Wizard's Quest: Book Two Chapters Nine and Ten

All works copywrite Jay D Evans 2013

CHAPTER NINE

 

 

Richard woke early. Trying not to wake Mary, he slipped out of the bed and into the bathroom. After taking his shower, he put on the clean clothes that seemed always to be there as if a butler had arrived, unnoticed, and placed them there for him. Quietly he opened the door and peeked out to see if Mary was still asleep. She smiled at him from the bed.

“Finally awake I see. I didn’t wake you up did I?”

“Not until you got out of bed,” She teased.

Smiling, he laid back down next to her. “You really need to get up and ready. I have news to tell everyone.”

“I’d rather stay here, in this nice warm bed, with you.” Her blonde hair lay across one sleepy eye as she smiled seductively at him.

“Och! Do nae dae tha’ tae me. Ah cannae control mahsel’!”

Playfully hitting him on the shoulder, she got out of the bed and headed to the bathroom for her shower. “Suit yourself, Mr. Evans. If you don’t want more of this, so be it.”

He looked longingly after her, debating whether he should join her in the shower or finish getting ready to go down to breakfast. ‘Chivalry is the greater part of valour’ came to his mind and he decided to let her shower alone. As he sat there on the bed putting on his boots, he heard Sean and Elizabeth leave their room. Going over to the door and opening it slightly, he caught a glimpse of them heading down the stairs. Wanting to follow them, yet wanting to wait for Mary, he decided it would be prudent to stay where he was until she was ready to go. It wasn’t long before she came out, water dripping from her long, blonde hair, with a towel wrapped around her.

“Bloody hell! I think you would make anything look good.”

“Richard Evans! Flattery will get you everywhere.” Looking around, “I don’t suppose there is a hair dryer here.”

“I don’t know. I don’t use them. Did you look in the cupboard by the shower?”

Mary turned back into the bathroom and from behind the half open door, “There is one here. I’ll only be …” The sound of the dryer drown out the rest of her sentence.

Five minutes later the two were headed down the stairs to the dining hall and breakfast. Richard was getting antsy to tell everyone what he had discovered the night before and Mary could tell that whatever he wanted to tell them was important. As the two sat at the big oak table laden down with every kind of breakfast food imaginable she discreetly nodded her head toward him so Sean and Elizabeth would give him their attention.

“So, Richie, did….” Sean started, grinning.

“Don’t even go there.” Richard interrupted, not wanting to discuss the activities that he knew Sean was going to ask about. “I do have something to talk about, though.

“After you went to bed I went up to check out that room on the third floor. Stephanie and Quentin weren’t there, not that I really expected them to be. After all, they disappeared a day after we put them there. Anyway, the room was still really nice, only now it’s not quite so dark. And it looked lived in.”

“What do you mean – ‘lived in’?” Elizabeth looked at her friend, confused.

“You know, lived in. Like the bed wasn’t made perfectly, the table had an open book on it and there was a scarf, or….or…or…” At a loss for what the word he was looking for, Richard moved his hands like he was putting something around his shoulders.

“You mean a shawl?” Mary looked at him hopefully.

“Yeah! That’s it. A shawl was thrown over the back of a chair. Then, as I was sitting there, thinking about all this, I saw this,” he pulled the pendant out of his pocket, “lying on the floor just under the edge of the bed. I gave this to Stephanie our first year at Crauford. Remember, Mary? That day we were swimming at the loch.”

Mary thought back to their first year at the castle. Finally nodding as she remembered the day, she turned to Richard to continue. Elizabeth looked on beginning to understand just what this meant. Could it be that Richard had found another of their friends alive that once was dead? Maybe they would find everyone alive and well. Just as Richard was about to start again, the four heard a door slam and someone curse.

“Damn it!”

All four bolted out of the dining hall with Richard in the lead. As they approached the main stair case they could hear noise coming from the upper floors. Running up the stairs to the second floor they stopped again to listen. They had found nothing here the day before, but, this was a strange house and things were not always what they seemed. As they stood there, shuffling and scraping noises came from the third floor. Holding his finger to his mouth for the others to move quietly, Richard lead the way up to the top floor slowly. This could be friend, foe or host that they were hearing. He wanted to know who it was. If they rushed on up, making as much noise as they could, whoever it was may hide from them, or ambush them.

