Chapter 28: The Forgotten Room
Vensa admired the large mural of the first comings from Memoria. The detail in every part of the painting spoke words to her. Never in her life had she seen a painting on such a large scale. Reds, blues, greens, yellows, and every color imaginable made its way onto the ceiling if one only were to look for them. The details on the boats and on the tiny people in those boats must have taken months just to finish. She wanted so badly to get up there and see it from close range, but there would be no way to do that. The only thing she did not like was that of all of the boats in the picture, Ijnus’s was the smallest and farthest away. She knew it was his because she heard a story where he had kept his yellow flag up until they arrived in Parli, and only one boat had a yellow flag up in the picture.
She moved her eyes from the painting and looked down each of the three hallways. Each of the minions had been sent down a hallway in groups to see if they could find the sword on the first floor. Creen and Gubba had been sent down the left, Hordna and Gyrd were sent to the right, Hatchet was sent straight ahead. She now saw Gyrd as a boss and as a fellow minion. He fit the club well, but she doubted his faithfulness to it. He seemed too close to Oldo to become an official member. To her the best part of the minions was that they only had a desire for what was best for the group, and taking over Parli was the right thing for the group. Her footsteps echoed loudly in the deserted palace. While glad that there was no one to worry about spoiling their search, she was also sad that there would be no real difficulties.
She felt her dirty black hair. On so many occasions she planned on dying it brown. Creen once told her of a plant that could do the job, but each time she came close to making the decision to dye it she stopped. There was a part of her that liked being different, and not many people in the Rough had black hair. Sure there were the people who were down on their luck and traveled into the Rough looking to be alone with their problems, but she rarely ran into them. Secretly she wondered where a washroom was and if she had time to quickly take a bath. The others might notice so she decided against it. If one minion was dirty, they all would remain dirty. Vensa heard a noise coming from outside. She had left the main doors ajar. Quickly she hid behind a giant bronze bowl that sat on the edge of the room.
Mith and Ludus scrambled up the stairs to the main doors of the palace. Their legs were heavy from all of the day’s activities but they moved on anyway. Surprised to see the doors left open, they slowly and quietly slipped in. Not wanting anyone to know of their entry they continued through the main hall on alert. Moving their feet across the floor without lifting them was the only way to quiet the echoes. Hunched over they made it through the main hall and into the corridor to the next room. Mith had an idea of where to start: in the king and queens study. Ludus felt that he was being watched, but he always felt that in the palace so he disregarded the feeling. He did not notice the girl who came out from behind one of the bronze cauldrons to watch them. Through the corridor they could walk normally thanks to the carpet softening their steps. The whole time Mith wished to find the study. By the end of the corridor they were right in front of stairs leading to it.
Two desks stood on opposite sides of the room. In between the desks were various tables holding papers, strange metal instruments, or nothing at all. The chairs next to the desk were plated in gold and had red velvet cushions on the seats. At the far side of the room was a tall bookcase filled with large, colorful, old books. Mith had a good feeling about the bookcase and headed there first. She started taking books off of the shelves and then putting them back, hoping that would do something. Ludus on the other hand went to the desks looking for a switch of some sort. After several minutes he gave up and went over to Mith.
“I really don’t think it’s in here.” He told her while she lifted a rather large purple book out of its place.
“I doubt it would be in here. I’m looking for a secret entrance to a tunnel or something.”
“One quick remark I think you should hear: Did you ever think that it is somewhere the king and queen do not go much? I mean they never even knew where it was.”
“Maybe they lied.”
Ludus had not thought of that. Ten minutes ago he would have called someone loony for saying the king and queen might lie to them. But now he thought most people the same, all liars. The thought only occurred to him because he knew what they did to Mitchum. After being lied to by Maows and the rest of the elders he should have seen it coming from the leaders of the leaders. In fact even Mitchum had kept things from them at one point or another.
Sometime later Mith had agreed that the sword would probably have been hidden somewhere a little more secretive. They left the study quietly, not wanting to be seen. It was hard to even think of moving around in the palace knowing that they could be captured at any moment by the enemy. Back down the corridor Mith turned to face the way they had just been and wished to see the stairs to the next floors. Upon exiting the corridor the stairs were right in front of them. They climbed up to the second floor but only stayed for a moment. Footsteps could be heard from somewhere nearby. They ran up the stairs to the third floor. Mith decided that they should split up so both would not be captured if it came to that. They would meet in Ludus’s room in a half an hour.
