Archer and the Anvil- Part 3

'The river ran backwards on the day the Queen vanished.'

The riddle was cursed, Tomaz wished he would never have solved it. All it caused him, and his friend Roland was confusion. Solve the riddle win Title and land. It was too good to be true. So far they have been held hostage, accused of cheating, tricked by the First Minister and his seer, the Oracle and sent on a quest that was a lie.

Let’s not forget being manipulated by the Druid Gar-Tal and Dallin, the young man who seemed to want to help. But now they were on the run, Dallin lay bleeding to death, and worst of all Roland and Tomaz were now killers.

They needed answers.

Tomaz stands fast. His arrow pointing at the Druid. “Start talking old man.”

Gar-Tal, remained hunched over Dallin, whispering, and running his hands over the wound where the arrow still protruded. Eyes closed; the druids hand glowed a blueish green.

Roland, still wielding the hammer and covered in the blood of the Scythes he killed, slowly approaches Gar-Tal, and grunts. “Answer him wizard.”

The Druids snaps his head up, then moves his arm in a dismissive way. Tomaz and Roland’s weapons fly out of their hands from an invisible force with such impact their hands tingle in pain.

“I don’t have time to answer your foolish questions boy...I’m trying to save Dallin’s life. Now assist or leave me be.”

With that he returns his focus on the young man.

Roland kneels beside the Druid. ”What can I do?”

Tomaz, picking up his bow, walks toward a fallen tree and sits down. His mind goes numb, watching the Druid work on saving Dallin’s life.

Day turns to dusk. The bird calls grow chatty then slowly fade with the light. Deciding to make himself useful he builds a fire and rummages through his saddle bag for supper. Soon Roland and the Druid approach the stream and begin washing the blood from their hands.

Tomaz stares into the flames watching the ribbons dance and wither about like they wish to fly away into the night, much like he wishes to do.

“Tomaz.”

Looking up, the Druid and his friend are staring at him, carefully he inquires. “Dallin?”

Roland plops hard against the log , next to him, while Gar-Tal stretches out on a protruding rock, rummaging inside his magical satchel.

“He’ll be fine. He needs to rest tonight, but we can afford no longer than that. Others will come for us.”

Handing ale to the two young men he then pours himself a drink as well. Exhaustion shadows his face in the firelight. Pointing to the stew Tomaz cooked. “Eat up, lads.”

Tomaz dishes three bowls, handing one to Roland, he pauses before giving the Druid his. “Gar-Tal, I’m sorry about earlier, I never ….harmed anyone before, and I think…”

Shaking his head the Druid cut him off. “No need to apologize, I understand.”

As the three try eating in silence Roland finally speaks. “We still need answers Gar-Tal. I think it is a good time to share them.”

“Fair enough.” With a wave of his hand the empty pot and dishes splash into a tub of soapy water that appeared. Gar-Tal topped up the ale, sighing deeply he begins.

“It has to do with the riddle. There was a rumor after the Queen Shaillin vanished, that one person survived, but no-one was ever found."

Tomaz speaks up. “Enough riddles old man, I’m tired of trying to make sense out of secrets.”

Waving the young man down. “The ship disappearing over the falls was no accident, no credible captain would allow their ship to get sucked into the river current, unless they did it on purpose.”

“You’re still speaking in riddles.”

“Forgive me, we are trained to keep secrets, not reveal them. There was one survivor.”

“Why would that be a secret?”

“Because of whom was in the barrel.”

Roland jumped up. “Barrel? Damm your words Druid, enough stalling.”

“Sit down and listen. No more interruptions. I’ll tell what I know but you must wait until I am finished. Fair?”

They nod in agreement.

“Before the ship went over the falls, someone was placed into a barrel, sealed inside and then tossed overboard.”

Tomaz interjected “How were they to get out if they were sealed in the…”

“Curse your haste, I’m getting to that. Flipping impatience of youth.”

