CHAPTER 25
THE ORACLE OF GAZAFAR
The lodge, a sprawling estate, was artfully crafted from large stones and cedars that grew at the edge of the tree line, just below the meadow. The main building was constructed in the shape of a square, with a large open courtyard in the center. Marcus led them into this courtyard through a wide gate and dismounted beneath a lone tree in the center of the square. The tree was a Faerie oak, one of the strange trees that made up the Twilight forest in Camelot. As each person dismounted, the tree reached down with its branches and gently removed the saddle and bridle from each horse. Once the tack was removed, the horses raced out the gate to graze on the tender spring grasses.
“Will they come back?” Hob asked, with a little dismay in his voice. A half day ride is a whole day march and, as much as they disliked riding the tall and speedy elfin horses, none of the dwarfs wanted to walk all the way back to the Merlin tree.
“Yes,” Gabriel answered. “They will return when they are needed.”
“Where is everyone?” asked Louise, looking around. “This place appears deserted.”
“There is no one here but us,” said Marcus. “The lodge is a shelter for those who wish to see the oracle. Each day, he will answer one, and only one, question. If you have many questions, or if you do not ask the right question, then you will have to leave the mountain and return the following day to ask again.”
“Hey,” said Nob, “I just realized it’s time for noon day meal here!”
“Good gracious, Nob,” said Louise, “How can you possibly be hungry? We ate supper before we left the Twilight!”
“It’s noon day!” Nob answered, rubbing his stomach.
“We should at least have a snack,” Gob agreed. “Don’t you think so, Hob?”
“Yes, a small bite would be nice. How about it Marcus? We didn’t bring any food with us. Is there anything here to eat?”
“Unbelievable,” Amos marveled, “It’s very possibly the end of the world and you guys are worried about missing a meal.”
“Come along,” said Marcus, “I’m sure we can find something.”
Inside the lodge, the Keeper led them to a pantry that was stocked with all manner of foods. Nob spotted cold biscuits, left from the previous visitor, and a thick wedge of cheese sitting on one of the shelves. He then saw a salted ham hanging from one of the rafters overhead and immediately declared that he wanted a ham and cheese biscuit. Hob and Gob exclaimed that a ham and cheese biscuit was a wonderful idea and thanked Nob profusely for the suggestion.
Louise then shooed everyone out of the kitchen and set about preparing the food. There were enough provisions to make two biscuits for everyone and plenty of cold water from an indoor spring house to wash them down. After eating the biscuits everyone rested for a moment and talked about their pending encounter with the oracle.
“Tell us about this oracle,” said Amos.
“The oracle is old,” Marcus began, “much older than I. He bestowed the gift of foresight on me when I was a small child and he was old even then. He is stooped with age and very feeble too. He has been so for centuries, but still he clings to life.”
“And he lives alone on this mountain?”
“Yes. He lives in a cave near the summit. The cave faces Venus, our capitol city and the jewel of the twelve cities of Faerie.”
“Venus?” Ben inquired. “There is a world where I come from that is named Venus. It is also the name of a mythical goddess of love.”
“How interesting,” said Marcus. “Our cities are named after the First Immortals. Some say they were gods while others say they are nothing more than myths and legends.”
“What do you believe?” asked Casey.
“I believe there is only one Creator and I believe the Immortals are his servants. There are none more powerful than they, but they are not gods. I also believe that the oracle might actually be Venus; one of the twelve Immortals.”
“We have beings like that in our world,” said Ben. “They are called angels. Why do you think the oracle is an Immortal? If he is one, then why is he old and feeble? And, where are the others?”
“You are always full of questions, Ben Alderman,” the Keeper remarked with a smile. “I think he is one of the Immortals because he has always lived alone at the top of this mountain. No one can remember when he came; he has always been there. Also, no one takes food or drink to him and he never leaves his cave. Many believe he has grown weary of life and wishes to die. If that is true, then maybe that is why he has grown old and feeble.”
“Where are the others,” Ben prodded, “what happened to them?”
