Close Encounters of the Magical Kind

by Jeffrey M. Poole

  “It is done. The spell will last for two hours. Use the time well.”

  Kri’Entu looked back at the two shealk in time to see the black water dragon pull its head back into the water. A moment later it reemerged. A few seconds later the second shealk did the same. Balthor tapped the side of his face, indicating his eyes.

  “Their eyes dry out. They need to keep submerging them in the water or else they will be completely blinded.”

  Just then five additional shealk heads surfaced. Their long necks rose gracefully from the water and spread out. Three shealk spread themselves out on the left while four took the right. There, in the middle, was space for one more.

  Right on cue a glittering ruby red shealk head rose from the water. The head rotated left and right as it took in the surroundings. Balthor looked over at the king and inclined his head.

  “If you wish to say hello to his Lordship, now would be the time.”

  Sarah watched the king, along with a handful of his advisors, hurry over to the water’s edge so that he could introduce himself. Also making her way over, Sarah noted, was Pravara. Deciding she’d like to say hello as well, she hooked her arm through her husband’s and pulled him to the water’s edge.

  “I bid you all hello,” Lord Phaedren was saying.

  Sarah blinked with surprise. The shealk’s voice was soft, musical, and even somewhat enchanting. She immediately wondered what it must be like to live deep beneath the surface. Did they have nests? Did they live together in some type of community? Listening to the shealk’s voice made her yearn to find out.

  “I’m halfway tempted to jump in the water right about now,” her husband said, startling her.

  “Why do you say that?” Sarah whispered.

  “It was just something that popped into my head. Makes me wonder what you’d find below the surface. That’s the Erudian Ocean right there. Imagine what stories it could tell. If it could, that is.”

  “I feel the same way,” Sarah confided.

  “We welcome the hospitality offered by the humans,” Lord Phaedren said. “Young Pravara, it is good to see you again. Your natural form suits you better, young one.”

  Pravara nodded once, “Thank you, Lord Phaedren.”

  More introductions followed. Shealk were introduced to wyverians. Wyverians were introduced to griffins. Even most of the griffins chose to meet the shealk.

  “May we be included?” a deep gruff voice suddenly asked.

  Heads turned. Dozens of hushed conversations erupted. Kri’Entu looked, smiled, and bowed.

  “Master Maelnar. It is a pleasure, as always. Did you just arrive?”

  The dwarf nodded and began pushing his way through the crowd of onlookers. He appeared in front of the king, took off his helmet, and bowed. A quick scowl at his companions had them doing the same.

  “Aye. Didn’t think we’d make it in time. It would seem a certain wizard we both know misplaced Capily’s portal key.”

  Kri’Entu groaned, “Indeed? All four portal keys were misplaced? How unfortuitous.”

  Maelnar grinned, reached into his tunic, and held up a sparkling orange key.

  “No worries. You granted me permission to commission my own. I suspected there might be a delay with the portal so I finished it only this morning.”

  Sarah stifled a giggle, drawing Maelnar’s eyes to her own.

  “Lady Sarah! Sir Steve! Damn glad to see you! Have you been here long?”

  “Two days,” Sarah said as she smiled at their dwarf friend. “We’ve been here two days.”

  “Feels like a lot longer,” Steve muttered.

  “You should take a vacation, lad,” Maelnar advised. “You look tired. You, too, lass. If you’d like to take a proper vacation then may I recommend a wonderful relaxing stay in Foronlir? You haven’t lived until you’ve gazed upon the wonders of the Crystal Caves of Creaphor, or…”

  “We might just take you up on that, pal,” Steve warmly told the dwarf. “It’s been a busy couple of days.”

  “Is Breslin here?” Sarah asked. “I’d like to say hello if he is.”

  Maelnar turned and pointed towards the dragons.

  “He’s over there. He told me he wanted to say hello to Rhamalli.”

  Sarah, keeping her arm looped through her husband’s, turned to head toward the wyverian encampment when a hush fell over the crowd. Griffins, dwarves, shealk, and humans alike all fell silent. Curious as to why it had become so quiet that they could have heard a pin drop, Sarah turned and gasped.

