by Laura Lond
Ellar turned to me, chuckling. “I don’t know how you came up with the idea, but it was brilliant. News of this kind travels fast in the realm of spirits. Getting whacked by a boot, by a human! That will teach him a good lesson.”
“And put me on top of his hit list, I suppose?”
“Of course.”
“Thanks a bunch. A ticked off gormack is all I need.”
Ellar arched a brow. “Hey, aren’t you glad I showed up?”
I was. I did not want to think how it would have ended without his interference.
“Your timing was good, I admit.” I picked up the boot and put it back on. “Have a seat, Ellar, I need to talk to you. And stop glowing, would you? There are already all kinds of ridiculous rumors about my castle—that I’ve got ghosts here, and ghouls, and I don’t know what else.”
“Isn’t that the kind of reputation a villain would want?” Ellar quipped, sitting down. His light did fade away though. “All right, all right, no need to frown. What did you want to talk about?”
I told him what I’d just read.
“Is that true? Can I restore Jarvi’s strength if I do these three deeds?”
The sparkling shook his head. “I have not heard about anything like that. If I knew it was possible, I would have told you right away, back when it all happened.”
“Yes, I remember what you said. So you think it’s just a fairy tale?”
“Very likely, but, on the other hand, my knowledge is limited. There are many things I am not aware of, and some fairy tales do contain grains of truth.”
“Now you make it sound like there might be a chance.”
Ellar shrugged. “All I’m saying is, I don’t know. You can try if you want, but you must realize that there’s no guarantee.”
“Nice.” I took a walk to the window and back, thinking. “What about your king, Faradin? Can you ask him about this?”
“I can,” Ellar nodded. “I’ll do it right now if you wish.”
“Go ahead.”
He lit up with green light and vanished. I waited, much longer than I thought it would take. From what I remembered, sparklings’ trips to the spiritual realm and back took only about a second.
When Ellar finally returned, his expression was serious and impenetrable. I couldn’t tell whether he brought good or bad news.
“Well?”
“Faradin is silent.”
I didn’t get it.
“You mean, he does not know either?”
Ellar gave a condescending smile. “Unlike me, Faradin knows everything. But he has not answered your question. You must decide by yourself whether it is worth trying or not.”
Now, that was beyond frustrating.
“Well, if it’s just a story, of course it is not worth doing! I mean, we’re not talking about taking a stroll here, we’re talking about going on a long quest, and I wouldn’t even know what to look for since the book does not say what those deeds are. Why should I waste time and effort if it’s not going to work?”
Ellar shrugged. “Nobody says you should. Nobody asks it of you.”
“Oh, that’s just great!” Unable to contain myself, I started pacing around the bedchamber. “Nobody’s asking me, sure. I can just forget the whole thing and do nothing. Just keep fighting off heroes, villains and now gormacks. Keep seeing Jarvi like this every day.” I halted and turned to the sparkling. “Well, you know that I can’t just forget it! I won’t be able to stop wondering whether it would have worked! And Faradin knows it, too!”
Ellar said nothing. He just watched me, standing still in the middle of the room, waiting for my outburst to end. What could he say, anyway? He was just a messenger.
“Fine.” I sat down on the bed. “Fine, I’ll do it. Jarvi, give me your sword.”
Ellar stepped up to me. “Do you mean it?”
“No, just kidding! Of course I mean it, why do you question me? I don’t know what these stupid deeds are, and I’ll probably ruin my reputation doing them, but the way I see it, I don’t have that much of a choice. Will you look after Jarvi while I am gone?”
The sparkling shook his head. “I have told you before, I can’t stay in the physical world very long. Take him to Ulkaria. King Osmund knows who he is, and he will be happy to watch over him for you.”
I didn’t like the idea.
“That means I’ll have to pose as the Lakeland Knight again.”
“You’re worried about your reputation, this would be a perfect solution. Do it as the Lakeland Knight, not Lord Arkus.”
“Well… I suppose you are right.” I looked at Jarvi. His sword was not there. “Jarvi? You hear me, don’t you? Give me your sword, I’ll try to cleanse it through this whole charade.”
Nothing happened.
“I think he does not want you to risk your life,” Ellar said. “You do realize it is going to be very dangerous?”
“I kind of thought valiant deeds included some danger, yes. Come on, Jarvi, don’t make it even more complicated. Just give me the sword.”
“Let me talk to him.”
Ellar leaned over and whispered into Jarvi’s ear. I don’t know what he said, but in a few moments the thin orange sword appeared at Jarvi’s side. I remembered it in its full shining glory, and I remembered how the glow faded. It was still very dim, barely noticeable.
