Chapter 66

The Brownie

I pondered the evil vapors, as they slid into the double moons on the horizon. I’m sure we had not seen the last of Liotte’s demons or himself. The Blinks had been erratic as of late, so one never knew when their number was up--if they might end up on this world or the other. Little Miss needed to return home to her family, and my heart felt her pain when she thought of home. Stronger than my previous family, I hoped my bond would be enough to Blink us together when and if it happened.

The remains of the queen’s army made merry as we returned to the Cyclops Fortress. A mighty mess remained to be cleaned up. It would be a lovely place for a brownie. Tidying up was like breathing to me, and I would be of great help to the queen and the wee ones. The daylight waned and I was wearied to the bone from the past hours of tension and dread. Torches were being lit and a caravan procession began throughout the valley toward what, for now, Sammy and I would call home.

When we reached the edge of the outpost, the queen called her second in command and gave new orders. “Winnalea, we detour to pay homage and mourn our dead at H’djk Vdrl. It is a place of power for the Cyclops...” The queen struggled to find the right words. “It is a holy place.”

“Ye nae need explain. I ken you and your people’s need.” I did nae like being out in the dark and the wild, but trusted the queen to keep us safe. An easier task, with the vast number of Liotte’s scourge no more. Little Miss and I drowsed as we traveled in the near dark until there was a humming upon my skin. Little Miss sensed it too. She started, wide awake, rubbing her arms. We rounded a hill then beheld a double circle of stone pillars. A light shown from the inner circle, illuminating the skies and disappearing in an odd, dark splotch high beyond. The Cyclops growled in their language, uneasiness coursing through the throngs of their people.

“What is this?” The queen gave her boar a great kick and tore off toward the sacred place. Her guard did the same. The other mounts skidded to a halt. We pulled up just behind her majesty.

“H’djk Vdrl tis nae natural?” I asked.

She dismounted and approached the outer circle. “No, Winnalea. It isn’t.”

Something, somehow, drew me. Little Miss struggled to get down. I held her tight and ported us both to the ground. She looked at me hopefully and I ken she felt it too. I took her hand and we ran to the queen. When we drew near, the central circle was not only lit, but great sounds poured forth. Not sounds of Ortharos, but sounds I ken of late. I heard the steeds of Earth.

“Winni! Is this a way home?” Little Miss’s voice warbled with hope.