The Xidoran Prophecy

by Elaine Bassett

  Carson spoke up, "I made the decision to ask for the special session for the Guidance Hearing. I didn't know you would have any idea how we should proceed with our dilemma. Now I know. I'm sorry, I went about it the wrong way."

  Dimitrios said, "No my friend, it is fine this way. It may work to our benefit. Let me see if I can help your cause. It is worthy of my attention. I will be back. The idea that this treasure is still in existence excites me. Just the knowledge that so many enchanted sheets of paper are still in existence, and have not been used, is incredible! Let alone the fact that the rightful heir to the kingdom is now identified is unfathomable. I am walking on clouds and humbled this knowledge has been revealed. We must come up with an argument why the heir must become a Sojourner, and at the same time an answer for sponsorship and a mentor that the Council cannot refuse." They shook hands and Dimitrios left through the Passageway.

  Charles grabbed his glasses. He went to get his manuals. He sat down and flipped through them until he found the pages having to do with sponsorship and mentoring of another Sojourner. He began skimming the pages until he came to the Sojourner Councils’ Opinion and their final rulings listed on each case that had been brought before them pertaining to Sojourners either granted or denied permission for eligibility of sponsorship by a Sojourner who was not a part of their lineage. Charles turned to Carson and asked if Imogene’s case might be a key to Caroline’s dilemma.

  Carson replied, “I’m not sure. But it’s worth making a note of the case.”

  Bev continued researching the Mystic Journal and taking notes. Within a couple of hours Dimitrios was back with his personal notes. He gave the notes to Bev. Her face lit up when she opened the folder. He had a complete family tree for the Caperson family and obscure facts about the royal family. Bev said to him, "You did an enormous amount of research on this project."

  "It's been my dream to solve this mystery. If this helps your friend, it will all be worth it." He briefly spoke with Carson and Charles before leaving.

  Bev closed the folder and decided it was time to fix dinner. It had been a long day.

  Carson put his pen down and took off his glasses. While rubbing his sore eyes he told Charles, "We will do our best, but don't get your hopes up. It will be an extremely difficult task to find a worthy sponsor. Most Sojourners are strictly family bound. They do it to increase their wealth and pass it down to future generations. This is truly a unique case. I wish we could sponsor her. I had planned on it all along, but Dimitrios is correct in his thought that in all likelihood they will say our main priority is in training you and keeping you safe. The future of the Prime Minister’s office depends on you being ready and equipped for the position."

  Charles understood the chances for Caroline receiving her legacy were slim, but it was worth the effort. It was a chance he would have to take. Since he was getting tired he packed up his things. He decided to help Bev in the kitchen. Later he would call Caroline.

  Bev was exhausted by the day's events. She put on her apron and began looking through the refrigerator for fixings to make a quick dinner. A knock at the back door startled her. She opened the door to find Margaret standing with a picnic basket with dinner in it. A sack hung from the other arm. Bev was glad to see her. "Don't just stand there, come in." Bev moved out of the doorway.

  "I was beginning to wonder if I'd been replaced Bevy."

  Bev took the basket and sack from her and said, "Heavens no, my Dear. It’s Charles and Carson keeping me busy day and night. Things around the farm will get back to normal soon. How have you been? Tell me what has been going on." Margaret and Bevy sat down to talk at the kitchen table. Just as they did, Charles came running through the door.

  "Oh, hi Margaret. Is Caroline with you?" he asked.

  "No, afraid not Charles. She's at home but I was going to ask her over tomorrow night." Charles looked at Bev. She looked at Margaret.

  "Shall we have dinner here tomorrow? What do you say Margaret?"

  "Yes, we'd love that."

  Charles grabbed the phone and dialed Caroline's number. He was just about to hang up when she answered. Caroline was very excited to hear Charles’ voice. He told her that her grandma was going to ask her to stay over tomorrow night and that she was invited to have dinner with them. She said she was looking forward to it and couldn't think of any reason she wouldn't be able to come over. They talked for a while longer.

  After he hung up the phone, Charles asked Bev if she needed help. She didn't, so Charles turned to walk back to the office when Bev said, "Wait a minute please. Since you are going to go back to the office, I will go ahead and send dinner with you." She set out Margaret’s offerings, got the meal ready and sent it with him.

  He hurried back to the office to help Carson. He knew they had a lot of work to do. When Charles walked in the office, papers were strewn everywhere. Carson had piles all around the room. Charles scratched his head. "What's all this?"

  Carson looked up at him, "My organization system." Then as he pointed to each of the piles he named them, "That one contains information about the coins we need to work on. This one is more research on your investment strategy for your meeting with Nathaniel. This one is Caroline's hearing. This one next to it is the Caperson Journal notes for the Guidance Hearing..."

  Charles interrupted him, "Oh I see." He held up the food from the kitchen. "Here is the dinner pile."

  Carson stood up. "Let's dig in." They walked over and sat at the table to eat. Airabelle perched on the back of Charles’ chair. Airasten sat behind Carson. They discussed the events of the day as they ate.

