Stryker was more than happy to allow the doctors the examining rights he had previously denied them. As long as Queen Mother was standing there, the little Warbird would have allowed them to give him an enema. The doctors took a strong look at his ridgeline, poked, prodded and pulled until even I would have complained, but Stryker just stood there stoically and took it.
Queen Mother studied the list I brought her, and you could see the wheels turning in her head. A big smile adorned her face when she learned that Diana was unaware that the list had been stolen. It did give her extra latitude concerning how she would handle the raids on the installations and how quickly we needed to move on them.
It didn't surprise me when she wanted to have a meeting with the Chosen, and how they would figure in the raiding process. I had already learned about their stealth, speed and their level of dedication.
Stryker had flown down to the medical area shortly after his arrival and once they finished with him, Queen Mother had been eager to move him into her area up in the Castle. Basiliskos and Invectum both treated him as if they had been given a son. It was heartwarming to watch them fawn over him, and Stryker ate it up. It was probably the first time in his life that he was truly treated as if someone wanted him there. Once again, we eased him into the culinary aspects of Mt. Drago, due to what we had learned before...the hard way. As soon as his system could take it, Queen Mother had plans for his diet that he would really like, but to date he had no idea those items even existed. It should be fun to watch. I also saw the irony in Queen Mother's accidental impression with Stryker, after she had stressed so strongly how the Chosen needed to be careful when approaching the Aguiva.
I put my suit in for repairs. Sadly, my escapade in the Royal Palace had some adverse effects on its performance levels. I drew a reprimand from the Wizard Clan and was told I had to attend Tribunal in three days time. I'm sure it will deal with misuse of technology and deliberately placing it within the potential reach of the Dark Lords. This wasn't the first time, nor would it be the last, and the slap on the hand doesn't mean much when you weigh out the success versus the potentials. Still, it promises to be unpleasant, and I really need that, right? Oh well, what do those stuffy old Wizards know, anyway?
I got reunited with my dragon and it felt good to go to the river and spend time just soaking and scrubbing. Demi claimed she never once worried about me coming back and said that she could feel whether I was stressed or not...And I had definitely not been stressed, well not beyond what I could handle. She was staunch in her resolve and that was that. Hey, who am I to argue?
While I was getting dressed, I couldn't help but notice some of the newbies had come down to the river, and I think it had something to do with training from the look of it. The lady, Ivory McNeil, was with Peter Smith, who by the way was actually looking better in his fight to beat cancer. Along with them were Malachai and Rick Harris, each with various tools and towels. I believe they were going through the fineries of how to teach the cleaning methods to future riders after they enter the mountain. The four of them had brought their dragons and were at present disrobing and getting themselves prepared for the dragon washing ordeal. As far as I'm concerned, with dragons no bigger than theirs, it was very light duty. I guess it's a perspective thing. They seem to be having a good time, and that's what counts.
Queen Mother has really gotten serious in her efforts for cross training, and not just for areas concerning combat techniques. She's been pushing for everything from plumbing and medical training to leather working and metallurgy.
When I first got here, it seemed to me that Queen Mother's main push was for a more efficient enclosed society. One where each person could make a difference, live free and ultimately raise a family where the crime rate was virtually meaningless. You could learn a craft, and if you were lucky enough, you could be called by a dragon. The hope for every man, woman and child was that one day the dragons would be able to fly free, never having to hide from the world again. However, now that I have been present a while, the atmosphere here in the mountain has changed. My trip to the Royal Palace was also somewhat of an eye opener and showed me a level of animosity between Diana, the Dark Lord and Queen Mother that I had no idea existed. Those two, hate each other, and while I understand at a philosophical point of view, I have recently detected a more intimate kind of hatred. Their urge to kill each other seems personal, and apparently has nothing to do with reasons that could be viewed as an effort of altruism. It's almost as if they wanted a war but somewhere down deep, for one or both, it's actually a matter of annihilation of the other's species and their way of life. It's easier to understand Queen Mother's point of view, I mean really, it's a matter of goodness, family values and a deep fear of evil. With Diana, it's not quite as clear as to the motivation, and the fear factor with Dark Lords, demons and their ilk doesn't seem right to me either. What is it they fear? Do they fear the fact that we won't attack them unless they attack us first? Or is their fear based on some primal need for superiority and they think we're better, so genocide is the only option that works for them? Not likely, right? So, I think we can rule out fear, and that just leaves anger and revenge. Now that brings up a fairly hefty question. Why would the Dark Lords want revenge against Queen Mother? What did she do that caused such a high profile and turned their hatred toward her?
