The Visitors : Chapter 1 of A Far Country (Fantasy

Chapter 1 of A Far Country.  Thanks to Dawn and Mara and Carrie for proofing and encouraging me on this.  It is Science fiction- fantasy.

The visitors

There was a slight bulge in the tapestry at the top of the stairs that wasn’t there earlier.  A chubby hand moved it aside and two blue eyes peered out from a cherubic face framed by soft golden curls then disappeared behind the tapestry again.

There were the sounds of heavy footsteps.  The dull clunk of heavy boots on the stone floor and the child held still, hoping to go unnoticed. 

The footsteps came to a halt just in front of her.  She barely breathed and did not dare to look out.  If someone saw her, she would most assuredly get punished for being out of her room when she was supposed to be napping.

“It’s okay.  No one is looking.”  A male voice said.

The cherub peeked out from behind the tapestry again. 

“It’s not a very good hiding place.”  The man conceded.  “You’d never be a winner at hide and seek like that.”  He commented and he waved his hand at her.  ‘Come over here and get down behind this pedestal.  No one can see you here angel.”

“I am not an angel.”  A tiny voice informed him from behind the tapestry.

“Ah, no?  Sorry, I did not receive the memo.”  The man said without looking down.  “Are you a devil then?”

There was muffled laughter from behind the tapestry and a definite “No.”

“Are you a dragon?”  The man squatted and spoke to the lump in the tapestry.  He made a ‘roar’ sound and there was more laughter and another ‘no’.  “Well what are you then?”  He asked playfully.

The tapestry moved aside and the blue eyes regarded him solemnly.  “No!  I’m a girl.”

The man pretended to be surprised.  “A girl? Surely not!  Am I a dragon then?” 

She laughed.  “No. You’re a man.”

The man felt his chest with his fingers as if to check if she was telling the truth. “Oh, I guess I am.  What’s your name, little one?”

“Alleaynah.  What’s yours?”

“They call me Prophet.”  His eyes twinkled.  He was a big man, like her father, she had seen him before. His hair was cut short and he wore no beard.  He was muscular and his clothing was peculiar, but she liked the way his grey eyes sparkled when he smiled. 

“You’re not the Prophet.  He’s old, you’re young.”  She studied him for a moment.  “You’re a warrior.”  She corrected him. 

“Well actually I’m a soldier, but that’s close enough.  I said they call me Prophet, I didn’t say I was a Prophet and you’re not just any little girl.  You’re a most important little girl.  You’re the Princess are you not?”

She put her finger to her lips and shushed him. “I’m the cook’s daughter.”

He held out his hand.  “Oh, I understand.”  He lowered his voice to a whisper.  “You’re incognito, but it’s nice to meet you nonetheless.”  He held out his hand to her but she looked at him.  “Here, this is how my people say hello. You put your hand here like this, and you shake it.”  He said as he instructed her on how to shake hands.  She looked at him like he was insane. 

            “That’s just silly.”  She commented sagely and he had to laugh.  

 “Yeah, I guess it is. I’ve never really thought about it.” He swept his hand out at her grandly as if he were bowing.  “Jason Prophet at your service. Is that how you do it?  I’ve never met a Princess before.” 

She gave him a curtsey and nodded. 

“You can’t see the visitors from there. Can you?”

She shook her head, her golden curls bouncing. 

“Well, I’m going to stand over there.”  He pointed to a place at the top of the stairway.  “And you can come stand behind me.  If your father looks, you can hide.”

She chewed her lip but did not venture from behind the tapestry.

“Well, okay.  If you change your mind…”  The Prophet said as he moved to a spot near the top of the stairway where the goings on below could be seen with little difficulty.

It was only a few seconds before the Jason felt her behind him, peeking out from behind his legs. 

“What are they?”  She whispered.

“The Kaldarri.”  He told her.  “They are very brave warriors.”

“Why do they have paint on them?” 

“I believe the word is ‘tattoo’ your highness.”

“What’s that?”  She asked from behind his legs.

Well—it’s um—its paint that doesn’t come off.”

“Not ever?”

“Nope.  Not ever.”

“I don’t believe you.”  She informed him. 

He squatted down again and pulled his sleeve up to show her his upper arm. 

