Part 25 (1/2)

”Try to see your queen's point of view. Take a look at everything that's happened since your arrival from your Earth. You lost your families. You were asked by the G.o.ds to slay many beings. You even fought your way into a position of power on a world that you had no idea existed until you woke up inside the temple. The queen's best friend was taken from her, and I heard the queen with my own ears describe Helga's loss as something she'd never heal from. She loved Helga as if she was her own mother. I'm sure you must have felt the same when BJ took his life.”

Sam sighed. ”Sure, I felt terrible, but I wouldn't abandon my family because of it. I think what BJ did was cowardly.”

Michael nodded. ”Perhaps BJ was a bad example.” The general took a seat on one of the many benches throughout the garden and paused to admire his surroundings. ”BJ's loss was hard, but you've handled this loss much better than your queen handled Helga's.”

Now, fellow soul ... allow me to interject. In case you have not noticed, the theft of the crystal moon has created a unique situation. The flowers within the garden were still in bloom, just as they were across the rest of Southern Grayham. Under normal circ.u.mstances, this would not have been the case. They should've been lying dormant for the winter, but these were not normal circ.u.mstances. The theft of the Crystal Moon had many side effects and one of these took away each world's ability to flow through the seasons. This would not change until more of the pieces of the Crystal Moon were reunited. Southern Grayham would continue to experience a mild summer.

Michael reached behind him, picked a carsoreign and then smelled its auburn petals. ”The queen will come back when she's ready. She's lost her way, but she'll remember how much you love her. The loss of your baby was devastating, and I would wager it has taken the last of her will.”

Sam took a seat next to Michael. He removed the flower from the general's hand, and then he plucked its petals and dropped them to the ground. ”I know you're right, but I'll be d.a.m.ned if I know how to solve this problem. This isn't something my intelligence can fix. I'm out of my element. What would you do if you were me?”

Michael put his right arm around his king. ”If I were you, I would take another approach. I'll give you my suggestions, but it'll require you to put a tremendous amount of faith in me.”

Sam looked Michael dead in the eyes. ”I trust you. I'm listening. Let me hear your ideas.”

Meanwhile, Western Luvelles Gregory's Gla.s.s City of Inspiration After listening to Brayson's instructions on how to use a scroll of teleportation, Mary collected her daughters. She put baby Garrin in a wagon and then ordered the girls to huddle together. After ensuring everyone was touching the baby, Mary read the scroll to release its magic. When the group reappeared, they were standing next to a river that led away from Gregory's city. The river banks, like the rest of the chancellor's creations, were made of gla.s.s, and they were glorious to look upon.

The girls had come to Inspiration with a goal in mind-spend the Peak shopping and sightseeing while learning as much as they could. As they walked through the enormous gates, they marveled at how the gla.s.s had been altered. The gates appeared as if they were actual pieces of wood, but upon closer investigation, their secret was revealed. No matter where they looked, it was impossible to avoid the need to gasp at the next beautiful wonder. Cobblestone streets, merchant carts, ornate lamp posts, and fountains that flowed outside of a number of storefronts-were all gla.s.s. Colors they had never seen before were used to give the structures definition and depth. Large prisms had been placed throughout the city. They cast rainbows that moved across the sides of Gregory's tower as the sun traveled across the sky.

Ma.s.sive corannan trees cast shadows throughout the city. Smaller vegetation had also been given access to the earth, allowing their roots to retrieve the nutrients necessary to survive below the gla.s.s. After asking questions, the ladies learned that the magic used to create the city also harvested the sun's excess heat. This excess was directed away from the plants to allow for abundant growth and further used as a source of power to replenish the magic's ability to maintain its function.

”Can you believe this?” Mary said while looking across the distance at Gregory's tower. ”I would've never imagined that such a place could exist.”

Athena took Mary by the arm and pulled her mother close. ”I have to admit ... I like your new elf. This is going to replace our best Peak of shopping. How thoughtful was it of Brayson to send us here.”

”I agree,” Susanne added, her voice full of excitement. ”I've got to find me a magic man. It's not fair. You two can't have all the fun. Help me find a handsome one while we're here. I mean, how hard could it be? This is a city filled with them.”

Mary and Athena laughed and then Mary responded. ”We'll just add that to our shopping list.”

After a few more pleasant giggles, the women came across a beautiful, elven woman who was sitting on the edge of a fountain. The fountain was much larger than the others they had seen. The gla.s.s had been altered and held a canary-yellow hue. The sign above the door was written in the language of the elves.

Mary reached into her handbag and produced a book. ”Brayson said we could use this to translate what we don't understand. I guess this sign qualifies.”

Susanne looked over Mary's shoulder while she adjusted Garrin's weight to rest on her opposite hip. ”Brayson thinks of everything. What's the translation?”

”Give me a moment. I'm working on it. I think it says ... if I'm reading it right ... it says, The Future's Vision.” Mary looked up from the book, ”Sounds mystical.”