Reaching the top of the stairs, he glanced around the corner each direction. At the end of the hall, opposite the Royal Room, he caught a glimpse of a door closing. Motioning for the others to follow he crept down the hall and stopped at the door of the end room and put his ear to it to listen. Inside he could hear someone swearing to themselves. Slowly he reached out for the door handle and as he put his hand on it, the door opened. Surprised, Richard jumped back. Sean, Mary and Elizabeth pulled their wands out, ready to attack. From inside came an exclamation of surprise and the sound of someone falling back onto the floor.

Dumbstruck from what he saw, all that could come from Richard was, “C…. C…. C…”

Confused, Mary looked into the room. There, lying on his back with a look of amazement on his face was Connor O’Connell. Not knowing what had happened to him, Mary was just glad to find one of the lost friends. As she bent down to help him up, Connor looked up at her and then to the others in the doorway. As he stood, Sean couldn’t help but look his friend over to see what shape he was in. His clothing was the same as the rest, tight fitting but comfortable black trousers and tunic with a red belt. His complexion was pale as if he hadn’t seen the sun for some time but he looked healthy, and whole from what Sean could see. Elizabeth was the one to say something about it.

“Connor, not that it’s a bad thing, but, you have a bulge again.”

“Aye, I do. Don’t know how but, I ain’t complainin’.” The Irish youth smiled at them from ear to ear.

“Where did you go, man? We looked everywhere for you when you disappeared. We thought you’d escaped and left us here.” Sean wanted to know everything.

“I don’t remember everything. In fact, there’s little I remember other than going up to that room at the other end of the hall. I went in to look things over and tripped on something. Next thing I know, I wake up and have this bloody hole in me shirt and me chest is killing me, but, I had all me parts back! Look, Rich, I have me mebbs.” The boy pulled his shirt up and his trousers down to prove that his manhood had been restored.

Staring at him like he was a circus freak, Richard remembered the last time that he had seen Connor nude. Sebastian had healed his wounds enough for him to live, but, he had been so mangled that his manhood had disappeared in the process, leaving his friend less than a man and wanting to die. It had only been that Richard needed him and that MacCorkadall had chosen him to come along that kept him from giving up completely. Now he had his manhood back as if he had never lost it.

“Why did you have a hole in your shirt, Mate? Can you remember what happened when you tripped?”

“I really can’t. I think I fell out of the window, but I’m not sure.” Connor shook his head, trying to remember the details of that night.

“Connor, if you fell out of that window, you would have fallen on that statue. The one with the elf holding the spear. But, that would have killed you.” Elizabeth couldn’t quite believe that he was alive if that had happened. She had been saved by the skills of a healer, Connor was here alone.

“Aye, I know that. That’s why I didn’t say that I fell out the window. I really don’t remember. All I know is that I’m alive now and have me mebbs again.” He smiled even bigger than before. “Anyway, when I woke up, I decided that I should stay here. I knew that Richard would be back to find me. I just knew it. But, it’s been how long now? I was just getting ready to leave to try to find me way back to Crauford Castle. Maybe the elves would help me, I don’t know. But, I’ve been alone too long.”

“It’s been six months, Mate. Six long months. I found the Power Stone and went home, alone. Everyone else was either missing or dead, except for Sean and Elizabeth, who went back earlier. We came back to find everyone else.”

“Connor, have you seen Cassandra? We were so tired last night that we didn’t even think about trying to find her. She stayed behind to try and find Stephanie and Quentin’s bodies.” Elizabeth realized that she hadn’t even thought about her friend and felt ashamed.

“What do you mean, Stephanie and Quentin’s bodies?”

“That’s right,” Sean snapped his fingers as he remembered. “You disappeared before all that happened. Sebastian killed them with a death curse. Steph had accused him of killing Richard and you, an all out free-for-all argument started and it ended with him killing Quent. While Duncan was trying to talk him out of his wand, Steph took the initiative to try and do him in, but he got to her first.”

Anger swelled in Connor’s chest as he listened to Sean’s story. Sebastian was no one’s friend, least of all Connor. Hearing that the Romanian had killed his friends made the hate stronger. True, Sebastian had saved his life, but that was only because he had to, it didn’t mean that he owed him his life. Betrayal was something that didn’t sit well with the young Irishman. No matter the cost, he would avenge the death of Quentin Banks and Stephanie Graham, two people who had stood by him no matter what, and he would stand by them.

