THE HOUR

Fiel and Trejeth spent a long time with Korehk not letting sleep carry them away to another waking. Untholio went from one household to another and every site that met his eyes made him lose heart. Whom he could help, he did but there were few of those. Most of the nurts he met in their dilapidated homes were too aged and fading from the color of life. Having been inside the last rundown home of what he thought was the final neighborhood in that part of the land, he was about to head back to where his friends were when in the distance he saw an earth and stone structure removed completely from the rest of the homes. Even from a distance, it looked like an unchanged, undamaged by time gamhnurt dwelling, with floherbs of the Qesdaleenda variety growing around it. Almost involuntarily Untholio found himself walking in the direction of the pleasing site. A short way from the nearly invisible by floherbs path leading to the door, he stopped. The smell of the herb filled his head as he breathed and he felt he could hope in Wyoungthed coming to no end and in gamhnurts and in Rieah. With a smile on his face and resolve to find Inckle and have this whole affair ended, he stepped up to the earth and stone door and knocked. Just as he heard his own knock, he became aware of what he had done. He had of course meant to have a word with whoever was living there but not without collecting his thoughts first. Well, it was too late now the door swung open and there stood the very last nurt Untholio expected to see. Both stared at each other. One trying to place his visitor, the other shocked silent.

When Aliyha left the Hegleok house banging the door behind her, she made off to the forest of Greo where dwelled a secret aid to the Wise One whom Aliyha desired to send message. The forest was feared by most in Stompsledge as it was rumored to be the home of strange and undesirable occurrences. Right on the borders of the land, Greo stretched across like a hood and none dared live close to its edge for fear the hooded eyes might see them and that could never happen lest strange happenings begin to spread out of the hood through the land among its folk.

Many strangers, visitors from other lands that came to see the Hegleok council on business or simply to see Stompsledge called the land The Hooded Wizard and on maps of then, it was depicted just as that, Greo like a hood and the rest of land a wizard’s face and hands. Many stories were told around burning fires of how it came to look like that but all were myths. It made good entertainment for the youngsters and old folk too special pride in telling their version.

So it was that the lady of the Hegleok council strode on foot with speed to match no steed, her garments flowing in the wake of her stride as she neared the dark of trees. She had won and was now the most powerful Hegleok and that meant she would soon have the world of men, earth and green under her influence. She stopped several feet far from the forest, the sky was alight and blue and her house, the Hegleok house, yes, hers, stood miles behind waiting her return along with her children. Her children, a frown creased her brow as she remembered Edsoniea.

“The rightful head of the council after her father,” murmured Aliyha with small remorse but then, “No! She will have to be forgotten not by others alone but by herself. Yes, she must be gone, mind and body. And be gone she will!” and with a smirk she entered Greo.

Curled by the window watching life outside of the house sat Edsoniea. She had not been allowed to attend her father’s burial, had actually been locked away in her room and now faced the thought of having to decide between fighting for her right and allowing Aliyha to claim she murdered Gregieo or to go away. Staying and being wrongfully accused meant she would have to face the rigors of the laws put down by her father and his ancestors. If she were to leave, it’d mean she was guilty. Edsoniea decided, stay she would and remain true to the promise she had made to her father, his words came back to her …

“The Hour is out to destroy our family and the world of justice my daughter and soon there will not be any fairness left. Let her not win after I am gone.”

Getting to her feet she began walking around the room. Just as she thought she would never be let out of there, the door opened and in walked Ermal.

“Is it over?” She asked her brother softly, facing the window unable to look at him, “Have you come here to tell me how I must leave or face the shame mother will put me through?” Edsoniea turned and faced Ermal now.

“It is over Niea, I know you really wanted to be there but maybe it was better that you …”

“That I stay locked in here while you and the rest stand beside father before he joins earth and stone?” she interrupted him, a pained expression on her tear stricken face. “It is not in all fairness that I have been denied the right to stand beside father along with you,” she unfolded her hands and walked toward him. “Was mother present? If I walk out as she and no doubt the rest of you my brothers and sister want me too, mother will stand to win the power of the Hegleok name.”

