terrified and puzzled. I was certain he had fired the arrow by accident. My Uncle’s face changed immediately to an impassive mask and he shouted rushing to my father. By now, I wrenched my eyes to my father who collapsed at the boar’s feet. The boar took this opportunity to gouge my father and truly finish him.
It was a terrible sight for one as young as I and I remember screaming and screaming. I became hysterical and they had to forcibly drag me from my father’s corpse. Later investigation showed the bow to be perfectly normal, without defect. The servant Stephen protested his innocence and eventually was released. He was later found dead at the bottom of the tower wall. His death was said to be accidental too. I never forgot my Uncle’s face and to this day I think he killed my father.”
Sir Knocksworth interrupted, “Your Highness, it was he who killed your father. The Lord Petras told me and was on his way to tell you, then he was killed too.”
The Prince’s eyes glistened with tears and he continued, “Thank you, my lord, for that information. I shall remember that when the time was right. After father died I was sick for a long time. Some even feared for my life, but finally I recovered and when I did Lipophrenia was regent. He was chosen because Lord Existention only drew hatred. Although, the Lord Existention runs the army, and, the throne indirectly with the Vizier.
During the next years, tutor followed tutor. They forced my good nurse to leave saying I was too old for a nurse maid. Most of the tutors were dull and some cruel. The used to beat me horribly. If I complained they only told my Uncle Lipophrenia, who laughed and said it did me good to learn discipline. I did have one tutor named Mr Barnabus who I loved dearly. He taught me much about the old ways in Logoland. By the time my father took the throne things had decayed somewhat and many of the old ways had been forgotten and twisted. We no longer talked with the animals and we forgot much about the Bright Star. My father tried to revive these things but died before he accomplished much. That is why the animals surprised me so much.
Well, where was I? Oh yes, Mr. Barnabus. He taught me much about the old ways in Logoland and about the kings and queens of old. Most importantly he talked much about the Bright Morning Star and His love of Logoland. It hurt me a lot to see the land renamed Shadwofall. A touch of my Uncle Existention’s, no doubt. Anyway, Mr Barnabus was a strange little man no taller than you, Edward. He had a kind face and blondish hair with green eyes and a small pointed beard. The good times with him only lasted about one year for he disappeared one day after leaving me a note. In that note he told me it was necessary for him to leave so that I might not suffer. I really hope I may see him again one day.”
“You will, young Prince, you will,” thought Abigail.
Logosian came to the last part of his story, “I had more tutors after him but finally, six months ago, I was banished to the tower that overlooks the moat by my Uncle Lipophrenia. No reason was ever given and about three months ago I banished to that smelly dungeon. Lastly, I was rescued by you and here we are now.”
The children said it seemed to them a sorrowful story but they were glad to helpl restore his throne to him. The troup then decided they must rest at least another full day as many of the older knights remained exhausted from the trek.
“”Won’t we have to worry about someone following us?” inquired Edward.
“Why no, good lord. The path to Old Abigail’s is never the same twice,” replied the old lady.
“What do you mean?” asked Edward.
“I mean Edward, you’ll not find the same path out, as in,” said Abigail.
Their host then turned away and ambled off to feed her animals. “You may explore, sleep, or do whatever you wish in my clearing. No harm may befall you while under my care.”
The party divided up to go their various ways. Many of the knights went to their rooms to rest and polish weapons and armour. The children and Prince opted to examine the clearing a bit. The clearing indeed presented a marvelous opportunity for exploring. At first glance it appeared much smaller than it really was. There stood large trees around its perimeter with trunks bigger around than all three youths with their arms joined together. They were a strange sort of tree called the ominsk tree and it had leaves rather like a cross between the maple and a spruce. The leaves also had a yellow-green color that contrasted sharply with the green meadow. These leaves fell off the trees in the fall like a tarmarac and new bluish-green leaves grew in their place for the winter months.
