Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2010 06:57:15 EDT
From: BertMcK@aol.com
Subject: Crystal Throne/Riders of Tuatha 7

RIDERS OF TUATHA
by Bert McKenzie
Copyright 2010

Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction.  Any resemblance to any real
person alive or dead is coincidental and unintentional.

CHAPTER VII

     "She doesn't speak any English at all?" the officer asked Scott as he
looked skeptically at Caseldra.

     "No," came the reply.

     "So where is she from?"

     Scott tried his best to imitate what he thought might sound like a
slavic accent.  "Ve are from Latvia," he replied.  "Ve are tourist."

     "You got any I.D.?" the man asked.

     "I.D.?  Vhat please is I.D.?" Scott asked, feigning ignorance.

     "Identification? Papers?"

     "Ah," Scott said and spoke to Caseldra in Tuathan.  He then turned
back to the policeman.  "Passport is in suitcase at Cousin Jennifer's
house."  The cop was clearly getting frustrated with these stupid
foreigners.  He finally dismissed them to the waiting room.

     Meanwhile, Jennifer spent a long time in another tiny little
interrogation room.  She described the man who had called himself Detective
Smithers.  She looked at page upon page of photos, but never spotted the
man in question.  She again described the break-ins at all three places,
the stolen box of items from the store, and the small book that the fake
detective had taken.  She, too, was finally released and the three of them
went home.  There was nothing much else they could do.

     "Do you . . . do you really think that Troy's okay?" Jennifer asked as
she locked the front door behind them.

     "You heard the preliminary report, the same as I did.  No evidence of
any bodies," he replied, falling heavily onto a couch.

     "My lord," Caseldra asked in Tuathan, "May we have some 'tay?'"

     "You must be hungry," Scott replied, then easily switched to English.
"Jen, do we have any food here?"

     "How can you think about eating after all that has happened?" she
asked him.

     "I'll just order a pizza," he replied and went to dial the phone.

     Jennifer sat on the couch, the picture of the explosion playing and
replaying on the screen behind her closed eyelids.  She thought of Troy and
wondered where he was.  Then she thought of Rosebud, his cat.  Tears filled
her closed eyes and she began to sob.  She felt strong arms reach around to
hold her in her despair.  She leaned her head against the comforting
shoulder and let it all out.  After a few minutes, she began to slowly pull
herself back together.  She dried her eyes and turned to thank Scott for
being there when she needed him.  Jennifer was surprised to see that it was
the little fairy girl who had held her so gently.  "Thank you," she said as
she sat up.

     Scott finally came back into the room and began to sort things out.
"We know Troy bought a box of junk at an auction.  We also know his place,
the shop, and here were all broken into, and the only thing stolen was that
box.  Later a man pretending to be from the police steals the one thing
left behind from the box and then arranges to destroy the shop."

     "The book wasn't the only thing left behind," Jennifer corrected him.
"There was also a crystal ball."

     "Where is it?" he asked.

     "In the shop," she answered glumly after a moment's pause.

     "Then I think it's safe to say that too was taken.  That only leaves a
few loose ends."

     "Like what?" Jennifer asked.

     "Well, who wanted the box of stuff, and the book, and why?  My guess
is there was something important in that book that he wanted.  And I'm also
guessing he took Troy along when he torched the shop."

     Jennifer was still confused.  "But why would anyone want Troy?  I
mean, why kidnap him?"

     "If he read the book, they may want to silence him," Scott suggested.

     "But it was written is some kind of foreign language," she said.

     "Well, nevertheless, I have a feeling that it all hinges on that book.
Maybe we ought to check out Troy's apartment after we eat."

     "Well, at least we can feed Rosebud," Jennifer agreed.

     Just then the doorbell rang.  "That must be the pizza," Scott said.
"You're in for a treat," he told Caseldra in Tuathan.  Scott went to the
door and opened it but was surprised to see an empty porch.  No one was
there.  He stepped out to look around and suddenly felt a sharp pain
explode in the back of his head.  Then darkness descended abruptly.

                               * * *

     Ellenia both suggested taking the matter to the council in hopes that
their combined wisdom would have some valuable insights on what course of
action was to be taken.  Unfortunately, the meeting rapidly degenerated
into an argument about the wisdom of what had already been done.  "This is
what comes of breaking tradition," Lastel said.  He was the new delegate
from the western kingdoms and succeeded Bailor as ruler of the blue tower.
"The high king should never have taken a human consort in the first place,
and a male one at that.  And then to bind with him.  Such things were never
meant to be.  It is unnatural."

     "The ways of the heart cannot be unnatural, my lord," Lorfana spoke
up.  She was the appointed leader of the council.  "We all were witness to
the true love between them.  Joining with a female would be unnatural for
the king as he is a reversal.  He has only acted as is right for him."

