Other Worlds: Vesta Mansion Trilogy - Book Two - Fantasy

by P. A. Priddey

  ‘Yes, we have always been able to do it.’

  ‘It looks like we have so much to learn.’

  ‘We also, it has been many years since we talked to your kind, but it looks like we will have plenty of time for that.’

  Alex nodded. ‘Yes, we do at that . . . I guess we’ll have to go shortly.’

  ‘You’re not staying?’

  ‘Some will, but it’s been a long day. I don’t mean right away of course, I’m just thinking of the children. Others will want to sleep, and come back in the morning.’

  ‘You make travelling between worlds sound so simple.’

  Alex considered it. ‘Would you and some of your people like to visit our home, and see just how quick it is?’

  ‘Yes, I would like that very much,’ said Torgon. He spoke to some of his councillors who were conversing with Joseph and George who all agreed to go.

  ‘I’ll come back with you,’ said Blaze. ‘I need to check the ball now that I’ve been here.’

  ‘It’s worth a try,’ said Alex. ‘I could still sense the children when I was on a different world to them.’

  ‘We might have a problem communicating when we get back,’ said Joseph.

  Alex raised an eyebrow. ‘Why, we’re doing fine now?’

  ‘The elves are talking in Elfish, and we are talking in English, and I couldn’t understand Meldun back at the mansion, but the women could.’

  ‘That’s strange . . . I could understand him at the portal.’

  ‘I thought so, but the council believe that the world here has some sort of translator making it easy to communicate.’

  I can do the same for you when you go back, House offered.

  ‘You can do that?’ said Joseph.

  Yes, like I did with the pucas, I am fluent in most languages, and heard Meldun talk at the mansion.

  ‘That is one special friend you have,’ said Torgon.

  Alex nodded. ‘I know, and sometimes I want to go around telling everyone that my house is better than theirs.’

  Thank you, said House. The elf language is not that much different to your own, and I believe your power lets you understand it.

  ‘Most of us are speaking your language,’ said Torgon, ‘an old version of it.’

  The elves inspected the machines as Alex showed them around, leaving the party room until last where he poured them all a drink.

  Torgon sat down and accepted a glass of ale. ‘So we can come back and forth without using the portal.’

  Alex nodded. ‘Yeah, I think many from here will want to visit your world more than once.’

  ‘They would be welcome, and many of my people would like to visit here.’

  ‘Likewise, my friend, what I’d like to do is take our horses to your world and go for a long ride.’

  Torgon sipped on his ale. ‘Give it a week and I will join you.’

  ‘It works,’ said Blaze, as she entered the room with Ellinor.

  ‘You can see our home on it,’ said Ellinor, as she accepted a drink off Alex.

  ‘After all these years of hiding a secret portal, which can only be opened with a spell and innocent intentions,’ said Torgon, ‘you can just bypass it, and even watch our world like you watch one of those television things.’

  Alex nodded. ‘It would appear so, but do not worry we have no intention of trespassing on the lands of friends.’

  ‘You misunderstand me, it is an unexpected bonus. My reason for asking is for ulterior motives.’

  ‘What motives are those?’ said Alex.

  Torgon leant forward and clasped his hands together. ‘We visit this world now and then for certain items that cannot be found on our own. It can be tricky when you don’t know what is on the other side of the portal until you step through.’

  Alex sipped on his beer. ‘We can get anything you need.’

  ‘We couldn’t ask you to do that,’ said Torgon. ‘I meant it in a way of coming through without being seen.’

  ‘It would be much easier for us to order it for you.’

  ‘You don’t mind doing that?’

  ‘Just get someone to write whatever you need down,’ said Blaze, ‘and I will order it for you.’

  ‘You make it sound so easy,’ said Torgon.

  Alex smiled. ‘It is when you have the means.’

