by T S Wieland
Oliver closed his eyes, waiting to be discovered.
As he bent down, the apothecary suddenly noticed a warm orange and yellow glow flickering on the wall over the desk. The thick smell of burning plants and wood began to fill the room from the window. He turned around. Out through the window, he saw a vast column of flames growing in his garden below.
“No, no, no!” shouted the apothecary, and he stood upright and bolted back down the stairs.
Hiding around the corner of the shop, Sem watched and waited. The apothecary dashed out the front door and around the side of the building to find his garden was now ablaze. Desperate to put out the flames, he began shouting for help.
“No! No! Somebody help!”
Sem noticed movement inside the shop window. Oliver ran down the stairs and out the front door on the lookout for the apothecary. Sem hurried over to meet Oliver at the doorway.
“Way to be quiet!” said Sem to Oliver over the burning garden.
“What did you do?” asked Oliver, looking at the flames.
“I improved his garden a bit.”
“You lit it on fire!”
“I’d say it’s an improvement. Did you find the letter?” Sem said as he grabbed Oliver’s shoulders.
“I don’t know. I couldn’t read any of these, so I just took all of them.”
Oliver handed Sem the pieces of parchment.
“Great . . . well, good job anyway,” replied Sem, trying to give Oliver an ill-deserved compliment. “Now come on. We need to get to the palace bridge, and fast.”
◆◆◆
Ptolemy stood on the bridge at the north end of the palace, eagerly waiting for Sem and his new friend. He paced anxiously, alone, having told the guards to leave him in solitude to think.
Having finished his hundred-and-twenty-second lap across the bridge, Ptolemy heard a whisper from the bushes close by. He turned to see Sem and Oliver creep out from under the bushes and hurry over to him.
“You find the letter?” asked Ptolemy as they approached the bridge.
“We don’t know. Hopefully one of these,” replied Sem, handing Ptolemy the pieces of parchment.
“How do you not know?” replied Ptolemy as he yanked the papers from Sem’s hand and moved into the torchlight to see them better. As he finished reading each page, Ptolemy threw it into the water below, growing more and more discouraged with each one.
“No, no, no. These are all just ledgers.” He threw the last one into the water. “Did you bring more?”
Oliver shook his head, guessing he knew what Ptolemy had asked him.
Sem reached into his damp robe, pulled out another folded slip of paper from his pocket, and handed it to Ptolemy.
“Is that it?” asked Sem. “It was the only paper I found behind the counter.”
Ptolemy unfolded the paper and began reading the words to himself. His expression changed to shock. Sem and Oliver stood and waited for an answer.
“Is that it?” asked Sem again, impatience creeping into his tone.
“Yes, unfortunately…,” said Ptolemy, reading the final words.
“Alright, so let’s go arrest Seleucus and get Artemis back.”
“It’s not that simple. This letter says that Seleucus was ordered by the council to kill Alexander, with support from the other generals.”
“So?” asked Sem, confused.
“This letter confirms our worst fear,” replied Ptolemy. He sat down on the railing of the bridge.
“Look, Ptolemy. I’m sorry this letter is bad news for you, but I really need Artemis back. Things are going to get a lot worse if we don’t leave here.”
“Yes. I’m sorry. You kept your end of the deal, now we shall keep ours.”
He turned around and waved to the upper balcony behind him.
Sem and Oliver looked up and saw a man wave back before walking inside and out of sight.
“This news is going to be difficult for Alexander,” said Ptolemy, looking back down at the letter.
The wind blew harder as they waited. The torch flames struggled to stay lit. Alexander strode from the small side entrance accompanied by his servant Ri and a woman wearing a cloth over her face. They made their way over to meet Ptolemy, Sem, and Oliver on the bridge.
“Did they acquire it?” asked Alexander.
Ptolemy handed him the letter in silence.
Ally unwrapped the cloth from her face and revealed herself to Sem. She ran over to his side of the bridge and stood in front of him holding her wet robe and clothes, smiling.
