Valley of the Ancients: Book Three of the Restoration Series (24 page)

Diana smiled. "Thank you but it has been a very long time." Even so, there was a touch of sadness in her words.

"Why didn't you go and look for him?"

"I cannot leave." Diana said simply.

The words sent a momentary feeling of panic running through Flare. He froze with a bite of pork suspended halfway to his mouth. He did not want to spend the rest of time in this castle and he dearly hoped that she wasn't implying that he could not leave.

Diana held up a hand. "Be at peace. I cannot leave, but you can. You possess the key."

Silence hung in the air for a moment while Flare tried to work out what she meant. "What key?"

"My husband created a key that he could use to travel back and forth from here to your world. You wear it on your belt."

Confused, Flare look downwards. What did she mean that he wore the key on his belt? It was then that he saw the pouch; the very same pouch that he had found in the cavern.

"The pouch?" he asked, understanding bursting forward. "You mean this is the key your husband made?"

Diana nodded. "Yes. If I may ask, how did you gain possession of it?"

"Well," Flare began slowly, "I found it actually. I was exploring a cave in the Az'ha'rill mountains. I was attacked just outside the cave by a creature." He shrugged, "To tell the truth, I really don't even know what it was, but I fought it and killed it and then I went inside. The cave floor was covered with bones." Flare paused suddenly, not sure if he should have said that. The woman lost her husband mysteriously and she probably would not want to think about him being something's dinner.

Diana sensed his hesitation and smiled. "Flare, it's been ages since my husband died and I seriously doubt that your creature killed him. Please continue."

Flare nodded, but he wasn't so sure. He had encountered a dragon once that had been imprisoned in a valley for ages. Not every creature was mortal. "Well, I was exploring the cave and I noticed a pile of rotten clothes. I poked through it and it must have been the creature's treasure. The pouch was the only thing worth keeping."

Diana nodded. "If you hadn't found the pouch, it might have laid there for all eternity."

"Diana," Flare said slowly, "can I ask you a question?" She nodded and he continued. "What did you mean when you said that the castle was now mine?"

"You possess the key and that implies that you are now the master."

"Master?" Flare repeated dully. "I don't understand. If your husband is dead then that would make yd. Hghtou the master."

"In a way." Diana agreed. "I am the master of those that remain here permanently, but you are the master of the key and can come and go as you please."

Flare wasn't sure of what that meant but he let it pass. "I'm curious. What do you do about food? Surely you can't grow crops and raise livestock?"

"The supply room is enchanted. Whatever we use in a day is replenished in the night."

Nodding, Flare raised his glass in a salute. "To your husband. It appears he thought of everything."

Diana graciously returned the toast. "May I show you around the castle?"

Flare's appetite was pleasantly satiated. "I would be honored," he answered with a smile.

The castle was immense. Perhaps not as big as King Darion's castle in Telur, but it was still impressive. Diana led him through room after room; fine parlors, great ballrooms, an enormous kitchen, and vast storerooms.

The most impressive room, at least to Flare's taste, was the magnificent library. An enormous room crammed full of shelves and every shelf was covered with books. To his sense of time, this castle was ancient and that made all those books priceless. He could barely imagine the wonders that they contained. He swore a promise to go through that library meticulously, just as soon as time permitted. He actually wondered if there would ever be time to keep that promise.

On occasion they would pass servants in the halls. Diana always stopped and introduced Flare to them. The servants, both men and women, were always polite and very reserved. They kept their eyes on the floor and hurried off as soon as it was appropriate.

At last she led him up a small flight of stairs and through a large door.

Flare stepped out and stopped, staring around in amazement. They had entered the courtyard and he stared up above them. Where he was used to seeing a blue sky and sun, there was nothing but what looked like black clouds swirling.

"What is that?" He finally managed to ask.

