The Gnome's Children-Book #1 Bright Star Journals

by Byron Calhoun

“I saw it once on a Tarzan movie, never mind who he is, where he shot a large arrow tied with strong rope, into a tree across the river and climbed across the river straddling the rope. We could have one of us do that and then shoot over the rest of the ropes, make a sort of rope bridge, and cross over on it.”

  The adventurers applauded the idea but wondered who would go first. Prince Logosian looked at Groundfirm and the gnome raised his hand to volunteer for the job.

  “But you are too heavy to send across first, good gnome. We need someone light,” said Logosian.

  It was at that moment that Heather spoke up in a very small voice and said, “I’ll go, your Majesty, if you’ll let me.”

  Edward interrupted, “You are too small Heather and we do not want you to get hurt. Besides, we need good knots.”

  Heather glared at her brother and continued, “I have climbed trees since I was old enough to walk and I can tie knots as well as Edward (She was in a girls club and had learned such things). So, I must be the best choice.”

  After much arguing the Prince and Edward were convinced and agreed to let her try. Groundfirm launched an arrow and it lodged in a stout ominsk tree trunk with the line about four feet off the water. The other end of the rope was secured and Heather started on her journey. The river spanned about forty yards and broiled swiftly over many large rocks and hidden pools. The foam frothed and the rumbling of the water got louder and louder as she crossed. She went across the rope hand over hand with her legs wrapped tightly around the rope, sliding her way across. She tried not to look down and concentrated on keeping her grip on the swaying rope. The others shouted encouragement from the shore but their cries soon faded in the river’s noise. She went forward not daring to look down with her arms growing more weary. At last she glanced ahead and saw the bank not more than twenty feet away.

  She made the bank and scrambled up to the rope. She cut it from the arrow and proceeded to secure the rope with a true sailor’s half-hitch knot, around the tree trunk, pulling it tight with all her weight. Groundfirm launched three more ropes and Heather repeated the rope tying process. She tied two ropes fairly parallel to two trees about shoulder width apart and looped them over stout branches so they would not slip. Next, she secured the two sets of lower ropes to the same two trees at a lower level again preventing them from slipping with stout limbs. When Heather finished she had two sets of parallel ropes, one set about armpit height above the lower ropes, and the lower ropes parallel for the other’s feet.

  The others crossed over the river without mishap, except occasionally getting hit with spray as they sagged to within about a foot of the rapidly flowing stream of water. By the time the last of the group made the crossing it lacked all of a few minutes to dark. They cut the ropes to prevent anyone from following and then the weary adventurers dragged themselves just out of sight of the river. They posted a single guard and dropped into an exhausted sleep.

  Lord Battlesby had the dawn watch and had fallen asleep at his post, his weariness having overcome him. He was to pay dearly for his laxity. There arose around him a screaming cry which wrenched him from his sleep as an arrow buried itself in his left shoulder. He was now wide awake, and giving the alarm.

  “Hi! Attack! To arms! To arms!” yelled Battlesby.

  The others tumbled out of their beds in confusion only to meet a fusillade of arrows. Fortunately, they had worn their gnome mail to bed and slept with their weapons. The Black Gnomes were upon them with a fury. These were renegade gnomes, “traitors” said Groundfirm, who sided with the Vizier and fought for him for a promise to make them the miners of all precious metals and the keepers of gold.

  Lord Battlesby manfully was holding off the main attack with mighty strokes of his sword, all the while roaring for the Prince and Bright Star. The main body fell back initially before his onslaught but he was beleaguered by more than eight gnomes. He managed to would or kill four of them before he fell in a hail of blows. Thus maddened, the gnomes drove into the camp.

  The good knight’s valour had bought enough time to arouse the main group of fighters who now fought with desperation. The gnome archers continued to pour deadly arrow fire, but with less effect due to fear of hitting their own men. The archers had already dropped and sorely wounded four of the defenders.

  Logosian and Edward fought masterfully side by side and Groundfirm kept the gnome archers busy. Groundfirm seemed everywhere at once and kept the battle somewhat even. Sir Goodheart and Duke Swalesfellow drove the gnomes back again and again doing much damage.