I took the sword and sheathed it; since I’d just broken mine, the empty scabbard was waiting. Just like the last time, the blade fit right in, quickly adjusting to the size.
“Well, I guess I’ve got to start packing.”
***
About the author:
Laura Lond is an internationally published author of several novels and a collection of short stories. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. Having worked for 2 years at a literary museum, Laura entered the world of business, working for large corporations like Xerox Ltd. and Fluor Daniel. After moving from Europe to the United States, she has been self-employed as a freelancer.
Laura’s other works:
My Royal Pain Quest, Book 2 of The Lakeland Knight series
How far would a villain go to help a friend? Lord Arkus of Blackriver Castle thinks doing three heroic deeds is a bit too far.
A Merman’s Kiss (A Novella)
The old legend says that a merman’s kiss will make a girl pretty and bring her luck. One poor working girl is desperate enough to try it. She is warned that she must do everything exactly as she is told… but never warned about the effect it might have on the merman.
The Journey, Book 1 of The Adventures of Jecosan Tarres trilogy
His father killed in war before he was three, his mother unexpectedly dying when he was eight, Jecosan Tarres is young and poor, yet he has something not many men have: a faithful heart, a strong spirit, and the knowledge of truth taught to him by his mother and the priest Shaledan. Alone for a year, but later befriended by Dalian the blacksmith, he has already beaten the odds of being destitute and forgotten, but clearly something or someone is at work in his life. With his faithful dog Gart and his friend Dalian he sets out on a life defining journey after a messenger visits him with a commission to go to Kanavar, the ancient capital of Meoria, where he is to enter the king’s service and somehow prevent the war that is about to break out in his country. There are powerful forces interested in his journey, both to fail and succeed. Join young Jecosan as he struggles along, escaping sudden traps, facing prison and captivity, fighting pain and despair, losing and making friends.
The Palace, Book 2 of The Adventures of Jecosan Tarres trilogy
Having completed his difficult journey, Jecosan makes it to his destination—the king's palace—but so has his enemy, whom he is yet to discover. Jecosan enters in service to the king as a kitchen worker, proving himself worthy of the task and more. Still, he has much to learn while looking to fulfill his purpose. Although court life is luxurious and splendid, it is also complicated, with its hidden laws and unspoken rules. King Alvard III is a young and ambit
ious monarch whose hot temper is only restrained by one fearless lord and in the presence of his sister, Princess Arvelina. Seeking counsel from the magician Henky-Roo, the king orders for the ancient Book of Light to be stolen from the neighbouring kingdom of Tirgan. Little does he know that in doing so he may destroy his own country and people. Reports of a mysterious horseman being seen throughout the area thwarting the army and deterring the plans against Tirgan only infuriate the king.
The Battle, Book 3 of The Adventures of Jecosan Tarres trilogy
Having done his best to fulfill the commission given him by a supernatural messenger, yet apparently having failed to do so, Jeco and his friends, Dalian and Lord Farizel, find themselves running for their lives from the wrath of King Alvard III. When the king pays dearly for his mistake, the nine-year-old Princess Arvelina is elevated to a position she could not have anticipated. While the Meorian army marches toward Tirgan to destroy the Book of Light as originally planned by Alvard, it seems all hope is lost to stop a war between the two nations as the Tirganians have begun moving their troops in response. Disobedience, although done out of best intentions, throws the conflict into an event of extortion of life and death, leaving the Tirganian king, Ez-Keramon, to decide the fate of a dearly beloved young man. Without intervention by the Lord of the heavens the two nations face the judgment of a blood bath. Individual character qualities and actions bring to each their own penalties and rewards, as well as the effect they have on others.
Side Effect, a supernatural thriller
Janna Sorelle is a determined young professional born and raised in Moscow, Russia, but, having French background, she considers herself French and strives to return to her “historical homeland”. Her first visit to Paris, where she goes as a translator of a rich but ill-mannered Russian businessman, turns into something totally unexpected. After a strange incident at a small restaurant, Janna is kidnapped — and this is just the beginning of an adventure she couldn’t have ever imagined. As the story unfolds, Janna finds herself working for Technotics, a huge international corporation with an advanced security system owned by the mysterious Mr. Kumidi. Janna is told that Technotics is an engineering company working on some technical research, but, as she begins to suspect, things are not that simple. There is a secret laboratory in what they call the lower level of the company building, and some of the employees seem to be not exactly human...
The Magic Bracelet, a short story
“I am a very unhappy man… Misrepresented and misunderstood,” says the mysterious owner of the Dark Castle, greatly feared by all. Is it true? Can he be trusted? And is his magical gift a wonderful blessing or a dangerous trap? That’s what Rogan, a careless wanderer and a gambler, has to find out.
