18. Return of the King

The gnome whispered between muffled giggling. “Your shirt’s making googly-eyes at the brunette.”

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 and party secure the party by engaging in combat, unfortunately with Chuck as bait. It quickly becomes apparent that Wendell underestimated the fighting prowess of his companions.

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"How many books DID you bring, Chuck?" I asked. Book after book, minute after minute, the old wizard pulled materials from the small hip bag he’d hidden in his hat. Scrolls, notebooks and quills, ink and charcoal pencils, study guides and massive tombs. Chuck had everything from world history to magical lore and a dozen or more bestiaries, alphabetized.

A few books slid from the awkward pile, teetering on the stones in front of me.

"Well, not all of them, obviously." He stopped and scratched his head. "I didn’t want to overwhelm you, son."

"You brought half the library," I said. "Will I even have the time to study all that out here? We are in the middle of a forest, Chuck."

He frowned at me. "You just remember that all this…," he waved his hands around him, "is the distraction, not your studies." Chuck pulled three more books out, set them gingerly at the top of the pile and nodded in satisfaction. "Half the library? I think not. Not your library, anyway."

"Wait. My library?" I snorted. "I have a library? As in…an actual place with hundreds of books?"

Chuck’s face crinkled up as he shook his head. "Closer to hundreds of thousands of books. Which is why it’s been called ‘The Great Library’ for…hundreds of years."

"Thousands of years," Dax hollered from the campfire.

"That’s what I said, monkey," Chuck hollered back.

"No, ya didn’t."

"Point is, you have access to every book ever written in that library, son. From what I remember, it’s quite the collection." Chuck smiled at me and tapped his nose with a finger.

My own library? I mean, I loved books, but this… "Wait, if I have access to every book written, Chuck, then why did you bother buying these?"

"Ah. Well."

"Just tell him," hollered Dax.

"I’m gettin’ to it!"

"No, yer not."

I bit my lip and stifled a laugh. 

The wizard lightly bounced in place. I noticed he did that when searching for the right words. "I don’t exactly…have access to the Great Library. It an exclusive place for the hero, and outsiders can only enter when invited."

"But you’re the steward, aren’t you?"

Chuck nodded.

"Then didn’t you get permission to enter the library, from the last hero?"

"Oh, I did. I DO have permission," he said earnestly.

"Then why can’t you…"

"TELL HIM," Dax snapped.

Chuck sighed. "I…forgot where it is."

"The library?" I said.

"Phhh, no," Chuck snorted. "That would be stupid. Of COURSE I know where the library is."

"He doesn’t know where the DOOR to the library is," Dax said. 

The wizard blushed and shrugged. "It’s a really, really big place, son."

"The library?" I asked.

"The cottage," Chuck moaned. "Once I went looking for a vending machine I’d seen in passing and got lost. It’s been decades since I’d had a Whatchamacallit, so I tried going back after dinner that night."

I blinked. "You…got lost…in the cottage?"

"For three WEEKS!" Chuck shuttered. "I had to suffer though manicures and Mediterranean food at this lovely little family restaurant  until Jeb found me." He shrugged. "A man can only eat pasta and olives for so long. I tried to use the salad as bait for REAL food, but cows and deer don’t normally roam the cottage."

"Uhhh," I said, not sure how to react. "Did you find the vending machine with the Whatchamacallit?"

He shook his head. "Found a Pez dispenser, though. Almost as good. Got an Ultraman head." He grinned to himself. "Loved that show."

"I’m not sure what your point is, Chuck," I said.

He glanced at a huge bolder near the tree line, tapped the ground next to me with his staff, and the thing slid across the grass. Ignoring my reaction, he sat down, crossed his legs and looked me straight in the face. 

"The point, son, is that I wanted to make sure you had access to all I could think of. You have a great deal to learn. This is just the start. A taste, if you will, until I can design a training regimen. If we focus on the overall spectrum of magic, I believe you’ll soak it up like a sponge."

"Me," I smirked, "a sponge?"

"You’re the hero," he said. "At some point, that rock in your chest will kick in and speed up your learning. It’s one perk of holding that heavy mantle. I saw it in my day, and we’ll see it with you. Don’t know when, but until your bloodline kicks in, you have us to teach you what we know."

I gulped hard.

"You okay, son?"

I nodded. "Bug."

"Ew. We have food. Leave the bugs for when we’re desperate." He paused. "Unless they’re purple with those six little tentacle thingies. I like to squish them into my cereal. Yum."

I cringed.

Chuck pulled the small bag up and over his head and handed it to me. "Your study bag. Keep it with you. Has a basic compact charm on it, so it’ll carry three times what you see here before you feel the weight of the contents. Now give me your hand."

