The Fenimeldiyaan: Rogue Time - Chapter 16

“Come out, come out wherever you are!”

Ramsey stood against the stone, not moving a muscle. He held his wife against him, praying that she wouldn’t have the nerve to do anything stupid like she usually did in such situations.

“What are they saying?” Elspeth breathed into his ear.

Ramsey shook his head before remembering that she couldn’t see the gesture; he, Elspeth and Lias were still invisible due to Andreas’ spell. Instead, Ramsey gave his wife’s hand a reassuring pat as if to say ‘everything’s going to be alright, so keep quiet.’ At least, that’s what he hoped she’d get from it.

“There!” one of the soldiers yelled. “They’re masked! Archers at the ready!”

Archers, Ramsey thought. That can’t be good. And that man must be a sorcerer. How else would he have been able to sense their presence?

“Elspeth,” Ramsey began, keeping his voice low. “Lias?”

“Here,” the snake-man breathed.

Ramsey took a deep breath as he watched the hallway fill with a multitude of Hindustani archers. “Sic em.”

At once, Ramsey felt both of his companions grow to enormous sizes, their reptilian forms pressing against the stone and against Ramsey himself. The old dragon figured he would initiate a sneak attack from behind. Ramsey scaled the wall, keeping his eyes locked on the archers as they knocked their arrows, following the sorcerer’s orders.

“Fire!”

Arrows whizzed past Ramsey’s head, narrowly missing his left ear. The dragon winced, for once wishing that his hearing wasn’t so good. He glanced back as he heard Elspeth cry out in pain, but kept on going when her call turned into a haughty roar.

“That’s me girl,” he whispered as he came up behind the row of archers, ready to strike.

Ramsey shrugged off his clothing and threw back his shoulders as his skin gave way to scales. He reared back on his hind legs, extending his wingtips as far as they would go in the cramped corridor.

“Fire!” the sorcerer commanded once again, but before the archers could even think of loosing more arrows, Ramsey was upon them. He clawed and bit at the soldiers, but held back the fire that was burning inside him. Despite years hating the Hindustanis, Ramsey could still not justify killing anyone. Perhaps that was why he’d gone into the line of spywork instead of becoming a soldier.

The soldiers and the sorcerer screamed, flailing around at their invisible attackers. While they were distracted, Elspeth and Lias advanced upon them.

“Ye have two choices, ladsss,” Elspeth hissed, causing the soldiers to turn back towards her, their eyes wild.

“Fire!” the sorcerer cried out in a high pitched voice that sounded quite a bit like a tea kettle, Ramsey mused.

“Auggh!” the dragon called out as more arrows bit into the spaces between her scales. “Never mind! Jussst one choice!”

Ramsey rolled his invisible eyes. “Elspeth! They don’t speak Albionite.” Switching to Hindustani, Ramsey raised his voice. “Surrender, or ye’ll die by fire!”

“So be it!” the sorcerer called out, but that was all he had time to say before some invisible force knocked him and the other soldiers down where they stood. Ramsey blinked, wondering how Elspeth and Lias had managed that…

A voice suddenly delved into Ramsey’s mind, making him jump. “Ramsey Andarsen? Elspeth and Lias?”

“Wh-what in the First Dragon’s name was that?!” Elspeth cried out. “Get out of me head, foul demon!”

“Who is it?” Ramsey called out in a nervous sing-song voice. He tried not to make his voice shake, since whoever this mysterious voice was, she must be very powerful. Was it the Chronomage?

“I be Anwyn, wife of Andreas. This situation be resolved now, and ye’d best be making yer way to the throne room and meeting up with yer other companions before the soldiers wake up again. Ye’ll find the Hindustanis will have a change of heart once they find out just how much they’ve been played with.”

“Hmm. I like this voice already,” Elspeth commented, much to Ramsey’s and Lias’ surprise.

“Ye’ve caught the Chronomage responsible?” Ramsey asked the disembodied voice, but it apparently had better things to do, as it had already taken its leave.

Ramsey was suddenly aware that the invisibility spell had worn off of him and his companions. He was relieved to see that Elspeth seemed to be fine; she had two arrows projecting from her neck and underbelly, but was otherwise unharmed. Lias had an arrow wound in his side, but it didn’t look lethal; perhaps Andreas and the others could heal it without much effort.

