Sunday, August 31, 2008

A Reply to Global Warming

So last month I posted a somewhat politically charged post about Global Warming and asking for explanaton from my fellow Christans why the majority of Christian leaders and therefore the people that blindly follow them, are so appose to Global Warming. I since received several post from people (and a few angry emails lol!) in responce and this is what I gather so far.

_________
"Well if it's going to happen then it's going to happen and there's no stopping it. If it happens it must be part of God's plan, and therefore we cannot apose it. If it's not part of God's plan then we don;t have to worry about it. So either way, why worry?"
_________


My response to this is again, we are called to be GOOD stewards of God's creation, not exploiters. And in regrads to God's plan, at the end of the day, God looks at the heart. He looks and sees if we tried, regardless of the results. As P.F. says almost every time he talks about healing:

"The result is not my responsiblity, the action, the faith to step out and do what God has told me to do in His word (be a good steward), that is my responsibility."

Also, the spirit of complacency is not of God, the spirit that would say, "Why worry?" We are told over and over again in Proverbs that it's just simple wisdom not: to take the easy way out, to just sit back and relax, or to be lazy when we could be doing something about whats happening around us.

________
"Radicals on the left use global warming to enforce unrealistic policies that would exchange widespread economic down fall for a minuscule change in climate change. The enormous economic costs that these policies demand would create poverty and therefore increase the dirty emmissions of so-called pour man's fuel (coal, etc.)"
________

Well, let me ignore that very biased and unproveibly opening phrase, and just say that you can't just call anyone who disagrees with you a radical. That's what Bush does, and we want to be like Jesus, not Bush. (see how a very biased and unprovible statement makes a reader feel.) ^__^

So, to get to the main point, I understand the policy issue, but let's take a second and actually look at "liberal" policy in regards to global warming.
-Reuse and recycle more instead of producing new and wasting old.
-Replace oil depedency with clean renewible resources that are home grown (american)
-Stop pollution and destruction of natural resources
-Become active participant in arising global market and economy

So far, aside from the cutting back on new production, which does cause an economy to slow down, I don't see any other effects here that would be detrimental to US economy IN THE LONG RUN. The problem we face is SHORT RUN vs. LONG RUN thinking. In the short run, we have all the plants and product we need RIGHT NOW, in order to prosper if we just keep doing what we have been doing for centuries. In the long run, we do not have the resources (especially if we are detroying them from polluting and deforesting) to keep the economy stable as we loan more and more of our national currency (thats right, i'll post more on the Fed later) and base more and more of our money on nonexsistant gold, and grow more and more dependant on Arab oil. Trust me, in the long run, its stupid to base all of your economy on one source (oil) when there are a wide variety availible (tidal, nuclear, solar, ethanol, hydro, etc) of untapped energy.

________
"There are much more important issues in the world, like orphans, AIDS, wars, genocide, etc for us to worry about that."
________

Thats not right. The Bible says not to worry about ANYTHING and to prayerfully make you supplication known to God. Now unless you actually pray for the orphans, the AIDS vctims, the genocidal areas, and the war crime victims, every night before you go to bed, you can;t use this as an excuse to harm the enviroment. If you do, then bravo, and let me tell you that it still gives you no right to shrug off teh iussue. Obviously we will always place people over plants. That's a given. What I'm saying is that most of us are not constantly occupied with caring for orphans. Most of us live comfertible lives, drive our comfertible cars, and heat our comfertible houses. We have no excuse. If we're not helping the needy at least we can take care of what God has given us.
________
"Stupid Liberal Democrats will do anyhthing to get us to change and conform to there way. Its part of there plan to make us change into belieivng that things they believe."
_________


That's an arguement and excuse known as an 1)ad hominem attack AND 2)a strawman fallacy AND 3)a Non Sequitor. First off, what does the fact that liberals were the first to take up the banner of global warming have to do with its validity. Ask yourself this, if it does make a dffrence, are you basing your opinion off the fact that you don;t like global warming or that you don't like liberals? Second, this arguement is besides the point entirely. Even if it was a part of some evil liberal conspiracy, it does not take away from the validity of taking care of the only planet God gave us. And Third, the arguement that because we agree with one thing that a liberal says means we are slowly going to give up all our morals and become liberal is utter hogwash. Guess what, they are right about several things! Biblically!!! And guess what, conservatives, are wrong about several things, Biblically!!! So, if we want to line up with the Bible we need to stop lining up according to some man made lines in the sand and look to the higher call God has given us and get in line with it.

After hearing back from believers about the reasons they and their family memebers believe that Global Wamring is nothing to worry about, I must say, I'm not convinced by their complacent ways. I do agree that "Stupid Liberal Democrats" place way too much empheses on creation and not enough on humanity, and that with all the ad campaigning they have done they could have helped the homeless or the orphans. But even then I'm still glad, because that meant they had less money to suppost abortion, abortion laws, and abortion information. Look at it this way, for every dollar that organizations like teh ACLU spend on global warming education, they have to pull from somewhere. What's been their biggets budget? Abortion! So where will they most likley begin making cuts? Thats right, abortion! Either way you look at it, its better to try and fight Global Warming, then to sit back and let them keep killing babies while big oil companies kill old growth forests. At least that's my opinion. Feel free to disagree.

^__^ (I should have been a politician!)

What happens at Camp...

So I may not have gone to camp but this week I set aside and sanctified as special time with God. I have gone deeper in the word, have been fasting on more than one level, have been seeking God's face, and have been expecting Him to speak to me. He has and this is one of several things that I got from him this week. This was a song:

(Um, not mine, someone elses... just to clarify)

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
Wasnt it far beyond my reach?
Give me your heart for the once forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see

-Give Me Your Eyes
Brandon Heath
What If We

This is one of the main things God has been speaking to me about recently. Whether its from the pulpit at Church, my meetings with Ben, the songs I'm listening to on the radio, or simply the verse I'm reading in my devotions, there has been a common theme that God has been speaking to me recently. Loving people like he does.

I ride the bus. Through the years I have seen small children whose parents are drunk on the bus, letting them run around and fall down as teh bus lurches to stops. I have seen teenage mothers with three or four small chrildren trying to board the bus while their babies are crying and they're talking to their friends back at high school on their cells. I've seen young men who have thrown their lives away, giving in to drugs, sitting on the bus on the way to their box under the Hawethorn Bridge. And I have seen so many beautiful people with Down's Syndrome taking the trip from their house to McDonalds, trying so hard to live a normal life. I have seen so much pain, so much sorrow, and so many broken lives, that there is no way I coudl ever reach out to any of them. There are just too many and I just don't have enough time to help any of them.

So I did the only thing I could think of doing. I shut them out. Tried to ignore the hurt around me. I smiled when they looked up and made eye contact but that was it. And I felt my love, my compassion, drying up. And then it was gone.

But then today I was readng Mark. I read the story of how Jesus after doing great miracles and being very weary, went across the lake to the oterh side so that he and his deciples could get some rest. But then when they came to teh other side, Jesus saw the people had aticipated his move and had gathered there and so when he saw them he had compassion on them.

This is the essence of it. Jesus himself got weary from helping people and yet he still found compassion for the ones who needed him. I have come to realise that I might not be able to help all the people I encounter, but I can still have compassion, can still try and help as many as possible. The one thing I can't do is shut them out. Jesus didn't and neither can I.

So this is the thing that has been on my heart lately. I have decided that I want to help as many people as possible, though I'm not sure how yet. I'm thinking about world vision, and maybe helping out with one of Portland's homeless shelters, but I'm not sure which yet. If you guys have any ideas I'll gladly take them.

Friday, August 29, 2008

The black Envelope

the black Envelope

the Black envelope arrived this afternoon
the ghostly white page within
a young flame, snuffed out too soon
shade where light had been

the Black envelope arrived today
the raven hued words etched deep
their meaning clear, yet far away
how grimly the reaper reaps

the Black envelope arrived this week
calloused now, are the shovelers hands
the world once bright, seems so bleak
hear the echo of time’s sands

the Black envelope arrived this month
the world a mausoleum of memory
the heartfelt sorrow and pain now blunt
no more to be or not to be.

the Black envelope arrived this year
no longer a misanthrope
and that day is no longer clear
when first arrived your black Envelope

Thursday, August 28, 2008

The Tradgic Passing

I'm sorry i just couldn't resist. This week was tough, but good. (I'll blog more about it later...maybe.) Right now though, I am mourning the loss of my favorite comic strip charcter who died yesterday. This is the sad story of Bob the Croc. Sniff.












I'm sorry but I'm just too emotional right now to even keep writing.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

The Summer Without You

The Summer without you
Has almost been too much to bare,
If you knew how I miss you
If you could feel my heart beat
Every time, every place, every memory
so sweet
I watched the stars, missed your eyes
and your laughter was gone,
The Summer without you
your absence eats at my pen
My mind wonders on you, and waits all day
My heart breaks for you, a desperate cry
The missing puzzle piece, the empty page,
silence
I watched the dawn, and saught your voice,
and feel like I could die,
yet all I do is sigh,
and cry for
the Summer with you,
that has gone by,
How I wish
the Summer without you
would fly.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Know Thy Adversary

I recently posted a review of Adam by Ted Dekker in which I made some remarks about the author that, to some people, seemed to be a bit inappropriate. I have decided to clarify my standing on the darkness that is creeping into modern Christian fiction.

In a recent interview with Christianity Today and previously with Charisma, Ted Dekker was quoted as saying, “In order to fully understand the power of God, you must understand the darkness he conquered.”

I disagree.

And I’m not even going to try and use tact with this. If you disagree with me, feel free to leave a comment and GOOD REASONING behind your stance. In the meantime, let me tell you why Mr. Dekker needs to go back and read his Bible.

A) “Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start…”

Ah yes, the garden. Glorious Eden, the literal paradise on earth, where man and woman dwelt in perfect harmony with their Creator and His creations. In this hallowed horticultural haven, there was a tree. You know the story. Snake gets smart. Snake beguiles woman. Woman eats of tree and tells husband, who is a moron, to eat as well. Husband eats and world is cursed. What you may have over read, is the name of the tree. THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL. Now, after God created the world, He said, in his immutable and infallibleness, IT IS VERY GOOD. So, the knowledge of good was already present. What was lacking? The knowledge of EVIL!!! So original sin was what… the acquisition of the knowledge of evil.

B) “Is it secret? Is it safe?”

What is the main premise behind exploring darkness in order to bring glory to God? Basically, that it’s safe to explore the darkness. NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! If anyone ever tells you that, you better ask for your money back because their trying to sell you something that’s complete bull. Two Biblical examples. There were the seven sons of Zebedee who tied to cast out a demon which then attacked them and pulled of their clothes and sent them crying to their daddy. They had used the name of Jesus to try and cast the demons out. The second example is in Matthew when a child is brought to Jesus’ disciples, WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMISSIONED AND EMPOWERED TO CAST OUT DEMONS, and who could not cast it out. They went to Jesus and part of his reply was that there are some demons who only come out with prayer and fasting. The main point I’m trying to make is that even with the name of Jesus, which does cause the demons to tremble, you are still not safe when you enter their dominion, and if you are doing actual spiritual warfare to take their dominion you better not be doing it alone. Is it safe then to explore the dark knowledge if you have to go into his domain to obtain it?