I hesitated, but he nodded at my right hand and held out his own palm. When I gave it, he tapped the front brass buckle of the bag with his index finger, then scribbled into the palm of my hand. Within seconds, a symbol appeared as red as a first-degree burn across my skin.

…and it got hot.

"Ow!" I said, pulling away.

"Spit in your hand," Chuck said.

"What?"

"Spit. On that symbol. It’ll cool."

I spit in my palm. Chuck made the motion with his own hands to rub mine together. I did.

The heat vanished.

He smiled. "That binds the bag. It’s a return spell. Not a simple creation, but it has a simple effect. So long as you make sure those books are IN the bag, that bag will find you again if lost…and if you're lucky, even stollen."

"Thank you, Chuck," I grinned, looping the strap over my head and shoulder.

He smiled, then adjusted the strap, and gave me an approving nod. "Now practice putting the books into the bag. You have to give them a bit of a squeeze to compress them. Just leave out that big blue tome."

"History of Humär?" I asked.

"You’re likely to rub shoulders with all the leaders of the world before your mission is complete. It would be wise for you to learn more about King Robert III before he arrives."

By noon, the fog had dissipated now that the sun was high overhead. Gaidred and Altorin stood on either side of a ramp, watching the Prime Gate dutifully.

It had not been activated.

"Focus, son," Chuck said, nudging me with the end of his staff. "You’ll know when the gate’s active."

"By the droplet of light from the sky?"

The wizard nodded. 

When the Prime Gate in Sanctuary had been activated, it was in the evening. The light blazed through the sky. "Won’t that let others know we’re here?" I asked.

Chuck pondered, then looked to Dax and Alhannah, who sat opposite us, eating. They both nodded.

"It’s best to act like all eyes are on us," Dax said. "When that gate opens, we need to organize and move out of this valley as quickly as we can."

Chuck reached over me and tapped the opened page with his long, boney finger.

I continued reading.

"King Robert III has since been called ‘The High King’ among the kings of men. Each of the six kingdoms pledged loyalty and allegiance to Andilain ever since. In return, Andilain has come to the aid and defense of her sister kingdoms since the forming of the great counsel." I paused, my eyes going over the section again. "So this King Robert III carved his own kingdom into seven sections?"

Chuck nodded. "To keep the peace."

"This says he always supported the rights and freedoms of his people? Why would he need to keep the peace?"

Dax took a chunk from his apple. "Cause people have needs, kid. Think about it. He’s close to the tenth king in succession, since the first high king, and humans breed like rabbits. The kingdom grows. People seek new land to build lives of their own. Over the centuries, they spread out. Now you have groups of people, many isolated, with additional needs."

Alhannah nodded. "Needs that the capital can ’t always meet. Where I come from, 1.5 billion gnomes are all isolated on one island."

I choked. "Billion?"

She smirked. "Humans started whole new civilizations, which included their own laws and customs. You could go from one end of the kingdom to the other…and you’d experience completely different cultures."

That wasn’t hard to believe. In America, we had a central, federal government, but each state had different needs, and established different laws. I grew up hearing that the United States of America was a great ‘melting pot’ of cultures, brought together by immigrants. My father disagreed though. He said that America was a great salad bowl. That each culture brought new flavors to the whole.

I always liked that analogy better.

Chuck yawned loud and stretched his arms. "King Robert saw the tensions growing between the seven main areas of the kingdom. So he called the chief leaders from each of the territories for a meeting."

Dax snorted. "That was fun, huh?"

Chuck sighed out loud. "Best BBQ ever." 

Alhannah looked at me and giggled.

The wizard snapped his head forward and cleared his throat. "The King proposed to establish a treaty and declaration of unity between the territories, freeing them of all obligations to Andilain."

"Wait. King Robert just gave the kingdom away?" I asked.

Dax nodded and tossed the apple core over his shoulder. "The territories could join or not. No penalties. No tributes. No restrictions. Each territory was completely free. They could crown their own king, which would be honored and upheld by Andilain as a sovereign ruler. That’s what won them all over."

I shook my head. "That’s crazy."

"Crazy wise, kid. It’s about agency. King Robert III invited them to join a council, with equal rights, equal respect, and the handshake of the king who could have compelled them into compliance."

"Would have won that fight, too," Alhannah added.

Chuck leaned back, an unmistakable grin under that massive facial hair. "At what cost? A war would have divided the people for generations. This way, the Seven Kings have enjoyed peace for over 200 years now." He leaned over and elbowed me. "He’s been working to re-establish the old alliances. The strongest connection was always with the evolu. The high kings have traces of elf blood, ya know."

