Carwyn couldn’t believe that he was really speaking to a Fron that had gone over to the side of Them
“You are young and don’t understand the true dangers that we face. It’s naïve to think that our people can continue this way forever. All we have known is the Land of Everville, The Other In Between, and the lands that surround them. There are, however, other places and other times.
“Love and happiness can only protect us so long. What we need is strength and power. Them can provide us with that power. Without it, the Fron and all the inhabitants of Everville and its surrounding lands will be at the mercy of any race that finds a way through the portal. The Keepers can only do so much to shield Everville from those dangers. Even now, the few Fron that have joined with Them have weakened the divide that separates Everville from other times and places, and Them have succeeded in making a connection to our land. You shouldn’t be afraid of Them. What Them are asking of us is worth giving if it assures our safety and survival.”
It seemed clear to Carwyn that Quisling had made up his mind and had given himself over to Them. Quisling was unlike any Fron Carwyn had previously known. He had no humor, joy, or optimism. If he did, it was unrecognizable. There would be no reasoning with Quisling. Carwyn needed to find a way to stop him and the army of the Dark Forest before they reached the mountain dwellers.
Quisling had hoped Carwyn would join forces and further weaken the existing divide between Everville and The Other In Between, but beyond that, Carwyn and Dagda represented little threat to the Quisling and his Army.
“I suggest you join forces with us. If not, you will be left to the mercy of the Dark Forest. Except for a few, the creatures that inhabit this forest are without mercy.”
Others had tried before to cross the Dark Forest and reach The First Pillar, but only The Keepers had ever succeeded. Quisling knew Carwyn would try to reach the pillar, but he did not consider it a realistic possibility. His arrogance afforded Carwyn and Dagda the opportunity to pursue their objective, but the dangers inherent to the forest were formidable.
EVERVILLE CHAPTER 29
THE FIRST PILLAR
Carwyn declined Quisling’s invitation. Quisling was upset but only briefly.
“March on,” Quisling said to the army, motioning them to move forward.
The army resumed their march. Carwyn looked at the soldiers that rode on the backs of the horses. They looked deformed and hideous. He wasn’t sure if that was their normal appearance or if the collusion with Them had modified their form in some way. Regardless, just the sight of them made him sick to his stomach.
The army rode past Carwyn and Dagda, not giving much thought as to whether they were trampling over them, which they nearly did. Galloping horses made the ground tremble and the air echo with their thundering march.
The unkempt army left a stench that lingered long after they moved on, so much so it that made it difficult for Carwyn to focus on how he was going to reach the pillar, but motivated him to do it much more quickly. The Dark Forest was even less inviting. The trees were of such enormity that their tops could be mistaken for mountain peaks and the space between their valleys. The trunks were larger than any he had seen in the Deep Woods and larger than what Carwyn thought possible. The sheer size of the treetops blocked out the sunlight making the forest floor perpetually dark.
The light dimmed with every step closer to the forest threshold. An eerie silence greeted them once they entered. There was no wind, no rustling of the leaves, no birds chirping, just utter silence and blackness. After walking for a while longer, the light was completely extinguished. Dagda squeezed Carwyn’s hand as they stopped momentarily to sort out their position. It was impossible to tell.
The forest itself acted as a single organism. The light from the tops of the trees provided the energy for the forest below without the need for additional sunlight. Light was, however, something that Carwyn and Dagda needed to navigate. Carwyn took out a special candle from his satchel that Ewan had given him and lit it.
The image of the forest floor elicited a feeling of loneliness and despair. It seemed dead and lifeless, though hauntingly beautiful. It was an atmosphere that made one question one’s existence in the universe. It was a feeling unfamiliar to Carwyn during his life as a Fron, who had not until recently needed to face such questions.
The silence was broken. A faint distant sound gradually grew louder. The sound first resembled a running stream. As it got closer, it was hard to tell whether it was a quiet wind or rustling leaves. The closer its approach the more familiar it became. Carwyn could see movement on the forest floor. The fallen leaves gradually inflated, and the sound got louder.
Dagda recognized the sound of the slithering serpent and pushed Carwyn aside before it had the chance to sink its fangs into him. Carwyn quickly picked up his satchel that was laden with heavy rocks and metals. He pummeled the serpent’s volleyball-sized head over and over again until there was no more movement and Carwyn was assured of his safety. The large snake was actually one of the more timid creatures in the forest. They were going to have to move much quicker if they were to be successful.
The forest floor had nearly been deserted after Quisling gathered the army of the inhabitants. All that was left now were mindless creatures that would take any opportunity to turn Carwyn and Dagda into their next meal. They could now make out faint sounds and lights scattered throughout the forest. Flying beasts hovered over their position. Snakes slithered on the forest floor off in the distance. Creatures were hopping along the massive tree branches, all of them getting closer and closer to Carwyn and Dagda.
They started running as quickly as they could. The heavy satchels they carried did not slow them down nor did the small branches and twigs that scratched and bloodied them as they ran through the forest. They ran and ran until they lost track of just how long they had been running.