  When they finished the meal they decided to put the piles in order as to which was the most pressing. They got their second wind after dinner and sailed through the work. Bev joined them after Margaret left. They each agreed that they should continue where they left off earlier. Airabelle went back and forth, wherever she was needed. Airasten stayed with Carson. They worked until late into the evening. When they couldn't work any longer they packed up their things and put everything away securely before they went to the house. It was late and they needed to get some rest.

  CHAPTER 70

  The next morning the family’s routine was back to normal. Walter came by for his morning meeting with Carson. Bev worked in the kitchen and around the house. Charles spent his time in the library looking over Carson’s investment research. He read the investment pages in Carson’s newspapers. Using those resources, he worked on his strategies for his investment portfolio. After lunch they all went back to the office to begin where they left off the previous night. Charles took his investment research with him. Bev left the group first. She was expecting Margaret and Caroline.

  Carson and Charles continued to work. Carson said, "I think the ledger for the coins is caught up. Now if we only have as much luck figuring out Caroline's dilemma, we'll be in business."

  Charles agreed. He wasn't about to give up hope. "Where there is a will there is a way, and we are going to find it."

  Then Carson asked Charles how his financial strategy was coming along. Charles showed him. Carson looked over the paperwork. "Looks good, young man. I think even old Nathaniel will be impressed."

  Charles wasn't quite so sure about that. "Let's hope so."

  They gathered the pile of papers dealing with Caroline’s hearing. They sat together and worked on sorting through the material. Carson said, "The outcome of this hearing may affect others in the future as well. It is imperative that we present the strongest case possible for Caroline before the Council. I hope we are up to the challenge." They worked up until the time their guests arrived, then secured the office and returned to the house.

  Caroline looked pretty in her yellow sundress. Charles couldn't take his eyes off of her. He kept envisioning her as a queen in some far off land. He shook his head to come back to reality.

  "Are you all right?" Caroline asked. "You seem so far away today."

  "Maybe I was for a moment but now I am right here
," Charles said grinning. "Want to go for a walk before dinner?" She smiled and nodded.

  In an instant he was running up the steps and into the house. He ran all the way to the kitchen where Bev and Margaret sat at the table. "C-c-can Caroline and I go for a walk before dinner?” The two ladies looked at each other, his urgency caught them off guard.

  Margaret shrugged and looked at Bev. "I guess as long as you are back for dinner. What do you think?"

  Bev studied her expression, which was a smirk. "Oh, all right," Bev said, amused at her friend's reaction to the request.

  Charles was already out the door. He grabbed Caroline's hand and the two of them ran. Caroline wasn't exactly sure where he was heading, but she had a pretty good idea. Charles stopped as soon as they reached the trail to the tree house. "The other day I heard Paw Paw tell Walter to fix this old tree house in the woods. Let's go look and see what Walter and his boys have been up to. I watched them from the porch the other day bringing in lumber and truck loads full of building supplies," he said.

  Caroline was bent over trying to catch her breath from running. Charles’ stride was quite a bit longer than hers. Charles laughed as he put a hand on her back.

  "Are you going to make it?” he asked. She nodded.

  "Well, I remember you falling and hurting yourself before.” With that he threw her up over his shoulder and took off running.

  Caroline pounded on his back as he went and said, "Charles Ryan Brookfield put me down this instant. I bet my panties are showing, and that is no laughing matter!"

  He stopped to think about that for a moment as he bounced her on his shoulder to move her over a bit. He turned left then right and said, "Nope, no one around but you and me!" Then he took off again in the direction of the tree house. When he put her down he turned the other way to let her straighten up her dress.

  "All clear?" he asked.

  She laughed. "All clear."

  They stood in front of the tree house and studied the changes made. Caroline's mouth dropped open. It had changed drastically since the last time they had been here. It looked more like an actual cottage nestled in the woods with a big tree coming out the top of it. The sun filtering through the branches made a dramatic effect on the setting. Charles smiled with approval.

  "Can we go in?" Caroline asked.

  Charles bowed and used his hand to show the way. "As far as I know we can. I heard Walter say this morning they are finished."

  Caroline felt like a young child as they entered through the door of the tree house. They just stood there in the room and were amazed at what they saw all around them. Caroline went around exploring.

  Charles ran up the steps, and then stopped to say, "What are you waiting for? Join me at the Top of the World." She ran after him. The upstairs was octagon shaped with windows all around. The view was breathtaking. A bird sat perched on the window ledge.

  Caroline pointed and whispered, "Look at the bluebird." They stood and stared at the bird that was oblivious to them. It sang a short song, then flapped its wings and flew away.

  Charles wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead. "I missed you Caroline."

  "I've missed you too."

  They stood for a minute before he took her hand in his and led her to a chair by the window. The birds were chirping and the sun was shining down through the trees. The view from the windows looked as if it was a painting they were admiring. "This is beautiful," Caroline said.

  Charles spotted wildlife out the window. He began pointing the animals out to Caroline. They could see a deer in the distance and a rabbit hopping through the grass. Charles pulled up a chair next to her. He held her hand. He looked at her and said, "Sitting here with you reminds me of a story. Do you want to hear it?"