More questions popped into my mind. But some felt so simple, almost juvenile, I didn’t want to open my mouth. I’d never had so much responsibility and back home, I wasn’t even ‘legal’. I wouldn’t turn 18 for another…well, what did it matter now? Come to think of it, if a teacher ever told me my personal understanding of history could affect the world around me, I’d laugh out loud. 

Now I just felt like crying.

Manly tears, of course.

Setting the huge tomb of history onto a rock beside me, I grinned at Chuck awkwardly and got up to stretch my legs. 

Kings, elves, magical doorways to who knows where…all sounded great less than 48 hours ago. Now, from what I could see around me, I was permanently camping, playing avoid the cannibals, and about to meet actual royalty. That was the easy part.

The hard part was being thrust back into school and starting at the bottom of the class…which was a class of one.

I was starting to miss Jeffrey.

Good news was, I finally learned what and where Til-Thorin was. It was a huge castle and the very first keep built under High King Gaston. Enemies would invade the plentiful farmlands of Andilain and then retreat into the forests of Tilliman Highlands. So the king ordered Til-Thorin to be built into the mountainside itself, blocking the only direct path into the valley. 

Which meant, if the vallen forces were trying to get to Andilain, they were on their way to Til-Thorin.

Super.

Elder Altorin leaned against the platform of the gate, a hand caressing the black stone and intricate symbols carved into the base stone. Gaidred was studying a scroll in silence, so I wandered over to the plump Iskari.

"Are you excited about this?" I asked. "The Iskari mixing with the races again? I just remember the counsel saying they’d not interacted in a while."

He patted the stone and nodded. "I am happy, yes. It’s been twenty cycles since we’ve counseled the humans. It has been even longer since my people have been welcomed among the evolu. It is a…relationship I sorely miss.”

“So, why didn’t you go instead of Lamier?”

Altorin lowered his gaze with an almost imperceptible shrug. “We opened the Gate without invitation. There are rules. With such a bold action, we thought it wise to send a white robe into the Holy City.” He looked up at the giant black claws of the gate. “Lamier volunteered to present himself to the Omethiä. He’s never visited the city before.”

“The what?” I asked.

“The Omethiä,” repeated Gaidred, looking up from his scroll. “The leader of the Evolu. You might call such a man a prophet, or perhaps a seer. They do not have kings, like men, but spiritual leaders, or a loving father of a people.”

“He’s a jerk with a power complex,” snapped Dax with a sneer. He jumped up, looked between me and the elders and added, “We’ll keep watch until the King returns.” Snatching up one of the long knives of the Vallen, he walked a distance, plopped down on a log, and turned his back to the group. 

Chuck looked at Altorin, smiling weakly. “He’ll be fine,” he said, then went to join Dax.

Alhannah followed Dax’s example and wandered off, eventually settling on a rock facing the entrance to the valley. She sat quietly, alone, inspecting her armor and weapons.

“Dax likes the gnome,” I said aloud, though it was more to myself. “There’s definitely some parent-child relationship between him and Chuck, I can see that, but…” I broke off.

“But?” Gaidred replied. 

“I’m the odd man out,” I said. “I know the Ithari chose me, but I’m still the stranger, the outcast. I don’t fit in. You all say I was born here, but I didn’t grow up here. It’s all alien to me, and it shows.”

Gaidred and Altorin exchanged expressions in silence. I could see the wordless debate between them, which didn’t last long. They turned their attention back to the Gate and scroll without answering.

I waited for a reply, but it never came.

“You know something,” I said.

Still nothing.

“Please,” I said to Altorin. “I’m not asking you to betray secrets — I’m just looking for understanding. Maybe a better perspective, so I can do the job you’ve asked me to do. Isn’t that fair?”

Instead of the smug, matter-of-fact expressions I’d experienced with Gaidred, or the mis-directing looks of the High Elder, Altorin appeared…sad. Eyebrows arcing upward, mouth in a frown, and wide black eyes that looked closer to a wounded puppy than a human. Well,…Iskari, anyway.

Altorin opened his mouth to say something, then stopped, reconsidering. “It is not our place to divulge the experiences of another.” He looked over his shoulder at Dax, sitting in the distance, “…when they choose to hide their pain.”

I sighed. The letter was right…I really was on my own. Even my relationships were an uphill battle. I turned when Altorin grabbed my forearm firmly and held me fast.

“…but know that you are not the only one who feels the way you do.” The elder held my gaze for a moment, then nodded to see if I understood.

I didn’t understand, but I nodded anyway.

Dax’s head snapped up. "Show time."

