RIDERS OF TUATHA by Bert McKenzie Copyright 2010
Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any real person alive or dead is coincidental and unintentional.
CHAPTER XV
"How are we going to get to the fairgrounds tomorrow?" Jennifer asked. "It really is too far to walk. And I don't think we should try Manny again." They had a difficult time getting rid of the amorous cab driver when he dropped the group off at Scott's house. He parked his van, got out and insisted on coming in for a night cap. It took Scott, Rood and Melcot to convince him to go home. Clive was no help at all by calling him Ellenia and inviting him to bed.
"Can we appropriate Troy's car?" Scott suggested.
"Now why didn't I think of that?" Jennifer responded. "I'll just walk downtown to where it's parked by what used to be our shop. That will only take three or four hours. And when I get back I'm sure all seven of us will fit in a two seat MG."
"Okay, so it was a stupid idea. I'm tired and I'm getting desperate," Scott snapped back.
"I'm sorry," she apologized. "I guess I'm tired, too."
"You two must go sleep now," Caseldra said as she pushed them toward the stairs. "We shall devise a plan of action. Everything may look much better in the morning." The two humans acquiesced and climbed the stairs, heading for their respective bedrooms.
Scott slowly stripped off his clothing and slipped into the big, empty bed. He realized just how empty it was, and wondered if he would ever see Robin alive again. Their life together seemed more and more like a dream. He had to force himself to remember the ceremony they had undergone just before he left Tuatha. In the eyes of all of his friends downstairs, that ceremony solidified their relationship. It might seem like a dream, but to the other elves and fairies, he was married to the king. But that was in Tuatha, the land of Faerie. What were they to each other in this world. It all seemed very confusing. Then Scott did something he had not done in a very long time. He climbed out of bed and dropped to his knees. Closing his eyes tightly, he whispered a silent prayer. He asked the God of humans to watch over his friends while they traveled in this strange land, and especially to watch over his missing lover.
The thirst was unbearable. Robin feared that if he did not receive some relief soon he would go mad. He could easily live for quite some time without food, but water was another matter. Water is the universal solvent, and an item that holds great spiritual meaning for all Tuathans. Ever since he was a small child Robin had always performed his morning ritual of anointing himself with the spirit of water. He had even managed to perform this task during the many years he had spent as an exile in this strange land. And now for the first time, he was deprived of this right.
Lars had placed an old bucket of water in the cage with him. At first this seemed promising. He examined the bucket and found that it was constructed from some safe alloy. He was able to touch it. But when he reached into the container, he drew his hand back in haste. The life giving water it held was poisoned. He looked in and could easily see the small flecks of red death settling on the bottom. If he was very patient, the poison might all settle out and he would be able to carefully use the top liquid to bathe. But there would still be minute particles of the oxidized iron in the water, too small to see, but certainly enough to do serious harm if he actually drank it.
His need was so great now, and the cool water stood so close by, taunting him, that he could wait no longer. Being very careful so as not to stir up the settled poison, Robin slowly dipped his hand into the water. It tingled and stung as it washed over his skin, causing his hand to turn a light azure. He pulled it out and shook the offending liquid away. His skin told him it was still too contaminated to use. This was too much to take. His anger quickly surfaced and he lashed out with his bare foot, kicking the bucket as hard as he could. It slammed against the bars and splashed the majority of the water onto the concrete floor. The liquid trickled slowly out, snaking its way toward the drain. A few of the rusty drops flew back, sprinkling his body and burning his skin like battery acid. Robin gasped and held his breath to stifle the cry of pain he wanted to make. Crawling to the far side of the cage, he sat cross legged again on the cold cement and tried to meditate. His thoughts returned to Scott and how happy they had been together. The pain in his body slowly paled in comparison to the pain in his soul.
