The Tessellation Saga. Book Two. 'The One'

by D. J. Ridgway

  ‘Well then Surr, who am I?’ He asked again as the sun disappeared behind a cloud. In reply, the old man held his arms wide indicating the area around them and Gideon noticed his surroundings for the first time.

  ‘Oh’ Gideon said breathlessly as he realised the tree they were standing by was the only full-grown tree in the area and it topped a green grassy knoll. In the distance, he noticed some beautiful white stone buildings with a small river twinkling in sunbeams and running swiftly across the landscape like a ribbon of blue green cutting through the grass.

  ‘Where are we?’ Gideon asked.

  ‘In the years to come this will be a magnificent forest,’ the old man said, pointing around him at the various people busily filling the ground with small trees and plants. Gideon blinked, somehow, the lay of the land looked familiar and a suspicion began forming in his mind.

  ‘Surr,’ he said seriously, turning again toward the man. ‘This may sound a bit odd but nowt about this ‘ole situation is not odd…, should I ask, when... are we?’ The man began to laugh.

  ‘It’s whole lad, not ‘ole, but let’s sit a while and wait,’ he said, smiling at Gideon’s pique for being corrected, his deep blue eyes twinkling. He sat himself down leaning against the bole of the tree, quietly smiling up at Gideon’s scowl until Gideon too sat down on the soft grass and absently scratched an itch on his ankle; he stared at the old man wondering what was going on. He had a thousand questions and wanted answers but the old man, satisfied that Gideon would do as he requested tipped his hat over his eyes and settled more comfortably against the tree.

  ‘We wait a while now boy…’ was all he would say as he folded his hands over his lean frame.

  Gideon, tired and hungry ignored the rumbling in his belly and the slight itching of his skin and layback on the grass. He stared up into the tree trying to focus his mind, wishing for a piece of wood to whittle and wondered about Mayan and his friends, whom he supposed were still sitting under the moonlight in the glade listening to Varan’s stories. Blue had been with him when the old man had appeared in front of him, where was the wolf now he wondered. No, Gideon corrected his errant thoughts, the wolf ‘ad been beside me but moved when I asked me question, the ole man ‘ad appeared where Blue ‘ad been…, Gideon sat up staring hard once more at the old man, not at all sure where his chaotic thoughts were taking him. What did he know about the wolf, that he loved him, yes, that he had always known him, yes, never aging…, and in fact, didn’t he remember his father telling him he had been around when he had been a boy himself? Then there were Blue’s eyes that distinct shade of deep piercing blue and not dissimilar to the man asleep under the hat! He took a gulp of air and opened his mouth to speak his thoughts when in front of his eyes his father, along with Mayan and Varan all tangled together, fell through the air in front of him landing with a thud on the soft ground. The old man lifted his hat and looked at the stunned group before him.

  ‘Hmmmm...,’ he said, adding, ‘wake me when everyone arrives will you Gideon, I’m rather tired.’ He pulled the hat down over his face once more and effectively ended any sign of continued conversation.

  ‘Where are we an’ what be goin’ on ‘ere boy?’ Asked his father, as he pulled himself up and helped Mayan to her feet; all the while looking suspiciously at the old man lying on the ground.

  ‘Where be this place Gid?’ Mayan whispered.

  ‘Don’t ask May,’ Gideon replied as she also looked around her, wholly relieved to be with Gideon once more she closed her mouth and much to Gideon’s surprise, for once did as he asked and said nothing more.

  Just as his father opened his mouth to speak again, a voice came from under the hat.

  ‘Oh, hello Jed, nice to see you, nice to be able to talk to you too, without shouting I mean,’ Jed looked at the old man quizzically and glancing at his son raised his shoulders in silent question. Gideon did not answer, so taking his cue from his son, Jed looked around once more, taking in his surroundings and sat down next to him rubbing his legs and arms absently, quietly puzzled, his eyes returned to the old man under the great tree.

  Varan also said nothing but walked a few paces away from the group to look at the view before them from the edge of the knoll and turned to speak, when suddenly pain was evident on his face. He turned his back to the company, his shoulders tense and gently heaving, finally he fell to his knees. Gideon knew his friend’s brother was crying, was in pain somehow and wanted to help but was not sure how.

