The Sword and the Scabbard, Volume III of the Lost Myths Saga

Chapter Thirty-Two: The First Arrivals

The week after the birth of Alexandria and Allesandra, the guests began to arrive for the carnival. Marshall complained about Lilly's choice of names, and said they were so grand the two little girls would feel overwhelmed. Lilly told him they would probably get their bearings early, what with a rock star for a father and the probability of living their lives in two different dimensions. He decided to call them Alex and Alle.

The first to arrive were King Mephistopheles and Queen Emily, accompanied by Prince Herschel and Princess Chloe, who had previously returned to the Land of the Pentacle in order to be part of the royal party. Their enormous ship was moored in the Celestial Sea, and their party was being was being conveyed up the Scimitar River by barge. The giant cats weren't too thrilled about this, and could be heard complaining before the barges ever came into view.

Valaura and Lucifer were part of the welcoming party. They were already beginning to wear on one another nerves, and Valaura realized it had been a mistake to move in with her lover. Because that was all Lucifer would ever be to her -- her one-time lover and her long-time friend. She was longing for Evan and he was looking over the arriving ladies. They would have to discuss their separation, so soon after their affair began. And when they returned to Chicago, she and Evan would get the divorce. She would be alone again, just when she had gotten used to not being. She thought of their dream house. Who would get it? She didn't think she would be able to live there if she was alone, but she was feeling hurt enough that she didn't want Evan to have it, either. Since Lilly would surely return to Stockholm now that the babies were born, perhaps it would be better if they sold it. But then her mind switched to more immediate problems. She knew that Merka would arrive at it's oasis site sometime during the festival, but just when? And how was the war-party to be arranged? Nobody seemed to take her seriously when she said this would happen. Good! Maybe she could just go off on her own and defeat those ugly male swine in their mud beehive all by herself. She felt bloody-minded enough to accomplish the thing.

Lucifer squeezed her arm a little harder than was necessary. "Could you possibly contrive not to look as if you're marching off to war, dearest? On second thought, you would look singularly more cheerful at that prospect. Do smile, won't you?"

Laura smiled genuinely as Junior loped towards her, having reached his full growth but still somewhat clumsy in his young adulthood. She braced herself for his enormous weight but he still knocked her to the ground and romped around her, thinking it was all a tremendous lark.

"Can't you control your beast, nephew?" Lucifer drawled at Herschel, who had run towards Laura in Junior's wake. "One would think he might have learned some manners by now."

Junior looked up at the king with a peevish expression and growled his disapproval, shaking his bright pink mane. Herschel helped Laura to her feet and the woman stood stroking the cat, as they were surrounded by people and animals, luggage, and an overwhelming sense of chaos.

She ducked instinctively as something flew at her head. At first she thought it was a particularly belligerent Furble, not that she'd never seen one that was. No, the little creature was too small to be one of the tiny flying horses, and when it landed in Junior's mane she leaned over to see what it might be. Herschel laughed.

"Woodbine won't let you see him unless he's ready. Come out, little friend -- this lady is waiting to meet you."

To Valaura's delight a tiny winged man emerged from the mane. He was dressed in the height of courtly apparel, his tunic of velvet and his shirt of silk. He looked like a miniature rhapsody in blue, what with wearing so many carefully coordinated shades of the color. At his hip hung a tiny sword, and he made her a flourishing bow from his perch on Junior's back. She held out her hand and he stepped into it with no fear and a certain noble arrogance. Another tiny figure flew down and joined him, and Valaura saw that this was a woman, in an elaborate gown that looked like something out of the court of Queen Elizabeth I. The dress was also blue, in the same shades as the courtier's. Her dark hair was dressed in an elaborate coiffure of braids and miniscule lapis beads.

"This is the Lady Valaura, one of the legendary heroes of the Holy War," Herschel told his little friends. "Laura, this is Sir Woodbine and his lady, Petal."

"Faeries!" Valaura exclaimed. "I didn't realize you had faeries here!"

"Do we exist in your world also, Lady Valaura?" Woodbine asked in a surprisingly deep voice. "I thought all the people from our world only existed for you as myths."

"Well, that's true for the most part. And I admit I've never personally seen a Faerie in my own world. But other people have -- unless they're actually seeing through the dimensional barrier. There are lots of stories about people going to The Land of Faerie and not being able to get back. Perhaps that's what it means. Do you have a Queen of the Faeries? Many of our stories talk about her."

