far. She gazed out at the throne room with hard calculating gold eyes. He had the impression she was looking for traitors. Flanking the dais on either side were armored guards in scarlet armor with gold flames and gold cloaks. He assumed they must be the royal guard. Paul and the bears were being held to one side in a sort of penalty box. He wondered what would happen to them.
The queen spoke to a slender woman dressed in a flowing golden robe. The woman nodded her head and raised a hand toward the door. The herland announced, “The queen will now give audience to petitioners!”
For the next hour or so a stream of peasants and their issues were brought before the queen. As far as he could tell she seemed fairly just in her pronouncements.
After the last of the petitioners left the throne room the herald then announced the queens council. Four men and two women dressed in wildly differing versions of the fire/flame them entered as a group. Each went before the queen and made a report. The last was a tall slender man. When he stood before the queen he saw Oliver go rigid. He leaned over to whisper to Oliver, but the guard cuffed him back.
So instead he just kept an eye on Oliver as the man presented his report. At the end the man said, “Your Highness, I regret to have to be the bearer of ill tiding, however, I fear we have had a rogue within our ranks. More specifically, it is with heavy heart that I must present one of my own retinue for treason.”
Paul could see that where the queen had merely tried to look engaged with the precedings, she now appeared intrigued. Paul was too, especially because of Oliver's reaction. He glanced at Ike, who had actually fallen asleep. Paul rested a hand on the soft bears head. Ike didn't wake but he did mumble in his sleep.
“Do you have this traitor here?” asked the queen.
“She is not your highness.” the councilor looked down at his feet humbly, “but I do have her associates.”
Paul looked around wondering who that might be.
“Please, present them.” directed the queen.
“Guards,” called the councilor, “Please present the prisoners”
Suddenly as he and the bears were being ushered before the queen, Paul understood. Oliver resisted until a guard smacked him on the head with the butt of his speer. He growled in pain, but shambled forward. Ike looked frightened at being woken so abruptly and when Paul tried to protest, he was backhanded by one of the guards.
The councilor, whom Paul had never seen before looked at him and his companions as if they were mud on his shoe. He said, “These three were in the company of Fiaccola and her daughter Fiammeta. They are the ones who have been causing the problems and interfering with the Guardians of Light!”
Paul was bewildered. He had no idea who the guardians of light were, nor did he have any idea who Fiaccola and Fiammeta where.
Apparently Oliver knew who they were. He began to roar and growl. The guards began to hit him to subdue him. Paul frantically tried to get him to calm down and Ike just curled up into a ball of trembling fur.
Finally, when Oliver was restrained and three large guards were holding him at spearpoint, the councilor proceeded.
“This young man” he indicated Paul, “was seen in the tents of Fiaccola. He was heard to say that he would retrieve the objects she was searching for. I believe it was also heard that he accepted a large purse of gold to do these tasks for her.”
Paul was stunned. “That's not true!” he shouted, to which the guards immediately began trying to subdue him.
The queen watched, her expression was of simple boredom, but Paul caught her eye for only a moment which seemed to last forever. In that moment he saw fear and something else, but before he could decide what it was he was face down on the floor with an armored knee grinding into his back. Over the ringing in his ears from being whacked in the head by a spear butt he heard the queen say, “Prepare them for a private audience. Councilor I would like you present, but leave your lap dog outside.”
Paul heard the assembly rise and the herald announce the departure of the queen. A babble of voices followed the closed door. Amidst the noise< Paul and the two bears were half-escorted, half-dragged from the room. They weren't taken to the small anteroom this time, but to a room filled with bath tubs and attendants. Before he knew it Paul was naked and being shoved into a copper tub full of steaming water. He couldn't see what was happening to Oliver and Ike, but by the sound of Oliver's roars of protest he was being similarly treated.
An hour later, bathed, brushed, dressed and fed, Paul and the bears were being escorted to yet another room. So far Pauls questions wer answered only with stoney glares and admonishments to be quiet. As they arrived at a small foyer, they were joined by the haughty councilor. From his expression you wouldn't have known that Paul and the bears had ever bathed.
Paul wondered what he had ever done to this guy. He didn't have long to wonder. They were ushered into the queens study. It was a sparsly furnished room. A long writing table stood in the center on an elegantly designed rug. The walls were bare stone with sconces of lit torches evenly spaced about the room. High windows let in some light as well. The queen sat on a low couch between two lit braziers. Several cushions dotted the floor at her feet.
The councilor bowed low to the queen. She indicated that he should seat himself on a cushion. Paul followed the councilors lead and also bowed before the queen, as did the two bears. She scrutinized each of them before gesturing for them to sit. Ike in his fear nearly sat on Pauls lap. He remained pressed close to Paul.
“I will come directly to the point.” stated the queen. “One of you is lying.”
The councilor opened his mouth to say something but the queen snapped, “Silence fool!” she turned to Paul and the bears. “Bears don't lie. I know this. They are incapable of it.” she shot a quick glare at the councilor, who looked anywhere but at her.
The queen looked at Ike and smiled, “Come fire dancer, I would look in your eyes.” she held out her hand for Ike.
Ike whined and looked up at Paul with fear in his eyes. Paul whispered, while scratching his head, “It's ok Ike, I don't think she means you any harm.”
Paul started to stand to help Ike up when one of the guards pushed him roughly back down on his seat. “Just the bear!” he growled.
Paul nodded to Ike and said, “I'll be right here.”
Ike shuffled up to the queen. She smiled at him. If finally dawned on him why Ike was a fraid of her, she looked a lot like the woman who made him dance. The one that held Mike.
“It's ok bear,” she said soothingly, “I'm sure my sister is not nearly as gentle as I.” she glanced at Paul and Oliver and then smiled back at Ike. “I will look into your eyes, there I can see what my sister has done to you, and perhaps what I can do to ease your pains.” with that she gently placed her hands on Ikes head just below his ears. He held her gaze as if mesmerized, occasionally whimpering, but never moving or thrashing about.
When she released him he staggered back to Paul as if drunk. Paul caught him and helped him sit without falling. Ike leaned on him. Oliver sat om his cushion, a low growl in his throat. The queen smiled at Oliver, “He is fine guardian Bear.
Oliver looked at her in surprise. “Yes bear I know you. I remember you well. You were a member of the elite guards.”
She turned and glanced at Paul, and then sharply clapped her hands, “Guards please detain the councilor. Due to his station he will be placed in one of the tower cells, that is until his trial. He is afforded whatever he needs to prepare his case.”
At the pronouncement the councilor, prostrated himself on the floor crying piteously, “your majesty please, please please ...” he continued to beg as the guards dragged him from the room.
She sat rigid, he hands at her side her back straight as her eyes followed the councilor from the room. The unwavering look of anger and disappointment etched in her features. As the door closed she exhaled and seemed to whither somewhat. For a long moment she stared into empty space, her thoughts concealed behind and expressionless mask.
She turned to Paul and the bears, her smile like sunlight breaking through gloomy clouds. Tears trailed down her cheeks. She wiped them away with her hands. Softly she said, “A disappointment. He has been a councilor of the realm since Fiaccola and I were little girls. Our father trusted him implicitly.” he tone hardened, “Fiaccola and I obviously do not see eye to eye. We were to rule together. We are twins after all. Somewhere, Fia got the notion in her head that we should be more powerful.” a deep sigh, “The burnt ruin of our city is Fiaccola's legacy to our people.”
“Ah but that is a history lesson. I did not ask you here to learn our history, though in the coming months it may serve you well.” she held out her hand and one of her attendants handed her a goblet. She sipped and handed it back. “First I must commend our Fire Dancer for bringing you here and not back to Fiaccola. Ike may seem fearful, but he truly is a brave bear. Fiaccola has mistreated him is ways that no being should ever be mistreated. Ike was not meant for fire dancing. His future was to be a battle bear. He was training in the Gold Corp, when Fiaccola took him and the rest of his company. From what I understand he was betrayed by the captain of the Corp, who ironically was not a bear. Again Bears can't lie. Deception will kill them.” Paul could see Oliver nodding in agreement.
Paul had a hundred questions, but he was afraid to speak out of turn. The queen continued, As for Oliver. A guardian Bear. How Fiaccola got you is beyond me.” she agzed for long moments at Oliver.
Finally he stood and bowed before her. In his low gravelly voice he said, “Your highness, I will tell the story, if you so wish it.”
The queen nodded.
“It began innocently enough. One of the guardians returned from a mission. She had lost both of her lieutenants during the mission and barely returned herself. The Orang in charge of the gate was also injured as a blast ripped through the other world to ours. Because of it the gate was unstable. Until the techs could repair it we were called to basic guard duty. None of us minded, we knew the dangers that could spill over from the other world, we took our duty seriously.” Oliver coughed. The queen had one of her attendants hand him a goblet.
Oliver resumed his tale, “The damage was severe enough that the techs were going to need several weeks to repair it. To get the repairs right they needed to work on both sides of the gate. That meant a detail of eight, four on each side of the gate. For three weeks, everything went smoothly. Probably because of that we let our guard down a bit. For a long time I thought it was because we werent as vigilant as we should have been that Fiaccola was able to strike as she did. What I realized later is that it was Fiaccola who encouraged our lack of vigilance.” here he sighed deeply.
“The night Fiaccola took me was the night I was the only guard on duty that had a family. She took my family and used them as bait to get to me. I'm still to this day unsure why she targeted me, afterall, I was just a sargent. I wasn't even the duty sargent that night. But she paraded my family where only I could see them. She made sure I would come after her, and leave my post. She had my mother and father killed as I stood there and watched, unable to move, because my post demanded it of me.” Olivers rough voice rasped rougher still with the emotion of remembering his parents dying before his eyes. “Next she told me, either I go with her, leave my post, or my wife and children were next. I was stunned. I have not seen my wife and children since that night. She did let them go as soon as I abandoned my post. I do not know whether they live or not.” he finished, his head hanging. Fierce Oliver looked old and worn out.
Paul had an inkling of how Oliver felt. He pulled the hourglass from his pocket. Not many grains remained. He feared at this point Mike would not survive. The queens eyes narrowed. “where did you get that?”
Paul looked up from the dwidling sands. “Fiaccola handed me this and said that if I did not do as she told me to, then my cousin Mike would die when the sand ran out.”
“Fiaccola was always clever with the mind games. But don't fear Paul, you cousin is far too important for Fiaccola to kill. You too are also just as important. The map and scroll won't work without either of you. Nor will the wand and the crystral. You and Mike are the catylysts. The two of you must stand together to make these things happen. I am certain she will torment Mike, but she will not dare kill him.”
The queen turned to look at Oliver, “as for you brave bear. Your sacrifice is at an end. Your family lives. Your wife is quite a resourceful bear. As soon as they could slip away they did. They are well protected by the guardians themselves. Your daughter has grown to become a guardian bear herself.”
Oliver looked at the queen with wonder. As if he had just woken from every nightmare he had ever had.
The queen smiled sadly at him, “However, your reunion must be postponed. Fiaccola cannot know that she has been compromised. I will need to send all of you back to her.” Ike shivered, Oliver's face grinned with a look of revenge. “Have no fear guardian, your time will come for vengence, but be wary. Haste will only hurt us. If we are to rescue Mike and snatch him from the jaws of the shadow, we must play our parts as we have always played them.” she glanced worriedly at Paul and Oliver, “You do understand why we must send you back?”
Both nodded grimly. For the rest of the day and well into the evening they plotted. The queen brought in her best advisors. They also plotted on how to announce the dismissal of the councilor in Fiaccola's employ. The key to their success, all agreed, was for Fiaccola to think that her plans had not been disturbed.
By the time Paul, Oliver and Ike were given beds for the night, they were so exhausted that sleep came immediately. For the first time in weeks, Paul slept deeply without dreams.
The Shadow Man
It was too bad about Marissa. She had been an excellent companion, but then again she had always been too nice and he knew he would have to break it off eventually. He was just pleased that before he did, she actually brought him a piece of a puzzle he had been searching years for. It was too bad he had to send a shadow butcher after her, but leaving her in a position to talk really would have been a bad idea.
He hated having to leave his country home too, but a trail of butchered corpses usually caused too many questions, especially when they wound up right next door. Milton got his hat, and summoned the shadow butcher. It came to him like a pet dog. To milton the stench of it smelled of sweet promise. His butcher, his creation, would pave his way by eliminating his enemies.
He looked at the scroll. He could read it, but with out the map the directions were useless. He looked at the butcher. It waited eagerly for his commands. Its hunger was insatiable it knew he would provide.
Milton said, “Lets go home, the map is somewhere there. Follow the dancing bear … but do not be seen.” Milton laughed at the irony. Shadows were all around, and no one ever paid them any attention. “Gather information for me, you will feast when you bring me what I want to know.” with that the butcher opened it's maw and Milton walked through. As the shadow disappeared behind him the furnace of the house mysteriously exploded.
Call to War
Mirga strode through the corridors. Var had sent messengers to awaken all the Firsts. As she entered the Guardians war chamber, she noted who was already present. Eris and Mera quickly caught up to her and fell in behind her. Var was seated in his chair at the head of the council table. Mirga took a seat in the front row of the assembly room. Eris and Mera took up places along the walls opposite of each other. As much as Mirga loved the Guardians, there was political strife among them. Factions that always threatened it seemed at their most crucial times when they should be pulling together. Var, as good of a leader as he was struggled to keep his position of Chief Supreme.
Var's position was elected, unlike the guardians who were chosen by the Supreme council. Typically there was a list of criteria and experience that a Guardian had to achieve to become a First that traveled. In Mirga's opinion, some of the Firsts were apoointed because of who they knew. As she scanned the room for other arriving Firsts and their lieutenants her eye landed on Jaaneris Ska. She felt her lips curl in distaste. Jaaneris was one of those who weaseled his way to First. As far as she was concerned, he would cause more harm than good.
A soft pleasant voice over her shoulder made her jump. “he's an arrogant one, isn't he?” purred the voice.
Mirga turned, smoothing her face into something unreadable. Here was another that Mirga didn't care for, even though as a First she was extremely skilled. Without missing a beat Mirga said, “Brea Chaw, how are you? I heard they gave you a particularly messy assignment this time.”
Like a cat with a fresh caught bird Brea smiled, her dark silk black hair fell smoothly to her shoulders framing a perfectly oval face. Pouty lips and high cheekbones with dark slanted eyes gave Brea a beautifully exotic look. To look at her one would think she had been chosen as a concubine for King ad'Asala's cold winter court. Mirga always wondered how Brea escaped that fate.
Brea slid effortlessly into the chair next to Mirga. They all wore the same gray robes with silver trim and the white emblem of the Guardians embrodiered on the front, but Brea somehow managed to make the robe sexy. Brea sighed. “It was a messy assignment she pouted, I lost one of my lieutenants and will have to train another!”
Mirga looked around, “which one?”
“I lost Nils.” Brea sighed again. “It looks like you managed to keep both of yours.”
Mirga nodded. It was getting more and more dangerous out there and lieutenants were falling fast. “Barely, Eris had to drag Mera back here unconscious. If they had been moments later they both would have been killed in an explosion.”
Brea tsked. “I heard Jaaneris lost five on his last assignment. Maybe this time they will finally strip him of his rank and send him back to lieutenant, but then again, I would hate it if I had him on my detail!”
Mirga nodded, on this point she and Brea saw eye to eye. Again, Brea was exceptional as a First. Mirga was older and Brea had spent time as one of Mirga's lieutenants, but she rose fast. Mirga was the one who had recommender her for First. She didn't like her, but she did recognize talent when she saw it. It wouldn't be much longer before Brea replaced her as First among Firsts.
It was about half an hour before all the Firsts and the Surpremes were assembled. Var called the seesion to order.
“I am aware that our reguularly scheduled session is still about a week away, but events are developing rather quickly and I don't think we have the luxury of time. There are some pressing events that need to be addressed also we will be breaking with our usual practice of allowing Firsts thirty days before they return to the field.” this pronouncement was met with a general outcry from the Firsts. When the noise died down Var continued.
As Mirga watched him she realized that Var was not standing completely upright and that he seemed haggard. She listened more intently to his tone and watched him carefully as he spoke.
“It has come to our attention that the shadow grows, as we all know the foretelling, however there is a new development. There is a third faction that seeks to rise and not only battle with the shadow, but with us as well. We have lost warriors and guardians to this enemy.” Var's voice was edged with bitterness as if his best friend had betrayed him.
Then it dawned on Mirga. She looked around. Where was Oliver? She felt hollow in the pit of her stomach. She realized she had not seen Oliver since she returned from her last travel. Mirga glanced at the other Firsts. Brea's lips were pursed. She looked angry.
Var continued, “In addition to defections we have had numerous losses during travels. Nearly every travel team has reported brushes with the shadow and losses to the shadow, and losses to fire.”
Fire? Thought Mirga as she went over every aspect of her last trip. She'd had abductions, but truly her last travel had been incredibly mild up until the end when her lieutenants nearly got blown up,
Var next talked about training of the newer recruits. He spoke of decreasing the training time to get more warriors and guardians in the field. She knew they were being siphoned, but to cut short the training? That would be a disaster!
Mirga stood awaiting acknowledgement. Finally Var said, “Mirga I see you, please sit. I am aware that you would protest the training shortcuts. But we,” He indicated the Supreme councilors seated about the table on either side of him, “Have made our decisions on how we will proceed. There will be no discussion. Instead of fighting on one front as we always have, we now have two. We cannot afford the third front of fighting amongst ourselves. As your leaders, we have decided to put aside our differences and we stand together to see our enemies vanquished.” As Var's voice rose with conviction, so did his posture.
Mirga stood with the others, but she felt a cold dread instead of a heated stirring at this call to war. She looked around and though many were cheering, she could see many whose feelings mirrored her own. At this point the assembly was over. Mirga signaled her lieutenants to mingle and she hurried to Var. He saw her coming. He looked stooped and tired again.
She meant to chastise him and he knew it, but all she said was, “Var you look tired.”
Nodding, Var took her arm and drew her aside, away from other ears. Speaking low he whispered, “This war is an act of desparation. We will be closing the traveling portals soon. We have recalled all the Firsts. I need you to take your team and go to Lanitha. There you will find Fiaccola's sister. She will help you find the young man Paul. There you will also find Oliver,” Mirga jerked her head up and looked him in the eye. Var shook his head, “Don't doubt Oliver, he went to Fiaccola because he believed his family was in danger. They are safe. For now. None of us will be safe if the shadow gets the scroll.”
He held both of her arms, “No one knows the importance of the wand and crystal save you and I. The map and scroll are dangerous in and of themselves, but the wand and crystal can activate changes on the map that can change worlds.” Var looked around. “You must go. Take Eris and Mira. Tell no one where you go, not even the Orang's. You must recover the scroll and map and then take them back to Paul's world. Once there use the wand and the crystal to destroy all four objects.”
“But, how? How do I get to Lanitha and if the travel portals are closed, how do I get back to Pauls world? And how do I return?”
Var studied her for a long moment, his aged eyes full of history, knowledge, experience and exhaustion. “Eris and Mera have all your instructions in a sealed pouch, only to be opened by you.” he sighed heavily with sadness and regret, “As for the travel, there is an ancient portal in the mountains north of Lanitha. The supreme council doesn't remember it, but they will. Once they become aware of it they will send a contigent to destroy it. I will hold them off for as long as I can, but you will need to hurry if we have any hope of destroying those items and getting Paul and Oliver back to their rightful places.”
Mirga nodded, “This is goodby then. I won't be able to return.”
Var nodded sadly. “This will be the end of the Guardianship for all of us. There will be no more traveling. Our worlds will separate. But it is the only way we can dissipate the strength of the shadow. Var smiled. We will lose our abilities, but life will go on and the Guardians will still have the task of maintaing the peace here.”
“Now go. Remember me as long as you can. I will do the same.”
Mirga felt sorrow tighten in her heart, she knew her time here was short, she just had not anticipated that it would be mere hours rather than a few years. She nodded to Mera and Eris. They followed her without question.
Back to the Fray
Initially the news that Mike would not be killed because he failed to deliver the scroll within the required time frame was heartening, but he also knew that he would be tortured. Paul was afraid of what it would do to Mike in the long run. He felt bad about the rest and food he received while in Lanitha. He also learned a good many things about the world he was in. Technology was minimal here. Basically, they were still somewhere in the pre-combustion age. Weapons were medieval, although they did have a rudimentary fire arm, but it did not work with gun powder. Oddly enough it was some sort of compressed air technology.
The weapons master showed Paul how to use the firearm, but when he attempted to explain how the technology worked, Paul gave up. He knew it fired a missile at a high velocity when he pulled the trigger. Good enough. He truly hoped to not need it, weapons were not something he had ever been comfortable with.
When he and Mike had been kids, their parents sent them to karate classes on saturdays. Paul remembered very little of those classes, other than the bruises he received. Mike had been pretty good and he even made it all the way to brown belt. Paul only made it to black eye and purple and yellow bruises. Pauls dad wasn't very happy with him, fortunately his mom stepped in and encouraged his artistic side. If Paul could do anything well it was draw. He had notebooks filled with drawings.
Aside from the interuption of his Freshman year in college with this random trip to who knows where to save his cousin, Paul intended to declare his major his sophomore year as an major in graphic arts. He was really interested in designing album covers for musicians. He also had two comic books in the works, although many people ridiculed him for the comic books, they did see graphic design as a worthy medium for his art talents.