  They returned to the elf world where Alex and Carrie spent another hour with the children who wanted to climb the trees. A few did spend the night, but most came back exhausted and wanting their beds. Summer returned so she could do breakfast, but after Alex told her quite firmly she wouldn’t be doing breakfast, and that anyone who wanted it could help themselves to cereal. She tried to argue but after he told her the other world was one hour behind, she should use it to catch up on her sleep. She yawned and thought it was a very good idea. Alex went to bed thinking about how good a day it had been. The fight with the witches and demons had gone better than he hoped. The wonderful sights on the elf world were glorious, but when he closed his eyes all he could see was a bikini.

  ~~~~

  Carrie went to bed also happy with how the day went. She did notice how many of the elf women were beautiful, and that would mean protecting Alex. She decided that she would have to seduce him. Carrie loved Alex, but after the picnic, it had turned to lust and that was the first time she had ever felt that.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  A Safe New World

  Alex placed dishes down in front of the children who were up first, eager to return to the elf world. Carrie followed with boxes of cereals and jugs of milk.

  James looked longingly at the hatch and empty kitchen. ‘Are we having a light breakfast this morning? Where’s Summer?’

  ‘Having a lie in,’ said Alex. ‘I thought it would be nice to eat on another world for a change.’

  Livvy filled a bowl for herself. ‘What happens if we can’t get back?’

  ‘I don’t know, but some of our friends would be stuck over there.’

  ‘That would be horrible.’

  Claire sat opposite. ‘Don’t worry, I’m still here.’

  Livvy shook her head. ‘I meant it would be horrible if we couldn’t go back.’

  Claire pointed her spoon at Alex. ‘She was never like this before you adopted her.’

  Alex shrugged. ‘I think she had plenty of practice from her Auntie Claire.’

  ‘That’s one of the nicest things you ever said to me. So if I’m your sister, do I get an inheritance?’

  ‘I really wasn’t planning on dying just yet.’

  ‘Not for a long time,’ said Carrie.

  ‘Spoilsport,’ Claire sulked.

  James drank the remaining milk from his bowl. ‘Everyone ready to go back?’

  Those from the mansion not already on the Elf World appeared in the garden area Torgon had taken them. They saw no elves in the area.

  James scratched his head. ‘Are we too early?’

  Alex shrugged. ‘I don’t think so. They prefer to come here at night. Let’s take a walk into the city.’

  Livvy and Donna decided to spend the day in the garden. Milly and Jodie thought the trees looked more fun. Alex led the others through the passage to the city where they saw elves who greeted the children warmly and with much enthusiasm.

  ‘What’s the plan for today?’ said James, as Meldun approached them.

  ‘No plan, we just take a walk round, and see how elves live,’ said Alex, and turned to the elf. ‘You’re looking much better.’

  Meldun smiled. ‘The great ladies have powerful magic.’

  Blaze watched an elf woman kneeling by Adhara. ‘I notice the children get a lot of attention here.’

  Meldun nodded. ‘That is because we have none, my lady.’

  Blaze raised both her eyebrows. ‘You have no children?’

  ‘It is not as shocking as you might think. We live for so long the birth of a child can be as much as a hundred years apart.’

  James grinned. ‘I can see the merits in that.�
�

  ‘As can I,’ said Blaze, ‘but a world without children . . .’

  ‘The fairies do fill a void for some but are a little flighty,’ said Meldun. ‘So you see why the children and the pucas are very popular.’

  ‘Alex has nine daughters,’ said Claire, ‘and the pucas are popular with him.’

  ‘Don’t you like them?’ said Alex.

  ‘Yes, of course I do, but I have no children, you’re just greedy.’

  ‘There are children in the other three kingdoms,’ said Meldun and smiled. ‘I hope to be a father in the next week.’

  ‘Congratulations,’ said James. ‘I bet that will be some celebration.’

  ‘Yes, we are expecting friends from all over to visit in the next few days.’

  Alex rubbed his chin. ‘Did your father send out riders yesterday when you were under attack?’

  ‘No, the fairies went a few days ago, as they can travel faster. I’m going to take a party out soon to find them, and let them know it’s all over.’

  We could do that, said House.

  ‘It’s much faster than riding there,’ Alex agreed. ‘Do you know where they are?’

  Yes, three armies coming this way in a hurry.

  Alex looked up. ‘You can do that now?’

  Yes, I have been able to do a lot more things since I met you.

  Alex smiled. ‘We best go and let them know that the emergency is over.’

  Meldun scratched his chin. ‘Are you going to travel the way you took me to your home?’

  ‘Yeah, are you coming?’

  ‘It might be a good idea . . . they might take you for one of the bad guys if I’m not with you.’

  Alex let the others continue with their tour of the city, as he and Meldun vanished. They appeared on a hill ahead of two thousand mounted elves, all wearing battle armour. It was thick leather and they brandished sticks which had a blue glow to them.

  ‘Meldun, where did you come from, and what’s happening with the demons?’ a mounted elf asked.

  ‘The demons and witches are dead, thanks to Lord Alex and his friends.’

  ‘That is good news,’ said the elf, who removed his leather helmet, and he reminded Alex of Torgon.

  ‘Indeed it is, Uncle Thalion,’ Meldun agreed.

  ‘You appeared out of nowhere,’ said Thalion, who dismounted and bowed.

  ‘Our new friends are very powerful, and can take us anywhere we need to go. We have come to ease your worries and lessen your haste.’

  Thalion raised an eyebrow. ‘Or to delay us for some reason.’

  Meldun smiled. ‘Of course I am. Because of the demons, Father is rushing around trying to get the tents put up.’

  ‘I can just see that now,’ said Thalion, and clasped his nephew around the shoulder.

  ‘The city is alive with our new friends, and I think you’ll be pleased when you meet them.’

  ‘Lord Alex, we all owe you a debt for what you have done for us,’ said Thalion, who offered him his hand.

  Alex shook it. ‘There’s no debt, my children and friends are very happy, and that’s all the payment I need,’

  ‘We have to go and inform the others what has happened,’ said Meldun, ‘but will see you soon.’

  It did not take them long to warn the others before returning to Brightstone.

  Meldun took his leave of Alex to see his pregnant wife. Alex joined Blaze, Summer and Asima on their tour.

  ‘I don’t know if I like being called “My Lady” all the time,’ said Blaze.

  ‘I don’t like being called “My Lord” normally,’ said Alex, ‘but it’s their way, and if we’re going to enjoy coming to their world we shall have to accept their ways.’

  ‘Yes, I know, but I’m just not used to it,’ she said, as they walked through the city.

