by W. C. Peever
Bailey shifted her feet uncomfortably, biting her bottom lip in fearful frustration. She knew her heart’s answer to the question, but to say it out loud would make her vulnerable. “Because Charlie’s always there with me to get me out of trouble. I guess I am just checking to make sure he still has my back. I need to know that he’s not going to leave me, like my father did.”
“An honest answer, and one that Charlie needed to know. You may pass. Next.”
Mick walked boldly up to the lion. “Ah, a Guardian, like myself. I know why you joined this team at first, but that is not the reason that you stay. Why did you stay with these two?”
Mick stood proud, his broad shoulders back and his head held high. “‘To serve and protect the future of the Order,’ should be my response. That’s the reason that I tell myself. The truth is that I lied to you guys.” Mick looked at his friends, tears welling in his eyes. “I am so sorry that I didn’t trust you. My parents died when I was around a year old. I grew up in an orphanage. I never knew what it was like to have a family and then I meet you two, and I felt what it would be like to have a brother and sister. You brought me to your home and your mothers treated me like family, like a son.” Mick’ tears ran freely down his cheek now. “For the first time in my life I felt like I had a place, a home…like maybe I had a family” Mick looked into the eyes of his friend. “I never wanted to lose that feeling again. I figured as long as I protected you I would never lose you.”
“An honest answer. You may pass. Now it is your turn, Ms. Hatfield.” Tillie stepped forward. “My question for you is more abstract. The love of your life is in mortal danger and only you can save him but if you save him, evil will take over the world and good will be extinguished. If, however you let him die, good will have a chance to conquer evil. When the time comes, what will you choose?”
Tillie sat down on the damp mossy stone floor and thought a shiver ran down her spine. “I don’t know. I’d like to believe that I’d choose the world over my own feelings, but the truth is that I don’t really know. Sorry, I guess I’ll wait here.”
“No, that was an honest answer. You may all pass and good luck with your quest.” The old wooden doors opened and a blast of cool air escaped from the chamber within. As they entered, their torch light reflected off hundreds of white skulls that lined the walls. Tillie took a startled breath.
“So many skulls… Do you think they belonged to members of Merlin’s school? Many of these look like they belong to children,” said Bailey.
“Many of those killed were children.” The werecat lamented. “Remember, it was a school that Arthur attacked.
These are the graves Merlin and the council dug after the massacre. What a waste of life and talent.”
The room was a giant hall, the floors lined with rows of stone sarcophagi, each with a name and epitaph chiseled into its lid. Each sarcophagus had a life sized statue, with the presumed likeness of the occupant forever frozen on its lid. Some of the final resting places of these great men were raised in stone boxes three and four feet off of the ground, while some were merely lids resting on the floor, where they covered the interred. The children and werecat spread out through the room, searching for the final resting place of the chairman. It was Mick who called out, “I think I found it!” Everyone ran over to the tomb and listened as Mick read the inscription on its stone lid out loud.
Here lies power you honestly sought,
Of Merlin’s essence deeply wrought,
True of spirit and true of heart
This tomb is only the first part.
Under stone within the light,
Find the crystal glowing bright.
‘Tis the crystal you must find.
If again you wish to bind
The power that our ancient Lord,
Across dimensions broke and poured
To the forest in due haste
Time itself you must not waste,
For the other, seek power too
To with it make the world anew.
To oblivion would justice go
And in its place discord sow
If on the altar crystal rests,
The Order can not fail the test.
For the Crystal Power imbue
The map to travel time to you,
To places where the crystals lie,
And to where Merlin went to die.
The catch, dear friends, is great I fear,
For Merlin only can hope to unhinge
The secrets that are entombed within.
Charlie, jaw agape, asked “What does it mean, Joelle?”
The werecat stared at the words, running her eyes forwards and backwards over them again and again. Finally she looked up at Charlie and bowed.
“Only a descendant of Merlin can complete the quest. Only you can open the sarcophagus, Charlie.” The werecat paced in front of the tomb. “Merlin left a map inside. He knew that someday one of his descendants from within the Order would eventually come, find the map, resist the power of the crystals. and finally seek out and destroy them. That is why the lion asked those questions of you. He was testing your mind and heart, your ambitions.” The werecat looked up at the children, and bowed again. “It is my honor to be here to witness you four as you discover your destiny, one that is greater than anything I have seen in a millennia.”
“So should I open the sarcophagus?” asked Charlie.
“No, not yet,” the werecat answered anxiously. “I have no idea yet what the poem means about the altar in the forest. There is no fear of anyone taking the crystal from you, Charlie, as only you can open the tomb. I think we must find this forest altar before you take possession of the Sword Excalibur, and the map within. Also there seems to be a time limit. It’s odd; don’t you think that the author expected us to know about the altar? I think it’s time we had another long talk with Professor Grayson.” The werecat turned and led the foursome back into the library.
Chapter Ten
The Stone in the Sword
The long trek out of the tunnel to the library and on to Professor Grayson’s study was marked by profound silence, each of the children pondering the events that had taken place. Torches along the hallway cast ominous shadows on ancient suits of armor, giving the illusion of movement. The wind outside the castle walls whistled and moaned through the cracks in the stones.
