by R. C. Rutter
“You must sleep” Erica told her. “I will tell you a story when you wake.” Erica waved her hand over Lydia who fell fast asleep.
She dreamed she was floating on a cloud without a care in the world. It was the best sleep she had in several months.
* * *
Robald was the first to smell it. Something along the lines of mold and cow dung. He groaned and looked at Thorgon. “Hey, it wasn’t me. I swear it.” The others smelled it too.
They had been next to the river for only a few minutes so far. Their travels were uneventful until now. The river was becoming cloudy and murky and was covered by a fine mist. Malcolm walked over to the edge. “Hey, it is coming from here! Look, something is floating in it. Let me grab it.”
Malcolm stuck his hand in the water and was quickly knocked off his feet. Thorgon had grabbed his collar and pulled him hard. Malcolm slammed into the wall and fell unconscious. The water was rising in front of them and formed the shape of a spear. It shot out at Malcolm and impaled him. Malcolm’s body jerked and his eyes shot wide open as he screamed. The water pulled back and Malcolm went with it.
Eric lifted his staff and said a few words but it was too late. It happened so sudden as Malcolm disappeared under the water.
Robald took a step forward but was stopped by Eric. “No, it is too late. We were warned about the water. I don’t know this type of magic. Let me think for a moment.” Eric sat down.
Robald and Thorgon stood there stunned. Gweneviere started crying.
The water became very still. Silence filled the air. No one spoke nor tried to speak.
Eric lifted his staff several times and said a few incantations. He pointed at the water but only managed to produce a few bubbles. When they popped, they filled the air with a disgusting odor which fouled everyone’s mood more.
A low rumble began to shake the rocks. Ripples could be seen on top of the water. The shaking increased until small waves began to appear. Everyone watched motionless as they were not sure what to think.
A water spout popped up right in front of them, rising almost to the ceiling. This continued for several minutes until a large mass of brown mud worked its way to the top. The mud then shot out of the water spout and landed at their feet. Robald pulled his sword and was about to attack when a face appeared in the mud. It was Malcolm. Eric turned him over and started pressing on his back. Brown goop came out of Malcolm’s mouth and nose and he started coughing. In a few minutes Malcolm sat up. He was breathing on his own and shivering.
Cerberus came out of the water. “I decided to take a break and swim. Found this at the bottom. Thought it belonged to you. What part of “don’t touch the water” did you not understand?” Cerberus looked at them and glared. “Stupid humans, stay away from the water.” Cerberus dove back into the water.
Gweneviere, Thorgon, and Robald turned their attention to Malcolm and continued cleaning him. Eric sat down and said some more incantations.
Gweneviere looked at Thorgon. “Find some wood, build us a fire. We need to camp here for a while.” Eric looked over and pointed his staff near Gweneviere. A fire erupted next to her. He pointed his staff again and several pots of food appeared over the fire. The aroma quickly replaced the stench they had been breathing.
“We must rest” Eric said quietly as he closed his eyes.
* * *
Seth was in the dungeon watching and almost did not recognize King William. He had only seen him once and that was many years ago. The King was against the wall with his hands tied above his head and his feet bound. Seth was near the ceiling looking down at the room. A shuffling sound came from the doorway. The door opened and in walked the shoe shuffler.
The King looked up. “Sidius, what brings you here? Any good news?
Sidius looked at the King, hesitated, and then looked up at the spot where Seth was. He blinked several times and kept his eyes on Seth while he spoke, “No, my Lord, no news to tell. Your daughter has not been killed yet.” Sidius paused, still looking at Seth. “Tell me, your Majesty, how will your daughter free you?”
“I am already free” answered the King. He was not about to be tricked. “Did you bring me any food? Perhaps a drink?”
“Yes, my Lord.” Sidius reached into his cloak and pulled out a knife and threw it at Seth. Seth yelled but no sound was heard. The knife came straight at him and hit his chest but he felt no pain. There was a loud metal sound as the knife slammed into the wall behind Seth.
“Care to explain that?” asked the King.
“Something was there. At least I felt it, being stared at.” The King looked up and said “It must be your imagination. I neither see anything nor feel any presence. I assure you, we are quite alone and safe here.”
Sidius served the food and water. “I must depart, they will be expecting me. I serve at your pleasure.” Sidius bowed as he backed up from the King. He turned; glancing at the spot where Seth was as he shuffled out the door, closing it behind him.
The King looked up at Seth and closed his lips tightly as if to say “Don’t talk.” In a few minutes, the sound of Sidius shuffling down the hallway could be heard.
“Are you going to tell me who you are and why you have chosen to visit me?” asked the King. He was looking directly at Seth. I cannot see you but know that your presence is felt by me. I sense turmoil in you, part demon, and part human, strange indeed.
Seth opened his mouth and said “I am Seth” but no words could be heard.
The King’s eyes opened wide not believing what he heard. “Tell me, what did Eric do to you when you first saw Robald?” He needed to ask a question that very few would know the answer.
