~~~~
Two days later Blaze approached Alex about the twins.
‘It’s been almost a year since the girls were brought to me, and they haven’t had a birthday.’
Alex sat reading a book on mythology, and looked up. ‘It’s in four days’ time, I was about to tell everyone.’
‘We best go shopping, but lord knows what we will get them as they have anything a child could want.’
‘They will be happy opening any gift.’
The twins were very happy at their surprise party, and at all the gifts they received from everyone including the elves, pucas, pixies, gnomes and those from the order.
Not everyone was happy as Asima had started to look sad of late, and a few of them noticed.
Alex sat next to her. ‘Are you going to tell me what’s upsetting you?’
‘How do you mean?’ she asked.
‘You’re upset about something I can tell, so would you like to talk about it.’
‘I’m fine, I just realised it’s been over a year since I left my people and family, and I miss them.’
Alex nodded as he understood. ‘Then you’ve got to go back.’
‘I do not want to go back, as I love it here, unless of course you want me to go.’
Alex shook his head. ‘No, this is your home, but it doesn’t mean we can’t take you back to visit your people and family now and then.’
You only have to ask, and I will take you, said House.
Asima glanced up. ‘I didn’t want to cause you any problems.’
Alex smiled. ‘It’s no problem, we can go now.’
‘You’re coming with me?’
‘Yes, your people are as much part of this as anyone.’
Asima thought of her village and House took them there. It was night and small fires illuminated the village. The people of the village gave them strange looks until they realised it was Asima and they ran to her. Many of them wore white robes, and like Asima they were tall. The men were very unsure of Alex and took a protective position around him with long spears. A white-haired man in robes, adorning many string necklaces, parted them. He walked up to Alex and bowed his head.
‘Great one, we did not expect you to visit us again,’ he said, and all the warriors suddenly dropped to one knee.
Alex was more than a little surprised by it. He knew they taught Asima English but he never expected all of them to speak the language. It might look like an old-fashioned tribe in the deepest and darkest jungle he could imagine in Africa, but they weren’t.
‘This is Lord Alex, whose children I was sent to help protect,’ Asima announced, ‘and this is my grandfather, Dorsanga, the elder of the Vrede people.’
‘I’m pleased to meet you and very grateful for what you have done,’ said Alex, not quite sure what else to say.
Dorsanga bowed his head. ‘We have waited a long time to meet you, and thought it would not happen, as our protection will soon leave us.’
Alex scratched his head. ‘I don’t understand, what is protecting you, and why will it stop doing so?’
‘The golden light is fading in the Crystal of Concealment, the other you left to keep us hidden a long time ago.’
‘May I see it?’ said Alex, as he wondered about the “other you” part.
‘Of course, it is in the centre of the village,’ said Dorsanga, and walked ahead. The crystal sat on top of a metal bar clasped in a golden hand. It had golden energy inside but very little remaining.
Alex, almost as if guided to do so, lifted the metal bar out of the ground. He removed the crystal to a lot of gasps from the villagers. He glowed with the golden energy which passed into the crystal which was now full. He put it back on the metal bar and placed it back into the ground.
‘The golden man returns when we needed him,’ said one of the warriors, and knelt again as did all the villagers.
‘I’d rather you didn’t do that,’ said Alex.
Asima put her hand on his shoulder. ‘You’ve just given them the power to stay hidden for a long time, and are very grateful for it.’
Alex thought about it, and wondered why they needed to stay hidden, but he never said anything. House brought the children and a few others from the mansion to visit the village, and spent a few hours there before going back home.
~~~~
The two weeks were up for Marakus, and he’d lost a lot of weight which pleased Henga. She loved him whatever his size but now she could put her arms around his waist. He was also a lot fitter thanks to James and Asima, and he decided to visit the gym a lot more often.
