by L. EE
After several minutes, they rounded the tall mountain that hid the library and soared over open waters, heading back toward the town of Ooggy. Hannah looked around anxiously. What felt like an eternity later, Andy could see the towering northern wall rise suddenly on the horizon.
“Come on, Optimistic! Go girl!” Andy encouraged.
The pegasus snorted her understanding and continued gracefully flapping her enormous purple wings.
Hannah’s animal came up even several feet to Andy’s right, as if checking on Alden’s condition. Alden’s bloated arm dangled at his side as his body bent over Andy’s arm that held a death grip on the pommel. Hannah glanced at them with an uneasy expression.
As soon as they crossed over the wall, thick fog again enveloped them. Andy saw the faint outline of six vulture-men nearly upon them. I hate that these vultures can see so well, even through the fog! he thought.
The pack attacked. Optimistic and Veracious whinnied in fright. Andy slashed one-handed at the taloned feet of two vulture-men as they reached to grab his tunic. He separated one vulture-man from its claw and it fell away, rasping and shrieking. The other one continued, undaunted. He slashed again, nearly losing his balance with the force. Optimistic sensed his imbalance and compensated, keeping both he and Alden in the saddle.
Hannah had similar issues with three other vulture-men. She swiped the sword and hit one attacker’s wing. It tumbled away to be replaced by another. Another stroke and the sword made contact with the beast’s belly. It let out a shrill hiss and dropped dead.
Seeing Hannah’s predicament, Andy pulled his practice sword from its holster and threw it at the menaces, nearly unseating himself in the process. He hit the bird closest to him squarely between its eyes. Stunned, it fell toward the ground. The vulture attacking him lunged and dug sharp talons into his shoulders, adding to the puncture wounds he had received earlier. He yelled out as the bird started to pull him up and off Optimistic. Still balancing Alden, Andy tightened his grip on the pommel. Smart animal that Optimistic was, she increased her altitude to compensate. With the vulture’s firm grasp of his shoulders, Andy brought Methuselah up and sliced vertically through the bird’s torso. Instantly, it let go and dropped toward the ground.
Hannah continued whacking the remaining two attackers, impaling one, cutting the other’s wing. Andy removed Alden’s practice sword from his belt and threw it at the stubborn beast. Once again he nearly lost his balance, but his aim was true and the wooden sword thumped the attacker on the head, knocking it out.
Andy and Hannah were both scratched and bloodied.
“Is this what you had to go through to get to us?”
“Worse.”
With all the noise that erupted as they defended themselves, another patrol came to investigate, swooping in to attack. Andy and Hannah beat the creatures back after several minutes only to be engaged by yet another contingent of the vicious creatures.
How long can we last? How long can Alden last?
Even as Andy thought this, he spotted the outline of the castle turrets rising through the fog over the Crystal River, which they had been following. Remembering the flight last year, he knew they were getting close from his brief sightings of the landscape below.
“We’re almost there!” he shouted to Hannah as he brought his sword up, impaling another attacker.
Hannah didn’t respond. She busily sliced at another vulture.
Andy remembered where they had landed with Daisy and made a beeline to the clearing just outside the cavalry arena. With vultures still attacking them, they set down. Hannah jumped to the ground and bolted for the door, which she opened in no time while Andy continued slicing at attackers one-handed.
Just as the door opened, a vulture sank its claws into Andy’s shoulders. Exhausted from the grueling ride, he could no longer hang on to the pommel. The bird lifted him up and out of the saddle.
He shouted as he saw Alden’s limp body fall to the ground unsupported. He dropped Methuselah, and Optimistic whinnied in terror, bobbing her head.
As the enemy pumped its wings, seeking to take flight with Andy dangling below, four cavalry soldiers ran through the door and let loose a volley of arrows. They flew true, hitting the great bird in the head and back. Instantly, it dropped to the ground, dragging Andy to a dusty stop.
