“Ruxin…Ruxin will do just fine. I know he will,” Camelle managed to get out before she sobbed again.
Riceros and Brehan tried to soothe her by patting her on the back.
Brehan said, “Everything will be just fine in the end, you will see. We will be gone for a little while and then return to get you and go back home. And it will be good for the little man to get away from home for a bit.” Brehan forced a smile for the benefit of the family.
The innkeeper showed up with three bowls of rabbit stew and dropped three spoons on the table. Riceros didn’t enjoy the taste but he ate it nonetheless. His mother barely touched her bowl although she did stop crying.
Suddenly, the rowdy man from the neighboring table stood up and raised his mug. Then he started singing.
“Blood and sweat, we shed for the bull,” as he sang this line, everyone at the inn joined in.
“His cause is our cause too,
Through the dark nights,
And the cold days,
We march on our enemies,
We lay our lives down,
If we are asked to,
For our families,
And we never,
Will ever surrender,
Then we hail a victory,
We return to our homelands,
Where we sit down,
And have a round,
And hug our family,
For the Colberts, and their houses,
We uphold honor and dignity,
For the Gods’ sakes men,
Throw down your rakes men,
And take up arms men,
Will-power and unity.”
The men crashed their mugs together and drank as proud citizens of Mattingly. Through all the pain a smile finally sprang to Camelle’s lips. This spurred return grins from Riceros and Brehan as they ate the stew.
A LATE SPRING STORM
RUSSELL
Russell had been at the school for about a fortnight. The Imp Wizard and Gamelda took turns teaching him a wide variety of new and interesting things. They were showing him how to channel his inner spirit and energy to connect to external spirit guides. Gamelda even taught him how to look into her “ball” as she called it. It was actually a crystal skull that Gamelda claimed to be thousands of years old and filled with great energy and spirits. She could see images in the eyes and had tried to teach Russell to do the same. He felt the power of the skull but hadn’t been able to see anything yet.
The two teachers had told him that there are benevolent souls who float down from the heavens to help fight the forces of evil. The angels from above provided help to righteous men and women through mysterious powers, but only if they fully believed in them. Dragon-Eyes had said that different spirits provided various powers if you channeled them properly. Russell had been studying the angels and spirits every day since arriving at the school.
He rubbed his short spiky hair as he waited for the Imp Wizard to come downstairs. Russell sat at a table in the workroom, far away from the hissing snakes. They were ornery, but for some reason they never crossed an invisible line in the corner of the workshop. Hisalia walked in with a cloth bag full of something that moved. She walked over to the corner and flung the little animals inside the bag toward the snakes. Mice and rats met an immediate death, although a few got away and rushed out the open door. Hisalia was the snake-master and they obeyed her like they were her children. It was uncanny. She took good care of them and fed the serpents well, but Russell thought they would yearn for the outdoors again and make a break for it. Everyone thought they were all female serpents, but the rattlesnake had three babies last week. They looked like a cross between the rattler and cobra, quite fearsome looking little snakes.
He had worked every job in the workshop, except for venom-milker, since arriving. He also cleaned and gathered fire wood every morning. Russell really enjoyed his time with Gamelda. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and she made him feel good about himself. When she stroked his face or rubbed Russell’s stubble, it gave him feelings he had never experienced before.
As if on cue, Gamelda and Dragon-Eyes strolled into the room. The Imp wore a black cloak with a hood. Gamelda had a long, white dress on that made her dark skin look even more gorgeous to Russell. Her scent instantly found Russell’s nose and excitement arose within him.
“Hello Gamelda,” said a voice from behind Russell.
He turned to see who it was but the person passed him quickly and hugged Gamelda. Russell saw a thin post of a man standing in front of Gamelda. She stroked his face, just like she stroked Russell’s. Anger bit him like a rabid dog and his chest began to tighten.
Who is this skinny little fool?
“Alright now, we have to go, Russell. Say fare thee well,” the wizard told Russell.
