Chapter 37: Making a Difference
The party inside the jail lasted some time. Once everything was explained by Mith the partiers headed for home. Some boats were found around the small island and were used to take the people back to the mainland. It took long into the night, but eventually everyone was shuttled to the shore. The last ones into the boats were Mith and Ludus and their families. Mr. Hardel and the Tinn’s thanked Mitchum many times, telling him that he was welcome anytime in Rerum. In return Mitchum thanked them, saying that the real heroes of Parli were Mith and Ludus.
The former general quietly left the mess hall. He walked slowly down the hallway leading to the stairs. With no real destination, Mitchum wandered through the jail. Along the way he went over the last several days in his head. He smiled to himself at the idea that he could have been oblivious to everything that just happened. If those two kids had not come into his enclosure that night then he probably would have still been in the Rough, Oldo would be near getting his kingdom. Fate amused Mitchum. Only a week before he did not fully believe or understand it. But now he really felt that he did. It was fate that got him fired ten years ago. It was fate that Mith and Ludus found him. And it was fate that he was taken to Oldo, if that had not happened then he would have been frozen in the mountains.
Mitchum heard footsteps coming up behind him and turned to see Ludus. They stared at each other for some time. Mitchum could visibly see the difference in Ludus. The first time he saw him he seemed cautious, just wanting to get the journey over with. But now he looked strong, unafraid.
“You really have grown, ya know.”
Ludus nodded. “So have you.”
Mitchum looked over Ludus. “Have your parents already left?”
“Not yet, I’m going with them—I had to come see you.”
“Here I am.”
Ludus went up to Mitchum and wrapped his arms around him. “Thank you, for everything. Just in case I don’t see you again I wanted you to know that.”
Surprised, Mitchum patted Ludus’s back. “Thank you, for everything.”
“Will we ever see each other again?”
“There’s no way you’re gonna get rid of me.”
Ludus laughed and started back down to the mess hall. Mitchum watched him until he was out of sight, and then continued down the way he was going. By the time he came to a door marked: superintendant, more footsteps came up behind him. He turned this time to see Mith.
“Thanks, you have no idea how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for us.” Mith said.
“Same here.” Mitchum found it hard to say more than a few words.
“Ludus told me that we are going to see you again.”
“Hopefully.”
Mith gave him a big hug. “I’ll miss you. Please come and see us sometime.”
“I will.”
Waving, Mith started back down the hallway. Mitchum turned and went into the room. It was a small room, an office, with only a desk and some shelves. He looked about, finding a small ball on the desk. It was painted blue with two brown splotches, one on each side, one bigger than the other. He put a finger on the smaller one. Parli, and . . . He put another finger on the bigger one, and Memoria. At that moment a knock came at the door. Mitchum put the ball on the table and turned around.
“Do you remember what you promised?” Mith asked, smiling in the doorway.
“No, what did I promise?”
“Let’s just say, I can’t wait to see what the forest is like.”
Eventually only Mitchum remained in the jail with the inmates. The first thing he did was take Hordna out of the closet and put her into an actual cell. He picked up the sword that had the magic in it. For some reason it did not go into him, probably because he let go of the pieces of the rose too fast for it to go into him. He used the sword to unfreeze all of the remaining statues throughout the jail. He then feed the guards. Some of the guards needed medical attention and were treated by a doctor who had been frozen in one of the cells. The guards that were healthiest wanted to stay and help Mitchum with security. He would have nothing to do with it. He sent the guards home for a rest, they left reluctantly, not fully believing that he could secure the jail by himself. But they did leave, most too bad off to do much good anyway. Mitchum gave all of the roses and the swords to the last group that left, they looked stronger than the others.
By morning Mitchum was the only one left. He thought about taking the last boat but decided against it. He had instructed that last group to get a search party and find the king and queen hiding in the Rough, though it would probably be easier to wait until they saw the mountains rise and return to the palace. At first he was going to go and find them himself, but did not want to face them after what they had done to him. So instead he waited with the new inmates, the actual inmates.
During the next two days while he was by himself he looked over what had happened over the last week in its entirety. Only a person with a very imaginative mind could have ever thought a stranger series of events. It pleased him to know that he was having such an unexpectedly unusual life. The kind that someone might one day write about, he chuckled at the thought. Looking back on it he actually liked everything that happened. It was all done for a reason, he was sure. And now he was about to go back and see the family that he had left many years before. He wondered how they would treat him; as a hero, or as a foe. Either way he was, for the first time, excited to see them again.
