Spies Among Us

by L. L. Bower

  If he tried to get in touch with me, he couldn’t. My phone was demolished when the dark ones ransacked my home. If he’s driven to my house, he probably thinks a storm or wild animals were responsible for the destruction. He certainly wouldn’t believe that evil, supernatural beings took great pleasure in demolishing it.

  And, because Fairyland has no phones, I can’t call him. Even if I could, what would I tell him? How would I explain my extended neglect of my friend or my absence in such a way that he wouldn’t think me crazy?

  My only neighbors in this prison, three ground gnomes—Pycliffe, Winston and Harmin—were taken away one by one a few days ago. Only Winston has returned.

  After Winston rests from what I assume was an ordeal, he leans close to the bars that separate our cells and quietly calls me over. I feel his warm breath, even though it’s so dark I can barely see his features. He stares at me for a moment before seizing my arm and whispering, so the guards won’t hear us, “It was awful. I was led into a strange-smelling bright room and strapped to a metal table. A needle was shoved into my arm. That’s when I lost consciousness. When I woke, I was in tremendous pain, like my muscles were on fire.”

  Winston shivers, but I’m not sure if it’s because of our damp surroundings or because of his recollection. “I think Galdo plans to experiment on me again.”

  I lean close to him and murmur, “What makes you think that?”

  “Because he said the experiments on me were unsuccessful, whatever that means. He asked questions after the experiments like, ‘How do you manifest your power? And how do you use it?’”

  “Did he tell you what the purpose is of those experiments?”

  Water drips behind me before he answers. “He didn’t say.” Then he adds, “But, when the sorcerer was out of the room, one goblin lab attendant told another that, despite all the deaths, they’ve harnessed the leprechaun’s teleportation ability and the pixies’ sharp eyesight and hand-eye coordination. Galdo must be extracting numinal power from each light race, and I think it’s only a matter of time before he learns how to steal them all.”

  I gasp.

  “I heard the goblins say” (he draws out each word) “he’s, saving, you, for, last.” He takes a deep breath and then coughs. “He desires your unique weather-controlling power above all others, once he’s perfected the process.”

  I grip the bars. “Do you think your powers are still intact?”

  “As far as I know. I still can’t burrow through this lava beneath our cells, due to whatever spell Galdo has cast over this place. If the floor is thick, I’d need a power drill anyway.”

  “I can’t use my power here either.” I sigh and lean closer, trying to peer into his eyes. “Do you know what happened to your friends, Pycliffe and Harmin?”

  “I don’t.” Winston inhales deeply. “I never saw them. I think there were other torture chambers besides mine because I heard muffled screams and then silence. It’s a blessing I don’t remember anything else.”

  From the metal creaking, I can tell he rests his head on the cell bars. Then he sobs. “I fear the worst. If my friends aren’t back here soon, they’re either dead or near death. I was so weak the guards had to carry me here.”

  “How come they let you live?” I ask, suspicious of why Winston was brought back, while the others weren’t.

  He swallows hard. “That’s a good question, and I don’t have an answer. I wish I’d died along with them.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Me too.”

  “How do you know they died?”

  “I assume so, since they didn’t return with me.” A moment of silence passes before he asks, “Do you think your friends will rescue you?”

  “I don’t think so. How would they find me?”

  “I still hope someone rescues us, but I wouldn’t want them attacked by Galdo or his dragons. He’s extremely powerful and vicious.”

  “Not as powerful as Crisa. And if I have anything to say about it, he will answer for the pain and suffering he’s caused.” I pound my fist into the bars, which must cause Winston to move back because I no longer feel his warm breath.

  “Do you think you can defeat Galdo?” He sounds doubtful.

  “With the Creator’s help, I’d bet money on it. Of course, I have to escape first. Then I plan to lead the light ones’ army.”

  Winston leans in closer again. As wan sunlight peeks through my cell window, his bulbous gnomish nose almost touches my face. “There’s an army? Made of more than ground gnomes, fairies and centaurs?”

