Without sunlight to wake them, their bodies remained in a deep sleep. Time passed without any awareness for either sleeper. Eventually Traveler felt the gentle call of his lower body, the call was quickly turning into a shout. He accepted the inevitable, stretched several times, and took deep breaths. He felt great. He would visit the throne room, put on his dried clothing, then clean up last night’s feast. The princess could extend her beauty rest and he would plan the day.
As he sat up he noticed that most of the dining room candles must have gone out, the doorway was dark with just faint shadows of light coming in. Fortunately, his eyes were already dilated. As his eyes took in the room’s dimness, the doorway shimmered and moved into the room.
Without thinking he was instantly on alert. He extended his left leg and poked Glenda. She muttered an unladylike sound and tried to kick him back. “Glenda, wake up right now! We have company.”
Glenda went from a deep sleep to instant alert. She turned to the doorway and immediately saw the huge darkness entering the room. The darkness stood six feet away from the platform and was studying the two recent sleepers.
“Did he send you?” demanded a voice coming from a cavernous chest and out a thick neck. The words were deep and reverberated as they hung in the stone ceiling then faded into the stone walls.
For a moment Traveler was a smart aleck high school boy with a ready response of, “Who he?” Good judgement mixed with fear prevailed and he answered, “No, sir. We thought this was a little used storage place. We are simple workers in the stables and thought this was a place to sleep before returning to stable work. We were going to head back up the stairs after a quick breakfast.”
“I think not. Your clothes are at the foot of the bed. Get dressed and join me in the dining room.”
As the figure turned and passed into the doorway the room was darkened again. That Wadlow giant never died, he’s here with us right now. This guy makes our biggest NBA guys look short and puny.
Turning to get his clothes, Traveler saw Glenda was already dressed and coming around the foot of the platform. “Speed it up, modest boy, I don’t want to entertain a giant by myself.”
Traveler pulled on his dried clothes and noted that they felt like wearing cardboard. Stiff from the drying and cold, they resisted a leg coming down a pant-leg and an arm going into a sleeve. Socks felt like wooden shoes. He knew how poor Wadlow must have felt with the bad brace. Then his mind jumped, How did she dress so quickly?
Dressed, he moved cautiously into the dining room and saw Glenda holding court with the seated giant. Beauty does have a way with the savage beast, thought Traveler. I think it’s a good thing she got out first. Even giants don’t club ladies, I hope.
Glenda appeared relaxed, as was the giant. As Traveler entered the room she smiled saying, “Traveler, let me introduce you to the man in charge. This is the famous Olaff.”
Traveler’s first impression was a flashback to an exhibit he had visited that depicted early man. That exhibit was titled “Homo Sapiens” and Traveler thought this guy would be labeled “Homo Gigantus”. The second, third, and fourth impressions were power, size, and danger. The man radiated power that went beyond physical strength, this man would be an unbeatable adversary.
Size started with his head covered in long, thick, matted, dark blond hair. His eyes were a blazing blue that reminded Traveler of a welder’s arc cutting through steel. His face was a balance between modern man and Neanderthal. The forehead was large, the chin jutted out. Overall the head belonged on Mount Rushmore.
While Traveler was making his assessments, the seated giant was reciprocating. Glenda had obviously passed muster with the giant and now Traveler was under the giant’s microscope.
A look of studied curiosity and interest passed over the Mount Rushmore face followed by the hint of a smile. Olaff’s assessment verdict followed, “You can shake my hand, lad. Step up and show me your man grip.”
Traveler knew this handshake request was more than a friendly greeting. It was not a threatening request but rather a way to take his measure. Traveler knew that men in this time period read a lot into the simple act of handshaking. The handshake confirmed there was no hidden weapon as well as innate strength. Aligned with the shake was the eye contact. Men of equal stature expected direct open looks.
Traveler cautiously extended his hand and watched the giant’s hand engulf it. He was drawn to the man’s eyes and found himself staring deeply into them. The eyes conveyed a message of interest and nothing more.
