REALM'S END (BOOK OF FEY 1)

by Jules Hancock

  “Is he hurt do you think?” Gwenth questioned the Dembys as she once again removed the glittering stone from her skirt pocket.

  “I don’t believe he is hurt at all, but a drop of water might help him to waken. I believe the journey was just very tiring for him. Much as it was for you when you arrived in the Realm,” Dembys said.

  The three witches looked on curiously as the girl spoke calmly with the crystal.

  “I think while we are here we should find a way that I will not be so noticeable but able to see about me. Staying in that pocket of yours will not do at all.”

  Hectain snapped her fingers and handed a fine silver chain to Gwenth. “I believe this might help, child. It is a magic chain that will not let go of whatever it grasps unless it is asked to by the wearer only. Would that suit you Dembys?”

  Gwenth reached out and took the silver chain. It felt weightless and yet strong, and its workmanship was like nothing she had ever seen. She held it up so the Dembys could see it clearly.

  “Yes thank you Corvine. It will do fine, and I trust Gwenth will release me whenever I should ask.”

  Hectain came forward and showed Gwenth how the chain bound itself to the stone, and how it could be released. Hectain bound the stone once again and Gwenth put the chain over her head letting the stone settle against her throat.

  The Dembys was delighted. She could ride high enough to see what was happening and she could convey information to Gwenth simply by talking directly to her mind.

  “Now I believe we should address your clothing as well, Gwenth,” Hectain said pointing at the feather skin Gwenth still wore.

  “Sisters, isn’t it surprising how the feathers have chosen to cover the girl? Have you ever heard of such a thing,” Reval asked.

  “Yes, whatever possessed you to send me off in this thing,” Gwenth asked? She pinched the skin like covering that hid her arm behind the form fitting feathers. I don’t even know what it is.

  All three sisters walked around Gwenth, studying how the cape of Corvine feathers had chosen to cover the child.

  Meredith shrugged, “We sent you off in this, hoping that it would protect you against any magical attacks. These feathers,” she said, lifting Gwenth’s skirt, “contain the best of our people’s magic. Yet never have we seen the feathers choose to cover anyone as it has chosen to cover you. Perhaps, it is because you are not Corvine, or perhaps it feels it can protect you best in this fashion. I can’t say. The feathers can shift of their own volition to protect you in any way it can. I only hope it works if you have need of it.”

  Gwenth didn’t want to think about magic or the skin, so deep was her discomfort. Looking anxiously about the room she saw that Briok was still not conscious. She hurried to his side and knelt next to his fallen body. She uncorked the water vessel, and tilted the flask carefully, letting several drops fall into his open mouth.

  Briok coughed and sputtered. “Help I’m drowning,” he said. His arms flayed wildly about, as he struggled to try and sit up.

  The women all laughed at Briok.

  He opened his eyes. He lay surrounded by three magical beings. Giant crows by the looks of three of them and Dembys and Gwenth were kneeling beside him. His cheeks felt conspicuously warm and he knew from experience they were growing redder by the second. He needed to distract the attention from himself. “So your family members are giant crows?” He offered Gwenth his hand and she pulled him up.

  Gwenth stared at Briok. She wondered if he had gone daffy during the journey. “What are you talking about? What giant crows? Did you hit your head when you fell?”

  “So you can see the truth of us then. So you are a genuine Fairy! Well we are pleased to meet you, and we thank you, for bringing the girl home in time to save our sister,” Hectain said. Then she stepped forward and hugged the boy.

  Gwenth swallowed as she looked at the three women. “What is he talking about? I thought you were witches? Are you shape shifters too?” Gwenth groaned, “I knew it! You are in league with the devil aren’t you?”

  Meredith held the baby out to the girl. “Here please hold the babe, a moment Gwenth. I’m going to send Briok down to get James. Meredith took Briok by the shoulders and marched him through the bedroom and out to the front door. “Now lad you just follow the trail down the hill to the paddock, you will see a light in the window. Don’t be afraid just knock and tell the fellow who answers that the child’s been born and his Mrs. wants him to come up to the cottage.”

  Briok turned to look up at the beautiful crow. “I’m sorry; I didn’t realize she couldn’t see you.”

  Meredith tousled the young Fey’s hair. “Don’t worry so; she has much farther to go than just seeing me truly. Now remember though, the man James doesn’t see it either, so watch your words.”

  “What about my wings?” Briok reached back to touch his wings.

  “I’ll put a spell on them. No one but a real witch will be able to see them, but you will need to be careful because they are still very much there. Don’t bang them on doorways or such because it will hurt. Now go on, we need to talk to Gwenth alone,” she said, and shut the door gently behind the lad.

