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 XXII
Dave took charge of the situation and quickly had everything under control. The police were called and Alex and Jennifer had to testify. When everything was pieced together, the police put out an APB on a Latvian named Akuta working with several unknown accomplices. The official story was that Dr. Blanc was somehow connected with Tony Bianchi, noted underworld character. Bianchi and Blanc both were murdered by this Latvian and his group. The motive was apparently gang related. Bianchi must have double crossed him somehow and Blanc was just a victim because he was dealing with the wrong people. Actually the missing gang did everyone a great service by eliminating a notorious crime lord, not to mention breaking up the Satanic cult that had been operating in the area. The D.A. was sure he could tie in several other murders and disappearances to the black magic cult, in addition to Jennifer's friend Troy.
The sun was finally coming up as Alex, Jennifer and Dave were leaving the police station. "You guys want a ride somewhere?" Dave asked, indicating his Toyota. A friend had driven it over.
"Thanks," Alex replied. "My car is at her place. North Promenade." They climbed in and the scientist pulled out into the early morning traffic.
"What will happen to your institute?" Alex asked as they headed east.
"We had a lot of government funding. I'm sure there's going to be quite a few boards of inquiry before we're through. But I imagine in the long run, I'm out of a job," Dave replied. "I guess I can always go back to teaching."
"Sorry," Alex muttered.
"Look, we all know things didn't even remotely happen the way the police think. I know those people weren't Eastern Europeans, whatever they were. How about helping me out?"
"You know about as much as I do," Alex said. "They were magic or something. All I know is, the unicorns were real animals. And Akuta was a real . . ." His voice trailed off.
"A real what?" Dave pursued.
"I don't know," Alex admitted. "But I think I'm going to miss him."
"We thought they were aliens; that they must have come from somewhere else in the galaxy," Dave confessed. "But I'm not so sure anymore. They weren't human, but they didn't seem to act like a superior race capable of space travel."
"They are superior," Jennifer said. It was her first statement since leaving the police station. "They're kind and considerate, and polite. I've never met any such wonderful people before."
"Considerate, polite people don't take over research facilities and murder the director," the driver said as he turned the car onto Promenade.
"But it's okay for scientists to kidnap innocent people and foreign royalty and then put them to sleep like animals at the city pound?" she said angrily, tears glistening on her eyelashes.
"Touche," Dave replied. "I guess I deserved that. But we didn't even know if he was intelligent. And just remember, I wanted to save his life, not kill him. That was Blanc's idea. You know, I always thought that guy would turn out to be a mad scientist."
"This is it." Alex indicated the house.
Dave pulled up and stopped, letting his passengers out. "I just wish I knew where they went," the scientist said.
"They went home," Jennifer replied. Dave nodded, then pulled away from the curb and headed off in the early morning light.
Scott felt a brief moment of dizziness, then saw that they had returned to Tuatha. The homing crystal had done its job, taking Akuta home and pulling the rest of them along with him because of their physical connection. Scott was still holding Robin, Akuta holding one of the king's hands, and Firebrand was leaning over them, his muzzle pressed against Akuta. They had arrived in the main hall of the white tower.
"Fetch a healer, quickly!" Akuta shouted to the surprised onlookers who were in the hall at the time of their appearance.
Helping Scott to place Robin on the stone floor, Akuta then grabbed his silver dagger from his belt and quickly wiped the human blood from it. He reached down and made a deep slice on Robin's arm, approximately where the needle had given the injection. "Now stand back," he said as he stood and tugged at Scott.
"No," Scott argued, but Akuta pulled him away from the body of his lover, holding him firmly.
Firebrand stepped close and dropped his head. He placed the tip of his horn to the cut that Akuta had made. The bright blue blood had begun to well up at the wound, and as Firebrand's golden shaft touched it, the blood seemed to bubble and fizz. The bright blue color of the blood seemed to fade, and the life giving fluid almost appeared to turn into molten silver. It shined with an inner light. As Scott watched, the glow seemed to travel up Robin's arm and slowly spread across his chest. Gradually his entire body seemed to become transfused with the inner radiance.
"What's happening to him?" Scott asked.
"It's the magic of purification," Akuta said. "A unicorn's horn has the power to purify poison. If the magic works as I had hoped, the poison that the evil man gave him will be eliminated by Firebrand. I have seen the unicorns do this to a pool of tainted water, or a polluted stream. I only hope his body's internal river may work the same way."
"It shall not," a voice nearby said. They turned to see a tall woman in long white robes. She was the healer that had been called. "The river of life is not the same as a pool of water. A unicorn may have powers to clean a tainted stream, but these could not work inside a man." At this point, Firebrand raised his head and stamped his feet, making angry snorts. "I mean no offense, forest lord," the woman said to the beast. "We all have our limitations."
