The Jewel of Nirune (The Sword of Time Book 1)

by William Smart

  Uncle stepped to the stone not knowing what to do. “I can’t read it, what jewel?”

  “They staff it says, strike the staff into the heart, time will rend worlds will part!”

  "They are here, do something," Brother Dog shouted, as he drew his sword arrows flew past.

  She grabbed the staff from Uncle and slammed it against the stone. There was a crackling in the air. An arrow flew past their heads they could hear someone crashing through the trees. There was a strange feeling in the air they could see something on the other side.

  “Go!” Uncle yelled, shoving everyone toward the stone. “Go, go!”

  The solid stone dissolved as they jumped toward it. Uncle pulled Zhoulin through just as there was a green flash and the stone was gone.

  The sun shone brightly through the young willow saplings that lined the narrow path. Birds were chirping. They stood there stunned, blinking in the bright morning light.

  “Wasn't it just midnight?” Will said.

  “Yes,” Uncle said.

  They stepped into a small meadow, there were sheep grazing on the hills and a young man in a long striped robe sitting on a rock playing some kind of flute. It was a lovely song but definitely not Chinese. There were shepherds crooked staffs leaning against a rock. The young man had very dark skin and a big nose and blue, blue eyes. He looked at them for a moment in shock. He shouted something to them. They were shocked they understood him perfectly.

  “Go back to your evil hell, Sorcerer, you will take no souls here.” He shouted, waving his crooked staff like a weapon.

  They stood there in silence shocked at this.

  Then the young man noticed Brother Dog in all his armored glory, sword in hand, standing on his two feet.

  “Lucifer! The destroyer you shall not take me!” the man screamed in terror.

  Without warning jumped off the rock and ran down the hill, forgetting his staff screaming something incomprehensible. Their little group starred after the boy as he ran out into the lovely meadow.

  “This is not good,” Uncle said. Looking at Brother Dog.

  “But I understood him,” Zhoulin said quietly. “What place is this that I understand such a man?”

  It wasn’t long before a group of men in heavy armor came running up the hill and stopped yards away.

  The two groups stood staring at each other for a moment, not sure what they should do.

  “Declare yourself!” The leader said ‘Be ye friend or Foe?”

  “How is that I understand him?” Uncle said quietly.

  "As I said," said Zhoulin.

  “And I,” said Longstrider and Will simultaneously.

  “And I understood you as well,” Longstrider said to Uncle.

  “And I you.” they looked at each other in surprise.

  “Where in heavens name are we then?” whispered Will.

  “I know no,” Uncle said. “But I do know this. This is not Sanxingdui.”

  Longstrider stepped forward cautiously. "We mean no harm, my good Lord, we have come on a long and confusing journey. As you see we are not all from the same place." He noticed that Brother Dog was at the back of the group but had not yet assumed his true dog form. He wondered why Brother Dog would take such a chance. But he continued. "My lord in the happenstance we are confused as to what country we have entered. Could you perhaps enlighten us?"

  The man stared at him for a moment then looked at his own men. He whispered something to a man, not in armor but they couldn't hear. The man in robes stepped forward apace. He bowed politely.

  “We are somewhat confused,” he began, “you ask us in what country you are? How is such a thing possible?” He paused a moment but not long enough for them to answer. “What you have said is…ridiculous in the least. Here you stand a motley group in the middle of this road and ask where you are.” The gathered army behind him chuckled.

  Uncle looked uncertain.

  The robed man spoke again this time with a great deal of anger in his voice.

  “Do you take us for fools? Bumbling idiots perhaps? You stand in the center of the road to the great city of Babylon itself and ask where you are. Are you insane?” He almost shouted “You are a hundred leagues from any border and sea, any port even. For you to be here, you are walking for days from the nearest….anything!” The man’s face had turned red, and he was obviously livid with anger. “How could you not know where you are? Did you fall from the sky did you fly? Perhaps you have a flying carpet!” He turned to the armed men, they all laughed. One of the men shouted, "Maybe they came here by magic, my lord!"

