by Peter Plasse
She looked him in the eye, an arm’s length away and holding her hands in his, both of them now. She didn’t remember how it had changed to both of them, but it felt better. He leaned in towards her. She stood and broke from his grasp. “What shall we do, what shall we do? You know, I have to tell you that when I took your hand, I got totally charged with some sort of amazing energy. Would you know about that?”
“I would.”
“Hemlock?”
“Yes.”
“So, you are Erik, and you are not from this planet, yet here you are standing right in front of me at the bequest of our mutual acquaintance, Hemlock, and for what purpose? What did you say your last name was again?”
“Can we sit down, perhaps on the couch in the basement? I have come from very far away and some of the energy I gave to you has made me wish to sit. Would that be okay?”
“Sure, follow me.”
Down the stairs they went. She realized that this would mean that she would be entirely alone with this handsome young stranger who called himself Erik, but she found she was absolutely not afraid. This was all too unbelievable to not be true. She laughed a little when she thought this. It seemed like a paradox or something. She would have to ask her dad. He was the best with words.
They reached the basement. It had recently been completely done over by Dad and his best friend, Jack. It was roughly twelve by sixteen feet of pure white plaster. The end wall was dominated by a 62 inch high-definition TV, complete with all the gizmos for games, digital recording, and the like.
“Could you please turn on the TV?”
“Sure, what station?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“Hmmm.”
She picked up the remote and pressed the buttons to call up the TV. As it warmed up she repeated her question. “What is your last name, Erik?”
Hemlock’s image filled the screen. There was no background, only Hemlock, dressed in his simplest wizard robe and holding a beautiful scepter.
“My good child. I see you and Erik have met. Wonderful. Might I suggest he and you take a short while and visit his place of origin? I promise you it will be completely safe. I think you will love it. Best of all, there is no long walk involved.
“Stephanie, I was there with you 5 years ago when your basketball team won the championship even though you had to go through the loser’s round because you dropped the first game to Lisbon. I have been with you, and your sister and brother, for pretty much every moment of each of your lives. I was there when each of you was born.”
“Well, let me ask you this, if you can do all of this, how come you didn’t turn on the TV yourself? Why make me do it?”
At this point the TV turned itself off, and Hemlock was standing directly in front of her. She was so surprised she lost her balance and ended up sitting in one of the chairs.
He took a seat on one of the couches. He was as wizardly looking as anything she had ever seen, as good as Professor Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series, maybe even better. His face, looking somehow older than she remembered it, seemed ablaze with a look of power. He also looked troubled. He sifted some sand from his fingers. On the way to the floor it dissolved into tiny, multicolored bursts of light that circled back as perfect, oscillating little spheres, only to disappear. A bioluminescent cat appeared holographically out of one wall and walked across the room, disappearing into the far one.
“Can you have me back before sunrise?”
“My dear, I can have you back in the time it takes to take one breath. It’s the way it works.”
“And how long did you say we could be gone?”
“You could be gone a lifetime if you chose, or a day or two, or fifteen minutes. Your choice.”
“And, gone for an entire lifetime, I would still be able to return to right here, right now?”
“Not only could you, that precise end-point, ‘right here right now’ as you put it, is guaranteed. It could not be otherwise. No matter how long you choose to stay, at the end of it you will be right upstairs, sleeping as you were the last time you fell asleep, just one breath removed from when you left.”
“Oh my,” was all Stephanie could manage. This was more than a little overwhelming.
Erik sat with his hands folded.
“Can I wait until everyone else is up and introduce Erik, and then decide to visit his land, or his planet, or whatever? Besides, maybe Jacqueline or Orie might like to go. Or Mom. Or Dad. Or all of us.”
“Of course you can,” said Hemlock. “As I explained earlier, the only purpose behind the exercises in space-time travel that we do right now is to convince you that all of this is real, that I am real, that my need is real. That is the whole point. If you go, you will be gone for one breath, no matter the length of your stay in the other place. Say the words, ‘I want to go home. I want to go home. I want to go home,’ out loud, and you will be right back here.”
“So even if I were gone for an entire lifetime on Erik’s planet, I would be right back here by saying, ‘I want to go home,’ three times?”
“Correct.”
“So how would my being away for an entire lifetime affect your getting the cure for whatever it is that’s making your people sterile? Don’t you need to get this cure to them as soon as possible?”
“Stephanie, you amaze me, but no. You see, the only time slipping away while I am here is Earth time, to which I have converted. It’s necessary to do this in order to make the travel to the here and now even possible in the first place. I know what you’re saying. The theory would be, the longer I’m gone, the closer my people get to the reality of extinction, but like you visiting Erik should you choose to do so, the amount of time I will have been away when I finally return to my home will be the time it takes to breathe one breath. The math is somewhat complex, but true. And tested.”
He sifted some more sand. This turned into a small, rainbow-colored waterfall that bounced off of the floor in a dazzling array of lights. He looked away, fixing his gaze on the stars outside of the basement window.