“I for my part would have you stay,” Ermal held his sister’s face in his hands, a look of kindness and gently kissed her forehead, “Niea, you are my favorite sister and my friend. I would have you stay if I had my way with things but…”

“But you have not your way with ‘things’ as you put it little brother,” in the doorway stood Cineon. She glared at the two especially at Ermal who still had Edsoniea’s face held gently. No one moved and the young Hegleok finally, reluctantly let fall his hands onto his sister’s shoulders and then to his side.

“Why are we turning family into enemy? Edsoniea is as much my sister as you are, why Cineon do we treat her like the …”

“Like the murderer who killed our father?” again he was cut short by the figure in the doorway.

“Because that is what she is!” Cineon walked in toward the window where her brother stood looking out.

“Ermal, our parents taught us the value of proper justice. Do you not think that now is the right time to make mother and ourselves see we have learnt the right ways of the law? Think how proud father would be if he saw you and the rest of us reward this criminal –" she placed a hand on Ermal’s shoulder even as she turned to glare at Edsoniea before she was interrupted.

“Never! Never would father stand ground were he to hear your judgment of me. I would not ever hurt him. You might have had!” Edsoniea yelled in rage as her eyes flashed as she looked at Cineon. The other slowly turned full circle and gave a soft laugh.

“And if you had not spoken in this manner, I might have thought you were innocent, might even have tried to convince mother of it but you destroyed any chance of that.”

She swept past with her long black gown sweeping the floor, turned at the door and said, “Ermal, I shall expect you to join the family downstairs before too long. Mother will return soon. Do not be long in your goodbyes.” Then, she was gone and Edsoniea and Ermal were alone. Until that moment Edsoniea had been unable to see her brother’s face as it remained turned toward the window hence what expression of sentiment masked it was lost to her eyes but not for long.

“It was not in all fairness that those words were spoken,” Ermal spoke quietly still not looking around at the tear stricken face of Edsoniea. “I cannot believe—”

“I do not wish you to choose sides in this affair, just want you to be true to what you know is true.” She cut in and took a step closer but backed away almost instantly, the angry face of her dear brother who only minutes before had defended her caught her gaze.

“I do not speak of Cineon but rather I speak of you. How could you!” His voice was like the calm before a storm. A gasp escaped Edsoniea’s lips as she realized she had somehow turned him against her.

“You surely do not believe I would try to hurt our father? Tell me you do not and never would!” she said staring at him.

“What I do not believe is the way you spoke of Cineon. She is your sister as much as I am your brother,” he walked past her and turned around so that now, the light coming from the outside beat upon his face showing her what before she could not see – the angered expression. “Wait, maybe I am misunderstanding something here,” a brief pause before, “You have never really thought of me as your brother, have you?”

He looked scornfully at the shocked Edsoniea. “Brestuev, Dreke, Cineon and me, you think of us not as family but just children of some witch woman your father married, is that not so? Well, let me tell you that none of us ever thought of you as anything if not our sister and as for father, we loved him just as much as I am certain, you did.”

“I have always treated you all fair, with love and respect. And you were my most precious and for you to even think of me like that,” she struck his face with her hand, “It is unacceptable! Why do not you just go, go and join the others.”

Edsoniea sat on the edge of her bed silent until she heard the door slam behind her. The angry form of the heir of the family then dissolved into tears, crying for all the wrong that was being done unto her and in turn unto justice.

Down in one of the great halls, the Hegleok children were gathered. They were talking in quiet tones when the door was thrown open and in charged the enraged Ermal. Cineon immediately rose from the chair she was sitting on by the window, as did Dreke who was replenishing the fire with new logs. Brestuev did not move from behind the great desk where he sat looking completely unperturbed.

“What is that has upset you? Here, sit yourself and calm down.” Said Cineon pulling her brother toward the nearest seat. She had barely managed to sit him down when he burst out.

“She cannot stay here. For all the years I have thought her my sister but now, she has committed crime against this family, against you my sister in blood Cineon, she must leave!”

A thin smile appeared on Cineon’s face as she took in all that had been said.

“Well, I see you have finally come to understand what mother has tried to show you all this time. We all thought she was far from the truth about her but we learnt long ago that mother is the truth and Edsoniea Hegleok was indeed born of a witch woman whom our father loved. I am sorry you have had to learn of it in this manner…” she patted him before walking back to the window chair.

