“No,
you go on and have a good time. Don’t
get into anymore trouble than I would, and I want a full report for when you get
back!” Ashlyn smiled.
“Okay.
But I’m telling you—you’re missing out!” Loki sighed and gave her
a hopeful look.
“So
go already!” Ashlyn waved goodnight.
“See
ya later, Sis!” Loki cut the contact. Ashlyn
pushed aside the little twinge of guilt she felt for not taking up his offer,
but she felt that her duty was to her post.
It looked like it was going to be another easy night and most of the
Castle was already asleep. She
figured that she should be getting her rest as well.
She
paused to reflect for a moment as she unlocked her door and stepped inside.
Loki took a lot after dad, she decided.
He had that irrepressible explorer’s spirit.
Once he had made up his mind about something, he went after it.
Ashlyn
perched on the end of her bed and leaned back, stretching her hands above her
head. She stopped her stretch short
as one of her hands brushed against something paper.
Upon further investigation she found it to be an envelope on her pillow
bearing her name. She held it in her
hands for a moment, simply staring at it, her mind racing.
The handwriting was not recognizable.
How did this get here? I
keep the door locked.
She opened it slowly and unfolded the parchment that lay within. The penmanship looked as if it might belong to a woman, since it wasn’t signed. The words just about leapt off the page at her:
Dear
Ashlyn,
I
have information of dire importance regarding your attacker.
Please meet me in the Library at your earliest convenience.
Damn. The whole thing screamed trap. She sighed heavily as she strapped her sword to her hip. If it was the Man in Black, she wanted it all done and over with. She stepped out into the hallway again with a resolute step and headed for the library.
Since most of the Castle was asleep, most of the library was dark as well. There were only a few torches lit and the place looked deserted except for a light in one of the study rooms. With caution and her sword drawn, Ashlyn made her way down to the other end of the library to investigate, but was disappointed to find that no one was there. A sound at the main entrance drew her attention quickly enough.
There was the Man in Black setting a heavy beam across the door. No getting out that way and he was between her and the stairs. No words were spoken, only a deep and guttural laugh could be heard that sent serious shivers coursing through her. Since it didn’t look like anyone would be getting in or out the main door, she had to hang her hopes on the two doors on the second floor.
“Don’t bother. I’ll just bring this whole place down around our ears!” Ashlyn threatened.
“And by the time they hack their way in here, I will be long gone and you will be very dead,” the Man in Black chuckled, still disguising his voice as before. Ashlyn very carefully circled around him, taking care to keep the chairs and tables between them. The first moment opportunity presented itself, she made a mad dash for the stairs, yelling for the guards as she did with the Man in Black close on her heels. To her disappointment yet again, the Man in Black had not overlooked the doors, which were very locked. He had her trapped on the catwalk now and was advancing with purpose. Ashlyn held out her sword in defense, warning him not to advance any closer.
“Who are you?” Ashlyn tried again.
“No, no, my dear. We haven’t gotten that far yet,” the Man in Black waggled his finger at her.
“You’ll at least tell me if you killed my brother,” she backed up another step.
“Wrong again,” he snickered.
“Then at the very least be a good sport and tell me who the hell you are before you kill me!” Ashlyn suddenly advanced to meet his sword. She almost instantly jumped back again as she clutched her shoulder and saw the blood as it stained her hand. She looked up to see that her attacker held a dagger in his other hand.
“First blood,” he gloated.
“That was low,” Ashlyn agreed with a smile of sarcasm and a nod and advanced again. It was rather close quarters, and she managed to dodge his dagger again by helping him get it deeply lodged into a book that was directly behind where her neck was—appropriately titled A Farewell to Arms. She took the opening to make contact with his leg. He jumped back this time with a howl of pain, clutching his leg, but not before he clocked her with a powerful back handed smack across her jaw.
Ashlyn landed hard against the railing and felt herself teetering as her teeth rattled in her head. Using the momentum she flipped herself backwards and landed not so gracefully onto a table below, twisting her ankle beneath her. She changed her sword into a crossbow and let go with a shot as soon as he leaned over to see what happened to her. He leaped back again as the bolt found his shoulder. It was just then that the pounding on all the doors could be heard as the guards were trying to get in and the Man in Black let out a grunt of frustration that quickly turned into a cry of dismay as Pandora finally bust through one of the second story doors to engage him.
