‘Your food will be with you shortly,’ said the girl, departing with an unexpected curtsey. Her feet appeared to glide along the floor and both Crystal and Matt thought it looked rather freaky.
The foot soldiers, who had also taken residence, sat on carved, wooden benches, with their swords still strapped to their sides. They were chatting amongst themselves about their journey, pleased it was almost at an end and their laughter filled the air. Two helpers came from behind a dark, heavy curtain. Their hands were filled with frothy tankards and loud cheers and wolf whistles soon reached everyone’s ears. Once the tankards were in the soldiers’ grasp, they wasted no time guzzling the amber nectar and it wasn’t long before cries for more burst from their eager mouths, their mood happy and jovial. Crystal turned to see Tremlon passing her a tankard of her own.
‘Here, take this,’ he said, thrusting it into her hand.
‘What is it?’ she asked, feeling rather overwhelmed. He smiled unexpectedly, showing a row of small, white teeth.
‘It’s a type of woodland wine,’ he explained with a grin. ‘It’s grown from the local vines and I think you’ll find it quite to your liking.’
Matt cupped his drink to his lips and emptied the vessel of its contents in five large, greedy gulps.
‘Ease up, boy,’ said Tremlon, with a smirk twitching the corners of his mouth. ‘I can’t have you falling over drunk now, can I?’ Matt grunted and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He set the empty tankard back on the table and looked around the room, hoping for more.
‘He’s right,’ said Crystal, looking at him with concern. ‘Don’t drink too much of that stuff, after all you don’t actually know what’s in it.’ Matt tried to protest, but then three serving girls came into the room and his voice died in his throat. Their arms were laden with large, oval platters decorated with an attempting array of specially selected meats and freshly cooked treats. One girl came over and placed a large dish in front of Crystal, giving her a warm smile.
‘Welcome,’ she said. ‘My name is Nienna and I will be here to serve you for the rest of the evening. If there’s anything you need, please don’t hesitate to ask.’
Crystal smiled her thanks and Matt nodded his appreciation, but shouted out that he needed more wine, whilst pointing to his empty cup.
‘I will fetch it as soon as I can,’ said Nienna, furrowing her brows at his tone; a shout from one of the soldiers distracted her and she glanced across the room, noticing they were becoming rowdy.
‘I will just help to feed your men and then I will be back,’ she mouthed back at him, but it was clear her mind was already elsewhere.
‘I can wait,’ said Matt, feeling a stab of disappointment, ‘but my throat is very dry,’ he added, rubbing his Adam’s apple for effect.
Tremlon turned in his seat and watched the soldiers becoming boisterous, clearly eager to have their empty bellies filled, and let out a hearty laugh.
‘They won’t be quiet until their stomachs are full and they’ve drunk the owner dry,’ he mused. ‘Sooner they’re fed the better for everyone.’
Crystal ignored the soldiers and watched Nienna instead. She decided the girl was actually quite stunning in an elfish kind of way. She noticed her well-defined features, like her eyes, which were protected by long, thick lashes, and her smooth, flawless skin looked like porcelain. Her dark hair was pulled back, showing off her pointed ears and Crystal couldn’t help but stare at them. Nienna caught her looking at her and Crystal swept her gaze towards her food, embarrassed at being seen, and her cheeks flushed pink.
‘Look at all this odd grub,’ said Matt, catching her attention.
‘Will you try it first?’ Crystal asked, feeling a bit of a coward. ‘But don’t go eating like a savage like him,’ she added, flicking her gaze towards Tremlon who was munching through his meal as though he hadn’t eaten for weeks. Matt picked up a fork and gingerly prodded the dark, brown substance on his plate and Tremlon noticed him hesitate.
‘Don’t worry, it won’t fight back,’ he scoffed, pointing to his own plate with his greasy fingers. ‘It’s mainly feefalas; a kind of wild bird that’s plentiful in these parts.’
Matt forced a weak smile that looked unconvincing, but his belly rumbled with hunger, telling them he was starving. Regardless of the species, he knew he had no choice but to eat what had been placed before him.