“Let’s get to the throne room then,” Lias said, already having shifted back to his human form. Ramsey and Elspeth did the same, and Ramsey hoped that he could remember how to get to the throne room of the palace… it had been far too long since he’d last seen it.

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Ben watched as the man trapped the strange woman and their spirits seemed to merge for a moment. He was blatantly ignored as the man called out for guards and had the woman taken away. Then they were alone again, and Ben could feel Andreas dying much faster. Oh what would he do with this poor corpse? If it had to be a corpse.

"Your friend... if he is a friend, will die in a matter of minutes," Ben said casually, leaning back in his seat. The ground beneath him rumbled, reminding him of all the action in the palace taking place. A feeling of excitement went through Ben, and he hoped Andreas would die sooner so he could partake in the fun. Or, to be kind, not die at all.

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It was a miracle to talk to the woman. And a miracle more when Iereth and Will appeared before Rachel. She was atop the table in a panic of sorts, checking every part of her body as if she expected something to be missing.

"Rachel!" Will cried, embracing her in a hug. Iereth was glad to see Rachel as well, but the king and his men were still braying mules and it was only a matter of time before they returned to normal and discovered the sorcerer who turned them into such creatures.

"Rachel, Will. I don't think we should stay." Already some of the donkeys' ears were shortening and bodies straightening.

"Right," Will said, releasing Rachel. The two looked about and then all three sprinted out of the throne room.

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Lias was glad the chaos was ending, if it were ending. The arrow in his side wasn't too painful, but it made moving as he pleased somewhat difficult- and for a snake, that was a great inconvenience.

"Let's get to the throne room then," he hissed. The ruler there could end this mess... and maybe they'd have some healer to care for his wound.

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River tugged away from Dorrie and ran into the palace. Confused, none of the others moved to stop her. She followed the energy signature that had led her to this situation in the first place and found a room locked by sorcery wards. Closing her eyes, she connected with one of the room's occupants and affected a translocation. It was the first time she'd tried such a spell, but her desire to help fuelled the spell and cost her little energy.

Andreas lay on the bed, dying. The Hindustani looked at her in astonishment, and Ben didn't seem very surprised. River pushed past Rhami and went to Andreas, laying her hand on his forehead gently. She initiated mental contact with him. "You saved me in Albion. It's time for me to return the favour."

Her hand slid down to his heart. Golden light filled the room, lighting it and filling it with peaceful energy. After only a few moments, River pulled her hand away, and Andreas opened his eyes. A relieved smile lit up River's face before she sank down on the edge of the bed, looking exhausted. Andreas patted her hand. "Well done, me dear," he said quietly.

River blushed. "I think I'm going to rest here," she transmitted to him before laying down and falling asleep.

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Gerald and Morgan both decided to skip Andreas's conversation with Rani Darshana. The two were taken to a separate room and supplied with a lot of food. Gerald shook his head in bemusement at Morgan as the mage devoured plate after plate of food. "I'll never understand how such a short chap can stomach so much food," he said. Gerald himself could hardly bring himself to eat anything. His stomach was still in knots from how close he'd come to dying; also, he still had numerous wounds all over his body. Andreas would probably tend to them when he was finished, but for the moment, Gerald felt sore and tired.

Morgan hardly glanced up. "I have to eat a lot," he explained, stuffing a piece of bread into his mouth. Gerald sighed. "My magic drains me, and food supplies me with my energy."

"I think ye eat more than ye need," Gerald commented, raising an eyebrow at the round mage.

The door opened, and both of them turned around. Elaine stood there, and Gerald stood. "Hello, Elaine," he said. The little thief ran to him and wrapped her arms around him, sobbing into his shirt. "Ah, don't do that."

"I thought you were going to die!" Elaine wept. 

Gerald gently unwrapped her arms from around him and knelt before her. "I thought so, too. I'm glad t'have been proven wrong," he said.

Elaine embraced Morgan just as enthusiastically. The mage grinned faintly. "How's Andreas?" he asked.

"Taking care of the political side of things," Elaine answered, dashing her arm over her eyes to wipe away the tears. "He sent me to come get you. He wants to talk to you."

Morgan looked uncomfortable. "Oh ... right," he said.

Elaine watched the two of them go, feeling greatly relieved. They were her ride back home to Vordelle. Not only that, they were family.

Speaking of family ... she hurried out of the room to the kitchen, where "Callum" was selecting choice pieces of meat to gnaw on. He turned guiltily when Elaine came in. "Andreas told me I could be here," he stammered with his mouth full.

