by L. R. W. Lee
Hans approached. “Thank you,” he murmured. He opened his mouth as if to say more but seemed unable to form the words. He closed his eyes and bowed his head repeating, “Thank you.”
Andy stepped forward and enfolded the scruffy man, and Hans reciprocated with a strong embrace. When Andy stepped back, he saw tears streaming down the healer’s face.
The floating spheres dimmed and Andy found himself standing alone. Where’d everyone go? He tried to stuff down a growing sense of panic, but as the dusk deepened, so did his fear.
“You’re afraid,” Dad’s voice in his head intoned. Never had Andy been more happy to hear his inneru. The creature rummaged loudly through the filing system in his head. “F. F-A. F-E. Here we are…F-E-A-R. Andy, do you remember the lesson about fear from when you had to battle the dragon?”
I don’t have to be afraid, I have a choice!
“Well done! And none too soon from the looks of things.”
Andy forced air from his lungs and his muscles tightened.
Light breached the curtain of darkness that had shielded the space beyond the platform. The unfolding scene reminded him of the arcade at the carnival he had attended with his family last summer. From three yards away a clown approached wearing bright-red bushy hair, a red polka dot suit, and oversize shoes.
“What are you staring at, loser?” it sneered.
A fat lady with mismatched attire wobbled forward. She made an “L” with her thumb and forefinger and held it to her brow, scowling.
Andy gazed into the dimness and his pulse quickened. Hannah, Alden, and Hans sat high up on narrow boards fifty feet away. Their hands were tied behind their backs and ropes bound their ankles. While Andy did not know how high they perched, a fall would clearly kill them as nothing stood between them and the ground. Three dagger-wielding zolt each occupied a two-foot-square platform no more than a foot away from his friends. The adversaries were clearly enjoying themselves, taunting each victim at knifepoint. A stiff arm displayed a six-inch target above each fiend. A dunk tank without water! Are you kidding? What sick—
Before he could complete the thought, Ox materialized nearby and berated, “You’re nothing but a spoiled, snot-nosed brat who can’t throw worth beans!”
Cadfael joined in, forming a duet, “Think everyone likes you? Ha!”
Lucee harmonized, “Think you’re such a brave hotshot, don’t ya? Think again.”
The insults pierced Andy’s mind like flaming arrows. I knew it! It’s been a sham the whole time. They’re right! I’m nothing! I’m no prince. I’m a fraud.
“Andy!” his inneru interjected. “No time! Your friends are in peril!”
But…
“They’re lying to you!”
Sir Kay appeared next to Andy on the platform. He lowered his gaze, locking eyes. “You’re a sorry excuse for a prince!”
Sir Gawain added, “You do realize the King is just humoring you. You’re nothing to him!”
Andy suddenly felt light-headed, and his breathing grew difficult as a host of green spongs appeared at his feet.
Hannah let out a blood-curdling scream.
“Andy! Ignore your fears and doubts. These are your friends! Only you can save them!” his inneru prodded.
Andy squeezed his eyes tight and pressed a hand to either side of his head as his doubts waged war with the voice in his mind.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Worthy?
“Arrr!” Alden howled. The desperation in the cry rocked Andy from his inner struggle. He snatched up a spong and hurled it at the target above Alden. Not waiting to see the result, he grabbed another green missile and launched it toward the zolt taunting Hannah. He heard a body hit the ground with a thud as he propelled a third projectile, drawing a dull thwack as it connected with its zolt target.
He paused to survey the scene. The zolt bodies had vanished, but so had his friends. Where’d they go? Seconds later Father, Mermin, and Marta replaced the first trio. Each struggled to loose their bonds while avoiding contact from the sharp blades that danced precariously in the hands of adversary.
Razen materialized a few feet away from Andy on the steps. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. You’re such a disappointment. Just ask your father.” He shook his head and wagged a finger to emphasize.
In the distance, Andy saw Father duck, but the enemy’s blade found its mark, slashing and drawing blood from his cheek. Like pouring gasoline on a fire, the act ignited Andy’s anger. “Oh no you don’t!” he bellowed. Ignoring the bird-man, he grabbed a spherical projectile and compelled it to fly.
