Thomas sucked in his breath. "Gawd amighty, she's beautiful," he whispered.
The apparition looked at Thomas and smiled, then walked to him and placed her hand upon his head and he bowed and waited, breathing heavily, his right hand now placed over his left shoulder.
"It has been some time since I have been called beautiful, Thomas," she said in a low voice.
"You ... you know my name," Thomas stuttered, looking up into the eyes of the Ghost of Chalma.
"I know all that passes in the World of Sharlain." She looked about at the others, her eyes resting on Clayton. "Your brother has been taken to the Black Abyss by the horsemen who ride the Beasts of Filope. He is alive and well, but it will not be easy for you to free him from the grasp of Eba-evin."
"Eba-evin?" asked Clayton.
"Eba-evin, the Dark Lord," answered the Ghost of Chalma. "He seeks to rule the World of Sharlain, and all other worlds. Eba-evin has spies in your world, Clayton Chaplain. They will destroy the leaders of your world, one by one, then invade and conquer."
The Ghost paused, raised her hand and the Miriens all stood, then slowly dropped to the ground, sitting in a ring about her. She smiled and Thomas took a deep breath, gazing at her slim body.
"Miriens," she continued, "you seek my guidance and you shall have it. Do not enter the forest of Wilo-ard for the Ardens have been warned of your coming and will surely destroy you. Return to Dragomir. Store food and water from the Stream of Life. Seal yourselves in your caves. Wait, and I shall come when it is time for you to leave. Then you shall fight a great battle in the land of Dragomir, and it shall be on your soil, and the Ardens will fall to your swords." She turned to Clayton and continued. "You may not continue through Wilo-ard for the Ardens wait with weapons of death. But you carry the Door of Monash and you may use it to rescue your brother and the girl."
The ghost raised her hand, a slender finger pointing at the amulet which now glowed brightly at Gloria's breast.
Thomas closed his mouth and stuttered. "Rescue Clay's brother and the girl? What girl?"
"Her name is Sandra Brickle and she is hiding from Eba-evin. She entered this world twenty-seven days ago and travels the River of Monash to the sea."
Clayton coughed and the Ghost turned to gaze upon him, so he spoke. "I'm n-not sure I understand how we got here. We do have an amulet and we spoke the words Gorbo-nom achewan No-nopawno agerwan and we wound up in that mountain with the golden tower. I assume that's how that girl, Brickle, how she got there, since she also had the amulet before we got it. There was an old man named Woller in our world who also spoke those words and somebody named Daniel Woller who knew the words, and his wife Kathy. The old man said that Daniel was Daniel of Woller."
"Wait," said the Ghost softly. "The place called Woller is beyond Chalma, beyond the Black Abyss and beyond Filope. It is an old kingdom and many clans of Sharlain originated there. Challia, the king of the Miriens, has ancestors from Woller." The leader of the Miriens blushed and lowered his head and the Ghost continued.
"Woller, it is ruled by Daniel of Woller and his queen. I suspect that the one you call Kathy is his queen. He is ambitious, as is his queen, and early joined Eba-evin in this quest for world domination, all worlds. At the request, nay the demand of Eba-evin, Daniel of Woller entered your world to study its weaknesses, as a preamble to invasion."
"But the old man, his name is also -"
"Woller, yes. He was sent to your world by the enemies of Eba-evin to warn your people of the imminent invasion." The Ghost paused, gazed at Tom, then: "May I ask you a question?"
"Yeah, ask away," said Tom, still staring open-mouthed at the Ghost. She looked at him and smiled, and he held his breath.
"The old man you call Woller. Did he succeed in warning your people? Is that why you are here in Sharlain? If so, you must have powers beyond that which are visible to me for I see only three helpless persons, without weapons, save the amulet."
"Uh, we ain't got no weapons," said Thomas. "We just came here to find Gordy. We'll go back the same way when we find him, rub the amulet and say that gorbo stuff."
"And the old man, Woller, he did not succeed in warning your people?" The Ghost of Chalma looked first at Thomas, then at Clayton. Clayton answered, with head bowed.
"Well, you see, the old man spoke of impending doom. He stood on the street, dressed in rags, and spoke of the end of the world." Clayton looked up at the Ghost, glowing in the night. "You see, in our world, there are so many old men who preach the end of the world ..." His voice trailed off.