Well, whatever it was, it has caused The Ariella, aka Queen Mother to build an army and she seems to be in a hurry. That...can't be good. Last, and I almost hate to even think it, is the possibility of the barrier at the Styx being destroyed in some way. The repercussions of that cataclysmic event are unthinkable, and it redefines disaster. The end result of that would be total destruction for not only us, but for the entire human race.
I think when I've gotten back from the Tribunal, a talk should be in order with the leader of this chicken outfit. There are way too many questions and not enough answers.
I left the river area and headed back up the ramp to the main corridor on Demi and passed Princess Rhylana. She's riding Brussu, and Nexus is behind her saddle. I guess they go everywhere together. We both stopped and I couldn't help but notice she had changed. No more stress lines on her face, no more furtive glances looking for the sword of Damocles to fall on her at every turn. She looks at me and smiles.
"How have you been metal man? Haven't seen you in several days."
I'm not wearing the suit and I still can't get away from it. Quite frankly, I'm surprised she recognizes me with it off.
"Been a little out of pocket. We thought we'd get cleaned up, and then go for some drinks. What are you guys up to?"
She stands up in the saddle, trying to get a better look at the river.
"We were going to do the same thing, but it looks a tad crowded down there."
I understand her problem completely. She's new here and the whole clean your dragon in the company of others while wearing damn little is not her favorite thing to do.
"Well, most of the crowd has been here for a while and should be clearing out soon. You guys have a good time and I'll see you later."
I'm not sure if it would be better or worse if I hung out here with her. On one hand I'm a friendly face, but on the other I'm a male and she's...well you get the idea. Demi got the message, and we rode on. I know how she felt. Not too very long ago, it was me in the same position and I handled it awkwardly. Demi and I put some distance between us and the river.
The Ugly Duckling was packed, and the music was loud, but it wasn't the same as the first Pub. We could see and hear all of this just standing outside. I contemplated spending time here, plus I didn't get the idea that it was a death-defying event just to walk inside. The only thing missing in this Pub was the ever-present haze of smoke, and the violence. The mountain is smoke free for obvious reasons, and it's amazing how little you miss the smoke when it isn't there. As far as the violence goes, I have to tell you...I don't actually miss it either.
Demi and I got eye contact, that kind where you don't even have to say anything, you just know. I nodded my head and she morphed into the small, cute girl that I've come to appreciate. She put her arm through mine, and we walked into the Pub looking like a father and daughter team. She wanted a Charley Temple, I wanted the band to turn down, and Dickey, the Bar Tender wanted to chat. It made for a very loud conversation done in spurts between louder portions of the songs. It was exhausting.
Elfred and Thomas came in about a half an hour later and we chatted loudly with them, and then decided to go to Commons, where lip reading is a hobby not a necessity.
The only thing left to do is get a good night's sleep and hope the Tribunal, which I've decided to attend tomorrow, will not be any worse than I have anticipated.
I dreamed that I went to Hell last night without my suit. I'm not sure how others do it. Maybe the naysayers are right about me, maybe I am a snob. It's always felt like confidence because I was raised to believe that if you can back up what you say, then it isn't arrogance. I guess the problem is that if I'm the only one who thinks it, then it may very well be something other than what I thought. If twelve people tell you that you're sick, then maybe you should lie down. Food for thought, anyway.
Today I go to Twenty Fourth Street and Camelback, which is in a high rent district close to Camelback Mountain. There is a high rise there that has a very unique fourth floor. Every other floor in this building is brightly lit, with good usage of color to give the impression of positive oriented wealth and prosperity. The fourth floor, on the other hand, is definitely not of the same design. The Wizards own the whole floor, and they gave it a rather somber look and feel. There are not many occupants on this floor, and that's how they want you to react when you disembark the elevator; there's nothing here and I must be at the wrong place. The floor itself gives you the distinct feeling that you should turn around, get back on board the elevator and leave. Most do that, and they never return. I like to think of it as Vu Ja Day, or the feeling that I have never been here before, and I wish I wasn't here now.