     The debates continued on in this fashion, first one delegate attacking
and then another defending.  The council seemed to be equally divided in
opinion as to the appropriateness of what had happened.  However, no one
seemed even remotely concerned about the future.  Finally, Rood pulled the
others aside, speaking in wind whispers to each of them.  One by one, the
group of friends slipped out of the council chambers, leaving the delegates
to battle amongst themselves.

     Rood, Melcot, Akuta, Clive, Ellenia and Rowana all assembled in a
meeting room in the green tower.  "That was a waste of time."  Melcot was
the first to break the silence as they sat gloomily around a large table.

     "We had to try," Ellenia said.

     "We have tried and failed in that direction," Akuta spoke up.  "What
next must we try?  We cannot but wait with inaction."

     "What can we?" Rowana asked. "Scott has gone to the other world and
the king was pulled after.  There is nothing for us but to await their
return."

     "What if they return not?" Melcot suggested ominously.  "What if they
are unable to return?"

     "Why would Scott leave for this other world?" Akuta asked.

     "He was going to aid a friend he had left behind," Ellenia told him.

     "Then we may assume this friend was in some form of danger?" Akuta
asked again.

     "Yes, I believe so," Rowana spoke up.

     "And why would Robin not go with Scott?" the young guard persisted.

     "Scott foresaw danger for the king in the magical reflection," Rowana
answered.

     "Then is it not correct to assume both our king and our friend, his
consort may be in grave danger in this other land?" Akuta summarized.

     "That is the logical conclusion," Rood added.  "And are we not sworn
as the king's guards to protect him?"  All the men agreed.  "Then our only
course of action is but to travel to this land as well."

     "My lord, how propose you that?" Ellenia asked.

     "If Elnar was able to send Scott and his own daughter to the world of
humans, he shall send us as well," came the reply.

     "He was barely able to send the two of them," Rowana protested.  "We
all saw how ineffectual he was in trying to create that spell.  It only
balanced itself by accident when Caseldra fell into the center.  Truly
believe you he would be able to send the king's knights, armed, mounted and
prepared for battle?"

     "My lady has a valid contention," Melcot agreed, looking to the other
highborn guards.

     "Elnar may indeed be inadequate to the challenge," Rood said.  "Yet he
is all we have.  We must at the least question him.  We may still find a
solution."  With that, the company broke up, Rood and Melcot heading for
the chambers of the Keeper of Magic to discuss their plans with the little
wizard.

                               * * *

     "Scott?" Jennifer called.  He had gone to the door to get the pizza,
but he didn't come back.  It didn't take that long to pay the driver.
"Scott?" she called again, getting up and following after him.  As she
entered the foyer, she saw that the door stood open; Scott was nowhere in
sight.  Jennifer walked out onto the porch but no one was there either.
The night was overcast.  Only the glow of the lights from inside broke the
darkness.  "Scott, where are you?"  she cried futilely.

     The gate squeaked on the fence that bordered the yard.  It was
unfastened and blowing in the gusty breeze coming up from the river on the
other side of the park.  Scott must have gone out to the street and left
the gate ajar.  Jennifer could not imagine why he had to go to the pizza
truck.  They always brought it to the door in the past.  She stepped off
the porch and headed down the sidewalk.  "Scott, are you out here?" she
called, reaching the gate.  She thought she heard a sound from out near the
curb.  Jennifer opened the gate and stepped down the two steps to the
sidewalk bordering the street.  Parked just a few feet away was a big black
van.  She hadn't seen it before because its dark color blended in so well
with the overcast night.  Just then someone grabbed her from behind,
shoving a wet cloth to her face.  Her eyes burned and she choked on the
sharp, medicinal fumes emanating from it.  Jennifer tried to struggle, but
her head seemed to be disconnected from her body.  She felt herself being
half pushed, half carried toward the van as she relaxed into
unconsciousness.

     The big, burly man who had just thrown her into the back of the van
turned.  Standing behind him was a small girl dressed in what looked like a
long, blue, loose fitting nightshirt, her long dark hair blowing in the
breeze, and anger flashing in eyes that seemed to glow in the dark like a
cat's.  She said something to him in a language he could not understand.
"Come on, Joe.  Let's get out of here," his partner called, starting up the
engine.

     Joe stepped out from behind the van so the man behind the wheel could
see him in the mirror mounted by the side window.  "We got a witness," he
called back to the driver.  The girl came a step closer to him; as she did
so, she reached into the tunic she wore and produced a sharp, shiny dagger.
"Give me the knife, lady," Joe said reaching out carefully.  The girl's
hand moved like lightning and he jerked back in pain, blood dripping from a
long gash on his arm.  "Shit!" he cried, grabbing at the cut.

