“That looks useful. Where did you find these images?” Kelne asked.
“Some rural place in the desert. A friend took me,” Kris said. “I don’t know where we were. A woman led me to an ancient ruin and asked me to protect the people. I think I said yes.”
“Young man, I’m quite impressed. I’d say you’re taking this very well,” Kelne said.
“I am? I don’t think so. You see, I’m completely insane, off my rocker, done for.”
“No.”
“No?”
“You’re here because you were summoned,” Kelne said emphatically. “I’ve been expecting you.”
Kris looked him in the eye and paused, a look of disbelief on his face. “That can’t be. How? I must have done something wrong. Made a mistake.”
“No. None of that. You were summoned. I am the welcoming committee. We have a problem I believe you can help with …”
Kris stood opening his mouth and then closing it again. “But I don’t belong here. Isn’t that a bigger problem?” he said.
“I dare say, you were ridiculously difficult to reach. I finally got your attention in your dream,” Kelne said meeting Kris’s eyes. “You take on too much responsibility and you always have. I’m grateful your father warned you. Now that you’re here I want you to relax and regroup. You have an important mission but not just yet.”
“I’m not … insane? That’s a relief. But how could …?”
“An ancient plan. Of course, you wouldn’t remember. It was a decision made a long time ago,” Kelne said. “Don’t worry. It’s unimportant right now.”
“What am I supposed to do here? Protect ancestors? That’s what the woman said.”
“It’s possible, but hopefully unnecessary,” Kelne said gently, encouraging Kris to relax. “Tea service, please,” Kelne clapped his hands expectantly.
Before them, a table of stone emerged directly out of the plateau, along with two chairs. Then a piping hot teapot appeared with steam coming out of the spout. Two cups sat next to it, and an array of refreshments appeared on the table.
“Please, take a seat and help yourself. You must be famished,” Kelne said. Then he sat and poured the tea as if everything was as it should be. Kris stared at the table, at Kelne and the food. He took his hat off and sat down.
Kris bit into a ginger scone. Then he pinched his cheek hard, just to be sure he wasn’t dreaming. It hurt and the food was delicious. He filled his plate.
“My dear man, I understand you are troubled. That was the point of having a cup of tea—to calm you down and get to know you,” Kelne said. “I want you to relax and think about all that is good in your life. That’s really the best starting point. Anything at all. Tell me about something that gives you joy.”
“My nephew Jaime,” Kris said without hesitation. “In my travels, when I saw young children, I thought of him. He’s the only one who understands me, if I’m honest,” he said sheepishly. “Everyone else in my life stopped being playful a long time ago. Me too, managing tasks whenever I was awake. I spent all my time trying to keep up. But when I’d go to see Jaime, we’d play pretend and build forts out of blankets. You know, it felt like a return to normalcy.” Kris looked bashful and his cheeks flushed.
Kelne listened carefully. “I’m glad you have a loving nephew. Sounds like a good time.”
“My sister, well, she’s so hard on him. I don’t want her to take his childhood away too. His older brothers work all the time. You’d think they’d take a break occasionally. But they don’t, not even for family reunions at my parents’ house. I always take a legitimate week off and go play with him … I suppose it’s odd to have your nephew be your best friend. But the rest of the year, I’m like the others, at work till midnight. You see, my job was an all-or-nothing proposition.”
“I understand completely,” Kelne said. “Now you are here, and we won’t overly burden you with too much to do, not right away at least. In fact, did you know? You can make this world exactly the way you want it to be.”
“I can what?” Kris was intrigued.
“It’s true. But I caution you to remain positive,” Kelne said, looking down to meet Kris’s eyes. “You must find ways to believe things can happen. You wouldn’t want to be one of those naysayers. You know, the people who put obstacles in their own way. That is a dangerous train of thought in this world. Things happen as you request, just as I requested comfortable seating and a nice meal,” he said. “You’ll be all right once you get used to it here.”
Kris stared and listened carefully. “More tea, please,” he said.