  ‘Leave ‘im boy, let ‘im ‘ave ‘is privacy…’ whispered his father as Gideon made to stand, so he stayed where he was and left Varan to work out whatever ‘it’ was alone.

  Varan sobbed, not noticing as the sun came out and played over the pale and rainbow coloured dome that he had inadvertently walked through. It covered the entire valley before him, almost but not quite up reaching up to the place where the rest of the group sat around the tree, a pearly, almost translucent barrier and very similar to the failing one he had grown up beside, the difference was that this one was whole and perfect.

  There they rested, whispering quietly amongst themselves whilst they waited. Eventually Rhoàld then Sonal, a smiling young Jed and Lemba stepped out from nowhere into the sunshine and joined the group on the grass.

  Sonal rubbed his arms slowly and stared around him nervously, wondering if the gateway had closed behind them and they were stuck here, wherever here is, he thought as he revelled in the feeling of peace and acceptance that filled the very air they breathed. Lemba walked to Varen and sat beside him as pain consumed her for a moment and tears filled her eyes, she swallowed hard repressing the lump in her throat and the pain passed as quickly as it had come. Not understanding what had happened she assumed everyone had felt the same thing and ignored the sensation.

  Excited voices welcomed the late comers as Gideon cleared his throat, Varan turned to the group, whatever demons that had held his thoughts completely gone as Lemba, her sudden pain also forgotten, smiled at the welcome and the hug Mayan gave her, feeling that she truly belonged for the first time in her life. I would die for these people, she thought as she rubbed the roof of her mouth with the stub of her tongue to relieve an itch. She could still feel Jed’s tongue as it had explored her mouth tenderly and as if in response to her thoughts, he moved to sit beside her, shivering gently as he sat and squeezed her hand.

  ‘Would yer look at that?’ Mayan cried, pointing to the dome that seemed to come down between them, almost cutting Varen, Lemba and young Jed off from the rest of the group.

  ‘It’s a dome of protection,’ Varan began and lifted his hand in wonder as he tried to touch the delicate fabric of magic in front of him, explaining as much as he could about the shiny iridescent barrier and marvelling at its strength and beauty as he did so.

  Gideon had sat quietly whilst awaiting his friends and had been mulling over all he knew, or thought he knew so far. Think laterally ‘e said, well let’s see iffen this is lateral enough fer ‘im, Gideon grinned at his thoughts and prepared to be laughed at.

  ‘Blue,’ he said taking a deep breath, everyone turned to look at him bar the old man who seemed to be sleeping. ‘Blue,’ he called again ignoring the questioning glances from his companions. ‘We be all ‘ere,’ he added as the man lifted his hat and raised his eyes to greet the small company.

  ‘Actually Gideon,’ he said, ‘my real name is Thaddrick, and it’s we are all here,’ he smiled as he corrected Gideon’s speech, his eyes belying the scold. A hushed silence broke over the small group sitting under the tree, finally broken by Gideon’s father.

  ‘Well…, ‘By the Journey,’ iffen I can walk through a gateway from night ter day I think I can believe yer tellin’ the truth. Though ‘ow comes yer be spending yer time as a wolf I dunno,’ laughed Jed as he pulled himself to his feet and walked over to the man still seated under the tree. Standing before the man and bending down from the waist Jed peered closely into the old man’s eyes.

  ‘Yeah folks, t
hissen be Blue, I’d kno’ them eyes anywhere…’ he said and held out his hand to help the old man to his feet clapping the man’s back hard.

  ‘Remember this, Jed?’ Thaddrick asked, as he pulled open his shirt to reveal a jagged scar high on his shoulder.

  ‘Well I’ll be…,’ Jed smiled again, ‘Blue, I never did thank yer fer saving me life,’ he said and pulled the old man into a tight embrace. The rest of the group looked on clearly puzzled, unaware that as a wolf Blue had pulled Jed from the burning smoke filled cottage after he had tried to kill himself and been injured during the rescue. Jed had cleaned and sewn the wound closed himself and nursed the wolf back to health.

