by James Dale
The morning passed quickly. After a full night of uninterrupted sleep, Jack had to admit he felt better than at any time since Leviathan first appeared. He made good time moving along the relatively easy course of the stream bed. Around mid-day, with hunger finally gnawing away his empty stomach, he caught a handful of plump, black crickets and popped them into his mouth one at a time, pretending they were raisins, albeit, crunchy raisins with legs who didn't much fancy the idea of being lunch. After washing them down with several long drinks of water, he found himself a sturdy walking stick and resumed his march.
An hour later, Braedan smiled with delight as he emerged suddenly from the thick jungle to find he was on the banks of a wide, slow moving river. On the far side, open grasslands stretched into the distance like waves of an amber sea. To the west, dominating the horizon, were the rugged heights of a fare sized mountain range.
With sudden intuition, Braedan closed his eyes and willed his thoughts toward the distant peaks. He was rewarded almost immediately by a faint, though distinct feeling of sleeping power. There could be only one thing on earth capable of sending off such feelings to him. Somewhere in those mountains, the Highsword Yhswyndyr waited for its new master.
On the edge of his subconscious, barely noticeable against the rapturous song of Sunheart, Braedan also felt another presence touch his mind. When he finally succeeded in filtering out the flow of power radiating from the Sword of Life, he knew he would not be forced to walk the rest of the way to the Temple of the Sword. With a relieved sigh, he pushed out his thoughts, calling out his need, then dove into the slow-moving river.
By the time Braedan had swan across to the far bank, he could sense the mind he'd touched nearing. "Come on boy," he beamed soothingly. "It's okay."
Minutes passed as he stood drying in the afternoon sun, then in the distance, Braedan heard the muted pounding of hooves in the grassland. More than one had answered his call. It was not long until he saw them, at least twenty-five Val'anna galloping across the plains. In the lead was a majestic white stallion, floating towards him like a ghost made flesh. The magnificent beast thundered to a halt several yards away, his equine subjects milling behind him, snorting nervously.
"It's okay," Jack smiled, walking slowly toward the proud stallion, hands held low at his side, palms facing outward. If he frightened theses Val'anna, it was going to be a long walk to those mountains.
"My but you're a beauty," he continued, sending out a flow of calming thoughts. "Such a fine horse. I bet you're the pride of Lordsisle. Aren't you boy?"
The stallion shook his pale mane, nostrils flaring.
"It's okay," Jack spoke softly, reaching out his hand to let the horse sniff his palm. "See? I won't hurt you boy." He stroked the stallion's neck and the animal quivered with excitement, his strong mind awash with the unfamiliar sensation of hearing a Mindspeaker. From his reaction, Jack guessed there weren't any Lords among the Staffclave with the ability.
"That's all right," Braedan smiled. "It will take a while, but don't worry, before I leave here, we'll have you talking a mile a minute. Okay?"
The Val'anna nuzzled his shoulder and questioning thought's filled Jack's mind. This Val'anna may have never encountered a Mindspeaker before, but he was learning quickly.
"I'm Great Lion," Jack beamed, opening his mind to the inquisitive horse. "Do you have a name? What shall I call you?"
Braedan had to concentrate to sort through the jumble of images suddenly filling his mind. This horse was a quick learner!
"That’s a beautiful name," he laughed. "In Ailfara your name is Ammon'h. It’s like uh… expanse? How about I call you Sky? Do you like it?"
The stallion whinnied happily and pawed the ground.
"Sky it is," Jack laughed again. "Well Sky, I need to ask you a favor. Can you take me to other two-legs?"
"Two...legs...high...home," Cloud answered haltingly. He was a very fast learner!
"In the mountains," Jack nodded with pleasure. "Will you take me to them Sky? I don't weight much, and I'll give you apples. A whole bunch of apples."
From the stallion's delighted reply, Braedan guessed he'd had apples before which most likely meant people. Though these Val'anna were apparently allowed to roam free, they were doubtless in service to the Staffclave when they were needed.
"Do we have a deal then?" asked Jack. "You take me to the high home of the two-legs and I'll find you more apples than you can eat."
Sky nudged his shoulder, nearly knocking Braedan from his feet.
"I'll take that as a yes," he laughed. "Do you think we can make it there by sunset?"