More cavalry soldiers appeared, rushing to aid the trio. Apparently someone had alerted Hans to the situation, and he ran through the door, stopping at Alden’s fallen form.
“He’s been bitten by a venomous serpent!” Andy yelled as he scrambled up. He picked up Methuselah’s hilt and holstered it as he ran to join the healer, who bent over to examine Alden.
“You’ve got to save him! You’ve got to!” Andy pleaded. Alden’s arm had now swelled to four times its normal size, and Hans shook his head as he examined the wound.
Andy dropped his backpack on the ground and located the discarded vial. “I gave him all of this,” he added, handing it to Hans.
Hans inspected the vial, then raised his eyes in surprise. “You may have saved his life, Andy. Where did you get this?”
“I got it before we left.”
Hans clearly had more questions, but seeing Alden’s condition and Andy’s panicked state, he motioned to three of the cavalry soldiers to get Alden inside where he could treat him, which they eagerly did.
Andy rummaged in his backpack again and pulled out the other vial, handing it to Hans as the group headed inside.
“Can you drain the venom?”
“Yes, I’ll have to.”
“Can you put it in this?”
Hans nodded.
“I’ll take care of the pegasi,” called Hannah from behind, “and be right in.”
Andy waved to her and added, “Thank you.”
After grabbing his backpack, Andy walked with Hans and asked, “How are the King and Mermin?”
“They started perking up several minutes ago. I take it your trip was a success,” the healer surmised as they exited the cavalry arena and headed for the castle.
Andy nodded and breathed a small sigh of relief, but not before Alden’s got to survive! He’s got to! ran through his head.
“You’ve got some nasty wounds,” Hans remarked, seeing blood soaking through Andy’s tunic.
“We had to fight three vulture patrols.”
Hans shook his head.
The somber group carried Alden downstairs to the staff quarters and laid him on his bed. Marta rushed in as the soldiers were leaving.
“How is he?” Her eyes pleaded for an encouraging answer.
Without saying a word, Hans set to work lancing and draining the bite, filling the vial with the deadly venom. After removing as much as he could, he handed it to Andy and cleaned and dressed the wound.
“That’s as much as I can do for him now. We’ll have to wait and hope for the best.”
Marta, who was standing next to Andy as Hans worked, started crying. Andy reached over and hugged her, sharing her pain.
“You need to let me treat your wounds, Andy.”
“Later,” he replied, still embracing this woman who was like a second mom to him.
Hans excused himself to go check on the King and Mermin, and Andy and Marta sat down on her bed to keep vigil. Neither uttered a word. After some time, a quiet knock came at the door and Andy got up and answered. Hannah waited in the hall, and he invited her in. Hans must have intercepted her, for he could see bandages peeking from under her clean outfit.
“How’s he doing?”
“Hans has done all he can for now. We have to wait.”
Hannah was quiet, then said, “I heard the King was asking for you. Why don’t you go see him. I’ll stay with Marta.”
Andy nodded and stood. After taking two steps toward the door, he stopped and turned. “By the way, how did you know we needed help?”
“I just sensed it. My stomach kept rumbling. I knew I had to help. I just hoped I could find you in time.”
/> “Well, I won’t make fun of you ever again for sensing danger. You probably saved both our lives.” Andy smiled as he said it.
Hearing this, Marta stood and wrapped her arms around Hannah. “Thank you so much, dear.”
Andy knew Marta was in good hands, so he stashed the stoppered vial in his pack, put it on, and stepped quietly out the door.
He knocked on the door of his grandfather’s chambers. I’ve got so much to tell him. My grandfather. That sounds so good!
Hans opened the door and invited him in.
“Hannah said the King asked for me?”
“Andy,” came a weak voice from behind Hans.
One look at this man whom he loved more than his father released a flood of emotions Andy had kept bottled up since the King fell ill. Tears flowed freely down his face as he crossed the room and stood next to the bed. The King patted the covers and Andy sat, immediately engulfed in a hug he would never forget. His body shook as his tears continued unabated.
