Chapter 6 Part 2

"I don't think I have ever seen anything so beautiful," Calista gasped as she watched the twin suns dipping below the distant peaks. To their right, just north of them towered the peaks of Mount Gale.

"Beautiful or not," Ruk added. "It’s certainly most welcome."

Avery took in their surroundings. They were on a plateau on the western side of a ridge line overlooking a valley. Far off to the west another ridge line was outlined by the dimming twilight. Overhead the star patterns gave information as to their location.

"I think we’re not far from the entrance to that cave where the maze is," Avery announced at last. "If so then the Glade should be in that direction," he pointed southwest. The light had diminished too much to see any detail in the shadow covered valley. "That’s where we’ll start looking tomorrow."

"I shall leave such adventures to you," Sounder of the Charge piped joyfully. "I beg you, Armegon, to return me to my natural state that I may soar into the heavens and wing among the stars once more."

While Avery and Ruk made a campfire and set a perimeter, Armegon and Ultrecht attended to Sounder of the Charge's request. The magic was quickly cast and Sounder of the Charge was soon remade into the gallant creature that he was. The thunderbird flapped its huge wings twice and launched itself into the sky climbing like a homesick angel. The crack of bone rattling noise heralded his return.

"I guess he deserved that," Armegon muttered, "but I get the feeling that it won't be long before the gods learn of his escape."

"Nor mine," Ganatar added. The unicorn stood atop a slight rise near the plateau's edge. "My people are out there," he said. "They know I have returned, we can feel each other. Within days I shall be back among them; free at last. You have my eternal thanks."

"It was our pleasure," Avery said.

"I would have something else," Calista muttered to herself, but Ganatar did not miss the words.

Ganatar walked over and placed his head level with her own. "How could I deny freedom for one when it was given to me so selflessly? Of course you will get your wish. I give it to you freely."

Avery drew his sword. Liberator chimed lightly as it slid from the hard leather scabbard. Ultrecht removed a flask and opened it. "This must be done now," the mage said. "The time is right, and both parties are willing."

Ganatar joined them and knelt down into a comfortable position. "Do it now," he urged.
Avery touched the point of Liberator to the hindquarter of the unicorn. As bright red drops of blood welled forth, Ultrecht gathered the precious fluid into the flask. When he was done, Avery closed his eyes and removed the sword. The flow staunched immediately with no sign of skin breakage.

"Your obligation is filled," Avery said. "Though we certainly welcome you to stay with us as long as you wish, we won’t be offended if, like our thunderbird friend, you too depart to relish in your freedom."

"I will leave at dawn," Ganatar stated. "For this last evening I wish to share with you who I have come to count as friends."

They slept little. Ganatar spoke of his plan to reunite his people. There were a few jokes about how he would deal with a population of female unicorns. Calista found them amusing, but typically chauvinistic.

Avery invited Ganatar to visit as often as he liked and gave the unicorn explicit instructions on how to locate Nikki's cottage. "We wish you nothing but the best."

Ganatar nickered. "And I wish the same upon you. I dearly hope that you can free the boy."

Calista drifted in and out of sleep. Several times during the night she woke to different conversations between different persons. At one point she gazed at he stars wheeling overhead and the twin crescent moons rising in the east. Not too long afterward, she woke to a golden light in the eastern sky. The twilight brightened and she rose before the suns broke the horizon. The increasing light glistened off the wet surroundings before the suns drove the dew from the ground. A long forgotten difference, the temperature changes between day and night returned with a surprising lack of comfort.

Not long afterward, the suns topped the horizon and the flowering light of day swept across them like a wave on the beach. All those who were awake at that point were so enraptured by the sunrise, that they failed to notice Ganatar's departure. The unicorn gingerly stepped from the camp and quietly faded from view as he disappeared into the foliage.

When Calista finally noted the departure of their companion, she kept her silence. The unicorn had been a welcome distraction, but he had been parted from his species for far too long. She too knew something about what separation from a loved one was like. She did hope to meet Ganatar again.

Avery gazed out over the valley as camp was broken. In the distance, the Glade could be seen as a patch of soft green among the deeper colors of the surrounding forest. "We’ll be there around midday if we don't stop for a break," he guessed. "We can gather our belongings and take our leave. Then we can head home."

"It’s going to be a long trip, I think" Ruk said. "Morning has barely begun and a hot, muggy day is in the air. The hot seasons have arrived. That means the northern seas will be very slushy. The ice boats won’t be running so we’ll have to travel overland, unless you want to use magic to get us home."