“The child of such a woman as you call her, Edsoniea certainly cannot be,” Ermal said. “She has done so much for the family, for father and for what we stand for. She has done such a lot for me when you lot were away with mother and I was too young for you all to bother yourselves with me…” his voice trailed into silent thinking.

“The ways of her mind are known only to her kind,” this time it was Brestuev who spoke. “I would not consider her good intentions to be of any good. It is for the best, your best that you refrain from talking to the woman whom we agree is no good and I as head of this family until mother returns from wherever she has gone to, forbid you to go anywhere near her.” He looked around at everyone before resuming his task of staring at a seemingly blank space in front of him. Dreke and Ermal would have contentedly left it at that if Cineon had not spoken her words.

“I agree our brother should go no where near that woman as I am sure so does Dreke as do yourself but what I do not quite agree with here is you being the head of the family when we all know mother wants each of us to be one united force until she got back and even after.” She stared at Brestuev while the other two just waited for the quarrel to commence so they could join in with hoots and whistles, just like when they all were younger. To Dreke’s disappointment and Ermal’s relief nothing of the sort happened because Brestuev let out a roar of laughter being the nice fellow he was, and it was not long before Cineon joined in cackling and Ermal grinned. It was Dreke who grumbled as he left the others, heading toward Edsoniea’s room.

“Whatever happened to some good old quarrel spirit? This family needs some real fighting to prove its worth!” His words were heard by time and in time were made a challenge.

In her room Edsoniea sat quiet, pondering the words that had been spoken to her when with no warning the door was thrown open and in walked Dreke. Edsoniea was dragged by her hair and hurtled across the floor and evil deeds were done unto her. It was at that time that Aliyha met with the Wise One and spoke her troubles.

“I believe the troubles you face are little nothings and as for the words you spoke with the breath of a wish outside my gates, well, that wish has already been granted.”The Wise One spoke.

They were seated in the hall of The Tree* where it appeared the forest surrounded them within and without.

“You heard my thoughts? I am always amazed by your mind and its power Wise One.” Said Aliyha flatteringly to the half bent, dressed in leafy rags form standing before her on a step where behind it, sat a throne of ancient trees’ wood. Carved upon it were various scenes depicting the power of the many sides of the Wise One but no eye could make that out as the carvings were veiled in moss and creepers, and every sort of tiny plant. In one of the far corners of The Tree stood Zetreh in attention.

“The power of my mind is what I was gifted just as you were gifted the heart of cunning and a likeness for the evil doings of this world you call your own. We must wait and watch whether evil intentions will prevail the good ones. One must not ever underestimate the other side.” The figure sat back on its throne and its face was as disguised by age as the high seat was by moss.

This scared Aliyha because until that moment she thought her side was invincible.

“You certainly cannot mean to say you are not powerful enough to fight any odds that might arise, Wise One?” she said in disbelief and received no answer but the rustle of a leaf or two somewhere overhead. A long pause in the conversation followed in which Aliyha began to fidget nervously.

“I do not mean to disturb this peaceful quiet nor disrupt your tread of thought but I have to ask,” she gulped her anxiety before continuing, “What exactly has the Wise One done to grant my wish be true?”

The seated figure spoke in an ominously calm voice, “Is the mind turning from a shade of courage to a one of fear? And your body, does it feel weak from having a guilty conscience?” Not waiting for an answer, the figure went on, “Did you not say that she must be forgotten not just by others such as you and the world and of course your very own children but …”

“But by herself. Yes, yes I did,” cut in Aliyha twirling her fingers about the hem of her cloak.

“Well then, that has been achieved. ‘How?’ Maybe the question you should be asking is ‘who?’ For my mind has chosen that your stepdaughter bear humiliation in the truth and exile in the face of a lie.”

Stepping down from the dais, the bent figure of the Wise One hobbled the short distance toward the standing Aliyha. “I believe the title of Head of the Hegleok Council stands uncontested. I think maybe it is time to make a claim on it, do you not?”

A gnarled hand touched Aliyha on the shoulder and she shrank away in fear but said nothing.

“Terrified of me, are you? Aliyha Slyionthe, you are now Lady Hegleok and that means I am your ally, the only one you might have and I certainly will not ever hurt my chance to win reward. Zetreh! Lady Hegleok must be escorted back and away from The Tree as quick as can be.” The Wise One spoke in command.

