Thomas turned slightly away from Alanna.
“I guess that explains it.”
The unease in the room was palpable. Thomas sat at one end of the bed, not daring to look Alanna in the eye. Alanna sat at the other, considering the situation. In the distance, the noise of the armies settling in for the night rang out.
“You could just cast a counter spell you know.”
Thomas hadn't thought of that for some reason, but the thought of it didn't make him feel anymore at ease. If he were to cast that spell, Alanna might go back to hating him. She was, after all, a fair bit older than he was. There wasn't anything all that special about him. She was a princess, he was just a teenage boy from another world. Thomas was fairly certain that if he were to cast that spell, all chances of... of what? A future with her had been a dream, perhaps it was time for him to wake up.
“You're right. Winning your affection by spell isn't fair to you.” Thomas stood up. It was time to set things straight. “For the record, I really do love you Alanna.” Thomas could feel his cheeks burn as he said it, but something told him this would be his last chance.
Now for a spell...
“My journal's spell to capture you,
I hope my power can now undo.”
Thomas' and Alanna's hands pulsated in the blue glow of the spell taking hold. It seemed to last only a moment or two and was gone.
Thomas looked at Alanna. She didn't appear any different.
“Well?”
“Well what knucklehead?”
Thomas felt his heart sink through the floor, and his gaze followed it down. He closed his eyes, as if by doing so, he could shut out the pain. Then he felt Alanna's hand pull his head gently up, and as he was opening his eyes, her lips took his in a gentle embrace.
“I love you too silly.”
Had the spell worked? Could it really be that she liked him? Something must have gone wrong.
“Don't look so surprised. I didn't want to admit it, but I sort of liked you when we first met. Even without a spell to aid you, you have some endearing qualities my sweet knucklehead.”
Thomas allowed himself to bask in the moment, but just as sure as rain at a spring picnic, one thought allowed itself to hit Thomas just when he was feeling everything was right with the world.
“I have to go back Alanna.” It was a tough position to be in. He knew how he felt about Alanna, but he needed to go back home. “You could come back with me.” Thomas knew the answer before Alanna even opened her mouth.
“I would love to Thomas, but I can't. I have responsibilities here.”
Thomas picked the crown off his head. It really was a little heavy for him.
“You will come back, won't you?”
Thomas didn't even know if he could get home let alone come back.
“Of course.” Thomas lied.
“You better, you still have a contract with me.” Alanna took Thomas by the arm and ran her hand over The Dragon Seal.
Thomas knew that the seal could be the death of him. He had already resigned himself to that possibility, but he couldn't go on without letting his grandfather know what had happened to him, what had happened to Sammuel. He had things to tie up before he considered the future.
That of course, didn't stop Alanna.
“Thomas. I think that it's time that we finish the second stage of that seal.”
That took Thomas by surprise. “What are you talking about?”
“The first part was you accepting the responsibility, the risk of marrying me. The second part is for us to be joined in engagement, then second seal will be applied. The final part of course is the wedding, but that can come significantly later.”
“I don't understand. Don't you want to wait for the engagement as well?”
Thomas didn't like making promises that he knew he would unlikely be able to keep.
“You have a year between getting that first seal and the second seal. I can't trust that time is the same between our worlds, I want to make sure you get back in time to keep your promise to me.”
Thomas thought that over for a second. It sounded like the second seal might buy him some time. That in itself was worth the effort, but there was something that made him feel a deep appreciation for Alanna. She wanted to be officially engaged to him, and that meant the world to him.
“We would have to do it tonight. I want to get back to my world as soon as I can. I can't keep grandfather waiting any longer than I already have.”
Alanna seemed sad and happy all at the same time. Thomas donned the crown one more time and motioned to Alanna to join him. “Shall we then?”
Thomas and Alanna whisked off down the hall to inform Sammuel and Alkamire of their decision.