Carwyn stumbled, and then Dagda followed. They had reached the precipice of a large pit and began tumbling. The tumble turned into a fall as the ground beneath them disappeared. After falling for what seemed like several minutes, long hair-like protrusions softened their fall as they approached the ground. They had fallen into a large underground root system of the forest trees. Large termites several feet long had hollowed out the roots leaving the hair-like protrusions and the massive pit.
They were given no time to catch their breath before the swarm of large termites was alerted to their position and started moving in their direction. The prolonged fall, lengthy run, and battering of the forest had sapped nearly every ounce of energy they had left. Their muscles were sore and their entire bodies ached. With the small amount of strength that remained, they forced themselves up and started running again.
They could not go on much longer. Carwyn and Dagda were physically and mentally exhausted. With each step, their legs grew heavier, and their lungs gasped for more air. They continued running until they exited the root system through the hillside and approached a ravine. The ravine separated the hillside from the entrance of The First Pillar. It was just large enough to prevent the termites from crossing.
They quickly jumped from the ravine and onto the grounds near the entrance of The First Pillar, then they collapsed in exhaustion. Barely a few seconds passed before they slowly forced themselves to stand up. Unsteady at first, they gradually regained their composure and walked towards the entrance of the pillar. They gazed upwards, taking in its utter enormity and impressive stature. The spires of the pillar stretched into the sky higher than the closest mountain peaks. The façade of the pillar gleamed and shimmered, scaring off any stray flying beast that wandered in a little too close from the Dark Forest.
Carwyn walked into the entrance. Dagda followed but was blocked by an invisible force field that was erected once Carwyn passed through its massive gates. Dagda whimpered. He looked around him, and then looked back at the Dark Forest. He whimpered again. While not protected by the force field, the large ravine separating the pillar an
d the Dark Forest gave Dagda some comfort, but he was still very unhappy with the situation. He was alone and separated from his friend and his master.
Carwyn walked along a central pathway that led into a great empty hallway chamber within the pillar. He continued along the pathway for several hundred yards. Looking ahead, there was no end. It was cold, empty, and infinite.
A figure appeared in the distance and walked towards Carwyn. The figure first appeared out of focus and the light shining behind the figure made it difficult for Carwyn to see his face. As the figure stepped forward, his large stature cast a shadow over Carwyn allowing him to see a few more features. He did not appear completely solid. His face did not hold a permanent shape and it shimmered like the walls in the catacombs and the façade of the pillar.
“You have entered The First Pillar. What do you seek?”
Carwyn thought for a moment then said, “I want to stop the incursion by Them and bring back harmony to Everville and the Land of the Fron.”
“This is not an easy thing that you ask. Them are great deceivers. The incursion that you speak of was brought about by those in your land who are in collusion with Them. The divide that separates Everville from The Other In Between is in jeopardy because of this. Only a greater good can stop the incursion that was brought on by a great evil. What greater good can you offer?”
“I don’t know, but I am willing to do whatever I have to in order to bring back peace to Everville and stop Them.”
“Quisling’s army is already approaching the portal. There is no time in this world or the land of the Fron to stop the army or the incursion, but there is one way you could defeat Them.”
“Please, tell me!”
“I could send you to The Other In Between. You would need to find enough of the mindless horde and convince them to join your cause. The mere willingness of a few will accomplish your task and break the stronghold created by Them.”
“Please send me. I’ll do it.”
“You must understand that the mindless horde has lost all sense of self. The minds in the horde are blank, lost to The Other In Between. They will not notice you, and over time you may lose your own sense of self. If you succeed, it will not be shorter than tens of thousands of years. Your life as a Fron will be over. If you want to quit or feel that you are losing yourself, you can will yourself back to the pillar anytime. If you quit, however, I will not be able to stop Them or the incursion. You will be on your own, but you will at least have your life.”
“And if I succeed?”
“Then I will keep my promise.”
He was determined to stop Them. His life as a Fron was the only life he had known, but if it meant he could save his family, his home, and the inhabitants of Everville and the other surrounding lands then that was a sacrifice he was willing to make.
“All right. I’ll do it.”
With those words, he was transported to The Other In Between. His arrival caused a small nearly imperceptible shift in the position of the mindless horde, each body slightly adjusting to his position. Carwyn was being pushed and shoved in every direction. The movement of bodies resembled small ripples in a pond, expanding outward but not changing the pond’s position. They were pointless waves of movement: movement to no end.
He tried to navigate through the bodies of the horde hoping to find someone with a hint of expression on his face. Perhaps someone who was not completely lost to Them and The Other In Between. It looked hopeless, but he had just arrived. He had no intention of giving up.
Time went by dreadfully slow. It was similar to the feeling of waiting in anticipation for something, which seems to make it take longer, only this was much worse. Nevertheless, he persevered.
