“Yes,” Raven replied with a slight smile, “Andronicus has told us the whole story of how and why you came here, but has requested that he not meet us or know too much about his future. He requested that you only tell him the time shift he detected was only an experiment you all are working on.”
Daniel motioned to Amnon Prescott to inform Andronicus about the time shift as Raven and the Andronicus of the future had requested.
Raven was taken by surprise, “I thought that Othellia would have the telepathic ability and not Amnon.”
Samuel Crestlaw and Andrew were now standing in the group and Samuel spoke up. “You seem to know a lot about us, our time travel, telepathy, Layton Teal, and Andronicus. All of this is very troubling since we sought to hide all of this from those who would come after us.”
Raven looked at his mother and could see that she was sitting up now, shaken but apparently all right. He then spoke with a question in his voice, “Did you not leave Andronicus for generations in the future to find, and a select few to know the truth of how and why you came here?”
“No,” Daniel said emphatically. “We had decided to decommission Andronicus and destroy the building at the top of the falls in a few years. You are one more reason we should do just that. This information must have leaked out and now the enemy will find us as a result.”
“Just a minute,” Raven said forcefully. “The enemy did not come to our time because of anything he found out about you. In the future I was born with the enhanced abilities of Uriah.” They all nodded seeing the fight and the outcome of Uriah being defeated which they thought was impossible. “In the future I will fight a battle and those abilities were recorded by the Wickshield kingdom. Layton read that in the histories and came to our time I believe hoping to find Uriah. I fought the battle before we ever made contact with Andronicus. So if you take him from us we will not know who this enemy is, and when he appears after I fight the war we will most likely tell him when and where to find our ancestors. This we would do in ignorance not knowing the danger that it places you in. If Andronicus is not there to tell us of this great danger you all will be destroyed.”
Samuel Crestlaw spoke again, “Daniel, Uriah, Amnon, it seems this is much more complicated than we can imagine. We must discuss all these possibilities before we make any decisions.”
Daniel nodded in agreement. “Come,” he said, “into the great hall where we can sit and talk of these things in more detail.”
Several people including Raven helped his mother into the hall where the four sat down in a place by themselves to talk while the ancestors debated the situation. Andrew was nursing his chin and Joanna still was a little shaken from the ordeal.
“I never expected that kind of greeting from our ancestors,” Andrew painfully spoke. “Maybe we should have let Layton Teal have them for all the thanks we get.”
“I have to admit,” added Raven, “the thought crossed my mind as well but you know we cannot do that. Remember their survival is necessary for our own in the future.” The rest nodded at that truth and drifted back into their own thoughts for the time being.
A little while later a woman came over to them and introduced herself as Candice.
“I am the physician for our group, I would like to look at the woman who was knocked down by Uriah. I am sorry for his impulsiveness, but he is chief of security and takes the protection of us all quite serious.”
“Serious is a mild word,” interjected Raven.
The woman just smiled and kept on examining Joanna. When she was finished she concluded that there was no serious injury or problems that she could detect. Then she proceeded to do the same for Andrew and commented that he as well was not injured seriously but would retain a bruise on his face for some time. She left and came back a short time later with a cold cloth for Andrew’s face.
She then commented, “You are better off than Uriah, he has injured ribs and multiple contusions, plus a neck that will require some adjusting to keep him from having headaches. But he will be ok as well. Are you really a product of our settlement here in Glenfair from the future?”
“Yes,” Lorriel replied. “But you make it sound so clinical, mathematical instead of personal. It is because of you that we are here, and many more of our kingdom are grateful for what you started so long ago.”
The woman smiled and replied, “I am glad that our lives have been for a greater purpose than just escaping a tyrants clutches. Tell me who is the time shifter among you?”
“I am,” Lorriel, answered.
“What a great sacrifice you have made to come to us,” Candice said. Then paused as if she was going to say more, but turned around and abruptly left.
“What was that all about?” Andrew wanted to know.
Lorriel started to say something but was interrupted by Uriah clearing his throat and approaching them at a fast pace.
“We would like to speak with you to clear up some details we do not understand, please, come.” Uriah led the way to the other group of people at the far end of the great hall. Raven and the rest followed not far behind. As they approached the others, Raven could tell that there was a heated argument going on but what it was about he could not tell. They quieted down as Uriah approached and turned expectantly to the group of visitors whose language and dress were definitely from a different time than the rest of them. When they were comfortably close to the others they stopped and waited for the questions to begin.
Daniel Brickens began the questioning. “There are some things that we don’t understand about why you came here, and we hoped you could answer some questions for us.”
Raven looked at them and smiled, “We will answer any questions we can for you.”
“Good!” Daniel stated in a way that left Raven feeling like this was a judicial matter. “Why are you so concerned about our well being, or safety, especially since your wife has been taken hostage by Layton Teal? Why did you not tell him what he wanted instead of coming here? You don’t know us, so why think more of us than the safety of your wife?”