Sure enough, a brilliant ball of light, like a drop of pure sunshine, plummeted from the sky and struck the Prime Gate. Red runes flared along the black claws…and from the center of the platform, a light grew.

It was a circular light, which started small. Similar to the shape of a coin, it spun. Faster and faster, enlarging until it looked more like a static globe of water. Hazy blue hue, with white blotches drifting — in the background — like an animated oil painting. A dark gray strip stretched from mid-point to the bottom of the image. 

I found myself mesmerized. So much talk of Prime Gates, but I had yet to see one work, except through Tiell’s perspective. It was incredible. Even…beautiful.

Dax and Alhannah took positions next to the elders. Chuck reached into the sleeve of his robe and pulled out a hand-held electric fan. He gave me a wink and held it in front of his face.

That globe of water, or whatever it was, intrigued me. I could see something moving in it, but the whole of it was like looking through a flowing current. Several birds flew up and hovered in the portal's pulse window, flapping wings out of focus.

I smiled. It was a sky! In the distance, towers or domes, perhaps…buildings, or mountains, came into view. I squinted as I made out similar structures…huddled in clusters, perched on a darker, jagged landscape. Hints of green and brown swayed throughout. Trees bending in a wind, I could neither hear nor feel.

For an instant, I felt a powerful urge to run past the Elders and up the ramp. I wanted to touch those images, just to…know. 

I blinked as a spray of mist jumped through the gate and lightly covered my face.

I licked my lips.

The liquid was sweet.

“The City of Many Waters,” said Altorin, seeing my growing interest. “The home of the Evolu Lords.”

“It’s…incredible,” I whispered. All of this was incredible…and I was about to meet actual royalty! 

My stomach lurched. 

I wish I knew the customs of this world, and how to act properly. For some reason, I was more worried about embarrassing Chuck and Dax than myself. 

Reaching into my back pocket, I pulled out the letter. I held it between my fingers, and rubbed the corners, creasing them with a thumb. It’s you and me now, Ithari. 

Maybe reading the message from the hero’s father would calm me? Recommit the instructions to memory. Know my purpose.

I unfolded the letter.

As I did so, the creases faded and straightened out. The dark lines melting away until all that was left were the original two folds made. That’s odd. I frowned. Holding the letter closer to my face, I ran my finger along the paper. Hmph. Curious, I folded the upper corner of the letter and pinched it tight. I waited and watched. The letter quivered, the folded corner slowly lifting and leaning outward, until the crease faded and disappeared altogether.

Sure. Everything else is weird around me…why not a piece of paper?

I read the words to myself once more.

Trust no one but the Gem. Through her, you will learn the truth of all things. This is your only true protection. Listen to that inner voice that whispers to you. Not your own, but that voice which prompts you to do only what is right, what is true and just. Ithari cannot lie and she will not falter, so long as you serve her with a pure heart.

Without thinking, I gripped and crumpled the letter.

You can do this, Wendell. People are counting on you. Now’s your chance to prove you’re more than what people think you are! I looked at my companions. My attention lingered on Alhannah. You need to be brave, like them. You need to be the Wendellizer. None of them knew what we’d find here, but they came anyway.

I sighed. But I’m not brave. I don’t even know how to be brave! My shoulders slumped forward heavily. Just because I have super powers now doesn’t mean this is any easier. What a depressing thought. All my life I’d been picked on, pursued, and slapped around. Now I was expected to be far more than the average joe.

Tha-THUMP-thump!

Tha-THUMP-thump!

Tugging at my collar, I looked under my shirt at the Ithari. I caressed the flat surface through the cloth. Ok,…maybe a little easier. But I can’t expect you to do everything, I thought, pretending Ithari could hear me. Hoping she did.

I concentrated and whispered, “Silmä inakmään.” 

The gem vanished.

Alhannah still watched the mouth of the valley. She resembled a small warrior china doll, as if a child had propped her up and forgotten about her. Already bored, the gnome started running a stone over one of her blades.

I hastily folded the letter and shoved it back into my pocket. It was time to change my circumstances. 

“Alhannah, may I…talk with you for a minute?”

I slid my fingers nervously into my jean pockets. Not sure why teens do this, but I felt more cool and less nervous and stupid. My eyes darted back and forth between the gnome and my sneakers. Even the smiley on my t-shirt turned red and bit its bottom lip.

She was a gnome, yes, but it didn’t change the fact that Alhannah was, in truth, a woman. A very cute woman, despite her psychopathic-aggressive tendencies. The rosy complexion and bright green eyes that glowed when she looked at you created a powerful contrast to her fire red hair in tight pigtails. It was her eyes that transformed my initial impression of a child into a small woman. She had tiny, yet full, almost pouting, pink lips and long dark eyelashes, perfectly set under curved, thin eyebrows.