With his hands full with another opponent Ashlyn took aim again and winged his other shoulder. With his opposition becoming too much he fled the scene, bulldozing his way through the guards that had opened the other door and disappeared completely. It was then that Ashlyn was able to take a breath again.
“Ashlyn! You alright?” Pandora called down to her.
“I’m fine,” Ashlyn picked herself up and tested her ankle. She didn’t cry out, but she grimaced at the pain and stood completely still for a moment. It looked like she sprained it.
“You don’t really look it,” Pandora came down the stairs. “Have you seen Tariel at all?”
“No. He was in here?” Ashlyn began hobbling around.
“Well, he was invisible,” Pandora began searching. Ashlyn was searching the ground level and found the hilt of a knife sticking up out of nothingness. Very gingerly she reached out to feel around the hilt and feathers met her touch. If that was Tariel, he was feeling cold and stiff already. Ashlyn reverently removed her cloak and wrapped him up in it.
“Pandora…” Ashlyn’s voice faltered. Pandora had come downstairs by this time. Ashlyn didn’t know what to say as she reverently placed the bundle in Pandora’s arms and placed a hand on her shoulder in silent support. Pandora didn’t seem to react as she took Tariel from Ashlyn and pulled out her Trumps. Once she had one activated, she stepped through it. Just as she left Vincent came in sporting a wound to his head.
“Vince! You all right? Did the Man in Black do that to you?” Ashlyn hobbled over to him.
“Is that what the ruckus is about? No. I just got back. I ran into Dalt,” he said as he sank into the nearest chair.
“Dalt? And you lived?” Ashlyn sat beside him to assess his wound.
“It was strange. Almost as if he were possessed or something. We had gotten into a fight and the next thing I know, he’s letting me go—telling me to leave before he changed his mind. He could have killed me and I surprised the both of us by asking if he wanted help. He actually had to tell me twice to get my ass out of there!” Vincent said. “And what’s this about the Man in Black? Is that why you’re limping?”
“Yes. I should have taken Loki up on his offer and gone to Chaos with him. But I’ll explain this whole thing in a minute. Let me Trump us to the Infirmary to get looked at,” Ashlyn had pulled out her Trumps and pulled the both of them through to the infirmary.
The physician simply wrapped Ashlyn’s ankle and gave her ice for the gargantuan bruise that had formed on the underside of her jaw and patched Vincent’s head. Ashlyn had decided to call it a night and went to her room.
Vincent had decided upon the same thing and slowly began to make his way back to his own room when he heard his name called from behind him. He turned to find his father, King Random coming down the hall toward him with a pair of drumsticks in his hand.
“Vince! What happened to your head?” he asked.
“Had a little run-in with Dalt. Nothing to worry about,” Vincent dismissed it casually. “Can’t sleep?”
“Still on Texorami time, I’d suppose. I need to beat on something,” Random twirled one of the sticks in his hand with the air of a pro. “Come join me.”
“Nah. My head is already pounding, thanks,” Vincent said gently placing a hand to his throbbing temple and turned to continue on his way. A brilliant flash of light directly in front of them stopped them both short. When their eyes were able to readjust there stood a tall creature, midnight black except for the brilliant streaks of yellow that criss-crossed her body—and it was more than obvious that it was a she. Energy crackled from her fingers and from her eyes. She let out a blood-curdling scream and put forth her hands where a fireball had issued forth from them.
Vincent sprang to his father’s side and threw his cloak over him as the fireball hit them with full force. With a cackle of triumph, the she-demon vanished. All that remained was a charred hallway and two badly burnt victims.
Brand had heard the commotion and was the first one on the scene. He called for the guard and informed that he would be taking charge of Vincent’s care and immediately whisked him away to his shadow where he could properly care for him. As for the king, sadly to say, there was no saving him. He was too badly burned and had died instantly.
