by Roy Huff
To be honest, I was very conflicted about Zee. He was much less one-dimensional than my initial first impression had led me to believe. His apparent skill as a senior mentor was also turning out to be rather impressive. Regardless of his thinking or motives, he was clearly doing a good job at helping us prepare for the Roundabout. For the first time, I felt like we could actually win this thing.
“One more thing, each one of you will need to choose your own bo staff. You will need it in the first game and the finale. It’s a personal thing. You need to be comfortable with it, break it in, and make it an extension of yourself. Believe it or not, bo staff making is very competitive on campus. Several places make them, including all the campus clubs and even the campus café.”
“Anika. I think we should ask Cleophas about making us a bo staff.”
“Yeah, I think that’s the obvious choice. I just wonder if he’s into that sorta thing.”
“I guess we’ll find out.”
Before we even walked in the door, Cleophas already knew what we wanted. He had prepared ahead of time, and the staffs were waiting for us. He handed Anika a smooth metallic rod. It was a deep maroon with a shiny finish. It matched her well. It was hollow and light but made the perfect weapon.
She took the staff and held it tightly. When her hands made contact with the metal staff, small symbols etched near the bottom began to shimmer. They were the same markings I had seen before In Everville. It looked like some type of ancient script. The symbols gleamed as if being activated by their owner. Anika handled the bo staff like a seasoned pro. Her longs hours of practice were clearly showing.
Cleophas walked towards the tall bookshelf and reached for one of books. He tilted a book down, which opened a secret door behind the cabinet. Cleophas walked in, and we followed close behind him.
The walls were covered with a vast array of symbols and staffs. Dozens of bo staffs hung on the wall, some metal and a few made from material I couldn’t quite make out. A few wooden staffs stood out to me. Some were twisted and broken; others had odd shapes and interesting features. Cleophas reached for the wooden staff that caught my eye. It was made of walnut, but was harder and lighter than one would expect. It was shorter than Anika’s but thicker at both ends, especially at the top.
He handed me the wooden staff. I hesitated briefly before grabbing it. The staff glistened and gleamed just as Anika’s did when she grabbed hers. Several symbols appeared and etched themselves on the bottom of the staff, wrapping around the rod’s entire circumference.
I felt a connection to the staff unlike anything I’ve felt before. The objects, pictures, and mental connections I had made since my discovery of Everville simply could not compare to this. I knew the moment I grabbed the staff that it was meant to be with me.
EVERVILLE CHAPTER 27
THE ROUNDABOUT PART I
The day of the Roundabout had finally come. There was no more training that could prepare us for what we needed to do. It was too late for that. We were going to win or lose based on the time and effort we had already spent. The only thing that could be done now was to stay focused on the task at hand and try not to get distracted by the utter grandiosity of the moment.
Each of the five teams met inside Professor Samil’s Easton Falls estate. The estate was unbelievable. It was impressively large, almost like a palace. I wondered what his estate in the Hamptons was like if this was the smaller one.
The weather could not have been any more perfect. The sunlight cast its brilliant rays on the estate grounds and the hundreds of spectators that crowded the seats surrounding the outside arena. There was an arena with staged seating in each of the additional six rooms on the inside of the estate, but the outside arena was the largest.
The introduction of the games was monumental. I felt like I was at the Olympics. One by one, each of the five teams exited the estate and was paraded onto the outside arena. We met with roaring cheers and applause from the crowd. The sound from the fans was deafening. Nearly everyone in the audience was waving a banner or flag of some kind. The university even had assigned concession workers to walk through the seating areas selling the most delightful selection of food and snacks one could possibly imagine. The smells were heavenly. Delectable aromas filled the air; one could almost taste the different foods being offered.
I felt butterflies in my stomach. How could I not? The thrill was unlike anything I had experienced before. I had never been a big sports enthusiast, but it was difficult not to have a sense of excitement and anticipation when being thrust into the center of it all like this.
My heart raced. I could feel each individual pulsating beat of my heart throbbing in my chest. Boom boom. Boom boom. Boom boom. It was beating so strong and so fast, I almost convinced myself my heart would burst at any moment. Adrenaline ran through my veins and permeated every cell in my body. There would be no more waiting. The time had finally arrived.
The speaker of the games, Professor Samil, stepped up to the podium microphone. He blew into a conch shell announcing the official start of the games.
“As you know, The Roundabout will be divided into two parts. The first half of The Roundabout will consist of three separate games that test strength, endurance, and agility. The second half of the games are designed to test concentration, memory, and mental acuity. Each team will play one match with the remaining four teams for a total of ten matches each game. Each match will last five minutes, with a ten-minute break between each game and two hours between each half of The Roundabout.
“At the end of the second half, the two teams with the highest score will face off in the final competition. The final game will test both physical and mental strength and last 15 minutes. Five judges will individually score each team member and the team as a whole. Those scores will be added up at the end of each game and posted at each arena. In the event of a tie, the team with the highest individual player score of all the games between the two teams will win.
