Trey Roberts and the Ancient Relics

by Lee Magnus

  “Why can’t I just hide it, then tell you where it is?”

  “Like with the disk, it doesn’t work that way. I can’t possess the sword. Plus, you were able to wield it. You are now its protector.”

  “No. I’m not. I wouldn’t be here If it hadn’t been for the Dandrelierdens.”

  “The Dandrelierdens? They helped you?”

  “Yeah. This really pretty one was there in the forest, but she wasn’t pretty then. She was there when I woke. She said they had to bring me back to life, but I didn’t ask how. I was pretty freaked out.”

  “I bet you were. I’m glad you’re alive. Nevertheless, you must keep it safe and do not bring the pieces together again. The fairies won’t be there for you next time.” she said.

  “Trust me. I’ll never do that again.”

  Nick awoke saying, “Where are we?”

  “In a plane,” said Lyza.

  “You again? How’d you get here? How did we get on this plane? Are you holding my hand?”

  “I…I was just checking to make sure you were ok,” she said abruptly letting his hand go.

  “I suppose I owe you a thank you,” he said to her softly.

  “You’re welcome,” she replied with a bright smile.

  He looked around, then said, “I owe all of you a thank you. I was in a real bad spot back there.”

  “No problem,” Seth replied. “Another day another danger.”

  Nick turned to Trey, “Hey Trey. Did you get it?”

  “Yeah,” he replied proudly.

  “How?”

  “The distraction spell was first. Seth and Clievan nearly offed themselves under that one.”

  “And the old man?”

  “He became the Protector after I completed the puzzle.”

  “And the dog?”

  “Big and gruesome.”

  “Uhhhgg. I’m sorry you had to face it. I want to hear the whole story when we get home.”

  “You all did an amazing thing today and no one even got seriously hurt,” Lyza proclaimed.

  “What are you talking about?” Trey objected.

  “Well, no one was permanently seriously injured,” she said with a smile.

  “Had it not been for Clievan, we wouldn’t have been successful,” said Trey. “Hey. Where is he anyway? Clievan! You can appear now,” Trey said to the air.

  Nothing happened.

  “Clievan? Are you here?”

  Lyza looked worriedly at Seth then back to Trey.

  “Trey. I don’t think he’s here,” Lyza said calmly.

  “No! He has to be here! Clievan! Where are you! Come out now!” he called out frantically.

  “Trey,” Seth said putting a hand on Trey’s shoulder trying to calm him down. “I don’t think he made it on the plane.” He looked at Lyza then Nick then back to Trey. “It’s ok. He’s a big boy. He can take care of himself. As you know, he can stay hidden well.”

  “No!” Trey yelled at Seth. “That’s not it! Clievan! Stop playing around! Show yourself!”

  “What do you mean? Just calm down will you. Tell us what’s wrong,” Nick said.

  “What I’m trying to say-” Trey said panicked. “Clievan has to be here!” They all looked at each other while Trey stared out the window of the plane. “He has to be here because he…he has the eye.” Trey nearly broke down in tears afterward.

  “Oh no!” was all Lyza could say.

  Rescuing Don Smith

  “We have to go back,” Trey said.

  “There’s no time,” Lyza replied vacantly. “Plus, there’s no way we can stand against Commerand.

  “But we have to get the eye back.”

  “Yes, we do, but for now we need to get you and Nick home. Let me worry about retrieving the eye.”

  “But Clievan probably already gave it to him. Commerand could be freeing Khaitu right now! How can you be so cold about it?”

  “There’s no evidence linking Clievan to Commerand. I think he has his own motivations for wanting the eye,” Lyza replied.

  “She’s right,” Seth added. “Clievan is sneaky and not always trustworthy, but he wouldn’t do anything to risk Commerand gaining the eye.”

  “But why? Why would he take it? Why would he do that to me – to us?”

  “I don’t know,” Seth replied.

  “We’re just gonna let him run off with it?”

  Lyza looked at him with confidence, “He may be the best hiding spot we have – always on the move and with the ability to become invisible. Don’t get me wrong, we have to get it back, but I think for now it’s safe.”