A vision of galloping across the open plains swifter than the wind filled Braedan's mind.
"Get me there that quick, and I'll see you and your heard never want for apples again," Jack promised, swinging up on the stallion's broad back. He was barely settled before Sky took off like a flash.
The magnificent white stallion couldn't run faster than the wind, but he would have come in a close second unless he was racing a gale. On a good day, he might have even given Eaudrueil a run for his money. Though with apples involved, Braedan would have been reluctant to bet against his proud Val'anna friend. About an hour before sundown, Jack found himself at a small hamlet nestled beside the rivers, at the edge of foothills leading into the mountains.
From the look of the village, its sole purpose was to service the docks lining the river's edge. Several medium sized boats rested at their moorings, not big enough to be ocean going vessels, but just the right size for navigating the wide river. No doubt they were used to ferry passengers of larger craft from some port at the mouth of this waterway through Lordsisle.
As Jack and Sky slowed to a trot on the outskirts of the town, a wide-eyed crowd of a dozen or more, rushed out to find the source of all the commotion. From their dress it was obvious they were boat handlers and other deck hands. From their opened mouth stares, it was also obvious this was the first time anyone had ever arrived here in such a manner, mounted bareback on a Val’anna with a herd of the proud horses following close behind.
"Hi," Jack waved wearily, leaning against the Val'anna's thick neck. He must have been appeared quite the sight to villagers; bare-chested and exhausted, two days in the sun living on crickets and water. "Could one of you gentlemen tell me if this road will take me to the Staffclave?"
"It...It surely does," one of the men stammered, stepping forward. "Do...ummm, do you have business with the Lords? Ummm…Sir?"
"I surely do," Jack replied. "Could you also tell me if passengers from Muriel's Revenge have arrived?"
"We ferried them up just this morning," the group's spokesman replied. "They off loaded less than an hour ago."
"Great," Jack smiled. "So, if I just follow this road, I'll find them? How much farther are we talking here?"
"Lord's Hall is but a few miles from here," the man informed him. "Are they...ummm, expecting you sir?"
Obviously, the Lady Ara’fael had ordered everyone to remain tight lipped about his...swim, wanting to break the sad news to the Staffclave before making it public knowledge.
"I don't expect they are," Jack sighed. "But they'll be glad to see me just the same."
"Do...would you mind giving us your name sir?" the man asked with a dubious look, wondering why the Lords or the finely dressed travelers, many of them Ailfar, they'd ferried upriver would be glad to see someone of such disreputable appearance. Barefoot and unarmed however, even if he wasn't expected, there wouldn't be much trouble he could give the Staffclave. "Just...just in case someone should...ummm, ask after you?"
"Of course, good sir. My name is Jack," he bowed.
"Does that be it? Just Jack?"
"I be just Jack, when I be late," he replied with a grin. "A few miles up the road you said?"
"About," the man nodded.
"Then I'd better hurry if I want to get there in time for supper. Come on Sky," Jack said, giving the stallion a gentle kick. "Maybe we can get there be
fore everyone starts crying and sniveling about all hope being lost."
The men parted in wonder, allowing the most peculiar traveler ever to set foot on Lordsisle passage through the town. With a cheerful wave at the gawking men, Braedan urged the white stallion up the road, the other Val'anna of the herd following as well.
The road grew steep immediately as it emerged on the other side of the village, but it was hard packed and wide, and still well lighted by the late afternoon sun. As the man had promised, only a few miles up the road Jack sighted a great keep nestled between two large hills. Tall and white was Lord's Hall, towering many stories into the slowly darkening sky. Lights burned in its many windows like warm, welcoming stars. The hall doors were standing wide open to any traveler, and though there had likely been precious few to pass through them in the last eight hundred years save for those who came to study at the Staffclave's feet.
"Thanks for the lift Sky," Braedan said, patting the stallion's flank as he dismounted. "Stick around and tomorrow morning, first thing, you'll have all the apples you can eat."
"Stay...wait...for Great Lion," the horse nickered. "And apples."
"Good boy," he grinned.
Braedan walked boldly into Lord's Hall, entering a long, Spartan, corridor. A young man of teenage years, dressed in a simple, brown tunic and matching trousers started in surprise at his unexpected appearance.
