The Scarlet King (7 page)

Heather was a little startled by the question
and asked, "What did she look like?"

Daniel concentrated and squinted his left
eye, as he tended to do when he thought deeply, and replied, "She
was old but yet lively. She wore an unusual cape with a large
pendant. She was talking but I heard not. She seemed to be
pointing."

Heather's eyes filled with tears and she said
only, "She said I must go."

"Go where?"

"She but pointed towards the south."

"The Southern Kingdom?"

Heather but shrugged her shoulders, saying,
"I know not but think much further."

Daniel was silent for some time, standing
beside her with his hand on her shoulder. He finally suggested she
complete the morning ritual and prepare for the day while he
prepared for the breaking of the fast. He added, "It seems the
Spirits of the Forest are strong in your grandmother."

Heather arose from the rocking chair and
said, "Have I not told you that my grandmother was of the
Forest?"

It was Daniel's turn to be puzzled. He asked,
"Was she not your father's mother?"

Heather answered over her shoulder as she
left to prepare for the day, "Yes, I will explain why when we break
the fast together."

Daniel prepared their meal of boiled oats and
bread wondering what this vision meant. When Heather joined him at
table for the breaking of the fast, they first gave thanks to the
God of the Sacred Water for their safety and the gift of baby
Geoffrey. As she ate, Heather explained how her grandmother was the
daughter of the ambassador from the Northern Kingdom who had served
to improve trade with those of the Forest. While living in the
Forest he had asked to learn the skill of hunting and a young woman
of the Hunter’s Guild was assigned the task. She was unable to
teach him to be a hunter, but they managed to fall in love and were
married.

“By the time they returned to the Northern
Kingdom, my grandmother was about to be born,” added Heather.

Daniel asked, "Why have you not told me this
story before?"

Heather shrugged her shoulders and replied,
"I suppose I never thought it was important, and besides it has
always been a bit of a family scandal of sorts."

"Why was it a scandal?"

Heather smiled one of her beautiful smiles
and said, "Those not of the Forest believe there is something
special about royal blood. The prince who married my grandmother
did so against the wishes of the royal family. It was only after my
mother's victory in battle was she finally accepted, but until the
end many had trouble calling her Queen."

Daniel was puzzled and asked, "What is
special about royal blood? Is it not red like everyone else's?"

"I know not why people choose to believe what
they do,” responded Heather, “but it seems to provide some social
stability. Maybe it is the stability that people really want."

The discussion was interrupted with arrival
of Betty and her son, both dressed for travel. Betty said, "We
leave today."

Heather knew without asking that her
grandmother had also visited Betty. Tears welled up in her eyes and
she asked, "What of our babies?"

Daniel spoke up, saying, "I think it would be
safe enough to bring them with us at least as far as the Northern
Kingdom. I will need to find some others of the Forest to travel
with us."

Heather replied, "I would expect that the
Spirits of the Forest have already seen to that. Let us concentrate
on our own preparations and let the God of the Sacred Water take
care of the rest." She then added, "I would bring more of your
powder if it is available."

Daniel replied, "I will send word but know
not if any is in store."

By midday they were ready and a dozen hunters
had arrived to travel with them. Those of the village provided the
midday meal. The women of the quilting group brought a special
travel cape for Heather, which had a large interior pocket for baby
Geoffrey to ride in. They explained in private to Heather how the
women of the Hunter’s Guild would use the cape to carry their
infants, which allowed them to nurse while they traveled.

As they prepared to depart, four others
arrived who had been traveling hard. With them was Stan from Those
Left Behind—who had joined them on the ice field—and the young
priest who had been working with the old priest at the monastery.
They said simply, "The old one had a vision and has sent us to you
with all speed."

They were warmly welcomed by Heather and
Daniel and the group set off. Winter had not yet lost its grip on
the land, but the days were long and they made several miles before
their first camp. Heather was able to do fairly well keeping up
just carrying her baby Geoffrey, but Betty's toddler rode on her
shoulders or was carried by the various hunters. When the snow was
particularly soft they even carried Betty. They gradually descended
and finally spotted their first open ground as they arrived at the
swinging bridge made famous by Jeremy's charging bear. As they
traveled more and more hunters joined with them, and by the time
they arrived at the city gates they were a party of nearly
fifty.

Heather had planned on a quiet meeting with
her father, but as they arrived at the gate trumpets began to blare
and the gates were opened with great ceremony. There stood Elrod,
who welcomed them with great enthusiasm saying, "My wife Martha had
a feeling something was going to happen today. She told me I needed
to be especially watchful."

Before he could continue with his monologue
Heather interrupted saying, "I would speak with Captain Cook.”

Elrod nodded and said, "First let us escort
you to your father and I will make the arrangements."

They had traveled hard and Heather at this
point simply let Elrod continue his talking as they made their way
to the palace. She was greeted by her father and his Queen and
taken immediately to the royal quarters. While the Queen fussed
over the babies, the King asked, "Before I ask the reason for your
visit, I would know that you are doing well."

Heather hugged him again and said simply, "We
are well, but I have had a visit from my grandmother."

The Queen looked up sharply from the babies
and said, "I pray that this means not another adventure. You have
done your share and now have a baby to consider."

Heather could not hold back her tears, which
began to flow heavily. Daniel tried to comfort her to no avail.
Betty took charge and said, "Babies need to come with."

Now both the King and Queen objected, saying
that travel was no place for babies. Betty stood her ground and
just repeated, "Babies come with us."

A look of understanding passed between Daniel
and Heather's father and they managed to change the topic to more
immediate family matters. The children needed to be fed and stories
needed to be told. It was a private evening in the royal chambers
with most of the attention on the three children. Betty's boy,
being the oldest, seemed to lead, but even Heather's baby followed
the activity intently. The King and his Queen’s young son cared not
that his playmate was not of royal blood. The joy of family was
obvious and the evening grew late all too soon.

