"Hardly close, Mother," frowned Tanya. "Halfway perhaps, but not close to either of us."
"Do you see those strange doors?" Jenneva asked as she pointed to an arrangement of doorways, which appeared to go nowhere, in the center of the valley.
"Yes," puzzled Tanya. "What are they? Why are they special?"
"Come and I will show you," invited Jenneva.
Alex grinned broadly as the young couple followed Jenneva. He knew what was about to happen, but he said not a word.
"Walk through this door and return immediately," ordered Jenneva as she pointed to one of the doors.
Tanya and King Arik stepped through the door and emerged into a lavish office. Outside the window in the office, the ocean swells broke along a pristine beach. Tanya smiled as she pulled Arik back through the door.
"Atar's Cove?" she asked Jenneva.
"My office," Jenneva smiled and nodded. "One of the other doors used to go to Lord Habas' office in the Royal Palace in Tagaret, but it no longer works. The door in Tagaret was destroyed in the Collapse."
"How is this possible?" questioned King Arik. "There was an ocean outside the window and we are hundreds of leagues away from the sea."
"It is the invention of Egam," Alex explained. "Before the Collapse we had whole networks of these doors to travel through, but they are just wood and were destroyed along with many other things from that time."
"Can you duplicate his feat?" Tanya asked Jenneva.
"Not yet," frowned Jenneva, "but I intend to experiment to discover how he did it. He left some notes with me when he first discovered the spells. He wanted me to know of his research in case something happened to him."
"It is a shame that the one in the Royal Palace was destroyed," frowned Tanya. "It would make visiting you rather easy."
"That can be done," grinned Jenneva. "The doors are matched pairs. The spells are cast upon two doors to make them interact. While the door in Tagaret was destroyed, there is one matched pair here that was never used. I propose that you take one of the doors and transport it to your office in the Royal Palace. Its matching partner will remain here."
"Excellent," beamed Tanya. "So I will be able to come here to study or continue on to Atar's Cove whenever I want to?"
"Yes," nodded Jenneva. "The secrecy of this place must be guarded, though. Prince Oscar and Princess Callie both know of the doors and this place. Others should not know if it can be avoided."
Jenneva watched as the last of the fairies flew out of the valley. When they were all gone, she cast a spell and the valley turned into a cave.
"This is how the cave will normally look," she instructed Tanya. "I removed the illusion so the fairies would have a destination to carry the books to. They will not find the valley again. From the outside it will appear as another peak."
"Clever," Tanya said appreciatively. "What of the elements?"
"The spell protects the cave," assured Jenneva. "Besides the magical Doors, there is also a passage through some old dwarven mines, but I do not think it will ever be stumbled upon."
Jenneva cast a spell and removed the illusion again so the green valley was present.
"Let's take the door for Tagaret and close this cave up," suggested Alex.
The others nodded and King Arik secured the door to Chaco. Alex walked to Kaz and stroked his mane.
I wish we had a pair of doors we could set up for Monoceros, Kaz. I would not mind coming to visit you frequently.
You shall have no need for those doors, snorted Kaz. Yorra and I are retiring to Atar's Cove with you and Jenneva.
But you have been gone from your family for so long. I do not feel right making you decide to abandon them.
It is our choice, not yours. Yorra and I talked it over. We plan on starting our own family on Atar's Cove. We are already closer to the two of you than we are to our own kind. Besides, we can fly to Monoceros whenever we want.
I don't know what to say, Alex said with tears in his eyes.
Say that you will share your island with us. There is nothing else that needs to be said.
With pleasure, grinned Alex.
Chapter 35
The Park
The two men wore flowing yellow robes as they approached the gates of the Royal Palace. The older man was aged and decrepit and wore a tall elaborate headdress. He moved slowly and unsteadily as he hobbled up to the guard. His companion was young and shifty looking, his eyes continually darting around as if he sought a chance to escape from some invisible bond attaching him to the older man. The smallest finger of his left hand was nothing more than a flaccid nub, and some deformity also affected the smallest finger of his right hand, but not to such a degree as the left. The younger man wore a simple yellow headdress.
