“Not now, Albright!” He had shouted impatiently. “I must tell my wife.”
He stepped outside to call Caroline and tell her the news. He couldn’t get a signal with his cell phone. He ended the call in frustration but then remembered that on the top floor of an adjacent building, he had had reception.
The professor bounded up the steps and attempted the call only to hear his wife’s message. He left a message and came back out of breath into his office. “Well, Albright, I owe you…” He stopped. The office was empty. Albright was gone, along with his research!
In the dank cell Daniel shivered, laying on the cold stone floor of his prison. He sat up and rubbed his ankle where the iron cuff had worn a sore and prayed that it wasn’t infected. He stood and sat back at the wooden table piled high with the tomes of this world. His laptop sat cold and lifeless beside it. “Should have brought an extra battery.” He said aloud to no-one. There were a lot of things he should’ve done differently.
He shouldn’t be here. He never should have come. But he was driven by rage when he realized that his assistant, Albright, had stolen his research.
That night Daniel had wondered what Albright could possibly do with his research. Publish it? Play it off as his own? Then he knew. Albright was going to the stone circle, Mairead Fhada, in Cumbria, the focus of all of Daniel’s years of work.
He had grabbed his leather satchel, stuffed a few things in it that he might need. He made one stop before leaving the college and slipped into the research library past the sleeping Tisdale and grabbed the 900 AD manuscript. He felt guilty about it, but he had a feeling he might need it. Then he raced after his assistant. He didn’t know what he would do if he caught him. It was his research, his alone, and he would take it back no matter what.
Now in the cold, dim cell as he relived those rash decisions, he was overcome with sincere regret. His stupid pride and anger had caused him to leave behind the two most important people in his world. Daniel lay his head on the wooden table and whispered a prayer for his wife and their son.
Chapter 39
“This place gives me quite the fright,” whispered the Weasel to himself twitching. He had made his way to this place with information to sell. That was the way he made his way in this dark world. Trading on human suffering. He had held the young serving girl captive by threatening her poor old mother. She had sold out her own people for the love of her “dear old Ma.” The old hag probably wouldn’t live long anyway. He had no room in his heart for anyone but himself. He twitched and continued his pacing nervously up and down in Darcon’s fortress courtyard. After two more revolutions, he stopped and squinted up at the battlements.
Guards stood with their crossbows, and watchful eyes, trained on him. He turned to continue his pacing and gave a squeak of surprise. He had almost smashed into the iron breastplate of General Nawg, the massive shadow-warrior commander.
“You have something for me?” demanded Nawg.
“Ah, yes. Rumor, I understand, has it your lordship is looking for a boy?” Weasel looked back and forth, then leaned into the dark warrior and lowered his voice: “An Otherlander...”
“Go on.”
“I’ve been trading in the middle region, and I’ve seen some things.”
“Where is the boy?”
“Not so fast!” This is going well, thought Weasel. This place isn’t as scary as I thought. And now I’ve got this brute right where I want him. “I say, always leave some room for negotiation.” Weasel turned to the General. “And if it goes well, I also have a location for the right price.”
Nawg stood silently, stonily glaring at the jerky little man. His black-gloved hand moved to his huge sword’s hilt, and Weasel began to think he had overplayed his hand. With a twitch, he snuck a glance up at the guards; their deadly weapons were still trained on him.
A cold drip of sweat rolled down his spine; he shivered. But he reminded himself: Wait, I know how these barters work: The first one to talk, loses.
Nawg regarded the pathetic little man deciding whether to listen more or cleave him in two with his blade. Finally, “Follow me,” commanded Nawg.
Perfect—I’ve got him right where I want him, thought Weasel, as he followed General Nawg through a dark opening that became a passage through the fortress’s wall. They were soon swallowed by darkness.
Chapter 40
The jingling of keys awakened Daniel. His head hurt. Not enough food and water would do that. He glanced up at his open window. The moon had risen and cast a faint light into his cell. The rusty lever of the door turned with a screech, and the massive door swung open. Daniel could just make out the backs of the hulking guards standing in the corridor.
A servant girl stepped inside, holding a candle. She moved like a frightened mouse as she lit the few torches in Daniel’s cell. Daniel smiled at her. She was the only bright spot in the dreary days of his captivity. Then she retreated to the side of the door giving a bow and averting her gaze as Mordis Saldan entered.
He was thin and older than Daniel. Hard to tell his age. His head was clean-shaven, but his face sprouted a massive gray beard that had been braided into a single cord. He was vain like that, Daniel thought. His black cassock fit tight and had a high collar. Each button down the front shown in the candlelight like drops of fire, but his eyes did not. They gave off nothing. They seemed to absorb the light.
“Dr. Colson,” he said as he entered.
Daniel sat resolutely. He had tired of these daily interrogations.
“Why are you here?” Mordis asked.
“I’ve told you already.”
“Tell us again.”
Daniel sighed. “I came looking for my assistant. Gavin Albright. Young, fit, blonde, almost 30, and smart, very smart. He would have come here only hours before I arrived.”
Mordis stroked his braided beard. “There was a man as you describe.” Mordis let that hang in the air. “But he is no more.” He turned to gaze out the open window at the moon.
