Part 54 (1/2)
The cat backed up as George drew closer.
”Kepler needs kisses. Oh yes he does. Come here and give Daddy kisses. Daddy-George loves his Kepler so, so much ... oh, yes he does.”
The Barbarian King laughed as he watched George chase the ma.s.sive p.u.s.s.ycat out of the room.
GEORGE left the city of Bloodvain, teleporting with Kepler and one of the tigers to Lethwitch. His wife's pregnancy is causing emotional distress. Rather than leave in the morning, George has decided to pamper Athena to reinforce his love for her. They will not teleport to the city of Champions until Early Bailem the following Peak.
SAM'S hippogriff landed in Cottle. Soon after, Michael ordered the army to march.
When preparing for their journey, Shalee gave Helga the mask she took from Double D. Shalee has also given Helga the other half of a pendant necklace. The ladies are wearing them around their necks and have been giving each other frequent high-fives while traveling with the army.
LASIDIOUS is on his way to the world of Luvelles. He is going there to speak with the Head Master, Brayson Id. He will appear to the Head Master in Amar's image, Brayson's good friend and old Mystic Learner. There are many details that need to be discussed, and planning the future is in order to create diversions to keep the G.o.ds' attention.
BJ sat on Sam's throne and was pretending to be the king. He had asked everyone to leave the room, and then he lowered into the chair to get an idea of how Sam must feel. As it turned out, he pushed his luck a bit too far. He asked for his meal to be brought to him in the throne room. When the large woman arrived, she scolded BJ and pulled him by his ear into the royal dining hall and sat him down. BJ tried to object, but the woman, almost 20 seasons his senior, instructed him to be silent and eat his dinner without further trouble. The advisor ate without objection.
BJ would fall asleep that night and have wonderful dreams of Helga. In his visions, they stood near a brook that peacefully cascaded down a small embankment into a shallow pool. Sam was standing in front of them with Shalee standing to Helga's left as her matron of honor. To BJ's right, Michael handed BJ the rings. The ceremony was short, but lovely, and the kiss between BJ and Helga to celebrate their union was full of promise. It was the best dream BJ ever had.
Thank you for reading this edition of the Grayham Inquirer
CHAPTER 36.
May the Best Man Win 5 Peaks Have Pa.s.sed SAM, MICHAEL, SHALEE, AND HELGA stood on the sh.o.r.e of Lake Zandra. It was not long after the water had been disturbed that the mist mares appeared. They were majestic, and numbered around 140. They looked like wild spirits, and they ran across the top of the lake with a graceful deadliness.
As the sun dropped below the horizon, the true color of the glow surrounding the water mist mare's bodies magnified. It was an angelic blueish-white, and this color and glow extended into their eyes.
The absence of the sun seemed to effect the intensity of the mares' screams as they threatened the army.
Shalee grabbed Helga's hand. ”They don't look like any kind of demons I learned about as a child. I think they're gorgeous.”
”I agree, Child. But they make me nervous.”
Shalee nodded. ”They're a bit p.i.s.sy. I can see why folks are afraid of them.”
Sam walked past Shalee with Michael at his side and pointed toward the water. ”Their hooves never touch the surface, and they all have reflections. So much for this being easy.”
”I noticed, Sire. What would you have me do?”
”I'm not sure. Nothing for now, I suppose.” He paused. ”We might as well set up camp and establish a post to monitor the mares through the night? I want to know everything we can. We may be here a while.”
”Yes, My King.”
After camp was established, Michael ordered six men to throw rocks into the lake. The disturbance angered the mares. They charged the banks and stopped just before the water touched the sh.o.r.e. They breathed an icy mist that took the shape of flames in the direction of the men.
Sam patted Michael on the back. ”It's a good thing you ordered them to stay back. They'd be frozen right now if they hadn't.” The king pondered the situation. ”Tell the men to stop throwing rocks, and have them observe for a while.”
Michael did as instructed. Eventually, the mares settled down. When calm, they sounded like any normal horse. But every now and then, a monstrous shriek penetrated the night from a mare who stood isolated about a hundred paces away from the others. During the next short period of moments, Sam and Michael noticed that one of the other mares left the herd. It moved across the water to take this isolated mare's place. It was as if they had their own version of the changing of the guard, and further, Sam noticed that both these ghostly horses were stallions, not mares.
”It appears water mist mares is not an accurate description,” Sam pondered aloud.
Michael put his hand to his chin. ”Agreed. But water mist stallions doesn't have the same ring to it.”
Sam shrugged. ”I suppose. But no matter what they're called, we still have a problem.”
By the height of the next Peak, Sam believed he had a solution to the problem.
The Northern Sh.o.r.e of Lake Zandra The Peak of Bailem that Same Peak George, Kepler, and the accompanying tiger arrived on the sh.o.r.e opposite Sam's army. Kepler disturbed the water and rushed away from the edge. They waited for the mist mares to appear, but nothing happened.
”This doesn't make sense,” the jaguar announced. ”They should've arrived by now. These creatures are swift, and their prowess dominates the lake.”
George walked down to the water and sent a rock skipping. ”I don't know where they are, but I know I can teleport us to sh.o.r.e if they come for us. Let's get going and make a run for it.”
Kepler growled. ”Exactly how do you intend to run across water?”
”Duh! Not literally. Just watch.”
Kepler grumbled as the mage touched the water. A raft made of ice formed. Once they were aboard, George lowered his hand into the water and conjured a powerful wind that erupted from his fingertips. The big sheet of ice glided through the water toward the island.
Back on the Southern Sh.o.r.e Michael ordered the army to prepare the boats for crossing. All that remained was for Sam and Shalee to figure out the problem with the herd.
”Shalee!” Sam shouted, ”Come here for a moment! Do you see the stallion that keeps itself isolated?”
”I do.”
”Good. Use your magic to hold it in place. I'll use my bow to disturb the water beneath it. Let's see what happens.”
Shalee tried to snare the beast with her power, but she failed. ”Tarnation!”
” What's wrong?”
”I can't reach it. It's too far away. I need to get closer.”
Sam looked across the beach, lifted his hands to his mouth and then shouted. ”General, have the men throw stones into the water down sh.o.r.e! I need them to keep the herd's attention while the queen moves toward the waterline!”
”Yes, Sire!”
The herd took the bait, and Shalee was able to make it to the water's edge. During this series of moments, the stallion was in range, and the sorceress' magic was able to trap it.
The ghostly horse cried for the others. They charged.
The speed of the mares forced Shalee to teleport to avoid the herd's deadly mist. ”Goodness!” Shalee yelled once she reappeared. ”That was close! I felt the chill!”
Sam shook his head. ”Maybe this isn't such a good idea. I don't want to get you killed ... or the men. Perhaps I should take us all home. I don't want this crystal badly enough if it means losing you.”
Shalee grabbed Sam's arm and led him away from the men who were nearby. ”Look, we both know we need this piece of the crystal to save the worlds. It was just a close call, that's all.”
”That's all? How can you be so nonchalant about it?” Sam reb.u.t.ted. ”We've already lost the rest of our families. I can't lose you, too.”