With all the excitement over the progression of the quests, Lentee was eager to get back outside, so she had Sarinna help her bring two chairs for them to sit on.
No sooner had they placed the chairs in front of the well and made themselves comfortable, than the same man who made the announcement before stepped out of his cottage and yelled: “RAXTON IS TRAPPED ON THE BRIDGE!” As they had previously, all the people stopped. Some shook their heads, and some actually moaned, but all of them went right back to placing new ones or changing their old wagers.
“Raxton is trapped?” a worried Sarinna asked.
Lentee smiled, “’Tis just a riddle, which I am certain he shall soon solve.”
“Oh.” Sarinna nodded toward the man as he went back in his cottage. “Who is that?”
“He has no name, so we call him Noname.”
“Can you not give him a name?”
“He prefers not to have one. He says having no name keeps him humble.” Lentee quieted and let Sarinna have a long look around. She was noticing many things and soon would have a flurry of questions. Some Lentee could answer and some she could not.
“Why does the woman point at the ground with her stick as she walks.”
“She cannot see.”
Sarinna’s mouth dropped. “Never have I heard of such a thing. She cannot see at all?”
“No, she has a failing. All of us do.”
“A failing,” Sarinna muttered, as she watched a man limp from one place to another, and a woman who looked so exhausted she was in need to finding a place to sit. Sarinna thought to give up her chair, just as a man with a missing hand brought the woman one. “What is her failing?”
“Her failing is hidden. Her heart does not beat as it should and she tires easily. It is her husband who takes her chair everywhere she goes.”
With a deeply wrinkled brow, Sarinna continued to notice the imperfections in the people around her, although she asked no more questions. That people who looked very much like her were not perfectly made did not fit in her world.
“We are Pendernics,” Lentee finally offered.
“Pendernics,” Sarinna whispered.
“You call us Lowlanders, but we call ourselves Pendernics. As you shall soon see, we are happy here. With the exception of a few things, we have all that we need.”
“What sort of things are you lacking?”
“We could use better furniture like the kind Nerratel makes. His work is wondrous.”
“How do you know that?”
Lentee giggled. “Do you remember the smudge you left on your bowl?”
“The smudge that was gone the next day?”
“That’s the one. I cleaned it for you. We would do most anything for Nerratel and his family. Most of us are hoping he shall be the next king – if he is willing to hear the truth, that is.”
Sarinna stared at her new friend for a very long moment. “You were in...”
“Only a few of us are allowed to help, and only when it is a kindness.”
“I am afraid to ask,” Sarinna said, her astonishment still evident, “but was it a Mobbox who stole from the Carbollo?”
“It was. Enor hoped the Mobbox children would be blamed and therefore a war would begin.”
Sadness made Sarinna close her eyes for a time. “If you can go to Extane in the night, why did you not save the king?”
“We wanted to, but we decided against it. Noname reminded us that King Grafton saw the truth on his quest, yet, year after year he did nothing. He held fast to the pride and the selfishness of the Carbollo.” Once more, Lentee quieted. She watched the wagering and like everyone else, waited for more news.
Sarinna finally asked. “How can you be happy here? A woman who cannot see, cannot be happy.”
“But she is. We love and care for her as best we can. We care for everyone as best we can.”
“Soon, my brother will come to get me and take me home.”
Lentee sighed, “We have gotten to this much sooner than I thought. Sarinna, you cannot go home – not unless...”
“Unless what? What do you mean?”
“I mean, Nerratel cannot come for you. There is no way down the cliffs.”
“We found a way down, or at least Gincar did.”
“Gincar’s failings are in her heart too, although it does not disturb the beating. It disturbs the lives of others. The stairs were to get Telder and Enor off Extane before they could steal or kill again. We learned too late that they had taken you and Gincar.”