"Yours is the extent of your knowledge," Akuta said. "Look." Robin's body was emitting a silver white glow that seemed to exude the image of vitality. The light slowly faded, and the slash on his arm, that had appeared molten white now turned back to the normal color of Tuathan blood. The wound dripped bright blue. "Heal that before he bleeds to death," Akuta said angrily. The woman quickly dropped to her knees, touched her fingers to her temples, then to her shoulders, then reached out to the king's arm. As she placed her palm over the wound, the bleeding ceased.
"Scott Quartermain," Robin mumbled softly as he tried to move.
"I am here, my lord," Scott said, dropping to his lover's side.
"Stand not there like dead stone," Akuta ordered as he turned to the people gathered nearby. "Help carry the king to his chambers." The crowd quickly moved to assist, but Scott lifted his lover in his arms and headed for the main stairs.
"I apologize for my abrasiveness, my lady," Akuta said as he helped the healer to her feet.
"I understand your feeling," she told him with a smile. "But I think you should know, bringing him to our land was what cured him, not the unicorn. However, he is still not out of danger. He may live, and then again, he may not." She turned and headed up the stairs to check on her patient.
Firebrand swished his tail and made a derisive sound. "I agree with you," Akuta laughed.
"Are you sure you don't mind?" Alex asked as he brought some suitcases into her foyer. "I know we've never quite hit it off."
"You need a place to stay, and I've got the space," Jennifer replied. "Besides, I think you've changed since you came back from California."
"Well, I'd say we've both changed," Alex answered her. "And it'll only be till I find a job and can get my own apartment."
Two days had passed since their adventure had ended. Alex had returned to Frank's place, where he had been staying, but Frank decided he wanted someone else in his guest room. So Alex was summarily dumped out on the street. Actually, he was just as happy. His friend had only taken Alex in when moving back from California, so Frank could get him in bed. Alex had enough of that on the coast and was apparently playing too hard to get for Frank's taste.
He felt good about being with Jennifer. She needed a friend during this difficult time. Her livelihood had been destroyed and it would take time to get the insurance settlement. They were balking because of the obvious arson to the business. Jennifer was rapidly running out of money and wasn't sure how she was going to make ends meet in the coming month. Alex felt important to finally be a shoulder to cry on and a source of emotional support.
They were sitting in the dining room, finishing dinner when Alex finally mentioned their absent friends. "Do you think we'll ever see them again?" he asked her. He couldn't get the picture of Akuta out of his mind.
"I doubt it," she replied. "After what just happened, why should they ever want to come back here." Jennifer was feeling much the same as Alex. She kept thinking about Caseldra. She had never been attracted to a woman before, but she couldn't get the fairy girl off of her mind.
Alex helped her clear the dishes, and they watched TV for a while. After a time they both decided to go up to bed. It was a restless night filled with nightmares and moving shadows. Then sometime in the early morning hours Alex had an extremely pleasant and erotic dream. He was lying in bed when he felt a presence in the room. He sat up to see Akuta standing at the foot of the bed. "What are you doing here?" Alex asked in surprise.
"Was I not invited?" the fairy asked. "You said that if we survived our adventure I should again try coupling with a male, and you were the volunteer. Remember you not saying this?"
"I remember," Alex replied.
"Then will you not be my teacher?" Akuta asked him. Alex realized the fairy was not wearing the battle clothing he had last seen him in. Instead, his tall, well muscled body was covered by a short, white tunic with golden trim. "What shall I first, my lord," he asked.
"Well, for starters you could get naked and climb in bed," Alex replied. The fairy slowly pulled his tunic off over his head, revealing a perfectly formed body. He looked like a statue by Botticelli come to life. As he dropped his garment to the floor, he stepped around the side of the bed, an erection growing. The dream continued with slow, passionate love making that seemed to last for hours.
Meanwhile, Jennifer was experiencing erotic dreams of her own. In her dream she awoke to find the little fairy girl holding her. As she relaxed in the strong arms, she felt safe and secure. Caseldra caressed her hair and kissed her gently on the eyelids. Their lips slowly blended into a kiss that awoke unknown passion in Jennifer's body. She traced her kisses down the small girl's neck and across he firm breasts. She continued to move down to the fairy's stomach, and further until she was poised between the Tuathan's legs. Caseldra opened herself to the human and arched her back as she felt the exquisite pleasure of Jennifer's presence.
Morning finally arrived, and Jennifer awoke feeling much better than she had in some time. She slipped on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt, and then went downstairs to fix breakfast. While the coffee was still brewing, Alex came into the room. "You sure sound happy," he said with a smile. Only then did she realize she had been singing.
"Alex, I had the strangest dream last night," she admitted. "Only, you know, it was really nice."
He laughed softly. "It must have been what we had for supper because I had one too. Only mine was more like a . . . well, a wet dream."
"Yeah?" she said. "Well who did you dream about?"
"Akuta," he said. "And you?"