"Aah, I see. Then you will certainly not succeed against Eba-evin, for he is powerful and you are powerless."
"Then you can help us," said Gloria eagerly. "You did it once, I understand. You defeated the Dark Lord. You can do it again."
The Ghost of Chalma rose from amidst the small group and hovered, shimmering, in the air. Before the glow vanished in a glimmer she spoke:
"I cannot do it again for I am no longer a wizard but a ghost. I have not but wisdom. But now I must leave you. Challia er Woller au Potria, take the Miriens to your caves in Dragomir. Thomas, you and your friends must follow the edge of the forest of Wilo-ard until you reach the river. I will be there again. But be warned: do not enter the forest."
And the ghostly figure dissolved and was no more and all was silence for some time.
"I hope she comes back," said Clayton to break the silence. "I have a million more questions. What does the borgo stuff mean? We say the words when we're inside the mountain with the golden tower and we find ourselves on a grassy plain, outside the mountain. If we say it now, rubbing the amulet, we get back to our world, I think? Where did the amulet come from and what other powers does it possess? Who sent old man Woller into our world? And why is his name Woller?"
Thomas stood as tall as he could and spoke in a commanding voice.
"Okay you guys, enough questions. We're going to follow the edge of the forest, just like the lady says, but we ain't goin in 'cause it's too dangerous. We'll keep going until we get to the river. Let's go, now!"
They all stared at Thomas but none moved. Gloria walked to Thomas and put her arm about his and looked up into his face and said in a low voice: "Tom, do you think we might stay here until morning, and get a little sleep before our journey?"
Thomas looked about and saw that it was dark and nodded his head.
"Yeah, we'll sleep for a bit. Then we head for the river."
Gloria smiled, raised herself on her toes and kissed Thomas on the cheek and he blushed.
"Charlie," said Thomas, "which way to the river?"
The one in white pointed to beyond the sandy plains and spoke:
"The great river which flows from the sea and runs to beyond Filope and Woller, the barren lands of our ancestors, and divides the lands of Dragomir and Wilo-ard from the Black Abyss where lives -"
"Gee, thanks Charlie," said Thomas. "I think we can find it now."
Clayton frowned and Gloria stared at him.
"That's pretty weird. The river flows from the sea, not to the sea as you'd expect. Like that funny Stream of Life; it flows both ways from the blue hills of Dragomir. Sure is a strange place, this Sharlain. And what seems like days turns out to be weeks? Didn't the ghost say that the Brickle girl has been around for weeks, yet she vanished from our world only days ago. And I'm sure the Ghost said that the river went to the sea, not from the sea. Strange."
"Somehow I feel it may get stranger," muttered Gloria.
"Don't worry none about all that," grunted Thomas. "I'll see that we get to where we're going, that I guarantee."
*****
The light came filtered through the mist of morning and Gloria awoke to find that the Miriens had left. She woke Clayton and Thomas and they took the knapsack and began to walk in the direction indicated by the one in white, toward the river which flows to, or from, the sea. On their right lay the forest of Wilo-ard and beyond rose the Mou
ntains of Mune. On their left stretched the sandy plain which now stood brightly to the distant hills.
It was midday when Thomas began to groan. "I'm real hungry. I think we should go into the forest, just a little way, a few feet maybe, and find us something to eat."
"Like what?" said Clayton.
"Mushrooms," said Gloria. "maybe some berries and maybe we can fill our water bottle. It's almost empty."
"Right! Let's go," said Thomas with enthusiasm, and he turned and headed quickly across the hot sand toward the green forest. The others followed. When they reached the edge of the woods they stood for some time, peering into the dark interior.
"Thomas," Clayton said, "didn't the Ghost say we shouldn't enter? Didn't she say ...?"
"Yeah," Tom muttered, "but I ain't goin' right in. I mean, just a little ways, just to find somethin' to eat."
Thomas stepped forward and entered. It was cool and green and they quickly lost any apprehension they may have had as they searched for edible fruits. It was Gloria who found the yellow berries clinging to small bushes which ran down a gentle slope into a clearing in the woods. They followed, picking and eating from the bushes as they went, until they entered the clearing. Clayton stopped and looked about and they all stopped. There were voices approaching, from beyond the clearing, and they went to a large tree and hid behind its gnarled and twisted roots.