Zetreh came forward, a torch ablaze in his hand, “I am here. Will I be at her service from this moment on or will I need to return here just as soon as the journey ends way beyond the dark hood?”

The hand left Aliyha’s shoulder even as she shrank back still further tripping over tree roots and falling backwards onto the earth floor.

“You ask well Zetreh,” the hands had gently gripped two strong shoulders. “You will serve us both and return to me when her need for help is immediate. At all times otherwise, you will remain in Stompsledge.”

As the Wise One said this, Zetreh alone saw a gleam in its eye. That was all the words the two exchanged before Zetreh stepped in front of the fallen Aliyha stretching a hand so as to pull her to her feet. Reluctantly, she placed her hand in Zetreh’s. It felt harsh to the touch but having no choice she let it rest in the outstretched palm. No sooner had she done this, Aliyha felt the ground beneath her recede, she was being pulled to her feet.

She now stood face to face with her new companion Zetreh and the face before hers was not exactly attractive, she found unable to turn away as much as she wanted to though.

“Leave now before dark for even your power Zetreh can match no rising sun if Deituk the Cunning* gets wind of our doings before Lady Hegleok makes her claim.” The Wise One had spoken while Zetreh made ready to leave with Aliyha.

“I sense Deituk suspects we are allies and it will not be long now before he sends Foliek Erwufj* the great to seek a meeting with me. I want you both nowhere near here when that happens!” The Wise One spoke.

The two were already fleeing The Tree with these words echoing behind them. Greo was dark and the life that dwelt within its tree walls was wicked. Aliyha walked in a trance not seeing or feeling the wizard’s hood about her. Even her feet were little bothered with the speed they were carrying her. Zetreh never visible but always there, the two continued and before minutes had formed an hour, Lady Hegleok stood before her front door suddenly snapped to attention as if a loud noise had interrupted her trance. Again the noise sounded and the door flew open, a figure brushed past Aliyha like a blur in the fading light sky and it vanished in the direction of Greo. Zetreh caught Aliyha just in time for even though the running figure had merely brushed past them, it had knocked her off her feet momentarily.

The two entered.

Cineon met her mother at the foot of the grand staircase.

“Mother dear, you were gone too long, we thought you had indeed decided to let your only daughter take over as Lady Hegleok.” She smiled and came forward to greet Aliyha.

“And leave the Hegleok men to admire their own beauty in mirrors?” Aliyha grinned as she embraced her daughter. They laughed and the entire hall rang of the sound.

“So, where have you been this whole day mother?” asked Cineon looking closely at Aliyha. “You have entangled twigs in your hair and earth on the soles of your boots and… oh my! even little insects seem to have come home with you from wherever it is you return.” Aliyha smiled, tired as she was, she knew she had to take control of the Council before very long,

“Ah Cineon, I wish not to talk about my wanderings with you, not just now anyway. There are other things we could converse about like, your father’s burial and how did it go? Maybe over a warm meal, come.”

The two sat in the hall of Seven and supped and Cineon told her mother everything that happened from the moment she had stepped out to the moment of her walking back in.

It was after the two ate several morsels of food before Aliyha began talking about the council.

“Brestuev shall be my ‘People Person’, he shall bring the world’s troubles to me and I with my first and second Advisers shall judge well for everyone concerned. The world will soon bow at my feet!”

Aliyha stood up abruptly, and walking to the door said, “This will not happen if I do not take official control. Come daughter, collect together your brothers and sister and join me in the Council Room. Do not take forever now.” And she strode off.

At the entrance to the Council Room, Zetreh stood waiting. Not once before that moment had anyone realized a well dressed, respectable looking gentleman entering the place with the lady of the house and Aliyha until that instant had not ever imagined such looks existed in Zetreh. Now wearing a fine travel cloak, he looked fair and royal. With a face showing firm kindness and knowledge, he could be anyone of significance in the town of Stompsledge or beyond.