The meadow was lush and brightly lit with sunlight and literally scores of forest creatures fed on the green grasses. There were the funny little pocs that looked like a platypus, without a flat tail, hardrin which looked very much like our reindeer, keslo, rabbits, field mice, and many other strange creatures the children couldn’t name. The woods echoed with the sounds of birds singing and insects sounding. There were even small golden-blue flowers along the edges of the meadow that looked much like snowdrops. These were the famous starlight flowers found only in these mountains in Logoland. They were said to have been planted in these mountains by the Bright Star Himself.
The children spent much of the day talking and laughing with Logosian. It had been some time since the Prince had spent time with children near his own age. He found it most delightful and the children thought him the jolliest and nobliest person they had ever met. Of course, they had not met many princes. In fact, Logosian was their first, but no matter, they still thought him very noble.
The rest of the party rested and Grounfirm had the first good smoke since they left his cottage. He sat on a rock hear the meadow in the sun and thought. The smoke curled around him and made him look a little like a picture of St Nicholas, only Groundfirm had a red beard and red hair.
Night fell and again the travelers gathered for the evening feast. It consisted of much the same fare they had eaten previously and when they finished, the Prince rose and addressed them.
“Good knights, gnome, and friends, tomorrow we must continue our journey to join with our other forces. I talked to Abigail and there are many dangers ahead for us, but we must not fail. We have about five days left to reach our rendezvous point and from there two days march to the city. Every soldier of my Uncles Existention and Lipophrenia will be about looking for us and they have many evil allies in these mountains looking for us. Therefore, we must be strong and ready to fight our way to the “Clearing of Light” where the rest of the army waits. We must now to bed to be ready for tomorrow’s journey.”
They all pushed back their chairs and silently filed off to their beds, deep in thought.
Edward and Heather talked for a short time.
“Do you think we’ll make it in time?” queried Heather. “Old Abigail says it is at least two hard days by horse to the ‘Clearing of Light’. How can we, on foot in these mountains, with older men who are out of shape, hope to make it in the five given days.”
They had arrived at Edward’s door by this time and he turned to Heather and said, “I don’t really know if we’ll do it or not sis. I suppose we have to trust the Bright Morning Star for that. I know He wouldn’t bring us this far to leave or forsake us.”
With that comment, Edward said goodnight to his sister, entered his room, and left Heather to ponder her thoughts.
DANGER AT THE PASS OF DOUBTING
XIII
The next day dawned crisp and clear with a special smell of spring and adventure in the air. The company all went to the large dining room for the last meal before they were to leave. All of them felt solemn and strangely sad at leaving the clearing. There was the usual mountain of food with much gribbich,sroof, keslo milk, and wetern syrup. The whole troop ate sparingly and the conversation waned badly. They all knew this might be the last meal they might share together. The eagle Truefeather arrived shortly after they started the meal and held a private conference with Grounfirm and the Prince.
The meal ended and Logosian arose for an announcement, “Friends, wh
ile we rested here our enemies have not been idle. There are scores of troops, beasts, and spies out looking for us. Truefeather has informed me that he and his eagles cannot safely spy for us until we are nearer the ‘Clearing of Light’. He says the vultures, bats, and magpies are too strong in these mountains for them to risk staying with us until we cross over the River Ripplesway, on the other side of the mountains. So, we must be on our alert and perform our own reconnaissance. Let us get to the business at hand.”
The group arose and silently filed to their rooms with grim faces. In a half an hour all was ready. They bid farewell to Quickfoot the rabbit, who promised to meet them at the ‘Clearing of Light’, and then finished their final preparations. They were well provisioned, thanks to Old Abigail. She provided them with gribbich cakes lighter and tastier than gnome cakes. These cakes would last for weeks and gave enough energy in two wafers for a man for a single day. Plus, they tasted sweet due to the wetern syrup in them. To Heather that was the nicest thing of all. The company shouldered their knapsacks and weapons, proceeded out of the clearing, and onto the trail.
The travelers were led in front by Logosian and Groundfirm. The most elderly knights and yeoman were in the center of the file with