Chapter 57

The Brownie

My hand wound tightly around Little Miss’s, as we made our way quietly through the large open doors of the Winter Palace’s throne room. It suddenly occurred to me. Since I could no longer transport to the king and queen, if I thought hard of Mums, perhaps I could return to Earth with Little Miss. Then we would both be safe.

“Little Miss, do you want to do a little magic?” I asked with a broad smile, weighing about the possibilities. “Perhaps if we imagine your family, we may return to them. Would you like to try?” I asked the dear child.

Sammy suddenly looked overwhelmed and tired by this adult gathering. She looked at me with full, watery eyes and nodded fervently.

We stepped into the grand corridor and I seated us in a stone alcove with a window overlooking the lake.

“Now, there.” I patted Little Miss’s leg. “Just stare out into the misty waves of the lake, and imagine your parents, love.” I winked in reassurance.

We held hands, both of us picturing our home and then we sat in the palace no longer. However; home we were not. The light of a roaring bonfire illuminated a rustic campsite with thatched-roof houses and canvas tents. I observed the remnants of the Cyclops people and the bandaged, tattered queen.

Upon further inspection, I sniffed and realized the bonfire burned not only wood, but also the dead. I barely recognized the crisp form attached to the burning pyre, poor soul. The queen’s beheaded sister’s remains lay at her feet. Tears shimmered in Fjodes’s eyes. The Cyclops Queen desired this not, but the laws of her people must be followed. Kwong and S’nik committed murder and treason. S’nik’s remains would be left for the animals. Anyone who buried her would be beaten. The law seemed barbaric, but Kwong and S’nik’s actions killed half of their people and must be dealt with swiftly and ruthlessly if their society was to succeed.

I placed my hand over Sammy’s eyes, but feared it too late. I knew not why we transported here. The only access to Earth may be through Blinking and the Little Miss must have envisioned her father. She had last seen him with Fodjes, but why weren’t we with Jim? This part perplexed me. For now we were safe and needed to engage the queen with our news, sharing the details of our last transport. Perhaps she could shed light in our darkened world.