‘What part? Is it when they attacked the castle because elves were there? Which was not your decision,’ said Luella. ‘Or could it have been when they tried to take over the elf world? As I’m sure that was your fault.’
‘Don’t forget the warlock,’ said Blaze. ‘That was your fault too . . . you shouldn’t have encouraged the pixies to escape.’
‘Why are you mocking me?’ said Alex, and he knew they were right, but he couldn’t shake his dark mood, or the pent-up rage he felt.
‘Because you’re the leader and should behave like one,’ said Luella.
‘Why am I?’ said Alex. ‘This time last year I could only hobble around with a walking stick, and now I have this power. I’m expected to lead so many, but how can I do that if I don’t know how? No one explained any of this to me.’
‘You’re doing a good job of it from what I can see,’ said Blaze.
‘Six would disagree.’
‘And over six million would agree,’ said Luella.
‘Don’t you think that’s pushing it a little?’
‘No, not really. There are many more fairies on the elf world and a lot more nightlights . . . you’d be surprised how many you saved. You know there’s going to be another battle and more could be lost, this is not just your fight whatever you believe. This is a war Dagur has been wanting with the elves for a long time, and if you want peace then sacrifices have to be made.
‘Not if I go searching for him on my own.’
‘You will not,’ Blaze snapped. ‘Have you seen what you’ve built here? The children are safe, as are the pucas and pixies. The gnomes don’t have to hide out there, and let’s not forget the power we all have now. Six died, but how many more would have died if you hadn’t saved them? I never knew you when you had to use a walking stick, but I don’t believe for one moment you’re that much different now.’
Alex shook his head. ‘I’m not him anymore. I’ve changed more than you could imagine.’
‘No you haven’t,’ said Luella. ‘You’re the same wonderful Alex I first saw. Yes, you have power now, but I believe you always had it. Now you want to go alone like you did to protect Paige all those years ago?’
‘This is different.’
‘Really?’ said Blaze. ‘Tell me, how accurate have your visions been?’
‘Very accurate.’
‘So even if you go alone there will be a battle at some castle. If you decide to go alone and not even think about planning for this fight with your friends, many will die. I’m no soldier, but I know you have to be focussed. Like your mother said, sacrifices will have to be made.’
‘I know and understand, but I don’t like it.’
Luella shook her head. ‘No one said you’re supposed to like it, but you’re their leader and they trust you.’
‘Your mood affects everyone else,’ Blaze added.
Alex thought about it, and the last thing he wanted to do was upset his friends. ‘Are you trying to say that I’m miserable?’
‘That’s putting it mildly, when I first met you, I wasn’t impressed. Some rich guy throwing his weight around, and making me accept his money. Whatever happened to him?’
‘He never existed, I just wanted you to get what you deserved,’ said Alex, as they made their way back to the mansion.
You just got told, said House in his mind.
What? Said Alex and couldn’t help himself, he smiled.
Luella looked at him suspiciously. ‘I didn’t expect you to cheer up so quickly.’
‘Sorry, but House is making fun of me.’ His mood lifted slightly as he realised he couldn’t save everyone, and decided to try to enjoy what they had.
Over the next week Alex spent a lot of his time with his children and foster daughters, as he felt he hadn’t seen enough of them lately, but for the most part they were still enjoying the new world. It was, however, a couple of weeks later that he had more sad news when four of the white witches approached him.
Briana stood with her hands clasped. ‘We’ve decided it’s time for us to go home.’
Alex felt crushed, and could not understand why. ‘There’s no rush to do that.’
‘We’ve been away from our forests way too long,’ said Orlaith.
‘Are you not happy here?’ said Alex, sadly.
Briana nodded. ‘Yes, we love it, but the pucas and gnomes have to go home.’
Alex felt like he was starting to lose his friends, including Fergal and Jarlath. ‘You’re going to be terribly missed.’
Briana was a white witch, she could feel his sadness, and embraced him. ‘And we’re going to miss everyone here.’
