‘That tiny thing?’ Meysah exclaimed.
‘Wait and see,’ said Weddo, who crouched down and crawled through.
‘I bet it’s really a huge gate,’ Jimmy said to Meysah, trying to create a cheerier mood.
They heard tapping from the other side and a few moments later, Weddo opened a large door, now obvious to their eyes where before it had been camouflaged by magic.
‘Well, it’s just a pretty big door,’ said Meysah. ‘Nothing compared to a huge gate.’
‘Close enough,’ replied Jimmy.
‘This way,’ said Weddo.
Everyone passed through and Weddo closed the door behind them. Captain Holim led them down a ramp and into the real hideout: a large cavern lit by torches, with many doorways in its walls. Dalvaran nurses came and took Vigh into one of the rooms, where they placed him on a bed. Another came and looked at Meysah’s foot to make sure it was all right. Then the Telorians were given something to eat.
As they ate, they told their story in detail to the Dalvarans. However, they omitted the ruined fortress. Boreth had thought it best to wait until they actually knew how to word it, and Meysah and Jimmy agreed.
Captain Holim assured them that they would remain in hiding until Vigh had fully recovered. ‘There is a hot spring in one of the common rooms, so you can bathe,’ he told them.
‘First,’ Boreth said, ‘we will get a whole lot of sleep.’
Before going to sleep, the three Telorians went to see their dear friend Vigh, whose wound, they were told, had started to heal a little better.
‘He looks a lot better,’ said Boreth.
‘That’s good.’ Meysah sighed in relief.
‘Fever’s still high, though,’ said Jimmy, touching Vigh’s forehead. Vigh was still mumbling nonsense. ‘He still looks awfully bad.’ He looked up at his master. ‘What is he talking about?’
‘When I was taken captive,’ said Boreth, ‘he had to take on more responsibilities than he would’ve liked. He had too many people to worry about. It’s most unfortunate that he has to relive all of that.’
‘Would it be possible to bring him back to the present if we speak to him?’ asked Meysah.
‘I don’t know,’ replied Boreth. ‘It didn’t work before, but perhaps with time . . . I guess it can do no harm to try.’
They fell silent and watched Vigh. His eyes had dark circles around them and he was extremely pale. There was a sheen of sweat on his face. Although he was covered by many thick blankets, he shivered. When a nurse entered the room to feed him a hot herbal brew, the three Telorians lingered only a few minutes more before leaving.
The next day, Vigh’s condition was pretty much the same. Boreth sat by Vigh’s side most of the day, explaining to him that the Big War was over. Vigh kept on mumbling, ‘I’ve got to find Boreth!’ Patiently Boreth told him what had happened and how he’d got back, as though Vigh could hear him. Boreth hoped he could; he hoped he could ease his friend’s mind.
The two boys dropped in on Vigh from time to time, but spent most of the day with the Dalvarans. They sat around and talked. Sometimes they heard Boreth singing old songs to rekindle Vigh’s memory of the good old days.
By evening, Vigh had stopped the mumbling, which encouraged the others, but the fever was still very high, maybe worse than before.
That night, Meysah felt sick, as if he had a rock in his stomach. He was worried about his master and about his sister. He wished Niome were there to sing a spell to heal Vigh’s wound. Breathing deeply, Meysah lay in bed with his eyes wide open for a while. Then he got up and walked to Vigh’s room. He sat beside him, thinking, then he remembered a song that Vigh had taught him when he was very young and he started singing it softly.
When all the world seems to be collapsing
And nothing can be reached by light,
Just remember we have each other,
And the Mighty Spirit watches over you.
When magic fails and no hope it brings
And you are lost in many fights,
Just remember we stick together,
And a hand I will give to you.
When vital, mortal wounds are bleeding,
And the dead are a disgraceful sight,
Just remember you are getting better
Because I am reaching out to you.
Meysah started to sob as he sang.
When terrible everyone is feeling,
And whenever, come what might,
Just remember we have each other
And I am watching over you.
Meysah sniffled. He stared into space for a while, then rose and went to the door. He found Jimmy standing in the doorway.
‘He’ll come around,’ said Jimmy.
‘I know,’ replied Meysah. ‘But when?’
Jimmy lifted his shoulders in a shrug. The two returned to their beds and tried to get some sleep.