“Nice escape plan,” said Ally sarcastically.
“Hey, as I stated before, I may not know history, but I know how to stay alive.” Sem smirked.
Alexander read the letter. The reality of betrayal settled in.
“I’m sorry, my lord,” muttered Ptolemy.
“No, I’m glad I now know. The discovery may be hard to take in, but the answers I’ve been longing for help drive away the madness.”
Alexander crumpled the letter up and placed it in the torch at the end of the bridge.
“Wait, don’t you need that?” asked Ally.
“No… If the rest of the army knew of this betrayal, I would lose what little I have left. Perhaps by holding onto what honor I still have, I may still live a glorious life feeling like I am still king.”
“You are still king, Alexander,” murmured Ptolemy.
“Maybe to you, my loyal friend, but no longer to Macedonia,” replied Alexander, watching the letter burn to ashes. “Now, let us aid my saviors in their escape.”
◆◆◆
With the moon falling on the horizon and a new wave of darkness covering the night, Ally, Sem, Oliver, Alexander, and Ptolemy rode on horseback across the desert.
Sem watched the minutes tick away on his communicator. They rode hard through the sand and wind, hoping they’d make it in time. With the moon hiding behind the hills, the only visible light was the bright, shimmering starlight from the gateway ahead of them, still resting at the base of the palm tree.
Sem sighed with relief. They had thirty minutes left.
Alexander and Ptolemy both sat on their horses, staring in wonder at the gateway, captured by its beauty and unimaginable presence.
“In all my life, I have never seen a star so bright and so close,” said Alexander.
“What is it?” asked Ptolemy.
“Sorry, but I couldn’t tell you even if I tried,” replied Sem, hopping off his horse. Oliver still perched on the horse’s back, hesitant to get closer to the light.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” asked Ally, facing Alexander and Ptolemy.
“Indescribably,” said Alexander as he dismounted.
Sem looked back at Oliver and offered him a hand down. Oliver looked at his hand, unsure of what to make of his new friend.
“It’s alright. Come on,” said Sem in a calming voice.
Oliver took Sem by the hand and stepped down from the horse, trying his best to keep his distance from the aura.
“We had our suspicions about you two. Great wanderers of both lands, and times,” said Ptolemy, smiling at the light.
Sem and Ally both looked at them, confused, pretending they didn't know what he was talking about.
“A wise man once taught us that there are always things in this world we don’t understand, but we must always do our best to understand them anyway. A woman who speaks of the future as though she has seen it for herself, and a man speaking languages that even we, having traveled across the world, have never heard before, sparked our curiosity. That, and your sandals don’t appear made by even the most skilled craftsman in all Greece.” Alexander pointed down at Sem’s feet.
Sem looked down and noticed his brown boots sticking out from under his robe for everyone to see. He raised his head up and looked sheepishly at them. Ally snickered and shook her head. Alexander and Ptolemy laughed.
“Well, knowing that you two come with far greater knowledge of the beyond brings warmth to my
heart. Your assurances that my legacy will not be forgotten helps make my final days worth living.”
“You're a great king, Alexander. I honestly wish more leaders shared your sense of chivalry and honesty,” said Ally with a smile.
“Thank you, Artemis. If that is your real name?”
“My names Ally, actually.”
“Well thank you, Ally,” replied Alexander, embracing her.
Ptolemy smiled at Sem. He offered his hand. Sem took it and smiled back, gripping Ptolemy’s hand firmly with his own. “Now you’ve earned my trust—”
“Sem.”
“Sem. You’re a brave man. I see now you’re not as foolish as I once thought. I’m sure your mentor is proud of you.”
Sem half-heartedly smiled at him and released his hand. Ptolemy turned and shook Oliver's hand as well. Oliver stood, still confused by the situation and desperately wanting some form of comfort in the conversation.
