Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Floating colors about the room as the Downing family is placed in a deep harmonic sleep.  Nathaniel, Jaydan sending them on wonderland journey through time of their world of existences and back again with a new understanding.  The mask of illusion guarding them well as sunlight streams through the windows of the house.

A soft gentle wind gently wakens them from their sleep. Soft tears drops of warmth and love surround them when Aunty M smiles with a twinkle in her eye and laughter, “now my dear children you understand.” Rubbing each of the boy's heads patting Martha on the hand looking around the room, “why this must remain a secret.”

Wayne nods towards Nathaniel and Jaydan as they all look towards the west seeing the smoke rise and the brilliant light in the sky. A runner knocked at the door of the farmhouse, dressed in the strangest robes from a strange land.  He was dressed all in silver his horse glittering with banners of silver and golds and green. “Sorry, ma’am I was told I might be able to find Nathaniel and Jaydan here.” The stranger replied as he pauses to bow.

“Please come in,” Martha said shows him into the living room where everyone is gathered.

“It’s alright we been expecting you,” as Aunty M walked into the entryway, “for I am the Lady of the Light,” as her face shines brightly.

The runner takes a knee as he kneels before her his head bowed, “then it is I that serve you this day my Lady.”

“Thank you, my good sir, may you walk in the light among the shadows for they are one and the same. For which I bear witness and bring forth peace to all that need rest that cry out across the battlefields of time. Where darkness holds them bond I must free them from the darkness and give them rest within the light. For darkness has lain in the shadows far too long without light to guide it. Arise, walk the path for the time comes quickly and waits for no man, may you walk with peace and a lightened hearts my friend. Now come tell us what you have to say.”

Martha handing the runner a cup of tea as he sits down on the sofa begins his tale of the battle down by the copper mine halfway towards the mountain pass in the west. “Morgan was setting siege on New Downing, but we headed them off at the pass this time,” He turned his head towards Nathaniel, “the Judge himself sent me to get this family out of here to safety and help you and Jaydan save the town of New Downing.”

Martha holding Wayne’s, hand, “we can’t leave.”  Martha looking at her boys as tears start to stream down her cheeks, “EJ is still out there and he needs us, all of us.”

Nathaniel, Jaydan gazing around the room, as he looked from face to face. “What are suggesting we do?” He asked

Martha in tears, “if only we knew where he was. Maybe we could help in some way.”

“Ma, that’s part of our problem,” Robert said glancing over at Jaydan as he nods to Robert to proceed with caution. “You see when we were on his trail. Morgan left clues on how we might find EJ and the condition he could be in. The other problem is where to find him, but they just told us exactly where.

“The only problem is getting inside unseen and out with him unnoticed. None of us are not like them and they all have different skills or duty’s to do while they're here. Not saying one’s greater than the other, rather cool if you think about it,” as he smiles at Aunty M. “But he’s our brother and we protect our brothers regardless. Ma, you and Pa have a job protecting us and caring for us, well let us do our job first.”

Robert taking Ma’s hand standing. “Please go with him. We will bring EJ with us. Pa will be by our side making sure nothing happens to us while you are safe taking care of Danny, Ted, and Sam and our three sisters,” he soberly asks.

Will stands then walks over to Grandma; Richard and Aunt Mary as Robert nods as tears stream down their faces. “Will you please go with them so we don’t have to worry about you either?” After giving Grandma a hug as she tries to wipe both their tears. 

“Well Doc,” Aunty M slapping him on the back, “sounds like you got your work cut out for ya down here. There’s room for your family to, but we need you down here and Doctor Hatfield. Of course, we need a good cover story for you and your wife and your boys. Because where their going. Let's just say ever wonder what’s over the horizon.” She asks as she laughs with a twinkle in her eye.

Nathaniel, Jaydan laugh, “ask Granny, Ned and Lizzy they can tell you Doc.” Jaydan replies.

“So that’s where my sister went?” Mary said putting her hands on her hips staring down at Jaydan.

Jaydan smiles, “well she wanted to come, I said the flowers were all in bloom over there for spring so she went. We have a nice little cottage on the north side along the creek facing the Blue Ridge Mountains.”

Grandma laughs, “sounds like we're in for quite a treat Richard, what do ya say?” She asks Looking over at Martha wiping the tears from her eyes.

“You promise me, Wayne. You bring him home to me, all them.” Martha said as she tries to wipe her tears her voice cracks as dry gaps escape her. Martha tries to be strong yet on the edge breaking down completely as she gazed into his strong eyes and squeezes his hand.

Wayne looks deep into her eyes holding her close to him as he wraps his arms around her, “I promise if it is the last thing I do. They will come home where they all belong,” not bothering to wipe the tears from their eyes.

They quickly packed what they needed walking through gate above the horizon where they are met with carriages of guests. Wayne and his boys waving with tears in their eyes as they say goodbye watching the gate closes.

Aunty M wrapped her arms around the boys and Pa with his other arm slowly walk out to the barn, saddling the horses with their bedrolls and a few belongings and headed out towards New Downing.

“Well Doc this where we part ways for now,” Wayne said giving his old friend a firm handshake. “Keep an eye on things why were gone, like feed the chickens and so,” Wayne trying to smile looking over the horizon.

