RIDERS OF TUATHA 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 XVII
"The Palace of Hecate" was enveloped by the khaki shirted security men. They were unarmed since most of them were private citizens hired by the promoters of the fair, but the real police had been called and would be there in short order. Meanwhile, the dumpy little man borrowed some handcuffs from a nearby leather and metal craft booth to secure the man in the black robe and the old woman. The police would determine what charges were to be leveled on them. The old woman claimed that she had no idea what was in the basket and that they had no connection with the murderers or the dead man.
"We must get more information from these two," Rood said to Akuta. "They may be able to tell us where Robin is located."
"But the men in the dead-earth colored clothes are not willing to let us get near them," Akuta replied. "And Scott has said the civil guards of this world shall arrive in moments to take them away."
Alex pulled up in his sports car as they finished their conversation. He parked the vehicle close to the dark blue tent and hopped out to find Scott and Jennifer. He had offered to loan his car to Scott so he could drive her home. She was too sick and upset to stay there. The police could get a statement from her later. Scott and Caseldra helped her to her feet from where she was sitting and walked her to the car.
"I have an idea," Rood said as he watched the girl climb into the car seat. He wind whispered his plan to Akuta then walked over to talk with Alex and Scott, to delay and distract them. Akuta stolled over to the side of the vehicle, then quickly dropped down to the ground. In a moment he rejoined Rood, who then walked to where the two people were being held.
Scott climbed into the car and started up the engine. He shifted into gear and pulled away from the group. There was a crashing sound behind him and the dark blue canvas of the tent toppled over, ripping material and upsetting the stools and table inside. Everyone jumped back out of the way as the fabric flew down the lane after the car. Scott slammed on the brakes and brought the vehicle and tent to a halt. One of the tent ropes had somehow become tangled around the bumper of the car.
In the middle of all the confusion the tall man in the dark robe saw his chance and made a break for freedom. "Hey, come back!" the security man shouted as he realized his captive was escaping.
"I shall stop him," Rood said and dashed off after the man. Several of the security guards joined the pursuit.
"Take her home quickly," Caseldra said to Scott as Akuta untangled the tent rope. "We shall follow there as soon as Rood rejoins us." She disappeared into the crowd that was gathering. Scott heard the wail of the rapidly approaching police sirens as he drove off toward the main entrance. Security men stationed along the way, carrying walkie talkies motioned him out just as three police cars were heading into the area, red lights flashing.
"Scott," Jennifer said as she wiped away the tears. "He's really dead. I can't believe it."
"I know," he replied quietly.
"Do you . . . do you think that woman killed him?" she asked. "The one who had the gun when we were being held in that basement?"
"I don't know," he said.
"I've got to tell the police about her. Let's go to the police station."
"Not right now. We're going home first," he told her.
"But why? I've got to tell them!"
"Later," he said sternly. She fell back in the seat and began to cry softly again. Scott felt badly for being so harsh with her, but he was suffering with his own traumatic pain. Troy had been a good friend of his over the past few years. Seeing his head in the basket was enough to send anyone into shock. And yet, as badly as Scott felt about Troy, he kept thinking of Robin. Where was he? Was he still alive? The fear gripped him to his very soul.
They pulled up to the house and Scott held her while they walked up to the door. Once inside he took her up to bed and sat with her as she laid down. "Will you please call the police?" she asked through her tears.
"Yes," he said and stood up. "You try to rest. I'll go fix you some herbal tea, then I'll call the police."
"Where's Caseldra?" Jennifer suddenly asked as she tried to sit up.
"Just lie still," Scott ordered. "She'll be her in a few minutes. She has to ride back on the unicorns and they aren't as fast as Alex's Ferrari." Jennifer reached up to the bookcase headboard of her bed and pulled down a little stuffed unicorn. She cradled it gently in her arms and rolled over onto her side, the tears flowing freely onto her pillow. "You rest and I'll be right back," Scott said as he quietly slipped out of the room.
The man in the robe headed up the hill to the north and into a small wooded area. Rood was not far behind him and rapidly gaining on him, not hampered by handcuffs or long robes. The security men were still quite a distance back, not being able to match the speed of the Tuathan guard on the uphill run. As they all gave chase, Akuta doubled back to the area where the unicorns were waiting patiently. He quickly spoke to Firebrand who made a few low sounds to his herd, and then dashed off, a number of the remaining animals following in close pursuit.
