“As for your other request,” he continued, “I can do so much but no more. Rather than send you all the way back to Beláin, I can get you across the Wastes and back to Gerund. Any more than that, and I risk repercussions.”
“Fine,” said Joel. “As long as we can avoid the Wastes, I’m happy. Are you guys okay with that?” he asked, looking at the rest of his group.
“Are you kidding?” said Step. “That’s great! I think I speak for all of us when I say that if we can avoid the Wastes on the way home, I’m ecstatic.” The rest of the group echoed his sentiments, smiling and looking relieved.
“You’re forgetting one thing,” said J’Mart, tapping Joel on the ear. “What about old Mr. Cheerful, whom we left waiting for us in the ravine?”
Guilt settled over Joel. “Oh, and one more thing. We can’t forget about Withers. He faced the dangers of the Wastes along with the rest of us.”
“Aye,” said Jared. “He guided us well, and we owe him money, per our bargain.”
Massar nodded. “I will take him back as well, and once in Gerund you can settle your debts with him. Now, is there anything else?” Nobody answered. “Good. Please be quiet for a moment, while I concentrate.”
The hall became still and silent as Massar closed his eyes, concentrating. A minute later he opened his eyes, and mumbled some words under his breath that Joel couldn’t quite hear. There was a ‘crack’, and a doorway made of light suddenly appeared in the middle of the entranceway.
“Hurry, please,” said the wizard, motioning to the door. “I can only hold it open for so long before it will be noticed, and I would like to avoid that. On the other side are the outskirts of Gerund. Just step through.”
Frayne stepped forward first. “Well, I’ll be damned if I’m going to let a little magic get the best of me,” he grunted. “See you on the other side,” he said, and stepped through the doorway and disappeared.
Bowen stepped up next, followed by Jared and Step. One by one they walked into the lighted doorway and disappeared from sight. Gaen followed them, after glaring with suspicion at Massar.
Athena was last before Joel. “I’m not afraid. I trust you,” she said, and kissed him. Then she turned into the doorway and was gone.
Joel turned to the wizard. “Thank you for this. It means more to me than you know. Enough of my friends have died.”
The wizard nodded. “I understand, and I’m sorry I can’t do more.”
Joel nodded, glanced at J’Mart, who was still sitting quietly on his shoulder, and then back to Massar. “You know, at some point you and I are going to have to sit down and have you explain all of this to me.”
“I would like that, Joel. Until we meet again, then.”
Squaring his shoulders, Joel took a deep breath and stepped through the doorway.
He expected a long, dark trip like his previous trip between Earth and Alera. This time, however, he barely had time to blink before he found himself standing on a roadway, facing the now-familiar sight of the northern border town of Gerund. He was only disoriented for a moment, and saw his friends standing in a group off to the side of the road.
“Good – we’re all here, then,” said Frayne, reacting to Joel’s appearance. “Thank the Two we didn’t have to venture through the Wastes again.” He was interrupted by the sudden appearance of Withers, who stood for a moment in the middle of the roadway, blinking and obviously disoriented.
Joel ran over to the guide and put a steadying hand on his shoulder. “We did it, Withers, and I made a deal to help us avoid the Wastes on the way back. I’m sorry you didn’t have more warning, though.” How much do I need to tell him? he asked himself. All he cares about is getting paid, I’ll bet.
The guide shook his head and seemed to come back to his senses. “I figured you had been successful when I watched all of the goblins disappear from the plain in front of the city. I must admit, though, that the sudden travel here took me a bit by surprise. Rather nice to avoid the Wastes again, wasn’t it?”
Gaen and Jared had walked over to where Withers was getting his bearings. “We’re just outside of Gerund now,” said Gaen. “When we get back to The Rogue’s Hall we’ll be able to settle our financial agreement with you.”
“Aye,” said Withers. “That sounds agreeable. Let’s go.” With that, he headed toward Gerund, seemingly no longer disoriented by his trip.
“That’s a man I don’t think I’d want to cross,” said Step to Joel as they followed him along with the rest of the group. “Shrugged that experience off pretty well, didn’t he?”
Joel nodded. “Nothing much seems to faze him.” Before long, they were again among the grey buildings that characterized the town of Gerund. Once again, there weren’t many people out and about, and the few souls they saw looked at the group curiously, as if completely unaccustomed to seeing a group of people walking through town.
Withers led them straight to The Rogue’s Hall. While Gaen looked in on their horses and inquired about buying some more for the trip back to Beláin, Jared and the others went inside. Joel was starving, a sentiment echoed by Step. “I’d kill for something to eat that doesn’t have jerky in it,” he told the taciturn innkeeper who wandered over to their table after they had made themselves comfortable. Soon a round of ale and soup had been ordered, and Jared paid their guide everything he was owed and a little extra.
Joel expected Withers to stay around and discuss the journey with them, but the old man got up as soon as he had stowed his gold beneath his cloak. “Thank you,” he told Jared. “I am sorry we lost some of your comrades on the journey, but should you ever need to go this way again, please look me up. I’ll be around.” With that, he turned and walked away, leaving the seven of them to eat and drink. Gaen had returned from the stables with the report that he had purchased horses to replace those that had been lost, meaning the trip back to Beláin would be relatively quick.