     The driver was watching all this in his side mirror.  "Quit wasting
time," he called and raced the motor for emphasis.  Joe made a dive at the
small girl, dodging the blade in her hand.  But she was much more agile and
side stepped him easily, sticking her blade in his side, not deep enough to
be a serious wound but enough to hurt like hell and draw blood.  Joe turned
again and lunged at her.  The girl, tiring of this game, darted under his
big arms, slicing up with the dagger and into his chest.  Joe's body froze
in stunned surprise, giving her just enough time to dart back out of the
way as it collapsed forward.

     The driver slammed the van into gear and gunned it, pulling away from
the curb with a screech of rubber.  Caseldra turned and ran after the
vehicle.  The driver was shocked to see her starting to gain on him, so he
quickly shifted gears and pushed the pedal to the floor.  The girl slowly
fell behind, and was finally lost in the darkness.

                               * * *

     The first thing Scott was aware of was the crashing pain in his head.
It flashed in pulsing spasms of intensity.  He tried to move, but the pain,
as well as a firm hand on his chest, restrained him.  He slowly opened his
eyes, but the room was pitch dark.  He moved his left arm as slowly as
possible, preparing to grab the hand that was holding him down.  In a burst
of effort he reached quickly and gripped the arm over him while trying to
break free, but the powerful muscles in the thin arm easily overpowered
him.  The effort and movement only redoubled the pain in the back of his
skull.

     "Move not," a voice said in Tuathan.  "You have been injured.  You
must rest."

     Slowly, comprehension came to Scott.  "Caseldra," he managed to say,
the words setting off new fireworks in his brain.  "What happened?"

     "I found you lying in the bushes outside," her voice answered him in
the darkness.  "You must have been attacked by those men."

     "What men?" he asked as he tried to move, to sit up.

     "Lie still," she commanded, holding him down.  "You are not well."

     He managed to gently push her hands aside and sit up.  He could tell
he was on a bed, but the room was in total darkness.  "I'll be alright," he
said.  "What men?"

     "Two men.  They must have attacked you.  Your friend went to find you
when you returned not.  I followed and saw one of them push her into the
back of a mechanical wagon.  I attacked and killed him, but the other fled
in the wagon.  I chased it, but it flew like the wind.  I could not match
the speed."

     "Oh, no," Scott moaned.  "That was the whole reason I came here.  I
wanted to warn her about this, but now it's too late."

     "It may not be too late," Caseldra told him.  "Can we not find her and
rescue her?"

     "Did you get the license number of the truck?" Scott asked anxiously.

     "What is 'license number?'" she asked.

     "Never mind," he sighed and sat in silence for a minute.  "Wait, I
have an idea!" Scott shouted and jumped up, only to fall sideways under the
painful ache in his head.  Caseldra caught him and helped him to stand.
"Thanks," he said to her.  "Can you show me how to get downstairs?  I can't
see."

     "My lord, you are blind!" the girl cried in alarm.  "They have injured
you far worse than I had feared!"

     "No," he reassured her.  "It's just the darkness."

     "But there is plenty of light," she answered.

     "For your eyes.  Humans don't see as well."  She led him back down the
hall to the top of the stairs.  He could see the lights downstairs and was
able to manage on his own from there.  "Caseldra," he asked, "how did you
get me upstairs by yourself?"

     "I carried you, my lord," she replied.  "I am strong for my size.  I
have trained to be a warrior."

     "But even in your world, women are not warriors."

     "Then I shall be the first," she said with an air of conviction.

     They headed into the drawing room where Scott began looking through
papers on Jennifer's desk.  He found a batch of Old World Curio receipts he
had noticed there earlier, and began thumbing through them.  "Here it is,"
he said triumphantly, pulling out a yellow bill of sale.

     "What is it?" the girl asked.

     "The bill of sale from Two County Auctions," he answered.  "This is at
least a place to start.  We'll find where that auction house got the box of
magic stuff that Troy bought.  I have a feeling it might just lead us to
where Jennifer was taken."

     "Then let us go," Caseldra said.

     "It won't open until nine tomorrow morning," Scott told her.

     "Is this place nearby?" she asked.

     "No."

     "If it is a long walk, can we not get started?"

     "Okay," he laughed. "We'll go now, but we'll take Jen's car.  I'm not
walking 120 miles."  Scott picked up the keys and they headed out the door.
As they reached the street where Jennifer had parked, Scott saw a shape
lying in the gutter.  He ran to investigate, and found a large man lying in
a pool of blood, very dead.

     "That is the one who took Jennifer," Caseldra explained.  "He shall
not harm anyone else."

     "That's for sure," Scott agreed. "We better get out of here before
anyone else discovers the body.  I'd hate to have to explain this to the
police."  They climbed into Jennifer's Mustang, started the engine and
headed down the street.