Legion's Riddle Trilogy Box Set

by K R Sanford

  Much of his wealth reverts to a shadow organization that sooner or later will emerge to take up where he left off. It is more complicated than cutting off the head a snake and that’s that.”

  “Okay Marty, but for an Elite Warrior such as yourself," she said, “I'm curious, do you know when you are over worked, angry, or just plain hungry?”

  Marty laughed then smiled, “Maybe all that. It has been a rough few weeks. Guess who’s here?”

  Pawdell set the hors d’oeuvres on the table. Next, he set out trays of plumb and spicy peanut sauce. He pointed at the half emptied steins. Without a word, he turned and disappeared back in the pub.

  “What do you make of that,” asked Shanna.

  “I would say,” said Marty nodding his head with a little crazy in his eyes. “If we don’t finish our drinks before he gets back, we won’t get a full refill.” He picked up his mug and said, “Bottoms up.”

  Shanna did the same. When they finished each sported a frothy mustache that got wiped away by the back of their hand.

  “You saw the Emperor today,” said Marty. “What happened?”

  “He is going to speak after the dinner tomorrow before the first dance. I guess we will know more when he gives his speech,” she said.

  “Well, what happened at his court today?” asked Marty.

  Shanna considered for a moment then replied. “The Amedans think General Hodges should answer for the charges. Then he needs to explain why he violated Corsi Territorial Space. They want to make an example of him for extorting the rights of Amedan citizens. That would extend to protecting the rights of Vallians and Marillians. That speech in the Great Hall by Vito is not going to impress Emperor Legion. I think General Hodges is in more trouble than he realizes.”

  “What did the Amedans say?” asked Marty.

  “Well, humans have no way of knowing the details. We don't speak their language,” replied Shanna. “But the impression I got from their overhead concert was concern. It was frightening, in fact.

  The Emperor Legion wants the rights of Marillian miners to get equal benefits, same as here on Ameda. And if not, the executives will answer to the Emperor in his court. This is serious because the Emperor considers the violation criminal under maritime law. And because Legion is a type four being, his decision will be Rule of Law throughout the Milky Way Galaxy.

  “Yes, this makes sense,” said Marty. “Corporations are not above the law. And it may seem Legion is being hard with the corporations. It’s the Amedans who have the responsibility for all issues concerning the inhabitance of the planet no matter where they work. The High Council is the deciding body. In the response of crime against the Corsi Star System you can't blame Lao for being the flaming mad. He wants Amedan law enforced throughout the Middle Corridor.”

  “Yes, that’s right," said Shanna. "It’s going to be interesting. How’s your fish dish?” she asked with a playful smile.

  “Refreshing, is it the water crest?” he asked.

  “I don’t know,” she said between sips of ale. “It’s the combination of everything, and this ale.” She wiped her mouth again with the back of her hand. “Did you get a good room?”

  “Yeah, on the third floor facing the Shrine,” he said.

  “Well, you want to go over and check it out?”

  “Sure,” he replied. “Here’s Pawdell. He’s taken his red vest off.”

  “Are you on a break, Pawdell,” asked Shanna while signaling to the empty chair next to her.

  “Well, sort of,” he replied seating himself sideways to watch the pub. “I’m taking an order over to the castle for Devin. They’re still setting up for tomorrow. Do you see the lights behind Shrine Mountain?”

  “Oh yeah,” said Marty. “It’s not really a mountain; it’s more of a hill.”

  “They argued about that,” rejoined Pawdell. “They said, because Shrine Lake Village is in Shrine Lake Mountain Range, the hill is part of the mountains.”

  “Well what about that tall one on the other side of Shrine Lake?” asked Marty.

  “That’s Shrine Lake Peak,” said Pawdell.

  “Hmm,” grunted Marty. “I can see the different colors in the stonework around the rotunda. The archways and windows are enchanting in this starlight.”

  “You can see the colors of the flowers from the lights of castle grounds.” Pawdell said. “Chief Spierd saw that. When he moved into the Shrine he planted the flowers on either side of the steps.”

  “He still lives in the Shrine after all these years,” replied Marty.

