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

by Byron Calhoun

in thought about the morning. They finished the last touches of supply and organization and decided to go to bed.

  Heather walked back with Edward toward their beds.

  “How come the Prince did not mention me in the plans?” she asked Edward.

  “Because, Heather, he does not want you to fight tomorrow. The Prince thinks it will be too dangerous,” replied Edward.

  “But I have the lyre and can help out!” Heather protested.

  “I know, but I agree with him Heather. You have been in too much danger and battles are not places for girls.”

  Heather fumed all the way to the campfire and their beds. She would show them in the morning, she would just sneak in some how. But how? She would think on it.

  At the bed site sat Groundfirm. He greeted them and then made a request.

  “Could ye play the wee harp tonight, Lady Heather? Methinks we’d all drop off ta sleep and be fresh for the morrow if ye did.”

  Heather blushed and replied, “I guess so, if it will not hurt the guards.”

  “I think not,” replied the gnome.

  She brought out the lyre and began to strum it. At first the strings merely tinkled and quavered, but soon the haunting sweetness grew and swept over the entire camp. Each person had a favorite memory wash over them and carry them to a deep, refreshing, and untroubled sleep. Even the gnome and Edward tumbled into bed. How long she played Heather did not know, but she knew the Logoland stars were high in the sky and she felt very weary. She fell asleep thinking of how to get into the battle.

  A STRANGER WELCOMED

  XVII

  The camp awoke to find itself refreshed and ready for the grim day. There was little joking, but mostly low talk and preparation. The knights polished their armour, the gnomes cleaned their mail and prepared their swords, the unicorns sharpened their horns, and the centaurs strung their bows. The centaurs were noted bowmen and greatly respected by all in the land. They looked very grave and stately with their large horse bodies and equally massive human torsos. The company carefully filled their canteens, fighting is thirsty work, and assembled to march.

  They had a dry breakfast of gribbich and wetern cakes with water and broke camp about one hour before dawn. They sent out the stags as a forward scout and the eagles had been flying since before dawn with the owls. Truefeather came to the Prince and informed him the enemy was surely only about six hours away and getting ready to break camp. The enemy spies were presently afraid to come into the sky.

  Heather, meanwhile, had been planning how to sneak on with the troops so that she would not be left behind. The plan she finally hit upon was to disguise herself in gnome mail with a small helmet to tuck her hair under. She girded a sword to her side and slung a bow and arrow over her shoulder. Underneath her gnome cloak she her lyre. All this she did while the camp was breaking. Edward wondered where she was when they started out and why she had not said good-bye. He muttered to the Prince that he thought she must be pouting somewhere because she could not go with them. Edward never thought she would try to come.

  The army moved slowly through the woods in an almost ghostly silent fashion. The mist was just rising off the woods and streams and most of the group appeared shrouded in clouds. The only sounds were an occasional grunt, low command, and the creaking of equipment.

  The sun rose higher and finally burned off the mist. The ‘Plain of Reckoning’ lay only about one hour from their camp, but they were reminded by Groundfirm that they must be cautious and not be caught off guard. The stags returned and reported all was clear ahead, including the forest around the ‘Clearing of Reckoning’. The eagles kept watch overhead and saw no spies of the other army.

  The army reached the border of the clearing without incident and settled down to wait. They posted sentries and pickets all about their position. Now began the long wait. The day dragged on for them, without a break. It seemed so unreal that they could be fighting a battle today. The birds were singing, bees droning, and the flowers blooming on the Plain. In fact, the Plain lay covered with lovely white flowers that looked like daisies. Groundfirm called them the whiteslips and said that they were a favorite of Logolanders in the early summer.

  Most of the army finally fell into naps or groggy dreams. The day lulled them into peacefulness. The army sat bolt upright at the screeches of the enemy scouts. Finally, the vultures and other carrion eaters showed up to patrol the skies. The small decoy army, readied for this occasion, went forth into the plain. The birds spied them, swooped low, and wheeled to report.

  The eagles informed the Prince that the main army of Lipophrenia lay only one hour away. The advance enemy scouts would approach in a half hour. The Prince’s army readied itself and moved into position.