  “Yes, and a well-trained one at that.”

  He exhales, and his breath smells sweet, which surprises me. He continues, “Last I heard, most of the light ones didn’t want to be involved. They’ve always been pacifists.”

  “Yes, many were reluctant, until they witnessed Galdo’s tyranny and cruelty first-hand. And now, all the tribes have been trained to fight.”

  “By whom?”

  “By me, and a sympathetic and powerful dark creature who’s well versed in dark fighting techniques. Fairyland’s light army plans to use the full force of their numinal abilities against the dark ones. I believe Galdo won’t be able to stand against a united front.”

  “Who is this dark one who helped you?” Winston wraps the cell bars with his gnarled fingers.

  I pull back. I don’t trust Winston enough to tell him about Grog, my bugbear friend. I still wonder why his friends didn’t return, yet he was spared. “Shhh, the guards are coming.”

  The minotaur guards taunt and torture me every day. Imposing dark creatures, they have large horns that could gore someone to death, bronze rings in their wide, black noses, cloven hooves and the upright stance of a man. They tower several feet above me.

  This morning, two of them enter my cell. One carries a stun rod, which they’ve used on me before. Technologically, Fairyland is behind the human world. There are no computers or cell phones here, but this stun rod is an exception. It looks like a cattle prod from the human world. I wonder if Galdo bought these electric shock weapons from somewhere, or if he designed his own by imbuing metal rods with magic.

  The champion in me stands up with my fists in front of my face, ready to do battle, even though I know such effort is useless. I steel myself for whatever brutality they have in store for me today.

  One of them pokes my ribs with the rod before I can get a punch in. As soon as the paralyzing pulse hits me, my muscles seize. I jerk backwards and collapse onto the dirt-covered stone floor, unable to defend myself.

  One of them snickers.

  The second minotaur jeers in a bass voice, “Galdo will peel your skin like a grape, then rip out your organs, one by one.” While I find the minotaur’s comments feasible, they’re strangely amusing. If my lips could move, I’d retort, “I’d like to see him try.” In this helpless situation, I really should give up the bravado.

  While all light creatures learn English, dark creatures don’t bother because humans aren’t considered worth the effort. I’m surprised these dark ones speak English, but I’ll bet it’s a job requirement for guarding light creatures.

  After repeated shocks, the last comments are, “Take that, you human scum,” and “You aren’t so tough now,” before I black out.

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  I awake to an empty cell. Time has passed because my cell is brighter, which means the sun is higher.

  Each time the guards enter my cell, I’m surprised they don’t kill me, since I’m at their mercy. Of course, they’d have to pierce my heart with a silver weapon to be successful. But I’m guessing they’re under orders not to do any permanent damage, as it sounds like Galdo has special plans for me.

  While I was unconscious, Winston was apparently dragged out of his cell again because, when I call to him, he doesn’t answer. I have little hope he’ll return this time.

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  Late that night, crickets chirp outside my cell window, and I feel abandoned as I lie on my straw pi
le and pray. I’ve been trying to get the Creator to talk to me but haven’t heard from him, which I don’t understand because his magic is so much mightier than Galdo’s.

  A small dark figure approaches my cell door with a lantern. He raises the lantern, so I can see his face.

  I’m shocked to see a goblin in a white lab coat standing before me. I wonder how he got past the guards. He pinches his nose. Evidently, he caught a whiff of the stink down here.

  I remember encountering a goblin pack in the forest with Pholas, and this one looks no different, except he appears unarmed. Like the ones I met before, he’s the size of a small child, only much larger than the fairy he once was before he turned dark. His face is sickly-green, like he’s molding from the inside. His ears point downward instead of up like a fairy’s, but his black eyes don’t project the hatred I saw in the eyes of those forest goblins.

  I move toward the bars. Now here’s an opponent I can take on, except he stays well out of my reach. What comes out of his mouth next shocks me and dispels all thoughts of attack.

  “Good evening, Sir Calen.” His nasal whisper is barely audible above the chirps of the crickets. “Crisa sends her best regards.”