Marta yelped as a slash of her enemy’s blade freed a clump of her bright-purple hair.
“Marta!” Andy shrieked. “Get away from her!” he commanded, grabbing another spong and releasing it with all his might to press the point. Her nemesis blanched and plummeted from its perch seconds later.
Glaucin joined Razen on the step, forming a duet of insults. “You’re a reckless one you are, Andy. I’d never trust you to rule my kingdom.”
Razen continued, “You’re all talk, but no results. At least not that count for anything. You’re pathetic!”
Since their appearance, Mermin had chanted spells to fend off his adversary. His strategy appeared to be working, but as soon as Andy saved Father and Marta, Mermin’s attacker broke through this defense and sliced the wizard’s arm.
“Get away from him!” Andy exploded, letting loose another rocket.
Andy heard a fading cry as the spong propelled Mermin’s attacker from its roost. Chest heaving, he collapsed.
“You’re putting these people in peril. What kind of ruler will you make?” Glaucin ridiculed.
“The King was better off before you arrived,” Razen added.
“You can’t listen to them, Andy. Believe in yourself!” his inneru championed.
A high-pitched wail rent the cavern. Madison!
Zolt swiped at Mom, Dad, and Madison as he looked up.
“Not! My! Sister!” Andy howled, snatching up another spong. No longer satisfied with hitting the red target, Andy hurled a green cannonball directly at the attacker’s head. Direct hit! The enemy bobbled for a second before succumbing to gravity’s clutches. Madison vanished.
“You’re a pathetic excuse for a brother!” Razen continued. “Look at the danger you’ve placed her in.”
Merodach materialized next to Glaucin. “Little thief!” he boomed.
A burly zolt took a swing at Mom. “How dare you!” Andy growled, narrowing his eyes. “She’s the queen of Oomaldee!” He launched another spong, knocking the enemy’s weapon from its outstretched arm. The attacker turned and grinned at Andy, then proceeded to extract a short knife from his belt. He turned back to Mom and raised the blade above his head.
“No!” Andy screamed at the top of his lungs, unable to quickly reach another projectile.
The enemy leapt from its platform onto Mom, bringing its knife down sharply. Mom shrieked.
“Mom!”
“Emily!” Dad cried, echoing.
Nostrils flaring, Andy scrambled up and reached a spong, then hurled it. The impact rocked the foe and it lost its balance, let out a nasally shriek, and plummeted from its perch in slow motion. Mom lay unmoving, listing precariously on the narrow beam.
The last zolt swung as it lunged at Dad. To this point the man had successfully avoided the blows, but this one landed squarely on his shoulder. “Emily!” he pleaded, the pain of concern seemingly worse than the physical injury. His cry pierced Andy.
Andy launched three spongs in rapid fire as Dad repeated, “Emily…”
Dad’s attacker succumbed and Dad vanished.
Andy darted toward Mom only to slam into an invisible barrier as he reached the edge of the dais. Bouncing off, he landed hard. He struggled to right himself, then looked on helplessly, tears streaming down his face.
“Worthless!” Glaucin exclaimed.
“What kind of a son are you?” Razen harassed.
“Weak!” Mero
dach exclaimed.
“Look at that, a crybaby,” the bird-man added in a patronizing tone.
“Stop! Please stop…” Andy begged, falling face-first to the floor. “Spare her. Take my life instead!”
As if summoning a magic spell, the words quieted the chaos. Darkness was restored to the theater and Andy collapsed, quaking.
“Andy!” Hans called, rushing toward him from the other side of the platform. Alden, Hannah, and Yara quickly joined, encircling him.
“Are you okay?” Hannah queried.
So sudden and welcome was their reappearance, Andy bounded up and engulfed the four in a group hug.
“We saw the whole thing,” Alden informed, shaking his head.
“Is fixing the ring really worth all this?” Hannah queried.
Hans closed his eyes and Yara bit her lower lip, but it was Andy who spoke. “From what Hans and I have been through, it’s clear that restoring something as powerful as the ring costs a lot.”