Anyway, I think the other businesses on the fourth floor are actually owned by the Wizards and they use them as a tax write off, but I can't prove that. The colors as you exit the elevator are subdued earth tones, and for my tastes, are drab. The corridor ceilings seem to be missing half the lights, but on closer scrutiny, you realize that there is actually half the number of fixtures. At the end of the main hallway are double doors and a massive plaque next to the right door that says, Thaumaturgy, Inc. in impressive gold letters. I'm sure that most see the irony with their name, but for those who don't, Thaumaturgy is the study of Wizardry, at least it used to be called that a long time ago. The tongue in cheek, but subtle humor was also not lost on me concerning the gold letters. They were a jab at the ancient art of turning lead into gold. Yeah, kind of corny, don't you think?
Okay, I'm getting ahead of myself. I don't have a car, so a couple of the Dragos drove me out through the South Entrance and onto the dirt road which leads away from the mountain. It takes quite awhile to get to a main thoroughfare, and I stared out through the window as they drove. The leather in the Cadillac Escalade squeaked every time I moved, and Tim, the driver glanced casually at me the second time it happened. I gave him a look that said the noise was the seat, and he set his eyes back on the road. Like I'd be rude enough to do that in an enclosed truck, in the heat of the day.
We finally got to I17, and drove south to Deer Valley, a suburb of Phoenix. It was smooth and the stereo was playing Jimi Hendrix, so I wandered down memory lane and thought about the good ole days. We exited at Camelback Road and proceeded east until we got to Twenty Fourth Street. I had them drop me off at the circular drive at the front entrance.
I wore a pair of black slacks, boots, a green dress shirt, and a button up dress coat to cover the harness and the disc which sits on it, plus bear in mind that it's Arizona. Heat waves, the visible kind are projecting up from the sidewalk and I'm sweating profusely. I walked through the rotating door and get hit by subzero temperatures, and then I was glad I wore the coat. You know, it's almost always the same temperature in Mt. Drago, and we all eventually take it for granted without even thinking about it. I felt weird to be in public and it seemed everyone was staring at me. Trying not to look like I was in a hurry, I made my way to the elevators and stabbed the button with the up arrow. The elevator behind me made a dinging noise, and I turned to face the doors as they opened.
There was no one on the elevator and I stepped on board, pressed number four and waited for the doors to close. The elevator lurched once on the way and then settled at floor four. Same dark feel as I previously described, and the lighting over the elevators flickered for a second. I looked to the right, and saw no one, not that I thought I would, looked left and took off in that direction. After turning the corner it's impossible to not see the massive double doors, so I made my way down the hall and stood there for a moment composing myself.
Wizards are not really bad sorts they're just out of sorts, you know what I mean? They've been the most powerful of the different clans for so long; they don't have a firm grasp on reality anymore. Just a side note on clans. Bear with me for a moment, because it all does make sense in a weird sort of way. Most of the clans have names that denote what they do or give you something to latch onto as to their purpose - Like the Scouts, the Warriors, and even more pronounced, as in the Priests. Some of the others are a tad more subtle, like the Watchers, and the Harpers. The rest of the clans are not so forthright in their naming conventions, and as a result, they take a bit of heat now and again for the crappy names they gave themselves, like the Wizards, and the Dancers. Last, and my personal favorite, is an obscure group called the Traditionalists. Now there's a group of corkers, because no one really knows what tradition they're talking about, and they don't talk much to anyone about much of anything. They play with their plants and herbs somewhere on the northern area of the east coast, and it could be years before anybody actually hears a word from them.
The clans exist to go back and forth from the urban world, to the larger one, and police who goes where, and for what reason. The Dancers are the most active in the number of places they police, and they are crazy good, with the key word being crazy. Last, but certainly not least, in the obscure clans is the one I belong to and that makes me a Wizard. That doesn't necessarily make me genius level smart because that isn't what being a Wizard means. It means that all of the abilities portrayed in this dimension by the Wizards are done through the art of machination. We use machines for everything, and as a result we have a higher level of powered boom-boom and the strongest self-reticulating armor the world has ever seen. Hence the nickname, Machinists, and we have a grave responsibility for keeping said technology out of the hands of others.