Yet none of this could distract Charlie from the discovery that there was a map to all of the crystals. Until this point, the task of finding the crystals had seemed utterly impossible. Without the map it would be like trying to find one specific grain of sand along the beach. It had been unthinkable.
But a map detailing where to find the crystals made the task at least possible, if not still incredibly difficult.
Now Charlie had hope. If he could use the map to find and destroy all of the crystals, there was a chance. A very small chance albeit, but still a chance that he could also free and save his father.
“We are here,” said the werecat.
“But Joelle, this isn’t Grayson’s study.” Charlie looked up. They were in front of a large purple door boasting two golden dragon-head knockers.
“For heavens sake, Burrows. What do you take me for? The Headmaster goes to bed at ten. Currently it is –”
“Exactly eleven-thirty in the evening,” interrupted the Headmaster as he opened the door. “and these are my private chambers. Given who is at my door, however, you are all most welcome to enter.” Grayson stepped aside and made a welcoming gesture. “I expect to hear a fantastic story given the lateness of this very impromptu visit. Please excuse me while I make some hot chocolate and get a few butter biscuits. That particular combination is usually best for midnight adventure stories.”
Grayson smiled, stoked up the fire and busied himself in his small pantry. “I am afraid I only have store bought, original flavored butter biscuits. I hope you won’t mind. My mother used to make these from scratch, but alas, I am not nearly as amazing a cook as she,�
�� he said with a sigh. “Well, we all have our strengths and our weaknesses.” The water in the tea pot began to boil and the Headmaster twirled his fingers and poured steaming hot chocolate into the teacups for the childeren and a saucer for Joelle. He then put an additional log on onto the fire. A tea cup in hand, he sat down in a comfortable leather arm chair, gesturing for his guests to do the same. “Well, why don’t you tell me why you have all come to visit me this late winter’s night?”
All five began talking in unison. The Headmaster raised his free hand to his ear and then to his lips. “I had hoped the story would unfold slowly. One at a time, please.
Charlie, please start from the beginning.”
Slowly, Charlie began to tell the whole story, from the moment that the five left for the catacombs beneath the library to his revelation in the ghostly hallway. “Well, well, we did have an exciting evening.” Grayson responded after hearing Charlie out. “My conversation with the Oracle has suddenly taken on new levels of clarity and meaning. Also, it would appear that this year’s contest is grossly unfair to the other students, as only students who group with you would win.” The Headmaster remained silent for a moment. “The Oracle has many secrets that are his and his alone. I can only attempt to guess at their meaning.”
“Henry,” Joelle said as she hopped up onto the left armrest of the Headmaster’s chair. “The old story of the sword in the stone, perhaps the Oracle was not trying to mislead. What if the sword is inside of the sarcophagus? Excalibur has a blue crystal embedded in its hilt, which means anyone could get the sword, but only Merlin or his descendant is capable of releasing the secrets. It says nothing of taking the sword from the sarcophagus.”
The Headmaster caressed his beard. “You should have taken the sword when you had it within your reach. Every minute that goes by is a minute that another may take position of Merlin’s sword. Is the library locked?”
“Yes, for the time being. However, as we’ve found out, a Telecon like Bailey can open that kind of lock. Let’s face it, the Vanari are in command of many people that fit that bill.”
“Or,” said Charlie, “they could use an Influencearian like Lance MacAlcester.”
“Charlie, you have already told me your suspicion of young master MacAlcester. The truth is he is far too young to perform that kind of act. I am sure he is flexing his ability and getting into mischief, perhaps even malicious mischief. It would take a powerful Influencearian to control both a person and their ability, a power that young Lance could not possibly have yet.” The Headmaster seemed both frustrated and irritated, but not at Charlie. “This gives us much to think on.” He stopped to sip at his now cold chocolate. “Has it occurred to you, Joelle that we have been in the forest outside the castle many, many times and have yet to see an altar of stone like the one that is described?”
“It has. I do not understand it at all, Henry.”
“I would like you to stand guard at the library, Joelle.
These adventurers need their sleep. After breakfast I will send them to the library to fetch the sword. In the meantime though, I believe that we could all use some rest.” He ushered the weary crowd out of his bedroom and back to their own comfortable beds.
It was one of the longest walks of Charlie’s life. When his head finally found its way to his pillow he fell into a deep sleep. All that night Charlie tossed and turned. Nightmares of giant rats, swords and the chiseled face of Vali plagued his sleep.
Vali stood over his bed, a long sword in hand, laughing at Charlie, who had been bound with thick rough ropes. In a whisper he said, “I have her, and she will do what I want now.”
Vali’s face changed to that of a teenage boy with long greasy hair. He was the same boy who had delivered the letters back and forth from the office of the Headmaster when they first arrived at the castle. He was laughing, holding above his head a long silver sword, in the center of which was a deep blue crystal. The boy spoke. “You look down on me, but he never did. You blindly follow the Order, which long ago lost its way. I have the ultimate prize!” The boy’s laughter filled the air, then all went black.
