THE CRYSTAL THRONE by Bert McKenzie Copyright 2010
Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any real person alive or dead is coincidental and unintentional.
CHAPTER XII
Robin had miraculously sustained no serious injuries. He was very badly bruised and suffered several cuts and abrasions because of his fall, but other than these and a great fatigue, he seemed to recover quite quickly. When the doorway had opened it apparently deposited him in the great wood at some distance above the ground. His disorientation made it impossible to save himself from the fall through the branches of the thick forest canopy. It was his great fortune that his boyhood friend happened to be so close by when he had arrived. If he had fallen into the wilderness alone he would surely have been killed by wild animals before regaining his senses. Clive nursed his friend's bruised body back to health in the crudely built forest den. He brought fresh fruits and water until Robin felt able to leave the small shelter. They then traveled together to the nearest forest fountain for Robin to refresh himself. He quickly removed the strange clothing from the other world and plunged into the cold pool of crystal clear water that welled up around the natural spring. It seemed like years since he had enjoyed the opportunity to take a civilized bath, the icy cold water refreshing and bringing new life to his battered body. It must have been several days since he felt this good, when he took the shower at Scott's house. The memory of Scott stung worse than he had expected. He would truly miss that strangely compassionate human from the other world.
Climbing out of the pool, Robin was pleasantly surprised to find fresh clothing awaiting him. Clive had been busy, trying his best to alter his extra greenwood jerkin to fit his old friend. The garment was very snug, and a little too short for comfort, but it was the best that could be done under the circumstances. Robin was certain that he would be able to find some of his old clothes still stored with Feguna back in her den with his old tribe. The thought of Feguna brought back many memories of his boyhood. "How long have I been gone, my friend," he asked as the two of them sat beside the pool and shared a branch of greenberries.
"You left the village but three days before me," Clive replied. "I have been here in search of adventure for several moons."
"Then but a few moons have traversed the sky since I departed?" Robin asked, somewhat mystified. "Truly time is very different where I have been. I was gone for what seemed to be ages. Several thousands of moons have I seen in the other land. I have lived many lives among the people of the human world. I have learned their languages and have traveled across their lands, even to crossing their great waters. I never expected to find my friends still young."
Clive reached out to touch Robin's face. "You are the same as when I knew you last," he said. "There is no time written on your face. If you have spent ages in the land of humankind, it has dropped from you with your return."
"Then I must travel to Esbereth," Robin vowed. "There may yet be a chance to save my friends and rescue my kingdom."
"I have come to this part of the wood in search of adventure," Clive told him. "But it has been a grievous disappointment. Perhaps I can yet have my adventure with you. We grew together as friends. Now let me serve you as my king." Clive got up from the side of the pool and knelt before Robin in an act of submission.
"You have always been and shall always be my friend," Robin laughed and pushed Clive over onto his side. "You need not serve me."
"But you are now a king," Clive protested as he stood and helped Robin to his feet.
"You serve me best by being my friend. If it is adventure that you wish, we may indeed have it, although I would turn back the sun and find another life to live rather than be a king facing strife among his people"
Together they returned to Clive's temporary shelter and gathered up what few belongings he had brought with him from the old village. They then set off through the sky trails back toward the first home Robin had ever known.
As the caravan moved slowly along the prairie, Scott noticed a small group of youngsters lagging behind. Upon closer scrutiny he saw that they were sprinkling powder onto the grass as they followed behind the horses. He asked his new friend Maynar about the unusual act. "That is a mixture of seed and forgetfulness," his companion explained. "The forgetfulness helps the land forget that we have passed this way. The seed helps replace any plants we may have damaged in our passage. Thus anyone searching for us will not have an easy time of tracking our passage."
Maynar was the short elf who had first questioned Scott when they picked him up. He turned out to be quite a jolly sort of person with a quick sense of humor and an infectious laugh. He was assigned to supervise Scott as they traveled. He said it was only to acquaint Scott with the customs of the people of Tuatha and to help him adjust to his new surroundings. However, Scott felt that it was partly so someone could keep an eye on him and make sure that he wasn't some sort of spy after all. He could tell that a number of the merchants in the caravan felt decidedly uncomfortable having him in their presence. Despite Maynar's protestations it appeared that humans were not only rare in this world, but almost actively disliked. Fortunately, his jovial watchdog apparently saw no reason to keep any information from him. Maynar confided that it was the mental image of Robin that convinced Akuta of Scott's innocence. Akuta was the leader of this merchant caravan, although he himself was not of the merchant guild. Akuta had been one of the high ranking palace guards at Esbereth, and had gone undercover as a merchant with the first expedition to bring Robin back to the castle. After the coup in which Bailor seized command of the palace, Akuta had slipped away with this band of merchants to seek news from the rest of the land. It was his fervent hope that Robin was merely lost and would quickly be found. The magic that Bailor used was that of transportation, although no one knew to where.