Before his eyes, another teapot appeared. Kris had thought of a cranberry apple tea that he found especially scrumptious, and in an instant, he realized that the teapot had read his mind. Before him was his favorite tea, sweetened to perfection. He took a sip and smiled broadly. “I see what you mean.”
Kelne smiled approvingly. “You’ll be all right here, then. But I warn you once again, you must keep your wits about you. You’ll have to find a way to avoid the winds. They blow hard and cold here and will distract your concentration. It’s a problem for the untrained mind. Promise me you’ll stay in good spirits. If you have any trouble, think of your wonderful nephew. He’ll remind you to put a smile on your face and make a shelter out of blankets.” Kelne smiled broadly.
“Where do people live here?”
“In the cities and the countryside, just like your world,” Kelne said. “I was just visiting Sylvia. She and her wolves run the Inn of the Outer Plateaus, over there.” He pointed across the large, steep canyon. “It’s a magnificent cliff dwelling that she’s enhanced with all her skills. It’s most comfortable.”
“Her skills?” Kris said.
“Yes, of course. In a land where you receive what you believe, it’s best to apply yourself to the task at hand, have good taste, be deliberate.”
“Your staff. What does it do?”
Kelne smiled at the question. “It helps me expedite things.”
Kris suddenly remembered the small woven eagle. He pulled it out and gave it to Kelne. “This was given to me when I was traveling with my friend. A child wove it if you can believe that. Have you seen anything like it?”
“You received this on Earth?” Kelne examined it carefully, turning it over and looking for markings, noting the foreign magic woven into the eagle.
“The woman with the deep-green eyes. She asked me to protect the ancestors. She knew my name.” Kris was bewildered. “She sang a song about time travelers or something. In another world. Do you know about that? Do you have ancestors that need protection and time travel?” Kris said.
“I hope not, but it’s always possible,” Kelne said as he stood up. He clapped his hands, and the table, tea and snacks vanished.
“I am so sorry Kris. I have a bit of an emergency on my hands. If it weren’t so urgent, I’d spend the afternoon with you. I’m glad it’s a nice day—no storms predicted. I trust you’re safe enough to travel alone for a bit. I think you’ll be comfortable here in no time.”
“Can’t I go with you?” Kris inquired.
“No. I’m so sorry. They’ve discovered some irregularities in the Ball Return that I must address at once, after I check on some people in the Black Hills.” Kelne stood. “I recommend you visit Wizandor Village and ask for my good friend Beacon. Remember his name like a beacon of light.” Kelne pointed toward a village in the cliffs. “At the top of those cliffs there you will meet many friendly people.
“Please, allow me to draw you a map to help you get around.” His staff flashed, and Kris’s journal opened to a series of maps on the pages. “Enjoy yourself.” Kelne’s staff flashed and he was gone.
Kris stood, uncomfortable with the sudden disappearance. He took a deep breath. How will I ever explain my vacation?
He picked up his journal and opened the pages to Kelne’s maps to examine them. At the top of the page, he read the word written. “Kaa-len-dra.” With the map, at least, he had a c
hance of finding his way around.
Feeling refreshed, Kris began his trek toward Wizandor Village. He hadn’t gotten far when the wind started to blow and felt cold on his neck. He looked at the map once more and charted his course. He put his journal in his bag, pulled his leather jacket out and put it on, just in time.
A massive gust of wind hit him hard and pushed him toward the edge of the plateau. He had to brace himself.
The wind brought a chill to his ears. While he stood on the plateau, his mind felt transported altogether. He felt fear as he stared at the F in scarlet red across the top of a spelling test. All but two words were crossed out, not because they were misspelled, but because the letters were written backwards on the page. In his head, a familiar voice said, I’m the stupidest one. I don’t do anything right.
He stood in his childhood home. His older sister stared at him in disgust. No one wants a loser like you. Only important people are invited. She stomped off.
Then he saw himself on the playground, held down by two boys while George kicked him hard in the head and stomach. You weirdo. Think you’re some genius? You’re a freak. What are you doing in our class? Hang out with kids your own age, or are they too dumb for you?
Next he saw himself hidden in the school library, terrified of George and his friends. He hid in a corner and learned, absorbing everything he read and skipped two more grades.