  She didn't have to think twice about that offer before saying, "Please tell me.” “Okay then, let me try to remember how it goes..." Charles pretended to try to remember. “I think it goes something like this: In a faraway land there sat a kingdom nestled near the seas’ shore, surrounded by the tallest trees ever seen by man. This amazing forest was like no other on earth. It was rumored that the surroundings were the most pristine on the planet and the wildlife was abundant. Their location was kept secret from the outside world. It was known on the trade routes by only the best sea captains. When traders arrived, they would come to the kingdom with beautiful treasures from faraway exotic places. When they sailed they left with treasures no one in the world had seen before.

  “This kingdom at the height of its popularity, was rumored among the wealthy as, ‘the place’ to travel to if you were vibrant and full of life. Those who were rich and influential would casually mention they possessed the name of a captain who could take their audience there for a rather large sum of money. This was at a time when those in high society, bragged about their exclusive travels. By putting this place on their list of travels, or by just mentioning they had heard about this guarded secret meant they were someone worth cultivating as a friend. Those who were told about this secret realm, had to see this unique and magnificent kingdom for themselves because it was an exclusive destination.

  “The villagers who lived in the kingdom were friendly, competent and skilled in all of their crafts. The materials they used for making their wares were only available to the villagers of this kingdom. The merchandise they produced was sought after by the wealthy worldwide.

  “There wasn't a more well planned out or cared for kingdom in all of the world that could match its beauty. The King and Queen of this realm were both known to be fair and wise. They took special care of those they ruled over and were generous with them. The people were extremely loyal to their King and Queen.

  “As you can imagine--when word began to be circulated among the wealthy, there were people who became jealous. An arrogant king from another land traveled to the kingdom to see for himself if the rumors were true. He too came to see the charm of this place and fell in love with the Queen. No one knew the extent of the relationship that was developed. After returning to his own realm, this king plotted to destroy the kingdom and steal the Queen away.

  “When the enemy arrived in force on the shores by moonlight, extremely early in the morning. The knights who patrolled the shores and forest assessed that there was no way they alone could survive an attack such as this. These knights quickly attempted to alert the people. Every man and woman in the kingdom fought bravely to protect the kingdom. The knights fought gallantly. The King's two personal knights set out to evacuate the entire royal family and get them to safety. As they were leaving, the King made up his mind that he must return to his kingdom. He kissed his family goodbye, left his brave personal knights to see to their safety, and headed back to fight alongside his people.

  “The two knights divided the royal family into four large groups that night. They believed that traveling in such a large group would make them too obvious to the enemy. The knights devised a plan for escape. They designated a well-known meeting place for the family to reunite after the fighting stopped. One of the knights was to take two of the four families and head to the east. The Royal Knight led the King's family and the Queen's sister's family in a different direction. As they made their way over rough terrain the queen's sister's husband began to get annoyed by the knight in charge. He began to question everything the knight did. The man became outraged when he wanted to stop for the night and the trusted Royal Knight insisted they continue to move on. The husband became stubborn and insisted that his family stay behind. The family made a makeshift campsite, and to their detriment the small fire gave away their location to the enemy. They were all killed.

  “The knight helping the two families escape to the east was killed. The two families managed to overwhelm their attackers and completed their escape to another land on their own. They had no knowledge about the meeting place the knights had discussed.

  “The King’s family made it away to safety as well. Once the Royal Knight saw they were secure, he left them in a tow
n where they could blend in. He told the Queen of the secret meeting place he and the other knight agreed to, then left her and the children with two servants. The group had a supply of food in their bags, a few weapons, one large hefty bag containing gold and silver coins, and secret treasures that were family heirlooms. The Royal Knight then headed back to the kingdom. Along the way a rogue outlaw murdered him.

  “Inside the kingdom the fighting had ceased. The invaders had fled taking with them most of the treasures the villagers had worked hard to produce and most of the kingdom’s wealth. Blood was everywhere. Those who were wounded eventually died. It was a tragedy. It was rumored the King survived.

  “Later a merchant ship came to the kingdom with wealthy passengers. They witnessed the ruins of what remained of a once thriving community. Upon seeing the catastrophic conclusion of the war and the death all around the kingdom, the captain and a few crewmembers came onshore. They witnessed one man was left to bury all of the dead. They identified him as the King. After talking to him and realizing what had taken place they quickly left. They had promised to send help and supplies but didn't. As the years passed those who once knew of the kingdom forgot it existed. The King was no longer a thought in the minds of those who had witnessed he had survived the attack.

  “It was later discovered that the Queen, ashamed of her ill-fated love affair, couldn't bring herself to return the family to what was left of the once enchanted kingdom for fear that the King wouldn’t want her. She and her children began a life in another country far away, where people had never heard of her. She never remarried. One of the wonders of this story is that the Queen managed to keep their vast wealth intact. Before she died she told her children of their lineage and the story about the great kingdom that once was theirs. She told them that their father, the King, had died in battle and that he was a brave warrior as well as a wise and fair King. The stories they heard inspired them.

  “As years passed the children increased the family’s wealth tremendously before deciding to split up their families. One family decided to stay and work the land their mother had purchased. The other family set out for adventure and the excitement that the world had to offer.