  ~~~~

  Most of the others decided to do the same but split off into different groups. Paige and Claire went in search of the clothes shops and clothes makers. Michelle found a carpenter’s workshop where an elf taught her how to make secret joints. James, George and Joseph searched for taverns, not to drink in, but to see if they were anything like they had seen in old films. The first one they came across was called the River Tavern. Tables stood outside and the men were not disappointed when they entered. It had thick wooden tables and benches. Tankards hung on hooks behind the bar. They had seen similar looking pubs back home, but they were just made to look old, this was the real thing. Fergal, Roisin and their children were already in there.

  James sat at the next table. ‘You beat us to it.’

  Fergal was eating and enjoying the strange-looking food. ‘We found it last night.’

  ‘And you didn’t tell us?’

  ‘You went the other way up through the trees, where we sensible gnomes stayed on the ground. We took a stroll through the gardens and walked right to it, there be many others all over the city.’

  ‘My lords, can I get you anything to eat or drink,’ said an elf behind the bar. ‘Ale and wine are off the menu during the day of course.’

  ‘Our host is called Kethlam,’ Fergal told them.

  George rubbed his chin. ‘We have no means to pay for it. We have money of course, but I doubt very much it’s worth anything here.’

  Kethlam shook his head as he dried a tankard. ‘You don’t need money here.’

  George sat down at a table. ‘That is kind, but what about your profits?’

  ‘We don’t make any profit . . . money was done away with a long time ago.’

  James scratched his head. ‘So you can just go into any shop here and take something for nothing.’

  Kethlam looked paler than the other elves they had seen. ‘Yes, but you have to sign for anything other than food and drink.’

