Three years since our initial time jump: In the business of living I have forgotten to write in my journal. It seems less important now that we have settled into the routine of really living and not just existing. Othellia is pregnant with our second child, a natural consequence since the medications that kept the ladies from getting pregnant have worn off. Our old enemy, the tyrant, made sure only one child was allowed per couple, and some married couples were not allowed any children at all. He claimed it was important that we keep our gene pool under control. Well, I am glad things are back to the way God intended. Even Uriah and Merry had a son before she quit bearing. I know they wanted more but they are thankful for the child they have. It is sad that Merry will not see her grandchildren though.
Life has been so much better since we have adjusted. The crops are coming along fine and we will have more than enough food for everyone. We have decided to protect the large beasts of this valley from over hunting. We named them Tor for what they can do to you if they get their horns into you. Hunting will be allowed for the two feasts we have a year. It will give us meat for the feasts and add quite a bit of sport to the event. Another note, scouts have informed us of developing kingdoms outside each of our passes. They are not a threat just yet, but in the future they may cast an eye upon us to conquer this fine land for their own. So before we decommission the heavy equipment we will build a pass gate out of stone in each of the passes to make it hard for an invading army to get into Glenfair. This is not so much for us, but our future generations will appreciate what we have done for them. I know now that I am not much of a writer so I will not attempt to keep this journal any longer. I will put it away for safe keeping in the family chest. Besides Felton Rollins is keeping an accurate history of our existence without the mention of any technology or advancement. This scroll on the other hand, mentions too much as it is, so it will be put away safely. So reader, if you happened to have found this scroll, remember, if you love Glenfair, keep this from becoming public knowledge lest the enemy find out our plan and seek us here. Farewell, and may all things be to the prosperity of our kingdom. Amnon Prescott.”
Raven rolled the scroll back up and sat thinking. Not as noble a beginning as he had envisioned, but enough to start what was now a great kingdom. He wished he could tell them all that had transpired since their humble beginnings. That now Glenfair was a great and glorious kingdom. He wondered if they had ever envisioned a so far-reaching result of their desperate act of fleeing a horribly cruel tyrant. Raven smiled, something so good had come from such a time of evil. He rose and left to find Rebekka, she needed to read the scroll of her ancestor as well, and like him find a new appreciation for the peace and joy they found here in the present.
Thinking of the peace and joy Raven looked forward to meeting with Andronicus in a couple of days. That would be a time of real refreshment.
Finding Rebekka he gave her the scroll and she smiled and asked, “Was it good reading?”
“I think you will find it quite educational.” Raven replied. “Now I must be off to find Master Fields to schedule a practice session with him tomorrow.”
Rebekka watched Raven leave, and feeling the weight of the scroll in her hand wondered if destiny had not brought them the information of the past that had been lost for so long. “Yes,” she decided, “there is a purpose for everything. The abilities we all posses will be put to the test soon I am sure.”
The next morning Raven and Master Fields met for arms practice. As Raven readied himself, he saw Master Fields standing watching him with his arms crossed.
“You have no sword, Master Fields, how then can we engage without one?”
Master Fields smiled and said, “Your skill with a sword has far surpassed mine, and in that category I am now your student.”
“Then what shall we do?” asked Raven.
“We will fight without any arms at all.”
“No weapons,” Raven asked, “then boxing it will be?”
“No, no my dear king, we are going to study the art of hand to hand combat.”
“I have never heard of such a thing,” Raven said. “Is it something that can be effective against an opponent or enemy?”
“Practiced and learned properly it can kill as swiftly as a sword or knife,” Master Fields answered.
Now Raven was interested, as he always was to learn more from Master Fields.
“Now,” Master Fields began, “rush and take hold of me as if to subdue me.”
Raven came toward Master Fields and attempted to grab him about the shoulders and throw him to the ground but the next thing Raven knew he was sailing through the air. He would have hit flat on his back were it not for the incredible reflexes Raven possessed. As it was, he still landed on his knees in a crouched position before he sprang back up.
“How did you do that?” Raven wanted to know.
Master Fields smiled pleased with himself that he still had a few tricks to teach King Raven. “I used your energy and momentum against you and followed your reach through with a throw.”
Raven nodded now understanding, a similar lesson was learned long ago with a larger opponent, Mason Zandel during a dueling competition. He had used Mason’s own strength against him.
Master Fields now spoke again, “I do not claim to be a master in this hand to hand combat, in fact in reality I know only theory. But I believe as fast as you learn, the theory will aid you if you are ever disarmed and have no weapon. First we will start with the hands and then the feet next, and even the head can be a formidable weapon if needed. Now take your hands and hold them up palms outward toward me.”
Raven did so and Master Fields threw his fist into one. Raven did not flinch but moved his hand just slightly to absorb the impact of Master Fields fist.