Rowana and Melcot began to assemble the others in the area where the unicorns had waited. Akuta addressed the group as they came together. "As soon as Rood and the rest of the herd rejoin us, we shall return to the dwelling of the consort. From there we shall leave to find our king."
"Where is Rood?" Rowana asked.
"He is obtaining the location of the king," Akuta said.
Up in the wooded area, the robed man hid behind a tree while he caught his breath. Rood came to the edge of the trees and stopped, drawing his sword and listening. He could hear the harsh breathing of the fugitive and headed directly for the spot. The man saw him coming and again bolted, dashing deeper into the small wooded glen. He could hear the sounds of the pursuit closing in behind him. He ran for what looked like an opening between two trees, but just as he was about to reach it, a huge animal stepped between them, blocking his path. It looked like a big white horse, but then he noticed the gleaming, golden spike on its head. He turned to the left only to encounter two more similar beasts, each one crowned by a silver shaft. Glancing to the right, he saw again the animals. They had hemmed him in. He thought perhaps he could slip by the big one, but as he approached, it lowered its head menacingly and snorted. Turning around, he saw the tall, blond man in the white tunic and gold chain mail walking slowly toward him. He began to back away until he felt a sharp jab in the center of his back and knew it was the big animal.
Rood lifted his sword to the man's throat and stepped close to him. "If you make a movement I shall disconnect your head from your shoulders. Understand you what I say?" the angry captain of the guard asked. The man started to nod, but froze as he felt the cold metal of the sword gently touch his skin. The jabbing pressure of the sharp animal's horn was still in the center of his back. "Now you shall answer my questions," the fairy said, looking deeply into his eyes. Rood reached up with his free hand and placed his index and middle finger firmly against the man's right temple. "Where is our king?" he asked aloud.
The question seemed to reach down inside the man's brain. It burned into his mind until he had to respond. "What king? I don't know any king."
Rood intensified his stare. "From where obtained you the human head and why?" the question flashed silently between the two men.
"It came from Tony Bianchi. He can get such things for us. We use them in our black magic rituals."
"Where can I find Tony Bianchi?"
"I contacted him through a man named Lars. He used a post office box." Rood's mind quickly absorbed the images of the post office, the rows of small, metal boxes set in the wall, and one particular slot with several odd characters painted on the tiny glass window of its metal door.
"Okay, freeze, turkeys," a voice called out. Rood slowly released his contact with the evil man's mind. He looked around to see two men in dark blue clothing pointing at him with what looked like small, metal, hand tools. "You with the sword, back off nice and slow." Rood relaxed and stepped back from the man in the black robe. He realized these men must be the civil guards of which the others spoke.
"I was detaining this one until you could arrive to take him," the Tuathan explained as he attempted to sheath his sword.
"Don't move!" one of the men shouted and the tool in his hand made a curious click as he fidgeted with his thumb.
"It's okay," the dumpy little security man said as he came puffing up. "That's the guy who helped us nab him in the first place."
The two police looked a little unsure. "What about that sword? Carrying a weapon like that . . ." the one man said as the other security people appeared on the scene.
"Relax, Charlie. Everyone is carrying one of those. It's probably plastic," another man in blue said as he headed down to the men. "We'll need to get statements from all these people," he told the dumpy security man. Another policeman began reading the fugitive his rights.
Rood looked around for the unicorns, but they had all conveniently disappeared, something they were extremely good at doing. He caught a glimpse of Firebrand behind a thick growth of brush. Checking to make sure that no one was looking directly at him, Rood used the old elfin escape trick of disappearing from view. "Hey, where'd the guy with the sword go?" asked one of the cops, suddenly realizing his absence. Everyone looked around in surprise. Rood chuckled to himself as he mounted the big unicorn and headed back through the trees to rendezvous with the rest of his men.
"Have you called the police?" Jennifer asked as she slowly sipped the tea.
"Not yet," Scott evasively admitted.
"Why not?" she demanded. "Scott, they murdered Troy! I saw the woman who took him away at gun point!"
"Jennifer," Scott reasoned with her. "That was two days ago. The police are going to ask why we didn't say anything sooner. And what are we going to tell them?"
"Well . . ." she began, then stopped for a moment.
"And do we tell them you were raped? But then that's no problem because a friend came from another dimension and killed the rapist. Do you know how crazy that all sounds?"
"Yes, but . . . I'm so confused." She set her cup down on the bedside table. "Scott, what are we going to do. We can't let them get away with this."
"The police know Troy was probably kidnaped before the explosion. They will also know that you were at the fair today. They know where you live. We don't have to call them, they'll be here soon enough," he said.