Now James was free, he and Alex decided to teach Fergal and Jarlath how to ride a horse. It was during one of the lessons on the elf world when Fergal’s horse bolted, and they gave chase when the gnome nearly rode down a dwarf running as if his life depended on it.
‘You young fool,’ said the dwarf. ‘You should know better than to ride a horse.’
‘I am sorry,’ said Fergal, ‘but what do you mean young?’
The dwarf’s eyes grew big as he bent over trying to catch his breath. ‘You’re not a dwarf, you’re something else.’
‘No, I’m not, I be a gnome,’ said Fergal.
‘Could it be true, but this is not your world.’
Alex stared in bewilderment. ‘We are guests, master dwarf, what is your name?’
‘I am Rofkin. I’m on an urgent errand to seek the aid of the elves, as our castle is under siege.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
The Trouble with Dwarves
Alex studied the dwarf, red-faced from running, and it looked like he had run a long way. Rofkin had a long black beard, was taller than the gnomes but not much wider. ‘Under siege from what?’
Rofkin bent with hands on knees as he got his breath back. ‘Goblins, ogres, and trolls, I have to get help . . . I may already be too late.’
Alex dismounted. ‘We’ll help . . . I just need you to think of your castle.’
‘How will that help?’
‘To see if we can go straight there without using the portal.’
‘You can do that?’ said the dwarf, somewhat surprised.
‘That’s what we need to find out so just concentrate on the castle,’ said Alex, and the dwarf closed his eyes.
We can go, and we had better hurry, said House.
‘OK, Rofkin, we’ll go now, but will you find my friends some weapons when we get there?’ said Alex, and the dwarf nodded as the others dismounted.
They vanished only to appear in the grounds inside the walls of a medieval looking castle. The first thing he saw were the battlements overrun with goblins and ogres, the dwarves were fighting them off but too many were climbing over. Alex pointed his now glowing hands when a large piece of wood started swatting the ogres off. The gnomes were soon up there and the battlements were almost clear when a giant troll started climbing over. A golden beam of energy hit its chest, sending it flying backwards. The dwarves looked around as Alex flew up onto the castle wall, and saw the field full of creatures like in his dream. There were trolls, ogres, and goblins with siege engines. He aimed the golden energy at the engines which exploded as if hit by a rocket launcher. A troll charged with a huge club or a tree, and Alex hit it with his golden energy. The troll fell backwards crushing those it landed on, mainly ogres. The rest ran to a safer distance to the cheer of the dwarves.
You enjoyed that, said House.
Alex smiled. ‘Yeah, I have to say I did for the most part.’
Well, if you have this under control I will go and fetch the others.
Alex glanced across the field at the enemy army now regrouping. ‘Yeah, we can handle this.’
James held a dwarf sword over his shoulder as he watched the opposing army. ‘I like the way he says we can handle this.’
‘We had them running once,’ said Fergal. ‘I’m quite sure we can do it again, and they might even try to make a fight of it.’
A dwarf, also taller and wider than the gnomes, and
carrying an axe approached them. ‘Thank you, but who are you, and where did the other voice come from?’
‘I am Alex, this is James, and our eager gnome friends are Jarlath and Fergal. The voice belongs to House, a spirit friend of ours who brought us here without having to use your portal.’
The dwarf pulled on his long brown beard. ‘I am King Verdan, and we are in your debt, but how did you know to come here?’
‘We saw your messenger on the elf world.’
Verdan offered his hand. ‘And you got here so fast?’
Alex shook his hand. ‘Yeah, we have a special portal which brought us straight here.’
‘That is most fortunate for us,’ said Verdan. ‘So the elves did not want to come.’
‘They’ll be here soon, your highness. We thought coming here first was more important than getting our friends. Could you make a space big enough down there for when they arrive?’
‘Yes, we would’ve been overrun if it hadn’t been for your timing,’ said Verdan. ‘Make room down there for the elves,’ he shouted.
‘Not soon enough,’ said Alex, looking at the bodies of fallen dwarves.