That, my friends, leads me back to where I was standing...in front of Thaumaturgy's double doors, the ones that lead to the most powerful men on the planet. Men that had a bone to pick with me for the potential loss, the almost technology "give away," and the total lack of good judgment when inside the enemy's house. Now I personally don't think it was all that big of a deal, and I certainly was never so far out of control that the tech was in question. Those were perceptions the Wizards got from looking at the recorded logs that Walter supplies the dusty old farts every time I go out. The Wizard council members haven't been in the field in so long, I doubt they remember what it's like and wouldn't deal well with it if they went. So, it's just a matter of explaining to them, like always, and then I can go home and promptly forget about the whole thing.
From the moment I left Mt. Drago and went to the Royal Palace, I knew it was a bad idea. We were successful and we got just about everything we went after, but I don't think that's going to hold much water with the older ones here. You know what I'm talking about. No matter what business you're in, has anything ever gone exactly like you wanted it to? The answer is no, isn't it? Well, my job is not that much different than yours and nothing ever goes the way I want it to, so you improvise. That's what I'm talking about...You jiggle it, yank on it, pull on it, or smack it until it behaves. In the end if you make it work, then where's the problem?
So, I opened the door and stepped inside. The foyer hadn't changed since the last time, and I was met with chrome and glass. The same girl with the same fake smile, sat behind the same massive teak desk and as I walked up, she continued to look down. That's not the only annoying trait she has either. She's asked my name every single time I've been here since the first time I ever walked into the building. I'm betting it won't be any different this time. I clear my throat, and she finally looks up.
"Good afternoon, how can we help you?"
I don't see recognition in her eyes, or intelligence for that matter.
"My name is Tanis, and I have an appointment."
Yeah, an appointment to be here sometime within three days.
She blinks and studies her appointment book, ultimately looking back at me with an even blanker look than she started with. How do people like this get a job? Maybe she's one of the Wizard's daughters.
"Have you been here before, Mr. Tanis?"
Intelligence quotient equals...small soap dish.
"Yes, many times. If you'll just let them know I'm here?"
She blinks, and her hand hovers over the intercom.
"Let who know you're here?"
I really tried to not look exasperated, but I'm pretty sure I failed.
"All of them, Jean."
She smiled, and even though the gears were turning in her head as fast as they would go...nope, she came up with the only thing she could've that solidified the real her.
"How did you know my name was Jean?"
I took a deep breath and attempted to not laugh.
"It's on your name badge. Could you please just let them know I'm here? That'd be great, thanks."
They've apparently made her job easier, because she pressed a button on her console, and I heard a chime go off in the distance. She settled back, all done with me, and went back to work on whatever she had been doing. I didn't exist anymore.
I went and sat down in one of the overstuffed chairs that littered the room, knowing it might take a while for them to respond. They like to make you wait. Soft music was playing from somewhere, although I was hard pressed to tell where. I listened for a moment trying to place the tune. It was Blue Oyster Cult's, "Don't Fear the Reaper," although it was a redo and performed as an instrumental. The choice of music made my wait seem more ominous somehow.
Forty-five minutes later, Jean stands up and looks at me like she's trying to remember who I am.
"Mr. Tanis, they will see you now."
She points vaguely at a door over to her right. It's even bigger than the entrance, and it's opening of its own accord. I stood up and walked over to the advancing doors as they slowly swung out and waited for the aperture to become large enough to allow me to pass.
Anticlimactic as usual. There was nothing there, but the massive doors were closing behind me. The room in which I now stood was about a thousand square feet and was empty, save a small table and chairs. In the center of the table was a tiny vase with a single yellow flower sticking up out of the water. There was also a folded pieced of cardboard, thick and expensive with calligraphy on the side facing out. It said simply, "please be seated." So, I pulled the chair out, and sat down.
The little yellow flower is symbolic of anything or anyone who has to accomplish a feat so great that in the end, they are the only one who could have managed it. One flower that grows up through rocks, or a person who excels through personal hardship, then becomes the little yellow flower. I wondered what they were trying to tell me.