Ludus did not believe that the entrance to the sword chamber would be all the way up on the third floor so he merely skimmed through the rooms, mainly trying to stay away from those who also were looking. He made it back to their rooms early and headed straight to the washroom. He took a quick bath hoping nobody would come in, luckily nobody did. Afterwards he went into his room to wait for Mith.
It had not been five seconds after leaving Ludus that Mith got another idea. She closed her eyes and wished to see where the sword was hidden. She turned the corner but nothing special happened. Instead she had just found another hallway. Half way down the hall she stopped in front of the room she had wanted to go into since first seeing it. Fires gone from the two large cauldrons on each side of the gold plated doors, she had come to the room she was told never to go into. She looked up all the way to the ceiling. Excited, she tried the handle, locked. She closed her eyes and wished to be let in, still locked. Then she tried something different. She wished to defeat Oldo. She wondered if the thought sounded too negative, but it did not matter because the doors opened.
Mith smiled at her luck and opened the door. It was extremely heavy. A strange mist emitted from the open door. The words from the doorman came to mind.
“Never open these doors. You can explore all other rooms on this and the second floor, but never open these doors. And if for some reason you decide to not listen to my first warning, do not touch anything you see inside. Let me reiterate, do not touch anything you see inside.”
She was now hesitant on entering after remembering what she had been told, but knew that she had too, if the sword was somehow behind these doors then she must go in. Having never been given a good reason why she should not touch anything she wondered if that had been a lie too. She doubted it; the doorman seemed like a good person. Quickly she disappeared into the mist and shut the door behind her.
At first nothing could be seen, Mith looked all around but the mist was too thick. Slowly the dimensions of the room took shape, as though it was being created right before her eyes. A pale floor took root under her feet as a high ceiling came into view above. In each corner columns stood, with yellow and orange stripes twisting up them. The mist cleared slightly but still swirled all around. Mith took a step into the room and looked for a clue as to what the room was used for. As far as she could tell it was completely empty. Mith began to feel isolated in the misty room. She looked back but could no longer see the door. She was about to try the handle when she got the feeling that somebody was watching her. It was so strong that she was certain there was somebody only inches away. She turned but nobody was there. Turning all around it felt as if somebody was right behind her no matter what way
she faced. Her breathing grew shallow and heavy from the moisture in the air. Her hair was wet, her clothes were damp, and all she wanted was to get out of the room.
Rushing back to the doors she tried them again and again but they would not budge. The realization of being trapped in the room sent fear throughout her body. She could not help but shiver. The wetter she got the colder it seemed to be. Wrapping her arms around herself she prayed that Ludus would find her. She was now certain of why nobody was allowed into the room, it seemed to be some sort of ice box. But why couldn’t the doorman have told them that? Was it so bad to have a large ice box?
Mith looked up suddenly, she had heard voices. Relief filled where the terror had been, somebody was there to save her. The voices continued. There were many voices now. But just where were they? She turned around several times but could not see anyone anywhere. The voices grew to a feverish pitch causing Mith to close her eyes and thrust her hands over her ears. The relief left as quickly as it came. The voices continued for several seconds and then . . . silence. She took her hands from her ears which were still ringing. Only one soft noise remained. Somewhere in front of Mith was the sound of rustling cloth. She opened her eyes and looked. Through the mist a shadowy figure could be seen. The person wore a garment that blew as if in wind, though there was none. The mist that blocked the person slowly moved down revealing hair, golden blonde hair blowing without a breeze. A head appeared shortly after.