“I’m eternally indebted to both of you. May we drink together in the afterlife,” said Alexander.
“I just wish we could have done more to help,” said Ally, saddened.
“Anymore and I might have lost my kingdom entirely because of my own thirst for glory.”
“I guess you're welcome, in that case. Now let's get out of here before we’re all history,” said Sem as he grabbed the backpack from the base of the palm tree. He pulled out the two pairs of welding goggles and handed a pair to Ally.
“Might wanna cover your eyes,” said Ally to Oliver.
Sem pulled the cover off his communicator and pressed the return button. They pulled the goggles on over their eyes. Sem put out his hand for Oliver. Oliver hesitated, then took it.
“Just follow me,” Sem told him.
“Where are we going?” asked Oliver.
“Somewhere far from here. Trust me. I’ll get you home to your sister like I promised,” replied Sem. The light began to grow. The white light gradually illuminated the desert, as Alexander and Ptolemy lifted their hands to shield their eyes.
Oliver took a deep breath and covered his eyes.
With the gateway open, Sem walked into the light, Oliver and Ally close behind him.
The trio disappeared into the gateway, leaving Alexander and Ptolemy each with a hand over their eyes until the aura faded. They stood in the fading moonlight of the desert, with the brilliance of the Milky Way glowing across the sky above them.
“Messengers from the gods,” said Alexander. He smiled and mounted his horse. Ptolemy gathered the other two horses and hopped up onto his saddle as he held the reigns. Alexander stared at the single palm tree now left in the sea of hills and sand.
“With this news, I intend to discuss my final wishes, Ptolemy,” said Alexander. Ptolemy hopped up onto his horse.
“Please, not now, my lord. The day's events have drained me and left me confounded. It is almost too much for a man to take in.”
“Very well. Tomorrow. For now, we rest. My skin grows cold, and I am weary from the frigid desert sands.”
“Cold? How could you feel cold on such a warm night?” asked Ptolemy.
As the ARC spun and hummed back to life, Otto hurried down the stairs to the basement in time to witness Sem and Ally arrive with their new traveler, all dressed in their worn-out robes.
“Sheesh, I was beginning to worry there, kid. You weren’t replying to my calls,” said Otto, eyeing the bags under their eyes as the room fell quiet.
Sem turned to Ally. “Can you take Oliver upstairs and show him the room next to yours?”
“Sure,” she replied. She turned to Oliver.
“Follow me.”
“So? How did it go?” asked Otto enthusiastically as Oliver followed Ally upstairs.
Sem walked over to the locker and pulled the wet robe over his head.
Otto bounced over to him and grinned. “So?”
Sem shot him a side glare. He hung the robe up to dry in his locker before shutting the door and looking at Otto, a slight smirk on his face.
“I told you so,” they both said in unison. They both stared at one another, confused by the other’s response, ready to settle yet another dispute.
Chapter 16
Accepting Change
“No! No! No! I said no, and I mean it!” shouted Sem.
“I heard you, but saying no doesn’t change the facts, kid,” replied Otto.
Sem stood in the entry hall with his back to the dining room, still not dressed for his morning routine.
“The fact is we nearly died out there forcing me to save not only a traveler, but her too, and you're asking me to do it all over again!”
“That’s not what I meant! We have no choice! The council said you needed to take on a partner, or we lose the ARC to Raz all together! And I’m not going to make them mad along with all the other people out there!” shouted Otto, waving his hand.
“I had things under control until she opened her mouth!” shouted Sem, waving his hands back.
“From what she’s told me, you slipped up and nearly got both of you killed. If it wasn’t for her charm and quick words, I doubt you would have come back at all.”
Sem scowled and stomped into the living room waving his hands wildly.
“We would have never found trouble if we hadn’t decided to talk to them in the first place! I had things under control. I was just—”
“You what? You were waiting until they attacked you so you could make a run for it like you always do? Making more enemies than friends as always? Face it, kid, you and I both know you're no good with people. She is, from what I’ve gathered.”