The princess nodded as Andy continued, “I get it. If it didn’t cost a lot, we wouldn’t value it.” Andy glanced around the group. “Only you can say if you’re willing to be tested.”
Alden rocked on his feet, Hannah looked at the floor, and Yara pulled at her ear.
“No one’s going to force anyone to do something they don’t want to do,” Hans encouraged.
Several minutes of silent contemplation passed before Alden stopped his rocking. “I’m willing.” He nodded, confirming his choice.
Yara dropped her arms, tightening her hands into fists. “I am too.”
Hannah glanced between Alden and Yara. “I’m afraid.”
“Me too. But if we can fix the ring, Cromlech’s healers can help more people than we know,” Alden encouraged.
Hannah nodded but continued to deliberate. At last, she pulled her shoulders back and declared, “I’m willing.”
The light immediately dimmed.
“Here we go,” Alden observed.
Andy held his breath and clenched his hands into fists.
Hannah yelped, Yara squealed, and Hans shouted, “No!” as a scene illuminated out of the darkness on the far side of the space: Zolt torched a street of wattle and daub homes, screaming children scattered in all directions, mothers shielded babies as they ran, men drew weapons. The enemy cut them down where they stood.
Andy drew Methuselah’s hilt but the blade did not extend. He shook it as he dashed forward, but as he reached the edge of the platform he again slammed into the invisible barrier and bounced back. Running next to him with weapon drawn, Alden leapt from the platform and raced into the fray. “Dad!” he screamed.
Seconds later, a man and the two children who clutched him fell to a blade.
“No!” Alden cried out.
“Alden!” a purple-haired woman yelled.
“Mom!” Alden returned, bolting after. But before he reached her, dark shadows flew overhead. Talons found flesh and lifted a shrieking Marta skyward. The enemy taunted, dangling her just beyond reach. Alden raced after, casting insults with each stride.
Andy beat his fists against the barrier while Hannah and Yara huddled together, tears streaming down their faces. Hans watched unwillingly, a hand covering his mouth.
Alden reached his mom and grabbed at a foot just to have the zolt jerk her upward. The scene repeated itself time and again.
“Mom!”
Other zolt joined in the taunting and began dive-bombing Alden as he raced after his mother. With no small advantage, the enemy soon grew bored and began tossing Marta between them, receiving a shriek from their toy as a reward.
Andy had no idea how long the torment went on, but he watched Alden’s steps falter. He stumbled but refused to fall, then swatted a diving zolt with his blade.
How long? Andy pounded at the restraining field with all his might to the same result. “Argh!”
Eventually Alden stumbled and fell. He lay on the ground, his chest heaving, sobbing as Marta’s silhouette grew smaller. “No!”
Several minutes passed before Alden finally sat up. He wiped dirty streaks from his face and looked about. At last his nostrils flared and a smile erupted.
What?
Andy stopped pounding on the barrier, the girls raised their eyebrows, and Hans tilted his head as Alden bounded up and shouted, “This isn’t real! This is a test!”
The scene of devastation instantly vanished, and a minute later Alden mounted the steps of the platform. Andy mauled him the instant he broke through the restraint.
“Well done, Alden!” Hans patted him on the back.
“Is that what it was like when your dad…?” Hannah queried in a hushed tone.
Alden nodded.
“How’d you figure it out?” Yara questioned.
“I couldn’t keep chasing. While I was catching my breath, I thought about how unfair it was, losing my father and my brother and sister twice, and now my mom too—”
Before Alden could finish the thought, a dozen or more furry winged creatures buzzed the group. Hannah screamed and took off running.
An oversize bat swooped down. The creature had a flat monkey-like face, pointy ears, and a wingspan of at least ten feet. It held its mouth open, revealing two-inch-long serrated teeth and filling the space with high-pitched squeals.
“It’s Olitiau, the granddaddy of all bats!” Hans shouted.
The others rushed to protect Hannah but were once more confined to the platform by the invisible barrier.
“Argh!” Alden yelled, pummeling the blockade with the butt of his sword.