All these thoughts plodded through his head as he and the bears plodded along the road toward Midcleft. Midcleft, according to the map was a half day ride from Lanitha. Paul figured longer, since the bears didn't ride and they needed a cart. The horse drawing the cart wasn't the most motivated of beasts and seemed to have one speed only.
Paul wondered and not for the first time, how fast this trip would be if he could drive his motorcycle. Even a golf cart would move faster!
Paul tried to get Oliver to talk, but he basically just grunted at any question Paul asked, so that rode in silence. The scenery was interesting for a couple of hours, until they got into the farmland. Now it was all furrowed fields, fallow until spring planting. Fortunately the weather was pleasant enough. Paul was glad when the hills began, eventhough it slowed the horse down, but it was more interesting to look at.
As the shadows grew long and afternoon began to stretch towards evening, they finally saw in the distance the tiled roofs of Midcleft. True to it's name, Midcleft nestled between two hills. It was a modest sized village, but not big enough for fortress walls. It did have a guard tower before you reached the village proper. As they passed they could see a guard watching them. He seemed relaxed, and not alarmed at a young man and two bears riding past in a two wheeled cart, drawn by a worn out horse.
Paul stopped the cart at the Smoke Inn. Queen Chara suggested the inn and told them to ask for Simon the Cooper. She also gave them a purse of coins to pay their way. Simon she said could help them get to Fiaccola's island fortress. Neither Paul nor Oliver knew how to get there eventhough they had been there before. Paul had only seen the inside of a tent and Oliver had only traveled there via the Fire Dance. Ike was hopeless he had no idea how to get there other than by fire dance, which he refused to do. In fact, just getting him in to the cart to return to Fiaccola took a lot of coercing by both Paul and Oliver. They couldn't return without him, Paul needed his fire dance to get them back to earth once they found Mike.
Oliver and Ike climbed out of the cart while Paul talked to the stableboy. He sold the cart and the horse. It was determined that from Midcleft they would need to rely on the Cooper. Paul walked into the Inn followed by the two bears. The innkeeper said, “We're full for the night.”
Paul frowned. Queen Chara said he would probably say that right off when he saw the Bears, so Paul pulled the letter from his pouch. It was sealed with the queens seal. He wordlessly handed it to the inn keeper, who inspected the seal and handed it back.
“don't you want to read it?” Asked Paul.
The Inn keeper sneered, “It's got her majestys seal. What do I need to read it for? I see that seal, I could have my most important land owner in here and I'd have to kick him out for the likes of you because of your letter and it's fancy royal piece of wax!”
Queen Chara warned that he would do as they asked, but his manners would be rough around the edges. He would also give them the worst room possible, but he would give them a room. He would also make sure the cooper would be fetched for them as soon as they asked.
This all mystified Paul, but Oliver told him later that the Queen could probably make the Inn vanish should he not comply with her wishes. Basically she had something on him and she would use him whenever she wished.
Paul decided he would watch his back around the man. Even queens couldn't prevent “accidental” deaths.
Surprisingly for all his caustic demeanor, the innkeeper actually provided them with a decent room. There were two beds in the room. Paul assumed the bears would bunk together, but later realized that Ike would not leave his side. They ate down in the common room and found the food to be quite tasty. They sat at a table near the fire place and just relaxed, watching as the common room began to fill with travelers and locals alike. Many were hired hands, who had finished working the local farms and came for a meal and ale. Just when the inn seemed to be bursting at the seams, a woman stepped up to the raised dais opposite the table where Paul and the bears sat.
She was fairly plain to look at, but something about the way she walked made Paul, and every other man in the place he noticed, watch her very carefully. In fact, by watching her he failed to see the musician that was sitting in front of the dais. He had begun to strum lightly on a guitar filling the room with a soft folksy melody. The woman began to dance to the music and accompanied the minstrel as he sang. Paul ordered another ale and leaned back against the wall. Mesmerized by the music and dancing he didn't see the man sit down across the table.
“I hear you're looking for me.”
Paul snapped his eyes to the man who had spoken too him. He realized at that point that the woman was no longer dancing and the minstrel had gone to the bar for drinks. He must have dozed off.
“Are you the Cooper?” Paul asked dumbly.
The man chuckled good naturedly. Paul looked at the bears. Oliver was drinking a pint of ale and seemed completely unconcerned and Ike was fast asleep, snoring softly. “Ok dumb question,” said Paul. “Yes I am looking for you.” he pulled the sealed paper from his pouch and handed it to the man. The man turned it over and examined the seal. Idly he rubbed his thumb over it looking lost in thought.
“I knew this would come to me some day.” he gazed at the seal for another long moment before putting the letter in the pocket of his tunic.
“Doesn't anyone read these days?” Paul asked, somewhat annoyed that these letters were just being looked at and not read.
The cooper smiled. “I already know what it says. She is summoning me back to service. I expect I will hear the gist of her request from you.” a bar maid plunked a tankard of ale down in front of the cooper. He thanked her and handed her two copper coins for the ale.
Paul shrugged. The man was right. Paul picked up his mug and held it out, “To the Queens service” he toasted.
“To the queens service,” replied the Cooper.
They drank long into the night. Oliver joined them for awhile, but then he said good night and led the sleepy Ike up to the room.
Paul really couldn't remember much about what he and the cooper discussed, other than he knew that what they did talk about centered around woman, drinking and more women. In fact, he was certain he didn't say much at all but listened to the wild tales of the cooper. By the time he stumbled into his room, he had learned more about womanizing, drinking and gambling than he could ever have done in a frat house back in college.
He did remember that Simon would be round to pick them up in the morning. Paul only hoped morning meant sometime after noon. He crawled into the bed where Ike was curled up and snoring softly. He tried to be quiet, but he was certain he wasn't fooling Oliver. He heard a low growl and he could have sworn a grumbled remark about young cubs. He ignored it and promptly passed out.
Hungover
Paul wished the pounding would go away. He was certain that banging something loudly over someones head was abusive. He rolled into a ball and moaned.
Next he heard Oliver speaking, but his voice was to low for him to hear what was being said. Next he heard Simon laughing jovially, so loud that Pauls head threatened to explode. All he could manage however was a moaning croak.
“C'mon Paul” shouted Simon. It's time to rise! I let ya sleep in, the inn is nearly done serving breakfast an' if ya don't get up now, you're going to miss it!”
At the word breakfast, Paul could feel his stomach lurch. All he wanted to do was crawl under the blanket and pass out again.
“No time for hangovers my friend,” continued Simon we need to be on the road in half an hour!” with that Simon busied himself about the small room collecting Pauls things. The next he knew, Simon had half dragged him from the bed and tossed his socks and boots in his general direction.
Slowly Paul groped for the socks and boots. If he didn't move too fast he might be able to avoid watching the room swim, and quite possibly he wouldn't jolt enough to make the knife slice through his head. He could hear Simon chuckling over his predicament.
Paul had one sock nearly on his foot when Simon handed him a mug. The smell was atrocious and made his stomach lurch again. He tried to put the mug down, but Simon held it firmly before his face.
When Paul's bleary gaze met Simon's he could see that Simon's jolliness was an act. Simon whispered urgently, “look, mate we did a pretty good job of looking like a couple of drunk beasts out for some drinking, gambling and whoring, I must say you played the part better than me, but now we have business to be about. I need your head clear and steady. The only way that's going to happen is if you drink what's in this mug. And you need to drink all of it. I realize your stomach is rebelling, but I guarantee once you start drinking this your stomach will not only take it but it may rise up an thank you.”
He pushed the foul concoction into Pauls face. Paul couldn't imagine, but the tone of Simon's voice and the tinge of fear in his eyes, made Paul take the mug. He closed his eyes and tried not to breath in the aroma.
Surprisingly the liquid had no flavor at all and actually went down smoothly. By the time he had drained the mug he was feeling better. The room had stopped spinning and the lack of engery was beginning to leach away. By the time he set the mug down he was able to move at a normal speed.
Simon was grinning, but he also kept looking at the door as if he were in a hurry to leave.
“Ready yet? He asked, as he grabbed Pauls pack and started out the door. He wasn't waiting for an answer. Paul looked around the room to make sure he had everything and followed Simon out the door and down the stairs. Simon said, “Go get the bears. They should be in the common room eating. I will meet you out front. Hurry now.”
Paul went out to the common room. Unlike the night before, it was a quiet place. There was a modest fire in the fireplace, and only a few patrons sitting quietly eating. Paul did not see the bears. He went out to the front of the inn where Simon was standing holding the reigns of two horses and two ponies. A cart with a draft horse hitched to it waited next to Simon.
“Where are the bears?”
Paul shrugged. “They were not in the common room. I assumed they had come out here with you.”
Simon's eyes narrowed. He tossed the reigns to Paul and said, “Watch for the bears I want a word with the innkeep.” Paul did as he was told and kept his eyes searching about the Inn yard for the bears. A sinking feeling in his stomach began to grow and hardened into a knot when Simon came striding angrily from the inn with the innkeep bustling behind him wringing his hands.
“I had no idea they were with you!” pleaded the innkeeper.
Simon stopped and whirled on the man who nearly fell into him, “You bloody little liar!” roared Simon. “How much gold did you get for those bears?” Simon spat, narrowly missing the innkeeps feet causing him to stumble backwards. “Never mind,” he growled. I'll see that the weight of the gold be taken out of your hide by Queen Chara.
The innkeeper was babbling incoherently at this point. Simon towered over the man and growled, “just tell me where they've been taken. I have no time for your idiotic blubbering!”
The man stammered out that he didn't know. They were four men dressed in hooded cloaks. They said they were on a mission from the King and that these bears were actually property of the king.”
“King?” said Simon surprised, “What King?” Chara never married.
The man shook his head emphatically, “ I don't know what king.”
“Of course not,” sneered Simon. You saw gold and your pea brain quit working. Get out of here before I decide to take the queens justice into my own hands!”
With that the innkeep turned tail and all but ran back into the inn, slamming the door behind him.
He glared at Paul. “Our journey is going to take a bit longer than anticipated, we first have to find out which way our abductors went and why.” he looked at the draft horse and the two ponies. C'mon. Lets load our stuff into the cart and I will sell these ponies back to the hostler.”
Quickly he and Paul repacked. They tied one of the horses to the cart. Paul got a lead on the direction of the abductors and they set out North.
Captivity
Mike chaffed his wrists. Callouses were beginning to form where the manacles had rested for so long. He glared at the woman who had come to visit him. Her hard blue eyes and sultry voice. He wanted to punch her. That's probably why she kept replacing the manacles.
She still wouldn't tell him why he was being held hostage in some medieval dungeon. He wondered where he was. He wondered how long he had actually been here. He couldn't even remember the last time he saw the sun, the sky or anything but dank stone walls.
“Where am I?” he snarled.
“Where is the map?” she asked again.
“For the countless hundreth time, I have no idea what map you are talking about!” the first few times she had asked, he had tried to help her, just so he could be released. He was in a nightmare that didn't make sense. He had gone from shock and horror at being abducted to fearful that they would kill him, to furious that he was being held against his will for reasons he didn't understand and they wouldn't explain. They wouldn't even tell him where he was.
Today was different. The manacles had been removed. His soiled clothing discarded and he had been roughly scrubbed like livestock for a showing. It did feel good to be clean. But he was still angry. Who were these people? Why him? Where was he? None of it made sense.
Mike sat and stared at the blue eyed woman who held him captive. She had a constant smirk on her face as if she knew something that he didn't and she couldn't wait to tell him just to watch his expression. He wracked his brain trying to think of any and everything that might have gotten him in to this predicament.
The last thing he remembered was going to bed at the Frat house. He laid his phone on the night stand, took off his shoes … and that was it, he could remember nothing else.
He had focused on that moment many times, even going as far as trying to think of what his next step would have been, but when he got to that point any normal action after taking of his shoes just didn't feel right.
Suddenly the woman reached over the table. In one hand she had a piece of paper, the other she grabbed his hair. She shoved the paper in his face and shouted, “Where did this come from? And how did you get it?
With the paper in his face he really couldn't see what it was. Her grip on his hair made it impossible for him to back up to get a good look at it. He snarled, “I look at things with my eyes bitch, not shoved up my nose!”
“Watch how you speak to me whelp!” she snarled back. “Remember who wears the manacles here!” with that she yanked his head back and tossed the paper on the table in front of him. She then sat back in her chair, arms folded across her chest and a stabbing stare from her ice cold blue eyes.
Mike tried to hide the shaking in his hands. He was tired and weak from the captivity. He was also fearful. Who knew when she would find her answers elsewhere and have no more use of him. He truly had lost hope that she would release him no matter what he did or if she got her information.
He stared at the paper for long moments, not really understanding what he was looking at. Finally a whisper of a memory wafted up from deep inside of him.
He remembered walking Stacy back to her dorm. She had been upset that he had not gotten tickets to the away football game, so when he dropped her off she had been switching between hurt pouting and churlish anger. It hadn't mattered that he had told he weeks before that this particular weekend was going to be spent working on a project that he would need to turn in the following Monday.
He couldn't even remember what that project had been. All he knew was that he would be spending the weekend in the library with his project partner and one of the assistant librarians that had agreed to help them.
He studied the paper. It looked like a map. Another, much older memory came forward. Mike was surprised at the clarity of the vision. He and Paul had decided one day when they were small kids about nine and ten, they had decided to pretend they were explorers. They had been digging around the attic of their grandmothers home, when they found an old shoe box stuffed way in a corner under the eaves.
The box was thick with dust, spider webs and all manner of nasty things. To two boys that made it a treasure find. Inside the box was a bunch of lids from old fashioned milk jugs. Underneath the lids were a few papers that essentially crumbled when touched because they were so old. That is all but one rolled up piece.
When they opened it they found that it was a map. Excited, they didn't care what it was a map of, to them it was a treasure map. They couldn't decipher any of the markings, but they did make up a lot of stuff and had a great time playing with it all summer. After that the map would usually remain rolled up and tucked away nearby in a desk near Mike.
He glared at the woman. “I have no idea of the origin of this map nor do I have any idea what it says. My cousin and I found it in an old box in our grandmothers attic when we were small.”
“That's more like it,” the woman said her voice sliding around him in sultry tones. He shuddered with a greasy fear of her. “I am aware you can't read it. Neither can I, but your cousin should be back soon with the tools necessary to make this map readable.”
There was that smirk again, she actually laughed out loud when he said, “Paul is here? Where is he? Let me see him! You better not have hurt him!” he began to shout.
“Guards!” she summoned, “Take him to the tower. Make sure that he stays somewhat clean. I much prefer speaking with him when he doesn't smell.”
“Where is Paul?” Mike shouted again. He kept shouting until he was dragged up to the third floor of the tower and dumped into the room. It was a cold room. He could see windows high up in the ceiling. There was no fire pit in this cell, and all he had for a bed was a couple of blankets and some straw piled in the corner of the room. A well used privy bucket stood in the other corner. Mike wondered briefly how they intended to keep him clean.
The guards dumped him on the floor and left, locking the door behind him. At least this cell was bigger and it had natural light from the high windows. A small brazier sat in the middle of the room with one log in it, and no way to light it. He found out later they would light it at night and it would burn itself out long before daylight!
Mike paced his new cell. He was relieved that he could now tell the difference between light and day, but he was still no closer to answering where he was or why, except for the map from his childhood that would cause him to be abducted. He brooded while he paced. Sometimes it would be days before anyone spoke to him. He would receive a meal once a day and someone would actually come and remove the waste from his cell. It alleviated some of the dreariness, but never would questions be answered. Impassive faces met him each and everyday. He despaired that he would ever leave.
Cold Trails
Paul shivered through the multiple layers of clothing that he wore. It seemed like he would never be warm again. The horse he rode seemed to feel just as lethargic in the cold as he did. Simon and his horse seemed completely unaffected. His horse pranced along as if plodding through knee deep snow was fun. Simon didn't huddle in his saddle all bundled up ether. He sat ramrod straight on his horse, head bare of a hood, and his breath puffing from his nose and mouth like a steam engine. They had followed so many dead leads on the bears that Paul was beginning to think they were either been lead on a wild chase or the bears were gone, either vanished to earth or dead. Whoever had taken them, he was certain, had done it to distract the two of them from Chara's purpose, which was to recover the scroll.
Simon's unflagging optimism had kept them going for the past three weeks as they trekked all over for the bears. At first they had thought they would find them quickly. But the speed at which they had vanished was uncanny, unless, as Paul quickly pointed out, they had traveled. Paul knew that Ike was a fire dancer. He wasn't sure if Simon knew that, and he certainly didn't want to betray any of Ike's secrets. Afterall, Ike's ability was extremely rare. While they had been in Lanitha, Paul ahad made use of the library in the palace to learn a much as he could about the world he now found himself.
He had learned that it was called. Cama Talamnoir, Guardians land. He also learned that the Talamnoiri had been traveling to earth since earth first saw humans walk the land. Paul wondered if adam and eve hadn't come from Talamnoir. He wondered how much of this world influenced his own. Obviously their technology was fairly medieval if they still used horses for primary transportation. He mulled this information over repeatedly because it kept his mind off how cold he was. He also hoped it would maybe offer a clue, no matter how far fetched at this point, where they might find the bears.
A howling wind barreled down the mountainside causing Pauls hood to snap back and expose his head and neck. Snow crystals in the air setteled in his exposed areas chilling him even further than he thought possible. Even Simon seemed somewhat daunted by the wind. They were climbing a slope north and off to the west through the trees, Paul could see the sun beginning its downward descent into twilight. He hoped Simon found a better shelter than the night before.
As if his wishes were answered, they crested the rise and stood looking down into a valley where nestled a small village. Lights were beginning to twinkle in the valley, which had already succumbed to twilight. Paul hoped Simon intended to stay the night in one of the cozy looking cottages with smoke rising from the chimney. Paul even thought he could smell roasting meat.
Simon waved a gloved hand and began a slow descent through the snow, to the village. The village from up on the side of the mountain didn't look that far away, but with the fresh fallen snow, the ride was treacherous. One wrong move and horse and rider could be injured by falling through a hole in the snow. At one point, simon indicated that they needed to lead the horses. He produced walking sticks from the pack horse tethered to Pauls horse. He shouted through the wind and now blowing snow, that they would need to feel their way with the sticks.
It was at least three hours before they found level ground and the meadow leading up to the village, which was still quite a distance away and no longer visable, as the valley was a rolling hilly place. At one point Paul wondered if they were wandering in circles.
By the time he actually saw the first cabin, he was beginning to think it was a hallucination. He was so tired that he stumbled with nearly every step. Walking through knee deep to waist deep snow was excessively exhausting. The horse didn't seem to be doing much better, because everytime it stumbled it would jerk him downwards as well.
Simon waited for him to catch up. “There should be an inn of sorts in the center of this village, if not an inn at least the leader of this village.” he rasped his voice rough and nearly gone. Paul just nodded. His voice wasn't much better. Breathing the cold in while trying to plow through the snow had taken it's toll on both of them. His horse nudged him with his nose. Apparently it knew shelter was at hand and did not want to stand around in the snow longer than necessary.
They moved on past the cottage. They passed four more before Simon stopped at a two story building. The rest of the cottages were simple square buildings with thatched roofs. This on was obviously larger. It had a courtyard of sorts surrounded by misshapen lumps of snow covered bushes and trees. Torches lined a wooden walkway up to a short set of stairs and a covered porch and entryway.
The courtyard looked as if there had been an attempt to clear the snow, but with fresh snow rapidly falling, it looked like the courtyard would be piled in snow again. Off to one side of the building was a smaller building. Simon pointed at it and handed Paul the reins to his horse and pack horse. Paul trudged over to the smaller building while Simon climbed the short flight of stairs and began knocking on the door.
Paul trudged acrosse the Yard leading all four horses. He hoped that the reception in the stable was amenable. As he approached the door he loked back to see Simon speaking with a rather large man who seemed to laugh at every other word from Simon. Paul shook his head and pulled the door of the stable open. Warm smells of hay and horses flowed from the stable and wrapped Paul in a deliciously comforting way. There were at least ten stalls and pot bellied stoves stood at regular intervals along the length of the stable. Two stable boys and a man in a thick leather apron with a hammer in one hand all turned at stared at him as he walked into the stable.
The hostler glared at him with hard eyes, but the two boys looked at him eagerly as if it was about time some one showed up and shook up the place. Paul ignored the boys and addressed the hostler.
“Hello, I'm Paul. My friend and I just arrived and are seeking shelter for the night for ourselves and our horses. We are hoping we will find accomodations here as the weather seems to be getting worse by the second.” Pauls voice was hoarse. He saw a bucket of water next to the small anvil and thoughts of drinking the bucket dry entered his head.
The man studied him, then went to the door and looked toward the building. Paul continued to stare at the water bucket. Sudden weariness overtook him and he wavered as he stood staring at the bucket. The hostler came back, motioned to the boys and more gently than he could have imagined the rough hostler took the rains from his hands. One of the boys led he back up to the building where he joined Simon and the man in the apron. The boy darted back to the stable with Simon's instructions to bring the saddle bags to their room.
Paul yawned and followed Simon down a hall to a small room with a bed a chair, and a small table. Above the table was a small window, shuttered against the winter snow.
“Get some sleep,” said Simon, as he turned to leave he added, “Don't leave this room until I come for you. Remember it is very important.”
Paul nodded dumly. A pitcher of water on a small table caught Pauls eye. Ignoring the mug he drank heavily of the cold water. A small pot belly stove stood in the opposite corner from the bed. A cheery warmth emanated from the little stove. Paul draped his wet clothing over the chair and table. Then he set his boots as close to the stove as he dared, hoping they would be dry by morning. In nothing but his boxes and tee shirt, he crawled beneath the blankets of the small narrow bed.
