Chapter 21

The light was blinding as Brownie wandered attached to the others like a human/animal chain, she could hear a ringing in her ears from far away as the first sensation that hit her was the cool breeze and the sound of the ocean. The smell of the briny sea Found her nostrils as her vision started to slowly trickle back to her as she saw the vague light grey shadows against a background of a crisp, clear white sky.
She could almost make out that they were walking across a long quayside. She clung on to Googlees tail with both hands as he led the chain onwards into the undiscovered country. The next sensation was the thickness of the air it was almost as if she were breathing her father in; if her father had been the sweet roar of the ocean that is.

She could hear his pulse, his ebb and flow occasionally washing into the harbor sometimes hissing and other times bombing it was refreshing and as her vision was almost back in its totality, she heard the shriek of some aquatic birds screaming in the skies above their heads.
As a strange notion of Deja vu gripped her. She vaguely felt she had laid her eyes upon this landscape before as it appeared to be. She rifled through her book bag and fetched out Biebers music box, to confirm her thoughts. Its copper marquetry glistened in the light as she Held it and looked upon it recalling her birthday supper. She smiled to herself as she remembered the camaraderie of that time. Her ruby red lips were in harmony with her rosy cheeks as the sea breeze lashed them and ruffled her jet-black hair. The box creaked as she opened it and let it play its haunting melody.
It was too bright for it to project its imagery, but Brownie knew deep down in her very bones that this was the place called Lyness from Li kays poem! As she heard the melody play out and felt all tingly.

She also seemed to recall other names, the place where there is singing and one in an much older tongue —An Rún.
——————

In Mercia.
The two guardswomen entered into the Queen’s chamber, like two bandits breaking into a high society gathering and taking hostages. Queen Gaudete had a look of trepidation etched on her face as the commanders of the Queen’s guard prostrated themselves to the monarch, “ sorry to disturb you at this hour majesty We bring news, that the traitor li kay is dead!”
The silence was pervasive, as the very air could be cut by a metaphorical knife. The Queen stood beneath the tall Columns of her chamber as the early afternoon sun chased the shadows that lingered behind the tapestries and curtains. She was; very elegant. She moved her sleek figure almost perfectly around the chamber, as she paced up and down, without slouching, a product of high society finishing school.

the courtesans were used to her strange behavior, the Queen was often referred to behind closed doors as contrary and peculiar, they did wonder if she had heard the news at all.
“Majesty!” Enquired one of the guardswomen
“Yes leftenant, I heard you thank you!” She. Answered snobbishly
“ it’s odd to me that I feel no different, I expected that I would What a shame! Now in reflection, I do curse myself that I did not try and be the righteous one. Instead, I was indeed spiteful !”
“there’s still an opportunity to sue for peace majesty!” Said the Leftenant.
“ yes !” The Queen answered, “call a committee and bring my Captain!” One of the guardswomen recoiled as she delivered the bad news
“ majesty I’m afraid she was badly wounded she will need some time to recoup!”
“Well, in that case, convey her my best wishes and send for my Pa ’mina Primavera!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
The guards saluted and attended to the orders in hand.

———
Tum jai and li kay drifted on the small flotilla of boats as they sailed down the river, they, at last, found themselves at the estuary to the river Ylla, drifting northward like leaves in a bigger collection, insignificant but eye-catching nevertheless.

The surface of the lake was glasslike calm as there were hardly any ripples, only the ones left by the inertia of the ships.
The reflection of the water that most faithful of mirrors showed only the sapphire blue mainsails that were catching the very light breeze as the company of boats meandered slowly up the river, they would have to move more quickly if they were going to get to Mārin before tomorrow.

The two forlorn silhouettes stood on deck if only all life could be this way thought kay as he enjoyed the peace afforded to him by the river.
Underneath his breath, he thanked the river mistress and hoped she would shepherd them to no harm, mindful that the others may see this as a tad superstitious.

The bow of the ships each were decorated by intricately carved animals from ancient Tales. This one bore the image of a wolf-like creature pointing his muzzle onward, forever looking out with its keen eye, yet he did not mind the smaller birds that would from time to time perch there as weary guests. Carrying their offerings of lyger berries, Casper sprigs or moonflower petals.