The rest of the family was informed early the following morning by way of the infamous “Family Meeting”. Most of the family had attended, and tongues were wagging when Corwin had arrived with Dara on his arm. They were mostly commenting on how comfortable they looked together. Ashlyn had found the cousins all grouped together and they seemed to lend silent support to one another.
Vialle seemed to be taking it all quite well. She looked perfectly composed and calm as family members went about making funeral arrangements. Random was to be laid to rest in the family mausoleum at the foot of Mount Kolvir.
Nearly every family member had shown up in attendance for the funeral. Vincent had been healed enough to attend. Vialle still kept her unnerving calm throughout the proceedings, even saying a little something about her late husband and announcing that she would be returning to Rebma.
“He was our best and last chance for peace,” was all Benedict said. Everyone had nodded in agreement. Benedict was a man of very few words, and when he spoke, it was deep and sometimes profound. The services had concluded there and the family had quickly dispersed. Only a few of them remained.
Loki, Pandora, Miriya and Ashlyn had remained behind to stay with Vincent, who still seemed to have a rather hard time coping with his father’s death. Ashlyn would have thought him to be a basket case.
“Caw! Caw!” A crow had noisily arrived and had alighted on top of the mausoleum. He continued with his raucous noise and hopped around as if to try and get their attention. He then hopped down and flew inside, his “cawing” never stopping. The cousins found it rather odd and followed him inside, maybe hoping to flush him out again and give the dead some peace and quiet.
The crow had alighted onto the handle of the lavatory and pecked twice on the door before coming to rest and silence on the bench on the opposite wall. Vincent eyed the crow strangely and opened the lavatory door and stopped short completely.
“Vince, what is it?” Pandora asked him.
“This is the door to the lavatory, isn’t it?” Vincent swung the door open a little wider.
“Yes,” Ashlyn replied eyeing him strangely.
“It’s not there,” Vincent stepped aside to reveal that instead of the lavatory, there was a flight of stairs leading downward and illuminated by torches.
“So let’s see where it goes,” Loki said stepped forward.
“See where it goes? Shouldn’t we get Benedict?” Miriya said, looking at the stairwell a little fearfully.
“Nah. This is something we do, Miriya. We’re going down the stairs. You can go back for help, or you’re very welcome to come along with us,” Ashlyn said as she joined her brother.
“If it makes you feel better, I’ll keep an open Trump with the Castle so we can all Trump out at the first sign of trouble,” Vincent said as he pulled out his Trumps.
“Fine,” Miriya said as she stepped forward and began to follow them down the stairs. It seemed to take a long time to make their way down the stairs and Vincent was having a harder and harder time keeping the Trump contact open with the Castle the further down they went. As they had reached the bottom of the stairs, the Trump contact was completely gone. There was no Trumping anyone or anything as the stairs opened up into a small brick room with only a door on its wall opposite the stairs. Vincent was leading the way and decided to open it.
They stepped out in to a beautiful, lush, green environment. Beautiful trees grew about, the grass was a healthy shade of green, the sky was a gorgeous shade of blue and the birds sang beautifully. Ashlyn glanced at her comrades and came to the conclusion that they all felt as she did about the place. It felt calm. Peaceful. Heck, she almost felt happy.
“Does anyone know where we are?” Miriya asked, being the first one to speak.
“No, this place doesn’t seem familiar to me,” Loki replied.
“What do you think that is?” Pandora pointed to a far-off hill. Despite the seemingly perfect weather, Pandora was pointing to a hill where there appeared to be a Stonehenge. Directly over it the weather was completely the opposite—all stormy with terrific lightning. Everyone was looking at it now and Miriya gave a little snort of disgust.
“Don’t tell me—we’re headed that way now. I can just tell by the looks on your faces!” she crossed her arms.
“Well, aren’t you the least bit curious?” Pandora asked her.
“No. All I’m interested in is getting home from here,” she growled.
“No need to get saucy!” Loki stepped in. “What if we don’t go and it turns out that going that way is the way home?” Miriya didn’t say anything but sighed again and followed them on the hike to the hill.
Ashlyn actually enjoyed the hike and enjoyed the scenery around her. Her good mood began to dim however, as they reached the Stonehenge. As they all entered into it’s center, all traces of the peaceful weather ceased to exist. The wind was blowing, the lightning was crackling and it was dark.
