by C. A. Farlow
“If you allow, I will enter your mind, sort your thoughts, and pick one. I will then hold your thought in my mind and project it into yours as we cross through the Keep.” Merilyn stood waiting—a picture of calm—though her tapping foot gave away her anxiety.
“Have at it.”
“Just calm your mind as best as possible. Let me do the work. Close your eyes.”
Really, close my eyes? Are you kidding? Lauren’s fears rose. I shouldn't trust her, but Alex does. I must hang on to that—Alex trusts this person. A warm blanket settled across Lauren’s roiling mind. Peace, warm sunlight, and gentle breezes drifted by.
“We can proceed. Keep your head down. And you need to remove your outer jacket.”
Lauren’s eyes flew open. “What’s wrong with my fleece?”
“No one wears red but The Ruler. Please remove it.”
Lauren shrugged out of her jacket and rolled it up, lashing it to the outside of the backpack. “All set. Anything else, Your Grace?”
Merilyn arched an eyebrow. “Sarcasm will not help us cross the courtyard. Clear your mind as best as you can.”
The pair exited the arch. They now stood at the edge of a wide boulevard, paved with massive stones. The surface was glass-smooth and beige in color. Large plagioclase phenocrysts broke up the uniformity of the stone matrix. These crystals reflected the waning moonlight, creating the image of many, glimmering, faceted-eyes winking up from the surface.
“This way.” Merilyn walked straight across the boulevard toward an alleyway between several stone buildings. The battlement behind them disappeared into the darkness. Lauren had seen the four large towers when she was first in the meadow outside the Keep. One of those towers seemed to be their destination. “Come, we must hurry. Dawn is approaching.”
Running to keep up, Lauren followed Merilyn as she darted between buildings and down alleys, moving toward the large tower that appeared in the distance through the gloom.
“We have a ways yet to go and your mind is wandering.”
Jerked back into herself, Lauren tried to clear her mind. The harder she tried, the more she struggled. And then one single thought consumed her focus. Chili. No other thoughts came, as they ran down yet another alley.
Merilyn turned left and disappeared around a corner. Following closely, Lauren didn't realize she had stopped until she ran up her back, knocking Merilyn to her knees. Grabbing her up, Lauren whispered, “I’m sorry.”
“It is all right. I stopped abruptly.” Merilyn seemed to gather herself and whispered, “This is the last obstacle. We must cross this boulevard and open the arch into the eastern solar without being seen from the guards patrolling the chemin de ronde above us. I will cross and open the arch. You must run across the boulevard and enter the arch before it closes.”
Before Lauren’s eyes Merilyn seemed to grow in stature, she was gathering her strength and when she stepped out to make her way across the boulevard, her walk exuded pure power. Her robes brightly glowed soft silver. It was a “don’t mess with me” attitude that would prevent anyone from stopping her.
She reached the eastern wall and activated the arch. Turning back, she signaled to Lauren, and stepped through, disappearing into darkness beyond.
Lauren sprinted across the boulevard and dove though the arch just as it began to shrink. Rolling to a stop against a tunnel wall, she stood. Merilyn glanced at her. “Well done, well done indeed.”
“Right.” Lauren bent over and tried to catch her breath.
“We are safely in. You will be occupying this solar tower. This area is protected from eavesdropping and intrusion, because of the shields that protect my office and staff occupying the lower floors.”
Turning down a curving corridor to her left, Merilyn again sped off.
Lauren ran beside her, gasping. “Do you ever slow down, Your Grace?”
“No, I do not. I may be old, but I am not idle. Give me another hundred rotations or so, and then I may need a holiday.”
“Funny, you are a very funny woman. A hundred years and I would need a holiday too, though I imagine I would be dust by then.” Lauren ran to catch up.
Chapter Ten
THE EASTERN SOLAR THEY entered consisted of eight floors. Merilyn indicated she and her staff occupied the lower five floors. The top three were to be Lauren’s quarters. They stood before a pair of massive oak doors.