‘When were you thinking of leaving?’ said Alex.
‘Today, why?’
‘Can you leave it until tomorrow?’
‘We can, but why?’ said Aileen.
‘I would like to have a drink with my friends before you all go.’
Briana smiled. ‘We would like that, too.’
Alex told the others in the mansion and the elves, who were saddened by the news, but wanted to have a drink with them. The following morning many from the mansion had sore heads. Alex drank plenty, but did not get close to feeling drunk. He fussed around those leaving making sure they had everything they needed.
He stood in front of them. ‘You’ve got your phones with you?’
‘Yes, thank you, we have everything,’ said Morven.
‘Michelle will go with you, to show you how it all works’
Ron had supplied the extra generators and Michelle fitted them, when she was not in a top floor bedroom.
‘I’ve never seen you with a phone before,’ said Briana.
‘I put it on charge this morning.’
They all said their farewells, as House took them in groups.
A couple of hours later Alex went to get his phone, it was fully charged and he switched it on. It took a minute to load up and it was showing two messages, one was junk mail, the other was a picture message off Carrie. His eyes nearly popped out, and he sat on the bed staring at it. Luella was right, Carrie did look stunning. Alex eventually clicked off the picture and went downstairs with his phone in hand and a grin on his face.
‘You alright there, mate?’ said James.
‘Oh yes, everything’s just dandy,’ said Alex, as he sat down, and stared at Carrie.
‘What?’ she said.
Alex carried on smiling. ‘Nothing.’
‘Why are you looking at me like that?’
‘Like what?’
Claire nudged him with her elbow. ‘She means with that stupid grin on your face.’
‘Oh, that, well I just turned my phone on for the first time in ages, and there was a picture message.’
Carrie turned bright red and jumped on him. ‘Give it me now.’
‘Not a chance,’ said Alex, as he held her arms. He managed to turn her around so her back was to him, and sitting on his lap.
Carrie sighed. ‘You already looked.’
‘Yes, once or twice.’
‘Well, he was upstairs for quite a while,’ Claire grinned, and Carrie sagged in his arms.
‘Can I have a look?’ said Paige.
‘Yeah, sure,’ said Alex, and passed the phone which got him an elbow in the ribs.
Paige took the phone and looked at the picture. ‘Oh, I do like those, are they what you bought when we went shopping?’
‘Yeah, I got them in white, too,’ said Carrie.’
‘I bet he would like to see those,’ said Paige, and Alex just looked to his right where Claire burst out laughing.
James grinned. ‘I think it just backfired on you there.’
‘You want to come up and see them now?’ said Carrie, as she wriggled on his lap.
Alex blushed, but the offer was too tempting to refuse. However, he never had a chance to respond, as Luella and Daralis appeared after their visit to the castle to check on Sarah and her unborn child.
Luella raised both eyebrows. ‘Are you havi
ng fun, children?’
Carrie pulled Alex’s hands around her waist. ‘Not yet, but I’m thinking about it.’
‘Well, you might want to wait as I’m not sure how Alex will take the news I have.’
Alex felt embarrassed, but was happier than he had been in a while, and knew that was about to change. ‘You best tell me then.’
‘Rilien has got Captain Friday pregnant, and Victor hopes you can sort this out for them.’
‘What an idiot, we best let Torgon know,’ Alex sighed, and Carrie regretfully got off him.
I will tell him, said House.
‘What’s the problem?’ said Paige.
‘I can think of one,’ said Alex. ‘He’s only been there five minutes, what was he thinking of?’
‘He’s been there long enough. Friday didn’t even know, but we could tell straight away,’ said Daralis, as Thalion and Torgon arrived.
They held a meeting at the castle where Luella insisted on attending in case Alex lost his temper due to his mood of late. They sat around the large wooden table, with Rilien, Friday, Victor, and Maria sitting opposite. Alex did not sit down, as he considered the consequences.