"Caseldra," she admitted. "I never thought I'd like that sort of thing, but it was really . . ." She didn't get to finish her sentence. The shocked look on Alex's face stopped her. He was looking at the back door. Turning quickly, she beheld their dream partners standing in the open doorway. "Oh my God!" she said. Then "Ow!" Alex had pinched her on the rump. "What did you do that for?" she asked.
"I wanted to make sure you aren't still dreaming," he answered.
"I'm not," she replied.
"Me either," he told her. "And I have a feeling last night was . . ."
Akuta crossed the room to him, embracing him. "Thank you for showing me the pleasure," the tall blond said. "I now understand what it is to be a reversal. I no longer fear my inner self."
"We brought you a gift, my lady," Caseldra said. "Scott told me you would need it." She placed a small wooden box on the table and opened the hinged lid. The inside sparkled and danced as the light reflected off of the cut and polished gem stones that filled the little chest.
"This must be worth a fortune," Alex said as he reached into the chest and let the cold, hard stones run through his fingers.
"It is the least we can do to repay all your assistance," Akuta said. "Now we must go or we shall be late for the royal ceremony. Would you care to come with us?"
"To your world?" Alex asked. "No prob! I wouldn't miss this for anything!"
They left the kitchen and crossed the yard to the carriage house. Inside the building stood two silver horned unicorns. The four quickly mounted and the magical beasts walked to the dark tunnel that again appeared at the back of the little building. Passing through the tunnel they re-entered Tuatha in the same ravine where Jennifer had been before. Once more the animals charged down the canyon, and up the almost vertical end. At the plateau they found Firebrand standing tall, waiting to greet them. In a short time the four were entering Esbereth through the mountain gate.
The palace was decorated with white banners. The people seemed strangely quiet considering the decorations. "We have arrived in time," Caseldra observed as they dismounted.
"What's going on?" Alex asked, looking around and taking in all the sights.
"Come," Akuta said as he led them toward the worship grounds. "It is the ritual of passage. Scott said it is similar to your state funerals."
"The people seem sad, but why the bright colors?" Alex questioned as he looked at the throngs all heading in the same direction.
"We are saddened because of our loss," Akuta explained. "And yet we realize the selfishness of this emotion. The dead have passed to a fuller life than this and shall one day rejoin us in another birth." They had arrived at the worship grounds and joined the mass of people. On the stone altar at the end of the sanctuary lay the body covered with dried flash weed. The people all knelt to pay homage to their dead as they began the song that Jennifer and Alex had heard before on the night when the army disappeared.
Jennifer felt Caseldra's hand on her shoulder and turned to see Scott enter the sanctuary from a small door at the side. He carried a lit torch in his hand, and appeared quite sad. He slowly walked to the dias and climbed the few steps to approach the altar. Placing the torch in a bracket, he knelt and performed the gestures of prayer, then again stood and picked up the torch. "May you return again soon to those who love you," Scott said and then reached out to touch the flame to the body. The flash weed burst into a bright yellow fire that burned intensely for a few minutes. The white heat in the center of the woven covering quickly and completely dissolved the body. The flames then died down and finally faded out, leaving only charred embers and ashes behind.
The crowd quickly dispersed leaving the priests to clean the altar. Scott came down to where his friends waited for him. "It was well done, my lord," Akuta said as he approached.
Jennifer stepped forward and hugged her old friend. "Oh Scott, I'm so very sorry for you," she said as she embraced him.
"Thank you," Scott replied. "He was a good friend at first. But the last few weeks were pretty bad. It's been hard on us all."
Jennifer pulled back and scrutinized her friend. Scott didn't seem to be showing any emotion. "It's okay," she said. "You can let it out. I know you loved him."
"Loved him?" Scott repeated. "No, I don't think I ever really loved him. I know he sure didn't care for me in the recent past."
"Scott, how can you say that?" she demanded. "Robin loved you very much."
"Well sure, but Thomas never cared for me," he replied.
"Who's Thomas and what's he got to do with anything?" Alex asked.
"He was Robin's teacher, almost a father to him. And you just attended his funeral," Scott replied. "He died of something akin to Alzheimer's while we were gone."
The two humans began to laugh. "We thought it was Robin's funeral," Jennifer said. "Where is he? What happened to him?"
"Robin's still too weak to move around much, so as his mate and consort it became my duty to light the fire," Scott explained. "Come on. I'll take you to him. He's very anxious to see you. He wants to make you honorary Tuathans for all your help."
"We have a few other things to discuss too," Alex said. "For one thing, this place could use a nice gay bar. It looks like 'reversals' aren't as rare in this world as everybody thought." Akuta and Alex, and Jennifer and Caseldra all linked arms and headed off toward the white tower. The old priest looked up from his task at the altar and shook his head. He felt certain that more tradition breaking was on the way.
END
Author's note: Many of these characters will return in The Power of the Dark Lord.