"Hi there," Jack smiled cordially.
"Mmm...Hello," the young man stammered.
"Could you tell me where Lady Ara’fael of Ail'itharain and the rest of her party might be?" Jack inquired.
"The...the Lords are...meeting in the Great Hall with an Ailfar Spellweaver and several of her companions," the boy replied. "But I don't think I'd disturb them if I were you. She is quite beautiful but she didn't look well...happy."
"The Lady Ara’fael never looks happy," Jack grinned. "But I still need to see her. They're likely not expecting me, but I should go tell them I made it here just the same."
"Who...who shall I say is calling, sir?" the young man inquired.
"Oh, I think I'll just surprise them," Jack winked.
"The Lords don't like surprises," he said hesitantly.
"They'll like this one. I promise. What's your name?"
"Brown Adept Harold," he replied with a quick bow. "And yours?"
"My name's Jack." Braedan said, placing a comradely arm across the boy's shoulders. "Can I call you Harry? My best friend from back home is named Harry."
"My friends call me Harry," the young man said, smiling for the first time.
"You don’t say? Well then, Harry. Take me to the Lady Ara’fael," Jack nodded, "and I'll be your friend for life."
"This way sir," he nodded, pointing down the corridor.
"If you're going to be my friend, you have to call me Jack."
"This way...Jack," Harry bowed.
"Are you studying to be a Lord, Harry?" Braedan asked as they made their way down the hall.
"I am a Third Level Adept," he nodded, swelling with pride. "A Brown. Another two or three years...perhaps, and I will be raised to Second. They wear Blue. Only a first level Whites is higher. It’s right below a staffed Lord."
"Good for you," Braedan grinned.
"We are here, Jack," the young man announced as they arrived at a closed pair of double doors. Two grim faced soldiers dressed in shining mail and armed with gleaming, deadly looking longswords stood guard.
"Who's this Adept?" the one on the right asked, his dark eyes examining Braedan's unsavory appearance with a critical air. "You know the hours for petitioners is well passed."
"This is Jack, Sergeant Wallace," Harry replied. "He has a surprise for the Lords."
"The Lords don't like surprises," the sergeant muttered. "And neither do I," he added, his hand falling to the hilt of his sword.
"They'll like this one...won't they Jack?" Harry asked hopefully. From the sound of his voice, it was plain if they didn't, it would be a lot longer than two or three years before he would be raised.
"You have my word, Harry," Braedan nodded, giving him an assuring smile. "Sergeant Wallace was it?" he asked turning to the guardsman.
"That's right," Wallace nodded, still eyeing him suspiciously.
"As you can see Sergeant Wallace, I am unarmed," Jack said, showing his empty hands and turning slowly for inspection. "You can search me if you like."
"Search him, Rodrick," the sergeant nodded to the other guardsman.
"He's not armed," Rodrick announced after giving Braedan a thorough going over.
"I am not armed," Jack smiled, "And the only magic I know is a few card tricks. I mean the Lords no harm. I just need to talk to them."
"They're in a meeting," Sergeant Wallace informed him.
"A meeting about me I expect," Jack nodded. "We can save them a whole lot of hand wringing and 'whatever are we going to do’s' if you let me in. You can follow me if you like, but this is urgent."
"Let him in Sergeant Wallace," Harry said. "I will accept responsibility."
"All right Adept Harold," the guardsman nodded reluctantly. "After you...Jack," he said, drawing his sword. Rodrick followed his example and took up a position by Jack's side.
Harry opened the double doors and Braedan stepped quickly around the Second Level Adept. Inside was a large, crescent shaped table where at least two dozen people were seated. Most, Jack guessed, were Lords of the Staffclave, for they wore an air of authority of power about them like a cloak. Seated with the Lords were Lady Ara’fael and Malik, Arrinor and Ailicia, Thonicil, Kirstaen and Tarsus. All eyes turned to the door at the unexpected interruption.
“Oh, sorry," Jack smiled. "I was hoping this was the kitchen."
"Jack!" Ailicia cried. Leaping to her feet, she ran across the room and jumped into his arms.
"We thought...we thought...you were..." the Ailfar princess began to weep on his shoulder.
