by L. R. W. Lee
Andy again screamed, disturbing his companions.
After that nightmare, Andy approached the ashes the next morning with a tempest raging in his stomach.
“Oh, look!” Hannah pointed at a baby bird shivering and struggling in the debris. It had no feathers, but from the variegated coloring of its skin it was easy to guess how bright its plumage would be.
“It’s cold. Should we warm it up?” Alden queried.
“I don’t think I’d touch it,” Hans cautioned. “The sun will soon remedy its chill.”
“It’s ugly. Hard to believe something as beautiful as a phoenix starts out looking like that,” Yara commented.
Andy laughed and, despite the bluntness of the comment, Alden directed a smile toward the princess. Hannah remained expressionless.
Andy studied the ashes for further signs of the black or red worms but did not see them.
That night, instead of returning him to the Land of Nightmares, Andy’s dreams bought him a roundtrip ticket to La La Land. As he landed, welcoming singing filled his mind. Father, Mom, Mermin, and Dad threw open their arms at the first glimpse of him, then swallowed him in a long hug that calmed his frayed nerves. He sighed contentedly.
“I’ve missed you all so much.”
“And we’ve missed you. More than you know.”
Excitement filled the air as the company approached the extinct pyre the next morning. Sitting in the middle of the circle was a fledgling phoenix. Its pinfeathers poked out every which way, making it look fuzzy.
“It’s so cute!” Hannah oozed.
Yara, who stood next to her, laughed in agreement.
The bird stood on shaky legs and wobbled a few steps before collapsing.
“When are you supposed to get a feather?” Alden queried.
“Fides said to wait for it to offer me one.”
“At the rate its growing, that may be today,” Hans speculated as the phoenix rose and took several wobbly steps.
The five watched with rapt attention all morning, marveling at how it grew before their eyes. Not wanting to miss any of the action, the group ate a quick lunch and resumed their vigil.
The phoenix had lost its pinfeathers in their absence and now wore a nearly full set of mature red, orange, and yellow plumage. It had also grown taller by at least a foot so that it was now at eye level with Andy.
“Is the pile of ashes getting smaller?” he wondered.
“Yeah, I think it is,” Alden replied.
Several hours later, the bird stepped out of its nest and tested its wings. It repeated the exercise half a dozen times before lifting off three or four inches. Another half dozen tries and it could rise a couple feet before coming to rest again.
Apparently satisfied at its readiness, the phoenix sang the song the company had first heard as they approached the Giant’s Ring. The tone and tempo created an upbeat mood this time.
“Thank you for all you’ve done. I can never thank you enough,” Aray broadcast in their minds. “As a token of my appreciation, I want you each to have a feather.” The phoenix plucked nine variegated plumes and distributed them amid exclamations.
“And for you, Andy, a special feather.” Tears formed in Aray’s eyes as she reached back. She used her tail to dab away the moisture, then plucked a deep red plume and offered it to Andy.
Thank you, Aray. It was all Andy could think as he studied the gift.
With that, Aray took flight. Everyone stood in awed silence as she circled a half dozen times and sang. At last she rose above the lintels and disappeared into the distance.
Andy had barely placed the feather in Methuselah’s holster when the ground began to shake.
Not again!
The group pivoted toward the epicenter. Emerging from the remaining ashes were the forms of a seven-headed red dragon and a sinister being clad in black robes.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Reciprocation
A host of zolt came into focus seconds later.
“Retreat!” yelled Captain Baldric. “They’re too strong. We can’t defeat them!”
Everyone bolted through the entrance to the hideaway, panting.
“Fides knows about this place! They’ll follow!” Hannah choked out.
“Trust in the power of the ring,” Hans encouraged. Several glanced questioningly, but the healer held a calm expression as he watched the enemy fan out across the field.
The tension was palpable. No one uttered a word.
Five zolt scoured around their hiding place but discovered nothing. Abaddon strutted several feet, flapping his wings. He paused, scanned the area, thrust his hands into the air, and roared, “I live forever!” He proceeded to transform into a thunderbird, drawing gasps from Andy’s friends.