"That is a distinct possibility," Ultrecht said. "We have an excellent fix on Nikki's cabin. Teleporting there should not be any problem."

"I think that we have enough experience in local magic to disguise mass telelocation now as well," Armegon added. "I don't think our enemies will notice us if we do."

They talked happily as they hiked down the ridge into the valley. The debate continued concerning the possibility of teleporting back home. Avery conservatively urged caution. "We’ve come a long way," he warned. "We can’t let ourselves get careless now. If you two are absolutely certain that you can avoid drawing attention, then I’d love to be eating Nikki's cooking tonight, but I’d rather eat trail mix than jeopardize our success."

Armegon assured them that the spell would attract attention, but that it would not identify them. "If Quickdraw wants to investigate every teleporting mage in the world, then I doubt he has time for anything else. I can guarantee that our spell will be indistinguishable from everyone else's."

Avery leaped across a narrow gully and turned to help Calista and Ultrecht across. "Do you think Quickdraw might be looking for us?"

"Normally I would say 'no'," Armegon replied. "But with Tyson's unique ability to turn up when he’s not wanted, I’m not so sure about that. I don’t think that he’ll let the Blackpuss bunch give us much leeway."

Calista had a solution. "I have an idea. Let's teleport to Tycho. I’m sure that teleporting to a destination like that is probably common."

"That isn't bad," Ultrecht agreed. "I can see how teleporting directly to the cabin might be asking for trouble, but to a major city would not really stand out."

"That could actually be very beneficial," Armegon added. "I can look up Regalus and find out how our investment is doing."

Avery stopped and took in their surroundings. Over the last two hours they had completely descended the scrags to the upper edge of the valley. They continued on and soon they emerged from the woods at the outskirts of the Glade. Yoan, the centaur, spied them from the tree line and galloped out to meet them.

"We thought y’were lost, y’were gone so long." The young Janusian drew up to a halt only a pace or so in front of Avery. "Did y’find him? Did y’see the unicorn?"

"The green unicorn again walks the land," Avery answered.

"Yoan," Ultrecht interrupted pushing past Avery. "How long have we been away?"

"At least two to three months," Yoan replied. "That’s why I couldn’t wait. After the first week passed, I came back here."

"Three months," Avery swore. "I only counted about four weeks. It never occurred to me that time might be different there than it is here."

"So we lost some time," Armegon admitted. "We can't get it back so we deal with it. Yoan, has anything important happened?"

"Not here," the centaur assured them. "The west has seen very little disturbance, but rumors from the east hint at trouble brewing. There is even a rumor that the king is ill at the hands of some foul magic by House Cadaver."

Armegon snorted. "I’d think Blackheart would be the one behind something like that."

"Oh, that’s not the Blackheart way--politics and war, maybe but not something as spineless as a curse," Yoan assured him. "Of course it’s just a rumor. We don't really get much more than rumors here in the Glade."

They continued walking back to the compound at the foot of Mount Gale. When they arrived, the valley showed considerable more evidence of inhabitants than it had the last time they had been there. The lodges were occupied and their belongings had been moved into storage, but were well cared for otherwise.

As Yoan led them into the compound, he was approached by an elder centaur. The older Janusian addressed them with a deep bow. "It is indeed a pleasure to meet such great heroes," he began. "A full day has passed since the thunderbird returned to the Janusian skies singing his song of freedom. We knew in that moment that y’had been successful and that the green unicorn may be returned to his people." Many of the other centaurs had gathered in a circle around them.

"The ancient one awaits y’in the lodge," one claimed and the crowd parted making way for them. "He’s near his end and his last wish has been fulfilled. He saw the Kilobel soar over Mount Gale in the morning light."

They entered the lodge. The ancient centaur lay on his side propped up by soft boughs covered with a blanket. He smiled as they entered. "Ah they return finally. Please come in and sit, my friends."

The five did as they were bidden while Yoan and the other centaurs departed. "So tell me y’adventure," the old Janusian urged them. "Tell me one more tale before I pass on."

Calista sat next to the ancient centaur and he took her hand in his own. She smiled back at him, and Ultrecht recounted their journey through the maze and into the crystal world of magiclessness. He told of their encounter with the imprisoned ones who would not become gods and their trip across the acid lake where they found Ganatar. Then with assistance from Armegon, Ultrecht continued on to tell of their struggle to escape the prison and their chance meeting with Sounder of the Charge.