Victor looked somewhat pleading. ‘My lord, I have asked if you could sort this out for us, as I’m not sure if any crime has even been committed. We are personally involved, as Friday is our daughter.’
‘Why would it be a crime?’ said Luella.
‘We do not know what the elf laws are on this, great lady,’ said Maria.
Thalion rubbed his chin. ‘When we lived on the old world it was forbidden.’
‘That was a long time ago,’ said Torgon. ‘Things have changed since then.’
Luella nodded. ‘Why don’t we let them tell us about it?’
‘I couldn’t help it,’ said Rilien. ‘I fell in love with Friday soon as I saw her.’
Friday smiled at the elf. ‘As did I with him.’
Thalion rubbed his chin. ‘I can see no fault in this.’
‘Nor I,’ said Torgon, and both Rilien and Friday smiled in relief. ‘You have to understand, Rilien would never be able to find love on our world, so I’m happy he has found it here.’
‘How can that be?’ said Luella.
‘Dagur, the children he sacrificed were all girls.’
Victor glanced at Alex. ‘I think the decision is yours now my lord.’
‘I’m not happy about this, you should have thought about it before carrying on this relationship,’ said Alex, and his point was mainly aimed at the elf.
Rilien looked pained. ‘But, my lord, I fell in love.’
‘It’s as much my fault as his,’ said Friday, holding back tears.
‘Alex, I thought you would understand,’ said Luella.
Alex shook his head. ‘All I can see here is heartbreak.’
Rilien gasped. ‘I would never hurt Friday.’
Alex wasn’t upset with them he knew that, but worried of the outcome of their relationship. ‘I don’t doubt your heart, my friend, and I don’t believe you would intentionally hurt anyone. But what happens in twenty years or even thirty, when you will still look the same? Friday doesn’t have that ability,’ he said, and a sudden realisation appeared on everyone’s faces.
‘It’s a problem that we can do nothing about at the moment,’ said Luella. ‘If you forced them apart they would be heartbroken, but if they stay together at least there will be some happiness.’
Alex nodded. ‘I wouldn’t deny them that.’
Torgon studied the couple who appeared happier, and twisted in his seat to look at Alex. ‘There might be another way.’
‘I’m willing to listen to anything right now.’
‘I have told you that we have not aged since we moved to our world.’
Alex thought about it and walked around the table towards the couple. ‘Friday, with your parents’ permission would you sacrifice your home here and live on the elf world?’
‘She has our permission,’ said Victor. ‘If it makes her live longer, and if it means she will be happy.’
Friday nodded. ‘Yes, my lord, I would do anything as long as I’m with Rilien.’
‘Stand up both of you,’ said Alex, and shook both their hands. ‘You have my blessing whether you want it or not.’
‘We do, and thank you,’ they both said.
‘You will not leave just yet, however,’ said Luella. ‘Friday, you will stay here until your child is born, as I refuse to let anyone take that away from Maria.’
‘Thank you, great lady,’ said Victor, as he and Maria hugged their daughter and future son-in-law.
‘I hope she’ll be welcomed on your world,’ Maria said to the elves.
Torgon stood up and inclined his head. ‘Yes, she will, and we want you all to come to our world tonight as we will have a celebration for them.’
Thalion rubbed his eyes. ‘I still have a sore head from last night.’
Torgon shrugged. ‘You should not have been trying to out drink Marakus and the dwarves.’
‘You should leave that to my mother,’ said Alex, as he smiled at her.
‘I was a lot younger back then,’ said Luella, as she kissed his cheek. ‘I thought you said you weren’t a good leader.’
‘I don’t call that being a good leader.’
‘Sometimes the smaller sounding problems are more important than the bigger ones.’
The elves appeared to appreciate any reason to celebrate more than the other races. Rilien and Friday was a very good reason. Roscoe and Marakus attended along with their wives, which pleased Carrie. Alex sat down outside the Brightstone tavern as he watched her embrace the female elves.
‘Have you had any luck in finding the goblin world?’ Roscoe asked.