Elaine jerked her thumb behind her. "A word, if I may?"

The two left the kitchen and went to the hallway. Elaine stood at the window, her back to him. "I've been wanting to talk to you alone ... Cliff."

Cliff stared at his feet. "Elaine ..."

She turned on him. "Why would you try to hide it? Why did you run away from us? Elsa loved you!"

"I didn't run." Cliff's confession stalled Elaine's protests. She stared at him, waiting for him to continue. "I died, Elaine. I got killed."

"But ... by who?"

Cliff looked at her, opened his mouth, stopped, and let his gaze fall to his feet again. "I don't know. I never saw his face. I don't even know if it was a 'he'. And that's my story, Elaine. I died."

"And what will you do now?" she asked.

"Is she happy?" Cliff said. "Elsa. Is she happy with this Gerald?"

Elaine nodded. "Yes. They have a complicated relationship--she only married him so I would marry--but eventually, she came to truly love him. They even separated briefly, but they're together again, stronger than ever. So yes. He makes her very happy."

"Oh." Cliff crossed his arms, still avoiding Elaine's eyes. "I'm going to stay in Albion. Find a new home there. I don't belong in Vordelle anymore. I don't think I could bear seeing Elsa again, not after all this time. Promise me something, Elaine. You'll tell her that Cliff is dead. That he didn't run. But tell her that he's dead now, and his long-lost brother Callum told you that. Won't you ... please?"

Elaine blinked back tears, and Cliff repeated his request even more fervently. "Yes. I'll tell her," she said finally.

"Good," Cliff answered, relaxing. "Then I've got to go. Good-bye, Elaine." He embraced her and walked away, leaving Elaine to brush away her tears the best that she could.

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Gerald and Morgan sat in the room with Andreas. "How ye be holding up?" he asked them.

Morgan flexed his fingers, watching the flames dance across them. "Well enough."

"Been better," Gerald admitted. "Mate, I've been wanting t'talk t'ye. I--I need a break. A vacation from the vacation. There's something I've got t'do, back in Vordelle, after I bring Elaine home. Something that needs clearing up 'tween me and Elsa. It ain't going t'be a long break. I've had too much fun for that. But ... just a month. Maybe a bit more." He had decided to tell her the truth. The truth about Cliff. If she still wanted him after that ...

"Me too," Morgan said softly. "I just need some time to think. If you know what I mean." The Rajah's murder hung heavy on his mind. "Please don't be angry."

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Rachel, Will, and Iereth stood awkwardly together outside the castle of Albion. Rachel started the conversation. "The war's ending. I guess I can go home." She stared at her feet.

"That's good," Will said, his voice too calm.

She pulled Will aside and whispered to him. Whatever she said made his face turn red. He answered her in the same tone, but Iereth heard his response. "Be safe, Rachel." Then he pulled away and stepped a few steps away.

Rachel laid a hand on Iereth's shoulder. "I owe you my life," she said. "Without you ... who knows how much longer the Chronomage could have wreaked havoc on the two countries? If you hadn't contacted Andreas's wife ..." She kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Reth. Don't be a stranger." Smiling a little, the noblewoman slipped away from them and disappeared into the crowd.

Will was indignant. "She kissed you!" he said.

"What did she say to you?" Reth asked.

Will shrugged. "She told me not to disappear for years again. She said she liked me too much for that."

"Where will you go?"

"Oh, here, there, and everywhere," Will answered vaguely. "But I'm sure I'll be turning up at your doorstep before long. Good-bye, Iereth." With a wave, Will dashed off.

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Andreas leaned over the sleeping form of River and planted a kiss on her third eye. “Rest well, me dear. I know ye’ve got a difficult decision ahead of ye — whether to train at the Donovan Institute or with Dorrie on her island. Ye’ll know how to contact me when ye’ve decided. The Goddess of Justice will always smile on ye, Queen River Meer, and one day ye’ll learn how to ride the wind”.

He bowed deeply in front of Ben. “Thank ye, Guardian of the Beyond. Yer watch be over now, until another soul on the brink needs ye. The work ye do might seem distasteful to many, but tis a worthwhile service. May Haedestryah, Goddess of the Beyond, bless ye for serving her in such a selfless and tireless manner”.