  ‘I might go and look for some decent boots, as I’ve seen some nice ones.’

  ‘No,’ said George, ‘you can’t just go and take a pair for nothing.’

  James pondered it. ‘No, not really, not if I have read it right.’

  George leant forward. ‘Do share with us.’

  James sat back in his chair. ‘OK, there’s no money and no profit, so it must be some sort of trade system. Kethlam here will feed people all day. In return he can go and take clothes or anything he wants at no cost, almost as if everything here is owned by everyone.’

  Kethlam nodded. ‘Very good, my lord, you are quite correct.’

  ‘And if I took a pair of boots, but gave in return enough material to make many more would that be acceptable?’

  ‘It would be gratefully accepted, as it is hard for us to get hold of that material.’

  George gave James a sceptical look. ‘When did you get so smart?’

  ‘I’ve never had much money, but always had friends and never went without. No one in this world goes without.’

  ‘I like that,’ said Joseph. ‘Can we eat now?’

  George smiled. ‘Yes, I feel a lot better about it.’

  ‘We have a daily special,’ said Kethlam, ‘or you can choose anything else off the menu. There’s no meat, although many of the vegetables taste like it.’

  ‘The specials will do us fine,’ said James. ‘We want to try the local cuisine.’

  The food came out on a tray. There was a bowl of soup, a plate with what appeared to be a red parsnip, and potatoes with bread on the side. The food came with a hot drink which had the aroma of coffee.

  James savoured his first spoonful. ‘This soup tastes a lot like chicken.’

  ‘The parsnip tastes like smoked bacon,’ Joseph added.

  It wasn’t long before all the food had gone and they sat back, enjoying their drinks.

  George looked across at the bar. ‘Don’t you lose interest in your business if there’s no profit to be made?’

  Kethlam nodded. ‘Yes, many did, so we decided on a job share.’

  James put his empty mug on the table and filled it from a jug. ‘This isn’t your tavern?’

  Kethlam removed their emp
ty plates and dishes. ‘No, I’m running it for a few months. You may have noticed I am lighter skinned than most elves here as I’m from the Ice Mountain in the north.’

  ‘Where is the original innkeeper?’ said George.

  ‘Farming, with the western elves.’

  ‘So, your system stops boredom and greed.’

  ‘Yes, there’s no desire to want more, but to try different things.’

  ~~~~

  Alex stepped through the door of the inn with Summer, Blaze, and Asima.

  ‘Have you been eating someone else’s cooking?’ Summer accused them.

  James smiled as he took a sip of his drink. ‘Yes, but I hope you’ll forgive us when you taste their vegetarian dishes.’

  Summer arched an eyebrow. ‘It doesn’t smell like vegetarian food.’

  ‘It doesn’t taste like it either, but it’s delicious.’

  ‘May we have the same please?’ Summer asked the elf.

  Kethlam put a tea towel down. ‘I will get that for you now, my lady.’

  ‘I’ll have one of those too,’ said Torgon, as he entered. ‘I’m sorry I was not there when you returned, as I have been running around all morning.’

  Alex sat. ‘Putting up tents?’

  Torgon nodded. ‘Organising it, did Meldun tell you?’

  ‘He said something about it when we met the other elf armies.’

  ‘I want to thank you for that . . . it saved us a lot of time. The fairies would have done it for us, but you are so much quicker.’

  ‘It was House’s idea. We weren’t sure if we should have brought them here, too.’

  ‘I’m pleased you didn’t, as we’re nowhere near ready to receive them yet.’

  Alex studied the food in front of him. ‘I’ve been thinking of what we were talking about last night, and what materials you need when you go off world.’

  ‘You may not believe it, but wood is one of them. It can take us years to get enough to make just a simple table like this one’

  ‘Really?’ said James. ‘That was the last thing I expected you to say.

  ‘You mean all the trees here of course,’ said Torgon, ‘but we cannot cut any of them down. It is forbidden to destroy anything which grows natural on our world.’