The Scarlet King Page 14

Chapter 13

  Betty could hear those within but was unsure how she was hearing them. She yelled, trying to get their attention, without success. Her torch was burning low and her anxiety kept building. As the torch flickered and went out, she could think not except of the spiders. In desperation she began pounding with her fist on the metal door—to no avail. Only after she had nearly exhausted herself did she sit to rest; with the rest her mental hearing returned. She concentrated on the Scarlet King, letting him know she was here and needed the door open.

  On the other side of the metal door was the palace war room, and within it were the King and a few of his advisers as well as the one known as Don the Great. They had been discussing their options, but in reality they were simply receiving the report from Don the Great, for he had assumed command of the palace guards in addition to their military. The situation was grave, for those of the East had developed new weapons of war which were destroying the fortress walls. In the harbor their ships were attacking with smaller catapults, but again inflicting significant damage on the city and its walls.

  Don the Great felt that they would be able to resist the siege for but another week. When asked what would happen then, he shrugged his shoulders and said, "I would expect a vicious battle with lots of lives lost and possibly the end of the kingdom."

  They had met to discuss the option of suing for peace. The arguments had gone long into the night, with the advisers seeking peace at any cost and Don the Great rejecting their request. Those without knowledge of the past understood not the danger those of the East represented, and believed not Don the Great when he told them, "To surrender would be a certain death to many or most of our people with enslavement of those left."

  One of the advisers was asking a more specific question when he was interrupted by the Scarlet King, who said, "She is here. Open the door."

  One of the advisers who Jeremy had called "The Pet Bird" complained that the door could not be opened and wanted to know who she was. The Scarlet King but repeated himself, standing and pointing to the door, saying, "I command that the door be opened."

  Don the Great and the commanding officer of the palace guards conversed; rising, they went to inspect the door. There was a large slot for a key but no accessible bolting mechanism. It had a small secondary door that could be opened. They discussed the danger of opening just the small door. It seemed to have little risk, and when the King again commanded that the door be opened, they decided to take that risk.

  They undid the latch and slowly opened the small door, or window shutter. They peered into the blackness but could see not until Betty moved into the shaft of light. What they saw startled even these men of war, for within the tunnel appeared a being covered in a fine mesh of ethereal material and who was not recognizable as a normal human being.

  Betty spoke up, saying, "I need speak to the envoy."

  Don the Great was startled by the use of his name, given by those of the Forest, and then he recognized Betty's voice. He replied, "Are you Betty, who travels with Heather with the Golden Hair?"

  Her response was, "I help the Princess. I need come in."

  The one known to those of the Forest as the Pet Bird demanded to know who was there in the tunnel. The Scarlet King spoke, saying, "She is the one who changed the trees in my dreams from fearsome to soothing. We must let her in."

  The commander of the palace guard said in a quiet voice, "I know not how to open the door, for it is left over from the ancient ones and has never been opened."

  Betty spoke up, saying, "I fit in window but need help."

  Don the Great reached in with his arm and she was able to grab his hand. He lifted her up until she could grasp the edge of the door and then helped her pull herself through the door. Again her hips were a tight fit, and significant wiggling was required before she was freed. She had no sooner regained her footing than the Pet Bird began screaming something about a witch or ghost. Betty just looked at him, and when they made eye contact the screaming stopped; for he sensed the trees closing in again upon him. The King spoke up, saying, "I welcome you and thank you for the comfort you have brought me."

  Betty replied, "Not me. Spirits of the Forest do it."

  The commander of the palace guard asked, "How did you know of the tunnel and why are you here?"

  Don the Great said not, and Betty tried to explain that Heather and the young priest had figured out the tunnel but they were not able to open the outer door. She then explained, "The Princess say we have one of the new weapons and want to bring it to you." She continued, "We bring it to the other door in two days time."