"That is the nothingness between worlds." Diana answered. Whereas Flare had been staring at the sky in amazement, she had been watching him. "This castle and the land it sat on have been enclosed in a bubble." She waved her hand upwards at the swirling blackness. "You couldn't live out there. There's no air, so you would die quickly."

Flare glanced at the walls surrounding the castle. "And what if somebody falls off the edge of the castle?"

"It has happened before." Diana answered patiently. The bubble does not allow things, or people, to pass through. On those occasions when someone has fallen off, servants have to let down ropes to retrieve them."

"So this bubble breaks their fall?" Flare asked.

"Yes. It's hard as stone."

That made Flare glance over at her. "Hard as stone," he repeated quietly.

Diana nodded. "People who fall off the walls usually do not survive the fall."

The thought of those poor people falling to their deaths put a damper on Flare's mood. Diane seemed to sense it and after a moment she took him by the arm. "Come. Let me show you the armory."

Flare let the woman lead him away, amazed at his surroundings. Who could have even imagined that such a place existed? He found his admiration growing for Diana's husband. The man had truly been gifted.

"This castle will be very useful to you." Diana said after several moments of silence. They were back inside now and she was leading them in a direction that he hadn't been before.

"How's that?" Flare asked. She had raised his interest and snapped him out of his thoughts, all at the same time.

"Well," Diana said slowly, "think for a moment that you slay a mighty dragon and find yourself in possession of a dragon's hoard of gold. How would you take it with you?"

"Uh, I don't know," Flare admitted. In the stories he had enjoyed as a kid, the story was always about the hero killing the dragon and claiming the gold. They never said how one man, or an elf for that matter, would move such a huge amount of possessions.

"The pouch is a doorway. You can bring things through even if they would not fit in the pouch."

Flare's foot caught on the floor and he nearly pulled both of them down, just catching himself and Diana at the last moment. "My apologies," he said, helping straighten her back up. "I never thought of it like that. That is truly amazing."

"There is more," Diana said. She didn't seem upset that Flare had nearly tripped her to the floor. She took him by the arm again and began leading back down the hall. "What if you find yourself in a situation where you need a bow and a quiver of arrows, but all you have is that sword of yours. What would you do?"

Flare shrugged, "What I've always done. Make do with what I can."

"Why wouldn't you journey here, get the bow and arrows, and then return?"

"I hadn't thought of that," Flare admitted. Possibilities that he had never considered before were opening up in front of him and they were amazing. He almost felt a little light headed by all of them.

They turned the corner and Flare pulled up short. They had entered a long low room with shelves upon shelves of weapons and armor. The weapon were in meticulous shape, well oiled and sharp. Everything a warrior could want was here. Swords, pikes, axes, shields, and armor.

He turned to Diana, a huge smile splitting his face. "This is incredible."

Diana smiled back. "I thought you would find this to your liking. These are all yours, to use as you see fit."

"Thank you," Flare said, feeling the words did not express his gratitude appropriately.

"Your welcome," Diana said simply. "How about I have a fire started for us and we can have some dessert? One of the cooks makes an unbelievably good strawberry cake."

"Uh, that sounds wonderful but I really must be leaving. I was hoping you would show me how to return."

"Return already?" Her tonbega.&quoe rose quickly and the smile slid from her face. "I was hoping you would stay for the night. I have so many questions and I simply must know what is going in your world." She paused and then pushed ahead quickly. "There's another reason as well." Her eyes dropped to the floor and she spoke more softly. "I am in charge here but I am also a woman. I cannot get too close to those under my command." Her eyes rose to his and she held his gaze. She betrayed her sense of control by blushing. "I would very much like to have a man's company for the evening."

Well, perhaps he did have time to stay for one night. Just long enough to relate the news of the world.

Flare awoke alone the next morning, and that was rather surprising. He had not been alone when he had drifted off to sleep. It was surprising that he had slept through Diana's departure, the woman must move as silently as a cat.

He lay in bed for several more moments, enjoying the feel of the sheets on his skin. Truly that had been the best night of sleep that he had enjoyed in months.

