This was not who he was!
An aged man glared back at him: one well beyond even his parent's seasons. Gray hair sprinkled its way throughout his hair, concentrating the most at his sideburns. Wrinkles sprouted outward from his eyes, giving him an educated but rather dusty aura. He looked a man at least fifty in his seasons.
"I'm&I'm&old." En-Don mumbled.
Molly sat in a corner of the room crying.
It was all the woman could do.
***
"Is he well, wizard?" Jatel asked.
The squire held tightly to his master, who cried in his arms, shaking with both shock and anger. The shock came when she discovered that she was now younger than her own son, and the anger from wanting to behead Molly. Ka-Ron glared hard at the woman, who, like her, was crying for what had become of their young man. Molly had explained that she was no longer under Voslow's spell, and had become mortal again, but under the circumstances, nobody seemed to care.
All eyes were on En-Don.
"And you feel no discomfort or dizziness, young man?" Keeth asked, looking into En-Don's eyes with a candle and looking glass.
"None," the young man stated.
"You appear&healthy."
"Healthy, you say!" Ka-Ron shouted. "Look at him!"
"Woman, I am looking at him," the wizard barked. "Please, control your motherly urges."
"Keeth, what is wrong with me?" En-Don asked. "I am starting to look like you."
"Like me?" the wizard's eyes opened wide.
At En-Don's last remark, Rohan could not help but smile.
"I am looking old."
"With age, young man, comes wisdom," Keeth patted En-Don on the shoulder. "Start using it."
Silently, the wizard called Jatel and Ka-Ron over to one side.
"This is not good, my friends." Keeth's eyes could not look up at Ka-Ron's. "It appears your son is aging faster than anyone can stop him."
"Meaning?" Jatel asked.
"Meaning," Keeth said uneasily, "if he continues down his current path, your son will die of old age before the end of this luna."
Ka-Ron, not wanting to hear any of this, buried her face upon Jatel's chest. The knight openly cried out in pain. So much so, that no one upon deck seemed to know how to react to such a thing.
"Wizard, is there anything you can do to stop it?" Molly asked.
Upon hearing the voice of the woman who had attacked her lover and loved her son, Ka-Ron's eyes darted up at Molly, glaring at her with blazing hatred. Molly backed away, and took a safe position behind Rohan. It was clear to the woman where she stood in the scheme of things.
"To answer your question, young lady," Keeth meekly replied, "no. I know of nothing, but Kai, herself, who can bring a stop to this madness."
Again, Ka-Ron broke out in a painful series of cries.
"Why does this woman haunt me so?" the knight asked, softly beating her fists on Jatel's chest.
Jatel, fighting back his own tears, only gazed upward, praying to whatever god would listen.
Dorian, hearing all, stood upon the bow of the ship fighting an agonizing battle with his own demons. He knew well the spell under which En-Don had been placed. Several dwarfs, insulting wizards and witches through the ages had been placed under similar ones.
He knew of a cure.
He knew of the dangers.
It would be hard. It would be costly.
And, lastly, it could betray an honored and sacred secret.
"I know of a cure, dear friends," Dorian stated, his voice shaky and light.
All eyes turned to the dwarf.
Hope started to beam.
Dorian, however, had never been so terrified in all his life. What he was about to confess was for dwarfs' ears only. There had never been a story, legend, or myth involving anyone other than his own race. But he believed that what he knew could save the lad.
It could also, in the long run, make him a leper amongst his own kind.
It could kill him.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
"Are you quite serious?" Keeth asked.
"Yes," Dorian confirmed. "I know of a cure."
Both Jatel and Ka-Ron did all within their power not to overwhelm the dwarf with questions. The dwarf knew that they were desperate, but,in his heart, he knew that what he was offering was right.
"Where is this cure?" Rohan's voice dripped with curiosity.
Upon hearing the elf's voice, Dorian stiffened. His gaze matched everyone's on board, but not that of his traveling companion.
This did not go beyond Rohan's notice.
