Thomas Kindercook and the Pink Pyjamas

  “I'm not talking about the quest Gatsby! I'm talking about you betraying him to the king. You knew full well what would happen when you told my father that Thomas wasn't a wizard!”

  “He seemed to handle it alright.” Gatsby said defensively.

  “That's not the point! You believed that he wasn't a wizard. You knew that the actions you took would have a good chance in ending with Thomas being badly hurt... or worse. How could you do that Gatsby!? He's supposed to be your friend!” Alanna was shaking. She didn't realize how upset she had been, but Gatsby's nonchalant responses to the dangerous predicament he had put Thomas in touched a nerve, and anger boiled over from some hidden reservoir inside of her.

  Gatsby looked as if he had been physically slapped.

  “You have NO idea what we have been through. Do you know how many times I've almost lost Thomas in the last week alone? Avalanches, floods, the Shadow, and the worst... you stabbing him in the back. I believe that hurt him worse than any of the physical injuries he has suffered so far from your scheming.”

  Gatsby was struck silent. He neither moved, nor gave any indication that he was going to respond.

  “Well?!”

  Gatsby stared at Alanna before finally responding. “I made a mistake.”

  “You have made a LOT of mistakes.”

  “Maybe. But the mistake I am talking about is running away from you. Three hundred years ago.”

  It was Alanna's turn to be struck silent.

  “I wasn't ready for marriage, I cared deeply for you, but I didn't like being pushed into an arrangement. It wasn't until after I saw Thomas with you, that I realized...”

  Gatsby reached out for Alanna, but then pulled his hand back, as if a physical barrier impeded him doing anything more.

  “I am in love with you Alanna.”

  Alanna's stomach tightened. She didn't know what to say anymore. He loved her. She had wanted to hear those words for longer than she could remember. But everything had changed somehow. Thomas loved her too. She had now seen the worst in Gatsby. A jealous individual who would throw friends to the flames in order to obtain what he desired. His behaviour was all too similar to his father's. At the same time, Thomas, who she had thought represented the worst that humanity had to offer, had shown her kindness and sacrifice without hope of reward. All that had happened in the short span of a month, had somehow poisoned what she felt for him.

  “Do you know why I chose to go along with your plan, Gatsby?”

  “I assumed it was because you wanted your freedom as much as I had.”

  Did she dare tell him the truth? It seemed there had been enough deception to fill two lifetimes.

  “I wasn't afraid of marrying you. I was in love with you. I wanted more than anything to win your affection, not have it forced on you. So I set you free. I thought at first we would all travel together, and that would have given me the time with you to get reacquainted. That all changed when you were sent off, and Thomas and I went on our journey. It's hard to say this now, but it may have been for the best. I don't think it was our fate to be together. I can forgive the things that you have done, but I don't believe I can love you in the manner that you wish me to. I still care very deeply for you, but I saw a side of you today that I didn't like, and it worries me.”

  Alanna placed her hand on Gatsby's shoulder. “You are better than your father you know. I see a bright future for the Ganton Dragons when you become ruler. Don't end up becoming the kind of person you loathed in our youth..”

  Gatsby's eyes brimmed with tears. His face twisted with raw emotion. “You lie! You never loved me!” Gatsby pulled away from Alanna. “Get out! I don't want to see you ever again!”

  Alanna felt Gatsby's remark cut her like a knife through her chest. “You don't mean that Ga....”

  “I said out! Take your play prince with you!” Gatsby's hands tightened around the wooden arm of the chair he stood next to, so hard that it threatened to break in his grasp.

  “You will regret the day that you crossed me Alanna, I swear it.”

  “What have I done....”

  Gatsby grabbed Alanna and hauled her to the door like a sack of grain. “I said get away from me!!!” Gatsby threw Alanna into the hall and slammed the door behind him. Alanna stood stunned in the hallway for several moments before she felt the river of tears start coursing down her face. Her heart was a broken husk, torn in too many directions and finally trampled on by her closest friend.

  *****

  Thomas didn’t feel right leaving Alanna alone with Gatsby. There was something wrong with him.

