Close Encounters of the Magical Kind

by Jeffrey M. Poole

  Her dream had been so vivid! Could it have been an actual plea for help? Could there actually be faeries in Lentari when thus far she had heard no mention of them at all? Or was this just an example of an overactive imagination?

  Sarah sipped her tea and watched the sunrise. Bright streaks of golden amber appeared on the horizon as the sun prepared to make its first appearance of the day. As if someone had pressed the ‘unmute’ button on a remote, the sounds of the forest started filtering in. Birds chirping, animals scurrying through the treetops, and an occasional squawk from a griffin were heard.

  Sarah shook her head in exasperation as she gazed back through the open doorway of the cabin’s only bedroom to see her husband still snoring contentedly away. That man could sleep through World War 3, she thought with a smile. Unlike her, the slightest sound could, and typically would, awaken her from the soundest sleep.

  “It’s a curse,” Sarah murmured.

  She gave her husband another 15 minutes before she gently tapped his shoulder. Steve rolled onto his back and cracked an eye open. He looked at her and smiled.

  “Hey, babe. What’s up? What are you drinking?”

  “Tea. Want some?”

  Steve made a face.

  “Thanks, but I’d rather drink dishwater. I don’t know how you drink that stuff. I’ll take orange juice any day over tea.”

  “You prefer juice because it is sweet,” Sarah told him yet again. “You’ve got to have the biggest sweet tooth I have ever seen.”

  “You have met my mother, right? That woman could live and die by a slice of chocolate cake and have no regrets.”

  Sarah nodded, “True. Hey, listen, I think I need to tell you about the dream I had last night.”

  “As long as it didn’t involve dragons asking for help, I’m all ears.”

  Sarah grinned, “Now that you mention it, Rinbok Intherer was there, and he had a…” She broke off laughing as she caught sight of her husband’s concerned face. “Relax. It wasn’t about dragons.”

  Steve’s frown disappeared, “Good.”

  “It was about faeries.”

  “Faeries? As in tiny little humans with wings? Like Tinkerbell?”

  “These faeries weren’t tiny,” Sarah replied. “They were huge, the same size as me.”

  Her husband was silent as he studied his wife.

  “What?” Sarah demanded.

  “Nothing. I’m just waiting for you to continue.”

  “I thought you were going to accuse me of being crazy.”

  “Well, now that you mention it –”

  “Don’t even go there, Paco,” Sarah warned. “I have my glitter spray here.”

  Steve paled and held up his hands in surrender.

  “Now,” Sarah continued, “where was I? Oh, yes. The faeries. They brought me to their forest city.”

  “They had an arboreal city?” Steve asked as she took a breath. “How cool!”

  “Arboreal? Someone’s been using that word-a-day calendar I bought him, hasn’t he?”

  Her husband smiled at her.

  “As a matter of fact, I have. Been trying to impress my wife with my new-found vocabulary. I reckon I’m doin’ purty good, dontcha think?”

  “Doofus. Can I finish? As I was saying, they took me to their arboreal city. They –”

  “What’d you see? What did it look like?”

  “Stop interrupting me and I’ll tell you. At first glance I thought I was looking at a simple forest, but then I knew they weren’t just ordinary trees. A closer look revealed each tree was a structure, like a tree shaped skyscraper. There were lights dotting the trunk.”

  “Sounds cool,” Steve mused.

  “It was. At the center of the city was a tree larger than all others. There was a path leading up to the big tree which dead-ended at a set of gemstone doors. The insides of the huge tree resembled the interior of a castle. That’s where I found the king and queen. They told me they had transported me there using a mix of my own jhorun and what was left of their magic.”

  Her husband gazed at her and sobered. She could tell he believed there was more to this story than it being just a realistic dream. He waited patiently for her to continue.

  “They took me to a small room, like the Antechamber in R’Tal, and there was this big round table. The queen, Ria, invited me to join them for a meal. Moments later the table magically filled itself with all kinds of food.”

  “Do you remember what the food tasted like?” Steve asked.

