The trip to the Southern Territory was much easier on Dack than some of the other rides. Although it rained on and off, he was getting used to the solitude and physical demands that riding required. He stopped several times to rest and eat, but it did not take two days to get to the wall that bordered the Southern Territory.
Either Fixx’s directions were wrong or I’ve saved a lot of time, Dack thought as he dismounted his horse upon arrival. Now to find a way in. After a few minutes, he found a hole large enough to squeeze himself and his horse through without too much trouble.
“What are you doing?” asked a voice behind Dack.
Dack spun around to see two children, both girls, playing nearby. They didn’t seem afraid, just curious, so Dack said, “Coming to visit, that’s all.”
The girls walked closer and asked, “From where?”
Dack wasn’t sure what to say, but he didn’t want to frighten them. “From my house. Do you live around here?”
One of the girls started to giggle and whisper, but the other nudged her quiet. “Is there something funny?” Dack asked, unsure of how to handle the conversation.
“You wear funny clothes, like the kind in the castle,” the giggling one said. “Where did you get that cloak?”
Dack had put on the cloak Fixx had given him when it started to rain, but wasn’t sure why it was so funny. “Do the guards at the castle wear red cloaks too?” he asked. Both girls shook their heads. “Then who wears this kind?”
“No one anymore, that’s why it’s so funny.” The girls both turned again to playing and left Dack to figure it out by himself. He grabbed the reins of his horse and began walking toward the castle that he could see in the distance.
“Excuse me, young one, what news?” asked an older man standing by the roadside as Dack was passing by.
“Hello, sir. How are you doing today?” Dack asked, being polite.
“I asked what news you have. You are a messenger, are you not?” the man seemed a little impatient, possibly confused.
“I bring news that things will be changing soon,” Dack said to appease the man.
“We are ready when you are, brother. Is today the day?”
“Today I am here to tell everyone that the island is ready for a change, a long-awaited change. The Brotherhood wants to reinstate the King’s Tournament,” Dack said, caught up in a strange sense of purpose.
“Leave him alone. You’re just going to make him angry again,” said a woman approaching Dack. “Take off that cloak and get out of here.” She grabbed the old man and turned him toward the nearby house. “It’s okay, Dad. I’m here now,” she added as she walked him to the house. Dack stood there watching, unsure of what to do until the woman came running back. “You have no right playing games with him. Do you have any idea what he’s given?”
“I’m sorry, I was telling the truth,” Dack said apologetically.
“You think you’re really from the Brotherhood? You’re as bad as he is,” she said, pointing in Dack’s face.
“I have been sent to reunite the island, and I need everyone’s support. I am not making this up.”
“I haven’t seen one of those cloaks since they formed the Scarlet Brotherhood. Only a few were made; everyone around here recognizes its meaning but no one acknowledges its power anymore,” she said sadly.
“Well, I have come to change that. Are you willing to help?”
“I will do only what I can if you are really able to make a difference. It’s been so long, most people have no trust in promises, and there has been no action. What do you propose?” she asked hopefully.
“I have been gathering the support of all those in the territories with the help of the Brotherhood. I am also working to reopen the portal area and begin the King’s Tournament again,” he said enthusiastically.
“Portal area?”
“Yes, the portal area in the Central Territory—” The woman turned to leave. “What’s wrong?” Dack asked.
She turned again quickly and put her finger in Dack’s face once more. “You had my allegiance until you started talking about the portal area and working with those things from the Central Territory. Ways are what brought this whole problem here. I’ll have nothing to do with that, or you. No one will help you if you want to work with those creatures. Now be so kind as to get off my property!”
Dack stepped back and hung his head. “I am sorry, I didn’t realize.” He began to walk away, but changed his mind. “What if we didn’t work with those from the Central Territory, would you be interested?”
The woman sighed deeply. “Let the humans solve their problems without outside help, and I think you will get the support of most in the Southern Territory. We don’t want to work with them. Is that something you can guarantee?” she asked, her hand outstretched.
Dack hesitated because he knew he would need all the help he could get, even those from the Central Territory. Getting the support here would mean betraying Fixx and his group. Hundreds of humans, maybe thousands, or just a handful Fixx could control? What about the Shadow Cult? They had already received promises from the Brotherhood. Could he forget his heritage to ensure his future?
“Deal,” Dack announced as he put his hand firmly in the woman’s. “What’s next?”
