30. Misunderstanding

Neither of the soldiers reacted, confirming what I’d already suspected. They couldn’t hear it. Why doesn’t anyone ever hear this stuff but me?

When the Gem awakens to call a Hero, the world is ill prepared...and its fate is placed in the hands of a 17 year old boy, named Wendell. 

Some will say this is nothing but a tale of fiction.
Let them think as they may. 

After all...I can't fix stupid.

Previously: Wendell, Chuck, and Alhannah defended Til-Thorin against the relentless Vallen siege, but the discovery of a hidden seal in the chapel led Wendell to a critical revelation. Now, with the Keep's defenses crumbling and the true stakes unveiled, Wendell must act quickly to protect the children before the enemy can exploit them.

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We all make mistakes, we all fall…we all fail.

We’re supposed to.

It’s called success in motion.

Glass exploded outward.

The chapel erupted into chaos.

Children scurried, hands over ears, shrieking in fear.

“What are you doing!?” Evan yelled, dumbfounded.

I ran to the base of the shattered window, frantically sifting through the glass shards littering the floor. 

How big would a seal be?

Panic rose as I realized I wouldn’t recognize the seal even if I saw it. There was nothing but shattered glass scattered around. Using my sneakers, I nudged the shards about.

It’s just…glass! But…where’s the seal?

I glanced up at the empty frame where the stained glass once stood. The area behind it was bricked up. My heart sank.

Uhhhh.

Throwing a hammer across a room full of children suddenly seemed like a terrible idea. I picked up the hammer and turned to apologize.

A soldier tackled me.

“WAIT!” I yelled, pushing against the man’s helmet. Strong hands shoved my face against the cold stone floor, glass piercing my cheek. “No, I’m sorry! OW! Really! OW! I just thought I was going to find…” I clamped my mouth shut. What could I possibly say that wouldn’t sound completely insane? I bit my tongue.

“Don’t hurt him, Sepp,” said a second soldier. “He’s the King’s guest.”

Sepp looked up pleadingly. “Canna knock ‘em out? ‘Ez a danger, I say, Roald. We got no time fer this!”

“We’ll take him below. Unless ya want ta find your neck in a noose?”

“Where are you taking him!?” Evan coughed.

Yanked to my feet, I felt my arm forcefully pinned against my back. “Easy!” I flinched, “I’m going…I’m going.”

Children scattered as the soldiers marched me out of the room. Lili stood near the doorway, a tray of food in her hands. My heart skipped as I realized she was watching me. Her bangs were pulled back, revealing lines of worry between her arched brows.

Is she…worried about me?

My shoulder slammed into the door frame with a loud thump, forcing a grunt out of me.

“Watch yerself now,” chuckled the guard.

“Leave him be, Sepp.”

With a grumble, Sepp pushed me forward.

As we passed through the winding corridors, I caught a glimpse of Alhannah in the distance, her face set with determination as she spoke with a group of soldiers. Our eyes met for a brief moment, but she quickly turned back to her conversation, her focus elsewhere.

We dodged servants running about, weaving in and out of rooms so quickly I was spun around several times, making it difficult to maintain my bearings. We reached a set of wide steps leading down into the dark. A resounding crack of thunder shook the stone beneath our feet.

“What’s down there?” I asked nervously.

Sepp shoved me forward, nearly sending me tumbling headfirst down the stairs. “Your room,” he growled, “until it ‘blows o’er…or the enemy comes ta eatcha!”

“Blast you, Sepp,” warned Roald. “I’ll not warn you again. Leave him be!”

“Oh, alright.”

My ears perked up. 

Help me. 

The voice was everywhere, nearly shouting.

Neither of the soldiers reacted, confirming what I’d already suspected. They couldn’t hear it. Why doesn’t anyone ever hear this stuff but me?

Heavy hands pushed me down into the darkness, but Sepp quickly eased up on his grip. The sudden blackness nearly swallowed us. All three of us were forced to slow until our eyes adjusted—a small flicker in the distance encouraged us forward. The smell was overwhelming—mold mixed with earth. I gagged.