He then sat on the floor in his customary cross-legged meditation position. “Time to rejoin me other self” he murmured in Carpathian. Somehow Ben understood the meaning, even though the words were unfamiliar. The outline of the little Spy Master wavered and shimmered, became insubstantial then vanished altogether.

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The Rani stood up. “Lord and Lady Andarsen, may I offer my humble thanks for your inestimable service to this holy land. Although you are citizens of Albion, you risked your lives to restore peace to both lands. You will always be welcome in Hindustan, should you ever choose to visit again. I sincerely hope you will”.

Elspeth fiddled with the pink silken robe which she had been given. The fabric felt wonderful against her skin, although she missed her favourite old floral robe, which had been destroyed in the battle. “So what will happen to the Chronomage?”

The Rani’s face took on a harsh aspect. “I have been informed that the High Council of Chronomages will exact an extremely harsh punishment upon her. Her powers will be drained and she will be blocked from using sorcery. She will serve a five-year sentence in a temporal prison, where she will see no-one and have nothing to do. She will learn the true meaning of boredom. After that, she will be allowed to return to her native Losintho, where she will live quietly as an ordinary mortal. She will be under supervision for ten years. If she proves that she can behave decently, she will be granted very limited powers which she will put to good use as a battlefield healer, so that she may help to save lives instead of destroying them”.

“Bit lenient if ye ask me” Elspeth grumbled.

“Quiet, woman!” Ramsey warned. “We’ve only just gained her trust. Ye don’t want her throwing us in a cell or having us beheaded, do ye?”

Elspeth gave him one of her fiercest grimaces, but wisely refrained from commenting further.

The Rani turned to Lias, who had been healed by a combination of Andreas and Dorrie. “Since our current Spy Master, the Inijinn Haresh Joshi, also known as Lord Andreas Alano Cesario, will be leaving this holy land, I offer you the honoured and coveted position of Inijinn. No honour will be lost if you decide not to take up the offer and it will always remain open to you”. She held out a yellow crystal, the symbol of office for the Inijinn.

Lias bowed to her. “Many thanks, Your Eminence, for your generous offer. I will have to think about it”.

She gave him a benevolent smile.

“Inijinn Joshi … Lord Cesario … however you wish to be known, I thank you for your inestimable service. I wish that you could remain in your post, but I understand that you have duties elsewhere. Please also convey my gratitude to your wife and all the others who have helped to restore peace between our holy land and the great land of Albion”.

Andreas gave her one of his trademark mischievous grins before bowing low, his long tail of hair brushing the floor. “Tis an honour to serve, Yer Eminence. I be sure that yer new Inijinn and yer honoured advisers will help ye to settle into yer role as ruler of this holy land. I wish ye a long and peaceful reign. May the Goddess of Fertility bless ye with a loving husband and many children and grandchildren”.

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A little while later, Andreas sauntered into the guest room where Gerald and Morgan were resting. “I hope ye saved some food for me”.

They both laughed, knowing that his appetite was almost as prodigious as Morgan’s.

“How ye be holding up?” he asked.

Morgan flexed his fingers, watching the flames dance across them. "Well enough."

"Been better," Gerald admitted. "Mate, I've been wanting t'talk t'ye. I--I need a break. A vacation from the vacation. There's something I've got t'do, back in Vordelle, after I bring Elaine home. Something that needs clearing up 'tween me and Elsa. It ain't going t'be a long break. I've had too much fun for that. But ... just a month. Maybe a bit more." He had decided to tell her the truth. The truth about Cliff. If she still wanted him after that ...

"Me too," Morgan said softly. "I just need some time to think. If you know what I mean." The Rajah's murder hung heavy on his mind. "Please don't be angry."

“Why would I be angry?” The expression on the little Spy Master’s face was one of sympathy with a little amusement mixed in. “Ye be me friends and I’ve vowed to support ye always, regardless of what decisions ye make. Gerald, I know Cliff’s death be weighing heavily on yer conscience and ye can’t let it rest. Elsa be a good woman and I believe she’ll stick by ye. She may be angry at first, she may even threaten to run ye through with yer own sword, but deep down, she loves ye more than life itself. Twill take a while, but ye’ll be forgiven eventually”.

“How d’ye know for sure?” Gerald asked.

Andreas chuckled. “I never told ye this, but when I first met Anni’s family, they didn’t trust me. Thought I were setting them up for a fall. Anni were supposed to kill me, but instead I earned her love, along with the trust and respect of her extended family. If I can forgive that, then surely Elsa can forgive ye”.