C) “This is you brain. This is your brain on drugs.”

Now, some would say “I’m not going to go and interview Satanists or Wiccans” or “I’m not going to do research on the devil, all I want to do is explore the idea of evil in the safe context of a book/film/play/etc.” But here’s the problem. Even if you don’t go into the devil’s domain you are still at risk. The reason is that when you “explore” the enemy in a book or film, you have to inadvertently begin to focus on the darkness. This is essentially what Dekker is doing and why I have a problem with his works. Peretti does address the enemy and actually show a very deep understanding of the ways of the light and darkness but he does it all while still focusing on the light. Internally this is how you work: you focus on something. The something begins to fill your heart, if you’ll let it, which is hard to control with books because their whole purpose is to full your heart. Then, with your heart filled with this, your mind begins to dwell on it, your words begin to echo it, and eventually is has become an obsession. An idol. Now, many people will just dismiss that as a slippery slope mentality but its true. The Bible speaks volumes about your heart and how it is connected to your mind, your actions, your words, the things that are dear to you, the things you are focusing on, etc, and how we should guard it. The Bible also speaks volumes about guarding our eyes, and in this sense, our focus. We are to put our eyes on things that are above, things that are godly and good, to focus on running our race, pressing towards God, seeking His will, following His Word. Our mind, our heart, our focus, is important. The devil wants it because with it he can get our worship. And that’s why exploring the darkness never brings glory to God.

D) “Much fear I sense in this one.”

The final point I have to make regards fear. The enemy wants to do one thing and that is to bring fear into your life, because it will eat you up and consume you. Fear breeds doubt and unbelief. Fear causes rash actions and decisions, and leads to even worse consequences. Fear is a festering petridish of potential sin, suffering, and destruction, the perfect antithesis of love.

First of, the entire idea of exploring/understanding the darkness is meant to show God’s glory and strength in overcoming it, I understand the logic behind it. However, the Bible talks in great detail about giving footholds for the enemy, opening doors for the enemy, allowing the enemy to build strongholds, and giving him room to work in your life. Make no mistake, when you begin to look at the enemy in closer detail, you are opening a door for fear. That’s why scary movies and horror novels are so destructive to a healthy individual’s spiritual life. It grieves the Holy Spirit because you are inviting an unclean spirit into your life.

Second, what makes you think you are even reaching the goal of making God greater by making the enemy seem powerful? If you give the enemy room to appear powerful, then you have to realize he will use it. He will make himself appear stronger than he really is, especially to Christians who are new in their faith or to those who have some kind of opening in their armor for the devil to access their lives. The devil wants one thing: to destroy us. If he can get us to somehow believe he is greater, stronger, or more powerful than God, or even on the same level for that matter, he can destroy us, our faith, and our love. New believers and those who are spiritually immature do not have roots as deep as ours and cannot withstand the same level of demonic warfare. As a Christian author we are placed in a very precarious position because we must make sure we do not cause our brethren or sisteren to stumble because of our actions, and we must realize not everyone is on our level.

And with that, I am now exhausted and in need of sleep. If I remember anything else that I wanted to add I’ll let you know.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Sipping Saints?....

Well, recently I have had a very intresting discussion with one of my beloved buddies. As you have probably guessed from the title of this post is had to do with Christians and drinking. Let's just say that he made some good points and I made some good refutations, so I decided to post some of it. Names have been changed to protect the guilty, er I mean innocent. :)

1) Jesus drank wine.

Okay, so let's make a few points clear. Back in ancient times water was brought to cities via aquaducts. The channels were lined with lead* so that the water would flow faster. Needless to say, by drinking this water the population in general grew weary of water so that it came to the point that water was considered dangerouse by the people of the early Roman Empire (when Jesus lived). Ergo the water to wine miracle.
*BTW, lead is poisenous.

The Greek word translated as wine can also be translated simply as juice, and in the Bible there is frequently a diffrence made between "wine" and "intoxicating drink". Therefore, there is a very real and very possible chance that Jesus was just drinking grape juice.

And finally, Jesus said he was God, yet we don't. Jesus dinned with prostitutes, but we don't. Jesus never married yet we marry. It's safe to say that there were somethings Jesus did that were done because he was the perfect and holy Son of God.

2) The Bible says that 'nothing that enters a man can defile him'.

Well, if you are going to quote that verse read the whole verse and get the context. Its all about washing your hands before you eat not drinking wine. Not just that but it misses the whole point of the conversation. This is not about being clean or dirty because in Christ we are all purified. What this comes down to is whether it is morally acceptible for a Christian who wants to follow God wholeheartedly to drink.

3) The Bible never calls it a sin

Just because something isn't spelled out as a sin doesn't retract from its immorality. Paul says, "Everything is lawful to me, but not everything is expedient/acceptible unto me...I will not be mastered by anything" and what that comes down to is plain, simple, old fasioned wisdom.

Is it wise to open a door to the enemy in your life? Is it wise to expose yourself to alcoholism, especially IF YOUR FAMILY HAS A HISTORY OF ALCOHOLISM!!!! Is it wise to threaten the safety and security of your self and your family by doing something for no good reason.

4) There are places in Leviticus and in Thessalonians and Timothy where it talks about wine, in an alcoholic sence, and encourages drinking.

First the Leviticus one. This is said in relation to widows as a means of releaving their distress over the loss of a husband. Second is Paul stating that he'll need some for his stomach and later he recomends the same to Timothy for his stomach. So what's going on?

Let's have another history lesson. In ancient times a very common practice was to soak medicinal herbs in wine and letting the essential oils dissipate into the drink. This was medicinal drinking not social drinking. Not only that but it was always done in small doses and infrequently, usually with some kind of physician overseeing the process. The widows would have been drinking anti-depressant infused wine while Paul and Timothy would both be drinking carmative (e.g. digestive system cleansing) wine. These are not the same as drinking for dumb reasons.

5) But a glass of red wine is suppose to be good for you.

Actually according to the FDA two glasses of red wine a night decreases your risk of heart desease. BUT, one cup of green tea does the same and it's not addictive at all, except for the minute traces of caffeine depending on how long you seep it. And one vegetabletarian (e.g. no meat lots of veggies and a few carbs) meal a day does four times the good the two glasses of wine do. So if this was REALLY about health then why do the people advocating this still eat meat three times daily.

And what's more my friend Phil ate at Carls Jr. and Taco Bell everyday so if this was really about health I'm no doctor but its logical sense that eating better would be far more helpful than beginning to drink.

There was more than this, but what it comes down to, in reagrds to the morality of Christians drinking, are three very simple priciples.

1) The Devil is not your friend.

This is basic doctrine 101, and I hate doctrine, so this pains me to quote it. But its true. Yet I think sometimes we forget that. Right now, he is planning, doing his best to ensnare and trap us, get us addicted to something, or caught in some kind of cycle of destruction.

When, and its only a matter of when, you get drunk, you loose control of yourself, your actions, and your words. And worse of all you think you're still in control but you're not. Its the same as when you're high on pot or dope or some mind altering hallucinigen, or even a cigar. You are in the EXACT same place as a person tampering with a oija board or tarrot card set or who is part of a seance. You have literally opened your soul for demonic opression.

So, just to be clear, Christians can't be possessed by a demon, but they can be oppressed, e.g. not controlled but influenced, by one. How do you open yourself to opression? Why, simply by exposing yourself to the occult and occultic practices or by willfully giving up control of your body to the enemay, which is what happens when you're high or drunk.

2) Why?

Seriously ask yourself this. Why do I have to drink? It's not medicinally worth the risk of addcition, its not socially worth the risk of humiliation when you're drunk, and its not spiritually worth the cost of opression. So, why do it? Instead of asking me "Well how come a Christian can't drink" I ask you to give me one good reason to start drinking if you are a Christian.

And please don't tell me its for evangelism. That's been the excuse for everyone from the poor STD stricken Indian missionary who just wanted to reach out to the prostitutes, to the slave owners who just wanted the slaves to inherit the earth by forcing them to be meek, to Mr. Ted Haggart himself and all his...stuff. Let's not kid ourselves, we reach out to the world not by imitating their behavior but by lifting up a standard and reaching down to help lift them up. I'm not saying condemn them, duh. But I'm saying we are salt and light BECAUSE WE ARE DIFFERENT!

3) The Sin

Oh yes, you thought I said it wasn't a sin, but there is actually a place where this does go into the realm of sin. If you have children and you drink you are sinning. Studies over the last century have repeatedly shown that children who grow up in a home where there is alcohol present, even in minute quantities, are more likely to start drinking at a younger age and suffer from alcoholism.

If you have children and you get drunk, you are held responsible before God for whatever actions and words you take while in that drunken stupor because it could have been avoided if you had simply had the foresight not to drink.

And, if you, either by your drinking example or by your drunken actions cause one of these little ones to stumble well you're in for more trouble then even hell can contain. You remeber sweet, mild mannered Jesus who skipped through the green meadows and preached sermons on love and forgiveness and the heart? Well, his response was that it would be better for you to have a millstone placed around your neck and be thrown into the sea then to face the White Throne someday when all your actions will be made known and you will have to face the consequences of your decision just to have a small drink.

In the end, I'm not trying to judge, but I come from a family with alcoholism on both sides and I have seen the scars where fathers have beaten their sons to a bloody pulp and mothers have disfigured their beautiful daughters while drunk. I have seen what drinking leads to and I can't believe people still sit around and discuss it like they would the latest release of a movie. This is serious and the point of this post is to get across the very serious nature of a very avoidible action.

Please don't feel like I am judgeing any of you who read this. If you have decided to drink, or if someone in your family has decided to drink, then I honestly pray that God protect you from meeting that end result. I am not in a position to judge anyone, and frankly don't want to. All I want is for you to ask yourself this question:

Why do I really want to drink and is it worth the risk to myself and my family?

BTW, if you feel diffrently about this topic or just havea diffrent opinion feel free to post. It's always good to hear more than one side of an arguement and the WHOLE point of this post is to generate discussion. I promise I won't flame you or sent a hitman to your home. Well, not unless you make a valid point . :)

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Chapter 15

Wow! I never thought I'd get this far. And yet it feels like I have written much more than 15 chapters (oh yeah! All the chapters I rewrote! lol) Anyway, this one took so long because my laptop broke, I got a job, and had finals all in the same week yay! Rar for sugar!!!!! Okay, so here it is. Enjoy and leave as much feedbakc as humanly possible and I may or may not love you for ever and ever and ever....(twitch)....


Chapter 15

The golden wings beat furiously at the warm, night air, straining as the wind ruffled through the feathers. The cool moon light illuminated the sacred space between the pale blue clouds and the obsidian sky, where the lone eagle was cutting through the atmosphere. It glided for a few seconds then flapped again, gaining more speed. The eagle’s heart beat furiously, not only from the pumping blood, but from the anxiety that was growing deep inside of it. It had a message to deliver, and it had no time to waste.

><><><><><><><><><

In a place of utter darkness, where evil grew and fear dwelt, where even light itself could not shine, a figure moved. The long crimson robe seemed to caress the ground as the person passed over the broken world. Where the footsteps fell, the rocks seemed to groan and die.