The ringing phone woke Scott early. At least he thought it was early. He reached up and realized there was no longer a phone on his headboard. That must have been something that Jennifer had moved. He stumbled out of bed and looked around for something to put on. As he slipped on his jeans the phone stopped ringing. Either someone else answered it, or the caller gave up. He stumbled down the hall and as he did so, ran into Jennifer coming out of her room. "It's for you," she said as she headed past him and into the bathroom. He looked into her room and saw the phone sitting on the bed, the handset lying by the pillow. Scott stepped into her room and picked it up.
"Scott," the familiar voice said. "I just thought I'd call and see if you had changed your mind."
"Oh, hello, Alex," Scott said. "Changed my mind about what?"
"I could still use an Adonis sitting at my feet on that float. The parade's in about an hour. I can be right over to pick you up."
"Alex . . ." Scott started to protest.
"I know, you don't have a thing to wear. Not to worry. I've got a costume for you. It'll show off those sexy legs of yours," the voice said, not letting him get a word in.
"But Alex . . ." Scott tried again.
"I'll be over in ten minutes. Bye." The line clicked. Alex was on his way regardless. Scott got up and headed back towards his room to finish getting dressed. He passed Jennifer in the hall.
"So what did he want?" she asked. Jennifer had never really liked Scott's old flame.
"He wants to take me to the parade," Scott replied.
"Great. We're stranded here trying to figure out a way to get to the fair, your boyfriend and Troy are kidnapped and being held by maniacs and you arrange a date to go see a parade."
"Just be downstairs in ten minutes," he replied. "This may be our only means of transportation." Scott turned and headed into the bathroom for a quick shower and shave. He then jumped into some clean clothes and headed downstairs.
The house seemed oddly quiet as he came across the hall to the drawing room. "They're gone," Jennifer said in dismay. She stood next to the desk holding a piece of paper and looking absolutely lost.
"What do you mean, gone?" Scott asked.
"Just what I said. I've looked everywhere and I can't find any of them. And the clothes the guys were wearing last night are all piled on the kitchen table. Their other clothes and swords and things are gone, too."
"What's that?" Scott asked, noticing the sheet of paper she held in her hand.
"It's some kind of design. It was lying here on the desk." She handed him the paper.
"These are runes!" he said excitedly. "It's the way they write."
"What does it say?" Jennifer asked, crowding close to him and examining the strange chain of markings.
"I'm not really sure. I never actually learned to read their language, only to speak it." He pointed to one group of marks. "This means Tuatha." He looked for anything else that was familiar. "I think this grouping means return."
"So they've returned to their own land," she said sullenly. "And they didn't even say goodbye."
"It may mean they went to Tuatha and will return again here," Scott suggested. As if of one thought, both of them headed out through the kitchen and toward the carriage house. Just as Scott reached it he heard a car horn.
"Hi, babe! Ready to go?" Alex had pulled up the drive to park beside the house. He jumped out of his sporty, little, red Ferrari and walked toward them, a vision of classical Greek beauty. He wore a very short Greek kiton belted around the waist with a golden cord and draped up over one shoulder. His other shoulder was bare, the costume exposing lots of skin, showing off his well defined, hairless chest and one sun browned nipple. The fabric from which the scant costume was made looked like a heavy silk and was transparent with the sun at his back. "Got your outfit right here," he said as he held out what looked like a posing strap.
"Alex," Scott started to protest.
"Relax. I'm just kidding. The rest of it's in the car. It matches mine."
"That's pretty revealing. What happens if the wind blows?" Jennifer asked.
"Then the people watching the parade get the thrill of their lives," he smiled.
"Sorry I won't be there to see it," she replied sarcastically.
"Why won't you?" Alex asked.
"Well, because . . ." she faltered for a reason.
"Because she will be riding with me." Scott and Jennifer turned to see Caseldra step out of the carriage house and quickly close the door.
"Are you going to be in the parade?" Alex asked the girl as she walked up to stand beside Jennifer. "That's a great costume," he said.