Russell walked over to the woman he had grown to experience strong feelings for.
“I will return in a bit, Gamelda,” he said with a nod of the head.
“Russell, this is my friend Wallyson,” Gamelda said.
“Russell, it is my pleasure,” Wallyson stated with an extended hand.
“Likewise,” Russell returned as he looked over the smaller man.
He wanted to carry the man over to the corner and throw him to the snakes. Instead, he just turned to leave.
“Have fun, my sweet boy,” Gamelda said in a seductive voice.
Russell stopped for a moment and then stumbled toward the wizard.
She called me boy. She just called me boy.
They exited the Imp’s main domicile and set out into the dark and stormy evening.
“Don’t be jealous,” the wizard stated.
“What? I am not jealous,” Russell tried to lie.
“I am not a young fool. I am well versed in the signs of jealousy. Keep in mind that Gamelda is a free spirit, a free woman. She belongs to no man. You know, the King once had these feelings of jealousy and cursed the very Gods that he now praises. You see, there was a day when the King feared he would never sit on the throne of Donegal. His brother...”
“He had a brother?” Russell interrupted.
“Indeed, a twin brother much more fit to be king. He was the fiercest warrior in the Livingstone war and brought back the spoils for his King father. King Ali-Dus declared Ali-Steven to be the heir to the throne as long as he married Parys Etburn. But Ali-Steven refused because of allegiance to his childhood sweetheart. After that Ali-Steven was chased from Donegal, not to be seen since. They slit the throat of his wife to be and captured his son before Ali-Steven could rescue them. Just as they were to smash the baby’s head on the castle steps, the Queen ordered them to stop. She wouldn’t let them slaughter an innocent child and Ali-Samuel Wamhoff was allowed to grow up in the castle. Ali-Stanley agreed to marry Parys Etburn and received our kingdom by default.”
“Where did Ali-Steven go?” Russell wanted to know.
“I know many people who know many things, but not a one knows where Ali-Steven Wamhoff went off to. He was reported to be in the Pearl Islands for some time, but from there it is a mystery,” the wizard said with a smile. “King Ali-Stanley’s jealous nature continues to this day and is exemplified in his latest decision. Our King has declared war on Mattingly and has requested the help of all men from Waters Edge. I will understand if your sense of duty precludes you from pursuing our mission,” the wizard informed Russell.
“I have heard much about wars of kingdoms. They are often self-serving tantrums of kings. I do not wish to be a counted number amongst the dead. Our noble cause shall outweigh the King’s whims of justice each and every day and night,” Russell proudly stated.
“I am glad to hear that. I will not rush to the King’s aid either. We have a grander war to carry out. Now let us go test your training in Morningdale,” Dragon-Eyes said as he pulled his hood over his head.
Dusk set in about twenty minutes into their southward walk through the soggy forest. It started raining as they approached a clearing in the woods.
The small opening exposed the haunting skies that growled with rolling thunder. Russell looked over to see a smile on the old man’s face.
The rain picked up as the Imp spoke, “I have been teaching you how to come into contact with spirit guides to aid you to do anything you wish. Well, now we test that. Do you see that tree over there?” he asked as he pointed to a giant maple tree.
“I do,” Russell replied.
The wizard closed his eyes and clenched his fists. The intensity of the storm increased and thunder boomed louder. The Imp was now breathing heavily as lightning flashed through the sky. Dragon-Eyes started shaking and threw his hand up into the air. A bolt of lightning shot down and struck the little man, but he didn’t fall. He held out his hands in front of his tiny body and the lightning transferred from him and crushed the enormous tree. It instantly turned into black ashes and started crumbling in the rain.
Russell stood in awe once again. Before meeting the Imp Wizard, the young man’s life had been rather mundane in comparison. Since meeting the wizard, it had been one amazing feat after another.
“Your turn,” the Imp uttered.
“My turn? To do that?” Russell questioned.
