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Chapter 32
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Shay woke with a start the next morning. She fought the confusion of where she was. Her entire body ached as she rose to her feet. She felt to make sure she still had the book and bookmark and found them inside her pocket. Shay felt as though she was being watched but could see no-one. As she stood there in the early morning light she pondered what to do.
She chided herself. She should have kept moving the night before. By now she was sure the search for her would have extended beyond the castle walls. She thought herself lucky that she had not been found yet but suspected she could well be within the net of any search party. Shay turned looking for what she thought might be the best route to take and found herself staring down the blade of a sword.
It was Fiere.
“Sit down” Fiere whispered coldly.
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Maica sat in the great hall on the throne next to the throne of King Mayle which was covered in black velvet as a sign of mourning.She had already sent for the high priest and asked him to expedite the coronation officially making her the queen of Ethlerry. She added that since she was carrying the dead king’s child, succession was clear and should be granted without objection.The high priest was reluctant to do so stating that the nobles of the kingdom had to come together to vote to confirm the coronation.Maica pointed out that she knew the process but reiterated the dire situation with the kingdom being attacked already following the death of King Mayle. The kingdom needed a clear leader as soon as possible. It would not do to lose the kingdom to an enemy while people pressed their right and title to the throne.
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Maica stepped out on the castle turrets and surprised Galwin who bowed hastily. “Your highness, you should remain out of sight. You make a target of yourself.”“Thank you Galwin but I feel safe enough with you and your men.”Maica stepped over to the wall and looked down at the army below. “How many men?”“Perhaps a thousand Majesty.”“’Tis a small force and easily crushed when reinforcements arrive.”“So it seems. But I recall the army was much bigger than this when they landed and destroyed the catapults. I expect they seek to lure us out to attack them with false confidence given their size. The rest of the army is under cover of the forest I believe.”
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As they rode in silence, Shay and Fiere both thought of their fathers.Shay regretted her anger at her father for not telling her about what had really happened with her mother’s disappearance. She thought of how distant he had become back on earth and wished she had done more, tried to do more to help him.He had no doubt been dealing with guilt of lying to Shay while he searched frantically to find Rhian. And as he had closed himself off, she had done nothing but accept it eventually. She could have tried harder to pull him out of his self imposed isolation. But she hadn’t. She had been too busy with her own life and her own concern initially and then anger and confusion at why her mother had left.And yet, her mother had left of her own volition. She had made her own choice. Betrayed them both and left them to wond
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As Shay spoke, Duke Blye and Morme interjected occasionally to clarify points. The Dukes seemed to become comfortable with her sincerity. Fiere said nothing throughout Shay’s telling of events.Finally Duke Morme asked, “Why should we believe you? You are a total stranger.”Shay looked to Fiere for support but he said nothing to her. Instead he spoke to the Dukes.“There is more she needs to tell you.”The Dukes looked back to Shay expectantly. She glared at Fiere. His behavior was petty. If they could present a united front to the Dukes it would make matters easier but he wasn’t helping at all. She knew what he alluded to by telling them she needed to say more.“Maica is my mother,” Shay decla
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Food was brought for them and they ate outside the tent that had been allocated to them to explore the book and find a suitable location to which the army could move near the castle. They ate in silence and Shay couldn’t help but look up at the stars. She wondered if one of the stars she could see were Earth or if she was in an entirely different universe. The stars were quite sparse compared to what she remembered from the milky way on Earth. She had the opportunity to look up at an unpolluted night sky when she had camped with her friends and had been amazed by the beauty and magnitude of the milky way. Yet under this sky, the stars were few. She did not doubt that the night sky held even less pollution than when she had seen the Milky Way while camping. The stars should therefore be brighter. And the ones that she could see were brighter. But there were so many fewer stars than what she was used to. Another thought struck her then. If she was in the same universe had she
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Fiere moved closer and put his arm around Shay. “It’s ok. I understand now. There’s…” “I don’t think you do,” Shay interrupted. “I felt like I couldn’t help myself. I feel like I had no choice but to lie. I don’t think I was thinking clearly. Maybe this place does it to strangers like us. Maybe the law of nature on this world says that anything that is not from here, will be destroyed. Wiped out like… like… a virus” “What’s a virus?” Fiere asked confused. Shay laughed despite herself then. “It’s a... a sickness.” It was the best way she could think of to explain a virus. Fiere nodded in understanding. “I don’t think so, Shay.” “Well, I don’t know what to think Fiere. That’s why I’m telling you, tread carefully. Be cautious. I do not wish to betray you but I just might. I hope though that the fact that my father is not with us anymore reduces the possibility of that.” “But Maica keeps the possibility alive,” Fiere pointed out. “
