by Casey Phelps
“A unicorn,” I repeated in awe.
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Chapter 13
“A little below the elephant in stature, the shape of an ox, strength and speed are extraordinary, they will spare neither man nor beast, no creature can tame this cloven breed even when captured at a young age.”
Rambling of a patient in the house of the mindless when asked about the horned beast of the forbidden lands.
The unicorn, his name was beyond our tongue to pronounce. So he gave us his title instead, Re’em. He had known of Artileon, and that strange events were happening throughout the land, much was in turmoil. He had not however heard of a Princess, he was intrigued that he would miss such a detail. Artileon introduced me as the Princess Chelle. The unicorn’s eyes widened and he inclined his mighty head towards me in difference. He said he understood our quest then, though he wished to know what brought us here. He told us as he escorted us to his court, of a plight that had come upon the young unicorns. These foals were taken to their beds, and nothing seemed to help ease their sufferings, he had hoped our lands would have encountered the same and would have a cure for the malady.
Until we passed the settlements of the unicorns we could not have imagined the severity of this plague, the streets were silent, as though funeral pallor hung in the sky and suffocated the towns energy and diffused their joy. No animals roamed, no one strayed from their homes. No one moved about or greeted us; our welcome was not coming from these poor folks.
The homes were rough wooden structures that held no doors, only cloth coverings that the unicorns brushed aside. There were herbs that hung in every door way that added to the strangeness of the towns, instead of warding the stench away the breeze brushed past the staleness. The homes towered over our heads, looming in the shadow of the day.
I glimpsed one small foal that hid her face in her mother’s flank, her wide dark eye watching us as we rode by. It broke my heart that this innocent little one could fall ill.
We moved through one village, and had stopped just as we left the main road to leave, and at last a young unicorn came forward to ensure we left and did not turn back. Re’em nodded, but it was not returned.
On, we traveled and each settlement was as the one before it, only suspicious glances and wary guards were viewed and open hostility was felt.
We camped for each night well outside any settled area for the threat that pressed us on our way. The fifth night we traveled through the forbidden lands we were brought to a wall with a giant stone door set into its midst. In the door a larger-than-life battle was waged, man and beast entangled, with the Lord Sun depicted his rays reigning supreme over the fray. It was superb.
This was statelier than the palace of the king, which was grand but lacked the finesse of these walls and this gate. The warriors that guarded these gates had the military perfection that the outlying villages lacked, but they were still wary of these strange visitors that walked their lands.
“Lord Re’em, we are glad to escort you to your father, but these vermin must stay outside the walls.” The guards informed our escort.
“Inform my father the King, of my company and relay the message that I bring a mind speaker, though untrained, with the mark of the blessing, and her escort the Prince of the Beasts,” said Re’em haughtily as if his words brokered no argument from the guard.
“Yes sir, right away my lord.” The guard took off, and went to inform the king.
We waited, and I took the time to gaze around the courtyard just inside the gates.
I was fairly used to the idea of everyone seeing me as vermin, but I could tell in the posture of the ‘Prince of the beast’s’ he was not.
“Princess,” the voice in my head returned. This voice was not the same though, it still had the melodic cadence of the Re’em, but this resonance was deep like the chords of a bass.
“Do I know you?” as always I was inquisitive.
The voice smiled (do not ask me how I know this I just do) and said “I am the Che’Lin king of the unicorns, it is my son Re’em that you have traveled with and I am looking forward to meeting with you in person. However, you are in much danger in this court. Women in this whole realm are not kindly looked upon, most do not have the gifts you possess, the marking and being the last of your kind do not sit well with my people, and also you have come at a time of great tragedy. I will not have the ability to favor you as guests, but have decided against my counselor’s wisdom to allow you help in your quest, as long as you find the cure for the ailments of our young. It is a high price and does carry its own peril, but no knowledge or power is worth gaining without cost.”
Just then the voice stopped speaking, and I heard it aloud, as I looked up to find the king coming our way.
“Son, you bring a disgrace to our gate, you and your entourage may not enter. If you wish to be allowed inside you must wash at the blessed river Rul, and I encourage you to leave this present company before its paganism rubs off on your psyche.” The king dismissed us entirely and walked away.
Re’em was outraged, and the whole courtyard was shocked into stillness.
The king bellowed an order for all to pray for the return of the Lord Re’em to his right mind, and to spend the day in silence, and the gates swung closed, stirring up the dust at our feet and blocking our entrance to the city of the King.
I heard Re’em muttering under his breath but I could not make out what he said, I could tell he was furious and wasn’t sure how to handle the verbal dressing down he’d just received from his father.
“The king he spoke to my mind…” I started.
Re’em and the Prince swiveled to look at me. I hesitated then told them of the king’s words. Re’em snorted and sounded amused, and Artileon asked angrily “Well what kind of help did he give against council if he just blocked us from entering his city.”