There were already two others at the gathering place, one in a grey robe and the other in a black one. The three stood there for a few moments, the air itself very tense with anticipation for what was to come. The darkness itself was unnerved with expectation. Then she stepped forward. Dressed in a long silvery robe, she stepped out of the nothingness and all felt the very marrow drain from their bones.

“My children.” came her soft, motherly voice which sent a chill down every spine. “It seems, we have two prodigals in our family.”

There was a long pause, none daring to speak as they waited to make sure she was finished.

Finally, “They must be destroyed before they give the key to those who would appose us!” called the ebony cloaked one.

“No dear child.” And the sable figure seemed to visibly shake with dread at being so softly reprimanded, “They will see the error of their ways. We must give them time.”

“What of those who appose us? The ones who seek the key and the treasure.” The ashen cloaked one spoke, not challengingly but with reverence, like one consulting an oracle.

“The Duke and his new friends?” She spoke, her voice suddenly low and contemptuous, dripping with anger and hatred, “As for they who would stop us! They will feel my fury and my wrath like none have ever felt it before!”

Here again there was silence while they three waited to make sure she had finished speaking and were desperately trying to stop the icy fingers of dread from running through their veins.

“Would it not be better to monitor them?” Spoke the crimson one, the only one who would ever dare to challenge ‘her’ word. “At least for a time. If we could get one of the Circle into their group, they may lead us straight to the treasure.”

The black and grey cloaks both held their breaths. Neither wanted to see what would be the reaction to this challenge. Both just wanted to be done with the meeting so they could leave ‘her’ dreamplane and return home. After a few minutes of consideration, she spoke.

“Very well. Since you have set forth this plan, you will be the one to undertake it. I must return to my watch and you three must return to your stations. Farewell my children.”

><><><><><><><><><

The early morning sun had not yet risen and the grey dawn was silent and cool. Nicholas and Ivan were loading the large pile of luggage onto the carriage. Both were still rubbing sleep from their eyes, having been up late the night before. Holly, Liam, and Oronus were inside the house gathering the final supplies.

“Heads up Iv!” Called Nicholas as he tossed up another bag to his friend atop the carriage.

Ivan caught the bag but didn’t center his weight right and so fell backward in the pile of luggage, one of the trunks popping open and spewing its contents all over him. He noticed the clothes were Holly’s and blushed as he tried to avert his eyes while stuffing it all back into the trunk. Just as he stood up another bag came flying upwards knocking him over.

“Hey! Easy there Klaus or Nicholas or whatever you’re name is now! I was still fixing the other trunk. You nearly knocked me off the carriage!”

But Nicholas gave no reply. He was staring straight at the misty sky, squinting as he saw the large dark shape begin to materialize. Ivan turned around just in time to see the large golden eagle drop completely beneath the clouds and into him. He was knocked flat on his back on the dirt road, the large golden feathery body nearly smothering him. It was almost as big as him and its wings were five times as long as it’s body.

“Um, Klaus, a little help.”

As Nicholas came near, he wasn’t sure if the creature was breathing or not. He laid a hand slowly on its head and the large golden pupils snapped open. He drew back as it opened its mouth. But no ear piercing screech came forth. Instead the creature spoke.

“Water.” The creature definitely sounded female, and spoke with a proud and intelligent voice. “I am…in great need of…water…before I can…continue…”

Nicholas got up and sprinted inside. A few moments later he came running out with a pale full of water and the whole group following close on his heels. As he ladled water into the thirsty creature’s mouth, Ivan finally wiggled out from beneath the feathery bulk.

“Thanks for the help guys. Oh, don’t worry about me. I’m fine!”

But no one paid him any attention. All eyes were on the magnificent creature as she slowly stood to her feet and scanned them all, recognition registering on her face as she looked from person to person. Then addressing Ivan, she spoke again.

“My apologies, able seaman Ivan. With the low cloud cover I was not able to stop my decent in time to avoid impacting you. I offer my most gracious apology.”

“Well, that’s alright I gue…wait a second! How do you know my name! How did you know I was an able seamen! Have you been following me around? Speak up! I’m on to you birdie!”

The eagle’s eyes flashed fiercely as she spoke, “I have long observed your insolent manner towards those who you would do well to respect, however I did not realize how deeply your foolishness went. As for you questions, now is a most inopportune time for me to answer them. We must make haste. The two witches plan on sacrificing the girl.”

“Bella!” cried Holly, Ivan, and Nicholas.

“Milady, did they say when they planned to act?” Asked Liam quickly stepping forward and pulling out a whistle from his pocket.

“No milord duke. Though I have never known a witch to act during the daylight and certainly not when it concerned something as important as a sacrifice. No, I would think they will act tonight, for surely tonight the full moon reaches its zenith and their terrible rituals will be most effective.”

Liam blew on the whistle though no sound could be heard then spoke. “Then there’s not a moment to loose. Are they still in Aconite’s Hollow in the Republic of Firplice?”

“Aye, milord. It’s almost a full day’s flight away, and by carriage nearly twice as long.”

“But that means there is no way for us to stop them!” Yelled Nicholas in frustration.

“I am not capable of stopping them…yet. However, the Duke can, but we will have to depart immediately. You will have to ride on me.”

And saying this, the great eagle began to glow with a bright golden yellow light. Her feathers seemed to rustle and float around her. Soon she was engulfed in a swirling mass of light filaments and feathers. There was a chanting of voices on the wind and as the swirling died down, before them stood a proud and golden griffon, with head and wings of and eagle and body of a lion.

“Make haste, milord Duke.”

“Wait!” Called Nicholas, “I want to come too!”

“I am sorry, brave Nicholas, but if we are to reach them in time, the Duke must come alone. Anymore and I would not be able to fly fast enough. Do not fear, you will soon see your share of battles. I can sense it.”

Before Liam got on the Griffon, his hawk Skree dropped out of the sky and landed on his coat arm. He quickly pulled a rolled up parchment from his coat pocket and placed it around Skree’s leg, then whispered some instructions to the bird. Then he placed a second one around its neck and whispered more instructions. With a mighty heave from Liam and the large white wings unfolding the bird had soon disappeared in the rising sun.

“Alright then. You lot, take the carriage and meet me in Firplice. I will stop them from making the sacrifice but I may need your help if the battle draws on too long.”

Then he hopped on the Griffon’s back and was off. The large animal, the size of a horse trotted up the lane as her wings spread out, nearly four times her body length. Then with a mighty leap and a flap of feathery wings they were gone.

“Alright.” Said Holly grabbing the last of the supplies. “We need to get going. Everyone inside!”

They all clamored inside and Holly got up and got the carriage moving. As they were going Ivan leaned out the window and called to her, “Holly, why did you ask for that special recipe this morning?”

“What recipe?” Nicholas called from inside the carriage.

“The water based explosive recipe I learned at Einri.”

As Ivan finished his sentence suddenly a loud explosion echoed from behind them. All looked back to see the house engulfed in a gigantic fireball as a column of dark black smoke ascended into the sky. From inside the carriage the three suddenly burst into a melee of questions.

“Be quiet!” She called as she pointed back. “Look in front of the blaze! See those dark figures running about? They’re Pontus’ henchmen. I saw them arrive this morning. They were probably sent to capture us and find out who we’re in contact with. Now there won’t be any clues for them to follow.”

><><><><><><><><><

In sun was getting lower in the sky. The Griffon and Liam spoke infrequently and briefly as they prepared for their confrontation. Below them forests gave way to open plains, open plains gave way to rivers, and river gave way to farms dotting the landscape. Towns, villages, and cities all came and went as they flew onward, over boundaries of lands and mountains and rivers to reach the Republic of Firplice.

><><><><><><><><><

The two witches, one in a long brown cloak, the other in a white one, glided along the streets of Firplice until they reached the alley. They made their way through the darkness and refuse as the setting sun painted the world in hues of orange and blue. The two drew near to the back of an old wall, where there was a crack. The white cloaked one slipped through first, then held out her hand towards the brown one.

The brown one dropped a small bluish glassy ball into the palm of the white one’s hand, then tried to slip through the wall herself. As she was half way through, she felt herself come to a slow grinding halt. She couldn’t move, either forward or backward.

“Hurry up Laburnum! We must be reach the grove afore full darkness!”

“I kant mof! I’m shtuck! Pull me out de uder side!”

“Pull yer self out. I aint missin the ritual on accounts of ye.”

But before she left, Laburnum popped out of the hole none too gracefully, her thick dark unibrow scowling at her sister. The two trudged on, winding through the thick woods that grew right next to the city. They walked along a trail until they came to an enormous open enclosure with a large, uncut stone in the center.

“Alright. Twilt be night soon. Once yon moon rises we’d best be performin’ the ritual as soon as possibl’. No tellin’ who will try an’ stop us.”

Here Laburnum seemed to begin to shake with terror induced convulsions as she spoke, “You mean…‘she’…vhil kom…” Dread settled on both as a sickening feeling flooded their veins.

“Silence yer prattle! Don’t even be thinken ‘bout…‘her’. Otherwise, ye’ll be given her a way inter yer mind!” Spat Aconite as she scanned the edge of the woods. She knew that no other witch would dare enter her domain. But if they were all to come against her, she and Laburnum would not be able to hold off the entire Circle. Especially if ‘she’ came with them. The very thought caused Aconite to feel the hairs on her neck begin to stand on end.

><><><><><><><><><

Nicholas’ eyes snapped open.

“They haven’t performed the ritual yet!” He called to Holly and Ivan who had joined her on the front of the carriage.

“Are you sure?” Asked Holly calling back over the rattle of the carriage and the clacking of hoofs on stone.

“I’m sure! They’re waiting for moonrise!” Nicholas yelled back.

“That doesn’t give us much time!” Ivan called as he was jolted in his seat. “Keep monitoring their’s and Liam’s progress.”

“Alright!” Called Nicholas as he slipped back into the carriage and closed his eyes.

><><><><><><><><><

Nicholas sprinted through his dreamplane and jumped into the dreamscape. The stars swirled around him and he looked once more for the faint dark red stars. The two were barely noticeable. He grabbed them and quickly entered the vision dream.

He saw the sky and a treeline in front of him. The moon was barely peeking across the trees and casting a thin sliver of silver light into the grove, right over a large uncut stone. Aconite stood before him, holding a small bluish glass ball up to the moon light. The ball began to glow slightly, and cast a blue light onto the uncut rock.

Suddenly the blue area on the rock took form. It was like a curled up frog or cat. Then Nicholas realized that it was a small girl. It was Bella. The magic slowly drained off of her and her body began to revert from its ethereal state. The wispy haze that surrounded her seemed to melt away and she lay there, completely unharmed.

“Alright. The mhoon be high enough now. Let the sacrifice be made! Bring forth yer blade Laburnum!”

Nicholas realized he couldn’t see what she was doing so he quickly exited her vision and flew through the dreamscape looking for Aconite’s. He found it and grabbed it, swallowing the star and seeing his vision flood with light. Then he saw her.

Laburnum stood over the girl with a large, glistening crystal knife, looking like it could be made of glass. It was an iridescent orange color though there was some dried flaky substance on it, like some kind of reddish juice. Or blood.