WITH ARTILLY RIDING behind him, Nerratel halted his horse and stared at the first wide, rushing river he had ever seen. The road became a golden bridge that crossed a river and at first, he just wanted to take in the beauty. He was beginning to become more aware of the differences between Upper Extane and his home. Where everything on Extane was pastel, or rather faded in color, the trees, the bushes, the flowers and the land here seemed to come alive with vibrant colors. Even the river was an astonishment.
Nerratel patted the side of his horse and continued on across the golden bridge. “I see no other people on Upper Extane,” he said, asking a question without actually asking.
“We are but three on Upper Extane,” Artilly said, “and we are only here during the quest. Occasionally, we come with the others to enjoy the ocean. The rest of the time, we live with our families on Lower Extane. We can come back as often as we like. Everyone can, save those who know not how to get here.”
“The castle holds far more secrets than I imagined.”
“More than that, even,” Artilly added.
“Lower Extane?” Lasun asked. “Where is that?”
Binna rolled her eyes. “Questions, always questions. Is it not time you answered your own questions?”
“How am I to do that. I...Nerratel!” Lasun whispered, “Another bell!”
“Where?”
“Right above your head.”
Artilly and Binna both laughed when Nerratel nearly fell off the horse looking up. Sure enough, the bell hung from a string just a foot above his head. “How did I miss seeing that?” Nerratel asked. When he pulled the bell down, the string fell way, so he put the bell in the pouch with the others.
“You have missed many things so far,” Binna offered.
While it remained the perfect temperature with plenty of sunlight on Upper Extane, when Artilly yawned, Binna decided they should go to their rest. Nerratel offered to give them a ride back to wherever, but they declined and walked into the forest. He shrugged and urged the horses on up the road that appeared to wind its way up the mountain.
Suddenly, there stood on its hind legs, a dreaded bear-like creature known as a Slewworth. In the daylight, and although it cast a long shadow, it seemed not to be afraid. More amazing still, the horses were not afraid of it either. On Extane, all the horses feared an attack by a bear, but this was not the Extane they knew. While both Nerratel and Lasun were ready to fight it, if need be, they did not draw their swords. Instead, the Slewworth and the horses seemed to be having a conversation unfit for human ears. When the Slewworth looked toward the mountain, so did the horses. Soon after, the Slewworth got on all four legs, and walked into the forest.
At last, side-by-side, the horses continued on up the gentle incline of the road on the mountain.
“What does all that mean?” Lasun whispered.
“Again, you ask me? I have far fewer answers than do Binna and Artilly.”
“They are a bit stingy with their answers, are they not?”
“Binna said we are not yet ready to hear the answers...and do not ask me what that means. I truly do not know.”
“I did not hear Binna say that. You are hearing things.”
“Now that, I can believe.” Nerratel once more urged his horse forward. “Keep an eye out for more bells.”
“Is it not peculiar that I can find them and you cannot?”
“Everything about this quest is peculiar.”
“True. We have always been
told the next king must be very strong, but we have seen nothing requiring any sort of strength save walking and riding. Even then, we do not get tired. And another thing, I...” Lasun stopped talking when he noticed the road in front of them abruptly stopped. Before him was nothing but blackness – no road, no trees, no mountain, just a black as dark as the darkest night. Slowly, he got off his horse and walked to the end of the road.
“Be careful,” Nerratel said as he too dismounted. He was too late, for when he looked, Lasun was gone. “Lasun?” he whispered. When he received no answer, he shouted, “LASUN, WHERE ARE YOU?” He waited, and waited, called twice more, and then crept to the edge himself. When he leaned over to look, he could see nothing. “Lasun?” Nerratel took several deep breaths, before he heard the answer.
“I am unhurt, but I know not where I am.”
“Did you fall?” Nerratel asked.
“I do not believe so. I was there and then I was here – wherever here is. It is too dark to tell. At least the Slewworth is up there with you, I hope.”
Nerratel glanced back in case the Slewworth was still near his location, but he saw no sign of it. With no other choice, he lay on his stomach, and reached his hand down into the darkness.