Sergeant Randi Witzak saw the two men approaching and filled with curiosity He moved purposely towards the gate and listened to the conversation as the gate guards asked the visitors to state their business.
"I am Malagrad, the priest from Southland," declared the old man. "This is my associate Kirt. We have been sent on ahead to arrange for the wedding ceremony for King Arik. I was told to speak to Prince Oscar."
The guards were confused and finally turned to Sergeant Witzak for advice.
"We have not been informed of any priests arriving for the ceremony," Randi said to the two men.
"Understandable," shrugged the old man. "This marriage is so sudden. Nevertheless, I have to follow orders just as you do. Please notify Prince Oscar that we are here and need to confer with him."
Randi eventually nodded to the guards. One of them ran into the Royal Palace, while Randi ushered the two priests to one side of the gate so that others could enter and exit. The guard returned and nodded to the Sergeant.
"Follow me, please," Randi said as he led the two priests into the Royal Palace.
The sergeant used silent hand signals to instruct two Red Swords to fall in behind the small procession. He led the priests to the library where Prince Oscar waited. Two other Red Swords were already in the library for the prince's protection.
"Welcome to Tagaret," greeted Prince Oscar. "I understand that you were sent ahead to arrange something for the wedding. What is it that you need to arrange?"
The old priest bowed slightly to the prince with obvious discomfort. "You must accept my apologies, Prince Oscar, for my inabilities to show you the proper respect," the priest replied. "My body ages and does not always agree with my instructions. I have been sent to arrange the actual ceremony itself. Not being from Tagaret, there are some things that I will need the crown's help with in order to ensure that this is the most successful event it can be."
"What type of things?" Prince Oscar asked suspiciously.
"Sculptors for one," answered Malagrad. "I will need several statues made, and made quickly. I also seek your help with finding the proper location for the ceremony. You surely know the city much better than I."
"It is natural for the ceremony to take place in the Royal Palace," frowned Prince Oscar. "Why would it be held anywhere else?"
"This is not just the king of old Targa that is getting married," the priest shook his head. "This is a wedding for the king of all of Alcea. The dignitaries that will be arriving will never fit in the Royal Palace. No, this wedding must be held outdoors, yet we still want a grand atmosphere for the occasion. That is why I need sculptors. I also will need gardeners and seamstresses. I want to create a garden setting that will be remembered by all."
Prince Oscar's eyebrows rose as he listened to the old man. He found himself envisioning the garden setting and nodding his head.
"That does sound excellent," smiled the prince. "There is a large park along the river. Sergeant, arrange for a coach. We shall take a ride and see the site."
Prince Oscar and his Red Sword escort took the two priests to the riverside park. It was a massive park, but it had not been maintained for many years. The grass was brown and ragged, large bare portions were nothing more than dirt. Worn
dirt paths crisscrossed the park in every direction, and unwanted debris was scattered across the land.
"This is not exactly what I had in mind," frowned Malagrad as he stared at the deplorable shape of the park.
"It is in much worse shape than I remember when last I saw it," frowned the prince. "I guess I have not been down here in many years. I am sorry. We will find a more suitable place."
"No, no," interrupted Kirt. "This will do fine. The area is open and large. The river provides a natural break, and there is a small knoll in the center. We could not ask for more."
"But it is hardly a fitting place for a king and his bride," Prince Oscar shook his head.
"It will be," Kirt responded enthusiastically. "We will need carpenters, lots of carpenters. I want stands built in a semicircle around the knoll. They must be large stands capable of holding thousands of people, yet they must not block the view for anyone. I'll need stone cutters as well. The dirt paths will be covered over and stone paths set down. The gardeners can create flowerbeds in the bare areas, and there is just enough time to make the grass presentable."