Fresh Snow, Fresh Leads
Mirga cursed. The snow was beginning to fall faster. They had planned to leave Lanitha early the next morning. They were about about two weeks behind Paul and Simon. They also learned that the bears had been abducted. Simon had sent back two reports of their direction via courier, but his last message had said they had reports that the bears were being taken North. That had all of them confused. Chara's sister was reportedly in the south not far from the shadow, so why north and if not Fiaccola, then who?
It was unthinkable but possible that a third faction was rising up to claim power over both worlds. Immediately Mirga had sent word to Var to alert him of the possibility. Now she was chaffing to get moving. They needed to get Paul and the bears and get to the travel site before it was dismantled. The snow would slow her down, and almost certainly it would slow down the team that would dismantle the site, but she felt the pressing need to hurry.
Eris and Mera remained nearby, but out of her way. They knew when she was agitated and how to be close if she needed them, but also how to stay out of her way.
In the north was the lost villages. Farmers and herdsmen lived. They were a remote clannish lot. The only contact they had with the rest of the world was to bring their harvests to market. They had superb craftsmen who made jewelry, cloth, furniture and other things that were worth their weight in gold just for the quality. It was said that lost village wool was durable yet so light and soft you never even knew it was wool.
The clans weren't exactly secretive, but they kept to themselves and did not mingle with others. Mirga had never met anyone from the lost village clans. They never sent anyone to the guardians to be trained or educated. In fact, they dealt completely with their own, upholding their own laws and customs, which Mirga heard were rather harsh for the wrong doer.
She paced in frustration. She went back to the window and frowned at the soft thick snow piling up outside. She stood for long moments searching for answers in the whiteness. She needed information. Then it hit upon her. The library in Lanitha was almost as good as the library at the guardians enclave. She turned to Mera, “Stay here and wait for word from Chara regarding the roads. If anything develops come get me as quickly as you can, I will be in the library. Eris, with me.” she didn't wait for and answer from either but strode from the room.
The library was a wing unto itself in the castle. It housed a lot more than books and scrolls. It was a museum of sorts, chronicling the history of Calam Talamnoir. The library was cleverly set up om chronological order. With the snow falling outside, Mirga decided to start at the begininning of known history and see if she could get any clues from the past as to why, or how to beat the shadow back. She knew that the guardians desire to close the portals could not be undone by her, but perhaps she could learn something to help her in her present assignment. She felt a catch in her throat at the thought that she would be leaving her home forever. Even worse she would forget and her life would shorten to match the life spans of her species on earth.
She pushed these thoughts away with her sense of duty. She had a job to do. Every soldier who battled the shadow knew they would probably be called upon to pay the ultimate sacrifice to keep the peace and protect those who just wanted to live their lives in peace.
The librarians sat a cluster of desks on a raised dais in the center of the library. At the present moment there was only one on duty and she was engrossed in copying a scroll. She did look up momentarily and give Mirga a terse nod of acknowledgement, before bending back to her work.
Mirga went to the first station of the history. At first she was mystified. A black onyx pillar rose from the marble floor. It was polished so smoothly that Mirga could faintly see her reflection in the pillar. As she studied the pillar she realised that it was starting to hum. She leaned toward it listening carefully. Soon she realized she was floating in darkness. In the distance and growing larger as she watched was a tiny speck of light. She realized she was watching the birth of the universe. Fascinated she watched as the small speck of light grew immense and the exploded outwardly immersing her in a brilliant explosion of light. Suddenly the universe existed all about her rushing past and filling every corner of the darkness with stars and planets as well as coments and asteroids.
Before she knew it she was standing before the pillar and staring at the shiny polished, black onyx pillar. She felt slightly dizzy and wobbly after that experience. She went to the next station. A deep green jade pillar also polished stood before her. Around the pillar were objects, such as potted plants, animal skins, and a small water fountain. She stared at the jade pillar. Next she was floating throughout the universe, until she came to a solar system that she recognized as the one she came from. At first she thought there was something wrong with the pillars projection, until she realized that the wavering of the image was intentional. The pillar was showing how Calam Talamnoir and the solar system was created, it was also simultaneously showing Earths solar system and creation. She knew that Earth and Calam Talamnoir were juxtaposed, but the clarity in which it was projected here was astounding. For the first time, Mirga thought, she was able to truly grasp the connection between Earth and Calam Talamnoir. Eventhough both planets formed differently in regards to land masses, moons and oceans, they were essentially created simultaneously from the same aether, but as they could not occupy the same space they resided in different time lines.
Suddenly Mirga was back in the library staring at the jade post. Now in addition to feeling dizzy, she was also feeling tired.
She looked around and saw that Eris was nearby keeping an eye on Mirga, but studying maps of Calam Talamnoir. Mirga proceded to the next station. This post was created of granite. It was rough cut with smooth streaks runing up and down the length of it. Soon she was floating in the atmosphere of the young plant of Calam Talamnoir. Much of the planet heaved in the throes of shaping itself. Great volcanoes rose, exploded and dimished into turbulent seas of water, while others formed elsewhere. Rifts in the planet gave her glimpes of earth's violent shaping as well. She wondered if the violence wasn't because of the jusxtaposition of the two. It made sense that two universes trying to occupy the same space and time would experience such explosive growth and development.
As she watched she saw with surprise that various points around Calam Talamnoir glimmered with brilliant points of light. She wondered what the significance was when suddenly she found herself staring at the granite pillar again. She wavered unsteadily. These viewings were taking a toll on her. Before she moved on she went to Eris and asked her to order some food and water. She then found a scroll which outlined the histories of earth and Calam Talamnoir listing points in the histories where denizens from Calam Talamnoir visited earth and began to populate it.
She sat on a reclining chair to read the scroll. The next she knew Eris was gently shaking her to wake her up. Startled that she fell asleep, she thanks Eris and sat up. On a table nexte to her was a tray of cheeses, fruit and slices of bread. Thin slices of roast ham, beef and goat were on another tray along with various sauces and gravies. Mirga took a small plate and put some of the fruits on the plate. She place some of the meat on slices of bread, but ignored the sauces. She sat back and continued to read the scroll while she ate. There wasn't much on the scroll that she didn't already know from her history lessons as a student at the enclave.
What she did read over and over was the first pilgramage to Earth. Something about it didn't make sense. She couldn't put her finger on it so she decided to continue the tour of the museum with the pillars. She was able to visit three more pillars before she required another nap and more food. After her third attempt to get through the histories she went to the librarian.
“May I help you,” smiled the woman from the dais.
“How do the pillars work and why am I so exhausted after looking through them?
The woman smiled, “Typically people don't attempt the pillars all at once. Most visit one and then ponder what they have experienced for several day before going to the next.” the woman looked at her as if she were a wet behind the ears novice, “Are you at all familiar with the guardians and their traveling?” the woman asked.
Mirga wanted to laugh, but she held her toungue and simply said, “yes I know of the guardians and their traveling.”
“Very well them, the pillars work in a similar fashion, but for a shorter duration and for a specific amount of time. You not only view the history, but essentially you are living it for a short period. The difference between the Guardian travels and the pillars is that the travelling is completed by setting the person on earth or Calam Talamnoir. Loss of memory and time differences abound. Eventhough earth and calam talamnoir are juxtaposed, they do not always operate on the same time line. Therefore travelers can find themselves away from calam talamnoir from several hours to several years and vice versa in earth.”
Mirga nodded. Her last such visit to earth had her on Earth for twenty years while the time on Calam talamnoir was only three months.
Mirga thanked the woman. She had learned quite a bit, in fact, it was all quite overwhelming and she felt that she needed some time to sort through it all. She looked at the remaining pillars and decided that she had enough information for now. She went to the map room and studied several of the maps begininng from the oldest to the more current. One map caught her interest. It was a very old map and encased in a glass case for protection. It showed the placements of the travel portals. A small sign on the case noted that this was the lat remaining map in existance.
Mirga got Eris and they studied the map together making notes of the locations. She wondered how many of the Guardian Surpremes were aware of the map or even remembered its existance. She hoped none of them. On the map were two other obscure portals that weren't mentioned anywhere that she knew of at the enclave. She and Eris made note of their locations. She was pleased to see that one of them was in the heart of the lost villages.
Eris yawned. Mirga said, “I think we have done all we can here. Lets get back to our rooms and get some sleep. Hopefully we can set out tomorrow, if not the next day. With that the left the library. Neither one of them noticed the small dwarf listening to them as he swept the floor just outside the map room.
Snowbound
Paul stretched. He had been crouched over shoveling snow from the yard for hours. He and Simon had been stuck in Valley Hill hamlet for a week now. To keep their rooms in the inn they had to either pay an exhorbitant rate or work. As far as Paul was concerned, he did the work while Simon disappeared with the Mayor for hours. He wasn't alone with the shoveling however, the snow had finally let up two days ago and the sun decided to break through the clouds only this morning. Up until them Paul had done a number of jobs, which included washing dishes and peeling potatoes, fetching water for the horses, pumping bellows for the blacksmith and hostler. Mucking stables and now removing snow from the Inn yard. He had to admit the work kept him busy, but he hardly saw Simon and when he did, Simon was so distracted that he didn't really give much information as to what their next move would be, or when they would continue their search for Oliver and Ike.
Today Simon had left before Paul have even gotten up, which was amazing because Paul was being roused out of bed, well before first light everyday. He was, fortunately, always given a huge breakfast and he usually fell asleep right after dinner. As he worked his way around the yard he watched the comings and goings from the inn. The hamlet was modest sized and it seemed the inn was the main building where everyone came to either do business or socialize. He didn't learn much however, because they kept him too busy to really socialize or get to know anyone. Simon didn't part with much information either.
As he add yet another shoveful of snow to the handcart he saw a woman approach the inn. She looked different than the rest of the hamlets inhabitant. People from the hamlet tended to be very fair of skin with light colored hair and eyes. The woman who strode up to the building was wearing leather pants and leather boots that laced up well past her knees. She also wore a short leather jacket. Her hair was bound in a long black braid down her back. Feathers decorated the braid. Her skin was a deep rich brown color. Paul realized he was staring when she turned at the top of the stairs and fixed a hawk-like gaze on him. She didn't say anything, but embaressed he quickly dropped his eyes and went back to shoveling snow. He heard the door of the inn open and close before he dared to look back up. Paul wondered who she was and where she had come from.
Surprisingly it wasn't long before he got answers. He'd taken his full cart of snow and trundled it back beyond the stables to dump and was just returning when one of the spit boys ran up to get him.
“Pol you come right now dey say!” urged the boy. He found the accents of the hamlet to be unusual and it had taken him a few days to understand what was being said to him.
He had also learned to not ask questions. You were told exactly what you needed to know and nothing more. Which also added to his surprise when he was led to the drawing room, where the dark braided woman stood in the middle of the room before the inn keeper and the hamlets mayor.
The woman and her birdlike gaze glared at him as he entered the room. A blazing fire crackled in the fireplace, making Paul suddenly feel hot and stuffy after being out in the fresh air and exerting himself. He stood before all three and waited.
The mayor nodded to the inn keeper and then to the woman he said, “He is one of them. The other is away and won't return until tomorrow.” he looked at Paul, but he blank expression didn't give Paul any hints as to why he was summoned or why this woman wanted to see him and Simon.
“Very Well” she snapped at the mayor, “Leave us I need to question him and it's none of the hamlets business!”
The inn keeper bristled, but the mayor put a hand on his arm and said, “As you wish.” as they left the inn keeper leaned toward Paul and said, “Remember who sheltered you in the storm.”
Paul looked after him in surprise. That was the most the inn keeper had said to him the entire time he had been there.
He turned back to the woman when the door closed. She drew him away from the door and nearer to the fire. He felt like he was being appraised as an animal being sold in the market. He said, “What do you want with me?”
She said, “You are not from Cama Talamnoir.”
Paul was taken aback. How did she know that? He shook his head, unsure of how to reply.
She looked him in the eye. Even more she reminded him of a hawk. Her eyes were a deep dark brown with gold flecks. Her nose was prominent like the native americans back home. As he looked at her he realized she looked like she jumped out of a western novel, except that he thought the women wore dresses and didn't typically dress like warriors. She was pretty but appeared to be older than him by several years. She was also very lean and strong looking. He felt soft and pudgy next to her.
She said, “I'm here to join you and Simon in your hunt for the bears. I am Seli. I am a renowned tracker of the Irinix people.” she made simple delcarations as if she were applying for a job and citing references.”
Paul was still at a loss. He had no idea what Simon had been up to and he assumed he must have gotten word to her people that he needed a tracker so they sent her.
She then surprised him again, “Simon is my mate.”
Paul just stared at her. Simon had never really said much about himself. Paul just assumed he was a batchelor. “Umm, nice to meet you” stammered Paul, trying to remember his manners. He held out his hand and she stared at him like he was an idiot. He let his hand drop and he just stood there feeling stupid and awkward.
Seli grunted. “How in the world did Simon find you?” she muttered to herself.
Paul shrugged, he really didn't know how to answer. He really didn't know what to say to this woman.
She said, “Very well, go to you room and pack your things. We will leave within the hour. We will need to catch up to Simon. He sent word that he is on his way to the Lost Village lake.”
Again Paul was at a loss, so he just nodded and turned to leave. Before he could reach the door she said, “What is your name?”
He turned to her and said, “My name is Paul.”
She nodded and then said, “Paul. Do not dicuss anything I have told you with these people. It is none of their business. Just gather your things and meet me in the stable.”
Paul said, “Ok,” and hurried for the door. He opened the door and nearly ran into the inn keeper.
The inn keeper had a pitcher and glasses on a tray. He glared at Paul for nearly running into him and snapped, “You really need to watch where you are going!”
The inn keeper continued down the corridor grumbling about ingratitude. Paul watched him as he turned the corner, certain that the man had been eavesdropping outside of the door. He shooke his head and hurried to his room.
When he got to his room he found the door locked. He knocked on the door, but no one seemed to be inside. Paul groaned. Now he was going to have to find the inn keeper to get the door unlocked. He was certain the Seli would be angry with him. He thought about kicking the door in, but then he thought that probably wouldn't be a good idea. He took a deep breath and went after the inn keeper where he last saw him.
After about half an hour he tracked him down to a cellar beneath the kitchens. He was inventorying his larder. Paul tried to be extremely polite and respectful. “Excuse me sir, but could you please unlock my room?”
The inn keeper ignored him for long moments while he counted some jars on a shelf. The man cursed and then began counting again. When he was done he made a mark on the slate in his hand and then turned to Paul, “Cant you see I am busy? What do you want?” he asked as if Paul had been bothering him all day.
Paul took a deep breath and tried to sound respectful rather than angry, “My room is locked and I need to get in it, could you please unlock it for me?”
The inn keeper rolled his eyes. “You haven't finished your work for the day. Your room will be unlocked when you have finished work and come in for dinner.” he turned back to the shelves as if the matter was closed and Paul was no longer there.
Paul restrained himself from wanting to punch the man. He cleared his throat and said as nicely as he could. “My gloves are in my room and I need them to complete the job I am doing.”
The innkeeper ignored him while he counted another shelf and then said, “What are you still doing here. You should be working. Now leave or you will find yourself with out dinner!”
Paul resisted the urge to throttle the man, but he could not keep the anger out of his voice any longer. “Look,” he snarled his tone causing the inn keeper to turn and look at him. Paul thought he saw a hint of fear on the mans face. “I have been patient. I have done everything that has been asked of me this week, without even really being told why I have to work rather than pay for my room and board like a normal person, But now all I want is to get into my room and get to my things. You can either unlock the door for me or I will just kick the door in and be done with it!”
The inn keeper blusted back. “There is no need for your anger sir! We always lock the doors to protect the property of our guests. Our guests always work for their room and board, there are no free rides around here!”
Paul glared at the man. “Please. Unlock. The. Door. To. My. Room! Now!” snarled Paul “Or I will open the door myself!”
The inn keeper set his slate on the shelf and without another word started for the stairs. Paul was right behind him. He failed to see the inn keeper pick up a barrel stave until it was hitting him over the head. Paul fell backwards and landed on the dirt floor of the cellar. Then everything went dark.
Fetters!
Oliver leaned back against the inside of the rattling cart. His despair wore him out. Ike lay curled on the floor of the cart. Oliver was grateful that he had stopped whimpering. Oliver wondered when the nightmare of his life would end. He just hoped to gaze upon his family one last time before it was all over, but now, he wasn't sure he could hold out for even that.
He had gone through every range of emotion in the last few months, fear, anger, pain, sorrow, hope, and now abject despair. Here he was caught again, caged and threatened with the loss of his family if he didn't comply. At this point he had no idea if his family was alive, dead or suffering in captivity. He wondered what it was he had done to deserve such a fate. What had his family done?
The cart stopped swaying and with it the incessant rattle of chains, squeaky wheels and ill fitting slats. In a way the lack of noise was a major relief. For a minute he was afraid to move his head for fear that it would rattle right off.
Oliver wondered if they were stopping for the night. Ike was still tightly curled. He was doing his best to escape his situation. Ike had been a promising young warrior bear, but what ever it was that Fiaccola had done to him, she had broken him. He couldn't speak, his tongue had been cut out. With his tongue, he had lost his confidence and his natural bear aggression. Oliver often felt bad for him, but he also felt bad that Ike had allowed her to break him. Oliver shook his head. He knew he shouldn't be so judgemental. Afterall he really had no idea what he had been subjected too. Perhaps, if he had been given the same treatment he may have fared worse than Ike.
Oliver sniffed. He could smell the snow that was coming. He wondered if his captors were aware that a giant snowstorm was headed toward them. From the angle of the cart they had been traveling steadily upwards for a long time. He knew they had to be in the mountains somewhere. But which mountains? Cama Talamnoir had many mountainous regions. He however, had no illusions that they would be anywhere near the enclave.
Oliver growled in his throat. He was angry at just being captured. It was so stupid! He and Ike had been waiting in the common room of the inn. The inn keeper had given them each something to eat for breakfast while they waited for Simon to rouse Paul. They had only taken a few bites before the effects of the drug began to take effect. Suddenly shrouds were snapped over their heads and they were half carried half drug from the inn. That part still amazed him. He knew a few humans would not be able to carry him. He was a full grown bear and big for his size as well. Oh sure, he had the ability to change to a teddy sized bear, but that was only when he traveled to earth. That didn't work in Cama Talamnoir!
He sat stock still. There was a faint scratching on the side of the cart. He listened carefully to try to identify the sound, but it was so faint he wasn't sure he had imagined it.
Suddenly the bottom of the cart fell out and he and Ike tumbled into a heap on to the ground. Ike snarled when Oliver landed on him. He thought that at least the bear had some fight left to him.
Oliver looked around, it was very dark. At first he thought it was because night had fallen, but then he felt rocks all around him. There was a breeze coming up from the end they must have entered. He then realized they were in a tunnel. Unfortunately he couldn't go far as he was still tethered to the cart by a length of chain fastened to a thick iron collar around his neck. He was grateful that the chain had been long. Otherwise he and Ike might have been hung by the chains.
Oliver inspected the air. He could smell the threat of snow, the dampness of rocks buried under dirt for all ages, and he could smell the unmistakable stench of rats. Rats were destestable creatures. They would sell anything for a stale crust of bread or a shiny bauble to add to their “treasure hoards”. Where rats congregated then they couldn't be in a good place.
Ike had been roused by the fall and now sat huddled dejectedly on the floor waiting for his doom, if that was the next thing to come his way that is. Oliver growled at him and cuffed him gently as he would one of his own cubs that had gotten out of line. Ike just whimpered and tried to curl up as small as he could. As pathetic as he seemed, Oliver couldn't blame him for his fear. His skin crawled with the wrongness of the place. For a minute he was afraid the shadow butcher would emerge from the rocks, but then he saw a flickering like as from a torch. He smelled the burning pitch of the torch, long before he heard the voices.
“I don't know what you mean? Argued the woman's voice.”
“What do you mean, you don't know what I mean?” came the sarcastic mans reply.
“Oh that's right,” came the acid retort, “it was me who picked this route.” she hissed as if she were a cat.
“So what?” said the indignant man, “What if I did pick this way? How was I to know that the tunnel collapsed?”
“C'mon,” said the man when the woman didn't answer, “ lets just get back on the road before the snow really starts to fall.”
“Too late,” said a third voice. This was also a man. “The snow began shortly after you two love birds decided to explore the tunnel. We are going anywhere for a few days, so we might as well get comfortable. I don't know about you, but there are worse places to spend a snowstorm and getting lost in one is not my choice of a way to die.”
Oliver tried to figure out where he had heard that voice before. It was about thirty minutes before any of them realized that the bears had fallen from the cart.
The first man was the one that discovered them. “Hey!” he shouted, “The bears are trying to escape!”
Oliver snorted, but held his tongue at the absolute aburdity of his declaration. Olver roared with blinding anger when he saw the face of the familiar voice. Jaaneris, the guardian stood there looking at him. His mouth twisted into a sardonic grin.
“Well Bear,” he sneered, “how does it feel to be a lowly animal?”
In answer Oliver growled under his breath, his large paws itching to knock the grin off Jaaneris' face along with his head off his neck. The only word Oliver could manage was a throaty snarl of “Traitor!” Oliver roared again, this time so loud that the sound reverberated through out the cavern. “ will see you fall! He roared. It was you who betrayed my family!” Oliver began to choke and splutter as he realized he was still chained to the wagon. He had charged Jaaneris without realizing it. The bastard just stood there and stared at him with that smirky grin.