"Indeed we do have a Queen," Petal replied. Her voice was harder to hear than Woodbine's, and Valaura had to rise her hand up beside her face. This didn't seem to bother either of the Faeries, who were apparently used to being lifted about on the hands of larger folk. "Her name is Gloriana. But she will not arrive until three days from now -- her court is in the Emerald Isle. I am the Faerie Ambassador to the Court of King Mephistopheles."

"Why don't you have Ambassadors to Beel's Court, or Lucifer's? I haven't seen any of you before."

"We have only recently had contact with those outside the Emerald Isle. In fact, King Beelzebub has offered us some of the miniature flying horses -- we have no steeds our size, which is one of the reasons we travel with our larger brethren."

As if on cue, Pegacorn and several of his offspring flew up and landed on Junior's back. He snuffled at the little horses curiously, and licked one black baby so vigorously it fell off and landed in the dirt with an indignant wicker. As if it was a kitten, Junior picked up the tiny horse in his mouth and put him back in place. Valaura and Herschel laughed, and Valaura picked up the baby horse to bring it closer to the two Faeries, who were now hovering in the air. In fact, other Faeries hovered all around them, watching the proceedings, their gossamer wings whirring like a crowd of hummingbirds.

"Greetings to the illustrious 'Little People'," Pegacorn said. Woodbine started back in amazement, and all the Faeries began chattering amongst themselves, sounding like a recording played too fast.

"They speak! Never have I witnessed animals which could speak! Fairest steed of all, would you consent to carry this poor traveller on your back?"

"Gladly, good sir, for we have never seen people of a size to match our own. You can imagine our difficulty, forced to live for so many years amongst these gross creatures -- why, it's amazing if we make it through a day without being crushed!"

The Faeries were landing on Junior, who sneezed and shook his head as if he was being attacked by a swarm of giant insects. Suddenly they all took off with the baby horses, flying into the air and circling, calling to one another and laughing with glee. Woodbine was riding on Pegacorn, his legs clamped to the horse's sides and his hands clasping the mane.

"I believe he needs a saddle," Valaura told Petal, who was still standing on her hand.

"I wish there was a steed for me," the Faerie lady said with a touch of petulance. "Men always have the privilege of doing things first." Then she glanced up and saw Unisus flying toward her, the mother horse's skin glowing lavender in the sun, her violet mane streaming out behind her. "Oh, look -- there's another adult one! And she's so beautiful!" Petal jumped up, fluttering her wings until she was on a level with Unisus. "I am Lady Petal, Ambassador for the Little People of the Emerald Isle, beautiful horse."

"I am Mama Unisus, the first breeder of my race. Will you ride me, honored lady?"

Petal squealed with delight and glided up to perch side-saddle on the back of Unisus, her silk skirts shimmering around her. They took off in the direction of the crowd of Faeries and tiny horses, which was now heading for the city.

"Why do they need horses?" Valaura asked Herschel with some bewilderment.

He laughed. "Obviously, they don't. But they have copied King Patrick's court exactly, down to the furnishings in the rooms. I believe they want them simply because the people of the Emerald Isle ride them. Wait until you get a glimpse of their powers -- you would be amazed." He turned toward the river, where more barges were arriving at the dock.

"Hey! Aren't you going to tell me?"

"No; I want you to see for yourself." He sauntered off, laughing over his shoulder.

"Repulsive over-grown adolescent." Valaura muttered. "Who's arriving now?"

He turned back, suddenly serious. "The People of the Sun -- another surprise for you, lady. I believe all of them will be useful to you in your role as the New Savior of the Daemona -- now plus the Anjeles, Amazzones ..."

"Do shut up. I have no intention of being the Savior of Anyone."

"Perhaps Divine's Goddess has other plans for you, other than your own."

She stared at him for a moment. "I'm going to the scrying pool. Perhaps I can find them today. You say the Faeries can help me?"

"When Petal wants you to know the extent of their powers, she will come to you. Or request an audience with you -- these people are nothing if not courtly."

Valaura nodded. "You will be going to war with your uncle's people?"

Herschel's easy smile became fixed, and almost dangerous. "It is an insult that you ask, lady. You know our people always fight together. Now our people includes those who fly and the warrior women. We are all one now, if not the most compatible one."

"I wish my own people were so simple in their loyalties."