“There are two stories. One has it that the twelve Immortals created Faerie and the elfin race. Once their work here was finished, they returned to where ever they came from. All but one, that is. The one called Venus loved Faerie and the elfin race so dearly that he chose to remain behind when the others left. To punish him for abandoning them, the others took his eyes before they left, so that he could never look upon the beauty of the land and people that had captured his heart.”
“That’s horrible,” Casey exclaimed. “You mean the oracle has no eyes?”
Marcus shook his head. “Whether it is true or not, it is a terribly sad story and the loneliness he has endured through the centuries is unfathomable.”
“So, you must believe in the other story,” Ben remarked, “because you believe the Immortals are servants of the one Creator.”
“Yes, I believe that only one God created Faerie and the elfin race. When He was finished, he sent the Immortals here to care for the elves. He wanted the Immortals to teach them about their new world and instruct them in the ways of magic. The Immortals did so, at first, but soon they became jealous of the Creator’s love for the elfin people. They also became fearful of the elves, because the elves were learning their magic at such an alarming rate; their minds were like sponges and their appetite for knowledge was insatiable.”
“What happened?” asked Casey. Everyone was caught up in the Keeper’s story.
“They left. All but Venus,” Marcus answered. “Venus really did love the elves. He loved Faerie and everything the Creator had made. He argued and pleaded with them to remain, but they would not hear him.”
“So, they took his eyes,” Gob whispered.
“No,” Marcus replied. “The Creator took his eyes.”
“What?” everyone cried at once.
“When the others left, the elves continued to thrive. The Creator decided that the Immortals were no longer needed in Faerie and he wanted the elves to have free will. To have free will, one must be free to succeed or fail. One must be free to live or die. One must be free to choose.”
“But why did the Creator take his eyes?” asked Lousie.
“The Creator told Venus, because he had remained faithful to his task, that he had yet one more task to perform. He told him that a time would come when the elfin race would face an enemy so evil, so wicked, and so powerful, that without some guidance, they would fall under his dominion and ultimately be destroyed. Venus was commanded to remain in Faerie until such a time arrived. To limit his interaction with the elves, the Creator exiled him to the cave on Gazafar and, to help him prepare for the hour of need, the He took his sight and gave him the gift of foresight.”
“So, you think Zoltan is the enemy that Venus has been waiting for?” asked Hob.
“Perhaps,” Marcus answered.
“Well, I don’t know which version is worse,” said Louise, breaking the uncomfortable silence that hung in the air after the Keeper finished his story. She decided to change the subject. “What question will you ask him? I can think of at least a hundred questions I’d like to ask.”
“I have been thinking about that since I made the decision to come here. We only have time for one question and then we must hurry back to the Twilight to prepare for Zoltan’s return. I think I will simply ask how we can def
eat the dragon.”
“What about the staff?”
“I will just leave it in the cave. It will be safe there, until we are able to return and find a permanent home for it. We need to be on our way too. Everyone will remain here, in the lodge, while we are gone. I will take only Ben and Casey to see the oracle.”
Louise started to protest, but Amos stopped her.
“It looked to be a long, steep climb to the top and we still have the long ride back to the Merlin tree. It’s best you stay here and rest.”
Louise nodded and turned back to the Keeper. “How long will you be gone?”
“It will take us a couple of hours to reach the cave. Coming back down will be much quicker. We shouldn’t be gone over four hours.”
“So, it will be almost dark by the time we get back to the Merlin tree.”
Marcus nodded. “And almost morning when we get back to the Twilight,” he added.
“Then I guess you’d better hurry. We’ll stay here and rest, because I doubt there will be much sleep to be had when we return to the castle.” Louise gave Ben and Casey a quick hug and made the Keeper promise to bring them back safely.