  “Assuming he escapes Commerand in the desert,” Trey said doubtfully.

  “If you didn’t notice, Clievan has some rather peculiar characteristics,” Seth said. “He is adapted well for the desert climate. He has a great chance to avoid Commerand and his cronies. They’ll never follow him into the deathly depths of the Great Sand Sea.”

  “Whatever you say. Let’s just get me home so I can forget about all of this.”

  “I know you’re upset but there’s nothing we can do now,” Lyza said trying to comfort the distraught boy.

  “I just can’t believe after all I did, I lose it due to one bad decision. Argg!” He slammed his fists onto the wall of the plane. “I knew I should’ve made him give it to me in the fight. I trusted him.”

  “We all did,” Seth added.

  The plane landed on a desolate road in southern Egypt.

  They jumped out of the plane and Trey said to Seth, “I’ll miss you. Will I see you again?”

  “Of course,” said Seth, unsure of the truth of the response. “Lyza will keep me updated, won’t you?”

  “Sure,” she said.

  Trey hugged Seth, who stayed by the car while Trey, Lyza and Nick trekked into the desert.

  She led them to the portal she and Trey previously used to arrive a day ago.

  Lyza removed the key from her locket, then formed a star attached to the shape of an “L”. Nick’s eyes widened at the sight of the key.

  “No,” Trey said lightly.

  “What do you mean no?” replied Lyza looking at him with concern.

  “No,” he said firmly. There’s more. I – “

  “What is it, Trey. You can tell me.”

  “I know where Don and Grandpa are.”

  Her heart sank. Her eyes told a graphic story of her exploding emotions. It was an expression Trey was happy to see – shock along with elation and hope.

  “What do you mean, you know where they are?” She was nearly crying. It looked as if she wouldn’t be able to contain herself long.

  “I know where they are.”

  “But how?”

  “When I was with the Keeper, I found – I mean he told me where they were.”

  “You found or he told you?”

  “He told me. He told me Don was in a place called the Highlands.”

  “And Patrick?”

  Trey looked down searching for words in the sand.

  “And your grandfather? Where is he? Tell me, Trey!” she said with tears streaming down her face.

  “The Etherios,” he said sadly. “He’s in the Etherios.”

  “No!” she cried. “No. No. No. No. NO! That can’t be! He couldn’t possibly get to the Etherios on his own.”

  “The Keeper sent him there in return for Don.”

  She fell to a knee and wept.

  She sniffed, “How did Don get to the Etherios?”

  “He said by accident.”

  “No one gets to the Etherios by accident,” she replied with a sniff. Her deep blue eyes streaked with thin red lines ate into him like a coyote on a carcass.

  “That’s what he said.”

  “I know Trey.” She sniffed back tears. “It’s not your fault. Let’s get you home,” she said regaining her feet and wiping away wetness from swollen eyes.

  “No. I want to bring Don home.”

  “That’s brave of you, but he may be safer at Highland
s.”

  “If there’s one thing I learned over the past couple days is that no one is safe anywhere. Plus, he’s been gone a long time. I’m sure his family wants to see him.”

  “Let’s get you home and then I’ll go get him.”

  “No, Lyza. It’s something I have to do.”

  She looked at him a moment then understood his unwavering stance. She looked at Nick and with a cunning smile she said, “Ok. What do you think, Nick? What to go to Highlands to get Don Smith?”

  “Do you mean Don Smith, as in your school mate Donald Smith’s father?”

  “Yeah. I found him.”

  “Of course! Let’s go get him!” He walked off in the direction they came.

  “Nick! Back this way!” Trey hollered.

  “But the car is this way.” Nick confusingly replied. He stood in the sand looking at them looking at him.

  “It’s this way, Nick,” Lyza said alluringly.

  After Nick made his way back, Lyza said, “Hold onto me guys.”

  “It’s an M,” Trey said.

  She turned and with a furrowed brow said, “The Keeper told you that too? He told you where to find him and how to get there?”