  A large bright blue sphere of light was approaching from across the water. It was floating several feet off the surface and was on a direct course towards them. Sarah’s eyes filled. She couldn’t help it. It could only be the Fae!

  Ria and Tivan appeared the moment the sphere made landfall. Both were decked out in their finest attire and, Sarah noted, both were now human-sized. Ria was wearing a dazzling light green satin gown that seemed to glow with a light of its own. Her gossamer wings, typically hidden under a cloak or tucked out of sight, were extended and proudly displayed for all to see. Tivan was wearing a dark forest green suit that complimented Ria’s nicely. His wings remained concealed.

  “I can’t believe they’re here!” Sarah whispered excitedly to her husband. “Oh, the king is going to flip out!”

  Husband and wife glanced over at the king. Kri’Entu wore a shocked expression on his face. Sarah could see that he was looking for the queen, Mikal’s mother. Steve nudged her shoulder and pointed up the path towards Constable Fensham’s office. Sarah nodded. She could see Ny’Callé chatting with a dwarf. Who the dwarf was, she couldn’t tell, as the dwarf’s back was to her.

  One of the queen’s ladies-in-waiting leaned close and whispered something in her ear, presumably to let her know about the Fae’s arrival. Callé’s head jerked up, saw that Kri’Entu was looking up at her from his position down at the waterfront, and looked imploringly straight at Sarah. The queen’s eyes sought hers out and pleaded for assistance. Sarah nodded.

  In the blink of an eye Sarah’s jhorun teleported the queen to Kri’Entu’s side. The queen slipped her arm through her husband’s and turned to the Fae king and queen. Both human monarchs bowed, followed moments later by the Fae doing the exact same.

  “You must be Kri’Entu, human king,” Tivan began. “I am Tivan, King of the Fae. I’d like to introduce my wife, Ria. I am sorry to, what’s the phrase you mentioned before, dear?”

  Ria beamed a smile, “The phrase was, ‘crash the party’. I am sorry, but we could hear and feel your joy all the way from Dynwe. I do hope you do not mind.”

  Kri’Entu started sputtering, earning himself a concerned look from his wife.

  “No, er, not at all. You are more than welcome here. I, er, would like to present my beautiful wife, Ny’Callé.”

  Callé smiled warmly at the two Fae monarchs.

  “You are welcome here,” Mikal’s mother assured the two visiting monarchs. “If there’s anything you need, you have but to ask.”

  “Would Lady Sarah and her delightful husband be here?” Ria asked.

  “Did you hear that?” Steve whispered, nudging Sarah in the ribs. “Did you? I’m delightful.”

  “Oh, swell,” Sarah softly groaned. “As if your head wasn’t big enough.”

  “They’re right over there,” Kri’Entu answered, turning to indicate their direction. “My dear, would you escort her?”

  Ny’Callé nodded, “Of course. If you would follow me.”

  The two queens began walking along the wooden sidewalk to where Steve and Sarah were standing. Both husband and wife noticed that Ria seemed anxious to reach them. Tivan elected to stay behind to chat with Kri’Entu.

  “I wonder what’s on her mind.” Steve murmured quietly. “Looks like she’s got something to say, doesn’t it?”

  “I hope everything is alright,” Sarah agreed.

  The queens arrived just a few moments later. Ria caught Sarah’s arm with her left hand and snagg
ed Steve’s with her right. She pulled them into a three-way hug. The Fae queen surprised them both by bursting into tears.

  “I don’t think I’ve properly thanked you for all that you’ve done for us,” Ria tearfully told them. “We would be dead by now if it wasn’t for you.”

  Ny’Callé turned to go but Ria let go of Steve’s arm long enough to pull her to a stop.

  “No, please stay. What I have to say can be heard by your ears, too.”

  As was the case whenever Sarah was exposed to someone else crying, her own eyes filled. A few moments later the Lentarian queen was also dabbing at her eyes with a silk handkerchief. Caught in an awkward three-way hug, Steve looked over Ria’s shoulder at Mikal’s mother. Ny’Callé was smiling at the three of them and waiting patiently to find out why the Fae queen wanted her present. Steve gave Ria a few awkward pats on her back before he gently pulled backwards, indicating his desire to break the hug. Thankfully, Ria must have decided she had held the hug long enough and let them both go.