‘No, sadly not. You did save many of us, and those will be remembered as heroes.’ Verdan put his hands on the gnomes shoulder. ‘Mighty friends, it is wondrous that you are here.’
‘It be an honour to fight with such old friends,’ said Fergal. ‘There be more of us here soon to help defeat the enemy.’
Alex climbed on top of the battlement wall and studied the enemy. ‘I wonder how good their sight is.’
James rubbed his eyes. ‘Why do you want to know that?’
‘So they know we’re not afraid of them.’
Verdan stared nervously as he watched Alex stand on the battlement. ‘I think they already know that after what you did, and do you think it’s safe up there?’
‘I’m testing something,’ said Alex, as an arrow came from the enemy camp, and fell twenty feet from the castle.
‘Are you a wizard?’
‘No, but one or two will be here soon.’
A few minutes later the others started to arrive, Torgon brought Martein and Soren with forty armoured elves.
I have your armour, said House.
‘Thank you,’ said Alex. He put his arms out straight and was soon wearing it, and holding his spear. James also did the same and now had his own swords.
I have to go and tell the other elves now, said House.
Those from the mansion flew up to the battlements, with the others running up the steps to get a view of the opposing army.
Carrie stared ahead. ‘This could be fun.’
Verdan’s eyes grew big and shook his head, he turned to the elves. ‘Lord Torgon, it’s good to see you again.’
‘You too, your highness, we have come to help but are short on bows.’
‘We have plenty of them for you.’
‘Has Lord Alex been looking after you?’
Verdan raised an eyebrow. ‘Lord Alex?’
‘Yes, he also saved our world.’
It didn’t take House long to fetch the other leaders and some of their council from the other kingdoms, along with one hundred and twenty armoured elves.
Thalion shook his head. ‘Verdan, why have you barricaded yourselves in? It’s not like you.’
Verdan held his hands out. ‘We had no choice, you only have to step outside and it rains arrows.’
‘You should have got some of them,’ a dwarf shouted from below, ‘as we’ve just run out.’
‘You were quite welcome to go out and get them yourself, Randar,’ Verdan shouted back.
‘I think I can sort both those problems out for you,’ said Alex, and winked at Kristina and Millie.
‘What you got in mind?’ said Kristina.
‘Let’s go for a walk, I have a plan,’ said Alex, as he jumped off the battlements and glided to the field below.
Thalion ran to the wall and stared after him. ‘Lord Alex, have you lost your mind?’
‘He did say he had a plan,’ said Kristina, as she and Millie glided down to the field after him.
Verdan stared down at them. ‘What is this madness?’
Adair shrugged and shook his head. ‘They’re human.’
Millie turned to Alex. ‘OK, so what’s this plan?’
Alex put his arm around her and pointed. ‘You see that arrow over there, well that’s as far as they can reach. When we walk past it they will give us a lot more.’
Millie raised both eyebrows. ‘They will give us arrows to use against them?’
‘Yes, and we won’t even need to ask, they’re generous like that.’
Kristina shook her head. ‘They’re going to fire them at us aren’t they?’
‘Yeah, and your shields will protect us.’
‘And this is a plan?’ said Millie. ‘I don’t know if it will work against too many of them.’
‘I trust you, and will help strengthen it.’
‘Then you better hurry as they have already started,’ said Kristina, and put a dome shaped shield around them, as the sky became full of arrows.
Millie strengthened it with her own shield, and Alex touched their arms and the shield had a golden tint to it. The arrows on target, bounced off, they waited, and another volley followed with the same results.
‘I think we have enough now,’ said Alex, looking at all the arrows littering the field.
Kristina beamed. ‘That was so much better than 3D.’
‘Yeah, it was quite realistic,’ said Alex, realising it was actually real. ‘House I believe the elves would like the arrows.’
‘We might want to deal with this,’ said Kristina, looking up as a large boulder flew through the air.