Caseldra was wearing a short, golden, chain mail vest over a white tunic. She had a flowing blue cape lined in golden cloth draped over her shoulders, and she carried a short sword in a scabbard dangling from her waist. "We shall not parade, but ride directly to the fair. Come, my lady," Caseldra said as she grabbed Jennifer's arm. "You must be dressed for battle before we ride." She quickly pulled the confused human girl after her and headed back into the garage.
"Well, what about it?" Alex said as he tossed the posing strap to Scott.
"My lord." It was Rood. He quickly approached Scott from behind. He, too, had been inside the carriage house. "You must lead us as the king is not here and you are his consort?" He dropped to one knee before Scott and held out a magnificently jewel encrusted long sword. He was again dressed in golden chain mail and a white tunic with golden embroidery.
Scott reached down to take the sword, then looked at Alex. "Sorry," he said and tossed the skimpy costume back. "It looks like I'll be going with my own group."
"Well, maybe I'll see you at the fair," Alex said as he climbed back into the sports car. He gave a wave, and then backed the car down the drive and out onto the street. With a screech of burning rubber, the Ferrari was gone.
"So what's going on?" Scott asked.
Rood stood up and tossed a bundle to him. "Please, my lord. Dress in some civilized clothes for a change. I shall explain as you change your attire."
The two men went back into the carriage house. Inside, the boxes and cartons had been moved to the sides of the room. The rope still tied to the metal hook snaked its way back to the end of the building. But where before there was only an inky void, now there appeared to be a long, dark tunnel. Scott could see stone walls leading back from where the wooden structure of the building cut off. "What happened here?" he asked the tall fairy standing next to him. "It looks different."
"Elnar said that every time the gateway is used, it becomes more established. In this fashion it becomes more natural, a part of the two worlds and less a thing of magic," Rood explained.
"Then will I be able to return?" Scott asked.
"Elnar thinks not so," the guard answered. "He said that your bond would still hold you here. Only if you and Robin enter the gateway together thinks he that you might be able to return to the land." Rood took the bundle back from Scott and began to unwrap it. "Now quickly remove those things and let me help you dress."
Scott peeled off his shirt, slipped out of his shoes and socks and dropped his pants. Rood laughed as he saw the human standing before him in his undershorts. "Why bind yourselves in such confining things, and then put more confining things over them?" the fairy asked.
Scott blushed a bright red and slipped his shorts off. "That's just a human style," he said. Rood draped a golden chain mail tunic over his head. The interior had been lined with a soft, suede-like material to prevent the metal from chafing his bare skin. Next, the fairy lashed and tied the opening at the back of his neck, and then picked up the chain mail hood to drape over Scott's head. He then helped Scott into a long, white linen tunic, split up the center to the waist and trimmed in golden embroidery. He fastened a girdle around his waist to hold the jeweled sword, and then attached a long, blue and gold cape over his shoulders.
"Rood," Scott said. "This sword must be worth a fortune." He was certain that the large, flawless gemstones were real. It would never occur to the fairies to make artificial jewels.
"This is the sword of Oberon the Mighty. Only the high king carries it into battle. However, as the king's consort, I am sure Robin would want you to lead us."
"I don't think this is going to be a war," Scott said.
"The king has been taken and you think this not serious?" Rood asked in amazement.
"I didn't say it wasn't serious," Scott corrected him. Just then Caseldra and Jennifer came down the narrow, wooden stairway that was tucked away in the corner. Jennifer was now wearing Tuathan garb that matched Caseldra's. "My lady, you are quite the warrior," Scott said to her in the elfin tongue.
"What?" she asked.
"He speaks in our language, but without benefit of the chrism," Caseldra explained. "He has complimented your raiment."
"Thank you," she replied, self consciously touching the golden vest. "Is this real gold?"
"Yes," Scott told her. "It's a Tuathan alloy of gold and other minerals that make it extremely strong. Just like their weapons."
"Their weapons?" Jennifer said as she drew the short sword and looked at it. "It looks kind of like stainless steel."
"It's silver," Scott told her. "Be careful with it. Not only would it be worth a mint in our world, but it's also very sharp and quite deadly." Jennifer carefully replaced the blade in its sheath.