  Others had many questions but Betty had few answers. Finally Don the Great spoke up, saying, "Maybe the seer of the ancient ones can help us. If not we will need to mount a major counterattack to free one of the gates." He then turned to Betty and asked, "Is it one of the cannons that use the powder?"

  Betty replied, "Not powder but similar. It uses fire and water."

  Don the Great was quiet but for a moment before responding, "It must be one of the weapons those of the East are using to destroy our wall. We must bring it in."

  Others in the war room had many questions, but Betty had not the ability to give answers. She finally said, "I must go. We bring cannon in two days."

  The Scarlet King stood again and walked over to Betty, taking her hand and saying, "May you travel well." He then took the heavy gold chain he wore around his neck and handed it to Betty, saying, "Please take this as a gift and as a sign of our eternal friendship with those of the Forest."

  Betty accepted the chain but then handed it back, saying, "Too heavy. Me small."

  The King accepted back the chain and squeezed Betty's hand ever so slightly, saying only, "My thanks for all you have done."

  Don the Great helped Betty squeeze back through the window of the great metal door and fresh torches were supplied to her. The torches were much brighter than those of the Forest, and she made good time back to the outer door. When she arrived and called out, Jeremy responded, "Where have you been? Are you all right?"

  Betty responded simply, "Me tired go home."

  The journey back to the camp was made slower with the rising of the sun, for they were now far more vulnerable to the scouts of those of the East. They were still two hours from camp when they were met by others of the Forest. They said little but added to the scouting, changing their course to the west to avoid an oncoming patrol of those of the East. When they arrived back at camp they found a very worried Heather, who also asked many questions, but Betty replied, "Me hungry eat first."

  Only after she had eaten most of her food did Betty begin to tell her story. She spoke first of the spiders and cobwebs and how black the tunnel was. She then described how she had heard those within and decided to try to make contact. When the Scarlet King finally heard her, they opened the window and she relayed Heather's message. Heather had many questions but Betty was tired and had few answers. She said, "Me tired."

  Heather looked at her companion, and she surely was tired. She said, "Betty, we thank you for your bravery and now you must sleep."

  After Betty had left, Heather sent for the commander of the Red. While waiting she told Jeremy, "I would you rest and then arrange for scouts to patrol the trail. We will need others to cover the tracks of the wagon as much as we can."

  When the commander of the Red arrived, Heather relayed as much as she knew and told of her plan. He but nodded in approval before saying, "If we use our two horses to pull the wagon, I would recommend a dozen troops accompany them."

  Heather accepted his recommendation and then added, "I would the wagon be prepared for burning in case of possible capture by those of the East. The young navigator has been trained and will accompany you."

  Heather and the commander of the Red continued their planning while the wagon was prepared. Daniel interrupted their planning, saying, "Maybe I should go with the wagon and teach thos
e of the Red how the weapon works."

  Heather just stared at Daniel for some time before replying, "I trust not those of the palace. None of the Forest should enter the city walls, for we are not of the city." Daniel nodded his acceptance but also noted that Heather had identified herself with those of the Forest.

  He replied, "I respect your decision and will do my best to make sure the young navigator is capable."

  The commander asked Heather, "You have taken great risk for our people despite your distrust of those of the palace; I wonder why?"

  Heather told him briefly of her grandmother's visit, and explained that she feared those of the East would eventually reach the Forest if their peoples did not cooperate. The commander nodded his acceptance and they resumed their planning, only again to be disrupted by the one of the Forest who had spoken to Jason aboard ship. He relayed Jason's message and answered questions as best as he could. Heather spoke up, saying, "You have traveled hard, now is time for food and rest."

  The commander of the Red asked, "How does this Jason expect to attack the enemy ships when he has but one ship?"

  Heather replied, "He has aboard the cannons and powder we used against your ships. He should take not such a great risk." She then asked, "Can your troops move east and create a counterattack in six days’ time?"

  The commander thought for some time before replying, "We have a full regiment prepared to intercept the supply shipment from the northeast. If those were diverted and the rest of my troops placed on a forced march, we could arrive in six days."