Twelve figures tall and thin emerged from the forest into the clearing, tunics and hair of bright green, each carrying a long staff with metal tip that glinted in the dim light. They spoke among themselves, a strange guttural tongue, pointing and waving their staffs. Of a sudden they stopped and turned to stare at the large tree which held the hiding trio and the tallest walked to the tree and spoke:
"Nepawn-chawn ole-worgo."
The trio said nothing, but waited. The tall one walked about the tree and stared down at the crouching three, then pointed his staff, poking Thomas in the side. Thomas jumped to his feet and roared in anger, seizing the tall one in both hands and raising him into the air. The other Ardens simply gazed at Thomas, waiting. Then the tall one mumbled something and rubbed his staff across Thomas' side and Thomas fell heavily to the ground. He didn't move.
"What have you done to him?" Gloria shouted, rushing to Thomas and stroking his brow.
The tall one cocked his head and spoke. "He is dead."
"My God," moaned Clayton. "You've k-killed him!"
He rushed to the tall Arden and swung his fist, knocking him off his feet and the tall man lay on the ground and began to smile, and soon all the Ardens were smiling, and they approached and stood in a circle about Clayton and Gloria, smiling, and soon the tall one arose and spoke:
"You will not die. We will take you to Eba and he shall decide your fate."
The tall Arden pointed his staff at Gloria and she fell unconscious and he pointed at Clayton and he fell beside her. The Ardens carried the two unconscious bodies from the clearing, deeper into the cool green forest.
When they awoke they found themselves in a house of straw with several tall Ardens standing at a wall. It was dark except for a broad shaft of yellow light reaching across the dirt floor. Then, suddenly, it went dark. Gloria gasped and stared at the outline of the large creature by the door, with nostrils that flared and spotted head waving to and fro. Then the head was gone and she blinked at the sudden bright band of light, shaking her head. What had she seen?
The tall Arden who they had met in the forest approached and spoke.
"I am Choo-lan, most big of the Ardens of Wilo-ard."
Gloria looked tentatively at the door, then jumped up and cried out. "You beast! What have you done to Tom?" and she beat Choo-lan on the chest, but he smiled and stepped away toward the door beyond which lay the creature with spotted head and he spoke some word to the beast.
Clayton began to shout, but it was too late. The great head of the creature slid into the hut and took Gloria in its jaws and slid out once more, and vanished.
Clayton ran to the door but Gloria was gone. He held his head in his hands and Choo-lan spoke again: "To Eba goes the dragon of Monash. Eba-evin will decide."
*****
Gloria struggled and beat on the head of the dragon until it unfolded its wings and rose into the air. Then she closed her eyes and clung to its neck, not opening her eyes until she felt the slow beat of its wings. Below lay the snow-covered peaks of the Mountains of Mune and behind, from whence they came, the green forests of Wilo-ard.
Suddenly the dragon plummeted to the ground and Gloria again closed her eyes and clung to its spotted head until it stopped and she felt the cold. When she opened her eyes they were on a rocky and snow-draped projection on the side of a mountain and the dragon slid back from the ledge and lowered its head and spoke.
"Keeper of the Door, I seek thy forgiveness."
Gloria gasped and stepped back, almost falling off the ledge, but dropped to her knees and stared at the cowering dragon.
"You can talk! Keeper? Keeper of what door?"
The dragon extended a clawed hand with extended bony finger and approached Gloria until it placed its finger gently, slowly, on the amulet which hung from her breast. Gloria stood stiffly, then smiled.
"Yes, the Door, of course. I am Keeper of the Door."
The dragon slid back against the rocky wall and lowered its head and Gloria stood as tall as she could.
"Who are you? What are you? Answer me at once!" she commanded in a most authoritative voice.
"I am of Monash."
"Are you ... uh, a dragon of Monash?"
The creature nodded its great and spotted head.
"Then you know all about these Doors. Didn't you give one to the Dark Lord, Eba-something?"
"Yes, but it was not I, my fellows sought to acquire powers beyond those of the Door, it was promised them by Eba-evin."
