by P. G. Thomas
“Your words are strange to me. Please, form an image in your mind.”
John created the necessary mental illustrations: one of H2O and one of H2O2. Then to the H2O structure, he added one more atom of oxygen.
When he did, Tranquil picked up the bottle, pouring out some of the contents, so that Sister could sample it. “She understands.”
Sitting back down, John picked up the still hot mug of bean juice. “Sister, this rain will burn, harming the creatures of Mother, so do not make it too strong or rain too long, as it will do even greater damage. After the fire rain has watered the dying forests for short periods of time, make it rain normal, diluting the runoffs.”
“How long will she have to do this for?” asked Fury.
“I’m uncertain,” advised John, “It’ll depend on the size of the fungus, the concentration of the H2O2, the amount of fire rain, the soil type, and more. Since I had a controlled environment to minimize the secondary influences, I achieved the desired objective at a faster rate.”
“Her influences are great, as even you, she has corrupted. Make your answer short, like my name. How long?”
John shrugged his shoulders, “A month?”
“Thank you, Earth Mother. Sister said she would start with remote forests, determining the best concentration of your unusual elixir to alter the rain that falls. When she finds the right proportions, she will bring your gift of healing to all of the dying forests.”
Fury then added, “As I feel your presence is missed in the Bright Coast, you should return.”
“What? How?” asked John.
“Common sense,” replied Fury, “You have been here for three days, so I am sure they are wondering about you.” After both demi-gods had disappeared, Sister did one circle of gratitude around John before rushing up to the skies.
“Three days, what happened?” Pulling off the bracelet, he dropped the amulet through, stepping into Gayne’s front room.
*******
Panry looked at the four green transparent ghosts in front of him: Cethail, Erust, Catic, and Oxron, who all wore the legendary elfin cloaks of invisibility. While he had originally planned to return the night before to explain his idea to the Earth Guards, the appearance of Jasmine at the inn had disrupted his focus. His intention was to tell her of his strategy to rescue the child Earth Mothers, so if Lauren sensed anything, she would be able to keep her distracted. However, that morning he only had a few minutes to explain the plan to his squad, so when Oxron stepped out from one of the stables, pleading to join, Panry handed him a cloak. Now with all standing outside of Zymse stronghold, they began to put his thoughts into action. He had warned his men of the dangers; while their Earth Guard boots would leave no signs, their cloaks would cast no shadows, yet should a stray piece of debris get blown against them, or somebody bumped into them, they would be spotted. He had explained that they would wait for the servant’s gate to open, and before it closed, they would gain entrance inside. Then, finding a secluded spot, waiting for the shadows to grow longer, he hoped to spot a sign of the Earth Mothers, and when they had success, how he would use the portal bracelet to bring them all back to the house.
Taking more than an hour before the gates opened, when Panry saw three wagons on the other side waiting to exit, he moved into place, as did the Earth Guards behind him. Once inside, he followed the wall north until they came to a small grove of trees inside the compound, knowing the shadows would lessen the strain on the magical cloaks. The inside of the grounds measured over a thousand feet long and half that distance wide. Including the great stone house at the back, and scattered chaotically across the grounds, numerous buildings constructed from wooden logs or stone blocks were seen. In addition, the most unusual construction was hundreds of stone statues that lined the inner walls. The majority were five feet tall, each holding two stone swords. Beside them were similar, being ten feet tall with large spiked balls for hands, and every fifth statue was fifteen feet tall, holding large stone clubs. They were midlander shaped, having similar proportions, but their features were vague. While the faces were plain, nothing suggested clothing of any kind, but Panry kept looking over his shoulder, as he felt uncomfortable having so many stone eyes stare in his direction. Then for the rest of the day, with their great elf eyesight, they watched the inner workings of the busy complex.
Towards the end of the day, the last sun was just above the horizon when they saw the carriage that Zymse favored enter the far, main gate, heading towards the large house, and the five elves all headed towards it, hoping he would greet his daughters. Outside of a lower window, Panry waited while the two pairs of Earth Guards laced their fingers together, and after they had hoisted him up, he watched Zymse inspect a line of house staff and slaves. In all, over twenty looked at the ground while the master of the household checked each. While some were dressed in expensive uniforms, most likely servants to greet the guests, the maids wore little more than rag dresses. At the end, six young girls wearing only skirts had their upper bodies covered in elaborate brands. Making them all turnaround, five had branded backs and one still showed fresh blisters, but the last was free of the chosen art form. As Panry saw him point to a door, he watched the girl head in the commanded direction. When a manservant walked up to Zymse, holding a tray that had numerous pieces of paper on it, he watched the hated man pick up each to review. Jumping down, he led his invisible squad to the back where they waited for the door to open, and after a servant had passed by, all quietly rushed in. Carefully, they sought out the less traveled sections of the kitchen before making their way to the front room.
Once there, metal shutters secured open on the inside allowed light to stream in through the windows, providing a view of a privileged lifestyle. The furnishings were exquisite, all handcrafted, covered in luxurious, rich fabrics. Bright red chairs were placed around an ornate fireplace, and blue couches were set around a highly polished short wooden table. Numerous old pictures on the walls depicted portraits of generations lost, and the largest hung over the mantle. It showed Zymse standing beside a lady, wearing similar black veils, and in front of them, three young males wearing white veils.
