With every fiber of his being he wanted to burst out of his hiding place and rush to her. It took immense effort, but he retreated a few steps and sank to his knees to consider his next move.
*****
Elora was surprised by how many wistful songs she knew. Love songs, nursery rhymes, and even some lullabies. Though the songs made her feel heavyhearted, they also gave her a bit of relief. She wasn’t one to give up, but after nearly two weeks in captivity her options were shrinking.
She sang.
Again the dark night presses, presses on thy soul.
Pierces hope and dreaming, he’s never coming home.
‘tever path he’s trodden, trodden free or bond
Onward he’ll continue, the pathway still is long.
Ay dah la dee, ta loo ree
Ay dah la tee, lo ray
Ay dah la dee, ta loo ree
Ay dah ta ree ta lay.
Ere she ‘pproaches smiling, smiling pure as gold
Nights and years a’ crying, countless ye shall know.
The vanished know no comfort, comfortless are ye
Yet continue waiting, tho’ live or dead she be.
Ay dah la dee, ta loo ree
Ay dah la tee, lo ray
Ay dah la dee, ta loo ree
Ay dah ta ree ta lay.
The song was a common lullaby in Shey’s Orchard, but Elora never imagined being one of the vanished. Her imprisonment wasn’t physically hard to bear, once she learned she was relatively safe. But she wouldn’t last much longer.
The glade she shared with the Jabberwocky was three or four times larger than the one around the Tumtum tree. The trees that enclosed the clearing were a closely knit wall, the same as the rest of the tulgey wood. A few large boulders and soft grass covered most of the open area.
The only water supply was a natural spring which formed a pool at the center of the glade. Unfortunately, the water was laced with mercury. Every time she took a drink of the spring water she could taste the quicksilver. It was similar to an iron taste, like a bloody nose, but she had enough experience with mercury from helping in her father’s mirror shop to sense the difference. If it was strong enough to taste, every drink was poison, even if it took weeks or months to affect her. She drank only once a day in an attempt to avoid the symptoms as long as possible.
It was nearing midday. He’ll be leaving soon to hunt, she thought. It hadn’t taken long to learn the Jabberwocky’s routine. When he returned he would give her a healthy portion of whatever prey he found. Using the flint and steel she’d found in the glade—presumably by a former captive—she used it to spark a fire to cook the meat for her dinner each night.
The only other item she’d found was a single red ribbon with a gold tip, the kind a maiden wears after her Sixteenery but before her wedding. It wouldn’t be proper for Elora to wear it in her hair, not for another eight months, so she tied it around her wrist. Whoever it belonged to had hopes and aspirations, just like Elora.
Did you have someone waiting for you too? Someone who still waits? she wondered as she toyed with one of the gold tips. The ribbon might be the closest Elora ever came to her own Sixteenery.
Elora flinched as the Jabberwocky stood and lunged into the air. The hole in his wing made flying difficult. How he had received the wound was a mystery, but it happened after he left her in the clearing by the gargantuan tree on the first day. His flight was uneven, more like a bat than a bird. She wondered how much of that was due to the wound in his wing.
“What are you going to bring me for dinner tonight?” she said aloud, though the Jabberwocky was far out of hearing range.
“I have some dried meat and flat bread.”
She jumped at first, not realizing the voice was familiar. Looking around for its source she saw the most welcome sight of her life. Tjaden was walking out of the tunnel. Was he truly shining, or did her imagination just made it seem so?
They rushed into each other’s arms, reminiscent of their embrace after the encounter with the bandersnatch, and melted into their first kiss.
“What are you doing here?” she asked in amazement. Her hands gently caressed his cheeks as they stared into each other’s eyes.
“I’m here to rescue you. I’ll tell you what I know on the way out.” Taking her hand, he led her back into the hollowed root.
“Why didn’t you run, get away from here? And how are you possibly still alive?” he asked as they entered the humid darkness.
“We can’t get out this way. The Tumtum tree, it eats…people, animals. Anything unlucky enough to wander near.”
“I know. I barely escaped last night. The horses weren’t as lucky. But it doesn’t attack during the day, does it?”
She shook her head despite the darkness. “No, but it has vines, appendages that trap whatever wanders in. When any prey approaches, the way is open, but when it tries to leave, the path out is blocked.”
As if talking to himself, Tjaden recited, “Arrive in peace, there’ll be a feast. And there you shall remain.”
“What?”
“Something I heard,” said Tjaden. “I’ll explain when there’s time.”
“Anyway,” said Elora, “the only way out of the clearing by the Tumtum tree is to climb up the tree and down the ladder.”
Tjaden stopped walking and turned toward her. They were engulfed in darkness, yet she stared up into his face. He said, “Which brings us to this root tunnel.”
“Exactly.”
“At least you found the tunnel and avoided the Tumtum tree at night,” said Tjaden. “I always knew you weren’t the kind of girl to give up easily.”
She grinned in the dark, laying her free hand on his arm. “No, I pretty much get what I’m after.”
Predictably, Tjaden had no come back. He just cleared his throat. Signaling the direction of the glade he asked, “Is there any possibility of escaping that way?”
