The Scarlet King (27 page)

After Betty had left, Heather sent for the
commander of the Red. While waiting she told Jeremy, "I would you
rest and then arrange for scouts to patrol the trail. We will need
others to cover the tracks of the wagon as much as we can."

When the commander of the Red arrived,
Heather relayed as much as she knew and told of her plan. He but
nodded in approval before saying, "If we use our two horses to pull
the wagon, I would recommend a dozen troops accompany them."

Heather accepted his recommendation and then
added, "I would the wagon be prepared for burning in case of
possible capture by those of the East. The young navigator has been
trained and will accompany you."

Heather and the commander of the Red
continued their planning while the wagon was prepared. Daniel
interrupted their planning, saying, "Maybe I should go with the
wagon and teach those of the Red how the weapon works."

Heather just stared at Daniel for some time
before replying, "I trust not those of the palace. None of the
Forest should enter the city walls, for we are not of the city."
Daniel nodded his acceptance but also noted that Heather had
identified herself with those of the Forest.

He replied, "I respect your decision and will
do my best to make sure the young navigator is capable."

The commander asked Heather, "You have taken
great risk for our people despite your distrust of those of the
palace; I wonder why?"

Heather told him briefly of her grandmother's
visit, and explained that she feared those of the East would
eventually reach the Forest if their peoples did not cooperate. The
commander nodded his acceptance and they resumed their planning,
only again to be disrupted by the one of the Forest who had spoken
to Jason aboard ship. He relayed Jason's message and answered
questions as best as he could. Heather spoke up, saying, "You have
traveled hard, now is time for food and rest."

The commander of the Red asked, "How does
this Jason expect to attack the enemy ships when he has but one
ship?"

Heather replied, "He has aboard the cannons
we used on your ships. He should take not such a great risk." She
then asked, "Can your troops move east and create a counterattack
in six days’ time?"

The commander thought for some time before
replying, "We have a full regiment prepared to intercept the supply
shipment from the northeast. If those were diverted and the rest of
my troops placed on a forced march, we could arrive in six
days."

Heather called for Jeremy, who had rested but
a few hours, and asked, "Can we move those of the Forest to the
east of the Great City and launch an attack on the weapons
overlooking the harbor entrance in six days’ time?"

Despite little sleep, Jeremy seemed fully
alert and quickly replied, "Those of the Forest can easily travel
that distance depending on the amount of supplies we needed to
carry."

Heather was quiet for some time before
replying, "We will travel light and depend upon the God of the
Sacred Water to provide for our needs." She then explained Jason's
plan and the danger the weapons at the harbor entrance
represented.

Jason remarked, "Many of the Forest are out
on scouting missions. If we wait for their return, I think not we
can reach the headland in time."

Heather was deep in thought and said only,
"They will find us as the Spirits of the Forest guide us." She then
addressed both Jeremy and the commander of the Red, saying, "We
will abandon our camp here in the wilderness and take only enough
for travel and three days of battle. If we are not successful, I
doubt the battle can be won."

She then spoke to Jeremy, saying, "I would
you have those of the Forest prepared for departure and then get
some more rest. Those moving the cannon can head out without you
while you rest. As soon as the cannon is delivered to the hidden
door, I would you and the others of the Forest return to us as we
travel east."

Jeremy replied, "We had planned on covering
our tracks, but if we backtrack not, then I should be able to
rejoin in four days."

Heather said only, "As the God of the Sacred
Water wills, so it will be."

Heather and the commander of the Red
continued their discussion and planning until it was time for the
evening meal. During the meal Heather explained their need to
destroy the weapons on the headlands and the risk Jason was taking.
She said, "His plan is dangerous, but also maybe it is the only
chance the Great City has of remaining intact. We will do our part
but our risk is also great." She then added, "It is time for the
counterattack. Those of the Red with us will engage the enemy to
prevent their blocking our escape. I know not what comes next, but
it will be as the God of the Sacred Water wills."

While others continued their preparations for
departure, Heather met with the young navigator. She gave him a
verbal message to pass on to the one he called Don the Great. It
was a simple message: "At first light of the day of the crescent
moon, counterattack on the eastern flank."

As camp was being dismantled, the young
navigator followed behind the slowly moving wagon with those of the
Forest looking ahead and watching behind. He had time to
contemplate the sudden change in Heather's plans, but finally
decided that his duty was to complete the mission assigned. Just
before they reached the edge of the patrolled zone, Jeremy rejoined
them. Their slow movement seemed even slower now, as they
frequently had to wait as scouts ranged further ahead. At one point
even he could hear the horses of those of the East pass ahead of
them as they returned to their camp.

When dawn approached, those of the Forest did
their best to hide the wagon amongst the rocks by using branches
and ferns. When told to get some rest after eating the travel
rations, the young navigator found at first his mind would not slow
down enough for sleep. The fatigue of carrying his heavy pack
finally brought on sleep. It was near sundown before they moved off
towards the secret door.

The moon had long since set when Jeremy
called a halt amongst a jumble of boulders. The young navigator
could see no evidence of a secret door but he was glad for a rest
period. The rocky ground had been difficult. He knew not how those
of the Forest could move as swiftly as they did, for he was
continuously tripping and stumbling. Those of the Forest again
camouflaged the wagon and rechecked that it was properly prepared
for burning. Jeremy finally returned from scouting the area and
told the young navigator, "It may be best for us to move the horses
a little further on where there is some grass."