“If you give me a few hours, I can get many to come and listen. Why don’t you rest at my house while you wait?” she added excitedly. Dack nodded and followed her to the house; there was plenty of food and a very comfortable bed to rest in while she gathered the locals. “I have a good feeling that tonight will mark the beginning of a new era, a return to Storality’s greatness,” she said before leaving the house.
Dack ate well and then lay down for a much-needed rest. He couldn’t, however, get comfortable because his mind wouldn’t let go of the idea that he was betraying others to get new support.
What about the key? How am I supposed to get it if none of these people want me to open the portal area? It wasn’t my idea to get the keys, but it still seems important to try and open Ways to send the others home. He turned over in the bed until sleep came naturally.
“Wake up, son. It’s time,” said a voice gently as Dack slowly awoke. “There’s a big meeting and everyone’s waiting for you.” The old man smiled excitedly and encouraged Dack to stand up.
“Sir, I need your opinion, your honest thoughts,” Dack said as he prepared himself to leave. “What should be done about those in the Central Territory?”
“I say we hunt them down and kill them all,” the old man said coldly.
“What if I could get rid of them all, send them back through a Way?” Dack asked, hoping he would take that option.
The old man scratched his head as he thought about it. “It would save a lot of bloodshed and time, I guess. Can you do that?”
“I would like the opportunity to try, but I’m afraid the people won’t listen to that. Can you help me? I’ve heard you’ve done much already,” Dack added, hoping to rouse his spirits.
“That’s right, I have given a lot. I even worked with the Cult when we got rid of Lucan. I guess we owe them a chance to go home. What do you need me to do tonight?” the old man asked.
“I have plans in the works to obtain the keys to the portal area in an attempt to send the others home, and that part cannot be jeopardized. The Brotherhood has already gotten promises from the Cult to help defeat the kings by force if necessary, but I believe it will not come to that. I need to get a key tonight and head back to the Northern Territory to collect the other keys.” Dack removed the key from his cloak pocket and showed the man. “This key is from the Western Territory.” The man looked at it in genuine interest, and Dack put it away. “I need you to speak up and help me convince the others if they begin to balk at my words.”
“They all think I’m crazy. They won’t listen to me if they won’t listen to you. I’m sorry, but I’m not much help,” the old man said sadly.
“Sometimes it just takes one voice in the crowd to turn a situation in the direction it should go. If you speak up, I am sure others will listen. Can I count on you for your help?” Dack said, smiling.
The old man gave Dack a hug and whispered, “Anything for a brother.” He turned to leave and Dack could see tears in his eyes as he walked away energetically. Moments later Dack was ready; he walked out of the front door to a waiting crowd.
“There he is!” someone shouted as Dack walked outside.
“Hello, everyone. Thanks for coming and listening. My name is Dack, and I bring a message from the Scarlet Brotherhood,” he announced loudly and clearly so that everyone could hear. “It is my privilege to let you all know that change is coming tonight to the Southern Territory—” Dack was cut off by cheers and claps but motioned everyone quiet. “This freedom will be something you achieve here, the beginning of a wave that will cover this entire island.” Again cheers erupted. “I have shared what is necessary with but a few. There are things that must be done that you may not like or understand, but I promise you, the Scarlet Brotherhood promises you that all will be right again. Do I have your support?”
“Tell us what you want us to do!” someone shouted from the crowd.
“I need everyone here to march to the castle and demand an audience with the king. Who here will speak for the group?”
The old man spoke up, “I will, brother. The king has often listened kindly to my rantings.” The crowd grew uneasy and started murmuring about the idea. “Anyone else have a better candidate?”
“Dack should do it!” came a response followed by claps and cheers.
“Please, you don’t understand. It should be someone the king knows, someone he will listen to. I have come here to tell you that change is coming, but it has to start with you and by you. What is wrong with the one who volunteered?” Dack asked as he moved to the old man. “Is it because he is old? A little different from you?” The crowd was quiet again. “He is my pick, I trust him. He has performed in the past; he will help you now, and he will help bring about the future that reflects the past glories of Storality.” The crowd erupted into applause as they watched Dack and the old man go back into the house. “It’s all up to you now. Tonight we head to the castle, you get us in, I get the key, and you convince the king that change is the only option,” Dack said as he patted the man on the back.
Within a few hours Dack and roughly one hundred supporters marched up to the front gate and demanded an audience with the king. After a few minutes, the guard on the wall announced that the king would gladly talk with no more than ten.
“Now what?” the old man asked Dack.
“I suggest you pick eight people the king will listen to, then we go in and I will slip out of the group. Is that something you can do?” Dack asked nervously.