Now Traveler felt the pressure of a hydraulic press squeezing down. For a moment he hesitated to squeeze back, then he knew he had to meet the shake challenge. I’m more than your lad. I think you may be another Throbb showing off for the young princess, but I hope not.
Glenda watched with an amused look as both men gradually increased the pressure. Boys showing off. Go Traveler! she silently cheered.
There was no noticeable strain of effort on either face. Both seemed determined to find the other’s “quit point” without doing serious injury. Both were staring hard into the other’s eyes.
Traveler was the first to blink. As he increased his squeeze to his maximum effort, he realized the giant was holding back. Maybe a lot. Traveler’s maximum squeeze would crush the strongest man’s grip but it had no effect on the giant.
How much additional power the giant had did not seem like a question to pursue. The fact that the giant was controlling his power meant he was not trying to humble and dominate Traveler, nor impress Glenda.
Traveler accepted the giant as being something far more than just appearance. He was a man of restraint. Restraint implied a solid character. This revelation came to him in an instant and he was both relieved and pleased as he thought, We may have found our home-grown ally.
“I yield to the mightier man, Sir Olaff.”
Glenda sent Traveler a look that said, “Sometimes you’re smarter than I give you credit for.”
Olaff was now openly staring at Traveler. “I don’t know who you are lad, but you are far more than meets the eye. No man has ever stood up to the hand strength I gave you, nor has any ever shown me the power of your arm.”
Traveler sensed a bond had been created and he decided to build on this. Relaxed, he said, “I agree, sir, that you can tell a lot about a man from his grip. My dad always told me to look a man directly in the eye and give a firm grip.”
Olaff nodded, “Solid fatherly advice. Now what hidden skills does the lass have to offer? Or, being a fair maiden, does she rely solely on you for her protection?”
Glenda’s instincts took over her reply. She saw that a bond now existed between Traveler and the giant. Traveler was accepting the giant into their small club. She wanted to be a bona fide member of the club and needed to pass the power muster with the giant in her own way.
Glenda looked first at a grinning Traveler, then at the massive warrior. She shook her head at each of them, smiling back. “Decide for yourself, Olaff, what protection I need from men including the young one beside me.” Traveler was amused as he waited to see what Glenda was going to demonstrate.
Sitting in her chair she focused her mind to employ her mastery of gravity. While her gravity control only operated over short distances, that was enough. She slowly rose off the floor. She continued her ascent while Olaff’s mouth fell open. Resting close to the ceiling she asked, “How’s that?”
Neither Olaff nor Traveler had a response. “Now watch this, gentlemen,” and she blinked out of sight.
Olaff was staring up where the floating girl and chair had been a moment before. He shook his head and muttered, “Not another mage in the fortress. This is a sad day, we already have one mage too many.”
Looking at Traveler he said, “So I guess you are her servant or squire. She picked you for brute force while she provides the higher-level magic talent.”
Traveler frowned as he heard a chuckle coming from above his head. “I’m not her servant or squire, I
have rather impressive skills of my own.” With that he also ascended from the floor until he was near the ceiling. Looking down at the resting giant he blinked out.
Olaff remained motionless in his chair. A series of expressions flashed across his broad face. Confusion was followed by concern followed by fear and finally alertness. He was deciding between a fight or flight response.
He spoke in a low growling voice as his neck was strained from looking straight up and searching the high ceiling. “Are you two with the mage? Has he sent you to find my retreat?”
Rather than answer, Glenda and Traveler appeared back in their chairs, then both slowly descended to the floor.
Once settled, Traveler saw that Olaff was gripping a giant war hammer in his right hand. The hammer’s massive head, flat on both ends, rested on the floor. The thick stock of the hammer was covered in glyphs that seemed to flow from the stock onto the giant’s hand and arm.
Suddenly Traveler had a flashback. He was in his bedroom selecting his travel book for the Chicago train adventure. He recalled pulling the old leather book from the back of the shelf, then studying its back cover. He remembered being unsettled because the cover presented a different scene than what he remembered as a child.