“I’ll kill him.”

“Too late for that. I’ve already done it.” Richard hated admitting to it, and it was barely audible when he did. “He was trying to take over Fey. He was holding the faerie king and was going to kill him, I had no choice.”

Mary moved over next to him and put an arm around his shoulders. Seeing the shame in his expression she tried to console him. “Richard, I believe that you did it only as a last resort, you had to. If it hadn’t been to that point, you wouldn’t even have thought about it.”

“What about Cassandra?” Elizabeth was growing impatient.

“Naw, I haven’t seen her. I’ve heard noises throughout this place, but, the only thing I’ve seen is the ghosts.”

“Ghosts? What kind of ghosts?” Mary was used to seeing ghosts at the castle, even talking to them, but they were the past residents of Crauford and she knew them even before she arrived there. Other ghosts were something to be wary of simply because she didn’t know if they were good or evil.

“I don’t know what kind they are, other than dead ones.” This brought a chuckle from everyone. “I know that who ever it is, this had to be their home. And they seem friendly enough, just damn noisy.”

“Maybe it’s them that have been making the meals and cleaning the clothes for us.” Sean looked around at his surroundings, wondering if his hosts were hearing him. “If so: THANK YOU!”

Richard, rubbing his chin, looked at Connor thoughtfully. “Where did ye see the wee spirits? Was it on the second or third floor?”

“Both.” Connor shrugged his shoulders. “What does it matter?”

“Just thinking….just thinking.” The young Scot looked at his friends, “I’m going to see the elves. Sean, you and Connor stay with the girls and see if you can contact these ghosts. They may know what’s happened to Quent, Steph and Cassandra. I’m going to see if the Elf Queen can enlighten me about this house.”

Mary’s attention had been distracted, looking around as if she would see one of the ghosts here in this dim room, until Richard had mentioned going somewhere. When Richard made his announcement, she turned to look at him. “I’m going with you. You are not getting out of my sight, Richard Evans.”

Richard laughed, “There’s no arguing with you about this is there?”

“No! Now when are we leaving?”

Richard looked around at his friends. Sean just shrugged and smiled, Connor glanced away as if to say, ‘I’m staying out of this,’ and Elizabeth giggled. “I guess we can leave now.”

“How far is it? Where we’re going.”

“Nae far. Last time Aragon met us in the forest and led the way.”

Sean interrupted, “Aye, the bugger was gonna kill us!”

“Nae he wasnae! He was makin’ sure we were who he thought we were. In other words: He was doin’ his job.”

“That’s right. And those arrows and spears pointed at us didn’t mean a thing!” Elizabeth added.

“It wasnae that bad. It’s his job to protect the queen. That’s all he was doin’. Besides, who wants to live forever, anyway?”

“Speaking from experience, I think, I would like to live for as long as I can.” Connor’s words resounded throughout the entire mansion with finality.

Elizabeth nodded her head in agreement. She, too, had almost died, albeit in a different way. Where she had been captured and tortured by the trolls, when the elves had found Connor, he had been mutilated and on the verge of death. They had taken him and healed his wounds as best they could, then turned him over to Sebastian who had healed him further. What had happened to the young Irishman at the Mansion, not even he knew for sure. The only thing for certain was that there was blood and a hole in his tunic through his chest, indicating that something had pierced his heart.

Mary frowned as she took in all that was being said. “I don’t know if I would trust these people, these elves. How do you know they will help us? How do you know they will tell you the truth?”

“Mary, I trust ‘em. They kept Connor alive. They could’ve killed us at anytime, but they didnae. Queen Areoli is a powerful elf-witch.” Richard looked at his long-time friend and soul mate with certainty. “I trust her.”

Mary’s shoulder length dirty blonde hair fell across her face and covered her deep blue eyes as she shook her head. “Richard Evans, if it wasn’t for the fact that I trust you implicitly, I would tell you this was a fool’s errand. But, I do trust you. So, if you tell me that these elves will help, I believe you.” Looking at the others reproachfully, “As for the rest of you, if you believed in him like you say you do, then you should trust him like I do.”