“Good,” encouraged Master Fields, “the front of your hand can absorb most attacks without any harm to you. Your coordination should allow you to stop most blows or deflect them with your hands before they get to your body.”
Raven smiled a knowing smile. “The same old format, learn defense first right?”
Master Fields nodded and continued the lessons. Raven learned all kinds of ways to block, deflect, turn, anything to avoid a blow to the vital parts of his body. There was the forearm, the elbow and even the shoulder in desperation that could take blows instead of letting them fall where they could injure the defender. Master Fields had Raven run through exercise after exercise in defense postures from his memory of hand to hand combat theory. As he watched Raven, he was always amazed at how Raven seemed to pick up what he was coaching him to do and apply it with an ease and flowing that almost seemed like art. The only difference was Raven was lightning quick when he wanted to be.
After Master Fields was satisfied with Raven’s knowledge of defense he stopped to demonstrate the offensive part of hand to hand combat. Master Fields took a piece of wood that had been discarded by the stables and placed it over the watering trough.
Then he asked Raven. “How should we cut this wood in two?”
Raven answered, “A saw, or an axe would do, but you have something else in mind do you not?”
Master Fields showed Raven his hand and then turned it edgewise showing him the edge of his hand. “The edge of your hand if you concentrate and make it rigid, can act as an axe to deliver blows of considerable power and force.”
He then walked over to the wood and with concentration brought the edge of his hand down and chopped the wood in two. Raven was impressed for the piece of wood was sizable, enough so that he believed it could not be broken with just a hand blow.
Now Master Fields spoke. “A blow like this to the back or side of the neck can incapacitate or kill a person. The tip or front of the hand stiffened and thrust forward into the chest below the rib cage can puncture a lung or heart as well.”
Raven had no idea that hands could be so lethal. “You don’t expect me to use this on someone, do you Master Fields?”
&
nbsp; “Not really Sire, but knowing how to kill will protect you if someone tries to kill you that way, do you understand?”
Raven nodded, the master was shrewd, wanting to impart everything to his student that he knew.
“Now the feet,” Master Fields said. And with that he began to demonstrate all the kicks and spins that could break bones or almost take someone’s head off.
When he had finished demonstrating he motioned for Raven to take a defensive stance and said, “I will attack, you defend for our final exercise of the day.”
With that the battle began. Master Fields used combinations of chops, kicks, spins, and anything he could think of to throw at Raven. Master Fields was right, the knowledge he had given him enabled Raven to be ready for anything that came at him. Nothing was even getting close to getting through. With a final desperation Master Fields swung his leg around to sweep Raven’s feet out from under him. It was a great move for an older man, and Master Fields was pleased he could still do this lightning quick. As the master’s leg approached Raven with tremendous speed, it looked as if it was going to make contact, but right before it touched him Raven leaped into the air flipping over Master Fields and landing behind him. The momentum from Master Fields leg swing kept him from dealing with Raven now being behind him, and the next thing Master Fields felt was the edge of a hand at the side of his neck and Raven whispering in his ear, “Do you yield?”
Master Fields chuckled, “I thought I had you with that last move.”
“You did,” replied Raven, “any other move I made would have been useless, the only option you left me was to go strait up. I just used this as an opportunity to land behind you.”
Master Fields just shook his head, “You never cease to amaze me King Raven. You have been the joy of this weapons master ever since I began your training. Thank you for a good days workout.”
“No, Thank you Master Fields. I have learned so much from you so how can I ever repay you?”
“Seeing you work and move is all the payment I will ever need,” Master Fields replied.
Just then Rebekka came bursting into the courtyard, “Raven, I need to speak to you, something is wrong.”
“Excuse us Master Fields,” Raven said, as he took Rebekka by the hand and led her toward the privacy of the garden.
When they were inside away from anyone she spoke, “Andronicus has spoken to me in urgency, asking if I would contact Lorriel and see if she had shifted time at all. He has detected a shift in time and he was worried. When I contacted Lorriel, she reminded me of the promise she made to us all not to shift time without a time council. When I let Andronicus know what Lorriel said, he told me we must come at once. He also said to avoid the middle of the valley north of the castle, for that is where the time shift seems to have originated.”
Raven and Rebekka left the garden area and parted, Rebekka to get things ready for their trip and Raven to find Master Fields. When Raven found Master Fields he informed him that they needed to go north immediately.
Master Fields eyed Raven suspiciously and asked, “Is this one of those excursions to see the old hermit?”
“Yes,” Raven spoke seriously, “and I would like you to come with us to the Crestlaw castle and there wait until we return from meeting with him, we may need you.”
“What is this about Sire?” Master Fields asked.
“I am not sure, but it seems urgent and I am troubled as well by the possibility of danger to our kingdom.”
“Can I not come with you to this hermit, especially if this kingdom is in danger?”