With screams coming from the basement announcing Zymse’s location, Panry led the way to the offensive sounds. At the bottom of the stairs, they found a large room barren of regular furnishings, but items of torture were plentiful. Against the far wall, he saw the girl with the bare back, chained spread eagle. Zymse was holding out his hand to one of the branded slave girls, who gave him a red-hot instrument from the brazier of burning coals. When she placed one in his hand, being wrong, he slapped her so hard that she dropped it. Angered, ordering her to step on it, when she passed out from the pain, he called to a male servant, telling him to take her away.
Zymse looked at the second scared slave girl, “You will be more careful.”
She nodded in fear.
With numerous cell doors in the basement, Panry held up his transparent green hand, signaling his men to stay in place. Silently he began to check out the doors, but even if his elfin boots were not silent, Zymse would never have heard any sounds he made, as screams of pain filled the room from the freshly branded girl.
Then she received a break when a man dressed in a white coat, covered in blood, entered the room. “Master, the wolves are—getting worse.”
Pushing the hot brand into the young girl, Zymse waited for her screams to die down, and then turned to the man in the white coat, his anger beginning to boil over—then saw something odd. “What is that?”
“Master, one of the strays had a pup still with her, and I knew you were looking for a pet for your daughters.”
Accepting the small puppy, he smiled behind his black veil, as the little bundle of fur licked his fingers. Then he twisted the head, snapping the neck of the innocent creature. He handed the lifeless body to the slave girl, “Give it to one of the animal healers. Have them skin the hide and stuff it with something. Damn thing would just crap everywhere, ma
king my house stink. Now, let us go see my wolves.”
Panry’s invisible face had lost all of its color, in more ways than one. While he knew men like Zymse existed, to see such a cruel act so close, it shocked even him. Even though he now had evidence that Zymse’s daughters were present, there was something about the way he said ‘my wolves’ that did not seem right. As the branded girl’s moans of pain turned into whimpering sobs, he signaled his Earth Guards to follow him. Once outside, Zymse, the man in the bloody white coat, and the branded slave girl, holding the cold body of the lifeless pup, headed to a large wooden structure on the far side of the grounds. The Earth Guards had to pace themselves just right, so they did not falter to far back or get too close. When a guard at the building opened the door, Panry was fourth in line. Passing by it, he dragged his foot on the ground, causing a large rock to jam it open. The guard, unsure of who had kicked the rock, bent down to pick it up, throwing it into the compound, but by that time, the other Earth Guards had gained access, and inside, they heard a young baby crying.
Zymse was staring at one of the branded slave girls, “Why did you bring her in here?”
“Master, she likes your pets, so I thought the image of them would calm her down.”
“She sounds hungry, so take her inside and feed her.”
“Master, I cannot. All of the wet nurses have gone dry.”
“Well, stick something into her mouth to make her shut up.”
Lowering the baby from her shoulder, she cradled it in front of her branded breast, allowing the child to latch quickly onto the desired object.
Panry looked at the suckling babe. Earth Mother, but it does not have a brand, so Zymse has two. He must have the third born also, but the sight of this one caused him concern, as while in the house, he had not sensed any.
Then the caged strays, having large patches of fur shaved off that exposed bulging infected red wounds, all started to snarl and growl.
Zymse looked at the kennel master, “What has gotten into them?”
He shrugged his shoulders, taking a few steps back, making sure he was not within Zymse reach.
The man in the black veil turned to the ferocious beasts, “SHUT UP,” and the room went quiet.
While Panry watched, Zymse walked over to a set of tables where two large wolves were strapped down. Each having similar patches of fur shaved off, exposing bulbous reddish wounds with crude stitches protruding from them. Grabbing the head of one, Zymse forced its eyes open and shook its head, “They are dying! You stupid idiot, what have you done?” The man in the white coat approached cautiously, as he tried to respond to the angry question, but only felt the sting of Zymse wrath on his face. “If you fail to heal these two, I will have the butcher remove parts of you, making the cook prepare them, and then watch while my slaves feed your useless body to you—and you really do not want to know where I will tell them to start. If they are not walking by tomorrow, neither will you.” Then, with a second slap, Zymse signed his threat on the cowering man in the bloody white coat.
Having spent a great deal of time with Zack, Panry was familiar with the ‘zoo’ that inhabited the Legend Absent. Even though the furry misfit was able to take on the appearance of a wolf, his was both larger than a typical one, yet smaller than the recently seen blood wolves with the red eyes. However, the one thing that distinguished him from both breeds was a unique pattern of ‘white socks’ on all four legs, which he now recognized. The pups of Zack in the hands of Zymse?
Then the frustration of the hungry Earth Mother babe shattered the silence.
“Get that damn, infernal child out of here now before I feed you to one of these beasts.”
The slave girl quickly ran to the door.