“She may have doomed that world for all we know,” shouted Sem, running his hands through his hair.
“You know Erland never believed in that superstition, and neither do I,” replied Otto.
“Well, I do!”
“Why?” Otto drew closer to Sem’s face. “Because they’re gone now? Because of karma? Because you think that all those times you two went out there and changed things is now haunting your life? Because you think time holds a grudge against you for messing with it?”
Sem stood silently, eyes fixed on the cluttered end table, trying his best not to lash out in anger. He walked over and stared at the bookshelf.
Otto fanned his shirt, trying to cool down. He sat down in on the sofa next to him. He let out a deep sigh trying to purge his frustration.
“I’m sorry, kid, but you need to let go of the past. Not just for your sake, but for my sake and everyone else who is expecting us to figure this problem out.”
“I’m not risking her life just to please the masses,” replied Sem.
Otto leaned forward from the couch. “Then teach her! Teach her what you know. She’s a quick learner.”
“I’m not going to just replace Ar-... her...”
“Sem, I’m not asking you to replace her. No one can do that,” said Otto, leaning towards him, his words soft and delicate.
Ally strolled down the stairs and into the living room, dressed and ready for the day. Sem stood with his hand on the bookshelf, facing away from Otto. Otto rested his head on the back of the sofa.
“Hey, kiddo. How did it go?” asked Otto.
“Fine. Oliver seems to be taking it rather well, actually,” she replied, collapsing down onto the sofa next to Otto.
“I’m sure your kind explanation helped him cope with it a lot better,” said Otto. He looked over at Sem as if he had proven his point. Sem rolled his eyes.
“Maybe, though he seemed happier just to have a nice bed to sleep in last night,” said Ally.
“So, what were you two talking about?”
“Nothing…” said Sem as he glared over at Otto.
“We were just talking about how well you did out there,” said Otto. He smiled at her clearly ignoring Sem.
“Heh, I don’t think I was all that helpful, but thanks anyway.”
“No, you were! We were just talking about how Sem wanted to take you on as his new partner.
You can stay here and help us—assuming you're interested?” asked Otto as Sem raised his eyes to the ceiling in with an aggravated look.
“Uh,” said Ally, feeling her anxiety build. She scratched her forehead and noticed Alexander’s silver chain bracelet dangling from her wrist. She lowered her hand and fiddled with it for a moment.
“You know what? I’ll do it. I’d love to. Anything to help you guys out. I’d say it’s the least I can do, since you saved my life and are helping me get back home.”
“Excellent!” replied Otto. “In that case, I’ll call and let everyone know we’re having dinner here tonight to celebrate.”
“You guys don’t have to do that for me.”
“Nonsense, we’d love to! It’s not every day we’re blessed with a new friend joining our crusade. I’d say that’s cause for celebration.”
“Alright, but you two need to help clean this pigpen first,” said Ally, looking around the room at the fallen books and disorderly living conditions.
“Pigpen?” scoffed Sem.
“Yeah, this place you two call a home? If I’m going to start helping you guys, the least you can do is clean this place up.”
Otto slowly stood up and began wandering across the room to the dining room to reach the kitchen. “I have work to do. But you two go right ahead. I need to take Oliver to Vila and then the boarding house, then come back here to pour over that new data I gathered from using your communicator to open the gateway.”
“You sure? I could take Oliver,” said Sem, knowing Otto was using his best excuse.
“Oh no! No, I got it. You guys go right ahead,” insisted Otto, stepping into the kitchen.
Sem’s shoulders drooped as he shook his head, feeling betrayed by his closest friend.
“Alright,” said Ally, turning to Sem. “Shall we get started?”
“Ugh, fine. I’ll get a broom.”
Sem slouched his way across the foyer towards the kitchen.
“And can you guys go pick up some groceries for dinner tonight once you're done?” added Otto, picking up the phone and spinning the dial.