Lazarus stared at Shannol.
The elf Captain had a wry smile on her lips and he wondered what she was thinking. Cindy nudged him in his ribs.
"Shannol, what do you think?" he asked. "I know we can get there faster if we went alone, but in the mountain caves we would need a map," Lazarus said.
Shannol jumped out of her trance. "Please, Master Lazarus, don't leave me. I mean us. We are here to protect you." She paused. "You're strangers here, and you don't know all the dangers."
"We are still traveling with you. Is there a faster way of traveling instead of the pace we're going?" Lazarus said.
Shannol looked again at the map. She pointed at certain waterways and lakes. "We can travel by boat, which could cut a few solar cycles. Yet, I'm just not sure about that. It is out of our way."
Lazarus looked at the map. She was right. They could travel faster and cut out a few days. "We could have started going that way toward the lakes and waterways."
Shannol turned to the dwarf sitting next to her. His name was Brolen.
Brolen spoke up. "Master Lazarus, we didn't go this way because that is orc territory and also wild country. We don't know what lies in that area."
"So," Professor Jacobs said, "can we move around this wild country and get to the lakes?"
Shannol conferred with Brolen.
"Yes,” he said. “And I think I know somebody who can give us boats, but we would have to leave the horses."
Lazarus said, "So, we will get there faster?"
"Yes," Shannol said. "Master Lazarus, with respect, why such haste?"
"We have to get back to upper Earth," he said.
He felt that the Vvong was either racing toward them or the Vvong was already invading Earth.
He knew time was short.
Cindy spoke. "Besides the orcs and the wild country, is there anything else we have to be wary of?"
Shannol replied. "There are things in the mountain caves that are known to kill men only by touch."
"What are these mountain caves called?" Lazarus asked.
"The Caves of the Dead."
Nobody said anything for a while. Lazarus wondered why Shannol and her soldiers would go with them.
Professor Jacobs said, "I think we need sleep."
"Yes," Lazarus said. "You're right."
***
LAZARUS LAY ON THE ground looking up at the stars. Cindy was close to him and Grace was next to her. He turned his head and saw Royce changed into a black panther. The large creature was breathing slowly.
Cindy whispered. "Lazarus, I don't like the sound of the mountain caves."
"I know. But it makes sense. The Blessed Isles are a place for the dead," he said. "I think we have to venture into the caves by ourselves. Only the Alphas. We need to leave, and make everybody wait for us."
Cindy huffed. "I don't think Shannol will do that. She will follow you to the gates of Hell or Hades and beyond."
"Be quiet," Grace said, "we can all hear you."
Lazarus stared up at the sky. If he didn't know he was in Middle Earth he would have thought they were back home. It's amazing this place exists, he thought, and Tolkien came to Middle Earth and wrote about it.
Merlin, Lazarus thought, why won't you speak to me? He wanted to know if they had a glimmer of a chance to defeat the Vvong and if the Vvong would evade Upper and Middle Earth.
He closed his eyes.
"Lazarus, do you hear me?"
It was a woman's voice.
"Marlena? Is that you?"
He opened his eyes and looked up into the stars. He sensed Marlena was there in the sky and moving closer to him.
"Yes," Lazarus said in his mind.
"I wanted to tell you the Vvong is coming to you," Marlena said.
"Something happened. I can feel it," Lazarus said.
"We have lost our home, The Hive. We have regrouped our military fleet and we are coming to Earth," Marlena said.
"I hope we'll be back."
"You're not on Earth?"
"Well, we're not on my Earth. We had to go to a place called Middle Earth to find Merlin," Lazarus explained.
"It sounds confusing," she said.
"When will you get back?"
Marlena said, "I'm thinking three months your Earth time."
"Okay. We will talk again," Lazarus said.
He fell quiet and listened to the rustling of the trees and the insects playing their night song vigils. The stars looked so peaceful, yet also foreboding. Merlin, where are you? he thought. Lazarus turned over and slept.
But he didn't sleep. He found himself standing on a large pyramid. Was this a dream or a vision?
A small fairy flew around him. "Merlin, you're wanted by the King," she said.
"Thank you," he replied.
Suddenly, the scene before him changed. He was in a large room with a vaulted ceiling with walls covered with flowing decorations. Lazarus was not in control of his body. He moved toward a tall man who had a thin silvery crown perched on his head. The man radiated power and magic.
"Merlin," the man said, "we have to stop Morgana. She is creating monsters with her powers. And these creatures are eating our magic."
Lazarus tried to stop himself from moving but couldn't and his body walked toward the man.
"Yes, King Arthur, she is taking over parts of your kingdom. I need to find a way to stop her."
King Arthur said, "I will gather my troops. Her minions are readying to attack the city of Atlantis."
Lazarus yelled desperately. "Merlin! Merlin! Do you hear me? I'm in your mind."
"Is there something wrong, Merlin?" King Arthur asked.
"No, I thought I sensed something," Merlin said.
"An enchantment? Is Morgana trying to attack you?" King Arthur said.
"No, it was somebody else," Merlin said. "I can stop it."
He said, "Merlin, it's Lazarus, I want to talk to you. You're dreaming. You need to wake up."
Merlin stopped and then looked around the room. "King Arthur, I have to find the talisman, Excalibur."
King Arthur said, "We don't need Excalibur. I can defend my empire."
"King Arthur, you don't understand. Morgana is too powerful. Even I cannot stop her now," Merlin said.
Images started to flash before him. Lazarus saw waves of Vvong insectile creatures running toward a large formation of human warriors. Then Lazarus saw powerful magic flowing in the sky and striking the human warriors.
Then he heard Merlin's voice. "I have caused this. I should have seen the corruption in Morgana's eyes. I should have stopped her beguiling ways from blinding me."
"Merlin," Lazarus said.
"Who is speaking to me?"
Lazarus felt deadly magic coalescing. He said, "It's me, Lazarus."
"Oh, I remember now. Why are you in my head?" Merlin asked.
"I don't know, but we're now on Middle Earth and trying to get to you," he said.
"Oh, I have been dreaming about old times. You have to be careful at the entrance of the Blessed Isles. There are Guardians you have to defeat."
"What are the Guardians?"
Merlin's voice became a whisper. "Watch out for the Guardians." Merlin’s voice was no more.
Lazarus yelled. "Merlin, what do you mean!"