After some time, he regained control and sat back, sniffling. He wiped his eyes on the sleeve of his tattered tunic.
“Looks like you’ve been through a war.” The King smiled, lightening the mood.
Andy sniffed again, looking at the King through tear-blurred eyes, not yet able to speak.
“If you’ll excuse me, I’d like to go check on Mermin,” Hans interrupted, heading for the door.
Andy took his backpack off and placed it on the floor without saying a word. Then, feeling around for a minute, his hand touched the object that had cost so many, so much.
The King watched, a curious expression on his face.
Andy grabbed the necklace and held up the pyramid-shaped pendant for his grandfather to see.
“You’ll be needing this,” Andy said, handing it to the King.
“This object has cost so much, in so many ways,” the King said aloud as he took the chain and examined the stone more closely.
After a minute of silence, the king added, “A true leader always acts in the best interests of his followers. The message last year said I would follow you, Andy. I want you to know that I am your loyal follower because of your actions on my behalf. Your diligence and self-sacrifice have preserved my life. I will be forever grateful to you and in your debt.”
Andy sat there, speechless. He didn’t know what to say. He’s my grandfather, but he’s also the king.
“I couldn’t stand seeing you like that!” he blurted out. “I had to save you.” He wanted to add a bitter comment, because Razen sure wasn’t trying, but restrained his tongue.
“And I’m glad you did.” A broad grin burst across the King’s face as a new realization struck him.
“What?”
“Do you know what this means, Andy?”
Andy stared blankly. “Gr— Sir?”
“With this in hand, Mermin and I can now travel wherever we wish! I am free from the confines of this castle after over five hundred years! Oh, Andy.” A tear trickled down the King’s cheek.
Andy looked down and played with his hands, not knowing how to respond. Finally he looked up again.
“Thank you,” the King croaked.
“Put it on,” Andy encouraged.
The King did so and beamed.
Perfect.
A cackling voice shattered the calm. “Perfect? Perfect?” it sneered. “Your imprisonment in this castle may have ended, but you are still a slave to eternal life and will forever watch all those you love suffer and die. Yes, Kaysan, you are cursed to wander the land for eternity, and it serves you right!”
Without hesitating, the King responded, “Imogenia, I was wrong. I killed you out of immature jealousy. You were a kind and loving sister and would have made a noble queen. I was wrong to take that from you. I am deeply sorry. Can you please forgive me?”
“Forgive you?” Imogenia’s pitch climbed. “I will never rule Oomaldee as queen, thanks to you. As you can never make this right, so I will never forgive. Suffer!”
When all was again quiet, the King said, “I think she left.”
“Well, isn’t she little Miss Cheerful.”
“As I suspected, she will hear nothing of my apology. I can ask but cannot force her to accept. That’s okay. I deserve what I’m getting. Perhaps one day…”
After several minutes of silence, the King shook his head, his thoughts returning to the current situation. “Tell me all that happened. My last memory is of a horrible creature attacking you.”
“That was a bellicose. Yeah, it followed Alden and me everywhere and attacked me two more times. I’m just glad I have Methuselah.”
“It that where you got that?” The King pointed at the large mark on Andy’s arm.
He nodded, then began recounting the highlights of the trip beginning with the frustration he still felt with himself for so quickly dismissing Sometimes Island as the place to look for Abaddon.
“I added several days to you and Mermin being sick because I was so certain he couldn’t possibly be there.”
“First of all, Andy, your figuring this out happened exactly as it should have. No sooner, no later.”
“But—”
“You cannot hold yourself responsible for what you were blind to. We are all blind at times, myself included. It simply did not occur to you. There’s nothing you can do but accept it and move on.”
Not satisfied, Andy responded, “But I hate that.”
The King laughed. “We control little in life. Be okay with that, or you’ll only frustrate yourself.”
Andy listened, unable to accept.
“Second, Andy, we can only do our best.”