"We call it The Fountain of Cures," Dorian stated, solemn. "In the abandoned mining village of Jah-Bul-On."
There was a momentary pause by all.
"Where?" everyone asked in unison.
Dorian moaned in annoyance.
"Why is it that everyone and all know of each elfin village or town," Dorian argued, "but, when I mention the name of a dwarfish village, that could get me killed or worse, no one cares!"
Silence.
Ka-Ron's eyes pleaded for the dwarf to explain.
"Jah-Bul-Onwas an ancient dwarf city, which sank below the waters before anyone could ever measure time. It was our crowning city. A virtual monument to the dwarfish mind."
"Then why doesn't anyone remember or honor it?" Rohan asked.
Again, Dorian avoided the elf.
"That is for the dwarfs only to know."
Dorian's curt answer caused those concerned to back off a little. In his adventures with the crew of the Argo, the little man had never barked with such anger before. And, as he had stated, this was both a sacred and dangerous bit of information he was offering. So, a little caution was mixed in with the respect.
"It was written that Jah-Bul-On was a treasure trove&a dream to any would-be miner or king. You name the mineral and it was there. We dwarfs were never so proud or rich. Then, after certain events, the city was claimed by the seas."
"Then the entire village is under water?" Molly asked, putting her arms around En-Don's waist.
"Yes," Dorian said. "But there is still a way into her inner chambers. And, it is there where we will find The Fountain of Cures."
"Sounds easy enough." Keeth chuckled.
Dorian shook his head. "No, wizard, it is not."
"How so?" Jatel inquired, rubbing his love's exhausted shoulders.
"The Fountain of Cures is guarded by a very powerful magic."
"What magic?" the wizard asked, annoyed.
Dorian took in a long breath. "Anyone who drinks from The Fountain of Cures will have whatever ails them, cured. However, there is a catch: In order to get to the fountain, you have to get by a demon named Baphomet."
"Baphomet?" Keeth's voice rang with recognition.
"A man-dragon, known for his powers to kill invaders with their own dreams, fears, or desires."
"Well, wizard?" Ka-Ron inquired.
Keeth remained quiet for some time, studying Dorian, and making sure what he was hearing was true. It was.
"I have heard of this demon, and of the fountain you speak, Dorian," Keeth said. He unrolled his robes, allowing his hands to come together in a solemn triangle. "As a matter of fact, I had always considered the stories nothing but childhood fables. That was, until, Dorian provided the name of the fountain's location."
"Then you believe this?" Dorian asked, both startled and somewhat relieved.
"Yes, my special friend, I believe."
Dorian glanced up at Rohan. His eyes blinked several times. When the elf looked down, the dwarf shuffled his feet, looking away as fast as he had advanced.
The incident did not pass without disturbing Rohan.
"Where is this sunken city, Dorian?" Jatel asked.
"Many suns from here, Jatel." Dorian pointed out beyond the ship's guardrails. "We must cross the Greenlands, over the Highaway Mountains, sail the Forgotten Sea, and entering her tidal waters. If the Argo can stand the journey, wizard, I can guide us ther
e." Dorian paused, glancing up at Ka-Ron. "With your permission, madam."
"Why my permission, Dorian?"
"Our journey will take us several phases from your quest. It will be a great inconvenience placed upon you. So, I ask for your blessings."
Ka-Ron beamed. Bending down, she kissed the dwarf upon his head. "Dorian, where my son is concerned, there is no obstacle or burden. We go where you lead us, dear friend."
Ka-Ron turned and looked at her squire. There was a questioning glance in her eyes, as if she wanted to know his thoughts upon the subject. She had been a woman for so long now that it had almost become habit to seek out Jatel, look into his eyes, and ask for guidance. What the knight found when she did look did not disappoint her. Jatel was with her in whatever hope, miracle, or solution she could find.
"Save En-Don first." the squire whispered. "The rest will soon follow."
It was set.
Another adventure awaited the Argo.
"Ka-Ron," the wizard beckoned. "A moment, please."
Ka-Ron and Jatel responded in kind. More and more, they were acting as one. Keeth found their actions both amusing and reassuring.