Hearing his Earth Mother flee the building in the arms of the slave, Panry’s vision remained on the two large wolves, but when he noticed the transparent green images of his squad start to follow, he whistled a barely audible sound to halt them.
The grotesque strays began to howl.
“SHUT UP!” Zymse looked at the kennel master. “What is wrong with them?”
Standing too close, never thinking about his reply before he said it. “Feeling cagey?” Then he felt the criticism of Zymse’s hand.
When a portal opened up in the room, a large Darkpaye man stepped through it, knocking the snow from his fur cloak, “Master, do you have more for me?”
Zymse approached, “How are things going in the north?”
“Cold, but that is to be expected. We are starting to have luck breeding the next generation like you anticipated, but we are running low on food for them.”
“I will make arrangements to hire some tomorrow.” Then Zymse started to walk around the numerous pens of the disfigured strays, pointing out several. Kennel workers would pry up one end of the cage, placing wheels under it, doing the same with the other end. When one of the workers was completing his task, he slipped, allowing one of the tormented beasts to attack his hand, severing three fingers from it. He called the injured man over to him, who approached wrapping rags from his uniform around the injury that gushed out blood. Zymse looked at the man who wore the fur coat, “I really hate incompetence in the workplace.”
In one smooth motion, the second withdrew a dagger, slitting the throat of the third.
When a red blood lake started to form on the floor, the tormented strays began to howl.
“SHUT UP!” then Zymse turned to the remaining workers, “NO MORE ACCIDENTS!”
The large fur-clad man, taking off his bracelet, dropped something through it that created a portal. The servants quickly pushed the selected cages through it, and before the man in furs stepped through, he picked up the dead body of the accident-prone worker, throwing it to the other side.
Just before it was about to vanish, Zymse called out, “Return in one hour to take the wolves north.” Then he pointed to the man in the bloody white coat and his assistant, “with those two. That should provide the necessary motivation, and he can heal them there, but if the wolves die so do they!” After the portal had winked out, Zymse headed to the door, “I would suggest you both get to work, so if you enjoy the climate in the Bright Coast, SAVE THOSE DAMN WOLVES!”
Panry held up his hand, cautioning the four Earth Guards to remain motionless. If I had more time, I can save all, but if it takes too long to find Earth Mothers three, then the pups both shall be gone.
Standing in the doorway, Zymse called out to the other workers, telling them to get out, and then he sent in two guards. Panry struggled with his decision, wanting to go after Zymse, but while he watched the two scared men examining the wolves, he thought something was wrong.
The assistant looked more scared than the other did, and Panry’s sensitive ears heard the quiet whisper of the assistant, “They are dying. What are we going to do?”
Nodding, the healer heard a teapot whistle, “I have a plan, so just wait a minute.” After preparing two cups, he handed one to the assistant who nervously began slurping it down, “There is a rare plant extract that may help in situations like this.”
The assistant nodded, “It is that powerful? What is it?”
“You would not know of it, so finish your tea, as we have nothing to worry about. After I give these both some water, I’ll go mix it up.” When he heard his assistant start to gag, he turned around, and clutching him, he helped him to the ground. It was the powerful hearing of the elves that heard the whispered apology, “You were always my best helper, as we did what he asked. We warned him, and I will not let you die like that.” Panry saw the animal healer raise a bottle to his lips, watched him swallow the contents, causing him to gasp for air, as he whispered his last act of defiance, “Heal them yourself, you bastard.”
The breathing of Sam and Hope became louder, more labored.
Panry immediately signaled to the elves, pointing to the two guards moving to investigate. When more blood flowed onto the floor, the remaining strays once again began to howl, but removing hi
s cloak of invisibility, the creatures designed to birth the night with terror screams, whimpered like little pups. On his tunic, he had pinned one of the trollmare brands, bringing fear to the confused beasts. Rushing over to the gasping wolves, he knew they had been poisoned, and reaching inside his tunic, he pulled out a small wooden box. Inside of it, two small berries, looking like they had just been picked from a vine. After the events in Alron, the Earth Guard captains had been issued a powerful all-purpose antidote, so if another Earth Mother were ever poisoned, they would be able to act. Placing a berry into each of the wolves mouths, he forced them to swallow them it, and then he called out to his Earth Guards to pick up the tables. Grabbing the bottle the animal healer had dropped, he hastily ran around the room seizing the oil lamps, dumping out their contents, but saving one for the two dead guards, so the evidence of his presence would burn. Holding the last lamp, he threw it so that the flame found the oily floor, pulled off the bracelet, dropped the medallion through, and watched the portal form.
*******
That night, Gayne had sent the house staff home early before the meal had been finished, as Lauren had temporarily transferred her angered questions to Ryan and Eric, waiting for Panry to return. While secretly hoping that his actions would bring her tears of joy, too often in this world, they had never arrived when she had hoped for good. Mirtza and Gayne had called Steve into the kitchen to both minimize Lauren’s targets and updating him on the enchanted mirrors. Then all three heard a new voice.
Noticing it was dark when he arrived, John wondered why it was still daylight when he had left, and then he started to answer the flurry of questions directed at him. “They told me I was there for three days, yet I swear it feels like I just left yesterday.”