  ‘Where are we Blue?’ Gideon asked, for what he felt was the fiftieth time as he rubbed at an irritating itch on his back.

  ‘You have guessed already I believe young man,’ Thaddrick answered, allowing the name of the wolf to stand.

  ‘This is ‘ome ain’ it’ Gideon stated matter of factly. ‘This be Green ‘Ome Forest!’ The assembled company looked around them with puzzlement evident in their looks.

  ‘We travelled through the void, through time itself…,’ Varan said softly, turning to his brother, amazement written on his face.

  ‘How is this possible?’ Sonal asked.

  ‘No, ‘ow come yer a wolf?’ Young Jed asked as he stared incredulously, noticing for the first time the man’s colouring and eye colour really was exactly the same shade as the wolf he loved.

  ‘I will answer all your questions after we have eaten and rested but…,’ he said as he faced the company, spreading his arms wide encompassing the mighty shimmering barrier before them and the whole area within and smiled again. ‘Firstly, let me say you were right, Gideon, this is Green Home Forest, or will be in time to come and welcome to my home. Know that time in the outside world will not pass in quite the same way, however long you stay here so please, follow me,’ he said as he turned away from the company and began to make his way down from the summit of the grassy knoll. Gideon crossed through the domes barrier and felt his blood begin to pound, he recalled Sonal’s tales of the bleak and shuddered but the feeling vanished as he saw the others experience something similar as they too passed through.

  The small company had no option but to follow Thaddrick as he crossed through the verdant growth of small trees and bushes, all in various stages of new life.

  ‘I have the role of Verderer here,’ Thaddrick said as he walked on and the small company caught him up. ‘I am in charge of the forest, maintaining its growth and health, as you know in time this will be one of the most magnificent forests on this world.’ Pride sounded in every word. Sonal, hearing the meaning behind the phrase glanced at Varan and tried to reach for the roots of the magic, he desperately wanted to talk privately with his brother but as before, there was nothing.

  ‘There is magic in the air here,’ Rhoàld stated as they walked, ‘I can feel it,’ he added looking suspiciously at Thaddrick. Apart from his recent activities, Rhoàld’s only other experience of magic had been with Gath and magic had always stood for blood and pain, over the last few months it had meant his own pain and Bastian’s death. Thaddrick stopped walking and immediately turned to him.

  ‘I can see you have been used my friend,’ he said gently, staring at Rhoàld, Rhoàld stared back, there was something about the depth of Thaddrick’s eyes, he felt once more calmed and reassured. ‘By the Journey’ you will not be used here.’ Thaddrick crossed his right arm over his chest and bowed from the waist completing the solemn vow. Standing tall once more, he looked around at the assembled group. ‘There is magic in the air, in the soil and all around us here, after you have eaten I will explain it all,’ he added as Rhoàld smiled regretfully at the old man.

  ‘My apologies for any offense I have given,’ he said, clearly relieved.

  “Ere we go again with the ‘I’ll explain later’ speech,’ young Jed whispered to Gideon referring to the way he believed Varan had treated him during their escape from Devilly. Gideon grinned at his friend who was obviously feeling as frustrated as he was himself.

  The company moved forward once more across the grass, through the trees and toward the white brick buildings in the centre of the vast fledgling forest.

  ‘Come, come and be welcome…’ called Thaddrick as he made toward the largest of the white buildings, young Jed looked around him at the small clean houses, most with one story, a few slightly larger. Everywhere colourful flowers grew in abundance and birds sang gaily, the very air seemed different, cleaner and full of life, in the distance Jed could see the silver flashes of fish as they jumped out of the river to catch flies and fell back into the water with a splash.

  As they walked on through the cluster of houses, they passed a group of youngsters playing in the dust, their blond heads grouped together as they threw small stones up into the air and attempted to catch them on the back of their hands, with each success they would throw again and pick up another stone from the ground.

  ‘I know that game,’ young Jed whispered to Lemba as they passed.

  ‘Hello Thaddrick, wanna play?’ A young boy asked rushing to the old man’s side and pulling at his robe.