Charlie awoke to sounds of shouting in the halls. The dormitory door burst open, and Marley came rushing in, followed by what looked like the entire council guard. “Get the other boy,” shouted Marley, as he pointed at Mick and threw Charlie over his shoulder. From Marley’s massive right shoulder Charlie could look down and see Mick with his hands and legs thrashing wildly in protest. As they exited the boys’ dormitory they met Tillie receiving equally humiliating treatment, and Bailey, screaming, “Let go of me you oversized brute! Who do you think you are, coming into the girl’s dormitory and scooping me up like that? I demand to know what’s going on!”
“I am sorry, Miss,” came the surprisingly kind voice of the heavily muscled Guardian carrying her. “We need to get you and your friends to safety. And please stop kicking me in the kidneys. I need to pee and your kicking is definitely not helping.” The man’s comment made Bailey laugh, allowing him to carry her to the tower. They were joined by the other guardians, who bore them up the winding stone staircase to a guarded door that swung open to meet them. Three men in stark white robes that covered and hid their faces, waited silently for the Guardians to place the children down on their feet. Once accomplished, the man in the center removed his hood to reveal a handsome face with well groomed hair.
“My apologies for rushing you out of your beds like that, before breakfast. My name is Paulo Lapertine. I am the Chairman of the Council. I have been trying to meet with you for some time, but the Headmaster was afraid that it would all go to your head, and refused me access to you. I know that you are made of stronger stuff, so a little conversation with me couldn’t hurt.” He smiled the way a politician does. “Circumstances have changed, and your lives are in danger. It is not just about you any longer. Has the Headmaster told you how important your entire family is to the council? What your obligations to the Order are?”
“A little bit,” Charlie lied.
“Good old Henry.” The man shook his head. “A kind old fool, he believes that you cannot handle the knowledge of your true destiny, that you must be treated as just an ordinary student. But you are not, my boy. You are special.
Which is why now that the castle has been infiltrated we must ensure your safety and see to your…” He paused, searching for the correct word. “Your training and education. After all, without you all is lost.” The man smiled, and Charlie realized that all his freedom had just been taken from him.
“Sir, I appreciate your kind words and your protection, but it is not necessary. I am safe here behind these walls. The Headmaster said so.”
“Well, the Headmaster is a fool. When one of his best friends is kidnapped and a library is destroyed right under his nose, we must begin to wonder.”
“Joelle? Kidnapped? What happened to the library?” the children shouted.
“Why would you think it was Joelle? Speaking of which, where exactly were you all last night? Some of your friends say you were not in your beds at all. A teacher says you were coming from the direction of the Headmaster’s room in the middle of the night. This is all very disturbing.” The man’s voice deepened to a snarl.
The air around Charlie exploded in a flash and a bang. Through the smoke, the children could make out the silhouettes of the Headmaster and Joelle in tiger form. “Step back, council member Lapertine. You have no jurisdiction within my school.”
“I believe that you are mistaken, Headmaster. Under our bylaws, if a member of your staff or a student is apprehended, I, as Minister of Security, am obligated to step in. As it is, I believe that these children are in danger both from the Vanari and now from your care. Their protection is my first priority. Headmaster, where were you last night?”
“With the children and Joelle.”
“And what exactly were you and kitty here doing with them at such a late hour?”
Joelle growled a low warning. “The Headmaster an
d these children were helping me with a problem, if you must know. I feel disinclined to include you our private discussion, nor do I like your tone. This is not your place, Paulo. Go home.”
“Easy, Joelle, we do not want to be rude,” said the Professor. “If you have an issue with me or my school, you will need to go through proper channels. This is neither the time nor the place to go thumbing through bylaws. We had a fire last night. An ember from the fireplace ignited one of the tapestries in the library. Joelle contained the fire.” The Headmaster looked Lapertine in the eyes. “Minister, why would you think that Joelle was kidnapped?”
“Obviously my sources were wrong, Headmaster.” He glared back at the old man, then smiled a politician’s smile and switched back to an upbeat voice. “Well, then, I guess there is nothing to worry about, is there? I am so happy that you are safe, Joelle.I It would be a great loss if you had been killed by assassins.”
“Assassins, it’s what’s for dinner,” Joelle snarled back at the man, and smacked her long tongue against her lips.
The seasoned politician may have been taken aback by the werecat’s response, but it did not show. “My presence here is no longer needed,” The Headmaster raised an eyebrow in question as the chairman of the council on security continued, “and I will send some people from the council to estimate the damage and begin repairs immediately so we can get you up and running again as soon as possible. After all, education is priority number one with the Order.”
He smiled as he turned in the direction of the door, where a group of student newspaper reporters were standing, with video recorders running.
“Thank you very much, Minister, and thank you for your continued support of all of our projects, like the new swimming pool. Very generous.”
“Swimming pool? I don’t –” stammered Minister Lapertine.
“Did you get that, Gwen?” said one of the student reporters. “A new pool!” Lapertine glared at the Headmaster then walked briskly out of the room. Celli and Marley stepped to either side of Charlie.