Frightened, Lasun cried out, “Something touched my head!”
“My hand, perhaps?”
Fearfully, Lasun searched for Nerratel’s hand, grabbed ahold of it, and greatly sighed. “It is your hand. Pull me up.”
Nerratel added his other hand and began to pull. Soon, Lasun reached up with his other hand, caught the edge of the lighted part of the mountain, and when Nerratel grabbed the back of Lasun’s shirt and pulled, Lasun managed to make it up over the edge. Exhausted, and at last back on the lighted part of the land, he sat up and for a long moment, closed his eyes and rested.
“The horses are gone,” Nerratel whispered.
“Splendid,” Lasun grumbled. “Now what do we do?”
“Perhaps the mountain ended because we did not find the next bell. We must go back.”
“You go back, I intended to rest for the better part of a week.” He didn’t mean it, for when Nerratel started back down the road, Lasun quickly got up and followed.
On the way back down the mountain, Nerratel and Lasun began to notice fruit hanging from the branches of some of the trees. The further they walked, the more heavily the trees were laden with a kind of fruit they had never seen before. Enticed by the sweet smell and suddenly famished, Nerratel stopped, picked a plum-shaped piece of fruit, handed it to Lasun, and then plucked off another for himself. No sooner had the two men taken a bite than sleep began to overwhelm them. Slowly, both men lay down on the side of the road and fell fast asleep.
ON LOWER EXTANE, SARINNA had stopped asking about the people’s various failings. She observed them, admired the way they managed to overcome, and often smiled when the betting got a little more heated. Just as quickly, the uproar calmed down, mainly when Noname came out to give his report.
Noname shouted, “RAXTON LEFT THE THIRD BELL ON THE BRIDGE!”
To Sarinna’s horror, the people cheered. Confused and heart-sick, she was nearly in tears when she said, “Raxton cannot win without all the bells.”
“Sarinna,” Lentee softly said, “you want Raxton to be your king but you do not trust his decisions.”
“I do, only...”
“Only what?”
“He is a Carbollo and Carbollos take forever to make a decision. It is the one thing I find very annoying about them.”
Lentee asked, “Have you not noticed some Mobbox men take their time making a decision too?”
Sarinna thought about that. “I suppose...yes, Boon Mobbox often takes his time.”
“Sometimes, the Mobbox are too impulsive.”
“How so?”
“Once,” Lentee answered, “a Mobbox woman judged a man too quickly and turned away from him. Later, she discovered he was the one she truly loved, but he had already married another.”
“Was he as miserable as she?”
“No, he loves his wife and is still with her,” Lentee answered.
“You know them?”
“No, I only know about them. I would like to know them, but I do not.”
Just then, Noname came out of his cottage again. “NERRATEL HAS FOUND THE THIRD BELL.”
Again all the people cheered – all but Sarinna. She whispered, “My brother will be a good king.”
“If he wins,” Lentee muttered.
“He may not?”
“So far, Raxton is ahead. He left the bell on the bridge to free Effrin. It was a kindness.”
“A kindness,” Sarinna repeated. “I see.”
Both Lentee and Sarinna watched as Gincar returned to the courtyard.
Gincar was not happy when she came back from bathing. Her hair was dry and again braided down her back in the tradition of the Carbollos. At first, there was no chair for her to sit on, and when one of the men brought her a stool and placed it next to Lentee, Gincar neglected to thank him.
“Prideful,” Lentee whispered.
Sarinna did not bother to whisper. “The Carbollo swear they are not, but they are prideful. It is a terrible failing.”
Gincar leaned around Lentee to say, “That’s what the Mobbox always say of us, so we might as well live up to our reputation.”
Sarinna rolled her eyes and Lentee ignored Gincar.
After a time, Midrid, the woman who was at the lake with Gincar approached Lentee. “Must I?” she asked. “Gincar saddens me.”
“Well then, perhaps it is time she learned the truth.”
“What truth?” Gincar snidely asked.