I waited for about sixty seconds. The floor became recessed and then it dropped smoothly down and down...until I lost count of the seconds. This was new. I had never been taken into meetings or a Tribunal in such a dramatic fashion before. I had to admit; their machinery was impressive. The walls were smooth looking, and I believe they were metal, but I was dropping so fast, it was difficult to tell. Hundreds of feet later, the mechanism under the table began to slow, imperceptive at first, then drastically, and I felt vertigo and the feeling of moving straight up. The rest of me came to a halt in a room surrounded in mirrors. I had as yet not seen another person, and the hoops they were tossing me through seemed a bit over the top.
A whirring noise over my head caused me to look up and I noticed the ceiling was adjusting itself into a vaulted configuration, complete with a chandelier. That too was new. Then a loud hissing noise erupted into the room and the mirrors started sliding into the floor until the only thing visible in the room, besides the table and chairs, was a mechanized version of an enormous, contained electromagnetic vortex. Not the kind at the mountain, now mind you, but an actual Ley Gate that had been brought and held here through the Wizards machination. The visible contrivance was nothing more than a massive piece of technology designed to hold a gated vortex at one point in space and time. It was once believed to be impossible, but I was sitting here looking at it, albeit that my jaw was hanging down, but I recognized this rather sizeable miracle as pure science.
I could see through to the other side from where I sat, and once again, I have to admit surprise...I didn't recognize the location as any that I had ever been to before.
Pushing the chair back, I stood up and moved toward the gigantic hole in the universe. The reverberations and the noises were minimal, but still found their way into my head until the pulsing made me feel frantic.
The urge to walk through was undeniable, so I did, and my ears popped, telling me that where I was had a different altitude than my previous location. There was no guarantee that this was even Earth any longer, but hey, one bridge at a time.
"Welcome to Empyrean, Tanis."
I turned to the sound of voices from the far end of the room.
"And where, exactly is Empyrean?"
Glancing around the room told me a lot, and nothing. Picture a Viking meeting hall with tables, a place for dancing, and Scandinavian accoutrements on all of the walls. Just a little chunk of Valhalla, complete with two visible moons seen clearly through one of the windows. Looking out of the same window and ignoring them for a moment told me, we were on an alien planet. They caught up with me, but kept their distance, as if I might bite them or something.
"This planet is approximately one hundred light years from Terra Firma, and without the Vortex gate, I'm afraid is inaccessible from Earth, and is impossible to get back, without the same travel arrangements."
I felt my blood pressure rising and the need to put on the suit.
"Are you threatening me, Elder or is that just an observation?"
The oldest of the six Elder Wizards, and the one I had been talking to, disgorged himself from the others and sat down close to where I was standing.
"You're in a lot of trouble Tanis, but we have no intention of stranding you on Empyrean."
Glancing back the way I had come told me that the travel arrangements had been removed, and I was an unwilled passenger for the duration.
Let's clarify something before your imaginations get too carried away.
Wizards do not wear the stupid pointy blue hats with stars and moons plastered all over them. When they're in session or conducting a Tribunal, they do wear hunter green robes, but the look and feel is more like a Buddhist Monk. There are no hats, but they do have hoods on their robes, and they keep them up when they're moving around or traveling from one place to another. Understand also, that only the Elders look like that. I'm part of the Wizard Clan, and I wouldn't wear something so geeky if you put a gun to my head.
So, here are six of the most powerful men within this world of Drago's existence, and they're annoyed with me, but they have to be careful due to the nature of the technology I hold and because of the affiliation I have with Queen Mother. Just the thought of that makes me smile, and I have to work at appearing humble to this overbearing techno ridden nerds.
The head nerd motions for everyone to sit at what I would consider to be the main table.
"Come, Tanis...sit with us, and we'll try to make you see how this needs to play out."
Something else is going on here besides a slap on the hand, and for just a second, I saw fear in their eyes. Curiouser, and curiouser, but also to some degree...worrisome.
All six of them sat with their chairs in a semicircle causing me to sit on the far side of the table. This was a deliberate maneuver to make it seem like a panel of inquiry. The eldest of them clears his throat, and they all put their hands on the table where I can see them. Hokey, but I assume they don't want to spook me into doing something dumb.
"This Tribunal has been called due to the misuse of technology and the blatant attack on the Royal Palace, both of which could produce reprisals from the Dark Lords. Provoking them is not in the interest of this clan or any of the others and is viewed as a direct violation of our intervention code, and existing treaties. Further, we believe that a suitable punishment should be determined and metered out according to our majority vote. As is our policy and has always been...you may rebuke these claims and give testimony afforded to your defense. What do you say?"
