Suzerain of the Beast (Vision Dream Series Book 3), page 42
“She can see you both now,” said one of the healers.
“Thank thee,” Nermindar replied.
Jeela and the wizard entered as the healers made their way down the hall.
“I thought they would never leave,” said Swevladilia coming out from behind an ornate wooden screen. She was fixing something on her dress. It appeared that the princess too had taken advantage of a palace bath.
“So, Your Highness, you seem to have recovered nicely,” noted Nermindar.
“There are three horses waiting for us at the stables,” said the princess. “We need to hurry. I was able to get a name of a young woman who claims to know of someone who could do the Angel’s Cure. The healers of course think the girl is disturbed and not to be trusted, but she is the only lead we have.”
“Yes, Wizard. I think she really has made a complete recovery,” said Jeela.
There was a knock upon the princess’s chamber door.
“Enter,” said Swevladilia.
It was King Jurlanrian. Nermindar bowed his head slightly as did Jeela and the princess.
“I hear you are eager to continue your quest,” said the king. “What the healers have not told you is that the young lass you seek has never divulged just who it is that she knows who can perform the Cure. And lately the lass has rejected all who have asked her help in contacting this mysterious person ever since we went to question her about her claims. There have been rumors swirling around of people who have received the Cure from this person in the past, but I have found no one who had actually said that they had the Cure performed upon them.”
“Was it you that questioned her?” asked the princess.
“Yes, yes it was,” said the king.
“Did you too wish to break the Iunctio?”
“No, Lady Swevladilia, I would never ever break it. Unlike you, I embrace it…even with all its consequences,” said the king. “When I was eighteen years of age, I was off hunting with my uncle and his men in a dense woods on the border with Hwevlandar. I became separated from the hunting party. Lost and cold, I searched for shelter. Before long, I stumbled across a small shack with smoke billowing out of its chimney. I saw a maiden with long dark hair that had a single tuff of white in it carrying some firewood into the shack. She stopped and looked over at me and smiled. Her smile took hold of my young heart in a way that was more powerful than even the Iunctio. Then she went into the shack without saying anything. I was standing in the underbrush staring at the spot where she had been, trying to muster up the courage to go to her, when I saw about ten men ride up upon the shack. I realized that they were a Hwevlandarian raiding party. A man and woman came out. The lass’s parents, I suspected. The men argued with them and one of the Hwevlandarians stabbed the man and then the woman. All I could do was stand there and watch, frozen in horror, unable to move. The men went into the shack and I heard a scream. And then silence. The men came out of the shack carrying food and some pillaged trinkets. Then they mounted their horses and rode away. I ran as fast as I could to the shack and in there I found the lass lying on the creaky wooden floor in a pool of blood. I knelt down and scooped her up in my arms. Why, I do not know. I just needed to do it. At first I thought she was dead, then I saw her move….”
The king stopped for a moment as the emotions of that time overcame him, and he looked as if he couldn’t breathe.
“And you performed the Weldirdell on her,” said Princess Swevladilia, softly.
She touched the arm of the old king, in recognition of one who has gone through the same agony of holding someone who was dying.
“I had learned to do it not a week earlier. So, without hesitation, I placed my hands on her wounds and let the Weldirdell do its work upon her,” said the king. “I spent that night holding her and praying to Mother Angel to ask for the Father’s healing grace. The next day my uncle found me asleep with the lass in my arms and the evidence of the Weldirdell upon my hair.”
The king was quiet for a moment.
“What ever happened to the lass?” asked the princess.
“She survived. She prospered. And right now that lass is away in the North with our daughters,” said the king, and a warm smile returned to his face. “We are forever connected by that first smile, by that horrible murder, and by the Iunctio. So, Lady Swevladilia, I ask you to think long and hard about what you are attempting to do. I know your motives are pure. And your cause just. And I will not stand in your way. But I would be remiss if I did not make an appeal for you to think about it.”
“I assure you, Your Majesty, I have thought of nothing else for a very long time now,” replied Swevladilia.
❖ ❖ ❖
“I think we should halt for a noon meal, Princess,” said Jeela, as she and Nermindar had to push their horses to keep up with Swevladilia who rode ahead of them, her blue-flecked white hair flowing behind her.
They had not seen any sign of the dragon anywhere, so they had taken the king’s horses on this trek. The wizard assured them the dragon had not left the area, but Jeela was beginning to have her doubts. Without the dragon, her journey to find Princess Angelterra may be in trouble.
“Not yet. Just a little while longer. I believe we are getting close. I can almost feel it,” the princess called back to them.
On they rode for another full turn of the hourglass, when Jeela saw it. A massive oval boulder, marking a small trail that ran off from the main road. The princess pointed to it, and Jeela nodded. Soon they were winding their way along the narrow trail in a thick, but winter-bare patch of trees. The trail finally ended at the door of a small and sturdy cabin made of whole logs. They halted and dismounted, but no one came out. And there was no smoke coming out of the rock chimney.
“Hello!” called the princess. “Is anyone here?”
No one answered.
“Perhaps the occupants are not home at this time,” said Nermindar.
