REALM'S END (BOOK OF FEY 1) (28 page)

Freeing the Dembys

Meredith led James into their sleeping room, and pointed out the rafter that held the Dembys.

“What am I looking at,” James asked?

“Don’t play dumb, it’s unbecoming of a God,” she hissed at him.

James looked dumbly, at her for a moment, before the anger took hold again. “You and this God talk. I’m sick of it! It’s you who are a witch, all this time misleading me, using me for your own ends,” he said, clenching his fists.  His face began turning a fiery red.

It was Meredith’s turn to look dumbly back at James. “My own ends, are you kidding me with that line? How would getting pregnant with your child be any end you would suspect me of?”

James blanched as he looked over at the basket by the bed. It lay empty now as Gwenth had the child while they tried to free this Dembys thing the witches wanted. “Maybe you want to torture her, or use her to control me,” he yelled at her.

Meredith could barely contain her anger. She wondered what had ever possessed her to love this brute. Suddenly she wondered if he had cast a spell over her, perhaps none of this was how she really felt at all. The thought frightened her. She imagined all their good love spiraling out of control, turning to hatred and bitterness. “James, whether you can remember it or not you are a God. Though I can’t say yet with any certainty, which God, there is no doubt you are a God. Whether you want to believe it or not. I never needed any spell for you because I fell in love with you. Please try to remember, please for the sake of our children,” she pleaded.

James felt his fear and anger rise up in equal measure. His eyes bore through Meredith like live coals. He knew she had to be lying, but it occurred to him if she was lying why not just put a spell on him, why ask him to help? Was it a hoax, was she using the children to get her way? Even so it seemed everyone was trying to save the family, was he going to go against them all? Hadn’t he rushed home to save his family? He felt his shoulders slump, “Fine. What do you, want me to do?”

Meredith crossed the room reaching out to James as she came.

He raised his hands to hold her off, “Stop there, I don’t know that I trust you. You lied to me so just stay back. Just tell me what you need me to do,” he said.

Meredith stopped short of James. Sighing, she pointed up at the Dembys again. “See that bright bit of thing shining at the rafter’s edge. That is a stone called a Dembys. Gwenth wears one like it at her throat; they are part of one another and part of a larger whole too I think. They come from a different world. It is the world Briok comes from. It stores magic and has been placed there by a strong magical being. Our guess is that you are that being. Reach up and pull it down.”

James heard Meredith’s words as he looked on the shining light emanating from the rafter. Something nagged at his memory, he felt a strong pull to touch the stone and walked over picked up a chair carried it back and sat it on the floor under the rafter. “Will it hurt me?”

Meredith shook her head. “I don’t think so, I think it will just break lose your memory, so there might be a bit of a jolt, but I don’t think you will be hurt.”

James stepped up onto the chair seat and reached up into the rafter. The pull was stronger now, he felt himself longing to touch whatever it was. He stretched his fingers out and felt warmth coming off the thing. James took a deep breath and brushed the tip of the hard stone. He was surprised by its warmth. Then he was flying through the air. He was surrounded by a thick cloud and he felt the sensation of moving quickly through time. Suddenly he was on his knees by the fireplace. He felt sick, his guts were rolling and he barely opened his mouth in time to let the contents of his stomach spill out across the floorboards.

“What in heaven’s name are you two doing,” Reval asked? “Are you both so daft that you think you can just pull such a strong power source as the Dembys, from the rafters without consequence?” Reval turned towards Meredith, “Are you trying to kill all of us? Because if you have a death wish you were right on target to see it carried out!”

Meredith hung her head, somehow she had misunderstood. “I thought all he would have to do is touch it and it would bring his memories back.”

“Yes, yes, it would bring his memories back at a million miles a second. It was nearly ready to blow the smithereens out of this whole place,” Reval shouted as she helped James to his feet.

Hectain waved her hand and the mess was gone from the room. She waved her hand again and a tea cup full of steaming liquid was in her hand. She walked across to James and held out the cup. “Here this will settle your guts.” She thrust the cup into his hand. “Now don’t piss my sister off, drink it.” She motioned for him to raise the cup to his mouth.

James raised the cup and drank the sweet burning liquid down. “Hot buttered scotch,” he said. James smacked his lips as he lowered the empty cup. “I thought it would be some witches brew.”

Hectain laughed. “Where do you think scotch came from lad?”

James blanched. “I never thought…” his voice faded slowly away.

“Alright now, Meredith you go and get the children, bring everyone in here, and hurry the Corvine said the villagers are rounding the bend.”

Meredith ran from the sleeping room. Gwenth and Briok were amusing the baby by the fireplace. “Do you have everything the baby needs,” she asked?

Gwenth stood up and grabbed the tied up blanket. “Yes and Briok packed food for us too. We’re ready.”