Oliver was so angry he continued to lunge and roard for Jaaneris, battle rage taking over from the calm he normally imposed on himself. It was nearly fifteen mnutes before he could take control of his anger. He was drained. He was prepared to sleep where he stood, his anger subsided.
Oliver drooped in his bonds. He knew his actions to be foolish, but he had always hated Jaaneris. It was as if he had paid to become a guardian, rather than study the courses that lead to the hard work and skill the guardians possesed.
He had never liked Jaaneris, but like others who felt the same way, they couldn't really put a finger on what had been so disagreeable about the man. Now it was crystal clear. He was a fake. But to be a fake he would have had to have a mentor who was willing to promote you forward. Oliver wondered who his mentor was.
Jaaneris had foolishly remained confident that Oliver would not get free, Oliver hoped he continued to make that mistake.
At this point, it was clear that they weren't going to be freed. In fact, the other man and the woman just glared at him. Then they all moved farther into the cavern to find a protected nook to get out of the snow and light a fire. Oliver was glad he was a bear. Cold caves were not uncomfortable to him or Ike. They were bears after all!
Both bears curled up next to each other under the cart. Oliver stayed awake for a long time, before finally drifting into a dreamless sleep.
A Break!
The scouts came back eagerly with good news. It was about time! Thought Mirga. They had finally found not only Pauls trail, but also the bears. Ithey had gone to the inn that Chara had told them she sent them too. And it was confirmed that they met up with Simon. Chara wouldn't confirm it, because she would only say “a mans secrets are his to tell” but Mirga thought Simon might be the very Simon that was quite legendary as a Guardian. He had been the best there ever was. Every First aspired to his skill level.
His story was quite wild and it was said that he entered a portal and remained on earth forgetting his true home and mission to protect. Others just said he was bored with the whole thing and left to find other pursuits. Var had been one of Simons students. Var had yet another opinion about Simon, but he refused to talk about it, on the grounds that his information was given in the strictest of confidence.
What she did get from Var was that he was still an active guardian, just not active publically. It was a typical cryptic response from Var. so she stopped asking … him at least. She figured she knew enough others that she could probe information from. A lot of different source presented a lot of different scenarios, but the common thread was that he was still active and the Earth story was a cover.
Now as they approached the Inn, Mirga felt a prickling in the back of her neck. The town appeared deserted at first glance, then she began to see the signs of destruction. There had been fires, but as she looked closer these weren't deliberate fires, but fires that happened when people were dying and things got out of control. The inn itself showed extreme signs of struggle. There was blood and body parts everywhere. There were also deep gouges in the stone of the building. She only knew of one creature that could cause that. Mirga shuddered. The shadow had been here. That meant the shadow was on Pauls trail as well.
Her scouts, a couple of bloodhounds named Gemms and Waro, reluctantly searched the town. Both of them had extremely sensitive noses and the stench of the shadow butcher was enough to make both of them want to tuck tail and run. However they were guardians themselves and trained for these horrors.
Gemms reported that he caught a faint trace on Oliver. Gemms had volunteered for this duty because of Oliver. They had served their guardianship together for many years. He jumped at the chance to find his old friend. Waro was a young guardian. Gemms had been his mentor so he followed the older hound without question. Mirga was glad to have them both. She offered Var a silent thanks.
“How long ago do you estimate the trail of Oliver is?”
“It's pretty faint, I would say two maybe three weeks old. Oliver is a seasoned Guardian, he would have left whatever markers he could for another guardian to follow.” Gemms said.
Mirga nodded. “Any trace of Paul, or Simon?” she asked hopefully.
Gemms snarled, he had no love for Simon, “I have found nothing, but Simon is crafty. He will obscure his trail.”
Mirga said, “Why the friction between you and Simon?”
Gemms grunted, “Simon respects no authority but his own. The guardians are guided by a strict code, this is to prevent chaos. Simon is the epitome of Chaos.”
Mirga supressed a grin. She suspected that the staid bloodhound was a bit jealous of Simon's easy brilliance, where he worked so hard to be the best at what he was, Simon just seemed to always know where to be and when.
A feud she would not resolve, Mirga put the disagreement out of her head. The snow was beginning to fall again and they had a full day of travel in front of them. She made a decision. “We will follow the bears. Paul is with Simon, we will have to assume that being with a guardian protects him. Gemms let me know if the shadow trail deviates in anyway from the trail of the bears.” She took one last look at the ruins of the village. “Eris, send word to Lanitha, Chara needs to know about this village.” she made sure the horses were watered and fed while Eris sent a pidgeon to Lanitha.
Mera returned from his inspection of the village. He returned with a sack of apples and flour and small bag of onions. “Sadly this is all that remained untouched by the shadowed ones poison.” he distrubuted his finds among the pack horses and then mounted, waiting silently until Mirga gave the order to move out.
Failures
“Treacherous Bitch!” growled Fiaccola. “She stood right there in the throne room and promised!” she paced the length of the room, skirts swishing angrily.
The imp sat grinning on her cushion by the fire. Rain pattered furiously on the windows. The imp was biting the heads off small rodents and then skewering them for roasting in the fire she sat beside.
Fiaccola glowered. “Oh stop your gloating!” she snarled at the imp.
The imp looked up at her. It flickered it's image momentarily to the cute little girl and then back to it's goulish face with pointed ears and razor sharp teeth.
“I know you warned me that Chara wasn't sincere. But I don't understand why she would would risk her children by opposing me?” Fiaccola paced trying to figure out what had changed with Chara that would cause her to help the guardians. “Well she has shown her hand. It's time I sent out the assasins.”
The imp looked up from her grisly task, the bloody head of a rat dangling from her mouth. She spat the head into the fire and licked the blood off her lips. “Can I go?” she asked hopefully.
“What?” said Fiaccola absently.
“Can I go?” asked the imp again.
“Go? Where do you want to go?”
“Go kill” she said hopefully.
Fiaccola sighed. “No, I need you here. Since the sundancer is missing along with the guardian and the boy, I need you to keep a watch on the other one.”
The imp snarled with disappointment. It turned back to the fire and shoved a skewer into the flames. It chortled happily as the dead rodent began to burn.
Fiaccola's lips turned up in disgust. She turned away from the imp and looked out the window at the steady rain. Eventhough it was still warmer than the north it was unseasonably cool and wet. She missed the heat the desert usually provided. She sighed and watched the imp eat it's first roasted snack while burning the next. She was disgusted by the stench of burning rodent so she left to wander the damp halls of her castle.
Water dripped and puddled in many places about the castle. It was old and in bad repair. Normally with the typical heat of the desert, gaps in the structure could be ignored, but with the rain it left many areas sodden with puddles of water. Mold had sprung up where none had been before.
Before she knew it she was standing before the stairs that led up to the cells in the tower. Most of her prisoners were left to rot in the dungeons below, but this one she kept where he could easily be accessed and she could watch him. She hated the dungeons and found herself reluctant to visit, but the tower wasn't bad so she didn't mind checking in on this particular prisoner. She was losing patience with him, however, he just refused to be very forthcoming with information.
She looked up at the winding stone steps. It was a long way up to the tower cell. Water ran down the stairs in rivulets.
She could use harsher methods to get information from him, at least the methods she let his cousin believe she was using, but she risked injuring him to a point that she might either kill him or render him useless for the real task she had abducted him for.
Fiaccola wondered if he really was telling the truth and he really did not know what she was asking about. Where would that leave her? She grabbed a torch from a sconce and started up the stairs.
She went slowly trying not to get her feet or the bottom of her dress wet. She really did hate water.
When she got to the top of the stairs, she found the foyer otside the cell to be dark and wet. The gaoler stood in the driest spot he could find. She handed him the torch while she took the keys to the door. She opened the door. The cell was just as dark as the foyer had been, and from the puddles she had stepped in she assumed it was just as wet. She was glad. Her careful avoidence of the water had been useless, her feet and the hem of her skirt were sodden.
“Wake up” she commanded to the darkness. She couldn't see anything. Nothing stirred. For a moment she was afraid she had been away to long and he had died. “Guard!” she snapped, “Bring the torch!”
The gaoler was right there the torch flickering wildly in the breeze that constantly swept through the cell. She thought her eyes were decieving her in the flickering light, but when she had the guard search the cell, she found she was right. Her prisoner was gone.
“What have you done!?” she shouted at the guard who was frantically searching fruitlessly for the prisoner. She didn't wait for an answer. “Go! Before I kill you!” she snarled, “Wake up the others and begin a full scale search of te castle and the grounds. Look everywhere! Do you hear me?”
The guard hurried from the room and ran down the stairs as fast as he could in his armor. He desparately hoped she could not remember him from his fellow brothers in arms. He knew at this point his life was periously short.
The guard had left so quickly that she was in the cell without the torch. As he eyes adjusted to the gloom she looked around. The walls were slick and wet. The whole cell was miserably wet. She couldn't wait to find her prisoner. She would show him a room far more uncomfortable than this one. She had no idea how he escaped, but once she figured who was responsible, she would make a roasted example of them, starting with the guard on duty tonight!
In Plain Sight
Mike slipped into the kitchen. The entire castle slumbered, except he thought, the guard minding his door. He wondered idly how long it would be before they noticed him missing. He had attempted to find a pattern as to the visits by Fiaccola, demanding information about some scroll he didn't have a clue about. He found the door to the cellar. Grabbing a candle from one of the niches, he crept into the cellar. He searched around until he found an empty bag, which he filled with a few loaves of bread, some fruit and a small wheel of cheese. He found a cured ham, and stuffed it into the sack as well. It was pretty heavy, but he didn't know where he was and did not want to go hungry before he got some place he recognized.
He replaced the candle and hunted around for other things he might need, then he ducked out of the kitchen and padded across the yard to the stables. It was a beautiful night. No moon, but the stars sparkled across the sky like diamonds tossed on a dark cloth. In the stable he crawled quietly up to the hayloft and found a quiet out of the way corner where he could hide. The next morning the castle remained quiet, which meant that no one had discovered him missing yet.
Luck continued to be with him. A wagon was readied to go to town to purchase supplies. Several empty barrels were loaded on to the cart. In one corner was stuffed a bunch of tarps. When all was done, Paul snuck down and stashed himself in the corner, covered by tarps. Now with more luck he could disappear long before anyone took notice.
It seemed like a long time before the cart pulled to a stop. Mike remained still hoping no one would notice him. He heard lots of noise like he was in a big city, but he could not hear any automobiles, nor the usual city activity. He peeked out from behind the tarps. He was in another stable. This one had a lot of horses and people running about.
Mike snuck his way out of the cart and slipped out the door onto a cobbled street.
There were people everywhere. Carts and horses and goats and pigs and children and beggars along the street. He plunged into the throng and lost himself to the momentum of mindless crowd.
After several hours of wandering and being jostled about, he finally came to a central square, with a large fountain in the center. Trees dotted the five avenues that led up to this square and encirled the fountain like a pavilion. Under the trees were benches. He found as quiet and area as possible and sat on a bench to rest and have a bite to eat from his sack.
As he sat he watched people stroll through the square or scurry about in a hurry. He noted how they were all dressed in some sort of medievel garb. Mike himself was simply dressed in a scratchy grey tunic and matching pants. He had been barefoot up until an hour ago when he found a pair of shoes outside someone house that fit him. He felt bad for stealing someones shoes, but his feet were wearing raw on the hard stone.
Now that he solved the shoe problem and was away from his captors, Mike was at a loss. He was afraid to talk to anyone, but he needed to know where he was. He saw no phone booths, no cars, nothing that he was accustomed to. Where was he? How in the world did he get here? He studied the buildings. They were primarily of clay with flat roofs. Something out of the american southwest, but not quite. People wore loose light colored clothing. It was pretty warm he noted, for november. At least it was november back home.
Some of the buildings had signs, but nothing with words, just pictures. It seemed like something out of his medieval studies in his english class, but there was still something odd he couldn't quite put his finger on. He sighed as he chewed on a piece of bread. His cousin Paul was more into the dungeons and dragons stuff and probably would have been more knowledgable about all this. He wished Paul were with him. At least he would hae someone to talk too.
“You look perplexed,” said someone next to him.
Mike jumped. He hadn't heard anyone walk up and certainly hadn't expected anyone to talk to him. He looked around but didn't see anyone.
“Right here,” said the cheerful voice.
Mike looked down into the eyes of a dog. A dog of a breed he could not identify. The dog had large friendly golden brown eyes, set in a large head of short reddish brown hair and large floppy ears. The body matched the head with a broad chest and large paws. Mike thought the dog could pass for a saint bernard if it had the right hair. He just stared. He had no idea what to say to a talking dog.
The dog grinned at him. “You Earth humans are always so clueless.” said the dog.
“Earth humans?” asked Mike.
The dog made a strange huffing noise, which to Mike sounded almost like the dog was laughing! “The dog looked around as if to make sure no one else was listening. “yes you humans from earth. You get here and know nothing.” he snorted in disbelief, “I always wonder how you find Cama Talamnoir without knowing anything about it.”
Mike frowned, “Cama what?”
the dog shook his head sadly. “Come with me. I will take you to Master Hedridge. He can explain a lot to you.”
Mike sat quietly for a moment. He had no idea what to do. He was terrified of being caught by Fiaccola again. He wondered how much he could trust this dog. He looked at the dog searchingly. All he got back was a frank stare from those big golden brown eyes.
“Alright then,” he said reluctantly. He got up and followed the dog.
Master Hedridges home was located in a warren of buildings all crammed together. Mike gathered from the crumbling walls and the debris in the narrow streets that this part of the town wasn't necessarily the nicer part of town. As they walked past one narrow alley way there was a pile of debris that smelled so bad Mike nearly emptied his stomach on the street. The dog even hurried past wrinkling his nose at the stench.
The dog stopped at a nondescript wooden door set in a building that mirrored its surroundings. The dog raised his paw and Mike said, “Wait! I don't even know your name.”
The dog lowered his paw and grinned up at Mike, “You have manners that your fellow earthlings tend to lack. You will do well here!” the dog raised his paw to Mike to shake his hand. “I'm Nox and you are?”
“I'm Mike,” he said grinning foolishly. It was the first time in weeks he actually felt like smiling.
“Well met Mike,” said Nox then he turned and scratched at the door.
The door opened and an old white haired Orangutan peered out. He nodded at the dog and looked at Mike with piercingly intelligent eyes. In a raspy gravelly voice he said, “Nox? What are you doing with strays? You know how Master Hederidge feels about you bringing home strays.”
Abashed Mike said, “Hey Nox, I don't want to get you in trouble. I can just go. Thanks for everything,” he turned to get lost in the maze of streets.
Nox growled as the Orangutan started howling with glee. “Mike come back here! This old trickster thinks he's funny. As you can see he's only good for getting the door and right now he can't even manage that small task!”
The Orangutan danced about giggling in mirth as Nox nipped at him. Nox yipped at him causing him to scamper down the hall way and out of sight.
“I'm sorry Mike, He's old and a bit on the crazy side. He pretty much spends most of his day in the courtyard dozing in a hammock and eating fruits and nuts until he is ready to bust. He was a great Guardian at one time, but now he is retired and only has bits of his memory left.”
Mike followed Nox into the house and closed the door behind him. After the bright sunlight and warmth of the day, it was refreshingly cool and dark inside. They passed through the short hallway to a corridor that led off to the left and right. To the left the corridor ended in a wall with a niche and a candle. Two doors on opposite sides of the corridor led elswhere. Nox turned right into the corridor which turned sharply to the left. An opening to the right was a set of narrow stairs leading up to the next floor. They continued past the stairs to another wooden door, which Nox was able to push open by pressing on a lever on the floor.
This door opened into a large room with chairs and couches scattered through out. It reminded Mike of a waiting room of sorts.
Nox told him to wait. He sat in one of the chairs. It was an overstuffed leather chair that was so worn that he sank into it. Before he knew it his eyes closed and he fell asleep. He slept more restfully than he had since before he found himself in Fiaccola's dungeon.
He woke up sometime later with a stiff neck. He sat up quickly. He had slept so well he had forgotten where he was. Flickering candle light replaced the sunlight that had streamed through the windows earlier. He looked around, but all was quiet in the house. He wondered what he should do. No one was in sight and he felt it would be impolite to wander about someones house. That was when he noticed the bird perched on the back of another chair across the room, watching him.
The bird was a giant white Makaw with a bright yellow beak and gold eyes. It flapped over to another chair closer to Mike. It fixed one birdy eye on him and squawked, “It's about time you woke up! Master Hederidge has been waiting for you!” the bird said indignantly.
“Uh, I'm sorry!” stammered Mike, “I uh Nox said I should wait here. I didn't realize I was so tired. I just fell asleep.”
“Oh knock it off Spar!” boomed a voice behind Mike making him jump and turn around.
A short bald headed man with a long white beard stood in the doorway. His deep brown lined and wrinkled face grinned at Mike, his hazel eyes laughing with kindness. He wore a soft gray tunic edged with white. His pants matched his tunic, but they only went to his calves. His brown feet were bare on the stone floor. He held out his hands in a welcoming gesture to Mike.
Mike couldn't help himself, so he grinned back and took the mans hands to return the gesture.
“Well met Mike of Earth” the mans deep voice belied his stature. “I'm Master Hederidge, but you can call me Hedge if you like. Everyone else does, except for Nox. He insists on a respectful formality.”
Mike said, “It's good to meet you. Nox says you might be able to help me.” Mike blushed, “the thing is I know I need help, but I'm not sure what kind of help I exactly need!”
Hedge grinned. “Well it's best to get help on a full stomach. Are you hungry Mike?”
“I'm am,” his stomach punctuated the response with a rumble.
Hedge laughed, very well then, lets go out to the courtyard. Its a very nice evening tonight. Not too hot, even if it is unusually humid.” he talked of the weather as he lead Mike through the kitchen to the courtyard. A large banyan tree dominated the courtyard. Its tendrils decorated with lights. Which mystified Mike as he had not seen any source of electricity so far.
Seeing him study the lights Hedge volunteered, “They are solar lights. They store the energy of the sun by day and reflect it at night.”
Mike grinned. “They are awesome.”
There were rushlights scattered about the courtyard illuminating various statues and topiary bushes. In the center under a natural alcove created by the banyan tree was a roughcut wooden table and matching chairs. A lantern hung from the tree providing light over the table. The table was set for two. A large pitcher of something iced sweated on a tray with two frosted mugs beside it. Two earthen ware plates and eating utensils completed the setting. Hedge indicated that Mike should sit down in one of the chairs, while he took the other.
A quiet woman with a small dark haired wide eyed boy clutching her skirts served them slabs of meat with roasted potatoes and covered with a dark rich smelling gravy. A basket of hot rolls sat covered by a cloth next to a plate of home churned butter. Mike wanted to drool.
For a time he and Hedge ate quietly each concentrating on the plates before them. Finally Mike pushed his plate away full and content. He sipped at the sweet iced drink in his mug. He had a faint flavor of honey. It was refreshing, but it also made him feel light headed.
“Thank you for that fabulous dinner.” he said to Hedge.
“Oh don't thank me!” he pointed to the woman who sat on a bench nursing the boy and eating her own meal from a bowl on the table next to her. “Thank Mina, my daughter. She takes good care of her 'ol Da!”
Mina looked up at the sound of her name. She gave Hedge a smirking look and smiled sweetly at Mike. Then she went back to ignoring them and eating her own meal. Mike also saw that she had a large book open on the table that she was reading.
He turned back to Hedge who was watching him as if he were trying to figure Mike out before he could tell his story.
He surprised Mike by saying, “How did you escape Fiaccola?”
“How did you know she had captured me?”
“I saw you when they brought you in. The clothes you wore indicated you were from Earth. Since then I have watched closely for you.”
“Why?”
This time Hedge looked abashed, “I don't usually do this, because I think its all a crock, but Mina,” he flicked his gaze to his daughter, she glanced at him with a mischevious look in her eye, “Insisted that I see one of the gypsy fortune tellers last year.” he sighed. “I did it to humor her, but what she told me put the fear of death in me.”
Mike leaned forward, entranced by the old mans story. Apparently the gypsy told him that fiaccola would capture an earthling that would escape. He was to find that earthling and help reunite him with his family and get him back to Earth, otherwise death would come in great waves to Cama talamnoir. At first he hadn't believed, but other things she had said, started to come true.
He had been at Fiaccola's the day they brought Mike in. Fiaccola didn't know he had seen Mike's unconcious body. He had only been there because she had needed an obscure book. Hedge was many things and one of those things was a rare book trader as well as a finder of unusual objects. A few days later when he returned with the book she had asked for, she asked him if he could locate a life timer. That request had surprised him. Life timers were old devices that had been outlawed. They were considered cruel.
He felt uneasy about procuring one of those, and not because of the legal consequences, but because he had confirmed what the gypsy had told him. She had said that he would be asked to shorten a mans life and that he would need to make it appear so, but not actually happen. The statement had mystified him at the time, but when Fiaccola made her request he felt the blood drain from his head. Despite his shady dealings, Hedge had no stomach for harming others.
Mike waited until Hedge finished his story. They both sat for a while musing in their own thought, then Mike said, “I am really having a hard time with all of this. I mean, wow, I know what I just went through,” at that he shuddered, “but just how did I get here?” Typically what I know about travel between planets, obviously doesn't apply, but I just can't grasp it. It seems to be so, freakishly impossible!” He looked at Hedge with despair at ever understanding, much less accepting.