  The robed man turned slowly back to the group his visage has changed. He looked at them now with a look of ill intent.

  “Perhaps you are correct, Nerious. Magic. Well,” He said, looking the group over much more closely. His eyes lit on Uncle. He looked at Uncles staff for a second and in the blink of an eye the staff flew across the short distance and landed in the man’s hand.

  “Well, well Nerious,” He said. The soldiers gasped as a green flash came from Uncles staff splitting a nearby tree in twain.

  “Nerious, you shall be well rewarded for your insight. Well done.” He glared at each one of the small group. He snapped his fingers and what must have been a thousand troops stood up in the surrounding meadow.

  Uncle looked at Longstrider obvious fear in his eyes.

  "My Lord we mean no harm we are merely travelers."

  "Where are we?" The man in the robe spat. "Where are we!? You insult me and all those gathered with your foolishness. But I will humor you…because this may very well be, your last day on this world. Welcome to Mesopotamia and soon you will be joining us in the glorious city of Babylon itself. The glorious city that is building a tower that will reach the heavens." His voice grew louder and the men behind him cheered "Our tower is almost complete. On the morrow, it shall be finished, and all will eat with the gods, and receive our reward. Eat with the gods!" He shouted again. There was a cheer from all the Warriors surrounding them.

  “What does this mean? What is this place?” Zhoulin said she was truly frightened.

  “Aye the Tower of Babel!” Will breathed.

  “This explains why we can understand,” Longstrider said. The others looked at him confused.

  “Our scriptures say that in this time all men understood each other but they were trying to get to heaven and our God was very angry. He stopped them by changing the languages so no one could understand each other.”

  “But what could any of this possibly have to do with us…and Billy for that matter? Uncle said.

  “This is all very confusing, it is like we are all being moved about like men on a chessboard.”

  Longstrider hissed, "Why are we brought here? It makes no sense."

  “Are you enjoying your little conversation?” The robed man said. He laughed as he spun the wizard's staff for a moment. "We, my new found friends will soon eat with the gods. After all another name for our great tower is The Gate of the Gods, is it not? But you, on the other hand, will be food for the pigs! Once our torturers are done with you. You will be glad to be dead. Oh, except you," he said, pointing at Zhoulin. "You will make a lovely concubine, so exotic. The Emperor will be pleased." He looked at Brother Dog trying to hide in the back. "And this one. This dog, who would be a man. Son of set you are, and to that hell, you will be cast, for the evil one to feast on your bones. Not the homecoming you expected,” The man growled. “TAKE THEM!” He shouted as he turned and walked away.

  Little flashes of light came from the staff as he held it up to the light. He chuckled. “Well, well, well." he muttered the sage was correct!" I didn't have to find you, you came to me. Ah, but where is your brother? How shall he come to me?” He kissed the staff. The figures carved on the shaft moved and danced for a moment of their own accord and he laughed a very happy laugh.

  20 A witch then?

  M

  arcy was once again riding on Willow’s back. Tommy and Gary were walking along
beside. They hadn’t said much in a while they were all slowly getting used to the strange place and creatures. Sometimes one of the strange things could be seen peeking out from the rocks.

  “Why do they keep staring at us?” Gary finally said, as one little critter scurried away.

  “They are curious about you,” Marcy said.

  “Curious?” Gary said, somewhat surprised. He hadn’t actually thought of them as reasoning creatures.

  “Yes, they think you are very strange looking things. All soft and gooey. After all, you have no shell.”

  “Umm? Is that you talking Marcy or is that big spidery thing using you again?”

  Marcy seemed to think for a moment. “No, it’s me… but. I don’t know I guess she is using me, like a… a filter? Not sure how to say it, but I think she is kind of seeing through me and I through her. If that makes any sense.”

  “Well, it doesn’t,” Gary said.

  “Yah. I think I get it,” Tommy said.

  “And you hurt some of them throwing your stupid rocks,” Marcy said.