“Does anyone else get the feeling that we are not alone here?” Vincent asked.
“Like we’re being watched?” Miriya asked.
“Like by that guy over there coming toward us?” Ashlyn pointed out. They stood still and waited for the newcomer to reach them. He was tall and wore a robe with a hood that was hiding his face from them. He stopped a few yards from them, seeming to regard them carefully.
“You do not belong here,” he said calmly, his voice easily heard above the storm that was now beginning to calm itself.
“Please, sir. Would you be able to tell us exactly where we are?” Pandora asked.
“You are in the Land of the Dead,” he replied.
“Is this heaven?” Ashlyn asked.
“No it is not,” he replied. “You are all far from home.”
“And who might you be?” Vincent asked.
“I am your grandfather, Oberon,” he replied as he removed his hood. He looked every bit like his painting. “You look like your father.”
“Maybe he’s the reason why we’re here,” Vincent replied.
“Random dead? This is bad news for Amber,” Oberon said as he put a hand to his head. “How did you all get here?”
“Through the lavatory in the mausoleum,” Ashlyn spoke up.
“And who might you be, girl? You are not familiar to me,” he began to look her up and down.
“My name is Ashlyn. Brand is my father,” she replied.
“Brand has offspring?” his eyebrow raised up. Ashlyn rolled her eyes and returned his stare with a look that seemed to say “And that’s a bad thing?” He paused for a moment and shook his head, sighing heavily and not saying anything about it.
“The Land of the Dead comes close to the Land of the Living once every so often. The two are not really supposed to cross so close, but once every so often, someone living gets caught here. You simply need to find your way out.”
“Please, Grandfather. Would you be able to tell us where we might be able to locate my father?” Vincent asked.
“New arrivals are usually turned out in the Fields of the Valkyrie’s. Just follow this path and make sure you stay on it,” Oberon replied. “Good luck to you.” And with a flash of lightning, he was gone again.
“Okay. Was that weird to anyone else?” Ashlyn asked.
“I’m all for getting the heck out of here,” Miriya spoke up.
“With you there,” Loki said. “Sis, what was all that about? You were showing Oberon attitude?”
“I don’t know what possessed me,” Ashlyn shrugged it off.
“Well, you were true to form,” he said with a mock thumbs-up and began to follow Vincent down the trail. Ashlyn rolled her eyes again and began to follow him.
Instead of the beautiful landscape, they had entered what looked like a dead forest. They took the warning seriously of sticking to the path once they got a good look at the trees above them. From nearly every limb hung a body. It sent shivers through Miriya and she stuck close to Pandora.
Spookier still was the Moaning slough. The grasses were towering tall above their heads and pitiful moans were hidden in the grasses on either side of the trail. They were all sticking close together.
All of a sudden, the slough grasses ceased and it opened wide to show a kind of valley. The trail had simply ended here to the entrance of the valley. Pitiful and panicked screams could be heard as well as war cries and galloping hooves. Closer inspection of the area revealed a bunch of what looked like hapless souls running wildly around and being chased down by women-warriors on horseback, who were spearing them and watching them re-materialize again so they could simply spear them again—just for sport.
“Sick,” Ashlyn muttered aloud.
“You think we’ll find him in that?” Loki asked.
“One way to find out,” Vincent said as he began forward. They had barely made it five steps into the valley when they were suddenly cut off by a Valkyrie that came rushing up to them, blocking their way.
“You,” she said with her spear lowered at them and her lip curled as if she smelled something she didn’t like. “You don’t belong here. Leave.”
“We’re here looking for someone. Perhaps you can help us,” Vincent began.
“You are living and breathing. You do not belong!” she stated again, trying to keep her horse standing still.
“Then perhaps you can direct us to an exit,” he tried again, but the woman wouldn’t listen. With her spear upraised she looked ready to strike him where he stood. He had enough presence of mind to duck out of the way as Pandora and Loki literally took her horse out from under her. Undaunted, the Valkyrie drew her sword ready to take them all on and found herself surrounded. She threw her head back and let the most horrific war cry escape her lips. That meant that there would be company soon.
