by P. G. Thomas
Panry trusted him, but this John was different from the young, short lad he had met so long ago in the Ironhouse mine. He had grown, becoming more confident, and with his recent magical exploits, he was more commanding.
“We have a busy day tomorrow, Panry. We need to meet with the war council, the Earth Mothers, Gayne, and others. Can you arrange it?”
“I shall arrange what you have requested.”
Returning to his room, John looked at the drawing on the wall. Forming a four-dimensional image in his mind, he checked the variables: the time schedule, the positions of the suns, the staging army. With time moving too quickly, he carried the disturbing images into his dreams as he fell asleep in the chair.
*******
When John woke late in the morning, he saw the cook come out of Lauren’s room. Since the food was not on the plate or on the cook, he took it to be a good sign. Heading to the kitchen, he asked the cook for 36 cups. Then, going into Logan’s, Zack’s, Ryan’s, and Eric’s rooms, he retrieved their cellular phones, tablets, and laptops, taking them to Fodu. Pulling out his Leatherman tool, he showed how to remove the backs. “Open them gently. Use this tool and not your ax.” When he had one open, he continued, “You see all of these small components on the circuit board.” Even though circuit boards and components failed to translate, Fodu saw where John pointed. “After you carefully break each one off, cut it in half. Everything that you can find that looks unique, distinct, or different from anything else, make it free before making it two. Keep the two halves separate.” He then lined up the empty cups into two rows of eighteen, demonstrating how to place the components in each. When Fodu acknowledged he understood, he watched for a few minutes to confirm the instructions. John knew that he only needed fourteen bags, but when the final assault started, they would need a way to travel fast, faster than magical horses.
When John came down the stairs, Gayne was waiting for him with Panry. The cook brought in a breakfast plate for all three. “Today, I’m going to suggest a plan to the war council, but we need your help. We’re going to put the army to sleep, stealing their shield of innocents. However, there are too many to let them just walk back, which will take too long. I need to borrow your students and the portal bracelets. When the army is asleep, we need to open the portals so that we can rescue the innocents. If they all try to run across the bridge, the pass will jam with bodies, and the black-clad army could wake and act. I need to move a large crowd a great distance in a short period. Your portal bracelets will make the difference.”
Gayne shook his head, “We have nothing unique to open the portals.”
“That’s being taken care of right now.”
When the first protest failed, Gayne tried a new one, “John, they’re students, not fighting men.”
“They will not have to fight, and we’ll protect them.”
“John, I am unsure of this.”
“I am,” advised Panry, “Erust, please keep our friend Gayne company today, as he shall not leave your sight.”
As John and Panry left Gayne to enjoy the company of Erust, John grabbed his black cloak. Panry asked the Dawnfalcons to retrieve two of the magically enslaved midlanders: one alive and one walking dead. Then they headed to the war council meeting, but secretly Panry wished John would tell him what he was going to propose. Perchance it is some custom of these strange people that they do not like to share.
When Panry had called for the meeting, they thought it was because the Earth Mother wanted to speak to them, but when he showed up with the young boy in the black cloak, they were unimpressed.
One of the war council members spoke, “Panry, what is the meaning of this? We have better things to do than waste time.”
“I want to propose a plan that could change everything,” advised John.
“You have no place here, boy, leave. War is not a game for young ones like you.”
“The young one you insults,” began Panry, “He is the Chief Counsel to Earth Mother and speaks for her. I think you should listen.”
The room went silent.
John tried to hide his smile, “We all know the invading army is using a shield of innocents. They hope it’ll stop our offensive capabilities or give them an advantage.”
One of the war council spat on the floor, “Those who march with the enemy are the enemy. They are not innocent.”
“You’re wrong,” began John, “they don’t march of their own free will or even under their own power.” When Panry whistled, the Dawnfalcons brought in the two magically enslaved midlanders.
“Why are they not in chains?”
“They’re harmless. They have received no command to attack so they wait. If you examine the one on the left, you’ll find out that he is dead. Magic makes him stand. They don’t want to attack, but they have no choice.”