Settling down once more. “To answer your question, they were given a hammer to break free once they were safe, and before you ask how I know, I'm getting to that. However, a few things needed to happen other wise we would not be here today. One, the barrel needed to survive the falls, remain sealed and upright. Two, as luck would have it, the barrel was downstream, gone before anyone witnessed it, landing miles away, beyond the search area. Three, although the person inside could not break free due to being injured and the wood being swollen, they managed to create an air hole. Finally, and this one is important. It just so happened that a novice Druid was walking along the woods by the stream and heard the banging. Following the noise, he came across the barrel still bobbing in the shallow water.”

“Who was it, a young prince, princess?”

“No, all the royal bodies were eventually recovered, or so they assumed, because…”

“The day the Queen vanished.” Whispered Tomaz.

“Correct, her body was never found. Because the Queen was inside the barrel, a very pregnant Queen.” Motioning the two to silence before they spoke. “The young Druid carried the Queen into the woods, just in time because the baby was ready to see the world.”

“So, there were two survivors.”

The Druid shook his head. “The baby was early, the birth hard. The Queen lost too much blood. She told the young Druid the story about a fight breaking out, after the ship was sucked towards the falls. How she was forced into the barrel. She swore the novice to secrecy, saying the world must never know about the baby until the time was right. For the ship going off course was no accident, someone wanted the Royal family dead.”

As the fire burned low, Roland asks. ”What happened?”

Instead of answering Gar-Tal sips his beverage, it may have been a trick from the flickering light, but it appeared the Druid was crying. “Before dawn, the child was born, a girl. The queen held her baby, and made the Druid swear to protect the child. He promised, and just as the first light of morning crested the mountains, the queen kissed her daughter then closed her eyes forever.”

Both Roland and Tomaz turned away from each other, unable to speak. Suddenly a voice, calls out. “What of the baby?”

Everyone jumps up in surprise to see Dallin standing. Rushing to him they bring him to the fire. For being shot with an arrow only hours ago he looks much better than he should. Roland and Tomaz glance at the Druid realizing just how powerful he is.

Clearly tired but needing to know, Dallin asks again. “Gar-Tal what happened?”

“Being a novice the Druid had not mastered all the powers, but he summoned enough to bury the Queen within a tomb of rock and seal the entrance. As for the Baby, the Druid was not yet an adult himself and could not care for a child, so breaking a vow, he took the baby to his sect. They were the only ones he told of what transpired. They in turned found a family to raise the child. So, it has been for these many years, Druids watching over the descendants of the Queen, until the time is right.”

Picking up the hammer the Druid gave him during the battle. Roland says, more as a statement. “You’re the young Druid who saved the Queen, and this is her hammer.”

In answer Gar-Tal remains silent. “It has taken this long for me to work it out. It appears so have the people behind the murder of the Royals."

“What does that mean?” Inquires Roland.

“Our sect knew the deaths were no accident, it was an overthrow. We kept the Queens descendants secluded, hiding them for years amongst the people of the land. Until the Oracle predicted correctly, a royal ancestor is alive, and they will seize back the throne.”

Tomaz asks. “Who is this person?”

Gar-Tal stands up, smiles at one of the young men, and simply says. “That child was your ancestor. You’re royalty Roland. The rightful heir to the throne and something Garrick is trying to stop.”

After the confusion dies down the Druid states.

“The first minister will not allow it, his family line has overseen the kingdom for the last two hundred years, he is not about to relinquish power to a peasant. Rightful heir or not. The entire challenge was to flush you out, and it worked.”

“How could they have been certain we would solve the puzzle.”

“The oracle predicted you would come forward; your blood was all she needed as proof.”

“But it was Tomaz who solved it not me.”

Draining his tankard Gar-Tal walks towards Tomaz. “Ah yes, our intelligent friend. Tomaz with his long golden hair.”

Raising his staff he lifts and pushes the lads hair behind his ear and laughs. Staring at the young mans elf like ears.

“Tomaz, if you think Rolands story is interesting, wait until I tell you about yours.”

Just then an eagles cry breaks the calm, and for the first time they notice the morning light is well upon them.

"I guess your story will have to wait." With a wave, the Druid douses the flames. "Pack up we have to go."

"Where too?"

With a far away look Gar-Tal softly replies. "To see a Queen."

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For more on the story here are part 1 and 2

Thank you,

Jason