  Heather called for Jeremy, who had rested but a few hours, and asked, "Can we move those of the Forest to the east of the Great City and launch an attack on the weapons overlooking the harbor entrance in six days’ time?"

  Despite little sleep, Jeremy seemed fully alert and quickly replied, "Those of the Forest can easily travel that distance depending on the amount of supplies we needed to carry."

  Heather was quiet for some time before replying, "We will travel light and depend upon the God of the Sacred Water to provide for our needs." She then explained Jason's plan and the danger the weapons at the harbor entrance represented.

  Jason remarked, "Many of the Forest are out on scouting missions. If we wait for their return, I think not we can reach the headland in time."

  Heather was deep in thought and said only, "They will find us as the Spirits of the Forest guide us." She then addressed both Jeremy and the commander of the Red, saying, "We will abandon our camp here in the wilderness and take only enough for travel and three days of battle. If we are not successful, I doubt the battle can be won."

  She then spoke to Jeremy, saying, "I would you have those of the Forest prepared for departure and then get some more rest. Those moving the cannon can head out without you while you rest. As soon as the cannon is delivered to the hidden door, I would you and the others of the Forest return to us as we travel east."

  Jeremy replied, "We had planned on covering our tracks, but if we backtrack not, then I should be able to rejoin in four days."

  Heather said only, "As the God of the Sacred Water wills, so it will be."

  Heather and the commander of the Red continued their discussion and planning until it was time for the evening meal. During the meal Heather explained their need to destroy the weapons on the headlands and the risk Jason was taking. She said, "His plan is dangerous, but also maybe it is the only chance the Great City has of remaining intact. We will do our part but our risk is also great." She then added, "It is time for the counterattack. Those of the Red with us will engage the enemy to prevent their blocking our escape. I know not what comes next, but it will be as the God of the Sacred Water wills."

  While others continued their preparations for departure, Heather met with the young navigator. She gave him a verbal message to pass on to the one he called Don the Great. It was a simple message: "At first light of the day of the crescent moon, counterattack on the eastern flank."

  As camp was being dismantled, the young navigator followed behind the slowly moving wagon with those of the Forest looking ahead and watching behind. He had time to contemplate the sudden change in Heather's plans, but finally decided that his duty was to complete the mission assigned. Just before they reached the edge of the patrolled zone, Jeremy rejoined them. Their slow movement seemed even slower now, as they frequently had to wait as scouts ranged further ahead. At one point even he could hear the horses of those of the East as they passed ahead of them on their return to their camp.

  When dawn approached, those of the Forest did their best to hide the wagon amongst the rocks by using branches and ferns. When told to get some rest after eating the travel rations, the young navigator found at first his mind would not slow down enough for sleep. The fatigue of carrying his heavy pack finally brought on sleep. It was near sundown before they moved off towards the secret door.

  The moon had long since set when Jeremy called a halt amongst a jumble of boulders. The young navigator could see no evidence of a secret door but he was glad for a rest period. The rocky ground had been difficult. He knew not how those of the Forest could move as swiftly as they did, for he was continuously tripping and stumbling. Those of the Forest again camouflaged the wagon and rechecked that it was properly prepared for burning. Jeremy finally returned from scouting the area and told the young navigator, "It may be best for us to move the horses a little further on where there is some grass."

  The young navigator but nodded in agreement and sat quietly while the horses were unhitched and moved a couple hundred yards further on. Now all he had to do was wait for the door to be opened. Jeremy came back and asked if he needed anything else, for they needed to push on if they were to regain the others of the Forest. The young navigator said not, for the one thing he really needed was help in controlling his own fear. He finally asked, "What if the door opens not?"

  Jeremy responded, "If the door opens not by the time the sun is fully risen, you must strike the fire and make your way north and east. We will find you." He then added, "May the God of the Sacred Water watch over you."

