Alevai - Chapter Nine Becca and Sky did not stir during the trip to Biscoe’s home. When Biscoe and Narisch laid them in the grass next to Biscoe’s home, Sky awoke with a start. He saw the two men staring down at him. He stood and growled at them.

Biscoe began to laugh. “Look, Narisch. This little dog thinks he can harm us.”

Narisch wasn’t amused. He took a step back. “Biscoe, he is protecting the girl. I wouldn’t assume that he could not bring harm to you.”

Biscoe was not impressed. He reached his hand to pet him. Sky lunged and bit him. Biscoe yelped and pulled his hand back.

“Do not come any closer,” Sky said. “I’ll bite you again.”

Narisch’s mouth dropped open. “Biscoe, the dog talks.”

“I can hear that the creature talks,” Biscoe snapped, still discontented about being bit. “He bites hard as well and he has drawn blood.” He held his hand up for Narisch to see before taking a handkerchief from his pocket and wrapping it around his hand.

“I will hurt you even more, if you come any closer,” Sky said. He glanced down at Becca and quickly turned his attention back to the two men. “What have you done to her?”

“Nothing,” Biscoe said. “We found the two of your sleeping. We brought you to my home.” He took a step back and knelt on the ground. “We mean you no harm.”

Sky thought about this, but he did not relax his stance. “How do I know I can trust you?”

Biscoe nodded. “You can’t, I suppose. If I were you, I would unquestionably feel the same. I pledge on my life that I mean you and the girl no harm.” Biscoe stuck out his hand. “I am Biscoe. Perhaps, we could be friends.”

Sky looked at Biscoe’s outstretched hand. He felt that he could trust this man. He looked up at Narisch, him he was not so sure. “What about him?”

“Narisch, tell the pup you mean him no harm.”

“I mean you no harm,” Narisch said.

“You are lying,” Sky said. He was unsure as to how he knew this, but he knew in his heart that Narisch was lying.

“When we found you, I wanted your pelt, but Biscoe stopped me,” Narisch admitted. “But, now, I mean you no harm. I pledge it so.”

Sky knew that this was the truth as well. He put his paw in Biscoe’s hand. “I am Sky,” he said as the two shook.

Narisch knelt and shook Sky’s paw. “I am Narisch,” he said.

“Why did you bring us here?” Sky asked.

“We could not very well leave you in the sleeping grass,” Biscoe said. “We could tell that you are not from our land and it is dangerous for strangers here.”

“That is the truth,” Narisch said. “Heavens knows what might have happened had one of the Queen’s men found you.”

Biscoe nodded in agreement. “Where are you from?”

“Wisconsin.”

“Wisconsin, what a bizarre sounding name,” Biscoe said. “How did you get here?”

Sky told the men the tale of the moving into the new house and the mirror. While they were speaking, Becca awoke. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. Sky made the introductions. Becca felt unsure about where they were, but Sky convinced her that the men were okay.

Soon Biscoe’s family appeared. Sky and Becca found themselves repeating the tale of how they came to be in Alevai.

“We would like to find our way back home,” Sky finally said.

“Well, you will be unable to do anything more today. The sun will be setting soon. You will stay here with my family. In the morning, I will escort you to the Schein.”

“I hope that you like fish,” one of Biscoe’s sons said. “I caught some for dinner.”  ¶ 6:04 PM 0 comments

  Alevai - Chapter Eight Aaron began to make his way to the Schein with both girls following closely.

“Mr. Flisler, may I ask you a question?” Maddie asked.

“Please, Maddie, call me Aaron. What would you like to know?”

“Well, I thought dragons liked to eat children.”

“Heaven forbid! I should eat a child!” Aaron exclaimed. “I do not eat any meat.”

“Then you’re a vegetarian?” Elizabeth asked.

“A veg-a-what?”

“A Vegetarian. Someone who only eats vegetables.”

“Oh, yes, yes, I suppose I am what you call a vegetarian. I don’t like to hunt animals. Little creatures should be my friends, not my food, I always say.”

“Are all dragons vegetarians?”

“No, but most dragons do not eat people. Most of us are quite civilized. Speaking of eating, are you girls hungry?” Both of them nodded. “Well, I see a maranz tree up ahead. This is the perfect season for maranzes. Do you girls like maranzes?”
“I’ve never had any maranzes,” Maddie said.

“Well, I think you girls will like them.” Aaron approached the tree and inspected the fruit. He pulled down three maranzes and handed one to each girl and kept one for himself.

The maranz was the size of a grapefruit, yellow in color and had a skin very similar to a banana. Aaron showed the girls how to open the skin. Inside, the fruit was neon pink.

Maddie looked over at Elizabeth. “I don’t think I can eat this,” she said.
Elizabeth nodded in agreement, but then she felt her stomach rumble. “Well, we should at least try it.” She pulled out a piece of the fruit. Fruit juice ran down her arm, as she popped it into her mouth. Once she had chewed and swallowed, she smiled at Maddie. “This is awesome. Try it, Maddie.”

While the girls ate their maranzes, Aaron told them of the history of Alevai.

“You see, every twenty years, a young girl from your world is crowned our new queen.”

“From our world?” Elizabeth asked. “How can that be?”