  The tavern was still as empty as when he had left it, emptier actually. There was only one guard, but this guard caught Thomas' immediate attention. Tetchbolt was sitting at the bar with a fresh mug of ale.

  “You're still alive I see.”

  “From facing the king or facing Gatsby?”

  “Both.”

  He had to have heard about the earlier battle by now. That sort of news tended to spread like wildfire.

  “Oh I knew you made it through the fight in one piece. Well, sort of. I was there when they packed you off the ice. I just had no idea what they did with you after they hauled you away. Anyway, I was feeling kinda hungry and there's not too many places open at this time of night, so I thought I would come on down and get a bite. Earl and Vick told me that you two were upstairs, so I figured I would hold down the fort for them.”

  Thomas found it hard to believe that Tretchbolt was just here to eat, but the mention of food reminded Thomas that he hadn't eaten in a long time, and he was starving.

  “You don't trust Gatsby, do you?”

  “Let's just say I will sleep better once I know he's on the outside. I'm a little surprised to find you two here. I mean, Alanna, I suppose I can see that, but you?”

  Just then the door slammed upstairs causing Thomas to jump.

  “Alanna?”

  There was no reply. Thomas had thought it should have been alright to leave Alanna with Gatsby, he wouldn't do anything to her. However, the slammed door and lack of answer alarmed Thomas. He started up the stairs, taking each step faster than the last. “Alanna?!” When Thomas reached the top step, he saw Alanna leaning against the wall, face cupped in her hands, softly heaving.

  “What did he do to you!” Thomas felt anger well up inside. “Are you alright?!”

  Alanna lifted her head to Thomas, and what Thomas saw tore at his heart. Alanna's face was wrenched in pain. She hesitated a moment, as if she were going to say something, and then she turned fast, and ran down the stairwell.

  Thomas mouth curled into an uncontrolled snarl.

  “GATSBY!!”

  Thomas pounded on the door. No reply came from inside, no acknowledgement of what was happening out in the hall outside his room.

  “GATSBY!!” Thomas pounded the door.

  Thomas was at the mercy of his emotions now. Had he been thinking, he would have prepared himself better to confront Gatsby.

  “Mystic powers, let me through,

  Rend this door that's whole in two.”

  This time the blue engulfed Thomas' whole body, the entire hallway danced in brilliant blue light. The power formed a solid wedge that flew forward splitting the door in two and tearing it clean off the hinges.

  Gatsby stood staring at the doorway and Thomas with a look of hatred etched so deeply into his features it was hard to recognize him as the friend he had travelled with just a short time ago.

  Thomas strode purposefully into the room.

  “What did you do to her Gatsby?!”

  “So. You are a wizard after all. I shouldn't be surprised that someone like you lied.”

  “ALANNA! What did you do to her!”

  Gatsby sneered. “Oh I didn't do anything to your precious Alanna. I just told her not to come to see me anymore.”

  “What's wrong with you Gatsby? What did we do to you?!”

  “NOTHING! You did nothing. You just happe
ned into my life and ruined EVERYTHING.” Gatsby stepped closer to Thomas, his fists clenched to his side.

  “I don't get it, how did I ruin YOUR life. I'm the one that's constantly being fed to the wolves!”

  “Tell me that you don't have feelings for her!” Gatsby spat this into Thomas' face.

  Thomas was taken aback for a moment, not sure how to respond. Gatsby was in love with Alanna? Then why...

  “Tell me!”

  “I love her.” Simple and true.

  Gatsby let out a howl and charged at Thomas, grabbing his neck. He threw Thomas at the opposite wall with such force Thomas knocked over a nightstand and a chair before splintering a clothing rack on the opposite wall. Pinpricks of light danced across Thomas' vision. He didn't have time to think as Gatsby was coming for him again with a look of death in his eyes.

  “Tables, chairs, beds too,

  Knock this...” Too late.

  Gatsby grabbed Thomas again and clubbed him across the face. Thomas fell forward against the ground. Something warm and wet trickled down his face.

  “Gatsby.” Thomas almost whispered.

  Gatsby was dragging Thomas now toward the staircase. All of a sudden, Thomas was flying. Pain seared through his bones as he hit the second floor landing with an earth shattering crash. Thomas managed to open his eyes just as Gatsby came at him again.

