The Endërland Chronicles: Book of Daniel

When the day finally came for them to depart, Garret prepared three horses for the journey and they said their goodbyes. After he promised Sarah that he would visit them again, they set on their way north towards Endër. The journey would take them almost two days, so they were prepared to spend a night in the forest. Daniel wasn’t worried. He was starting to feel as if there was nothing to fear in this world, and that was a heartwarming feeling.

  The road to Endër took them through a series of small villages, where everyone they met was very friendly and invited them to their house for a visit. But they did not stop. Daniel didn’t want to keep Garret away from his family any longer than he had to. The horses trotted with a light step, showing no sign of weariness, and Daniel enjoyed the ride very much. He had done some horse riding when he was a little boy, so he wasn’t completely new to this.

  Nemo on the other hand wasn’t doing so well. He had barely begun to get used to walking on his own two legs, so riding a big horse on four strong ones, felt like asking a bit too much. Were it not for the horse’s agility and care, Nemo would have kept on falling off. Still, he got used to it soon enough, but not before entertaining Daniel and Garret for a good while.

  They did more than half of the journey on the first day. As the sun went down, they were well inside the forest of Mirë, which stretched from the sea, all the way to the borders of Endër in the north, Arba in the east, and Sky-City southwest of it. Had it not been for Garret, who knew the way very well, the boys would have gotten lost many times, and would have ended up spending whole weeks trying to get out.

  They camped that night in a small meadow, under the shelter of a huge and very old oak tree. It was still quite warm at night, seeing as it was still only the first half of autumn. The forest was quiet, save for the occasional animal noises on the background. Garret lit a fire, even though there was really no need for it, but somehow this made the place feel more welcoming. They sat around it and shared of the food that Sarah had packed in their bags. Daniel still couldn’t get used to the fact that he was only eating out of habit.

  As they ate, they noticed with astonishment that animals from deep inside the forest started coming to them, gathering by the fire. There were all kinds of them, big and small, four legged, two legged, birds too, and they all just sat around them, some even lying at their feet. Daniel felt absolutely amazed by all of this, though the other two were no less impressed.

  ‘I have camped at this very spot many times before, but this has never happened to me,’ Garret said, looking thoughtfully at Daniel. The animals seemed especially drawn to him.

  ‘I think somehow they sense that you’re not from around here,’ Nemo added, plunging his hands into the beautiful hair of a fully-grown lion that had come to sit next to him. ‘They must be curious.’

  Daniel was sharing some of his food with a pitch-black panther that kept purring with pleasure as he stroked its shiny fur.

  ‘This is so unreal. I have never seen so many different animals all together. Most of them are wild where I come from, and would kill each other, let alone go anywhere near people. This is incredible.’

  They slept that night in the company of a horde of animals that kept growing and growing. The next day as they resumed their journey towards Endër, the habitants of the forest trotted along and accompanied them all the way. It was such a sight. Whoever saw it, would think that a mass exodus was taking place. By midday however, as they reached the edge of the woods and were about to enter the borders of Endër, the animals stopped following them and remained behind. Daniel felt a bit sorry to depart from them. He looked back as he rode away and he could swear he could feel their sadness at their departure.

  This had been such a strange experience.

  The road from there was much wider and more frequented; the horses now rode with a faster pace and lighter step. Every now and then they would see people coming out of the city in their horses and carriages, and would always stop to greet them and have a quick chat.

  Soon they joined the main road that connected Endër to most of the villages in the west, and eventually led to Sky-City. Here the travelers were much more frequent and in bigger numbers. This was the only road that led to Endër and eventually to Arba, the city of the Lords. People visited the city a lot for many reasons, but most of them just went to honor the four Lords and bring them gifts.

  Daniel enjoyed this part of the journey especially; it somehow reminded him of the trips he would take with his dad whenever they went camping. Soon enough, however, a little anxiety began to kick in. They were now approaching the city, and within the hour he would stand before yet another queen. He felt nervous, even more so than when he was about to meet Eleanor. Somehow the Queen of Endër seemed a bigger deal than the Queen of the Seas.

  They entered the wide stone gates of the city without anybody stopping them, or asking them anything. Daniel was a bit surprised that there were no guards at the walls at all. The city was built at the foot of a high hill, with a small stream running down, right through the middle of it. All the houses looked towards the very top, where one small castle stood erected, overlooking all of Endër. All the roads interconnected and led to this castle. Daniel guessed that was where they were heading. Garret confirmed.