The flickering light came from scattered torches further down the passageway. It barely illuminated the damp, dusty corridor, making the stone floor slippery.

The halls wound around and split—a maze of storage rooms and hallways. The scuff-marks on the floor, disturbing the layer of dust, said these areas hadn’t been used in some time. A servant backed out of a room with a wooden crate in his arms, gave us a fleeting glance, and dashed to the stairs.

Roald pulled a torch from a sconce and held it high. “I hate it down here,” he muttered. “Let’s get this over with.”

“Why are you bringing me down here? Where are you taking me?” I asked again, this time directly at Roald.

Both soldiers maintained their stride. “To place you somewhere safe.”

“Waste ‘a time,” grumbled Sepp.

Roald ignored him and glanced over at me. “It’s not that we mean you harm, sir. I’ve seen you with the mägo and the King…even that short green fellow with the big ears and no clothes. But we’re at war, and we don’t have time to do this properly.” He shrugged. “So what do I do with you?”

“We shoulda just—” Sepp started, but the angry glare from his friend stopped him short, and he snapped his mouth shut.

The impacts of boulders smashing into the Keep echoed through the corridors. Dust, dirt, and pebbles rained down from the mortar onto my head and shoulders. I blinked, coughing to clear my eyes.

Help me.

The voice was closer now, its presence cold and insistent. They’re expecting me.

Sepp pushed me around a corner, past another set of stairs, to a single, wide door. A small window in its center had bars in it. My heart sank. They’re putting me in jail?

“Wait. Wait!” I complained, but Roald opened the door, and Sepp pushed me through. The room had two cells against one wall. The opposite wall had crates stacked haphazardly. Once a prison, the room was obviously used for storage now. One of the cells was filled with neatly stacked tables, chairs, candles, and sconces.

The room was freezing, the cold air seeping through the barred windows. I heard shouting and the clash of metal on metal from somewhere outside. Both cell doors were open, but only one cell was empty. To my surprise, the place didn’t stink at all—fresh straw covered the floor, softening the harsh stone.

A set of chains hung from the wall, fastened to the stone. Underneath them, two benches were pushed together like a makeshift bed. A wrinkled, soiled blanket was draped over it.

“You’re not going to chain me to the wall, are you?” I asked meekly.

“No. This is just a precaution,” Roald said, ushering me into the available cell. “So you won’t be able to cause any more trouble, and we can go defend the Keep without worrying about the inside being terrorized.”

I sighed, “But I wasn’t…”

The soldier raised his hand, “I don’t want to know. You’re safe…at least for now.” He nudged Sepp, “Lock it.” The door clanged shut.

“But…who will know I’m even down here?”

Roald shuffled through the crates, popping off the lids. Lifting a heavy grey blanket, he held it to his nose, sniffed—then handed it to me through the bars. “Here. I’ll leave these doors open and give the kitchen instructions to bring you food and water.”

Their footfalls echoed down the corridor as they left.

“I’ll also inform Lord Joram the moment I see him,” Roald called back.

I gripped the bars and rattled them, clanging against the hinges in the gloom. Come on! Straw exploded across the cell as I spun and kicked.

This can’t be right, I fumed. I followed all the signs, all the pieces of the dreams! The sounds of battle raged outside, intensifying and drawing nearer. I caught flashes of movement past the narrow window. A soldier fell into view, screaming, clutching his bloodied arm.

“Help me, Ithari!” I pleaded in a loud whisper, “People are dying! The enemy…they could find the seal!”

I paced the cell, back and forth, thinking as intensely as I knew how. 

Please, Ithari—Help Me!

Nothing.

…come on, blast you, Help Me!

Help me.

My eyes popped open. Without thinking, I yanked open my tunic, turned away from the window, and blurted out loud, “Silmä inakmään!”

Ithari flashed into view.

A crate in the hall outside my cell tipped over, crashing onto the floor. I flinched, turning my chest away from the sound. No one was there. Its contents, long wax candles, rolled across the floor.