‘Umm, it actually tastes quite good,’ he said, taking a bite and trying to entice Crystal. ‘It reminds me of roast duck.’
Half-heartedly, Crystal made a conscious effort to slice into a piece of meat. She brought it to her uncooperative lips and took a nibble. She chewed at the soft flesh, whilst her taste buds investigated what she had put in her mouth and after reaching for her wine she admitted that it hadn’t tasted quite so bad after all, and Matt was right, it did have a distinct flavour of duck. Whilst she ate, she switched her attention to some of the other guests.
In a corner stood some other soldiers dressed in dark clothing. These men had a golden crest on their chests and fury in their voices. Her own party of guards appeared unperturbed when these voices rose, enjoying instead the free-flowing wine and a night of good company and so her gaze flickered towards a wizened old dwarf, sitting alone by the fire. He was small in stature and reminded her of a character from one of the fairy stories she had read as a child. He sat acknowledging no one, uninterested in making casual conversation or making friends. With his head bent low, he stared into his drink, perhaps, she thought, to look for the answer to the problem that appeared to trouble him so, but she soon lost interest and scouted the rest of the room for someone more appealing.
To her right, tucked almost out of sight, lay a small, cosy snug and two young elves were playing some kind of game. She couldn’t make out what they were playing, but small tablets that looked to be made of stone were floating in the air and bright, shiny coins lay haphazardly on the table, glistening yellow-gold, caught by the flickering firelight. Muffled curses rang out at random, followed by merry belts of laughter whilst each elf tried to outfox the other.
Eventually she grew weary of trying to work out what they were playing and switched her attention to the elf warriors instead. By now the soldiers had finished their supper and were moving from the dining room into the main hall. A few belches were heard followed by heavy laughter; it would appear to those who were interested that the soldiers would be content for the rest of the evening.
Crystal and Matt eventually started some idle chit-chat and Tremlon, still very much the outsider, listened to every word his human visitors had to say with eager ears, making it difficult for them to discuss anything in private and their conversation eventually became stunted. Just when the silence was starting to become unbearable, the solider who’d approached the wagon earlier made his way over to their table and nodded in greeting before turning his attention to Tremlon.
‘Yes, Arhdel, what is it?’ Tremlon asked, shooting him a look of impatience.
Arhdel cleared his throat. He had a presence that automatically commanded respect and, although not a tall man, he had a broad physique and arms that were powerful and strong. A wispy beard, coarse and wiry with flecks of grey, fell from his chin in spiky tufts. His leathery face told the tale of many a bloody battle and a thick scar, red and inflamed, ran from his left ear to underneath his chin; he had the kind of face you could never forget.
‘The rooms are ready, sire,’ he said, in a low rumble, ‘and I have taken the liberty of having your bag taken straight to your room.’ Tremlon nodded his appreciation, but Arhdel hadn’t finished.
‘Unfortunately, sire, the tavern is quite full tonight and only two rooms were available. Naturally, I have given the young lady a room of her own, however, due to unforeseen circumstances, it appears you will have to share with the mortal this night.’
He glanced at Matt and then averted his eyes. ‘I’m sorry, but it’s the best they could do at such short notice.’ Tremlon gulped down the last of his
wine before slamming his tankard down hard on the table.
‘Well, I don’t suppose I have a choice,’ he growled.
‘No, sire, I’m afraid you don’t,’ Arhdel agreed, ‘but at least you’re not with the horses, unlike the rest of us.’ Tremlon turned then to the soldier.
‘I see your point,’ he said, heaving himself out of his chair, ‘and on that note I think it’s time we called it a night.’
Arhdel bowed again before clicking his fingers and Nienna approached from the main hall, watching them with expectant eyes.
‘Your guests would like to retire,’ Arhdel instructed, gesturing for her to take charge.
‘Of course,’ Nienna replied, throwing out her hands and leading the way, ‘why, please follow me and I will show you to your rooms.’