“No, it’s surrounded by trees just like the other clearing. I can barely fit my hand through most places.”
“We’ll have to try the path. With my sword maybe I can cut through.”
“Give me your dagger. I can help or at least defend our ankles if the vines come out.” She thought his spine straightened slightly and knew he was as proud of her as she was of him.
They started down the corridor again, and Tjaden asked, “Why did the beast let you live? How’d you survive?”
“The Jabberwocky isn’t what you think. He’s not what anyone thinks. Where do I start? First of all, he can talk.”
“You mean like a human?”
“Yeah. He struggles, but he can do it.”
“What did he say to you?”
“He just can’t stand to be alone. He used to have a companion, a mate. Before she was killed the two of them lived here alone. They never left except to hunt. Animals, not people. When he lost her his entire life changed. He changed. Became the monster everyone fears.”
“Darieus told me about her; he’s the one who killed her. He gave me a flask of her musk. That was going to be the secret behind my vorpal blade but it looks like I won’t need it now.”
Elora was shocked. “Captain Darieus killed her? The Jabberwocky told me about a man he hates, a man he will kill before he ever rests. It has to be Captain Darieus.” She felt sick to her stomach.
“King Darieus, now. Or King Regent, anyway. The Jabberwocky killed King Barash on the Jubilation day a week ago. Right in front of everyone in the middle of the day.”
“But he’s never attacked the capital before, why would he suddenly discover the capital the one time the king was vulnerable all day?” she asked.
“I don’t know, but it’s worked out perfectly for Darieus. He swears he’ll relinquish the throne once Prince Antion is old enough, but he’s not the kind of man who gives up power.”
They reached the ladder and quickly ascended.
“Elora, this could be a hasty and dangerous escape. Are you healthy enough? He didn’t hurt yo
u, did he?
“On the contrary, the Jabberwocky provided for me. I had as much meat as I could eat every day. He isn’t cruel by nature, but once he spends too much time alone he literally goes mad. Having someone here with him keeps him sane; he sees his mate in the young women he kidnaps. I don’t think the mercury in the water helps his sanity either. That has to be why his captives never survive.”
“One of them is going to survive.” He pulled her toward him and she savored the feeling of safety. “I’ve had enough of planning and plotting,” he said. “Action, finally.” After kissing her again he ducked out onto the branch.
*****
Tjaden led out of the tree’s interior and onto the branch. Having Elora near him again renewed his determination. There was no way they could fail. With the Jabberwocky out of the way it should be a relatively easy escape. When killing the monster had been his task he accepted it because there didn’t seem to be any other option. Now that escape was possible without fighting the manxome beast, he was more optimistic than ever.
They climbed down the rough exterior of the Tumtum tree much more wary of the huge, carnivorous beast in disguise than the first time he descended. Safely on the ground, he untied the glass container and handed it to Elora so he could be unencumbered for whatever lay ahead. After a deep breath and a look into Elora’s smiling eyes, he started toward the path.
“Wait,” Elora said. “Did you see this? I couldn’t figure it out when he first brought me here.” She led him to the wagon wheel diagram.
“It’s faded,” Elora explained. “When I woke up here it was more pronounced. The cloth was on the stake and it was in the ground right here,” she pointed at the center of the wheel, “and the branch was over here.”
With the markers in place Tjaden recognized it instantly. “It’s a map. It’s an exact copy of the one Darieus showed me when he told me how to find this place, but instead of a stake and branch there were markers for Palassiren and the Tumtum tree. But why…”
The branch was obviously from the Tumtum tree, but what about the strip of cloth? It was the deep blue color of an Elite uniform and smelled strongly of sweat. The scene of mayhem and dead soldiers in the plaza came to mind.
Exactly like the king’s torn cloak, he thought. No, exactly like Darieus’ cloak that he gave to the king.
And Tjaden understood.
The Jabberwocky didn’t bring Elora here. Darieus’ soldiers did. They left her and this shred of Darieus’ cloak with his scent to lure the Jabberwocky to the capital where the king would be conveniently waiting. The branch was placed exactly where the Tumtum tree appeared on a map, and the cloth was staked in the center—Palassiren. Darieus wanted the Jabberwocky to get his bearings.
He planned for the Jabberwocky to arrive on that very day. That’s why he wasted days practicing with machines and why he dressed me in dark blue. So he could present his champion to the people.
Tjaden turned to Elora. His voice was gruff, though he wasn’t angry with her. “Did the Jabberwocky bring you here?”
“Yes,” she answered. “Well, I was so heavy-eyed in camp. I fell asleep and woke up right here. I don’t know why he didn’t just take me all the way to the spring where he lives.”
Because it wasn’t the Jabberwocky.
“Did they give you anything unusual to eat in camp?” he asked.
“No, just the stew and some berries and cream. Wait…I was the only one who got the berries.”
They drugged her. And they dumped her here for the Jabberwocky to find. There never was an attack on the camp.
He knew his sword would never get them past the Tumtum’s vines which blocked the path. Darieus never expected me to make it back, or he would’ve warned me about the tree and told me how to get past it.