  “Stairs of wood....”

  Something ... the stairs to collapse... what could he say. Thomas already knew it was going to be too late anyway. Gatsby was almost on top of him. He sat on top of Thomas making it hard for him to breath, let alone speak. He laid into Thomas with one hit after another. His stomach, across his eye, his nose. The pain flaring with each blow, and not all of it physical.

  Gatsby had been his friend.

  Then as suddenly as Gatsby had attacked him, he was getting off him. No wait. Someone yanked him off. Tretchbolt!

  Tretchbolt had yanked Gatsby off Thomas and thrown him down the last flight of stairs.

  Tretchbolt meant business, he stormed off down the stairwell, and out of sight. A war was erupting below, but Thomas couldn't bring himself to his feet. His ribs ached, he couldn't bring air into his lungs, and the room was spinning. There was more wrong with his body right now than his brain could register.

  The noise of fighting continued on for several minutes before ending with the sound of the front door of the inn being slammed. Thomas closed his eyes and lay there listening to the silence for a while. As much as he hated Gatsby for what he had done, he finally understood what had turned his friend against him.

  Eventually the door to the inn opened and closed again, and the next thing Thomas knew, he was being carried downstairs. Thomas opened his eyes, or eye, as the other eye was starting to swell shut. He was being laid on a lounge seat to the side of the bar. Tretchbolt didn't look any worse for wear after facing Gatsby. He couldn't imagine anyone hurting Tretchbolt. The guy was built like a bulldozer.

  “And there you have it.” which to Thomas sounded more like, 'I told you so.'

  “That's the problem with magicians. Great in the open where they have time to think. But get them into a corner, and good luck.”

  Thomas had learned that lesson the hard way. To his defence, he hadn't been expecting to end up in a brawl with Gatsby. Hadn't he? What did he think that Gatsby was going to do? Sit down for a cup of tea?

  “Can you stand up?”

  Thomas winced as he swung his legs over the side of the lounger.

  “Thanks Tretch.” Thomas leaned back a few moments, and then brought himself to his feet. Tretchbolt watched him in silence as Thomas wobbled a little.

  “You alright to go on your own? You probably should make sure Alanna is alright. I was on my way to follow her back when I remembered you were still here. When you didn't follow I knew something was up. You're lucky I came back.”

  “I think I'll be alright. I better go find out if Alanna is okay. Gatsby...”

  “Decided to leave early.” Tretchbolt finished.

  Thomas just nodded. Carefully he made his way to the door, and then turned back, “At least the worst of it is over.” It sounded more a like a question than a statement. When no reply came, he turned and walked out to find Alanna.

  “I hope so kid.” Tretchbolt whispered quietly to himself. “I hope so.”

  *****

  The full moon overhead bathed the palace in a soft blue light. It was as if someone had enclosed the sun in a blue crystal. Every detail was clearly discernible. The taverns had long such closed, the shops had been closed for ages. No one wandered the streets. Even the creatures of the night, sensing the coming day had gone to sleep. It was absolutely quiet.

  Alanna sat, lost in thought, on the stairs leading up to the main door of the palace. She reflected on her life as a child, the day she met Gatsby outside of the city. She thought of all the wonderful adventures that they had had together. They had always sworn that they would be friends forever, but he wasn't that person anymore. She had loved him though, and he loved her.

  “There you are! I was worried about you!”

  Thomas had sneaked up on Alanna while she was lost in thought. His back was to the moon, so all that she could make out was his silhouette.

  “I'm sorry I ran out Thomas. It's just...”

  Thomas sat down gently beside Alanna and put his arm around her shoulder.

  “It's alright Alanna, you don't need to explain.”

  Thomas sat, comforting Alanna for a long while, staring off at the winter moon. Eventually, as the sky tinged by red signalled the coming coming sun, Thomas spoke again, softly. “He's in love with you, you know.”

  “I know.” Alanna could feel Thomas tense slightly. “I know it's not my business, but... Do you...”

  “I don't know.” Not so long ago, the answer would have been easy. Now? Alanna looked into Thomas' face.