Scott confided in Maynar that he had sheltered Robin in his own world for a short time and had tried his best to help him return. The fact that Scott himself appeared in this land was obvious proof that the doorway had opened and that Robin should also be here. Both Maynar and Akuta were at a loss to explain why Scott should have arrived without his friend. They could only think that perhaps his late entry into the circle caused him to arrive in a different part of Tuatha, in which case there was still hope that they would yet encounter Robin. Akuta was fiercely protective of their secrecy. He feared that Bailor would have spies searching for their whereabouts and if captured, they would be returned to the palace dungeons. Bailor would not want Robin to be found under any circumstances, and if he knew this was the reason for the caravan they would be quickly and severely punished. The steward must not find out that Scott had helped Robin to return.
The time problem bothered Scott. He asked his new friend about it. "Robin said that this all happened many years ago. He said he had spent probably a hundred years or more in my world before he ever found the key to return, yet you sound like this coup was only yesterday."
"It was but a few moons back," Maynar explained. "I have been told by another human that time in your world is not the same as time in ours. He said he had traveled to your world and spent sixty of your seasons only to return to our world the day after he left. Would this not explain the dilemma?"
Scott suddenly panicked. "That means that while I'm here in your world, my friends are all growing old and dying. I've only been here two days, but my whole life could have passed by already in my own time!"
The thought that Jennifer and Troy might have already lived full lifetimes and died frightened him considerably. Maynar on the other hand seemed to be totally unconcerned about his fear. "Time is not a fixed item like the length of a tunic or the width of the prairie. A day may last a lifetime or it may flash by in an instant. Your world may be dust by the time you return," he told Scott. He then winked mischievously. "Still, you may return to find your parents have not yet conceived you. Worry not of what you have no power to control. When you are ready to return to your land, you will find the time." He laughed at what he thought was a grand joke. Unfortunately, Scott was not able to see the punch line.
Robin knew there was something wrong as soon as they entered the familiar sky trails of home. There was no activity whatsoever; they passed no one. They had also seen no evidence of the usual border territory sentries. The village was never left without sentries posted at the borders. It was the way they maintained their knowledge of the outside world and kept an eye on what was going on around them. These unusual details did not bode well. As Clive and Robin entered the village proper it was evident that something had transpired. They saw no sign of life, yet they heard voices coming from the central platform area. "Something is amiss," Robin wind whispered to his friend. "Let us be cautious." They took a high sky trail that passed over the village center so they could look down on the source of the voices.
A company of the blue guard were lounging around the central platform, making themselves free with the village stores of food and drink. There was no evidence of any village inhabitants within eyesight. It was as if the residents had fled in haste as these guards had moved into the area. "Let us go to the den of Feguna," Robin said. "We may find something there." They carefully retraced their steps to a lower sky trail and headed directly to Robin's former home. From outside the little, four room, structure looked much the same as it always did. It was a sturdy construct of straight branches and thatch woven and held together by the flax that grew at the edge of the southern bog. It looked warm and comfortable nestled on its large platform base against the side of a giant oak. The sight of his first home brought a smile to Robin's face, like seeing an old friend who had long been absent. The two elves entered the den.
Inside all was in chaos. Feguna had apparently fled in haste with the other residents, but whoever had come after her had searched with reckless abandon through everything in sight. Clothing and broken crockery were jumbled together on the floor with bits of food and personal effects. Robin looked about to see if there was anything that might give him a clue as to the details of the incident. At first nothing was evident. But upon carefully looking about, he spotted an old lesson book from which he had studied as a child. It was in a pile with the cookbooks that had been stored over the food cabinets, as if found there by the ransackers. Yet Robin knew his lesson books were always kept in a cupboard near the meditation porch. Why was this book so misplaced, unless Feguna had deliberately moved it to the food cabinets before leaving. He could only hope it was the clue for which he had been searching, and would let him know what had happened. He picked up the old volume and glanced through it. It was a book of maps of the land showing the lay of the great wood, the plains and mountains, and the major dwellings of the various kingdoms. In flipping through it, he noticed that one of the pages was carefully folded at the corner. Turning to it, Robin beheld a detailed map of the surrounding forest. In a thin scrawl, someone had drawn a sky trail path directly to his old seclusion spot by the forest pool. That must be the clue for which he and Clive had searched. Stopping only long enough to find some of his old clothing that fit a bit better than Clive's alterations, Robin quickly headed for the sky trail with Clive at his heels.
Everything looked exactly as Robin had remembered it from so very many years ago. The pool appeared just as green, with the reflected light, the waterfall still causing a gentle tinkling sound as it rippled the surface. There was nothing to be seen out of the ordinary. "Are you certain that she left the book as a clue?" Clive asked. "Perhaps the guards carried it there and dropped it among the food books. It may have meant nothing."
"I feel there was a message there," Robin explained. "There is something here for us if we can but find it." They circled the water and examined the stones and plants growing nearby, but nothing appeared unusual or different. There was nothing to give them the slightest hint that anyone had been by the place since Robin left it a few short months before.
