Bakkian Chronicles, Book I - The Prophecy (25 page)

“
Think we can make that before sunset?”

Steve looked at the distant castle and then looked up, judging the position of the sun in the sky. Not quite overhead yet. Good. If they picked up the pace, then they could probably make it with time to spare.

“
We’re going to have to double-time it,”
Sarah
observed, still staring at the distant castle. “I’m guessing that’s, what, ten miles or so away? If we pick up the pace, we should be able to do it. Don’t you think?”

Steve wasn’t sure if he could maintain a walking pace that fast, but he was certainly ready to try. Following closely behind his wife, he sighed with relief as their pace automatically increased due to the gradual declining slope. They had finally reached the apex of their climb and had started downhill.

Two hours later they were better than halfway to the castle. Progress was good. Steve, being much more accustomed to walking downhill than uphill, was walking as fast as he thought Sarah could handle. Sarah, on the other hand, already much more acclimatized to walking than her husband, was easily maintaining the increase in velocity.

Trying to keep his mind off of his tired legs and aching back, Steve did what he always did when travelling with Sarah: he quizzed her on some pointless movie trivia. In this manner, they had completely missed exits on freeways, ended up in wrong cities, missed turnoffs, landed on wrong streets, etc. Submerged in a world of Star Wars trivia, Steve later figured this lack of attention to the immediate surroundings accounted for what was about to happen.

The vegetation was also starting to pick back up, with small clumps of shrubs starting to appear, and a lone tree here and there. The first clump of large oak trees they came across drew them both up short. Camped by the copse of trees was the group of soldiers that had passed them earlier, resting their horses and having their midday meal.

In unison, all soldiers stopped eating and talking and looked with astonishment as two peasants in strange clothing boldly walked right into their camp. As one, they all turned to look at their lieutenant who was in the process of taking a bite out of a piece of meat skewered on his dagger.

“
Hoo-boy,” Steve muttered. “Umm, sorry to disturb you. We’ll just leave you people alone.”

“
Methinks not, peasant,” the lieutenant said, rising to his feet. “Who are ye and what business do ye have here? Where are ye from?” The soldier slowly walked around husband and wife. “What manner of attire are ye wearing?”

Sarah had once again surreptitiously moved behind her husband. Steve took a deep breath.

“
Uh, we are visitors to this kingdom, on our way to seek an audience with the king and queen. As a matter of fact, we already met the captain of the royal guards. Maybe you know him? His name was Rhenyon. He gave me this.” The act of reaching under his jacket to fumble for the
jewel
-encrusted dagger attached to his belt had every soldier in the clearing jumping to their feet. Swords were unsheathed and two soldiers took aim with bow and arrow.

“
Whoa, hang on a sec there, guys. You don’t want to do that.” Steve raised both arms, hands open, palms up. “We really don’t want any trouble. Look. On my belt. See the dagger?” He rotated slowly in place, lifting up his jacket to expose the dagger to everyone present. “You can take it out, if you prefer.”

The lieutenant, with his sword drawn, looked at the stranger’s belt. Was that one of the captain’s personal daggers? Wizards be damned! He reached out and pulled the knife out of its sheath. Yes, it was. There was his crest. How did two foreigners acquire this?

“
Explain yourselves, strangers. How came ye by this dagger?”

Steve relayed the events of the previous night, explaining how he had encountered the captain at Thacken Lodge.

The soldier nodded thoughtfully. Luckily, the story corresponded with what he knew of the captain’s trek across the kingdom, seeking signs of the Scribes.

“
The captain gave this to ye? Did ye tell him yer intentions to seek an audience with their majesties?”

“
We did, yes. That’s when he gave us that.”

“
Curious, I am, to find out why he gave ye that, but it is not my business. Go then, be on yer way.” He handed the dagger back to the wary peasant who had to unclench his fists. As he took the dagger, the soldier couldn’t help but notice the stranger’s hands and face. Was he feverish? His face was flushed, and parts of his hands had turned an ugly, mottled red. If he caught some type of sickness from this dim-witted peasant, dagger or not, there will be hell to pay.

“
Gladly, sir. You people have a nice day.”

With that, Steve pulled Sarah along behind them and practically ran down the path, away from the group of soldiers. Once they were out of earshot, Sarah had to pull her arm out of Steve’s grip, as he was intent on putting as much distance as possible between Sarah and those men.

Finally slamming on the brakes, she spun Steve around until he was looking her directly in the eye.

“
Sweetie, you have to let go. Now!!”

Alarmed and annoyed, Steve released his wife’s arm. “What is it? What’s the matter?”

She held up her forearm, with the beginnings of a slight burn on her arm. Steve was horrified.

“
Did I do that? Oh, shit, sweetie! I’m sorry!”

“
It’s okay. It feels rather like a sunburn. It stings a little, but I’m okay. You were nervous, it’s understandable.”

Steve wasn’t about to let it drop. His wife was in pain, and he was directly responsible. He had to get her to the safety of the castle and see about getting some type of ointment for her arm.

“
I’m so sorry, babe. We’ll get some help and I’ll get some type of medication for it. Something like that has gotta exist there.”