Tremlon turned his attention to Crystal. ‘You should try to get some rest tonight, you look tired and we have an early start tomorrow.’ Crystal simply nodded and Arhdel interrupted her thoughts by bidding her goodnight, and once he left, the three guests followed Nienna through a well-lit passageway.
From the outside the tavern had looked quite small, but once inside the building took on a whole new spectrum. The ceilings were high, with strong, wooden beams jutting out from the roof with lots of windows cut into the stone walls, making the whole place seem light and airy. They had left the rosy-cheeked landlord serving a couple of the guards and they could hear him laughing at the soldiers’ somewhat pathetic jokes.
They reached a wooden staircase stretching upwards and curving to the right. This set of stairs led to a long corridor of bedrooms and their shoes made a ‘thudding’ noise as they ascended. Small oil paintings and prints dominated the white walls and Crystal noticed there were no portraits or pictures of people amongst them, and horses, pigs and dogs appeared to be more to the collector’s taste. They continued to climb three flights of stairs before Nienna stopped and pulled out a large key from her pocket. She unlocked a door and then pushed it ajar.
She gestured to Matt and Tremlon.
‘This will be your room,’ she said, stepping back so they could enter. ‘I hope you find it to your liking.’ Tremlon appeared to hesitate, turning towards Crystal once again.
‘I will wake you for breakfast,’ he said, grasping the door handle, ‘please don’t leave your room without letting me know where you’re going.’
‘Is there a problem if I do?’ she asked, feeling her eyebrows knit together with concern.
‘Er, no, not exactly, but you are not from this world and I don’t want you getting yourself …’ Tremlon paused, searching for the appropriate words, ‘into a situation you can’t get yourself out of.’ Tension filled the air and it was Nienna who intervened.
‘Should you need anything in the night, milady,’ she interrupted, taking a step towards her, ‘you’ll find a lever by your bed; just pull it and I will come and assist you.’ Crystal nodded her thanks.
‘I will,’ she promised, producing a weak smile, ‘but I’m sure I’ll be fine.’
Only slightly pacified, Tremlon entered his room whilst grabbing Matt by the scruff of the neck, shoving him inside and slamming the door behind him with the heel of his boot. Nienna reached out and put a gentle hand on Crystal’s shoulder.
‘He’s always been a bit tense, so don’t take it personally,’ she said, opening an adjacent door and gesturing for her to enter.
‘Thanks,’ said Crystal with a grin. ‘I’m guessing you’ve met him before by that comment.’
‘Oh, yes,’ Nienna said, with a nod of her head. ‘He’s stayed here many times over the past few months.’
Any thoughts of Tremlon were swiftly wiped away when she took a step inside her room.
‘Wow! This can’t be real!’
‘Is something wrong?’ Nienna asked with genuine concern. ‘Is there a problem, don’t you like it?’
‘But it’s just like my bedroom at home!’ Crystal gasped in astonishment. Running to her bed she grabbed the cuddly toy sitting on her pillow.
‘Hercules!’ she cried with joy. ‘What are you doing here?’ She was so pleased to see her favourite stuffed toy and she hugged him fiercely, feeling the first pang of homesickness wash over her. She looked over and spotted the heavy-framed picture of herself and Beatrice sitting on the bedside table. Still holding the bundle of fluff, she rushed over and picked up the colour photo, gazing at it with love glowing in her eyes. What the hell was she doing here in this strange world anyway? Would all this secrecy and knowledge really be worth it in the end? She placed the photograph back on the table.
‘How did you get this room to look like mine?’ she asked Nienna, fascinated with the concept of all she saw.
‘Why, it’s a standard feature in most of the taverns,’ said Nienna, laughing with surprise, ‘didn’t you know?’ Moving a thick curtain aside, Nienna exposed a metal grid attached to the wall. It looked to Crystal like some kind of combination.
‘This,’ Nienna pointed, ‘is what we call a room dial. It isn’t actually a dial, as you have to push the buttons.’ She shrugged her shoulders, ‘I don’t know where the name came from but anyway, you punch in a number and the room will change to any theme you wish, as long as you have the right combination, of course.’