  “What? Of course I do. Why would you ask me that?”

  “In all the years I’ve been dreaming not once have I ever tasted something, in a dream, and thought it was remarkable enough to remember. If you’re telling me you can still clearly remember what it tasted like then I’d say that’s another point leading to the credibility of your dream.”

  Sarah took another sip of her tea and considered. Placing the mug down on the counter she pulled out a small notebook from her suitcase and began taking notes.

  “Let’s see. The first thing I saw that I wanted to sample was what looked like a teal kiwi fruit that was the size of a cantaloupe. Thankfully it didn’t taste anything like a cantaloupe.”

  Steve smiled. Everyone in their extended family knew how much Sarah detested cantaloupe.

  “It tasted like a strawberry-kiwi mix. It was very light and very refreshing. I loved it. Then I saw the queen being served some type of salad filled with all kinds of vegetables. I knew instantly that you’d hate it but I wanted to try it.” Sarah made a few more notes. “Consequently, it was wonderful. Then I had…”

  “Alright, alright,” Steve laughed, as he raised his hands in surrender. “The court will acknowledge the defendant dutifully remembers each and everything she ate while in the company of her faerie friends.”

  Sarah swatted his arm.

  “Once we finished eating, the queen finally told me why she had brought me there.”

  “Oh? Go on.”

  “She said they were dying.”

  “Was the king there? Did he say anything?”

  Sarah nodded, “Yes. Tivan didn’t say much only that we were in the Fae city of Dynwe. He wasn’t nearly as talkative as the queen.”

  “Dynwe, huh? I’ve never heard of it.”

  “Up until last night, neither have I.”

  “They’re dying,” Steve repeated, thinking hard. “It sure does sound like a plea for help to me.”

  “That’s what I was thinking, too,” Sarah admitted.

  “What do you want to do?” Steve asked, knowing full well what the answer would be.

  “I want to go to R’Tal.”

  “Hon, we’re in this teeny tiny cabin ‘cause we wanted to have some quiet time to ourselves. While we’re in Lentari. If we go to the castle then all that goes out the window. Only Mikal knows we’re here right now. No one else does. This is our chance to finally explore the kingdom as unknowns.”

  “I can’t ignore this dream,” Sarah answered. She splashed some water on her face and pulled her hair back into a ponytail. “It was too real. Ria and Tivan asked me for help. Actually, they asked the two of us for help.”

  “They mentioned me?” Steve asked, surprised.

  “Not by name. The last thing Ria said before I woke up was, and I quote, ‘we need you and your husband’s help’.”

  “Alrighty. R’Tal it is. Let’s go see what’s happening at the castle today.”

  ****

  “You’re sure you reactivated that charm Shardwyn gave us?”

  Sarah sighed, “I’m sure. I know how to work it just as well as you.”

  “I don’t want anyone to find our place.”

  “No one will ever find it,” Sarah assured him. “I’m actually surprised at how well his spell worked. Not even the Romulans’ cloaking shield could have hidden that cabin any better.” After a few seconds Sarah groaned. “I don’t know what’s worse. Your constant reference to nerdism or the fact that you’ve gotten me to sound li
ke one of them, too.”

  Her husband slung an arm over her shoulder and laughed.

  “That’s my girl!”

  Sarah pushed his arm off.

  “Star Wars. Star Trek. Lord of the Rings. Do you have any idea how much useless information you have crammed into my head?”

  He gave her a proud look.

  “You’re welcome.”

  “I wasn’t thanking you.”

  “Close enough.”

  They approached the West Gate and were more than halfway across when Sarah noticed three guards exit the doorway leading from the gate keeper’s office. Before they could ask a question her husband waved at them with a lit hand. Wordlessly, all three guards spun on their heels and headed back to the keeper’s office.

  “They don’t treat me like that around here,” Sarah remarked.

  “That’s only because they don’t recognize you at first. I guarantee you if I hadn’t lit my hand on fire then they’d have stopped us to ask us what we’re doing. If you had lifted all three of them up into the air then I’m pretty sure you’d get the same treatment.”

