“I saved his life a long time ago,” Poriya said.
Tallia sat up and looked at him with excitement and interest on her face. “What happened?”
“Not much to tell really. He was over by the forest, never did find out what he was doing there, and a wild boar had charged him, knocked him off his feet, and was about to go at him again. For some reason, it was very angry and had the biggest tusks I had ever seen. Anyway, I heard him scream and managed to get to the boar just before the boar got to him. Ran my sword right through its neck. After that, he was very grateful and offered me the job as his bodyguard.” He snorted.
“What?” Tallia asked.
“Well, bodyguard turned out to be messenger boy. Merek never went anywhere and after that day didn’t even go down the ladders. No, he would send me to fetch this and that and take messages to the castle. Never mind, he pays quite well I suppose. Now enough questions miss nosey get your head down to sleep.”
Tallia woke with the sun low in the sky and warming her face. She sat up and looked around. The grass they had made camp on last night seemed to be a much brighter green than the grass over the other side of the crack. Jeb was still curled up next to her quietly snoring. Poriya sat leaning against his back sack smiling at her.
“Why did you not wake me?” she asked.
“You two were exhausted and anyway I felt I owed you after yesterday.”
Jeb yawned loudly. “What’s going on?”
“Time to get up,” Tallia said. “Poriya has let us sleep late.”
“Eh? What? Oh, thanks Poriya. I needed that.”
“Yeah looked like you did. Anyway come on we need to get a move on.”
The three gathered their things together and set off across the grass plain stopping that night by a small copse of trees to make camp.
By mid-morning the following day they reached the castle of the elders. A tall square building with eight towers rising above the ramparts one on each corner and one in the centre of each outer wall.
As they approached four of the elder's guard rode out on horses to meet them. Each being covered head to foot with heavy leather armour and carrying a long pike tipped by a sharp blade.
Tallia and Jeb had never seen a horse as horses are exclusively for the guard's men and elders use but since it has been such a long time that any elder has ventured out of the castle, they have all forgotten or never got around to learning to ride.
Whilst they had seen a few of the guards once when they visited the plateau their horses were kept down in the valley having no way of getting them up into the village.
“Hello, Poriya. What brings you back again?” said one of the guards.
“Good day to you Halthor. I have been sent by Merek to deliver this girl to the elders.”
Halthor looked down at Tallia from his horse then at Jeb. “And what of this porcupine?” The other guards sniggered at their Sargent’s joke.
“I’m not a porcupine. I’m Tallia’s protector.” Jeb said defensively causing all four of the men to laugh. Jeb swung his bow into his hand and reached for an arrow. Poriya quickly grabbed his arm to stop him drawing it. “Sorry about him Halthor, he tends to be a little sensitive.” Jeb glared at him and felt very embarrassed. “As it goes,” Poriya continued, “he is the best archer in the lands. He can fire arrows faster, further and straighter than any I have ever heard of and I have yet to see him miss.” Well except when Tallia gets involved he thought.
“That’s very high praise coming from you,” Halthor said, “We apologise young archer we meant no offence.”
Jeb was rather surprised by this sudden change and receiving respect from these fearsome warriors. He placed his bow back on his shoulder and bowed slightly “None taken,” he replied graciously.
“What business do you have with the elders young lady?” Halthor asked Tallia.
“Merek has sent me to the elders as he does not know what to do with me.”
Halthor raised his eyebrows. “Interesting. What did you do to warrant a priest to give up on you?”
“With the greatest respect,” Poriya interrupted. “It is best you do not know the details until the elders know.”
“Now I am very curious. However, I have known you for a long time Poriya my friend and trust what you say. We will escort you to the castle gates with no further questions.”
The four guards manoeuvred their horses two to the front and two behind, and they all set off towards the castle.
The guards left them just outside the entrance to the castle and the two large heavy wooden doors set in the base of the northern center tower. As they approached the right-hand door swung inwards, opening into a tunnel that ran under the tower and out into a large courtyard. Just inside the tunnel, an aide met them dressed in a long grey robe with a dark yellow sash tied around the middle. “What business do you have at the castle?”
“I was sent by Merek to hand over this girl to the elders.”
“And him?”
“No, just the girl, he traveled as protection for the girl.”
The aide looked Tallia up and down. “So Merek sent you. Merek from The Plateau of Skasdiz?”
“Yes sir,” replied Tallia. “He instructed me to present this to the elders,” and pulled the talisman from her pocket and held it out to him. He looked at it with indifference in his face. I have no idea what that is supposed to mean. he thought but took it from her anyway. Tallia wondered why he thought that but guessed that only the elders would know.
He turned to Poriya. “You two can go to the servants quarters to wait. Its—“
“I know where it is,” interrupted Poriya.
“Oh, good.”
“I have been here on many occasions.”
“So it seems.” Turning to Tallia, “Follow me.” He led her through a door in the side of the tunnel into a long corridor. They walked all the way to the end and through another door turning sharp right and up a narrow spiral staircase. They climbed up four floors to a room with a curved wall on the opposite side of the door which had a small tall window in it.