Jeela hoped the cabin was empty. If not, then this might be some kind of trap. She resisted the urge to draw her sword.
“I will try knocking,” said the princess.
Swevladilia went to the small front door and knocked solidly upon it. She waited. They all waited, but no answer came. The princess tried knocking again. And again silence. Then she tried the latch. The door opened easily. Jeela drew her sword instinctively and stepped in front of the princess.
“I will go in first,” said the lady knight.
A loud twang caused Jeela to dive to the ground taking the princess with her. She landed atop of the princess like a human shield. Jeela looked up at the doorway and saw four arrows embedded in its jam. Glancing at the angle of the arrows, she estimated their line of trajectory and followed it to the woods behind them. There standing next to a tree was a short, slender wisp of a lass with hair so white that it nearly shined of its own light, defying even the bright afternoon sun. Her bow and quiver were leaning against the tree, and the lass’s arms were folded. The lass had on worn trousers and a short sleeved tunic meant for hot summer days. Jeela wondered why this girl was not freezing to death in the cold afternoon air.
“We mean you no harm, young lass,” said Nermindar, who was still standing and holding his empty hands out as proof of his claim.
“You are no harm to me, handsome wizard,” said the lass sweetly. “Nor are your friends.”
Jeela helped the princess up. She held onto her sword, and glared at the lass.
“Why did you fire upon us!” demanded the knight.
She is younger than I am, thought Jeela. Perhaps a fat switch to her bottom side would teach her a lesson.
“I do not take well to switches, young knight,” said the lass, looking at Jeela with an innocent grin.
“Please, we wish to be your friend,” said Princess Swevladilia. “I have come to find you and ask you for your help.”
“The Cure as it is called these days was forbidden long ago, young Princess,” said the lass. “Why do you seek it?”
How did she know us? No one in this land knew the princess’s real identity.
Jeela was beginning to mistrust this girl.
“I believe you may already know why,” said Swevladilia.
The lass giggled with delight. “I do. You are very clever to guess.”
“What may we call you, lass?” asked Nermindar.
“Handsome wizard, you may call me anything that pleases you,” and she blushed at her own words. “I am known as Kathlada the woodslass by the people of this area and at this time in history. But you may call me by my true name, Vinnida.”
Jeela noticed that the wizard also seemed to be blushing at Vinnida’s playful advances.
“I will take you to the one who can help you,” said Vinnida. “Even if the stodgy old king thinks I should not.”
“That would be very kind of you,” replied Swevladilia.
“I have no horse so I will ride with the handsome wizard,” said Vinnida.
Nermindar smiled briefly at the young lass then glanced over at Jeela and the princess for help out of this task.
“I think you will have an interesting ride, oh handsome wizard,” said Jeela almost laughing. The princess put her hand over her mouth, but her eyes betrayed her mirth.
The lass slung her bow and then her quiver over her shoulder. Nermindar waited at his horse to help Vinnida up, but she gestured for him to go first. When he was up in his saddle, the lass grabbed the edge of the saddle and leapt up to sit just behind the wizard as if she were as light as a feather. She wrapped her arms around him tightly and rested her head upon his back.
“Take the main road north until I tell you to stop,” said Vinnida, sounding excited by the trip.
Nermindar on the other hand looked so uncomfortable and awkward that both Jeela and the princess had to use all their strength to keep from laughing.
❖ ❖ ❖
“No, I have never married,” replied Nermindar. “And I am quite content with that lifestyle.”
“But it sounds so lonely, Handsome Wizard,” said Vinnida, and the lass squeezed Nermindar harder, causing him to cough in embarrassment.
“My name is Nermindar,” said the wizard. “I am not at all lonely, young inquisitive lass.”
“Oh, you must mean your Allie,” said Vinnida. “But she is not like us. We live and we love in this world. And she cannot.”
Nermindar suddenly jerked on the reins halting his horse abruptly.
“Who or what are you?” demanded the wizard, sounding annoyed. “How is it you know so much about me, about us? How could you even know about Allie?”
He twisted his body around to look straight at her.
“Be not cross with me, Handsome Nermindar,” said Vinnida, as she let go of him. Her face scrunched up into a pout. “It is a gift of mine. Sometimes a curse of sorts. I forget that not everyone can do it. Will you forgive me and not yell at me?”
“Well, I…” the wizard seemed embarrassed by making her pout. “…I did not mean to raise my voice at you. I am usually not like that. I apologize. But tell me, how is it you know so many things about people with whom you have never met?”
“I do not know how, but I have always been able to do it, Handsome Nermindar,” said Vinnida. “Does it frighten you? Does it make you hate me?”
“No, no, not at all,” replied the wizard. “But it does intrigue me as a possible form of magic.”
“I wish it was more than magic that you see in me,” replied the young lass.
He twisted back to face the road once more. Vinnida wrapped her arms around the wizard and rested her head upon his back as before. Nermindar kicked his horse, and they all resumed their ride northward. Jeela shot a quick glance over at Princess Swevladilia who raised an eyebrow at the behavior of this strange lass.
❖ ❖ ❖
It took two more days of riding before Vinnida pointed to a trail that wound its way through the foothills of a vast mountain range. The trail switched back and forth as they worked their way up higher and higher. The forest gave way to granite boulders and crushed rocks.