Sean, Elizabeth and Connor lowered their heads in shame. They did believe in him. If they hadn’t, Sean and Elizabeth wouldn’t have followed him back to find their friends and Connor would not have stayed at the Mansion and waited for him. Each knew in his, or her, own mind that Richard knew what he was doing. Each trusted him with their lives. Even before he had found the Sceptre and became the wizard he now was, Sean and Elizabeth had had complete trust and faith in him, even though he was unsure of himself. Now, with both the Sceptre of Oberon and Sphere of Power, they knew that he had complete control.

“Well,” Elizabeth smiled confidently, “Let’s get this show on the road. As we say in East Texas, we’re burning daylight.”

Like the American not quite understanding some European slang and expressions, the others looked at her a little baffled. It was already almost mid-day and it was impossible to burn something that just happened every time the sun rose. Noticing their strange looks, Elizabeth just laughed. It wasn’t often that she actually got one over on the overly stuffy European crowd and she was enjoying this.

Shaking his head in bewilderment at the young American’s remark, Richard looked at Mary. “Are ye ready? Lizabeth is right, may as well get goin’.”

“Yes.”

Richard took Mary’s hand and pulled her close to him. Looking into her eyes he smiled and spoke quietly to her, “Hold on. This will be the ride of your life.”

Winking at the other three, the young wizard swung the Sceptre of Oberon in a large circle in front of himself and Mary and the two slowly became transparent then disappeared completely. Sean, Elizabeth and Connor watched with amused awe. Richard’s self confidence had increased by leaps and bounds since he acquired the Sceptre. With it and the Sphere he was almost invincible and he was learning that very quickly. Where there had once been a young boy that wasn’t sure of anything that he was doing there was now a young man that knew where he was going and what he had to do to get there, and he was starting to have fun with the new confidence.

Coming back to reality, Elizabeth headed out into the hall. “We need to get going. We need to try and find Cassandra, Quentin and Stephanie. No telling how long Richard and Mary will be or if the elves will actually give them any help.”

“Aye, you’re right.” Sean followed her out the door.

“I guess so. Time to find the little beasties that go bump in the night.” Connor muttered to himself. “Been tryin’ to avoid ‘em much as possible so far. Now I have to go find ‘em.”

From the top of the grand staircase the boys heard Elizabeth’s East Texas drawl, “Y’all get moving. Come on, we’re still burning daylight getting nothing done.”

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER TEN

 

Richard and Mary materialized just outside the border of the Elf City where the Elvin Royal Guard would not be alerted immediately. Richard had not wanted to attract too much attention to their arrival. Mary just stared at the huge oak trees that were home to the Forest Elves with the massive Palace Oak in the centre connected by catwalks to each of the other trees. So engrossed was she that when Aragon arrived she didn’t notice.

“Richard Evans, young wizard. You have gotten by the perimeter guard, how?”

Smiling, Richard held up the Sceptre. “I have this now.”

Even the elves knew of the Sceptre of Oberon. Seeing that the young human possessed it, the elvin warrior took a step back. “How did you come to possess it? Oberon hid his sceptre before he was killed by Kahnlin many centuries ago.”

Richard looked at Aragon warily. “I found the key to the Sand Tower where he hid it. I also have his Sphere, given to me by the Master Sorcerer Angus MacCorkadall.”

Bowing down before the human boy, Aragon showed his respect. “Queen Areoli knew that you were of great character. This proves that she was correct. To obtain the Sphere, alone, is something great. To find the Sceptre, also, proves that you are most worthy to rule all of Syrus. You must know the power you now possess.”

Reaching down and pulling the elf to his feet, Richard looked him in the eye, and, to make his point further, did not contain his thick Scottish accent. “Ah am nae mair than Ah was. A wee bit wiser, a wee bit mair confident, but th’ sam. Dinnae baw afair me.”

Aragon nodded his acknowledgement. “I will announce you to the Queen. You are now her equal. There will be a celebration tonight to welcome you back. If I may ask you, why have you returned, with only one companion, and one that is unknown to us?”

“Aragon, you are one that I would call a friend. You can ask anything. I have come back to find missing and dead friends. Some you know, others, like Mary here, you do not. I left friends at the Mansion that I cannot find. I was hoping that Queen Areoli could help me. I really need to talk with her as soon as I can.”

“For you to call me ‘friend’ is a great honour. Come, I will take you to the Queen.” Aragon turned and headed into the middle of the Elvin City toward the Palace Oak.

Richard looked at Mary and motioned with his head to follow the elf guard. “Come on. I told you it would be the ride of your life. Now you get to meet real royalty.”