  ‘Yes, that’s the queen’s castle, and that’s where we are headed. Let’s get off the horses; we can walk the rest of the way. We will leave them at the inn, where they will be looked after.’

  They all climbed off their horses and made for the first inn right near the gates. A man came out, and after talking to Garret he took the horses from them, leading them round the back of the inn, where he promised to clean them and feed them. Daniel noticed that Garret didn’t give the man any money.

  ‘Didn’t you have to pay for that?’ he asked, curious.

  ‘Pay?’ Garret asked back. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Give him money? Surely you don’t expect him to just do the job without getting paid for it.’

  ‘There is no such thing here, Daniel,’ Garret answered. ‘We look after one-another; we love our animals and we love company. Food costs us nothing, and work is our pleasure. Helping each other is our reward.’

  ‘Sounds like there’s a reason why you leave your world and come to ours,’ Nemo said. ‘I don’t think I would like your world very much.’

  ‘I don’t think you would either,’ said Daniel, though more to himself.

  They shouldered their bags and began to climb the streets towards the castle. This was unlike any city Daniel had ever been to, though he had the distinct feeling that he’d seen something like this before. The white painted houses were practically built on top of one-another; their windows were many and small, while the roofs and balconies were all covered with small red tiles. The streets were laid with little round stones and they snaked all the way up to the top of the hill, where they all joined into one single road. That road ended up at the entrance of the castle, where once again Daniel failed to see any guards.

  Inside the castle, they walked into a great courtyard filled with little gardens full of blossoming trees and flowers. There were people everywhere that played, sang and danced. Children were running around following each other and making noise, and music was being played somewhere in the crowd. It sounded to Daniel like a flute, and it was very merry and melodic. Girls all wearing long white dresses were dancing around the young man, who appeared to be playing an instrument, which was definitely some sort of flute.

  ‘People gather here to prepare for the festivities; looks like it’s going to be a great one.’

  Garret approached one of the girls that was enjoying the music and spoke to her. She was beautiful, with long blonde hair and lively eyes, and was wearing a small silver circlet on her forehead. There were a few other girls similarly dressed and they all seemed to be overseeing the happenings in the courtyard. Daniel guessed they worked in the castle.

  ‘I’m Íro,’ the blonde girl introduced herself, her curious eyes glued on D
aniel. ‘Come with me, please. I will take you to her.’

  She led them inside the castle to the royal hall, all the while looking back at them, and stealing glances at the two boys.

  ‘She has been waiting for you,’ she said, looking curiously at Daniel. ‘We expected you to arrive days ago and she has been very anxious. I will go and inform her straight away of your arrival. Please wait here.’

  The girl left and the three of them remained behind in a big room with a very high ceiling, full of large paintings on its walls, colorful flags, statues and what not. There was a long line of chairs laid out against each wall across the room, and a high throne sitting at the end, centered in the middle and very well lit. Clearly that was where the queen sat.

  Daniel felt nervous. This was it; he had to summon some more of that royal speech he had given the first queen, wherever that had come from.

  They stood in the middle of the hall, waiting for the queen to come in at any moment, when Garret spoke.

  ‘Well, I’m going to leave you two alone then; your business with the queen is your own. Come and find me outside when you’re done.’

  Daniel was about to protest, when he heard quick steps from the other side of the hall. Garret left quietly while the steps got closer. Nemo kneeled where he was and pulled Daniel from his shirt to do the same. Daniel kneeled too, lowering his head and waited. A woman in a long white dress entered the hall and approached them alone. She stopped just a few feet from them and stood there, looking first at one, then at the other. Her gaze focused on Daniel, who was still looking down.

  For some reason, Daniel’s heart began to thump like crazy of its own accord. He could smell something familiar in the air, but couldn’t tell what it was. Then he heard her voice speak his name.

  ‘Daniel? Daniel Adams?’

  Hearing her calling him by his full name - which nobody here knew - caused him to raise his head and look at her.

  Over her white dress she was wearing a royal shawl of green color, adorned with the same emblems that Daniel had seen all over the city and in the castle. Her long black hair reached down her shoulders, and a beautiful small golden crown rested upon her head. Her face was gentle and sweet, her skin soft and perfect. Her lips dark cherry red and her eyes shiny green, just like his. There was pain and joy in those eyes, and looking at them Daniel realized that he knew this face; he knew that voice and that scent. He knew her.

  Slowly he arose, trying to let out one single word.

  ‘Mom?’

  Introductions & Reunions