Punching in a code as she spoke, Crystal watched the room change before her very eyes into a ship’s cabin. The room swayed with the roll of the sea, causing her to feel slightly nauseous. The hammocks tied to the ceiling swayed to and fro and the water jug placed at the centre of the table slid from side to side to match the movement of the rolling waves. A single round porthole gave her a view of the deep blue ocean. It was real, as real as anything she had ever seen and the sea sprayed against the window, causing her to giggle with sheer delight. She could make out colourless shapes under the water, shapes that were swimming closer to her and she shrieked with excitement when beautiful mermaids jumped from the icy waters in a huge synchronised display. Their large tails flapped playfully in the foamy bluish water and their long, golden tresses were wrapped around their bodies to cover their modesty.
‘I can’t believe what I’m seeing,’ Crystal exclaimed, unable to accept what her eyes were telling her to be true. ‘This really is another world; you do have magic here.’
‘It’s not magic,’ said Nienna, shaking her head thoughtfully. ‘What may appear to be magical in your ordinary world is not necessarily so in ours.’ She punched a number back into the dial to recreate Crystal’s bedroom once again. The room blurred for a moment, making Crystal feel slightly dizzy before it settled back, but she was too impressed to let that bother her.
‘Tremlon’s right though,’ she said, turning to face Nienna, ‘I do have a lot to learn and even more to understand about this world.’ Nienna smiled, the corners of her mouth softening, just a little.
‘Sleep well, milady,’ she said, after turning the bed down for the night. ‘Remember, if you need anything at all, just pull this lever by your bed and I will come straight away.’ Nienna showed Crystal how it worked before replacing it to its correct position.
‘Please don’t fuss, I’ll be fine,’ Crystal insisted, jumping on the bed and hugging Hercules for the thirtieth time.
‘Very well, then I will bid you goodnight,’ said Nienna, leaving her side and heading for the door, and once she had closed it, Crystal went back to hugging her dog, oblivious to what was about to happen to her in the next twenty-four hours.
Chapter 6
Amadeus sat on the ridge waiting for a sign that the wagon was approaching. He had waited all night, sitting under the stars with only the moon and the baying of wolves for company. The elf king had ordered him to watch and wait for the daughter of the Oakwood wizard Bridgemear to arrive, trusting no one else with such an important task.
Amadeus was seen to be a solid man, heavy boned with unsmiling eyes and hair that was thin and wispy. He had been born the son of a smithy, but had taken the oath of the king after his seventeenth birth moon. His gift
as an elf had been his strength and none could beat him with either fist or sword. Now, in his later years, although more weighty than when he was a boy, he still had what it took to be the best warrior the king had ever had. He sniffed the air, causing his nostrils to flare; the wind blew to the east and with it the scent of someone approaching. Alerted to the intruder, Amadeus held his sword tight, ready to strike, thus enabling him to have the element of surprise.
‘Amadeus!’ a voice he recognised called out and he relaxed the grip on his sword.
‘Hello Phaphos,’ Amadeus said, lowering his guard, but feeling suspicious. ‘Tell me, what brings you all the way out here?’
‘I’ve a message from the king,’ said the warrior, clutching his strong hand in his. ‘He instructs you to proceed without delay to Raven’s Rainbow with all possible speed. The king has given you his finest beast to help you on your journey.’
‘But why the sudden change of plan?’
Amadeus noticed Phaphos’s lips tighten. ‘The king wishes you to go and seek out Bridgemear, the Oakwood wizard, and not wait for the wagon as first planned.’
‘But why has the king chosen me to go? I am no match for Bridgemear’s magic, especially if he should greet me with animosity.’
‘You are to go as the king’s envoy,’ Phaphos explained. ‘You must track Bridgemear down and although that may not be easy, the king believes that you are the only one who will find the mage.’
Amadeus studied Phaphos further with his startling hawk eyes and felt a cold touch worm down his spine.
‘What am I to say to him?’
Phaphos stiffened. ‘Only a handful of the king’s advisors and I will know about this. You must tell Bridgemear news which will change our history forever.’
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