  “THOMAS! WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR FACE!”

  Thomas looked away, but didn't say anything. His right eye was completely swollen shut. His face was badly bruised and bloodied. His lip was split. She felt her stomach twist. Gatsby!

  “It was my fault. I shouldn't have pressed him.”

  “You don't have to protect him. No matter what happened, he knows better. A lot better.”

  “I would rather not talk about it if it's alright.” Thomas stood up.

  “I'm sorry to have to leave you here, but I've got to get something to snack on. I haven't eaten in a long time, I'm tired, and I can barely think straight.”

  Alanna could tell Thomas was ready to collapse.“I think I can get you something in the kitchen. You head off to the room, I will bring it up to you.”

  Normally she would expect to hear Thomas argue, but he looked so exhausted he just nodded and walked away offering his sincere but tired thanks.For better or worse, Alanna had dealt with some of the most awful things to ever happen to her. Putting it behind her, all she could do was hope that the new day, already dawning, would take a turn for the positive.

  CHAPTER 29

  BIRTHDAY

  Alanna was furious. The only problem was, she didn't know how to alleviate her anger. Thomas had long since gone to sleep, nearly passing out the moment that he had hit the bed. She had 'accidentally' seen him changing into his sleep-wear, and it wasn't a pretty sight. His entire chest was a mosaic of black and blue blotches that reminded Alanna of a world map. In addition to the bruises, and often on top of them, Thomas had numerous cuts and gouges out of his back and arms. To finish the whole image off, there was blood caked here and trickling there, nauseating Alanna at the sight.. His face looked even worse by light than it had in the dark. At least the Shadows had hid some of the bruising, but in full light, Thomas was in severely rough shape. He hadn't wanted Alanna to see him in this state, but she had sneaked a peak anyway. Now that he was asleep, all she could think about was what Gatsby had done to Thomas.

  The quill she held in her hand snapped in two. Oh dear.
She would have to get another one in the morning. Thomas' steadfast accounting of his adventures had inspired her to start her own journal, which she was satisfied to say, Thomas knew nothing about. Women were much better at keeping secrets than men. If he ever found it and dared read it, she would thrash him to the edge of death. Would she? She gazed at Thomas peacefully asleep on the bed. In his current condition, she didn't know if she could be angry about anything to do with him. Gatsby on the other hand...

  Alanna tried to push Gatsby from her mind for the millionth time that day. Thomas was likely to sleep through the day and well on into the week. Alanna decided to get some sleep as well. She had plans for when Thomas was feeling better. But they could wait. After a great effort, sleep came uneasily. Her mind was spinning, making it difficult to sleep. Her thoughts transported her into dreams of wars, Thomas fighting and dying in front of her with Gatsby looking on, laughing.

  *****

  FOOD! Thomas sat bolt upright. What time was it? What day was it?! The heavy aroma of something delicious being cooked had wafted into the room bringing Thomas out of his near comatose state. His stomach had mutinied, he was no longer allowed to sleep until he found out what that heavenly aroma was. His vision was still blurry, but he noticed he could see out of his right eye again. Laying a hand to the side of his head, he noticed that the swelling was almost completely gone. That was fast! Or was it? His stomach growled so loud that the skin on the outside bounced up and down with the sound waves.

  Thomas tested his legs. He was still sore, but not to the point where it was disabling. He was able to shuffle around and get some new clothes on. Since he was staying in Alanna's room, someone had brought in another dresser at some point, all filled with different styles of clothing and neatly divided into sections. One part of the dresser held clothes that an adventurer might wear, while another section held formal wear meant for a ball or social functions. There were semi-formal suits, which you might wear as a lord with no special occasion in mind, and even swimwear of a sort. Thomas decided that the adventurer's clothing was closer to what he was used to and put on a pair of grey pants, white silk shirt and a nice brown leather jerkin over top.

  As Thomas finished up dressing, the door behind him opened, and a humming Alanna entered the room with a tray of food that rivalled an all-you-can-eat buffet. The scent of baked cheese combined with the aroma of fresh bread and bacon washed over Thomas. He bathed in it for a moment, closing his eyes, before finally taking the tray from Alanna.