“A portal opens and the young girl just appears, very similar to what happened to you. Then, the girl is crowned our new queen, except, twenty years ago when the young girl came through the portal; Queen Elva Zores had her imprisoned. She refused to give up the crown.”

“Then what happened?”

“Well, the wizards joined together and tried to defeat Queen Elva Zores and her army, but they lost. Those that survived were either imprisoned in the dungeon or they fled to the Schein. That is where we are headed now.”  ¶ 10:04 AM 0 comments

  Alevai -- Chapter Seven… Becca grew tired of walking. She sat down in the cool grass. “Let’s stop, Sky,” she said.
Sky stopped walking and sat down beside her. “No matter how far we walk that castle never seems to get any closer,” he said.

“I’m scared, Sky. What if we can’t find a way home?”

Sky thought a moment. The thought had crossed his mind that they might be stuck in this strange, new world, but he didn’t want to worry Becca by voicing this opinion. “We’ll find our way home,” he said. “I promise.”

Becca, relieved by the small dog’s promise, felt a little better. She laid back in the cool grass. “I’m so tired,” she said. Her little eyes fluttered shut.

Sky laid his head on her stomach. “Me, too,” he said in agreement. “Me, too.” He closed his eyes. Soon he was fast asleep.

Biscoe and Narisch were returning to their village with the days hunt swung over their shoulders. They had been catching game in order to save the meat for their families and to sell the soft animal pelts. The days hunting had not gone well and they were both left with only four animals between them.

“What a lousy day,” Narisch said, bitterly. “Eight hours and I only have two musrits to show for it.”

“I feel the same way, Narisch,” Biscoe answered him. “But, if we get an early start in the morn, perhaps we can do better then today’s catch.”

“You are always so bloody jolly. You cannot be of strong mind where you are so bloody jolly.”

“Narisch, you are the epitome of despair. I should say that one who is so constantly in gloom should not be of strong mind, either.”

“I should wonder why I continue to follow you in the hunts. We do so poorly.”

“And, I wonder the same of me, Narisch.”

“Perhaps you are implying that it is a fault of mine that we have had a bit of bad luck.”

“Certainly not, Narisch, certainly not. Nature is as nature does. We are merely traveling through a cycle of bad hunts. We shall come out victorious soon enough. I shall not blame you for our troubles, only for your appalling manner.”

“My appalling manner?” Narisch started to go on, but he tripped on something and nearly fell to the ground. He looked down and found that he was standing beside a sleeping child and pup. “Biscoe, have you ever seen such a sight?”

“Narisch, I’ve seen lots of sleeping children.” Biscoe sighed. “I am the father of twelve.”
“No, silly, a dog as white as this.” Narisch leaned down and softly patted Sky’s side. “His pelt is nice and soft. We could get a pretty penny for a pelt such as this.”

Biscoe scowled at Narisch. “Can you not see that he is that child’s pet? We cannot harm her pet.”

“Pet, scmet. Who cares? We could use the coins.”

“Narisch, I will not harm this child’s pet, no matter how many coins we would receive.” He studied Becca. “She does not look like she is from here. I should think that a child from here would know not to stop moving once they were in the sleep grass.” He bent and lightly tapped her shoulder. “She is far under the blanket of sleep.” He stood.

Narisch backed away from Sky and Becca. “Oh, no. Biscoe, she is one of those people. We must leave them.”

“One of what people? And, why should we leave them? For what?” Biscoe still stood looking down at Becca.

“We will be harmed. Don’t you know the legend?”

“The legend?” Biscoe thought a moment. “Oh,” he said. “You do not mean THE LEGEND?”
“Yes, yes I do. If she is to stay here, she will surely threaten the queen.”

“Narisch, our queen is a nasty old hag. Surely, this sleeping child could not be a threat to her.”

“Biscoe, how can you say such things? Our queen is right and just. She is gracious and kind.” Narisch looked around to see if anyone was listening to their conversation.

“Narisch, we are far away from the castle. You do not have to lie about your feelings. The queen is evil incarnate. She has destroyed almost all that is dear to yours and mine. Our children are forced to labor for her needs.” Biscoe took a breath. “And, if the legend is true, she has entrapped a young girl for her own evil means.”

“I don’t know why you say such things. The queen has kept us safe from all who dare oppose us.”

“Oppose us? Who opposes us? She talks of these mystical beings that wish us harm, but I have never seen proof of this. Our country has been preparing for war for as long as I can remember, yet, I am not at all sure if anyone remembers why or against whom we are preparing.” Biscoe spat on the ground. “If this girl could bring ruin to our queen, then I shall assist her.”

Narisch glanced around again. He knew in his heart that Biscoe was right. But, Narisch rather enjoyed his and Biscoe’s supply shop and he did not wish to anger her. He had seen how people suffered when she showed her displeasure.

“I’m going to take her and her dog home with me,” Biscoe said. “I all ready have so many children no one will notice one more.”

“Do you think that is wise? What if the queen finds out?”

“She will not find out, Narisch. I will pay the proper tax for having thirteen children. She shall not care.” Biscoe said. “Take the pup, while I pick up the child. Hurry, Narisch, once she is out of the sleep grass, we shall not have much time. I do not want her stirring too soon.”

The men stooped and picked up their charges. They looked around to be sure no one saw them before moving quietly back into the tall grass.  ¶ 4:44 PM 0 comments