“
Honey, it’s trivial right now. Let’s just get going, okay?”

****

With sunset now about an hour away, the weary travelers walked up to the outer garrison of the castle. A soldier wearing a maroon uniform stepped up to them.

“
Greetings, strangers. What business have ye in R’Tal?”

Thankful to encounter a soldier more prone to ask questions than in drawing steel, Steve yet again presented the dagger. This time he didn’t even have to take it off his belt.

Tired, hungry, and not wanting to mince words, Steve summed up their situation. “My wife and I seek an audience with the king and queen. This dagger belongs to Rhenyon. He sent us here.”

Being highly trained not to ask too many questions once the proper credentials had been supplied, no matter how bizarre, the gatekeeper stepped aside and waved them through.

Working their way through the many streets, always angling towards the high turreted fortress they could see in the distance, Steve and Sarah made it to the castle just in time to see the guards preparing to raise the heavy wooden drawbridge for the night.

“
Wait, wait up!” Steve called out. “We need to get inside.”

The three guards that were retreating into the castle stopped to look back across the moat. One stepped forward.

“
State your business.”

“
We seek an audience with the king.” Again, he presented the dagger. Again, they were waved across. “I can see why Rhenyon gave us this thing now,” he muttered to Sarah once they had entered the castle interior. Together, they turned to watch as the drawbridge was raised. Both jumped as the massive wooden structure thumped forcefully up against the stones of the castle. “So, what now, brown cow?”

Sarah laughed. “Well, when in doubt, we get some directions.” Looking around, she walked up to the closest person she could find, a woman roughly her own age that was pushing a cart of clean linens. “Excuse me, ma’am, can you help us?”

The servant girl, startled to be addressed, paused and looked at the newcomers. “Yes? Can I help ye?”

“
We seek an audience with the king and queen. I know it’s late, but can you tell us where we might find them? Or maybe get a message to them?”

The servant girl blinked in surprise. Two strangely dressed foreigners were in front of her, openly inquiring about the whereabouts of the Kri’yans? Should this be reported to the guards? As a loyal servant to the crown, she directed them towards the Great Hall, while rushing off to find someone in authority.

Gently navigating their way through throngs of castle personnel that all appeared to have somewhere important to go, Steve and Sarah
finally
beheld the castle’s Great Hall, receiving room for ambassadors, emissaries, and visiting kings and queens. There, against the far wall to the right of a massive hearth were the gilded thrones of their royal majesties, Kri’Entu and Ny’Callé.

With no one to say otherwise, Steve slowly walked up to the pair of golden thrones, running his hands along the carved surface. Upon closer inspection, the thrones appeared to be hand carved with designs, symbols he was not familiar with. Squatting down on his haunches, he was unsurprised to discover that the strange runes on both chairs matched the symbols on the portal door frames back home. Sarah came up behind him.

“
I don’t think you should be doing that, do you? The people here might consider it offensive if two non-Lentarians are caught messing with the thrones of their king and queen.”

“
Non-Lentarians?”

Steve and Sarah both whirled around. The voice was soft, kind, and fortunately, non-threatening. The lady, Steve judged, looked to be in her early thirties, wearing a simple but elegant grey floor-length gown lined with green silk on the inner sleeves. A pair of emeralds dangled from her ears, with several silver bracelets clinking softly on her left arm. Her long brown hair was pulled back into a braid that extended halfway down her back. She had to be the wife of a nobleman, Steve figured.

“
Non-Lentarians?” she repeated. “Did I hear ye correctly?”

Taking a deep breath, Steve met the lady’s eyes. “Yes, ma’am. You heard correctly, we are not from this kingdom. If you ask me where we’re from, I doubt you’d believe me.”

Looking at the two fidgeting people in front of her, the mystery lady smiled. Although, Steve thought, the smile did appear rather guarded.

“
Do not let that concern ye. I would know how two foreigners came to be in this castle. So,” she clasped her hands together and sat in a nearby seat. “Let us begin with yer names.” Waiting patiently, she stared expectantly at her captivated audience of two.

Bemused by the odd nature on how this conversation was playing out, Steve and Sarah could only stare at the seated woman that was studying them, waiting patiently for an answer.

“
Ummm, okay, my name is Steve, and this is my wife, Sarah.”

Those intimidating brown eyes shifted to
his wife
and held her gaze.

Sarah gave a small wave and a quiet “hello”.

“
We come from, um, a far away land and are just looking for a way home. We were told that the king and queen would be able to help us find some way to do that.”

The soft voice spoke again. “Find some way?” she repeated, frowing. “That implies that the two of ye do not know how to return home. What is the name of yer kingdom?”

“
Our land is called America. And no, you wouldn’t have heard of it,” Steve said, before their interviewer could ask where that particular kingdom was.

“
I see. Would ye be from the Land of Idaho in the Kingdom of America, then?”

Shock registered in both of their eyes. How? How does she know where they’re from? There’s no way she could know that! Steve and Sarah looked at each other. What do they say now?

The lady in gray simply held her hand up, surprising both Steve and Sarah into silence. Clapping her hands three times, a servant girl, the same from the corridor before, appeared out of the shadows of the room.

“
Please ask my husband to join me here.”