The next day, in need of distraction, Boreth helped the Dalvarans repair equipment in their workshop and Jimmy and Meysah helped in the kitchen. There, near midday, waiting for the pot roast to cook, the young Telorians sat around a table with Weddo and Captain Holim, talking. Suddenly Holim asked them a question they weren’t expecting.
‘I’ve been meaning to ask you, what was the damage at Dalvar Fortress?’
Meysah and Jimmy looked at each other.
‘Don’t worry about it,’ said Holim. ‘I knew long before you arrived that the Morkans had attacked. I know you want to be courteous, but now I am ready to hear the worst.’
‘Well,’ said Jimmy, ‘since you asked . . . half of it has crumbled down.’
‘Including Elina’s stone head,’ added Meysah.
‘And there were skeletons,’ continued Jimmy. ‘Mostly of Morkans!’ he added quickly. ‘The place was deserted, though.’
‘They must have gone into hiding,’ said Weddo. ‘We have our secret ways of hiding ourselves that few polcs know of. We are too great in number for every Dalvaran to have been destroyed there.’
‘That’s encouraging,’ said Jimmy.
‘A quarter of us were originally sent out here, and half of those have been killed,’ Holim said sombrely.
‘That is a lot of Dalvarans,’ said Meysah. ‘A lot of losses.’
‘But that’s a lot of losses for many more Morkans,’ said Weddo.
There was a long silence while they all thought about that.
‘Well,’ Jimmy said at last, ‘smells like the pot roast is ready. I’ll go find Boreth.’ He rose and left the others to serve the meal.
He found Boreth in Vigh’s room. He was smiling.
‘The fever is down,’ Boreth said. ‘Vigh should be coming around within a few days.’
Jimmy yelped for joy and dashed off to tell Meysah. That suppertime, they all ate with great appetite and slept extremely well afterwards.
The next day, the three Telorians sat warming themselves before a fire, for the temperature had dropped in the caves and all could see their breath.
‘Why is it so cold all of a sudden?’ asked Jimmy, shivering.
‘Because the sun is hidden,’ said Captain Holim. He’d been passing by with an armload of blankets, but stopped.
‘Does that mean it’s cold outside?’ asked Meysah.
‘Not necessarily,’ said Holim. ‘It only means it’s overcast outside. Here, take some more blankets.’ The Telorians gratefully accepted the blankets and wrapped themselves comfortably.
‘We’re not used to the cold of the caves,’ said Boreth.
‘Nor were we at first,’ said Holim.
‘I’m worried that it might worsen Vigh’s health,’ Boreth replied.
‘I made sure myself that he was warmly covered and our nurses are checking in on him every few minutes. A fire burns in his room and I daresay it is warmer in there than here.’
Captain Holim looked up and saw Weddo walking past. ‘Ah, time for me to go.’ He left the Telorians.
‘So did Captain Holim tell the others about what happened at their fortress?’ asked Boreth.
‘Apparently they all knew. They just wanted to know if the fortress’s structure had worsened,’ said Meysah.
‘Yeah, they were all in hiding,’ said Jimmy. ‘Probably how Selemil was able to create a secret hideout for Telorians back home.’
‘Maybe,’ Boreth said thoughtfully. ‘That great meeting . . . it seems like such a long time ago, yet it was less than a season ago.’
‘And home,’ said Meysah. ‘It feels so far away, like a memory of some distant past. I wonder if we shall ever see it again.’
They fell silent.
Then, from far away came soft singing.
When all the world seems to be collapsing,
And nothing can be reached by light,
Just remember we have each other,
And the Mighty Spirit watches over you.
Meysah leapt up and ran to Vigh’s room, the other two following him. It was without a doubt Vigh’s voice, though croaky after his illness.
‘You’ve finally awakened!’ cried Boreth. ‘Nice choice of song.’
‘I don’t know,’ said Vigh. ‘I woke up and I had it stuck in my head, so I sang it.’
Jimmy nudged Meysah’s arm. ‘I sang it to you,’ said Meysah. ‘Perhaps you heard it.’
‘Perhaps, although I don’t recall. I’m assuming we’re at the Dalvarans’ hideout?’
‘You did hear us,’ said Boreth, ‘because I told you about this place.’