  “It’s over, Ria,” Sarah soothingly told her. “Everything is good. Everything should be back to normal, right?”

  Ria smiled and twirled about. Her wings fluttered a few times as she clapped excitedly. The Fae queen looked at both husband and wife and nodded.

  “You have no idea how much I’ve wanted to… Ny’Callé, is it? Would you please step over here? I don’t want to appear rude by having my back to you. There, much better. As I was saying, you have no idea how alive I feel right now. We’ve been in Dynwe far too long, keeping only to ourselves. It has been centuries since I’ve stepped foot off the isle. Now that I’m here, I want to make the most of it.”

  “How can I help?” Ny’Callé asked, smiling at the Fae.

  “Officially invite us for a visit to your home,” Ria said, not bothering to take a breath.

  “You’d like to see R’Tal?” Callé asked, surprised.

  “I want to see everything. I feel like I’ve been reborn! I told Tivan that I refuse to return to our solitary lives. I refuse to hide. I wish to make as many friends as I can! I want to see other cities, be they human, dwarf, griffin, or any other species in nature. I want to see how other inhabitants of this fine land live.”

  Ny’Callé regarded the Fae queen for a few seconds before clearing her throat.

  “Ria, queen of the Fae and resident of Dynwe, I officially invite you and your husband to be guests of honor in our castle back in R’Tal. Would you do me the honor of accepting?”

  Ria shrieked with delight and clasped Callé’s hands in her own.

  “Of course I will. I would be delighted! We would be delighted.”

  Sarah suddenly cocked her head. She could hear a soft, haunting tune that was rising steadily in volume. She looked back towards Constable Fensham’s office. A young girl, dressed entirely in white, was standing, motionless, while she held something to her lips. Whatever instrument it was, Sarah decided, the young girl clearly new how to play it.

  The slow, soothing tones of the instrument switched to a faster tempo. The girl had started playing a lively tune that was now causing heads to turn. A few moments later two young boys and another girl joined the soloist. The boys each held something that looked like a flattened ‘S’ while the second girl held something resembling an animal’s horn. Moments later all four instruments were playing together, harmonizing perfectly, and eliciting nods of approval from more than one onlooker.

  “That’s the sign,” Ny’Callé announced. “The ceremony is about to begin!”

  “Who’s performing the ceremony?” Steve wanted to know.

  “Shardwyn, of course,” Ny’Callé answered. The Lentarian queen was already on her way back down to the king.

  Tivan appeared by Ria’s side. He nodded at each of them before he took Ria’s arm in his own and guided them towards the waterfront. Dwarves took their seats. Griffins settled down onto the ground. The wyverians, after much insistence from Kri’Entu, had agreed to move closer, taking the stretch of land directly opposite the griffins. Granted, there were only four dragons present, including Pravara and Rhamalli, but their combined bulk was more than all the dwarves and griffins combined. Probably the humans, too, Sarah thought.

  She swung by the tree where Emerion was resting. The young griffin, catching sight of his adoptive mom, sprang to his feet and launched himself at her. Peanut pranced alongside the griffin, keeping a close eye.

  “Hello, Emerion,” Sarah cooed to the little griffin. “Did you miss me?”

  In response, the young griffin nuzzled his head into Sarah’s chest and trilled happily.

  “Would you mind if Steve held you? Or, if you prefer, would you walk alongside us?”

  Emerion took one look at Steve and elected to jump down. He stayed close to her left knee, while Peanut paced them both on the left of Emerion. Sarah heard her husband grunt once, but thankfully he elected not to say anything.

  She chose a seat near the front of the procession but all the way on the left so that Emerion could curl up beside her on the ground. Once both the griffin and corgi had made themselves comfortable she turned to her husband. Steve took her hand into his and together they waited for everyone else to sit down. Maelnar, catching sight of the two of them, immediately veered away from the location Breslin had chosen and hopped up onto the seat next to Steve. In a matter of moments the entire contingent of dwarves was occupying the first three rows of chairs on the left. Kri’Entu and Ny’Callé and their huge entourage chose the right.