“Choice or not, they stand on the wrong side. They are the enemy.”
John then went on to describe the different issues with the battle: all of which the war council had failed to give consideration. Then he ended with, “Even in the end, if you manage to kill them off, they’ll take down almost half of your forces. When that battle ends, the enemy wins a victory. Hundreds of thousands of dead will remain on the battlefield, but not one will be a black-clad soldier, as you will kill your own, thinking it a victory. Then the black-clad will attack, and your forces will be decimated.” After a few minutes of quiet, he continued by explaining his plan. To demonstrate his point, he turned to the two midlanders with gold coins attached. Being so close, all John had to do was concentrate for a second, and he could have freed them. Instead, he moved his hands for a few seconds, like he was drawing the magic to him, and then dramatically pointed to the enslaved men, “Alakazam.” Damn, that Gayne. When the coins turned to lead, the man on the left fell to the ground, but he had died a long time ago. The one on the right fell to his knees, weakened by the forced march. “We free the shield of innocents, bringing them back here. In the morning when the Royal House wakes, they’ll find the front of their camp empty with their protection gone.”
The chief war council spoke, “If you can put the enemy to sleep, why not slay the Royal House right then? This action will also free the enslaved prisoners, and the war will be over.”
“I doubt if we have enough sleeping potion to put the entire army to sleep, and more are beyond the Earth Mothers range. While they will sleep, if some sound alarms, it may wake the others. You would be outnumbered and deep in the enemy’s territory. This is a rescue mission.”
“Still, I fail to see how we cannot use this to our advantage.”
Panry knew the shield of innocents was crippling Lauren, as they were Mother’s Children. She could neither save nor kill them and was unable to endure the thought of them dying, “The Chief Council has made it very clear that this is a rescue mission.”
“Should we do otherwise? What will you do, Earth Guard?”
“I will not take any action. If one innocent life is lost because you did not follow his plan, I will not hold it against you. I will advise Earth Mother of how many of her innocent children died because you wanted to play soldier. Earth Mother, she may have questions that only you can answer.”
When the back door opened, Eric walked in, “My brother’s plan is good. I recommend you consider it.”
The lead member of the war council looked down to the floor, “When does the Chief Council wish this plan to happen?”
“Tomorrow, right now we’ve seven to ten days before the suns align. We think that’s when they’ll attack, and if we need to plan anything else, it still gives us some time.”
“What do you need from us?”
For the rest of the meeting, they planned the finite details of the rescue.
Chapter 27
The next morning the plan went into full operation. Mirtza and the magic students arrived at the post office, being taken to the Earth Scouts kitchen, and a waiting Gayne and Erust. John, Eric, and Panry arrived shortly after, an
d John explained how they were going to support the rescue, but before any could ask questions, Eric stepped forward.
“I would like to thank you for your willing co-operation. With this one act, we change the tide of the battle.” When one tried to interrupt, Eric shook his head, “Did you not hear me? I have already thanked you for your willing participation. Please do not make me thank you again.”
John then handed the fourteen reluctant recruits each a bag of electronic components, telling them that the soldiers to the north had the mates, and they would place them in the field, so when the portals opened, the area would remain free of congestion. He then handed Mirtza and Gayne a half component each. “When you drop yours through, they’ll open a portal to the halves the Dawnfalcons carry, and when those portals open, your students and the Earth Guards will go through, so they can open the portals back.”
As the cook served them breakfast, twelve dwarves and Earth Guards arrived into the hall, and Panry turned to Gayne, “Dwarf and Earth Guard shall protect and serve those with the portal bracelets this day. Gayne, my word, those that now look upon you, all will be safe.”
The night before, they sent a large force from the army north of the town to create a base camp for the transfer. It included a large group of regular citizens to help manage the multitudes that would soon arrive. They had also conscripted the south port Earth Mothers Fern and Page. The operations of the camp were placed under dwarf command, making sure that it would be organized and efficient. The night before, the dwarves practically raided the town on John’s instructions, taking all they needed, and before they headed out, he handed them fourteen bags of electronic components.