It was Re’em who answered, “I am your help, by barring my entrance, and he has indicated my help is to be given instead of being removed from you. Sending you out without help was a ruse, because I am your guide. I can aide you with the Princess’s magic; the cost indeed is high, but not impossible. We have no idea where to start with the plague, and it is only a matter of time before it is too late to remedy and then your quest will be forfeit and our support though back handed as it may seem will be reneged.”
“That is what I assumed the meaning of his words, as well.” I said contemplating the greatness of the task I now had to accomplish.
“Well to start I need to see someone who is sick, I cannot begin to diagnose a problem without seeing what exactly is wrong is there someone who would let me examine their child?” I asked.
“That too I can help with, I know of such a couple, they have aided me many times, even in exile from the court as I find myself now they will help. They have a foal that was taken with the plague, and a healthy son that was not touched yet. They will allow you to examine them both if there was a way to help their youngest.” Re’em said thoughtfully.
We started off to meet the family he spoke of, and didn’t have far to travel. There was a comparatively small hut on the outskirts of the forest surrounding the city of the king. There lived the family Rune, and they happily allowed us into their home.
After they learned of our quest and the task set forward to receive my training from the unicorns, they were equally happy to be of any help.
I immediately was taken to the rear of the hut, to a room that held a foal a sickly color of gray, sweat matted his once white fur, and his horn was lack luster. His eyes were matted and crusted, and he labored to breathe.
Not thinking of contamination to myself I immediately knelt down, I listened to his heart, and his breathing by laying my head upon his sweaty fur.
No one spoke as I examined the youngster as thoroughly as I knew how. As I did, I remembered the time Frankie my Chihuahua ate chocolate (highly toxic for dogs but my favorite snack, and therefore my fault that he got sick.) Yes, I still felt terrible abo
ut this. He showed similar signs to what the foal was exhibiting.
I ventured a guess, “All the sick are showing the same signs?”
“Yes” said his mother, “to varying degrees.”
“Can you tell me of what you’ve tried already?”
We went through all of the herbs and concoctions they had tried, and I asked about what the foal had been doing around the time he started showing signs of illness.
They went round and round discussing possibilities, until the foal spoke in my mind. He didn’t have much strength so it came across as a whisper.
“In the forest, I was in the forest.”
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Chapter 14
Moon flower- The Flower of the Lady a poisonous plant, with berries, purple flowers, every part is quite toxic, but has been used in medicines to deaden pain.
AKA: In our world it is called the Bella Donna, nightshade, or the beautiful lady.
“In the forest,” I said aloud.
Everyone peered at me like I’d lost my mind, as this was completely off subject.
“He told me he was in the forest,” I explained.
“He hasn’t spoken in weeks” exclaimed his mother. “I certainly did not hear anything.”
“She is a powerful mind speaker indeed,” mused Re’em.
The mother hastened to her son’s side and he merely nodded his head. It was as if that statement had brought him from a hallucinogenic state and then quickly lapsed back to the non-responsive dream-like sleep he’d exhibited before.
“I truly think he has been poisoned, it covers all of the symptoms, the only thing I can’t understand is why the toxins have not worn off and he hasn’t returned to normal, as well as why it affected so many…I must visit the forest.” I demanded of my hosts.
Re’em offered to lead us and we set off into the eternal twilight of the heavily treed forest. We walked in silence as we considered the futility of searching the forest for an unlikely target.
I picked a flower, from a near-by plant, it was a midnight blue/ purple and absolutely gorgeous, and I wove its strands into my hair.
Artileon turned back with a question and upon seeing the flower he promptly yanked it from my hair. Taking a few hairs with him, ouch.
“What are you thinking, this plant is highly poisonous!” he exclaimed.
His outburst brought Re’em careening into our huddle.
“I know this plant; it is one we use for pain. It is called the Lady’s flower, or the moon flower.” He said questioningly.
“What does this have to do with the moon, or a lady?” I inquired.
“Ah the mysterious Lady of the Moon of course,” He answered. Now I’d heard of the man in the moon, but never the Lady of the Moon.
“The conniving daughter of our Lord Sun, she is willful and wields a power to rival even his reign over the skies. This is a medicinal plant but very toxic. All of the plant is laced with poison that could kill even a foal, or a human. I am not sure but by his reaction it seems that also is toxic to the beasts.” He further explained.
I thought back to the words of the young foal and the feeling he gave though it was such a light touch of his mind so addled with the effects of what I was sure was poisoning.
“If this plant is used to help relieve pain, but it is toxic how you do administer it? And is it used on all patients?” I quizzed them.
“It is ground into a powder, and watered down, most will put it into a tea, or chew its fruit to garner the affects they wish to use, and yes in varying degrees it is used on all ages.” Re’em said.
“I think I know what is wrong with your foals, but now what to do to solve the problem?”
“Do you care to share, Princess?” Artileon said stressing his annoyance with the term that the unicorn addressed me though he introduced me as such.
“I believe that the young unicorns must have ingested this poisonous plant somehow, and that when they were treated they were given this same poison to relieve their pain, putting them further under the toxins influence and producing the catatonic state they are currently existing in.” I said unsure of my findings.