The old man scanned the crowd and began calling out names; people stepped to the front until the group was complete. “This will do, I am sure,” the old man insisted. “The rest of you, please wait patiently until we emerge triumphant!” the old man declared to the crowd. Cheers went up as the group approached the castle’s main gate. “I think the key you are looking for is in the king’s trophy room on the third floor near the back,” the old man whispered as they entered.
Dack nodded and began to allow the others to move to the front. When he was in the back, he waited for an opportunity for his exit, which came as they rounded a corner. He backtracked to the main stairs and nonchalantly climbed to the third floor. It looked like no one was patrolling the castle, so he made it down the hall and slipped in the last door.
Moonlight streamed in through a beautiful stained glass window depicting four knights with uplifted swords. Dack guessed they were the kings who helped end the war, or maybe symbolic of those who helped defeat Lucan. Either way it was a work of art like none Dack had ever seen. As he admired it, he began looking for a better way to light the room so that he could look at all the other items. Lanterns lined the walls, so it was not long before the entire room had a warm glow.
This is quite impressive, Dack thought. Even better than the things in the Northern Territory. Better displayed than the Western Territory. He was impressed as he looked at the three scarlet robes that hung on the walls. Dack chuckled as he wondered where Fixx had acquired the one he was wearing now. Knowing him, there’s little doubt.
The key he was looking for was in a case next to some books and a few drawings. Slowly opening the case, he pocketed the key and looked at the drawings. They looked like plans for the portal area, its door, and some more drawings of the kings looking victorious. He put them down and turned his attention to the book. It was rather large and heavy and its pages were not bound well.
It contained something that Dack had never seen before. They were yellowed badly, but it looked to him as if the pages were detailed drawings similar to paintings, but much smaller. There were countless pages of creatures of all sorts and types, sometimes many on each page, other times just one. At the bottom of each page strange symbols, which Dack had never seen before, had been painted. There seemed to be a pattern, but it made no sense. If the book wasn’t so big and heavy, he would have taken it to Theterm, but he had the key he needed.
“Book Two” was painted on the cover, but there were no other books like it anywhere. “I might have to come back for that if Theterm thinks it’s important,” Dack said aloud. “It’s probably just a catalog of the things Lucan left stranded here,” he concluded as he raced from the room. Down the stairs, out of the gate, and back to the crowd he went. “Things are going well in there,” he told the crowd as he moved past them to find his horse. They all cheered and clapped, but no one asked where he was going.
“What do you mean they took my horse?” Dack ranted as he flailed his arms. “Honestly, this horse thieving has got to stop. I leave him alone for a few hours and someone either steals him or takes him away!”
“I am sorry. The guards came after you left and said they were taking your horse. Why are you leaving in such a hurry anyway?” the woman asked as Dack approached the house where he stayed before they left.
“I told everyone that it was up to them to convince the king. I have to meet back with the Brotherhood to finish what’s been started in the other territories. Oh, they took all my things! I’m glad I have the important things in my cloak. Do you have a horse I can use—or have, I guess?” Dack asked frantically.
“You can use our horse. He’s fast but a little wild. Return him the next time you return,” the woman said with a wink.
“Thank you kindly. You are definitely a lifesaver,” Dack admitted shyly. “I will definitely come back,” he said, not knowing that the woman’s face was blushing in the moonlight as her heart began racing.
It wasn’t long before Dack was on the horse, through the wall, and well on his way back to the castle in the Central Territory. Now, what to do about Fixx and his group? he thought as he rode along rather quickly on the new horse. I’ll go and see if he even made it out alive. Maybe the humans will have done me the favor of getting rid of him. He grinned at that thought. “But that means getting the key myself. I don’t like that prospect,” he said aloud.
He rode almost straight through to the castle, stopping only a few times to pick some fruit and water for himself and the horse. As he got close, he could hear Fixx singing and laughing. Other voices joined in the merriment, and Dack was sure they were the ones from the forest who told him about the king of the Central Territory.
Dack was resolved to talk to Fixx quietly the next day about the change in plans after getting the key. He camped out under the stars, listening to the party last long into the morning hours. After I talk to Fixx, I’ll find Theterm before returning to the Scarlet Brotherhood. I’m sure Theterm will be proud that everything is working out this way. He’ll probably be excited about the book too, Dack thought as his body relaxed and he fell asleep.
In the castle nearby, Fixx was celebrating with his friends; soon everything would be different, and they toasted to Dack’s health and success. Fixx’s friends didn’t like the tea, and they didn’t want to hear the story either, so the merriment ended quickly.