Hedge nodded solemnly.
He began. “The Guardianship resides in the center of Cama Talamnoir. It is comprised of peoples and animals from all over. The guardianship was created when portals were discovered that led us to earth. In the begininning earth was a raw and wild planet. We had no idea how closely linked to Cama Talamnoir it was. It was just assumed that the portals opened into another part of the universe.
At first people and animals from Cama Talamnoir went back and forth freely, until it was discovered that a stay on earth for a lengthy period of time would cause the traveler to forget all about cama talamnoir. That is essentially how earth became populated. Animals from here also crossed over and forgot the same fate. The only difference is, animals forgot much more than cama talamnoir, they forgot how to speak and lost their cognitave abilities.
It was decided by our ancestors that the portals needed to be policed. Hence the guardianship was created. In time the guardians became many things, the peace keepers between worlds, the sentinals who guard the portals, scholars who have studied both earth and cama talamnoir and have mapped out the origins of both worlds.
It was discovered that Earth and Cama talamnoir are juxtaposed.” (at this Mike gave Hedge a confused look) Hedge grinned. “This means that both worlds occupy the same space in completely separate universes, yet they coexist next to each and possibly during creation when they came into being, they were so close they touched forming the connection via the portals. Now whether this is an anomly or if it happens with other planets, it is unknown. So far as we can tell Earth and Cama Talamnoir are unique.”
Hedge sighed and took a long swallow from his mug. “anyhow, figuring that out belongs to the scholars. To shorten this epic, over the years of course there are greedy people who have sought to wrest control of the portals, from the guardianship simply for no other reason, than to exploit both worlds.”
“The shadow is the oldest and most potentially destructive of all the factions that have risen and been destroyed or neutralized by the guardians. In fact, the shadow has been a nemesis almost from the beginning of the guardianship. Not surprising as the shadow was once a guardian.”
Mike slowly shook his head. “wow this is a lot to take in!”
Hedge nodded. “It is. Perhaps we should let the story rest there for now and we call it a night.” he yawned and stretched.
Mike yawned in agreement.
Hedge said, “We have a room prepared for you.” He smiled at the woman with the child. The child was sound asleep in her arms. She nodded to Mike and indicated with the shake of her head that he should follow her.
Mike said goodnight to his host and followed the woman from the courtyard.
Another Deal
Paul had no idea what happened to Simon or Seli. He was back in his room, but his window was nailed shut and the door locked. His pack was gone. He assumed the innkeeper had his stuff confiscated. No one would talk to him or offer him any explanations. It had been three days. He was about to got crazy. He restlessly paced the room trying to make heads and tails of what was happening to him. None of it made sense.
At this point he feared the worst, Simon was dead and Seli either took off or was held captive or dead. He really wasn't too concerned about her anyway. As far as he could tell she was probably the one that got him captured in the first place. But he did wonder about Simon. In fact, Simon had left abruptly the day before Seli had showed up to collect him.
Paul's head hurt and not because the of the stave that had knocked him out, but because he felt like he was missing something in all the effents that had taken place in the last few weeks. He was almost at a point he wasn't sure who the good guys were and who the bad guys were.
As for the villagers, he figured they were mostly good guys, but like him confused about what side to take. The next time someone brought him food he was just going to have to figure a way to get them to talk to him. Most of the time who ever brought him food had a guard with them. They would basically walk in, set the tray down on the small table and practically run out. He wondered what everyone had been told about why he was being held prisoner.
He decided the fastest way to get someone he could talk to was to pretend to be mortally sick. He didn't have to wait long as it was midday and the midday meal was being brought to him. He lay in his bed with his back to the door and began to moan.
Sure enough when the kitchen boy brought the tray in, he became concerned and excitedly told the guard that the prisoner was ill.
The guard cuffed the boy and threatened to beat him more if he poisoned the prisoner. Paul nearly felt sorry for the kid, but he knew he had to get some answers. The guard sent the boy off to fetch someone. When he was gone, the guard came over and poked Paul. Startled, Paul moaned harder and started to cough. He heard the guard grumble and back away.
It seemed like an hour before anyone came. By then Paul had begun to doze, which actually helped his case. When the inn keeper and the town's healer showed up, he was groggy from his short little nap.
Through slitted eyes he observed the healer who came to examine him. Paul wasn't sure what he expected but the small woman standing next to his bed wasn't at all what he thought she would be. She barely reached shoulder height of the inn keeper who himself was a short fat man that Paul towered over. The healer wore a patched dress covered by a thick woolen and many patched cloak. Her brown skinned hands wer soft and smooth as she felt his head, her coal black eyes made her seem old and wise eventhough her small elfin face looked to be very young, almost childlike. She did not look like the rest of the villagers, nor even like Seli's people.
Paul was so entranced by her that he nearly forgot to moan and wince like he was in pain. When he did she bent near him and whispered, “I know you are not ill, but I can help you. These bastards need to be taught a lesson”
In response Paul cough and moaned. She patted his shoulder and turned to the inn keeper, “This man is in very bad shape! What have you fed him?” she demanded. For her size she commanded quite a lot of respect.
The inn keeper blustered and hollared for the kitchen boy. The woman turned back to Paul and touched the knot on his head where he had been struck by the barrel stave. He truly winced at that. She turned back to the inn keeper, “and what's this? Have you been beating your guests? You are aware that this is a direct violation of our agreement!”
Paul was floored, who was she and what agreement. He had so much to learn!
The inn keeper blanched as if he had been struck in his ample gut. Behind the healers back he gestured fervantly to the guard to go get someone.
The healer leaned close to Paul and whispered, “Don't worry none. We'll be out of here in no time. Just so ya know, Seli and Simone are fine and are impatiently waiting for you at my home.” the she pinched him hard making him cry out with pain and double over. She turned, with angry eyes flashing at the inn keeper “What are you waiting for!” she demanded, “I need to get him away from here. If he dies, the wrath of my people will fall upon your cursed town and any hope you had of maintaining peace will be over!”
The inn keeper scurried from the room shouting for this person and that person. The kitchen boy stood shaking in the corner of the room, unsure what to do next. The healer looked at the boy, her face softened and her voice gentle, “Be a good lad and run to the kitchen for a couple loaves of bread and a crock of your finest ale. If the cook gives you any trouble just tell her that Mitsuwa demands her due.” she smiled at the boy. He nodded his head and bolted from the room.
The healer turned back to him and said, “You're a bright young man to feign sickness. When I got the message to come here we were all wracking our brains trying to figure out how to pull you through this mess.” she smiled, which mad her look even younger, yet somehow motherly. “Now,” her tone business like, they should be back soon with food and a way to carry you. You must lean heavily on whomever shows up to help us out. Keep your eyes mostly closed and keep moaning, if you can manage to drool a bit that would be helpful as well. We'll take the kitchen boy with us, otherwise he will be subjected to abuse for your sickness. It will be deemed his fault.”
Paul didn't know what to say, so he simply nodded.
The inn keeper came back with a couple of armored guards and an important looking man. Then suddenly there was a flurry of activity directed by Mitsuwa the healer. The next thing Paul knew he was being hoisted onto a stretcher and moved quickly to a waiting cart outside. The next thing he knew the healer was forcing a drink down his throat with an explanation to someone he couldn't see that it would make him more comfortable for the journey.
All Paul knew was that the drink tasted foul but he soon forgot that and drifted off to sleep.
DIY
Oliver watched as Jaaneris and the others sat before their roaring fire and drank from mugs that they filled from a small cask. He had listened carefully to their conversations hoping to learn their plans. So far he could tell that their stop in the cave was both unplanned and lucky. They were on a rendevous with Fiaccola. Apparently they intended to negotiate something with her. They never spoke of what, but they argued amongst themselves as to who would do what. Jaaneris remained silent most of the time. Finally after listening to them argue he ordered them all to shut up. After that they fell asleep.
It went on like that for several days as the snow fell and blocked their way out. Finally one of the ones sent to check on the weather conditions reproted that the snow had abated and that he could actually see stars in the sky. Oliver's circadian rythmn had told him the time of day, but he became more alert knowing that the he would soon have a chance to escape. For the most part he and Ike had been ignored. They did throw them food occasionally, like they were earth dogs. That made him angry and he wanted to rip their hands off, but his training in the elite guards helped him channel his anger into forming a plan. It was simple and simple was usually preferred as there were less things that could go wrong.
He needed to motivate Ike and get him out of the cave. That was going to be the difficult part. Once they were free it would be nearly impossible for the humans to follow them in the wilderness. As the humans dropped off to sleep or more likely passed out from what they were drinking, Oliver finished removing the iron collar from Ike's neck. He had removed his a couple of days ago and then put it back on to make it appear that they were safely chained. No one bothered to get too close to verify the chains were holding.
Oliver was just surprised that their food had not been drugged again. He watched as the fired died down and the only person who was still awake was Jaaneris. He was engrossed in something, but as his back was to Oliver, he could not tell what it was. It was a long time before the fire had burned to low embers, and Jaaneris finely gave up what he was doing, stretched, yawned and lay down.
Relieved, Oliver relaxed and listened to the sounds of the cave which had become familiar over the last few days. Soon he recognized the sleep sounds of the humans. He was still wary. Eventhough everyone appeared asleep, Jaaneris was still a very skilled guardian. Oliver needed to be extra careful. Truly he and Ike didn't need much of a head start, they just needed to get out of the cave and melt into the woods, before the humans realized they were gone.
Oliver nudged Ike. I moaned and shuffled a bit in his sleep. Oliver nudged him again, but Ike refused to rouse. Finally oliver stuck his snout right up to Ikes ear and whispered as loudly as he dared, “Wake up Fire Dancer! Now is our chance to get away.”
Ike responded by moaning a bit and pushing at Olivers snout with a paw.
Oliver was beginning to despair of ever getting Ike free. He was afraid he would have to leave him. He nipped Ike's ear. The pain caused the fire dancer's eyes to snap open. He surged up banging his head on the wagon making it rattle. Oliver tried to quiet him and wrestle him to the ground before he woke the humans.
But it was too late, Jaaneris was on his feet and shouting, “What's going on over there?”
Oliver sighed, now the whole camp would be awake. He growled at Jaaneris, “The fire dancer was having a nightmare. He's calm now”
“Best you keep it that way bear!” snarled Jaaneris, “or I will find another way to silence you!”
Oliver, stifled his anger and checked himself from rushing Jaaneris. 'One day, thought Oliver, he will pay!' he then settled back to wait again. Somehow, he and Ike were escaping this night. He kept poking the now sheepish fire dancer to keep him from going back to sleep. As Jaaneris lay back down, Oliver whispered his plan to Ike.
Finally, the time came. All was quiet in the cave, except for the night breathing of the humans. Oliver's ears could detect each individual as he or she slept. When he was fairly certain that Jaaneris was sound asleep. He nudged Ike to follow.
Keeping an eye on the humans and the scent of freedom in his nose, Oliver led Ike in a painstakeningly slow escape. He knew that near the opening, Jaaneris would have posted sentries. His hackles began to rise when the first sentry he encountered was staring sightlessly at the ceiling of the cave, his throat ripped out. Oddly there was no scent of the killer, and very little blood.
Oliver looked over at Ike, the fear of the wrongness mirrored in his eyes. They moved closer to the mouth of the cave. Neither one could see anything amiss, but both swiveled their heads back and forth searching for the source of the wrongness and the killing. They found the other sentry lying on his back in the entrance of the cae. He was moaning. Oliver and Ike warily approached him sniffing the air and looking for the attacker. Oliver motioned for Ike to keep watch while he went up to the sentry. He didn't know the man by sight but his scent identified him as one of those who had placed the bag over his head in the inn.
Oliver ignored his desire to finish the job that the unknown wrongness had begun, but he needed answers, so he hunkered down next to the man and spoke quietly into his ear. “Who did this to you?” The man's eyes flew open in fright! All that was left of his eyeballs were two shriveled husks. Oliver felt a momentary stab of pity. No one should die this way.
The man whimpered and rasped, “Kill me I beg you, don't let it get me again.” the man sobbed piteously.
Oliver said, “I will, but I need to know who did this.”
The man sobbed, “I don't know. I never saw it. One minute I was just watching the night, and the next I felt my skin crawl as if a million bugs were swarming over me, but I saw nothing, only felt that. It seemed as if they were draining my life force and then,” the man faltered.
“Go on” encouraged Oliver.
“Then,” he whispered, “It started to talk to me asking me questions about myself, and about why we were here in its cave. Then I heard Charlie struggling behind me. I wanted to scream, but I couldn't” he sobbed again, and then finally said, “I think it gave up on me telling it what it wanted to know so then it slid into my ear and into my brain and … and” he disolved into a convulsing mass of sobs. Oliver could get no more from him, so he took his massive paws and broke the poor wretches neck. He turned back to Ike who was sitting right behind him, hackles raised, teeth bared, and looking all over.
“Come,” urged Oliver, “The quicker we are away I think the safer we will be. Whoever did this must have been out and now has returned and is not pleased at having visitors.”
He and Ike shambled out of the cave and down the slope of the hill towards the forest. As they entered the tree line, Oliver looked back. He thought he heard a piercing shriek come from the cave. He shuddered and ran into the cover of the trees. From what he saw, he didn't think he would be seeing Jaaneris again.
On the road again
By the time Paul woke and sat up from whatever it was Mitsuwa gave him it was dark outside. He was still in the cart and it was moving swifty. He realized it was a cart on runners not wheels. He also realized it was being pulled by a team of mountain goats rather than horses. He had an odd image of a red nosed goat and a familiar Christmas song turned upside down.
Paul shook his head to clear it of irrational thoughts. He was bundled up in a big furry coat and covered in furs. The moon had risen full and bright. It glistened over the snow covered landscape. To either side he saw two more sleds also being pulled by mountain goats. They weren't the small little goats of earth by giant oxen sized goats with massive curled horns. Mitsuwa was the driver of his sled and another figure sat beside her. He made his way up toward the front. Mitsuwa wore one of the large furry coats and had thick woolen mittens covering her hands, but the hood of her coat was down and her hair streamed behind her. She glanced back at him, a grin of pure delight on her face. The other figure was completely hooded against the cold and as it turned to look at him all he could see was a pair of black onyx eyes shining at him from deep within the hooded coat. The other said nothing but turned back to the front. Mitsuwa handed the reigns over and turned around so she could speak with Paul.
She bent low beckoning him to move closer. Through the rushing wind she shouted, “Im sorry I had to dose you, but it was for the best. It allowed a clean get away from those idiot villagers.”
He opened his mouth but she held up her hand, “This is not the place to speak. We will be at the rendevous point soon, we can talk there.” she turned and pointed to the craggy moutain next to the moon. Sure enough about midway up the side of it he could faintly see a flickering glow. As far as Paul was concerned it was a long way off. He still felt groggy from her dose, so he hunched back into the furs and covered his face. The cold still managed to creep in and chill him. He could hardly wait, that flickering light had to be a warm cozy fire.
Swift Pursuit
It had been two days since the pair of snowy owls found them. They had brought tidings of Paul and Simon. They also indicated that Simon had recruited allies from amoung the lost tribes. Mirga had dispatched the owls onward to Lanitha to give the tidings to Chara, who would send them on to Var at the enclave.
She and her team took a relentlace pace toward the home of the lost tribes. She had been warned by the owls to steer clear of the lost village. The villagers were hotile and tended to make captive their vistors. The message was cryptic as hospitality from the lost villagers was legendary. They made camp for three days during the worst of the snow storm, but that had been nearly a week ago. Mirga could see the moutain peak beginning to rise beyond the horizon as they made their way through the snow. She was grateful for the sturdy mounts that Lanitha had provided and their shaggy little mountain ponies that packed their gear.
Eris slowed his mount until he rode next to her, he said, “I estimate that we will arrive in the lost tribes territory soon, If we have not already done so.” Mirga nodded. The tribes were usually prickly about who crossed their territory. Fortunately the owls had provided her with a scroll from the leader of the tribes, granting them passage.
The scroll itself did not have words, but simple symbols. The people of the lost tribes did not read. They let their shamans handle that knowledge. Most of them were either, hunters, warriors, shepherds or gatherers. They did not ride horses, but they did tame eiricu, the giant mountain goats that inhabited the mountains in their region. Eiricu were among those animals of cama talamnoir that were not sentient.
Bearings
Oliver and Ike loped through the snow covered pine forest and di not stop until the sun was nearly overhead. Both were exhausted and hungry. Oliver felt that they had probably outrun any pursuit from Jaaneris and his band, but then Oliver had little hope that Jaaneris survived whatever creature inhabited that cave and killed the guards. He was just glad it hadn't been interested in bears. He was actually more worried about Jaaneris meeting with Fiaccola. He needed to find Simon, and more importantly Paul, so that they could finish their task. For some reason everything seemed to hinge on Paul and his cousin.
Ike seemed much less agitated now that they had escaped. Of course it could be that he was exhausted and was too tired to be upset, but the more Oliver spent with the fire dancer, he could see how sensitive the bear was too more than the usual bear awareness. He seemed to possess an ability to sense danger from a distance, as if he knew something menacing was near. Possibly the cave inhabitant had contributed to his unease. Oliver had certainly been on edge in the cave. He considered that it was possible that more than being held captive contributed to his feelings.
He wished Ike could talk. It had to be hard for the poor bear to eat with that shriveled and burnt tongue. Thinking of what had been done to Ike only served to put him in a foul mood, so he stopped and looked around.
The snow in the forest was definitely thinner than out in the open, but it was still deep. He had lost his sense of where in cama talamnoir he was exactly, but he knew that if he and Ike continued north west they would find the lost tribes. Oliver, was a southern bear and had never been this far north. He had read about the tribes, as part of his training at the enclave, but his travels with the Guardians usually took him across the anomoly and he was oddly enough, more familiar with Earth than Cama Talamnoir.
Ike flopped down in the snow, completely unfazed by the cold. Ike's fur was longer and shaggier than Olivers shorter coarser coat. He had so many questions about Ike. He had seen him come to the enclave as a new recruit, but hadn't really had the opportunity to get to know him as he was much older and vetran of the guard by then.
Oliver sighed. They would need to continue. They had a long way to go before they could stop and look for shelter for the night. He looked at Ike again. Ike was asleep. Oliver growled. He looked around for anything that looked edible and was disappointed as everything was covered in a thick blanket of snow. He nudged Ike with his nose. Ike didn't stir. Oliver cuffed him gently with his paw. Still no response. Finally he growled menacingly in Ike's ear. This time Ike opened one quetioning eye.
Gruffly Oliver said, “Let's go, we can't rest here. We need food and shelter and this place offers neither.”
Ike's response was to snuff the snow and turn his head. This time Oliver let his frustration out.
“Look bear! You're not a cub, so stop acting like one. I'm tired of being the one to pull our hides out of danger. It's time you pull your own weight, now get up!” he snarled.
It was satifying to see Ike pull himself up eventhough he did it with great reluctance. Oliver felt bad he had gone through so much torment, but his torment would only get worse if he remained here.
In a more congenial tone he said, “Look, if I remember the maps right we are a days lope from the lost tribes territory, which means if we continue at a staedy pace, we could be there in two days. I'm aware neither of us can continue to run, especially without food or water, we also need rest. Believe me youngling, my age isn't helping me here.”
Ike snorted, which Oliver took as a good sign. It was good to see some sort of spirit out of the bear, he had been so glum and depressed since they were captured.
“Lets go and keep an eye out for food and water.” with that he turned his nose to the northwest and began a steady pace through the forest. The sun was sinking to the west when they finally found a sheltered area of the forest. They had been climbing steadily in elevation as well. As the trees thinned and the ground became rockier, there were also berms and outcroppings. Eventually, Olivers nose led him to a stream that was trickling through the forest. The stream ran from a creek farther into the hills. The stream was rushing fast and deep enough that it had not completely frozen over. Ice collected at it's banks and in areas clogged by bits of wood and debris that had fallen into the stream. Both he and Ike drank heartily from the ice cold water. It was refreshing and perked up their flagging spirits. They crossed the stream which was flowing from the the north as it wound it's way down the mountain. From the scents surrounding the area, Oliver could tell that the area was seldom frequented by humans, however all manner of animals seemed to water at this particular spot. They lingered for awhile and drank more water. They even managed to catch several small fish, which after not eating for a couple days, seemed like a feast. Oliver was uneasy remaining for long however, he didn't want to be discovered by others coming to water here. So after they rested and the sun was nearly gone they wound their way up following the path of the stream but only keeping it wih in hearing distance. After about another half an hour and the sun was fully gone, did they find good shelter. In fact, if it hadn't have been for Oliver's strong sense of smell they would have missed it altogether.
He could smell the scent of other bears. The scents weren't fresh, in fact, they were quite old, but it was as if bears had lived and frequented this area for so long that their scent had lingered long after they left. The scent was strongest around a large thirty foot boulder that had tumbled off the mountain further up and laid to rest by leaning on an outcropping. The whole area was covered by brush and pines creating a hollow area with an opening large enough for two or three bears.
Oliver could sense Ikes excitement at finding the place. A place that was used by bears. They inspected the whole area searching for any wrongness that might make staying there to risky, but the only other animal scents that Oliver could detect were deer, Eiricu, mice, rabbits and various other rodents and birds. He also wrinkled his nose at the smell of wolves, foxes, stoats and other small carnivores. No man scent, which meant that they should be safe to rest.