“Zetreh!” Aliyha exclaimed as she drew close to his standing spot. “If you think you are incredibly, and smartly dressed in that – standing here as though you thought none can see you, the Wise One will hear of this when I send a bottle of sour pulp that once resembled you back to the Tree,” she whispered an irritated threat, “And that will be most pitiful for that pulp will be fed to Greo’s cruel family.” Her voice lower now she said menacingly, “I believe you know what makes part of that family I speak of. Let me see…”

Zetreh gave a thin smile, “Your words Lady Hegleok hold no threat for I am here because the Wise One commands me to be.” With one hand he pushed her aside and with the other held the door open. “I have journeyed back to The Tree while you rested and imagined your future in the eye of the world. I return with a message from our wise friend.” He held the door to the Council Room wide but Aliyha did not move.

“If that is so and you bring me a message” she said stonily, “Speak it out here for in there it is you shall not step.”

“Ah, such attitude will be of no use to your ‘People’s Person’.” Zetreh walked in leaving Aliyha little choice but to follow. “Brestuev has no trouble with my behavior. I am his mother and in good time will leave him as my successor. He has no right to complain about anything I do or say.” She now stood inside the doorway while Zetreh examined the street through the open window.

“Lady of Fairness, I am here to assist you, to be your friend. I am here to give you advice on how to gain power like Gregieo Hegleok. You are now the heir, how sad would it be if you did not earn the same reputation he had?” He looked at her calmly. She just stood there torn between decisions, should she hate him for speaking in such a manner or should she allow the Wise One’s aid to influence her decision, his position? The Wise One, yes, a small smile sprang to her lips as it became clear what had to be done.

“My husband was a fair man and I intend to be nothing different. If I am head of the council and the title is mine uncontested –“

“You are the head, there is no one to challenge your claim or have you not heard?” Zetreh said walking around.

“Heard what? Edsoniea Hegleok is the rightful head as I am certain you must know. Unless she agrees to accept her fate as an outcast and murderer I stand no chance.”

“Who are you talking to mother?” Ermal stood in the doorway, Aliyha started then realized that she had left the door ajar. “Ermal! Why, I – I was talking to…” she gestured toward the walls and ceiling to say she had been conversing with herself in an empty room and smiled.

“She was talking to me,” said a voice behind Ermal and at that, Aliyha grimaced. She stepped around and seated herself behind the desk where sat the official business documents of years of work by the Hegleok family. Piles upon piles of documented proceedings and legal decisions rested on the desk’s top.

“Where are the others Ermal?” Came his mother’s voice from behind all those piles of yellowed recordings.

“They will be here before long mother,” Ermal replied, his eyes fixed on the stranger in the elegant cloak who appeared as though from thin air. “And who are you?” Ermal asked studying the stranger intently.

“Let introductions wait until everyone gets here,” said Aliyha crisply from behind the piled wall. “Will one of you help me clear this desk as neatly as possible?” she asked towering over the top of the desk so suddenly that Ermal jumped with fright knocking Zetreh off balance who in turn fell right into the stacked up desk spraying nearly every documents’ pages over the floor. It was a funny sight and a laugh or two would be not inappropriate but for a scowling face looking at the mess and then at the two who were responsible killed any chance of humour showing itself.

“Wonderfully tidy!” complimented Aliyha sarcastically. Coming around the desk to stand among the scattered parchments, she glared at Zetreh in complete dislike. Ermal tried to calm his mother by reassuring her that the documents could be put together and that it was an unintentional occurrence that Zetreh knocked them down.

“Son, you try putting a lifetime of scribbles about petty troubles that plagued the world while your father generously handed out judgments and held councils of long days and nights over issues that had little significance to him or his family’s benefit. You try!” Aliyha glared at the figure of Zetreh now on his knees grinning shamelessly as he began to gather together the pages of the scattered documents in an effort of arranging each in order.

“Hmmm… That is a start if you want the job of being my ‘Peoples’ Person’ I shall expect this entire mess cleared before dawn and to answer your previous question Ermal, this is Nezret Almonne and he is here to render his services to the new Hegleok Council. Well, let us see how Mister Almonne manages his very first task.” There was amusement in her voice but in her eyes, contempt. Zetreh knew that the woman before him detested being made a joke of and when in her realm of control, no one could be funny and careless. She was in control now.

“Mother, we are all here.” Came Cineon’s voice as her two elder brothers followed her. “And I thought finding Derek in a corner of the attic was the worst task we three had to do … I see a whole new light on it now. You three look like the earth rolled out from under your feet and tousled the entire desk.” Slowly stepping close, avoiding stamping on a single sheet, she approached the man who was busy tidying up. “Who have we here?” she asked without removing her gaze off of him. The rest of the Hegleoks scattered across the room, Ermal had crossed the room and now stood before a blazing fireplace while Brestuev and Dreke conversed in low tones.