“The team that wins The Roundabout will get a weekend stay at my Hampton’s estate. Each member of the winning team is allowed to take two additional guests and will also be allowed to run as one of the team captains in next year’s games, which is otherwise restricted to former players with senior status.
“The first game will be the battle of the bos and take place inside Arena One in 30 minutes. Players, you have your match list. Take your positions. Spectators, find your seats and enjoy the 87th annual Roundabout.”
With that, the games had begun. Our team had 30 minutes to get to Arena One. We were up first and would face off against Drusilla and Dante’s team.
We decided before the start of the match who we would face off against. Zee chose Drusilla and Jacob wanted Dante.
The whistle sounded. Zee immediately went on the offense with Drusilla. They were equally matched. With every blow Zee made, Drusilla deflected it flawlessly and vice versa. It was almost like watching them dance. They knew each other’s moves and skill from years of practice and competition. It was unlikely they would surprise each other. It seemed they were destined to finish with a perpetual draw.
The interaction with Jacob and Dante provided much more flair. Jacob was aggressive, overly so at times. Dante appeared slightly hesitant but had moments of brilliance. The battle between the two ebbed and flowed like the tides of an ocean. At times, Jacob appeared to be besting Dante. At others, Dante pulled moves that didn’t seem possible, only to allow Jacob to regain his position in short order as a result of Dante’s hesitance and inexperience.
Anika and our other team member faced their opponents, and I faced mine. Anika held her position and wielded her bo smartly, executing blows against her opponent with brilliant execution.
I held my bo staff in my hand and allowed it to be an extension of my own arm. For a wooden staff, it was remarkably solid. I felt a connection to the staff, which gave me great comfort. I readied my position and took my stance. My opponent eagerly came after me, but I successfully deflected
his attacks one by one. Strike after strike and blow after blow we engaged each other. I had a formidable challenger, but the strong connection with my bo gave me a slight edge.
The first match was about to draw to a close. It appeared the skill of both our teams would give us both a high score and leave us in a good position for the remainder of the first half.
I twirled the bo staff in my hand one last time to make my final strike. As it rotated from left to right, the symbols on the staff glimmered. I released my tight grip and allowed the staff to take control. It was the staff that was now doing the attacking. I didn’t think about; I just let it happen.
My consciousness started to drift. It almost felt as if I was a passenger in my own body and the bo staff had taken the driver’s seat. It was an excellent driver. We were going to win the match, but my mind would not be present for the victory.
It was time for me to learn what had happened to The Keeper when he was a young Fron and how he stopped the incursion. My bo staff knew it. It would take my place while my mind was elsewhere. My mind had already left and I could see Carwyn at the top of the mountain with the mountain dwellers.
EVERVILLE CHAPTER 28
THE DARK FOREST.
There was a long journey ahead for Carwyn and Dagda, and they would have to do it alone. The mountain dwellers would not follow them through the Dark Forest, but they gave them some directions and advice.
“If you make it past the Dark Forest, you will come to The First Pillar. The First Pillar can be seen from here across the mountain pass and beyond the Dark Forest. It stands at the border of the Dark Forest and the vast wasteland that separates it from The Other In Between. The inhabitants of the Dark Forest have joined forces with Them, so you will need to find a way to pass in order to reach the pillar. If you succeed, you will find the answers you seek. It is said that each pillar holds the answer to one of the seven truths in the universe. If you can unlock its secret, you can stop this incursion. At least for now, anyway.”
Carwyn and Dagda left the presence of the mountain dwellers and began their journey. The mountain pass was several miles ahead and separated by treacherous terrain, rivers, and cliffs. The mountain dwellers had given them some gear to make the journey easier, but the real challenge was going to be how to get around the inhabitants of the Dark Forest. The inhabitants had given themselves over to Them. They were possessed with a strength and dark persistence from the evil that resided in The Other In Between.
They pressed on, one step at a time as they always did, slowly progressing until faced with a challenge they needed to resolve. Carwyn thought back to his home in the land of the Fron. It was briefly comforting, but then he recognized he was letting the challenge get to him. He chose to set aside the difficulty of the challenge and tackle it head on. They continued.
Before they could enter the Dark Forest, Carwyn and Dagda would have to make it across the mountain pass. The pass presented a great challenge. It was too far to jump, yet the journey to the bottom of the crevasse and back up the other side would take much too long to complete. They needed to find a way to make it across the pass directly.
They would have to use the special rope of invisibility. If they succeeded, they could move forward. If they failed, they would lie dead at the bottom of the crevasse. They would have to be willing to give up their only assurance of survival if they were going to make it across, so that’s what they decided to do.
Dagda had an idea. Unfortunately, not being able to speak presented a challenge for the pet. If Carwyn tied the rope around Dagda and tossed him over the crevasse, Dagda could fasten the rope to a tree and Carwyn could climb across.