“And who will forgive me?” Morgan demanded. “I know the Rani has granted me an official pardon, but it feels wrong somehow. Like I don’t deserve to be forgiven”.

Andreas smiled and patted him on the arm. “Ye have to forgive yerself most of all. Until ye can do that, ye’ll always be trapped in a prison of yer own making. When I planted that bomb underneath an innocent family’s car, setting it to explode when they were on their way to church, I hated meself. I hid behind the excuse that I were carrying out orders from the head of me family — me loathsome half-brother Enrico. But what he did were far worse. He hid behind me, saying that I acted on me own, instructing his lawyer to defend only him, not me. I served five years in the penitentiary for him, but far longer in me own mind. Ye be a decent man, Morgan, and all those who matter would agree with me. Take as long as ye like. Ye have to find yer own path to forgiveness”.

“I’ll try” Morgan vowed.

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“Well,” Ramsey mused, “that Rani seems a decent woman. It pains me heart to remember the action I’d taken against her kingdom all those years.”

Elspeth sighed. “War be a complicated thing.”

The old dragon absentmindedly reached up to adjust her spectacles before remembering that they’d been misplaced earlier on in their adventures. They were probably lying broken in some castle or forest somewhere. Elspeth didn’t much care; if she wanted to see clearly all she had to do was call upon the might of her dragon side. And after her latest escapade, Elspeth decided she should shift to dragon form more often. The wind beneath her wings, the puny humans cowering from her enormous form… It had been far too long since she’d allowed herself such freedom.

“What’re ye smiling about?” Ramsey questioned, looking sideways at his wife. “’Tis a bit unnerving ta see ye smile.”

“Let’s just say that little adventure wasn’t half bad.”

“Ye can say that again.”

Elspeth made a face. “I still think that Chronomage woman be deserving a lot more’n she’s getting.”

“Shush, Elspeth. I think it’s fitting she have her powers removed fer the time bein’, and when they’re restored, let 'er heal the injured. Maybe it’ll give ‘er a change o’ character somewhere along the way.”

“I think not.”

Ramsey sighed, straightening the tunic the Rani and her followers had kindly given him. “An’ I truly hope Lias accepts the position of Inijinn.” The old dragon glanced across the throne room at the snake-man. Lias caught Ramsey’s eye and gave a wide smile that clearly displayed his fangs. His eyes shone in the torchlight. “He’s a decent man and a mighty fine reptile, if ye ask me.”

Lias straightened, glancing at the floor in embarrassment. Ramsey had a habit of speaking a little too loudly, and Lias hadn’t really meant to listen in to the conversation, but he could feel his heart swelling with pride. Maybe he would take this ‘Inijinn’ position the Rani had spoken of. It would be an honour to follow in the footsteps of Andreas, whom Lias had grown to admire.

“So, Ramsey, ye old coot,” Elspeth began, breaking the silence. “Whaddaya say we leave our cramped excuse fer a cottage behind? Just fer a little while, so we can test our wings out s’more?”

Ramsey gave his wife a wide grin. He would miss the new friends he’d made – they’d all gone off in various directions, intent on re-establishing connections with loved ones and righting past wrongs. But he knew that Elspeth would always be there by his side; despite her attitude, she really did care. Deep, deep, deep down.

“I thought ye’d never ask,” the old dragon smiled.

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Iereth nodded off at his friends. He then turned and headed towards his apothecary. Yet he then changed his course. There was something he needed that could not be achieved inside an apothecary shop. Adventure.

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Lias thought deeply about the position of inijinn. Never before had he served humans. The thought of having to be about them all the time made his skin crawl. But... his eyes drifted over to a display of food. He'd have a lot better time eating here than in the cave... And... his eyes drifted over to the yellow crystal the Rani was offering. He was no dragon, but even snakes had an eye for gems like that.

Lias refused to admit any other reasons as to why he may have wanted the position. He stepped forward and took the crystal. "It would be an honour," he said with a grin.

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All seemed well amongst the Hindustanis. Andreas was gone, several were feasting, and all were celebrating. Ben smiled softly and slipped away. He belonged amongst trouble, and Hindustan had only peace.

THE END

Story written by R C Fletcher, K V Wilson, Xanxa Symanah and ANA © 2018 Symanah Publishing