“I think your task can be resumed after our brief meeting,” Aliyha caught Zetreh’s attention by lightly clicking the heels of her shoes together. “Everyone here, right, let us begin.” She went around and sat behind her desk. Everyone else took their places, Zetreh stood by the closed door an unreadable expression on his face.

“The purpose of this meeting is, as the Hegleok family knows, for me to take control as Head of the Hegleok family Council. We were seven members but now we are six -–” a sharp pause then, “Where is Edsoniea, my children?” Aliyha looked from face to face but they all showed surprise and confusion. Even Dreke volunteered nothing. The only face that might have shown a hint of knowing was never looked at during the crucial moment and so the real knowledge remained a secret.

“Where is Edsoniea? Did you not tell her I called a meeting, any of you? Probably in her room … Ermal, go get her.” Aliyha shifted in the big backed chair she sat on, Ermal made for the door.

“You will not find her there,” Brestuev said quietly, “She has left, accepting your authority.” He glanced over at his mother than at Dreke who nervously cleared his throat.

“Yes, she said she preferred to be an outcast and murderer, though in name alone, rather than fight for something that is now yours.” No one noticed the nervousness in his being as he said this, not even Brestuev.

“And she told you that?” Aliyha sat straight.

"Not in so many words mother, of course she was in a big hurry to get away … possibly stole some riches from the family and was afraid of getting caught, I say let her go and those riches too.” Brestuev said, gesturing hopelessness.

“Cineon, did your sister say anything at all to you regarding this matter?” asked Aliyha.

“Not a word mother. Ermal?” Cineon looked at her brother.

“I have not seen Edsoniea since this morning. I suppose she has gone and there is no point in me going to look for her,” he returned to his place, sat with hands holding his chin and said, “And all this time I thought she was brave…” Lady Hegleok walked over to the fireplace and stared for a long moment at the burning logs.

“Brave she is my son. It is not easy to take a life and then accept responsibility for the action.” Aliyha addressed Ermal and others who looked ashamed at the very thought of their sister and her deeds. “At least this way, I can respect her for the decision she made to acknowledge the rightful power of the family.” She walked back to her desk and produced a single sheet of a hand written document. It bore the Hegleok Family Council stamp at the bottom of the page. A 7TCF appeared to have been carved upon the thin sheet. Holding the page high and seated straight, Aliyha read aloud to the room its contents. The document was long and not all of it was important but the most significant lines stood out.

They said, ‘The world of men has a single most hated enemy who will eat at life and destroy its existence. It is therefore that when one passes away to the life of death, men control what is theirs through the authority of heirs.’ A pause and Aliyha went on. ‘Bearing this in mind, I appoint my successor to be the eldest of my children, Edsoniea Hegleok. Full control of the Council of the Fair must be handed to her before dawn day after my death or the Council shall rule no longer.’

“Since the tragic circumstance of the rightful heir being a murderer and thief, I am forced to alter this document and sign myself as the next Head of the TCF.” Concluded Aliyha scribbling her own name by the stamp mark. Deliberately not mentioning that she had no right legally to alter anything on that parchment. “Well then everyone,” she moved to the front of the desk and gestured at Zetreh leaning against the door.

“Lady Hegleok would like to choose her council members.”

There was silent acknowledgement from the children but that did not last long.

“To begin with, everybody this is Mister Almonne and he is here for the ‘Peoples Person’ position which I am most willing to grant him.” Brestuev voiced protest as he stood and took a pace forward. “I am to be your ‘Peoples Person’! The eldest son of this family, it was decided by father when I was a child itself. You know, you told me yourself.” He looked at his mother while she regarded him in a detached sort of way.

“That was then son, this is now! Mister Almonne here will bring the troubled to my council and I, with the help of my First Adviser, you Brestuev and Second and Third Advisers, you Dreke and Ermal, will judge well and gain wealth and a name.” She stopped, eyes on Cineon. “You my dear daughter shall soon marry the son of Deituk*, Dreser and thus add the seventh member to our council. I have been informed of this young man’s wealth and influence by one of this family’s well wishers.” Aliyha met Zetreh’s eyes for a brief moment. “I will see to the arrangements as soon as day breaks and before winter you will be married. Your husband will then be the assistant to the head of this council, me.”