  “Yeah,” said Shanna. “He came here with my dad and mother. He and my dad retired from the Interstellar Forces and they — Hey let’s walk Pawdell to the castle, what do you say, Marty.”

  “If you want to, that’s if Paw doesn’t mind us butting in on his walk.” replied Marty.

  “Oh, I don’t mind but you might regret it,” said Pawdell. “Devin will put you to work if you hang around too long.”

  Shanna gave her arms a vigorous rub then said, “I’m ready, let’s go.”

  Marty chuckled at Shanna’s enthusiasm. Pawdell stood from his chair and said, “I’ll grab Devin’s package.”

  Shanna was on her feet. Marty drained the last drop of his ale into his mouth and stood smacking his lips. He smiled. “What,” he said barely containing his excitement, “We’re going to see the King.”

  Shanna nodded. She walked onto the sidewalk as Pawdell appeared out the front of the pub. He joined his escorts on the sidewalk with a pink shoe box. The shoe box was tied around sides with hairy green gardening string. An extra length of string dangled from the center knot for some unknown reason. At the end of the string a wooden napkin ring was fashioned with the same knot. Pawdell put two fingers through the ring and let slip the pink box to his side swinging it as they walked.

  The cobble stones of Village Main extended to Shrine Mountain Road. “It got quiet all a sudden,” said Marty.

  Shanna whispered, “Maybe the castle is on a break.”

  Pawdell and Marty looked at Shanna as if she knew something they didn’t.

  “One can’t miss the castle tonight,” she said.

  Shrine Lake Castle nestled over a meadow surrounded by a forest of tall trees. The overhead lights in the rear of the castle grounds lit up the game field as if it were day. The Amedans were flying to and fro and around the white castle walls. A team of Amedans escorted wooden planks for the bleacher seats. Others stretched ribbons and guy wires for tents and canopies. Still others kept vigil inspecting the castle rooftops and the high spires of the towers.

  “Security is heavy this year,” said Marty.

  “Twice the visitors,” said Shanna.

  “Yeah, and the Emperor is coming,” said Pawdell as he began spinning the pink box round and round with his finger.

  “Now, when that box flies off your finger and lands a hundred feet up in one of those branches; are you going to go get it?” asked Shanna.

  “Nope,” replied Pawdell. “I’ll ask one of the Amedans to go up and get it for me.”

  “What if there’s something alive inside there,” asked Marty.

  “No, not alive,” said Pawdell, “no holes in the box. If there was something alive inside, there would be holes in the box. And, there are no holes in the box.”

  “Well, that’s brilliant,” said Shanna. “Maybe it’s a bunch of spiders and you’re making them all dizzy and pissed off. What are you going to say to Devin when you bring back a bunch of pissed off spiders?”

  Pawdell brought the pink box to a careful halt. Then, holding it close to his face he listened. He was watching for any subtle movement. He replied, “I didn’t think of that.”

  “Ah, don’t worry about it,” said Marty. “We don’t know what’s in there. Being a pink box and all, it could be anything. Where did it come from?”

  “One of the tree surgeons dropped it off. Said his wife collected what’s inside for the King. And, I don’t think its spiders. I think it
shrooms.”

  Shanna smiled and rubbed her chin. Marty crossed his arms and frowned. “There’s only one way to find out. Open your toy box Paw. If you bring it to Devin broken and crushed, everyone is going to hold you responsible. And the King is not going to be happy with us either. That’s how it works. Let’s find out if we have to fix anything or not. And if so, the sooner this gets set right the better.”

  “Okay,” said Pawdell.

  “Be careful untying that string, now,” said Marty.

  “I got it,” said Pawdell, “I’ve worked with small things before.”

  “That’s right,” said Shanna. “You were a clockmaker.”

  “Not just clocks,” said Pawdell. “There are other things like; cutting machines, scales, measuring equipment, things like that.” He pulled a utility knife from his pocket. With flip of his hand an awl appeared. He pried open the knot, put the utility knife back in his pocket and lifted the lid on the pink box.

  Shanna and Marty craned their necks to see the golden cap Psilocybe cubensis.

  “What’s Devin going to do with these?” asked Marty.

  “Get high, what else,” said Shanna.