"Yes, Keeth?"
The old man placed a careworn hand upon the knight's shoulder staring sternly into her eyes. "Ka-Ron, I need to inform you of something."
"Yes?"
"There is a danger here, child." the wizard insisted. "And that danger is to you."
This last caused Jatel to move in with concern.
"What is the danger?" the squire insisted.
"The more you remain a woman, Ka-Ron, the harder it will be to change you back. That is, I'm afraid, the nature of this spell." The wizard paused, projecting a certain helplessness towards his friends. "This trip could take away your chance to reverse Kai's curse upon you."
Ka-Ron's eyes turned troubled. She looked at Jatel and studied his face. The squire's concern was evident, but he hid it well. Calmly, Ka-Ron kissed Jatel on his hands.
"Wizard, we are talking about the welfare of my son," Ka-Ron said, beaming. "Male or female, I will not turn from his aid just to help myself out of a personal problem. We go to his aid, wizard."
Keeth shook his head with reverence. He took both young people in his arms. "It is quite an honor knowing the two of you."
Ka-Ron and Jatel bowed in respect.
"The honor is ours, wizard," Jatel proclaimed, tightening his arms around his lover. Ka-Ron hummed a rather satisfying song as she enjoyed the sudden affection.
"Dorian," Keeth said, turning his attention towards the dwarf. "The ship is yours."
"We will need to stop for supplies, wizard."
"I know a place nearby, along the way."
"Good!" Dorian giggled and rubbed his hands together. The dwarf looked as happy as a child on his birthday. He ran towards the ship's wheel, giving it a sharp turn counter-clockwise. "Let's have an adventure!"
The Argo responded in kind. Slowly turning away from the Seas of Tyme, the airship pointed opposite. Her path was now set towards a different goal.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
The time being late, almost all on board were asleep or getting close to the deed. Rohan, however, needed little of the mortal slumber, and chose these quiet times to study the stars. There was something in the heavens that called out to him. Although elfish, and although he was close to nature, Rohan's heart was in the stars. It was this simple desire which had caused him and his father to become alienated from each other for at least fifty seasons. Rohan loved his father. His only regret in life was that his father could not seem to find the sight of him pleasing.
Families.
"Lovely sort of night, this."
Startled, Rohan turned from the stern. The elf had thought he had been alone, and wondered who could have been clever enough to sneak up on an elf.
"Wizard," Rohan greeted him. Having bowed, he returned his gaze toward the stars.
"They are wonderful things, stars."
"I have loved them since I was a child."
"Indeed?" Keeth's eyes turned curious.
A pain flashed across Rohan's face, causing him to look away from his passions. The elf was troubled.
"A question, wizard."
"Anything."
Rohan started rubbing his hands together. "I have noticed Dorian's stares. From the time we hooked up, about half a season ago, he has been watching me like a hungry viper."
"I have noticed." Keeth ran a finger across the bridge of his nose.
"Then why has he been avoiding me since our return from Mull Garden?"
Keeth seemed to know the answer, but to divulge such a fantastic fact without proof, would make him look quite foolish. Quite foolish indeed.
"Perhaps he is just tired." the wizard suggested. "Remember, he is under great pressure, taking us to forbidden and taboo lands. He could be excommunicated from every respectable dwarf's home. Such a responsibility changes a person."
"Quite." Rohan gave the suggestion some thought.
"We should reach our place of rest by dawn," Keeth said, using his hands to measure out the stars. "I would take that time to have a talk with your friend. His camaraderie will be needed where we are going. An elf and a dwarf as friends is a rare enough thing. Please, Rohan, do not lose it on something as silly as a misunderstanding."
Rohan placed his hands together behind his back, and sank into deep thought. As the wind blew by the both of them, it caused long strands of Rohan's elfish hair to whip past and cover his features. It was hard for Keeth to study what was going through Rohan's mind. Still, the elf accepted what was offered to him with respect and gratitude.
"Your advice is not without merit, wizard."
"Thank you."