The original cover had presented a standing giant with a peaceful face holding a long staff. He recalled how the pictured glyphs on the staff seemed to move and flow from staff to arm. Staring at the book many years later, he saw the original smiling giant was replaced by three aggressive figures.
Each figure was huge and appeared intent on using their weapons. One figure held a war hammer, one a long slender sword, and the center figure a spear. The figure with the war hammer reminded him of the seated Olaff. How weird is this? he wondered.
Traveler’s mind snapped back to the present as he saw the giant’s shoulders were hunched and his fingers bulged with a powerful grip, Olaff was restraining a massive strike.
“Hold that blow, sir,” said Traveler as he looked Olaff directly in the face. “We are no friend of the mage. In truth, we found your retreat here as a safe haven while we avoid him.”
Glenda nodded her agreement then offered her sweetest look at Olaff. Once again beauty was able to soothe a savage beast, or in this case a perplexed giant.
Olaff’s hand relaxed its grip while still holding the shaft. He could still easily sweep across the table removing any person or group across from him. “Tell me more. Why are you here in the fortress and hiding? What is your cause and concern with the mage?”
Glenda accepted the question with another smile that said, “Trust me”. “The answers come with a long tale, one we are pleased to share with you. The short version is that we were sent here by our own mage to either kill or contain this mage. Our mage is a true god called Theo, and is the essence of fairness and good power.
“In fact, what you see and call a mage is not that at all. This mage was truly once a man but is now a vessel for an evil being. We call the being a ‘jinn’ or sometimes a ‘fire creature’. When you look into the mage’s eyes you will sometimes see that a fire appears to flicker in his eyes. This shows the presence of the creature lurking inside.”
Both Glenda and Traveler saw that Olaff was now visibly relaxed. His right hand moved from the shaft of the war hammer to the large jug in the center of the table. “I listen best with a mug of ale so indulge me before starting.”
He proceeded to fill his own enormous mug and then set much smaller mugs in front of his newly accepted guests. The ale poured out as a dark liquid with a thick foam forming on top. Glenda gave Traveler a sidewise glance that said, “We’re in big trouble.”
Quaffing a deep drink, the seated giant nodded for their tale to begin. Using the story as an excuse to avoid the threatening ale, Glenda started with a sly grin, “Traveler, feel free to drink up while I do the telling. Don’t leave our host feeling he is drinking alone or his ale is not to your liking.”
Annoyed with her unwanted suggestion, but trying to act casual, Traveler raised his mug. He saluted both companions and took a tentative sip. The liquid flowed down smoothly and reminded him of a thick root beer back in Charlottesville. I can easily handle this, and I like it, he thought. A second deeper sip followed.
Glenda watched Traveler take his second sip and decided to follow suit. Whatever big boy can do, I can match, she thought. The ale hit her stomach and was welcomed. This is definitely a Norwegian ale and the stuff of battle lore. Her second intake was almost a gulp and she realized it had a bit of a mind-kick to it.
Olaff was pleased as he saw his guests accept his hospitality and ale with genuine enthusiasm. Of course, he never knew the two were first timers at the bar as they quaffed with confidence. Veteran battle warriors, he incorrectly thought.
Neither “would be” warrior knew their true battle would come in an hour or so when the friendly dark ale showed its ambush side.
Glenda took the lead in starting their saga against the jinn. “Our story begins in a museum where we first met the fire creatures, which we later called jinn. An ancient stone portal had just been assembled as a major display piece. I read the glyph symbols and felt the portal bringing a low vibration into the room. I knew this portal represented a great danger. I left at a fast run to bring help while Traveler stayed alone as our watchman. It was darkening when I left and knew it would be scary in there all alone.”
She gave effusive praise on Traveler’s stand-alone bravery as she described the next actions. “Once the room was totally dark a number of the creatures emerged from the portal. Traveler was prepared to fight the creatures by himself, probably to his death. When our own god-being, Theo, arrived, the jinn creatures instantly scattered, he was their own great threat. One of them escaped and appears here and now as the mage.”