"And the statues can be placed between the knoll and the river," nodded Malagrad. "You do have a gift of vision, Kirt. I can see what you are proposing."
"Is it really possible to create something of beauty out of this old park in time for the wedding?" asked Prince Oscar.
"See that we get the resources that we need," Kirt nodded vigorously, "and you will see a wedding garden unlike any other you have ever seen. It will be talked about for ages."
Prince Oscar was skeptical, but he had little to lose. If the park did not work out, the wedding could be held in the Royal Palace as planned. He nodded his approval.
"Excellent," smiled Malagrad. "Kirt, you remain here and get started on the park. I need to talk to the sculptors about the statues. I am sure that the prince will take me to them."
* * *
General Gregor entered the library of the Royal Palace in Tagaret and halted. He saw Prince Oscar talking to Adan, the king of the gypsies. King Yanto of Miram and King Devon of Tor stood talking to General Mobami of Sordoa and Za-chan, the governor of Lanoir. They all turned as General Gregor entered the room and bowed to Prince Oscar.
"There are too many dignitaries," General Gregor reported. "Every king and queen in the world is arriving in Tagaret, and each of them has insisted on bringing a honor guard to the wedding. The unicorns are flying back out every day to bring more people into the city. There is just no place to put them all up."
"And the king will be arriving soon," nodded Prince Oscar. "That is what we have just been discussing. I think Adan has just come up with a workable plan. Tell him, Adan."
"I have done a tally of the heads of states," the gypsy leader explained. "If we count just the kings and queens, governors, dukes, and barons that control major portions of Alcea, we can house them in the rooms here at the Royal Palace."
"But their honor guards," protested General Gregor, "would require several more palaces to hold them."
"Or inns," smiled Adan. "I propose that all honor guards be put under the control of the Red Swords for the duration of their stay in Tagaret. We house the honor guards in the inns around the city, or we allow for encampments where the visitors will not be offended."
"Like the elves," interjected Prince Oscar. "They would prefer an encampment to sleeping in an inn."
"It would be an insult to strip away the honor guards from the dignitaries," the general shook his head.
"If it is phrased that way," grinned Prince Oscar, "but what if they were all assigned to inns in the first place? Then we could extend an invitation for the rulers to stay in the Royal Palace if they could tear themselves away from their honor guard."
"That might work," General Gregor nodded. "They certainly know they would be safe within these walls."
"Then that is what we shall do," decided Prince Oscar. "How are those priests doing with the park? Have you been by today?"
"I go by every day," nodded the general. "I must say that I was skeptical when I heard what they planned to do, but it really is turning out quite well. The young one seems to have a gift for visualizing the result because he knows exactly what he wants and where he wants it. It is quite a beautiful park. They were erecting large statues this morning along the riverbank. The stands they built are huge, and the flowerbeds make it look like the park has been cared for, when we know that is not true."
"He is a strange one," frowned Adan. "He is the one with the deformed fingers, right?"
"One of them is badly deformed," nodded Prince Oscar. "I asked him about it, but he chose not to answer."
"Not just one of them," countered General Gregor. "Both small fingers are boneless nubs."
"I could have sworn it was only one," shrugged Prince Oscar. "Are you sure?"
"Positive," nodded the general. "He was here in the palace yesterday when they were making the queen's crown. He seemed quite interested in how the jewelers were going to fashion the rare gems into the crown. He suddenly screamed in pain and fell to the floor. I thought he had some type of seizure, so I went to help him up. That was when I noticed that both hands were equally afflicted. It must be some strange disease. I feel sorry for him."
"Back to the honor guards," interrupted King Devon. "I think it would be nice if we could line the streets with the various honor guards when the king arrives in the city. It should be uplifting for him to see those who have come to serve him."
"I agree," added King Yanto. "Perhaps each group could hoist two banners, one for their native domain, and a larger one for Alcea. I am sure that King Arik knows of all the peoples who are dedicated to him, but it sure would be nice for him to actually see it when he returns."