“Are we any closer?” wondered Princess Swevladilia.
The princess had shown surprising patience as they traveled, but that patience was starting to wear thin as the hours had stretched into days. Every time she was asked how much farther, the strange lass would only reply we will arrive soon. And on and on they rode with no end in sight.
“Stop!” shouted Vinnida.
They found themselves stopped by a small icy-cold brook that spilled in and out of a series of rocks. Vinnida jumped off of Nermindar’s horse and walked over to stand before a massive boulder that was twice her height. She patted the boulder.
“What is it?” asked the wizard.
“This is it. We are here,” said Vinnida, her smile was wide and triumphant.
“Here where?” wondered Jeela, as she, Swevladilia and Nermindar all dismounted.
The knight stood and surveyed the small area around the brook. If this was where they were to meet the one who could perform the Cure, then Jeela expected to find traces of this person. But she saw none, and she did not see anyone in the surrounding area. Thirsty, Jeela led her mount to the bank of the stream to drink. The knight knelt down next to her horse and drank deeply of the refreshingly cold water.
“I do not understand,” said Princess Swevladilia. “Is the one who can perform the Angel’s Cure nearby?”
“Yes, very near,” replied Vinnida. “But first you must follow me.”
Everyone stood up and stood next to the lass as she stood before the massive boulder. Vinnida began to trace out the outline of a door. As she traced the rock, a thin white line began to shimmer where Vinnida touched the stone. When she had completed what was roughly a rectangular outline, the lass stepped back to admire her work.
“It is some kind of spell door,” said Nermindar.
“Not a spell,” replied Vinnida, and she hooked her arm in his. “It is just a special kind of door.”
Then the rock of the outline started to separate from the rest of the boulder and very slowly swung inward. It made no sound at all as if it were greased with animal fat. When the stone door had finished opening, Vinnida looked at Nermindar.
“We need light, Handsome Wizard,” stated the lass.
“If I can still do it.” Nermindar opened his palm, closed his eyes, and a small flame appeared, just above his outstretched hand. “I shall lead the way.”
Jeela drew her sword and followed right behind the wizard. Just inside the stone entrance was a set of shallow steps that led downward. The stairway kept turning to the right as they descended. The walls were smooth and made of gray stone. It was a perfect spiral staircase carved in the rock, and it made Jeela feel as if she were in a castle stairwell, rather than in part of a mountain. They descended for quite some time, and Jeela noticed that it was getting warmer. The spiral steps led to a long narrow hallway that was hollowed out of the solid rock.
“Where does it lead?” asked Nermindar.
“To the place where I hope you wish to be,” replied Vinnida.
“To the one that can help me?” wondered the princess.
“Oh yes,” said Vinnida. “You will find what you are looking for, Princess Swevladilia. Dareldin will no longer belong to you.”
The knight noticed even in the dim flickering light of the wizard’s flame that the princess was frowning over Vinnida’s last comment. The lass had an uncanny way of seeing deep into a person. There was no hiding anything from this odd young woman. And Vinnida had no idea that what she blurted out was supposed to be confidential. Jeela guessed that if she were the type of person that could always see everything, she too would not understand why people bothered to keep things private.
“It is not much further now,” said Vinnida in her innocent, cheery way as she clung to Nermindar.
Jeela realized that the wizard was getting more comfortable with the lass’s presence at his side.
They walked along the stone corridor for over a full turn of the hourglass before the passage abruptly ended in a glassy-smooth, gray stone wall. There was nothing on the wall save the imprint of a hand. It appeared as if someone with the strength of a thousand men had slapped the wall as hard as he could, leaving the impression of his hand in the wall for as long as the wall would stand.
“Go ahead. Try it,” Vinnida urged Nermindar.
The wizard took his free hand and placed it over the impression. Nermindar’s hand was quite a bit larger then the handprint left in the wall. He held it there for a moment, but nothing happened.
Vinnida looked over at the princess, “Would you like to try? Your hands are smaller.”
Swevladilia nodded and placed her hand in the impression, but her hand, though it almost was a match, was still a bit larger. Then the lass glanced over at Jeela.
“No, no. I think it is meant for you, not me,” Jeela said to Vinnida.
The strange lass smiled broadly at Jeela as if the knight had figured out the game. Vinnida then put her hand in the impression. It was a perfect fit. She held it there only briefly and took it off. Nothing happened.
“Are you supposed to say some kind of spell or chant to trigger the door?” wondered Nermindar.
“Wizards! It is always a silly spell with you,” said Vinnida, and she giggled.
Suddenly the rigid stone wall that loomed before them began to wave like a flag in the wind. And the rock became like fabric and the ripples in that fabric began to undulate faster and faster. Then Jeela could see the outline of things behind the wall…then the wall was simply gone.
“By the Saint’s Shoes! It is so lovely!” exclaimed Princess Swevladilia.
Jeela could say nothing. The intense beauty of this place was beyond anything she had ever experienced. It made her eyes tear.
I so wish that Princess Angelterra were here to see this miracle, she thought.
❖ CHAPTER 40 ❖