“Better run for it!” Loki dashed away as a tumultuous sound of thundering hooves could be heard in the distance heading their way.
The only place to go was into the valley, hoping they could lose themselves in the crowd of souls already running around. Of course it wasn’t that easy since they were the only ones wearing weapons. It was easy for the Valkyries to spot them and the chase was on.
Luckily, they had managed a good head start by disabling the one warrior’s horse, and they were sprinting for the other end of the field. It wasn’t an easy task. There were panicked souls to look out for, other charging Valkyries and the ground was very uneven from being ripped up by the horses’ hooves.
Vincent had found a new path leading away from the field and motioned for the others to follow him. They ran after him, but leaving the field just wasn’t enough. Four Valkyries gave pursuit
They found themselves back in the forest and the pathway was getting more and more narrow until it opened up suddenly at an archway. It seemed odd that it should be in the middle of a forest. It also seemed odd that it was made purely of stacked skulls. Beyond it, headstones and various grave markers could be seen. It was there that the Valkyries had caught up with them.
The one in the lead came rushing in with her spear intending to impale the closest victim, but Loki was ready for her, bringing down her horse with one swipe of his sword and sent her tumbling to the ground. She deftly rolled out of the way to avoid being trampled by the others coming up behind her. Vincent had recovered the spear she had dropped and hurled it with full force at the next rider, striking her square in the chest, but not before her spear had gouged Miriya in the arm. Vincent hurriedly scooped up Miriya and the all headed through the arch, running for their lives. The two remaining Valkyries came running after them and seemed to try and pull up before the arch, but one was too late. As she and her horse came through the arch, they disintegrated before their very eyes. The remaining Valkyrie had picked up her fellow warrior and they headed back for the field without another word. It was then that they were able to breathe a sigh of relief and help Miriya with her wound.
“How is she?” Ashlyn asked as Vincent tended to her wound.
“Part of the spear tip has broken off. It’s pretty ugly,” Vincent replied as he ripped Miriya’s shirtsleeve.
“I’m so tired,” Miriya mumbled.
“Well, see if you can’t stay awake. We need to get ourselves out of here now. No sense in trying to find Random now,” Pandora soothed.
“And no sense trying to go the same way we came,” Loki said. “Maybe this could be the way out.”
“Can you stand Miriya?” Vincent asked and helped her up.
“I suppose,” she mumbled. “I just don’t know for how long. I just feel incredibly tired!”
Wordlessly they wound their way around the headstones. Some were simple wood crosses in the ground. Others were simple nameless stones, others were elaborately carved marble markers, but names could not be made out in the quickly dimming light, and there seemed to be no end in sight to the graveyard.
They weren’t sure for how long they had been hiking. Miriya had fallen asleep on Vincent’s shoulder and as they were making their way along they had noticed that a green fog had begun to roll in. They ignored it at first, continuing their hike as it got darker.
“Should we be worrying that this mist is getting higher and higher? Do you think that’s the reason that we’re feeling rather tired?” Pandora asked as she paused for a moment to help Vincent with Miriya.
“Loki,” Ashlyn called suddenly looking around. “Loki!”
“I’m over here. I was just taking a little rest. I’ll catch up with you all in a minute,” he said wearily. He had fallen behind and looked as if he was going to pass out right where he stood. Ashlyn rushed over to him and put his arm over her shoulder and helped him along but they didn’t get far.
They had barely made it a few steps when Ashlyn looked up and saw Vincent and Pandora set Miriya down and they seemed to set themselves down as well. Loki suddenly went limp and she grabbed him around his middle to help support him, but as she did, the fog had reached eye level and she suddenly felt the most exhausted she had ever felt in her entire life. There was nothing she suddenly wanted more than to just sink down the ground and catch a few Z’s. She let Loki sink gently to the ground with her and she suddenly knew no more.
When she came to, she found herself as she had hit the ground, her arms still around Loki and he was soundly sleeping with his head on her stomach. She quickly took in her surroundings. This was not the same graveyard as the night before. It was broad daylight, and by the looks of the place, this graveyard didn’t seem that big. Pandora and Vincent had begun to stir as well as Miriya. Loki came to when Ashlyn stirred.