"Perhaps we are all just seeing things here." Rohan paused and looked into Keeth's eyes. "Still, I fear, there is something you are not telling me."
"I would if I could, my son."
Rohan mused the comments around in his eyes, slowly nodding his head. It was quite amusing to the wizard that each time the elf tried to look stoic or serious; he had to first fight the elements and the length of his hair.
Yes, Keeth was right about one thing: Rohan was a lucky elf.
Keeth listened to the four engines guiding his ship through the air. He patted the guardrail, as if the Argo were a living pet. He was quite proud of her results. The ship had performed way above his expectations.
"Looks like the time I spent in the sea dragon's belly was well worth it," the wizard said dryly. "I will need much more from you, my lady. Much more."
The wizard, seeing that he was the last one on deck, placed two special lock devices upon the ship's wheel, thereby turning the ship on "automatic navigation."
All slept soundly.
***
Several villagers, terrified beyond rational thought, started grabbing their flintlocks, loading them, and shooting up at the loud wooden beast that slowly approached their trading post. Pitchforks, lanterns, and fire torches competed with the rising suns, creating a rather macabre setting. No one passing by would ever guess that the name of their village was Pleasant Hollow.
Keeth stood at the ship's wheel, trying his best to guide the Argo towards a small clearing just east of the trading post. He was quite sure that the ship was small enough to fit.
Reasonably sure.
"Two more points to port, wizard," En-Don yelled up to Keeth. Both he and Molly were guiding the wizard from the front of the ship, while Dorian and Rohan did so from the back.
Keeth turned his wheel.
Two levers were soon lowered.
The familiar hum and rumble of the Argo's landing pods retracted and locked into place below the ship's hull.
Keeth ducked, feeling a lead bullet whiz by his ear.
"Rohan!" Keeth yelled, checking his ear for blood. "Set out the friendship flag, so that those ignorant ruffians don't shoot us down."
"Well said!" Rohan laughed.
Pointing towards the ship's flag b
ox, Rohan ordered Dorian to pass the friendship flag to him. The flag itself was a simple white sheet with the ancient symbol for peace upon it. Any and all who were civilized knew that when the friendship flag was posted, an advancing ship, army, or knight had honorable intentions.
Too bad the villagers didn't know how to read flag languages.
Again the Argo was hit by a fleet of lead bullets.
"Not working, wizard!" Dorian yelled.
However, upon Keeth's showing the friendship flag, the villagers had a chance to see Rohan. The Elves were greatly respected in Pleasant Hollow. Elves were hunters. Hunters meant furs. And furs meant business.
An air of caution was observed.
The Argo's engines slowly retracted back into the confines of the ship's wooden hull, allowing the inertia of the lighter-than-air balloon to finish off the landing. As they came near to the land, Keeth pulled another lever, allowing the rudder to retract. If this were not done, quite possibly the rudder would get torn off. With the lighter-than-air balloon, the ship had a tendency to bounce several times before coming to a rest. Ruptured wood could be replaced. A copper rudder was costly and demanded respect.
"Here we go!" Keeth stated. The wizard motioned for all his company and crew to retreat towards the center of the ship. "Deactivating flight mode."
The wizard paid heed to the rising land, retracting and pulling his levers.
With a bounce, slide, and a skid, the Argo plowed through the soft earth, creating one hell of a ditch. But, in the course of the thing, it did both stop and land.
All was well.
"Who in the hell is driving this thing?"
That was until the town sheriff showed up.
The sheriff of Pleasant Hollow took great caution approaching the ship. A blind man could see that the law enforcer had never seen a ship like the Argo. Still, it was his job to enforce the law, and the trading post clearly had a "Keep off the Weeds" sign staked where the strange wooden vessel had chosen to land.
"Oh, oh," Keeth hummed, locking up the ship's wheel.
"Oh, oh?" Dorian asked. "You do have a transportation license?"
"I have been living in the stomach of a sea dragon for more seasons than I can count, dwarf. What do you think?"
The Misadventures of Ka-Ron the Knight Page 31