  ‘Thank you for the offer Jonus,’ Thaddrick replied adding, ‘and it is want to play, not wanna.’ Gideon smiled as Thaddrick ruffled the boys’ hair. So it’s not only me ’e corrects then, he thought. Leaving the boys playing, the group soon reached the largest of the white buildings, this one in the centre of the village. Its tall walls and large windows marking it as the main building, one by one they entered through the stone archway denoting the front door. Lemba last in the line followed the others inside; fervently wishing her mouth would stop itching. A stray thought crossed her mind as she probed her mouth with her stub but she dismissed it straight away as absurd, there was no way Jed would have given her an infection from that wonderful kiss.

  Thaddrick showed them into a large hall in the centre of which was a long table laid out with plates and glasses, large mirrors distributed around the room reflected the light from the windows giving the room a bright and airy feel despite the intense and heavy wall art. A large fireplace situated at one side of the room was already set with logs ready to burn and numerous comfortable chairs and smaller tables were set around the fireplace, giving the room the appearance of a meeting place, or a hall for social events.

  ‘After you have eaten the council will welcome you but until then enjoy…’ Thaddrick said throwing his arms wide with obvious pride. Lemba walked around the room looking at the walls covered in tapestries and hangings each depicting various colourful scenes from rolling hills covered in sunflowers to magnificent castles and icy cold mountains, the stitching was so delicate she imagined she only had to make a small step and she would be there, standing amongst the flowers and grasses.

  ‘This shows our home, a world called Arotia,’ Thaddrick had moved to stand beside her, he smiled offering her his hand and gently led her to the table now covered in food, wine and beer. ‘Please eat,’ he said and smiled as he continued, ‘after we are rested we will talk and explanations will be given. For now though please avail yourself of anything you require.’ He smiled once more and left them alone walking slowly out of the room and young Jed looking at the food before him, grinned.

  ‘Well, I’m hungry,’ he said and sat down closely followed by the others. Soon they were all eating and drinking, questions and explanations pushed aside for a time. Lemba took a leg of chicken from a large plate and bit into it hard, rarely had she enjoyed such flavours. She could taste garlic and sage, a creamy buttery taste and something else, she could not quite recognise the taste and bit into the chicken again, as a sudden excruciating pain exploded in her mouth and she swallowed hard choking on the large lump of chicken.

  ‘Lem, you all right?’ Jed asked, concerned as Lemba coughed, she shook her head and reached for a glass of water from the table. ‘Lemba, yer bleeding!’ Jed said as he watched a trickle of dark red blood slowly run
from the side of her mouth. Lemba’s face turned white with shock, slowly she lifted her fingers to her mouth and with tears trembling on her lashes she pushed the chair back from the table and ran to the nearest mirror.

  ‘Lem...,’ called Jed as he too pushed his chair away, it crashed to the floor as Jed rushed across the room to follow her, worry obvious on his face. The other members of the party became silent and still with suspicion apparent on their faces as they watched.

  ‘What is it, what’s wrong?’ Called Jed as he neared the silver-headed girl now kneeling on the floor her hands covering her face, he knelt beside her and lifted up her chin before taking her hands from her face. Tension filled the room as the company looked toward the couple on the floor, toward Lemba, who now had tears coursing down her cheeks as looked up at Jed.

  ‘I…, I bit my tongue,’ she said, smiling through her tears, her voice cracking slightly, ‘Jed, I bit my tongue…’ she collapsed against him laughing gaily, her tears now shown as tears of joy. Bemused, Jed held her there tightly and smiled.

  ‘There!’ said Rhoàld grinning madly and breaking through the stunned silence from the rest of the group, ‘what did I say, there is magic in the air,’ and taking a large piece of chicken himself, he too bit into it. ‘Aahh, Rosemary, my favourite herb,’ he said and smiled as he chewed, sighing as fat dribbled down his chin. The others laughed, slowly at first then loudly and gaily as the tension of the last few months began to melt away.

  After the meal, Thaddrick returned with eleven men and women who solemnly stood before the now sated guests.

  ‘Welcome Gideon, welcome friends, we are the valley council and with Thaddrick as our lead we welcome you, be pleased to stay for as long as you require,’ an elderly man said as Thaddrick smiled and winked at Lemba.