“You can wait in here,” said the aide and left closing the door behind him.
The room was decorated with a few paintings on the walls, and there were three stone plinths with busts mounted on top of men Tallia did not recognise but judging by their long beards guessed they were of elders. Three comfortable looking sofas with big cushions were in the room along with two simple wooden tables.
Tallia sat and waited for a long time. She was quite nervous when she had first arrived, but boredom had chased that away a long time ago. She had examined every painting on the wall in detail, twice, and eaten one of Mrs. Pace’s Tallia’s Quest Biscuits and then berated herself for eating a whole days ration.
It was late in the day, and the sun was low in the sky when the door opened and in walked the aide who had left her there. He went around the room and lit the lamps attached to the walls around the room.
“Do I have to wait much longer?”
“Who knows.”
“What does that mean? Do the elders know I am here.”
“Yes, yes, I will go remind them.”
“What do you mean remind them?”
“They tend to be a little forgetful sometimes and need a little prod. I’ll see to it now,” and he left closing the door behind him again.
Tallia waited. The sun dropped below the horizon and darkness fell in the lands around the castle. The aide eventually returned. “I am to pass on the elder's apologies, but they are unable to see you today. If you would follow me, I will take you to somewhere you can sleep for the night.”
Tallia felt too tired to argue and just followed the aide out into the stairwell and down one floor into a room that looked almost identical to the one she just left but with a large bed in the centre of the room. It was unlike any bed Tallia had ever seen, it was so big, it could sleep at least four, and had a post on each corner which supported its own roof.
“Er
does it rain in here?” she asked.
The aide looked puzzled at her and said “No. I have left some food and milk on the table over there. You will find a pot under the bed. I recommend, no, I insist you remain in this room until I collect you tomorrow.”
After he left Tallia wondered why he had said that but soon forgot all about it as she ate and drank before undressing and climbing into the giant bed. It was by far the most comfortable and softest bed she had ever laid on and sleep quickly took a firm hold of her.
The following morning Tallia woke shortly after sunrise. She dressed and sat on the bed to wait. She didn’t have to wait long when the aide opened the door and walked in without knocking. “Good your ready. Follow me.”
Tallia grabbed her back sack and followed him back up into the room she first had to wait. “An elder will be with you soon - ish.”
Sometime this year then Tallia thought and flopped down on a sofa.
To her surprise a few moments later the door opened again and an elderly man in a bright green hooded robe walked in. He had a long light grey beard, and his brown eyes looked tired.
Tallia stood up quickly and looked at him not sure if she was supposed to kneel or bow. They stood in silence looking at each other for just long enough for Tallia to think that maybe she was supposed to speak first. “Why has Merek sent you here?” he said as he sat on a sofa and indicated her to sit by him.
Tallia told him what had happened to her right from the beginning and the dreams she had. She told him of their journey and the strange things that happened. All the time the elder sat and just listened without saying a word. When she stopped talking, he continued to just look at her without saying a word for several moments as he mulled over in his mind the story he had just been told.
“What am I thinking?” he asked.
“Your thinking that this is just a story and could not be true.”
“Good guess.”
“It’s not a guess. It’s what you thought.”
“Really? I very much doubt it. I will grant you, you tell a good tale.” The elder stood up. “I suggest you now run along little girl and stop wasting my time.”
Tallia stood “I’m not, it’s all true, just ask Poriya he will tell you.”
“I have better things to do than go around asking errand boys silly questions.”
“They're not silly,” Tallia shouted. “I am telling the truth.”
“How dare you shout at me,” yelled the elder. “Now get out.”
“NO,” screamed Tallia and as she did the bust closest to the elder flew off its plinth and smashed into the wall behind.
The elder stared at the broken bust his eyes wide. He looked back at Tallia who was looking at the pile of broken stone on the floor. “I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to do that. Please help me.”
The aide came rushing into the room having heard the loud crash of the bust hitting the wall. “Elder? are you...” He stopped with his mouth open when the elder held up his hand.
“You can hear my thoughts yes?” he said to Tallia
“Yes”
“Tell him what I want him to do.”
“Go into the courtyard and hold up an object of your choosing until a bird flies close to you then return here.”
The aide looked at the elder who nods at him, and he leaves to do as instructed.
The elder walks over to the small window and indicates for Tallia to follow. “Now choose a bird and go see what my aide has in his hands.”
Tallia looked out of the window and searched for a bird. “It’s very difficult not to startle the bird please be as still and quiet as possible.” The elder gave a tiny and brief nod that Tallia didn’t see as she was busy searching the sky.
She spotted a small bird swooping low over the grass below and concentrated. She closed her eyes, and the view from the bird’s eyes comes into focus as before. She watched for a moment before gently feeling a desire to climb higher and make a wide, slow turn. The usual confusion she feels from the bird was not there this time, and the bird did as it was bid.