Marcus filled his flask from the springhouse and led the children out onto an expansive lawn that ran from the back of the lodge to the base of the mountain. At the edge of the lawn, downy balls of white cotton sedge clumped around two monolithic stones that protruded from the ground like to two accusing fingers, pointing the way to the mountain top. The stones actually formed a gateway and marked the beginning of the trail that led to the oracle’s cave; a trail of hard-packed earth, lined on both sides with large rocks. The trail was indeed steep and switched back and forth as it ascended the mountain. Halfway up, they paused for a moment to catch their breath.
“Where’s Venus?” Ben asked, scanning the landscape below them.
“It’s on the other side,” Marcus answered. “The trail has many switchbacks and rises steeply on this side of the mountain. Soon, though, we will reach the last switchback and the trail will take us around to the other side. When we reach that final loop, it will not be such a steep climb.”
“Thank goodness,” Casey moaned. “My poor calves are killing me.”
“Yeah, mine too,” said Ben. “Let’s get moving again. If I stand here much longer I’m not going to be able to get started again!”
There were four more switchbacks before the trail leveled out and began to circle the mountain. When they rounded the bend on the other side, a city in the far distant hills sparkled and glimmered like a sea of glass. Even from this distance, they could see the sun shining brightly on emerald colored towers.
“Behold; Venus,” said Marcus.
“Wow,” said Ben. “It’s like… Oz!”
“Oz?”
“Oz is a beautiful city in a story from my world. A man lived there who tricked everyone into thinking he was a great and powerful wizard.”
“I should like to hear it one day.”
“I’d love to tell you about it. It’s a really cool story. There’s a lion, a tin man, and a scarecrow…”
“Jeez, not now, Ben,” said Casey, rolling her eyes and turning to the Keeper. “Aren’t we near the cave now?”
“It’s just up ahead,” Marcus answered, winking at Ben. “Come.”
A little further around the bend, the cave came into sight. The cave entrance was small, barely large enough for Marcus to enter without stooping. Just inside the cave, sitting cross-legged on the floor and facing Venus, was a very, very, old man. Marcus knelt down in front of the old man and motioned for Ben and Casey to sit on each side of him.
“This is the oracle,” Marcus whispered. “Until we leave, do not speak unless spoken too. Understand?”
Ben and Casey nodded and then turned to study the old man. According to the Keeper, here sat the last remaining Immortal in Faerie, although he certainly didn’t look immortal. His head was bowed, his shoulders slumped, and his grey hair was tangled, matted and dirty. It hung down over his face, spilling into his lap. He was dressed in dirty, tattered rags and did not appear to hear them when they entered.
“Oracle of Gazafar,” Marcus began, “It is I, Marcus, Keeper of the Twilight. I have come seeking your counsel in the hour of our need. Will you hear my question?”
“Ask,” the oracle replied in a scratchy whisper.
“Our home in Camelot, the Twilight, is in great peril from a black dragon of Crag. This dragon is called Zoltan, son of Zog the Terrible, and he threatens destruction upon the entire world. His magic and power are beyond anything we have ever witnessed. Merlin defeated him once before, but now Merlin is gone and there are none others like him. How can we destroy this dragon and prevent him from raining destruction down upon our homes and families?”
They sat in silence, holding their breath, waiting for the oracle to respond.
“There is one who must face the dragon alone,” the oracle whispered, never moving, never looking up, “and he must use the staff of Merlin to cast a spell of confusion. That is how Zoltan may be destroyed.”
Again, they sat quietly, waiting anxiously for the oracle to continue. After several minutes of silence, the Keeper spoke again.
“Who is the one?”
The oracle did answer. He never moved or even acknowledged that Marcus had just asked him a second question. Marcus addressed him once more.
“I know you only answer one question each day, but you must tell us who. We haven’t time to wait another day; the dragon will return in two days and destroy the Twilight. Many people could die.”
Still, the oracle remained silent. Marcus pulled a cloth bundle from off his shoulder. “I brought Merlin’s staff here for safe keeping. Zoltan desires it greatly.” The Keeper opened the cloth bundle and removed the staff, then gently laid the two halves before the oracle. “Merlin’s staff is broken. We cannot use it.”
*****