"This is indeed a place of great peace," Clive said dropping down onto the stone bridge over the spillway of the pool. "I can see why you chose this as your sanctuary."
Robin stretched out on the flat rock beside his friend. "The last time I was with Feguna she came upon me while a sat here and looked into the water," he said, leaning out and gazing into the pool. To his shock, the reflection in the water looked back at him with different eyes. It was not his own face he saw in the green depths, but that of his missing foster mother. "Clive, look," he called.
"This is old wood magic," Clive said as he looked over the edge of the bridge at the reflection. "It should be your image, not her's. Someone has cast a personal message spell on the water," he explained.
"What action must I take to retrieve it?" Robin asked as he kept his eyes gazing at the woman's face in the pool.
"I know not. Ask it a question," Clive suggested.
"Old mother, have you anything to tell me?" Robin tried as he looked into the water.
The softly rippling image came to life, as if it were actually reflecting the face of the old woman as she spoke. "My child, my liege," she said in the voice he remembered so well. "I fear some great tragedy has befallen you. I know all is not well. The sentries told of the arrival of the blue guard at the forest gate. They were armed as for battle, and they entered the wood in search of our village. My people, your friends, have all deserted our homes. We have heard them close behind us. The guard is searching for something or someone. I fear they are either seeking you, and you have not won the throne as hoped, or they are seeking us to punish us for protecting you. I leave this message in your memory, for I fear you may never receive it. Your greenwood tribe has gone into hiding in the deep wood. I hear the guard close behind and I know I am too old to keep up. If you receive this message know that I died loving you as my own child. Be careful and remember your promise to lead your land as a good king. I know some day you shall."
As she finished speaking, the image lapsed back into stony silence. The only sound that remained was the babbling of the stream. Tears streaked down Robin's face at the thought of this gentle woman running in fear from the blue guard. "We must find a way to return to Esbereth and correct this wrong!" he vowed to his friend.
"But first we must destroy the message spell so no one else can receive it," Clive told him. As Robin gazed down at the face of the only mother he had ever known, Clive tossed a small stone into the image. The face of Feguna broke up into a thousand small waves. As the reflection gradually reformed itself, it was no longer that of the old woman. Only Robin's own eyes looked back from the pool.
"Try to stay hidden," Maynar advised him. "Stand in the center of the large group and please try not to stand tall. The others are shorter than you." It was just a little after dawn that the camp realized a large group of mounted men were riding across the plain, apparently heading directly for them. Maynar had provided Scott with a red tunic similar to the other merchants so that he would blend in, but Scott felt extremely obvious and uncomfortable in the loose fitting garment. The elves apparently wore no undergarments, and the insecurity of being dressed in what amounted to no more than a night shirt was quite disconcerting. But Maynar was adamant. If Scott put on his pants or anything else that looked out of place he would be spotted immediately. As it was he did not blend into the other elves very well at all. He stood a good deal taller than most of them, and his facial features were not as delicate. He was just too human for lack of a better description.
The men rode up in characteristic fashion, forming a mounted circle surrounding the camp. The were all wearing sky blue tunics and golden mail overlays; all were carrying swords as well as bows and arrows. The commander of the group rode directly into the camp and halted his mount just a few feet from Akuta. "Are you the leader here?" he asked imperiously.
"I speak for my friends," Akuta replied proudly, not giving way an inch as the horseman urged his steed forward almost stepping on the tall fairy.
"You are not a merchant by birth. You are too tall and fair," the mounted man observed.
"Although I was not born to the guild, may not one accept what role in life he chooses?" Akuta responded.
"Then accept this role," the mounted man said, and kicked out with a sandaled foot, striking Akuta in the face. Caught by surprise, the tall one dropped to the ground like a stone. Scott tensed with anger and almost ran forward to help, but Maynar gripped his arm and squeezed tightly to bring him to his senses. Several others quickly leapt forward and pulled Akuta back away from the feet of the leader's horse.
"Merchants are not allowed to just wander where they please without leave of the king," the mounted man said in a superior voice. "Your guild has fallen out of favor and has been banished from the high council. You must have permission before you travel, and your journeys must be planned and approved well in advance. You shall follow us to an internment camp in the foothills where we shall evaluate your status." The man turned to leave. As he did so he was struck in the back of the head by a flying clod of horse manure. A cheer rose from the crowd, only to die away quickly as the man wheeled his mount. "Your actions shall weigh heavily in my decision of your fate," he cried as he wiped the dung from his hair and clothing. "I shall be generous now, but if there are any other incidents, I shall have my men eliminate the problem with their swords. I hope you understand." He turned again and rode off to join the circle of horsemen.
The camp had little choice but to pack up and begin following the company of guards. "At least you were not noticed," Maynar said to Scott, a tremendous grin spreading across his face. "But that was a foolish act," he added as he handed the human a rag to clean the feces from his hands.