Aconite drew a white piece of chalk from her robe and began drawing a circle around the sleeping Bella, then writing strange characters and symbols around her. “Now! This girl, heir of the Alexandrian throne, descendant of the Great Emperors of Old, child born of the sacred line of Queen Alcision is presented to you, oh King of Darkness, a worthy sacrifice in the presence of the Full Moon, your great adversary! Let her blood drip from our altar and her screams give glory to our Order and to you! Let the key to the great treasure be revealed, that we may find the way to end our curse and rule this world with your might!”

The very woods seemed to fester and boil with insanity and darkness. There was a foul odor, like burning sulpher, on the winds, and screams seemed to come from the stars themselves at witnessing such a terrible act. The moon’s glow intensified, as if burning with rage at the wickedness of the witches. The knife seemed darker and more sinister. Suddenly, it began to hover above Laburnum’s hands. Then it floated towards the sleeping girl.

Aconite smiled and snapped her fingers. Bella’s eyes opened but she couldn’t move. She looked and saw Aconite and frowned. Then she saw Laburnum and stuck her tongue out at the ugly witch. And then, Bella saw the large, menacing knife floating in the air above her. The moonlight glistened off it as its razor sharp edge hung maliciously over her.

“Wait!” Cried Aconite, “I…I sense someone! Someone is watching us! Someone is watching through me!!!”

Then grabbing the white pearl that hung around her neck, she held it up to her forehead. Immediately Nicholas jerked awake inside the carriage. He couldn’t move and it took Master Oronus several moments to realize that he was no longer asleep and actually completely paralyzed.

“Nicholas! Was it Aconite?” He called as he didn’t wait for an answer and quickly administered a tonic to the boy.

“I…I have to go back! They’re about to kill her!!!” Called Nicholas.

“You won’t be able to.” Said Master Oronus, “She has sealed her dreamplane from us.”

“Then I have to go look through someone else! I’ll watch through Laburnum!”

“She’ll have sealed her off too.” Said Oronus, “Though…you could try watching through Liam or the Griffon.”

Nicholas quickly went back to sleep. He found the bright golden star and knew immediately that it was the Griffon’s dreamplane. He swallowed the star and felt the familiar warm light soak his mind. And then his eyes burst open.

Welcome Nicholas, her voice rebounded within his mind.

“You know it’s me?” He asked astonished.

Yes, she spoke again within him, now tell me all you have seen.

><><><><><><><><><

The carriage rattled onwards on the road. Far ahead of them Ivan and Holly could see a port town. Ivan squinted at the town, then pulled out one of the Einri Maps he had. He examined them closely and looked at the road. Holly tried to ignore him as he kept looking back and forth. Then he turned the map side ways and immediately his eyes went wide.

“Oh no! Holly we took the wrong turn at the fork in the road back there! We’ve been heading southwest instead of due west!”

“Ivan! You told me to take the left one. I told you I thought that we were suppose to take the right one! Now it’ll take twice as long for us to get there!!!” Her face was turning red as she yelled.

“Well excuse me but it’s not my fault that the map was written wrong!” He fumed. He was about to make another retort when he spotted a familiar looking emblem flying on one of the masts in the town. “Come on! I have an idea! We might be able to make it on time to Firplice after all!”

><><><><><><><><><

Nicholas saw the woods come up. Above them the moon shone down bright and intensely. The Griffon and the Duke were both poised for action. With one mighty swoop, the large animal dropped into the clearing and several things happened all at once. Nicholas tried to keep track of everything that was happening but he only saw parts of the battle.

On his left he saw Laburnum shoot a beam of orangey light at the pair, but the Griffon covered them with her wings, and the magic seemed to bounce of and run along the ground in sparks. The Duke leapt forward and landed with both feet on top of Laburnum’s large bulbous head, and she crumpled to the ground.

Aconite seemed to keep appearing and disappearing as she warped from one place to the next, hitting the Griffon with her hard, knobbed staff each time she appeared. Then Nicholas saw the hovering blade. It swung in a long arch towards Bella. His vision suddenly saw the Griffon pounce on Aconite and her large sharp beak come down on the witch’s staff arm.

Then a sickening thud filled the night air, and Bella’s scream echoed around the clearing. As the Griffon looked up, her head bumped against the pearl and Nicholas’ eyes opened again. He was greeted by a circle of unfamiliar faces.

“Hey, Ivan! Your friend’s awake!” Called one of the boys, who fixed his hair as a strand fell out of place.

“Klaus! What did you see?!?” Asked Holly and Ivan as they ran up. Oronus was behind them and he quickly gave Nicholas another sp of the tonic.

“I-I think Bella was killed!” He said hoarsely as he felt the hot tears begin to flow down his face.

“W-what?” Asked Holly shell shocked, “No, t-that can’t be! Are you sure!?!”

Ivan didn’t hear anything. He felt like none of this could be real. He felt like it was a bad dream and he was going to wake up any moment. He was faintly aware of Klaus crying and Holly yelling something about it not being part of the plan. But nothing felt real. Then the realization of Klaus’ words washed over him. He felt a scream of anguish tear from his throat.

“Nicholas. I know this must be hard, but I know Jullian and he wouldn’t have let this happen. You must tell me exactly what you saw.” Said a serious faced boy who looked slightly like Liam.

“And in the meantime, set sail right away!” Called the boy who had fixed his hair before, “Come on you Cuttlefish! We need to get to Firplice before sunrise! If we catch the evening tide we’ll make it!”

><><><><><><><><><

It was a dark and dreary clearing. The witches stood breathlessly to one side, both staring at the gaping wound they had inflicted just moments ago. The echo of the dark crimson blood dripping into the small crimson pool rebounded around the clearing. The Griffon stood to one side with the Duke, both with a satisfied look on their face.

“So then, it is agreed. You will receive it as soon as I have time to authoritize it. It is more than sufficient payment.”

“Aye. It be agreeable to us as well.”

“Good, and you are bound to honor your word?”

“Oh aye. As long as you’ll be honoren yers.”

“‘She’ will never know about what proceeded here tonight.”

><><><><><><><><><

The Cuttlefish sailed on the early morning current as they made their way into the main harbor of the Republic of Firplice. The crew worked meticulously as Holly, Ivan, Oronus, Nicholas, and Edric sat in the quiet cabin.

“Well, Nicholas, you didn’t actually see her die correct?” Asked Edric.

“Yes, but what else could have happened?” Asked Nicholas fighting back the tears again.

“You must not give up hope! There is still much hope for your little friend. Look, fate must be on your side. How else could it have been that we were anchored in the same harbor that you four pulled into? That was no mere coincidence.” Edric said, and his entire presence seemed to glow with confidence as the morning sun peaked into the cabin window. “I know she has a larger purpose to play yet. And so do you. Look, the sun rises and with it, hope.”

“Wait, it’s too early for sunrise!” Called Holly and as she hopped up everyone else followed her out of the cabin.

They ran out onto the deck and looked up into the early morning sky. Above the horizon a large golden object was flying, and the early morning sunlight was hitting its feathers and causing it to glow like the sun. They all squinted at it as it drew near. The glowing stopped as it dropped lower and a familiar figure materialized.

“Liam!” Edric cried out and waved.

The dark figure aboard the large Griffon waved back and circled towards them. As the Griffon landed on the deck, the large feathers folded around her and the glowing whirlwind of feathers and light quickly encircled them. And as it died down, Liam stepped forward, and behind him stood Bella.

“Bella you’re alright!” Cried Nicholas running forward and embracing the small girl.

Ivan joined the hug and Holly seemed to smile with relief, then she noticed Liam clutching his side as he limped forward. “Liam! What happened?”

He smiled ruefully then said, “Oh nothing much. I guess I must have hurt myself a little.”

“No, it was the witch! There were two of them. They had a big knife and they wanted to chop me into likkle pieces!” Bella spoke excitedly, “But then Silver came and saved me.”

“The dog?” Asked Ivan smiling but puzzled.

“Well, in a manner of speaking.” Said the small tabby cat that now stood where the Griffon had been a few moments ago speaking in the same intelligent voice as the eagle, “It was mostly thanks to the sacrifice of the Duke who placed himself between the blade and Princess Bella.”

“Wait a second!” Ivan cried in amazment, “You were the dog the whole time!”

“Yes,” Smiled Silver, “I have taken many forms during this journey in order to watch over Bella until she was placed in the Duke’s care.”

“So the horse tracks in the woods…” Holly began.

“I had taken the form of the Sedna, the caribou people of the land of Teaul.” She said smiling. “Now see to the Duke. His wound is very grievous and will need prompt attention. Master Oronus should be able to aid you, young master Jack.”

><><><><><><><><><

All the day they sailed on towards Hestia and the home of Liam. As they sailed they passed Einri Naval Academy and the coast of New Firplice. Then they continued on northwards and the air became colder and the leaves faded to autumnal colors as they neared the land of Hestia. It was near dinner time before they reached the docks of Liam’s estate.

He was bandaged up and had a curative poultice in place to seep the evil of the wound out as he hobbled around on his crutches. The crew were cheerful and happy and the weather amiable as they pulled into the pier by Estaté de Hestia. From the small pier they followed the tree lined path of stepping stones across a small still pond lined with willow trees and old white marble statues.

Then they walked on through beautiful orchards all in full fruit with large pomegranates, apples, and grapes hanging thickly everywhere. Across the distance they saw a shepherd of Laim’s estate herding a flock of curly haired goats to a new pasture. And in front of them stood the great manor house. It had two large solid oak doors, with a large marble statue on each side. The front of the house was made up of large windows and was built with a white stone that shone in the sun. The top tiles of the roof had been painted deep blue, along with all the door and window frames.

“Holly!”

The cried rent the air as Holly was knocked over by several heads of curly black and blond hair. From inside the manor house an aged butler stepped out. He walked over and shook his head as he spoke to Liam.

“Excuse me young Master, but the Collinses received your message and immediately set out. They arrived this morning.”

“Thank you Roster. Did the other guest arrive yet?”

“Yes. She’s waiting inside right now.”

After introductions went all around the large group made its way inside. There a somewhat pudgy old woman dressed very well and with her snub nose in the air greeted them.

“Mrs. Forester! I hope we have enough food to feed all these people!” Called Liam laughing

“Why, yes we do sir, if I don’t say so myself.” Came the thick reply. “though heaven knows we won’t if they decide to stay a forthnight!”

“Wonderful!”

The laughter echoed down the marble halls as they group walked to the dining room. There a figure in a large turquoise robe took of her hood and turned to the party. She bowed to Oronus, Ivan, and Nicholas and then another round of introductions were made.

“Alright everyone!” called Liam, clapping his hands to get their attention, “Let’s progress to the dining room so we can talk as we eat!”

This was met with a rowdy cheer and laughter as Nicholas, Holly, Ivan, Bella, Silver now in Caribou-person form, Tethys, Oronus, Edric, Jack, Coniglio, Tal, Dale, Wick, Dare, Rabb, Tinneas, Tirs, Bron, Orgile, and Liam all made their way to the dining room. Amid the chaos and confusion, laughter and song, old friends were reunited and new ones quickly made. As it grew later, Tinneas, Tirs, and Ivan played a lively jig as laughter and merriment filled the warm night air.

Later that night after stories had been swapped and everyone’s cheeks were sore from laughter and smiling, they all sat around the large fireplace in the cavernous parlor on overstuffed goose down pillows. As a stillness settled over the large group, Liam looked at Silver, then at Holly as he cleared his throat and spoke to the gathering.