  “Not likely, knowing Devin,” said Pawdell. “He is more likely to proclaim the festival a time for a sacred Vision Quest.”

  Pawdell reached in the box and pulled out two mushrooms then held the box in front of Shanna. She reached in and likewise pulled out two of the edibles. He offered Marty the same, which he refused saying, “I have commitments, but thank you anyway.”

  “Not required,” said Pawdell. “If you change your mind later that’s okay.” He put the lid back on the box. He set the box on the ground. Then looking to the stars he recited, “Ancestors, in my honor and yours.” He ingested the mushrooms chewing them slowly and thoroughly.

  Shanna likewise joined the ritual of the Ancestor’s swallowing hard saying, “Now we wait.”

  Pawdell smiled. He picked up the pink box off the ground and marched toward the pine forest. The castle lights surrounding the game field lit the pathway through the forest. Pawdell held to the path leading the way to the castle. Shanna and Marty followed.

  Chapter 5

  _______________________________________________________

  THE CASTLE

  Sing a song of sixpence,

  A pocket full of rye,

  Four and twenty blackbirds backed in a pie.

  When the pie was open the birds began to sing−

  Wasn’t that a dainty dish to set before the king?

  −Mother Goose, may date back as the 16th century

  Pawdell stepped onto the garden lawn some distance from the game field. It was passed the hours for placing the finishing touches on the guest attractions. Workers were busy preparing the vendor’s tents and canopies. The setups were being positioned for the main events. The announcement booth was getting a new set of steps and a bigger grander winner’s circle. Pawdell led Shanna and Marty onto the game field for a better look.

  “Everywhere you look,” said Pawdell, “They are still making preparations. The Annual Festival of the Shrine is out-doing itself.”

  “That’s good,” said Marty. “This is encouraging, feels good. The spirit, I mean.”

  “If enough village folk see the purpose of the Shrine, there will be reason enough for celebration.” replied Pawdell.

  “Are you saying that to explain taking the shrooms?” said Marty.

  “I don’t know,” retorted Pawdell. “Seems like a good time and place to voice the synchronicity. If you don’t like it Colonel, take this pink box to King Devin and you can show off your moves to him.”

  “No, you two go ahead,” replied Marty. “Like I said, I have commitments. Have fun Shanna, Pawdell.” Marty turned around without a moment’s hesitation. He stepped on the path through the forest that returned to the Inn.

  “To be honest,” said Pawdell. “I’m surprised he came this far.”

  “Right?” replied Shanna, “He can be a bit of a Rodney Rule Book.”

  “What makes a person like that?” asked Pawdell.

  “Don’t know,” replied Shanna. “My dad says kids at school put his head in the toilet. They embarrassed him in public because they were jealous of his good looks.”

  “Ooh,” moaned Pawdell, “a kid’s worst nightmare; now he’s an overachiever and the youngest Colonel in the fleet. And we hate him for being Rodney Rule Book.”

  “That’s right,” laughed Shanna. “It’s his fault for being so hot. If I didn’t do these shrooms I would have shtup him in his room tonight.”

  “Just as well,” said Pawdell. “He has comments.”

  Shanna laughed, “That’s right, you saved me from a boring night. I forgot how sexy these mushrooms make me feel. My nipples are tingling. Are they coming on to you, Paw?”

  Oh yeah, I’m feeling it,” said Pawdell with a nod of his head and a thrust of his hips. “Hey, let’s go see Devin and tell him these shrooms work really well. Are you seeing colors?”

  “Sure,” said Shanna. “Look at the stars. How’s that for a show?”

  “Trippy,” said Pawdell. “What a body rush. So far I give this a ten.”

  “Yes,” said Shanna, “its extra ordinary. This batch is strong enough to use as a truth medicine.”

  “Excellent,” replied Pawdell. “That gives me an idea. But, you know what? I still think it strange Marty took so long turning back. It was like when he saw the shrooms were the real thing he did a turnaround.”

  “I don’t know,” said Shanna, “but you are right. Still, maybe he wanted to make sure we didn’t drop dead from poisonous mushrooms. Some can make a body real sick or worse.”