Sighing, he remembered that he had to leave. He wanted to find out if there was anything to the story about that valley and then he needed to head south. Would Diana still object to his leaving? Surely the woman didn't expect him to stay longer.

He nearly jumped out of the bed as the door burst open and Diana strode in. A maid followed close on her heels. Flare hurriedly pulled the blanket back over him, as he wasn't wearing a stitch.

Diana grinned at his modesty, but didn't say anything. The maid hurried over to a small couch and laid some clothes down. Then she turned and hurried out, her eyes never so much as flicked in Flare's direction.

"I took the liberty of having your clothes washed," she wrinkled her nose. "I feared they might walk away in the night. And besides, I doubt you will have many opportunities to clean them during your travels."

Flare smiled, both at her chiding about the cleanliness of his clothes and because she knew he was leaving. "You have my thanks."

Diana nodded her head. "Breakfast is ready and I also put aside some provisions for your travels."

Provisions? He found that rather surprising. Why take food with him when he could travel back here when it got dark? "Perhaps I could just return this evening?"

Diana moved closer and sat down on the edge of the bed. "You must be careful in your coming here. Traveling between your world and here will tire you. Also, when you return there will be a moment of disorientation."

"Disorientation?" Flare repeated softly. That changed some things. He couldn't travel here in the middle of a battle just to change weapons, especially since he might be momentarily muddled upon his return. He wouldn't last long on the battlefield in that state.

"I also would suggest that you take this morning's breakfast with you. My husband told me that returning to your world was worse than coming here."

"Worse?" Flare said, definitely not liking the sound of that. The trip here had been bad enough.

Diana pulled the blanket back from him, her smile getting bigger. "Do you need help getting dressed?"

He halfheartedly returned her smile. The thought of the return trip was stuck in his mind.

Less than an hour later, Diana escorted Flare through the castle. Flare was fully dressed and in addition to the extra provisions in his pack, he carried a new cloak. It was both warm and should help resist water. A small canvas sack was tied to his pack. The sack contained his breakfast and she assured him that he would not want to eat before his journey.

"Where are we headed?" Flare asked. The castle was still new to him but she seemed to be heading down towards the deeper layers.

"The key will return you to your world, but it must be used in the same room where you arrived here yesterday. It will always bring you there when you come to the castle from your world and you must be in that room to leave," Diana explained. They descended a set of stairs and turned through an arched opening. They were in the very same room where they had met the day before.

Flare pointed across the room. "I believe that I was over that way."

Diana smiled. "It doesn't matter. Anywhere in this room will allow you to use the key." She moved closer and reached up to kiss him. They lingered there for a moment and then she broke the contact. "I enjoyed your visit and I hope you will return soon."

"I will," Flare answered a little huskily. He wasn't quite sure that he was ready to leave just yet. The option of staying was removed as Diana turned and walked from the room.

Sighing, Flare flipped open the cover of the pouch and stuck his hand in. As before, there was a blinding flash of light and he lost focus as the room seemed to spin faster than he could follow.

Chapter 15

As before, Flare hit the ground hard. He remained standing for just a moment but then he lost his balance because of the room spinning so fast. He fell to the ground and landed on his right side. He lay there with the feeling that the whole world was unbalanced. But after a moment the feeling subsided and he sat up, groaning at the movement.

Perhaps he had moved too quickly, but he immediately rolled over onto his knees. He knelt there for a moment swallowing hard, trying to prevent what he knew was about to happen. Unable to resist any longer, Flare leaned forward and retched. He retched again and again, all the while saying a silent thank you to Diana for not letting him eat before he left. There was nothing in his stomach so after a few moments he rolled back over onto his back. His body was covered in sweat, even though he was actually cold. He lay there for a moment and enjoyed the coolness of the cavern. He idly wondered how the creature was able to see anything in this darkness, and then his eyes popped open. He had forgotten about the creature. What if there were more of them?