  Heather saw a Black Gnome archer fall almost at Logosian’s feet and saw his bow and arrows spill. She eyed them in terrible fascination. She had never fired a bow at anyone but she had done a fair amount of archery at home. She finally raced to the weapons and strung an arrow. She looked wildly around and loosed it at a Black Gnome threatening Sir Knocksworth. The arrow, by providence, struck home and the gnome fell. Heather gasped in horror and burst into uncontrolled tears. She never forgot that moment and ever after that said that fighting was definitely not for ladies. Yet, she later, in time of dire distress did take up arms again, but that is another story.

  The sounds of battle finally waned and the Black Gnomes disappeared into the woods. Why they left no one exactly knew. Later they learned that the party had so grievously wounded the gnome’s leader and taken so many men that the gnomes had to retreat. Still, the losses for the party were awful. They lost Lord Battlesby, Sir Knocksworth (to a stray gnome arrow), and four other yeoman and knights. There was much bitter lamenting over their losses.

  The travelers bound up their wounds, which were many and grievous, and rested for about an hour. There was not one of them, save Heather, who did not have some sort of a wound or cut. Then, came the sad task of burying the dead. This, they did with haste, yet lovingly. The party dug a shallow series of graves and piled small rocks over them. As a finishing act of devotion they placed a small blue banner with a golden star in the center of the grave site. The Prince held a short memorial service to the brave men who fell there and commended them to the Bright Star’s care.

  “Long will be our memory and many will sing of the bravery of the men at the Battle of Ripplesway.”

  Next, they turned their weary eyes to the trail before them and began the ascent once more. The trail led over the next mountain and then on to the ‘Clearing of Light’, only about twenty miles away. That meant a good two tough days journey, but they would still make it, wounds and all. The day continued dreary and damp for them and their spirits flagged. Each noise made them jump and they became edgy and argumentative with each other.

  “These trees and this gloom give me the creeps,” shuddered Heather.

  “Yeah, me too,” replied Edward. “and I miss Sir Battlesby, for all his pompousness, he was a good egg.”

  “Yes,” sighed Heather.

  On they trudged, with Groundfirm again keeping them moving and selecting a camp site. This night they posted a double guard and sleep came slowly to them all. The day had been full of shock and sense of loss over their companions.

  TO THE CLEARING OF LIGHT

  XV

  Edward finally fell asleep a little before the midnight watch and thought he dreamed. There before him stood the Bright Star, talking to him.

  “Edward, you must get up and tell your companions that you need to leave now.”

  “I’m dreaming,” he muttered and slept on.

  More urgently now, “Edward, you must leave now, the enemy knows you are here and come tonight to destroy you. You must leave now!”

  Edward groaned and rolled over again.

  Now commanding and imperious, “Edward! I did not call you ‘In this time of greatest need’ to be a lazy slug-a-bed! Arise now and tell your companions you must move tonight!”

  By now, Edward sat bolt upright. He looked around, but saw nothing.

  “They will think I’m nuts!” he said to hi
mself.

  “Never fear, good servant. They will listen to you,” replied a voice that seemed inside his head.

  “And how will I see the way?” asked Edward.

  “I will lead you along a new path, up by the mountain ridge.”

  “How will I know the path?” queried Edward.

  “I shall shine as bright golden-blue light for you alone to see. The others will not see it and must trust you.”

  “But what if they won’t?” continued Edward.

  Receiving no further replies, he shook himself to make sure he was quite awake. He then slipped out of his warm gnome cloak into the crisp mountain air and proceeded to awaken Groundfirm. He gently nudged the gnome with his toe and the gnome leapt up.

  “Stand fast, ye knave or aye’ll. . .Edward, what be the meanin’? Be we under attack? What. . .?”

  “Shh. . .” countered Edward. “We need t wake everybody up and get them going. I am suppose to lead us up that cliff where that golden-blue light is glowing, and. . .”

  “Whoa, laddie, one step at a time! Ye’re suppoe ta do what?” asked the gnome.

  Edward tumbled out the story breathlessly to the gnome who listened gravely.

  “Aye, I believe ye laddie and I dinna see any light up on the mountain,” stated the gnome.

  “But it is right up there near the trees in the mountain cleft,” protested Edward.

  “Aye hope the Prince