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She awoke with a start in the early hours of the morning. Her lamp had burned out and she asked the guard to relight it. Refreshed, she continued reading. In the book, she found much information. According to the story, Maica had plotted with Algwad to overthrow the kingdom. They had plotted together to kill King Mayle and succeeded after which they threw the kingdom into war immediately to set aside any opposition to Maica being crowned queen. The war, however, was not the war they fought now. Algwad had been with Maica all the way. He had not betrayed her. On the contrary, they plotted and succeeded in ruling the kingdom at war for many years. Maica’s hurried coronation which set aside the normal procedure for the coronation of a new ruler became lost in time as the kingdom fought a war begun by Maica and Algwad against an invading army. There was no invasion from another army as yet as far as Shay was aware. This war should have commenced in the last few d
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“There are other ways to the border but they are difficult. Algwad’s men will have taken the easiest route.” “Which is?” Shay asked. “Through the Goblins Claw. It will be closing soon with the approaching winter. It may already be too late. If we don’t get through now we will have to wait until the winter thaw starts.” “What is the Goblin’s Claw?” Shay asked. “It is the only pass through the Ator Mountains. If we cannot get through there now everything on the other side of the pass is open season for Osim if war starts. They will crush everything from the border to the pass and we will be helpless to do anything about it. And the pass itself can be difficult to pass through depending on the time of year. It has always been a goblin stronghold because it represents a holy place in the goblins' history and at certain times of the year the pass is closed while they conduct their ceremonies. They have one such ceremony at the first thaw which means if we
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The officer’s eyes flicked uncertainly from Shay to the portal that seemed to float in the air behind her. His brow furrowed in confusion and perhaps fear or uncertainty.“Who are you?”Shay looked back at the officer uncertainly. “Please officer. I am not armed. What happened here?”“I am not at liberty to say,” he replied still watching her warily although he lowered his gun when he saw she was not armed.“This is my parents’ home,” Shay said.“It may be but it’s a crime scene. Are you Shay Dobson?” The policeman was looking curiously at the image behind Shay.Shay nodded trying to think what to do.“Mike,” the officer called to his partner. “I found the daughter.”In a few moments, the officer’s partner stood at the entrance to the study. He looked confused but wary. Then the portal behind Shay caught his attention and
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Shay had been back at her cabin for a few days before she decided to cross back to her home in San Diego. She felt the need to go back as if there was unfinished business. She was curious too, to see how the man who had given her father the bookmarks looked. Shay had a suspicion and wanted it confirmed.Shay also needed to go back because she was still in two minds as to whether she should stay in Ethlerry or if she should go back.On the morning before Shay would return to San Diego, Fiere arrived. Shay had sent word to Fiere of what had happened on the mountain. They shared breakfast and caught up on events.“Is there any news of Algwad?”“None as yet but I have no doubt he will reappear soon. We will not stop searching for him until he is caught and sentenced for his treason.”“I wish you luck with that,” Shay said. “I do not doubt that I would have killed him if I had not been wounded. I had the power t
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Algwad saw Shay break and start to circle the statue. His face became a mask of disbelief. He could not believe that at this critical juncture Shay chose to attack. Algwad hesitated a moment glancing at the drop as it ran down the thread. It now seemed to be gaining momentum as it was drawn downwards by gravity. He made a decision. The drop would fall on the jewel in any event. All he needed to do was make sure that he got the jewel and to do so he had to kill this bothersome girl. He turned from the statue then and advanced in the direction that Shay was taking. He would meet her attack squarely and finish her now. But again, he was fooled. As soon as Shay realized he was committed to moving she spun around and lunged for the statue. She grabbed the back of the statue and hooked her arm around it long enough to swing her body around to reach between the statues where the drop was falling. But Algwad was quick and he realized Shay had feigned her attack. He s