  “We were trying to save you,” Tommy said. “Next time maybe we won’t.”

  “Well, maybe you shouldn’t,” She replied. “We don’t understand anything here, but I think they are offended by how violent our nature is.”

  “How do you figure that?” Gary said.

  “She told me that,” Marcy responded.

  “Ha-ha. Cool,” Tommy said.

  Just then a small crustacean scampered out on the path ahead of them. Tommy and Gary had to step aside so they didn’t step on it. They went around it, but it scampered in front of them again. “What the heck is this?” Gary said.

  “Huh. He’s kinda cute,” Tommy said. Bending down to look at the small creature. “So what’s your name little fella?” He reached out his hand and not sure what to do really and stroked the things shell.

  “Are you nuts?” Gary said, “That things got claws.”

  Willow had stopped and was watching this new development. Marcy scurried off her back and walked over to the boys.

  “I think he is one of the ones you hit with your rocks,” She said quietly. “Look at his back.”

  “Ok. Ok,” Gary said, as they inspected a dent in the little crab's shell.

  “How was I supposed to know they’re stenchant.”

  “Stenchant?” Marcy and Tommy said in unison. “Stenchant?” Tommy repeated.

  “Yeah,” Gary said. “It’s a word. It means intelligent. Geez, you guys are stupid.”

  “Oh sentient!” Marcy laughed. “Yeah, we’re stupid.”

  “Well seems he likes you guys.”

  “Umm,” Gary said poking Tommy’s shoulder.

  “Knock it off,” Tommy said, shoving his hand away.

  “Umm!” Gary said, more urgently poking harder.

  “What the heck is wrong with you?” Tommy said, as he stood up. “Oh.” as he saw what was frightening Gary.

  As far as the eye could see were strange misshapen creatures looking at them. They had known they were being followed, but the amount was unbelievable.

  “Ok, what do we do now?” Gary asked no one in particular.

  “Don’t throw any rocks,” Marcy hissed in his ear.

  “Ok,” Gary said quietly. There seemed millions of them, of all sizes and shapes. All weren't bearing shells either, some of them were almost human, but grotesquely misshapen. These were the most disturbing. Gary could not stand to look at them. Like a monsters mob, he thought and all of a sudden, he felt very small.

  Tommy put his hand on the ground and the little crab creature slowly crept toward it. It was as big as his hand. It slowly reached out a leg and stepped into Tommy’s hand.

  It was like the world was holding its breath, then the creature ran up Tommy’s arm and stood on his shoulder. Tommy slowly stood up and there was a strange chittering from the amassed assemblage.

  “Well,” Marcy said. “That was the right thing to do.”

  “That’s not why I did it,” Tommy said.

  “Ok. Why then?”

  “I’m not sure… I think he’s cute really. Maybe it’s the human eyes. Crab eyes have always freaked me out. This is cute.”

  “Really?” Gary said in disbelief. “Let me get this straight. You think human eyes on the ends of crab eye stocks is cute? Really? Oh my god! Are you both nuts?”

  “OK, what would you have us do Gary? We can’t fight them, there are too many. We’re here in their world and they’re being very nice creatures. Having not killed us n’ all,” Marcy said sarcastically.

  “Yeah. I kinda’ feel bad we were throwing rocks.”

  “Really?” Gary said incredulously. “Well maybe they’re doing something to your brains, did you ever think of that?”

  “Yes, I did as a matter of fact,” Tommy said. “But what difference does it make. We’re here, wherever here is. No longer in Kansas, Dorothy. Somehow it’s not funny anymore. I think we have to make the best of this.”

  “Well, you know what? You don’t sound like Tommy anymore. When did Tommy ever start caring for injured animals?”

  “Oh, I’ve always cared about injured animals, idiot, it’s just you, I ain’t so sure about. You’re so stupid sometimes it’s scary even being your friend.”

  “What?” Gary said in a shocked voice “I’m your friend? Really?”

  “Oh my god,” Tommy said, as he started off down the path Gary right behind.