“My friends, new and old, tonight we celebrate the return of Bella, Princess of Alexandria and of our triumph over the witches Laburnum and Aconite. But our battle is far from over. The prophecy regarding Bella states that she has within her the key to unlocking the treasure, but nothing more is said. So, before anything is done we will have to go and seek out the wisdom of the Seers of Insular. Sage Larson has already done so but has passed beyond the veil of any of our sight. This journey will be dangerous and so Bella will not accompany us. However she must be kept out of harm’s way. She needs to be taken into hiding to protect her from any other witches.”

There was silence as the group digested the information. Then Bron spoke up, “Well, she can come live at our house. That way we can tell everyone she is really the girl the judge sent to live with us. No one would be able to find her, we live so far form any main cities.”

“But what about guarding her? You and your brothers can guard her physically well enough inside your home, but she will need someone who can guard her spirit as she sleeps so they can’t uncover her hiding place.”

“I will accompany them.” Said Tethys with a resolute smile, “Every night I will weave a web of silence and dreamlessness over her so that they will never find her dreamplane or learn her location.”

“Good.” Said Liam smiling appreciatively. “The rest of us will go aboard the Cuttlefish and sail for Insular. We sail at first light so everyone should probably go to bed soon and get some rest.”

><><><><><><><><><

The next morning two groups of people said farewell as they parted ways. The Collins boys and Tethys had Bella with them in the carriage that set off for Giv. Everyone else was aboard the Cuttlefish, which has been expanded that evening to now have not only the main cabin room, but a men’s sleeping cabin, woman’s sleeping cabin, mess cabin for meals, and several large canons, outfitted from one of Liam’s father’s old ships. It also now had three large sails and a new crow’s nest. Wick smiled proudly at his handiwork as he gave Edric the signal.

“Alright everyone! All aboard for the Island of Insular, and more specifically the land of Gwaylen.”

“Isn’t that part of Laim’s name?” Asked Ivan discretely.

“Yes it is!” Said Edric excitedly, “My cousin Liam’s mother was a princess of Gwaylen and that’s important. There, everything is about parentage. If we want to get allies it will be our best tool.”

“So is that the place where those men attacked us during the night?” Jack asked uneasily.

“Well yes, but that was because they’re the Southern Wild Men, the Picts. The rest of Insular is quite civilized. Well mostly.” Said Edric smiling.

And so the ship set sail across the deep blue ocean. Foam capped waves carried the sturdy vessel across the mountains and valleys of water, onwards to their destination. Ivan summon Zephyr to carry them along while Liam and Edric talked about the best landing spot. Nicholas was on the bow, looking outwards towards the sea.

“What are you thinking about?” Asked Holly coming up behind him and sitting down next to him.

“Home.” He said, scanning the depths for answers, “And yet, I feel like my home, our home, was never really our home.”

“You mean your parents, don’t you?” Said Holly smiling reassuringly, “It’ll be okay. Don’t worry. For now, go along with the adventure and enjoy the quest. Soon the time will come for answers and you’ll know more than you bargained for.”

“What?” Asked Nicholas puzzled.

“Never mind. To everyone else you may be Nicholas, but to me you’ll always be Klaus.” She said smiling.

><><><><><><><><><
><><><><><><><><><


End Chapter


><><><><><><><><><


Okay! So I did the math and turns out my story is comrpised of three quests. They each take about 15 chapters so this was the first, The Quest for Bella. Now she's safe and it's on to the next quest! Oh, and just in case you were wondering, my location changes every seven chapters of so and I'm not sure about new characters but we'll see. Until next post!

Hasta La Vista

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Adam

Adam
by Ted Dekker

Well, initially going into this book, I was excited by the person who lent it to me, the fact that TED DEKKER wrote it, and the freaking freaky cover. Once I started reading it, its format took me comeletely off gaurd and its story was in true Dekkeresque fasion, addictively gruesome. As the story progressed, the suspense was amazing and only the ending was less then sadisfactory.

PLOT: 5 out of 5 stars
AMAZING!!! Like always Dekker weaves a tale that spins in and out, and takes you for a wild ride. The plot is believible and yet unbelievible at the same time. The main story progresses very naturally and flows very well and you find yourself getting sucked into the world because you need to know what happens next. Over all, like his other books, the plot was great.

STYLE: 5 out of 5 stars
The style is very "his style". He loves to take the reader inside the person, fully. You experiance all the bodily functions and feelings, even more than you would normal be consciouse of as a regular person. And as always, Dekker adds a chilling psychological psycho babble inside his character's minds that can be unnerving and unsettling at times, but so is the human mind. This book was especially intresting because it jumps back and forth between the present and the future, where someone is telling you about the past before the present, if that makes any sense at all. This causes the entire story to be much more suspenseful as certain things but not others are revealed and hidden by this format.

CONTENT: 1 out of 5 stars
While I loved Ted Dekkers other books, especially his Martyr's Song Series (Heaven's Wager, When Heaven Weeps, and Thunder of Heaven) because the spiritual content is very well written and very accurate, I am sorry I can't say the same about this book. Not to spoil anything here, but there is a lot of demonic powers at work in Dekker's story. However, once a "christian" confronts the demon possesed person, things go terribly wrong. The experianced exorsist, a Catholic priest, is afraid of the demon, is harassed by the demon, uses a guide book he quotes from and some religious symbols (a crucifix and some holy water) to get the demon to laugh at him. In the end, the demon is defeated not by the word of God or anything along those lines, but simply by the demoniac seeing his sister and fighting the demon from within.

I won't go into my rant about the modern American church and the spiritual realm, but needles to say, Dekker was way off in this book. I know because of experiance. He must have studied some messed up teachings or drawn his material from movies like the Exorcist because he got so many things so wrong, and painted a completely inaccurate picture, something I wouldn't expect from someone who painted such an accurate picture of intercession in the Martyr Song Series.

My final comment on Dekker is concern. His books seem to be getting darker, his obsession with the darkness and with fear growing and becoming more adamant, and his spiritual vision, twisted. I hope this is only a phase, a path he is exploring, and that he will try other ways too, instead of continueing down this one. Yes, his books may be growing more horrifyingly gripping and darkly inticing, but just as perfect love cast out all fear, the spirit of fear will eventually quench all of your love. He is medling with things here that are deeper than he may even understand, but hopefully, as I said before, this is just a phase.

FINAL RATING: 3 out of 5 stars. Caveat lector.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

The Lady of Shallot

Today I was catching up on my poetry, something that I admittitdly do not do often. I was actually doing research on Arthurian Fiction during the Romantic Era when I came upon the poem by the famouse poet Alfred Lord Tennyson, the Lady of Shallot.

I just thought I'd share it.

The Lady of Shalott (1833)
by Alfred Tennyson

Part the First.

On either side the river lie
Long fields of barley and of rye,
That clothe the wold and meet the sky;
And thro' the field the road runs by
To many-tower'd Camelot;
The yellow-leaved waterlily
The green-sheathed daffodilly
Tremble in the water chilly
Round about Shalott.

Willows whiten, aspens shiver.
The sunbeam showers break and quiver
In the stream that runneth ever
By the island in the river
Flowing down to Camelot.
Four gray walls, and four gray towers
Overlook a space of flowers,
And the silent isle imbowers
The Lady of Shalott.

Underneath the bearded barley,
The reaper, reaping late and early,
Hears her ever chanting cheerly,
Like an angel, singing clearly,
O'er the stream of Camelot.
Piling the sheaves in furrows airy,
Beneath the moon, the reaper weary
Listening whispers, ' 'Tis the fairy,
Lady of Shalott.'

The little isle is all inrail'd
With a rose-fence, and overtrail'd
With roses: by the marge unhail'd
The shallop flitteth silken sail'd,
Skimming down to Camelot.
A pearl garland winds her head:
She leaneth on a velvet bed,
Full royally apparelled,
The Lady of Shalott.


Part the Second.

No time hath she to sport and play:
A charmed web she weaves alway.
A curse is on her, if she stay
Her weaving, either night or day,
To look down to Camelot.
She knows not what the curse may be;
Therefore she weaveth steadily,
Therefore no other care hath she,
The Lady of Shalott.

She lives with little joy or fear.
Over the water, running near,
The sheepbell tinkles in her ear.
Before her hangs a mirror clear,
Reflecting tower'd Camelot.
And as the mazy web she whirls,
She sees the surly village churls,
And the red cloaks of market girls
Pass onward from Shalott.

Sometimes a troop of damsels glad,
An abbot on an ambling pad,
Sometimes a curly shepherd lad,
Or long-hair'd page in crimson clad,
Goes by to tower'd Camelot:
And sometimes thro' the mirror blue
The knights come riding two and two:
She hath no loyal knight and true,
The Lady of Shalott.

But in her web she still delights
To weave the mirror's magic sights,
For often thro' the silent nights
A funeral, with plumes and lights
And music, came from Camelot:
Or when the moon was overhead
Came two young lovers lately wed;
`I am half sick of shadows,' said
The Lady of Shalott.



Part the Third.

A bow-shot from her bower-eaves,
He rode between the barley-sheaves,
The sun came dazzling thro' the leaves,
And flam'd upon the brazen greaves
Of bold Sir Lancelot.
A red-cross knight for ever kneel'd
To a lady in his shield,
That sparkled on the yellow field,
Beside remote Shalott.

The gemmy bridle glitter'd free,
Like to some branch of stars we see
Hung in the golden Galaxy.
The bridle bells rang merrily
As he rode down from Camelot:
And from his blazon'd baldric slung
A mighty silver bugle hung,
And as he rode his arm our rung,
Beside remote Shalott.

All in the blue unclouded weather
Thick-jewell'd shone the saddle-leather,
The helmet and the helmet-feather
Burn'd like one burning flame together,
As he rode down from Camelot.
As often thro' the purple night,
Below the starry clusters bright,
Some bearded meteor, trailing light,
Moves over green Shalott.

His broad clear brow in sunlight glow'd;
On burnish'd hooves his war-horse trode;
From underneath his helmet flow'd
His coal-black curls as on he rode,
As he rode down from Camelot.
From the bank and from the river
He flash'd into the crystal mirror,
'Tirra lirra, tirra lirra:'
Sang Sir Lancelot.

She left the web, she left the loom
She made three paces thro' the room
She saw the water-flower bloom,
She saw the helmet and the plume,
She look'd down to Camelot.
Out flew the web and floated wide;
The mirror crack'd from side to side;
'The curse is come upon me,' cried
The Lady of Shalott.



Part the Fourth.

In the stormy east-wind straining,
The pale yellow woods were waning,
The broad stream in his banks complaining,
Heavily the low sky raining
Over tower'd Camelot;
Outside the isle a shallow boat
Beneath a willow lay afloat,
Below the carven stern she wrote,
The Lady of Shalott.

A cloudwhite crown of pearl she dight,
All raimented in snowy white
That loosely flew (her zone in sight
Clasp'd with one blinding diamond bright)
Her wide eyes fix'd on Camelot,
Though the squally east-wind keenly
Blew, with folded arms serenely
By the water stood the queenly
Lady of Shalott.