Raven was dumbfounded, he never expected this question to even be considered by the ancients. He looked at Lorriel, Andrew and Joanna and they were just as shocked.
Samuel Crestlaw saw the look on their faces and added, “Is there something you are not telling us about this whole matter?”
Raven pulled himself together, straightened up and answered truthfully for them all. “At first I thought you must be jesting when you asked why we are here, questioning our motives. But now I see you are seriously wondering why. Have any of you ever given any thought to what you have started by coming here to this time and place?”
“What are you getting at,” Amnon Prescott wanted to know.
“I am talking about your children, and your children’s children for generations to come,” Raven answered. “We are from a thousand years into your future, all four of us are your descendants. A great portion of Glenfair in the future are your descendants. If Layton Teal finds you, kills you, or takes you back to his time, all of us will cease to exist! Our existence depends on Layton never finding you, or taking you away from this place. I love Glenfair with all my heart and have pledged to serve and even give my life for its well being. You are the beginning of our kingdom, if something happens to you we will all vanish from time. I would gladly die so you might live, so in turn the kingdom of Glenfair can live on in history.”
Now for the first time everyone was listening intently, and most looked as if they had seen a ghost.
Samuel Crestlaw leaped to his feet and slammed his fist down on the table in front of him, “We have been fools he shouted. Fools not to consider the future of what we started here. We have been consumed with only ourselves, first our escape, and then taking steps to ensure we are not found. All of this so we can live out our lives free from Layton’s iron first.
“Samuel, calm down,” Daniel Brickens spoke. “This is a revelation for all of us as well.”
To see the ancients’ shortsightedness and lack of direction disappointed Raven, for he expected so much more from them than this. Raven could have been angry, or a number of unsuitable feelings could have overtaken him in this moment, but instead he felt compassion for them all. He realized now more than ever the terrible life they must have fled, and knew that all their effort and energy had been expended in escaping Layton to this place. He also knew now that none of them really had much of a plan after they had come here, to get away was their only goal.
Samuel sat back down and another man stood and introduced himself as Felton Rollins.
“Do I understand you, Mr. Kallestor, that this place will become a kingdom someday that will endure more than a thousand years?”
“Yes,” Raven said cheerfully. “It will become the greatest kingdom on earth. Not the greatest for military strength, but the greatest for peace and freedom of the human soul to live as they choose. Anyone is free to come and live in our kingdom, but we only guard the passes to keep anyone from taking it by force.” Felton Rollins sat back down shaking his head in wonderment at what the future held for the generations to follow. Murmuring could be heard from the others until another man stood.
“I am Chester Zandel, and I believe you said that Layton Teal has taken your wife as a hostage. Is that why you have come here, to try and find a way to get her back?”
Raven was at a loss to answer this question properly but before he could give any answer Andrew intervened.
“Sire, please permit me to answer this question.” Andrew then turned to the ancients and started to speak but paused for an older woman came into the great hall and stood behind Uriah placing her hands on his shoulders. The effect she had on the rest of the ancestors was amazing, a calm, if not a release of tension came over them all.
After this pause, Andrew began: “No one wants the safe return of the queen more than I, and no one loves the queen more than King Raven.”
“But,” and then Andrew looked at Raven, swallowed hard and began again. “When Layton demanded her as a hostage she went to him of her own free will to give us time to form some kind of plan. We would have gladly given up our lives for the queen but the king commanded us to let her go for he knew that we could not fight against the weapons Layton had brought with him, and he did not want the queen’s sacrifice to be in vain. It must have been the hardest decision of his life, especially since she carries his unborn child. We are here to find a way to stop Layton Teal, and if we are able to rescue the queen we will do so as well, but we must stop Layton even at the cost of our lives.”
When Andrew finished this he stepped over to Lorriel who had tears running down her cheeks and pulled her close to him. She buried her head into his embrace and cried.
The people were silent until Daniel Brickens spoke, “Is this true? Would you let your wife and child die that we may live?”
Tears now came to Raven’s eyes. “Yes,” was all he could say.
Chester Zandel jumped back up and in a derogatory tone sneered, “So you are king of Glenfair in your day, did you use the great abilities you have to conquer it for yourself?”
Again Raven was consumed with emotion and was not able to answer, for he was not prepared for these kinds of questions.
Andrew now burned with anger and said with such force that everyone shrunk back from his words. “No one takes the kingship by force in Glenfair, it is given to those who are worthy to rule by her people. King Raven tried to give the crown to our family at his coronation, but we refused, for we wanted, as did all the people to have him for our king. And I dare say that in Glenfair’s thousand years of kings none has been more noble, or worthy to rule than King Raven who has sacrificed himself time and again for her people. And even now the king and queen suffer that the kingdom and you might be saved from this evil enemy. Do not speak of things that you know not of, nor judge that which has torn our king’s heart in two or I may draw swords with you!”