CHAPTER 41
RETURN
Alanna, Thomas, Alkamire, Sammuel, and Tretchbolt gathered in the remains of a great hall. The room was roughly half as large as a typical stadium field, and near three stories tall. There were great staircases that swept down from the wings above. The stairs and floor were likely carpeted at one time, but the carpet had long since deteriorated, and all that remained were browned tufts laying on the marble steps. The bannister was also made of marble, but was inlaid with gold and gems. The hall likely was the scene of many formal functions in the distant past, and seemed to be the appropriate place to hold such a ceremony. Tretchbolt had Victor bound and in tow. He didn't want to leave Victor anywhere he couldn't see him, and so kept in him chains and on a leash at all times.
Alkamire headed toward the centre of the room, where a large reddish brown circle was tiled into the floor.
“We will need four witnesses for this to be official.” Alkamire explained.
Thomas looked around. There were only three people here to witness.
“We are short one.” Thomas announced.
“Does it matter who the witnesses are?” Tretchbolt looked tired. The day had been harder on him than it had been on Thomas. When he changed back to human, he had nursed a broken arm. The trade off on the wing injury. Though he had been healed shortly after that, he was still in the process of mending. Thomas could relate. His own leg ached terribly even though the worst of the wound had been taken care of.
Alkamire scratched at his chin.
“It doesn't say, only that there need be four who witness the joining and resealing of Thomas.”
“Well, Victor's a witness. Maybe not much of a witness, but he's here. Does that count?”
Victor sneered at Tretchbolt whenever Tretchbolt's back was turned. Thomas wasn't sure what he thought about having Victor as a witness, but he didn't really want to wait as they went to search out another witness. It would be best to get things done before it got too late. He didn't want to scare his Grandfather in the middle of the night.
“I think it's alright.” Thomas offered.
Alkamire seemed a little wary, but didn't object. He brought out a box from a pack that he had been carrying. Thomas immediately recognized the box. It was the one that he had received the first seal from. Alkamire turned to face Thomas and Alanna, holding a new seal in his hands. I need the four witnesses to form a half moon behind Thomas and Alanna, along the circles edge would be best. Tretchbolt positioned Victor, who had little choice but to stand wherever he was placed. The rest of the witnesses fell in along the circle.
“Now Thomas, you take Alanna's hand.” Thomas could feel his nerves starting to falter again. He knew that this was just an engagement ritual, but it felt very much like weddings that he'd seen on television. He hoped that there were no vows, suddenly he was feeling very young.
Thomas gingerly took Alanna's hand. It felt strange to outwardly show this affection in front of Alanna's father and his great uncle. He couldn't see the witness row behind him, but he thought he could hear Tretchbolt snigger at Thomas' timidness.
Alkamire stepped forth with the seal, and took Thomas' free hand.
“Thomas Kindercook, Do you swear on threat of life, you wil
l protect and care for my daughter Alanna, until the end of your days?”
Great. Vows. The sudden memory of what Alanna had told him about the seal went through his head. If it wasn't meant to be, he could very well be dead in a few minutes. Suddenly the second seal didn't seem like such a good idea.
“Yes.” Thomas managed to squeak out.
Alkamire held on firm to Thomas' hand, but turned to face his daughter.
“And Alanna, do you swear to Thomas, to care for him and protect him, at threat of your life, until the end of your days?”
Thomas could feel Alanna give him an assuring squeeze of the hand.
“Yes.” Alanna sounded a lot more calm and confident than Thomas had felt.
“Very well then. By my authority, and by the power of the ancients, you shall be sealed to one another, and have my blessing to marry.”
Alkamire turned Thomas hand over so it faced palm down. He adjusted Thomas' clothing so the previous seal was visible to everyone there. Then with care, he pressed the second seal immediately below the first. Thomas waited nervously for fate to take its course. At first there was nothing. Just an awkward silence you would expect from a buildup that lead no where. Then blue flames licked along his arm and travelled up his body. Thomas fought the urge to pull away from Alanna and Alkamire. The flames engulfed Thomas, and then, alarmingly, spread over to Alanna. Alanna's eyes grew wide in shock. Clearly she hadn't expected this. Thomas and Alanna glowed brilliant blue light, so bright that their features were indistinguishable. Alkamire finally pulled his hand away from Thomas' in a reflexive action, shielding his eyes from the light. Victor watched the scene with an expression of fascination. Tretchbolt just stood there with a slightly bored look on his face as if he had expected as much. Sammuel's features were unreadable.