Raven felt the pull of desiring to have Master Fields there for he had revealed to him the gifts that Rebekka, Lorriel, Andrew and himself had received from their ancestors. Master Fields had asked once before to meet the hermit and Raven had promised some day to take him, but now was not the time, especially since there had been a shift in time.
“No, my friend, you will serve us better by staying at the Crestlaw castle and waiting with Sauron for our return. We may need to be off and armed at a moments notice.”
Raven could see the disappointment in the master’s eyes but he only said, “Yes Sire!”
“Get your armor and meet me in the stables in ten minutes, and have Jerddin armed and ready to go with us as well.”
Master Fields nodded and was off. Jerddin was a good man, faithful to the throne, and had risked his life for the kingdom before. Raven had every confidence in him to stand with them if needed.
Raven went back into the castle to retrieve his own armor from the secret passage behind the wall in his room. Then he went down to the great hall and found Rebekka talking to Jessica.
“Good,” Raven spoke when he saw them, “I need you to stay here, Jessica and watch things while we are gone.”
She looked at the armor Raven was carrying and frowned. “What is going on?” she asked plainly.
“Andronicus has picked up a shift in time and it was not Lorriel.”
Aunt Jessica’s eyes went wide for she had stayed over three years with Andronicus at the garden and Hall of Wisdom, and knew what this could mean.
“The enemy,” she whispered, “has he come?”
“I do not know,” Raven said, “but we must hurry and find out what is happening. If anyone comes here looking for us, tell them we will return in three days, and to wait here for us.”
With that, Raven and Rebekka gathered the provisions she had packed and headed for the stables. When they arrived they found Master Fields and Jerddin readying the horses for their trip. They secured their provisions and headed out of the castle.
Once outside they immediately turned west toward the mountains. Master Fields asked Raven why they were going that way to the Crestlaws and Raven’s only answer was he did not want to run into anyone during the trip north. There was not much conversation on the ride north, for they had gone west until they were far from the normal course of traffic along the Halfstaff River and then turned north.
Finally Jerddin rode up beside the king and asked him, “Sire, should we not have more armed men with us if there is a threat to the kingdom?”
“It is ok,” Raven assured him, “we don’t know if there is a threat, that is why we are going to investigate with a small group first.”
Jerddin nodded, knowing a larger group of soldiers would hinder them from any reconnaissance they might do, so he fell behind to once again ride beside Master Fields. There was an uneasiness as the four rode north, that could not be put into words, but rather was felt. It seemed the day dragged on forever until finally the Crestlaw castle came into view.
As they rode into the castle courtyard Andrew was waiting for them with fresh horses saddled and ready.
Sauron was there as well and approached the king and bowing asked, “Sire, what is this urgency in coming here armed. Whatever it is, we are ready to serve you and the kingdom.” Raven smiled for he loved Sauron as a father and knew the Crestlaws would die for him and the kingdom.
So Raven merely spoke the truth when he said, “There may be a threat to the kingdom so we are going to the Hall of Wisdom, for the hermit has summoned us. I need you to abide here with Master Fields and have a few armed men ready to ride if we need them.”
Sauron looked at Master Fields and Jerddin then nodded to the king and said. “It will be done.”
At that moment Lorriel came into the courtyard and hugged Raven and Rebekka, smiling at the growing tummy of Rebekka in her pregnancy.
Lorriel touched Rebekka’s stomach and said, “I am so excited that in a few months another Kallestor will fill your lives, and ours.”
Raven interrupted the joyful reunion with a reminder that they must be going. Andrew, Lorriel, Rebekka and Raven rode out of the castle and toward the falls. Raven would have preferred Rebekka stay back at their own home because of her pregnancy. But he knew that he could not persuade her to stay behind. She was not too far along in her pregnancy to travel and the trip to the
Crestlaws had been taken with rests to accommodate her condition. The ride to the falls was not far but Raven knew Rebekka would be tired at the end of the day. Deep down in his heart he was glad she was along. He needed her observation and mind reading abilities if what he suspected were true.
He could hear Lorriel and Rebekka talking behind as they rode on when Andrew interrupted his thoughts, “Sire, what do you make of the shift in time Andronicus has sensed with his machines?”
“Please,” Raven smiled, “when we are alone like this do not call me sire.”
Andrew smiled and only said, “Yes King Raven.”
Raven frowned, but went on, “I do not know what to think. If the ancients had come forward in time to this place, why worry Andronicus and not appear at the Hall of Wisdom. We know time travelers can travel to a specific place as well as a time. Why here and now for any time traveler to appear? There must be some reason and that’s what worries me.”
Andrew nodded, “I was thinking the same thing. Do you think it is the enemy of the ancients?”
Raven pondered that question for a moment and then answered. “We will have to find out what Andronicus knows before we jump to conclusions such as that. Why would the enemy come here if he knew the ancients had gone back in time, it seems he would have tried to go there instead.”
The King's Ancestors Page 9