  “Uh. Yeah. I was, um, very persuasive?”

  “You’re not telling me the whole story are you?”

  “A lot happened. I don’t remember some of it,” he stammered.

  “When this is all over,” she said to him in a serious but playful manner, “we’re going to have a sit down to discuss these details you keep forgetting.”

  He looked at her without a further comment.

  She folded the key into and M. Trey and Nick each held a shoulder. Nick offered Trey a concerned look as she touched the key to the stone.

  Whomp, Whomp Whomp

  Nick rolled on the ground, lurching to not vomit while Trey and Lyza stood watching.

  “You’re porting nicely,” she said to Trey.

  “I’m getting the hang of it,” he said smiling.

  “You’ll feel better in a few minutes,” Trey said to Nick.

  “Ooooohhhhh, that is not fun,” Nick said as he raised to a knee looking up at Lyza. He was pale and looked squeamish.

  Trey shivered, “It’s cold here. I should have packed a jacket.” He looked at each but drew no laughs. He then looked out over a livestock filled pasture onto a sparkling lake below which was overshadowed by a formidable mountain. Piles of rock decorated the grassy land in irregular intervals. Near the lake on a raised hill sat a small farmhouse, which was more like a hut – a farmhut, with smoke protruding from a brick chimney.

  They hiked through the pasture, passed through a wooden fence bordering a plot of colorful vegetables, walked along a stone pathway then ducked to avoid a hanging plant to reach the only door. It opened just as Nick began to knock. A tall, thin man emerged through the doorway.

  “I thought you’d never come,” Don said as he rushed past Nick to hug Lyza.

  He was easily six and a half feet tall, so he turned his head to keep his chest-long beard out of her face.

  She pulled away from the embrace and said, “Don. You’re so – skinny.” She tried to think of a better word but failed.

  He looked anxiously into the air then said, “You shouldn’t have come. Hurry inside before she sees you.”

  He rushed them into the farmhut and carefully closed the door after taking one last peek. He then proceeded to pull all the drapes shut on the interior windows.

  He returned to Lyza and said while grabbing his midsection with two large over-burdened hands, “You like? Not the portly Don you used to know, huh? I’ve worked hard for what I have. I had to scavenge the first few months.” He gazed into the fire and recalled a vivid memory, “There were a few days I thought I wouldn’t make it.” He looked back at his longtime friend, ran his fingers through bushy black hair then said, “I built this place with wood from the forest using tools I crafted from stones found nearby. I wanted to make sure you could find me, so I didn’t stray too far from the portal up on the hill.”

  “It’s really amazing,” she replied thoughtfully. “I’m so sorry you had to go through this.”

  “It’s okay.”

  Nick butted into the pleasant conversation, “You said we were in danger.”

  “Yeah,” Trey added. “You said before she sees us. What did you mean? What sort of danger are we in?”

  Don shot them all a foreboding look. He said, “You should all sit down.”

  Don took a seat in a wooden chair that resembled a recliner, the other three sat on a cloth covered wooden sofa.

  “Shortly after I built this place and set up the farm, on an ordinary cloudy day while attending sheep, something came through the portal.” He looked at them gravely.

  “What was it, Don?” Lyza asked seriously.

  “A dragon,” he said sitting back in the chair.

  “No way!” Trey said excitedly.

  “A dragon? Seriously?” Nick remarked clearly not believing the remark.

  “Her name is Tanarkin the Green. She was sent by Ragnistant to ensure I stay here – forever. I’m responsible for keeping up this farm for her subsistence.”

  “So, you’re her slave?” Trey asked as nicely as he could.

  “Yeah. I guess so,” he replied sadly. “She lives in the mountain so she can easily oversee my activities. I’m sure she knows you’re here.”

  “Why would she let us pass without restriction?” Nick asked still not believing the story but playing along for the sake of the group.

  Don regarded them all individually then said, “Now there are four prisoners rather than one.”

  “No way! I’m not staying here any longer,” Trey said as he jumped from the couch. “Get your stuff and let’s go now!”