“Not to worry my friend. I am still the sheriff in these parts, I’ll get right on that. It’s that cover story I’m worried about, she’s a loose cannon. It may work for a couple of days, but if longer then what?”

Aunty M coming around the other side.” You let me worry about that my friend you just worry about these folks here. Wayne, why don’t you and boys head on down to Granny’s place and take what’s your name?”

“Oh sorry my Lady, Sir regional the 5th or just Lenny, that’s what my friends call me, always felt the “Sir” part made me older than I  actually was. It started a long time ago during 5th or was the 2nd century I can’t remember, anyway…” He said as Aunty M cuts him off.

“Yes, Lenny it is. I guess we better find you some better clothing and soon if you're going to ride with us.”

“Oh dear! O my! I never gave it much thought,” Lenny looked down at his silver gown sparkling in the sunlight his graying beard hanging down and his straight beaked nose and light blue eyes seemed to shine as he gathered his long silvery hair into a strong ponytail.

He was short for his age of 300 in wizard years as Aunty M quickly covered him with a riding cloak from her pack, taking the back way through the field. The less traveled road to Granny house going through the back door.

Nathaniel opening the door, looked both ways as they tie the horses around the back walking down the hallway, Jeff peering around the corner scaring the living daylights out everyone. “Don’t’ do that!” As everyone catches their breath, Wayne cautiously looks at Jeff. “Not another one, how many are out there?”

“Sorry didn’t mean to scare you, but I was told to report to you Nathaniel and Jaydan.” Jeff seeing the small group with them. “It’s all right Jeff.” Nathaniel said seeing how nervous Jeff is, “they pretty much know everything.”

Jeff nods in the boy’s direction and Wayne’s, “I found EJ just as the journal said and I was able to get through. It wasn’t good.”

Robert and Will stared at Jeff. “What journal?” They asked.

Jaydan shushes them “later…”

Jeff continues on. “EJ’s in bad shape. Morgan has him locked up deep in one of his cells bond in strong shadow chains. His mind is almost gone he is hanging on, his strength is nearly depleted. What’s left whatever Destiny gave him I am not sure....she dead.

“Three escaped during the battle, Morgan killed one I don’t know about the other two. He has plans to destroy this town at all cost and the Downings. He also knows about you,” turning to Aunty M. “At least he’s aware of you and wants you gone before you reach your full awareness.”

Jeff took a deep breath as he shares more of the news. “The Judge has the area surround for now so nobody is leaving, but gate travel is impossible once inside. He has given you the order to protect this town at all cost and the means to do it he says. I am supposed to give you this,” Jeff handing him a sealed envelope.

Nathaniel opens and breaks the seal as a soft breeze of whispers enters the room, the lights and colors of stars from the heavens surround them raising them all onto a platform. Nathaniel at the head was dressed in a long flowing robe of gray with gold and red trim and silver staff in his hand. Just above an archway all mask of Illusions are gone as Aunty M stands at his left side just below him with her long flowing red hair, amber eyes bright as the sun smiling down.

Jaydan on the right side wearing light silver robe mixed with red and yellow. Jeff and Lenny on the steps below them Lenny in silver and Jeff in his white with strips of green and blue at the cuffs, the Downing’s watching with interests.

Nathaniel calls with thunder in his voice as trumpets sound out of nowhere as each one comes forward on bended knee. First Jaydan comes forward, Nathaniel raising his silver staff then placing one hand on his shoulder and staff on the other. Jaydan head bowed as power surges through him. The color of his robe glistens within a twinkle, changes to a brilliant red with green lining the edges.

He rises moving back to his spot with light glowing in his face as the trumpet sounds Nathaniel calls forth Lenny then Jeff. Jeff looking surprised when trumpet sounds and his name is called forth. There are tears in his eyes as he kneels before Nathaniel. “My friend what did you expect?” As Nathaniel placed his hand on his shoulder, “that we have forgotten about you? No. You to have right and have earned it just like we all have whether if we expected it from you or not, you have earned it.” Nathaniel placing the staff on Jeff, his robes become brilliant silver with white and yellow trim.

A man enters from the archway as the trumpet sounds, Nathaniel steps asides for the man carrying a gold staff with carvings of lettering's of light. Nathaniel and everyone kneels as he walked through the door from on high, again the trumpet sounds as Aunty M name is called. “Margaret the light of the dawn, the giver of peace to all, in strength and health for the week, giver of life and rest and peace of mind for those that die across time in shadow bond. May your light guide us in these dark times?”

The man all dressed brilliant white and gold carrying the staff first placing his hand on her shoulder than the staff. Then taking the staff clicking it five times on the ground then whirling in the air as it whistles, flashing colors of the rainbows of light as it turns white he placed it in her hand. You could see tears rolling down her cheeks as she says, “goodbye my love for now.” As she whispered as she embraced him, then watched him go back through the archway.

Nathaniel taking his staff, clicking the ground twice, they returned staring back at one another in the living room of Granny house as the letter its self disappears into dust blowing in the wind. “I guess you know to keep that under your hats to boys,” giving them all a wink and smile.

“Yes, sir,” they answered.

Pa laughed rubbing their heads. “Besides who would believe us, the chickens…..?”