Okay, this is not going down the way I thought and it's beginning to look like I'm being used as an example to others, whoever they are. It also looks like their willing to hang me out to dry, so to speak, but I have no idea why they would do that.
"Well, of course I rebuke the claims, duh! There is so much wrong with what you just said as to be laughable, and even more wrong with what you left out. First off, let's take a good look at your intervention code. That thing reads so open ended, that for all practical purposes, you could get away with murder, and on occasion...you have. It's written in such a way that it allows you to make it mean whatever you want it to, depending on your whims. But let's push that aside for a moment and concentrate on existing treaties. What existing treaties? Treaties with the Dark Lords? If you've signed treaties with them, then you've broken so many of the intervention codes that it makes my infractions look trivial. Last and I'm not sure this has anything to do with my list of wrong doings, is why we're one hundred light years away from home, when your offices would have sufficed to slap me on the hand."
I could tell from the stolen glances made from elder to elder, that I wasn't far off in my assessment of the proceedings. The stress in the room was so thick you could've cut it with a knife.
"There was no reason to attack the Royal Palace, other than personal gain and a misguided love for dragons, which we understand, to a degree."
Okay, that did it. Misguided? I'll show you misguided.
"I attacked the Royal Palace under direct orders from The Ariella herself. I received nothing for my efforts other than a thank you. She explained what she wanted, and I saw that as combat conditions, so it doesn't take rocket science to see her obvious jurisdiction, and I acted accordingly. She thought the amount to gain far outweighed the potential consequences, and I agreed with her. In the end, as you well know, six dragons were freed and a list of the installations where the Dark Lords are breeding the Aguiva Warbirds was procured. Not a bad day's work."
I put my hand up to keep them from speaking.
"I would also like to point out that in the event of a war; even you guys are relegated to her army as part of the same jurisdictional tenets. She's over all of you and if she had contacted you with this mission, you would have been bound to help her in any way she chose. Scary, huh, so where does that leave us now?"
You know, I've never known the elders’ names. Each has run by so many, that no one knows for sure what their true names are. I've always looked at them as Manny, Joe, Mack, Mo, Larry and Curly, but what's in a name, right?
So, Curly takes a big breath and confers with the others through a series of partial head nods and hand gestures until they agree on...whatever.
"Tanis, we've never been satisfied with your level of knowledge or your attitude on many things, however, we have taken science from you when it has been offered. We are not the ogre's you think we are, and we've only done what we thought best for you and the clan. It's difficult for us to give you information that could be damaging for the Wizard clan should it get out. You have a penchant for divulging information to The Ariella, and before you erupt on us, hear me out. There are contingencies above and beyond her need to know, but we fear you have a different agenda where she is concerned. Officially you will draw a reprimand, but under the circumstances we have a greater need than to punish you for the same thing we, as elders have been guilty of more than once. The fact is...we need your help."
Uh-oh, that was the wind up...and here comes the pitch.
"I'm listening"
"Curly stared at me as if he wanted to look out the back of my head.
"Long ago...In a land far, far away, yada yada yada...when the dragons were a world distant from here, the Wizards created a system to keep the Dark Lords on the far side of the river. Three crystal keys were imbued with energy like the world had never seen. Each one of these crystals by itself was strong enough to bring the barrier down temporarily, approximately three days, allowing the Dark Lords to cross the Styx for the above-mentioned time frame. Using all of them would destroy the barrier permanently, causing a cataclysmic situation for everyone on the correct side of goodness. Once the crystals were finished, they were disguised and taken to the far reaches, each equidistant from the other two. All three crystal keys when put together could remove the barrier permanently and free the demonic hordes to attack anything they chose on either side of the Styx. One of those crystal keys has been found, and subsequently disappeared. We can only assume the worst and if that has come to pass, then we don't have much time."
Well, it was a shorter dissertation than I thought, but there were several bits and chunks left out.
"Let me get this straight. The Wizard clan originally made the crystal keys that keep the demons in prison, while keeping us safe. One of the crystal keys has turned up missing and you're afraid the Dark Lords have the ability to use said key to make good their escape from this prison and attack virtually everything including Mt. Drago. Further, for whatever reason, you can't or won't retrieve the crystal key to put an end to this madness."