  And then the others were gone, leaving the Listener alone, waiting for a secret door he could see not, to be opened. He occupied his mind by identifying the stars and firmly fixing his position. The noises of the night repeatedly startled him, and time moved more slowly than he thought possible. The stars continued their march across the night sky but seemed to do it in slow motion. He finally shook his head after he was again startled by a critter of the night.

  He decided to search for the door using the stars to get his bearings. He would walk a few feet and then return to the wagon to ensure he would not get lost amongst the boulders. He carefully walked a circle of radiating spokes from the wagon, and was surprised when he found the door hidden between two large boulders just steps from the wagon. He remembered Betty's story about the window in the door. Using his hands to explore the relatively cold metal door, the window became evident. He opened it, peering into the blackness hoping to see some sign of light, but only blackness and stale air greeted him. He made his way back to the wagon and sat watching the stars make their ever so slow march across the night sky.

  Those within the palace had searched high and low for the key to the door. The seer had been summoned, and when told of their need had only asked, "Is the One with the Golden Hair here?"

  The advisor that Jeremy had called the Pet Bird responded angrily, "It matters not. We need the key. Find it for us or you will have a price to pay."

  The seer, who seemed ancient enough himself with his fringe of gray hair, readjusted his floppy hat and replied, "I know the story of the tunnel but not of the key. I will have to study the ancient scrolls." Without waiting for permission, he turned and left the war room for his ancient temple filled with scrolls.

  The one called the Pet Bird complained, "He is just a crazy old man and I think we should believe him not."

  Don the
Great simply rolled his eyes, saying, "If the seer can help us not then we must force our way out the gate and hope we can return with the weapon." He added, "It will be a bloody battle and we will lose our element of surprise."

  The King rejoined them; he had been carried into the war room, for he now had difficulty walking because of the weakness in his legs. He asked of their progress. The Pet Bird pointed at the one called Don the Great, saying, "You tell him that no key exists."

  Don the Great bowed towards the King and replied, "We have yet to find the key. The seer knows of the tunnel but not the key."

  The King replied in his somewhat weak voice, "The key exists, otherwise she would not have come."

  It was past midnight before the seer returned carrying one of his ancient scrolls. As he ever so gently unrolled the scroll, those of the Red looked anxiously but were unable to decipher the writing. There was a picture showing the key with great detail. The Pet Bird demanded to know what it meant. Before answering the seer asked, "Is the one like a child with them?"

  The Pet Bird responded, "You mean that little witch?"

  He was brought up short by the King, who said, "Yes, the little one is with them." He then asked, "What does this mean?"

  The seer had a bit of a smile on his face as he responded, "It is part of the legend but not usually told." He then read the script translating it, "The key must be inserted and turned to follow the stars when facing north."

  Don the Great spoke up, asking, "Does not the scroll tell us where the key is?"

  The seer replied, "It says not but I would expect the little one has already told you where the key is."

  The King began fingering the royal chain around his neck as he had done since he ascended to the throne. This time his fingers came to rest on a relatively plain looking trinket. He removed the chain and, despite the fact that all of the characters had been worn off through the centuries, the general shape did indeed match the drawing on the ancient scroll. He said simply, "This is why the little one would take not my gift." He handed the chain to Don the Great who inserted the trinket into the key slot.

  Before turning the key he had to stop and think about the direction the stars moved at night when he faced north. There was moderate resistance and then a definitive click. It took three men to open the door, revealing the stale air in the tunnel. Before moving into the tunnel Don the Great summoned a troop of his most capable warriors. The Pet Bird complained, "How do we know my cousin will not just escape into the wilderness leaving us behind?"

  This was almost more than Don the Great could bear, and he angrily responded, "I suggest then you be the one to open the outer door and risk being trapped in the tunnel by the forces from the East. You may enjoy their company or maybe not."

  The Pet Bird was about to respond when the King interjected, "It is time for trust. Go and bring back this weapon."