The two humans ran after the elf and caught up with him at the base of the Palace Oak. As they climbed the vine ladder into the treetop Mary kept looking out over the city, revelling in how beautiful it was and marvelled at how nature could be formed into such beauty. The buildings built, or formed from, the treetops shone with inner light. The catwalks between each tree were woven vines and oak planks that appeared to have grown into the useful tools they were. The polished walls of the homes looked as if a master carpenter had deftly crafted them from the trees themselves.

They were near the top of the ladder when Richard suddenly stopped and looked out across the forest. Mary almost climbed over him before she realized that he had stopped. When she looked up at him, he had a look of concern, or worry, on his face. After a moment he looked down at her, smiled and continued on to the platform that served as the entry of the Palace.

“What was that about?”

“What?”

Consternation came through her words. “Stopping at the top and then looking worried. That is what.”

“Och, naethin’. Ah thought Ah heard somethin’. That’s aw.”

Mary frowned at her friend. “I know when you’re lying, Richard. And you are now. Why don’t you want to tell me the truth?”

Shrugging his shoulders and sighing with exasperation, he looked her in the eyes. “Mary, why dae ye think aam lyin’? Ah jist thought Ah heard somethin’. It was naethin’.”

Grabbing his shoulders, she stared back at him. “Why do I think you’re lying? Listen to you. Your accent is about as thick as it can be.”

He knew that he’s been caught. “Alright. Ah jist got a feelin’ that there was trooble close. Ah dunnae kinn what ur hoo. It was jist a feelin’, naethin’ mair.”

“First of all, you need to calm down. If you don’t control your accent, the elves will never be able to understand what you’re trying to say. Secondly, what could possibly be out there that could get through to here?”

Richard knew she was right. Aragon’s guards were the best. Nothing could get past them, and they would never allow anyone, or anything, to get close enough to the city to do any harm. But, the feeling that there was something really dangerous coming would not leave. He didn’t believe there was danger to the elves or their beautiful city, but, to him, and if the elves didn’t perceive whatever it was as a threat, they would allow it to proceed into the city.

Aragon had led them into the Palace and had gone to announce their arrival. Richard remembered this room. It was here that Sebastian had healed Connor’s wounds and had tried to take over his quest for the Power Stone. Nothing had changed except the circumstances of why he was here. They had been led here the last time by Aragon and his guards to see the Queen, who had told him not to quit the quest. This time, he was here on his own volition, requesting to see the beautiful Elf Queen, hoping she could help him find his missing friends.

It wasn’t long before Aragon returned. “Her Majesty, Queen Areoli, will see you now. She is most anxious to talk with you.”

Looking at Mary, Richard took a deep breath. “Air ye ready?”

She pulled her shoulders up to her ears and got a big grin, making her look like a small child that was excited, yet shy, to do something. “Yes. Let’s go before I get too nervous to actually see her.”

Queen Areoli, her long silver hair cascading down around her slender body like a royal cloak, sat upon her throne as she had before. Aragon bowed and announced, “Your Highness, the young wizard Richard and his companion, Mary.”

The ancient elvin queen looked down from her throne with deep blue eyes. Eyes that showed wisdom from centuries of life, the depth of which knew no boundary, now were etched with the barest traces of concern. As she gazed upon the two young humans, those eyes also showed great compassion and empathy. She knew why Richard had come. She had known he would come before he knew it, himself. She could give him the answers he sought, but, should she? He was but a child, learning as he grew in his power, and if she gave him all he wanted, he would not gain the wisdom he needed. She would help him learn how powerful the tools were that he had and how to use them. But it would do him a great disservice just to answer his questions.

“Richard, you have returned to find answers to questions that you have not thought of yet.”

“Nae, I know the questions. I was hoping that you could give me the answers.”

“You have learned respect since our last meeting. Yet, patience is still beyond your grasp. Remember, young wizard, that patience is a virtue.”

Remembering the last time he had seen Queen Areoli, he realized that nothing was as important to her as it was to him. She would help, but it would be in her own time. “Aye, I know that I lack the patience that you have. But, my friends are depending on me.”

“Your friends are wise to put faith in one such as you. You have strength and perseverance, loyalty and compassion. All strong qualities. Perhaps they, too, need to learn patience.” She smiled down upon the upturned faces of her guests.

“Your Majesty, the Mansion, who is there?” Richard’s enthusiasm would not let him keep the question back any longer.