The young navigator but nodded in agreement
and sat quietly while the horses were unhitched and moved a couple
hundred yards further on. Now all he had to do was wait for the
door to be opened. Jeremy came back and asked if he needed anything
else, for they needed to push on if they were to regain the others
of the Forest. The young navigator said not, for the one thing he
really needed was help in controlling his own fear. He finally
asked, "What if the door opens not?"

Jeremy responded, "If the door opens not by
the time the sun is fully risen, you must strike the fire and make
your way north and east. We will find you." He then added, "May the
God of the Sacred Water watch over you."

And then the others were gone, leaving the
Listener alone, waiting for a secret door he could see not, to be
opened. He occupied his mind by identifying the stars and firmly
fixing his position. The noises of the night repeatedly startled
him, and time moved more slowly than he thought possible. The stars
continued their march across the night sky but seemed to do it in
slow motion. He finally shook his head after he was again startled
by a critter of the night.

He decided to search for the door using the
stars to get his bearings. He would walk a few feet and then return
to the wagon to ensure he would not get lost amongst the boulders.
He carefully walked a circle of radiating spokes from the wagon,
and was surprised when he found the door hidden between two large
boulders just steps from the wagon. He remembered Betty's story
about the window in the door. Using his hands to explore the
relatively cold metal door, the window became evident. He opened
it, peering into the blackness hoping to see some sign of light,
but only blackness and stale air greeted him. He made his way back
to the wagon and sat watching the stars make their ever so slow
march across the night sky.

Those within the palace had searched high and
low for the key to the door. The seer had been summoned, and when
told of their need had only asked, "Is the One with the Golden Hair
here?"

The advisor that Jeremy had called the Pet
Bird responded angrily, "It matters not. We need the key. Find it
for us or you will have a price to pay."

The seer, who seemed ancient enough himself
with his fringe of gray hair, readjusted his floppy hat and
replied, "I know the story of the tunnel but not of the key. I will
have to study the ancient scrolls." Without waiting for permission,
he turned and left the war room for his ancient temple filled with
scrolls.

The one called the Pet Bird complained, "He
is just a crazy old man and I think we should believe him not."

Don the Great simply rolled his eyes, saying,
"If the seer can help us not then we must force our way out the
gate and hope we can return with the weapon." He added, "It will be
a bloody battle and we will lose our element of surprise."

The King rejoined them; he had been carried
into the war room, for he now had difficulty walking because of the
weakness in his legs. He asked of their progress. The Pet Bird
pointed at the one called Don the Great, saying, "You tell him that
no key exists."

Don the Great bowed towards the King and
replied, "We have yet to find the key. The seer knows of the tunnel
but not the key."

The King replied in his somewhat weak voice,
"The key exists, otherwise she would not have come."

It was past midnight before the seer returned
carrying one of his ancient scrolls. As he ever so gently unrolled
the scroll, those of the Red looked anxiously but were unable to
decipher the writing. There was a picture showing the key with
great detail. The Pet Bird demanded to know what it meant. Before
answering the seer asked, "Is the one like a child with them?"

The Pet Bird responded, "You mean that little
witch?"

He was brought up short by the King, who
said, "Yes, the little one is with them." He then asked, "What does
this mean?"

The seer had a bit of a smile on his face as
he responded, "It is part of the legend but not usually told." He
then read the script translating it, "The key must be inserted and
turned to follow the stars when facing north."

Don the Great spoke up, asking, "Does not the
scroll tell us where the key is?"

The seer replied, "It says not but I would
expect the little one has already told you where the key be."

The King began fingering the royal chain
around his neck as he had done since he ascended to the throne.
This time his fingers came to rest on a relatively plain looking
trinket. He removed the chain and, despite the fact that all of the
characters had been worn off through the centuries, the general
shape did indeed match the drawing on the ancient scroll. He said
simply, "This is why the little one would take not my gift." He
handed the chain to Don the Great who inserted the trinket into the
key slot.

Before turning the key he had to stop and
think about the direction the stars moved at night when he faced
north. There was moderate resistance and then a definitive click.
It took three men to open the door, revealing the stale air in the
tunnel. Before moving into the tunnel Don the Great summoned a
troop of his most capable warriors. The Pet Bird complained, "How
do we know my cousin will not just escape into the wilderness
leaving us behind?"

This was almost more than Don the Great could
bear, and he angrily responded, "I suggest then you be the one to
open the outer door and risk being trapped in the tunnel by the
forces from the East. You may enjoy their company or maybe
not."

The Pet Bird was about to respond when the
King interjected, "It is time for trust. Go and bring back this
weapon."

When the troops had been assembled they lit
their torches and proceeded down the tunnel, catching all the
cobwebs that Betty had left behind. Don the Great was the last to
enter the tunnel and passed the key back through the window for the
door to be locked behind them. He again took the key and proceeded
down the tunnel. At the outer door they listened hard but could
hear no sounds. Don the Great stepped forward and inserted the key,
which again turned with some resistance but a definite click was
noted. His troops then pushed the door open.

The young navigator was not sure which he
noted first, the sound of the door moving or the flash of light
from the torches. At first he wanted to hide but worked hard to
control his fear. The troops exited the tunnel in a defensive
formation and then Don the Great strode forth. The young navigator
stood and addressed Don the Great in a formal manner. The response
was, "We have no time for formality. Say what you need to say and
let's get this wagon moved."

Young navigator pointed to the north, saying,
"There are two horses about one hundred yards to the north." He
added, "I bring a message from the One with the Golden Hair."

Only after they had moved the wagon into the
passage and secured the door behind them did Don the Great fall
back and walk with young navigator. When asked for the message, the
young navigator replied, "At first light on the day of the crescent
moon, counterattack on the eastern flank."