Legend of the Woods

Episode 12, Lisa and the untold tale.

Thank you Christine Graves and Ravyne Hawke, for the Writing Prompts that inspired this story. Promptly Written is a wonderful publication that all should follow.

Lisa, Halpus, Rosie, and Heydrick sat down at the table in the formal dining room. The Caddo tribe members who were hired to work on the estate, served them breakfast.

“Lisa, my dear, thank you for your great work in the garden,” Heydrick said.

“Why did you send my daughters off? I didn’t want them involved in this, and neither did Poddarius.” Lisa said.

“Mrs. Frilarium, Lisa. Poddarius knows in his heart that it must be. The shaman has said it, the stars foretell it, and the birds sing the song. Only the daughters of Poddarius can turn the tides of darkness. The day of Crane and the unfolding of the Straight Path are upon us.”

“Ms. Lent, would you be so kind as to fetch the book of Foundations by Poddarius Frilarium? It’s in the third-floor library,” Heydrick asked Ms. Lent, one of the Caddo employed to maintain the estate.

“White leather cover, you can’t miss it,” Halpus said.

“Of course,” Ms. Lent said and then hurried off to retrieve the book.

“The actual, Poddarius Frilarium?” Lisa asked.

“Yes, it has all of the stories you have never been told in it. I believe your resistance and hesitation about this estate and the Frilarium’s role in maintaining balance will fade away as you become more acquainted with the Mystic Realm.” Heydrick said.

“That old book must be a spell-binding tale indeed if you believe that,” Lisa said, taking a bite of scrambled eggs.

“Indeed,” Halpus said, biting into a crispy strip of bacon.

Lightning flashed far off, as reported by the thunder that took some time before it faintly echoed about in the air outside.

Meanwhile at the wheat field, the Fiend in the wheat tended to the unfolding of the straight path, ushering the floodwaters through the wheat to the large rocky jut of bedrock and pile of boulders in the center of the field. When Poddarius Frilarium IV settled the land and cleared the field he piled the boulders and large rocks there. Back then they did not worry about a Fiend that would infest the rocky fortress. Nor did he realize that the jut of bedrock connected to the Realm of Gort at its base. The black apparition worked the scythe creating a moat about the rocks. A jittering snicker came from the Fiend as he completed the ditch and again laid bare the earth beneath the growing wheat with wide broad strokes, continuing the unfolding of the straight path. The river water flowed over the fallen wheat.

Back at the house, the sun shone bright, and the estate attendants were out and about clearing the debris deposited by the storm. They cleaned up after breakfast in the kitchen, and Heydrick sat on the back porch facing the Garden of the Gnomes with his coffee. The large wooden porch wrapped the home on all four sides, in an elegant barrier from the dirt, gravel, grass, and trees. The white picket rails and supporting posts stood out against the barn-red paint of the home. Soon the others joined Heydrick; Halpus carried the large white tome. The word Foundations was clearly printed in bold black letters on the cover and spine.

“Lisa, my dear, please sit here, now let me find the page. When you get the time, you might want to read the entire book, but for now, will skip the parts the trudge along,” Halpus said.

Heydrick looked over Halpus’ shoulder, he watched the little worms eyes speeding back and forth across the pages as he turned them. “There, right there, no back one. Yes, that’s it,” Heydrick said.

“Interesting, I would have started her off back here,” Halpus turned the page and pointed.

“No, no, she doesn’t need to see that yet. It can wait till later.”

Rosie stood at the rail staring out across the landscape; she slowly made her way to the corner of the porch, then turned the corner and slowly scanned the countryside as she slid down the length of the home. Heydrick glanced up at her as she disappeared behind the north side of the house.

“Hear you go,” Halpus said as he floated across, carrying the book to where Lisa sat. “Start there,”

He pointed.

Lisa read aloud.

“In a time so ancient that man forgot its numbers, restarting four different times. Long before the ancient fables, which we now call mythology. The great chasm that separated the realities of Humanity from the whispers of the cosmos was bridged at many points. Humanity and the beings of the cosmos interacted regularly, and their fates existed as one. Some people learned to control pieces of their reality with the power of the mystic realm. As time progressed, men would call these folks wizards or witches. Some of these wizards and witches became so wise and powerful that men called them Gods. The Cosmos ebbs and flows with chaos. Often during these times, the realities of Humanity would be impacted by the chaotic flow. There were great users of the cosmic powers and the mystic energy, wizards and witches that wished to protect the realities of Humanity from the chaotic flows.”

“Oh my, look, it’s Brevlodar,” Rosie said. She had circled around the large porch and was now at the southeast corner, pointing to the sky.

As the others looked, Brevlodar landed with a heavy thud. He walked toward the stairs. Rosie followed along the rail, staring, waving, “Hey there, Brevey, would you be my angel.” She said.

Brevlodar’s grimace melted to a smile, “Ms. Rosie, I hope you and our family in the Garden fared well through the storm.”