They squeezed into the opening, huddled together for warmth and were soon sound asleep.
Oliver woke the next morning to find that Ike was gone. He stretched and emerged into the predawn forest. It was quiet and the a light breeze brought no dangerous scents to him. He snuffed around for Ike a bit and figured he had gone to the stream for water and more fish. He made his way in the same direction Ike had gone, and sure enough when he pushed through the brush he saw Ike sitting on the rocks next to the creek eating a fish.
Oliver said, we need to leave soon. I get some fish myself and have a few drinks and then we need to press on.
Ike nodded his assents through the ripping and tearing of his breakfast.
The sun had barely risen above the eastern horizon when they continued there travels. By the time the sun was nearly overhead they broke out of the forest and found that they were facing peaks rising to the east and west creating a saddle of snow between the two. Oliver also began to detect the scent of humans. At first it was faint and as if the travelers typically just passed through. Now as they contemplated the best route through the pass the human scent was strong and very recent. In fact, Oliver could swear he even smelled Paul. When he looked at Ike he saw that he had come to the same conclusion. They wondered how Paul came to be here and how he was faring. He hoped the other scents that mingled with Pauls were friendly.
Oliver scanned the pass. His sense of smell far better than his eyes, he caught the scent of the Lost ones, before he saw them emerging from hiding places above the pass in amongst rocks, trees and outcroppings.
He heard Ike behind him snuffling as if the scent were strong. Indeed these humans had an unusual musky scent that seemed part wolf and part human. As they warily approached he could see they wore wolf pelts to keep them warm. Wolf scent wasn't alarming to a bear, but on humans it could be a problem.
As he was trained by the guardians, Oliver knew there was an etiquette to follow when meeting lost tribesmen. He wondered if Ike remembered any of his enclave training.
As the first human advanced, spear at the ready, Oliver sat back on his haunches and raised one paw while placing the other on the snow in front of him. His head bowed, yet eyes remained forward on the advancing spearman.
The spearman seemed startled at first, but then he stopped his advance, went to one knee and placing one hand on the snow he too raised the other, locking his gaze with Oliver. Oliver waited. It was up to the tribesman to break the greeting. When the guardsman stood up placing both hands palm up in front of him, then did Olive rise from his position. He also put both paws up pads facing the tribesman.
Satisfied the ritual was correct, the man broke eye contact and signaled the others to join him. Oliver turned in time to see Ike lower his paws. He was glad to see the young bear had not forgotten everything.
Suddenly, all the warriors dropped to defensive stances and raised their spears! Oliver was stunned, until he heard horses and dogs behind him. He had been so intent on the tribesmen before him he had ignored what was behind him. He spun about to see Ike bounding down the slope toward several riders. The one in front was distinctive. Mirga Breia herself riding point, her aides flanking her, a hawk on her shoulder and covered in the armor of a First. Oliver was so relieved that another could now take command.
Following the enlightened Path
Mike enjoyed his time in Hedges company. The old man was a wealth of stories and Cama Talamnoir history. He also learned a lot about Earth that blew his mind. To think that all of Earth's peoples. Animals and histories sprang from another world.
One day as he listened fascinated by the old man's rendition of earth history, he began to wonder why earth was so technologically advanced, while Cama Talamnoir was stuck in the medeival times.
Hedge nodded and said, “I wondered when you were going to ask that question. It's one our scholars have been trying to solve for a long time.” he studied his hands thoughtfully for a few moments, a habit Mike had noticed when Hedge needed to organize his thoughts before continuing.
“So far as they can figure out, simple mechanisms work here. Such as the wheel or levers, pulleys etc, but if you make a complicated machine, such as a combustion engine, it won't work. The scholars are divided in their theories, and there seem to be as many theories as there are scholars, however, the two main thoughts are, first there is a field of some sort around Cama Talamnoir that interferes with complicated machinery, or from a theological point of view, one world is to be scientific, the other spiritual.”
Mike stared at Hedge as if he were saying that on earth apples were healthy and good for you, but on Cama Talamnoir all apples would poison you.
“here let me illustrate with an example. On earth people have developed a weapon that fires with the use of gun powder. On cama talamnoir gun powder has very weak ignition properties. But a similar weapon, can convert light into an explosive and render it's target just as dead.” Hedge held up his hand when Mike began to protest, “I am aware of the laser used on earth and yes that technology seems to be similar. But there are some subtle differences a high powered earth laser still does not funtion here as it does on earth. The mechanism here to create that explosion is very simple, but requires the energy to come not only from existing light but also from the person who wields the weapon.”
Mike was confused. “How does a person give energy?”
Hedge's eyes twinkled, “How indeed!” he stood up and paced around the courtyard before turning back to Mike, “You see it is the question every scholar asks. Why does Cama Talamnoir only require personal energy to make certain things work and yet earth requires complex machinery, chemicals and tools?” Hedge shrugged, then said, “Scholars spend much time looking for these answers. Me? I spend time looking for ways to use the knowledge that already exists!” Hedge clapped his hands together and laughed delightedly at himself. Mike found he did that often when he made some intellectual joke only he understood. Mike waited patiently for Hedge to get back to the point.
The rain had been pouring for three days now and the typically hot dry temperature was now a sodden and soggy chill. Hedge had entertained Mike with history lessons of Cama Talamnoir, and though he was quite entertaining and lively, Mike was begin to feel an need to move. Armed with the knowledge that he was no longer on Earth, he felt he needed to find a way to get back to Earth. Hedge was droning on about the differences between cama birds and earths bees, Mike found himself watching as the rain poured down through the branches of the banyan tree and traced rivulets through the stones of the courtyard that ran into puddles in lowlying areas. He was fascinated as he watched a leaf that had been torn from the tree wound it's way down one such rivulet and ended spinning slowly in the eddy of a puddle. He noticed that a small bug trapped in the puddle was frantically trying to climb on the life saving leaf. He was half a step toward rescuing the bug when Nox bounded into the room baying like a bloodhound that had caught the scent of a fox.
Mike and Hedge stopped what they were doing and stared at the agitated dog. Nox sat down in front of Hedge and bayed at the top of his lungs. Hedge had to shout to be heard, “Nox! For pities sake stop that maddening noise!”
Nox stopped abruptly and looked around as if surprised to find himself in Hedges courtyard. “Oh um sorry” he said looking around. “ I have important and alarming news.” he flicked his gaze quickly at Mike before turning back to Hedge.
They sat staring at one another for a long moment before Hedge said, “Well? You came flying in here like the shadow one was on your heels! What's the news?!”
Nox shook his head as if to clear some cobwebs and said, “Fiaccola has discovered that her prisoner is missing. She has soldiers our hunting for him.”
Hedge shook his head and said, “I certainly hope you didn't lead them here with all that noise.
Nox looked abashed. “Um no I don't think so.” he looked all around as if to make sure one of Fiaccolas soldiers wasn't hiding around a corner.
Hedge turned to Mike, “Well not that this news isn't unexpected it is still not pleasant news. It's time we ready for our trip and be on our way. Hopefully I was able to prepare you for whats to come.” He began to shout orders for his household.
Mike sat there wondering what it was he was being prepared for and how listening to history levels was supposed to help. “Where are we going?” he asked.
Hedge stopped and looked at Mike in disbelief, “Haven't you heard a word?”
Mike said, “ I heard a lot but not how it pertains to me!”
Hedge shook his head and muttered something about youth under his breath. “Go with Nox and get ready to depart. Nox will help you pack. Now off with you both, I need to get my house in order before we leave. We will leave at midday. Oh and pack warm, where we are going it will be deep winter.” with that Hedge hurried off shouting instructions at his household.
It was actually somewhere midday the next day before Hedge was satisfied that his affairs were in order and he had everything necessary for travel. Surprisingly for all the hustle and bustle, Hedge did travel lightly. Nox would accompany them along with Nox's mate Serenita. The big Orangutan would stay behind along with Hedge's daughter and grandson. Hedge also had two men with him that seemed to be about his age. Both were very quiet but their eyes showed a ceasing alertness, as if they were constantly scanning the immediate area for threats. Mike had to stifle a chuckle behind a cough as he thought of secret service men.
The humans mounted horses, Mike rather clumsily, he hadn't ridden since he and Paul were kids. Besides, Paul was the one that had always enjoyed horses. Mike preferred motorcycles. He was more inclined to enjoy something he controlled, not something with a mind of it's own. Fortunately Hedge had provided him with a patient horse that didn't seem to mind his clumsiness.
The rain had abated to a dismal drizzle, by the time they took their leave of Hedges's house. Mike huddled under his oilcloth cloak wishing for the hundreth time that he had never heard of the map Fiaccola had shoved in his face, eventhough he had managed to snag the map before leaving. He had told no one about the map and kept it tightly guarded in an inner pocket of his shirt. Every moment alone he studied the map, wondering exactly where it was a map of, and what it's significance truly was. He tried to pick out clues from Hedges long winded lectures, but there were just too many things he did not know to put any of the pieces together.
It took about an hour to wind their way through the city and out the northern gate. The city was so large and sprawling, teeming with hordes of people going to and from, that their little party passed completely unremarked. They looked like one in a thousand of travelers and merchants traversing the city. Even once the passed through the gate and continued north along the main road, they were still among many.
The traffic along the road remained steady for the rest of the evening as they passed through smaller villages. In fact, it wasn't until the second day of travel that they actually had the road to themselves for longer and longer stretches. By the fourth day they had traveled far enough that the villages were fewer and farther between and the road had gone from paved stone to cobble stone to gravel to muddy tracks.
Hedge said the road would eventually disappear and would wend its way a long for a short while as a path, then they would rely on the pathfinding skills of his two silent companions.
It wasn't until a week from Hedges home that they saw the sun for the first time. By then the temperature had cooled from the warm southern clime to a more wintery clime. Patches of snow began to appear and eventually whole berms of unmelted snow began to dot the landscape. Mike also noticed that they had been steadily climbing in elevation. In the distance he could see a smudge on the horizon that Hedge said were mountains and that was where they were headed. Mike wondered if he packed enough warm gear.
Setbacks
Jaaneris, glared at the dead. They had abandoned him, that's all there was to it, how dare they die!” He knew his thoughts were irrational, yet he succumbed to the thumb sucking comfort of stupid rage. He cursed, he raged, he screamed, he threw things, and finally he sat huddled before his dead and wept. So many years of planning and this was all he had left. Dead retainers. Dead warriors, and missing captives. He knew the bear Oliver was smart, but he had mis judged him. He thought Oliver's fear that his family would be harmed would be enough to keep him managable. Somewhere along the way Oliver had either figured out that his family was not in harms way, but safely protected by the enclave, or he just had given up hope of ever seeing them again.
Either way, the bear was dangerous. Jaaneris had considered following the two bears, they had left plain tracks, but as he was all that was left of his group, he decided to wait for another moment to recover the bears.
Fiaccola would be extremely angry over this loss, but even worse than her was the shadowed one and his dark pet. Jaaneris shivered at the thought of the shadow butcher. He remembered the first time he was introduced to the beast. He swore the stench of the thing was a potent memory that even now threatened to gag him.
Fiaccola had no idea that he had not only made a deal with her, but one with the dark one. She was the dark ones prize that he intended to deliver. But in order to do so he needed that damn fire dancer bear. The bear was extremely unique in that he could open a portal to earth anywhere he chose and it did not require the precautions that the actual portals required. He had no idea how the bear was able to do it, but he didn't really care as long as he could get the bear to do it for him. He needed Fiaccola for that as she was the one that had done something to the bear to turn him in to a fire dancer.
Jaaneris was aware of the guardians decision to close all the portals and seal forever their contact with earth. Many of the guardians opposed this measure at first. They had tried a number of things to stem the problems that leaked between the worlds, but in the end, they all agreed that something would need to be done or the misdeeds on earth would eventually destroy Cama Talamnoir. Of course they really had no way of knowing that if they separated Earth and Cama Talamnoir, if that wouldn't destroy both worlds either. Recently they had some evidence that it would not happen, but those who had opposed the separation, like Jaaneris decided to find a way to continue to cross over. There were too many reasons in Jaaneris mind to keep earth a viable option. Since the Guardians had closed their ears now that their decision was made, Jaaneris had found another way. The shadowed one also did not want to lose the portals. The worlds linked, gave him his strength. He was a creature of both worlds. If the portals were destroyed he would be trapped on one world with his power severly limited. He was the only known being who could harness both scientific and magical power. He had sway over both domains. Combined he was able to create the shadow butcher. His twisted dark beast that was his will personified.
Jaaneris moved deeper into the cave. He strangely felt at home in the dark damp shadows of this cavern. Something had happened to him. It hadn't occurred to him to wonder why every one else was dead and he was still alive. In fact, he hadn't even given much thought to what had killed his people. He only knew he was hungry, but not for the food that they had packed in with them. He hungered for warm blood. He knew he would eventually have to leave and forage for sustanence, but not while the sun shown brightly by day. That mystified him. The sun hurt his eyes. He knew he had been in the cave for quite awhile and his eyes had adjusted to the dark, but really the sun shouldn't feel like knives gouging out his eyes!
Slowly it began to dawn on him that he had been the one to kill his people. He was horrified as the memories slowly came back to him. While the bears were still tied up under the cart, he and Moda had explored deeper into the cave to see if there was a way through the mountain. They had gone quite deep when they came to a dead end at a silent lake of water in the heart of the cavern. It stretched off both ways in the darkness, and only muffled drips from stalactites could be heard. They had attempted to circle the lake, but on either side they ran into impenetrable walls of rock. Giving up he and Moda began their return the way they had arrived.
That's when things went horribly wrong. Out of the dark, silent as a wraith appeared two glowing embers. They hovered in front of Jaaneris, mesmerising him. At first he thought that the light of the torch had caused him to see spots before his eyes, but then he heard Mada behind him trying to back away, cursing in fear. Jaaneris couldn't look away. He felt strangely detached from himself. In fact, the glowing embers seemed to grow in size as he felt like he was shrinking. Eventually he lost all sense of even being deep inside of the cavern and just floated blissfully in a red haze. He had no idea how long he had been there, but when he came to, Mada was gone and he was floating in the lake. He didn't remember much about getting out of the lake. He just remembered an overwhelming hunger. The next thing he knew he was at the entrance of the cave watching the bears disappear into the woods and his people were lying slaughtered all about him.
He knew that he was somehow responsible.
The coach swayed and lurched. Fiaccola wished for an SUV that could drive in any terrain, but here in Cama Talamnoir Motorized vehicles just would not operate. Her head hurt and the temperature was dropping the further north they went. Her mood soured further as she thought of all the pointless setbacks she had recently suffered, the most recent, the loss of her captive. To top it off the imp was becoming more incorrigable by the day. It now patently refused to take on the form of the little girl. It insisted on parading about as it's ugly little self with pointy ears, pasty skin and mean little eyes. It's razor sharp teeth constantly gnashed making an annoying clicking sound.
Fiaccola stole a glance at the beast huddled in a corner of the coach snoring peacefully completely undisturbed by the rocky motion of the coach. She wondered idly if it would wake up if she tossed it of the coach.
Unfortunately she needed the imp. It was very good at what it did. The imp was an accomplished illusionist. It could make anyone near it see what it wanted them to see. Fiaccola drank an herbal tea that made the illusions inffectual on her. It was a rare concoction and one that she kept hidden from the imp. As far as it knew, she simply was unaffected.
An icy breeze gusted through the windows of the coach. Fiaccola pulled her cloak tighter about her. She felt ridiculously over dressed, but at each gust of northern air, she wishe she had more to wear.
Snow began to dot the landscape and soon they would need to trade the coach for sledges. There was an outpost not far from Sedge city where they would trade the horses and coaches for Eiricu. Suddenly the coach skidded to a halt. She could hear the nervous wicker of horses. She heard a shout from her arms captain, but it was unitelligable through the coach walls. She sighed, wondering if they had broken something, or if a tree lay across the road. She pulled on her gloves and climbed out of the coach. The road was clear. She was about to scold the driver for stopping when she saw a man wearing earth jeans and a plaid shirt was talking to the captain. His back was to her however, he did look familiar somehow.
Fiaccola shivered. This time it wasn't the cold wind, but the realization that they had caught up with the shadowed one himself. She caught herself glancing nervously around for his beast, the butcher.
The whole point of this travel was to rendevous with the shadowed one, but now that they had caught up with him, she nervously wondered if it was such a wise idea afterall. Then she remembered the scroll she bore. The only know piece of history regarding the dark one and how he came to be. Having that gave her some protection from him.
Drawing courage from her knowledge she drew herself up and walked purposely over to the captain and the shadowed one. They both turned at her approach. A grin that never touched those dark eyes met her. His voice was warm and hearty, belying the hard cold tone that was his natural way.
As she had suspected, she was the only one who knew his true nature. She had met him once before, on earth. That had not been a pleasant meeting either. She remembered that it had ended with her screaming in terror. “not this time,” she swore to herself. This time she had the scroll.
“Ah Fiaccola!” he said opening his arms to hug her in greeting as if he were a dear relative she had not seen in years.
“Greetings,” she said tersely, ignoring with revulsion, his outstretched request for a more familiar greet.”
He chuckled a sound that made her wince, though she tried to keep her face smooth, she could feel the corner of her right eye twitching nervously.
“Walk with me” her tone more commanding than she felt. His dark gaze turned darker, though he kept the smile of joy on his face.
“Very well,” he mused.
As the drew away from the others, Fiaccola saw the imp out of the corner of her eye keeping up with them but not coming close.
Fiaccola's mouth went dry. Something was wrong about this meeting. Hoarsely she said, “This isn't where we planned to meet.”
Still acting the benevolent old friend, he said, “My dear Fiaccola nothing is ever as it seems. You have failed in so many ways how could you expect that plans would not change? Did you hope to produce your scroll? Your captive and your fire dancer from thin air?”
She stopped walking, her knees too weak to continue. She had no answer to what she had hoped for. Her last hope was the scroll she had on him. As she felt in her pocket for the scroll she found nothing but a handful of ashes.
She looked up and his face had transformed from one of kindly professor to the glee of maddened evil. Fiaccola sank to her knees. Nothing but garbled croaks came from her throat as the imp tore through the soft skin at her neck. It's pasty face spattered with rich red blood it's razor sharp teeth filled with her flesh.
Portals
The scouts had been out for hours.
Paul paced. He had finally been told everything. He knew that he and Mike and their families had fled Cama Talamnoir when they were small to hide from the shadowed one. Paul and Mike essentially held the keys to civilzation on both worlds. He was still trying to wrap his head around that when they explained that their fathers held the post before them. That their fathers had to leave Cama Talamnoir not only because of the shadow, but because there were others bent on destroying the guardians secret. Paul and Mike's families. Their families dated back to the discovery of the portals. Since then two were always chosen to be keepers of the keys.
The keys had been crafted in secret with sacred rituals of the supreme guardians. Only supremes had this knowledge as did the families of the Keepers. And even in the families the most sacred of the knowledge was kept by the keepers and their successors only. The scrolls of the instructions and the maps were placed in the care of the wisps. Fairies who were known to repel the shadowed one. When Paul and Mike came of age the wisps were to deliver the scrolls and help Mike and Paul learn their roles. The fairy that gave Paul his scroll disintigrated shortly after coming into contact with earth which is why he found the scroll and not the fairy. Mikes fairy was burnt to ash by Fiaccola when she abducted Mike. Mike never saw his scroll until after Paul recovered it and gave it unwillingly to Fiaccola. Paul knew the shadow had his, but needed him to decipher it. Paul laughed hollowly to himself. He had studied that scroll and had no idea what it meant. He told Mirga that, after he got over the shock that she wasn't really Mary Brown and that she was really a couple hundred years older than him.
Mirga had given him a cryptic smile. It wasn't the endearing smile he had appreciated when he thought she was just an earth coed, in fact, he felt an odd sense of loss seeing this older woman with a lot of power and responsibility replacing the woman he thought she was. She didn't seem to notice his distress, but replied in a purely officer in command to soldier voice that he would know what to do when the time came to do it. He had been very happy to see the Bears again. In fact, Oliver and Ike shared quarters with him. It was cramped in his small room, but none of them minded. They were happy to be together again.
Paul was in the main hall of the mountain stronghold of the lost tribes. It was an amazing place to him. When they had arrived at the gates Mitsuwa had roused him to see. At first, in the predawn light all he could see was allot of snow and grey rock poking through the white. It appeared to be a valley of rocky spires, boulders and mounds of snow. As they neared the sheer granite face of the mountain, people that resembled Mitsuwa began to appear. Paul wondered how they didn't freeze with bare legs arms and heads showing!
As he looked more he realised they were actually following a path through the boulders. Soon the path disappeared around a rock face that appeared to be part of the mountain but the closer they got Paul saw that the rock blended together. They went around a large sheer wall and he saw gates that when closed would blend with the granite, but now they were open welcoming them into the heart of the mountain. At the entrance the horses were unhitched from the sleds and taken into the mountain, while the sleds themselves were concealed in clever niches in the rocks near the opening.
Mitsuwa had to drag Paul away from the wonderous things he was watching and into the cavern. Shortly after everyone was in the gates were closed against the elements. Mitsuwa explained that they had entered the “Foyer” It looked similar to any other cavern Paul had seen including bat guano lining the walls. They followed the others leading the horses, and Simon and Selia down a winding path further into the cavern.
Torches lined the path so Paul couldn't see far in but it felt immense. Suddenly they stopped at a wall at the back of the cavern. The man in the lead ushered them all onto a large platform he indicated that they all stay close to the wall.
