The Foreshadow of Balance Page 5

CHAPTER IV

  In the morning the bodies had gone, Dylan guessed the men had buried them or something last night. He could still see blood in the sand though and he didn’t like looking at it. Bell was sitting on one of the logs by the now dead fire talking to a man while his Dad was practicing his sword with Lucas.

  “There he is,” shouted Lucas and Dad put his sword away. “Are you ready to go back now, Dylan of the Shed?”

  “I dunno, I want to see more of your world.”

  “Shh,” said Dad, “don’t let the villagers hear such words.”

  “Sorry,” he whispered.

  “It’s OK, Son, you’re doing great,” he smiled and hugged him.

  Bell walked over. “Janeson has just got back from town where no news is good news for us.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “No sign of the Ruling Guards, no news from the city, so hopefully the portal is still undetected.”

  “Then let us move,” Lucas said and stretched. “I for one need some morning coffee.”

  Dad laughed and Dylan couldn’t help joining in.

  %%%

  The walk back seemed shorter than the walk to the village and they were once again pushing through the bushes having seen a deer and a number of different birds and butterflies. As they walked they ate some cold Lien meat that they had taken, but now Dylan was looking forward to getting home and eating Earth food. Maybe a hamburger, they were his favourite.

  They only found the portal because of Bell’s keen forest skills and he said that that was a good sign too, not many people would come this way and if they did they would probably walk straight past the portal and never see it.

  And then they were in the garden again. It was cold and raining so they ran straight for the house. Inside they took turns in the shower and Dad brewed up coffee that was gladly accepted.

  “So how do we proceed?” Bell asked.

  “Well we need to go and find this Dr. Fozz. According to the book he works at University College, London so we can catch the train down.”

  %%%

  “I can’t believe this,” Lucas said with a grin as the train hurtled along the tracks.

  “It makes me feel a little sick to look out,” moaned Bell.

  It was funny, thought Dylan; he’d been on the train loads of times to visit museums with his Dad and had never thought about how fast they went. Never really thought much about them until he was travelling with two people who had never been on one. Never travelled so fast in their life.

  The two Outworlders were a little wobbly when they stepped out onto solid ground, but soon they were walking through the city and any thoughts of trains had disappeared as they ogled the buildings of London. But there was no time to sightsee and Connor led them quickly to the University and before long they were knocking on the office door of one Dr. Fozz.

  “Come in.”

  They entered the small office and Dylan was reminded of the wizard’s hut, so many books were covering the walls. At a desk in front of a window sat the doctor.

  “Dr. Fozz?” Connor asked.

  “Indeed and who might you be?” he asked with a warm smile.

  “My name is Connor James.”

  “The Archaeologist?”

  “I am. You’ve heard of me?”

  “I’ve read some of your books on myths. Please find seats,” and they moved chairs and books around in a dance before they sat in a rough semi-circle around the desk.

  “I’ve read your book ‘Legends of the Five Worlds’.”

  “Well good to see someone has.”

  “It’s why we’re here. This is Dylan, my son, Bell and Lucas.”

  Dr. Fozz looked from Connor to Dylan and then to Bell and finally his eyes rested on Lucas.

  “It’s happened hasn’t it?” the Doctor asked.

  “It has,” Connor replied.

  “I never thought it would, at least not in my life time, you two men are Outworlders.”

  “We are,” said Bell. “From Sylvae.”

  “How do we go?” Dr. Fozz asked.

  “It is well,” replied Bell.

  “It is confusing,” answered Lucas and Dr. Fozz laughed.

  “I’m sure, I’m sure. Where has it opened?”

  “In our shed,” Dylan said.

  “Your shed? And did you find it?”

  “Yes, I was just sitting there when a pig came running out.”

  “My dinner,” Lucas said sadly.

  “Well, well, that must have been scary for you. Tell me what were you thinking about?”

  “I, well,” he looked at his Dad, “I was thinking about magic and wishing there was a portal so that we could escape the school bullies, and, and find my Mum,” he looked down at the floor and Dad put an arm around him.

  “So you were thinking about portals and one opened?” Dr. Fozz rubbed his chin. “Do you go to church, Dylan?”

  “Mostly. Sunday School.”

  “And so you believe the stories you hear?”

  “I guess, why would they lie?”

  “Why indeed and your Dad must have read you myths and legends, yes?”

  “Yeah, I like them too.”

  “Where is this going?” his Dad asked.

  “We are in a more spiritual age now, some call it postmodernism, people are warier of technology and big business. They look into religions, spirituality and the like. There is more belief and with more belief it is easier for a portal to open.

  “And your son seemed to have enough belief, enough faith and specifically, belief that a portal could exist so that it did.”

  “So there is no portal on Chinerthia?” Bell asked.

  “I would think not.”

  “How do we close it again?” Dad asked.

  “Good question. But why would you want to close it?”

  “We can’t let Earthen weapons into the Four Worlds,” Bell said.

  “What is the state of the Four Worlds since the Earthly portals closed?” Dr. Fozz asked and sat back.

  “The Chinerthians took control of the Book of Five Worlds and they somehow altered the Balance,” Bell explained. “I don’t understand how, but it is as if they draw power from the Four Worlds making them stronger and the rest of us weaker, they have ruled over us for many centuries now.”