She was as deadly as she was adorable.

If I could learn to speak with Alhannah, maybe it would help me with girls a bit…taller?

“Sure,” she said bluntly, spitting a loogey onto the grass. We walked a few paces before she turned around. “What’s up?”

“I was…uh,…wondering…if you would teach me…” I gulped. “To fight?”

She studied me with a raised eyebrow. “Why me?” she asked flatly. “Why not Dax? He is, after all, your guardian, isn’t he? I’m just the bodyguard.”

“Well, yes," I said, "but…he can’t stand me. You noticed that, right? No matter what I do, it’s always wrong.”

“Don’t sell yourself short, Wendell…or Dax, for that matter. Once you understand that…”

“I’m not interested in talking about Dax right now,” I said.

She held up a gloved hand. “Fine. Fine.”

You’re not doing this right, Wendell. Don’t offend her. I swallowed uncomfortably. “Sorry. That was rude. It’s just…I’ve watched you, Alhannah. How you use weapons, which I have to say is…kinda frightening. But you also fight for a living, don’t you?”

She nodded, resuming the strokes across her sword with a rock.

“So, I just thought, you know, that you might teach me how to defend myself?”

She scratched her face with the stone, considering. A small gray streak appeared across her cheek and around the corner of her nose. “I’m not sure I’m the right one to—”

“I don’t have a clue how to fight, Alhannah. The tavern fight showed there’s potential with this gem in my chest. Now this?” I pointed at the dead vallen pulled to the tree line."I need to learn something."

“Good point,” she chuckled. "If you want to keep breathing, people really should develop basic skills." She set the sword and stone next to her. Pulling off her gloves, Alhannah rubbed her hands together briskly. “Give me your palm.”

I did so.

Turning my palm up, she studied the lines and textures of my skin. Her small fingers traced the natural curves and creases down my long, slender fingers and over my knuckles. My awkward hand dwarfed hers in comparison. It looked like an infant examining the hand of its parent. Her own skin was rough and calloused, which felt like sandpaper over my palm. At last, she patted my palm and let my hand drop.

“You haven’t done a hard day’s work in your life,” she scoffed. “Your hands won’t look pretty like that if you want me to teach you. Training hurts, you know. ”

“Dying would hurt more.”

She laughed. “Fair enough.”

“So, is that a yes?”

She rolled her eyes and smiled. “I’ll talk with Chuck and Dax. Let’s see what they think. I’ll recommend we start something soon. However,” she paused and lowered her head. Those glowing eyes looked up at me as her slender brows rolled forward. “IF, for ANY reason, they say no, that’s it. We’re done, Wendell. Understand? I won’t go against them on any issue that doesn’t concern my skin. Agreed?”

I nodded and gave her a broad grin. “Thanks.”

She smiled back. “No problem.”

“They return!” shouted Gaidred. 

I turned just as Elder Lamier stepped through, his white robes glowing in the morning light. He looked like someone coming out of the water…horizontally. His skin looked wet, his hair dark…until he moved free of the floating globe. The liquid, or whatever it was, rolled back off his skin and fell back into the pool of the portal.

Lamier nodded to his brothers and stepped to the side. I was right. He was the Elder who had brought the unusual plant on the night of Kyliene’s death. The plant that had lifted and tenderly carried Tiell from the park. Lamier stood quietly — hands in the sleeves of his robe — a small but unmistakable smile on his face.

An enormous shadow blotted out the light, trying to peek through from the other side. The blurry image pushed through to reveal a tall, broad man. He had a thick gray and black beard that swallowed the lower half of his face. Hair that was more salt than pepper framed the top half of his face, revealing steel-blue eyes, which moved over each of us, taking in his environment. A simple but elegant ring of gold, inlaid with tiny gems, rested on his head. He wore chain mail across a barrel chest, with a dark brown leather vest and trousers. He wore dark leather wraps on his forearms, which ended in thick gloves. A giant two-handed claymore hung from his back.

Definitely human, I thought.

“King Robert,” said Gaidred. He performed a respectful bow. “Welcome home, sire.”

“Elder Gaidred, always a pleasure,” replied the King with a grin. Striding down the ramp, he clasped Gaidred’s forearm in a firm grip.

Before uttering another word, the King spun and grasped the shorter Elder by the shoulders, pulling him into a hug. The King laughed out loud. “Altorin! Good to see you, my friend!”

The Elder grunted and slowly reciprocated the hug, embarrassed. “My heart warms to see you safe, Your Highness.”

I suddenly held my breath.