“Of course, is your mind strong or only your body?” Dragon-Eyes asked.
“Both, but, it is just a bit scary,” Russell said with slight trepidation.
“Being scared is not necessarily a bad thing. It is quite natural actually. It means you recognize the danger or significance of a situation. It is how you react to that fear that will define Russell Seabrook. Believe in yourself. Believe in your spirits. And show me that you can do this,” the wizard firmly stated.
Russell pointed to a big tree and closed his eyes. He remembered that Afromenda was the angel of lightning and there was a chant to free her spirit.
Afromenda,
Guide your light through me,
Shine your light through me,
Evil, I shall fight against for ye,
The storm got nastier and thunder resonated through his head as he concentrated.
Afromenda, send your strength to me,
Angel of Lightning become one with me,
Let your spirit fly free,
Guide your light through me.
Although Russell didn’t realize it, he had been shaking for about the last minute. He repeated the words and tried to conjure up the spirit of Afromenda. Lightning brightened the horizon as Russell shook like the leaves on the trees. He felt something pulsing though his body; an external energy seeped into his system.
He saw a bright white light and, BOOM, lightning struck Russell Seabrook.
He stumbled to one knee, but bounced straight back up and extended his hands toward the mighty tree. He could sense the power run through his entire body and exit out his hands. He opened his eyes to see the tree blasted by the bolt. The blackened tree crumbled to ash, just as the Imp Wizard’s had done, and Russell collapsed.
His body was numb and cold after harnessing the lightning bolt. He flopped onto the ground and his eyes couldn’t focus on anything.
“So cold,” was all he could utter.
Dragon-Eyes waddled over to him. “Not to worry, my boy. The same thing happened to me on my first attempt.”
Why am I cold? I just had lightning inside my body and it burned me up until I released it.
A small bush located a few feet from Russell was set ablaze by the wizard. The flames raged despite the driving rain. Russell wiggled his way over to the flames and warmed his body that was frozen to the core. Russell still felt physically drained, but he was warm again. He got to his feet and leaned on his little friend as they started the trek back to the School of the Daughters of Darkness.
“I cannot believe you just did that. I was just testing you to see how much progress you had made. I never expected to see that. You are well beyond your years for harnessing lightning. The rest should be quite easy,” he said as a proud teacher.
A smile came over a still shaking Russell Seabrook as they walked through the storm.
DECISIONS
ALI-STER
“What do you mean, there is a stone wall?” the King screeched.
He wore his ruby-themed crown today. It was a golden crown, studded with large and small rubies and a red silk lining. It rested more like a hat than a crown on his head but it still slipped down over his bushy eyebrows from time to time.
“There is a fifteen-foot-high wall that is also ten feet wide, along the entire border of Mattingly. We don’t have the weaponry to take out a wall like that. And with a majority of the border on top of the hills and mountains, it is rather impenetrable. From the Sea of Green to the Royal River and then over to Bottomfoot, every last inch seems to be accounted for, your highness,” said Dirk Eller as he showed everyone the wall on a huge map laid out on the table.
“Havest thou the firth?” the King rhetorically asked for the tenth time at this meeting. “And we cannot take the coast at any point? Why are we throwing money into a navy if it cannot protect us?”
“Well, then this news will not be pleasant, your highness…”
“None of the news is pleasant anymore, get on with it,” the King ordered.
“Mattingly is causing problems with our imports as well. They are offering better prices for our supplies to be delivered to Mattingly. Word has gotten around. And most of these exporters have no loyalty to you because you aren’t their King. Mattingly has also threatened to sink any ship that attempts to deliver anything to Fox Chapel,” said Derrich Bonsfogger.
“Well, what in all the hells are we going to do?” the concerned King asked his council.
Suddenly you want to listen to everyone’s opinion.
“Could we go down the Royal River en masse?” asked Dirk Eller.
“There was an attempt to get into Mattingly by way of the River. It ended in slaughter. It appears to be heavily defended at every possible entrance,” stated Henley Moore.