“This. It’s a tattoo.  You see?” 

She traced her finger over the design on his arm.  “What does it mean?”

“It’s a cross. You wouldn’t understand even if I try to explain it.”

“What are these words?”

“C’est tout.  It means that’s all.  To remind me all I need is God.”

“You’re a priest then, like the Prophet?”  She asked.  “You don’t bow before the King and only Priests do that.”

“You’re very observant for a little girl.” He said as he stood.   

She nodded in agreement but was too busy trying to get a glimpse of the visitors below.

The entryway was guarded by several centaurs with spears standing motionlessly as the visitors passed by.  Jason leaned on the railing and watched the procession of Kaldarri dignitaries below them.  The Old King wearing a loincloth and a cape of scarlet covered by a mantle made from the skin of a desert lion came first followed by his warriors.  Next came his daughter, dressed in white with gold adornments, followed by her son, the prince who had just come into the age of manhood and then followed by the translators.

“Why do they wear hats?”

The man looked down at her.  “Hats?  No, those are not hats, Princess.  Those are horns.  They have horns.”

“Like a deer?”  She asked.

“More like a bull, but only the males.  The females don’t have them.”

She made a face and he watched her for a moment as she craned her neck to see the visitors. 

“Yeah pretty cool huh?”  He asked.

She looked up at him and shrugged

“Well, I thought it was pretty cool, the first time I saw them.  I see that you are not so easily impressed. You’re probably used to crazy stuff like that though.”

She looked up at him.  “What does that mean? Pretty cool?”

He thought a minute.  “It means—well it means—you like it.  Pretty cool.”

“Pretty cool.”  She repeated to herself as if to be sure she said it correctly then she looked up and added.  “You talk funny, Jason Prophet.”

The man did not look down. “I know.  They tell me that all the time. Everybody talks like me where I come from.”

“Where do you come from?”  She asked.

“Far away.”

“How far?”

“Real far.”   He said.  He could tell her the truth.  A place called Earth.  Its goodness knows how many light years it is from here and we came in this big ol’ ship that crashed here. You know where the big lake is between here and the Fae lands?  We did that.  Me and my friends.  And you remember how everybody used to get along until we came?  Yeah, we started all the fighting.  That was us.  Then remember how after that everyone got real sick?  No? Well, probably not.  You weren’t born yet but that was us too.  We pretty much screwed up the whole place. Lucky us.

            He could have told her that but he didn’t instead he gave her an irritated glance.  “Over the rainbow.” 

“That’s not a real place.”

He lifted his eyebrows and his gray eyes held hers.  “Okay then.  From the stars – from beyond the stars.  How about that?”

Her eyes narrowed.  “How did you get here?”

He leaned closer.  “God brought me here.”

She watched the man for a minute, considering his words then turned her attention back to the visitors. 

“Look!  There’s the Prophet.”  She folded her arms across her chest and gave him a smug look.  “I told you- you were not the prophet.”

Below them the old man stopped and looked up at his friend above and held up his hand. It was almost as if he had known they were talking about him. He looked like a prophet now, far removed from his days as a soldier.  He wore rough robes and sandals and he had let his salt and pepper hair grow out long and now wore a beard.  Jason wondered if Bill’s wife would recognize him if she saw him now, and he wondered if they would ever get back home or if they were stuck here forever. 

“Yes.  There he is. The Old Prophet, but I call him Bill.”  The man turned at the sound of a female voice.  “Hey Princess, I think your nanny is looking for you.  Better run along.” 

The little girl bounced off, but turned and gave him a wave.  “Goodbye Jason Prophet.” 

“See ya later alligator.”  He told her and she squealed in laughter as she disappeared down the hall.

The Old Prophet waved below as if trying to tell the younger it was time to go. 

Jason straightened himself and without thinking put his hand over his weapon as if to check if it was still there.  The King of the West was not his favorite person.  He was not his least favorite, but he was not his favorite.  They had fought together so there was mutual respect between the two, but they didn’t see eye to eye so he was wary of the King. The King of the Kaldarri was just as bad as the other.  In his opinion, all kings were politicians and politicians were by nature shady and it was his job to keep them straight. Especially when it came to the interests of his friend. The one they called the Old Prophet.