It seemed like an eternity as the flames and glowing light danced over the two figures in the centre of the circle. Just as suddenly as they had appeared, they wicked out, leaving a ruffled looking Alanna and Thomas.
The first thought in Thomas' head was that he was okay. He had survived. Then he turned to Alanna, and immediately noticed a change. On the arm that Thomas had held, A very similar set of tattoos adorned Alanna's arm. Thomas had not been expecting that. By the look on Alanna's face however, she had.
“Your arm!”
Alanna just smiled at Thomas, squeezing his hand. “It's alright Thomas.”
“You two are now sealed to each other. You share a common fate. Alanna's life, is tied to yours as surely as yours is to hers.”
Thomas felt that once again, the wool had been pulled over his eyes. Alanna had never mentioned anything about receiving a tattoo as well. Thomas had thought that he was the only one to be affected by the seal. Now Alanna had the 'hers' version of his set.
“Shared fate? What do you mean by that?”
Alkamire calmly explained. “It means that your lives are tied together. As long as one lives, so shall the other, should one perish, so too shall the other. You are irrevocably linked. There is only the final seal left to complete it.”
“No!” This was a disaster. Alanna had been doomed by this action to live the lifetime of a human! She could have lived a thousand lifetimes, but she had chosen this knowingly?!
“Why?”
Alanna smiled at Thomas and took his other hand in hers. “Because I knew you would never agree. I guess I am truly my father's daughter. I apologize for not being forthcoming. If I had not done this, your life would have ended within the year. Now we are safe for a time.”
“But your life!”
“Is my own to do with as I please.”
Thomas still could not accept this.
“Your thought for my daughter is touching.” Alkamire's composure never wavered. He reached into his bag and pulled out an ancient looking text and handed it to Thomas. That's when Thomas noticed the tattoo of an eye on his arm where none had been before.
“Your arm!” Thomas felt like a little girl stating the blatant obvious.
“All witnesses are marked. All four carry a portion of your fate.”
“All of your lives are now tied to my mortality?!”
Alkamire's face tightened slightly, but he said nothing.
“Victor?”
Alkamire turned his gaze to the bedraggled old wizard. “It will be necessary to keep him in good health until your marriage.
The sealing ceremonies were starting to become more and more serious Thomas realized. He wondered what the importance of it was. Why do all this? Thomas looked down at the well aged book Alkamire had handed him. The corners were badly tattered, pages were loose of their bindings, and if there had been text on the cover at some point, it too had been worn away with the passage of time.
“What is this?”
Alkamire smiled. “Something for another time. Now, since you have all of us here already, we will see you off.”
Thomas both had dreaded and looked forward to going back home. He wasn't sure how he was going to manage going back if his great uncle was not able to do the spell, but he was going to try his best. Sammuel seemed to have faith in Thomas' ability.
“Tell my brother that I am sorry I never made it back.” Sammuel gave Thomas a hug much as a father might his son.
“Why don't you come back with me?” Thomas asked not for the first time.
“I am needed here. This is my home now.” Sammuel sounded sure of himself, but also a little sad.
Thomas turned to Tretchbolt.
“Ah.” Tretchbolt fidgeted with Victor's chain. “Well, glad to have known you. You weren't as much of a pain in the behind as I thought you might have been. I suppose it would be good if you got back here soon, so get your business done with and...” Tretchbolt stopped and looked up at Thomas.
“Ah heck.” Tretchbolt reached out and and drew him in for a brief and quite rough pat on the back.
So Thomas was going to be alone.
“How am I to do this?”
“Do you still have your pyjamas?” asked Sammuel.
