"I know. But I think that was a special case. To add additional information from my world would speed up what should be the natural development of this land. A dangerous thing to do in unforseen ways." John wasn't exactly sure what he'd just said, but thought the principal was right. Put guns in the hands of children and disaster was sure to follow.
Coluth bowed, at least seeming to understand.
"I have great confidence in all of you to run your affairs just fine without me. Then, again, I may return, if only to see how well you're doing."
"We will look forward to that day," said Golden.
Ellen, taking no part in the conversation, was none-the-less smiling, Ellen entirely well now. John's only concern was that, back in their world, Band magic might fail. A small worry, though. Nothing he'd accomplished here in the past had "evaporated" on his return to his own world.
So ended the meal. Everything of importance discussed. Time to go.
"I'll say goodbye here. At least for now," John's meaning clear; that they were not to follow him to the tower room.
Everyone at the table bowed.
Sidling along the trestle, the others doing the same, John's people -- for that was who they were -- formed a double line of honor for John and Ellen to walk through.
And the two of them were off, first to pass the fire stone warming pit, then through the long, tapestry bedecked room, and into a twisting passageway, John to keep going up as the best way to stay on track, always up.
John had learned more about the castle's halls, however, enough to find the tower room without getting lost -- more than a couple of times.
* * * * *
Down-light upon them, Platinia, dressed in black to blend with the shadows between newly lighted torches, backed away with no one noticing, to follow the Mage and the woman.
* * * * *
Though John was interested to see if he could find the tower, he made himself walk at Ellen's leisurely pace. Was she still weak from Band Sickness?
"I'll be glad to get home," Ellen said, going slower still. "But I'd like a last look at Xanthin. My tour of the city was interrupted, as you'll remember."
"Never should have let you out of my sight," John grumped.
"A medieval city. A functioning medieval city," she purred, as if she hadn't heard his complaint.
"And that's one problem I haven't solved," John admitted.
"What?"
"How this legendary hero in the 'long ago,' journeyed from the tower room in this castle, returning later with the medieval ideas on which this civilization is built."
"I don't think I follow you."
"If he left from the tower room, he'd have ended up under the stairs in my house. Or rather, in the place where the house was later constructed. Much later. When he arrived, the site of my future house must have been in open, Indian country. He couldn't have materialized in stone age America. No way he could have gotten from there to medieval Europe."
"Easy," Ellen said. "There has to be another exit point to our world. One coming out some place else."
"Why didn't I think of that," John said, chagrined.
"Because you've had too much to do. Too much to worry about. Me, for instance. And the people of Stil-de-grain."
She was giving him an out for his stupidity. Better take it. "Maybe."
"Back to the important topic," she said, smiling up at him in the fire stone light as they passed another of the corridor torches, blue eyes flashing, gold hair mirroring the saffron light. "There's got to be a place where I can get a last look at Xanthin down the hill."
"There is. If only I can remember how to get there. I know there's a door that exits to a battlement. An observation point, would be my guess. Used for the appraisal of an attacking army. Even if I can't find the door, it shouldn't take more than twenty minutes to get back on track."
"Well worth getting lost," Ellen enthused.
And he was off down a side corridor, one he thought he remembered blundering into on a previous "romp" through the twisted turns of the castle's corridors.
Yes. There was the door. At the end of the short hall.
The bar-way stopping them, after some strain, he was able to drag back the heavy, oak slab, the two of them stepping through the casement to find themselves on a narrow walkway; no barricade to prevent someone from taking a four story plunge to the Castle's stone courtyard.
John had a flash of insight. The former caretaker of Hero Castle was an old, blind man named Chryses. Who, according to Platinia, fell to his death off the castle wall, this the perfect spot for an accident like that.
Taking Ellen's hand, John made sure that, in her 'medieval' enthusiasm, she didn't get too close to the edge.
* * * * *
Now was Platinia's time! Chryses knew she was an Etherial. And so Chryses must die before he hurt her, like every man who'd known of her special, strengthening powers had hurt her. It was here that, picking through his mind, she had found ... weariness ... with life. Strengthening that feeling until it became despair, the old, blind man had walked off this ledge.
Platinia was sorry. But she had to protect herself from those who knew about her power.