The younger Prophet reached out and took the older one’s hand.  “Hello, Bill.  What’s new?” 

“Ah, you know, Jase.  Same ‘ol same ‘ol.  What’s new with you?”

“Nothing.  Why are the Kaldarri here, Bill?”  The soldier asked.

The Old Prophet looked up. “They want peace.  The Old Chieftan is aging and wants to broker a plan for the end of hostilities before he dies.” 

“Sounds good, Bill but why are we here.” 

“To encourage the king to accept their terms.  I have a feeling Lord Lathan ain’t gonna like it none.”

“Quelle surprise.”  Jason said and instinctively, his hand went to his weapon again. 

“Why do you still worry with that gun Jase? Don’t you know the LORD can protect us?”

“Difference in theology, Bill.  The way I see it, The LORD gave me this gun so He could keep us safe.  That’s what I’m here for, so you worry about Prophesying and I’ll worry about keeping these heathens in line. OK Bill?”

“Sounds like a plan Jase.”  The old Prophet conceded as they entered the great hall behind the other visitors. 

True to Bill’s words, Lord Lathan King of the West was not thrilled with the Kaldarri plan for peace, neither was he thrilled with Bill’s word from God.   He kept it together until the Kaldarri dignitaries were dismissed but requested that the two ‘Prophets’ meet him in his chamber.

He was angry, but he was always angry.  Jason had known him since they crashed years ago and he had never known a time when he was not angry.  It was always something with him and if it wasn’t one thing it was something else so Jase and Bill stood back and let him have his tirade. 

“Did you hear that?”  He growled and pointed back toward the great hall.  “What they want?”

“It will bring peace.”  Bill tried to soothe him.  “Peace.  Wasn’t that what you wanted?”

“But at what price Prophet?”  The King asked.  “My daughter?  She is but a child!”

“What price is war?”  Bill answered sagely. “How many more of your people will you sacrifice because you are unwilling to give your child?”

“Did you see him?  He’s practically grown!  I can not give my daughter to that thing.”

“Well, it’s not like they’re going to get married right away.  They’re much too young right now.” Bill tried to convince him but the King would not be dissuaded.

“It makes me sick!”  The king bellowed.  “To think of my blood-- with that—thing!  I won’t do it!” He leaned closer to the old Prophet.   “I hate them!  I don’t want them in my lands; much less have one of them in my family!”

Bill was suddenly serious.  “This is the will of the Great Father.  You must do as He says.  Tell the Kaldarri king that you will give your daughter to his grandson, but the boy must stay here to learn our ways until she is old enough to wed. We will teach him, we can save him-- he will not be like his father.”

The King went red with rage.  “NO!”  He shouted, his fingers curling into fists.  “NO, I tell you, no I will not!  I don’t care what the Great Father says!”  He advanced toward the old prophet and Jason pulled his weapon. 

“Take one more step King, and you’ll be looking at the color of your insides.”  Jason warned.  “You shall not touch the Lord’s anointed.” 

The King stopped dead in his tracks.  The old prophet was a peaceful man but the younger was a warrior, and while the older would not harm him, he knew the younger would not hesitate to carry out his threats.

The older Prophet spoke to the younger in the language they shared.  The King did not understand it.

“Jase, put that gun down!  And that verse was talking about King Saul, not me!”

Jason shrugged as if to say he wasn’t impressed.

The older man looked over at the King.  “You should step back if you wish to live. My friend is young… and impulsive.”

“… and has a hair trigger.” Jason finished for him, but the King didn’t understand what that meant.  Whatever it was, he had the feeling it wasn’t good.

The King stepped back but still wanted a fight- if only a verbal one.  “Was it not you that prophesied that my daughter would rule our people?”

Bill regarded him evenly.  “You were there.”

“How then can she wed a Kaldarri?  The people will not stand for it!  I will not stand for it!  They are monsters, nothing more than filthy beasts and I will not have them running my kingdom!  So you can tell the Great Father I said ‘no’!”