  The Stars

  Briok turned away from the cottage and felt a soft breeze play over his skin. He wanted to stay with the witches. It scared him to be away from the Realm and he felt uncertain in his actions. There was so much he couldn’t make sense of, yet he sensed he would need to try his best to adjust as quickly as possible to his surroundings, as he was moving through the moments. He felt a shiver run down the length of his spine. He took a deep breath, letting the air slowly fill his lungs as he tried to counter act his rising fear. He stood still letting his eyes adjust to the darkness. He saw the dark shadow of hills to his right and out to his left a shimmering movement, it looked like the sea of all time. He wondered if that could be. Turning his eyes upward towards the midnight sky, he could see stars strewn throughout the heavens; more stars than he had ever imagined. Back home in the realm there was only the one star always brightly fixed on the horizon, but here the night sky fairly glowed with their brightness. Well he thought sighing, this wasn’t home of course it would be different and he steeled himself and headed down the trail.

  As he walked along Briok thought about the miracles he had experienced today. He had time traveled forward to a future world. He had met a race of crows, who were posing as humans, and now here he was in this world walking rather than flying along, staring out at a sky where stars outnumbered the people on his world. Even more importantly he could understand their speech. He wasn’t sure how that was happening. If only he’d had time to consult his mother. Perhaps she could have shed some light on this ability.

  Briok slowly followed the steep worn path down the hill. Nervously he pulled the covering Meredith had lent him tightly around himself. She had called it a coat, the wind was brisk and his own skin did little to protect him against the cold. He continued along the trail, it leveled out as it went around the base of the hill and he did not stop walking until he came to a small stone hut, standing just off to the side of the track. The building stood inside of an enclosed area and some animals he knew not what they were, were moving about on four legs and calling out in forlorn voices. He couldn’t understand their language and wondered why. From where Briok stood he could see a light shone through the window of the grass covered building. Another difference he noted, the trees didn’t make dwellings for this tribe of people. Bracing himself he stepped up to the door and waited for the wood to pull aside, nothing happened. He had expected differences, but so many made him uneasy. He was just about to turn away when he heard shuffling inside and the sound of animals being roused. He cleared his throat loudly.

  The door was suddenly thrown open and there stood a tall being, with the light spilling out around him His eyes were dark and there was smoke coming from his face. Briok stood dumbfounded.

  “Aye lad, who are ya and what do ya need at this late hour,” James asked? He lift
ed the lantern aloft to see the boy’s face more clearly.

  “I was sent down by your Mrs. she said to tell you it’s ok, the babe’s been born and you’re to come at once.”

  James eyes lit up, “Well that’s good news, I hadn’t expected to hear for hours yet,” he said. James blew out the lantern and set it down and stepped out through the door into the night, latching the door behind him. He walked a dozen steps before he stopped and looked back. “Aren’t you coming with me?”

  Briok awkwardly ran to catch up to the big man.

  “I don’t remember seeing you around son. Who are your folks?”

  Briok caught off guard as he was by the thing smoking in the man’s face, forgot himself for a moment and so answered truthfully. “My parents are Lindel and Lisl.”

  James took the pipe from his mouth and stared down at the boy as they walked. “From your accent I would say you aren’t from around here. So did the women folk call in the midwife then? She must have been close by to arrive so quickly!”

  Briok had never experienced such a strange looking creature. Scared as he was, of the smoke that came from the man’s face, Briok had watched the man closely afraid that this creature with a smoking face would harm him. As the man removed the pipe, Briok was relieved to see that the thing was not part of the man’s face at all.

  James found himself staring at the boy as well. He couldn’t say what was different but something was fundamentally different about this boy. “I suppose you’re hungry at this late hour?”

  Briok was hungry; it had been hours ago-- no wait years or even lifetimes had gone by since he’d last eaten. He tried to clear his head; he didn’t think he could get his mind around it all right now. He sighed, realizing it would be better to just not try to grasp the finer points of his situation and just go along with the man in hopes of getting a meal. Briok shook his head in agreement.

  “Ah, well then let’s get a move on. I want to see the wee one, and make sure that my wife is safe.” James turned towards the house and began the climb back up the steep path.

  Briok hurried to keep up. His breath came short and hard as his lungs labored on the steep trail. His lungs burned as if on fire, and he felt the muscles in his legs rebelling, at the overexertion, as he strove to keep up with the big man. Briok broke into a cold sweat as he tried to imagine living in this world, without flying. Then he looked up and saw the sky full of stars overhead and sighed again.

  James looked down and saw the lad looking up at the night sky. He too looked upward. The stars shone, twinkling brightly in the clear night sky and he felt something click within himself, he wasn’t sure if it was his heart or his head but he felt a deeper connection than usual to the stars. “They’re beauties aren’t they boy.”

  Briok looked over and saw the man staring into the heavens. “Yes they are amazing. I wish I knew their names.”

  James took his pipe from his mouth and looked curiously at the boy. “What? You mean your father hasn’t taught you the names of the stars yet? Well I guess that means you aren’t a fisherman’s son, but even sheep herders learn the stars. What work does your father have, lad?”

  Briok felt the fear of lying rising up inside of him; he knew he couldn’t pull off anything too blatant. “My father is a scholar.”

  James let this sink in a little as they walked on silently.

  Briok liked the quiet. He could hear the ocean below as it came roaring in, crashing against the beach, and then he felt the breeze whispering, teasing him as the air brushed against the small hairs on his neck, tickling his skin. He shivered and rubbed his hand across his neck, he wasn’t sure but for a second he thought he’d heard the songs of water and wind, but the sound was very faint.