While they ate, Joel told the story of what had happened in the chamber of the Duran to his comrades, all of whom were awe-struck at his tale. They all agreed that not only was Joel extremely lucky to have figured out Malia’s deception when he did, but that it was only his skill that had resulted in the favorable outcome. They were intensely interested in what Joel had overhead the Two discussing during his “god time,” as J’Mart called it. Though they discussed it in earnest, nobody knew what Ysuldur had meant by his reference to ‘another.’
Finally the conversation slowed. “I would like to get back as soon as possible,” said Jared after they had eaten, “but I would like to sleep a night here in peace before we leave. I think we’ve earned it. Does anyone disagree?” Nobody did, and they negotiated a price with the innkeeper for a suite of two rooms as they had before. Though it was still early, they were all exhausted, and not long afterwards they began taking their leave one by one and heading up to their rooms. Finally only Joel, Jared and Athena were left. They each had had a few ales, and were feeling relaxed.
“So, SongMaster,” said Jared, signaling for another round of drinks, “it may be too soon to discuss this, but it seems that my father’s court no longer has a wizard.”
Joel said nothing, waiting for the Prince to continue.
“I know nobody will be able to replace Fender, and we will miss him terribly, but I think your accomplishments speak for themselves,” said Jared. “What I am trying to say, in my slightly tipsy way, is that I would like to offer you the position, if you’d like it.”
The room seemed to spin a little, and Joel carefully set down his cup and looked at the Prince. “Are you serious? Don’t you have to ask your father?” he asked, incredulously.
Jared chuckled. “Aye, I do, and I probably speak out of turn, but I think my father will agree with my choice, once he hears the story of what happened. I feel fairly confident in offering it to you.”
Joel turned to Athena, who had a huge smile on her face, but wasn’t saying anything. It only took him a moment to turn back to the Prince. “I think I�
�d like that,” he said slowly. “In fact, I would love it. There’s nothing much for me on Earth, but I have friends and skills here, not to mention that I’m in love. Yes, I think I will accept your offer.”
Jared responded with a grin. “I’m glad, Joel. I really am. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to head up to bed. Tomorrow we head for home.” The Prince rose, a little shakily, and made his way upstairs.
Joel turned to Athena. “I think I’m going to stay. Is that all right with you?” he asked her, smiling.
Instead of answering, she leaned over and kissed him. “I’m ecstatic,” she said, “though I would have happily followed you to your world, if it had come to that. You will make a great court wizard, I’m sure. Now, shall we get some sleep? I really would like to get back to Beláin as soon as possible, and I’m exhausted, and you don’t look so good either.” Joel nodded, and they headed upstairs as well. Much as he would have liked to, they did not share a cot, preferring instead to sleep next to each other in the slightly cramped quarters.
Gaen woke everybody a little after dawn the next morning. Everyone was still tired, but the rest had helped. For his part, Joel had not slept well. He had dreamed of gods and books and forty-foot snakes, and he had also dreamed of Fender a great deal.
Putting the images out of his mind, he readied himself to go with the others. Frayne had the horses ready by the time they got downstairs, and before long everyone was saddled. Joel was riding Adre again, and it seemed to him that the horse remembered him. Whether he did or not, Joel felt comfortable riding him, and took no time at all getting settled in the saddle. As they rode out of Gerund, J’Mart was nowhere to be seen, and Joel found himself unconsciously bracing himself for the Ramiken to pop into existence unexpectedly and spook Adre. J’Mart failed to appear, however, and the ride south began unremarkably.
It stayed quiet for most of the trip. J’Mart finally rejoined them at the first night’s camp, and soon had Joel laughing again at his antics. Athena, it seemed, was growing more sensitive to the Ramiken’s presence, and could see him clearly, though she had trouble hearing him. As for the others, they remained unaware of the little man, but they laughed and joked like old friends amongst themselves as they sat around the campfire. Even Bowen and Frayne loosened up, and were soon talking and laughing along with the rest of them.
After three days of hard riding, Beláin came into view over a crest in the road. The party stopped, and all of the members stood quietly as they surveyed the deserted road leading to the city. A lot had happened since they had left, not long before, and a palpable aura of regret – yet tinged with hope – hung over them all.
Jared turned to his companions. “We’re home,” he said quietly. He looked at Joel. “All of us.” His gaze moved to encompass the rest of them. “We have suffered much, but we were successful. On behalf of my father, I would like to offer our gratitude to each and every one of you for your sacrifices over the past few weeks. Let us ride home, and then let us celebrate our victory, while remembering our lost friends.” The Prince turned back to the city and kneed his horse, who took off with a trot in the direction of Beláin.
Joel looked at Athena, who looked back at him and smiled. There were questions to be answered, and mysteries to solve, and friends to mourn, but for the moment, he was at peace.
THE END
SongMaster's Realm Page 28