Seth thought for a minute. “He slapped me, pushed me back in my seat, and said we would be killed.” Seth paused. “Or Worse.”
“And what were you doing when he slapped you?” The King was being very cautious in case anyone was listening.
“I was pulling out my sword” was the reply.
“How many men were with Robald? Two or three?” asked the King.
“None, he was alone.” It was a trick question. Any imposter would have chosen either two or three.
“We must talk. Can you come closer?”
Sidius was listening intently at the door but was only hearing one side of the conversation. He put his ear closer to the door.
Seth felt himself being pulled closer to the King. Now he was face to face, just inches away. The King lowered his voice.
“Where are you now? Physically, where is your body? Why do I sense an evil force in you? Almost demon.”
Seth explained everything that had happened. The King asked question after question about the girl traveling with the wolves. He was very curious and could not tell if she was a friend or foe.
“So Gweneviere is coming this way. This is good news. First things first, I must heal you. It would not be good for Cerberus to gain any more skills. Once I do that, you will leave here and be back in your body. Cerberus will not be pleased that your demon powers are gone. Expect to be attacked once you get back. Are you ready?” The King waited for Seth to respond.
Seth agreed.
“Oh, one more thing, Eric and Erica are to be trusted implicitly. Beware of Shabb; sometimes his agenda does not follow ours. I have sent him on a task so he can be watched.”
The King muttered an incantation. Seth felt his body being torn apart, heat was burning from within, but his skin felt very cold. With a loud pop, Seth fell to the floor and the stench was overbearing. He opened his eyes to find himself back in the creature’s den. Cerberus was in the middle of the room with his back to Seth. Without waiting, Seth grabbed his sword and ran for the door. The creature quickly raised a hand and threw a spell. It hit Seth but bounced back at the creature. Cerberus screamed, writhing in pain. Seth lurched at the door, burst through it and slammed it shut behind him. Luckily Cerberus had left the cave entrance to the river open after he took his swim. Seth ran as fast as he could. He heard the creature’s doo
r open behind him followed by yelling. A spell shot past him as the cave began to close. Seth leapt at the cave entrance scraping his skin on the edges as he made it through.
The entrance slammed shut behind him as Seth ran towards the water. He did not read the sign as he flew passed it. He saw the group at a distance in front of him; they had just crossed a water bridge that Eric had created so they could cross to the other side. Seth yelled but the bridge spell was already fading. He knew he would not make it.
Seth decided to swim instead. He took a running start and dove headfirst into the water.
* * *
Chapter 9
Lydia awoke and slowly opened her eyes. The blue sky with a few clouds was very comforting. She could hear someone humming and remembered where she was. Sitting up and looking around, she was surprised that a tent had been set up on the other side of the fire. The old woman did not have any supplies with her but stuff kept appearing. Erica was sitting in a chair next to the tent knitting and humming. She looked up at Lydia “I trust you slept well? Are you hungry?”
Lydia looked over at the fire and a hot pan appeared. Right above it, a bowl was tilting and pancake batter was flowing onto the pan. Bacon appeared on the side of the pan. Lydia did not care how all this was happening, she was hungry, the aroma was enticing, and her stomach was growling.
“Please help yourself” encouraged the old woman. “I imagine it has been a while since you had a decent breakfast.” With that, a glass of orange juice plopped next to Lydia and two eggs dropped onto the pan.
Lydia helped herself and gulped the food down. Everything tasted so good.
“Now, as far as your questions are concerned, I will answer some of them. Let’s see if I remember correctly. Shabb has been sent away on another assignment. I am not sure when Eric began to suspect that Shabb might be confused as to what his duties were.” Erica noticed that Lydia’s eyes got real big when she said that. “Oh, that is the polite way of saying that Shabb was not focused on his job – that he was instead working his own agenda, perhaps for himself, perhaps on the request of someone else. Too dangerous to keep him around so Eric found something else for Shabb to do. That is when Eric contacted me. I am working for Eric. Or is it that Eric is working for me.” Erica laughed. “I can never keep that part straight. You see, Eric is my brother and our parents always made sure that the two of us always looked out for one another and we have. My plans for you? Hmmm, I don’t have any other than to keep you safe. We are still trying to figure out your role in all this. I know about the poison because I have been bitten myself.”
Lydia felt her neck as she reached for her sword. This time it did not disappear. Lydia raised the sword and pointed it at Erica.
“Now, what are you going to do with that? Oh, you think I am somehow working with the wolves? Good grief, I could have just killed you instead. Much easier and I would not have had to deal with the wolves, all that howling gives me a headache. And them always wanting to sniff your butt. Most inappropriate!” Erica kept on knitting. “Oh my dear, the poison was given to you so the wolves can control you. We believe the demons made an arrangement with the wolves. Capture you and bring you to the castle, in exchange for what, we do not know. Which my dear, is exactly where you are going if you have not figured it out by now, to the castle.” Erica stopped her knitting and leaned forward. Lydia grew uncomfortable with the intense stare. “Now my dear, why are the demons so interested in you? Hmmm?”
