Elements of Glory: The Princess of Nothing

’There will come a day, and I don’t know when – it was not explained to me – but there will come a day when all that we have here will change, when it will be gone. Until that time, we must hold on, and do what we ought to for these children… I do not look forward to that day, but while we wait, let us try and have some joy… this is a… gift…’

-Thaddeus, to his staff, concerning the new influx of orphans, twenty-two cycles ago

REALM-BEFORE

The pale moon hung like a colossal round egg in the glittering, velvety, night sky. The moon was startlingly bright, sending its brilliant glow through the green treetops of the dark forest, penetrating to the forest floor, and a winding path, covered in spruce needles and bits of leaves and acorns. The light from the moon was spotty and dappled on the earthen ground, seeming to move as the branches swayed in a pleasant, evening, breeze.

An old man, with a trimmed white beard and round silver spectacles, dressed in a fine suit, with a walking stick in one hand, and a top hat on his head, hurried along the lonely path. The man’s wrinkled face was kindly, but serious. His pace was quick, even, and purposeful. His heart was pounding in his chest, and he was worried, more so than he’d been in a long time.

Now and again the man would stop suddenly, his attention drawn by some movement in the woods, or the cry of a distant creature. The old man knew that these woods, so close to the ancient ruins and the porthole, were filled with creatures both vile and good. For twenty-two cycles there had been protection on Thaddeus and those he cared about, but since John and Samantha had turned fourteen, things had changed…

Things were changing… Samantha had vanished!

I knew this was coming… I did know it! he thought helplessly. Oh heavens, help us now!

Thaddeus hurried on, ignoring the sounds of the forest as best he could, taking small comfort in the Gemgic defences he’d been taught. On and on he went through the moonlight. The further he walked, the more the path narrowed and twisted. Still, he walked on, even as the path started up the side of a steep green hill blanketed in trees sighing softly in the wind.

Thaddeus never took a rest, just continued right on down a new path that wound through the sighing trees, ever climbing up the side of the green hill. He stopped only for a moment, when he reached the yawning mouth of a dark cave. It looked so much like the ugly, stony jaws of some unspeakable monster that he was sure anyone would have hesitated.

Thaddeus walked into the cave boldly, unafraid, and tapped his black and silver walking stick on the rocky ground once. The round end of the walking stick lit up like a light bulb, and the old man held his walking stick in front of him like it was a torch. He followed the cave – which twisted and turned like the insides of a snake – continuing always up. After some time, he exited a cave mouth, several klacmetrus away. With determination he stepped out onto a fresh path.

Does this walk get longer every time I take it, or am I just getting old? he wondered to himself. Or am I just so beside myself with worry? Oh, why did it have to be Samantha?

He followed this path down the other side of the hill, into a deep, green, valley that seemed highlighted in silver from the light of the moon. Soon, Thaddeus found himself walking up an old, overgrown, drive. Stones below his feet were cracked. Grass, weeds, and colourful flowers grew up through the cracks. The drive led up to a beautiful, though a little run down, mansion. The walls were high and brown, there was a tower. Trellises were sagging under the weight of too much ivy.

Thaddeus Nourn walked directly toward the front porch of the mansion. This old house, though not quite as big as the one Thaddeus currently resided in, was no less magnificent or intimidating. Climbing the creaking steps of the porch, Thaddeus crossed to the front door – a tall, thick, oak, thing – and knocked twice, quite loudly.

He waited.

Please be home, please be home, please be home…

It wasn’t very long at all before the front door opened a crack. Thaddeus saw a large, round, yellow eye – the colour of an egg yolk – staring out at him.

‘What?’ a frog-like voice croaked.

‘It’s Thaddeus,’ the old man said toward the eye, his voice quivering.

‘What do you want, Thaddeus?’ the voice asked, sounding less frog-like now, as if it was something unused, now finding its bearings.

‘Samantha has vanished!’ Thaddeus exclaimed hopelessly. ‘I need your help.’

‘Then she has,’ the voice – it sounded a little like a woman’s – trickled out through the doorway. ’You knew she would, someday… it’s been twenty-two cycles, Thaddeus. John and Samantha recently had their birthdays… they’re fourteen, and all the others are well past.’

‘Yes, yes, I know… Some have built lives here…’ Thaddeus hesitated for a long moment as they yellow eye stared him up and down, making him feel a little uncomfortable. ‘You told me to come here when the last of the orphans had come of age…’

‘Came here you did,’ the other said, ‘I remember the night, just a short time ago, I told you it’s opened again.’ The voice creaked out at Thaddeus, like the hinges of an old barn door. ’Protection for all of them has ended said I… evil will seek them, one already is… The tools to draw them through to Other-realm are in many hands, being passed about… I told you then, Thaddeus, you did what you were called upon to do but you can do no more, your part is done.’

’I don’t want it to be done… there’s still so much I could do,’ Thaddeus argued, the worry in his voice changing to anger. ‘Now Samantha’s gone, you have to help me get her back, Siri!’

’No one can help that,’ Siri responded darkly. ‘Soon John will follow, I expect, and the rest soon after.’

’But John and Samantha, they’re only children! They don’t know what they must! They’ve not been prepared or trained,’ Thaddeus cried in despair. ‘I needed more time!’

’There is no more time to be given, it is over, Thaddeus… the last will be first, there is nothing that you can do.’ The creature inside the house started to close the door. Thaddeus placed a hand on it, stopping it from closing fully.

‘You will abandon us now?’ Thaddeus raged.

‘I will yet do what I must… things are dark and shifting. I will watch for the right moment… You should go home, Thaddeus… Prepare all your others for what is about to come.’

The old Wasgician’s heart sank to his toes. Was this really it? Was all hope gone?

Siri spoke again, quietly, meaningfully. ’The Elements of Glory are here now, but they do not belong here, Thaddeus. They will return home to Other-realm… their fate, after that, is not your concern… you are done, Thaddeus.’ The door closed and locked with a loud, rusty click.

Thaddeus was alone, staring, hoping, wishing and praying that the creature in the old ruined house was wrong. In his heart, he knew she was not.

Determination filled Thaddeus in that moment, though – the kind that filled one up like a mug full of hot chocolate. Thaddeus clenched his fists and set his jaw. He didn’t care… he wouldn’t abandon his children, no matter what happened. Siri may think his part in this was over, but it was only over if he let it be. Yes, he’d hurry home. He’d prepare what needed prepared. When the time came, he would follow the kids into Other-Realm. Yes he would, he’d do it and he’d not look back. He was sure Eleanor would come too… he hoped she would.

‘This is not over, Siri,’ Thaddeus said to the closed door. ’I’ll not abandon them… not matter what. I’ll follow them, wherever they go… I will.’

Full of his indignation, Thaddeus turned on his heel. At a brisk pace, he hurried home, under the bright moonlit night.

Things would never be the same again, there was no question in the old man’s mind. The thought of it made old Thaddeus’s heart ache, despite his resolve. Twenty-two cycles ago, this day had seemed so far away, now it was here, and there was no way to go back.

He didn’t care though… he wasn’t looking back, he was looking forward.