The creature flapped its enormous wings. In a rush of wind that downed several nearby zolt, it became a karkadann with a jet-black corkscrew horn. The beast pawed the ground and snorted, readying a charge.
Hooh-hrooo. Hooh-hrooo, Calum sounded at seeing this.
The white beast shifted into what looked like water in the form of a person. As the figure stood and wildly waved its arms, it morphed into a herewolf, complete with a smashed-in nose and huge paws. This in turn became the now-familiar monstrous blue serpent.
Out of the corner of his eye, Andy saw Alden rub his forearm.
In an instant, Abaddon shifted back into the seven-headed dragon and threw a blast of flame that incinerated several of his own warriors.
Fides stopped next to him, drew up his hands, and directed bolts of energy at the lintels.
“The ring!” Yara shrieked.
“I believe it will be fine,” Hans reassured. He seemed nonplussed and received more doubtful glances.
Andy rubbed the back of his neck. Hannah bit a fingernail. Alden crossed and uncrossed his arms. The officers held ready positions.
Though Fides’s energy continued clawing at the stones, none so much as shivered.
Eventually Abaddon bellowed, “Follow!” and he and Fides vanished. The flock of zolt launched skyward.
“How did they not find us?” Hannah exhaled.
“The Fides we knew was aware of our hideaway. The dark Fides could not access his earlier memories.” Hans shook his head, “This is bad.”
Andy’s stomach sank.
“As for the lintels, I think the dark wizard was able to upset them earlier because Aray was weak. I believe the ring manifests her condition. Because she is newly reborn, she is strong, making the ring strong.”
“We need to move out quickly,” Captain Baldric commanded. “No telling when they might return.”
A few short minutes later, the company emerged from their hideaway. Thanks to the “good” Fides, their packs were heavy with provisions to last until they reached home.
“The most direct route back to Castle Avalon is a path skirting Mount Mur Eyah,” Captain Baldric announced from up front as they ventured forth. “With any luck, we should be home in five days.”
“But what about Calum?” Alden objected. “We need to make sure he gets home safely.”
Hooh-hrooo. Hooh-hrooo!
“It’ll add a full day,” the captain cautioned. When no one objected, he relented and adjusted their course.
Andy scanned the skies for zolt. When his search turned up empty, he let out a sigh. Yara, who walked beside him, looked over quickly and returned her gaze to the ground.
“You’re awfully quiet. What’s wrong?”
The princess picked at her fingernails and shook her head.
“Come on, what is it?”
“I’ve never been to Oomaldee.”
“Oh,” Andy laughed. “Well, you’re gonna love it.” He proceeded to recount the tale of his arrival, including discovering a practical use for cow farts, which drew chuckles from the other three who walked in front of them. As Andy spoke, his longing to again see Father, Mermin, Marta, and the others grew.
The air was warm the following morning as they set out from
their campsite. They had stopped short of karkadann territory the previous afternoon, hoping to avoid contact with any of the beasts as they returned Calum to his home.
Hooh-hrooo. Hooh-hrooo.
The dove bounced on Alden’s shoulder and took flight several times as they drew near familiar landmarks.
“He’s so excited.” Hannah smiled at the dove’s antics, which proved contagious until Sergeant Fulk, who led the group this morning, thrust his arm into the air and closed his hand quickly, stopping forward progress and silencing conversation.
Andy felt the ground rumble, and judging by their expressions, so did the others. Captain Baldric joined the sergeant at the front and motioned them to hurry into the shelter of a rock outcropping that jutted up not far to their left.
Hooh-hrooo. Hooh-hrooo.
“Shhh, Calum,” Alden cautioned as they approached safety.
The ground shook more violently.
“He needs to go,” Hannah squeaked.
Hooh-hrooo. Hooh-hrooo.
Ducking into the cave, Alden retrieved the dove from his shoulder and drew it close, whispering to it as he stroked its feathers. Then he placed Calum on the ground. The bird looked about before strutting over to Yara.