With a steady stony glance--
Like some bold seer in a trance,
Beholding all his own mischance,
Mute, with a glassy countenance--
She look'd down to Camelot.
It was the closing of the day:
She loos'd the chain, and down she lay;
The broad stream bore her far away,
The Lady of Shalott.

As when to sailors while they roam,
By creeks and outfalls far from home,
Rising and dropping with the foam,
From dying swans wild warblings come,
Blown shoreward; so to Camelot
Still as the boathead wound along
The willowy hills and fields among,
They heard her chanting her deathsong,
The Lady of Shalott.

A longdrawn carol, mournful, holy,
She chanted loudly, chanted lowly,
Till her eyes were darken'd wholly,
And her smooth face sharpen'd slowly,
Turn'd to tower'd Camelot:
For ere she reach'd upon the tide
The first house by the water-side,
Singing in her song she died,
The Lady of Shalott.

Under tower and balcony,
By garden wall and gallery,
A pale, pale corpse she floated by,
Deadcold, between the houses high,
Dead into tower'd Camelot.
Knight and burgher, lord and dame,
To the planked wharfage came:
Below the stern they read her name,
The Lady of Shalott.

They cross'd themselves, their stars they blest,
Knight, minstrel, abbot, squire, and guest.
There lay a parchment on her breast,
That puzzled more than all the rest,
The wellfed wits at Camelot.
'The web was woven curiously,
The charm is broken utterly,
Draw near and fear not,--this is I,
The Lady of Shalott.'


Is there any wonder why he was one of teh most famouse poets of his time and that his work continues to endure even into the modern era. Simply beautiful. Words cannot begin to describe the haunting rythem that develops as it goes along. Amazing.

Chapter 14

Okay, I guess it's time I let it go. I have honestly not spent this much time on a singel chapter since 9. I just kept rereading it and wanting to change things. It still feels like I will probably go back and write a diffrent version fo rteh final draft of teh book, but oh well.

Okay, so minor side note:

In my mind, Dare's voice is like Batman's from The Dark Knight and Batman Begins, low and dangerouse and fear inducing. (N.B. NOT BRUCE WAYNE!)

Master Oronus is like Gene Hackman's

If I think of any others I'll let you know. :)

Chapter 14


In the deep darkness of the dreamscape, far beyond any shining dream, a lone hawk, pure and white, flew through the depths. The wind ruffled the collar of light blue feathers that encircled its neck and its intense deep blue eyes scanned the shades of the void. Suddenly, several long, slimy, tentacles of pure darkness shot out of nowhere towards it.

One grabbed a leg, the other twisted around its neck. The hawk gave a high pitched cry and began to shine with a bright, white light. The darkness seemed to sizzle and hiss as the bird shone brighter and brighter. The tentacles writhed in pain and let go, pulling back into the emptiness that they came from. Then with a flash, the bird was gone.

><><><><><><><><><

Nicholas’ feverish eyes snapped open. Sweat was running down his brow and he found it difficult to breathe. His joints ached and it felt like waves of heat and cold were washing over him, causing him to sweat and shiver at the same time. He grabbed at the woolen sheets, pulling them up closer beneath his chin.

Through his feverish vision he could make out a hazy figure in a dark purple robe. He felt that he was in a large bed, and could barely see the room he was in. As his mind cleared for a few seconds, he became aware of the small lamp casting a soft yellow glow about him, and a painting of a young man that hung on the wall.

Then Nicholas felt the fever take him again, his eyes shutting with a shudder, his body aching and curling itself up as he clung to the sheets for dear life. The room was spinning, he felt like he was on a ship, going up and down and sliding back and forth. From somewhere beyond the haze that was threatening to overcome his consciousness he heard a voice, far and distant.

“Nicholas! Nicholas! Stay with us, boy!”

He felt the name form on his lips as he barely managed to whisper, “M-master Oronus?”

Then he free fell into darkness. Images, sounds, smells, and people flew past him in a whirlwind of light, darkness, and mist. A luminous hand reached out through the swirling torrent of faces and places and grabbed his hand. In that instant, everything stopped and turned to clear glass. Nicholas fell to his knees on the smooth, warm, white floor of translucence.

His head was pounding fiercely and he was having trouble focusing his vision. As he looked up, he saw a figure walk out of the mists that had arisen in his dreamplane. The figure was tall, wrapped in golden robes which seemed to shimmer and shine with iridescent light.

“Nicholas, son of destiny, fear not. Everything you are about to see has already been. Do not try to alter it, for by fate’s decree this will all be.”

Suddenly Nicholas felt like a hurricane was blowing straight into his face and that the air was being sucked from his lungs. His eyes teared and his head pounded even more as he saw the dreamscape and the real world at the same time. Two rows of people walked past him towards the Source of the dreamscape. He saw mighty empires rise and fall, great wars being fought, ancient deamon lords and mighty sorcerers in mortal combat, and ever the lines of people moved past him, disappearing into the bright Source.

Then Nicholas felt the breath return to his lungs. The cold, clear air burned and expanded within him and he felt like he had never truly breathed until now. The wind was no longer so strong and his pounding headache seemed to be less severe. He curiously watched as he saw himself growing up in the Village by the mountains. He saw his friends and his Grandmother and the golden grassy hills that gave way to the gentle sloping mountains covered in snow.

Then he saw Holly and Ivan running with him through the forest, pointing at the trail Bella had left. As he looked he saw Ivan was now the Captain and Holly was Burt and he was running through the cold Castle Alexander with the group of soldiers. He positioned them by the clerestory windows and climbed down the rose trellis to where Holly was confronting the witch. As his feet hit the ground, he was standing on the platform of Yulleton.

Then he saw the judge bang the gavel and the loud sound echoed around the courtroom. His mind seemed to scream as his vision suddenly split into three. He was in Larson’s Apothecary, a small careening carriage, and on a heaving ship, all at the same time. Even though his headache was intensely clawing at his mind, he watched with fascination as Ivan began studying at Einri and Holly was taught in the Collins household. He also saw himself, passed out in front of the fire, with human Larson feeding him and joining him from time to time. He watched as Ivan recovered the trident and Holly was proposed to, and he saw himself making his way to Master Oronus’ house.

He was drenched to the bone and chilled by the wind as he staggered up to the front door. He saw himself collapse and then the door open, revealing Master Oronus in a dark purple robe. He placed his hand on Nicholas’ fevered brow and said a few low, droning words. Then he picked Nicholas up and took him inside.

Nicholas felt like there were millions of boulders crashing inside his skull as he fell forward, back on the smooth white floor. The iridescent figure was still there, unmoving and wordless. As Nicholas looked up, he heard the figure’s voice in his head.

“What you have seen has been, now prepare yourself to see what will be.”

><><><><><><><><><

The morning was gray and misty at the Collins home. The soft drizzle had set in before sunrise and now obscured the sun and sky. It seemed to smother the world with its oppressive weight and it affected everyone’s mood. Today was the day when the Duke would be coming for his bride. Holly sat before her mirror and looked herself in the eye as a servant girl combed her long auburn hair.

Look for the sign of the lily, Klaus had said in his dream so long ago. And yet she had not seen any lily yet. Except for the ones that grew where the steward had proposed to her. Maybe there were some on the property, or may be some place connected with lilies, she thought.

“Rikea.” Holly said addressing the maid. “Are there any lilies that grow on the property?”

“No, ma’am. I don’t think we’ve had lilies since the gardener’s old father passed away. He had always grown the lilies and roses together, but his son didn’t care for the extra work they required.”

“I see.” Holly said as she got up and dressed in one of her plain garden gowns. “Well, in that case I think I’ll have a word with the gardener. Would you summon Master Tinneas for me.”

A few moments later Tinneas was in her room dressed in his gray woolen school uniform with a scarf wrapped around his head. His appearance was comical but he gave his warming smile from above the grey scarf. She quickly relayed her idea to him.

They went out and talked to the gardener who lived in a small cottage on the Collins property. As she talked with him, Tinneas looked around amazed that such a large family could live in such a small space. Mentally he decided that after their plot was finished, he would ask his father to build them a new, larger home.

“Oh aye Miss Holly. My late father did love the lilies in the rose bushes but I could never stand trying to prune ‘em with all the rose thorns sticking me. Now I think the only place left that they still grow is on his grave in the family cemetery.”

A few minutes later and Tinneas and Holly walked into the small, fenced area with the large willow tree growing at its center. All around them were small square headstones with deep carved script on them. They roamed around looking at the many names until they found the gardener section. There, the headstone of the old gardener was found, though there were no lilies growing on his grave.

“Well, that’s not helpful at all!” Holly said frustrated as she sat down next to the headstone.

“We have to get back. My mother will be wondering where we’ve been if we miss breakfast.” Tinneas said and so they both set of towards the house, the eerie mists still clinging to the house.

><><><><><><><><><

“So, where are we off to Navigator?” Asked Edric as he sat down across the table in the cabin.

“I had a dream during the feast. That’s why I left. I dreamt that my friend Klaus told me to meet him in Firplice. But the frustrating thing is that these maps are all outdated. I grabbed the wrong ones when we left the school. We may have to turn back.”

“You know if we go back they won’t let us leave again.” Edric spoke what he knew Ivan already understood.

“Then what other choice do we have?” Ivan asked just as the door opened up.

“What are you two moping about?” Asked Jack as he walked toward the table fixing his hair.

“Charts. We have the wrong ones and we need new ones but…”

“You can’t go back to Einri. Is that all? Let’s just go to the other place that would have the charts. The Navigational Hillfort of Einri. It keeps all the documents the school would keep, and it’s closer to us. If we sail, here.” Jack said pointing at the chart, “This is the Lumphian Peninsula. The fort should be right on the tip.”

“And their just going to let us take the sacred maps of Einri the Navigator?” Asked Ivan with raised brow.

“Well, not exactly. We may have to… borrow the maps.” Jack said mischievously.

><><><><><><><><><

“Ahhh!” Nicholas yelled as he sat up in the sweat drenched sheets.

He looked around the warm, softly lit room. From the one side a door opened and Master Oronus stepped inside. He was carrying a tray with a small bottle of dark liquid and a bowl of soup, steam rising from it. He sat down wordlessly next to Nicholas and handed him the tray, removing the bottle as he did.

“Master Oronus. Tethys said you wouldn’t be here until…”

“Yes, I know what Tethys said. I’ve been keeping an eye on you. I knew you’d be coming here so I made all the necessary arrangements.”

“What?”

“You have taken sick. And unfortunately it surpasses physical illness. It seems the malady has attached itself to your mind, and the only way to fix that is through lots of chronodendron extract.” Here he paused, “It does have a small side affect though. You will be experiencing time dreams because of the herb. But, it’s worth it if it gets you better.”

“Thank you.” Nicholas said wearily, as he felt the fever begin to return.

“Alright. Now just follow the time dream. It’s the medicines way of helping you heal your mind.”

Nicholas barely heard the words as he sank back into oblivion.

><><><><><><><><><

“Holly!” Tirs ran into the parlor where she was sitting with the other boys. “A letter just arrived from the Duke’s personal carrier.”

“Where is it?” Asked Orgile abruptly.

“Mother has it.”

“Well, you’ll be long gone before the Duke’s here to get you so it doesn’t matter.” Said Rabb victoriously.