The people were silent until the older woman who entered a short time before spoke, “I have been listening to this whole business even before I entered. Shame on you all, most of you know nothing of sacrifice for others. You came here fleeing a bad situation to a better life. These, our descendants had a good life but got involved in a bad situation to help others, especially us. You have no right to question them as you have done. Not one of you has offered to help them deal with our problem.” She then glared at all of them until they hung their heads in shame.
Daniel finally spoke, “Merry is right, we have not been kind or hospitable, nor the least bit helpful at all. Please forgive us this trespass and accept our apology for our conduct.”
Raven decided that he liked this woman very much, and even respected Daniel Brickens for his admission to treating them poorly.
Daniel continued, “We want to thank you for warning us that Layton will be coming, we will do all we can to prepare for his arrival after you get your wife back.”
Raven blinked twice at the lack of comprehension these people still had of their true intentions. “We did not come here to warn you,” Raven stated. “The last thing we want is for the enemy to come here. We want your help so we can learn how to defeat him in our time.”
Everyone was shocked except Uriah who started laughing loudly and only paused to add, “You want to defeat Layton Teal?” He then went back to his laughter until Merry shook him forcefully from behind.
“What is so funny?” Raven asked.
“You,” Uriah, stated, “thinking that you can defeat Layton Teal. He has never lost at anything that has challenged him, empires have fallen before his genius. Don’t you think that if there was some way to defeat him we would have tried instead of fleeing here to this place empty of all our comforts and technology? Layton will always win in a confrontation, that is why we sought to hide from him. But I see now that it will be impossible to do so. We must be thankful for the years we have thus spent free from his hand and believe it all outweighs what will happen to us when he comes.” Uriah was silent but stared hard at Raven waiting for his reply.
Raven smiled because he knew that Uriah was not trying to be harsh, just realistic and so replied softly, “I defeated you did I not?”
“Yes,” Uriah said thoughtfully, “but against his lasers you will not succeed.” “Then give us weapons equal to his own so we will have a chance,” Raven pleaded.
Daniel Brickens shook his head sadly, “We can’t do that for we have destroyed any weapons of that type after we completed the castles. Even if we did have weapons, Layton and his men will use them much better than you, and you would still lose. You would need a great advantage that Layton has never allowed anyone to have before in order to succeed.” Daniel thought that would dash the hopes of the young man who stood before him but it did not.
Instead Raven smiled again and said, “We do have an advantage that none of you ever had against Layton Teal.”
“And what would that be?” Uriah asked. “He has a history of never missing any detail, or ever miscalculating any situation.”
Raven nodded knowing that Layton Teal was such a man, seeing how quickly he figured out they knew about the ancients.
“He does not suspect we know who he is and what he is seeking. He also does not know that we have a time shifter with us, pointing to Lorriel. He has no idea of the existence of Andronicus and thinks we are only simple ignorant people playing out some irrelevant ancient history. He has only brought a small force of less than twenty men and did not feel threatened by our type of weapons at all. I believe it will be the best chance of all ages to stop the enemy in our time.” Raven watched Uriah rubbing his chin in thought, and also Daniel Brickens calculating as well.
“If the things you say are true,” Uriah stated, “you may be able to surprise Layton for the first time in his life.”
“It is a possibility, though remote,” Daniel added. Then he turned to Raven’s group and asked, “Wha
t do you want from us?”
“First,” Raven replied, “make sure you do not deactivate Andronicus, we need him desperately in the future. Do not worry about information leaking from his existence to the enemy, for we are the first to find him in a thousand years and the enemy knows nothing of his existence. Just make it hard for him to be found and it will keep him isolated.”
How are we supposed to do that, Daniel replied?
Raven smiled and said, “Riddles, leave only clues obscured in riddles.” Raven paused here and remembered the discussions of the time council and decided he had said too much already about the future. He should not be molding the past to fit his future, that could be very dangerous. What was he to do though, Andronicus would have been decommissioned, as they put it and now he knew the reason Andronicus was there for them. The only reason was they had come back here in time and prevented his destruction.
Raven shook his head to clear it from this circular reasoning and focused on the problem at hand. “We also need to learn about the weapons Layton has brought with him so we can defend ourselves from them.” Raven caught movement to his right as Amnon Prescott stirred, half rose and then sat back down with a troubled look on his face. Everyone waited for Amnon to say something, but when he kept silent Raven knew that Amnon would never admit to hiding weapons that should have been destroyed. He remembered how angry Andronicus had been when he found out about the weapons and knew that to reveal this secret now would destroy his position of trust with the others. Raven appreciated the dilemma Amnon was in, but was also disappointed in his failure to forego personal ruin to save others. Once again he was disappointed in the ancients. He decided that he would say nothing about the weapons to anyone.
Daniel interrupted his thoughts with this statement; “Amnon, were you about to say something?” Amnon shook his head sadly and stayed seated.
Daniel continued, “We will teach you all we can about the weapons, but I do not see where that will make any difference.”
Raven answered back, “To know your enemies strength is always important in planning how to defeat him.”
The King's Ancestors Page 16