Li kay and Tum jai.
the old friends passed the time sipping merryblossom tea and sharing anecdotes as they found each other’s comedy mildly amusing until Jai produced the box and set it on a small table which had yellow silk tablecloth on.

A familiar quietness ensued, reminiscent of the quiet of all those years ago at the embassy.

They looked at one another as he undid the tin fastening and opened it to reveal the familiar sight of the crystal ampule that the a.i of magic resided in. Kay did wonder had everything come full circle. He was reminded of their meetings all those years ago.
Li Kay spoke, “hello Emrys, it’s good to see you once again!?!” He laid his empty glass next to where he resided
The crystal tank lit up and spoke “Grand Marshal, it is you ?”
“yes “he replied with almost a chuckle “Emrys it is!” With a warm enthusiasm in his voice
“ how was gardening leave sir?”
“A torment if I’m honest Emrys.”
“ hmmm, I thought so!”
“You’ll please to know sir that I to have been tormented but have not succumbed to pressure!”
“ thanks, Emrys, you’re a better person than me!” He said in a distinctly dark note
Tumjai interrupted them “y’know you seem to be the only one he shows any genuine love or respect to its uncanny!” Kay looked at Jai and nodded.

He cleared his throat as he spoke shrugging off jais comment,
“The final name on the list, now we are all here “ūna glanced over to kay as she interrupted her reading “there’s another name!” She said surprised
“Yes, of course…. there is. “He began to explain “if you hold the note to the sunlight you can clearly read the name Emrys in watermark !”
“ Oh !” She said unsurprised, as she realized at last why he’d been looking at it so much …that time when they first sat in the mayors meeting. “I’m not going to lie to you two, we’re going to be outmatched, outnumbered, and it’s going to seem bleak, but I want you all to abide with me no matter what!” They nodded in concurrence.
————-

Brownie, Googlee & Eulin ambled along the lank road that graced the seafront like a straight dark blue ribbon, meeting the turquoise ocean until eventually, they were standing before the great white gates of the city. The three of them were dwarfed by the sheer scale of them. Above they could see the walls of the keep and the flags that fluttered in the high wind. The sky far above was a powder blue which was scarcely embellished by pure white clouds.
It was then that the little Sprite blinked and was surprised to see moon princess laying on a rustic chaise lounge sunning herself beneath an open moon parasol.
She appeared as if she had been waiting for hours “it’s you!!” Brownie squinted as she confirmed to herself.
“ but…. but you weren’t there a moment ago?!?” She stuttered.
She again felt the overwhelming peace and serenity as if her heart was lifted and was made several sizes bigger as the lucid figure straddled and moved nearer to them as if she were gliding. “hail!” She said as she raised her right palm.

Looking around the small company, she began “do not assume that I have come, this time to bring peace, I came not to send peace but the sword, for these are grim times!” She ominously stated, “and I have come to warn you of this!” She paused “what lies inside these gates is not real, it is much much worse than that!”

Much much worse than that? The little Sprite wondered what could be worse “the real Lyness is no more child!” Answered the Moon goddess as if she knew their every conceived thought “it lies at the bottom of the sea!” These…. are the twisted machinations of the Changeling-King, or as some call him the Knightmare? Although it is only a remnant of him! This is the space between spaces!” She said as the Zephyr carried from the open ocean caressed her immaculate golden hair, as she looked headlong side profile her crown rested upon her noble brow like the art on a coin.