“Here we are. You should be comfortable here. Please let me know if there is anything that you need. Your comfort and safety are paramount to Alexandra and to me.” Reaching out, Merilyn grasped the large brass knocker centered in the right door. “Please, place your hand over mine. This will set your bio-signature into the locking mechanism so you can come and go as needed within the solar.”
Lauren laid her right hand over the small one that encircled the large knocker. A rush of static electricity ran up her arm. She winced.
Merilyn nodded. “There we are. This way please.”
They entered a large, circular sitting room built around a central fireplace. Throw rugs covered the floor, and several furniture groupings created small seating areas, all arranged facing the central open hearth. A gigantic, copper hood covered the fireplace. It rose and narrowed to a flue that disappeared into the stone ceiling. Stone shelves that ringed the room around the outer wall were broken at regular intervals by octagonal, floor-to-ceiling windows. Two appeared lighter than the rest and faced a graying sky. Dawn was creeping up on the Keep.
A circular staircase wound up through the ceiling to Lauren’s right, and this was where Merilyn headed. As Lauren grasped the rail, another jolt of electricity ran up her arm. Jerking her hand back, she shook out her arm. Must be dry in here.
Merilyn missed her step and stumbled, she appeared startled. Maybe she felt the static electricity too? “Easy there. I don't think Alex would appreciate you being hurt. I’d probably be blamed for that, too.”
The stairs led up into another open circular room, similar to the one below. This one, however, projected intimacy and warmth. Here burgundy wood panels covered the walls. Interlocking octagons of light and dark wood patterned the floor. The copper flue from below pierced the floor and continued through the ceiling. Lamps filled the room with pools of stippled golden light. The floor-to-ceiling bookcases that ran around the outer wall captured Lauren’s attention. Books, leather bound tomes, rolled scrolls, and stacks of loose papers littered the cases. A massive desk dominated the space, its top glowed a luminescent yellow green. On closer inspection, Lauren realized the top was one large monitor displaying data. Lauren laid her hand on the desktop. She expected to find a cold hard glass surface, but her hand sank into a warm membrane. She moved her hand across the surface and watched it morph around her fingers. Windows closed and new ones opened as she wiggled her fingers in the pliable surface. Puts our touch-screen technology to shame.
Merilyn appeared by her side. “Come, you can access the analyzer later. For now, let us get you settled upstairs. After a meal, perhaps we can discuss your coming to Fuar Ćala.”
Up another circular stairs, Lauren entered the uppermost floor in the solar. This floor was divided into separate spaces by low partitions. The space they entered from the stairs held a large couch, a smaller sofa, and two oversized square chairs, all covered in green leather and clustered closely around an open hearth. The fireplace on this floor held a large metal grate, where five foot logs burned brightly beneath another copper hood.
Lauren looked up at a ceiling that formed an inverted funnel. The stone ceiling was divided into eight pie-shaped sections by massive wooden beams. A number of tapestries decorated the walls, each depicting a scene: some illustrated hunting, others architectural diagrams, and interestingly, others appeared to be extraterrestrial with images of space phenomena and large space-going vessels. Next to the stairs, a gigantic octagonal window filled a large portion of the outer wall. A seat nestled below it, covering the broad sill.
Lauren walked up to the window. Me
tal struts divided the window into eight pie-shaped panes. The struts met in the middle of the window terminating in a metal circle. The circle was filled with thickened glass—an oculus. Lauren climbed onto the seat and looked through this central glass. The oculus was a telescope. Like using binoculars, she could make out shapes moving along the river far away. Turning her head, she viewed the dense forest in the opposite distance direction.
“Wow.” Lauren moved her gaze back and forth getting closer and farther from the oculus. It changed shape as she moved her head. It acted like a lens, keeping her visual reference point in focus. “Simply awesome!”
Merilyn had disappeared behind a three-quarter height partition and called out, “Yes, but you need to freshen up and get some rest. Come here, please.”
Climbing down, Lauren headed around the partition. “How was the lens created? Was it cast from a single glass blow? Was it laid down in layers and ground? How does it change focal length?” Questions spilled from Lauren almost faster than she could speak.