"The others will be here soon," Rood said as he opened one of the doors of the garage. "They were in the process of getting our transportation when we left them."
"What transportation?" Jennifer asked.
"You said you needed a way to travel to this fairground we seek so . . ."
They heard sounds of horse hooves behind them and turned to look. A dim shadow was moving through the tunnel at the back of the structure. As they watched in amazement, Rowana stepped out into the light. Walking beside her was a beautiful, white horse. And then, as they gazed at the animal, Scott and Jennifer realized it was not a horse after all. A long, golden shaft protruded from the forehead of the beast. "My lord, we are here to follow you," the girl said to Scott in perfect English.
"Rowana," Scott said. "What is this? And what are you doing here?"
"Only a woman could lead the unicorn through the gateway," Rood said with a smile.
"A real unicorn!" Jennifer exclaimed. "I don't believe it!"
"Why a unicorn?" Scott asked.
"The ravine where the gateway enters our world is cut off from the normal paths by a fallen bridge. The king's knights discovered a very steep, almost vertical trail to it that led from the high plains. Only unicorns could manage that trail. It was much too steep for our horses," Rowana explained. "Firebrand is the leader of the herd," she said, indicating the magnificent beast that stood beside her. "We have known each other for many years. He would trust me to lead him and his herd."
As they spoke, they heard more hooves on stone and another magnificent unicorn, slightly smaller than the first, stepped out of the tunnel. "Can we ride these beasts?" Scott asked. Almost as if he were answering the question, Firebrand gracefully nodded his long head up and down.
Rood laughed at Scott's surprised expression. "Unicorns are not like horses, my lord. They can understand our language, although they cannot speak, nor shall they always decide to comply. But they are intelligent creatures. From what I saw last eve, I might say considerably more intelligent than humans."
Another unicorn followed the second one, accompanied by Melcot and Akuta, dressed for battle. Rowana greeted her mate with a smile, then led Firebrand out of the carriage house and into the bright sunlight. The parade of animals and elves continued to arrive through the gateway tunnel and they all assembled in the drive beside the house. "But we don't have unicorns in our world," Jennifer said. "How can we ride these creatures?"
"Said you not that it was a fantasy fair?" Caseldra asked. "Then may they not be creatures of human fantasy?"
"She's right," Scott agreed. "Anyone seeing them won't even begin to think they're real."
"What about saddles?" Jennifer asked.
"Tuathan's don't use them," Scott explained. "They ride bare back. But what do we do about reins?" he asked Rowana.
"These are not horses, my lord," she reminded him. "You ride only at their discretion."
"Yes, but how do we guide them?"
"They are intelligent creatures. Just tell them where to go."
"I don't think Firebrand knows where the fairgrounds are," he said. The unicorn agreed with him by shaking its head, the golden horn flashing in the sunlight.
"Just give him directions as you ride," Rowana replied.
"He knows right from left?"
"Yes, of course," she said. They all quickly mounted on the assembled unicorns. The elves sprang lightly up onto the beasts. Only Scott and Jennifer needed assistance. Rood helped Scott to climb onto Firebrand, the largest of the animals, and obviously their leader. Jennifer was pulled up to sit behind Caseldra on one of the silver horned creatures.
Scott tried Rowana's instructions and leaned forward. Firebrand twitched his ears around toward the rider as Scott asked him to head down the drive and out onto the street. Thankfully, there was no traffic. They took the lead, flanked by Rood on the right and Akuta on the left, their blue capes flowing in the breeze. Next came Rowana with Jennifer and Caseldra on one side, and Melcot on the other. A double column of palace guards followed. Jennifer looked back and noticed that Clive was nowhere to be seen. Almost as if she could read the human's thoughts, Caseldra said, "Clive's mate was very distressed at his unusual condition. She has kept him in our land to care for him."
"I hope he doesn't have a hang over," Jennifer remarked as the unicorns carried them down the street.