Kris tried to get the painful moments to stop. Kelne said I need to control my thoughts, but they have a mind of their own. How do I do that?
He could see Wizandor Village in the high cliff. Kris ran across the plateau, hoping to reach the village and make his upsetting memories stop. Then he walked to the edge of the plateau and saw that the steep canyon went for miles. He checked the map again and saw clouds in the shape of a human face that weren’t on the map before. The cloud face had a look of disgust. The label read “Winds of Doom.”
“I have not been a fool my whole life!” Kris yelled at the wind. “I graduated from college at nearly the top of my class, and five years ahead of schedule,” he said, throwing his shoulders back. “And I had a waiting job offer with decent pay. That was good.” The winds subsided a little. Kris felt better already. “Worked there for years. Got good promotions too. I’m no loser.” He smiled and kept talking. The winds quieted. “Since I left my work behind, I’ve likely gone insane. That’s all. That’s why I’m yelling at you now!” He chuckled. “Dad said never to let work become a personal prison. But I did. Besides, my dad asked me to intervene in my own life. Can you believe it? He knew I needed a full-blown intervention.”
With the words full-blown, the biggest gust yet picked Kris up and threw him off the plateau and over the cliff, painful moments replayed again. Kris hoped a river would catch his fall. Everything went black.
Chapter 6
Kris woke at the bottom of the canyon in too much pain to move. He had no idea what to do. He wondered if his back had snapped, and he could barely feel his legs. Am I dead? Kris wondered. Then he drifted back to sleep.
Every so often he would regain consciousness, try to move, and feel excruciating pain. He’d will himself back to sleep. Time passed, and his body felt weaker. He forgot to eat and drink. Kris worried that vultures were the only thing that would find value in him now. He was too exhausted to care.
Shantini, a beautiful white wolf, came racing along the riverbed and noticed the crumpled man’s body covered in dust near the river. She went up to him and licked his face a few times. Kris stirred and raised his hand, petting her soft fur. He was weak and exhausted but happy for company. She licked his leg and the wound in his rib cage. Then she turned and howled.
I’m going to be eaten by wolves. Figures. I want to be healed and surrounded by nice people. Kris tried to move. It was too painful.
Jetson arrived next. The small wolf had jet-black fur with golden accents on his tail and ears. He and Shantini both looked at Kris and nodded. The two worked together. Shantini’s eyes flashed and a stretcher appeared midair. She concentrated and lifted Kris’s body onto it, then magically strapped him in. Shantini led and Jetson followed, keeping an eye on the barely conscious man.
Shantini blinked and a wolf trail opened through the cliff wall. The ancient wolf trails provided short cuts to cross Kalendra quickly. The trail led them from The Divide, where he’d fallen, across Kalendra to the Outer Plateaus.
Hazily Kris opened his eyes to see moons and large planets above him. They looked orange against a deep-turquoise sky. Two moons? I’ve never … He dozed off.
The wolves brought Kris’s stretcher to Sylvia’s Inn of the Outer Plateaus. Shantini opened the door. She and Jetson brought him to Sylvia.
“Oh my gosh! Oh no! The poor man. Is he all right?” She ran and put her hand on Kris’s forehead to check his temperature. “He’s so thin. I wonder how long he was out there,” she said aloud to herself. “And look, his leg is broken. Come, follow me. Let’s take him to a quiet room.”
Sylvia ran, and grabbed several colored crystals from a drawer. Shantini moved Kris to the bed in a large hotel room. “Jetson, will you please contact Ivy for me?”
In a flash, Jetson was gone.
“Shantini, you know what to do,” Sylvia coaxed.
Shantini licked Kris on the hand and gently rubbed against his arm that was hanging off the table.
“Here we go, you can do this,” Sylvia said to Kris. She took his hand and placed it on Shantini. “He doesn’t know your presence amplifies any healing he does in his own mind. I hope he’s feeling positive. It’ll make a difference.”
Shantini blinked and willed Kris’s happiest thoughts to dominate his dreams, and a smile crossed his face.