Ali-Ster spoke up, “Why don’t we go through Bottomfoot and cross the western border? Surely they cannot have a wall along that side, nor do they have reason to with a neutral Bottomfoot. We pull back so that Mattingly believes we are retreating. Then we can hit them from the western border when they aren’t expecting it.”
King Ali-Stanley Wamhoff stared intently at the map, trying to find a way to breach Mattingly.
“Wait. What about the Royal Road passage? They can’t have a wall there,” the King thought out loud.
“There was a one-mile stretch where they amazingly built a wall before we could rush the opening,” a dejected Henley Moore stated.
“Unless anyone else can come up with a better idea, it appears Ali-Ster is correct. Can we make it through the mountains and over the border?” the King asked.
“We must find out, if this is your will, father. We cannot run through the wall, so we shall go around it,” Ali-Ster sharply said.
His father stared at him. Ali-Ster had never spoken back to him before. But if the King wanted to attack Mattingly, Ali-Ster knew this was the only viable option.
“We shall send word to Bottomfoot and our Generals after the meeting,” the King said softly. “I have one last card to play that can help us while we wait…” he said trailing off so that nobody at the table really understood him.
“Your highness, Sir Ali-Samuel has left for Burkeville,” said Leo Braunshaur.
“Good. I hope he can clean up that mess quickly and we can get more Burkeville men to join our cause,” the King stated.
“Speaking of men to join the cause,” said Dirk Eller, “It seems four thousand of the soldiers from the Goldenfield stand-off have disappeared.
“Come again? Disappeared?” the King questioned. “Were they eaten by dragons? Maybe they mysteriously floated up into the heavens? How do you lose four thousand men?” the King screamed as he slammed his scepter into the table.
“Well, your highness, it seems that the eight thousand men were split into two divisions. And someh
ow the division in the rear must have gone astray,” Dirk Eller weakly stated.
“Disaster. Disaster,” repeated the King as he shook his head. “What is happening to my kingdom?”
Your rule is what happened to this kingdom.
Everything Ali-Samuel had been saying about the King was true. Donegal would be a lot better off without King Ali-Stanley, Ali-Ster finally thought. He realized it may be time to put Ali-Samuel's plan into action.
“What else? What else?” the King queried.
“Our sword-smiths still cannot replicate the Dragon-Steel that you had asked them to. They say there is a metal in the mix that they cannot identify,” Leo Braunshaur said.
“I have an idea of who I can ask about the unknown metal,” said the King with a devious smile.
“It also appears that the Gold Bandit is at it again. He struck up along the Fox Chapel-Waters Edge border this time. They hit the Sanders and Aprott castles for over ten thousand gold coins. The pattern stretches from inside Goldenfield almost to the Sea of Green. How he can still get into the castle reserves, I cannot understand. If the reports are correct, he has stolen over five hundred-thousand gold rounds. Who could possibly get away every-single time?” Leo Braunshaur wondered.
“Well, when it rains, it pours. Perhaps the mystery man who made my troops disappear is stealing the gold too,” said the King listlessly.
This meeting had exposed to Ali-Ster the sad state of affairs in Donegal. It was terrible news on every front. He had only been home for a few months and every one of his King father’s decisions was an epic failure. The kingdom was a sinking ship and Ali-Ster never liked swimming.
Ali-Ster yawned as Jake Fielder spoke, “There seems to be a possible threat across the Sea of Green. It may not present a problem for several years, but it looks as though we have a rising son in the east.”
Ali-Ster faded in and out of sleep for the rest of the meeting until his father finally dismissed everyone.
As Ali-Ster walked back to his room he thought about Queen Leimur Leluc. He remembered seeing her on the battle field and could still picture her purple eyes. He had heard that everyone hailed her for ending her father’s reign.
TWO HEADS TWO SPIKES (The Pearl of Wisdom Saga) Page 21