SWNOVELS Chapter 17
Jara awoke, wincing slightly at the hardness of the rock against her spine. Keeper Fie laid on the grass beside her, eyes closed. Merging with Syntaba had been a new and strange experience. No doubt Keeper Fie felt much the same. She was not surprised to find Syntaba sitting quietly beside her, a look of real amusement on his face.
“I hope you two had a good journey. Melding is not a common way to travel, but a necessary one at times,” he said softly.
“What happened?” Jara, bewildered in the aftermath of her experience, yearned for an explanation.
“We needed to escape and since I am more experienced in the merging process, it was up to me,” Syntaba said simply.
Keeper sat up at last, rubbing his eyes as if he had slept for a long time. “Truly a new, unique experience for me, but I’m happy to report it was not a frightening one,” he told Syntaba.
“You will learn advanced levels of sorcery when you choose to leave the realm of D’Arragon royalty, Jara, just as I have.”
“I cannot imagine ever leaving,” Jara told him, shocked at the very idea.
“Your time will come, Jara. It most certainly will. But not until you want it. And not until your passion to develop more as a sorceress becomes stronger than your desire to serve the D’Arragons.”
Syntaba’s expression revealed understanding and both his companions thanked him for their rescue. Their gratitude ran deep, no matter what manner of magic he used.
“Now we have to find the twins!” declared Syntaba, his face immediately expressing his urgency. “My main concern is how the shoes will act now that the ties to the trunk’s magic have been severed. They may be unpredictable. I am afraid there will be no easy path to locating them.”
“We shall keep trying until we find a way,” said Keeper, quite prepared to do so.
“Of course we will,” agreed Syntaba. “I hope that the shoes will also be searching for me since I am the creator of everything in that trunk.”
“I can’t wait for this uprising to be over and you can meet the man you last knew as a small boy. You can once again meet Roger as King of D’Arragon. He will be thrilled at your return, Syntaba,” said Jara, with conviction.
“You can introduce us right now, Jara.”
Startled at the sound of the familiar voice, Jara spun around. King Roger stood a few feet away, Krikkit close beside him. Syntaba, Jara and Keeper Fie all bowed low before the King of D’Arragon.
Krikkit ran toward Jara and threw her arms about her. “I am so glad to see you, Jara! I don’t know what to do to help anymore!”
“How on earth did you find us Krikkit, and where are the twins?”
“It’s a very long story to share, Jara,” interrupted the King, “but first, who is your friend there? What brings a stranger to D’Arragon?” inquired the king, suspiciously.
Syntaba bowed. “My name is Syntaba. I know as much about the D’Arragons as you do, probably more.”
King Roger was shocked. “Syntaba? The old sorcerer of D’Arragon? But why are you here?”
Krikkit, just as surprised as the king, moved closely to Jara without saying a word. The face of the old sorcerer seemed familiar, but the girl also felt confused since she had never seen him until this very moment.
“It’s my fault,” she told the esteemed sorcerer who looked very intently and deeply into her eyes.
“I have your shoes and they are very magic! They brought me all the way here!”
“Indeed? A little thing like you has managed to do what no one has ever done before?”
King Roger stepped forward and held out his hand. “Welcome to D’Arragon, Syntaba. Of course I know about you and all your amazing magic. It is I who should bow before the greatest wizard of all.”
Without hesitation, King Roger did bow, much to everyone’s astonishment.
“It is not your fault at all, Krikkit. You could not have known what those shoes could do when you put them on. I am just thankful you are safe.” His smile eased her guilt. “I found my trunk,” said Syntaba, looking deeply into Krikkit’s face. It seems someone else did as well. There are a few missing items, I am afraid.”
Before she could answer, Krikkit felt the shoes pinch her feet. In a moment, she noticed her feet were bare. The shoes had removed themselves and were now sitting close to Syntaba, their true owner.
“I was right,” Syntaba nodded. “Those shoes journeyed long, searching for me. I had a strong feeling they would.”
Krikkit felt awful. She loved those shoes from the moment she first laid eyes upon them. She stared at them wishing they were hers again.
“But now you have no shoes at all,” said Syntaba. “Wear them until we can get you another pair. Can you put up with them a little longer, my child?”
Nothing could have made Krikkit happier at that moment and she nodded her head, in anticipation. “Yes, I can, Syntaba.” Moments later they were securely on her feet and Krikkit admired them all over again.
Keeper Fie who watched the events around him, at last spoke the question on everyone’s mind.
“Now, how do we get the twins home safe and sound?”
“We have news, but it is not pleasant,” the king informed them. He proceeded to fill them in on the missing orb and how the twins had ended up inside it. “The very worst news of all is that now Hennesy D’Arquille has the orb, with the twins inside and Queen MaryAnne locked away at Sareltin Castle. He demanded that I sign over my throne this very day in order to save them!”
Jara stood, appalled, her mouth wide open.
“How could this happen? I cannot help. My powers are almost gone. Changing my form to the ram and back again is all the magic I am able to muster!” She turned swiftly to Syntaba. “You must help us, my friend! Everything depends on it! The D’Arragon throne is about to be stolen away!”