Sylvia pulled out three crystals. One was a clear blue stone that she placed in his hand and closed his fingers around it. “I haven’t seen someone this weak in a long time. I think we can raise his spirits before Ivy gets here. At least get him clean. I wonder where he’s from.”
Sylvia removed Kris’s clothing and saw his body was bruised all over. She carefully gave him a sponge bath. Shantini brought pajamas. Sylvia examined the bruising on his back, his legs, and his ribs. She took a flat green crystal and laid it on his leg. “Shantini, can you help with this?”
The white wolf looked at Kris’s leg and licked it. Then, using her eyes, she amplified the light shining through the green crystal. The bruising decreased immediately, his leg looked less swollen and the bone repaired.
“It’s a relief when they respond to magic,” Sylvia said.
Shantini licked Kris’s hand.
Jetson and Ivy arrived. “The only word I understand in wolf is ‘urgent.’ Is everything …? Oh no! How is he?”
“They found him in the Divide, at the bottom of one of the highest cliffs. I’m not sure of much else,” Sylvia said.
“The winds?” Ivy sighed.
Sylvia lit candles around the room and prepared Ivy’s crystals on a tray.
“Thank you.” Ivy pulled out a large clear stone and brushed it across Kris’s forehead. Then she looked at the crystal. “There’s a trace here. Something I’ve not seen before.” Then Ivy looked at Sylvia. “He’s not from anywhere near here. He wears the trace of someone who only recently entered our world.”
As she continued to examine Kris, she mixed up a variety of herbs and powders, then gently placed some in Kris’s cheek. She also used the crystals on Kris’s back and leg, helping the bruising to dissipate.
“I think he’ll wake soon,” Ivy said. “It’s unusual for someone from another world to arrive without an escort. Isn’t that interesting?” Sylvia nodded.
“I’ll get a meal going,” Sylvia said. “He’s so weak; that ought to strengthen him. I think he’ll enjoy the view from the bay window. Hopefully, that’ll help him adjust,” Sylvia said.
“He’s going to be okay,” Ivy said. “At least, his physical health will. If he needs help adjusting to this foreign land, call Kokona. He’s the most skilled sham
an I know for assisting the human mind.”
Sylvia nodded. “Thank you, Ivy. I appreciate your skill.” She smiled.
“Perhaps, when he’s a bit stronger, you can bring him to the Waterlands. I’d love to check on him and run a few more tests. The mist from Kinizar Falls is a must.”
“The minute he’s strong enough,” Sylvia said.
Ivy and Jetson left.
Sylvia set up a candlelit dinner for two in the bay window of Kris’s hotel room, so he’d feel like a guest on vacation. Out the window was a view of the floating mountains and the Ball Return. Large transparent purple and white spheres filled the sky. Beneath them was an array of geometric buildings in the hills. The three moons of Kalendra could also be seen clearly in the evening sky.
As Kris awoke, he heard the murmur of voices in the dining room downstairs.
“Well, hello,” Kris said as he pinched himself again, seeing Sylvia across the room. “I … I … How …? Where … am I …?” Kris looked at himself in bed in a genuinely nice hotel room. He felt clean and comfortable in the pajamas he wore. He glimpsed his face in the mirror next to the bed and saw he looked like he’d been beaten by a nasty opponent. He sported a big black eye and scratches on his nose and cheek. Sylvia walked across the room and looked into his eyes as she sat down.
“What?” Kris said.
“Welcome,” she said. “Not sure how you ended up here. Good thing Shantini and Jetson found you. My wolves. They keep things running smoothly around here. If you’d stayed in that canyon much longer,” she shook her head. “While you were asleep, Shantini showed me where she found you. We wanted to be sure you hadn’t lost anything, so we searched in case anything had fallen out of your bag. I found these.” Sylvia pulled out a pencil and two ink pens that Jim had given Kris to draw the mural.
“My bag … Oh, right.” Kris paused, staring off for a minute. “Is there a man named Kelne who lives near here? I met him, and we had a lovely cup of tea. Is that possible? I don’t know what’s real and what my brain is making up. I seem to have forgotten … uh … quite a lot.”
Summon the Elven Mage Page 3