“It’s like this,” he continued. “Everybody on every planet I visit looks out at the stars and thinks, ‘There has to be intelligent life out there.’ But the mathematics dictate, and you Earth Humans won’t discover this for several millenniums, that the ‘out there,’ you know, the place where these other intelligent life forms live, is actually right beside this one, separated by only slight mirrors, really. Mathematical mirrors, if you will, that not only predict that these separate and distinct realities coexist in time, but prove they are separated by no more than the inversion of a fraction. Life, then, other intelligent life, is not ‘out there,’ it’s right beside you. Always has been, always will be.”
Meanwhile, Erik, who had not spoken for the longest time, said, “Come away with me, Stephanie. Right now. You’ll love it. I’m a prince in a land called Ravenwild. You’ll meet my father and mother, the King and Queen. My people. You’ll get to see how we live. Our struggle. If it doesn’t suit you, merely speak the words, ‘I want to go home,’ thrice, and you’ll be right back here just one breath older than when we left. Let’s go for it.
“By the way, my family name is Fairman.”
He looked at her … with such …. longing.
She didn’t know what overcame her, but she found herself saying, “All right. I’ll do it.”
“Are you completely sure?” Erik asked. “I don’t want you to feel that I’m twisting your arm or anything.”
She laughed nervously.
“Will I need to bring anything?”
It was his turn to laugh. His didn’t sound nervous at all, but happy and confident. “Nothing, no nothing. I’m a prince, remember?”
“Yes. Yes of course,” she said.
There was a sudden flash with no light.
She found herself seated in what appeared to be a small hut. Through the open door she could see that it was daylight. It was warm.
She was wearing clothes the like of
which she had never worn. It was some sort of what she presumed must be a riding outfit. The top was a fairly straight cut blouse, the palest of yellows, fastened high in the neck with the most exquisite handmade buttons that extended all the way down the front to the waist, where it was gathered in by a soft leather belt with an unusual buckle that appeared to be made of bone. Over her legs she wore soft tan pants that appeared to be some sort of skin. On her feet she wore high-laced moccasins with no sole. She noticed that in a sheath on her belt was a dagger of some sort with a long blade of about 8 inches. There was one in each of her moccasins as well.
Beside her in the hut, leaning up against the wall, was a sword that looked like it might be her size. The handle looked to be made of wound silver thread, and projecting out of the grips were slightly raised symbols. Strange symbols. And a face with ears that were pointed, like hers. As she focused on it she could have sworn she heard it whisper something to her, but it was in a language she did not understand. She shifted her gaze. Beside the sword was a solid ash bow that, again, looked like it might be just right for her, and a quiver of arrows.
She noticed that Erik was nowhere in sight. She called his name out softly.
“Out here,” he called back. His voice was so charming, so expressive, and full of the enthusiasm of youth. It was as though exiting this simple hut to join him was the most important thing she had ever done, and for the first time in her 15 years Stephanie Doreen Strong knew what it was to feel rapture. She embraced it, wrapping it about her like a protective cloak, and walked tall and strong out to her first glimpse of …
Ravenwild.
She noticed that the hut was set at the edge of a well-maintained dirt path that served as the border of a huge garden in which grew an abundance of crops. She spied corn, beans, all kinds of tomatoes, eggplants, beets, cauliflower, and several other vegetables she did not recognize. The garden, like the surrounding dirt path, appeared well cared for. But what struck her fancy a thousandfold over her delight at seeing the beauty and richness of the well-tended crops were the two horses being held by Erik. Both were huge and would have towered over the two horses she had at home.
“Stephanie, please meet Cloud and Spirit.” To her astonishment, as he spoke their names each clearly nodded in response. “I give you Spirit, to have for as long as you remain in Ravenwild.”
He let go of the reins and the horse walked calmly over to her. She reached out to pat her neck, and Spirit nuzzled her over what turned out to be a small pocket in her blouse in which she found an assortment of treats, one of which she accepted and happily crunched away, after which she thanked her with a low nicker.
“Well, my beautiful girl,” she whispered, wrapping herself around her neck, “I’m delighted to meet you.”
“Okay,” said Erik, “Let’s get you into your gear.”
“What gear?”
“The things in the tent. They too are yours, for as long as you choose to stay.”
Out of the blue Stephanie felt a pang of homesickness, for while this was the most astounding sequence of events she found unfolding around her, and truly enthralling, she found herself wishing that she had waited. Clearly her family should be a part of this.
Her face must have shown a fairly accurate representation of what she was feeling inside, for when she looked up into Erik’s eyes, he seemed to know.
“Hey there,” he said gently, “Remember, all you have to do is say ‘I want to go home’ three times, out loud, and you will be right back home with your family, asleep in your bed. Not to worry.”
“But would I be able to come back again and bring them?”
“Not the way I understand it,” he returned, “unless, of course, this is where they choose to come on their adventure. Remember, the whole point of it is so that you guys all know it is real, because you have to, and then your Mom and Dad have to decide if the mission to save Hemlock’s people from going extinct is something they are willing to do. See, because when they go on their way, they will not be able to return by saying, ‘I want to go home’ three times. They will go in the presence of Hemlock, and he will be responsible for transporting them back with the thing he uses to make the travel thing possible in the first place.”