Later that night by the light of the burning fire, after all had gone on to their beds, Zetreh sat on the floor surrounded by jumbled sheets of documents. He knew each document and case without reading, the Wise One had told him the stories ever since he was a young lad and now he put the scattered mess back together in hardly any time, piled them by the desk and left the Council Room.

Untholio stood unable to believe his eyes as he watched the figure shift weight from foot to other foot no doubt trying to place his guest. “You are the only survivor in these parts,”

Untholio spoke. “I am Untholio Redgate, an Earth Protector and I have searched these entire parts for living Stone Lovers but have found just one some hundred homes behind and now you.” He stepped a bit closer to the standing nurt and said, “The whole of Wyoungthed is fading… Stone Lovers and Earth Protectors need now unite as one and find the only means to save us and Wyoungthed from the end we face.”

The gamhnurt at the door stepped forward, spread out his arms and said, “Step in and rest a while, I am no one’s rival any longer. I will join in the search for Inckle Vilksumer Earth Protector … It is he who can save our land, save us who remain I know.” Untholio was led inside and the door shut.

Untholio ate gratefully the finest Qesdaleenda earth cakes and rested his tired feet while his host went on about what had happened to him since the waking of the game challenge. “Inckle lost that game challenge on purpose. He has a generous heart and for that I have the utter most respect and admiration for him.” Untholio then told him all that he had learnt from Trejeth and Fiel about the past of Wyoungthed and how Rieah the Wise One could be their only hope.

“Inckle is the only one who might find her and in doing so fight for our existence. “Come, let us waste no more time.” Said his new companion, “We have long ways to go before this waking ends. Inckle Vilksumer will be found and together we will fight the invasion of Time.” With that the two got on their feet. Untholio refreshed somewhat and his companion carrying another pack of fresh floherbs wrapped in earth cakes on his shoulder. A few paces away from the home, the two turned to look upon the heart-warming sight.

“The floherbs have indeed grown well,” beamed the owner and then sighed, “Will I ever return here again to find all this the way we are leaving it?”

Untholio patted his shoulder, “I cannot answer that for I do not know what the future holds,” he tugged at the other’s sleeve, “I do know that all this survived because you believed and respected Inckle and I know when we find him, he will see you and more good will be yours for the taking.” With that the two began their way back to where Fiel, Trejeth and Korehk were.

They talked and laughed, even in these hard moments Untholio’s companion made for fun conversation and as the two trudged along, the Earth Protector wondered how and why he had not liked this Stone Lover before now and when he asked his new found friend this question, he said simply, “When wakings are better, the stranger is strange.” The other looked at him and said thoughtfully, “And when wakings hold danger, friendship holds even the unknown’s hand, a stranger becomes a friend.” A smile spread across faces, “That was a nice piece of rhyme Untholio,” his friend appreciated. “Not just a rhyme but one with truth in every word.” Untholio reached and caught his companion’s hand, they shook upon a new found friendship and conversing went along on their way treading earth and stone.

It got colder still as they walked back, the breeze dry and seeping in through the layers of sweaters the two wore. Chilled bones and the dull day did little to dampen the friends’ spirits until, after a long while of talking, Untholio fell silent and began to lag a few paces behind. They were near the dwelling of Korehk, about some hundred steps away. Suddenly, Untholio’s feet could no longer hold him in stride and he felt exhausted.

“Inckle where are you? I can no longer walk, my feet fail to carry me!” he groaned and fell back, eyes gazing upward at the dull blue of the sky.

“Come my friend, let us rest a little. Eat an earth cake, it will revive your strength.” His companion said encouragingly.

Untholio looked at the other, he could easily close his eyes and the waking would end but then they would lose Inckle and the further he would go, more wakings would go in searching for him. Time would win over them and that could not happen! He sat up, held out a hand for his friend to hold and pulled himself to his feet. “Give me an earth cake and you have one. I will race you to our destination where the others are waiting. Come now!” And with floherb in one hand and the peeling that was the earth cake in the other he started off. The two ran and laughed, their laughter flowing with the blowing wind.