Laurelina circled the conversation back to Harvest’s original question and asked, “So what is to be done?”
Harvest looked up and met his wife’s gaze, “I shall bring her here. She shall be easier to watch and she will have much needed accountability. We shall try to remind her of who she is and what it is she has been called to do. Perhaps she will see her folly and repent, but perhaps she will not for some time. Either way, she must be near me so she does not endanger herself or others with her foolishness.”
Gonestrom nodded his silent approval. Laurelina looked concerned, but conceded as well. Harvest sighed deeply, now dreading the task ahead.
—————
Stonespoke was still and cold. A dead weight sat on Harvest’s heart as he sat with his company of knights outside its unwelcoming gates. He sat there for a good long while, wondering why his first punitive act as king had to be against his own sister. He sighed and rode slowly up to the gate, but before he could call out his arrival, the gate opened. She must have already seen him. He and his men rode into the courtyard where Nausta was there to greet them, pale and glassy-eyed.
“Back again so soon? You never used to visit me so frequently.” and she attempted a laugh.
Harvest stepped wearily out of the saddle as he said rather sadly, “I didn't know before that my sister was so stubborn and foolish.”
Nausta’s eye lit with something dark, though she continued in a light tone, “Don’t bring up old arguments, Harvest. I did precisely as you told me. The library is cleaned and all its questionable contents gone.”
Harvest’s heart sunk, but his will hardened, “Nausta, I got information from a reliable source that warned me that you had not obeyed me and had not kept your promise. As much as I loathe doubting your word, I must now command a search of Stonespoke.”
Nausta looked horrified as that glint of darkness grew, “You can't do that. This is my private property. I demand the common decency of privacy.”
“You demand me?” Harvest's eyes glinted as his sorrow slowly hardened into anger, “I am king of Gailli, Nausta. You are subject to me, not I to you. I tried to warn you as a concerned brother but now I am commanding you as your king. I find your behavior extremely questionable, if not traitorous. I will have this place searched and after I’ve destroyed what I will find, you will return with me to Hermin Druer where I can keep a closer eye on you for a time. This seclusion and secrecy of yours have born nothing but ill.”
Nausta's face went white, but not with fear. Her eyes, already filled with dark foreboding, flashed rebelliously, though she said nothing.
Harvest took little notice of her after that beyond getting her on a horse and telling a few of his men to watch her closely and to tend to all her needs. The others he sent off to scour the castle and report what they might find.
It was not long before the search of the small castle was complete and the men came out and with all the questionable items they had found. Harvest commanded it all to be burned carefully and thoroughly. They dutifully acquiesced.
Harvest told the remainder of his men to ride east, back to his castle, Hermin Druer, one of the places Nausta hated most.
—————
Things seemed to quiet down after that. At least on the outside. But Harvest still kept a close eye on Nausta. She did not cause any trouble, though she did not seem all that repentant either. And she changed. Or maybe she was finally who she always had been. It hurt Harvest to see her this way, so he buried himself in work so he didn’t have to see it.
And what did she do with her days? She wandered around the castle and grounds in a sullen, wounded, and angry silence. But it was not destined to be quiet for long. No, Nausta had to go and do something that would send Harvest over the edge and forever seal her own fate.
It happened one night, after about a month of that fragile calm. Harvest was pacing back and forth in one of his chambers. Over to the high windows and back to the heavy oaken door. The stress, however veiled, was wearing him thin. He stopped once at the window and looked out. The stars were brilliant tonight. And there were so many of them! Their splendor gave a slight sense of peace to the king. But only for a moment.
“Your highness.”
Harvest turned from the window. It was a young servant. He hadn’t even heard him enter.
“There was a fire in the red library. It is under control now, but the queen sent me to fetch you. The nursery was damaged.”
Harvest launched forward, “And my baby?”
The man put out a reassuring hand, “Is safe. I apologize for not stating that first. But sire,” the young man paused as it looked like Harvest was just about to leave.