The door to the library opened and Colonel Zackary Nolan stuck his head in.
"Queen Lyander of Elderal has arrived," he announced. "Queen Lywen of Lanto, King Tring and Queen Trana of Dorgun are also here."
"I need to go," Prince Oscar said to the group. "Continue with the plans as we have been discussing. I will try to join you later."
* * *
Fairies soared through the streets of Tagaret announcing the approach of the king. People shouted with joy and excitement as they rushed to find a good spot to watch the king's entrance. The honor guards from hundreds of areas of Alcea rushed to take their assigned places along the parade route. Within an hour, the parade route was defined by walls of loyal subjects several people deep. Everyone waited impatiently for the warrior king and his soon-to-be queen to arrive.
Suddenly, horn blasts from the western gate announced the arrival of the royal party. The gates of the city were opened wide, and people craned their necks to get the first view of the king approaching the city. The fairies that had spread the word throughout the city regrouped and flew a formation over the arriving Knights of Alcea.
King Arik looked ahead and saw the people forming the parade route. He hesitated slightly until Tanya was directly alongside him.
"From now on," smiled King Arik, "you ride by my side."
"I am not queen yet," giggled Tanya.
"Tell that to these people," grinned King Arik as he nodded to the crowd ahead. "They are here to welcome you as much as they are to welcome me."
"Look at the banners," Tanya whispered. "I have never seen some of these banners."
"We might not have seen the banners before," replied the king, "but I recognize the people holding them. Those are elves from Glendor, and there are dwarves from Talman. Both groups helped attack Mount Kalas."
"The Sordoans from Melbin," nodded Tanya as they progressed along the parade route, "and the Melbin Guard."
"And the Lanoirians," added King Arik. "The dwarves of Lanto and Dorgun and the elves of Sorelderal."
"The Castle of Man and Miram," Tanya pointed out. "Klandon, Mya, Southland, Dalek. Everybody in Alcea is represented here. Alex was serious about the fairies spreading the word."
As the Knights of Alcea
entered the city and rode slowly along the parade route, the people were ecstatic. The honor guards saluted, and the people bowed politely as the king passed, but they went absolutely wild after he passed. The roar of the cheering crowd rippled along behind the Knights of Alcea.
"Is that what he said?" questioned the king. "The fairies spread the word about our marriage?"
"Yes," nodded Tanya. "It is not that I actually doubted him. I just could not have imagined such a response as this."
"Do you realize that the world will know your true heritage if we have an open wedding?" asked the king. "Everyone will know that you are a Tork."
"Let them know," replied Tanya. "I am certainly not ashamed to be a Tork, and the danger of being a Tork is behind us now. In fact, it is high time that Alex and Jenneva be allowed to have a daughter again. I am proud to be their daughter."
"And I am sure they are proud of you," smiled the king. "I just wanted to make sure that you understood what is bound to happen when people realize who you are. The Torks are heroes to these people."
"They are heroes to me, too," grinned Tanya. "Besides, we could not have a private wedding now if we wanted to. The fairies have seen to that."
The procession wound through the city streets and eventually ended in the courtyard of the Royal Palace. King Arik halted the procession as they entered the courtyard, which was packed with nobility. The kings and queens of the realm were all assembled and bowed as the Knights of Alcea passed through the gates.
"Not just the people came for the wedding," Tanya whispered. "Everyone is here."
King Arik's head swiveled slowly as he gazed upon the leaders of the world. It suddenly dawned on him that the whole world looked to him for leadership. The king swallowed hard and breathed deeply as he felt the weight of the responsibilities bear down upon him. Alex moved up alongside the king and placed his hand on Arik's arm.
"Do not let their burden wither your spirit," Alex whispered. "You have shown that you are more than they could ever hope for. Raise your head with confidence, and be more than they expect you to be."
Amethyst of the Gods Page 43