  Sarah shrugged as she conceded the point. She took her husband’s hand and pulled him past the open portcullis and into the castle’s outer keep. People were milling about everywhere. Squadrons of guards were practicing drills. Half a dozen housekeeping staff were beating on rugs that had been draped across several push carts. Dust and debris went flying as the young girls smacked large staffs against the thick rugs. Sarah smiled. Judging by the amount of dust coming off the rugs it must have been the first time this year that they were doing some spring cleaning.

  They approached the castle’s inner keep and ducked through a second portcullis. The heavy iron grate gently clinked against the grooves in the stone as an easterly breeze picked up. One guard looked questioningly at them as they passed through. Her husband tilted his head, indicating this would be the perfect opportunity to give a small demonstration of her jhorun to see if she’d be recognized. Sarah shook her head no.

  Steve ignited another hand and gave a mock salute. The guard promptly returned the salute and turned his back on the visitors. When he was sure he wasn’t being watched the young guard pulled a set of dice from his pocket and resumed his game.

  Sarah guided them straight toward the Great Hall. This was where the Kri’yans, namely the king and queen, held court. Their gilded thrones were here, as were a number of nobles and high ranking soldiers. Noticeably absent, unfortunately, were the king and queen.

  “Aww, great,” Steve grumbled. “Where do you think they are?”

  An arm draped itself around each of their shoulders as someone suddenly appeared standing between them. Not sensing any malevolence, Sarah refrained from teleporting the newcomer straight into the moat. Steve turned, noticed who had surprised them, and broke out into a grin.

  “Rhenyon! It’s good to see you, buddy! How are you?”

  Sarah visibly relaxed. She smiled at the commander of the Royal Guards and the king’s most trusted advisor.

  “Sir Steve! Lady Sarah! What a pleasant surprise. I didn’t know you were in town.”

  “We’re here for a little R&R,” Steve told him.

  “R&R?” Rhenyon repeated, puzzled. “I’m not familiar with that term.”

  “It means ‘rest and relaxation’. We’re here to enjoy some quiet time.”

  “Ah. Are you looking for their majesties?”

  “Yes,” Sarah told him. “Are they busy?”

  Rhenyon nodded, “As a matter of fact they are away on business. They should return shortly. You are more than welcome to wait in the Antechamber.”

  Sarah nodded. A meeting with the Kri’yans in their jhorun-proof private room was actually much better than trying to explain the true nature of their visit out here in the open. They bid Rhenyon farewell and headed toward the small room adjacent to the Great Hall. A set of guards recognized them and rushed to open the doors.

  Stepping inside the luxurious chamber Steve instantly gravitated towards one of the half dozen plush chairs set in a semi-circle around the large hearth. About ready to lower himself into a chair, Steve noticed that Sarah had moved over to the wall that concealed the king’s private safe.

  “What are you doing? You know that’s the wall that’s hiding the griffin safe, right?”

  “Yes. I don’t care about the safe.”

  “Then what are you doing?”

  Sarah pointed at the huge parchment that had been tacked up on the wall directly to the left of the hidden wall panel.

  “Do you remember seeing that in here before?”

  Steve joined her at the wall and stared admiringly at the highly detailed map of the kingdom. Rivers, mountains, peaks, and grasslands, everything they had ever seen was labeled and represented on the map. Steve leaned forward and tapped a spot on the Bohani Mountains in the north. There was a two-bladed axe on the valley southeast of Lake Raehón.

  “I wonder if that is supposed to be Bohragg,” Steve mused. “It’s not that far from the dwarf door hidden in those boulders.”

  “Are those boulders on the map?” Sarah asked, amazed.

  Steve leaned forward for a better look.

  “No.”

  “There’s another axe over here,” Sarah told him, tapping another location about a foot to the right. “Look. There are two more over here.”

  “One of these must be that new Kla Guur city,” Steve surmised. He tapped the closest axe to Bohragg. “Foronlir. Remember when we attended the ceremony marking the dragons and dwarves becoming allies? There were several different dwarf clans there. I wonder which ones are which. You know what? I didn’t know the king had a map like this.”