  “This is why I never talk to you,” Tommy said, walking away. “You make such a big thing about the smallest thing; drives me nuts.”

  Marcy stood watching as they continued on the path, arguing all the way.

  “You are strange creatures,” Came into her mind.

  “I suppose. But it makes us who we are, my mom says.”

  “Mom?” Willow said. “Interesting, I do not know this mom, but you care about it very much. Your… emotions are strange and confused”

  Marcy climbed back up on Willow and they continued their trek. Now following the boys and Tommy’s new friend.

  “Strange indeed,” Willow said.

  It was on the third day as far as one could tell in this un-sunlit place that the strange occurrence happened. Marcy was at another of the magic pools watching Billy’s little gang as they trekked through what had to be ancient China.

  She had become quite adept at using these magic places. Willow, once she showed her the basics had left her to her own devices while she napped in her web.

  Marcy had been fussing about trying to get a better view as Billy and his companions crossed a little river obviously running from something. Then a huge army came out of the bushes as Billy and his friends made it across the water.

  She watched in horror as the little band of friends battled unbelievable odds and cringed as it was obvious they could not possibly win.

  “Oh my god!” She gasped, as Billy was pinned beneath the claws of a dragon.

  “My, what is this?” Willows voice in her head. “I have never seen such creatures. Why are these creatures killing each other what sort of evil are you watching?!”

  Willow was standing over her now. She was so accustomed to it, she didn’t notice.

  “It’s my friend,” Marcy exclaimed. “He can't possibly win!”

  Just then they saw a huge man with a spear, running towards the trapped Billy. He raised his spear to drive it into Billy's heart. Marcy shrieked and the strangest thing happened. The Man looked up and for a moment Marcy was sure he was looking straight into her eyes. Just then an arrow embedded itself in his chest and he fell.

  The pool went dark as Willow stuck her foot in it disturbing the Image. “He saw you!” She said. Obviously quite irritated. “This is not possible. This magic is one way. I have used it for years and never has it been more than one way, I think perhaps it is something about you. Something has changed.”

  “I didn’t do anything!” Marcy protested realizing Willow's anger. “Don’t be mad at me. I was just look
ing.”

  “But nonetheless something occurred that shouldn’t. I think somehow you are far more… dangerous than you appear,” She said trying to find the right words. “I think until we see the Gree you should not do this anymore.”

  “What do you mean not do this? You mean, don’t use the pools? But I am just learning. I don’t know how he saw me. Honest, I didn’t do anything I don’t even know what I would do. I mean I can’t affect anything.”

  “Can’t affect anything? Truly?” Willow exclaimed, in Marcy's head. “You were seen by that man who was caught unawares and was shot by an arrow! He is dead! You saw this happen, how can you deny its happening? Even worse, you are the cause of it! How can you say it had no effect?”

  “But,” Marcy said.

  “No!” Willow said. “You will not use these pools again until we know what you are and how powerful you really are. I am still not convinced you are not a powerful witch sent for an unknown reason.”

  Marcy was shocked by the vehemence of this statement. And the idea that she was some kind of Witch baffled her. She decided to say nothing.

  “It is time to move on,” Willow said. She turned and began to walk as did the entire entourage not offering to carry Marcy.

  In a moment Gary and Tommy showed up and they all began to walk together.

  “So what’s going on?” Tommy asked.

  Marcy explained what had happened. Both boys were shocked by all this.

  “The guy saw you?” Gary said. “But how is that possible? It’s kind of like a T.V. right? One way? Wouldn’t it be weird if the people on T.V. could see all the people watching them around the world?”

  “Well, apparently it isn’t supposed to happen, and Willow is angry about it.”

  “Well, it's not like you can control it right?” Tommy said.

  “No, but she seems to think I am some kind of Sorceress.”

  “Well sorceress us home, then,” Gary mumbled. No one was listening.

  It was a while before Willow allowed Marcy to ride her again. Marcy was preoccupied with the events of the day, she didn’t notice how far they had come until they arrived at the next camp.