  “We’ve come a long way, Master Steve,” Maelnar whispered, leaning close so he didn’t have to shout.

  “We really have,” Steve agreed.

  “You seem to have acquired yourself a wee griffin.”

  “We did,” Steve agreed.

  “How?” Maelnar asked. “Griffins do not typically give up their young.”

  “It’s a long story. Let me see if I can sum it up. The mother was killed. If the cub were to be given to his father then the poor cub would suffer the same fate, whether intentional or by neglect.”

  “Ah. The cub’s father is not fit to raise the youngling?”

  Steve nodded, “You’ve got that right. So we’re taking him back with us to our world.”

  “Commendable, Sir Steve.”

  “It was Sarah’s idea.”

  “Good for her,” their dwarf friend decided. “That will not be easy on either of you.”

  “We know. But it’s something that had to be done. Hey, did you and Shardwyn ever bury the hatchet like you promised you would?”

  Maelnar sighed heavily and grunted, “Longstanding grudges are hard to forgive, my friend. Especially when they’re held by insufferable know-it-alls.”

  “You promised me, pal,” Steve reminded him.

  “You misunderstand,” Maelnar added with a chuckle. “We get along fine. Neither of us will raise a voice to the other…”

  Steve nodded, pleased. “That’s what I want to hear.”

  “…while we’re face-to-face,” Maelnar finished, lowering his voice so that Steve would be the only one that could hear him. “When we’re out of earshot, it’s an entirely different matter, I’m sure.”

  Eavesdropping, Sarah groaned inwardly. Maelnar and Shardwyn were still at each other’s throats? Concerned, she glanced at her husband. Much to her surprise, Steve was laughing.

  “I don’t expect you to behave yourselves at all times,” he was saying. “I only need to see you two acting cordial when you’re in the same room together, agreed?”

  Maelnar laughed and companionably slapped a hand on Steve’s back.

  “Excellent. Then we understand one another.”

  “Ladies and gentlemen!” a familiar voice announced.

  Sarah noticed Shardwyn was now standing in front of the procession. His back was to the water as he held his hands up to signal silence.

  “We extend our heartfelt welcome to all of our guests, including the dwarves!”

  Three rows of dwarves a
ll bellowed in approval.

  “The griffins!”

  A collective screech came from the griffins.

  “The wyverians!”

  Pravara, Rhamalli, and the two dragons he didn’t know threw their heads back and roared.

  “The shealk!”

  The waters turned frothy as every shealk present, including Lord Phaedren, lifted a section of their tail from the water and slapped the surface.

  “And the Fae!” Shardwyn cried.

  Sarah breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t know if Shardwyn had noticed their arrival. The last thing she wanted was to have the Fae left out when all Ria seemed capable of doing was to sing the praises of a new friendship. A resounding cheer went up from everyone but the Fae. Ria and Tivan bowed politely while waving to the crowd.

  “If everyone will please stand I do believe there are two young people who are anxious for these proceedings to start!”

  Everyone rose to their feet. Nearly two dozen young teenagers appeared, each holding a peculiar-looking instrument. Each of them was wearing robes of white. Sarah also noticed that the four kids from before, each holding the same instrument they had been playing before, were amongst them. A lone adult appeared and motioned for everyone to get ready.

  “It’s Quinn!” Sarah excitedly told her husband. “I was wondering if we were going to see him around here somewhere. He looks so much better, don’t you think?”

  “I knew he was a teacher but didn’t know what subject he specialized in,” Steve said, watching as Quinn led the youngsters into the beginnings of what had to be the Lentarian wedding march. “To be honest I saw him as more of a history teacher than a music teacher.”

  “He is the school master,” Sarah reminded him. “He undoubtedly teaches everything, including music. He probably volunteered the kids to play for this wedding. It was nice of the Kri’yans to accept.”

  A hush fell over the crowd. Everyone turned to see that there were now two people making their way down the aisle. Sarah could see Constable Fensham, outfitted in a dark leather jerkin with a white long sleeve shirt underneath and black trousers, complete with calf-high leather boots, escorting his daughter down the aisle. A sword was buckled to his left hip.