Vigh smiled wryly. ‘So, I’ve been told a lot while I was out. Tell me, how long have I been out?’
‘Four days,’ said Jimmy. ‘From the morning we travelled with the Dalvarans to arrive here until now—late afternoon, I assume. It’s hard to tell when you’re cooped up all day long. Today there’s no sunshine outside—that’s why it’s so cold—so even if we went outside to check, we probably would have a hard time figuring out if it was afternoon or evening.’
Vigh smiled and seemed to be calculating dates in his head.
‘You had such a high fever,’ said Boreth. ‘We were all so worried.’
‘You were talking in your sleep,’ said Meysah. ‘We thought you had lost your mind!’
‘You were talking about finding me,’ said Boreth, ‘and of events from the Big War. We were afraid you were reliving it all.’
‘Maybe I was,’ said Vigh. ‘I can’t remember. What I do remember is that someone was talking to me.’
‘We all were,’ said Meysah happily.
‘No, someone else. Someone I’ve never met was talking to me in my dream, as though it were real. We had discussions about many things.’
‘What did you discuss?’ asked Jimmy.
‘He just said many things,’ said Meysah.
Vigh shook his head with a lopsided grin. ‘Most of it is unimportant, except for one thing.’ He sat up as best he could, gently pressing his hand to his chest to ease the pain while he moved. ‘Could you pass me my bag?’
‘Certainly.’ Boreth handed Vigh his backpack.
Vigh opened it up and looked through it as though worried that something was missing. Then he took out the smooth stone that Gorthan had given him. ‘This is the Stone of Good Fortune that Gorthan gave to me. I thought I had lost it.’ Vigh held it tightly. ‘It has brought me great fortune on this mission. I have been blessed with the best of loyal friends and we have lived through many dangers. We have lived! But now, after being visited in my dreams, I understand that it is not mine to keep, but mine to pass on to whomever needs it most. Someone who will, eventually, pass it down to their apprentice. Meysah.’ Vigh lifted Meysah’s hand and placed the stone in his palm. ‘You deserve the Stone of Good Fortune.’
‘Master Vigh, I couldn’t possibly—this stone is maybe what kept you alive. You need good fortune just as much as the rest of us. I couldn’t possibly take it now. Maybe next year.’
‘You deserve to have it now, on this journey. Besides, you’re growing wiser every day. Eighty-five polken years is a long time to wait before getting the opportunity for such a gift.’
‘You mean eighty-four,’ corrected Meysah.
‘No,’ said Vigh. ‘I may have been ill for a few days, but I still know what day it is today. If I’m correct, it’s the one hundred and forty-ninth day of the year—the wonderful fifth day of the eighth week of Spring. Happy birthday, Meysah! May this stone bring to you all the best fortunes of the world.’
Meysah’s mouth sagged in astonishment. ‘One forty-nine! I had forgotten all about it. I did not expect this. All the surprise parties of a lifetime can never match the joy of this surprise. Master Vigh, this is the best birthday gift ever. It’s a perfect gift.’ Meysah gave his master a hug.
Jimmy and Boreth smiled. ‘I have to apologise, Meysah,’ said Jimmy. ‘The date just slipped my mind.’
‘You being here with me is gift enough,’ said Meysah. ‘Thank you, all of you.’
Vigh smiled and coughed lightly.
‘You should get more rest,’ said Boreth.
‘But I feel fine!’ said Vigh, sitting up taller. Then he grimaced. ‘Then again, perhaps I’m still a little dizzy.’
‘I’ll bring you a small supper later on,’ said Boreth.
‘Thank you,’ replied Vigh. ‘Please be sure to bring a lot of water. I’m very thirsty.’
‘That’s always a good sign,’ said Meysah.
They left Vigh to rest a little, though they later ate their supper with Vigh, who ate very little—though it was enough to give his face colour.
The Telorians spent a lot of time together, resting, rehydrating—at least Vigh was—joking, talking with the Dalvarans, and singing songs that they had longed to sing since forever. Vigh, although quite lively, had to stay in bed. He gradually began eating more.
Two days after his fever broke, Vigh was up and about. He moved slowly, walking short distances to strengthen his muscles. The day after that, Vigh was back to normal, but they decided to wait a couple more days for Vigh’s inner strength to fully rebuild itself. So for the next few days the Telorians helped the Dalvarans while planning their continued journey to Mork—and finding Niome.