Bill closed his eyes.  “You have told Him yourself.”  He said and there was a strange electric feeling in the room and Jason took a step back.  Bill’s eyes were fixed on something that the rest of them could not see; he was speaking but the words came from somewhere else.  Jason lowered his weapon and watched him with keen interest.  Sometimes the Lord spoke in whispers, and sometimes, though not often, like this.  He’d seen it a couple times, and it was unnerving every time.   

“The Great Father has said that unless you repent your own blood will turn against you and your kingdom will come to ruin.  The Great Father will take from you what you hold dear and will given over into the hands of the Kaldarri. One of their kind will sit on your throne when you rest with your ancestors and he will be more righteous than you.”

Bill looked up, his own self again.  “That is the word from the Father.  Is that what you wish Lord Lathan, King of the West?” 

“Get out.”  The King pointed at the door- his voice a deadly whisper.

The two Prophets left, the Older followed by the Younger who still had his hand on his weapon.

Outside, Jason looked over his shoulder at his friend.  “I thought that went well Bill.”  Jason said brightly as they strode down the hall. “You should have let me shoot him though.  Just a little.”

“What would that have proven?”

“Nothing.  I would have enjoyed it though.”

“Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord.  I will repay.”  Bill quoted as he walked ahead of his friend.  “You see how I did that?  I’m using the verse correctly. Anyway, you can do nothing worse to Lord Lathan than the Almighty will do.  He’s a sinner in the hands of an angry God and that is something that we should not rejoice in.” 

“He comes at you again and I’ll be arranging a meeting for the two of them.” The soldier grumbled as he walked behind his friend. 

Bill turned and looked at the younger man, still angry with the king. “HIS will shall be done.  No matter what the King does to try to thwart it.  You realize that unless he changes his mind he will prolong this war?  Those children are the keys to our peace.”

“Aw, come on Bill! She’s just a baby!  Surely you of all people can understand, you got two girls yourself.  Would you give one of your daughters over to the enemy?”

Bill turned and looked into Jason’s gray eyes.  “It’s not about the girl, Jase. If it were, I’m sure the Father would not be so harsh.  You remember He demanded Isaac as a sacrifice but then relented when He saw that Abraham was willing to give his son.   It’s about the Kingdom Jase, not about the child.  It’s about his power, not his daughter!   He may try to pretend its all about her, but God sees what’s in his heart. I’d wager that he would be willing to deal if he knew she hadn’t been chosen as the heir.”

Bill raised his eyebrows and let that last statement sink in.  It took a few minutes with Jason, but it finally dawned on him.

“Oh, that stinks.” He said thinking of the little girl with the golden curls.  “But I still don’t see what this whole thing has to do with us Bill.”

Bill turned and waved his arms wildly, the sleeves of his robe billowing. “What it has to do with us?  Jase, it has everything to do with us!  We started this whole thing!”

“Not on purpose!”  Jason defended himself.  “It wasn’t like we were trying to start a war.  We crashed on this crazy planet!”

“With fifty criminals who brought sin and sickness to an unfallen world.  We are in deep, deep, you know what, Jase and we gotta do everything we can to set it right again.  You think God will be happy with us if we leave it like this?”

“But you said all this was part of His plan that the old writings you found at the monastery say that this creation must fall.  We hunted down all our criminals.  That was our mission.  This has been great but I’m ready to get back to civilization now.  I’m ready for TV and … toilet paper… and Tylenol and caffeine and for sleeping in a real bed every night.  I want to go home Bill!  Let them have their war!  We’ve don enough!” 

“We have to try, Jason.  I fear what will become of our friend the King if he does not change his mind.”

I don’t really care what happens to our friend the king.  Jason thought sourly as he followed the Old Prophet.  But he liked that baby, that little girl he saw today with the curls and the blue eyes.  He liked her a lot—it was a shame her dad was such a—He stopped and looked around.  Someone was watching them.  Even more than that, they were listening. 

Bill started to say something but he held out his hand silencing him with a motion and he pulled his weapon. 

“Again with the gun?  You just itchin’ to shoot somethin’! What is up with you today?”

Jason pointed to a turn in the corridor. “Il y a quelqu’un là-bas.”  He whispered and Bill knew it meant trouble if the Cajun broke out the French.  Whoever was there spying on them was a reader, a telepath but Jason had a way about him, he could pick them out a mile away… well, not a mile away because that was impossible, but far away.  Whatever it was about French, Bill didn’t know, but they couldn’t read it.  Jason said the savage alien mind could not wrap itself around the intricacies of the language of love. It only served to prove Bill’s theory that French was not only the hardest language on Earth but in the universe as well.