Suddenly the ground shifted and the platform and wall began to rotate. Paul was reminded of scooby doo and the mysteriously haunted houses where the walls would rotate and shaggy and scooby would be face to face with the bad guy. Only here, once the wall stopped they looked down a narrow corridor. He and Simon had to stoop as they traversed through. The corridor was mercifully short and opened into a vast cavern, not at all like Carlsbad caverns in New Mexico, while fabulous, but dark. This cavern was like a city built inside the mountain.
In the center of the cavern was an amazing garden of trees, flowers, a stream and even herbs and vegetables. Pathways wound through the garden with alcoves for sitting and enjoying. Paul tried to look at everything at once. He saw that pathways wound from the garden level up to where it was so high his mere eyesight couldn't distinguish details. There were lights everywhere, from street lamps to fairy lights, to glow from fireplaces and candles.
Mitsuwa had laughed cheerfully and said “You like?”
Paul felt like he had wandered into a fairy novel. He didn't say so but he nodded to Mitsuwa with what he thought was probably a stupid grin on his face, like a kid who has seen disneyland for the first time! Mitsuwa laughed merrily and said, “Come, we go see honchos and then you can explore all you want.”
Paul followed her, his head swiveling trying to take in all the wonderful sights, and he realized the wonderful smells of food.
He hadn't spoken with either Simon or Selia since he had been rescued as they were on a made dash to the mountain. Now he saw that both of them had disappeared again. In fact, when Mitsuwa took him to the tribal leader, the man barely acknowledged him before sending him away. Mitsuwa showed him to his quarters on the fifth level. It was furnished with three bunks, a fireplace a small table and chairs, two small dressers and a closet. A door and a window with a curtain faced out. His room was essentially a tiny studio apartment without a kitchen or privy in a section with several others.
A fairy had come to show him where the bathing area, the toilets and mess hall were for the fifth level. As far as Paul was concerned it was a luxurious dorm room. The fireplace had been blazing when he arrived and he found his furs that he was wearing were too much. He took off a few layers and left the extras on one of the bunks and tossed his pack on the table. Mitsuwa had gone to her own home, and he felt he had barely thanked her for everything she had done for him. After that it would be days before he saw he again. In fact, it was days before he saw anyone from his party again. He decided on exploring instead of waiting around for some one to tell him what to do.
He had been wandering through the garden and sampling some of the more unusual vegetables one of the farmers was showing him when news came that a guardian had arrived. Paul had followed everyone else to the gathering spot to find out what was happening.
Paul saw the bears first and rushed to greet them. They seemed just as happy to see him as he was to see them. He was so captured by their tale that he didn't see her standing there watching them. Finally he felt her gaze and turned to see Mary Brown smiling at him. Only she looked completely different than the hippy girl he knew on campus. Her smile had faltered and then changed to an aloof look of authority. She was dressed in guardian battle gear and looked quite formidable. Her usually flowing hair was bound in a tidy braid. The two warrior types standing next to her didn't help to soften her appearance. He was actually surprised to see her blush, but the blush didn't touch her voice, “Paul, how are you?”
He could hear the concern, but he was at a loss. “I'm good” he said, unsure what to do next.
“I see you know Oliver and Ike pretty well.” she raised a questioning eyebrow at the three of them.
He opened his mouth to speak, but she held up her hand. He could see then that she was tired. “We will speak soon. Right now let me get my people settled and get some proper food. I will send a fairy for you when we can have a moment to speak.” with that she signaled to the two with her and they left up the pathway to one of the lifts reserved for those with status whose quarters were in the highest levels of the cavern.
It was a few days later before the fairy summoned him to meet with Mary Brown. Fortunately he and Oliver had some time to talk and he knew something about Mirga Brea, who masqueraded as Mary Brown.
Now Paul sat in his favorite alcove of the garden feeding the duck like creatures that lived near the water of the under mountain lake. The lake was big enough that bridges criscrossed it and it actually had more than one island in the center where various people either lived or worked. Paul knew he could live a lifetime here and not see everything. But at the moment he was contemplating the conversation, he and Mirga Brea had. It filled in many gaps, but it also left him with so many more unanswered questions. He was lost in these thoughts when he realized that the ducklike creatures had all retreated to the water and were swimming away. They only did that when startled or someone they didn't know came along.
Paul turned and looked at a familiar face grinning at him. In shock he just stared before jumping up and giving his cousin a bear hug. “I thought you were dead!” he shouted. “No one told me where you were here! You look great! Wow! How did you get here?”
Mike just laughed and said, “Oh boy where do I start!”
Before Mike could utter another word, Oliver crashed into the garden roaring Paul's name. Horrified at the charging bear and the roaring Mike screamed. Paul shouted and for a few minutes choas reigned in the normally quiet little garden.
Paul finally got Oliver to calm down which helped Mike considerably. By the time the village guard showed up Mike, visably shaken was sitting on the bench and Paul was in ernest conversation with Oliver.
Apparently, Oliver and Ike were on their way to the mess hall to eat, when Ike suddenly collapsed and began convulsing. Next he just lay there as if dead. Terrified, Oliver ran to get the one person he trusted most. Paul. Paul grabbed Mikes arm and hauled him to his feet … “Come on Lets go!” he shouted. He ordered the Fyl guard, who had coming running at the commotion, to find Mirga Brea and bring them to the corridor near the first level mess.
Paul, Mike and Oliver reached Ike as the healer Mitsuwa was instructing several warriors to lift the bear onto a cart. Ike wasn't a large bear but he was still quite heavy Oliver and Paul joined in to help while Mike stood and stared in amazement. Mirga hurried up to them from one of the corridors coming from the upper levels. She was followed by a pair of robed Fyl who looked to be even older than Mitsuwa.
Mitsuwa turned to Paul, a grim look on her face, “The bear is not well boy. He was enchanted and that enchantment has been ripped from him. No matter whether the enchanment is good or evil, If it is not properly lifted it can kill. He lives yet, but I cannot tell yet whether he will survive.” Paul and Oliver moved to follow but Mitsuwa held up her hand, “You have other business to be about” she indicated Mirga Brea who acknowledged the summation with a single nod of her head. “Go now boy, be assured that the bear has the best healer in the world attending him. I will allow the guardian to attend.” she look at Oliver and back at Paul.
Paul hung his head as Mitsuwa turned and followed the cart. Oliver his eyes fierce with fear and worry patted Paul on the back as gently as he could. He rough voice soothing like water tumbling over stones, “I will send for you as soon as there is news. Go with Mirga, you will learn much in the next few hours. Ike knows you care I won't let the cub forget either.” and with that he shambled quickly up the path behind the tiny healer.
Paul drew a deep breath. He turned to see the concerned look on Mirga's face and the confusion on Mikes face. Again he was relieved at how well Mike looked. Suddenly he felt angry. Angry that Mike looked healthy and unharmed, angry that Mirga had decieved him, angry that Simon hadn't spoken to him since he disappeared from the inn and sent the irracible Seli to rescue him. Suddenly he just felt used as pawn in a game he didn't know or understand. He had been wandering aimlessly for three days with only Oliver and Ike to keep him company and no one to answer their questions.
He snapped, “Now what do you want me to do? Dance and sing!” he shouted at Mirga, turning to Mike he yelled “and you! I have been freezing my ass off, traveling all over some damn world I know next to nothing about thinking you were being tormented and tortured and here you are after a nice little jaunt through the countryside all well and safe and whole!”
He stood there panting for breath and just so angry he wanted to cry or hit something. Suddenly the look of utter shock on Mikes face and the blush of embaressment on Mirga's face was comical. He started laughing irrationally and then the tears started. Paul just sat down, drew his knees up and buried his head.
Finally Mirga cut through his self pity and said, “Paul I am so sorry. So much has happened so fast that in putting out the fires I neglected to see that you were informed. Paul looked up wearily and wiped his face on his sleeve. Mike still looked confused and somehow Paul still found that funny. He supressed it and said, “No I am sorry for my outburst. Mike, truly I am so relieved to see you and see that you are unharmed.” he stood up.
Mike said, “Not totally unharmed cousin, but healed at any rate. But by your reaction I am thinking you have had quite an adventure compared to mine!”
Mirga smiled. “Come, there is a lot more both of you need to know but this corridor is not the place. Follow me.
New Mission
Jaaneris brooded in his cavern. His memories of life before the cavern came in fleeting fits. He remembered thoughts and feelings, desires and wants, but they seemed distant and trivial compared to his thirst for blood. Human blood drove him to a frenzy, animal blood only fed him when he needed it. He was trapped by this cave however. There was no way to reach the nearest human settlement before the sun would rise and exterminate him.
The cavern was devoid of any life at this point. He regretted the loss of the bears simply for all the blood they had in them. He knew that the cave was cold and damp, but curiously it did not bother him. He found himself drifting father into the darker reaches of the cave down toward the unground pool. There he found the decomposing body of someone he knew but could not remember. The stench of the body did not really bother him either. He could smell it acutely, but he regarded it with a sense of regret at having wasted so much of the blood still in it.
The pool of water was vast but shallow. Nothing lived in the frigid water. He waded out to the center of the pool where a large slab of rock sat like a throne in the cavern. He was curious that he no longer required light, or fire to see. He knew the cavern was dark, but he was able to see even the tiniest ripple in the pool as water dripped from the ceiling.
He had examined every inch of the cavern and had found where a cave in had blocked another passageway. He considered this passageway. Occasionally he would work at the blockage with the thought that maybe the tunnel would take him closer to a settlement of humans and the blood he desired.
Jaaneris drifted over to the rock pile and lost himself in the clearing of the passageway. Time passed in a blur for him. In the back of his head he knew when it was day or night outside, but he ignored and focused on the task before him. Curiously he didn't feel winded, tired or even break a sweat. He knew that the rocks he moved were riducously heavy and prior to his new existance he would not have been able to even stir one of the boulders he moved.
Some time later, maybe hours, maybe days, he had an opening he could walk upright through. He peered through the breach. The tunnel went a short way before it turned and he could not see around the corner. His enhanced hearing picked up the scurrying of rodents and more water dripping, but nothing else. He followed the tunnel as it wound gradually upwards. He found other tunnels branching off and by listening and smelling the air in these he determined whether they were dead ends or went further up or down.
Eventually he drifted into a small cavern. He knew he was near the surface. He could feel fresher air drifting in from the opposite side of the cavern. He saw a large opening on that side and moved toward it. He knew it was daylight outside but could only see darkness beyond the opening. As he neared the opening he suddenly felt a sense of dread. A new sensation for him in this new reality. He curiously examined the feeling and realized the dread emanated from the darkness at the opening. He stopped where he was. He could see that the darkness roiled about the opening as if it were physical. A darkness that devoured light rather than a darkness caused by the absence of light.
He could smell rancid decay and the sweet smell of blood coming from the darkness. He licked his lips, thirst battling with fear. He stood examining the darkness when a murderous voice emanated from the darkness, “My master sent me to collect you for his purposes.” the voice purred with evil desire for destruction. Jaaneris trembled in equal parts fear and anticipation, yet he remained rooted to the spot. The darkness promised annilation, yet it also promised an orgy of blood.
Before he could decide, the voice rasped, “My master does not await your decision bloodsucker, he means now!” with that the dense cloud of darkness coalesced. The next thing Jaaneris knew he was enveloped in the scent of decay and paralized by sheer evil. His sense of time and direction was completely cut off. His night vision was gone. He was as blind and helpless as the mortal he had once been. He felt sheer terror. He tried to scream at the agony of thousands of razors slicing through him, but he could hear nothing.
Memory revisted
Mirga lead Paul to a small room near the middle level of the great mountain city. Mike was in the room next door. Mirga had left Paul waiting outside while she went in the other room with Mike. She had not explained anything. When she finally emerged and led Paul to the other room he tried to question her but she shook her head.
The room was dimly lit with a light that seemed to emanate from a mirror on the wall. A comfortable looking chair sat before the mirror. Paul felt like he was in a private viewing room for movies. Next to the chair was a small table on which sat a pitcher of what looked like water and a glass.
Mirga shut the door with a soft click. She smiled at Paul. He noticed her teeth werent crooked. In fact, she was barely recognizable from the college coed he had known on earth. She was definitely more mature looking. Her smile was still warm. He decided he still liked her smile, but the leather battle outfit made him nervous. He realized he missed her odd hippie style.
“Paul, please sit in the chair. I have much to explain to you, but little time. In the next few hours you will experience a “life-back”. Loosely it means you will be reaquainted with your memories of Cama Talamnoir.” she smiled apologetically.
He was confused, she went on, “Basically, you are not a true earthling. You and Mike were born in Cama Talamnoir.” she shook her head. “I know you have many questions, but you will find your experience of the next few hours will answer many of those questions.” she indicated the table. “The pitcher is filled with a mead like drink. It tastes like a sweet water. It's actually very good. Anyhow, you need to drink all of the liquid.” she must have seen his concern because she then said, “Don't worry it goes down easily and before you know it the pitcher will be empty. The liquid facilitates the reception of your brain to the memories. I guess the best explanation is that it opens your mind and allows the memories to return without causing any discomfort.”
Paul looked at the pitcher suspiciouly. When he reached for it she said, “Wait until I leave the room before you begin. The reason the room is small and solitary is that two people would distort the memories and the person to who the memories belonged would attack the intruder.”
He said quietly, “I am assuming you have done this before?”
There was that smile again, “Many times.” she turned toward the door, but stopped with her hand on the doorknob. “When the process is complete you might sleep for a bit. When you are ready there is a door on the opposite wall. You won't see it until your memories are restored. Leave through that door and wait until someone comes to get you.” she hesitated and softly she said, “Please remember me kindly if you can.” with that she stepped out and closed the door behind her.
At first the images appeared on the mirror as smokey indistinct shapes, more of feelings rather than pictures. Warm happy feelings emanated from these first images, followed by curiousity. Some of these had the feel of sharp pain or delight. Soon the images came faster. At first confusing and conflicting with the images he already knew about his childhood, or thought he knew. Images of his father tall strong and bearded wearing armor and carrying a sword slung across his back jarred with his memories of his father dressed in a suit and tie. His mother's images were just as confusing. First his mother in a dress and apron of a ladies maid, crossing with the memories of his mother in a business suit. His sister Kate and Mike were just as muddled.
Paul continued to drink the water from the pitcher. The more he drank the faster and stronger the memories. He struggled to sort through the differences and finally succumbed to just sitting back in the chair and letting the memories parade through his mind. He also found that by relaxing the images somehow made more sense to him. Eventually he came to the realization, that he wasn't just remembering, but understanding his life.
The next thing he knew the pitcher was empty and so was his mug. He felt complete. As if a part of him had been absent, not something he had consciencely known but had somehow felt.
He set the empty mug down and leaned back into the chair. For a long while he just savored the memories, some of them, the older ones he felt settle back into his mind, as dust laying passively present, but undisturbed.
He knew why he and Mike were here. They were home. Cama Talmnoir was home. Earth was exile. He also knew that Queen Chara was the daughter of the man his uncle killed to save his aunt, Mikes mother. His father had been the Captain of the Guard in Lanitha. His mother the handmaid of the queen herself.
He relived the exciting journey from Lanitha to Tersala. He and Mike had been very young, five and six. He remembered, his family taking refuge with Master Hederidge, a Fraemoir from Cuain Tersa. His household run by pensioners from Cuain Tersa.
He replayed in his mind the games Master Hederidge had taught he and Mike. He clearly saw the day his family bade goodbye to Tersala. The voyage by ship around the southern tip of Southwick and then up along the western coast of N'oiri. His mother and Father had been quiet and solemn. He remembered wondering what they feared. His aunt, Mikes mother remained hidden in her cabin throughout the voyage. She had always been a happy and fun person, but she had changed. Paul knew that something terrible had happened to her in Lanitha and that was the reason they had left in a hurry. He thought back to his aunt as he knew her growing up on earth. She was a quiet and subdued person. She constantly worried over Mike. She was nervous and edgy. He wondered if his family remembered anything about Cama Talamnoir. From all that he had heard, they probably didn't remember anything. He knew at this point he had a lot of questions about his family. He thought about the special rock and stick he always carried. Now he knew why. They had been given to him by Master Hederidge. He also knew their purpose. He pulled both pieces out of his pocket and examined them. Their illusion gone he saw the pieces as they truly were. A smooth slender wooden rod with runes etched along it. The rock was a brilliant blue crystal. He could feel power pulsing warmly from the stone. He also knew that these items could only be held by him. If any one else tried to pick them up they would feel as if they were burning. Echoes of Ben's screaming haunted his thoughts.
Paul hoped that the effect wasn't permanent and that Ben would be alright. He put the rod and crystal back in his pocket.
The room had dimmed. He wondered how long he had been sitting there. He felt groggy as if waking up from a deep sleep. His memories were settling back into him as if they had been with him all the time. He mused that they probably were and the “special water” just washed the camoflage dust off. He stood up from the chair. He definitely felt different. He felt older. College suddenly seemed trivial with all he knew now.
He turned and indeed there was the door Mirga had told him would be there. He strode through the door into a small foyer. Another closed door on the far wall was the only exit. He opened the next door. A room with a fireplace and large chairs like the one in the memory room stood in a semi circle before the fireplace. As he entered the room another door opened and Mike strode through. He stopped as soon as he saw Paul.
Paul saw on Mikes face what he felt. A determination, mixed with fear and wonder. Paul grinned at Mike, “Welcome home? I guess?”
Mike smirked back, “No kidding eh cuz?” Mike shook his head, “I guess we know why we are here huh?”
Paul nodded, “We got some serious shit to do.”
Mike said, “Ya serious. And our dads …” Mike shook his head, “The guy I left at home really doesn't look like the memories I have now, I mean geez he's bald and has a beer gut. I am just having a hard time wrapping my head around my dad in full armor and riding war horses.”
Paul laughed, “I think I nearly had a stroke trying to accept that about our dads.” They stood silently engrossed in their own thoughts. The moment was disturbed when a third door opened and Mirga Brea strode through, followed by Simon, Master Herderidge, Mitsuwa and Oliver. A memory from his childhood rose up as he looked at Simon.
He saw Simon as a very young man talking to Master Hederidge late one night out in the garden. They were arguing over a book. Simon had gotten up and paced the small garden while Master Hederidge puffed on a pipe and watched him with narrowed eyes, a scholar waiting for the student to understand the logic that has just been presented to him.
Finally Simon had turned and place both hands on the table to either side of the book, “Look, I know you have studied this, but how can you be sure these boys are the two? I mean look they came to you by chance. Isn't that why you sent for me? To test them and make sure.”
Master Hederidge shook his head. “I have held this post because Br'Uainghur ordered me to wait here for these boys! You coming here is not to confirm what I already know, but to fulfill the wishes of the C'Uainghur! You must take these families to C'uain Tersa! We will not discuss it further, now follow your orders or I will need to find someone else!”
Simon ground his teeth. He threw up his hands. “Fine, for Br'Uainghur. Not that seat of fools he calls C'uainghur! I hope you are right Hedge. If not we are wasting time!”
Hedge folded his arms across his chest and leaned back in his chair. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes shone with fierce resolve. Simon grunted and strode out of the courtyard his face a thundercloud. Simon felt like he had witnessed something he wasn't supposed to. At that age he hadn't understood. Now he knew what that exchange meant. It also answered some questions he'd had about Simon.
This memory flashed through Paul as he watched the others file in the room. Each of their faces, familiar because he had come to know them in the last few weeks, took on new meaning. Simon he had looked to as he would his father or uncle, now that he knew more about the man from his childhood, his sense of awe lessened.
Hedge, Master Hederidge, made him smile warmly as if seeing his favorite grandfather again after a long separation. He studied Mitsuwa's face, a vague unformed memory stirred there, but he couldn't put a finger on it. All of Paul's memories of Oliver were recent, which in some way relieved him that not everyone was from his hidden past.
Finally he looked at Mirga Brea. She had aged, but he remembered her too. He remembered the end of a long wagon journey from the coast to the mountains that housed C'uain Tersa. As young boys he and Mike had enjoyed the adventure, but the toll on their mothers as they struggled to hide their fear and tend their families was ever present. He remembered how stern his father and uncle had been during the journey. Kate, his sister had developed her bossiness that even on Earth she had never lost. It was as if she had become the boys nanny. Their last night of the journey they stopped at a small village at the base of the mountains. Mirga Brea took his breath away when he saw her. She was not like any woman Paul had ever seen before. She wore a version of the outfit she now wore. Back then she was young at her post of Tersa N'oiri, but she had distinguished herself and was given responsibility for his family. A responsibility that would be hers for many years.
She greeted his father and uncle as if she were at the very least their equal. In astonishment, he watched the respect with which his father spoke with her. Not that his father was a disrespectful man, but he treated Mirga Brea with respect due a person of rank.
She emanated a fierce boldness that had impressed Paul. He remembered watching her and wanting to be impressive like her. He blushed as he remembered idolizing her.
Again these thoughts flashed quickly for him. He looked at Mike who seemed to be struggling with the juxtapositioning of his memories both old and new. They joined the others and took chairs next to each other before the fire place. Neither really knew what to say. Paul glanced at Mirga and was rewarded with an easy grin that said she knew what the memory recall was like.
Master Hederidge remained standing. The door opened and a Fyl servant brought in a tray of refreshments. Another Fyl tended the fire. As soon as the door closed behind their retreating figures, Master Hederidge began to speak.