  I whisper back, “What? What did you say? And how do you know English?” Is this another trick? “How’d you get in here?”

  The goblin clears his throat. “So many questions. Quite a few goblins know English. We were once fairies, you know. And Galdo doesn’t know that the guards abandon their posts after the prisoners go to sleep. They play cards and gamble at this time of night in another part of the caves. Nobody is watching the cells right now.”

  The goblin elevates his posture. “I am Loudon, son of Mordon, and I work for Galdo in his lab. A hummingbird messenger has told me your friends are on their way.”

  I shake my head and cry, “No, no, no! They shouldn’t come here. It’s too dangerous.”

  “Silence,” Loudon cautions. He looks behind him for a moment and cocks an ear. When he turns around, he chides, “The guards are still close enough to hear, if you shout.”

  I lower my voice. “Sorry, but with the magic around this place and the dragons outside, I’m afraid they’ll be slaughtered.”

  Loudon tsks with his tongue. “Perhaps you don’t know her Highness as well as you think. I believe even Galdo’s magic can’t stand up to Crisa.”

  “But you’re a dark creature who does Galdo’s bidding. How can I trust what you say?”

  Loudon halfheartedly kicks at a rat as it scurries past his feet. “I only appear to work for Galdo. I’m not dark at heart anymore.” He chuckles. “I’m what some might call a ‘double agent.’ ”

  “Why did you join Galdo’s side in the first place?” I ask, still skeptical.

  “Years ago, I thought Galdo would bring peace to Fairyland, and I joined his ranks by ...” He clears his throat again. “I’m too ashamed to tell you how I turned dark.” He pauses. “But lately, Galdo has revealed his true character, and I realize what a fool I’ve been.”

  Loudon’s arm must be getting tired because he lowers his lantern a little, and his shadow elongates. “And I’m not the only one who’s changed his thinking. Many of us don’t expect Galdo’s benevolence to his comrades to last, once he’s obtained absolute power. I’ve heard stories of his cruelty toward us, his allies. He’s malicious and not to be trusted.”

  “There are more of you?” I scratch my head.

  “Oh, yes.” Loudon must hear a sound because he turns and looks behind him. “We spies are everywhere, some within this dungeon, and Galdo has no clue. We’ve been meeting and planning for months. When the light ones initiate their attack, we’ll fight against Galdo from within his ranks. Some of the dragons will join us too.”

  I shake my head. “I’ve heard nothing about any of this.”

  He leans forward. “We’ve been very careful.”

  “Speaking of which, the light ones planned to attack a dark camp right before I was captured. Do you know anything about that?”

  “When you disappeared, the attack was abandoned. The dark warriors have since dispersed, as if they’ve developed another agenda.”

  I think a moment and then shake my head. “But you’re mistaken about the dragons. They try to burn and slime me every time I look outside my window.”

  I hear a smile in Loudon’s voice. “Their fierceness is all an act. Galdo says you must not be harmed.”

  I rub my beard and contemplate what Loudon has just said, as I realize the crickets have grown silent. Water drips in the background. “Then why do the guards ...?” I don’t finish my sentence because we both hear a sound. Loudon turns his head, and his lantern quivers, causing his shadow to dance.

  “I have to hurry. The guards may return at any moment. But I can’t leave without giving you this.” Loudon sets the lantern on the ground, aims his ears behind him to listen and then takes a slow step forward. He reaches behind his back and retrieves something shiny from his waistband.

  When the lantern’s light glints off it, I jump back. I recognize what he’s holding—a sword.

  He places the sword on the prison floor and kicks it under the cell door toward me. It rattles along the stone. I move forward and grasp the cold metal handle.

  Loudon backs away.

  I recognize the feel of my faithful sword Noblesse, a custom weapon made by the ground gnomes, inscribed with my name in Gaelic and imbued with magic. I caress her metal and test the sharpness of her blade, which draws blood on my finger.