“KEY ESK KUH SAY?”  Bill drawled and Jason rolled his eyes.  He would never master the accent.  It was French by way of Georgia, but at least he tried.  He pointed ahead of them and made a twirling motion with his index finger.

Jason leapt around the corner with his gun drawn and Bill rushed behind him.  He dropped his weapon and put his hands on his hips.

The little girl looked up at him, her blue eyes wide.

“You think she’ll rat us out or do we need to rough her up a bit?”  Bill asked and Jason bit his lip because he might let it fly in front of Bill but he had a problem cursing in front of a child. 

“Who’s with you?”  He asked sharply and Bill threw his hands out in exasperation.  “There’s a reader here, Bill.  It’s not her!”  He growled over his shoulder.

The little girl motioned and there was a movement from a darkened doorway. 

“Who’s your friend?”  Jason asked, his weapon lowered but still on guard. A telepath.  He thought he knew all of them, but this was one he had not encountered.

The prince of the Kaldarri stepped from the shadows.  He was much larger than he appeared from the balcony.  No wonder the King was angry about the betrothal proposition; he was roughly the same size as a grown man, and despite his age, he wasn’t the friendliest looking thing imaginable. 

Jason was impressed, though.  “Gosh, you’re a hoss.”  He said more to himself than to the young warrior.

“He wants to meet the Prophets.” She said matter- of- factly.

The boy spoke but neither understood. 

“Touch him.”  She urged and Jason cut his eyes at Bill as if to ask if he thought it were safe.  Bill shrugged and Jason extended his hand.  “Go ahead.”

The young Kaldarri touched him and Jason jumped back in surprise.  It felt like he’d just grabbed hold of a live wire. 

“Sacre—“Jason howled and the little girl squealed in laughter. 

            “Jason.”  The other prophet warned.  “Watch your language.”  He nodded in the direction of the little girl.  “We’re in the presence of a lady.”

“-- bleu! Qu’est-ce que c’est?” He spat and glared at the boy.  Bill was glad he hadn’t used the other word he was so fond of.  He shook his hand like he had burned it.  “What the heck was that?”  He growled.

“You’re funny Jason Prophet!”  She said with a shake of her little blonde head. 

The young Kaldarri looked up at him.  “I’ve come to meet the Prophets.”  He announced in his own language and Jason found himself somewhat surprised to realize that he understood it. 

Jason looked over at Bill.  “I’ve found our reader, Bill.” He looked back at the Kaldarri warrior.  That was odd.  Who had heard of a Kaldarri having the ability to read minds?  It mostly ran through the Fae bloodlines.  He tilted his head as the warrior spoke. 

“I am Torastali son of Koldos.  My Mother is Marianna daughter of Talamadgli the ruler of the peoples of the lands between the two rivers.  Which of you is the one they call the Prophet?” 

“Technically.  We’re both Prophets.”  Jason corrected him.  “But I suppose Bill is the one you’re looking for- not me.”

“Well that’s weird.  You can understand him?  Why can’t I understand him?”

Jason waved his hand at the other man.  “Because you ain’t been zapped yet!  I told you he’s a reader!” He held out his hand as if to indicate that Bill should touch the boy. 

Bill grinned. This wasn’t his first rodeo. “That’s okay.  You can just translate.” 

Jason screwed up his face and folded his arms over his chest. “Nope.  Ain’t gonna do it.  Be a man, Bill. Come on, shake his hand.”

Bill rolled his eyes and held out his hand. The young Kaldarri touched him and Bill leapt away. 

“Dang! That does hurt!”  He shook his hand while the other man laughed, “How do you do that boy?”

The Kaldarri gave the two of them a confused look and then looked down at the girl.  “Are you sure these are the Prophets?”  He asked and she nodded. 

“I’m the Old Prophet.”  Bill said and extended his hand but then jerked it back quickly as the youth started to touch him again.  “No thanks.  I don’t want no more of that!”  He said quickly. “What are you doing up here anyway?  This area is off limits to the visitors.  This is the King’s private rooms.” Bill asked and looked at the boy.