This time, she would search through the mind of Ellen, this woman too much in the Mage's mind. Find the bad feelings there, about herself, about the world. Strengthening those feelings, Platinia would get the woman to jump off, too.
Concentrating, Platinia began to pick through the woman's mind, the woman talking on and on about the city below. How ... charming ... it was. How ... historical.
Frantically, Platinia looked for "dark" thoughts. Looked hard.
But found none.
The woman was completely happy. Happy to be well. Happy to be here. Happy to be going home.
With no bad thoughts to build into deadly ones, Platinia was helpless, Platinia giving up trying to make the woman feel so bad this Ellen would ... jump.
Drawing back, Platinia would have to find some other way to keep the Mage from leaving. To make the Mage love her.
* * * * *
"Had enough?" John asked, after what seemed to him to be forever.
"Never! But ... I'm ready to go back." She sighed. "Is it possible, what they said at dinner?"
"What?"
"That you will return here some day?"
"Maybe."
"Could a girl hitch a ride, if you do?"
"After what you've been through here?"
"I know that's true. But, knocked out as I was, I didn't suffer. Mostly, I had a great time. And I'm cured to boot."
* * * * *
Tears wetting her eyes, Platinia drew back. Turned. Ran on mouse-quiet feet to get to the room above before John-Lyon and the woman came there.
* * * * *
Round and round, rising, John led Ellen to the tower, the two of them entering that musty room with the shattered ceiling. Careful not to slip on its mossy floor, John went to the hiding place in the wall, pulling back the secret, stone door to take out the old, hand cranked Van de graff.
"Stand here beside me, Ellen," he said. "As close as you can. We both must get charged up to make the jump."
Shadows beneath the stone table hiding her where she lay -- her robe dirty from the wet-dust floor and with green stains where she had crushed the floor's moss -- Platinia had one more chance to keep the love of John-Lyon of the green, green eyes. To do that, she concentrated with all her heart and mind on strengthening his love, such strengthening working before, Platinia making John-Lyon love her. Kiss her.
Building. Building his love ....
Unexpectedly, John-Lyon took the woman into his arms and kissed her, the woman returning his kiss ....
* * * * *
"You were right," Ellen said, breathing hard but stepping back. "This place changes you. Nothing here is the same as at home. We love each other now. You love me. And I love you. Love you for more than bringing me here where I've gotten back my health, gotten back my life. I can never thank you e
nough. But once we're back home, we'll return to normal. We'll be friends again."
Easy for you to say, John thought ... but, of course, didn't say.
* * * * *
Platinia had lost again. Lost ... everything.
Turning her face away, she could not keep from listening to the whirring machine as it made transformation fluid.
Finally to hear nothing ... even Platnia's sobs choked to silence by the round stone room.
###
About the Author
John G. Stockmyer is an individual whose irrepressible creativity has manifested itself in many ways: as a poet, teacher, produced playwright, author, co-owner of an educational materials business, creator of a time-machine simulator, and, more recently, as a podcaster and producer of eBooks. During his career he has received awards for scholarship, numerous teaching awards and, as a writer, was a Thorpe Menn finalist.
He is the co-author of three non-fiction books: Unleashing the Right Side of the Brain - The Stephen Greene Press, Life Trek: The Odyssey of Adult Development - Humanics, and Right Brain Romance - Ginn Press. He is also the author of over 20 works of fiction, including the Crime/Hard-Boiled "Z-Detective" Series, and the Science-Fiction/Fantasy "Under The Stairs" Series. He has also written a quirky vampire novel titled, The Gentleman Vampire.
John G. Stockmyer is now semi-retired from a 40+ year career as an Ancient/European History Professor at Maple Woods Community College, but still teaches and writes part-time. He currently lives in Kansas City, Missouri with his wife Connie.
For more information about the author, and to download or purchase Print Books, eBooks and Audio-Books from the "collection," please visit the John G. Stockmyer "Books" Web site at: www.johnstockmyer.com/books
If you enjoyed Ellen Under The Stairs, you'll probably also like Book #4 in the Bandworld Series: Two Worlds Under The Stairs. Book #4 (eBook) is currently available at the author's web site for $5.00.
To send questions or comments to the author, send an e-mail to: [email protected] (all e-mails are screened/forwarded by the author's son: John L. Stockmyer)
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