“My Lord Darcon request your access to the door.”
Daniel spat back in frustration. “I have told you I don’t know how to get back. The pattern is probably the same on the lock, but the constellations are all different in your world.”
“My Lord, Darcon request access to the door,” Mordis repeated flatly.
Daniel looked around the cell in desperation.
“I don’t know how to go back through the door. Don’t you realize I more than anyone want to get back through that door! My world, my home, my family is on the other side.”
“Well, you must try harder.”
“Look! You have beaten me, chained me like an animal. What more can you do to me?”
“You are right, we cannot do more to you without losing you.”
Mordis hand shot out and snatched the servant girl by the arm, and to her horror pulled her slowly toward him.
“Hey! Leave her alone!” Daniel demanded.
The servant girl snuck a pleading glance toward Daniel then cast her eyes to the floor as her master straightened out her arm and reached with his other hand to retrieve a lit candle from the wall.
Daniel lunged toward Mordis, but his chain held tight. He clawed at the monster, but Mordis stood inches away from his grasp.
Mordis leveled his cold gaze on Daniel as he held the burning candle over the trembling girl’s exposed forearm, threatening to pour the hot wax there.
The girl bit her lip, preparing for the pain as tears sprung from her eyes.
“Stop!” Daniel pleaded. “Please stop!”
Mordis released the girl, and she shrank back against the wall into the shadows. Then slipped through the door, sneaking one glance at Daniel as if to communicate, “Thank you.”
Mordis turned and moved out the door then paused. “Dr. Colson, resume your studies. Lord Darcon is a patient man. But his patience has its limits.”
The door slammed, and Daniel shuffled back to the table, his chain clanged along behind him.
He crumpled into his chair and stared at the research before him. He opened his notebook, and referring to his scattered research began to write. He would solve the problem of the door. He had no choice. He had to get home. But how without allowing the darkness of this world to seep through to his?
Chapter 41
Mordis Saldan entered Darcon’s inner sanctuary in silence. As he walked between the phalanx of the place guard, only his cassock made a quiet hiss along the floor. He stopped at the foot of the dais and bowed.
“My Lord.”
His dark master ignored him. Darcon stared into his hand, at something he held there, lost deep in thought.
Mordis cleared his throat. “My Lord?”
Darcon looked up and focused on Mordis. His eyes registered something distant. Flashed anger at having been disturbed. He slipped the small piece of what looked to Mordis like parchment into the folds of his robe.
Lord Darcon stood, stepped forward, and looked down upon his loyal counselor. “Well?”
“Still nothing, Master. He knows how he came through the door but does not know how to return.”
“Like the other one?”
“Yes, Sire, like the other one.”
“And what of the boy? Or the location of the resistance strongholds?”
“We are making progress there.” Mordis said with a smile.”
“Good. Once we have destroyed the resistance and rule this world, we will move on to the next.”
Mordis turned to leave.
“Mordis.”
“Yes, my Lord?”
“Bring him to me.”
“Sire?”
“The man of learning. This traveler. Have him brought to my table tonight.” Darcon smiled. “Maybe my hospitality will help things along.”
Mordis bowed. “As you wish.”
Chapter 42
Keys jingled, and the lever screeched, alerting Daniel that the door to his cell was about to open. A moment of indecision, and then he stood and picked up his chair and stepped toward the door as it cracked. Daniel lifted the chair above his head as someone stepped through. Daniel stopped mid-swing and set the chair on the floor. It was the servant girl. She was holding a mug of water and a loaf of bread. As Daniel stepped forward, the girl caught his eye for a moment then quickly looked to the floor.
“Sir, I have brought you food and water.”
“Thank you,” He said as he took it and placed it on the table.
The girl backed to the door, her head to the floor submissively.
“Please, Miss, what is your name?” Daniel asked gently.
She stopped unsure of herself. Unaccustomed to receiving even the smallest act of kindness.
“Mia.” She softly said to the floor.
“Mia. That’s a nice name.”
He stepped toward the door as she continued backing. Daniel intended to get the door for her, but he reached the end of his chain. Looking from his shackle to the girl. “Forgot,” he said, shrugging his shoulders and lifting his chained ankle. “This is as far as I go.”
The girl opened the door and began to step through, then paused long enough to whisper, “Thank you.”
Chapter 43
“How long until they find us?” Deacon slammed his hand onto the wooden table, which echoed through the council chamber. He glared at the gathered men, the leaders of the resistance, and the elders of Home.
An elder stood and stepped from behind the intricately carved conference table. He spoke to Deacon but faced the gathering. “Deacon, friend we are secure here in our valley hidden within the mountains.” He turned to face Deacon. “Our pass is protected by sentries. Our dragons are strong and swift. Let us hear no more talk of war.” Some of the gathered men and women nodded their heads and murmured their assent.
Deacon shot back. “Gindar, brother, you have been lulled into complacency by what you believe is security. It is only a matter of time before Darcon’s forces find us. We must strike now and take the battle to Darcon’s doorsteps. We cannot afford to lose any more of our men. We have given up too much that is precious.”