Hooh-hrooo. Hooh-hrooo.
The princess knelt and petted it, receiving several raised eyebrows. “That’s right, Calum. We’ll miss you, but you can serve here more effectively than at the castle. We’ll let you know if we need your help.”
Hooh-hrooo.
Yara laughed, “You too. Bye.”
With that, Calum rose and fluttered out of the cave. Alden, Andy, Hannah, and Yara plugged the exit as they peered after the bird. A huge white beast with a jet-black corkscrew horn stood waiting.
Hooh-hrooo. Hooh-hrooo.
The dove circled three times before touching down on the mammoth head. With its passenger secure, the beast scanned its surroundings, stamped a foot, and snorted. Finally it turned around and meandered off the way it had come.
“What was that about, Yara?” Alden questioned.
“I was just firming up help. Never know when we might need a friend or two.”
“Karkadann?” Hannah clarified, her eyes wide.
“Why not?” Yara smiled.
“You talked to Calum?” Andy questioned.
“Let’s just say I gave him a few suggestions and he did the same.”
“We’ve got company,” Sergeant Ranulf interrupted. He had been keeping watch near the exit.
Captain Baldric hastened to join him, peeked out, then motioned everyone to huddle. In a whisper he informed, “A flock of twenty zolt just landed. Let’s see what they do.”
Everyone silently drew their weapons and assumed ready positions. A low, nasally voice announced, “She’s here.”
Andy quickly glanced to Yara who stiffened, then shook her head. After a long wait, Sergeant Ranulf informed, “They just left.”
Sighs greeted the news.
“What do you suppose that was all about?” Alden questioned.
Andy shook his head.
After the close call, everyone studied the skies the rest of the morning. Only when the beginnings of tree cover appeared in the distance did the company relax as they neared gnome lands.
They stopped in a shaded place to eat a lunch of dried meat and moonberries. Alden started smiling and his eyes danced.
“What is it?” Hannah questioned.
“I’ve been thinking…” He flicked his eyebrows, capturing the others’ attention. “Why don’t we prepare a thank-you for the gnomes? Their welcome was so warm last time.” He kneaded his hands, drawing laughter from Andy and the princess. “Yara, I’ll need your help.”
“What do you have in mind?” she replied with a grin.
“What most scares gnomes?”
“Dragons, most definitely,” interjected Hans.
“Perfect. Dragons it is!” Alden raised his hands in answer to their questioning looks. “Hear me out. Yara, you can plant suggestions in people’s minds, right?”
The princess nodded.
“We’ll make camp and go about our business. We know the gnomes will notice.”
“And probably set up some prank,” Hannah added.
“But we don’t have anything that looks like a dragon,” objected Hans.
“Wait!” interrupted Andy. He removed the pouch from his neck and extracted a red ruby and a blue sapphire. “These could work as shiny eyes.”
Alden beamed.
“Ooh! And Methuselah could shoot out fire!” Hannah innovated. “If I get on Andy’s back, I can hold the stones and you can make Methuselah flame.”
“Yara, can you make the gnomes believe the stones and flame are a dragon swooping in to attack them?” Alden probed.
“I’ve never implanted thoughts in more than two people at once, but I’ll try.”
“We’ll see what you’re capable of,” Hans encouraged, at which Yara beamed.
“We’ll need to let them think they’re scaring us before we launch our counterstrike.” Andy cracked up as he said it.
“Just remember, whatever they do, it isn’t real,” Hans intoned, receiving nods.
Andy waltzed over to the gathering of officers and filled them in on the plan, receiving hearty approval. They even offered to position themselves around the camp and quietly signal at the first sign of gnome engagement.
Excitement carried them over rolling hills and a steep mountain all that afternoon. As the sun began casting long shadows, Captain Baldric declared they should stop and set up camp. After canteens had been refilled from a nearby stream and wood was gathered to last the night, Andy lit the campfire with Methuselah and Hans began preparing a hearty stew from the dried meat they carried. Sergeant Fulk and Alden agreed on two coos, like Calum made, that would serve as the signal. With that the officers dispersed to blend into the forest.