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Shay had a sense of drifting or being carried. Savar was with her and spoke to her. She did not have enough time to reach the point of the Jewelling in time and so Savar would deliver her there ahead of Algwad. Beyond that, he could do no more. She would have time to study the jewel, the statues, their crossed weapons known as “The Crossing” and all that she possibly could before Algwad arrived. Savar reiterated that she needed to believe in herself and believe that the impossible was possible. When Shay awoke, she was alone. The effects of her sleep dissipated quickly but her dream remained crystal clear in her mind and she remembered everything that Savar had said to her. She drew her sword and held it ready at her side as she moved around and explored. She wondered briefly how Savar had taken her from the soldiers who were with her but then she suspected he had used the power which none of them were aware of. She was on the top of a mountain which was circled by r
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The man had spoken from next to her. She had not seen him move from his place on the other side of the cabin and there was no displacement of air to warn of his approach, as fast as it had to have been. The man placed his hand gently on her arm, calming her and encouraging her to sit again. Shay sat hesitantly. “How do you know my name? Who are you?” “Those questions are of little consequence Lady Shay. There is little I do not know. I knew your father too. I was guided to him and rightly so. Sometimes you simply need to trust your instincts. But your mind will demand an answer to your questions so I will tell you this. I am your servant. I am here to serve you. I will offer you guidance and share what I may with you in the hope that you can defeat the man who passed this way yesterday. You must defeat him. This universe depends on it. I serve everyone and all that is and right now I serve Ethlerry and seek its survival.” “That does not answer my question, go
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Shay was troubled by the fact that they might be outnumbered. Try as she could, she could not shake the feeling that she would be the one who would face Algwad in the end. She believed that she would be the one to face Algwad alone. While the team’s objective was to catch Algwad and his men and stop them, Shay suspected that Algwad would leave his men as a rearguard while he went on alone to get the jewel. Shay had to try to get close enough to Algwad and his men so that she could catch Algwad when he was alone. She also had no idea what it was that Algwad was looking for. What it looked like. She wished she did. It could make the difference between her getting the jewel before Algwad as she doubted that he even knew what it looked like. She had heard of statues and so was keeping an eye out for statues. Shay and her men thus needed to follow Algwad’s group undetected if possible until they arrived at the point where whatever he sought was. The trail became rockier and harde
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Fiere hardened his voice then. “Shay we can argue about this all we like. Nothing will change their thinking. Are you willing to pursue Algwad and try to stop him from getting the power of Dwarveln?” Shay was quiet a moment. “Very well Fiere. But this is the last I want of anything. After this, I am to be left alone. Forever. Grant me that as future king.” Fiere was quiet. “Do it!” Shay shouted but Fiere maintained his silence. “Why can’t you do it Fiere? What? What is the problem? Can I not be free?” “There would be no more reason to need your service after this Shay. It stands to reason that you will be free and left alone.” “Then say it. Decree it. Right here. Right now!” “I can’t do it now! I am not king yet!” Fiere argued. “Then say you will do it when you are king! Give me that much Fiere!” Fiere was silent again. Damn you Fiere. Go to hell!” Shay had had enough. She had done all that she could in
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When Shay arrived back at her cabin after spending time at her mother’s grave, Fiere was waiting for her. His horse was tethered nearby. He had about twenty soldiers with him. Shay ran to greet Fiere and they embraced for a long time. Then finally she held him at arm’s length. “Is it over? I had no idea you came back.” “Part of it is over. Algwad’s army has surrendered. But Algwad is still free. We believe he is headed into the Ischlo Mountains seeking the jewel that will grant him almost unlimited power. He must be stopped.” “If he has the jewel he may not need an army,” Shay commented feeling unease in her stomach at the thought. “Tell me first, how is your mother? I heard all about the fact that your mother was in the dungeon. I can only imagine how relieved you are that your mother was not Maica after all. I hope you can forgive me for the judgment I made of you believing that your mother was Maica.” Shay looked away trying unsuccessfully
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Galwin watched as the army gathered outside the gates. Overnight Algwad’s army had disappeared. How they had done so was beyond Galwin. It was as if they had disappeared by magic. If the army had marched away his men would surely have heard it yet none of the guards had reported hearing anything. Nevertheless, if they were marching he was sure they would be tracked by the army that now stood just beyond the reach of the catapults. A lone rider had approached on horseback bearing a white flag. He rested within range of the archers on the walls and waited for someone from the castle to meet him. Galwin studied him for a while trying to ascertain whether this man was a ruse to get them to open the gates and make an attack or not. The man waited patiently saying nothing. Finally, Galwin decided he was there under a genuine flag of peace. He turned to his second in command, Jolyph. “You’re in charge. I am going to meet the soldier.” Jolyph looked s