Adair put his hands together and leant on the table, ‘No, we’ve been over there a few times, but it will not show itself to us.’
‘You need a spell,’ said Marakus. ‘It’s like a password, speak the words correctly and it will reveal itself.’
‘We should have kept one alive,’ said Alex, ‘he would’ve let us in.’
Roscoe’s eyes grew big. ‘You weren’t thinking about torture?’
‘No, I couldn’t do that, but I was wondering about the goblins leaping at the walls with no chance of survival.’
‘They died quickly, almost as if they didn’t care about their own lives,’ said Henrik, enjoying his first time on the elf world.
‘That is unusual,’ said Marakus. ‘They are no cowards, but would not give their lives away so cheaply.’
James pulled up a chair. ‘Would they do it if the trolls ordered them to?’
‘Hardly, they might be a lot bigger but heavily outnumbered, and the ogres would stand with the goblins . . . of course things might have changed since we all moved.’
‘They have, and that’s why we could do with catching one,’ said Alex. ‘Dagur might have been there for a long time and could’ve been using his charms on them. If we could break that charm I bet they would want us to go in and get rid of him.’
Torgon picked up his drink. ‘Then you intend to go the goblin world.’
‘If that’s where he is . . . I’ll be going there.’
‘Then I will go with you.’
‘As will I,’ said Thalion.
Alex nodded. ‘I had a feeling you’d say that.’
Marakus sighed. ‘Is there any chance you could wait until I have been on a diet?’
Thalion raised an eyebrow. ‘You have been promising one of those for a long time.’
‘You don’t understand. I was as old as I was fat when we moved here.’
‘The thing is the food here does not put wait on you, however much you eat,’ said Roscoe, as he gave his brother an accusing look.
Thalion laughed. ‘The ale is a different thing though.’
‘I only drink when I come here,’ said Marakus, a little hurt. ‘It is exercise I find difficult.’
Alex looked over at the large elf. ‘Come stay with
us for a while, and let James and Asima get you into shape.’
‘I would accept that offer if the women were not present.’
Thalion took a small sip of his drink. ‘Why would the women stop you from going over there?’
‘Have you seen them, they are so fit and strong, where I look like a big fat dumpling.’
Alex smiled. ‘It’s a reason I like to keep fit.’
James took a drink of fruit juice. ‘When do you keep fit?’
‘I go for runs, which reminds me, we need to get those started again.’
‘Is running such a big deal?’ said Roscoe.
James nodded, and put his hands through his long hair. ‘To Alex it is, he could probably run to each of your kingdoms and be back here in less than two hours.’
Marakus shook his head. ‘Impossible, no one could run that fast.’
Alex shrugged. ‘I wouldn’t know which way to go.’
I know the way, and you could do it in an hour, said Rho, as I’ve run to all the others.
‘So do we have a bet, gentlemen?’ said James.
Alex shot him a look. ‘We might want to discuss things before you gamble away our home.’
Marakus grinned. ‘You’re not backing out of it are you, my lord.’
‘I don’t remember accepting any challenge.’
‘James did it for you, and I think it is only fair you should accept.’
‘But I’ve been drinking,’ Alex argued.
James pointed at his glass. ‘You’ve not even finished your first drink.’
Alex looked at them and knew it was pointless. ‘OK, what do you want if I fail?’
Marakus rubbed his chin. ‘I will come to your home, where you will treat me like a king for a week.’
Alex smiled. ‘OK, when I win, I’ll send James to your city for two weeks, and you’ll do whatever training he says.’
‘Are you sending me away?’ said James, somewhat alarmed by it.
‘The bet was your idea, remember?’
It would be better if Lord Marakus stayed at the mansion, said House, James could train him there, and I can check on his health.
James sighed. ‘Thank you, House, that’s a much better idea.’
Marakus paled. ‘You’re very confident.’
Alex nodded. ‘Rho told me we could do it in an hour.’
Other Worlds: Vesta Mansion Trilogy - Book Two - Fantasy Page 39