"Then what are we going to say?" Jennifer asked.
"My lord," a voice said in the doorway. They both looked up to see Caseldra standing there. "Lady, are you well?" she asked as she rushed to Jennifer's side to hug her. Tears came again to the human girl's eyes. "My lord, Rood awaits you below," the fairy said as she held the sobbing girl. Scott stood and headed downstairs.
Rood was in the drawing room, sitting at the desk. As Scott approached, he saw that the captain of the guard was making a pencil sketch on a piece of paper. "My lord," he said while he continued to draw. "The man and the old woman were part of a group that practice an evil form of magic. They hide it under the guise of religion."
"I thought as much," Scott said. "They belong to a cult of devil worshipers that practice black magic. But I had no idea they were this dangerous."
"I felt much evil in the man when I tried the deep communications with him," Rood said while he continued to sketch. "He is the leader of his group and it feels as though he receives power directly from the dark world. If your civil guards keep him imprisoned his group may well dissolve."
"Let's hope so," Scott said. "I think they probably have him for accessory to murder. But did you find out about Robin?" He asked the question but feared the answer.
Rood handed him the paper. "He knew not of the king, but this is the place where he contacted the one to purchase your friend's head." There was a very detailed sketch of the old north post office.
"This won't help us. It's a post office," Scott said in disappointment.
"Then the rows of metal boxes with odd markings on them mean nothing?" Rood asked.
"Post office boxes? Do you know which one?"
"I think I can locate the one the man used."
"Then let's go," Scott said. "The post office closes in about an hour."
"I shall assemble the guard," Rood said as he started for the door.
"Wait," Scott said. "The police are going to be here soon. They'll want statements from Jennifer, Caseldra and you guys. I don't think it's a very good idea."
"Very well," Rood said. "You and I shall ride alone to this post office place. I shall have the rest of our guards surround the dwelling and defend if from the police."
"Bad idea," Scott corrected. "Let's just send Caseldra and Jen back to Tuatha with the rest of the guards. Then you and I can go to the post office." He ran upstairs to get the girls while Rood went out to explain to his men.
In a short time Jennifer and Caseldra were being hustled into the carriage house under protest. Most of the unicorns and palace guards had already passed through the gateway, the last ones doing so as they entered. The gateway now appeared as a long tunnel with a small light at the distant end. "Scott, are you sure this is safe?" Jennifer asked. She was frightened of the thought of traveling through a magic tunnel that by all logic should not exist.
"It's okay, Jen. Caseldra will be with you," Scott said to her.
"But, my lord," Caseldra protested. "You may need me here. I am a great warrior."
"You are indeed, but you must stay with Jennifer," he said in Tuathan. "It would be best for her to wait a time in your land, and she is very frightened. You can ease that fear."
"Yes, my lord," the little fairy agreed. She took the human girl's hand and stepped into the tunnel.
"Good fortune, my lord," Rowana said and kissed Scott on the cheek.
"How plan you to get back?" Melcot asked.
Scott started in surprise. "How did you know?" he asked.
"If we all return to the land what would keep the police people from looking into this place and discovering the gateway?" the fairy asked as he held his mate's hand.
"I still have the homing crystal," Scott said. "If we find Robin we will use it. If not, then Rood will use it."
"My lord," Rood began to protest. "Are you sure of this course of action?"
"Yes," Scott said with false conviction. "We don't have much time. Get going, you two. Once you're through I'll untie the rope, then you pull it in after you."
Melcot and Rowana stepped into the tunnel and headed toward the circle of light in the distance. As they reached it they turned back and waved. Rood helped Scott to unfasten the rope and then to toss it into the opening. Melcot pulled it toward him, coiling it about his arm. As it slipped down the tunnel, the image seemed to waver like a reflection in a rippling pool. With a soft, sucking sound, the opening seemed to fold in on itself and disappear. Scott walked over and touched the solid, wooden wall where a moment before had been the opening to his other world. "I guess we're committed now. I hope I made the right choice," he said.
"I too, lord," Rood agreed.
They turned and opened the door to step back out into the sunlight. Standing in the drive were three individuals who Scott had not expected to encounter here, Alex, Akuta and Firebrand. "I know what actions you took, my lord, and I know you would have us in the land," Akuta said. "But Firebrand and I decided to stay. We are sure we can be of some help."
"Thanks," Scott said with a grin. "I'm afraid we don't have much choice about it now."
Alex looked at them in confusion. "Will somebody please tell me what's going on here?" he asked.