Meredith reached down and picked up her daughter, tucking the swaddling blanket in tight around her, she waved her hand and the baby was secured to Meredith’s chest by an invisible means. Meredith looked at both the youngsters. “Don’t worry where we are going, no one will take notice of the magic. Come on now, the villagers are close.”

Briok took up his provision bag and hung it over his shoulder being sure to leave his wings free. Gwenth grabbed her staff and they followed Meredith into the sleeping room.

Meredith stepped aside and let the children pass into the room, and then she turned back towards the living room and waved her hand. The cottage seemed to tighten in upon itself. The shutters snapped shut and the door became nothing more than a stone wall, as if no entrance had ever existed. Meredith then followed the children into the sleeping room, barring that door with magic as well. Hurrying over to where her family stood, she reached out and took her sister Reval’s hand. “I wish the Corvine had been able to distract them longer.”

“Yes as do I, though I don’t want any of our people to perish over this either.  Now the villager’s only recourse is to burn the building down, which of course they will do, but with luck it will be after we have slipped away. Now James listen close, we are here and we will ground the energy as you reach for the Dembys this time. Remember what I told you. Ask for access before you touch it. Everyone reach out and with one hand touch James’ leg, keep the circle closed by touching the shoulder of whoever is next to you. Gwenth and Briok you have less control as of yet, so let the three of us take the brunt of the energy. We will try to guide it, but remember you are strong each in your own way. Fey you may not be completely awakened yet, but your magic is of the old kind, so don’t fear it. Gwenth you have Dembys and the staff, let them guide you. Everyone ready now?”

Gwenth cried out, “Wait! Guide us where?” 

Reval rolled her eyes at the young woman. “To Briok’s world of course, we still have a world to save!”

With that James climbed onto the chair and reached up slowly, his mind opened with a supplication to the Dembys. He hoped it was enough.

They could hear the villagers outside had begun to throw stones at the cottage. The rocks bounced noisily off the reinforced shutters.  It appeared that even though there was no way in, the villagers would use their fears to fuel their blood lust. Suddenly a whiff of smoke was in the air. Someone had thrown a burning fag up onto the grass roof. Though it was damp from the recent rains, the grasses smoldered and smoke began to slowly filter down into the cottage.

“I thought you said we would be away first sister,” Hectain said.

Everyone was coughing now. Meredith began to gather energy for the spell to protect them.

“No, we can’t afford to use even one bit of energy to save ourselves.”

Meredith looked at Reval. She signed, and resigned herself to Reval’s guidance. Meredith stopped the spell and guided the energy to flow back into the circle. Pulling the baby closer, she tried to use her cape to shroud the child from the smoke.

The roof over head was beginning to crackle and the fire started to drop bits of burning grass into the room. The group found themselves bending to and fro, trying to lean away as the fiery grasses fell into the room.

“Don’t break your hand holds,” Reval yelled out.

James’ head was now enveloped within a thick cloud of smoke. He closed his eyes against the stinging smoke. “Please.” He asked, hoping the Dembys would grant access, but still nothing happened. He felt his fear and impatience growing. Outside he could hear the villagers screaming epitaphs at his family. He heard the fear in their voices rising up carried on the wind. His cough grew ragged and he could hear his family members anchored below him coughing harder now. Still nothing happened. Suddenly he heard his wee baby daughter coughing. The sound of the tiny cough broke something loose in him. He’d had enough of this posing as a supplicant. “Damn it,” his voice boomed. “You will let me in now,” and he reached up and taking hold of the Dembys, pulled hard. There came a great crack and the sound of something ripping as the Dembys gave way and came lose into James’ hand. James didn’t feel any of it, for he was suddenly pulled within the Dembys. He found himself standing on a great outpouring of molten rock as the core of a world was being formed. He saw himself as a young man directing as creatures were being created. The world came sharply into focus when trees began to grow at an accelerated rate, tribes of beings began to populate the new world and he watched in awe as he saw himself smile in joy at all that was transpiring. He saw in the background a large bird crossing the skies of a hundred worlds. It was then that James remembered that he in fact was a God. At that moment the Dembys opened itself to him. Outside he could see the burning roof beginning to collapse into the room.  Then there was a slight lurch as they all were transported instantly through time.

Lillith Learns the Truth

Sephoria was in the college giving direction to the young women of the Fey tribe. Everything must be ready when the children returned. Lisl had gathered all the required items to bring about Briok’s awakening, but both the human girl and Lillith would need to be awakened, and that responsibility would probably fall to her. Just as she sent the last apprentice out with her instructions, a great tremor ran through the land. The college, which was a band of three close growing trees bent and shuddered as the soil underneath them undulated. The room Sephoria stood in rang out as though a great bell tolled underfoot.