A beautiful raven haired woman appeared upon the platform. Leaf green and earth toned leather wrapped her lithe figure. The leather, resembling leaves, was cut into strips and layered about her shoulders and down her tunic. Her long and supple figure peeked out from under a flowing green cloak draped around her shoulders. Her cream complexion was without blemish, with evenly set almond-shaped eyes of Egyptian blue and strawberry red lips upturned at the corners. She stepped forward, stopping at the top of the ramp.

“Psst,” whispered Alhannah, poking my leg.

“What?” I whispered back.

The gnome whispered between muffled giggling. “Your shirt’s making googly-eyes at the brunette.”

“Wha—?” I looked down to see red hearts floating across the black cloth on my chest. My face immediately flushed, and I flung my arms around the shirt.

I should have invested in a hoodie!

Before I could react, the cloth of the mägoweave ripples over my skin. The short sleeves of my shirt rolled down my forearms, stopping at my wrists. A strip of new cloth flipped out at the level of my rips and flopped down across my nave area…forming a wide pocket.

The smiley looked up at me and winked.

A hoodie.

Huh.

Behind the maiden emerged seven hooded figures, dressed in identical brown and green outfits. They stepped through in pairs, side by side. Like floating shadows, they came into focus and fanned out behind her. Each carried long bows, quivers strapped to their hips, and long knives sheathed across their chests. The last male walked through and took his place by the side of the maiden. Unlike the other six, the embroidered leaves upon his cloak were gold.

I’d never met royalty, so I didn’t exactly know what a king was supposed to act like. Thing was, I was pretty sure royalty didn’t act like King Robert III. The large man laughed and grinned like he didn’t have a care in the world. He and Altorin conversed, laughing and nudging one another like lifelong friends. The king acted more like the jovial uncle who finally stumbled his way into the family Christmas party. If I had to guess, I would have said he was in his late sixties, complimented by a thinning hairline. Deep wrinkles sprouted around his eyes, which were clear and observant. His movements showed youth and vigor, which reminded me a great deal of Chuck.

But there was something else…

At first, I thought I was seeing things. Thinking it was just an illusion, I blinked several times, but around the King’s head and neck was a faint purple…halo. When I noticed it, my pulse quicken and for a moment, I could have sworn I heard…giggling.

I know, I know. Crazy, but I’d swear I heard it. Like a child who laughed after telling you what they thought was a funny joke. Faint, but clear.

When I heard it the first time, the King looked right at me.

For a moment, King Robert’s facial expressions froze — the smile still etched upon his face. Though, when you freeze frame an expression like that…it’s kinda creepy. His eyes then dipped and rose, studying me, stopping at the smily face of my shirt. Who wouldn’t, right? But he said nothing. He simply continued to smile.

It made me seriously uncomfortable.

Not sure what I was expected to do, I bowed.

All I had for reference was what I saw on TV back home. People in movies and shows always bowed low in front of royalty, so I bent at the waist, nearly falling forward onto my face.

Don’t mess this up, Wendell, I told myself.

"You look like a dork, and you know it," chided Doubt.

Shut up, man. I’m doing the best I can.

"Pathetic."

Then again, no one told me I was supposed to bow. 

Was I supposed to kneel?

Crap.

Everyone fell silent.

I tried with all my might not to fidget, waiting for permission to rise. That’s what you were supposed to do, right? Wait for permission to rise? My gut twisted in knots, as I kept my head low, avoiding eye contact. Did I bow low enough? Am I supposed to say something? Why doesn’t anyone HELP me!?? Crap — I probably look like a nut job to him, dressed in jeans and sneakers.

Yet it remained silent.

I gulped.

When I thought it had to be long enough of a bow, even for the Queen of England…I slowly took a chance and stood upright.

I was ready to drop to one knee at the first sign of my screwup.

Nervously, I looked up at the King.

The purple glow was still there, pulsing out from his head and shoulders. I opened my mouth to say ‘Hello, Your Highness,’ but the weirdest thing happened.

The King bowed…to me.

All I could hear was the maiden and several of her guards gasped out loud.

“Well, I’ll be,” I heard Dax whisper. 

“May I introduce…Lord Wendell, your Highness,” said Gaidred quickly, “a…ward of the Iskari High Council.”

The King stood upright, looking directly into the face of a very shocked and confused me. Cocking his head to the side, the King grinned at me again, this time showing his teeth.

“Is he now?” he said in his deep bass tone.

“Hello Bobby-boy,” Chuck said, cutting in between us and opening his arms wide. His floating staff nuzzled up against me.

Without hesitating, the king quickly enveloped the wizard in his powerful arms. Rocking slightly from side to side, he said warmly, “I’ve missed you, father.”

Father? What the heck? Does Chuck run an orphanage somewhere?