“Mike and Paul, a belated welcom home is in order.” he nodded in their direction, then addressed the others. “It seems that events are happening quickly, the fact that we have Mike and Paul here only confirms that we are nearing an event which determines whether we break with earth or not. It has been a matter of great debate for centuries among the C'uainghur. Now we are faced with a decision.” Hedge nodded at Mirga Brea, “I believe you have directives regarding the outcome.”
Hedge sat down as Mirga stood and faced the others. “Hedge is right, we have come to the crux of what has been for years argued by those closest to the issue of the portals and the linking of Earth and Cama Talamnoir.” She paused and took a sip from the glass in her hand. “The prevailing opinion and I stress opinion because truly that is what it boils down to, is that we need to close or disable the portals. This will weaken the power of Skaloir. He draws his power from earth by means that none of us are able to fathom.”
Paul listened carefully, this was new information.
Mirga continued, “Skaloir is ancient. He is the soldier that was initially captured by the fleeing villagers lead by Adam and Eva. Something happened to him there. He remained with the portal guardians for many years. He traveled back and forth between Earth and Cama Talamnoir. By the time he left C'uain Tersa he had changed dramatically. No one ever knew exactly what happened to him when he went through. However C'uain Tersa was named for him, as he was the first to return from the portal. His name was Cuain Ska. C'uain Tersa literally means Cuain's Portal. He shed that name if favor of Skaloir, which means “god of two.” Mirga turned and stared into the fire for a moment before turning back, “Again it is believed that his power is derived and strengthed by access from from both worlds. The C'uainghur have decided that we must break our bonds with Earth and close the portals.” She looked at each person and then said, “I believe closing the portals will destroy our worlds, at the very worst. Either that or portals will open elsewhere. At this time we control all known portals, and I mean control in that the known portals are monitored.”
Mirga's eyes began to blaze like the fire behind her as she continued, “Skaloir no longer uses the portals. I believe that destroying them will have no affect on him, in fact I think it will make him stronger. I feel we need to destroy Skaloir. He was a man once. Whatever made him should be able to unmake him.” Mirga turned to Paul and Mike, “I believe the items you two carry hold the key to Skaloirs undoing. He is after those items.”
Mike looked down ashamed then back at Mirga in defiance. “I am missing half of mine. I have the map, but not the instructions.”
Now it was Paul's turn to look ashamed. “That's my fault. I unknowingly gave that to Skaloir. The woman I gave it to died horribly for my mistake.”
It was Master Hederidge who spoke, “There is no fault to blame yourself with Paul. You had no idea what you were doing. How could you?” Hedge looked around the room. “I agree with Mirga. I believe she has the support of some key members of C'uainghur, most notable Br'Uainghur Var. But time is against us. Already the C'uainghur moves to block the other portals.
Mitsuwa huffed. “The portals are safe for the time, we have sent guards to stop them for now. What is important is that we get the scroll from Skaloir and back in to the hands of this boy!” she pointed at Mike.
Mike frowned at being called a boy, but wisely held his tongue. Paul was about to speak when Oliver spoke up. “As far as I can tell Skaloir won't willingly part with the scroll and he will do what it takes to get the rest of the items. Perhaps if we view this problem from another angle we can use that against him.”
Mirga said, “What do we know about these objects,” she looked at Paul and Mike, “can we see these items?”
Paul and Mike exchanged a glance and then Mike said, “I have the map with me here.”
Paul said, “I have the rod and the crystal.”
Everyone looked at them expectantly. Suddenly Paul felt uneasy about showing these objects to everyone and apparentlt from Mikes expression, so did he. It was Hedge who spoke next.
“Paul, Mike, it was me who gave you those pieces. I also impressed on two very small boys that these items were never to be played with nor were they to be handled by anyone else.” he smiled warmly at them, “My directie was laced with a bit of compulsion. Hence your reluctance. I had to ensure that two little boys wouldn't be careless with these extremely powerful objects. I also had to be certain you would keep it secret. Now I release you. As adults it is expected that you understand the importance of what I did.” he sighed, “My mistake was limiting the compulsion to you individually with the individual items you were charged with.” Hedge continued to explain, “Paul was able to give the scroll to another person, because the compulsion extended only to the rod and crystal for him.” Hedge's rueful smile eased Paul's discomfort over loosing the scroll to Skaloir.
Mike pulled the map from a pouch that he kept tucked under his shirt. Paul retrieved the rod and crystal from his own secret pocket. They placed all three items on the table.
Silence descended. No one moved. The fire crackled and blazed oblivious of the power of the objects sitting before it on the table.
Oliver's gruff voice startled everyone, “I know nothing of these things.” his voiced limned, with sorrow pushed on, “but is there a chance that any of these things can help Ike?”
Every eye turned to Hedge. Hedge remained staring at the objects for a long moment before answering. “Actually as incongruous as the question may seem,” he turned to lock eyes with Oliver, “I think there is a way to to heal Ike with these items. More specifically with one of these items.”
Hedge held up his hand, “perhaps a bit more information about these objects is forthcoming.”
Mirga gave Hedge such a cold stare that Paul hoped to never be on the other end of that gaze for any reason. Hedge ignored Mirga. “I am C'uain Fraemoir. A scholar of C'uain Tersa.” Mirga continued to pierce him with her gaze as if daring him to hold back any other information. Again he went on ignoring her look, “I have spent my entire scholarship studying these objects and their relevance to Skaloir and the Portals.” Hedge began to pace as he swung into full lecture mode. Paul would have laughed at the feeling of being back in school if not for the surroundings and the childhood memories vying for attention from his recent college memories.
“Whether Skaloir created these itmes or found them is not known, but he has used them. Mirga recounted the story of Cuain Ska and his abduction to Earth, she even mentioned the other guard who was found tied to a tree. But what was not mentioned is what happened to that guard. He did not live happily ever after. No, that guard was used by Skaloir and now accompanies him as the shadow butcher.” At this point Hedge knew his audience was riveted. He drove on, “The items that created the butcher were these very items here.” Mitsuwa hissed.
Hedge looked at her and shook his head, “no the items are not evil. The items are indifferent to the wielder. They are only evil in the hands of one who intends evil. At anyrate, I believe the crystal does have healing properties in the hands of the right person.” This time he looked directly at Mitsuwa.
Paul spoke up, “but aren't these objects person specific? I mean I know you placed a compulsion directive on me, but my roommate was holding these items in his hands. He screamed like he was burning and then went in to a coma!”
Mike's eyes widened, “Ben?”
Paul nodded and opened his mouth to continue, but Hedge held up his hand, “He will be fine. The effect is temporary if not startling. For someone who is unaware of the properties of the crystal and the rod, or who is not protected from them as in the compulsion directive, will suffer ill effects for tampering with them. To the doctors on earth it will seem as if your roommate had an unexplicable allergic reaction that they cannot identify, but he will be given a clean bill of health and will lead a normal life and will chalk that up to a trauma of youth. But lets continue. In the hands of Mitsuwa, the crystal is a remarkable healing tool. It can bring someone to a stable condition who might otherwise die from a fatal wound. In the hands of a gifted healer it may even cure disease, but it will not cure aging. It may delay it, drag out life beyond normal life expectancy, but death is inevitable. Why? Because it is a effect of the crystal in the hands of a healer. In the hands of a warrior it may enhance agility, strength and stamina. A scholar may have an insight into a particuliar problem he would not otherwise have. An artist may have inspiration or a surge in the deftness of their talent.”
Hedge paused to sip his wine, and let his words take effect. Oliver said, “so it may help Ike and it may not.”
Hedge nodded. Oliver sighed, sadly. Paul felt his friends dejection. He was suddenly very tired. He looked at the objects on the table and then at the group gathered. “I understand our time is short, but it has been a very full day. I'm exhausted, hungry and my friend lies senseless while we sit here and discuss possibilities.” Paul saw Mike nodding in agreement. Both of them were anxious to talk alone as well. “Perhaps we can meet again tomorrow?”
Simon had remained a silent spectator throughout the discussion, but Paul had been aware of him. He glanced at Simon and saw him reclining in his chair if bored to tears with the entire discussion. Paul knew that was a sham. He had spent enough time with Simon to know that he used indiffernce as a means to observe.
Paul turned to Mitsuwa, “First I would like to see if the crystal can help Ike if you are willing to try.”
Mitsuwa's bird like gaze pierced him but she nodded that she would try. Paul stood and took the objects from the table. He handed the map to Mike and asked Mitsuwa to lead the way. He followed Mitsuwa and Oliver out the door, Mike behind him. The others remained seated, with Hedge staring into his wine glass, deep in thought.
He thought Mirga was about to say something to him but he turned away and ducked out the door. His feelings were muddled. He felt weighed down by the vast amounts of information he had been handed in the last few hours. He needed to sort through what he knew before he knew how he felt about it all. He wanted some time alone with Mike, the only other person who could hope to understand how he felt.
Paul pushed the swirling thoughts away and concentrated his thoughts on Ike. He hoped Mitsuwa could help him. Mike silently followed, presumably lost in his own thoughts.
Alternate Plans
Mirga paced the room. She wanted to run from the room. She had seen the look of betrayal in Pauls face. She wanted to explain, to beg forgiveness. She wanted to rail at him for being insensitive. She wanted to kill something.
Simon spoke for the first time all evening, “Mirga Brea!” he smirked.
Mirga glared at the insolent legend. She had heard so many amazing things about Simon, that actually meeting him was disappointing. She found him completely rude and arrogant. She liked his bitch of a wife even less. She was grateful that Seli had not been included in this meeting.
Simon was not in the least intimidated by her fierce gaze, instead it seemed to amuse him. He said, “I hear you are the hope of the great Br'uainghur Var,” he smirked. Simon put his feet languidly on the table, his hands behind his head. “So Mirga Brea, tell me how has it been for you to travel to Earth so many times? I hear you have the most trips through the portal of any Tersa N'oiri.”
Mirga shook her head slowly, her long braid twitched on her back like the tail of an irritated cat. “And you Simon? Enjoying the notariaty of being a renegade?” she snorted, “and to think I thought you would reflect your accomplishments. You are nothing more than an arrogant...”
Hedge interupted, “Please! Stop! The two of you cannot have this animosity, at least not now! We have so much that needs to be done if we hope to defeat Skaloir. Petty disputes have no place here!” He glared at Simon and Mirga.
Simon chuckled, “Ah Hedge, the diplomat as always! But then you are correct!” With a smirk Simon stood up and offered his hand to Mirga, his face painted with a cheesy smile.
Mirga ignored him and his hand, “You're right Master Hederidge, of course, this is not the time. I have work to do.” she bowed to Hedge and headed for the door. Simon's mocking laughter followed her out the door, so she slammed it behind her. She hurried down the corridor until she was in her own quarters. Eris and Mera were still gone. She sighed as she sat heavily on her bed. She hoped they would be back with good news soon. So far nothing had gone right.
She was still brooding when a slip of parchment fluttered into her room from under the door. She snatched up the paper and wrenched the door open. No one was in the corridor. She closed the door and looked at the paper in her hand. It was a simple note written in a bold hand she did not recognize. It simply said, “News has arrived, come to the wolf dens”
Immediately, she was suspicious. Neither Eris or Mera would have sent her such a message. She hoped they were alright. She tossed the paper on the small table in the center of the room, if either of the C'aighur returned, they would know where to look for her.
As a precaution she armored herself and strapped on her sword. She would also leave a message with master Hederidge. Mirga opened the door. A seething mass of fetid darkness enveloped her. She opened her mouth to scream, but no sound emerged. Blind terror screamed through her before she mercifully lost conciousness.
A Bear's last hope.
Mike sat on the bench and watched as Paul and Oliver hovered near their friend Ike. Mitsuwa stood on a stool over the prone form of the fire dancer, switching between mutters and curses to actual chants. Clutched in her hand was Paul's crystal. It continued to change colors, but not as quickly as it had when she first attempted to heal the bear.
Her initial attempts had caused the poor bear to writhe and jump as he lay there unconcious. Now most of the moans seemed to come from the other bear, the warrior bear. They had been at it for nearly two hours. Mike had retreated to the bench early on. Now he was staring at the map. With the return of his memories he realized the map actually made sense. In fact, he remembered Hedge instructing him on the maps purpose when he was a small boy. He also now knew that the other piece of parchment was the instructions for how to use the map. He also knew from these memories that only he could read and fully understand both pieces.
He reflected on the memories, dwelling for a time on his parents as they had been before they entered the portal and started their lives on earth. The only life he thought he had up until a few hours ago. He wondered if it really was true or was someone playing mind games with him. After his treatment by Fiaccola he couldn't really be sure.
Mike noticed a strange symbol at the bottom corner of the map. He looked closely at it and realized it was only a partial symbol and that it had been torn in half. He examined the edges of the map. It became obvious that the velum had been torn in half. Three sides were straight and even while the right side was not exactly jagged, but definitely not even or straight. Mike wondered what happened to the other piece.
He looked up when he heard a low moaning growl. The prone bear was growling with a low gutteral moan. The moan eascalated into a roaring howl. Both Oliver and Paul had their ears covered. Mitsuwa with a grim look on her face continued to chant and wave the crystal about. Abruptly the howl stopped and Mitsuwa collapsed to the floor panting as if she had run up the side of the mountain. Mike realized he had covered his own ears. He stood and moved next to Paul who was anxiously watching the bear.
“Ike?” Paul called softly, “Ike, can you hear me?” Oliver on the other side was gently shaking Ike.
Suddenly Ike sneezed. Startled all three of them jumped. Ike moaned softly and licked his lips. His eyes blinked open a few times.
Oliver started to caper like a cub shouting, “Did you see that?! Did you??” He licked his lips! Ike you licked your lips!!”
Every watched Oliver in astonishment, the Paul started whooping and dancing about with Oliver. Mitsuwa and Mike glanced at each other. Mike shrugged. Ike moaned and rasped,“Where am I? What is all the ruckus?” He tried to sit up but fell back with a groan. “I'm hungry” he announced.
Mitsuwa raised her eyebrows, and said, “And I was expecting something else?” she struggled up with Mikes help. Leaning on his arm she seemed so old and frail suddenly. Mike led her to the bench. He poked his head out the door and asked on of the orderlies to fetch the bear some food and a pot of tea for the healer, something to bolster her strength.
When he turned back to the others, he saw that Paul and Oliver were helping Ike sit. Where Ike was confused, Paul and Oliver shone with glee. Ike groaned and buried his head in his paws. “What a nightmare he grumbled through his paws. I dreamt that I was burning!” He looked at Oliver, “It wasn't a dream was it?”
Oliver shook his head. Ike groaned. “I feel so tired!”
Mitsuwa, who had finally regained her feet, checked the bear for any signs of physical distress. Finding nothing she said, “You seem to be ok. Perhaps in better condition that when I first saw you. But rest is always good medicine for any ordeal. Maybe some food first.”
Both Oliver and Ike perked up at the prospect of food. Mitsuwa said, “I will take my leave. I believe I have done all I can here.” she smiled, handed the now clear crystal back to Paul and left.
Paul, as happy as he was to see Ike hale, seemed distracted. Mike saw him glance his way several times. It was time they talked and figured out what they should do with their returned memories. Paul put his arms around both Bears and said, “As you two are bottomless pits, why don't you go and get some food. Mike and I have had quite the revelations today and we need to discuss what that means. Also I am quite weary. I will see the both of you later.”
Ike and Oliver mumbled their regrets that Paul and Mike would not be joining them at their feast. However, their stomachs over ruled any protest and soon they were headed for the nearest mess hall.
Mike and Paul walked quietly back to the dormitories, where Paul and the bears had been staying. By unspoken assent they kept their conersation at bay until they could be sure of some semblance of privacy.
Mike sat in the one chair in the room while Paul sat on one of the beds. For a moment neither said anything.
Mike sighed, “I honestly have so many thoughts running through my head that I really have no idea what to think! I mean really the overload is nearly unbearable!”
Paul silently considered everything he now knew, trying to get a sense of the events. Somehow he felt that his and Mike's family were tied more closely to the recent events than was obvious.
“You're on to something,” Mike whispered as he caught Paul's expression.
“Use your new memories. Can you trace your parents before they left Lanitha?”
Mike frowned. “No.”
Paul said, “I don't think our memories are complete. I think they have told us as much as they want us to know, but they are holding something back.”
Mike stood up and paced. He pulled the map out of his pocket. He layed it on the table and studied it. “This is not a conventional map. I mean it shows roads, hills, towns and such, but it's not literal.”
Paul said, “what do you mean?”
Mike explained, “I remember a vague conversation with Hedge when I was a boy. He had said 'I see a map of someplace, but for those who have by blood, received this map it reveals it's true nature'. It didn't make any sense to me then, but what if this map is a step by step set of instructions, like a dance chart” he smirked.
Paul squinted at the map. “Do you mean to say that you see more than roads and rivers and towns on this?”
Mike looked at the map. As he stared at it he began to see a pattern in the markings. He looked at Paul and said quietly, “ya I guess that's exactly what I'm saying.”
Paul pulled out the rod and the crystal. He placed them on the table and said, “what do you see?”
Mike laughed, “I see a little black rod that could pass for a piece of smooth rebar and an egg sized lump of crystal.”
Paul nodded, “Me too.” Paul slumped back against the wall. “Maybe these things don't work well without the fourth piece.”
“Maybe, but I'm not so sure.” said Mike as he gazed at the map. Idylly he picked up the rod and traced it about the map. Suddenly objects lept off the map and began floating about Mike in the air. Startled he dropped the rod. The objects zipped back to the map where they appeared again as landmarks and lines.
Paul and Mike exchanged startled looks. “Ok” rasped Paul, “We just learned something new!”
Mike swallowed hard and nodded. “Nothing like this exists in any of my memories.” he whispered.
Paul slowly shook his head. This time he picked up the rod and traced a circle on the map. Slowly a blue white glowing disc emerged from the vellum and hovered about Paul.
Mike pointed to what looked like a dog so Paul traced that. A bear much like Ike in flames floated up off the page and twirled about Pauls head. Mike said, “We need the other page. At least before we accidently do something harmful.”
Paul said, “What are we waiting for?”
Breaking point
Jaaneris saw her and salivated. The warm rich smell of her blood permeated the room. It trickled down her arm over her hand and dripped off her thumb. The redness was bright and effervscent to him compared to the rest of the room. He began to shake with uncontrollable desire and hunger. He lunged for her prone body. The chains that bound him dug into his flesh, restraining him. He clawed at the iron bonds, irritated that they prevented him from getting any closer to his feed.
Howling in anger and frustration Jaaneris caused her to stir. She too was bound by chains. Her hair, normally smooth and neat, was wrapped in tangled strings about her head. One baleful eye glared at him as she struggled against her bonds, which forced her to lie facedown on the stone bench. She stopped struggling as she watched Jaaneris. He knew her, but couldn't recall why. A name floated up through his foggy memory, Mirga.
Jaaneris pushed the hunger away and croaked, “Meerga!” he cackled a bit as she continued to look at him.
She rasped, “What happened to you?”
Jaaneris was confused by the question. He shook his head and growled at Mirga. She represented something else besides a source of food, but he couldn't identify what that was. He struggled against his restraints.
The door swung open and Skaloir strolled in. Lips twisted in a permanent smirk he cooly regarded his captives. “Two C'uain Tersa in my custody! N'oiri no less and even better the two most sought after N'oiri!” He shook his head. Mirga scowled at him while Jaaneris shrank back. Skaloir feigned a sigh as he looked at Jaaneris, but addressed Mirga, “He's pathetic isn't he? Or one who was so skilled and gifted as a N'oiri, now he is nothing more than a mosquito!”
Skaloir turned to Mirga. “You may have your wits about you, but trussed up as you are, they won't do you much good.”
Mirga snarled, “What do you intend to do with me? Feed me to your pet mosquito?”
Skaloir cackled. “Oh now that would be fun to watch, but no. You're here just to torment him and send him in to a hunger frenzy. But your true purpose is to bait a much larger fish. You see, I could capture you because you have no wards or protections keeping me from reaching you, but those boys. I can't reach them while they have their trinkets. Otherwise I would have taken them along time ago!”
Mirga remained silent. That was an unknown effect of the objects they carried. She wondered if Hedge knew that. She wondered if anyone knew she was missing yet. Skaloir was watching her. She reveled in the thought that no matter what, he had no idea what she was thinking. Some how her thoughts were going to have to be her advantage, no matter how small that seemed at the moment.
She shifted her gaze to the cowering, sniveling form of Jaaneris. “What happened to him?”
Skaloir's cruel laugh made her wince. She had never liked the arrogant Jaaneris, but even he didn't derserve this fate.
Idly Skaloir looked Jaaneris over. “Really I have no idea how this happened, but I am guessing some sort of vampiric spirit was living in the cave where I found him. It took over his body and mind it seems. But then it seems to be more than that, There seems to be very little of Jaaneris left.” That grating laugh again. “Whatever he is, I'm sure when he has outlived my usefulness he will make a fine snack for my shadow.” In and offhand matter he said, “just as I suspect you will.”
As if on cue, two docile looking ogres entered the chamber. Roughly they detatched her bonds from the rings on the floor and hauled her to a standing position. Mirga snarled and grunted as the manacles dug in to her wrists and ankles. Skaloir continued to smirk at her discomfort. She hissed at him.
Without another word she followed her jailors out the door. It was a relief not to have to look at the wasted form of Jaaneris as he slavered for her blood. Mosquito indeed! She could imagine all too well the mangling she would endure at the bloodsucker Jaaneris' hands.