I stared down at the gem.

Cupping a hand over its center, I squeezed it. My fingernails dug into the rim, but nothing happened. I could feel my own heartbeat through the crystal. It was warm to the touch. 

I’m trying so hard to do this…to BE what… I sighed, frustrated. Why won’t you talk to me?

I turned to the narrow window and pointed, still staring at the gem. “Do you see that—what’s going on outside?” I asked, frustrated. “I want to help stop all this. I’m willing to help stop it! Isn’t that what you want?”

My pulse quickened, and I immediately felt strength surge through my arms and legs—a warm pulse that enlivened my senses.

But I frowned.

I turned away from the narrow window, so my chest was in shadow.

I squinted.

“You’re glowing!” I gasped.

It was the same purple glow I’d seen around King Robert’s head. Now it was softly emanating from my chest!

“What does this mean?” I asked aloud, hopeful. But there was no answer. I threw my back against the cell bars. 

Oh, come ON! You HAVE to hel—

“Wait a minute…” I stood upright and slowly tilted my head to one side. 

Is that…? 

I looked down at my chest and took a step toward the far corner of the cell. I cupped the Ithari, creating a shadow with my hands.

The glow intensified.

I looked up again. A sliver of light had caught my attention, barely visible behind the mound of straw and dirt.

Then I heard it.

Giggling.

I dashed to the wall and dropped to my knees—my hands clawing away the grime. A purple light pulsed brightly, as if trying to push out from behind the stone. I slapped my palm against the cold surface of the mortar.

“Hello?” I whispered to the wall.

The giggling filled my mind and heart.

My mouth peeled back into an open-tooth grin. YES!

But there was nothing to scrape away at the mortar. Just straw, dirt, the benches used as a bed. Then it dawned on me.

Wait a minute, if the seal’s in there, wouldn’t it be…

I jumped to my feet, braced myself against the two walls of the corner, and kicked at the stone. The impact made an odd sound—like an egg cracking as my foot made contact.

But I could see lines across the stone.

I kicked again, carefully angling my foot. I didn’t want to put my sneaker through the center and risk damaging the contents.

Purple light flooded into the room as the pieces fell away. Ithari and the secret compartment both pulsed with the same warm glow, as if they were connected. I dropped to my knees and peered inside the hollow section of the wall.

You Found Me!

I laughed. I couldn’t help it. I’d finally done something right. The light was warm and soothing, bouncing off the walls of the container. My heart beat with such love, all I could do at first was concentrate on breathing. My skin tingled with warmth and energy, like I was being hugged.

“Yup, I found you,” was all I could think to say…and I laughed again.

The shard was smaller than I had imagined it would be. It was the length of my longest finger and not more than two inches in diameter. It sat, wrapped in the loving embrace of a statue…a female figurine, standing on a rocky shore. Her arms and long, flowing hair held the shard fast as water splashed against the rocks behind her.

Is that…the seal?

Curious, I reached in to grab the statue.

I hesitated—my fingers curling into a fist. Slowly, I withdrew my hand.

Maybe this isn’t such a good idea, I realized. What do I do with it once I have it? My mind instantly flooded with questions. How does it work? Could I damage it by touching it? Is there an enchantment protecting it?

I sat upright. “Chuck would know!”

All I had to do was get out of this cell. I could run to the Great Hall, grab the wizard, and bring him back. We could get Dax and Alhannah and port somewhere safe. Get the seal away from the army before they discovered it.

I grinned wide. We have SO won this!

Quickly pushing straw and dirt up around the opening, I blotted out the purple light. “I’ll come right back,” I said, though I wasn’t sure to exactly whom. “I’ll take you somewhere safe…somewhere far away, ok?”

Right. I backed up to the opposite wall, facing the bars of the cell door. My only obstacle now was getting free.

You can do this, Wendell. People are counting on you—just slam your body into the door and break the darn hinges!