“You eating right?” asked the wizard, releasing the King Robert and taking a step back.

“Yes, Chuck.”

“They treated you with respect — those pointy…” 

“Chuck, please... I received excellent care.”

“Sleeping better?”

“Much.”

The wizard squinted at King Robert, then glanced over his broad shoulder at the maiden. He winked at the king and grinned. “Got a sweetheart yet?”

King Robert rolled his eyes.

“Hey," grunted Dax, "what am I — road kill?” 

The king stepped back abruptly. “I must say, this is quite the welcoming party!” Snapping to attention, he placed his gloved hand over his heart. “Dax, you are always welcome in my kingdom.” Leaning down, he pulled off one of his gloves and gave the evolu some secret handshake. The complicated kind you’d watch teens perform after practicing a thousand times to get it right. "But I always hope you’ll join my campfire, little brother."

Dax grinned widely behind his cigar. “Bob.”

“And young Alhannah Luckyfeller…always an honor to see you, my dear. Your beloved father Höbin is well, I pray?”

Alhannah gave a sarcastic grin to a dumbfounded Elder Gaidred. “My father is wonderful,…as always.”

The King stared at her curiously, placing a gloved finger to his lips. “I believe you’ve grown since I saw you last, young lady.”

Alhannah curtsied in her armor proudly, clinking as she did so. “Almost an inch!” she said enthusiastically.

Everyone laughed. The gnome blushed.

“Thank you, Lady Tamorah,” said Elder Lamier, “for escorting the king through the gate. We must make haste before someone notices our presence here. If you would return to…”

“That will not be necessary,” replied the lady, stepping down from the ramp. She took her place by the king’s side. “The Omethiä has commissioned the Rook to see King Robert III safely escorted to the capital. That includes Til-Thorin.” She looked between the Iskari. “Until such time, where he goes, we will follow.”

“Elders, may I introduce the Lady Tamorah, granddaughter of the Omethiä?" King Robert gave Gaidred an almost imperceptible wink, "…and Rook Master.”

Gaidred bowed at the shoulders. “It is an honor to meet you, Lady Tamorah. We will most appreciate the skills of the Rook. The enemy will eventually discover our actions here if they have eyes. We should be as far away as possible by nightfall. Unfortunately, a group this size will make us easier to track.”

Tha-Thump-Thump.

Chills trickled down my spine, and the conversation blurred. It felt like invisible hands gripped my shoulder and slowly turned around. The mountains surrounding us loomed over. Something wasn’t right. I felt strength coursing through my legs and I felt ready, willing…even eager, to sprint away from the Prime Gate.

It was then that I heard it again.

Giggling.

Some of the Rook’s faces were shrouded in hoods, but they were too far away. The sound was near. Uncomfortably close. In my mind. Other’s were engaged in the conversation or listening quietly. No one was laughing or even had a jovial expression on their face.

The voice sounded high-pitched, giddy.

A child’s voice.

Am I just hearing things?

"Sometimes," Doubt chuckled.

Shut up, you.

"No need to be rude, dude. You’ve been listening to me since you we eight."

No one else seemed to react to the sound.

King Robert gave me a momentary glance, then turned back to Gaidred. “What do you suggest, master strategist?”

“Seal the gate, for now, to prevent further tampering until the land is rid of this invading plague. Your first line of defense, of course, is Til-Thorin — so we must travel swiftly. Lamier will return and report to the High Council. With your permission, sire, Altorin and I will accompany you, for there is much information we have to share.” 

The king replied, “I appreciate your counsel, as always.” 

While the three elders worked their magic upon the black spires of the Gate, King Robert gathered us around him. He produced a scroll and unrolled it across one of the ramps.

The scroll was a map of a mountain range.

“If these beasts are in my lands, then we must send riders to the lords of the keeps for reinforcements." The king tapped the symbol of the keep. " Til-Thorin has enough men to prevent passage to Andilain, but not to engage in a war. If the Horde is here to force their way into the valley, it’ll take war.”

“Gaidred’s right, Bob,” said Dax, tracing his finger along a dotted line up the map. “There’s too many of us. We might as well strap targets to our backs. We can’t move about effectively without being noticed, and even with the handful of pointy-ears,” he made a rough thumb-gesture at the Rook, "…we don’t have enough to stand our ground if we bumped into the enemy."

“Then we should split up,” replied Alhannah. “Speed’s the key here. We should take the least direct route, just to make sure.”

“Make sure of what?” I asked.

“Make sure we steer clear of the invading forces,” answered Chuck. “We need to take the odd paths to the Keep. Mountain paths, ones used by the shepards. Get there in one piece, instead of following in the enemy’s wake. If we take the common routes, there’s a good chance of bumping into the enemy along the way. But can we get there first?”