  “Yeah ok, that makes me feel better,” said Pawdell. He would know that with his survival training.”

  “You can bet your life he knows, and about the mushrooms,” said Shanna. “He knows what worms you can eat. What plants can get eaten. And, he knows when it’s good to run around the King’s back yard high on shrooms.” She laughed spinning round and round on the grass. She caught the eye of the workers staring from the back patio.

  Pawdell called out, “Anyone seen Devin?”

  “Try the kitchen, Pawdell. What ya doing out here?” called back one of the workers.

  “Delivering this box to Devin,” said Pawdell.

  “Yeah, try the kitchen,” said the worker pointing to the rear entrance.

  They walked up the steps to the patio and stopped to watch the flags flapping in the breeze. In the center of the castle was a curved balcony on the third floor that over-looked the patio and game-field. The ground floor was quant. The exterior reminded Shanna of her own country home that Marco rebuilt.

  “Are you people high?” said the voice of the King. “Is that my stash box? Pawdell, have you two been dipping into my stash?”

  “It’s not like that, Devin. I can explain, said Pawdell.

  “I don’t know if you can, but I’m sure it’s exactly like that. Get your tail end in here and quit swinging that box around like it’s a windmill.”

  “You better get inside, Pawdell, whispered Shanna. “I think you’re in big trouble.”

  “Me? Why am I in trouble?” he whispered back.

  “It’s because you have the face of a trouble maker,” she replied.

  Pawdell’s jaw drooped. He was speechless.

  “Come on before he gets mad at both of us. You don’t want that, do you, Paw?”

  “No,” he whispered again.

  “Come on,” she said again. She was enjoying her sudden power over Pawdell’s altered state of consciousness.

  Devin was standing in the doorway with a look of curiosity. He turned his head one way then the other at the couple carrying his pink shoe box. It was the same pink shoe box with the hairy green garden twine and napkin ring tied to the dangling end.

  “I know you’ve been dipping,” said Devin. “You know how I know, Pawdell?”

  Pawdell replied, “No, Your Majestry,
I mean, majesty, Your Majesty.

  “Well, I will tell you,” said Devin squinting at Pawdell. “You have the face of a trouble-maker.” Shanna nodded and smiled in agreement. Devin pointed inside the castle. “We’re in the dining room.”

  “So, Your Majesty—

  “For Shrine’s sake, Pawdell, call me Devin, except when it’s formal. Tomorrow is a formal occasion all day, so try to set an example.”

  “Oh, sure thing, Devin, I get it,” said Pawdell with a raise of his hand. “So, why is there a napkin ring tied at the end of the twine?”

  Devin replied, “It’s so I can hang up the pink shoe box where everyone can see it. This may surprise you, Pawdell. Shoe boxes filled with magic mushrooms will walk away all by themselves. I have found it’s best to hang them up like a dead carcass where everyone can see it, for safety reasons.”

  Pawdell nodded in agreement. “I can understand that,” he said, “makes sense.”

  Shanna led through a wide hallway decorated with clocks on both walls. “Devin?” she said, “Where did all the clocks come from?”

  Devin announced, “Pawdell made these, Shanna. I’ve been collecting these for years and thought it would be fine to show his workmanship to visitors. I do so whenever I am able. Take a gander at his work, and take your time,” he added with a wink.

  “These here my father made,” said Pawdell, pointing out two clocks mounted on the wall. He stared at a cuckoo clock with his mouth half open. “This is one of my father’s favorites,” he continued. “The castle is carving from apple-wood then painted by hand. The mechanism is brass. It turns round with King Devin on one side and Queen Elsinor on the other. Every twelfth hour it turns round and chimes. It’s supposed to resemble the curved balcony on the third floor.”

  “It’s magnificent,” said Devin seeing Pawdell’s emotions wax into the fog of the mushrooms. “Come on Paw, time for some refreshments in the dining hall.” Devin led the way to the royal dining room.

  The room was rectangular with four crystal chandeliers. They hung above a long heavy wooden table covered with white linen. The table was set with every kind of food. Fruits, vegetables, meats, potatoes, cheese, pies and cakes filled bowels, platters, cups and trays.