Daylight had expired and the savory aroma of the stew announced supper was almost ready when hooh-hrooo, hooh-hrooo wafted across the still evening. The five exchanged glances and forced down smiles as they took their places around the fire, feigning conversation.
Skreek. Skreek.
Hannah made like a gopher and glanced about with wide eyes.
Skreek. Skreek.
The others scanned the forest. Nothing moved. The dense woods seemed to hold its breath.
Skreek. Skreek. Skreek.
Hannah grabbed Alden’s arm and cowered. “Why’d they have to do bats this time? Why not butterflies or snakes?” she choked out.
“Don’t give them any ideas,” Andy whispered back.
Skreek. Skreek.
Andy spied movement over the treetops. Large wings flapping.
“Not yet,” Alden instructed quietly. “Keep looking around, like you’re scared.”
Hannah whimpered.
“Almost there,” Alden directed as the wing flaps drew near.
Skreek. Skreek.
“Now.”
Andy raised Methuselah’s hilt as Hannah climbed on his back. She lifted the two highly polished gems, positioning one over each of her steed’s shoulders. They reflected the firelight, which made them look like angry eyes. Andy took slow steps toward the forest, then willed his blade to shoot flames. A ten-foot stream of fire lit up the campsite.
“Yipe!” “Yikes!” “Arrggghhh!” sounded from the dense woods.
Andy repeated the procedure, receiving more shrieks.
Alden gave them up as he convulsed with unrestrained laughter and fell to the ground, holding his stomach. Laughing became an epidemic rapidly spreading to Andy and the others.
Snickers and exclamations erupted from the surrounding foliage as Hans praised, “Well done, Yara!”
A minute later, the officers guided Gelon and fifteen other surprised but chortling gnomes into the firelight.
“Gelon!” Andy greeted with a broad smile.
The gnome dipped his head, appreciating the prank.
“I can’t take
credit. Alden came up with the idea.”
Alden approached and the little man embraced him in a bear hug, then winked. “It’s been a mighty long time since we’ve been had.” Wagging his finger, he added, “We’ll be watching out for you.”
“Andy,” Hans interrupted from behind.
He turned to find the healer sitting next to Yara on one of the logs that surrounded the fire. The princess stared down and held her hands to her temples.
Andy rushed to her side and Hans speculated, “I think she overexerted herself.”
“Yara,” Andy drew close and placed his hand on her back. “How are you feeling?”
The princess barely nodded.
The gnomes had quieted and Gelon offered, “We have a poultice we use for headaches. We can get some if you’d like.”
“Thank you,” Hans replied. “I didn’t bring my full complement of remedies.”
“Bilnus,” Gelon called. A portly gnome with an abundant black beard broke ranks and approached, dipping his head as he stopped before his leader.
“Please retrieve the herbs we use to cure the mind.”
The gnome nodded, then hastened toward the woods, opened a door in the trunk of a tree, and quickly disappeared.
No sooner had he vanished than a six zolt swooped down and landed in the clearing.
“There she is! Grab her!” The command shattered the jovial mood, and sounds of combat quickly filled the air.
“Ahhh!” Yara shrieked as a burly vulture-warrior snatched her from the log before Andy could react. The zolt bolted toward the forest and transformed. Andy grabbed Methuselah and pursued.
Andy drew to within ten steps when the vulture-man flapped its wings and went airborne, eliciting more shrieks from Yara.
Five steps.
Her feet dangled. If I can just…
Two steps.
Andy leapt as the zolt thrust upward, and his hands missed Yara’s foot by less than an inch.
“No!” Andy protested, planting his face in the ground. He sprang to his feet and watched as her silhouette rose up and over the treetops. Had she been closer to the ground, Andy would have thrown his blade, but he feared a fall from that height would injure her.