"Hey," Jack said, stroking her hair, "You stop right now. I'm fine. Tired and hungry. But after a sandwich and a beer, I'll be right as rain."
"I knew you weren't flaming dead!" Tarsus laughed, slapping him on the back happily as he joined them.
"Where have you been?" Arrinor cried. "What happened to Leviathan?"
"Welcome Prince Bra'Adan," Lady Ara’fael said. Jack couldn't swear to it, but he thought he actually saw tears welling in her eyes.
"Sorry I'm late," he grinned at the Ailfar Spellweaver. "What have I missed?"
"Just gloomy talk about the end of the world," Thonicil laughed, pushing his way through the crowd around him. "I thought you'd left me to change diapers all by myself."
"High Lord Perigaen," Lady Ara’fael interrupted, "If you have not deduced from his reception, this is the...prematurely lamented claimant to Yhswyndyr, Jack Bra'Adan."
"I apologize for my appearance sir," Jack said, releasing Ailicia to offer the First of the Staffclave a respectful bow, "but I missed the ferry and had to walk most of the way."
Perigaen's age was hard to judge. He had long white hair tied at the base of his neck in a ponytail, but he stood stall and straight and exuded a vigor denying the lines of his weathered face.
"Yhswyndyr will not much care how you look, Jack Bra' Adan," the High Lord smiled. "It is the blood in your veins the Highsword will judge. Though if you escaped Rhondiyana, I have little doubt it will not be found acceptable."
"I don't know if I would put much stock in any stories you've heard from this crowd," Jack replied. "Especially anything Arrinor might have said. He tends to...exaggerate a bit."
"What happened to Leviathan?" Arrinor demanded again.
"It's a long story," Jack sighed.
"Anything will be better than what we were discussing," Ailicia said, wiping tears from her bright green eyes.
"Do you think I could get a sandwich or something first?" asked Jack. "I haven't had anything to eat in two days."
"I will find Jack, I mean...ummm, Prince Bra'Adan, something from the kitchen," Har
ry volunteered.
"Shouldn't you be at your studies, Adept?" the High Lord asked.
"I was...taking a break. Just a short one," Harry added quickly. "When Jaaa...Prince Bra' Adan asked to be...well..."
"Go find him something to eat before he starves to death," the High Lord smiled. "You can explain to Lord Dhoran why you were wandering the halls instead of studying in the morning."
"Yes, High Lord," Harry bowed, and sprinted from the hall.
"Okay, let's hear it all," Arrinor insisted as Ailicia led Jack by the arm to a seat at the crescent shaped table of the Staffclave.
"I just thought I'd go for a swim," Jack shrugged.
"On the nose of Leviathan?" he cried.
"Quiet Arri," his sister ordered. "Let him speak."
"But he skips over the most interesting parts," the Ailfar prince lamented.
"Unlike someone who shall remain nameless, who makes up things when the parts aren't interesting enough," Ailicia sighed.
"Will you two be quite for half a minute?" Ara’fael snapped. "Forgive them Perigaen," she muttered. "Cilidon has let them out of Elvendale a hundred years too soon."
"Please continue, Prince Bra'Adan," the High Lord smiled. "You said you had decided to go for a swim I believe?"
"Well, it wasn't I decided to go swimming," Jack said, "It just sort of...happened."
"It just sort of...happened," Ara’fael snorted, "because you never stop to think."
"Now who isn't letting him speak?" Perigaen asked with a raised eyebrow.
Braedan gave the Ailfar Spellweaver a wicked grin and continued. "My only thought, was to make the pain in my head stop. After I...ummm...found myself in the water with Leviathan..." For Arrinor's sake, he didn't leave out any detail he could remember. "Then I watched him sink until he disappeared. I guess tomorrow I'll have to find Caellin and apologize for losing his grandfather's sword," he signed. "Anyway, after the glow of Grimrorr disappeared, I starting swimming. I...I don't know how far down he took me, but I couldn't make it back to the surface before my air ran out."
It was at this point in his story Harry arrived with a plate overflowing with roasted chicken, brown bread and wedges of dark yellow cheese. Guardsman Rodrick accompanied him, carrying a large pitcher of water and a pewter mug. Jack accepted the plate with a hungry grin and refused to say another word until he eaten his fill.