Lisa paused her reading and observed; thoughts of her girls and her husband raced behind her eyes. Finally, Heydrick and Halpus stood and walked to meet Brevlodar.

“Well, you look better than I imagined after that storm. I hope the rest of the farm fared as well,” Halpus said.

“The devastation was vast partway through, I can only imagine. I have just finished with the Caddo, the ritual of anamnesis.”

“You felt that was necessary?” Heydrick asked.

“I did, so I did. But more important things are unfinished. The Cowboy and his horse were lost in the river. I asked Garr to go to his aid. Mort has not yet received your last note. If you could duplicate it, I could deliver it right away.”

“Oh no, Mr. Peal and Topper? Oh no,” Rosie said.

“Hmmm,” Halpus said and then disappeared.

“Of course, I will be right back,” at that, Heydrick was gone. A trail of green mist flowed through the house along the path he took to the third-floor office, it slowly faded into nothing.

“Brevlodar, what of Poddarius, Vreylil and the Caddo brothers?” Rosie asked.

“What about the girls?” Rosie and Lisa asked together.

They looked at each other and smiled, “Jynx, you owe me a soda.” Rosie said.

Lisa laughed, “Ok, anytime.” Then they turned their gaze on Brevlodar.

“Mrs. Frilarium, when I left Poddarius, he and Vreylil were in good order riding the Path Less Traveled toward the Home of the Mystics and the High-seat. As far as I know, they are well. Clarisa and Abby were headed back here before the storm raged. They had Willie the Goat with them. So they should be here soon. I will fly that way when I leave here just to be sure,” He replied.

“Lisa, perhaps you should continue to read,” Halpus said.

They all looked at the misty green millipede, “Where did you go and why did you return so quickly?” Brevlodar asked.

“I am worried about my daughters, Halpus. I think I will get a pack of food and a weapon and head out to find them. I can’t just sit here and read,” Lisa said.

“Well good news, I went to the camp and inquired about Mr. Peal and his horse. They are fine.”

“How about we just tell her what we think is important? She can read later,” Rosie suggested.

“What about my girls, Halpus?” Lisa asked.

“Ah, the foundation. An excellent read Lisa. I think you should continue reading. I Can look for the girls,” Brevlodar said.

“Promise?” Lisa asked.

“Yes Mrs. Frilarium, I would not jest about such a thing. I am worried about their safety as well.”

They all went to the seating area on the porch and relaxed while waiting for Heydrick.

“So, the Wizards and Witches of Teetomas used their powers to shield the realities of man from the chaotic flows of the Mystic Realm. They did not realize that the shielding dampened their connection to the source of their power. Over the course of two millennia, they lost all of their abilities,” Halpus said.

“More importantly, it is not possible to entirely shield the realities of Humanity from the ebb and flow of the cosmos. Chaos periodically breaches the barrier, and then Humanity suffers great calamity. We are approaching one of those breaches. The day of Crane.” Brevlodar said.

“I don’t understand. How are my girls supposed to have any kind of impact on the cosmic chaos? Is that what the tides of darkness are? I keep hearing tides of darkness.”

Heydrick returned, he handed the note to Brevlodar,” Go quickly now time is not on our side.”

“Thank you,” Brevlodar said and took off.

“Wait, what about my girls?”

Meanwhile, deep down in the dark realm of Gort, beneath the pile of rocks and the bedrock at its center, the water from its new moat, seeped and dripped into the prison of the keeper. Soon a puddle formed and then flowed to the edge of the keeper’s pit. The circular pit was larger than a well but smaller than a pond. The trickle of water spilled over the edge. The first drip fell past the keeper’s webs, black and sticky, barbed with poisonous thorns, it fell and struck the rock floor next to the head of its captive. Steven Frilarium woke and touched his head. Water, the elixir of life, he moved until he felt the drip, then moved a bit to the left until the next drop landed on his tongue near the back of his throat. He sighed. Each drop energized him. Each drip excited his mind stimulating his neurons and lubricating his joints. If water were getting into his prison cell, that meant he could get out. He waited; the drips came faster. Finally, it seemed his personal drought was ending. Soon strength would swell within.

TO BE CONTINUED

You can find Episode 11, Topper, the Cowboy, and the Gremorians.

© 2022, T. Mark Mangum

I am T.Mark Mangum. From an early age, I was hooked, addicted to the imagined, unfathomable worlds of Star Wars, Star Trek, Conan, the Lord of the Rings, and many others. I love writing fiction tales. I love writing in multiple genres. However, my favorites are Sci-fi and Fantasy fiction. I am a father of six; we have two cats and two dogs. Tabletop gaming is a passion.

Thank you all for reading and being a fan of “Legend of the Woods” if you do not wish to be tagged, please let me know. Consider subscribing to my profile so you will receive an E-Mail when I publish new stories.

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