As a quiet stirring of the leaves of the forest swirled at my skirts, I breathed in the fragrance of the forest, the fresh scent of the earth; something crossed my mind so quickly that I lost the thought when Re’em spoke.
“Why hasn’t anyone thought of this, it’s brilliant,” exclaimed Re’em exuberantly.
Even Artileon has to admit that it had a valid point. We gathered a few leaves, twigs, and flowers to bring back to the hut. The family was waiting for us when we returned, and shared our findings. They immediately realized their error and started looking for an antidote for the poison; they were inadvertently giving to their children.
The sick smell of sweat and the excretion of the poison were nauseating. I began stirring the air and opening the door flaps and windows to let fresh air in, and took the dried herbs and replaced them with fresh ones, I took a deep breath as I passed a large bush. It reminded me of my mother and her favorite scent of candle…Sage. I thought the smell was comforting. I bound it tightly and not having wax to fragrance I swept through the home with the tips of the plant smoking. It was as if the hideous sickness was purged from the air. The foal began to relax, and his fever broke.
It was found that allowing the body to rid itself of the poison, by flushing with copious amounts of water, and then administering a willow bark tea would set the body’s natural immune system in order to fight the symptoms. Still, it took three weeks for the foal to completely recover.
We were hastened back to the city gates, and brought our evidence with us to show our apparent success at a remedy for the plague.
The king sent out a decree, and it was made known how to help cure the young foals of their sickness. There was a great celebration as the sickness was turned back, and the young were returned to their frolicking.
We sat at repast as honored guest at the king’s tables due to our recent findings.
“I wonder how the foals all ended up eating this and it spread throughout the whole kingdom?” I knew immediately that I shouldn’t have spoken when the whole room was silenced by my words.
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Artileon
My unlikely companion constantly amazes me. She shows such wisdom for her youth, then immediately follows any stroke of brilliance with things like this. When would she learn, there is a time and place and not many in this realm for you to utter your wonderings for everyone to hear. The court was hushed, as this weighed on their minds around us.
I saw Chelle wince as she realized her error, or as someone spoke harshly to her mind. I never could tell which. Then the room erupted as this brought about a new line of thinking. This plague was brought for some reason, and otherwise as she pointed out it wouldn’t have spread across the widely spaced towns in the forbidden lands. But who would do such a thing, and why?
Chelle was red as the focus was turned her direction, she was the one with the answers, and she was the only one who would ask these questions. She at first cowered in her seat, under the weight of their lofty glances. Then she straightened her spine, and her eyes flashed as she stared defiantly ahead.
“Silence!”
The room was so still, where had this come from; it rang in my mind like the crashing of a waterfall.
Apparently all had heard this, and the king, and his son, stared at Chelle. I turned and looked as she had stood, scooting her seat back. She held the air of a princess, and spoke.
“Please, I understand that you are all aware of the ramifications of my words and that this trial of your people is not over as we celebrate the news of the young returning to health.” She spoke and commanded the attention of the whole room.
“If you have something to say, do not let it be in the whispers of confusion, let them be heard, as we should find the culprit who seeks to destroy your future.”
I will not tolerate the din you create when you speak all at on
ce, but know that I will hear you and that you may speak your mind. Be at peace, as I will do all that is within my power to find this death bringer and bring them to the justice of your people.”
She sat back down, with stately elegance, and the torrent of questions rained down on her head, they yelled, they raged, they frothed at the mouth in their outrage, but they took her powerful words to heart. They each addressed her individually, and in turn she heard the voicing of the entire assembly.
They mostly said the same thing, rewording it as if they were bringing out some new point. She simply listened and repeated affirming she heard their plea and addressed the next person. Her tolerance was of a saint, I bristled under the lofty council and their treatment of her.
At the end of the evening she said that we would retire and in the morning continue our discussion on the matter. “It would not do to continue, if we do not have the freshness of mind to bring forth a compelling argument.” She countered their indignation.
The next day she was brought before the king, and this time I noticed she was no longer wearing the strange clothes or tattered robe I had given her as disguise. Today she wore an emerald dress, trimmed in silver and her hair was artfully arranged laced with silver ornaments. This was fitting for the new stature she had adopted in front of the people who now held her in both esteem for finding the means to end the plague, but also the harbinger of the greatest evil that it was still unknown how this plague started. She was beginning to look like the princess her blood told her she truly was.
The first item addressed was the fact that no one had gleamed any new information from the foals that had recovered. So she asked the king for a party to go out and question each foal and their families and friends. It took some time for this to be reported back, and there were more things to pursue, the next question was how could a people so cut off from the rest of the realm of Dalthimus have enemies and who would they be.
Only one person brought up any sort of new information after the obvious statement against our still being in the forbidden lands and that we were the only travelers to make it this far and stay this long. This was counted as absurd since we also remedied the plague, and had yet had motive to support such actions.