"Oh, yes the Kilobels. They once inhabited this valley." The old one sighed. "Never did I dare hope to see them again."

"Your pardon," Ultrecht interrupted. "I do not mean to pry, but it sounds as if you have been around for a very long time."

"That I have," the chief replied. It was clear that he was not disturbed by the subject. "We are a long lived people. But I’m the longest lived of all. The gods themselves saw to that, for I was among those who opposed them, and my punishment was to live in a decaying body until the great birds returned to the sky. My people are fairly long lived with lives spanning two hundred years in some cases, but I have seen tens of thousands of years with each one more painful than the one before."

He coughed and wheezed to catch his breath. "Soon though I will pass on for the curse has been lifted and it is to y’all I give thanks. In one act y’have restored the great unicorns, the kilobels and ended my curse."

"We invite y’to stay with us in our Glade for as long as y’may wish," another chief added. "Here in seclusion y’too may know peace."

Ultrecht smiled. "Were I to retire," he agreed, "this is the kind of place I might wish to hide."

"Should that day come," the ancient centaur said, "y’will most certainly be welcome, but I do not forsee that happening. Y’seek knowledge far too much and I can see that y’are already far older than most men dream. Y’seem to have eluded age's erosion, but I wonder at what price y’did so."

Ultrecht hung his head and went silent. The magic that had restored his youth had indeed been costly. Late in his life, Ultrecht had begun looking into the possibility of extending his life.

For fifteen years he had slaved and researched until he finally discovered a long lost alchemical formula. Avery and Armegon had been there, and both had witnessed in horror as Ultrecht, caught in the magic of the elixir of youth had consumed his own apprentice, a boy no more that fifteen years old. There had been no warning nor any hint that such a side effect of the magic would occur or Ultrecht would never have drank the liquid. The devastation in his own soul was adequate punishment, for he would live many years with the memory of what had transpired haunting him.

"I can see that it is a subject best not dwelt upon," the elder changed the subject. "If, however y’do desire to rest from y’work, y’will be welcome here."

Armegon interrupted. "Old one, we do not mean to be rude, but we can not stay. We have pressing matters back home."

"Ah, the young man who has won the heart of this charming child," the centaur smiled at Calista. He sighed. "I more than understand my dear. My life draws to a close, but this I have seen and I give y’my blessings. Make haste for y’have been away many days and the suns have risen to their highest points in the sky. The hot Sun-season has begun and it always brings many changes."

Armegon stood and bowed low. "A pleasure it has been to meet you and your people. Mayhap I may return and dwell here one day as well."

The old centaur laughed weakly. "Y’fool me no more than yonder wizard," he said nodding to Ultrecht. "Y’too are too full of questions and life to settle. Should y’learn all there is to know, y’would just move to a new place. Perhaps the girl or the healer; they might return, but not y’all."

Armegon spread his hands and left the lodge. He was followed by Ultrecht and Ruk. Calista paused long enough to give the old chief a hug then she too left leaving Avery alone with the wizened leader of the Janusian people.

The healer sat in silence for a long moment. "We’ll be leaving soon," he said. "It would matter very little."

The old one sighed again. "Very well," he resigned. "Proceed, and thank you."

Avery nodded and slowly reached out to touch the elder's neck. Beneath his fingers he felt the life pulsing as a tired heart strove to maintain another day's existence. Calling the healing magic from it's depths, he gently coated the pain within the joints of the elder's body with numbness. The side effects would be inconvenient, but the chief would at least have a few weeks without the sharp arthritic pain.

"Your movements will be slow, but painless," he warned as he gathered himself up to leave. "I wish you well."

The ancient Janusian nodded and fell into a snooze, a parting gift from a passing healer. The first peaceful rest in many years.

"What took so long?" Armegon asked impatiently tossing Avery his pack.

"I was saying, 'goodbye'," Avery replied.

Ultrecht was standing at the edge of a circle of white powder. "Well if you’re done, then let us go. I have a fix on Regalus' inn. We can be there in five minutes."

Avery took one last look around the Janus Valley basking in the sun beneath the sentinel-like Mount Gale. Then he entered Ultrecht's circle.

Ultrecht applied his trade and within moments the Janusian valley began to fade around them. Calista experienced a long breathless period of cold and darkness as they were transported over many leagues. When the world reappeared around her, she fell to her knees as the a wave of dizziness washed over her.