Gindar nodded. “You, more than most, have sacrificed for our people. But now is not the time, and we are not prepared to go on the offense. And besides all that, this is the time of our annual feast. Let our people rejoice in the security of their Home.”
Deacon started to respond, but Loren stood and raised his hand, stopping further discussion. “General Deacon. The council has heard your concerns.”
Deacon opened his mouth then thought better of it. He nodded at Loren, turned on his heel, and marched out of the chamber.
Chapter 44
The door to Daniel’s cell opened, and Mordis stepped through. “Professor, My Lord, Darcon requests your presence at his table tonight.”
Daniel looked up from his research and took off his spectacles.
“Request or order?”
Mordis ignored the comment.
“Water has been brought and your other clothes. So that you may…” He sniffed the room with a grimace. “Prepare.”
Mordis retreated past the guards as the servant girl, Mia, entered with a basin and a jar of water. She placed the bowl on the table and filled it with water. Steam rose into the cold air of the cell.
Mia snuck a glance at Daniel.
“I have heated the water.”
Daniel, struck by her kindness, uttered, “Thank you.”
The servant girl stepped out, then back in with a parcel and handed it to him gently. Unwrapping it, Daniel found the jacket that he had worn when he had first arrived.
“I cleaned it for you,” Mia explained.
Now Daniel didn’t know what to say. He took the jacket and placed it on the back of his chair.
She looked down at his shackled ankle. “I will send the guard to unlock your…” She couldn’t bring herself to say it.
Daniel, sensing her unease, responded softly, “It’s okay. It’s not your fault. You’re as much a prisoner as I.”
Mia bowed her head and backed out of the door.
Chapter 45
Daniel squinted at his research in the dim light of his cell. The cell door unlocked and swung open on its groaning hinges. Two prison guards were back along with Mia. She quietly lit the candles in Daniel’s cell as one of the guards knelt and roughly grabbed Daniel’s ankle.
“Careful,” Daniel grimaced. Seeing his inflamed ankle, the guard stood and pulling an iron key out of a small leather bag hanging around his neck, he shoved it into Mia’s hands and pushed her to the floor. “You do it,” He growled. “I don’t want to catch nothin’.”
Mia gently took the key and unlocked the shackle, and it clanged to the floor.
Escorted by the servant girl and the two guards, Daniel walked along the torch-lit stone corridor. They rounded a bend, and Daniel stopped abruptly.
“What was I thinking? I forgot my jacket.”
The servant girl moved to respond. “I will send for it.”
“No, please. I’ll just run back and get it.” Before the guards could respond, he took off, darting back the way they had come. He rounded another corner, approached the door to his cell… and kept on running. He heard the shouts of the guards and their running steps echoing in the hall behind him.
Another two turns, and he was in a portion of the halls he had never seen. He stopped, unsure of himself. He could hear nothing but the faint fluttering of the lit torches.
Suddenly the silence was broken by a scream echoing through the passage. Startled, Daniel stopped and listened.
Maybe he was hearing things, he thought. He cautiously continued forward. As he approached an intersection of halls, the same voice screamed again. Daniel could tell it was coming from the adjoining hallway.
Daniel stood at the crossroad, debating what he should do. Finally, he moved down the hallway toward the sound of the screams.
Approaching a corner, he turned to see more halls. He continued along one hallway, and it divided. Un
sure of which way to go, Daniel stopped. The screams had silenced.
He looked back the way he had come—he thought. Uncertain. And again, the doubts. Why am I here? What have I got myself into? With that, he turned to go back the way he was pretty sure he had come.
He hadn’t taken one step when a very-close scream reverberated through the hallway—this time followed by indiscernible gibbering. Begging sobs. Words from someone in horrible pain. If Daniel listened intently, he could just make it out.
“Please,” the voice pleaded, “That’s all I know!”
Daniel apprehensively continued down the hallway toward the voice. Fear escalated. He looked over his shoulder and almost started to run away.
But in a moment of courage, he turned back purposefully and… bounced off the iron chest-plate of a shadow warrior. He looked up to see the dark visage of General Nawg.
Daniel stepped back to catch his breath.
“Excuse me,” he said, trying to control his voice. “I didn’t see you there.”
General Nawg just stood, as silent and impervious as a granite wall.
“I... uh... got lost in the passageways. Is this the way to the dining hall?
Nothing.
“No,” Daniel continued, “I see it is not.” He backed away from the behemoth, with an, “I’m sure it was back this way.” Then Daniel turned the way he had come. He looked back one last time. “Thank y—” Daniel didn’t finish, for there was no one there. And just then, the two original guards came up from behind and grabbed him roughly by the arms, spun him around, and one punched him in the stomach, doubling him over. He fell to his knees gasping for breath.
The servant girl arrived, panting. “Sir, please!” she begged. Then she held up his jacket. “Your coat.”
Daniel struggled to his feet. The guards seized him again, and Daniel violently shook them off, and took his jacket from the girl, slipped it on. “Forgive me,” he groaned. “Let’s not keep your master waiting.”
OTHERLANDER: A Long Way From Home Page 8