Harvest stopped and turned, something in the young man’s voice cutting through his hurry to see his wife and child, “Yes?”
“The fire. It was not an ordinary blaze, your highness. The flames were a most eerie and ghostly hue. Blue and green, and both larger and hotter than any I have ever seen.”
Harvest felt his very soul wither. He nodded and strode out of the room to find his family.
They were all there. Quite safe. The library did look quite the worse for wear, as did the doorway to the nursery, directly across from the hall from the library. The flames had been subdued and half a dozen men stood sooty and weary at attention. Harvest sent them off with his gratitude to go freshen up and gave them the rest of the week off. He held his wife tightly and stroked his daughter’s head. Not a hair of her head had been singed. He looked long at them both before finally turning to face his sister. Nausta stood in the shadows of the burned-out library, a strange look written on her face.
“She was not hurt Harvest. Nobody was. And I am sorry about the library. It was an accident.”
Harvest’s jaw tightened. She’d gone too far this time.
“No, you are only sorry you got caught. I have no idea why you thought you could go against my express commands and take up meddling with magic again. I don’t know why you think you would be exempt from punishment. I don’t know how I never saw how selfish and rebellious you are, but you have just made a mutinous choice, one that will have serious consequences which no amount of royal blood will wipe away.”
Harvest waved a handful of his men over, “Lock her up tonight. Tomorrow I will decide what I am to do with her.”
Nausta was quickly walked off, but not before she sent Harvest a look that affirmed his declaration of the state of her heart. She was not sorry. She was traitorous. And even though he was in a black rage, it broke his heart knowing what he was going to have to do about it.
—————
Harvest sat upon his throne, the perfect picture of justice. Every line on his face was set hard and firm. He had spent all night with his advisors to reach the verdict he was just now about to deliver. The princess of Gailli was guilty of willful disobedience to a direct command on multiple occasions. She had disrespected her king and been disloyal to her own calling. She had shown herself to be completely unfit. She had endangered the lives of her people. She was a rebel and a danger. That was grounds enough for Harvest to rightly put her to death, but however angry he was, he could not do that.
“Nausta, of the Blackmoor line of royalty, princess of Gailli. For all of the aforesaid acts of rebellion and treason you are found to be guilty. In light of your willful crimes and treacherous disobedience, I hereby sentence you to lifelong banishment from Gailli. You are forfeit your royal status and are to be transported to the Island of Banishment to live for the remainder of your allotted days. For no reason whatever will you ever be permitted to return, on pain of death. I, the king of all Gailli, have spoken.”
3
My Friend James Somewhere Else
James awoke after a dreamless sleep and stretched. He rubbed his eyes and yawned. He then rubbed his eyes again. He sat up quickly and rubbed his eyes yet again. Was he still asleep? He must be, for he found himself sitting in a forest and there was nothing around him that looked the leas
t bit like his home in Nebraska. It was quite disturbing really. He'd had dreams inside of dreams before, so that’s probably what this was, though he'd never had a dream that felt quite so real. If he were dreaming however, he could pinch himself and wake up. He did so. Nothing happened. Strange. If he weren't dreaming, where was he? Had Sandra somehow put him here? It seemed that he would have waken in transit, but perhaps he’d been drugged first. Then again, Sandra didn't approve of drugs. Maybe he’d died. That was a thought, but he felt a bit too alive to be dead, just as he felt a bit too real to be dreaming.
Well then, perhaps Aslan had called him and he was in Narnia. Though he supposed technically the Narnia you could get to had ended quite a time ago. Maybe not then. How very curious.
It seemed the only way to find out what world he was in, even if it was only his own, was to get up and walk, so that is what James did. He stood up and stretched again. Then he jumped. Sometimes you can jump higher in other worlds and he just wanted to check. Nope. Nothing different. Well, maybe this was just the woods behind old man Foster's house and he had sleep-walked here. A bit bizarre, but not impossible. He just hoped old man Foster didn't find him. He was quite the grump and he had a ferocious little chihuahua he like to set on people.