Shortly after he finished his rounds of breakfast two days after the defeat of Oldo the mountains rose into the sky once more. It escaped him how the roses were put back, but he was glad all the same. Only an hour after he noticed this, the doorman from the palace entered the mess hall.
“Gai Quinn has been invited to a ball at the palace in three days.”
“Why would I want to go to that?”
The doorman shrugged. “It is your decision.” He pulled out a letter from his pocket. “You have another message. While gaining a boat ride in the town of Rerum I was harassed by Mith Hardel. She wants to know when you are going to see your family.”
“You passed through Rerum to get here? Did you have to keep it secret?”
“No, you would be surprised at how they have already changed their policies. Now, what is your response?”
“You can tell her that I will take them there as soon as somebody comes to collect the people here.”
The guard left with a bow. Mitchum continued his thoughts. He was now on the part where he actually fought in the battle. For the time being he overlooked where he tried to leave and went straight to the part where he was captured. Right after knocking out one of Oldo’s troops he was hit on the head very hard. Hours later he awoke in a cart headed for the Bay. The captors had said that he would be used as ransom since he was a general.
Only a few moments later a tall man entered the jail. He was several inches taller than Mitchum and had unusually hard features. At first Mitchum was afraid he worked for Oldo.
“My name is Allard and I have come to sentence the wrong-doers.”
Mitchum was instantly relieved, but was still a little on edge. “Don’t you need more people for that, maybe even a witness or two.”
“That will be you.”
“Oh, alright, well let’s get this over with.”
Mitchum was going to lead Allard to the top and work their way down, but Allard insisted on sentencing Oldo first. When they arrived at his cell he was sitting on the floor in the corner, facing away. Allard sentenced him then and there, but only after Oldo would face him. The sentence seemed harsh to Mitchum, but Allard assured him that Oldo deserved it. He was sentenced to live in the jail indefinitely, or until the king and queen found it fit to release him.
Oldo never spoke. After receiving the sentence he simply went back to his corner where he would stay until being moved to the top floor several days later. The only thoughts in his head centered on defeat. He could n
ot believe that he had lost to two children and an old friend, though he started to believe that he really lost to the magic and only the magic.
The next stop for Allard was Gyrd. Mitchum skipped the other three below because he wanted to get the three together first. When they arrived at that cell it appeared empty. Nobody could be seen from the small window so the door was opened, that’s when it happened. Allard was punched in the face and Gyrd ran from the cell, all three in the cell had been hiding on the same wall with the door so they would not be seen. Mitchum quickly closed the door before any more escaped and ran after Gyrd.
The two raced down the stairs at full speed. Gyrd, having the lead, was able to keep Mitchum from catching up the entire way. He ran through the halls of the first floor and out the doors. There he met five people who had followed Allard to the island. Gyrd stood still for only an instant before catching sight of another boat coming up. He dodged the people and jumped into the water, swimming toward the boat. Mitchum came out just in time to see Gyrd climb into the boat and throw the lone passenger into the water. From there he started paddling into the open ocean as fast as he could. Mitchum was about to jump into the other boat and follow when Allard, who had just come out, stopped him.
“Don’t bother, there’s nowhere for him to go, only miles and miles of water. If he ever comes back we will get him then.”
Mitchum, panting, walked up to Allard with his hands in the air. “But we can catch him, we should try.”
“No, we’ll put up posters so people know who he is. Now, let’s continue.”
Allard went back up, this time with those people who had just come. They escorted each of the prisoners down to the mess hall to be sentenced together. Gyrd was first sentenced to indefinite time in jail if he were to come back. Allard was hesitant to punish the minions, seeing as they were so young. Creen took the fall since he was the oldest and made up stories that he was the leader and the others were just kids he kidnapped. Neither Mitchum nor Allard were sure if the stories were real, but Creen had such descriptive details of each capture, so they believed him in the end. The entire time he was telling this the other minions stood quietly, looking about sadly to stay in character. Creen was then sentenced to indefinite time in jail not only for crimes against Parli, but for kidnapping and brainwashing. The other minions would be released.