“I followed this girl.  I found her hiding in the courtyard. She wanted to know why I had horns.”

She stepped toward Jason and motioned for him to come closer. He squatted and he opened his arms to her and she stepped close to him.  “Do you know why they have horns?”  She asked and pointed up at the young warrior who watched her with an amused expression.

Jason shook his head and she moved closer as if she were going to tell him a secret. 

“So they can do this!”  She said and rammed her forehead against his hard enough to almost knock him off his feet. 

“OW!”  He said and rubbed his forehead.  “What’s wrong with you?” 

She smiled broadly at the warrior and he gave her a smile in return.

“Did you teach her that Kaldarri?”  He snapped at the young warrior. 

The young warrior laughed.  “Yes!  Do you not find her amusing?”

“Hilarious.”  Jason responded and rubbed his head.

The warrior knelt and motioned the little girl close to him.  “I have a sister your age.  You would make very good playmates, I think. I believe I will take you home with me instead of the one they plan to give me.”   She smiled up at him; her little girl’s heart was already smitten by this handsome stranger.

If you only knew… “Do you know who this is?”  Jason asked, his eyes narrowing. 

“No.”  The boy said and shrugged. “A servant’s child?”

“She’s nobody.”  He lied.  “The cook’s daughter. ‘

            “What if I tell YOUR DADDY you’re spying on folks again?”  He said quickly and she dropped her head.  Her father would surely punish her for this. 

The warrior looked serious suddenly.  “I came to speak to the Prophet.”  He said as if he just remembered his reason for being there.  He looked at Bill.  “They tell me you are not like the others here.  They say you can see the future.”

Bill shook his head.  “No.  Only God can see the future, young man.”

“I am not a man, Prophet.  Tell me, what God do you serve?”

“The Great Father, the Creator of all things.  You know what God I serve, your mother has taught you His ways.”

His eyes narrowed and he chewed his lip and considered the Prophet’s words.

“Surely you are a Prophet then, how else would you know that? My father has his own gods that we must serve, but it is as you say.  My mother has taught us the old ways.  So tell me, what is in my future, Man of God?”

Bill held out his hand and shook his head. “Give me your hand then.”  He commanded him and he took a deep breath.  He didn’t hurt nearly as badly the second time.  He closed his eyes and prayed.

Bill’s countenance changed and he looked up at the young warrior in such a way that he took a step back in surprise.

“Turn your heart to the Father, follow Him.”  Bill said carefully.  “Follow the ways your mother has taught you and do not turn to the gods of your father.  You will lead your people though you will not have glory or majesty as you imagine.  You will suffer much for them and they will turn their hearts to the Father after you are given over to the hands of the enemy, but do not fear, the Father will ransom you and you will be a tool in His hands to bring the news of the salvation of all peoples here.”

The boy shook his head and looked at him like he didn’t believe what the Man of God had just said. 

There was the sound of footsteps coming closer. 

“Y’all better skedaddle!”  Bill said, looking back over his shoulder. 

Jason pointed at the little girl.  “Take him back where you found him.  You best keep your mouth shut or you’re sure to get a beating from your daddy.” 

The girl held out her hand to the warrior.  “I know the way back.”  She said and he reached down, engulfing her little three year old hand in his own.  He nodded as if to say thank you and they disappeared into a room ahead of the two men.

Bill watched them and then turned to Jason.  He grinned.  “It doesn’t matter what the King says.  They’re going to be married.”

            “How do you know all that, Bill?”

Bill shrugged.  “I just saw it.  The two of them, many years down the road, though.”

“Not if her father has anything to do with it.”  Jason said.  “It’s a shame.  I like him too.  He’s a decent kid.  It’s too bad their fathers are such ba—“ 

“Jase,”  The old prophet warned.

“—bad men.  I was going to say bad men.  Your mind is always in the gutter, Bill.”

“Their fathers will never allow it, and they will suffer much for their disobedience.  It will be a long road they must walk but they will eventually find their way to each other again. Man may try to thwart the LORD’s will but He always works it out in the end”

© L.T. Crane 2012