Hours turned into days, days into weeks, weeks into months, months into years, and years into centuries. It took a terrible toll on Carwyn, but seemed to pass before me in moments. All the while, no progress was made. No hint of success, no glimmer of hope, no reason to continue to exist except for the fact that giving up meant certain defeat.
The resolve that Carwyn possessed was remarkable. In all the time he was in The Other In Between, no member of the horde had ever given him the slightest hint that they possessed any free will or individuality. There was no indication of anything other than the fact that every member of the horde had fully given over to emotionless, passionless despair.
He was just the opposite. After tens of thousands of years, Carwyn had retained a singular focus and determination. It was a trait that was never shaken and never placed in doubt. He never succeeded in swaying any member of the horde, but the pillar was greatly moved.
Carwyn was pulled back from The Other In Between into The First Pillar.
“We have decided that you have indeed provided a greater good. It may not be visible in The Other In Between, but it is real nonetheless.”
Carwyn finally emerged from the pillar. As he did, he was transformed from a short thick hairless Fron into The Keeper he is today. Time had not moved forward in his time as it had in The Other In Between. In mere moments, he had gained several feet in stature, long grey hair grew from his bald head, and lines of wisdom were etched into his face making him look his true age.
I could see the land from a distance. Once The Keeper left The First Pillar, the entrance disappeared. Quisling’s army of inhabitants collapsed into the dark smoke where they marched, and the presence of Them disappeared back into The Other In Between.
The Keeper then showed me his return to Everville and the land of the Fron. From that moment forward, The Keeper would reside in the Workshop of the Keepers in the underground catacombs of Everville, forever protecting its inhabitants as well as distant lands such as Easton Falls.
EVERVILLE CHAPTER 30
THE ROUNDABOUT PART 2
I had returned to The Roundabout at the conclusion of the first half. My bo staff had acted in my stead, but Anika and Dante knew something was different about me. While we had won the battle of the bo staffs, we had lost the other two games. Our team had come in third place and we would need to come in a close second in the next half if we were going to make it to the final match.
The vision of The Keeper’s journey and transformation had deeply moved me. It made The Roundabout seem trivial and small. My brief fascination with winning the competition, for a moment, seemed irrelevant by comparison. There was, though, some importance to this seemingly juvenile exercise. The Keeper and Cleophas had hinted at it before. There was a connection between our worlds, and the evil that represented the most recent incursion was even greater than the evil that existed during the time of Carwyn. Winning The Roundabout was not a goal without a purpose. There were answers that needed to be revealed, and I had a feeling that many of those answers would be revealed at the conclusion of the games and in The Hamptons, assuming I was afforded the opportunity of visiting.
The second half of the games was more of my forte. The practice that Zee had required of us also made me even more formidable when it came to battles of the mind.
For now, though, I focused on finishing my lunch. Food always tasted better after expending a lot of energy, and my body was taxed more than one would expect from just a mental journey. I savored every bite as my body recharged itself with much needed fuel.
I sat down the last five minutes of the break doing absolutely nothing. I was hoping to let my mind wander to other things without the unnecessary preoccupation of the stress of The Roundabout or its eventual outcome. I wanted enough mental recuperation in order to be at my best during the second half of the games. I tried to put time out of my mind, as well, but that was a lot easier said than done.
Once again, each team was called to the outside arena. Cheers and applause greeted us as we walked onto the outside grounds. Professor Samil called the scores of each of the teams. Drusilla and Dante’s team were in first place. Our team was behind the second place team by more than 20 points.
The conch shell blew announcing the start to the second half of
The Roundabout, and each team went to their designated area. This time, it was our team that got to sit out the first match. It was nice to have a break for a change. It also let me regroup and find out what I had missed.
The first game in the second set required each team member to go into a separate maze. They would be scored on time and completion. If a team member failed to complete the maze within the maximum time allotted, that team member would get zero points.
I watched the first match with eager anticipation. It was a mental game as much as it was a physical one. The players moved in and out, left and right, backwards and forwards, until they felt they were progressing towards the exit. A few players took a little extra time as a result of being sidetracked into the wrong area of the maze. No player got lost, and they all made it successfully to the other side.
Our team had an opportunity to pick up points in this game if we did well. I felt physically and mentally prepared for the challenge. The few moments I had before our turn had worked wonders in putting my mind and ease, and I felt good about our prospects.
Each of us entered our own maze, so we were unable to see the progress of our teammates. That was the most nerve-wracking aspect of the game.
The moment the game began, I moved with utter swiftness. I felt an assuredness I had not felt before. I closed my eyes. As I did, I could see the maze in my mind. One corner after another, I moved through the maze with breathtaking speed. As I ran with my eyes closed, I could see the Dark Forest. The maze became an abstraction of the trees and the forest where the trees resided.
I stepped forward and opened my eyes. I had completed the maze. It was a record time, not just this game but for all games since the very first Roundabout. I had achieved the high score, a perfect score. The crowd erupted at the sight of the first such success in 87 years, and I allowed myself a moment to take it in. If we finished in a tie at the end of the second half, my score would be the tiebreaker.