Athena tugged at Mary's dress. ”It sounds intriguing. Perhaps we should check it out.”

They nodded and walked past the woman. She was wearing a feathered mask that rested over her eyes and extended toward the top of her head. The lady stared at them as they walked into her store.

Athena whispered to Mary, ”How strange. That woman frightens me. I wonder why she's wearing that mask.”

Mary nudged Athena. ”Don't be rude. This isn't our culture. Perhaps staring is their way of acknowledging us.”

”It's an odd tradition if it is,” Athena protested.

”I said, don't be rude. Let's look around.”

The store was full of an a.s.sortment of crystals, potions, and many jars filled with odd-looking creatures. A knee-high table sat at the center of the room. It had a circular top and a symbol engraved at its center.

Susanne looked at the symbol and then lowered Garrin back into his padded wagon. ”What does it mean? Look it up, Mother.”

Athena took note of Garrin's heavy eyes. She crouched and rubbed his head while she waited for Mary's response.

Susanne poked Mary on the arm. ”Haven't you figured it out yet? What does it say?”

A voice from the store entrance responded with the answer. ”You look upon future's symbol.”

Startled, everyone turned to look. It was the woman who had been sitting outside. As she entered, her movements were graceful. Her soft-white bustier flowed against her figure while a red, patterned belt hung loose around her hips and swayed with each step.

Mary recovered from her surprise. ”h.e.l.lo. I'm Mary. These are my girls, Athena and Susanne.” She motioned toward the wagon. ”This is my grandson, Garrin.”

”Bryanna is my name.” She lowered next to Garrin and rubbed her hand through his hair. ”He's as striking as this Peak is glorious. I've been waiting to cast my eyes upon him. Fate has brought this little one to me.” Bryanna stood and then looked at Mary. ”I know you have questions ... questions of love ... questions about the future. I can see all.” She reached out and caressed Mary's cheek. ”I can see you. I can speak of things unknown. Do you wish to have revealed what is to be?”

Glances were exchanged, shoulders were shrugged, and the desire to know filled the ladies' eyes. ”We would,” Mary responded. She removed Bryanna's hand from her cheek and then patted the top of it. ”How much coin will it cost?”

”Your coin matters not. Fate demands this of me. I shall speak of your destinies without compensation.” Bryanna walked out the back of her store and onto a patio that overlooked the city. The view was breathtaking. The dome of Helmep's temple crested the trees as it lifted into the afternoon sky.

The seer lowered to her knees and leaned toward a second table that was similar to the one inside. Bryanna waved her hand over the symbol at its center. A mist appeared, and the face of Brayson formed within the haze as it lifted toward the ceiling.

Mary had to catch her breath. She could not believe her eyes as she backed away from Bryanna.

”Are you okay, Mother?” Athena inquired as she moved close to Mary.

”What kind of trickery is this?” Susanne whispered as she moved to Mary's other side.

The green hue of Bryanna's eyes vanished and turned milky-white. Her voice trembled as she began to chant. Soon, her chanting turned to a whisper. ”Love. A true love. A union between elf and human. A union blessed...” Her voice amplified, ”... and doomed! Beware!”

Brayson's image faded and was replaced with George's face. ”A heart cries for a soul's release. A young girl is trapped. A father desperately wants to witness her return, but evil stands in his way.”

Bryanna began to shake. ”Evil feeds from this family's table the way a child would suckle a mother's teat. It guides its head. It's testing a father's love.” She began to scream, waking Garrin, who started to cry. ”The worlds, misery, destruction, sorrow. Aahhhhhhhhhh! All is lost! We are doomed!”

Mary had enough. She grabbed Garrin and ran out of the store. Athena and Susanne grabbed the wagon and were not far behind her. They did not stop until they were winded.

Mary tried to console the baby while Susanne and Athena caught their breath. She rocked Garrin in her arms. It took a while before the motion pacified the child. He settled down and then fell back asleep.

Mary lowered Garrin into his wagon. ”I know I shouldn't speak as George does, but what the h.e.l.l was that about? What kind of garesh was she spewing?”

”Mother,” Athena said, covering her mouth.

”Don't you 'Mother' me! What did she mean when she said evil feeds from this family's table? She said it guides its head. What father's love is she talking about? And why did George's face appear when she began to shake? Does evil control him?”

Susanne cut in, ”Mother, you've got to calm down.”

”No!” Mary snapped. ”She said Brayson and I were a union. Does this mean we're going to be wed, and if it does, why is our union doomed? She also said something about misery, sorrow and destruction.”

Before the girls could answer, Mary pulled an emerald from her handbag. ”Brayson said I could use this to summon one of Gregory's servants. They'll take us to see him. Let's hope Gregory can give us some answers. I've never been so scared in my life.”

Susanne cut in again, ”Why don't we just go home and talk with Brayson? He could tell us everything we need to know. We can always come back on some other Peak.”