I rolled my shoulders back and took a deep breath. All I have to do… sigh. Right. Here goes nothing.

“AHHHHHHH…!” I screamed, hoping it would make me tougher.

Throwing my shoulder forward, I ducked my head just before impact. A loud CLANG rang through the hallway as the cell door flipped open without resistance and slammed against the adjacent bars. I lost my footing, stumbled forward, tripped on my own feet, and slammed into the far wall. My face bounced off the stone, and I collapsed onto the ground with a dull thud.

“Uhhhhh,” I moaned.

The cell keys snapped off the small wooden knob above me…and clunked me on the head.

“Ouch.”

But I had no time for pain or complaints. The mystery of why I was at Til-Thorin had finally been solved! I had to get help…fast. Jumping to my feet, I sprinted down the hallway, sliding awkwardly across the stone floor, trying to remember the way out.

*****

“CHUCK!” My voice echoed faintly in my ears.

I zig-zagged across the courtyard, ignoring the conflict altogether. I was smiling. Wendell’s careless display was disturbing enough, but the flaps of my tunic were loose, and Ithari could be seen plainly. It was glowing bright purple from the center of my chest.

Dax shouted in alarm, “WENDELL!” He launched himself across the ground, swinging his body forward like an ape. His face instantly contorted into a snarl, his eyes sharp as daggers.

Wendell was focused on Chuck and had inadvertently slipped past a small cluster of enemy soldiers. Red-spattered faces watched me—the unarmed, half-naked human—sprint past.

They gnashed their teeth and bolted after me.

Air exploded, knocking me forward, through the air.

BAMPH! BAMP! BAMPH! BAMPH! BAMPH!

I landed roughly on my chest, sliding to a halt at Chuck’s sandaled feet. I coughed and pushed myself up. “Chuck, I just—”

Dax lay beside me, his small body covered in black goo, arms and legs spasming violently. The whites of his eyes showed as blood seeped from his mouth, nose, and ears.

Three Vallen heads lay around him, their eyes and lips still twitching.

“Monkey!” cried Chuck, dropping his staff and falling to his knees.

What…happened? I stared at the small body, flipping about in epileptic spasms. Dax gasped, followed by weak coughs, blood draining from mouth and nose.

“Chuck—what’s wrong with him!?” I asked, panicked.

The wizard didn’t have time to answer.

I slapped my hands over my temples, trying to hold my skull together as a scream ripped at my soul.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Arching my back, a brilliant white light flared from the Ithari. It shot skyward—a beam of light, piercing the clouds like a dagger. My arms trembled, my chest heaving. The beam grew—spreading outward, across the sky, softening until it flooded the courtyard in a sea of white.

The ground heaved. Cracks appeared across the courtyard. Chasms opened wide, swallowing trees, wagons, and the bodies of the dead. The curtain wall swayed and split. Stones fell from towers. Men dove to safety while others less fortunate fell into the gaping maw of nature. The very steps of Til-Thorin split asunder.

The Vallen panicked, dashing to the main gate—only to find their escape cut off. Some ran along the walls, dropping their weapons and shields, wailing and scraping at the stone like frightened children or trapped beasts. Others dashed up the steps of the catwalk and threw themselves between the merlons. The few that remained were swiftly cut down by the human soldiers.

The light faded suddenly—a light switch, turned off, and all went dark.

I struggled to breathe. It was as if invisible hands pushed against my chest, weighing me down, refusing to let me inhale.

Again, the shriek pierced my mind and heart, and I reeled in agony.

“AHHHHHHHHHH!”

Chuck reached out and grabbed my arm, “What is it?” He shook me hard, “What’s wrong?!”

“NO!” I gasped, and the light from my chest vanished. Sweat dripped down my brow, burning my eyes. Without pausing, I pushed away from the wizard and bolted across the courtyard, leaping over obstacles.

“Where are you going!?” shouted Alhannah, her voice sharp with concern, but she was already sprinting after me.

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Author Notes

Only ONE MORE EPISODE TO GO!!

Jaime

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