“Your friends are there. The one you call Connor, whom we found close to death. Sean, who was there before and Elizabeth, the friend who was missed by another so much as to wish death, they are there.”

“Aye, I kinn that. But, who else is there? Who controls the mansion, keeps it clean and takes care of its’ guests?”

Queen Areoli laughed. A deep, heartfelt laugh that showed understanding in Richard’s question. “You wish to know your hosts.”

Mary could contain herself no longer. “Yes. That’s what he, we, want to know. Who is taking care of us there?”

The Queen addressed the young blonde witch for the first time. “Young, fair maiden, you have such knowledge that you don’t realize. Search deep within yourself. You know who it is. The others are not as perceptive as you. Your wisdom is beyond your years. That is why Richard has needed you as he has. Where he lacks strength, you give it.”

Confused, Mary just stared her. “What do you mean, I know who it is? I have just arrived here.”

The Queen lowered her head toward the young witch and gazed intently into her eyes. “You have in you the second sight. Concentrate. Let your mind go and receive the answer you seek.”

Not a word had been spoken, yet Mary had heard the voice. Doing as the ancient elf instructed, she cleared her mind and concentrated on the Mansion, who was there yet not seen. Slowly an image appeared in her mind, coalescing from a blur of colours into solid form. When the image was crystal clear, she realized that she had known all along who had been there, it had been right in front of her the whole time, she just had not been paying attention to it. The ghosts that Connor had seen were not ghosts at all, but shadows of the inhabitants.

Smiling, she looked at Richard. “It’s so simple. Think about it, Richie. Our hosts have given us exactly what we needed. Right?”

Richard nodded. “Aye. Every time. When Stephanie and I found the house the first time, we needed food and it was there. We needed beds, clothes; it was all supplied without us asking for a thing.”

“When you were there before, it supplied for the right number of people. This time, it supplied for two couples. Think, Richard, think! It has been us. Before it was who was there with you. It has always been whoever was there.”

Not understanding, the boy wizard looked at her in confusion.

“Richard, you needed, your other-self, your shadow so to speak, took care of you. Last time there were rooms for each person, you said that. This time there were two rooms for four people, two boys and two girls. Our other-selves knew that we didn’t need four rooms, only two. Last time, you needed rooms for everyone. You didn’t know that Sean was there, there was no way for your other-self to know to supply for him. This time, we didn’t know that Connor was there. His other-self took care of him.”

Still confused, Richard just shook his head. “What is an “other-self?”

Exasperated, Mary lowered her head and shook it violently from side to side. “Didn’t you pay attention in class when MacCorkadall was talking about the different forms that we all take? We have a physical self, what everyone sees, and the one that basically has life. Then, there are the other forms of us. The shadow of our physical selves or the ‘other-self’ as most explain it is the most prevalent. Then there is what most people call the ‘soul’ or spirit.”

Looking sheepish, Richard smiled guiltily. “I missed that class.”

The Queen interrupted, urgency in her voice. “You must hide. Go now! You may hide in the upper floors.”

Aragon appeared and whispered in his queen’s ear.

“I know. Please take our guests and hide them. I do not want them found.”

“Yes, Milady.” Aragon motioned for Richard and Mary to follow him.

“What’s goin’ on?” Richard demanded.

“There is one coming this way that will do anything to take what he wants.”

“Why don’t the guards stop him? That’s what they’re for.”

“This one has elvin blood and is allowed audience with me. He is not to be taken lightly, though.”

“What is it that he wants? Do you know? Who is it?” Richard was concerned. Maybe he could help the elves against this person.

“His name is Kahnlin and what he wants,” she paused for just a second, “is you. Now, go quickly. He does not know that you are here. Let us keep it that way. He is at the foot of the Oak. NOW GO!” She nodded at Aragon.

Grasping both their arms, Aragon pulled them toward the hidden doorway behind the throne. “Let us go. Queen Areoli is capable of taking care of this mixed-breed. She has confronted him before.”

“Kahnlin? I left him in a rock on his world. How could he be here?”

“This is the same world, Richard. We have taken care of our part of it. The mix-breeds and trolls have battled for centuries and destroyed their part. Now, let us go before he arrives here.”

As Aragon, Richard and Mary disappeared through the hidden door Kahnlin barged through the main door. Sitting serenely upon her throne, belying no indication of worry, Queen Areoli stared at him. “What you seek is not here.”