The sunshine was streaming down through the foliage above, making everything very green. The trees were very close and thick but not suffocating in the least. It was one of those special forests that are extremely pleasant during the daytime and continue to be so after the sun has set and the moon shines through the leaves, making the forest glow silver rather than green. There was very little undergrowth, which always makes for a more convenient stroll, and the grass was thick and short and very nice for walking on.
James had been walking on quite cheerfully for a good twenty minutes before he started to wonder exactly how large this forest was and when he would reach its edge. He recalled that old man Foster's woods spanned about seven acres. So unless he was walking in circles, he probably wasn't in Foster's forest. This made him rather glad. He hadn't really liked the thought that he sleep-walked. It also gave this stroll more of an adventurous feel, and though he was enjoying himself very much, he had a problem. He was getting a bit hungry. He hadn't seen any berry bushes around and he wasn't sure if it’d be safe to try any of the mushrooms he saw sprouting up in the shady spots. That would be a good way to end an adventure pretty quick. He didn't have a gun or a knife or anything so he couldn’t kill anything, but he hadn't seen any animals yet anyway. No nuts or seeds either, he noticed grimly.
Well, perhaps he’d just starve to death. If he really was just dreaming he’d be okay. If he wasn’t, well, he just hoped his body wouldn’t be devoured by wolves or vultures. He could, of course, eat grass if he got desperate, but that would be a last resort. He wondered what time of day it was. The sun was coming in by slants behind him so it was either mid-morning or mid-afternoon. Not being an outdoorsman however, he was unsure which it was and so kept walking, thinking up worst-case scenarios to pass the time and so as to be prepared should the worst happen.
Finally, after what must have been about an hour, James finally spied an opening up of the forest some ways ahead of him. The trees were thinning out and a breeze was finding its cumbered way in. He continued to walk into that breeze which soon led him right to the edge of the forest.
And what a breathtaking sight met him there! Rolling emerald hills dashed with small yellow and white flowers stretched as far as the eye could see. Above was a stunning sky filled with little puffy clouds marching their way towards him. The weak breeze that had struggled so bravely in the thick forest was free out here and was tearing with enthusiasm across the land, making the grass ripple like water. But it was the taste of this wind that excited James the most. It was a sea breeze, and Nebraska, as we all should know, is a landlocked state. He wasn’t in Nebraska then, and most likely, wasn't even on planet earth!
Such a fact would concern, if not totally terrify, most people but not James. It was all too glorious of a notion, to realize you could fall asleep in one world and wake up in another. He had no idea what kind of things or creatures might inhabit this world, but he intended to find out. He just hoped they weren't of an overly hostile sort.
He walked straight on, away from that peaceful green wood into the wild rolling plains before him. He wondered vaguely if there would be anything eatable out here. Perhaps once he reached the shoreline there would be seaweed. Sandra was constantly informing him of the health benefits of seaweed and, though he had scorned the idea back home, he was becoming slightly desperate. Or at least he imagined himself to be slightly desperate.
He had, in fact, decided that he must be very hungry and that perhaps there might be a chance of his passing out, when he came over the top of one of those rolling hills. Down in the valley, between his hill and the next, was an unmistakable flock of puffy white sheep. They were protected here from the zealous wind by the ring of hills around, but James’ first thought was not of their safety, but of their danger—the danger of his supposedly raving appetite. Of course, he still had no way to kill one and no way to cook it even if he could perhaps strangle one, but still, he liked to think of himself as a predator in this new land.