“But that depends entirely on the plan working.” Tinneas cautioned, “If anything goes wrong. If Tirs doesn’t get the distraction going fast enough, or if you and Orgile don’t have the horses ready in time, everything will be lost. The entire plan is on the knife’s edge. We cannot afford a mistake.”

“And there won’t be any.” Rabb said with a resolute frown.

“What about Bron?” Asked Holly worried, “Last time he found out and stopped us. I don’t know why, but I feel like he knows something, or at least suspects.”

“Don’t worry about Bron. He’s just confused and scared. He doesn’t know what to do, but in the end he’ll do the right thing, I hope.” Orgile said reassuringly.

From the hallway the female figure heard the group and scowled. She slipped away quietly back to her room. There, her eyes scanned the paper again. She smiled as she read the Duke’s neat handwriting. There was no reason for her to go give away the surprise and so she quickly placed it under her pillow and glided back to the kitchen to speak to the cook about dinner.

A shadow stirred in the corner. Bron peaked out from behind the curtain and walked over to his mother’s bed. He pulled the letter out and quickly read the contents. When he reached the bottom of the page, one phrase caused his eyes to widen. He reread it out loud just to confirm that he really understood it right.

“…to inform you that instead of arriving for dinner after sunset, we will be coming somewhat earlier, possibly by tea time.”

The others didn’t know and Bron’s mother definitely wasn’t going to tell them. But if he tried telling them they would think it was a trick. He sat there contemplating a while. He couldn’t take the letter and he couldn’t tell them out right. Maybe there was another way. There had to be another way. He remembered his dream and realized he had to do something. He couldn’t give up.

><><><><><><><><><

The Cuttlefish and her crew lay in anchor next to the lichen covered granite cliffs of the Lumphian Peninsula. Above them they saw the four figures dressed in dark cloaks climbing the cliff face. Then they disappeared over the top lip of the high rocks.

Ivan, Jack, and Tal stood breathing hard as they pulled themselves over the edge. They watched Dare move swiftly and silently like a cloud shadow across the open space between the cliff edge and the Hillfort. When he got there he looked around the corner then motioned for them to follow him. Then as they all stood by the wall they edged along to the corner. They watched in awe as Dare skillfully slipped around the corner, moving from bush to bush until he was within arm’s length of the two guards at the front.

With a swift motion he was suddenly between them. He gave a swift rap with two fingers on the first one’s spine, and he crumpled to the ground. The second he grabbed by the arm, swung around against the wall, and popped his arm out of joint in the process, all in one swift movement. As the guard stood completely petrified by the action, Dare leaned closer and whispered in a low and dangerous voice.

“Where are the sacred charts of Einri kept?”

“T-the lower library. Past the iron gates and the three watch dogs.”

With another swift movement of his fingers that guard was also unconscious. The three followed Dare, none uttering a word. They went deep into the Hillfort. As they crept along, Jack gave them the directions. His father had brought him here many times, though he had never seen the charts before.

“When we come to the dogs Jack and I will distract them while you and Tal make your way into the chart room.” Dare said to Ivan.

“Alright. We’ll meet up outside.”

><><><><><><><><><

The large, obese woman dressed in a brown gown two sizes too small hit the ground with tremendous force. Through her greasy hair that now hung in her face she saw her many boars lying scattered across the bare rock field, all dead. She looked up at the figure standing over her, his cold unfeeling eyes slicing like knives.

“I half already told yous! It vas not mine plan! De uder vitch med me do it!”

Out of nowhere a white hawk with a ring of blue feathers around his neck landed on the man’s shoulder. It gave a long low cry that caused the witch to cover her ears as tears ran down her muggy and dirty face. The man seemed to whisper to the bird, then it took of again.

“Well, if what you say is true, then you must know where she has taken the girl.”

“I vould tink she tek girl to her house in Vreaf Confederacy. Bhut I go der and no girl und no vitch. I dunno vhere she go.”

“Then you are no longer of any use to me.” Said the man turning and walking away. He snapped his finger and from high above the hawk’s screech could be heard.

The witch looked around with her tear streaked eyes now filled with horror. The bird dove down and she just managed to roll out of the way. Getting up she limped towards the man walking away.

“Vait! I remember now! She says someting about meeting in Firplice. I svear. Ples! Spare me!”

“That would be much more than you did for the poor Alexandrians.” Said the man in the light blue coat and beige hat. “But, I can see you still have a part to play before things have come to pass. Get out of my sight!”

And with that she scurried away on all fours into the bushes and the forest behind them. Liam knew she would end up being a nuisance, but he also knew that she wasn’t the real agent of evil. No, she was just another small pawn, part of the game they had played with the Tower for almost two decades now.

><><><><><><><><><

Holly walked up from the corner of the garden where she had stowed away her bag. The mists were still there, even though it was already midday, something that never happened in Giv. All the servants felt uneasy and even Mr. Collins simply sat in his study looking out over the gardens while Mrs. Collins scurried about getting everything ready for tea. Holly gave a sly wink to Rabb as they passed each other in the hall heading towards the dining room.

Then suddenly a servant burst into the front door, yelling as he did,

“The Duke! The Duke! He has arrived!”

Five figures all looked up wide eyed with shock. This was not what they had expected and they all felt the dread come over them. Mrs. Collins simply walked past the five in the dining room with a sly smile on her face. They all made their way to the front door to greet the Duke. He was sitting in his carriage and there seemed no hope as the servant opened the door.

Then suddenly the heavy front door came off its hinge and fell across the doorway sideways, lodging into the wall. Above the group, they heard a rattling and all eyes turned to the candelabra. It fell and in those few seconds everyone jumped to the side. Mr. and Mrs. Collins were trapped along with Tirs in between the candelabra and the fallen door, while Holly and the boys were on the other side.

“Hurry! This is our chance!” Rabb called grabbing Holly’s hand and leading her out of the room. They all ran out a back door and toward the back wall of the house when they saw the Duke’s steward and several of the servant men walking in their direction. As they rounded a corner, Rabb quickly turned to Holly and Orgile.

“They’ve spotted us! Here, Holly give me the cloak you’re wearing!” Rabb took it and threw it over his shoulders and the hood on his head. “Orgile and I will run that way towards the closed up gap, you make for the front gate. It should be open now.”

Holly gave Rabb a kiss and then the two were off. They ran with the steward chasing after them, Holly waited a while, then quickly made her way back toward the front. As she came to the side of the building she ran into Bron.

“You can’t go that way!” He called.

“You’re not stopping me this time Bron!” She said pushing past him.

As she stepped out she saw more servants closing the gate as a furious Mrs. Collins was yelling and pointing. The Duke’s carriage was gone. Bron pulled her back in and spoke in a hushed tone.

“They’ve closed the gate. I know of another way, but you’ll have to trust me!”

“Fine! It looks like I have no other choice!” Holly spoke urgently, “But if you betray me I’ll…”

“Hurry up!” He grabbed her hand and dragged her along.

They made their way to the cemetery. There they crouched by the headstones as they waited for some servants to pass. As Holly looked she realized that they were standing on the old gardener’s grave. Scratched onto the top of the headstone was a faint impression of a lily, pointing towards the wall. As she looked over she saw it was aligned with a shadow. Or a dark part of the wall.

Or a gap.

“Hurry!” he called as he pulled her towards the very spot.

They reached the opening and she slipped outside quietly. Turning she looked at the once sad, now very determined Bron who was glancing urgently back and forth.

“Thank you.” She said smiling. “It seems I was wrong about.”

He just gave her a smile, very much reminding her of Rabb, then spoke softly, “I moved your horse and your bag there in the woods across the lane. Follow that path towards the setting sun and you’ll reach your destination. Be safe Holly.”

“Goodbye.” She said and then she was gone.

She found the horse and the bag and set off immediately. She had to fight of tears as she rode. Never in a million life times would she have thought that she would have grown so fond of Rosebough and its inhabitants. The mists was still thick on the road and Holly could barely see her own horse’s head. As she rode on, the next moment she found herself in front of the dark carriage of the Duke. Turning around she saw the steward and several men stepped out into the path. There was no place for her to run.

“Now, Holly, if you would please give me your bag, we must set off quickly if we are to reach our destination in time.” Said the familiar voice behind her in the carriage. She turned around and for the first time saw the face of the Duke of Hestia. But it wasn’t the first time she had seen this face.

><><><><><><><><><

Nicholas sat up in the bed again. Oronus was next to him, bathing a long and ugly wound that was forming on Nicholas’ arm. He reached over and handed Nicholas the bowl of soup that was cool by now. He slurped up the salty soup that tasted of carrots and sage. Oronus placed a sprig of some sort of herb on Nicholas’ arm and wrapped it all in linen.

“It is more severe that I first suspected. Somehow it seems that the original disease was caused by monkshood, opening the way for the real infection. It looks like it may go as deep as your spirit. If that’s the case you are beyond my help. “

“What am I suppose to do?” asked Nicholas barely able to form the words on his broken and bleeding lips. Across the room he saw himself in a mirror and knew he was in trouble. All across his face, neck, and tan chest were similar wounds as the one on his arm. They resembled slash marks that were infected and rotting.

“I don’t know. The disease was triggered by something in your spirit and I don’t think there is anything that can be done now. Just sleep. The infection slows when you’re dreaming.”

Nicholas drifted off to sleep and as he did, he fell into his misty dreamplane. Parts of the glass seemed to be filthy and milky. He felt it grow closer and closer, as if his dreamplane was shrinking. He cried out and the iridescent figure stepped forward. It bowed low before Nicholas and again its words echoed in Nicholas’ mind.

“My Lord. You are not well enough to see far in the future. So look for only a second or two. I fear any more will not sustain you.”

Nicholas felt like he was wading upstream through a dry river of fire that was licking at him as he stepped against the uphill slope. Then he saw it. He was standing next to Ivan, Holly, and Liam. They stood before a large city and the full moon shone down on the place. Liam turned to him and spoke softly.

“I’m glad you went back and spoke to Ivan about meeting in Firplice. And I’m glad you went back and told Holly to look for the sign of the lily. Mostly though, I’m glad that you went back and stopped yourself from scratching your side on the monkshood bush that night you stumbled onto Oronus’ porch…”

Everything faded back to his dreamplane. Nicholas could see the real world too, and saw Oronus sitting by his bedside, feeling his chest and neck, checking on his vital signs and mutter prayers of some kind for the boy. He looked to the iridescent figure.

“You said that I shouldn’t try to change what has been, because it is ordained by fate.”

“Yes.”

“Does that mean I can’t go back and do those things Liam said?”

“No. That would be changing the past.”

“So I have already done it?”

“No. You already will do it. Past and Future are both like flames of fire, constantly changing, reflecting, moving, becoming.”

“So, I can go back and change those things.”

“You must. It is fate.”

“Who are you?”

“I am Fate.”

And the next instant Nicholas found himself in a warm forest. He looked around confused trying to gather his bearings, then realized that he was in a tree, and Holly was with him. They had a quick conversation, and he made sure to tell her about the lily and the full moon. Then he felt the fever rise in him and the ache in his soul come again.

He traveled a bit further in time and saw Ivan aboard a ship. It was a fierce storm, and Ivan was in the crow’s nest looking for light. He pointed it out to Ivan, who then called to someone named Tal to steer for the light. Once they reached the light everything became bright and he realized he was in Ivan’s dreamplane.