  “Interesting,” Dr Fozz said and put his pipe in his mouth, but didn’t light it.

  “Can you help us?” asked Dylan.

  “Well much of what you need to know will be known in your worlds, but I can say this, from my studies of the legends true balance is only achieved through all Five Worlds being connected. You could try and close this portal and nothing will change or you could try and open the Earth/Chinerthian portal and reset the balance.”

  “But to do that…” Connor said.

  “Indeed you would.”

  “Would what, you confuse me,” Lucas said impatiently.

  “We’d need the Book of Five Worlds,” Bell said.

  “Yes, it is the only thing that I know of that would contain instructions to close or open a portal.”

  “But if the Black Queen has the book, why hasn’t she opened a portal?” Lucas asked.

  “Who knows,” answered the Doctor. “Perhaps she knows it would reset the balance, perhaps she can’t. Without the Book we can’t know.”

  “This is not good,” Bell sighed.

  “No,” Dad agreed.

  “Are you suggesting that we travel to Chinerthia and somehow steal the Book?” Lucas asked.

  “It would be your only option.”

  “You are crazy.”

  “Some have said that,” Dr. Fozz agreed. “The other option is to guard the portal, I assume it is not well known.”

  “Only we four know of it,” Dad agreed.

  “But Btolomy said that the portal may grow and be detected by magicians, we could not defend it forever,” Bell said.

  “Then we have to go for the Book,” Dylan said.

  “A brave young
man you have there.”

  Connor James ran his hands through his hair.

  “We’ll need to talk to your Grandparents, ask them to look after you.”

  “No. I want to come.”

  “It will be very dangerous, Dylan of the Shed,” Bell put a hand on his shoulder.

  “Wait, we are not in all seriousness going to try and steal the Book?” Lucas couldn’t believe it.

  “What choice do we have?”

  “If the Guardian opened the portal maybe he can close it again.”

  “It could work,” Dr. Fozz said leaning forward again, “but it would be very difficult to make him stop believing in something he knows to be true.”

  “So it’s settled then,” Dad said. “You have to go to your Grandparents.”

  “No!”

  “I’m afraid it would be wiser to take him with you. He is the one who opened this portal, maybe you’ll need him to open another.”

  “I can’t take that risk,” Connor said.

  “But we can’t risk going all that way and not being able to open it,” Bell said, “Maybe this is why the Black Queen has not opened a portal, because she can’t.”

  “I will look after him,” Lucas said.

  “I know you can, but…” Dad started, but Dr. Fozz had gotten up and was looking for a book.

  “Ahh, here it is,” he took one down, blew the dust off it and flicked through. “Here we are, ‘Binding Pledges’.

  “Do you Lucas, what’s your title?”

  “Guardsman of the Mountain City.”

  “Do you Lucas, Guardsman of the Mountain City, Pledge an Oath on the Righteous to protect this boy?”

  Lucas stood and held one hand on his heart and one on his forehead. “I do.”

  “Then you are now Lucas, Protector of the Guardian.”

  “It is so,” Lucas said and sat back down.

  “I don’t really understand,” Dad said.

  “It means he’s going to keep me safe.”

  “Well, yeah, I get that.”

  “That was a Binding Pledge, Lucas can do no less than protect your son with his life, he is now Lucas’ number one priority in all things,” Bell explained.

  “Then we should go and prepare. Plan. I can’t even start to think how we are going to do this. Thank you, Dr. Fozz,” Dad stood and the others did too.

  “My pleasure, I can’t believe I have met two Outworlders.”

  “You should come with us.”

  “Thank you, Dylan, but I am too old now for such adventures, you will have to come back and tell me all about it.”

  “I will,” Dylan smiled and Dr. Fozz smiled back.

  “I wouldn’t speak so surely.”

  %%%

  They were mostly quiet on the journey home; they had much to think about, but even then Connor noticed how much closer Lucas now stuck to Dylan; how he sat next to him on the train with Dylan between himself and the window. Protecting him.

  And Bell was lost in thought, something bothering him as he get fidgeting. Of course, the scale of their plan would be enough, but Connor thought it was something else. As for him, well, what the hell was he doing?

  %%%

  The next morning they showered, packed and ate breakfast. They didn’t pack much, they couldn’t take their Earthen clothes, nothing that might give away where they were from, but Dad packed a few things to give them the advantage in the Four Worlds.

  “I will miss the coffee here,” Bell said.

  “And the tomato sauce, I wonder if I can make it back home?” Lucas wondered.

  And then they stood in front of the shed.

  “So here we are,” said Dad. None of them felt very happy about the adventure ahead.

  “You will come back here, Connor of the Shed,” Bell said quietly.

  “I hope so,” Dad said sadly and for the first time the seriousness of the situation hit Dylan.

  His Dad didn’t seem so sure they would. He didn’t want to go and not come back. Though he didn’t know why, there wasn’t much here for him. And perhaps it wouldn’t be as bad as they thought, maybe the Black Queen would never know, maybe they would get in and out like the TV shows he watched. But he didn’t feel as brave as his heroes.

  “If we are going to do this then we must go and do this,” Lucas said.

  “Yes, you’re right,” Dad said. “Let’s go.”

  And so they walked through the portal and into the sharp end of a sword.