Chapter Eleven:
The Star Shines Anew
By the second day of Niome and Tharguen’s journey, Niome was feeling the effects of endless walking. When she fell and had to pull herself up with a hand on the rocky wall next to her, Tharguen rushed to help her up, asking in alarm, ‘What’s wrong?’
‘I don’t know,’ Niome said, pressing her hand to her heart. She seemed to drift off for a few seconds and when she refocused, her face was pale. ‘This has happened to me before,’ she said. ‘It happens when someone extremely evil is approaching. We have to get out of here.’
As if in confirmation, they heard the thud of horses’ hooves.
‘Quick, under the rocks over there,’ said Tharguen, gripping her arm and pointing. He started running, but Niome could only follow slowly. Tharguen turned back and scooped her up, carrying her into a deep hollow in the rocks. They waited, motionless and holding their breaths.
The thudding hooves approached and came to a halt. They heard Beshrig’s voice. ‘I am beginning to lose patience. I don’t know if this was the work of magic too strong for me to understand, or if it was Gowtch’s doing, but what I do know is that Mirauk is not going to be happy. Are you sure none of you saw or heard anything?’ There was a pause. ‘Capult?’
Tharguen saw the shadow of his former Morkan friend shake his head.
‘Uh-huh, I thought so,’ said Beshrig. ‘Well, we have no time to waste. If they’re not around, they’re not around. At least with all our troops out here, they won’t survive long.’ Tharguen heard a heavy sigh. ‘I find it hard to believe my right hand man would do such a thing. Come; if the Compliment Book was not with them, then it must be somewhere with us. We’ll search the luggage later. Mirauk is waiting.’
The hooves galloped away. The two Telorians remained in their hiding place a while longer.
‘Why didn’t I feel the pounding when I first met Beshrig?’ Niome wondered.
‘I don’t know, but he sure was angry just now. Maybe that’s why. Or perhaps you sensed another evil Morkan among them.’ Tharguen thought of Capult, but didn’t say anything; that would be a story for another time. ‘Are you okay?’
‘I am now.’
They rose cautiously and looked around and saw no Morkans. ‘I think it’s safe to say they’re long gone,’ said Niome, looking at Tharguen for approval.
‘Yes. They’ve gone to Mork. They have a tight schedule and won’t linger longer. I guess I must’ve acted more like a Morkan than I thought.’
‘How so?’
‘Beshrig doesn’t think I’m involved—or at least he’s not certain of it. A true Morkan would never betray his kind, just as a true Telorian stays faithful to the ones he loves.’
‘We should keep going,’ said Niome, her voice a monotone.
‘What is it?’ Tharguen asked, catching up to her and placing his hand on Niome’s shoulder. She turned. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘I apologise for my gloominess, but . . .’ She sighed and shook her head. ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with me.’
‘It’s okay,’ said Tharguen, taking her in his arms. ‘I’m here.’ He gave her a chance to rest, then they set off, and walked for several more days.
Finally they came to a cave, its opening hidden by trees. Tharguen stopped and looked around. ‘I remember this place,’ he said. ‘Let’s see if my memory serves me well.’ He bent and made a torch by wrapping dry moss around a branch, then lit it. Holding the torch up in front of him, he ducked inside the cave, Niome following.
‘Are you sure it’s safe?’ she asked.
‘Oh, perfectly,’ said Tharguen, then added, ‘At least it’s supposed to be.’
They walked up a winding tunnel for several minutes, then Tharguen stopped. The tunnel stopped abruptly, with nothing in front of them but a vast cavern. ‘We’re up too high to get down there,’ he said, pointing towards the floor of the cavern, about thirty feet below them. ‘Besides, the small opening I’m looking for isn’t down there anyway. We’ll have to backtrack.’
‘Okay, but I hope we find this small opening of yours soon,’ Niome said, sounding mildly annoyed. Then her voice sharpened. ‘What’s that?’
‘What’s what?’
‘Shh!’ she hissed, and grabbed his arm, her eyes shifting back and forth. ‘Listen.’ They waited a couple of seconds, then, ‘That sound!’
They heard a faint rumble somewhere above them.