With the rising of the sun Daniel and Heather
left to meet with Captain Cook. Heather had insisted the meeting be
held in the guard station at the main gate, for she feared yet for
Daniel. Captain Cook and Elrod were waiting when they arrived. All
of those on duty left the guard station and Elrod posted himself as
sentry outside the door. Captain Cook, dressed in formal uniform,
bowed his head in recognition and said, "It is an honor to see you
again, Princess. I would expect your visit will involve another
voyage."

Heather but nodded her head before saying, "I
would travel to the south."

"To the Island of the Flightless Bird?"

Heather was quiet for a moment as she
wrestled with her intuition before replying, "I expect much further
south."

Captain Cook asked, "A voyage of
discovery?"

Heather chewed on her lower lip before
replying. "No. A voyage of rescue." She continued, "They have seen
danger for King Jason and the others. My grandmother has visited
and ordered me to journey forth."

It was Captain Cook’s turn for a moment of
silence before he replied, "I and my crew are pledged to your
service and mean to honor that pledge." He then added, "I have
added the second cannon of Daniel's to the ship and secured a
supply of the iron balls but have almost no powder left."

Daniel spoke up for the first time, saying,
"There is but little powder in stock, but what those of the Forest
have will be arriving soon."

Heather asked, "When will you be ready to set
sail?

"The ship and the crew are ready, but for
such a voyage more supplies will be needed. With permission to
obtain the supplies we could be ready in forty-eight hours."

Heather replied, "Plan on sailing in
forty-eight hours." She then looked down slightly before adding,
"We travel with a baby and small child."

Captain Cook accepted this, saying, "Children
adapt easily to life aboard ship. The danger of the sea is present,
but I would assume other dangers are of greater concern." He added,
"Is not uncommon for the free traders to travel with their families
aboard."

The meeting was about to end when Captain
Cook asked, "I need to know the size of your party."

Heather replied, "We traveled as a party of
fifty, but I would expect a few more of the Forest to arrive and
Elrod most certainly will want to join us. I would plan on sixty
passengers total."

Captain Cook but nodded his head and said,
"We sail in forty-eight hours at first light."

Daniel and Heather returned to the royal
chambers and joined the rest in the breaking of the fast. It was
midmorning before she and her father met with his advisers. Many
questions were asked but Heather had few answers. Those of the
Northern Kingdom understood not the . Heather listened politely to
all the reasons why she should not journey to the unknown lands. At
the end of the meeting she simply announced, "I sail on the dawn
following the morrow."

Well before dawn on their day of departure
the whole of the palace was awake and active. The breaking of the
fast seemed to occur just a few hours after the evening of
storytelling had ended. Tears flowed freely as Heather and her
family left the palace and were joined by those of the Forest. When
they arrived at the gate, Elrod was dressed for travel and began
another monologue about how his wife Martha had insisted that he
travel with the Princess. Those of the Forest who knew not Elrod
were amazed at his ability to continuously talk. When he slowed
enough in his talk, Heather simply said, "You may join us."

Elrod joined in the group which traveled in
what appeared a very disorganized fashion, with a few always
ranging ahead and a few others straggling behind. Heather was
taking no chances of another attack on Daniel. They were traveling
through the city of her father but those of the Forest traveled as
if they were in enemy territory. They arrived at the ship without
incident and boarded just as the first show of daylight began to be
seen in the clouds to the east. As Elrod assumed responsibility for
settling the crew, Heather checked with Captain Cook to make sure
the supplies were adequate.

Captain Cook responded, "Supplies are
adequate for three months’ journey if we are careful. The powder
arrived late yesterday afternoon."

Soon the order was given to cast off the
lines and their ship began to pick up speed as it headed for the
sea. By nightfall they reached the point where the river melded
with the ocean and across the bar they sailed. As Captain Cook had
predicted, the little ones traveled without difficulty. The winds
were favorable and they sailed south just out of sight of land.

Heather again took command during daylight
and the sailors soon adapted to taking orders from someone who was
nursing her baby. Only mild rain showers and squalls of wind were
encountered and they made better time than on their last journey.
In three and one-half weeks of travel they were nearing the passage
which separated the land of Larby's people and the Island of the
Flightless Bird.

Betty awoke somewhat distraught and
immediately sought out Heather. They completed their morning ritual
together and provided care for the little ones before Heather had
time to listen. Betty said, "I saw darkness coming from the
east."

Heather tried to figure out what she was
talking about to no avail. Betty finally stood her tallest, and
chewing hard on her lip, said, "I am just a little one and don't
know what it means. I know it scary." She added, "We should warn
Larby's people."

Heather looked long and hard at Betty and saw
both fear and certainty in her face. She replied, "I will inform
Captain Cook. Have Elrod meet me topside to plan our defense."

Heather presented to relieve Captain Cook and
advised him that they needed to stop at the land of Larby's people.
He asked, "You think it is safe?"

Heather responded, "No, but it appears we
must stop anyway, for Betty has had another vision." She continued,
"I would we prepared for possible battle."

The hunters prepared their bows and the
sailors prepared the cannons. Captain Cook consulted the charts and
gave Heather a new course heading before going down for some rest.
He said only, "Wake me when land is sighted. I have only a sketch
of what the harbor entrance looks like. It may be hard to
find."

Daniel spent the morning with the young
priest examining Captain Cook 's chart and comparing it to the
images the young priest had stored in his mind. During the time
Larby had spent at the monastery, he had drawn more pictures of his
homeland and described them.