  “I’m afraid without the moon, there isn’t much to see. If the moon were out, you could see whales spouting off, as they passed by, in the bay. This place is a blessed place if ever I have known one, and mark my words lad I have known many blessed places.”

  Briok listened to the deep rumble of the man’s voice, and he could sense the deep connection between the man and the land here. Briok felt tears welling, as he abruptly realized that he had that feeling for his own homeland too. He wished he was there now, safe and warm in his family home.

  James stopped outside the stone cottage, and taking his pipe out of his mouth, he knocked it against the stone so that the burning embers fell to the wet earth. He gently pushed the tobacco into the soft earth to ground out the fire. “Not good for the wee one, so soon after birth,” he said turning to Briok, as he pocketed his pipe. “Well let’s go in and find some food for you and we shall see what we see,” he said, stepping up and unlatching the door. “Come on lad,” he said waving the boy through the doorway into the warm house.

  Pit Misleads

  Back in the Realm, Pit watched as the mouth of the cavern filled with a bright light and then a loud cracking sound resounded throughout the cave. The sound tore through the cavern chamber. The sound bounced and reverberated off the crystalline walls; the noise and lights were followed by council members as they came rushing into the cavern. The first council member Pit saw was of the stone tribe, a stone man called Soder. Pit groaned under his breath, he didn’t like to think stones were being duped into playing on the wrong side of this fight. Besides he would need to be careful and not lie. The Stone tribe had the ability to see a lie clear as day.

  Walking next to the stone, Pit could see Balt, a representative of the Tree clan and then Ricter a member of the Fey tribe came gliding in silently in from above. The three made their way cautiously into the chamber and Pit saw trailing behind the living members of the Realm, several deceased spirits filling out the ranks for good measure. They all looked surprised to find Pit sitting propped up his back against the crystal wall, humming a little song under his breath. “Welcome brothers, it is good to see the people of the clans coming to spend time in the cavern,” his rough voice rang out.

  “Pit why are you down here?” Ricter flew directly at the seated meteorite.

  The cedar called Balt, spoke up and asked Pit if he was responsible for the spell.

  “Oh that spell, oh that was just a little thing to keep out anyone passing by while I napped. Never can be too careful these days,” he said, shaking his gnarled stone finger at the group. “As for what I’m doing here well I’m getting pretty old and I was discussing it one day with Sephoria, and did you know she told me that these black sands would warm my aches and soothe them clean away, so I’ve taken to spending a little time down here every few day.” He leaned back and pushed his body deeper into the sand. “Thank God the sacred waters are close by, it makes the trip easier on my old body,” he said, sniffing disapprovingly at Ricter.

  “Are you alone,” asked the stone known as Soder?

  Pit looked up at all the three, “Are you pulling my old legs,” he asked laughing. “Why would I put a spell on the entrance if I wasn’t alone? Now that just doesn’t make any sense to me, he said shaking his head slowly, as was his way.

  “Why indeed?” Ricter scowled down at the old meteorite.

  “Pit, we are looking for a red haired child and have it on good authority that she is here with the boy Briok.”

  Pit gave the rude Fey a pitiless look. “Be careful Ricter, remember I outrank you. As for your question, I can’t say I have seen anyone here. Are you sure this child and Briok are in the cavern? Last I knew the red haired child was locked away inside the Great Rowan, and Briok is such a young scoundrel, he could be anywhere. Have you checked to see if he is out playing near the sea? Perhaps you should ask the Rowan where the boy is.”

  Ricter looked around at the group members, “Spread out and look everywhere.” Turning back to Pit, Ricter glared at the meteorite.

  “We have it on good authority, that there is another red haired child, and she and Briok have been hiding out in this cavern.

  Soder cut in, remanding Ricter’s order, “There is no need to waste time looking.” Soder turned to
ward the Fey. “There is nowhere to hide in here. If we can’t see them from here, it’s because they aren’t here.”

  “So,” interrupted Pit. “Let me get this right, you think there is a second red haired child?” Pit scratched at his pock-marked face, “Well, that sure leaves an old feller like me something to think about. Does that make the first child you condemned so long ago, innocent? I think you would do better to go back and question your good authority, they don’t seem very reliable. Maybe they will know where the children have gone too. By the way you three wouldn’t know how that big boulder came crashing down on the trail, would you? It was sure a lucky thing that trail isn’t much used anymore, anyone on it would surely have been killed.” Pit learned what he suspected was true as Soder looked anxiously toward the hovering Fey.

  “We heard that the boulder had fallen. It’s too bad, it had stood watch in that place a long while,” Balt nervously stuttered.

  Pit scowled at the three elders, with their entourage of ghosts, “Well I guess you will be going then. I believe I shall stay and enjoy the warm sands a little while longer. I’m not as young as I use to be,” Pit growled dismissively.

  Soder gave Balt’s trunk a push, and they all, including the specters turned and hastily fled the cavern.

  Found Out

  As soon as Briok was out the door, the sisters cornered Gwenth. “Well girl did you save the world,” Hectain asked?