  “We were just in here a few months ago,” Sarah reminded him. “It wasn’t here then. I’m guessing he just had it made.”

  Her husband appeared at her side and leaned close to the map, squinting his eyes as he did so. Sarah noticed and put her hands on her hips.

  “I am so getting you some reading glasses for your next birthday.”

  Steve shot her a dirty look.

  “Snot. Can I not study it without getting an age joke cracked at my expense?”

  “Would you perhaps like a magnifying glass? I could probably teleport you one from home.”

  “Aren’t you a barrel of laughs?”

  “So if you claim to be studying,” Sarah added air quotes around Steve’s supposed excuse, “then what are you looking at?”

  Her husband tapped one of a dozen or so tiny lakes on the huge map buried in the heart of the Selekai Mountains.

  “Do you see this? What do you think that means?”

  Sarah studied the graphic and shrugged.

  “Maybe it’s a swimming hole. Why else would they put a picture of a woman’s head in the water? Wait. Hmmm. The ears are pointed. Why would they make a human’s ears pointed? It must mean something else.”

  Steve made sure he wasn’t being watched and squinted his eyes as he studied the teeny tiny figure on the lake’s surface. He shook his head. He couldn’t tell if the woman’s ears were pointed or not. Maybe his eyes weren’t working as well as he thought, although he’d never admit that to her. Ever.

  Steve tapped a few more places on the map. Sarah noticed he touched tiny figures of griffins, dragons, and even a small two-headed dragon in the southeastern section of Anakash forest. She quickly found Capily on Lentari’s western shore and was surprised – and dismayed – to see that small islands were everywhere around the seaside village. She easily counted over two dozen before she gave up.

  A commotion sounded behind her. She and Steve turned to see Kri’Entu and Ny’Callé enter the Antechamber. Both were wearing traveling cloaks and both were outfitted in leather armor. They clearly had just returned from some type of excursion. The king’s face lit up as he saw who their visitors were. He unfastened his cloak and tossed it over the nearest chair. The queen cringed and quickly gestured to one of her ladies-in-waiting, indicating that the
cloak should not be draped over the furniture. Once both of their cloaks had disappeared, tucked safely away in the arms of one of the queen’s personal maidens, the queen turned to Sarah and smiled.

  “Lady Sarah! Sir Steve! What a pleasant surprise! What brings you to the castle today?”

  Sarah turned back to the new map and pointed at it.

  “Is there a map that exists which displays everything? What I mean is...” She hesitated as she tried to correctly formulate her question. “Is there a map which shows where all the nine dwarf clans live, where Nevir lies, where the many flocks of griffins call home, etc.”

  Kri’Entu unbuckled his leather gauntlets and let them plop onto his private desk. He nodded his head.

  “Aye. You’re looking at it. Why do you ask?”

  “This map is new, isn’t it? It wasn’t here the last time we were in here.”

  Callé nodded, “Aye. Our cartographer finished it last month.”

  “When will it be updated?” Sarah asked, curious.

  “That map is less than a month old, Lady Sarah,” the king pointed out. “It took nearly a year of research between the cartographers and the team of archivists to include everything you see on the map. Everything they know is there. Why do you ask? Did they miss something? If only that were so. Commander Rhenyon would be eternally in my debt if I told him that the new map was incorrect.”

  “Does Rhenyon not get along with the cartographers?” Steve asked, surprised. “He strikes me as the type of guy that could get along with anybody.”

  “His issue is with Miss Andra Alwyn,” Ny’Callé said with a giggle. “Commander Rhenyon was one of her first pupils and still treats him as a boy, much to his chagrin.”

  Kri’Entu walked over to the map and gave Sarah a questioning look.

  “Is there something missing from this map, Lady Sarah?”

  “I don’t see any mention of the Fae on here. Why is that?”

  The king regarded her silently for a few moments before turning his back on the map and heading toward the semi-circle of plush chairs. He sank down into one and began unbuckling more pieces of his leather armor.