“I know, I need to be satisfied with that,” Andy responded, remembering what he had learned last year.
Again the King laughed. “Don’t be so hard on yourself.”
Andy nodded, not yet fully accepting.
“By the way, how did you figure it out?”
“I got the second clue.”
The King’s eyes brightened. “Tell me more.”
When Andy had finished recounting how he and Alden deciphered the clue, the King asked, “Are you telling me what I think you’re telling me? You also retrieved the second ingredient?”
Andy bent over his backpack and located the stoppered vial. “Yes,” he said, handing it to the King.
As he took it, his expression grew serious. “This was purchased at a great price. Hans told me about Alden.”
Andy nodded.
Respectful silence fell over the room until the king spoke. “Please, tell me what else happened on your trip.”
Andy recounted the difficulties they experienced on the outskirts of Ooggy. He wanted to plunge headlong into telling all they had learned at the library but forced himself to wait.
“Sir, we saw Razen meet with Abaddon and listened in on their conversation. He called Abaddon ‘my liege.’”
The King’s eyes grew round. “What else did he say?”
“Abaddon ordered him to find out how the Stone of Athanasia bonded to you. Once Razen knows that, he is supposed to kill you.”
“I see. Well, he’ll be doing well to figure that out. I don’t even know how it bonded with me, let alone how to break it.” A small smile returned. “And I dare say if he ever figures that out, I would die instantly. No other action on his part would be necessary.”
“You still trust him after this?”
“You said Razen told Abaddon that if he were to kill me before the bond is broken, it would remain bonded to me forever?”
“That’s right.”
“Regardless of what it looks like, Andy, I know few servants who would be courageous and speak the truth to such a powerful and evil being as Abaddon. Most would cower out of fear that he would inflict pain and suffering on them for such an answer. That could not have been easy.”
“But, sir!”
“Andy, for reasons not yet revealed to you, I still trust Razen. Don’t worry. What you don’t understand will be reve
aled in time. I need you to trust me.” The King put his hand under Andy’s chin and locked eyes. “Can you do that?”
Argh. How can he still possibly trust Razen?
Despite his disagreement, Andy nodded.
A loud rapping on the door interrupted the moment.
“Enter.”
A servant scurried toward the bedside and bowed. “Beggin’ your pardon sir, but Razen sent me to tell you the castle is under attack!”
“Under attack? From who?”
“Vulture-men, sir! They’re massing in the skies overhead.”
“Andy, help me up!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Revelations
“Sound the alarm! Lower the portcullis! Shut every door!” bellowed the King as he entered the dining hall, Andy helping to steady him. The King had taken a couple minutes to change into his long-sleeved black T-shirt and jeans before heading downstairs.
Andy noticed the noise level increase when they entered the dining hall. He heard many exclamations and saw much pointing in their direction. Andy spotted Hannah standing anxiously next to her father. Ox, Trevig, Emmadank, and Gwinny clustered together and chattered excitedly across the room. Andy spotted Merk, his bulbous nose and hands covered in bandages. Clearly he had received Alden’s package. Henkel and Medrick stood with him and exchanged worried expressions. Andy had a feeling that once Alden awoke and Merk found out what had happened, the level of pranks would escalate.
Everyone, including Razen, crowded around Andy and the King. Looks like Razen’s breathing a sigh of relief. Little weasel. He didn’t have a clue how to help the King, and he sure doesn’t have a clue how to defend the castle.
“Don’t go there. It’ll only lead to a bad place,” Andy’s inneru interjected.
Be quiet.
“Humph. Just tryin’ to help.”
Well don’t.
Major Cahill led several armed soldiers and cavalrymen into the hall and approached the group. Andy recognized Private Boingderban.
Without warning, ten armored vulture-men materialized nearby. Their leader held up a wing and said in a nasally voice, “We mean no harm to you, King Hercalon, or to your subjects. We want only Andy Smithson. Hand him over and we will be on our way.”