Gloria walked to the dragon and stroked its spotted head and it began to weep.
"That was a grave mistake. But tell me, what are the powers of the Door? Where did the dragons of Monash get these powers? How do they use the Door?"
The dragon with the spotted head began to speak and Gloria listened intently.
"In the days before the last Age the King of Light gave the Door to the dragons of Monash that they might travel to the far corners of Sharlain, to talk to the peoples of Dragomir and Wilo-ard, to take note of conditions in Filope where live the beasts that now serve Eba-evin, to travel to the ancient kingdom of Woller where came all life in Sharlain, to consult with the Wizard of Chalma, to investigate the creatures of the Sea and to report to the King of Light. That was our task and well we served the King of Light."
The dragon lowered its head and continued.
"Then we discovered that the Door opened onto other worlds and the leader of the dragons of Monash then sought to use this power to extend the kingdom of Monash to these other worlds. The King of Light sent the Wizard of Chalma to Kloma, the principle city of Monash, to speak to Eba-evin and warn him of the dangers in using the Door to travel to other worlds, and so began the Battle of Kloma, for so it is told, as I was so young, but I -"
"Wait!" interrupted Gloria. "Are you saying that Eba-evin, the Dark Lord, the Prince of Darkness, is really from Monash?" She leaned forward and said loudly: "Is he a dragon?"
The dragon raised his head at Gloria's rising voice and nodded.
"Yes. Such shame have we, that our Eba-evin is now the leader of all the evil forces in Sharlain."
"Okay, tell me ... uh, dragon-" Gloria frowned. "I can't just call you dragon. What's your name?" she asked.
"Forty-seven," answered the dragon.
"What! That's terrible. Who gave you a number instead of a name?"
"Eba-evin."
"Well, I will give you a name." Gloria stared up the side of the mountain flecked with snow, closed her eyes, then looked again at the dragon and grinned. "From now on your name is Freckles. Do you like your n
ew name?"
"Freckles, my name."
"Okay, now I want you to take me to Eba-evin. I must talk to him. He has a friend of mine and I want him released."
The dragon began to shiver, its nostrils flaring, its great head wavering.
"What's wrong? Are you afraid of Eba-evin? You have the power of the Door don't you? Don't all dragons have that power? If he gives you trouble, just go through the Door. That's what I intend to do. See?"
Gloria took the amulet from her sweater and held it up. "It even has the words written on it, but I've memorized them:
Borgo-nom achewan. No-nopawno agerwan.
The dragon began again to weep, for Gloria had vanished.
Fourth Interim
Please, bring me the wine that I might drink and continue ... weary though I am. And be thankful that you will stay and end your years in this land of plenty, of harmony, of love, of understanding beyond all reason. But thanks comes from recognizing your blessings, does it not? Were you to accept that which you have, without knowledge of those who have not, then the pleasure would be diminished. Perhaps it is for this reason that I tell you this story, that you may be thankful for your life, such as it is.
Ah, but I must continue for the days grow fewer.
Listen well, my children.
CHAPTER 9
River of Monash
She had been frantic that first day, clinging to the cave mouth, gazing out at the alien landscape. Almost immediately she had begun the descent, crying out for help, but no one answered her call. When she reached the grassy plain she fell to her knees and wept.
"Oh God, where am I? How do I get back? What was that thing I touched, the glowing amulet? Dear God, please help me."
She staggered across the plain, falling often and crying and struggling once more to her feet, wrapping her robe about her substantial figure. When night fell, suddenly and without an evening to herald its coming, she collapsed and cried herself to sleep.
Morning came and she awoke to find herself in better spirits.
"No makeup, no purse," she muttered. "The beautiful Sandra Brickle arises to a new day with naught but her robe and a sense of adventure ..." She wept once more.
Then she heard the gurgle of a laughing stream and she crawled to its edge and drank deeply, and the stream laughed once more then grew smaller and vanished among the dry grasses. Then, once again the sound of rushing waters and the stream rose up and bubbled from the ground and she followed it, scrambling, frustrated, and yet again it vanished. Soon she collapsed, exhausted, and soon the sky darkened into starless night and she crawled beneath a tree and slept.