  When the troops had been assembled they lit their torches and proceeded down the tunnel, catching all the cobwebs that Betty had left behind. Don the Great was the last to enter the tunnel and passed the key back through the window for the door to be locked behind them. He again took the key and proceeded down the tunnel. At the outer door they listened hard but could hear no sounds. Don the Great stepped forward and inserted the key, which again turned with some resistance but a definite click was noted. His troops then pushed the door open.

  The young navigator was not sure which he noted first, the sound of the door moving or the flash of light from the torches. At first he wanted to hide but worked hard to control his fear. The troops exited the tunnel in a defensive formation and then Don the Great strode forth. The young navigator stood and addressed Don the Great in a formal manner. The response was, "We have no time for formality. Say what you need to say and let's get this wagon moved."

  Young navigator pointed to the north, saying, "There are two horses about one hundred yards to the north." He added, "I bring a message from the One with the Golden Hair."

  Only after they had moved the wagon into the passage and secured the door behind them did Don the Great fall back and walk with the young navigator. When asked for the message, the young navigator replied, "At first light on the day of the crescent moon, counterattack on the eastern flank."

  Don the Great asked many questions and the young navigator did his best to answer them, but had not significant knowledge to make his answers meaningful. He told them that the camp in the wilderness was being abandoned and all troops heading east. He knew only a little of Jason's plan.

  When they arrived at the inner door, the guard within opened the window and Don the Great passed the key to those within. Before opening the door the guards looked carefully at those in the tunnel making sure none of the enemy were behind them. As soon as the door was opened the troops preceded the wagon through the opening, which was barely big enough and significant scraping of the wheels occurred. As soon as Don the Great and the young navigator had entered, the door was again closed and locked.

  One of the horses decided that it needed to relieve itself right in front of where the one called the Pet Bird was seated. Don the Great restrained his urge to laugh, but could not help but smile as his cousin became almost hysterical. The horses were unhitched from the wagon and led up the stairs to the courtyard. Servants had soon cleaned the mess and the troops began unloading the weapon from the wagon. The young navigator seemed not to realize he was surrounded by royalty as he supervised in great detail the unloading and assembly of the weapon. He explained the function of the different parts and how the sticks were essential to controlling the velocity of the iron balls.

  Within the wagon were only about a dozen of the iron balls, and Don the Great realized they must begin manufacturing them if the weapon was to be of any use. He gave orders, and one of the troops took with him one of the iron balls and a note from Don the Great, commanding, "All available metal shall be used and the balls manufactured as the highest priority."

  The sticks were of a lesser problem, for within the city they had many woodworkers. The young navigator was insistent that the sticks must be manufactured with the same strength as the samples he had brought. When asked about the firing of the cannon, young navigator explained the aiming system that Daniel had taught him. The one called the Pet Bird spoke up, saying, "What are we waiting for? Let's get this weapon set up and show those of the East that we can fight back."

  Don the Great answered not for a while as he contemplated the message from Heather with the Golden Hair. He finally spoke up, saying, "I think not." He explained no further, not completely trusting those within the war room to keep his plan secure. Despite the whining of his cousin, he refused any further explanation, saying only," I would we stockpile adequate supplies of the iron balls before giving up our element of surprise."

  His cousin continued his whining, saying the destruction of their wall was proceeding and it was all Don the Great's fault for failing to use a weapon to protect them. He went on and on about their need to protect the King. Don the Great listened for some time to the whining, but wished he had the power that Betty had displayed to quiet down his cousin. Finally the King, who had appeared to be asleep, spoke up, saying, "I have designated Don the Great as commander of our forces and defender of the kingdom. We will do as he says."

  The one called the Pet Bird was about to continue his whining, but the King just looked at him. It was enough to put a halt to the discussion. The King spoke up then, saying, "It is been a long night and I am tired." With that the war council ended and all retired for some rest, knowing that the onslaught of their city would soon begin again as daylight became full.

  Chapter 14