“Sorry. Did I fall asleep on you?” he asked as he sat up and groggily rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “Now where are we?”
“This place seems a little familiar,” Pandora said more to herself as she stretched.
“Are we home yet?” Miriya asked as she too stretched and yawned.
“How you feel?” Vincent asked as he helped her up.
“Aside from my arm being a little sore, just fine. Remind me not to go on anymore of your weird adventures,” she stretched again.
“I know where we are!” Pandora brightened up.
“Not in the Land of the Dead?” Loki asked.
“No, we’re in Amber. We’re in Meridian. Boy, we’re a long ways out from the Castle—my guess would be a few days ride. I practically had forgotten all about this place,” said Pandora. “We can just Trump home. I just hope we haven’t been gone too long. Everyone grab a hand!”
Before they knew it they were stepping through into Amber’s main hallway and barely a servant was in sight. Since they were all ravenously hungry they headed for the kitchen where servants were all busy piling heaps of food onto trays and preparing to take them out.
“So there you are! We’ve all been wondering where the heck you’ve been all week!” a servant snapped at them.
“All week? We’ve been gone for a week? We just left yesterday!” Vincent protested.
“Well you’d better hurry it up! Today Martin is being coronated and there’s a huge reception to follow—that’s what’s with all the food. The entire family is in the ballroom,” he said. He barely got another word out as Pandora, Ashlyn, Loki, Miriya and Vincent had all left the kitchen at a run and went to their rooms to get changed.
Ashlyn had reached the ballroom first and carefully opened the great double doors. She tried to be as quiet as she could since the ceremony was already in progress. As she entered, she did manage to attract a little attention. Bleys had turned to catch her eye and smirked as he shook his head and chuckled a little bit. She warmly returned his smile and quickly found a seat. Corwin was standing next to Bleys and turned to see what his brother was laughing about. When he saw that it was Ashlyn, he frowned and scowled at her. Ashlyn returned his scowl and motioned her head for him to turn back around. She was so tempted to stick her tongue out at him, but it was best not to make a scene as the others had also entered and found seats to finish watching the ceremony.
As soon as it was all over the party had begun. King Martin was looking somewhat solemn as family members gathered around him to congratulate him. The cousins held back until the rush was gone.
“Well done, King Brother,” Vincent shook his hand.
“Thank you. I’m so glad that you were all able to make it. You all had me worried there for a while,” Martin genuinely smiled now. “Have fun and enjoy the food!” He had barely turned around again before other family members had crowded around him again. Vincent excused himself and went off in search of Merlin.
The party was a little on the dull side, but the food was good. Ashlyn and Loki simply mingled and kept polite conversation up, trying to find an opportunity to excuse themselves, but it wasn’t happening. Pandora was silently eyeing the whole party from a distance, noting that Llewella, who was usually quiet and reserved, was out mingling and talking up a storm and no one seemed to think anything of it, though Ashlyn seemed to make it a point to steer clear of her and would drag Loki with her.
As Llewella was making her way around the room, she stopped short and paused as if getting a Trump call. She gave a sardonic smile and didn’t say anything. She only laughed maniacally and in a great flash of light she disappeared. Moments later, Vincent came bursting back in with Merlin on his heels.
“Brother! What is going on?” Martin spoke.
“I’ve got some bad news. Llewella is the one who killed Random!” Vincent announced. His statement brought forth gasps from the crowd.
“And you have proof of this?” Bleys stepped forward.
“Yes. Vincent came to me to help him draw a Trump of the intruder that had killed Random, and when we finished the sketch and tested it out, we had contact with Llewella. You all saw that she had disappeared. She’s been found out,” Merlin replied, backing up Vincent’s story. Martin sighed heavily. Ashlyn put a hand to her head.
“So much for the festivities. Benedict, round up the usual people. We’ve got a new problem to solve,” Martin said wearily.
“Of course, Sire,” Benedict replied and turned on his heel.
“Deirdre, get a group to search the perimeter to see if she is still around and don’t hesitate to call for backup if you find her. The rest of you, enjoy the food—shouldn’t let that go to waste—but keep your eyes open!” Martin turned to go and join Benedict in discussing the new threat.