Knightmare thought Brownie, she’d heard that name once before when Kay gave her the dagger she named Vixen. She still had the knife, it was tucked into her right inside boot, just in case! “How is it not real I don’t understand?” Asked Brownie, “this is where he keeps his dark seed!” She answered her question “you should know this, my people!” She said softly looking around them all as if every one of them were of value, as she moved around them and continued to speak. “so, if any harm should befall him in the waking world he can regrow himself !”
She stood once again before Brownie as Yeva glanced
at her with her golden eyes,
“Sprite, I have with me one who has been reaching out to you, for sooo very long now!” She said directly to Brownie, “and at last in this reality, it is possible for you two, to finally meet!” She moved the parasol in front of her as she gently began to spin it faster and faster until she stopped and closed it, as she moved to the side to reveal the little girl from her dreams, she was half the age that Brownie was, but the first thing she noticed was her winette flowing ringleted hair and her eyes. The eyes of someone weighing up and quantifying the world around them as if her intellect was outshining. Brownie quickly glanced over to the moon goddess and quickly garbled, “but I STILL don’t know what you want from me?!?” But She had gone.
“Hellooo!” Said the little girl from the dream as she pointed to herself, “I’m here!”
“ sorry !” The little Sprite apologized
“Hello, nice to at last properly meet you!” Said the girl as she pulled out the sides of her dress and curtseyed “I’m Li Elkie!”
“But aren’t you!!” Asked Brownie, Elkie finished her sentence as Brownie broadcast her awkwardness “Dead! ” she sniffled a bit “indeed I am !”
“But the knightmare won’t let me go so here I stay until his kingdom comes down!” She stopped a while and reiterated “his kingdom must come down, all of it!” Elkie looked at the clothes that Brownie wore, and she realized they were hers the little Sprite read her mind “I’m sorry!” As the polite Elkie “wavered it away “please don’t be I’m glad it is of use at least, it suits you, yes I’m happy for you!” As she smiled most beautifully.
“Everything comes to an end, Y’know! Good times, hardships they all pass!” The young sprite spoke once again to Li Elkie “you think I can do this!”
“Yes!” She replied as her face illuminated with hope almost like a lantern “I do!” “I really do!” As they hugged one another tightly
“ then How do we get in?” Asked Brownie.
———
Vir and vee sat up on deck as they relaxed taking in the lucid ripples on the water surface as sako sat near the helm. He was pre-occupied with lavishly caring for his Latin lute an instrument of the sweetest symphonic sounds. Vee looked over to him and asked, “can you play that thing?!” He glanced over to vee with impertinence etched on his face, he was aware that perhaps He may have formed the impression he were of slow wits, but he still did not answer, possibly reinforcing the stereotype of Georgian males being stupid. He held his tongue. Before his fingers began to move as he slapped the wooden body of the instrument in a rhythm of percussiveness, a beat erupted as if he were attempting to awaken the sleeping lute. He was still silent as he proceeded to caress the notes and sometimes throttle them, as he performed a symphony of the highest magnitude, sometimes his feet would be tapping as incense burned between the frets and strings as he proceeded to make the instrument weep like the sweetest ballad from the Catalunian coast , he seemed to be telling the story of star-crossed lovers that danced , on one day of each year , on its anniversary , but the whole of creation would wait for them to move in the dance as they entwined overlapped and threaded themselves between one another, they danced under the moons as they moved through the night sky carrying silk wisps of star matter until they would conclude the dance at the end moving together toward the spirit gates till eventually they’d die in the dance and be reborn as the music was hypnotic the music would end, and the dance would conclude until only emptiness remained and the memory of the two dancers would be felt and there influence missed until next year ….
The music was beautiful vee had never heard such beautiful music, vir placed his hand on his shoulder and whispered: “ before he joined the army, you should know, he was a troubadour !”

______

Min lay on sacks filled up with grain that were fashioned into a rudimentary bed as she recovered.

She lay Foetal, like a small child vulnerable, traumatized by the events and that made her question the validity of every decision she had ever made, even who she was, was subject to debate, she sought the answer in the space above her head only to realize it was nowhere

Aware she had been awake for some time ūnas voice found her ears as she said “ I know you’re awake! ~I bought you some food if you feel like eating that is!” She felt as tearful as an empath who was subjected to all her more intense emotions all at once, she felt as if her emotions had been raped as she held herself and shivered, as tears ran down her face like rain and Continued on until it flowed into her blonde hair, “oh my dear!” Said the young witch as she hugged her “everything’s going to be alright!” I promise.
It was perhaps ironic that mins traumatic experience had rendered her unable to speak as the two women hugged one another and cried!”
—————
The sea hefted as the tides rose And swallowed the quayside , no one was present to be stolen by the sea instead a shadow darted through the water as a sheet of water seemed to be swept along the surface as a large inky black shadow seemed to rise from the depths of the sea as the beast of blackness began to rise looking for the call of its master it resembled a giant stingray and yet somehow it flew through the air .