“No, you are so wrong!” Lydia stated emphatically. “I am only going far enough to meet the King’s Daughter. I give her my locket and I go back home!”
“Oh my dear” said Erica who now put her knitting needles down. “You really don’t know, do you? Who told you that?”
“The wolf, I mean, Shabb told me. I am to meet the daughter on the way, give her the locket and be freed. So far, all I have met is one young girl, traveling with a motley assortment of characters, definitely not the daughter of a king, no regal air about her at all.”
“Interesting, very interesting, I wonder why Shabb would have told you that. It seems that has already…oh, never mind. Well, I suppose it would not make a difference now. Put your sword away and come over here. I shall show you a picture of the King’s Daughter so when you meet her, you will know exactly who she is.”
Erica reached beside the chair and pulled out a picture of the King holding a baby.
“Great. Now all I have to do is to look for a baby. That will be easy!” The sarcasm in her voice was unmistakable.
“No, watch closely. She will age before your eyes.” Erica held the picture aloft and the baby grew older by the second. In a matter of minutes, Lydia recognized her as the girl from the clearing.
“Hey, we actually met! I could have been home already. If only I had known before what was expected of me. Until Shabb told me, I just figured I was being held captive. For what reason, I did not know.”
“It would have done you no good. She does not know who she is, just like we really don’t know who you are. She is on a journey just like you. Now then, more pancakes perhaps?”
* * *
The chorus of “No” and “Stop” was too late. Seth was in the water and was swimming. Eric, Thorgon, Robald, and Gweneviere ran to the water’s edge. Any second now, Seth would disappear.
The group watched in astonishment as Seth continued to swim. The water around him remained as still as it could; only disrupted by the splash created by Seth. He swam across and pulled himself onto the riverbank.
Gweneviere grabbed him and put her arms around him tightly. Seth stood there with a dumbfounded look on his face. “What?” He shrugged his shoulders.
Gweneviere told him about what happened to Malcolm who was sitting against the rocks muttering to himself. “Wow. I really am lucky. Or perhaps the demons decided that I had suffered enough and took pity on me.” Seth winked.
“No, that is not it at all, my boy” said Eric as he walked directly up to Seth and gazed intently at him. I can sense something, but it is not from Cerberus. The power in you is strong and pure. I never sensed anything like this from you before. If I had, I may not have slapped you.” Eric winked. “Well, at least not slapped you as hard as I did.” How did you get this power? You were with the creature. Surely he would not have parted with anything of value. Where have you been?” asked Eric.
“From King William,” replied Seth, “I have been to visit him.
Eric’s eyebrows raised with a perplexed look on his face.
“No, not in body but in spirit, I thought I was dreaming. I was in the dungeon where he is kept, it took me a moment to realize who he was. He knew I was there. He looked up at me often but did not give my presence away. He drew me closer to him, we spoke, and then he sent me back here. I guess he really is protecting me. Watch this.”
Seth walked over to the river and stuck his hand in and his scream filled the air. Everyone rushed and pulled their swords as Seth took his hand out of the water. Hanging from two of his fingers was a crab that had clamped down. Seth shook off the crab and stood there embarrassed. Gweneviere slapped him and walked away, “Stupid brother, scaring me like that.”
“So tell me, what news of the King?” inquired Eric. “How is his health? Does he know that we are on our way? We should be there in a few days.”
Gweneviere turned back to the group. “No, that is not true. We have yet to find the King’s Daughter. Until we do, this journey is not over.”
“Dear child” began Eric. “I think it is time I showed you something. Come here.” Eric pulled out a picture of the King holding a baby. “Here is the King’s Daughter.” Gweneviere was about to interject but Eric stopped her. “Look closely.”
As Gweneviere drew closer, the baby began to age. In a few moments you could recognize the hair, eyes, and chin. “Hey, she looks a lot like me. Who is she?” Eric rolled his eyes and thought “For someone so smart, Gweneviere can sometimes be clueless.” “She is the King’s Daughter.” Gwenev
iere looked straight to Eric’s eyes. “So, when do I meet her? Where is she? I can give her the locket and we can go home!”
Eric pointed to the birthmark that was on the baby’s wrist. Gweneviere got real quiet and her face lost all color. Her knees began shaking and her legs collapsed beneath her. This was too much.
“Yes, it is true. YOU are the King’s Daughter.”
Gweneviere fainted.
Eric caught her and gently lowered her to the ground. He conjured up a pillow to place under her head and covered up her arm.
“Seth? Malcolm?” he said as he called them over. “We must have a conversation.”
The two brothers joined Eric as he lifted and very quietly tapped his staff on the ground. “There, that is better. Now no one can hear us.”