Olaff was now appraising Traveler as one prepared to stand his ground in a death match. Olaff concluded that the young man would be a formidable opponent against virtually any foe. However these fire creatures, or jinn, were a different threat. Olaff had seen how easily the mage has taken control of the fortress and the duke. He had wisely chosen to avoid contesting the mage.
Glenda saw Olaff’s assessment happening and nodded toward Traveler, “Yes, he is truly courageous even when the odds are totally against him. Some may question his judgement to face the creatures alone but none his courage.” Traveler swelled up inside and took another long sip of ale. He put on his best, “A guy’s gotta do what a guy’s gotta do” modest face. Naturally he was beaming.
What a great story, she thought, then noticed her throat seemed awfully dry from the storytelling. She lifted her mug and enjoyed a long sip quickly followed by a second deeper one.
“Excuse my poor manners as your host. I was so into the tale I was a bit slow to refill your mugs, however, I did my best to catch up once I noticed.”
“You did us justice, sir,” said Traveler. “I never noticed if my mug got empty. It was like a cornucopia that always provided a sip when I needed it.” Olaff beamed at the recognition of his being a good host.
While Traveler and Glenda were again lifting their mugs, Olaff frowned and asked, “Why are you two here rather than this Theo? Surely if he scattered numerous jinn creatures, handling one should be easy for him but dangerous for the two of you. Does he not care about you?”
“I’ll answer that, princess, you sit back and enjoy your ale.”
Glenda quickly accepted Traveler’s offer. He was not upstaging her, just permitting her some time to relax with her mug. Storytelling requires a lot of effort and he’s being the gentleman.
She also noticed there now seemed to be two gentlemen Travelers beside her. One second there was just a single Traveler then a moment later a second Traveler would arrive. Ale magic, she giggled to herself.
Traveler cleared his throat to start and found for a moment he had lost his tongue. This was not the “frog in the throat” case as happened on occasion with Glenda but a lost tongue. His tongue was hiding somewhere
in his mouth.
Finding his tongue, he started, “Theo is our guardian but…” The “but” hung in the air. For a moment he felt his chair was moving to possibly go toward the ceiling and he thought, This is not the time to levitate. With an effort he pushed his feet hard against the floor.
“As I was saying, Theo is our guardian but also our trainer. He expects us to constantly advance our skills. To advance we need to be severely challenged. Confronting the fire creature together is necessary for us to continue our development as Theo’s allies. The two of us are a team and Theo expects us to work together to defeat this jinn.”
Olaff was captivated by their tale. He looked into the fire as he reflected on all he had just heard. These two could become his own significant allies, or he theirs.
Glancing over at them he suppressed a chuckle. He rose up in time to catch each of them as they were falling off their chairs. These two certainly have special skills but drinking my ale is not one of them. Of course, my body makes five of the lad’s, so I’ll cut them slack. Time enough for drinking later, as allies I need them clearheaded.
Tucking one under each arm he easily carried them back to the bed and placed them down gently. Plenty of room here for normal little people. I’ll keep them far enough apart so if they can’t make it to the bathroom, they won’t splatter on one another. Between the two the girl is the one to be most embarrassed. If she is indeed a princess, she has a family reputation to maintain.
I think when they wake they will pray for deliverance from Bacchus, the Roman god of wine and good times. It’s a shame that the early good times always get followed later by bad times. I guess that’s the price you pay when you drink with the god of merriment.
Returning to the dining room, Olaff sat down and permitted his mind to explore options against this jinn. He felt his mood swinging away from hopeless despair to upward-swinging victory. These two young people bring skills that may offset the mage’s powers. Strength in numbers, he thought.
With the fire casting a cheery glow he placed his massive head on massive forearms and fell into the first untroubled sleep he had enjoyed since the mage had appeared.
The Blighted Fortress Page 28