Curly was wringing his hands and looking very uncomfortable.
"It isn't a matter of won't, Tanis. There are contingencies involved that prohibit us from taking any action in this regard."
What a crock. Now we get down to the interesting parts.
"I'll tell you what, you cut the crap and we'll see if there's a fix, but no more beating around the bush. Now, why can't you retrieve the crystal?"
I've got to admit, no elder has ever broken down in front of another Wizard, at least to the best of my knowledge, but this one did.
"During the great beginnings, the crystal keys were made to fend off the demonic hordes, and a system by which we could break their spirit to quell the demons’ evil for all time. The Emerald dragons were selected because of their superiority, strength, and intelligence. So, only an Emerald dragon could touch them. Only an Emerald dragon could activate them, and only an Emerald dragon could find the crystal keys given an emergency should arise. It was thought to be a foolproof method to contain the demons and their Dark Lords. To show them the impossibility of escape, we hid the crystal keys on the Provinces in plain sight. It was to show them the futility of their lives and to emotionally bind them to the Provinces for an eternity."
All the pieces suddenly stacked up and created a very clear picture of disaster. The Ariella had unwittingly banished the very creatures who were the guardians of the only way out of their prison...to the prison.
"My dragon was the first Emerald born in a thousand years, and to the best of anyone's knowledge, the others had perished on the Provinces centuries ago."
Curly shook his head and looked dejected.
"We thought so too, until a spy was caught and tortured. Before he died, he told us of two Emerald dragons that had been found in the Ice Caves and rescued at great cost from Hypnos, who controlled them with the River Lethe. In the talons of one of the dragons, was a crystal key."
The good news is, there are more Emerald dragons, and the bad news is...well you know what the bad news is. Actually, this news was devastating, and even I couldn't see how to fix what the Wizards had so blithely engineered.
"What kind of numb nut puts the key to the prison cell...in the cell? In essence, that's what you guys did, and now you want me to fix the problem. If this was a book or a movie it would be called a plot hole, and this constitutes the mother of all plot holes. What were you thinking? All of you guys have touted your superiority for as long as I can remember, and now you tell me about contingencies, inabilities, and give excuses instead of solutions. You guys beat anything I've ever seen, and to think I used to worry about what you'd do if I screwed up. Well, you've got an even larger problem, not that you would've realized it anyway. The only Emerald dragon on this side of the river is three years old, and not anywhere near old enough to run a mission this critical."
Now Curly looked confused and maybe a wee bit anxiety ridden.
"But we thought you rode your dragon and trained with it? You're the only one with an Emerald dragon and would require it communing with the dragon there to effect the outcome."
There, see...he did it again.
"Demios is a she, not an it, and we do fly and train. The youngest any of them will fly a mission, especially a mission like this, is five years old. I don't think your problem can wait two years, and I know Queen Mother won't approve of Demi flying at the tender age of three. You've also mistaken me for someone who will jump at your beckoned call, and I don't need Queen Mother to tell me that Demi shouldn't be placed at risk for one of your problems."
They actually flinched, Dear God, today will go down in history as a miracle. Hear ye, hear ye...Wizards flinch on alien planet, film at eleven.
"Here's what I'm going to do, Curly. I'm going home. When I get there, I'll talk to The Ariella and see if there's anything that can be done. Whatever that is, I'll do it, and the only thing I ask out of any of you is...stay...out...of the way. When I'm finished, I'll let you know. Now, if you'll be so kind as to bring back my travel arrangements, I'll be leaving."
The Ley Gate reappeared, and I in as much as I was able, strolled away from them making sure I didn't look back. I stepped through the gate without altering my pace and found myself in the room that had previously had mirrors. The Ley Gate audibly shut down, and as I watched, the mirrors slid back up into place. The ceiling rearranged itself to an open hole as I walked over and seated myself at the table and chairs. I tried to wait patiently, and then was finally rewarded with an incredible vertical trip straight up. The trip ended back at the barren ante room, and I made my way out of the double doors to where Jean sat. Her head swiveled around as I shot into the room, and she gave me a look that indicated surprise that I had made it back.
I really hate this place, and even though I don't hate Jean, the less time spent around a vacuum, the better.
"Have a nice day, Mr. Tanis."