Arrogantly, Kahnlin stormed right up to the Queen. “And what is it that I seek, Elf Queen?”

“Power. Retribution. Even absolution.”

Kahnlin laughed. “Absolution? For what? Power? I have that. Retribution. Now that is something that I demand. The humans took what was rightfully mine. And humiliated me in the process. Oberon was a fool and now I want back what he hid from me and gave away.” The Trelf’s demeanour became dark and menacing. “That whelp will return to me the Sceptre and Sphere so that I may rule Syrus as I should. Then he will pay for his insolence with his life.”

Serenely, the Queen looked down on the Trelf. “You will not succeed in your quest. The human boy has become more powerful than you can imagine.”

Infuriated, losing all control, Kahnlin screamed, “I will not lose! It is my destiny to rule!”

Before anyone could react, Kahnlin drew  the dagger from his belt and threw it, piercing the Elvin Queen in the heart. As her royal guard wrestled him to the floor, the regal form of Queen Areoli shimmered with light from within. She smiled down at the captured Trelf as her form became transparent. The inner light brightened more and more until everyone in the room had to cover their eyes. As the light dimmed, there was the  sound of metal hitting the polished oak floor. The guards looked up at the throne as the form of their queen disappeared completely. The only thing left was Kahnlin’s dagger lying at the foot of the massive oak throne.

Before the royal guards could regain control of their senses Kahnlin broke free from their grasp and ran through the open doors of the Throne Room and absconded down to the ground. Glancing around quickly for the safest way out of the city, he did not notice that Richard was watching from atop the Palace. Seeing that no one was yet aware of what had just occurred, he headed toward the forest at a fast walk. He was at the edge of the city when the guards yelled down that the Queen had been murdered.

“Hey! Stop that chanty wrassler! He killed the Queen!” Richard jumped from the top of the palace, not stopping to think he could kill himself in the fall. Instead of falling head first onto the ground below, the young wizard flew. His only thoughts were to get to Kahnlin before he escaped into the forest. Headlong he flew at increasing speed until landing on top of the Trelf just as he reached the tree line.

With the Sceptre of Oberon at Kahnlin’s throat, Richard shook with rage. “Ah shoods kill ye reit noo! Ah coods dae it wi’ nae regrets ur consequences.”

Kahnlin looked up at his would be executioner and laughed. “You couldn’t do it before and you won’t do it now. You just don’t have it in you. You are too weak.”

Loosening his hold and standing up, Richard smiled. “Ye underestimate me, Kahnlin. Aam nae the same wee lad ye foond in th’ desert.” Then without warning, “Jalloo!”

Unlike the freezing spell that he had learned at Crauford Castle that would make a person immobile, this spell turned its’ victim into stone. Kahnlin’s face went from amused to shock as his entire body became rigid. Richard turned and walked away from his handiwork as if he were walking away from a finished project that he was no longer interested in. The elvin guards that had witnessed the exchange just stared at the young human and separated to let him through. He didn’t stop until he reached the Throne Room to see what had happened. Finding nothing, not even a body, he turned toward Aragon, who had not moved since his queen had been stabbed.

“What happened? Where is she?”

The elf just stared at him as if he were nothing more than a hallucination, not saying a word. Richard grabbed his shoulders and shook him. “WHERE IS SHE?”

As if from a long distance away Aragon mumbled, “Gone. She’s gone.”

“Gone? Gone where?” Richard was becoming very irritated.

Pointing toward the massive oak throne, Aragon began to sob. “She just disappeared into the light. She was there and then she was gone.”

Not understanding why Queen Areoli’s highest ranking guard was acting like he was, Richard slapped him across the face hoping to bring him to his senses. “Man, ye need tae gie hold of yerself. Ah need answers.”

“I loved her. Now she’s gone.”

“Ever’one loved her. She wooldnae hae bin queen if they hadnae.” Then it hit him. Aragon had not just loved his queen, he had loved the woman. Searching the elf’s mind as he had the trelf’s, he found that Aragon and Queen Areoli had been lovers, making the elf’s actions understandable.

“Aam sorry, truly sorry. But, noo we hae tae find her.”

“The Trelf first. I will kill him.”

“Ah’ve taken care of him. He’ll nae be a problem until we find the Queen. Now let’s go.”