Hannah tripped and planted her face in the dirt floor as the monster swooped low. Once it had passed, she jumped up and unsheathed her sword, then with shaking arms assumed a ready position. A cloud of smaller bats locked on and dipped down. She narrowed her eyes and set her jaw, swinging as the pests came within reach. Dismembered bat bodies quickly littered the floor. A second and third wave assaulted to the same end.
“Go Hannah!” the onlookers cheered.
The monster bat approached once more. It bellowed an ear-splitting screech as it dove, and Hannah froze. Seconds later, it grazed her with a claw as if readying to open her up like prey. She dropped her weapon and clutched her face, trying to staunch a stream of red.
“Look out!” Yara cautioned at the top of her lungs, jumping and waving.
Hannah dropped to the ground, barely avoiding the enemy’s outstretched claws as it swooped low. It let out a high-pitched shriek, frustrated at the miss.
“It’s not real!” Alden coached.
Still holding her face, Hannah hastily grabbed her blade, then stumbled up and assumed a one-handed ready position.
“It’s not real!” Alden shouted again.
The monster approached and Hannah took a swing when it came within striking range. But the effort unbalanced her. She took an unsteady step into a flapping wing and fell to the ground as the adversary circled.
“Hannah!” Alden cried.
Tiring, she directed her gaze toward her name.
“The bat’s not real!” Alden tried again.
“The bat’s not real,” she repeated as if in a trance.
Furry wings neared.
“Move! It’s coming!” Yara shrieked.
“Hannah, you can do this,” Hans coaxed, struggling to sound calm.
Ten yards and closing.
“This is a test! None of this is real!” Andy called.
Five yards.
“Hannah,” Alden begged.
Two yards.
Hannah closed her eyes and gasped, “The bat’s not real!”
Like suddenly waking from a nightmare, the monster vanished and the area went dark as it had after the previous tests. Hannah gasped, then felt her face. Not so much as a scratch. She rose and meandered toward her compatriots in a daze, slowly mounting the steps.
The instant she cleared the barrier, Alden engulfed her in his arms. “I was so scared for you.”
Hannah buried her
head in his shoulder and sobbed as the others looked on.
“These tests are inhumane,” Hans complained. Andy looked downward and nodded slowly.
“That leaves me,” Yara grimaced.
As if flipping a switch, the words compelled a spotlight to illuminate a throne. The royal seat, made of highly polished white marble, was inlaid with rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. The overstuffed crimson seat cushion was velvet, and intricate carvings accented the seatback.
“That throne’s beautiful,” Yara marveled.
I wonder why Father doesn’t have a throne. The random thought flitted about Andy’s brain but disappeared as quickly as it had come.
A second spotlight revealed a chaise that glittered gold.
Is that stone from Mount Mur Eyah?
Lavish purple silk pillows lined the seat and back, and ornate scrollwork added a sophisticated touch to the length.
“Oooh,” Yara whispered.
A third light illuminated a roughly hewn wood table. Five warped planks formed the uneven rectangular top. A brown burlap skirt was gathered around the front and sides, blocking any view of what was underneath.
Interesting…
Yara studied the three objects.
After several minutes, Andy broke the silence as he questioned softly, “What’s she supposed to do?”
“Pick one,” Hans speculated from the opposite end of the semicircle he and the others formed behind the princess.
That’s it? After what we’ve all been through?
Hannah shot Alden a glance as Yara descended the steps.
“What kind of a test is that?” Hannah whispered once she was out of earshot.
“She must choose her future,” Hans speculated. “If I’m not mistaken, the throne represents power—with power comes great responsibility. A queen will be tested throughout her reign, both by the people she seeks to help as well as by the lust for increasing influence and control. While I don’t sense she craves power, it will still entice.”
Andy shifted as he listened. Hannah met his eyes with an empathetic look.
“I believe the chaise represents comfort and pleasure. While that choice might seem easy, if you consider it fully, I think not. At some point, pursuing nothing but one’s own enjoyment would become meaningless and leave you feeling empty. If you woke up each day with only entertainment before you but with no ambition to help others or make a difference…”