  The gnomes remained hidden, with Groundfirm in command. They presented a grim, doughty band with archers, swordsmen and yes, Heather! She had traveled with them the whole way and avoided Groundfirm. She brought up the rear and escaped discovery by not talking but rather grunted acknowledgements. The rest of the gnomes removed their cloaks in readiness for combat. One of the blond gnomes named Knickernick asked Heather why she did not remove her cloak? Heather trembled inwardly and wondered what to say.

  “If I say because I’m cold, he will not believe me and if I remove it, he will see the harp and give me away. I know! I will tell him it is a sort of good luck charm and I fight with it on!”

  So, Heather stammered a reply, “It is sort of a lucky cloak and I wear it even to fight in.”

  Knickernick responded, “But doesn’t it get in the way?”

  “Oh no, I do quite well even with it on,” said Heather.

  The gnome appeared satisfied and moved on into position. After that conversation, Heather crept off to the side and avoided any other conversations.

  Presently, there was a buzz of activity in the plain. A lone horseman with a green cloak flying behind him and a golden helmet, came dashing across the plain. The guards called the alert.

  Edward warned, “Be alert, your Majesty, it might be a trick of your Uncle’s”

  “Aye,” added Groundfirm.

  The archers readied their bows and the knights drew their swords.

  “Do not shoot unless I give the command,” ordered Prince Logosian.

  The horseman drew nearer the group and continued to glance over his shoulder as if in fear. Suddenly, on the other side of the Clearing, broke out a pack of the accursed black wolves in the service of King Lipophrenia.

  “Filthy swine,” muttered Groundfirm.

  The wolves were so intent on their prey that they did not smell or notice the Prince’s army. The rider came nearer, saw the army, and pulled up short.

  “H-h-help me please, those wolves almost have me!” cried the rider.

  “Fire upon the wolves, Sir Goodheart!” commanded Logosian.

  A volley went forth and the wolves howled in dismay. They snarled and realized their mistake beating a hasty retreat.

  “Now, good sir, if you will kindly identify yourself,” said the Prince.

  The little man, for he was not very large, proceeded to dismount. Immediately, there were swords readied on him. He looked at the Prince for a moment and then removed his helment.

  His face broke into a smile and he said, with a bow, “I am your Majesty’s most humble servant.”

  “Yes, yes,” answered Logosian. “But who are you?” he inquired in a somewhat annoyed voice.

  “Does not the good Prince Logosian recognize me?” smiled the man.

  “Should I?” replied the now puzzled Logosian.

  “I am your humble tutor, Mr Barnabus,” stated the rider.

  “Can it be? But you have no beard, and your hair is black?”

  “A disguise necessary to insure my safety. It is fortunate indeed that I happened upon you when I did or else I would be wolf meat, for my little mare grew tired.”

  Logosian looked at the stranger long and hard, then threw
his arms around Mr Barnabus in a crushing hug.

  “Enough, enough,” squealed the little man, “or else you crush me!”

  “Yes, “ cried Logosian, “please give Mr Barnabus water, food, and see to his mount.”

  “I will take the water and care for my horse, but I need no food. I came to help warn you of the army that comes to meet you. I intended to meet you at Old Abigail’s but circumstances forced me to flee at a later time. The army of Lipophrenia is strong and now reinforced with ogres, goblins, hags, and all manner of evil creatures.”

  An audible rumble ran through the listeners.

  “But, I do not know what you plan, your Majesty. They will be difficult to defeat. Your army appears small,” commented Mr Barnabus.

  “Good friend, you see only the first part and yes, we might be a little weaker, but we have help you know not about. Do you remember the rhyme you told me as a child?”

  “Yes,” said Mr Barnabus and he intoned:

  “‘In our time of greatest need,

  The King shall send two of deed.

  Boy and girl to free the land;

  Servants of the Most High’s band.’”

  “Well,” continued the Prince, “they are among us now.”

  “The Star be praised,” exclaimed the tutor. “Where are they?”

  “I am right here, Mr Barnabus,” said Edward with a bow.

  “To think I am living to see this! But where is the maid?”

  “She is back at camp because we thought it too dangerous for a maiden to be in battle,” answered Logosian.

  “Oh, well then, I do not understand why