After breakfast, the Earth Mothers brought over their sleeping potion, and John advised all that Lauren was still lacking confidence. In a very strict voice, he told them. “Do not call her Earth Mother unless she tells you to. We have her back on the path, so let’s keep her on it.”
The fast horses, including the four that Gayne graciously donated, with a bit of dwarf persuasion, were harnessed to eight carriages and wagons. Four wagons would carry the dwarfs, who would cross the bridge in the dark, as their superior night vision was better suited to identify black-clad guards that remained awake, and Zack, as a wolf, would accompany them. When he was sure the black-clad slept, gifted either by magic potion or by dwarven steel, he would change to fly back, telling John to destroy the gold magic. Then, when sufficient gold was destroyed, he would return, advising them to send Gayne and Mirtza across the bridge.
Two wagons transported the magic students, including their elf and dwarf protectors. A third carried the remaining Earth Guards and the sleeping potion. The last ones, driven by Eric and Ryan, would carry Lauren, Gingaar, John, Panry, and the remaining Earth Mothers.
When the wagons were ready, Panry and John went to Lauren’s bedroom. Gingaar was sitting with her on the bed, brushing her hair. Lauren was herself: not the Earth Mother. Panry carried her slowly down the stairs, followed by John who carried her tri-wood staff.
As the carriage worked its way through town, people stopped and stared. Many rumors had started about the Earth Mother as all noticed her absence. When the carriage passed by, they placed their hands over their hearts in a prayer of thanks to Mother. Lauren had a hard time looking at so many people, who paid her so much respect. All she could remember was looking at the freak in the mirror. When the wagons and carriages were outside of town, the drivers increased the horses up to half speed. Even though they were able to travel faster, they had all day to get there, and many were afraid that a faster journey might tax Lauren’s body.
With soldiers that formed the army of the west filling the pass, when the carriage passed by them, they all looked up to Lauren, placing their hand over their hearts. Being no longer able to look upon their faces, she stared at the carriage floor, and Panry could see that she was hurting.
The west gate was complete, including a walkway along the top of the Iron Wood trees built by the carpenters. A number of the trees had their tops sawn off, as the trees were unable to defend against the metal saws and axes. The stairs leading up to the rock ledge now had handrails, and a rock wall fortified the ledge.
Being late summer, the insects were still mating, realizing their time was running out. Even though they had been born that year, they needed to mate often, so they could deposit all of their eggs into the river, ensuring that when the waters warmed the following year, the next generation would take flight.
Panry carried Lauren to the top of the stairs, followed by John, Eric, Zack, and the Earth Mothers. With Nur carrying the tri-wood staff wrapped in a blanket, the Earth Guards carried the sleeping potion to the top of the stairs. Once everybody was in place, they noticed the bridge that was almost five hundred feet wide. After Zack had given Nur a small kiss on her forehead, he changed into the wolf, returned to the dwarfs, who were eagerly waiting for the gates to open. When Nur handed Lauren her staff, she resisted.
“John, you’re sure this will work?”
“Today we save lives, it’ll work. Trust me.”
Looking at the sleeping potion that Brook stirred, Lauren then addressed the rest. Her voice was soft, quiet, almost a whisper, “When the mosquitoes arrive, they may try to feed on you. Please don’t kill any, as it’ll make it harder to call more if they sense death.” Holding out her hand to Nur, she took her staff, leaning on it for support. While the Earth Mothers had heard the stories of the songs, Panry had listened to them first hand, having seen what they could do, and all hoped that she would sing one more time.
John took a deep breath, “Lauren, tell them to fill their feeding tube with the liquid, but not to consume it. Then tell them to fly out to the enemy camp, finding black-clad soldiers. If Zack is right, they should smell different, making them easier to find. Once they deliver their cargo, then they can feed.”