  Don rose to meet him, “It’s not that easy. She won’t just let us leave. We have to develop a plan.”

  “Fine,” Trey finished then sat back down.

  “How did you find me, anyway?”

  Lyza answered, “Trey. Trey found out where you were. By the way Trey, meet my good friend Don Smith. Don Smith, Trey Roberts.”

  Just before Trey could take his outstretched hand, a loud popping sound startled the group. Pop, Snap, Pop followed by a long high-pitched whistle. Bolts of electricity arced from Trey to Don.

  Sparky appeared on Don’s shoulder. “Tessie! You made it! I was so worried about you!”

  He grasped the blue creature Trey named Sparky. He vigorously rubbed it sending shooting sparks all about. He pressed Tessie to his face. Tessie nuzzled him affectionately in return.

  “Tessie?” Trey asked dismayed.

  “Yeah! Tessie. She’s been with me for many years. I thought I lost her in the… Oh. That means – “ he looked at Lyza with fearful eyes.

  “I know about the portal in China, Don,” Lyza interrupted. It’s ok. No one’s blaming you for anything.”

  “You know? But how?”

  “The Phoenix led us there. It was a mess.”

  “I – I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I was having these dreams. I thought it was Master Olerand. He said to keep it quiet, that I couldn’t trust anyone.”

  “It’s okay. We’ve squared all that away.”

  “I tried to smash it before I –. It wasn’t supposed to send me there. I didn’t have the eye. Commerand attacked so quickly. I think he has the ability to open portals.”

  “There’s been lots of weird stuff happening lately,” she comforted as she looked into his dark brown eyes. “If he can open portals without the eye, then we may be in more trouble than we thought.”

  He hugged her once more then turned to Nick and Trey. “It’s my pleasure to meet you both.” He extended a hand to Nick first then addressed Trey. “I don’t know how you did it. Ampers are very wary of strangers. You’re lucky to be alive. I thank you for keeping Tessie safe.”

  “It’s been awesome getting to know him, er, I mean her.”

  Don said to the group, “Cup of tea
, anyone? I grow it in the garden there. It’s bitter but it beats no tea.”

  “Is it hot?” Trey asked. “I’ll have some if it’s hot.”

  He brought them all a cup then retook his seat in the recliner.

  Trey cupped his hands around the hand-crafted wooden cup and held it close to his face.

  Lyza placed a hand on Don’s knee and said, “Don, it’s been so long. Have you been here this whole time?”

  “No. I was somewhere else before, but somehow I ended up here,” he replied then sipped his tea.

  “The Etherios. You were in the Etherios.”

  “Of course. No wonder I couldn’t figure it out.”

  “It didn’t seem like I was there for very long. But I think time works differently there.”

  “Trey said the Keeper made a deal with Patrick to free you.”

  “Patrick wouldn’t do that. He knows not to make deals with that demon.”

  “Believe it.”

  “What kind of deal? Where’s Patrick?”

  Lyza looked at Trey.

  “No! Don’t tell me.” He looked at Trey then back to Lyza. Her eyes answered his question. “He took my place didn’t he? That arrogant Cajun took my place. Why?”

  “We don’t know. Much has happened since you were gone. The Keeper is dead and Commerand nearly acquired the eye.”

  “He actually might have the eye,” Trey countered.

  “Dead? How’s that possible?”

  Lyza again looked at Trey.

  “No. Really? Him?” Don replied looking starstruck at Trey. “That must be how he befriended Tessie.”

  “I didn’t believe it until I saw the Keeper. No one else can wield the sword,” continued Lyza.

  “I already told you. I can’t wield the sword without burning up,” Trey blurted but drew no attention from the two.

  “There’ve been some discrepancies, but the prophecy is generally holding true,” said Lyza.

  “Where is the eye now?”

  “We don’t know.”

  “That’s not good.”

  “I think it’s ok for now,” Lyza continued. “Don. We’re here for you. Come home with us.”

  “Home,” he said as he settled back into the chair. He stared into the fire. “It’s been so long. I assumed I would be here for the rest of my days.”