Holding up her hands, Merilyn chuckled. “I can see why Alex and you get along. You sound just like she does when presented with a wonder. I will answer only one question as you settle in, so think carefully before asking.”
Lauren moved into the room, while she thought about what question to ask. This space occupied a quarter of the circular floor. The oaken floor was honey colored, and the boards were laid in a radial pattern that stretched outward from the copper flue at the apex of the wedge to the outer granite wall. Storage chests lined the straight sides of the wedge-shaped space. A large platform held a giant, four-posted bed, positioned with its head beneath a small octagonal window set high in the curved outer wall. A canopy of sage green, yellow, white, and brown tartan draped between the four posts, hanging to the floor at the sides. Two mica lamps hung above the headboard. These lit the interior space under the canopy. A large wooden chest darkened and scarred with the pains of a long life, sat at the foot of the bed. Its top was held closed with a large iron hasp.
As in the other half of this circular floor, a small open fireplace burned at the apex of the triangular space. Facing the cheery fire were two overstuffed chairs. A small table separated the chairs and held another mica lamp. Before the fire was a large sheep skin rug, inches thick. It glowed a creamy off-white in the firelight.
“Use anything you wish here, and make yourself comfortable. The bathing room is through that arch.” Merilyn pointed to an opening in the other partition wall. She walked over to the nightstand and placed her hand on a panel inlaid in the top. “This is a communicator panel.”
“Yes, Your Grace, how may I help?” A disembodied voice rang out.
Lauren wanted to ask how the device worked, but remained silent, not wanting to interrupt their conversation or use her one question.
“Stewart, please bring a tray of finger foods and drinks up and leave them in my office. I will fetch them from there.”
“It will arrive within ten minutes, Your Grace.”
“Thank you, Stewart.” Removing her hand from the communicator panel, Merilyn turned to her. “When you call, you will reach me. I will forward your request on to the appropriate party. Now, please, relax. Perhaps you would like a bath before our refreshment arrives?”
“A bath sounds terrific.” The physical strain of her mad dash from the Teton cache had caught up with Lauren, and she knew once she bathed, it wouldn't be long before she fell asleep. But the mental stress from all that had happened took the largest toll on Lauren. “But before I do that, I want to ask my question.” Lauren sat on the chest at the foot of the large bed.
“You have narrowed it down to only one then?”
“Yes, I have. There is really only one question.” Lauren gathered the last bits of her energy. “How is Alex? Did she survive her last injury?”
Merilyn sank onto the chest and sat beside Lauren. “That is two questions, and ones I did not expect. I will try and answer both. I am amazed you do not want to know about all the technology around you.” She swept her arm around the room.
“It is all amazing, but I need to know about Alex. Please, tell me how she is.”
“As you know, Alexandra was injured when you were ambushed by the Comin patrol.” Lauren nodded and stiffened at the memory. “They were using molecular disruptors. Those are weapons we do not condone. They destroy matter by breaking the molecular bonds in any material the bolt hits.”
Lauren gasped. Molecular disruption? How would they heal that?
Holding up her hands to forestall another barrage of questions, Merilyn continued. “It is intended for one purpose, to cause a terrible, painful death. Alexandra did survive her injuries, but only just. It was a horrific ordeal from which she is not fully recovered.”
Lauren leaned forward. “Please, I must see her. I must know she is ok, even if she doesn't want to see me, even if she doesn’t know me.” Lauren finished in a whisper. “I’m afraid you’re going to be in a lot of trouble once Alex learns I’m here.”
“Why would you say that? Alexandra remembers you.”
“I heard her, Your Grace. She sent me away. That’s why I left after talking with one of your people.”
Merilyn shook her head. “Alexandra did not send you away. I was with her throughout her healing, and she did not speak. She did not mention you, Lauren. And who spoke with you? When I left the courtyard, I saw you there with your sled. I apologize for leaving you without explanation, but Alexandra was more important. I assumed you stayed within the Postern Gate. I tried to project a feeling of patience toward you, hoping you would remain in the courtyard. But when I returned the next morning to get you, you were gone, and the shield did not register your departure.”