“Hmmm,” said Stephanie, entirely unsure as to what to do.
“Tell you what,” said Erik, “let’s get your gear on and ride on over to the castle. I would like for you to at least meet my Mom and Dad. They are the King and Queen after all, and how often do you get to meet the King and Queen of a country in a different universe, and who live in a castle?”
“Sure, why not,” said Stephanie, feeling torn in two different directions. “Why do I need to get that stuff on, anyway?”
“Well, first of all, they are my gifts to you, as with Spirit.” Spirit nickered softly, and Stephanie patted her on the neck, giving her another treat. “And secondly, there is no such thing as being completely safe here in Ravenwild. Not that you are ever really unsafe, because you can always get out of anything by saying what you need to say and, poof, you’re gone. But the plain truth is we are a nation at war. And we have always been at war, with two nations much larger than ours. They are called Slova and Vultura, and even though we are in the very middle of Ravenwild, and as safe as it gets with only a short ride to our capital city of Belcourt, there are always a few spies about, either Gnomes or Trolls, and you never know when you’re going to have to either defend yourself or outrun someone.”
“Come on,” said Stephanie, as they moved towards the hut’s entrance. “Real Gnomes and Trolls.”
“Uh-huh.”
He noted Stephanie’s look of incredulity and added, “I’m not kidding.”
He helped her put on her broadsword. The baldric slipped over her shoulders and fit perfectly. The sword was now mounted on her back, which would allow her to draw it easily even while she managed the reins. He also showed her how to fasten her longbow on her right hip with a fastener that was part of the saddle, and her quiver of arrows on her left. In no time, they were mounted and ready to ride.
“How do I look?” she blurted out awkwardly.
He laughed that easy, relaxed laugh of his and said, “It is impossible for one to look any more like a warrior princess than you do right now. Okay, my warrior Princess. Follow me. And remember to keep a sharp eye out.”
“Right,” she thought, “For Gnomes, and Trolls. Yeah, sure …”
Chapter 5
Blake and Orie were sitting with Hemlock in the kitchen. They, unlike Stephanie, had slept through the night. Orie was speaking.
“So, you’re telling us that we can journey through time to anywhere, and be gone for as long as we want and, when we say we’ve had enough, we will be transported right back here only one breath older than we were when we left, and everybody else will still be right there in bed, and the next morning we will wake up normally, all together.”
Hemlock, although he had explained the concept several times now, showed no sign of impatience and merely said, “That is perfectly right, my boy. Perfectly right.”
Orie glanced at his father, the look on his face saying he didn’t believe a word of this.
“This is too unreal to be even close to true. What are the chances? Dad, tell me what’s going on here.”
“Son, I’ve been a lot of places and seen a lot of strange things, but this redefines the concept of strange. Sheesh. I have no idea. None.”
“Well, if nothing else, you have rendered my dad speechless,” said Orie. “That …”
He was interrupted by the arrival of Jessica with Jacqueline in-tow.
“Good morning,” each said. Jessica and Blake embraced, and Jessica planted a kiss on Orie’s head. “Where’s Stephanie?” asked Jacqueline. “She’s always up before any of us.”
Hemlock answered her. “Stephanie has chosen to go to a place called Ravenwild. She met a young lad named Erik, whom I brought here earlier this morning, and decided to visit his land. He is a prince in th
e house of Fairman, and a thoroughly good boy. I am sure they are getting along famously.”
He was clearly more than a little surprised when Jessica was suddenly in his face, grabbing him savagely by the front of his robe.
“What do you mean she decided to visit his land? She’s fifteen years old, for the love of Michael! Who do think you are, letting her go off like that on her own? You had no right!”
It was a very tense moment in the Strong household, Jessica and the wizardly appearing Hemlock nose to nose, her face the picture of rage.
Hemlock did very well, though. He didn’t engage her anger in any way and, in the blink of an eye, he was entirely disengaged from her, and Jessica was seated in a nearby chair with Jacqueline on her lap.
Hemlock smoothed his robe and spoke quietly. “As I explained earlier, the only purpose of this preemptive travel adventure is to convince you of the reality of the technology. If I could please take the liberty of reminding you that the very future of my entire race of people hangs in the balance, and without you, or some others with talents and abilities equal to yours, my people are doomed. Extinct. Done. We’ve been over this.
“Let me say, again, these brief trips are entirely safe. I say that with a one hundred percent ironclad guarantee. And finally, if you choose, you can go to her right now and all be together, and come home the instant you wish.”
“Why can’t you just bring her back?” asked Jessica.
“That,” replied Hemlock, “I cannot do. Either she has to will it, or you have to go and get her. To do as you ask is not possible but, again, she is in no danger. She is with a young lad of about her own age who is a perfect gentleman, and will come to no harm. You have my oath on it as a wizard-of-the-first-school.”
“What does that mean?” asked Jacqueline, “A wizard-of-the-first-school. Do wizards have to go to wizard school, like in Harry Potter and Hogwarts?”