Thomas dug through his pack and brought out the catalyst for his entire adventure. He handed the pyjamas to Sammuel.
“I will link my powers with yours Thomas, you will cast the spell. I think you should focus it on the pyjamas. I have tried this before, and I could almost sense the other world, but I never had enough power to take myself through. Even linking it never seemed to be enough, but I admit, I do not have the power you do. I think for you, this may work.”
Thomas wasn't as sure of himself as Sammuel seemed to be.
Alanna gave Thomas one last kiss and wished him a speedy return. Tretchbolt gave Thomas a rather hard slap on the back, and promised him better training upon his return. Victor watched with disinterest.
Thomas had noticed that there was some link between the effect of the spell and the length of the verse. Hoping that creating a slightly longer spell might generate enough energy to take him back to his world, Thomas tried to work out something long enough to have the effect that he desired. Taking a deep breath, Thomas started the spells incantation.
“It started not so long ago, on a stormy day,
Book, ring, pyjamas and then some words I'd say,
Immediately Thomas started to glow. Waves of energy cast gently off him like ripples caused by a stone dropped in a pool of water.
Travelling across time and space,
Arriving in this land of magic and rhyme,
Seeking my uncle to touch base,
Confusing the sands of time,
The waves of blue washed over the entire room, it seemed to fill it with pulsating gentle licks of energy.
Going back now from whence I came,
Wishing my friends could be,
Riding with me, the blue flame,
But I know it's time for me,
The energy sank into the marble floors, and into the walls. The place felt alive with power. The witnesses present were overcome by it, letting it wash over them, rejuvenated
by it.
So I leave for now, I have to go, but promise I'll be back,
So long, farewell, I take my leave to travel the mystic track.”
Thomas could feel his legs growing weak as he intoned the last of the spell. The world seemed to spin, or his head... he wasn't sure which, but everything seemed to go out of focus. The voices of his friends seemed to travel with him in a chant that was incoherent. The whirling sensation seemed to take hours, or minutes. Thomas couldn't decide. He realized that somehow, time didn't seem to apply. He just was.
Thomas closed his eyes as the spinning blue was beginning to make him feel sick, and just like that, it stopped.
*****
David Kindercook sat in the rickety old rocking chair in the cold dusty house. He didn't rock and he wasn't inclined to read, he really didn't feel like doing much of anything. A thick layer of dust had built up over all the surfaces, but he had no ambition to clean. He found it hard to find the energy to eat even. He only did so in case Thomas somehow miraculously returned.
David had lost a lot of things in his life. None that had affected him more profoundly than the loss of his brother at an early age, and now the loss of his nephew was almost more than he could bare. After the disappearance of David's son, he had promised that he would care for Thomas properly, never letting anything happen to him.
He had failed again.
He wasn't usually a pessimistic person, but he couldn't help but feel that people only seemed to leave him, they never came back.
It was getting late and David knew it was time to retire for the night, he just really hadn't the will to get up.
A groaning noise gently emitted from the old house. At first he thought it was just the wind. It wasn't that unusual for the house to complain about the wind, it was an old house, just like his bones complained when he tried to climb the stairs, this old house seemed to complain about the wind pushing against it. David was about to dismiss it when the floor started to shake. An earthquake? In all the years that he had been here, there had never been an earthquake before. He decided it might be a good idea to get up after all.
FLASH!
A blinding blast of blue shot through the house like a bolt of lightening. David's poor old eyes strained to adjust. When they did, he nearly jumped out of his skin.
“THOMAS!”
Grandpa Kindercook stood there in disbelief. His old eyes must be playing tricks on him. He had dozed off, and was dreaming about Thomas returning again, as he had so many times before. But this time was different. This time there were several people with Thomas. There was a beautiful girl, who was probably a few years older than Thomas and a young man, perhaps in his twenties or so, who looked like a fighter, wrestler, or something along those lines. Then his eyes fell on a boy, several years younger than Thomas, and David felt his legs fail him.