I waved over my shoulder and marveled at the improvement to her short-term memory.
Texting Tim only took a minute, just slightly faster than the elevator door opening, and I stepped on board. Tim should be bringing the Escalade around, which will put miles between me and this nightmare building. Not to mention the psychos inside.
True to his promise, my driver was waiting for me just outside and we drove away in silence.
We arrived at the South Entrance about an hour and a half later, and I can't tell you how good it felt to be home. Demi was waiting for me at the juncture of the ramps, and we flew the rest of the way to the Emerald grotto. It was good to be back.
Queen Mother was waiting with Betty at the mouth of the Emerald grotto, and I could tell she was worried. Betty inanely gave totals on inventory that I admit, went in one ear and out the other. She suddenly remembered something she had to do and excused herself to parts unknown.
The Ariella sheepishly refused to establish eye contact until our Den Mother was out of earshot, and then stared into my eyes like she was looking for something. Grabbing my hand, she led me into my area and sat down on a chair that hadn't been here this morning.
"How bad was it? Are you okay?"
A lot of things had been percolating in my head on the ride home and there were still holes in the information. Things that kept me from being able to understand who was at fault, and why some of the recent events went down the way they did. I was angry with the Wizards, and for once there was no need to question what they did or why, because it was painfully clear on those two points. Queen Mother, on the other hand, had some explaining to do, and it was critical that I get that information quickly before all Hell broke loose. Literally.
"Are you aware of what the barrier at the Styx actually is and where it came from?"
She stared at me oddly and shook her head.
"I don't know where it came from, because it was there long before I was born, but I know that if you serve the Dark Lords, it prohibits you from crossing. Everyone knows that story and has seen it work; so, have you. Why?"
My mind was reeling with the bits I knew, compounded with the bits I didn't.
"What do you know about the crystal keys?"
She gave me the same look as before.
"What crystal keys? What do the crystal keys do? Better yet, what are they?"
That answered most of the questions I had and made me feel considerably better.
Needless to say, I told her everything, how the Wizards built the barrier and how the Emerald dragons figured into the system. I told her about why they hid the keys on the Provinces and their placement. She was doing okay until I got to the part about the Emerald dragons and how they found the two left alive. That's when she lost it, and all the personal recriminations, doubt, and self loathing bubbled up to the surface. It's hard to watch a person do that and still harbor ill will toward them.
"We have to go and get them right now! How they must hate me. What if they're working for the Dark Lords?"
I put both hands up, and did the whole hush, hush thing, but her questions did bring to mind the other part of the equation.
"Queen Mother, there is one more thing we need to discuss."
I rushed into it because she was on the verge of blurting, and I put my finger against her lips to emphasize my intentions.
"When you sent me to the Royal Palace I was instructed to go alone, and that sent flags up because just recently you went ballistic on me for doing that very thing. Yet, you were adamant that I go in, and come out by myself. That would indicate you wanted to minimize who knew it was happening at all. Not to mention, and I get it, how many in your service would have been able to go in and not get killed. I think your zeal for getting the Aguivas overshadowed your good sense and played a factor in your willingness to let a secret be exposed. There are some theories that have rolled around inside my head, but without you telling me or Diana slipping the information into our dialog, there was no way to know. Since Diana didn't slip and you neglected to inform me, I still don't know, but I think it has something to do with what the Wizards told me."
Queen Mother's shoulders slumped, and her tears fell to form tiny drops on the floor. Guilt is not difficult to spot when remorse virtually pummels you first.
"Demi would've told you had she known. Basiliskos and Invectum blocked that portion of my mind off from everyone. It was just too much to bear, and the potential reprisal was not something I wished on anyone, even me. I'm not the person you think I am. I wasn't even born here on this side of the river."
Well, I didn't see that one coming, but a lot of people here came from the Provinces so it doesn't mean that much, not really.
"I know the upper echelon of the Denizens, so I would have known the family you came from. You didn't come from any of them so that makes you a commoner, and that says a lot about your character if you left and rose to become Queen Mother. So, no problem, right?"
She had been shaking her head through my little soliloquy and it gave me a feeling of dread.
"I was first born, my sister, Diana, was next a few years later, and my brother, Stephen, a few years after that."
If I hadn't been sitting, I certainly would have after that statement.
"You're a Dark Lord?"