  If the magic in Noblesse were active right now, the moon on her hilt would glow to signal night, while the sun on the hilt’s other side would remain dark until dawn. The magic handle’s other intricate, three-dimensional designs, including winding vines, fairies and flowers, would also awaken with the new day.

  Because of Galdo’s magic dampening over our cells, Noblesse doesn’t hum with her normal enchanted energy, but she’s still a deadly sharp sword. Even without my armor and helmet, she’ll be enough.

  Loudon looks down at the ground and picks up his lantern. “I’m sorry I couldn’t find your other sword. I heard about it from some guards who bragged how the champion couldn’t defend himself anymore because both of his swords were hidden in the lab.”

  Hesitant to believe him, I ask, “What was that last thing you said?” as I lean up against the bars of my cell. “I didn’t quite hear you.”

  He puts one hand on his hip. “I’m not falling for that. I’m not coming any closer.” He sighs as he says, “You still don’t trust me, but please believe I risked my life to bring you that sword. I had to search the lab when no one was around.

  “I found it in a metal box behind some cardboard containers and hid it in my quarters until I could bring it to you.” He darts a look behind him like someone is waiting to jump at him from the shadows. “So far, no one has discovered it missing.”

  I bow my head in respect. “Thank you, Loudon. I’m forever in your debt,” I say as I move to the rear of my cell and slide the sword under the scratchy straw pile on which I sleep.

  “Don’t mention it. Just win this war, and we’ll call it even.”

  I walk back to Loudon. “I’ll do my best.”

  He grins, and his teeth gleam by lamplight. I’m startled because this is the first time I’ve seen a dark creature genuinely smile, not sneer.

  Loudon rubs his nose and shoots another furtive look behind him. “Now I’ve got to go. I’ve stayed too long already. Galdo has eyes and ears everywhere.” It becomes dark again in front of my cell as he scurries away.

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  I’m amazed at the Creator’s care for me. At the point when I was at my lowest, he brought hope and encouragement from an improbable source. I’m also excited to learn that even some dark ones want to escape Galdo’s tyranny.

  The pale glimmer of early morning light peeks through my small barred window, and I realize a new day has dawned. Noblesse is in my lap. I look down at her, but the sun on her hi
lt is still dark. This saddens me. Neither of us can reach our potential in this dark place.

  I whisper, “Let’s get out of here.” Suddenly, the air seems crisper in this dank cell, and the day appears brighter than usual. I know this is an illusion brought on by my change of circumstances, but I stuff Noblesse back under the straw, drop to my knees and thank the Creator for all he’s done.

  I’m startled by his voice in my head during my prayer. “I’ve been caring for you all along.”

  “You have?” I rub my forehead. “Why didn’t you respond to my pleadings?”

  “Faith isn’t faith until it’s tested. Some people believe their deity is a scapegoat, someone to blame when their actions produce troubling results or their circumstances aren’t to their liking. I want you to lean on me and trust in my care, no matter what darkness you’re experiencing.

  “Remember, when life seems most hopeless, that’s often when the situation changes. Some assume the worst and don’t wait for the light to re-emerge. They miss the blessing of perseverance.”

  I smile. “It’s that old thing of trials producing character, isn’t it? We can’t grow in a comfortable environment.”

  “Yes, so rise above your circumstances, and get ready. Your world is about to change.”

  Chapter 2 – Brutus and the Quest for Calen

  (Three Weeks after Calen’s Disappearance)

  Crisa and I are both in wolf form as we lie on the cool forest floor, resting from our search for Calen. She’s shapeshifted to avoid recognition. Frogs croak from the banks of a nearby stream, and the morning sun warms my back and dapples its way through the trees.

  I tilt my fuzzy, wolfish head and wonder how Crisa escaped from Galdo when he ransacked her residence.

  She scratches an ear with her hind leg. She must be reading my mind because she smiles and explains, “Bears and mountain lions forewarned me that Galdo and his minotaur legions were coming. So I encouraged my cat, Esmeralda, as well as Grog and Jade, to run away to safety before those dark creatures violated my home.”