‘It sounds like the flying dragons,’ said Tharguen.
‘I don’t like the sound of flying dragons,’ said Niome.
‘Let’s go back.’
There was a loud boom. Rocks fell around them and the ground shook. Tharguen grabbed Niome’s hand and pulled her to him and they stood against the wall until the rocks stopped falling.
‘I think the dragon landed on the hill,’ said Tharguen.
‘Well, I would assume so,’ said Niome, laughing at his remark.
‘I mean, it can be dangerous: rocks falling, ground shaking . . . didn’t it give you a fright?’
‘Coming face to face with a dragon gave me a fright. This . . . I have you to protect me.’
‘Come on,’ said Tharguen, trying to hide his smile. ‘Hold onto my hand in case the ground shakes again.’
They started back down the tunnel. The dragon roared and the ground lurched. Niome and Tharguen stumbled into each other. When they stepped apart, Tharguen looked around. Things seemed stable again. ‘I think the dragon took off.’
‘Mm-hmm,’ said Niome, smiling.
Tharguen looked at her. ‘What?’
‘Nothing.’
‘Well, don’t give me that look, Niome!’
‘What look?’
Tharguen looked away, suddenly shy, and set off again. Niome followed. Then he saw it. ‘Ah-hah, here it is!’ He crouched down and peered through the opening, then drew back and tapped the sides of the hole. Then he stood up beside it and leaned against the wall. ‘I don’t know how to get in. What a bother.’
‘On the contrary,’ said Niome. She pulled a book from her bag and looked through it. ‘I think there’s something in Tweedle’s book of spells that can help us. Ah, here: Knocking on a Door. Tweedle really thought of everything!’ She pulled her wand out of her bag.
‘That’s good. Really good,’ said Tharguen.
Niome stood up tall and waved her wand around while reading, ‘Hello out there, out in the lair, or on the stair, you so fair! Let me enter—it’s for the better. I need your shelter, so please, let me enter.’
Niome’s words seemed to echo in the cave. A few moments later, with a grinding of stone on stone, the door opened. ‘Weddo here to help,’ the polc on the far side said. ‘Please enter quickly and stand right there.’ He pointed to one side. Although his tone was polite, he did have his hand on the hilt of the sword belted at his waist.
Niome and Tharguen stepped through and stood by the wall to one side of the entrance. Weddo shut the door.
Another polc, his chest decorated with what looked like badges, passed through an archway from a far room and stopped to take a good look at them. ‘Who are you and what do you need from us?’
‘We are Telorians,’ said Tharguen.
‘Telorians!’ the officer said in a sceptical voice.
‘Do you know Captain Silam?’ asked Tharguen.
‘No,’ replied the officer, ‘but I’ve heard of him. My name is Captain Holim. If you knew Captain Silam, then you are definitely allies of ours.’
‘My name is Tharguen and this is my friend, Niome.’
‘Weddo!’ said Holim. ‘Get the others.’
Weddo went running, shouting, ‘Quick! Hurry! Come to the door!’
A few minutes later, Meysah, Jimmy, Vigh, and Boreth came running into the area before the entrance. When they saw Niome, Meysah shouted, ‘Niome!’ and they all ran to her. Tharguen took a step to one side.
‘Oh, it’s so great to see you again,’ cried Jimmy.
‘And safe,’ said Boreth.
‘You have no idea how helpless we all became,’ said Vigh. ‘It was just like Firnamel and Kchalami had explained it: once the star is broken, we lose our power.’
‘I’m so happy to find you here,’ said Niome. ‘You have no idea.’
They all embraced, then Vigh noticed the polc standing in the corner, smiling at the ground.
‘It can’t be!’ said Vigh.
‘What?’ asked Meysah.
‘Am I still delirious from my fever, or am I seeing Tharguen Sumperale?’
Everyone looked at Tharguen, who looked up at them.
‘It is me, Vigh.’
‘Then I can’t wait to hear the story!’ Vigh said, stepping forward to embrace Tharguen. Meysah watched, wide-eyed.
‘Well, you have a lot to share,’ said Holim. ‘Why don’t you all exchange news over dinner.’
‘That sounds like a good idea,’ said Niome. Tharguen nodded.
‘You have no idea how much this means to us, you being safe