Just dodge it please, said House, and they did.
Alex watched the rock go safely past them. ‘I could’ve caught that.’
Yes, and they might not give me anymore.
‘You could just take them.’
This is much more fun, said House, as more rocks flew towards them.
Alex watched as House piled them up. ‘Is that enough?’
Yes, and you should try to catch them now.
‘What? All of them?’
I can only do one while they are in the air.
Alex could only stop two, and the others seemed to stop on their own, as Kerry and Emma walked up beside him.
Kerry stared up at the rocks floating in the air. ‘Do we throw them back?’
‘No, put the ones House don’t need to the side, and you can use them if they attack again,’ said Alex, and they put the rocks in a pile where House sorted them out. They returned to the castle to a confused bunch of dwarves.
‘Is this a normal day for you?’ said Verdan.
Alex nodded. ‘You should come to our gym someday.’
‘Those rocks are still moving,’ another dwarf shouted.
Alex glanced over as the rocks started to pile up on top of each other. ‘Yeah, House is putting them in order so he can fight with us.’
Verdan looked amazed. ‘And is this normal for you, too?’
Alex put his hand on the king’s shoulder. ‘No, I’d rather be sitting on one of our sofas with a cup of tea, but I have to give them a day out now and then.’
I think you‘ve finally lost the plot, said Rho.
‘You might be right, my friend, are you ready for battle.’
Always ready.
‘Do you have another plan?’ said Thalion.
Alex nodded. ‘Yeah, we attack them.’
‘Good plan that,’ said Fergal.
Verdan shook his head again. ‘Your first plan was to walk under a hail of arrows and rocks, and now you want us to attack an army ten times larger than ours?’
‘Yeah, do you like that plan?’
‘I like the odds,’ said Fergal.
Verdan gave a wry smile. ‘Well, I would rather attack than defend.’
‘Can you give us a reason for such a plan?’ said Thal
ion.
Alex rubbed his chin. ‘Are there many other dwarf kingdoms here that might send an army straight into them?’
Verdan nodded. ‘There are a few, and will most likely have sent armies this way if they received our messengers.’
‘Well that’s one reason to protect them, another is your land. They might stay there for a week, and what of your resources will they use, and villages they attack while we sit here.’
‘That’s a good point,’ said Torgon, ‘you could do with them off your land as quickly as possible.’
Verdan nodded. ‘Do you have a strategy?’
‘General James, have you got a strategy?’ said Alex.
James studied the opposing army and nodded. ‘Yes, we form up into lines with bowmen behind us. From there we march forward and smash into them.’
‘It’s a fine strategy,’ Fergal agreed.
‘You want us behind you,’ said Torgon.
‘Yeah, I want those from the mansion in the centre with House leading. I want the gnomes on one flank, and the dwarves on the other. Elves are taller so it only makes sense they follow behind using their bows.’
‘I see the sense in that,’ said Alex.
‘But I will be using a sword as will Torgon,’ Thalion told them.
‘I know, and that’s why you are fighting with us in the middle,’ James nodded, ‘and those of you with other powers will be with the archers.’
‘What about the giant trolls?’ said Verdan.
‘Leave them to me, Alex and House,’ said Adair. ‘The elf lords would probably take them no problem, but we should not rush their powers.’
‘Bardak,’ Verdan shouted, ‘get the warriors ready, we’re going into battle.’
There was a cheer as armoured dwarves moved towards the now opened castle gates, and marched outside. James lined them up with the humans in the middle, the gnomes on the left, and dwarves on the right. There were nearly two thousand dwarves many of which lined up behind the gnomes. Jodie opened her crossbow and joined the elves at the rear, and those from the mansion using their psychic powers were with the wolves having a free rein. Kristina and Millie, put a shield up to protect them from arrows.
Other Worlds: Vesta Mansion Trilogy - Book Two - Fantasy Page 41