Midrid was more than pleased to inform her. “You cannot go home. You can never leave this place. Therefore, you should at least try to be kind to us.”
“Never leave?” Gincar gasped. She abruptly stood up and looked behind her for an avenue of escape, but the way back to the cliffs was blocked by the harsh, thorny bushes. Irritated, she sighed, and then returned to her seat. “Do you intend to capture all the Carbollo again or just me.”
“Just you for now,” Lentee answered. She reached for Midrid’s hand. “If you are sad still, I shall teach her. Sarinna has learned much already.”
Gincar grumbled. “I cannot imagine what any of you could possibly teach me.”
Sarinna giggled, “I can.”
“You are not so perfect, Sarinna Mobbox,” Gincar shot back.
Before Sarinna could respond, Noname came out again. “LASUN FELL OFF THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN AND NERRATEL SAVED HIM!”
Once more, all the people cheered. “This changes everything,” a woman loudly said. “Two more gold coins for Nerratel.” Her wager caused a new flurry of activity.
Sarinna was confused. “What mountain has a dark side?”
“The mountain in Nerratel’s quest on Upper Extane,” Lentee answered. “Nerratel was eager to continue the quest and could have left Lasun behind, but he did not. Now he and Raxton are equal.”
“Do all the people on Lower Extane know what is in the quests?” Sarinna asked.
“Oh yes, we have been on them many times ourselves. It is a great source of entertainment, particularly when there is a new challenge between the Carbollo and the Mobbox. We could not wait to see who would be the next king. Sometimes I won the wagers.”
Sarinna deeply furrowed her brow. “You have seen many kings on their quests?”
Lentee paused. “Let me see, there was...” she began to count and then ran out of fingers. “Oh well, it matters not how many.”
Midrid giggled, “Lentee lost more wagers than she won.”
Even Gincar was astounded, but not about the gambling. “You must be very old.”
“Very old indeed,” Midrid answered.
“Then you cannot leave either?” Gincar questioned.
“I suppose I could if I wanted to,” Midrid answered, “but I prefer to stay.”
For a long moment, Gincar stared
at the very young looking Midrid, shook her head in disbelief, and then looked away.
“NERRATEL ATE THE FRUIT!” was Noname’s next announcement.
“Oh noooo!” the crowd collectively and loudly moaned.
Noname roared with laughter. “Binna and Artilly forgot to caution him!”
“Will he die?” a concerned Sarinna asked.
Lentee answered, “No, he will only sleep for a time. Your bodies are not accustomed to the sweetness of our fruit.”
“Your fruit is sweeter than ours?” Gincar grumbled. “I doubt that. Besides, I am quite content with the fruit on Extane, and why are your flowers and trees so bright? I prefer the flowers on Extane.”
It was not yet time to explain, so neither Lentee nor Midrid answered.
CHAPTER 18
LAYING ON A COTTAGE floor, Nerratel opened one eye and then the other. The unfamiliar surroundings looked ancient but innocent enough, yet it was certainly unlike where they lived in Mobbox City. Furthermore, his sight went from clear to watery and back again. When he finally could see properly, he realized Binna and Artilly were staring down at him. Alarmed, he tried to sit up, but a head rush made him lay back down.
“It takes a while for the poison to leave your mind,” said Binna.
Artilly laughingly added, “We forgot to tell you not to eat the fruit. Your bodies are not used to the better fruit on Upper Extane.”
Beside him, Lasun was beginning to wake up. His symptoms were the same. But in time both men were able to sit up, and then get to their feet. Even so, they needed help getting to a chair at the table.
Nerratel moaned, “We neglect the quest.”
“The quest will wait. It always has in the past,” said Artilly.
“But if we are to find the bells before Raxton, we must...”
Binna set a water pitcher on the table. “Winning the quest has naught to do with being first or last, so you need not hurry. What you need is a rested body, a clear mind, and an open heart.”
The Kings of the Seven Bells Page 14