Tjaden felt more than betrayed; he felt personally attacked. Darieus had risked Elora’s life to manipulate Tjaden into accepting the quest to kill the Jabberwocky. Less important to Tjaden, but much graver, he had set the king up to be murdered in a violent manner, one that would unite the people behind a new, strong military leader. Darieus is a traitor.
It was hard to believe, but Tjaden had no doubt based on what he had recently learned. Anger held him rooted to the ground next to the Tumtum tree. The entire kingdom is nothing but a pawn for him to get what he wants.
Elora moved to stand next to him, reminding him he was not alone. Unable to control his temper he struck the tree with his fist.
“Why so uffish, Tjaden?” Elora asked, placing her hand on his shoulder. “What is it?”
He opened his mouth to explain but was interrupted by a distant flapping of graceless wings. The Jabberwocky sped over them, dipping and bobbing through the air. He struggled to stay in flight, but crashed into the woods, fifty paces past the clearing.
“Quick, climb into the tree,” Tjaden told her.
“No, I’m staying here to help you.”
“There’s nothing you can do, this is my task. Now go! It’s clattering through the trees.”
“Tjaden, you don’t have to do everything yourself. Let the people who love you lend a hand once in a while.”
There was no argument for that. It had been proven again and again. “I don’t know what you can do, but stay clear of the beast, and watch out for my sword.”
Tjaden stepped away from the tree, drawing his weapon. His entire world consisted of protecting Elora. There was no anger, no fear, no revenge. Just one girl he cared about more than anything in the world. If he failed this time, she would die here.
There was no way he would let that happen. Loosening his arms with wide, criss-crossing swings, he waited for the burbling beast.
*****
He flew in desperation. I won’t be alone again. Not again. Someone had taken her while he was hunting; the scent of a man polluted his home.
The Jabberwocky passed the Tumtum tree and saw them standing in the clearing. He tried to circle around, but his torn wing gave out and he crashed thunderously into the thick forest. Anger brimmed over and his eyes burned with rage as he pushed through the tulgey woods. The dense trees made it difficult even for him. He ambled forward slowly, whiffling rather than barreling through the trees as he wanted to.
The exertion mixed with frustration caused him to burble throatily. He gasped again and again in a mixture of a bleat, a warble, and a murmur as he whiffled through the close-knit trees.
Burble, lunge. Burble, lunge. The clearing was just ahead.
He burst through the final rows of trees and stormed into the clearing. Blood from his recent kill formed a froth in the corners of his mouth. The man was standing in front of her. In front of his beloved.
They will not take her away from me again.
He felt his eyes afire, heat boring wherever he gazed. Bellowing, he stepped forward, and drew back his head to crush the insolent man.
I won’t let them hurt you. Not again.
Never again.
For the slightest moment he gazed at the insignificant human who stared back without a hint of fear. Even the man’s smell did not betray the horror or panic common to all humans. The puny man rushed at him with a paltry weapon. Slightly surprised, the Jabberwocky opened his jaws and lashed his head forward. But before he collided with the man, his beloved screamed, causing them both to pull up short.
She shouted, “Tjaden. Catch!” Something brown and murky came toward him and the man. The Jabberwocky waited, curious to see what she had thrown. Instead of catching it, the man struck with his sword. The object shattered, sending glass flying through the air along with…
Her.
The Jabberwocky froze where he stood.
Not a substitute, or an imitation.
Her scent.
The unity, joy, and clarity of his former life returned like a bolt of lightning.
Home.
The magnificent aroma washed over him, cleansing his anger and hate. He saw his beloved lying in the glade, brilliant green skin outshining the thick g
rass. She was smiling and laughing at some awkward step he’d taken. It was the most beautiful sight ever, and it instantly turned his hate to wonder. Despair became hope.
Tears of joy brimmed in his eyes, and for the first time in decades, the Jabberwocky smiled.
PART V
One, two! One, two! and through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
Tjaden didn’t hesitate. The beast stood motionless in front of him, and he charged. The floodgates were open and his anger at Darieus was vented on the Jabberwocky. In his aggressive style, each blow became a combination. One, two! One, two! His vorpal blade sliced the Jabberwocky’s underbelly.
One, two! One, two!
Tjaden was an unstoppable waterfall. Even the mighty Jabberwock was powerless to stand against him. Like a relentless river he maintained the offensive, sweeping the massive beast away with his force. He had to protect Elora, take her back to Shey’s Orchard alive and whole.
The Jabberwocky’s tough skin was difficult to pierce, though every blow was delivered with as much strength as Tjaden could muster.
His arching swings weren’t sinking deep enough so Tjaden switched to penetrating strikes. In and out, through and through. He felt no pity and no hesitation. His obstacle—his foe—stood before him. As long as Tjaden breathed he would take the battle to his enemy.
Through and through the tough skin went his vorpal blade. The Jabberwocky began to sway, and Tjaden continued to pierce the beast as it fell thunderously to its side.
Snicker-snack. Snicker-snack. His flame-bladed sword flayed the creature open.
Not pausing to catch his breath, Tjaden advanced toward the creature’s exposed neck. He raised his sword, prepared to sever the prostrate head and heard a thunderous “WAIT!”
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