After several minutes of some interesting miscommunication, Carwyn finally realized what Dagda could not say. He did not want to do it, but after thinking about it for a while it made sense. Dagda would be tied to this side of the mountain, and if he fell it would only be a few feet. He would suffer some bruising but would still be alive. It was the only way.
Carwyn took great care to fasten Dagda to the rope and the rope to the tree. The hard part would be for Dagda to regain his balance and prevent himself from falling back down on the other side of the mountain after he landed. Carwyn picked up Dagda in his hand like he was preparing to throw a shot put. He took his stance. With every ounce of strength he had, he hurled Dagda across the crevasse.
Dagda landed with a thud. Fortunately for Dagda, his light weight prevented him from getting too banged up when he fell to the ground. His lack of heft, however, also made the rope more of a drag than it otherwise would have been. As a result, the rope started pulling Dagda towards the edge of the mountainside.
The rope continued to slide. Dagda picked up speed. He was sliding precariously close to the edge of the other side of the mountain and towards the crevasse. The ground scratched his thin legs. Dagda hit the small shrub, closed his eyes, then flailed his hands wildly in the direction of the shrub grasping in the direction of the small plant, hoping to grab something solid.
His small hands managed to latch on to a sturdy branch of the shrub. His movement gradually came to a halt. He stood motionless. Carefully, he pulled himself forward one inch at a time.
Dagda had secured his position. He was ready to assist Carwyn with his cross. The problem, however, was that Carwyn could not see Dagda. Luckily for Carwyn, Dagda was smart enough to tug on the rope. After feeling the rope, Carwyn slowly progressed towards the edge of the mountain slope. He carefully tested the rope’s tension trying to confirm if it was fastened securely. After a few moments of checking, he finally resolved to climb across.
Carwyn made it across without too much effort, and then he unfastened the rope from Dagda, continuing forward beyond the mountain pass. Carwyn thought to himself how helpful Dagda was becoming. It felt serendipitous and gave Carwyn a little more assurance that they would be successful in the journey.
They marched forward walking on the mountaintop for quite some time until the soreness of their feet forced them to take a break. They had progressed several miles and were approaching the Dark Forest, but night was beginning to fall and they would need to make camp before the night completely engulfed them.
They found a small area within a shallow cave that was partially protected by a few small trees. Carwyn took out the coverings from his satchel as well as a few morsels of food that the mountain dwellers had given them. After eating, they went to sleep.
Carwyn was periodically jarred awake by the howling wind. The high elevation made the wind particularly fierce and the air uncomfortably cold, even with the shelter and coverings. The extra time allowed him to ponder how they were going to proceed towards The First Pillar and what they would do if the inhabitants of the Dark Forest confronted them before they were about to make it across. Carwyn could not come to a mental resolution, but the lateness of the night and the need for sleep eventually won out.
They awoke to the sound of a thunderous roar. They looked down the mountainside towards the edge of the Dark Forest and saw thousands of the forest inhabitants fully armored and riding on fierce-looking stallions. The presence of the large army seemed unnecessary, given Carwyn and Dagda represented a mere army of two, if they could even be called an army.
The inhabitants of the Dark Forest pressed forward. Carwyn could see the impressive army was not alone. Them often took the form of dark smoke. One could see the smoke weaving in and out between the horses and the soldiers. The army looked possessed, and so they were. They had given themselves over to Them and allowed Them to take control as needed in order to achieve their ends. It did not seem possible for Carwyn and Dagda to find a way around the army, but they could not go back.
Carwyn thought for a moment, and then he realized that the army was not coming for them. The inhabitants of the Dark Forest were coming for Everville. They were going to have to fight the mountain dwellers before they could attempt to cross the Valley of Darkness and reach the portal through space and time in order to cross the v
ast expanse. Carwyn wondered if this was the moment that the mountain dwellers would join forces with Them, but he could not let that happen.
It wasn’t quite clear how the army could even make it through the underground tunnels to reach the brutal desert and then break through the portal, but they looked confident, and probably with good reason. If Them were working with someone in Everville or the Land of the Fron, they could have access through the portal and into Everville. Given the size of the army, it was likely they were working with several Fron. Carwyn could not comprehend why any Fron would help Them. No good seemed to come from Them; and the Fron were a kind, generous, and a happy species. It was a puzzle. Nevertheless, here they were faced with a very real army that presented his world with a very real threat.
In spite of the menacing army that was advancing towards them ever so swiftly, they decided to press forward. Ahead of the army, Carwyn saw what appeared to be a sole Fron mounted on a small horse. As they got closer, Carwyn saw that it was indeed a Fron. His name was Quisling.
Quisling called a halt to the progress of the army. He motioned for Carwyn and Dagda to step forward and then met them halfway between their current position and the amassing army of the inhabitants of the Dark Forest. He spoke to the pair.
“It’s time we join forces with Them. It’s the only way.”
“What are you talking about!?!”