Dax scoffed. “Let the pointy-ears and blueberries take Bob wherever he needs to go. We have our own business to take care of.”

“And what business would that be?” asked Lady Tamorah.

Dax looked up at her and sneered.

The King looked mildly between them, then went back to studying the map.

There was a particular interest by the Evolu, with Dax. I could see it in Lady Tamorah’s face. They knew each other. That was the simple part. Dax walked away — Chuck and Alhannah close behind. The Rook’s attention followed Dax, hoods turning to his every motion. They didn’t appear mad or offended by Dax’s words. Even the Lady Tamorah seemed drawn to my guardian, though she tried to hide her lingering stares behind her long, silken hair.

Dax seemed completely oblivious to the attention he was getting. He directed his focus towards another scroll he had rolled out for the wizard and gnome to look at.

Working from spire to spire, Gaidred and Altorin wove spells to hide the markings from view altogether. 

I couldn’t help but smirk at myself.

Yup, that would be the Silmä inakmään spell. 

I looked around, nodding without a sound, but no one was paying any attention. 

I know that spell. Mägo is in training here.

The black claws looked cold and haunting, jutting out lifelessly from the stone platform.

“It is done,” said Gaidred.

“We will travel in three parties,” replied the king. “Chuck, Lady Tamorah and one of the Rook can accompany myself and Gaidred. Lord Wendell, Dax, and three of the Rook will travel together. The four remaining Rook can travel with Altorin and Lady Alhannah.”

“No.” Dax shook his head. “No offense, Bob, but the blueberries are here for you, not us.”

Tamorah looked offended, but King Robert kept his peace. He stood tall, unmoved, with an expression I’m pretty sure bordered on laughter. He tucked his thumbs into his thick leather belt and nodded once. "Go on."

I think Dax noticed the eyes on him…especially the glare of disapproval from Chuck…because he gave the king a quick, albeit sloppy bow. “The gnome, wizard, and kid stay with me. They’re my stewardship, and mine alone. Where they go ain’t up fer discussion,…unless ya don’t want us on yer land. The rest of you kids can choose your own path.”

Several of the Rook muttered to one another, their almond eyes resting on Dax. My guardian sneered back at them.

“We got’s us a job to do, which ain’t got nothin to do with kings ‘r elves. We’re goin west to Irdu and up to Binmeer Lake. We’ll warn the people along the way, Bob. They need to know what’s coming.”

King Robert nodded. "Agreed. Thank you."

“We’ll head northwest to Eberfalls. That’ll keep us away from the major routes. As soon as I get my strength back, we’ll port ta Til-Thorin and meet ya there.”

“A fortnight should be plenty of time,” replied the king. “Tamorah and Gaidred and two Rook with me, then…the others will travel with Altorin. You know these lands well enough, my friend?”

Altorin nodded. “I do.”

“We also have maps from your own hand, King Robert,” added a Rook.

The king turned to the elf maiden. “Any objections?”

“This is…acceptable,” she replied, though she sounded unsure.

It was virtually impossible not to notice the exchange of glares from the evolu maiden and Dax. Tamorah’s gaze lingered on him, her enormous eyes becoming moist. Dax let his lips roll back to bear a full mouth of yellow teeth. He looked as if he’d rend the flesh from her bones.

Yet no one reacted — including the Rook.

“Then a fortnight, it is,” replied Gaidred.

The sound of scraping metal startled me. I spun around to find Alhannah standing behind me, adjusting her swords.

“Okay kiddo,” she beamed, “let’s hit the road. We got two weeks of walking ahead of us.”

Chuck hobbled up to me. He sighed heavily. “At least it’s walking. I can do walking.”

But something felt odd and I just couldn’t place it.

Again, I heard the giggling. The sound echoed in the gaps of silence between conversations.

It raised the hair on the back of my neck.

<— Read Previous Chapter | Read Next Chapter —>

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Author Notes

I did it again: went far above the targeted word count. Sigh. The challenge with writing anything for me, is I can’t leave an idea unfinished…unless that’s specifically part of the story.

There were specific conversations and clues being left this episode, so I had to see it through. I hope you enjoyed it.

FYI - I couldn’t find a quite time to read the chapter - so I’ll get that done and posted as a voiceover ASAP.

SIDE NOTE: I wanted to mention before, that if you have questions, things you like, don’t like, or want to know more about something, shoot me a DM. I’m collecting questions and comments to use for the podcast. I’ll even use your name and say kind things about you in the podcast…so DON’T BE SHY!! (grin)

Jaime

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