As he gazed at them however, he saw they really were quite sweet and that, predator though he was, he could not fathom hurting them. Plus, they were company, just as he was beginning to feel a bit lonely. James quietly and slowly descended into the impression between the hills. Thoughts of stampedes were not very distant in his mind, even sheep stampedes. Nothing is impossible in a world you know nothing about and he wanted to be very careful as he crept down the hillside not to alarm these perhaps deceptively calm creatures. Soon he was down with them and was able to safely assess that these were not aggressive sheep, very curious, yes, but not the stampeding type.
In fact, very soon they had gathered all around James and were sniffing his jeans and popping the buttons off his shirt. James didn't mind this at all. He'd never known sheep could be so perfectly wonderful. Why were sheep not regular pets? Whenever, if ever, he got home, he would demand to have a sheep for a pet. But perhaps these were special-world sheep and earth-world sheep weren't as nice. Well, he'd just have to bring one of these home, if he ever got home again that is.
It was just about then that he caught sight of one of the baby lambs and, oh glory! They were a thousand times more darling than the big grown-up sheep! He had just stooped to pick one up when he heard a voice behind him.
“They seem to like you, sir.”
James carefully put the lamb down. His first encounter in this world with someone or something that could speak, and though it had been a pleasant voice, he thought it best to be prepared for anything. It is what Cliff would've done. He tensed and slowly turned, wishing all the while he had a shining sword to give him a little more confidence.
Once he saw who it was who had spoken, he felt slightly foolish at having been so suspicious. Before him was a sweet and very small shepherdess, holding a lamb and fondly stroking its forehead while watching James with innocent big eyes.
“We don't usually get much company out here, that would be why they are so curious. I hope they are not bothering you.”
James didn't think they were bothering him, so he said as much.
“They aren't. I’m actually quite fond of them. Funny little creatures they are.” and he scooped up another lamb.
“Yes, they are dear. But let me not forget my manners,” she held out a tiny, nearly translucent hand, “My name is Daisy. I shepherd my village's sheep.”
“Well, Daisy,” James very carefully took the hand, barely squeezing it for fear of popping it, “My name is James Redmond, and a grandpa by trade I suppose. I'm not really from around here though, at least, I don't think I am.”
Daisy turned to set her lamb down and as she did so James nearly choked on a suppressed gasp. There, attached to her back, was a delicate pair of lacy wings. Was she a fairy? She must
be for certainly this wasn’t a halloween prank. How positively charming.
“You don't know whether or not you're from around here?” she turned back, seeming a bit puzzled, “How strange! Where do you think you are?”
“Well, I know where I'm not. And I also know I'm very hungry.”
He realized as soon as he'd said this how very rude it sounded.
He coughed. “Well, I mean…that is…it’s been awhile since I last ate…I think. I'm not exactly sure when I last ate quite honestly, and I've been walking for awhile…but never mind. I might not live much longer if I don't eat soon, but that's alright. I guess. Maybe I'll just eat some grass or…something. Can you fly?”
Daisy looked more and more puzzled by the moment.
“Yes I can, though not very high or fast. But if you're hungry, feel free to eat whatever I have leftover from my lunch. It's not much, but it will probably keep you until you can get dinner. And it's a good deal better than grass I should think. But where have you been walking or to where? There's not much out here on the plains.”
James was searching in the basket for something to eat so he didn't answer right away. He found a part of some sort of leafy sandwich. Not a very big part he noticed, and though it might last a fairy until dinnertime, it wouldn't even start to soothe his hunger-ravished stomach. He didn't say anything, though the expression on his face said a great deal as he swallowed it in one gulp.
“Well, thank you for that tidbit. It was very…uh…nice.” he really tried to sound as grateful as he could.
“As to where I'm from and where I've been and where I'm bound, well, a good bit of that I don't know myself. I've been walking in a forest not very far from here and before that? Well who can say. In Nebraska one minute and here the next. I'm not really going anywhere yet, that I know of, just wandering about. But if I may divert a moment. I have a rather random question. Have you ever heard of Cliff?” a thought had just occurred to James and he was quite excited he may have figured something out.
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