As the bird turned, she saw the castle, and she felt she wanted to go to it. The bird flew straight for the castle and as it flew over the top and dived down to the courtyard. She saw the aide walking out into the middle and hold up a wooden bowl with a single red apple in it. The bird dived straight for the elder and flew past him close to his head making him duck down and spill the apple out of the bowl.
Tallia opened her eyes to leave a suddenly confused bird to narrowly miss the wall opposite and fly straight up and away from the castle as quickly as it could.
The elder looked at her with one eyebrow raised in question.
“He was holding a wooden bowl with a red apple in it. He dropped the apple when he ducked as I flew past,” she said and grinned.
“He dropped it?”
“Yes.”
They stood in silence for a short while, while they waited for the aide.
He walked in carrying a wooden bowl with a red apple in it. The elder turned and looked at Tallia. “That will be all and try not to drop the apple again,” he said with a smirk on his face.
The aide’s eyes opened wide in surprise. “Yes elder, sorry elder,” he said and left quickly.
“Well, it seems that your story may be true. I need to talk to the council, and we can decide what to do. I will have my aide make you comfortable while we decide.”
“May I see my friends?”
“Your friends?”
“Yes, I travelled here with Poriya and my best friend Jeb. May I be with them please.”
“Ah yes of course. I will have my aide arrange suitable quarters for all of you,” he said and left.
Chapter X
Everything takes a long time for anything to happen in the castle and Tallia had to wait in that room for most of the day. The aide did return briefly around the middle of the day to deliver some food and drink. Where he was indifferent to Tallia before, he now seemed nervous of her and scurried out as soon as he could.
While Tallia was still terribly bored, she was at least happier knowing that the elder had seen for himself what she could do and was taking her seriously.
Eventually, the aide escorted her through several corridors and a door into a large room where Poriya and Jeb were waiting.
“Tallia,” Jeb yelled, and he ran across the room wrapping his arms around her almost knocking her out of the door again. The aide froze in fear expecting something terrible to happen. Tallia wrapped her arms around Jeb and held her lifelong dear friend close so glad that they were back together.
The aide slipped away quietly, and Tallia looked over at Poriya who sat smiling at them. “Hello Poriya,” Tallia said as she untangled herself from Jeb.
“You okay?”
“Yeah.”
Tallia walked over to Poriya and held out her arms for a hug. Poriya felt a little uncomfortable but stood and hugged her briefly. “What’s happening? They haven’t told us a thing.”
“We had no idea if you were okay or anything,” added Jeb
They all sat around the table near the window in the room, and she told them all that had happened and what the elder had said.
“You broke a statue?” Jeb said shocked.
“I didn’t mean to and said I was sorry.”
“Sounds like a good thing you did,” Poriya said.
“I suppose. Mind you the aide seems to be scared of me now.”
“I would get used to that if I were you.”
“But I don’t mean any harm to anyone.”
“Tell that to the bandits you killed.”
Tallia stared at him as tears started to fill her eyes.
“Don’t get upset about it. If you hadn’t, we wouldn’t be here now.”
She wiped her eyes. “Maybe, but I didn’t want them to die. I hope the elders can help me to learn to control it.”
“Well let’s hope so, we’ll know soon enough I guess.
It was two days be
fore the elders were able to all arrive in the council chamber together. They had tried to meet three times before that but one or more of them either went to the wrong room or got the time to meet completely wrong and the others gave up waiting, agreeing to a new time.
Elder Digast gave a detailed account of what happened when he met with the Tallia.
“That’s impossible,” declared Elder Stakron.
“Sounds like she cast an illusionment spell on you,” Elder Dotrix said.
“Seems you lost your mind with your beard Dotrix. She’s a girl and girls cannot perform spells,” Elder Gutnaz said. Elder Dotrix is the only elder not to have a beard following a miscalculated fire spell where he managed to set his beard alight and since then kept his beard shaved off, just incase. Elder Dotrix glared at him for his beard comment.
“I spoke with my aide again,” Elder Digast said. “He confirmed the bird made him duck and drop the apple.”
“I would be more concerned with pieces of stone flying around the room,” said Elder Flitrix.
“Poppycock,” said Elder Gileus making all the other elders stop talking to stare at this elder who rarely says anything. The last time he actually strung a whole sentence together was over six decades ago being the last time he felt that something really needed a proper explanation which he managed to reduce to seven words.
After a few moments of silence, Elder Ruwyn said, “I was knocked out of my chair a few days ago, or was it weeks, can’t remember exactly.”
“How awful for you,” said Elder Potwick. “Who did it?”
“Well that’s just it, no one was in the room. Just suddenly found myself on my back. Gave me quite a scare I’ll tell you.”
“Do you think it had anything to do with this girl?” asked Elder Ozlore.
“Oh dear, I hadn’t thought of that. I very much doubt it.”
“Green eyes you say?” Elder Ocrighast the oldest elder said. Well everyone thinks he is the eldest, but no one can be sure for certain.
“Yes, that’s right, green eyes.” Elder Digast answered.
“Mmmm odd. I am sure that is supposed to mean something.”
Zantalth: The magic is returning Page 8