“What just happened?” He asked Ivan.

“I was on a ship in the middle of a storm.” Ivan said drowsily.

“No, in the real world?” Nicholas insisted.

“I...I think we got back from Glassiere. I’m at a celebration I think. Must have dozed off from too much chicken. I like chicken.” Ivan began to float as if underwater and to fade like smoke in the wind.

“Stay with me Iv! Don’t wake up yet! I have to tell you something!” Nicholas called.

“What?” Ivan said as he was dissolving from the feet up.

“Meet me at Firplice on the evening of the full moon!”

“Okay. I’m going to get more chicken now.” He said hauntingly as he disappeared.

Then Nicholas doubled over with pain in the dreamplane. He looked at his hands and saw the wounds there too. He saw himself as he was stumbling towards Oronus’ door. He saw the monkshood plants, and the thorn that was about to scrape his side. He lunged forward and felt like he was pushing into soft clay that went up to his arms. It floated around him like oil on water before he made contact with himself in the past. Then everything turned white.

><><><><><><><><><

Jack and Dare ran through the winding corridors of the Hillfort as they tried desperately to loose the dogs. The three animals were hot on their trail and their bloodlust had already been awakened. Jack led Dare to a room he knew could lock the dogs out. As the rounded the corner, they slammed the door shut and bolted the heavy metal lock.

“There, didn’t I tell you I could get us away from them.”

Dare only motioned behind Jack, who gulped as he turned and saw the twenty guards all draw their arrows back in their bows. Dare positioned Jack behind him and gave a low, guttural growl. From outside the door the sound of metal arrow heads hitting the door echoed through the passage.

><><><><><><><><><

“Wake up Nicholas!” Master Oronus spoke urgently.

“What-what time is it?” Nicholas asked wearily.

“You just turned around at death’s door and you want to know what time it is! Well I’ll tell you, it’s almost sunset!”

“Oh no! I told them all to meet me in Firplice under the full moon.” Nicholas said.

“Well, then lets get you ready to leave.” The old man said suddenly seeming very friendly.

“Were you watching my dream?” Nicholas asked.

“Well, yes, I may have taken a quick peak. It is rarely that one gets to see Fate itself speaking to someone. Though I must say this answers many questions about your part in the Order. But we’ll speak about that later. For now, we must get you ready to travel. Your spirit and body are completely whole, though your soul is still busy recovering.”

><><><><><><><><><

Ivan watched Tal pick the lock of the door skillfully. They were in. They walked around the massive room of carefully preserved ancient maps and charts. As they picked their way through yellowed parchment and old cloth maps Ivan finally found what he was looking for. Grabbing the chart to Firplice, he quickly ran out of the door followed by Tal. They were making their way back, when they took a wrong turn somewhere. A few more later and they were completely lost in the labyrinth of the Hillfort.

They stumbled upon a room. Written in bold, solid letters was the plaque ‘Einri’s Private Quarters’ and they went inside. As they looked around they were surprised that instead of a dusty, old sanctuary to the great captain, the room had been recently used. In a corner was a strange wooden perch and the bed was unmade with clothing lying about.

“So, you boys must be friends of Captain Einri.” Came a low, dangerous voice behind them.

“You mean Einri the Navigator?” Asked Ivan, deciding not answer out rightly as they slowly turned around.

“Ha! That young upstart thinks he can start using his great grand pappy’s title he should think again. He’s good. I’ll admit that. But he’s no Navigator.” Said the burly sailor-guard behind them with a good natured laugh. “But, considering you’re messmates of Captain Einri, you’d best come with me.”

“W-where?” Asked Tal, trying hard not to sound guilty, and failing miserably.

“Why, to the front entrance of course! Captain Einri’s just arrived from Giv!”

They followed the man and were soon joined by all the guards. Walking a ways behind them was Dare and Tal, both unharmed though thoroughly bound. Dare was especially bound with care, making sure everything that could be locked up was, so that now he resembled a walking mass of chain and locks. They were all lined up outside the main entrance waiting beneath the blazing sun.

Then a large black carriage rattled up the path. There was no illumination so that Ivan couldn’t make out who was inside. The figure beckoned the sailor closer and spoke softly and hurriedly with him. The sailor nodded and scratched his head a few times before he went to Dare and Jack and released them. Then he took Tal and escorted him over to the two.

“Ivan, you are coming with me.” Spoke the man in the carriage, “You three, return to your ship, and tell your Captain, his cousin will take care of everything and to return to the Academy.”

Ivan recognized the voice and nodded to the three that it was okay. They went back down towards the ship with the message, while Ivan climbed aboard the carriage. The figure in the shadows asked Ivan, while motioning towards the charts.

“So, navigator, where are we bound?”

><><><><><><><><><

The blue banded white hawk soared through the night sky. The setting sun had left only a small trace of its presence smeared across west, and millions of diamond-like stars were hanging in the velvet void. The next moment the white hawk was joined by a large golden eagle. It flew next to the hawk and they seemed to exchange cries before they circled one another thrice and then flew their separate ways.

><><><><><><><><><

Nicholas was finally feeling better. He had taken a bath, gotten dressed in clean clothes, and eaten a hearty dinner. Wearing the long, thick, dark purple cowl of one of Oronus’ apprentices, he sat and scanned the road. His spirit felt renewed and his soul felt refreshed as he waited by the door for the carriage to arrive to take him and Oronus to Firplice.

A raindrop heralded a sudden shower, and the dusty roads were transformed into quagmires of slippery sucking mud. A lone carriage, not the one called for but one traveling along the road, made its way inside the courtyard, seeking shelter from the rain.

And just as suddenly as it had started it stopped. The driver seemed embarrassed for having abandoned the road so quickly now that the weather had cleared. The figures in the carriage were turned away from Nicholas as they were scanning the road to see the conditions for traveling. As they were, Nicholas heard a voice he hadn’t heard in a long time.

“Well, I guess it’s alright to travel in. I can summon a wind to dry the road for us if we encounter any bad spots.”

“Ivan?”

A figure with auburn hair dressed in a long, pale sea green dress, turned and called out, “Klaus?!?”

“Holly?” He whispered incredulously.

“Klaus!” Ivan called as he turned around as well, and the next moment Klaus was knocked over by Holly and Ivan as the three friends were reunited.

“Klaus what are you doing here?” Holly cried. “I thought we were supposed to meet you in Firplice! Ah, I have so much to tell you about what’s happened these last three weeks!”

“I know! I saw it all.” Klaus said smiling.

“What? How could you?” Ivan asked skeptically.

“Um, it’s a long story. Come on inside and I’ll tell you.”

“Wait. First, there’s someone we’d like you to meet Klaus.” Holly said smiling and turning to the carriage.

“This is Jullian Einri Gwaylen de Hestia.” Ivan said as a figure stepped out of the carriage. “Or better known as…”

“Liam!” Klaus’ eyes went wide as he saw the young gentleman with the light blue coat and beige hat step out of the cart.

“Hello Klaus. Or should I say, Nicholas.”

The other two looked at him strangely, but a knowing look passed between him and Nicholas as the four made their way into the house. There Nicholas introduced them to High Master Oronus, and then the different stories all came out around the fire. Master Oronus was intrigued by Ivan’s book about the Circle of Witches from Alexandria and showed him how to translate the upside down pages, which were written in a different language.

“So, Liam. You knew this would happen, didn’t you.” Nicholas said with a grin.

“Well, I knew a part of it would happen. I knew you would end up with Oronus, and I knew that the judge would probably send Holly to be reformed, though I have to say, tracking her down was not easy. As for Ivan, well I just looked for the place with the most trouble and there he was.”

“So, what about Bella? Did you find her?”

“Yes. That’s why we have to stop in Firplice on our way to Hestia.”

A white hawk with a band of light blue feathers flew through an open window and landed on Liam’s shoulder. He crooned to it and it made a strange clucking noise as if it were talking to him. Then he placed it by the fire and gave it a small piece of dried meat to eat.

“This is Skree. He helped me track down the witches.”

“You mean Laburnum?” Asked Holly intrigued by the change of topic.

“Yes,” said Liam, his eyes seeming rigid and sharp, “but as you already know she wasn’t acting alone.”

Here he stood up and walked in front of the fire as he spoke,

“I never meant for anyone else to have to fight in my battles, but it seems I have no choice now. The world is beginning to take sides and I fear that the side of good is sorely lacking in allies. You three may not understand everything I say now, but know this. You have been marked by the hand of destiny and all the sides of the coming war will seek your power.”

“Our side has already been chosen for us.” Said Holly, a strange light in her emerald eyes. “No matter what we do or where we go, the witches will always be after Bella. She will never be safe again until we stop them.”

“But she’s safe for now with Aconite, right?” Asked Ivan, a slight feeling of uneasiness sweeping over him as he saw the look in Liam and Oronus’ eyes at the mention of her name.

><><><><><><><><><

The small girl slept peacefully as a figure in a white burlap robe, trimmed with faded red, spoke another sleep incantation over her. The ancient, lined face with the many wrinkles didn’t look grandmotherly anymore. Her fierce milky eyes and wild grey and white streaked hair caused her to have a deathly glow about her, like some reanimated corpse in a long white burial gown.

“So, ye tell me that yon childr’n knows abawt me secret?”

“Yes. Da man vith da vhite hok sed he nos vhat you reely arrh.”

“In that kes, I hauv decid’d. We’ll be leaven ‘ere.”

“Vhat about the hok man? I tink he vhil not rest till he hass found yous.”

“We hav a prior arrang’mn’t he’s bound ta ‘onor. He get’s the lass, we get’s to go free an’ un’armed.”

“Dat’s eat? Ve vhill just geev uhp lick dat?”

“No. The agre’mnt nev’r said anyt’ing ‘bout the lass being set free… alive. We can still harv’st her blood an’ gain the key to the treas’re.”

The cackle of the two witches rebounded around the room filled with potions and books. Next to a large bubbling cauldron a small girl lay sleeping, unaware of the fate the two had planned for her. Luckily for her, a small golden retriever puppy had been listening by the door of chamber, and quickly disappeared into the shadows.

<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>

<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>

End Chapter


Dum Dum DA!!!!! Cliffhanger!!!! yes!!!! Hahahahaha!!!!!! Readers feel my wrath for failing to comment on previous chapters!!!! Mwahahahahah!!!!! XD
Tinneas: I'm sorry but the author seems to be having a random nose bleed at this time so we the characters will be wrapping up this post.
Rabb (yelling): Hey!!!! I wanted to be the first one to talk!!!!!!
Tinneas: You shoudl have been quicker.
Rabb: Why if you weren't a little cripple boy I would...
Tirs (quietly): Um, guys. Lets just calm down and, um, finsih telling the nice people who are reading this story to remeber to comment.
Bron (sounding goth): I think the author just died...
Rabb (dispair): No!!!! Now I'll never end up with Holly!!!!!!
Orgile: Hey she's my girl!
(everyone begins to fight, with Tirs on the side wetting his pants)
Me: Its okay, I'm still alright. So, I guess you get teh idea. Please comment otherwise things go crazy over here. And maybe I had too little sleep and too much cugar. =_O (twitch twitch)