“I heard Alex in my mind. She screamed for me to leave, to leave her alone.” Lauren hung her head in defeat. She desperately wanted to see Alex, but she knew Alex didn’t want to see her. Tears welled in her eyes. “I’ll rest up and then head back to the Zirkels. I’ll find my way back, now that I’ve returned the sword to its home.”
Merilyn turned to Lauren. Reaching out she raised Lauren’s chin with a fingertip, “Lauren, Alexandra is recovering. I know she did not mean to send you away. I think you overheard her yelling at the healers. She was in intense pain and wanted to die. Her mind was shattered by the magnitude of her injury. Her body was shutting down. Her thoughts were not coherent.” Merilyn encircled Lauren’s shoulders. “There now, child, it will be all right. You will see Alexandra soon. But first we must put this puzzle together to understand what happened. And it seems you hold many of the missing pieces.”
Lauren snuggled deeper into the warm embrace and sobbed.
Merilyn rocked her gently. “Please try and calm down. I know you are hurting, but I feel we will eventually get this worked out. If you can, I need to know who you spoke with? What was said, and try and understand how you got out through the shield without it registering your passage?”
Lauren pushed herself away and wiped her face, thinking back to that shadowy figure. She was tired, though, so tired. She just wanted to sleep. “I don’t know who it was. She didn't introduce herself. She just demanded I leave. She said that I’d torn the shield and it had to be repaired.” Lauren hiccupped as her tears reappeared. “She said I couldn't see Alex, because she was with those that cared for her.” A bit of anger rose in her chest. “As if I didn’t care for her. She called me an impudent child!” Her anger exploded. “That is what my parents called me before I went to stay with my grandfather. They never understood. No one but Granddaddy understood me,” And with that admission, the remaining energy drained out of Lauren, and she slumped into Merilyn’s arms as exhaustion overtook her.
Chapter Eleven
LAUREN WOKE TO BIRDSONG, and a room flooded with the reddened gloaming of evening that poured through the windows. Covering her eyes with an arm, she realized she wasn’t in Denver and that wasn’t the sun setting over the Rocky Mountains. She was in Fuar Ćala.
&
nbsp; “Good, you are awake. I feared I would have to figure out how to get healers here without explaining who you are.” Merilyn swept in, a pile of clothes and towels in her arms.
“Nope, still here.” Lauren expelled a sigh.
“Well, let us get you up, and fed. Then we can answer the remaining questions you have and begin on my list.” Merilyn turned toward the body buried in the bed beneath a mountain of covers. “How does that sound?”
“Fine, I guess.” Lauren struggled from the depths of the huge feather bed and limped off to the bathing room. Whoa, stiff. A soak in the large whirlpool bath would do wonders for her. Her unconscious mind had obviously made good use of her slumber because Lauren had an organized list of questions ready when she finally joined Merilyn before the fire in the sitting area. A tray of finger foods and drinks rested on the small table between the chairs. Covered plates loaded down another table.
“I was not sure of your tastes, or your level of hunger, so I ordered a variety.”
Lauren eyed the covered dishes. “I’m hungry enough to eat a horse.”
“Oh dear, I do not believe we have any horse here.” Merilyn rose and moved to activate one of the communicators.
Lauren laughed. “No, it’s just an expression. It means I’m really hungry. I don't eat horse.” Lauren pulled the lid from one of the stasis plates to find a thick steak, green beans, and some sort of mashed tuber. Salivating, Lauren unrolled a napkin and grabbed up some cutlery.
Merilyn was strangely silent. Lauren looked up from her plate. “What?”
“Alexandra has been using these strange idioms. I just realized they must come from you. The sharing of speech patterns is a measure of bond depth. It indicates a bond of considerable strength.”
Lauren reflected on this as she cut the first bite from her steak. Just as she raised her fork, two blurs of white fur tumbled into the room. Snow and Ice knocked Lauren from her chair, and she lost hold of her knife and fork. “Thank you, Lauren, I am hungry.” Ice gobbled up the meat that fell from Lauren’s fork.