Sephoria tapped easily into the Rowan’s mind, for between them a swift river of energy was held in place by their deep connection. She sensed the surprise in the Rowan’s mind over the land tremor, and then she felt the Rowan adjusting instantly. They both shared the knowledge that the end was drawing all the nearer. Once the tremors began the land would begin to shake itself apart. Even as they were sharing the mind thought, another sound wave went through the world, ringing out like a sonic gong. Even with her old ears, the sound was loud and brash and hurt so much she found herself wishing for thicker foliage around her head, anything to muffle her mind from the terrific blast of noise.

While the tremors had been expected, the sound had come as a complete surprise and she and the Rowan quickly discussed the possible meanings behind the noise. Tapped into the health of their world as they both were, they sensed rather then saw the arrival of Briok and the girl. They also realized the other Dembys had returned. Sephoria thought of the Rowan and found herself standing within the Rowan’s inner most chamber. Lillith was there, cowering in fear, hiding in a corner of the room the Rowan had created for her.

Looking up Lillith saw Sephoria as she materialized. Lillith ran toward the sage, throwing herself into the sage’s arms, and buried her head in the old woman’s bosom.

Sephoria stroked the young Fey’s hair, comforting the girl. “There now child, don’t worry so. We always knew this would happen, remember. We just didn’t think so much would happen at once.”

“I know you told me, but I didn’t think it would be so frightening.”

Sephoria pulled away from the girl. “I did not know of it myself, either. Now stand up and fix yourself. You will need to pack and eat and stay vigilant. I can’t say whether the end will come fast or if it will wear on for days or even weeks, but stay vigilant and be prepared to go the instant any of us comes for you. Understand?”

Lillith shook her head. “I don’t want to go away. I want to stay here in the Realm and become a keeper of knowledge someday, as well.”

Sephoria patted the young girl’s head as she looked down at the child, and realized the many years in captivity had not affected the child’s innocence. “Yes, at one time, we all would have chosen that life for you little one, but even here time has a funny way of creating new destinies. Now, instead of becoming the wise woman of our world, you will keep all of our knowledge down to eternity and you will carry that knowledge to a new world. A world that as of yet has no tribes.” Sephoria lifted the girl’s chin as gently as her gnarly branched fingers would allow. “You will become the matriarch of all the tribes, for that is your true destiny. You are meant to save the race of Fey, and people a new planet. Don’t regret what will not be, but look to the stars to guide you for what is.” Sephoria said, looking deep into the girls grey eyes. Sephoria could feel the wetness on her own barked face as she hugged the girl close.

Lillith felt the old woman’s strength surge into her, which helped to somewhat dispel her fears. She hugged the sage hard, though she felt branches poking into her skin, and then she stood up and wiped the orange tears from her face. “I will never forget you,” she whispered.

“We are counting on that,” Sephoria said, smiling down upon the girl as she stood upright. “It is why all these years the Rowan has schooled you in the ways of this world and of timekeeping and magic. In the new world you will need all of that knowledge to thrive and it will give you a chance to create a new world. Hopefully it can be a world of peace.”

Lillith nodded her head and while it was clear she wasn’t happy about going. They knew she would honor the Rowan and sage, and do what was required of her to save the Fey. “I am ready and I will keep time and magic safe as long as I live.”

“Good, now rest, I believe we have some time yet, though without the missing pieces of the legend, the future can only be guessed at. From here on out, we will be flying without wings, so to speak.” The old woman bent and hugged the child one last time. She kissed Lillith’s brow, and touched her palm to the child’s heart. “We will always be within here,” she said, patting the child’s heart. “Never hesitate to find us by searching your heart, it knows all of our ways child, and we are always here for you. Now I must go, for I still have much magic to do this day,” and Sephoria blinked out of the room.

Lillith finally alone, couldn’t help herself. She threw herself upon the leafy pallet in the corner of the room and let herself cry, though it was forbidden for any Fey to waste life force in this way.

Rowan’s deep voice cut through her tears. “It is only natural that you will miss her,” the Rowan said gently.

Lillith answered in her mind. “Yes of course, but it is everything I will miss: you, the world, flying over the sea of all time, my parents, and even my future as your wise council.”

The Rowan’s deep laughter rang throughout Lillith’s mind. “Child, have you forgotten the first rule of time so easily?”

Lillith sniffed, “I know I know time is an illusion! Of course I haven’t forgotten the law, but I will never see you again.”

“Nonsense, you will see me and the others everywhere. We will be with you forever. We are your past, your present and part of your future. We just won’t be quite so physical anymore.”

Lillith stood up and sighed. It sometimes was very tiring to argue with the giant tree. Silently she invoked the wall that suggested to the Rowan a need for privacy of her thoughts and climbed down into the inner chambers of the tree to have time to think in peace.