She then began to sing. Being quiet at first, slowly she sent it forward, and just like a mating call, it attracted the mosquitoes: first a few, then hundreds, then thousands. Soon a cloud of mosquitoes buzzed around the group that was so thick, they were unable to see the person that stood beside them. Changing the song slowly, the group watched while the mosquitoes went to the sleeping potion, and after drinking from it, they headed to the enemy camp.
With the suns gone, the clouds intensified the dark night. When Panry whistled, the gates opened, allowing the timber wolf to lead the small army of dwarves across the bridge. Those on the ledge waited, listening to Lauren sing into the night. An hour later, when they heard Zack’s squawk pierce the night, John stepped forward, calling on the magic in the cloak. Rubbing the two coins in his hands, he sent the magic forward, as he created the three-dimensional map of the battlefield in his mind. Using that to guide the magic, he told it to seek out the enchanted gold coins, telling to transmute the enchanted metal. Three hours later, when Zack again flew overhead, his squawks penetrated the darkness, signaling for the next stage. After the gates had opened, the Earth Guards led Gayne and Mirtza across the bridge, followed by more dwarfs. Once on the other side, they separated, and when the dwarves told them to, they opened two portals. From those two, the twelve magic students with their protectors crossed from safety into the black-clad territory. Spreading out, they began to open their portals. After Panry had whistled a second time, soldiers raced across the bridge, carrying sticks that glowed blue in the dark, a gift from Mother. With the path to the bridge lit up, soldiers armed with stretchers and crutches raced across the bridge, bringing their countrymen home. From Panry’s vantage point, the path looked like a horde of ants. On the left, soldiers streamed out, and on the right, they ran back carrying innocents too weak to walk. The enemy bridge, meant to bring quicker death, now helped to save lives faster. While they told Lauren to rest, she held up her hand, refusing to quit and continued to sing. John continued to concentrate, sending his power in search of gold enslaving magic, being careful to ensure it went past the portals of liberty. That night th
ey celebrated freedom, and part of Eric admitted he liked the silent song better.
When John thought all of the enslaved innocents should be free, stopping the spell, he took a chance to alter it. He formed an image of a radar screen in his mind, sending the image to the cloak. Then in his mind, he swept the battlefield in front of him, looking for the gold that provided the shield. In his mind, he saw a large green line sweep five miles deep over the map of the battlefield, but no enslaving gold registered. Being unsure, changing the equation, he only looked for spelled gold, and then saw the fourteen points of light: the portals. When he extended the range, the map lit up. Since it was too far back, he felt confident it was not enslavement gold, and that the mosquitoes had done their job. He was now afraid that they might start trying to feed on the west soldiers or innocents, making it harder to rescue them. Stopping, he looked to Lauren. Even though she was still singing, her song was too quiet, her expression blank, “Panry, to Lauren, now.”
He had been watching the innocents arrive back, receiving reports, and cursed at himself for being caught up in the moment. Lauren’s song had mesmerized them all, including him. Gingaar was standing beside her, and wrapping her hands around the staff, she felt the Core Wood burn her hands. At the same time, she saw the valley, the invading army, the mosquitoes, and all. Ripping it from Lauren’s hands, she dropped it to the ground, crying out in pain as Lauren collapsed.
Panry called out, “Earth Guard, get Earth Mother back to the town. Earth Mothers, ride with her. John, I need go with them.” Erust had already run past them with Lauren unconscious in his arms. Then Panry raced down the stairs, followed by Ryan who took the bench; the journey would be fast.
Cursing under his breath, John brought forth the magic. Scanning the army, he sensed the spelled gold, and reaching into the cloak, he sent the remaining magic forward, leaving only a small amount to power the image in his head. Creating an image of a small tidal wave, the width of the black-clad enemy camp, he sent it all out at once, telling it to roll over the camp, destroying all gold excluding the portals. Watching in his mind, he saw the little dots on his gold sensing radar begin to wink out, like bulbs on a Christmas tree where the light strands had an electrical short. As he consumed the last of the reserve, his gold-sensing radar showed a dark battlefield free of spelled gold, except for fourteen lonely lights.