The Light Bearer stared at Marshall in disbelief. "Isn't heard? They can hear me halfway across the castle now! Are all your people deaf, that they want music played to blast them out of their seats?"

"The idea of rock music is that it be heard all the way across the castle. Try it again, boys," Marshall sat behind the pianoforte which had been adapted to resemble a rock keyboard, as closely as was possible with the limited technology of the Daemona. The guitars had been a little easier; with the help of Ariel and several court artisans, Sterling and Puck had been respectively presented with a guitar and a bass. Both were doing rather well, considering.

"I still can't figure out when my solo comes in this song, Marsh -- and how long it should be," Sterling complained.

"That's because you've never learned to read music very well. I knew you wouldn't be able to -- teaching you was such an onerous chore. After this section, and the chorus ... Puck, exactly what is it that you're doing, old man?"

"Uh ... not certain, actually. Wasn't that my cue?"

"No, that was thirty seconds ago. Let's take it from the top, shall we?"

They all looked up. "The top of what?"

Marshall shook his head, and tapped on his microphone to get the attention of Abaddon, who was sitting in the makeshift sound booth. "Tell the Furbles to knock off for now, Abbi -- we're going acoustic."

"Do you understand what he's saying?" Puck asked Sterling.

"About half the time -- I tell myself it's a fair percentage. It was far less when I first met him."

"Do we go on rehearsing, now?"

Sterling shrugged. "Not a clue, cousin. I assume he'll let us know."
***

"No, Feldspar -- you're not playing loud enough. What good is a drummer if he isn't heard?"

***

Petal hovered above Alessandra, just out of reach of her waving fingers. "She has remarkable coordination for one only a few days old," the Faerie woman told Lilly. "I believe she's actually trying to touch me. I have also recently become a mother. Our first child, a boy. Do you prefer boys or girls in your culture?"

"Some people prefer boys," Lilly told her, laying Alexandra back into the wicker cradle and picking up her sister. "But I'm glad to have girls. I think Marshall agrees with me, though I'm not sure. The shock of having twins was a little much for him, I guess." She sounded wistful.

"Where is your mate now, Lillian?"

"Rehearsing for the carnival. In our world Marshall is a famous musician, an entertainer. He's put together a group of musicians to play for the carnival." She giggled. "I hope they're doing better than the last time I saw them rehearse. They'd certainly never make it in our world."

Petal bristled. "Are you implying we lack a certain ... sophistication ... lady?"

"Not that, exactly, but in our world technique and technology are highly prized. You put more emphasis on heart and dedication. I don't know which I'd choose, permanently -- guess I'd like to be able to go back and forth at will. Lady Petal, do you have any people from our world in the Emerald Isle? Visitors, who have crossed over as we did?"

"Oh, yes; a few. Some who are here, now. Some who have returned to your world. None as famous as you and your friends, of course -- no one that we know of who came and went several times. But the king has an advisor from your world -- he is teaching the royal wizards this thing you call 'technology'. A kind of magic, is it not?"

Lilly was reminded of the Prime Directive on 'Star Trek', and felt somewhat disturbed that someone might be changing the way of life in the Emerald Isle. Eventually, this place could become just like their world. She would have to talk to the kings about it. Suddenly Petal clutched her head as if a pin had been stuck into a voodoo doll of her likeness.

"Oh!" The tiny lady gasped. "Lady Valaura -- where is she?"

Lilly glanced at the elaborate water-clock that adorned the solarium. "Probably at the scrying pool -- she usually is, this time of day."

"She's in pain -- I can feel it! You must take me to her; I can help her."

"You can feel her pain?" Lilly had pulled the rope that would activate a series of tiny globes flashing throughout the palace, and notify the right people she needed someone to stay with the babies. "You people are empaths?"

"Only with our own sex, and only those we are fond of. We have other talents, also -- we won't go into that now."

A girl of approximately sixteen came running into the room. "What is it, Lady Lillian? Is something wrong?"

"No Risa, but I must go to the hanging gardens. Would you look after the babies?"

"Of course, but I'll have to take them down to the nursery. Would that be all right?"

"Sure, honey. I'll be back in a few minutes." She handed the baby she held to Risa, and rose as Petal fluttered to perch on her shoulder.

"Oh! One of the Faeries -- I've heard about them, but haven't seen one yet. She's so beautiful!"

Petal made a courtly curtsey to the girl. "Thank you, young lady," she said. They left Risa giggling, and attempting to lift both babies, one in each arm.