All thought immediately fled from Mith’s mind. She was no longer aware of anything but what was right in front of her. Her body shivered uncontrollable, no longer from the cold air but from sudden shock. Through the mist a slender body emerged and then was hidden once more. Cloaked in a long purple dress, only the head remained in clear vision. Mith stepped forward even though she could no longer feel her legs. With all her might she wanted to run and grasp what stood before her. There was a need to be in that woman’s arms, to be held and cared for and told that everything was going to be alright. She could not even remember why she was in the room. Nothing outside that misty chamber mattered at all to her. Tears filled in her eyes and ran down quivering cheeks. She opened her mouth but nothing came out. Her voice remained in her throat, stuck. Whether it was afraid to come out or just shy she did not know. The woman smiled gently. For six months now Mith had longed to see that smile, the smile of her mother.
Loria Hardel’s smile was full of pity for her crying daughter. She stood half covered in mist, wanting nothing more then to run to her daughter and tell her that for the moment nothing mattered. This one instant would be their own to love and cherish for eternity. To remember and tell about to everyone that had ever mattered to them. At the same time a star shines for all, Loria was just for one.
“Dearest Mith, how beautiful you are.” Mrs. Hardel whispered.
The trembling girl tried and failed to speak once more. Instead she mouthed “Hi” and rubbed her eyes. Her mother was still there, smiling down at her. Mith did not know why her mother was there, or how it was even possible, but for now she did not care. The only thing that mattered was the fact that she was there.
Loria walked forward, she stopped right in front of her daughter. “I’m sorry I was not there to see you off. I’m so sorry that I cannot come with you now. But you have done so well, both you and Ludus.”
Mith controlled her sobs and looked into her mother’s eyes. They shone as they had as long as Mith could remember. She raised her hands, without thinking she almost touched her mother. Only an inch away she stopped and recoiled. The words of the doorman once again filled her mind.
“. . . do not touch anything you see inside.”
“I’m sorry.” She muttered the words with effort. “I can’t.”
Mrs. Hardel nodded sadly. “We don’t have much time. I can only stay for a brief period.”
As time passed Mith became more aware of her surroundings and of the possibilities of what was going on. “Mom, how are you here? How am I actually talking to you?”
Loria moved her head around. “It’s this room. I once heard of it through a town I passed through years ago. It’s called the Forgotten Room. It has the power to reunite those who come in with those who have . . . well, who have passed on.”
Mith tried to laugh; only a sputter came out. “Dad would love to be here.”
“How is he? Is he alright?”
Mith swallowed hard, trying to delay her tears. “He’s frozen.
Mrs. Hardel nodded. “You will fix this. I know you can.”
“Nothing will work without the sword. We have to find it and use its power to defeat Oldo. I really don’t think that one rose will stand up to three on its own.”
Mrs. Hardel reiterated words that she told Mith many times. “Believe that you can accomplish anything, and you will be surprised at the results.”
Mith wiped tears away and looked at her mother longingly. She never wanted to leave this room. If only her mother could come along. Mith wanted to ask so many questions but was not sure if any could even be answered. In the end she chose not to ask any that had to do with death or dying.
“Where are we? Are we still in part of the palace?”
“I don’t know, all I know is that a person who comes in here can make contact with the one they most dearly miss.”
“And if they don’t miss anyone?”
“No idea.”
“How did it happen?” Mith asked slowly.
Mrs. Hardel smiled sadly. “I had just made it into the Mountain Region, from the Merchant, and needed a place to stay out of the rain. I found a cave and went in; it was only moments later that the ceiling fell in.”
Loria looked behind her as if someone was there that Mith could not see. “It is almost time; I must soon return.”
“No, not yet, you just got here.”
“Mith—”
“Don’t go, I still need you.”
“Worry not, dearest Mith. I will never really leave you. Wherever you are I will be there too. You remember the stories of the spirits? This is the only place where we can be seen, but we are all around at all times. Through danger and through peace I will be right beside you, helping you, caring for you, cheering for you. And when you talk to me, I will hear. Nothing in the world would make me miss your life. You can tell your father that I will never miss anything.”
The mist came and began swirling all around Loria, from the ground up. Soon her legs disappeared, and then her arms. Mith could only watch as her mother started to disappear from her view once more.
“I love you, mom. I love you so much. Please don’t go.”
“I love you too, Mith. I love you more than anything, never forget that.”
The mist rose up around her body. Mith took one last look at her mother before she was gone. She closed her eyes and fell to the ground, crying and shaking. While she wept, the fog cleared away.