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LIGHT FROM A CANDLE flickered in the window of Jareth’s home, and smoke spiraled into the night sky from the chimney. Dried leaves crunched under his feet as he made his way up the path to his house. His pursuit had been fruitless aside from discovering where the portal to the Neverworld was. All his efforts were merely a release of his frustrations, anger, and fear for his son. He accomplished nothing and now he had exerted himself to the point of fatigue.
He opened the door quietly, set his weapons on the rack over the fireplace and before he could face her, Lorica’s arms were around him. He turned and squeezed her tightly. No sound but an occasional pop of the fire interrupted their embrace. Her gentleness soothed his spirit, and he kissed her hair.
“How is he?” he asked.
“He fell asleep shortly after you left. I’m so worried, Jareth. What if he can’t be cured?”
“He will be.” Jareth stepped back and regarded her deep brown eyes, searching for understanding, for patience and kindness. It wasn’t hard to find. Lorica was a gentlewoman.
“I met a man tonight.”
“Where? Who?”
“His name is Chase, and he claims he’s a sorcerer.”
Lorica gasped and held her hand to her mouth.
“He as much as told me that Crispin is under a spell.”
“Oh, Jareth,” she sighed as she slipped his coat off of him and folded it over her arm.
“I was in the Neverworld, Lorica.”
“Jareth, no! There’s no such thing.”
“There is. The force that flew out of Crispin led me to a trap door in the old widow’s cottage in the woods. It was open, the spirit went in, and the same vapor that consumes Crispin seeped out of the opening. I stepped down the ladder and walked a short while. Then I met him.”
Her eyes opened wide as he told his story, and the color in her face faded. Should he have given her the details? He hated seeing her panic.
“You could have been killed!”
“I’m a soldier by trade. There aren’t many things I do that don’t put me at risk.”
She turned away again, but he took her arm gently. “Listen to me. This man was a prisoner in that world, and I freed him. He is indebted to me.”
“Did he follow you?”
“For a while.”
She shook her head. “This is frightening.”
“I’m not sure I can trust him, but while in the abyss, he warned me to leave immediately. He saved my life. I might have been trapped in that chasm if he hadn’t said anything. He claims he can help Crispin. He wanted to come home with me, but I wouldn’t let him.”
She stared at him. “You told him about Crispin?”
“No. But he suspected I was trying to protect someone when he saw the spirit dash by him.”
She swallowed and took his coat to a rack by the door, brushing the lint away and pinching the cuffs straight as she hung it up. Finally, she turned to face him and spoke with such authority Jareth found it hard to argue with her.
“Find him. Take him with you.”
“What?”
“To Ogress. To fight as a mercenary. Take him and keep him away from us.”
Jareth shook his head.
“If he’s with you, he can’t harm Crispin.”
“Lorica, please!”
Her scowl stopped Jareth from protesting. The idea was, in fact, a good one. Not only would he be able to protect his family from any deviltry the man may conjure, but he might learn more about him and his intentions. Maybe this sorcerer could heal Crispin. He took her hand and drew close to her, hugging her again.
“I want nothing more than for you and Crispin and Kandace to be safe. If this eases your mind, I’ll do as you ask.” Jareth kissed her on her forehead. “I’ll ask him to go with me tomorrow. For now, I’ll check on Crispin.”
Jareth climbed the stairs to the loft. He paused before entering the low-ceiling room. Kandace was under a mound of covers sleeping soundly. Across from her bed by the window, moonlight shone on Crispin’s blanket, and when Jareth stepped closer to him, the boy blinked, and their eyes met.
“You should be asleep.”
“I’m afraid, Father.”
Jareth sat on the end of the bed and took his hand. Crispin looked well, but the fear in him had taken a toll and tears leaked from his eyes.
“What was it like?” Jareth asked as he held the boy’s hand. “What do you feel when this thing happens?”
“Everything around me, you, Mother, the fire, the room, it became a blur. I saw only that boy, but it wasn’t really him, not in the flesh. It was his ghost. He talked to me.”
“What did he say?”
Crispin glanced out the window and shook his head, his eyes red. “I can’t tell you.”
“You must, Son.”
The hesitancy bothered Jareth. What could a vision possibly tell his boy that would make him ashamed?
“Tell me, Crispin. We’ve always shared our thoughts. Let me carry this burden with you.”
Crispin trembled and wiped his face. Jareth squeezed his hand as the boy drew a breath.
“It’s not easy,” the boy said.
“I’m here for you.”
“He wanted me to tell you that you’re fighting for the wrong cause. He said you shouldn’t draw arms with the King’s soldiers, or the baron’s or any of the lords.”
“What?”
“He said I should convince you to join the insurrection that is growing throughout Casdamia and Potamia, if you know what’s good for you. He said our generation, the children they...” Crispin stopped and wiped his eyes.
“What about the children?”
“He said we will rise to conquer at a young age and slaughter all those who are in our way—that we’ll rule both the kingdoms, and he wants me to—”
“He wants you to do what?”
“Father. I can’t.”
“He wants you to do what, Crispin? Tell me. I need to know.”
His son looked deep into his eyes, tears welling in his own.
“He wants me to kill you if you don’t.”
“Did he threaten your life?”
With tears glistening in the moonlight, Crispin nodded. “He said if I don’t join their forces, you’ll die anyway, and so will I.”
Jareth embraced him.
“Good gods, Son, I’m sorry. I won’t let that spirit harm you. I promise. We’ll fight this thing together.”
“You’re leaving, though. What’s mother going to do if it comes back?”
Jareth couldn’t answer that question, and he balked at making promises he couldn’t keep. Yet he couldn’t let Crispin wrestle with such fear.
“There’s a healer in Tuluva. She’s got a good reputation for curing the afflicted. I’ll have your mother take you there. Perhaps the woman has some herbs that will help you. Some medicine. I’ve been told that sometimes there are potions that can keep a curse away.”
Crispin nodded and wiped his eyes.
“Rest.”
Jareth covered his son with the woolen blanket and waited until Crispin fell asleep before he left the room.